Could the Hurricane Aftermath Lead to a Foreclosure Epidemic?
Jacob Lerma
FRIENDSWOOD  Texas (AP) — As  Jacob Lerma  surveyed the skeletal beams of  his  suburban Houston home that was flooded during Hurricane Harvey   he  kept muttering three words as  he  wondered if  his  family would ever be able to move back in: “I don’t know.”
Like many Texans whose homes were flooded during  Harvey  Lerma  faces mounting expenses and hasn’t paid  his  mortgage in months.  His  insurance payment wasn’t enough to rebuild  his  home and  he  was only offered a small loan after applying with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  His  last hope is a possible buyout from the city of Friendswood. In the meantime   he    his  wife and two daughters will continue living with  his  parents.
During last year’s hurricane season  mortgage financiers such as Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac encouraged lenders to offer homeowners a forbearance — a temporary suspension or reduction in their mortgage payments — for up to 12 months.  Lerma  got one from  his  lender.
 Lerma  said  his  family is “at a pretty bad point right now” as  he ’s maxed out credit cards and emptied  his  savings. Yet   he  remains hopeful.
“We know we’ll get through it. We’re just riding it out ”  he  said.
FRIENDSWOOD  Texas (AP) — As  [TGT]surveyed the skeletal beams of  [TGT]  suburban Houston home that was flooded during Hurricane Harvey   [TGT]  kept muttering three words as  [TGT]  wondered if  [TGT]  family would ever be able to move back in: “I don’t know.”
Like many Texans whose homes were flooded during  Harvey  [TGT]faces mounting expenses and hasn’t paid  [TGT]  mortgage in months.  [TGT]  insurance payment wasn’t enough to rebuild  [TGT]  home and  [TGT]  was only offered a small loan after applying with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  [TGT]  last hope is a possible buyout from the city of Friendswood. In the meantime   [TGT]    [TGT]  wife and two daughters will continue living with  [TGT]  parents.
During last year’s hurricane season  mortgage financiers such as Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac encouraged lenders to offer homeowners a forbearance — a temporary suspension or reduction in their mortgage payments — for up to 12 months.  Lerma  got one from  his  lender.
 Lerma  said  his  family is “at a pretty bad point right now” as  he ’s maxed out credit cards and emptied  his  savings. Yet   he  remains hopeful.
“We know we’ll get through it. We’re just riding it out ”  he  said.