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April 25 - Wrote a letter to the Judge, but he hasn't answered yet, if he's even going to. Finally received a letter from Celia, the Countrywide Lawyer. Sounds like they are taking the Cove Landing house. Also received a letter from the court. I don't understand the letter, so I can only assume it says the worst, so I didn't make an April payment. I used the money to pay overdue bills. Don't have enough to pay for my own rent this coming month. I have a few bucks people have been giving me, but I can't use that. It's for the COTS House. Can you use a credit card to pay your rent? I've never had to do that before. Also, I'm only going to have ONE resident paying rent this month. Guess I'm going to have to start knocking on doors to get jobs. I'm too old for this!

March 25 - Still don't know what's going on. I shelled out another $950 for another monthly mortgage payment. I guess they'll just let me do this forever. I'm writing a letter to the Judge.

Feb 25 - All month, members of FBC have secretly been giving me money, for starting the COTS unit. $1 here, $5 there, a few clothes, a little food, and I got a couple small jobs clearing brush from empty lots. The jobs just fell into my lap. Seems God must want me to start the COTS unit. But then what do I do if Countrywide did NOT take the Atlantic Beach house, and is still waiting for the $47k from me? I'm at a loss... I wish Celia would call be back... I need to know what's going on.

Feb 15, 2010 - Seems Countrywide did not reject the Feb payment. I don't know what's going on. If they took the house, then why are they still accepting my payments? Tried calling Celia again several times but I hang up each time it goes to voicemail (I hate those things). I don't have enough money to make another payment for March. I was notified by Vystar that my credit was finally cleared up, from the judge's orders for Countrywide to lift the les pendens they filed against me. I went to Vystar to try to get a loan. They still won't give me one "because we can't verify your income." I've been praying for a sign as to what I'm supposed to do. I stopped advertising the little Springfield house because for some reason I thought CW had taken the Atlantic Beach house. Maybe they didn't? If they did NOT, then why can I no longer make electronic payments... THOSE are rejected. But the personal checks I send, they are keeping. I wish I could reach Celia, their lawyer. Maybe... just maybe... she's working something out with Countrywide, where they add the 7 years on to my payment plan (so they don't lose any interest), and will just reinstate me, like normal, again. Then my payments would go back down to what they were before, and I'd be getting a positive case flow again, although it would be small.

Feb 3, 2010 - Uploaded COTS website using money that an FBC member gave me for domain names and hosting service.

Jan 25, 2010 - Called Celia again, hung up when I got voicemail. For some reason Countrywide did not reject my Jan payment. I need to know why. Do I make a Feb payment? Guess I better, just in case. I really don't have the money to make any more payments. I'm taking negative cash flow every month from that house, and it's diminishing what little budget I have.

Jan 20, 2010 - Called Celia again, left another message. Is she on vacation?

Jan 15, 2010 - Called Celia again, I was crying. Left a message to call me back.

Jan 2, 2010 - God gave me a better idea. Turn the little Springfield house into a COTS Unit, although no where NEAR as big as the one in Prescott. I'm going to make an appt with Pastor Steve McCullom at FBC to see what he thinks, and to see if he has referrals for me, after the Pastor's Conference.

Jan 1, 2010 - Pete Rastellini, around the corner, is going to help me turn the house into a half-way house. Says he knows where to list it, where to get it cleared through JREC, how to manage it, how much to charge etc. He sent me over to a friend of his, Pat Cornee, who is going to get me 4 used, but decent, twin beds for $50 each. I went to a thrift shop and found twin bed sheet sets for $5 each, and Walmart is having a blanket sale for $5 each right now. I need a couch and love seat for the living room, a coffee maker, a microwave, and table and chairs for the kitchen. I have extra pots/pans, dishes/silverware, etc, they can use. Most of the rest is inexpensive stuff. He thinks I can get as much as $500 week. If this works out, maybe he'll manage it for me when I get enough to move back home.--- Don't know why, but Countrywide kept my $950 check I sent them for the December payment. So I made a Jan payment, anyway, don't know why, maybe because Countrywide still hasn't notified me of taking the house. I tried calling Celia the Countrywide lawyer, several times, but hung up when it went to voicemail. I didn't know what to say. I can still try selling the house, but haven't even had a nibble this whole last month even with the classified newspaper ads, and Craig's list ads every other day. Out of money for any more ads.

