NY FIRST HOME BILL PASSES

The NY First Home bill A5616/S4058 passed both the New York State Assembly and Senate before the end of the 2017 legislative session.  The legislation would allow individuals to deposit up to $5,000 per year ($10,000 for couples)  of after-tax dollars into a tax-free savings account, to pay for the down payment and closing costs,  in the case of a first-time homebuyer.  In addition, the principal amount would be treated as a state income tax deduction.  To view the legislation, click HERE.

NY STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL TO ADDRESS VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES

In the early morning hours Saturday, June 18, 2016, the NY State Legislature passed S8159, a bill that would require servicers to maintain vacant and abandoned property that they do not own, for the many years that a foreclosure takes in the state of New York. Federally and state chartered depositories are exempt from the requirement if they either originate, own, service, or maintain their mortgages, or a portion thereof; and have less than 3/10 of 1% of the total loans in the state which they either originate, own, service or maintain.
Lenders/servicers will be required to inspect properties within 90 days of delinquency to determine delinquency, and continue to inspect every 25-30 days. Within 7 days of determining the property is vacant, the lender/servicer must post a notice on the property stating that they are maintaining the property, and provide a phone number to call. If there is no response from the borrower within 7 calendar days of posting, the lender servicer must secure and begin maintaining the property. The lender/servicer may not remove any of the borrower’s personal property. There is a $500 per day fine for non-compliance.

The legislation also includes: a requirement to notify delinquent borrowers that they may stay in the property throughout the foreclosure process; a requirement for the NYSDFS to publish a Consumer Bill of Rights; a requirement for a lender/servicer who acquires a property through a judgment of foreclosure to place a property back on the market for sale within 180 days of the deed of sale or within 90 days of renovation of the property, whichever occurs first; extension of ” workout” options in the mandatory settlement conference; an expedited foreclosure process for vacant and abandoned property, if the borrowers fails to appear at the mandatory settlement conference; and technical changes to the STAR Personal Income Tax Credit.

For full text of the bill, click HERE.