Foreclosure Defense in Birmingham, AL

Are you currently facing a threat of foreclosure in Birmingham, Alabama or are already going through proceedings? Consult with an experienced foreclosure defense lawyer to find out what your options are to save your home.

What Is Foreclosure?

The process begins when a Birmingham, AL homeowner does not make a mortgage payment. Residents of Birmingham generally have a grace period of 1 year. However, if you took out a loan after 2016, that grace period is only 180 days after the foreclosure sale. If after this time, the homeowner has not resolved the payment issue, the lender can begin to foreclose on the house. The home is sold to recover the losses caused by the owner being unable to pay their mortgage as stipulated in the mortgage contract.

Foreclosure By Power of Sale

The power of sale is a clause in the mortgage or deed of trust. It states that the lender can foreclose without court oversight. The Alabama State Bar states that a foreclosure sale may not take place until 30 days after the last notice of sale has been published. This notice must be published once a week for 4 straight weeks in a newspaper in the county, or counties, in which the property is held. However, before this happens your lender must attempt to work with you in loss mitigation. If the lender can prove that you meet these criteria, they can sell the foreclosed home.

Foreclosure By Judicial Sale

Foreclosure by judicial sale involves the sale of a mortgaged property under the supervision of the court. The court proceedings work first to satisfy the mortgage, then to satisfy the lien holders, and then to the lender. Foreclosure by judicial sale requires the lender to navigate the legal process carefully to ensure anyone who buys the foreclosed property legally owns the title.

Types of Foreclosure Defenses

If you’re in the process of foreclosure, you’ll want to do everything in your power to stop the foreclosure. Here are common foreclosure defenses your Birmingham attorney might recommend.

The Bank Didn’t Follow State Procedures

The foreclosure process is complicated and time-consuming; oftentimes, that leads to errors. If the bank or other lender didn’t follow Birmingham, Alabama foreclosure procedures, you might have a good case for stopping the foreclosure.

The Mortgage Servicer Made Mistakes

It is possible for mortgage services to make mistakes when handling homeowners’ accounts. Here are some of the most common mistakes to look out for:

  • Dual tracking, which means pursuing foreclosure at the same time a different loan modification is pending
  • Sending your mortgage payments to the wrong party
  • Overstating the amount of money you owe for your mortgage payments
  • Imposing excessive fees for late payments that weren’t stipulated in the mortgage contract

If you think the mortgage servicer made these or other mistakes, contact an attorney in Birmingham, AL right away to help you stop the foreclosure process. This is one of the best options available to help you save your home.

You’re on Active Duty

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides special protections to people who are on active duty. This prevents lenders in Birmingham from being able to foreclose your home without a proper court proceeding. It allows you to provide a defense with the help of an experienced foreclosure attorney.

The main protection is if you took out your mortgage prior to being on active duty, the foreclosure proceedings must occur in court even if that is not the norm unless you sign a waiver for the lender.

The Foreclosing Party Lacks “Standing”

The foreclosing party is the party that owns the loan. If the lender can’t prove that they own the loan, then that means they lack “standing”. They then can’t foreclose the home.

This actually happens a lot because banks often bundle your loan with other loans and sell them to other banks or investors. This can make it difficult to track who exactly owns the loan for your house.

The Statute of Limitations Has Passed

The statute of limitations protects homeowners from foreclosure if a significant amount of time has passed since they stopped making their mortgage payments. Believe it or not, some mortgages or missed payments do slip through the cracks.

Property codes and foreclosure laws are laid out by The Alabama Department of Revenue. No definite statute of limitations exists in Birmingham as to when a lender must begin foreclosure proceedings. If you have missed payments for 120 days the lender can begin foreclosure at any time. However, Birmingham residents should note that a 2018 court ruling, Barnes vs. U.S. National Bank gives borrowers considerable room to maneuver as the word “may” in a clause of a contract can have several meanings. Therefore, you might want to contact an attorney to review the language of your mortgage.

Additional Foreclosure Defenses

Here are some less common foreclosure defense options:

  • You’re already making payments on a loan modification, which means the foreclosure should not have been initiated.
  • You believe the lender violated federal regulations if you have a VA, USDA, or FHA loan.
  • You never received a breach of contract letter from the lender informing you of the violation of your mortgage contract or deed of trust.

Preparing for the Foreclosure Defense Process

When an attorney takes on your case in Birmingham, Alabama, it’s important to remember that there are no guarantees that you’ll win, but your chances just climbed higher. Each foreclosure case is unique and requires a deep understanding of your state’s foreclosure laws. A good attorney knows how to navigate the court system and will help you find any and all loopholes that can work to your advantage.

If you live in a state where foreclosures always happen in civil court, your attorney will simply bring any issues with the foreclosure up to the judge. However, if you live in a state where foreclosures typically happen outside of the court system, you and an attorney may have to start the judicial process by filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you retain the services of an attorney, The Birmingham County Court may be where your case comes before a judge. Even if you cannot stop the case, the attorney can help you stall the process while you get your affairs in order.

Work With an Experienced Foreclosure Defense Lawyer In Birmingham, Alabama

Even if you feel you don’t have a viable case, an attorney may find solid grounds for fighting the foreclosure. Consulting with a Birmingham, AL attorney is an objective way to find out if your case is worth going to court. Most first-time consultations with a lawyer are free, which means there’s no risk involved.

Take the first big steps toward fighting to keep your home. You can also delay the process for as long as possible until you find a new one. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Alabama state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

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