Complicated answer: technically speaking the purchase money first mortgage is exempted from TILA rescission but is still available under little FTC and common law fraud. This exemption was carved out after exhaustive lobbying by lenders.
The actual answer to your question is MAYBE. It depends upon the auctioneer’s assessment, but if you let everyone know at the auction that they are buying into a lawsuit our experience shows that generally speaking nobody bids — not even the lender.
Now if you accompany your letter with the TILA audit and an attorney’s demand letter, you are in a stronger position.
The TILA/Mortgage audit is the key and most people don’t know how to do it even though they are advertising otherwise on fancy websites etc. We have two on our site that we are currently referring to and we are looking for others that are actually competent and not fly by night take your money and run places.
And if you are willing to file suit against the lender, there are a number of ways to prevent the sale and turn the tables on the lender. There are even strategies that are outlined in this blog that show how in certain cases the borrower walked away with the house free and clear of the mortgage and note.
Here is some verbiage that has been used, but frankly without an attorney to deal with the lender, your position is not going to be taken as seriously as it would with a competent attorney who understands the complex issues:
Dear Sir or Madam: Please accept this letter on behalf of the above-named property owner and borrower. While this letter is written in part for purposes of settlement and compromise it is already a demand letter which can and will be used as necessary. It is therefore not a confidential communication protected under the rules of settlement disclosures and correspondence.
You have previously been presented with proper notices of deceptive lending practices in the closing on the above-referenced loans. Said notices were accompanied by Proposed Resolutions under the Federal Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.
Notwithstanding the above, your agents have threatened foreclosure, sale and eviction of the homeowner/borrower, despite the facts that the borrower is not in default, the lender and trustee are ignorant of any facts to state affirmatively that the borrower is or is not in default, the lender is in default of its obligations under applicable Federal and State laws, the lender at the closing the servicing agent are not the real parties in interest (i.e., they lack standing to proceed to judicial or non-judicial sale), the trustee and lender lack authority to proceed but have intentionally and fraudulently filed papers and posted notices as though the authority was present.
WE HEREWITH DEMAND THE NAMES AND CONTACT INFORMATION ALONG WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITY SOLD, THE ASSIGNMENT MADE, AGREEMENTS SIGNED, BETWEEN ALL OF THE MORTGAGE BROKERS, REAL ESTATE BROKERS, DEVELOPERS, APPRAISERS, MORTGAGE AGGREGATORS, INVESTMENT BANKERS, RETAIL OR OTHER SELLER OF SECURITIES AND THE INVESTORS WHO PURCHASED THE SECURITIES.
Based upon information received from the experts in this case and based upon our own factual and legal investigation there appear to be claims in addition to the claims stated in prior correspondence, which claims based upon the following summary, are in most cases not exclusive and therefore the demands stated in this letter and prior correspondence you have received, which is incorporated herein as specifically as if set forth at length hereat, should all be considered cumulative.
Usury: As a result of the artificially inflated “fair market values” utilized by LENDER et al, its agents, servants and/or employees, to induce the borrower to sign the mortgage documents and purchase the property, the effective yield now vastly exceeds the legal lending limit in the State of Florida, if the borrower pays in accordance with the mortgage and note indentures. A quick review of the usury law in Florida will reveal that while it has been relaxed somewhat to accommodate predatory lending through credit cards and payday loans, it remains somewhat stringent in connection with other loans and allows the borrower to to cancel the loan and collect damages. Hence, just for the record, in the unlikely event we do not settle this case, demand is herewith made for full satisfaction of the mortgage and note plus three times the value of the note in damages, plus attorney fees and costs of 10% of the value of the of the claim which is the principal of the note plus three times the principal of the note.
Security Violation: The subject mortgage was part of a purchase transaction in which the property was sold with promises and assurances that the value would go up, the rental value would assure a return on investment, and that the investor need not perform any work, since the maintenance and other factors would be done by third parties — the Condominium Association, the real estate broker, the management office etc. This constitutes, despite the appearance of other “uses” the sale of a security under the Securities Act of 1933 and other applicable Federal and state Securities laws. The sale of this security was improper, lacking disclosure, rights to rescind under the securities laws, and lacking in disclosure as to the true nature of the transaction and the true position of the parties, including but not limited to the fact that the “lender” was in actuality acting as a conduit, removing the essential aspect of risk-sharing in the normal lender-borrower relationship, that the risk of loss was not only real but unavoidable because of the artificially inflated values, and that the Buyer should consider the purchase to be a high-risk investment with the possibility of total loss. Since the sale of THIS security was part of larger plan to sell securities to “qualified” investors using false ratings and false assurances of insurance, together with a promised rate of return in excess of the revenue produced by the underlying efforts, the sale of THIS security was part of larger Ponzi scheme wherein securities were sold at both ends of the spectrum of the supplier of capital (the investor) and the consumer of the capital (the borrower and the seller of the property). Since compensation arising from the transaction with this borrower was not disclosed to the borrower, the transaction lacked proper disclosure and is subject to rescission, compensatory and punitive damages. Hence, just for the record, in the unlikely event we do not settle this case, demand is herewith made for full satisfaction of the mortgage and note plus three times the value of the note in damages, plus attorney fees of 10% of the value of the of the claim which is the principal of the note plus three times the principal of the note.