Dec 28, 2009  I really am lost. I don't know what to do. Now that Countrywide took the Atlantic Beach house, I may as well take the little Springfield house off the market. From what I can tell, here are my choices for the little Springfield house:

Dec 26, 2009  Well, now at least I have time to think of something else. That stupid foreclosure has been the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing when I go to bed. Trying just to figure out how this could have happened, and how I was getting screwed, has taken it's toll on me. It has ruined my health. I spend my days aching from head to toe, coughing the whole time because I'm allergic to everything out here including the humidity, and I am so weak. In the last 7 years, I've aged 30. I've gained 30 pounds from nervous eating, I have trouble sleeping, and I've had several panic attacks. I've never experienced anything like this before. I'm used to living in the nicest houses, in the nicest neighborhoods. My home has always been full of peace and quiet. In stead, I've had to live in a one room apartment, always on the verge of being evicted, in the part of town they call "sin city." At least once a week I've been woken to the sound of sirens. Since I've been here, I've been witness to things no person should ever see.

I'm used to having money to go out to dinner and take in a movie. I'm also used to having money in my bank account. Every dime has gone to lawyers. I've worked hard all my life. Harder than most women. How many women could take what I've taken being one of the first lineman back in the 60's, having to put up with the looks and comments, and even crap from my foremen. And the hot sun. And working in the rain. And the Los Angeles smog. And trying to work with tools made for a man's hands. And everything was heavy, and hard to do. Risking my life every day climbing telephone poles. And every time I got a bankroll I'd spend it on another IRA, stocks and bonds, and real estate, just to make sure that when I retired I'd finally be able to relax and be taken care of. Those investments have been my only income since I retired 7 years ago just before all this started. I've had to cash in every one of my IRAs, all my stocks and bonds, and sell off all my real estate investments. I have nothing left except the crummy little house 3 different realtors couldn't even sell. It feels as though all my life's work was for nothing. I have nothing left. I'll be living the rest of my life in poverty, scratching and clawing to make ends meet. They've taken everything from me including my health and my will to live.

Dec 25  I can't sleep. I'll spend the night giving this website a new face.

Dec 24  Just found out Countrywide took the Cove Landing House. Nice Christmas present. They never even notified me. I would not have just spent another $300 for advertising. Since they took it, they better give me the $30k I gave them in good faith. If they don't, guess we'll be going back to court. I wonder why Countrywide wanted that house so badly. This whole lawsuit has been over $4000 they took out of my escrow account in error for flood insurance the house didn't need. They canceled the policies each time, when I showed them the Flood Determination Sheet the VA sent with the closing papers, but they never put the money back into my account. They spent over $100,000 just in lawyer's fees. Why spend over $100k over a $4k error? Why didn't they just put the $4k back into my escrow account and reinstate me? What would be in it for them to keep dragging me through the mud for 7 years, and spend all that money? There is ONE thing I could think of. The VA guaranteed the loan. And so did Balboa Homeowners, and Balboa Flood (the two in-house forced-placed insurance policies they placed on the property). According to my lawyer, those policies were not what you thought, they were actually mortgage guarantees. Now, if they got the VA to pay off first (the VA won't pay if they find out about the other two), and then have the other two pay, which nobody would find out about since they are both in-house policies, they would stand to get 3-times the amount of the original loan, right? Almost $300,000. AND, they still have a really nice 4-bedroom house, in a really nice neighborhood, in Atlantic Beach, to sell to someone for another $150k. So now, that's what? $450,000 they will make? You think No? You think that's illegal? Well, I just heard that Angelo Mozilo, the previous owner of Countrywide is in trouble (again) at his new job. Something about mortgage fraud and insider stock trading. Wasn't he just indicted for the same thing with Countrywide? So why say no? If he'd pull THAT stunt, why not the other also? Countrywide has spent all that money, and been fighting to win, just so that they can cover up that they have been making a fortune off their foreclosures, selling in-house insurance! I also just heard they have a 5th (that I know of) class action against them, in Oklahoma now.

Dec 20  I have a live one. A gentleman who has never used his VA loan, wants to buy in Springfield. He really likes the house. So does his wife. He says he wants to look around more though, because mine was the first one they have looked at. Say a prayer!

Nov 5  I'm getting several nibbles on both the Cove Landing House and the Springfield house. Just wish I had more TIME! One is looking into an investor's loan (the Cove Landing House), the other thinks she can get her brother to lend her the money (the East 15th St House), says he has excellent credit and can easily get a loan. The judge was VERY unreasonable giving me only 120 days to sell these houses. Ask any realtor out here, and they all say it takes 6 to 12 months just to SELL the house, and right now, in this market, over 1 year is reasonable. The loans are VERY slow too. The banks are afraid to release funds. One of the ladies in my Sunday School Class has a daughter who is a realtor. She has had to find an office job, or lose her home. Three other ladies can't find jobs and are close to losing their homes. One more has been in a shelter, and just lost her job, has two weeks paid at her apartment, then has to go back to the shelter unless she gets another job quick. Another hasn't paid last month's rent and is on the verge of being evicted. I wish I could think of a business the bunch of us could start together that is recession proof. It may save all of us. --- Lowered the price of the Springfield house to $49.9k.

