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LANSING, MI - January 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, State Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing), originally of Cascade, announced that her entire December legislative expense account was donated to a Grand Rapids foreclosure assistance program to highlight the need for government reform and more transparency in state spending.

LANSING, MI - November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the filing of three criminal complaints and a total of 10 charges against illegal advanced fee "foreclosure rescue" operations accused of defrauding Michigan families of thousands of dollars.

LANSING, MI - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the sentencing of two west Michigan loan officers convicted of operating a widespread mortgage fraud ring, duping members of the Grand Rapids Hispanic community into purchasing distressed properties at inflated prices, falsifying records and pocketing thousands of dollars. The targeted buyers often spoke or wrote little English and had a limited understanding of the mortgage process.

Plan reins in consultant “rescue” scams and requires more transparency for homeowners. LANSING, MI - October 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- As new numbers reveal that home foreclosures continue to plague Michigan and the nation, Senate Democrats are preparing to unveil a new legislative package attacking “foreclosure consultant” scams and giving homeowners more transparency in the loan modification process. Despite efforts from both federal and state government agencies, the number of foreclosure filings nationwide hit a record high in the third quarter of 2009, according to a report issued yesterday.

LANSING, MI - September 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) --Attorney General Mike Cox today announced that Michigan residents victimized by foreclosure fraud schemes can receive refunds as a result of charges filed against SaveMyHome USA, Payment Doctors and the Michigan Economic Reinstatement Program. The companies were held accountable after an undercover investigation by the Attorney General's office discovered that the companies' representatives made misleading statements and charged borrowers upfront fees in violation of the Michigan Credit Services Protection Act

Funds Made Available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. WASHINGTON, DC - August 27, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, both D-Mich., announced $500,000 in funding for distressed Michigan communities to address areas with large numbers of foreclosures. The funding is part of $5.5 million being provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through its Neighborhood Stabilization Program to help local communities purchase, rehabilitate and resell foreclosed properties in especially hard-hit neighborhoods

LANSING., MI - July 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Sen. Wayne Kuipers announced today that he is working with credit unions to provide residents with information on how to avoid foreclosure.

LANSING, MI - July 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced that his office has filed 18 charges against four companies and one individual for committing foreclosure rescue fraud. Cox also issued warnings to 17 companies regarding complaints from residents about their practices. Michigan law prohibits "foreclosure rescue" companies, which provide foreclosure advice, from making misleading or false statements, or charging service fees before any service is completed.

LANSING, MI - June 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Sen. Randy Richardville, chair of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, today participated in a bill signing ceremony for legislation that will help save more homes in Michigan from foreclosure.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Foreclosures continue to drag down our economy, and Michigan has one of the worst foreclosure situations in the nation. To address this issue, Congress passed and President Obama recently signed into law the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009.

May 26, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Legislation to give homeowners on who are on the brink of losing their home a 90-day period to work out a payment plan with their lending institution has been signed by the Governor. House Bills 4453-4455, now Public Acts 29, 30, and 31 of 2009, would allow consumers who are on the brink of foreclosure a 90-day period to attempt a loan modification plan.

Homeowners, lenders will have extra time to work out new deal. LANSING, MI - May 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has signed legislation that helps protect homeowners from foreclosure by providing an extra 90 days for them to work with their lender on modifying their mortgage loan.

LANSING, MI - May 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Senate today unanimously approved conference committee reports to help save more homes in Michigan from foreclosure by encouraging greater communication between lenders and homeowners, said Randy Richardville, the Senate’s lead member of the conference committee.

Washington D.C. - May 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) —The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 300-114 in favor of H.R. 1728, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting homebuyers from predatory lending that has led to the recent mortgage crisis across the country.

May 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The foreclosure situation in my state of Michigan continues to be dire. According to data released by real estate firm RealtyTrac, even though there are less foreclosure filings than this time last year, there were still over 11,000 Michigan foreclosure filings in January 2009 alone. That’s one foreclosure filing for every 397 households IN JUST ONE MONTH, which puts Michigan’s foreclosure rate at the seventh highest in the nation. Nationwide, foreclosure filings are up 18% compared to this time last year.