Common Law Fraud in the Inducement and Fraud in the execution of the closing documents including but not limited to the settlement statement, the mortgage and note. Hence, just for the record, in the unlikely event we do not settle this case, demand is herewith made for full satisfaction of the mortgage and note plus three times the value of the note in damages, plus punitive and/or exemplary damages plus attorney fees of 10% of the value of the of the claim which is the principal of the note plus three times the principal of the note.
Little FTC Act (Florida): while the transaction clearly involves interstate commerce, Florida law provides for much the same remedies as described above for unfair and deceptive lending or business practices. Hence, just for the record, in the unlikely event we do not settle this case, demand is herewith made for full satisfaction of the mortgage and note plus three times the value of the note in damages, plus punitive and/or exemplary damages plus attorney fees of 10% of the value of the of the claim which is the principal of the note plus three times the principal of the note.
TILA claims have been summarized in prior correspondence. Because the transaction is not a pure first mortgage residential transaction, the TILA exception for rescission does not apply and we therefore demand rescission in addition to the above-stated claims. Hence, just for the record, in the unlikely event we do not settle this case, demand is herewith made for full satisfaction of the mortgage and note plus three times the value of the note in damages, plus punitive and/or exemplary damages plus attorney fees of 10% of the value of the of the claim which is the principal of the note plus three times the principal of the note.
RESPA: You have failed to properly respond to the claims under the act are are currently in violation. Hence, just for the record, in the unlikely event we do not settle this case, demand is herewith made for full satisfaction of the mortgage and note plus three times the value of the note in damages, plus punitive and/or exemplary damages plus attorney fees of 10% of the value of the of the claim which is the principal of the note plus three times the principal of the note.
RICO: As stated above there were multiple parties in multiple states in a scheme spanning virtually all continents in which false, misleading and non-conforming statements were made to investors and borrowers alike, wherein LENDER et al acted in concert with other ”lenders” and investment bankers to artificially create the appearance of higher market values for property and the false appearance of trends that did not in actuality exist, but for the “free money” (secured under false pretenses) pumped into a financial system and real estate market consisting of false and deceptive high pressure sales tactics whose objectives were to get the borrower’s signature without regard for the consequences to either the borrower or the investor. Hence, just for the record, in the unlikely event we do not settle this case, demand is herewith made for full satisfaction of the mortgage and note plus three times the value of the note in damages, plus punitive and/or exemplary damages plus attorney fees of 10% of the value of the of the claim which is the principal of the note plus three times the principal of the note.
Under Federal Law, you are a provider of financial services and/or products to a borrower whom you or your agents, predecessors, or successors intentionally deceived at the closing of the loan, conspired to misrepresent the proper appraised value of the property, and have now ignored your basic responsibilities of presenting a response to the notices and correspondence already on file with you and regulatory agencies, who have been informed of your illegal and improper conduct.
Notwithstanding the above, the borrowers are now faced with the apparent prospect of losing their house, their credit rating, and have been required to seek the services of legal counsel to forestall the loss, for which services demand is herewith made under the terms of the mortgage and all applicable Federal (TILA, RESPA, RICO) and State Law...YOUR CONDUCT, IF YOU PROCEED, CONSTITUTES CRIMINAL THEFT AND CIVIL THEFT OF THE REAL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO THE MORTGAGE, NOTE AND PROCEEDINGS YOU HAVE POSTED AND FILED. Accordingly your position, in the absence of any authority to do so under law is invalid and illegal. ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER/HOMEOWNER DEMAND IS HEREWITH MADE THAT ALL EFFORTS AT SALE, EVICTION OR FORECLOSURE BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AS THE PROPERTY IS SCHEDULED FOR EVICTION/SALE WITHIN A FEW DAYS.
Any further attempts at collection will result in further action taken on behalf of the borrowers for all remedies available in law and equity in both administrative proceedings, and judicial forums possessing competent jurisdiction, which will seek damages for unfair trade trade practices, treble damages under applicable law for RICO, FTC and little FTC violations, consequential damages and refunds, attorney fees, court costs, and all other available remedies in law or equity.
