Head-scratching reality: positive-equity foreclsoures
Here’s a misnomer and term that will undoubtedly give more than a few of our readers in Texas and elsewhere pause: positive-equity foreclosure. The home foreclosure process has always been centrally associated with negative equity, that is, properties in which homeowners’ outstanding mortgages exceed the estimated market value of their homes. A phrase commonly used […]
Military members can fight back against harassing debt collectors
According to the national news source Governing magazine, Texas is home to nearly 125,000 active-duty military personnel. That large number of men and women who reside in the state while serving their country likely comes as no surprise to most Texans, given the many — and often major — military installations that are interspersed throughout […]
Study: despite ACA, medical debt soon to be No. 1 bankruptcy cause
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’re well aware that having good health insurance doesn’t necessarily mean that an injury, a chronic health condition or a sudden illness won’t cause you financial problems. Overwhelming medical debt has long been a common trigger for bankruptcy, and a recent study using 2013 data predicts […]
Debt and lack of savings pushes retirement age up for many
If you are a San Antonio resident who is putting off retirement – perhaps, indefinitely – you are not alone. The average age at which Americans retire is continuing to rise, and it has been reported that many Baby Boomers will wait until at least the age of 66 to leave the workforce. And, as […]
Bank seeks foreclosure on Texas property belonging to heirs
For residents of Texas who have been negatively impacted by the economy, home foreclosure is an all-too-real consideration. When faced with financial duress, it’s important for homeowners to understand their rights and options. Not every case must end in foreclosure. There are legal avenues, such as certain forms of bankruptcy and debt relief, that can […]
Texas residents, be wary of loan modification scams
Many Texas homeowners who are struggling to make their mortgage payments month after month may consider working with their lenders in order to obtain loan modifications. While this can be helpful in some cases, homeowners need to ensure that the terms really protect their interests. And, borrowers also need to make sure that the modification […]
Even for those with insurance, medical debt can be a problem
One of our most important themes in this blog is that medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy. As we discussed in our December 6 post, the ever-rising cost of health care has made medical bills a bitter pill to swallow for large numbers of Americans. Many of the people struggling with […]
Rebuilding credit after bankruptcy: yes, it’s doable
Facing up to financial life in modern-day America often involves tradeoffs between short-term and long-term goals. For example, someone who is in urgent need of debt relief may try to just tough it out a little longer, rather than biting the bullet and filing for bankruptcy. Sometimes people do this, in part, because they’ve heard […]
Residential foreclosure update: data trend for Texas encouraging
One of the important threads we’ve been following in this blog is home foreclosure. The real estate crisis and the Great Recession that followed left huge numbers of homeowners underwater on their mortgages. Many of these homeowners have been unable to keep up with their payments, and there has been wave after wave of foreclosures […]
Bankruptcy filings and the economy: connection not always simple
The relationship between the overall economy and bankruptcy filings is not as simple and straightforward as it might seem. To be sure, the Great Recession and its uncertain aftermath have resulted in lost jobs and depleted asset portfolios that have led many people to file for personal bankruptcy. But it may be that sometimes the […]