Downloads
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
Resources
New Video
Mo' Money, Mo' Money, Mo' Money: How Greedy Corporations Destroy the American Dream
The California Reinvestment Coalition just released a short documentary about the foreclosure crisis that continues to destroy the dreams of California families and threaten the stability of small businesses, city governments and neighborhoods.
The documentary shows how the crisis affects everyone. Mo'Money tells the story of borrowers who were lied to and ignored by their mortgage loan servicers, and of the people who are working to keep them in their homes. It also reveals how this disaster could have been avoided if regulatorsand government officials did not ignore predatory lending practices.
For Attorneys
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.
For Consumers
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.
- Click here for the California list at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website
- In Oakland, call 1-800-BE-ALERT (the Oakland City Attorney’s Homeowner Hotline) for information on local agencies.
Consumer Complaints About Lenders
The Americans for Fairness in Lending (AFFIL) website offers direction on how consumers can file complaints against lenders and other valuable information about the credit and lending industry.
Do You Have a Loan from IndyMac or Countrywide?
If you have a loan from IndyMac or Countrywide, read about loan modification plans that might apply to you.
HERA's Tip Sheet for Home Buyers and Homeowners
Download our homebuyer/homeowner tip sheet about how to protect yourself when taking out a loan.
download Spanish version
(Recomendaciones de HERA para propietario de viviendas
y compradores de vivienda)
California's Foreclosure Process and Timelines - Frequently Asked Questions
Download frequently asked questions about California's foreclosure process and timelines.
download English version
Download frequently asked questions about tenants' rights in foreclosed on properties.
download English version
Legal Representation
To find legal representation:
- Contact HERA staff
- Visit the National Association of Consumer Advocates at www.naca.net for list of attorneys by state and specialty.
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:
- New California Bill for Homeowners and Tenants Dealing with Foreclosure
- National Consumer Law Center’s website at www.nclc.org
- California Reinvestment Coalition’s website at www.calreinvest.org
- Center for Responsible Lending’s website at www.responsinblelending.org
- American’s for Fairness in Lending at www.affil.org