Pleadings Bank
HERA maintains
a library of useful legal pleadings to help consumer attorneys help the
public.
Membership is required to access these pleadings.
> APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP <
To arrange for training or to discuss the possibility of co-counseling, contact HERA staff.
Webinars and Audio Trainings
Bankruptcy, Mortgages and Foreclosure: What Bankruptcy Can and Can't Do for Borrowers in Distress
Connecting the Dots: Family Law, Housing Law, and Trusts and Estates Practitioners Discuss Mortgage Debt, Families and Foreclosure (Free)
Mortgage Debt Forgiveness, Foreclosure and Tax Consequences
Making The Most of California's New Homeowner Bill of Rights
Homeowner Bill of Rights - Summary of Protections
California's Homeowner Bill of Rights, which became law on January 1, 2013,
provides homeowners with new rights and protections with respect to the foreclosure process. The HBOR also covers related foreclosure issues such as tenant protections and blight prevention.
Download pdf
Get Assistance from HUD (multi-lingual website)
Victim of housing, loan servicing or lending discrimination? Contact HUD.
Equal Opportunity for All Brochure
Arabic | Cambodian | Chinese | English | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Vietnamese
Are You A Victim of Housing Discrimination? Read this.
Arabic | Cambodian | Chinese | English | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Vietnamese
Housing & Supportive
Services
YouTube
Story
in World Journal (Chinese)
Senior
Resources Fair IV - Opening -1
Affordable
Housing -2
Affordable
Housing -3
Affordable
Housing -4
Foreclosure
Prevention – 5
Foreclosure
Prevention – 6
Foreclosure
Prevention – 7
Foreclosure
Prevention – 8
Foreclosure
Prevention – 9
Foreclosure
Prevention – 10
Cancellation of Debt Income Tax Bill
You might have a tax bill if you lose your home, get principal reduction, or have other "cancellation of debt income".
Read here and contact a tax expert [pdf]
New Blog Site - Facing the Mortgage Crisis
Visitors can ask questions, get information, find resources and watch videos about the mortgage crisis. Blog >
California May Owe You Money!
You may be one of millions of Californians owed money by the State! You can find out and claim your property for free by visiting the following California websites. Don't pay anyone to do this for you-- you can take care of it yourself for free. Go to the California State Controller Unclaimed Property Main Page: http://www.sco.ca.gov/upd.html. Click on the Unclaimed Property database: http://scoweb.sco.ca.gov/UCP/. For additional information on unclaimed money (links organized by type of money): http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Money_Owed.shtml
The Opportunity Fund
Thinking of starting a business? Or do you have a business and need some financial help? Or are you trying to figure out how to save money and build assets for the future? Check out Opportunity Fund at http://www.opportunityfund.org/about/mission. The Fund is a non-profit that lends a helping hand, through their award-winning approach that includes financial education, microfinance loans, micro-savings accounts, and affordable housing financing.
Free Housing Counseling
The federal department of Housing and Urban Development funds and certifies local non-profits to provide free counseling to the public. Some agencies are trained to advise just homebuyers, while others are also certified to help residents who already own a home with refinancing and foreclosure avoidance information. Check on the HUD website for the certification information of the agencies listed.
Consumer Complaints About Lenders
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was newly created under the Obama administration "to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans - whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products".
Despite efforts by some members of Congress to stop the CFPB from opening its doors and doing its job of protecting Americans, the CFPB began to operate this summer. If you have a complaint about financial or credit products or services, including mortgages, you should complaint to the CFPB. Contact it at: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/the-bureau/.
Tips for Communicating with Your Servicer
Seeking assistance from your loan servicer can be difficult and frustrating. Download our tips for communicating with your servicer. (English version)
Legal Representation
To find legal representation:
Consumer Workshops
HERA provides free monthly workshops for homeowners and homebuyers that help you get the best home loan you can and protect yourself from scams. We also maintain a list of workshops being provided in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, in addition to our own.
If you want to have your workshops included on our list, please contact HERA staff.
Legislative Information
For the latest information on legislation affecting California consumers, check out:
Prevent Loan Scams
To report your scam to a national database tracking foreclosure rescue scams, go to www.preventloanscams.org/
Resources for Pet Owners
President's Plan
From Wall Street to Main Street: Understanding How the Credit Crisis Affects You. Prepared by The Joint Economic Committee Majority Staff
download report
Foreclosed: The Burden of Homeownership Loss on City of Oakland
and Alameda County Residents
This report provides information regarding the extent of predatory lending problems in Oakland and Alameda County
download report