BROUGHT TO YOU BY KIM DUCLOS OF COLDWELL BANKER WARDLEY
KVBC - LAS VEGAS
If you recently received a notice of default on your home, the Nevada Supreme Court and Nevada Legislature have now made it a law that your lender go to mediation.
To prepare dozens of district court judges to act as mediators, they are participating in mock sessions that will help them help you through the process.
News 3's explains how these mediations may help keep thousands of folks in their homes.
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Nearly two dozen judges showed up Friday at UNLV's Boyd School of Law in an effort to learn how to be better mediators.
"What were doing here today is expanding the skill set of our district court judges," says Jennifer Elliott, District Court Judge. "The judges need to learn and the judges know they need to learn. They are here desiring to learn an impartial set of skills."
The reason these judges are practicing now is because soon, they will be asked to mediate hundreds - if not thousands - of foreclosure cases.
Thanks to Assembly Bill 149, it is now Nevada law that all homeowners facing default after July 1 participate in mediation with their lender.
Attorney Ed Bernstein has clients facing foreclosure. He says mediation will end up helping thousands of families to stay in their homes.
And the best part is that it's simple to apply and affordable, only costing $200.
"This system is so simple," says Bernstein. "Our supreme court has done a great job. They've made it easy and the form - any layman can fill out the form. You don't need to be an attorney."
Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court, James Hardesty, hopes that these mediations will stop the rising number of foreclosures in the Silver State.
"My hope is that lenders and borrowers will get together and reach reasonable economic decisions about how best to handle the residence they've got."
The entire mediation process, beginning with when you apply and lasting until a decision is reached should take no more than 90 days. Anyone receiving a notice of default since July 1 will receive a mediation application in the mail.
For more information, visit the Nevada Judiciary web site.
The Saving You Money Team also wants to let you know about two foreclosure workshops to help you stay in your home.
The Hope Now Foreclosure Prevention Workshop is happening Friday until 8 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm at the Aliante Station Casino in the Scottsdale Ballroom. You'll be able to meet face-to-face with a housing counselor and discuss your best options.
Best of all, this workshop is free and open to the public.
Also, there is another educational event that will help lay out all of your options, explain what loan modification is, and help you recognize what to watch out for if you go to a loan modification company.
It's being held at the AAA Home Rescue Office on Sunset Road near Jones and the 215 Beltway. This workshop begins at 11 am on Saturday.
