Broward County Foreclosure InformationFor most Broward County residents, it's no surprise to learn that Florida leads the nation in foreclosures with about 25% of all cases nationwide. Plunging county property values make the dream of selling your home for a larger one nearly impossible and with so many Broward County residents either involved or knowing someone in foreclosure it seems like an epidemic with no vaccine. However, there is some good news to help deal with Broward County foreclosures and by taking action now you may be able to avoid the foreclosure process entirely.For each of the last several months new foreclosure filings have fallen off significantly providing a much needed break for both homeowners and the local real estate market. For the housing market, a reduced number of lawsuits means less foreclosure sales flooding the market with undervalued homes keeping prices at or near present levels. With 43% of the county mortgages already underwater (358,072 Broward County residents), anything helps. Take Action NowFor homeowners, now is the perfect time to strike while things have cooled down. Select your foreclosure option and use the tools and information we provide to move ahead and set your foreclosure plan in motion before the next round of lawsuits begin. Although foreclosure filings are down now, the huge number of Broward County residents more than 30 days behind in mortgage payments suggests the decline is temporary and most analysts expect a crushing new wave of foreclosure lawsuits in the next several months and years.Whether you decide on a Strategic Default to help the chances of getting your loan modified or short sale approved, or to return your property using a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure, do it before a foreclosure lawsuit is filed and the bank's lawyers get involved. By doing so now or as soon as possible, you'll increase your overall chances of success while minimizing additional costs and the likelihood of a deficiency judgment. For those planning to defend a foreclosure lawsuit and possibly counter-sue the bank as well, use this time to gather information on the foreclosure phases and foreclosure process in general as well as possible defenses and grounds for counterclaims. Also use this break to save as much as possible if you're not making mortgage payments to help sustain you through the foreclosure process and/or hire an attorney or other professional to help your cause. Broward County Courts and Foreclosure ProcessWhether you decide to represent yourself or hire an attorney to help with your foreclosure lawsuit, Broward County is not a bad place for it. Unlike many other Florida counties that value cost and efficiency over the preservation of legal rights and respect for two hundred years of property laws, Broward courts are trying to do it right. By treating every case and every homeowner individually, the docket may move slower than other counties but the outcomes are much fairer. Pending Broward County foreclosure cases were at 46,155 as of July 2011.The judge most responsible for this resident friendly approach is new Chief Judge Peter Weinstein who seems like one of the good guys. In a recent newspaper article, Judge Weinstein noted that he "doesn't see fast tracking foreclosure lawsuits as the solution to the bottleneck in the courts as every case is individual and if we fall behind we fall behind. I don't ever want to find out someone lost their home because of some foolish mistake." What a great attitude for the leader of the Broward County court system and what a pity so few fellow judges are willing to speak out and help lead the way to protect homeowners. Broward County courts have developed a special section to handle foreclosure cases which can be accessed either online at the Broward County Clerk of Court website or at the courthouse located in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. The court has also automated the foreclosure sale process by moving auctions online which can be found at www.broward.realforeclose.com. This site not only allows homeowners to check on the status of pending foreclosure sales for your property but also allows investors to purchase property online avoiding the fiasco of sales on the courthouse steps. Broward County Foreclosure Prevention ProgramIn addition to the State of Florida foreclosure assistance programs covered elsewhere on our site, the Broward County Foreclosure Prevention Program may be another option for you. This program provides assistance for Broward residents in the form of a deferred payment loan to pay defaulted mortgages where the homeowner lives in the property and is at least 30 days behind in mortgage payments.To find out more about this program and see if you qualify contact the Broward County Housing Authority at (954) 497-4583 or visit the Broward County Foreclosure Prevention website at www.broward.org. Good luck!
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