Realtor says homeowners are taking advantage of foreclosure ban extension

Realtor says he's dealing with a homeowner whose home was foreclosed on before the pandemic, and is now using the foreclosure moratorium to live rent free.

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IT AIRS *MONDAYNIGHT AT 6-30 RIGHT HERE ON FOX4.THE BAN ON EVICTIONS ANDFORECLOSURES ARE EXTENDED FORANOTHER MONTH.TONIGHT WE’RE LEARNING SOMEPEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OFTHE GOVERNOR’S EXTENSION.LEAVING LANDLORDS AND BANKS TOFRONT THE BILL.FOX 4’S RACHEL LOYD SPOKE WITHSOMEONE WHO’S WATCHED IT ALLPLAY OUT.

RACHEL?(LLINTRO)A REAL ESTATE BROKER I SPOKEWITH SAYS THE BANK FORECLOSED ONONE PROPERTY HE’S NOW IN CHARGEOF MONTHS BEFORE THE MORATORIUM.AND THE HOMEOWNER REFUSES TOLEAVE.THIS HOME ON WEST ROAD IN FORTMYERS WAS FORECLOSED ON BACK INFEBRUARY.

REALTOR MICHAELTHOMPSON SAYS THE MORATORIUMEXTENSION LEAVES THE BANK THATNOW OWNS IT, STUCKif they’re not able to get ridof these properties in a timelymanner - imagine having one ortwo, okay.

But, if you’ve gothundreds and hundreds andhundreds across the nation thatare like this.

That loss isreally amplified.HE SAYS THE PREVIOUS OWNER OFTHIS PROPERTY WOULDN’T LEAVEEVEN AFTER THE LENDER OFFEREDFINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.Don’t feel it’s fair to them.

Ifthey’re willing to offerrelocation assistance to helppeople get into anotherproperty.IN THIS CASE, THOMPSON SAYS THEBANK OFFERED THE PREVIOUSHOMEOWNER $2500 TO RELOCATE.He has not received any of thatmoney yet.

Our initial date Ibelieve was March 30th.THAT’S WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSED TOMOVE OUT.

BUT GOVERNOR RONDESANTIS ISSUED A MORATORIUM ONEVICTIONS AND FORECLOSURES TWODAYS LATER.

THE BANK’SRELOCATION OFFER IS NOW OFF THETABLEAND THE PREVIOUS HOMEOWNERCAN LIVE HERE RENT-FREE FOR YETANOTHER MONTH.I think extending the moratoriumis causing more damage to theeconomy than it really needs to.A lot of people are back workingagain.(LLTAG)THERE’S ALSO A BILL IN CONGRESSCALLED THE HOPE ACT AIMED ATHELPING BUSINESSES BEHIND ONCOMMERCIAL MORTGAGES.

AND IF YOUNEED HELP PAYING RENT MORTGAGEOR OTHER BILLSORGANIZATIONSLIKE BEACON OF HOPE IN SAINTJAMES CITY OFFER ASSISTANCJAMES CITY OFFER HOPE IN SAINTLIKE BEACON OF ORGANIZATIONSOTHER BILLSMORTGAGE OR PAYINGRENT MORTGAGE OR OTHERBI