UPDATE: Nov 20. Neither one panned out.

Oct 9  I want to cry. Celia, Countrywide's lawyer called today and said that the other $46k was due Oct 1st! She says it wasn't 180 days the Judge gave me, but only 120 days to come up with the rest of the money! I don't know what to do. BUT she also said that I CAN try to sell that house, even though it's still in litigation. I was told by their other lawyer that I could NOT sell it. Wish I would have known that 4 months ago! I had time to ask the renters if they wanted to make an offer on the house. Celia says she's got to start the foreclosure process all over again. I told her that if they were going to do that, then they better give me my $30k back! She DID say that she would work "slow" in getting the process started, so it may give me a couple more weeks. I'm going to see my tenants tomorrow, and ask if they want to buy the house. If I can show the house in contract, maybe they will stop the process. Anyone out there want to loan me $46k? You can use my house at 414 S. Marina St, Prescott, AZ as collateral until I sell these houses out here!

Oct 1, 2009  Well, I have only 58 days left to sell the little house over in Springfield. I already gave the Court $30k (the last of the money from Mom's death), which put me in hock again, but I still owe $46k. Not sure that I even CAN sell it, even at the ridiculous price of $59.9k (it's worth at least $85K). I've been reading news articles and websites from Florida real estate agents saying that houses are selling, but loans are not going through even though people are qualifying. I don't get it. Obama gave the banks HUGE sums of bailout money almost 7 months ago, but the banks still aren't letting anyone get the loans! I've already tried to get a loan myself. Even though Countrywide "says" they cleared my credit, the bank says the foreclosure is still on there, so no one will give me a loan. Sheeesh, after everything I've been through, I may end up loosing the Atlantic Beach house to Countrywide after all!

Planted a lawn in front of the Springfield house, so am spending a fortune in gasoline running over there to keep it watered. I can't trust the neighbors to do it for me, even if I paid them. I can't plant any plants, because the last ones I put in were all stolen. They also stole the mailbox, garbage cans, blue recycle bin, and just stole my new 100' hose. After the house is sold I have to replace all that stuff for the new owner. God is really testing me. Anyone know someone rich who'll lend me $46k so I can at least go home??? Then I won't have to stay in "sin city" in this one-room dump any more!

July 3, 2009  I won the foreclosure lawsuit Countrywide had against me. Sort of...  
The judge ordered: Countrywide has to allow me to keep the house, they have to reinstate me onto the loan, they have to release the two les pendens they filed against me and clean up my credit record, they have to release the foreclosure charges, they are not allowed to charge me for lawyers fees, late charges, fines, fees, court costs, expenses, penalties etc. etc etc ... BUT... get this... they don't have to replace the thousands they took out of my escrow account for forced placed flood insurance, even though they finally admitted the house never required it!

When all this started almost 7 years ago, I still owed 26 years of payments on the loan. I was hoping, because of the hardship (hell) this caused me all these years, the judge would order me to just start making payments again, and still owe the 26 years. That way Countrywide would still get all their payments, interest and all. BUT, the darling judge, in all his infinite wisdom, decided to have me pay ALL of the last 7 years worth of payments, all at one time, and then gives me only 180 days from that date to do it! That's $51,000! AND even though Countrywide is not allowed to charge me for anything, they came up with a figure $25,000 too much, and the judge has decided NOT to allow me to contest it! So, now I have to come up with a total of $76,000...  more than enough to pay OFF the loan! Go figure! And that's not all... Countrywide lied and claimed my payments are $950 per month, NOT the $708 payments that I was making all those years before all this started! Now you know why I say "sort of" won... (sigh).

July 2, 2009  Went to a "Tea Party" at the Jacksonville Landing (Taxed Enough Already). Lots of Republicans there, sick of Obama. Even black people were there rooting for the speakers. About 3000 people showed up. Here are some pixs:

June 1, 2009  Another year has passed and still haven't sold the house. Very strange, I've been through 3 agents and none of them have had an open house (only me), and I never did find any ads for the house in the local papers. Seems like they just stick it in the MLS then "let someone else sell it." This last agent was new and was probably in meetings, training etc for the last 3 months. Well, I'm going to try to sell it myself.  ---  I've been thinking about my move back to Arizona. While here, I realized how much I miss tall trees and GREEN, and having a big garden in the backyard. The soil's too sandy here, and too rocky and lacking in nutrients in AZ. I can go just about anywhere I want to now that the court case is over, maybe Ohio? Where are they known for big gardens? Only thing is, I would miss some really special friends back in AZ ---  I have a web page for Jacksonville homeless (homeless.htm), and want to GIVE the page to a community service organization who will keep it up. I'm leaving, so can't do it any more. I'm going to try Salvation Army. They are pretty decent here.

