Florida is one of about 25 states with a foreclosure mediation program, which was established by the Florida Supreme Court in 2009 in an attempt to both help homeowners and clear court caseloads. However, a recent study suggests the mediation program is not as successful as had been hoped.
For example, in Miami-Dade County, only 2,396 of the 14,372 foreclosures that were recommended to foreclosure actually occurred. This is largely due to the fact that homeowners are very difficult to reach and often don't respond to requests for mediation -- Statewide, only 41% of homeowners were successfully contacted. This is just one of the many reasons you should not ignore attempts by your lender to contact you.
It's important to remember that the program is young and still improving. Some of the problems associated with the program can be remedied by hiring an attorney. If your lender has requested mediation but you failed to respond, an attorney may be able to reinstate you into the program. It is important to have an attorney representing your rights at mediation. If you are facing the prospect of foreclosure and believe mediation may be option for you, contact a Jacksonville Foreclosure Lawyer or a Florida Foreclosure Lawyer today to discuss your options.
