A moving exploration of homeownership, freedom, and the American Dream in light of the ongoing financial crisis and mass foreclosure.

In the depths of the Great Recession, a cancer nurse, a car dealership worker, and an insurance fraud specialist helped uncover the largest consumer crime in American history—a scandal that implicated dozens of major executives on Wall Street. They called it foreclosure fraud: millions of families were kicked out of their homes based on false evidence by mortgage companies that had no legal right to foreclose. Lisa Epstein, Michael Redman, and Lynn Szymoniak did not work in government or law enforcement. They had no history of anticorporate activism. Instead they were all foreclosure victims, and while struggling with their shame and isolation they committed a revolutionary act: closely reading their mortgage documents, discovering the deceit behind them, and building a movement to expose it. Fiscal Times columnist David Dayen recounts how these ordinary Floridians challenged the most powerful institutions in America armed only with the truth—and for a brief moment they brought the corrupt financial industry to its knees.

A SIMPLE ENGLISH EXPLANATION OF THE LAW and COURT PROCEDURE If you have ever contemplated the prospect of fighting your own court battle, you know the feeling of panic that quickly strikes, knocking all of the confidence right out of you. After the butterflies in your stomach have subsided and your heart has stopped racing, you ask yourself: "How will I ever be able to handle court procedure, rules and protocol, let alone argue my case"? Well stop worrying because, "if" you have the courage to "fight" to save your home, we will show you, point by point, how to do it. Here is the Litigation Handbook you've been praying for. Includes: - Tips on Court Procedure - "Show Me the Note" Defenses - California Unlawful Detainer Defenses - Bankruptcy Mortgage Note Challenge FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS WITH SAMPLE MOTIONS AND OTHER COURT DOCUMENTS INCLUDED READ MORE ABOUT THE AUTHORS INSIDE!

Facing foreclosure? You need to do three things: stop worrying about why this has happened to you; resolve to fight the foreclosure and save your home; and read Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies. It delivers the knowledge, strategies, and tactics you’ll need to take command of your situation and achieve the best possible outcome. This practical, no-nonsense guide helps you size up your options and increase your chances of saving your home. You’ll find out how to delay foreclosure, form a plan of attack, negotiate solutions with your lender, and restore your financial health. You’ll also find field-tested strategies for dodging the foreclosure trap, getting out from under a house you really can’t afford, and finding help where you might least expect it. Discover how to: Regain your emotional composure Confront your foreclosure head-on Protect your rights Assess your situation and weigh your options Touch base with key people who can help you Stop the financial bleeding Team up with your lender to find solutions Work out a refinancing deal with another lender Avoid quick-fix schemes and scams Cash out before it’s too late Recover from foreclosure Re-establish your credit Complete with a handy cheat-sheet to help you keep your most important tasks in the front of your mind Foreclosure Self-Defense for Dummies gives you the moral support, commonsense guidance, and expert advice you need to make the best of this difficult situation.