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Aroostook County Housing Counselor Added to Program AUGUSTA, ME - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection signed a contract this month with Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP), increasing the number of housing counselors serving Maine homeowners. This contract adds another certified housing counseling service to the seven non-profit agencies currently under contract around the State

March 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bureau of Financial Institutions Superintendent Lloyd P. LaFountain, III announced this week that fourth quarter 2009 data submitted by Maine-chartered banks and credit unions shows a continuing increase in home foreclosures in Maine. In general, foreclosure activity at Maine banks and credit unions appears to be lower than in many other states and it does not pose a threat to the stability of Maine-chartered financial institutions.

March 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Maine Office of Securities and Maine Attorney General’s Office announced that Eric S. Murphy, Jr., formerly of Ellsworth, pled guilty on March 2nd in Hancock County Superior Court to two counts of Class B felony theft by deception in connection with an investment scam Murphy ran to fund his residential construction loan business

March 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Janet T. Mills warns homeowners to be careful when choosing a contractor to repair damage from recent storms. “After storms and other natural disasters, some home improvement contractors aggressively market their services to the elderly and other potentially vulnerable consumers to repair their homes,” said Attorney General Mills. “While most contractors in Maine are reputable and treat their customers fairly, some do not. Consumers should wait, check around and get written estimates before hiring a contractor do to home repairs."

March 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- On March 10, 2010, the Foreclosure Diversion Program will hold its first informational session at the Augusta District Court for homeowners who have been ordered to attend as part of the new foreclosure mediation process; lenders and their attorneys in these cases are also invited to attend, although their attendance is not mandatory. The Supreme Judicial Court designed informational sessions to educate homeowners about the foreclosure mediation process and it is hoped that as a result of these sessions, the parties will be better prepared to use mediation sessions productively.

February 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley announced that on February 26, 2010, the Foreclosure Diversion Program will hold its first informational session at the Ellsworth District Court for homeowners who have been ordered to attend as part of the foreclosure mediation process. The Foreclosure Diversion Program is the result of the recently enacted P.L. 2009, ch. 402, An Act To Preserve Home Ownership and Stabilize the Economy by Preventing Unnecessary Foreclosures. In accordance with the new law, the Supreme Judicial Court established a statewide program to provide mediation services in certain residential foreclosure actions in Maine.

AUGUSTA, ME - February 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci announced today that six school and university oil-to-wood heating projects are receiving more than $3.2 million in federal recovery funds.

February 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley announced that on February 19, 2010, the Foreclosure Diversion Program will hold its first informational session for homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure in Cumberland County. The Foreclosure Diversion Program is the result of the recently enacted P.L. 2009, ch. 402, An Act To Preserve Home Ownership and Stabilize the Economy by Preventing Unnecessary Foreclosures. In accordance with the new law, the Supreme Judicial Court established a statewide program to provide mediation services in certain residential foreclosure actions in Maine.

February 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following an investigation by Maine’s Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection and the Attorney General’s Office, State officials have taken legal action against a Massachusetts-based debt management company. The State alleged that 123 Fix My Loan, LLC was not licensed to operate in Maine nor properly bonded and therefore acting illegally

AUGUSTA, ME - February 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci today swore in Dale McCormick as Director of MaineHousing. The Governor had nominated McCormick for reappointment on Jan. 5, and she was confirmed by the full Senate on Feb. 4.

January 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Maine Securities Administrator Judith Shaw announced today that a Cumberland County Grand Jury recently [1/8/10] returned a one count indictment charging former Yarmouth commercial real estate broker Daniel J. Coyne with Class B theft by deception in connection with his raising money to finance an allegedly non-existent real estate development.

AUGUSTA, ME - January 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor John E. Baldacci today announced nominations to the boards of the Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing), Dirigo Health and Trustees of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System.

AUGUSTA, ME - December 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bureau of Financial Institutions Superintendent Lloyd P. LaFountain, III announced this week that third quarter 2009 data submitted by Maine-chartered banks and credit unions shows a continuing modest increase in home foreclosures in Maine. In general, foreclosure activity at Maine banks and credit unions appears to be lower than in many other states and it does not pose a threat to the stability of Maine-chartered financial institutions.

AUGUSTA, ME - November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Janet Mills today joined the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice and the attorneys general of twenty-six other states in a national crackdown against foreclosure rescue and mortgage modification operations. These companies prey on consumers who are desperate to save their homes from foreclosure.

November 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Foreclosure Diversion Program is opening up a limited number of spaces in its loan modification tools training for Foreclosure Diversion Program mediators, attorneys affiliated with Maine Attorneys Saving Homes, and Maine State Housing Authority staff, to interested attorneys. The December 2, 2009, training to be held at the Augusta Civic Center will be focused on various loan modification programs and the FDIC’s mod-in-a-box tool that will be used in the program. The training will start at 9 A.M. and end at 4 P.M. The Foreclosure Diversion Program will seek CLE credit approval for this training. The training will cost $50, which must be received before December 2, 2009. The fee is non-refundable