Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyer, Lee M. Perlman. Fannie Mae announced on Monday that it would soon start taking a longer view of consumer credit histories when evaluating mortgage applications, a change that could help some borrowers and hurt others. Beginning in mid-2016, Fannie Mae will require lenders to use what is known as […]
How to Approach Student Loans, as First Payments Come Due
Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyer, Lee M. Perlman. IF you graduated from college last spring, it may soon be time to start repaying your student loans. Many federal student loans come with a six-month grace period after graduation, during which payments are not required. The idea is that new graduates need some breathing room […]
How A Conversation About Bankruptcy Changed One Couple’s Life
Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyer, Lee. M. Perlman After a recent client meeting, I realized just how impactful financial conversations can be. It is truly amazing to see positive changes in a family’s life after what seems like a relatively straight forward, simple conversation. I met with this couple almost a year ago and […]
A Student Loan System Stacked Against the Borrower
Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyer, Lee M. Perlman. “It feels like I’m being set up to fail.” That’s how Patrick Wittwer, 31, described his experience trying to repay his roughly $50,000 in student loans. Between misdirected payments by one of the companies servicing his loan and the abusive collection tactics he encountered when he […]
7 Bad Financial Habits and How to Fix Them
Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Attorney, Lee M. Perlman Most of the modern world is built on a foundation of credit. We have credit readily available for just about everything. Want to buy something? No need to wait, just take out a loan. But this very foundation at the core of the economic machine can […]
Think Students Can’t Declare Bankruptcy? Think Again
Bankruptcy is supposed to give debtors a fresh start—unless they’re struggling with student loans. But a little-known provision is helping these borrowers take their creditors to court. Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyer, Lee M. Perlman. In 2005, Chuck Stewart’s life had come to a screeching halt. His partner was in the hospital with a […]
5 ways to avoid predatory student loan scams
Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyer, Lee M. Perlman. If you’ve got student loans, chances are you’ve seen an email or Facebook ad that says something like this: “Call now to qualify for President Obama’s Student Loan Forgiveness program.” Sounds official, but that voice in the back of your head saying you should probably be wary is right. […]
Life After Bankruptcy: When and How Your Business Can Get Its Financial Groove Back
Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyer, Lee M. Perlman. When you’re in the trenches of a financial failure, filing for bankruptcy can feel like the end of the world. Your business has failed. You may feel like your career is over, like your life is ruined. But if you take a step back, evaluate your […]
Fannie Mae Lowers Mandatory Waiting Period After Bankruptcy, Short Sale, & Pre-Foreclosure
Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Attorney, Lee M. Perlman. Mandatory Waiting Period Reduced To 2 Years It’s getting easier to get approved for a mortgage. Following in the FHA’s footsteps, Fannie Mae has reduced the mandatory waiting period for a mortgage after bankruptcy, short sale, or pre-foreclosure. Borrowers no longer need to wait 4 years […]
11 myths about student loan forgiveness
Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyer, Lee M. Perlman. If you have more student loan debt than you can handle, or if you’ve been paying and paying (and paying) and can’t make headway, chances are you’ve wondered about student loan forgiveness. As you look into your options, keep in mind that everything you read (or hear — even […]
