MARINSTOCK FESTIVAL

FORECLOSURE STORIES

HOW BANKS ARE CAPITALIZING ON FORECLOSURE INSURANCE

By Manuel Fernandez

So now, picture this sceneÉ an office building in Marin County, California, seated around a conference table is a restaurant owner who was hit by a car, with his wife and two young children present. Next, a 12 year homeowner and community activist, sitting next to his wife who's a jazz singer, activist and event coordinator. Next seat is woman who's husband abruptly left her, and left the responsibilities of saving the house for her to figure out.

Then there's the big-hearted, soft-spoken man, whose brother's medical condition is such that he cannot be present to represent himself. Next to him is a builder, who's been out of a job for 6 months, with his wife by his side. The woman who underwent chemo just sat down, her locks of curls are starting to grow back. A new face to the group just walked in, a woman eager to share her story.

We see people from many walks of life at Marin Family Action. These are just some of the people who are fighting to save their homes!

Standing at the dry erase board is Manny Fernandez, Executive Director of Marin Family Action, and facilitator of the group. On the board he writes...

"Don't Get Mad, Get Even"

In order to make a claim against their foreclosure insurance, mortgage banks have been using loan modification as a cover-up to force families out of their homes through foreclosures, allowing the banks to receive payment from their insurance companies against their foreclosure insurance. They then sell the homes to investors. The banks get their insurance money, the brokers get their fees and investors get homes a rock-bottom prices. And the families, what do they get?

Marin Family Action (MFA) is working with these families to save their homes from foreclosure. Currently, thirty-eight families have contacted MFA because they have been denied loan modification multiple times and have had the properties sold from underneath them while waiting for loan modification to come through. All of these families have been forced to file bankruptcy to stall the process of evictions. Once the new owner has purchased the property, an unlawful retainer is filed in which families have to appear in Marin County court for the sole purpose of eviction to vacate their property.

Loan Modification companies are a scam across the country. They have and are still taking advantage of families who do not know that, under the guise of getting better loans, their homes are about to be taken from them. Our group DONT GET MAD, GET EVEN has discovered that in the original loan documents, families incomes were severely over stated, no proof of income was necessary, (1008-1003 tax verification) and brokers were falsifying everything to get rich quick at the expense of these families.

Our loan officer conducted a forensic analysis of the original loan documents confirming our suspicions. MFA has produced a chronology of each families personal nightmare (or known in the loan industry as the modification process) and incorporated it into a complaint/lawsuit in the Marin County Courts. Three complaints that Marin Family Action has assisted in filing have already help provide a victory for the families by including a clause in the complaint/lawsuit which red flags the property which makes it hard to sell to a new owner.

Three complaints that Marin Family Action has assisted in filing against the mortgage companies and others involved for committing this fraud have already helped provide a victory for the families who were evicted from their homes after the property was sold at the auction date. In the lawsuit we include a lease pen dance, which makes the property hard-to-sell. Investors looking to buy the property are informed that there is a lawsuit against the mortgage company and that the house is part of the suit. It's like putting a lean on the property. Think about it, would you buy a property that has a lawsuit against it.

We need to share our stories to other families in the Bay Area to bring awareness to this fraud being committed in our community. Please help us provide Bay Area families with the knowledge on the only way to fight back against the loan modification scam.

Marin Family Action is able to provide a great legal service outside the Marin Justice Center by way of fundraising only. We have no funding support and are solely relying on our fundraising efforts to continue our pursuit of justice.

Marin Family Action is fighting back with MUSIC - On Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 in Novato, Calif. at Hamilton Amphitheater, Marin Family Action is sponsoring its first annual MARINSTOCK FESTIVAL, a benefit to aid families in foreclosure.

Come join Marin Family Action, our families and friends, along with California Assembly Member Jared Huffman, Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey and Mark Ibanez of KTVU Channel 2 as we listen to some of the Bay Area's most talented performers and celebrate with One Day of Music and Action!

"Dozens of families who are in foreclosure have brought their stories and urgent need for guidance and legal assistance to Marin Family Action. MFA is working to help families fight to keep their homes through any legal means necessary," says Executive Director Manny Fernandez. "The MARINSTOCK Festival performers are donating their talents to help raise money for these families in this time of crisis and the lineup of artists is impressive."

Gates open at 10:00 am; music and performances continue throughout the day until 6:00 pm. Performers include Bay Area legendary jazz pianist Si Perkoff, multi-instrumentalist, saxophonist and vocalist Richard Howell, percussionist Tony Mayfield, gifted vocalist and all time Bay Area

favorite Mwanza Furaha, The Medicine Ball Band, T.S.K. Rap and R&B singer Pilar Renee, singer and fantastic dancer Seaon & Friends, Sandy & Richard Riccardi, Ramona Pam and The Bay Area Soul Line Dancers, Take Five Again, Mike Miranda and Los Diablo de Amor, jazz poet Raymond Nat Turner, percussionist Jerry Bojeste, blues guitarist Andy Simpson, author of the Planet Earth Arthur Sheridian, author/poet and activist La Tigresa, flamenco guitarist Michael "Firefingers" Olsen, and Cathey Cotten and The Mighty Groove.

This is a family event and children under 17 are free with a food donation to Marin Food Bank. In addition to a Kid Zone with its own performers throughout the day, MARINSTOCK entertainment includes Jumpy Houses, Face Painting, Conscious Carnival Games & Activates, Storytellers and Jugglers,Bubblelogist Sterling Johnson, a children’s sing-a-long with Arjan Khalsa, and a "Chill Tent" for feeding and napping. In addition, there will be a Healing Sanctuary for massage therapy, a "Flea Market," a Food Zone and a Silent Auction.

For more information go to: http://marinstock.green-egg.net or call Mwanza Furaha at 415-419-5739 or email mwanza@comcast.net.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Sat. October 3, 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Location:
Hamilton Amphitheater
601 Hamilton Parkway
Novato, CA 94949

Cost: $10 General Admission, $15 Festival Friends, $50 VIP Gold, Children under 17 FREE with food donation (must be accompanied by an adult).

Purchase tickets online at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/76439 or at the office of Marin Family Action, please call the office 415-444-0915 to purchase tickets.

MARINSTOCK is sponsored by: Marin Family Action www.marinfamilyaction.org Event Website: http://marinstock.green-egg.net

Contact information:
Marin Family Action
Marin Justice Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Ste. 130
San Rafael, CA 94903
http://www.marinfamilyaction.org
Phone: 415-444-0915
Fax: 415-444-1778

Mwanza Furaha
Marinstock Event Coordinator
Phone: 415-419-5739
mwanza@comcast.net
Manny Fernadez, Executive Director
Marin Family Action
Marin Justice Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Ste.130
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: 415-444-0915
Fax: 415-444-1778