New Foreclosure Prevention Program launched in New York State

Yesterday, the New York Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, announced the New York State Mortgage Assistance Program to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. 

Long Island, with its beautiful, expensive real estate, was devastated by the economic crisis in 2008 and is still struggling to recover six years later. It currently has the highest rate of defaulted mortgage loans and some of the highest foreclosure rates in New York State. In order to speed up the recovery process, Mr. Schneiderman launched this program yesterday to help struggling homeowners borrow up to $40,000 to stave off foreclosure. This program will become effective in September and will be available to Long Island before the rest of New York State, using the money from the National Mortgage Settlement of 2013 to fund these loans.  Many homeowners have been denied for loan modifications in the past because they were unable to pay off their arrears or because there were liens against their property. These loans, which are interest-free and not due until the mortgage is paid off in full, will help struggling homeowners pay off the obstacles to their loan modification approval and allow them to keep their homes.

Andrew Lieb writes in Dan's Papers New Magazine Behind The Hedges - 6/27 Issue "10 Secrets To a Smooth Hamptons Real Estate Purchase"

Check out Andrew Lieb's latest article featured in Dan's Papers Behind the Hedges Magazine, 10 Secrets To A Smooth Hamptons Real Estate Purchase.

In this article Andrew navigates the legal and otherwise logistical waters of buying a home on the East End. 

Topics discussed include:

• Affordability
• Bonus Rights
• Credit
• Broker
• Pre-Approval
• Title Report
• Survey
• Rental Option
• Date for Possession
• Certificate of Occupancy

The magazine is out so you can pick up a copy all over the east end and Manhattan. 

Here is a link to the digital copy. 

National Grid's 811 Service

If you're thinking about landscaping your backyard, installing a wooden deck around your pool, or doing any other project that involves digging, remember to first call National Grid's 811 service. By calling this number, you confirm with National Grid that your digging will not interfere with power lines or pipe lines that are located close to the surface. 811 is a free service that helps keep you and your utilities safe and allows the area to enjoy its services uninterrupted.