Cheers for the home team: New York Post


Judge blasts bad bank, erases 525G debt: New York Post


Judge Blasts Bank's Foreclosure Conduct and Cancels Mortgage: law.com

Hero of the day: Jeffrey Spinner: Reuters

Happy Thanksgiving: Judge Erases Long Island Family’s Mortgage

1. The judge just increased the risk and therefore the costs borrowing for everyone.
2. Rather than just own the house free and clear and raise the cash for "health care" and "the online business" from actual earnings -- they gambled -- it looks to me like a $250,000 "cash-out" -- the excess of loan principal over the amount required to own the house free and clear.

Regardless of the value of the house increasing or decreasing, they should have anticipated what the monthly payments would be and have earnings to cover it, or sell the house on their own terms and move to a rental.

My problems with the story:

1. "...10.375 percent, which soared to 12.375..." Soared? Was that meant in a sarcastic sense?
2. They have owned and occupied the house for 15 years and have zero (or negative) equity in it? Tell me if that is due to "bank bullying".