Press Releases
| Mortgage |
CFO SINK APPLAUDS DIVISION OF INSURANCE FRAUD WORK ON “MORTGAGE FRAUD SURGE”
November 4, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida CFO Alex Sink today commended the contributions of her Division of Insurance Fraud in the “Mortgage Fraud Surge”, a nine-month joint effort with the U.S. Attorney Brian Albritton, the FBI and numerous other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to secure as many mortgage-fraud related indictments and arrests as possible.
Columbia County Man Pleads Guilty to Mortgage Fraud Scheme
May 12, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TALLAHASSEE, FL - May 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Columbia County man has pleaded guilty to his involvement in a mortgage fraud scheme. Rory V. Porter faces five years in prison and ten years of probation when he is sentenced next month and will have to pay over half a million dollars in restitution. Porter was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.
CFO SINK WORKS TO PROTECT FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS AND BOOST HOUSING MARKET
April 16, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida Chief Financial Officer Sink joined Florida Realtors® and Sadowski Workforce Housing Coalition members during two separate events today to promote her efforts to protect Florida homeowners. As a champion for homeowners, CFO Sink underscored her department’s My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program and efforts to address Florida’s high rate of home foreclosures.
McCollum Unveils Website to Help Homeowners Avoid Mortgage Fraud-Related Scams
April 16, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today unveiled a new website designed to help homeowners avoid mortgage fraud-related scams. The website, at provides consumers with easy access to current investigations, complaint forms, and tips to identify and avoid foreclosure rescue fraud. Foreclosure rescue fraud, or fraud involving loan modifications related to foreclosures, is the complaint topic most commonly reported to the Attorney General’s Office and involves the charging of an up-front fee for foreclosure rescue services before any services are provided, if they are provided at all.
Court Grants Emergency Request to Halt Jacksonville Foreclosure Rescue Company’s Up-Front Fees
April 9, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 09, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has obtained a court order temporarily prohibiting a Jacksonville company from charging up-front fees for foreclosure-related rescue services. According to the order issued by the Duval County Circuit Court, National Foreclosure Counseling Services Corp. is barred from charging homeowners any fee in advance for providing foreclosure-related rescue services. The order was agreed upon by the state and the company.
Settlement Obtained in Orlando Mortgage Fraud Case
April 7, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 07, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) —Attorney General Bill McCollum announced today that his office has obtained a settlement with an Orlando company that provided foreclosure services to consumers. Homestead Protection Services, LLC has agreed to dissolve the company and must refrain from any future violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The company must also pay $20,000 in consumer restitution and must reimburse the state $5,000 for fees and costs of the investigation.
Temporary Injunction Obtained in Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Lawsuit
March 30, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today obtained a temporary injunction against Lincoln Lending Services, LLC and owner Rita Gomez, prohibiting the company from engaging in any type of consumer-debt related service or mortgage modification service and from taking payment from consumers for such services until further order of the court. The company will also be required to preserve and allow inspection of its records and refrain from liquidating its assets.
Attorney General Calls for Cooperative Approach to State’s Mortgage Fraud Issues
March 26, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 26, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that he has sent a letter to several state agencies and associations, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Office of Financial Regulation, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Bar, calling for a cooperative approach to the state’s mortgage fraud crisis. The Attorney General noted that his office has received hundreds, if not thousands, of complaints on various issues related to mortgage fraud including criminal fraud and foreclosure rescue fraud
CFO SINK’S FLORIDA HOUSING HELP INITIATIVE TO JOIN PASCO COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST FORECLOSURE WORKSHOP
March 11, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced today that the Florida Housing Help Initiative she launched last year to assist Floridians facing foreclosure is joining forces with Pasco County Community Development, Community United Methodist Church of Holiday, and the United Way, to host a Florida Housing Help Workshop this Saturday from 9am to 2pm in Holiday.
CFO SINK ASKS FLORIDA LENDERS TO APPOINT MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE NEGOTIATORS
February 25, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TALLAHASSEE, FL - February 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — With the goal of helping more Florida families stay in their homes, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink today urged each of Florida’s largest mortgage lenders to appoint an ombudsman to facilitate interaction between lenders, attorneys, and Florida homeowners. Details of the proposal were outlined in a letter sent today to 11 major mortgage lending institutions.
Florida’s Existing Housing Market Reflects Mortgage, Economic Issues at Year End 2008
January 27, 2009 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 26, 2009 – Florida’s housing market mirrored the national trend in 2008, as mortgage industry troubles, unsettled financial markets, tightened credit and other economic issues impacted sales and prices.
Mortgage Contracting Services Enhances Compliance Section of Web Site
December 24, 2008 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
TAMPA, FL, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ — Mortgage Contracting Services (MCS), provider of property preservation and inspection services to the mortgage industry, announced the company has launched a newly designed compliance section of its Web site. In addition to sending compliance updates to customers via e-mail, the Web site now features all vacant property registration ordinances […]
Miami Realtor Wins FAR’s 2008 Realtor Achievement Award
October 17, 2008 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
ORLANDO, FL - October 2008 - (RealEstateRama) — Nancy Hogan, a member of the Realtor® Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches, has been recognized for winning Florida’s 2008 Realtor Achievement Award by the 125,000-member Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). The award was presented at FAR’s recent 92nd annual Convention & Trade Expo in Lake […]
MORTGAGE BROKER AND PASTOR CHARGED WITH BILKING CONSUMERS IN $1 MILLION SCHEME
September 19, 2008 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
JENSEN BEACH, FL - September 19, 2008 - (RealEstateRama) — A Florida mortgage broker and her husband, a pastor and popular radio show host, are facing numerous felony charges stemming from a state investigation that found the couple allegedly scammed consumers in a real estate investment scheme.
REP. BROWN-WAITE’S LEGISLATION TO PROTECT VETERAN MORTGAGE BENEFITS PASSES U.S. HOUSE
September 16, 2008 Posted by Florida RealEstateRama
Brown-Waite Bill Included as Part of Broader Veteran Benefit Measure
Washington, D.C. - September 16 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Representative Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-05) today announced that H.R. 6832, the Veterans’ Construction and Extensions Act, passed the House late last week on a bipartisan voice vote. In addition to other veteran related issues, H.R. 6832 included Rep. Brown-Waite’s […]
