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Apr 20, 2009 10:30 pm US/Eastern
Miami Offers Much-Needed Homeowner Help
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
A new program promises to help qualified families in foreclosure pay the legal fees associated with keeping their home. For one Miami family, this program could help them keep their first home.
The husband bought it for his wife of 17 years. "This was a surprise for me. I found out the day they turned the keys in my hand," Adianez Fernandez told
CBS4's Jorge Estevez as they talked in the family's living room.
But their dream home is now in foreclosure. Jose Fernandez lost his second full time job. "That's why I was falling behind payment bills. Everything was coming at the same time," said Jose Fernandez.
That was when the family heard of a new program in the city of Miami designed to help families in foreclosure pay legal and late fees associated with keeping their homes. The money comes from the federal government and the homeowners have to prove that they can start paying the mortgage again after the aid.
"It's a way to get someone through that time because all of a sudden, you have a substantial amount of money that you owe and there is no way to pay it because you don't have a job," said Mayor Manny Diaz.
As for the Fernandez family, they plan to fight as long as they can. "I am not just going to turn it back to the bank. One way or the other, it's going to stay with us 'cause it's enough surprises already," said Fernandez, who stands to get $7,500 if they qualify for the program.
For information on this program and to see if you qualify,
visit their website.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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