Maine RealEstateRama

Augusta, ME - October 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Janet Mills is joining a coordinated national effort by state regulators and Attorneys General to investigate the practice of so-called “robo-signing” in the mortgage servicing industry.The Mortgage Foreclosure Multistate Group, comprised of state attorneys general in 50 states and state banking and mortgage regulators in thirty states, including Maine, will investigate whether individual mortgage servicers have improperly submitted documents in support of foreclosures. Specifically, the group will look into whether companies misrepresented on affidavits and other documents that they reviewed and verified documentation supporting foreclosure actions. The group will also determine whether companies signed affidavits outside the presence of a notary public or committed other irregularities regarding residential mortgage foreclosures. (See attached joint multistate group statement)

October 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Five Maine residents filed a complaint today against GMAC Mortgage, LLC (GMAC) on behalf of themselves and a class of Maine homeowners, alleging that the company routinely and systematically files false certifications that it has a right to foreclose on Maine homeowners, and false affidavits when asking courts to enter foreclosure judgments

Washington, D.C. - September 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Susan Collins recently joined her colleagues, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), in introducing bipartisan legislation that would set targets for utilities to obtain an increasing percentage of electricity supplies from renewable sources

AUGUSTA, ME - September 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bureau of Financial Institutions Superintendent Lloyd P. LaFountain, III announced this week that second quarter 2010 data submitted by Maine state-chartered banks and credit unions shows a decrease in completed home foreclosures in Maine. Additionally, the number of delinquent mortgage loans declined for the second consecutive quarter.

July 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Hancock County Superior Court jury convicted Eric S. Murphy, Jr. of Ellsworth on Wednesday in connection with an investment scam Murphy ran in conjunction with his residential construction loan business. Murphy, a former mortgage loan broker whose license was revoked by the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection in April, 2009, was found guilty of taking approximately $450,000 from 4 investors under false pretenses during the period October, 2006 through April, 2008. Instead of using funds received from investors to fund mortgage loans for consumers, Murphy used the bulk of the proceeds for his own business and personal purposes.

July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bureau of Financial Institutions Superintendent Lloyd P. LaFountain, III announced this week that first quarter 2010 data submitted by Maine-chartered banks and credit unions shows a continuing increase in completed home foreclosures in Maine

July 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pursuant to P.L. 2009, ch. 402, An Act to Preserve Home Ownership and Stabilize the Economy by Preventing Unnecessary Foreclosures, parties to foreclosure mediation must complete in full the Net Present Value (NPV) Worksheet developed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). To complete the FDIC NPV, the parties are required to produce information about the borrower’s monthly gross income, terms of the original loan, status of the delinquent loan, property value, among other specific inputs related to projected costs of foreclosure.

July 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Professional & Financial Regulation - Consumer Credit RegulationThe Maine Housing Counseling Network with assistance and support from the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the MaineHousing continues its series of free Foreclosure Prevention Clinics this Thursday afternoon and evening in Sanford. The fourth in this series will be held next month in Bangor. Others taken place this summer in Augusta and Portland.

PORTLAND, ME - June 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci today joined officials from Tufts Medical Center, Developers Collaborative, the City of Portland, Portland builders and Gorham Savings Bank for the ribbon cutting of Crescent Heights, the latest apartment building in Portland. The building, primarily intended for use by medical students, is LEED-certified and planned with smart growth in mind.

AUGUSTA, ME - June 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci today signed an Executive Order creating the ATV Stop Work Group. The purpose of the work group is to gather information about the controversial issue of law enforcement stops of ATV riders on private property and develop recommendations and a draft enforcement policy for how to promote safety, protect private property and ensure that any stops of ATV riders are done in accordance with constitutional protections

June 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Professional & Financial Regulation - Consumer Credit RegulationThe Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection signed a contract on Monday with Washington Hancock Community Agency (WHCA), increasing the number of housing counselors serving Maine homeowners. This contract adds a ninth certified housing counseling service to the eight non-profit agencies currently under contract around the State.

June 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Maine Housing Counseling Network with assistance and support from the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, US Department of Housing and Urban Development and MaineHousing will host free Foreclosure Prevention Clinics in Augusta, Portland, Sanford, and Bangor.

AUGUSTA, ME - May 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci held a State House ceremony today to celebrate passage of LD 1121, “An Act to Protect Elderly Residents from Losing Their Homes Due to Taxes or Foreclosure." The law, sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Chase (R-Wells), allows municipalities to pass local ordinances enabling eligible seniors to defer property taxes for a period of time. “Many elderly residents on fixed incomes, especially those in lake and coastal communities, just want the ability to stay in the homes they have worked so hard to maintain,” said Governor Baldacci.

May 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Superintendent Will Lund from the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection announced on Tuesday that Maine will make it easier and more efficient for mortgage lenders to apply for and manage their licenses by joining the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS). The change will also protect Maine consumers by increasing oversight of the mortgage activities of loan originators in other states.

