FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2008

CONTACT: Sebastian D’Elia, 908-527-4419
Tom Plante, 908-527-4746

Foreclosure Information Available to Homeowners on Union County Clerk’s Website

ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that information about home mortgage foreclosures can be obtained on her Union County website and at her office.

“Home mortgage foreclosures have increased dramatically across the nation due to the ongoing disruption of the subprime mortgage lending market,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Since 2006, there is a 187 percent increase in the filings of mortgage foreclosures in Union County.”

In response to this emergency, the Office of the County Clerk has information and resources on its website for homeowners who are threatened by foreclosure or who, through economic circumstances, may face foreclosure in the near future. Printed information about foreclosures also is available at the Clerk’s Office at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth.

To access the website information, go to www.ucnj.org/ctyclerk/foreclosure.html

The County Clerk’s website offers links to a variety of resources available to homeowners from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Neighborhood Works America, and the Homeowner’s Hope Hotline.

“In most instances the purchase of a home is the largest expenditure and investment an individual will make. Any homeowner who expects to face foreclosure should consult immediately with an attorney and the institution which holds their mortgage,” Ms. Rajoppi recommended. “Do not wait until a proceeding has started. There are available resources to help protect your investment.”

The New Jersey State Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs,
and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance have developed materials to assist homeowners in need of guidance. These materials include downloadable booklets, frequently asked questions, and schedules of seminars, all of which are available in English and Spanish.
For this information, go to www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/foreclosures.htm and to www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_consumers/finance/foreclose_subprime.html

Both websites contain links for refinancing programs through the N.J. Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency and credit counseling. The Department of Banking and Insurance also has a toll-free hotline, 1-800-446-7467, for guidance, schedules and directions to foreclosure seminars.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi’s responsibilities include recording, filing and preserving all property transactions occurring within the county. The Clerk’s Office maintains copies of all documents since 1857 on file in the Record Room, which is open to the public for reference.
For further information, call the Clerk’s Office at 908-527-4787.