Burlington County hosting forum on foreclosure help
Burlington County homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure or dealing with financial and credit issues that could result in foreclosure are encouraged to attend a Mortgage Foreclosure Forum to be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, at the Maple Shade Municipal Building, 200 Stiles Avenue, Maple Shade.
Speakers with state, county and non-profit agencies that specialize in financial counseling will provide homeowners with step-by-step instructions on what they can do to avert losing their homes. Burlington County Consumer Affairs Director Renee Borstad will address mortgage rescue “scams” that desperate homeowners need to avoid.
This is the sixth forum of its kind sponsored by the Burlington County Freeholders through the county’s Consumer Affairs Office during the past 18 months. A question/answer session follows brief presentations by the speakers.
“Many Burlington County homeowners are struggling financially in these difficult economic times and need some practical advice on what they can do to stay in their homes,” Freeholder Mary Ann O’Brien said.“These residents need to know that they are not alone and depending upon their personal situations, there’s often an opportunity to address a pending or anticipated foreclosure action.”
Aside from Consumer Affairs, other participants include the N.J. Superior Court and Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley, a non-profit organization that assists homeowners in foreclosure prevention.
Joel Finkelstein, Team Leader for the Civil Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey, will address the State’s Judiciary Foreclosure Mediation Program, through which court-trained mediators endeavor to assist homeowners in foreclosure reach arrangements with their lenders.
Other speakers will include:
Leo F. Vanderbilt, Under Sheriff of the Burlington County Sheriff’s Office, who will describe the Sheriff’s role in the Foreclosure Process.
Stephanie Bittner, with Consumer Credit Counseling, who will discuss refinance assistance and personal financial counseling.
Stephen D’Agostino, and Mitch Freeman, from Beneficial Bank, who will speak about the positive and negative aspects of short sales.
Silas Townsend, Burlington County Community Action Program (BCCAP), will speak about their involvement in assisting consumers in the foreclosure process.
Robert L. Kinniebrew, Executive Director of the NJ Real Estate Commission under the NJ Department of Banking & Insurance Trenton will speak about mortgage fraud.
