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A ground breaking celebration will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 36 Avenue A (Lot 2), Asbury Park to officially launch the STARS/ Springwood Neighborhood Stabilization Project. Throughout the neighborhood, positive change is already visible. Construction is moving forward, excavation is underway, and building materials are being assembled in locations throughout the area. Join us as we acknowledge the partnership that has made this redevelopment possible. Program participants: The Honorable Ed Johnson, Mayor of the City of Asbury Park The Reverend David J. Parreott, Jr. Diane Kinnane, Manager, Neighborhood Programs Elements, NJ DCA Donna M. Blaze, CEO – Affordable Housing Alliance Jay F. Patock, President – Board of Directors, Affordable Housing Alliance Brian Church, President – Board of Directors, Coastal Habitat for Humanity Maureen Mulligan, Executive Director – Coastal Habitat for Humanity Paul McEvily, Associate Executive Director – Interfaith Neighbors Patrick Durkin, Director – Real Estate Development, Interfaith Neighbors Reception to follow at 33 Atkins Avenue, a home under construction by Interfaith Neighbors. Kindly RSVP to Christine Burke at aha-development@housingall.org or call 732-389-2958.

List of Alleged Loan Modification Scammers in NJ In New Jersey, law enforcement officials have brought civil and criminal lawsuits against numerous individuals and companies for alleged loan modification scams. In addition, New Jersey regulatory agencies may have revoked licenses of individuals perpetuating fraud against homeowners in distress. Please be aware of the below names as scammers have been known to continue operations even after having been caught. This information is not exhaustive, however. Generally, homeowners seeking loan modification assistance are encouraged to work with HUD certified housing counselors, which can be found by going to http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm. Homeowners may also call the Homeowners` HOPE Hotline 1-888-995-4673 for free loan modification assistance. The list of alleged scammers on this website was last updated on December 18, 2009. Please check http://www.state.nj.us/lps/news.htm for updated information regarding the New Jersey Attorney General`s mortgage-related fraud actions. All information on this page is courtesy of www.preventloanscams.org and is publically available. The New Jersey Attorney General has filed civil suits against these individuals: Edward Evans, Damien Figueroa, Donna Fisher, Seth L. Gendel, Martin A. Gendel Kelly Kotzker, Nicholas Manzi, Francis T. Memmo, Stephen Pasch, Edward Toledo Leon Toledo, Ejike Uzor, Esq., Raymond Vega, Robert "Barry" McBriar & Brian Mammoccio The New Jersey Attorney General has filed civil suits against these companies: Amer. Credit Repair & Debt Settlement American Financial Advocacy Council Bankruptcy Masters Corp., Best Interest Rate Mortgage Company LLC, Casey Properties, LLC, Credit Bureau Controls Corp., Hope Now Financial Services Corp., Lee Alan, LLP, NDROA, Inc., New Day Financial Solutions, SA New Hope Property LLC, Paramount Debt Settlement USA, Property Solutions of New Jersey, Inc., PSRC Holding Co. LLC United Counseling Association, Inc., United Credit Adjusters, Uzor Financial Solutions, LLC, Uzor and Associates, PC The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has fined the following companies for violating the Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) for offering to negotiate mortgage modifications without a debt adjuster`s license: Companies Affordable Finance, LLC, Best Response Loan Modification, EZ Financial Solutions, LLC, Home Rescue Today.Com, LLC Legal Loan Modification Inc., Premier Services & Consultants,LLC, RJD Consulting, Inc., United Global Services, LLC, Xtra-Financial, LLC, Registered Agent, Robert Lucarelly, Neil Ardolino [n/a], Howard Wasserman, Esq., Mark Bernstein, Esq., James Cage, Robert DeVito, Janny Jaramillo & Christopher Croce: The Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Attorney`s Office for the District of New Jersey have filed civil suits against these companies and individuals in New Jersey Ahron Henoch, Bankruptcy Masters Corp. Ezra Rishty, Federal Debt Solutions Ltd. Gerald Serino, National Bankruptcy Services Corp., United Counseling Association, Inc., United Credit Adjusters, Inc., United Money Tree, Inc. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) provides a listing of all licensed debt adjusters in the state on its website. If homeowners are contacted by an organization that does not appear on this list, they should contact DOBI or the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs to confirm that the entity is operating legally. The most up-to-date list can be found at: http://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_consumers/finance/counselors.html. The New Jersey Bar has not publically identified any attorneys about whom complaints have been lodged regarding loan modification services.

Caution: Beware of Loan Modification Scams Know the Signs, Get the Facts about Loan Modification Scams Scam artists across the country are preying on homeowners who are facing foreclosure or seeking a loan modification. Anyone can be a victim – but you don’t have to be. Here are six red flags to indicate that you may be dealing with a loan modification scammer: 1 A company/person asks for a fee in advance to work with your lender to modify, refinance or reinstate your mortgage. They may pocket your money and do little or nothing to help you save your home from foreclosure. 2 A company/person guarantees they can stop a foreclosure or get your loan modified. Nobody can make this guarantee to stop foreclosure or modify your loan. Legitimate, trustworthy HUD-approved counseling agencies will only promise they will try their very best to help you. 3 A company/person advises you to stop paying your mortgage company and pay them instead. Despite what a scammer will tell you, you should never send a mortgage payment to anyone other than your mortgage lender. The minute you have trouble making your monthly payment, contact your mortgage lender. 4 A company pressures you to sign over the deed to your home or sign any paperwork that you haven`t had a chance to read, and you don`t fully understand. A legitimate housing counselor would never pressure you to sign a document before you had a chance to read and understand it. 5 A company claims to offer "government-approved" or "official government" loan modifications. They may be scam artists posing as legitimate organizations approved by, or affiliated with, the government. Contact your mortgage lender first. Your lender can tell you whether you qualify for any government programs to prevent foreclosure. And, remember, you do not have to pay to benefit from government-backed loan modification programs. 6 A company/person you don’t know asks you to release personal financial information online or over the phone. You should only give this type of information to companies that you know and trust, like your mortgage lender or a HUD-approved counseling agency. To report a scam, call 1-888-995-HOPE or visit www.LoanScamAlert.org. For loan modification guidance from a HUD-approved counseling agency, contact The Affordable Housing Alliance at 732-389-2958 or go to HUD’s website to find an agency in your area, http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm.

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt announced at a press conference at the Affordable Housing Alliance (AHA), Eatontown NJ, that New Jersey is receiving $18 million in emergency funding from the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Rep Holt spoke with AHA client Rosemarie Lazazzero, a mother of two from Freehold who is receiving heating and energy assistance through the program. Affordable Housing Alliance CEO Donna M. Blaze reviewed all of the agencies services, including foreclosure counseling, help finding affordable rental housing and education for first-time homeowners. Affordable Housing Alliance Director of Housing Counseling Toi Collins urges families to apply for assistance, even if they think they may not qualify. AHA administers LIHEAP funding throughout Monmouth County, assisting those who pay a high proportion of household income for home heating and energy costs. Last December, Holt joined Congress and President Obama in providing needed funding to help those struggling to pay home heating and energy bills. To apply for LIHEAP funding, contact the Affordable Housing Alliance at 732-389-2204 or visit www.housingall.org.

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