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For More Information Contact: Richard F. Kessler Documentary Clearing House and Associates LLC. 941-924-5608 941-926-5051
For More Information Contact: Richard F. Kessler Documentary Clearing House and Associates LLC. 941-924-5608 941-926-5051
Richard F. Kessler
Documentary Clearing House and Associates LLC.
941-924-5608
941-926-5051
[email protected]
documentaryclearinghouse.com
Richard F. Kessler is a nationally recognized authority on foreclosure who has produced significant
original work on documentary defects and legal problems created by conveying a mortgage for
securitization. During the past two years, I have published numerous articles concerning documentation
and securitization.
I have been a member of the D.C. Bar since 1968 and have had exposure to experience in virtually every
aspect of real estate including real estate law, construction and financing. Mr. Kessler consults with
attorneys, financial analysts and others affected by foreclosure particularly as it affects mortgages
purchased by mortgage backed securities trusts (MBSTs).
More than 80% of all mortgages have been sold to MBSTs. A significant number of these mortgaged
properties have been foreclosed, are being foreclosed or will be foreclosed. ReatyTrac estimates that
more than 3 million homes will be foreclosed in 2010.
Who is affected?
• Any party who has funded, organized or administered a mortgage backed securitization trust
(MBST).
• Any investor who has lost money on certificates issued by a MBST.
• Any property owner in foreclosure or who has been wrongfully foreclosed.
• Title companies who insure properties foreclosed on behalf of a MBST.
• Lawyers who bring foreclosure actions on behalf of an MBST or defend against foreclosure on
behalf of an MBST.
• Investment companies interested in funding class action lawsuits to recover monetary
compensation for wrongful foreclosure and mortgage fraud.
Today, the crisis de jour is the discovery of widespread misuse of affidavits executed by an affiant who
falsely claims to have personal knowledge of the financial record of the debt and that the amount
claimed as due and owing is true and correct when the signatory has no knowledge whatsoever of the
financial records. This is only the tip of an iceberg. Securitization of mortgages has created many other
types of documentary defects just waiting to capture media attention. These defects may render
mortgages unenforceable and create massive liabilities for the parties involved.
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Problem Documents Categorized by Type
2. Assignment fraud. Chain of title. Property taken and foreclosure enforced on behalf of a party which
is not the note holder. Fraudulent affidavit used.
4. MERS. Assignment in blank does not convey a secured interest in the mortgaged property. Chain of
title. MERS wrongfully foreclosed or assigned its interest to a successor who wrongly foreclosed without
standing. No valid document transferring title to the note to plaintiff.
5. Incomplete order of judgment which fails to extinguish third party interests in the property.
Unmarketable title. Failure to use and produce report of title.
6. Failure to comply with court rules and administrative orders to obtain judgment. Mandatory
mediation in Florida is an example of such an order issued by a court, in this case, the Supreme Court of
Florida. Fraudulent document used to show compliance.
7. Failure to provide proper legal notice to debtor. Fraudulent document used to show compliance.
8. Failure to provide proper legal notice to debtor in military service. Fraudulent document used to show
compliance.
10. Failure to disclose advances of defaulted mortgage payments to MBST trustee. Fraud and deceit
upon the court resulting from failure to disclose the payments in the complaint and use of a fraudulent
authentication.
11. Contradiction between pleadings and other documents filed with the court or in the land records
and the Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement. Creating contradicting documents which bar
foreclosure unless and until contradiction is explained and resolved.
12. Failure to confirm that the MBS trust was shown as the holder of the mortgage on schedules filed
with the SEC. False verification affidavit and false allegation in complaint that plaintiff is the note holder.
13. Misuse of tax exemption for Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) resulting in tax
evasion. Lack of documents to show compliance with IRS REMIC rules as a result of failure to transfer
mortgages to MBST within the required time period.
14. Documentary evidence of predatory financing and non-compliance with federal and state statutory
authorities for making a loan, settling a loan or collecting payment of a debt.
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15. Documentary evidence of mortgage fraud, i.e. deliberately making bad loans to borrowers which
the lender knows or has reason to know that the borrower cannot afford to repay.
I am available to consult on how a client needs to address these documentary defects. Such consultation
may include, for example and without limitation, such matters as: