Foreclosure battle depletes ex-Wachovia employee

For two years, Barry Lancett’s effort to get a loan modification from Wachovia, then Wells Fargo, has consumed him. The 55-year-old father of two physically shakes when he discusses his case and says the effort has distracted him when he should be focused on his job. In his crusade, he has accumulated mounds of paperwork …

Latest Foreclosure Crisis Is the Modifications

The Obama administration’s program to help struggling borrowers keep their homes is being hurt by the same miscommunication, botched documents and other snafus that caused the original foreclosure crisis. After J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. agreed in January to her trial loan modification under the Home Affordable Modification Program, Stephanie Lulko made six $767-a-month mortgage …

Bankruptcy battle: Golf course hoping for Rick Scott’s help

The public Stoneybrook Golf Course is going belly up and homeowners in the surrounding neighborhood might have to foot the bill. The course – located off Corkscrew in Estero, just south of Miromar Outlets – has been in an ongoing bankruptcy battle with the governor. For John Byrne, buying a home in Stoneybrook was an …

Sinkhole concerns keep condo residents from homes

It’s been four months since a 25-foot wide, 40-foot deep sinkhole opened at the foot of the Bordeaux Village condominium building forcing a dozen families out of their homes. They still aren’t allowed back in the building because of safety concerns. The reason for the exile: A squabble between the homeowner’s association and the insurance …

Faithful mortgage payments may hobble economy

For almost two years, home foreclosures have swept the nation, spreading misery among once-buoyant families, spattering lenders with red ink and undermining efforts to restart the economy. But a bigger problem may turn out to be the millions of Americans who are still faithfully paying their mortgages, but on houses worth far less than before …