New York Legislative Update

• In August, we reported on S5079A Zombie Property Remediation Act of 2019, while it awaits the Governor’s signature (or veto) a recent editorial in the Daily Gazette suggests that the “Governor should veto it and force legislators to fix issues raised by opponents
  To view the editorial please click here.

In the interim, Governor Cuomo has signed into law several pieces of legislation pertaining to housing, vacant properties and blight.

The three (3) bills are;

• Preventing Deed Fraud and Mortgage Scams (A.5615/S.1688)
  This law provides better protections for homeowners whose homes are either in default or in foreclosure. It closes loopholes to prevent deed fraud and mortgage scams, increasing the likelihood that a victim will have the opportunity to seek recovery in court.
• Requiring Payment of Homeowners’ Association Fees (S.4182/A.1800)
  This measure requires banks or mortgage holders of vacant and abandoned residential properties to continue paying homeowners’ association fees or cooperative fees as needed to maintain a property when it has been abandoned during the foreclosure process. This will help to ensure properties do not become dilapidated before the foreclosure is finalized.
• Reforming Bank Obligations During Sale of Mortgage (A.92A/S.5017A)
  Consumers who are looking at loan modification options are often in difficult financial situations and are acting to save their homes from foreclosure. The process can be stressful and complicated, and sales or transfers of their loans in the midst of this process can be confusing and additionally stressful. This bill will provide consumers with certain protections if their loan is sold or transferred during the modification process. First, if the loan is transferred during the application process for a loan modification, the original holder of the loan must provide the consumer with a list of all the application documents provided to the buyer or transferee. Second, the bill ensures that that if the loan is sold or transferred after a homeowner has been approved for a modification of their mortgage that the subsequent mortgage servicer honors the terms and conditions of the approval.

For additional information, please click on the following media links.

Lansing Star

Bloomberg