Washington, D.C. - April 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senator Susan Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, questioned Goldman Sachs executives regarding questionable business practices that critics have said helped lead to the collapse of the U.S. housing market.

AUGUSTA, ME - April 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci said today that Maine has received a $30 million federal grant from The Recovery Act to fund energy efficiency upgrades in Maine. “Maine is recognized as a national leader in our efforts to improve energy efficiency,” Governor Baldacci said. “The work that we have been doing at MaineHousing and at Efficiency Maine has demonstrated our ability to put resources to work quickly, creating jobs and reducing energy consumption.

March 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley announced that on March 25, 2010, the Foreclosure Diversion Program will hold its first informational session at the Penobscot Judicial Center. After this session, each judicial region across the State will have held at least one informational session. Chief Justice Saufley reported that previous sessions in other parts of the State have been received well by those who have participated. “Homeowner attendance has been high at these sessions, which indicates that homeowners are working to prepare for mediation. Ensuring that both parties are prepared for mediation will be key to successful resolutions,” she said.

Aroostook County Housing Counselor Added to Program AUGUSTA, ME - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection signed a contract this month with Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP), increasing the number of housing counselors serving Maine homeowners. This contract adds another certified housing counseling service to the seven non-profit agencies currently under contract around the State

March 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bureau of Financial Institutions Superintendent Lloyd P. LaFountain, III announced this week that fourth quarter 2009 data submitted by Maine-chartered banks and credit unions shows a continuing increase in home foreclosures in Maine. In general, foreclosure activity at Maine banks and credit unions appears to be lower than in many other states and it does not pose a threat to the stability of Maine-chartered financial institutions.

March 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Maine Office of Securities and Maine Attorney General’s Office announced that Eric S. Murphy, Jr., formerly of Ellsworth, pled guilty on March 2nd in Hancock County Superior Court to two counts of Class B felony theft by deception in connection with an investment scam Murphy ran to fund his residential construction loan business

March 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Janet T. Mills warns homeowners to be careful when choosing a contractor to repair damage from recent storms. “After storms and other natural disasters, some home improvement contractors aggressively market their services to the elderly and other potentially vulnerable consumers to repair their homes,” said Attorney General Mills. “While most contractors in Maine are reputable and treat their customers fairly, some do not. Consumers should wait, check around and get written estimates before hiring a contractor do to home repairs."

March 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On March 10, 2010, the Foreclosure Diversion Program will hold its first informational session at the Augusta District Court for homeowners who have been ordered to attend as part of the new foreclosure mediation process; lenders and their attorneys in these cases are also invited to attend, although their attendance is not mandatory. The Supreme Judicial Court designed informational sessions to educate homeowners about the foreclosure mediation process and it is hoped that as a result of these sessions, the parties will be better prepared to use mediation sessions productively.

February 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley announced that on February 26, 2010, the Foreclosure Diversion Program will hold its first informational session at the Ellsworth District Court for homeowners who have been ordered to attend as part of the foreclosure mediation process. The Foreclosure Diversion Program is the result of the recently enacted P.L. 2009, ch. 402, An Act To Preserve Home Ownership and Stabilize the Economy by Preventing Unnecessary Foreclosures. In accordance with the new law, the Supreme Judicial Court established a statewide program to provide mediation services in certain residential foreclosure actions in Maine.

AUGUSTA, ME - February 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci announced today that six school and university oil-to-wood heating projects are receiving more than $3.2 million in federal recovery funds.

February 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley announced that on February 19, 2010, the Foreclosure Diversion Program will hold its first informational session for homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure in Cumberland County. The Foreclosure Diversion Program is the result of the recently enacted P.L. 2009, ch. 402, An Act To Preserve Home Ownership and Stabilize the Economy by Preventing Unnecessary Foreclosures. In accordance with the new law, the Supreme Judicial Court established a statewide program to provide mediation services in certain residential foreclosure actions in Maine.

February 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following an investigation by Maine’s Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection and the Attorney General’s Office, State officials have taken legal action against a Massachusetts-based debt management company. The State alleged that 123 Fix My Loan, LLC was not licensed to operate in Maine nor properly bonded and therefore acting illegally

AUGUSTA, ME - February 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci today swore in Dale McCormick as Director of MaineHousing. The Governor had nominated McCormick for reappointment on Jan. 5, and she was confirmed by the full Senate on Feb. 4.

January 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Maine Securities Administrator Judith Shaw announced today that a Cumberland County Grand Jury recently [1/8/10] returned a one count indictment charging former Yarmouth commercial real estate broker Daniel J. Coyne with Class B theft by deception in connection with his raising money to finance an allegedly non-existent real estate development.

AUGUSTA, ME - January 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci today announced nominations to the boards of the Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing), Dirigo Health and Trustees of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System.

December 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On December 21, 2009, the Supreme Court adopted amendments to the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, by adding Rule 93. Effective January 1, 2010, M.R. Civ. P. 93 will govern the operation of the Foreclosure Diversion Program.