Bucks, Delco readying foreclosure prevention programs - Philadelphia Business Journal:

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Both suburban counties have been dealing with a majo r increase in foreclosure filings and are working to finalize a prograkm that would include the conciliation conferences that have takenb place in the Philadelphia Common Pleas courts since it adopted a program nearly ayear ago. The conferences includee the homeowner, lawyers representing the homeownedand lender, credit counselors and a presiding The idea is to revise the mortgage loan agreement and alloew homeowners to keep theid property if at all possible. The Philadelphiwa program has served as a modek for other jurisdictions nationwide and saved hundreds of homes fromsheriff sales. Delaware County Sheriff JosepyMcGinn Jr.
said the County Council has authorized a grany for to open additional office s to deal with the mountinbforeclosure problem. County officials are finalizintg a plan that would determine how the conferenceswould work. He expects to have a prograjm up and runningby September. Doug Bucks County court administrator, said the number of foreclosuresz in the county has increased by roughly 30 percentthis year. He said county officialzs used the Delaware County proposal asan outline. He said the county’sx Common Pleas judges are reviewingy the proposal this week and will most likely approve somethingg similarto it.
Neither county plans to adopt the portionb of the Philadelphia program that mandatezs court appearances for homeowners whose properties are in some stagreof foreclosure. Instead they will seek to implement a plan that will give homeownerz the option to respond to mailed notices and signify whether they want to opt into the They will then be responsiblew for getting in touch with ahousing counselor. “W felt the Philadelphia program wastoo complicated, and we coulsd not devote the amount of resourcexs to this that they can,” Praul said. “Wwe were specifically concerned about no one showing up tothe conferences.” Philadelphiza Common Pleas Judge Annette M.
who oversees the city’s program, said in an intervies earlier this year that 30 percentg of homeowners do not show up forconciliation conferences. “Thegy key is where does the incentivecome from,” McGinn “If a homeowner wants to save their they will fill out information and participate. It’ds your house, and it should be your top priorit other thanyour family.” Rizzo said mandatiny participation has led to a successfuol program in Philadelphia, despite the no It holds more than 100 conciliation conference every Thursday at City Hall. “Wd have the benefit of seeing how it’ s worked, and we can handle the volume,” Rizzlo said.
“Our mission is to reacuh as many homeowners as possible and the mandatsesupports that.” Rizzo said New Jersehy adopted the Philadelphia program but included an opt-ihn provision and state coury officials are disappointed with the low number of homeowners participating. The Pennsylvani state legislature is considering legislatiobn that would create conciliation conference in all 67Pennsylvania