Counselor offers free loan modification services

For months, the news has been reporting rip-off scams from companies and individuals offering free loan modification services to vulnerable home owners searching for a way to save their homes.

Many local homeowners have paid large sums of money to companies or individuals offering to get their home loans modified with unrealistic promises of large debt forgiveness and interest rates. 

Mary Cioffi, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Itildo, reports that after watching many local homeowners fight to keep their homes, she found a housing counseling agency, approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and asked if they would be willing to come to Carson Valley to provide free loan modification services to the community. 

"There is no reason to pay," said Cioffi. "Funding for this program is provided in the Hope for Homeowners program. It is a free service and taxpayers should take advantage of it. We just lacked someone local to provide the service."

Jeni Temen, a certified HUD counselor with NID Housing Counseling Agency, agreed to come to Douglas County weekly if the demand is here and Cioffi would organize. 

"With such a high demand, our time is limited," said Temen. "It is a huge help if I can spend my time working directly with homeowners. I work for the homeowner. I fight for them. There are so many ways we can help."

As a trained loss mitigation advisor, Temen will meet with the homeowner one on one and contact their lender directly, suggesting the most appropriate program for each individual.

"Many people trust and work directly with their lenders with poor or no results," said Temen. "The federal government gave these banks and mortgage companies a lot of money to help slow down the foreclosure rate. Uncle Sam is now holding them accountable. The banks need to show the federal government they are modifying loans and working with homeowners to keep them in their homes. This service is free."

"I am thrilled that Jeni has agreed to come to Minden," said Cioffi. "The Douglas County library has offered to allow us to use the meeting room. We had a test run last week with three homeowners to get to know the process. I was amazed at the options Jeni had to offer. Homeowners can contact me, and I will provide them the forms via e-mail or we can arrange for pickup. It is very important they arrive at the meeting on time and with all the forms and required documents. Jeni can't work with an incomplete package. If you show up even a couple minutes late, you will not understand the process. Please be on time and have everything filled out completely. You do not have to be delinquent on your payments to qualify.

"It is like calling the police in an emergency. If there is a demand, I will arrange meetings in other areas like Topaz, Wellington, Carson City, Dayton and Stagecoach. If there are at least seven homeowners interested in an area, I will make every effort to set up a meeting with the HUD counselor in your community."

The first meeting is 12:55 p.m. Friday in the meeting room at the Douglas County Public Library in Minden. To obtain a forms package or get answers to questions or concerns, contact Cioffi at (775) 720-8200, or e-mail her at cioffi@charter.net and a package will be e-mailed to you.

Pre-registration is required due to limited space.