July 10, 2008  Crap! Someone broke into the house on 15th St. They took the stove, refrigerator, the 3 heaters, the 100' hose outside, and even the mailbox! Had the cops over to make out a report. Had to replace the window they smashed, and when they moved the fridge, they tore the new vinyl so had to glue it down.

June 10, 2008  Still haven't sold the house, the last two open houses - no one came. Not ONE! Say a prayer for me, that at least the units in Arizona get some good renters, so I can at least pay my bills. --- The pix to the right is "Shakey" named because his hands and head shake all the time. He is still a hard worker though, and he has repaired a rooftop for me.

May 25, 2008  Wow! I can't believe I'm 60 years old today! Where did my life go? What happened to all the things I was going to do when I retired? --- Well, First Baptist couldn't find a working single Mom that would qualify for my house, and my investment "friends" aren't in the market for another rental. So, my house hasn't sold yet. And my two rentals in Arizona have become vacant. And now I'm out of money. ARG! I just hope I don't loose everything that's in storage.

   Here is how it looks now!

April 30, 2008  Have the house completed and it's up for sale! Don't expect to sell it for several months though, the market has really bummed out. No one is buying, even the investors. It looks great! Check out HERE.

March 15 2008  Well, am almost done with the house. I'm going to see if I can get First Baptist to go through Hubbard House (battered woman's shelter) to find me a nice single young mother to sell this one to. I'll sell it for $60k. If they can't find me someone in a reasonable time, I'll throw it to my friends in the Jacksonville Real Estate Buying & Investing Meetup Group for $65k. It's a group of "newbees" who get together once a month to share ideas, help each other, and teach each other new tricks they've learned.  -  Let's see, prepped and painted the outside of the house, have two bedrooms/kitchen/bathroom/hall/living room painted. Just have to paint one more bedroom. Put all new locks and lifts on all the windows, installed 4 smoke alarms, installed 8 window blinds (have 3 more to go), replaced all the inside doorknobs throughout the house. Oh I forgot to mention, this house has 10' ceilings and has molding 2' down from the ceiling. Looks great now. The ceiling is off white down to the molding, the walls are gold. The 10" baseboards, molding, door frames and window casings are all dark brown. Looks real nice in there. You especially notice it in the living room. What a change! The outside is now a kinda old fashioned muted purple, with white trim. Painted the wood mailbox and post the same colors to match the house. Had the flu to the chimney cleaned so that a wood burning stove can be installed if they want one, and placed a fancy new living room clock over the hole.

SO FAR: We are still working on it.

Feb 25 2008  Found some really great help this time for the plumbing. A bunch of alcoholics from a local AA! Who'd a thunk it! They completely removed and reinstalled everything all the way to the sewer line, took only two days, and did a great job. Charged me $2000 for the whole kit and kaboodle. I'll hire them again if I'm still here and  have to get another house. Hired Thompson Electric to get permits, do the safety check, and rewire the house. At first, they were fine, but the third guy that came out, charged me $770 and hardly did anything. I ended up hiring another AA guy, John, to redo some of the other guy's work, seems he tied ALL the plugs in the entire house together under ONE switch in the main box and it shorts out if more than one thing is plugged in. Well, all the windows are working and the glass replaced, had all weeds pulled and leaves raked, had all the trash pulled out from under the house (see the picture below), all the big tree limbs over the house removed, the roof repaired. Had a wall removed between the kitchen and service porch and the floor raised so it's all level. Put up the mail box, painted the ceiling, changed all the ceiling light fixtures, and scraped/patched/sanded all the walls prepping them for painting. Built two new sets of stairs front and back, and repaired the front porch. All 11 windows now have brand new screens. And a new door closer and handles for the screen door in front.

BEFORE: Here is the house I bought for $21k. Notice all leaves and 3' weeds are gone, and it's clean under the house? We just DID that.

Jan 5 2008  Well escrow closed smoothly and am starting on the house. Already had vandals! They broke in and stole the toilet and vanity from the bathroom. The sink and all the cabinets in the kitchen, the range and refrigerator, and guess what... they helped me out, none of it was any good and they saved me from having to yank it all out and drag it to the dump! Wish they could have unstuck all 11 windows and changed all the weight ropes for me! Changed the doorknobs in front and back, added bolt locks and peepholes. Had to replace the front door frame (that's where the vandals kicked it in). They'll have trouble kicking THIS frame in (they'll just have to climb in through a window but then they'll have to have a key to get out! My new bolt locks use a key on both sides!)

Jan 4, 2008  Noticed the air handler and the pump are missing for the Central air and heat! They were brand new! My neighbor Joe says that the same company who put it in, came back and took it out again. Damb that Countrywide!!!! 

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