Review: Real stories, useful information.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 18, 2012
The American foreclosure Story by Paul Kiel was a real surprise! This book is small but well worth your time.  It is a short history of the foreclosure crisis, but all the important parts are covered. I put off reading it at first because I felt it would be depressing, but it was a story I knew I needed to read to acquaint myself with the facts.  In our new world, where neither the banks nor government can be trusted, knowledge is power.  In these troubled times; fore warned is fore armed.What surprised me was this was not a thick tomb that went on endlessly about VICTIMS; these stories were about winners who lost in a rigged game, but never let themselves be crushed by it.It begins with Sheila Ramos, whose story you will never forget.  Her problems start with a car accident and build over several years where she goes from owning her own business and home outright, to living in a tent with her grandchildren, her ancient mother, her partner, David and his aging, retired brother.This is a woman whose tenacity you can't help but admire and her personality gives this story the spine that keeps it from being just another sorry tale of injustice.  The tight writing style cuts to the chase in every instance and if you want more it is loaded with links.These people all made some mistakes, mainly by letting themselves be taken advantage of by unscrupulous lenders and trusting the system that fleeced them.  They tell their stories honestly as a warning to the rest of us about when and where to be careful.  Some of the old laws have been changed, too many haven't.This little book is an excellent guide if you are facing a foreclosure or are just uneasy in a world where your home ownership doesn't feel as secure as it use too.