On Saturday November 5, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. I will be teaching a free public workshop offered through the Contra Costa Bar Association on foreclosure and alternatives to foreclosure. The program will be held at the Pittsburg Public Library located at 80 Power Avenue, Pittsburg, CA 94565. During the workshop, I will review the law with respect to foreclosure and its aftermath, including eviction and circumstances where a lender may be able to recover a deficiency. More importantly, I will review alternatives to foreclosure, highlighting changes in the law and federal programs related to refinancing, loan modifications, short sales, deeds in lieu of foreclosure and leaseback of the property. I will also review recent changes in the law prohibiting recovery of deficiencies after completed short sales and extending the time period for an exemption that may limit taxes on loan forgiveness that results from foreclosures and certain short sales. This is a free public workshop that I hope anyone with questions about what to do with property which is underwater in that the borrowers owe more than the property is worth, or borrowers who cannot afford their loan payments, will attend. I will have handouts of information related to the topics to be covered.
Steven Mehlman