U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) to Host Homeowner Informational Forum to Provide Most Effective Solutions for Restructuring Unaffordable Mortgage Loans

Experts From Around the Nation to Attend Forum and Provide Families Assistance with Various Mortgage Issue Related Solutions

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) announced that he will host an Informational Forum Saturday, October 25, 2008 at Miami Dade College, North Campus, Room 8203, Institute of Criminal Justice (Building 8, Second Floor), located at 11380 NW 27th Avenue at 10 a.m.

Some of the most renowned mortgage and housing experts from around the nation will be in attendance to provide information for homeowners such as how to restructure your mortgage and reduce interest rates to lock in an affordable mortgage payment based on your current budget. Because the mortgage foreclosure crisis is reaching staggering proportions all across South Florida, the Forum will aim to give Miami-Dade and Broward County families an opportunity to receive professional advice on unaffordable mortgage loan related information.

While Florida ranks second in the nation in the number of foreclosures with 64.2 filings per 1,000 households in September, Miami-Dade and Broward County are the leading counties in Florida whose foreclosure rates continue to rise. In South Florida, foreclosures nearly doubled over a year ago. There were 17,174 filings between January and September, up from 9,262 during the previous nine-month period. In Broward County, filings doubled to 6,689, up from 3,370 in 2007. In Miami-Dade County, filings were up 46 percent, to 7,729 from 4,133.

“Our nation is presently in a major housing slump and foreclosure crisis. I want to extend as many homeowner resources to those in South Florida to prevent having more individuals from enduring this devastating effect,” said. Rep. Meek. “Whether you live in my Congressional District or not, this ‘Stay In Your Home’ Informational Forum is an event that you cannot miss. I want members of my community to not wait until it is too late.”

The Forum will specifically determine how your monthly costs can become affordable with cuts in interest rates for the life of your mortgage.

“Unfortunately, foreclosure has become a leading issue throughout our nation with nearly three-quarters of a million people being left without their home so far this year–107,500 of them in September alone. Our community leads the state in home foreclosures,” added Meek. “This Forum is an enormous step toward helping the expansion of affordable mortgage loan opportunities for families at risk of foreclosure.”

Individuals wishing to participate in the Informational Forum should plan to bring all relevant mortgage and financial information, as well as proof of income.

To confirm your attendance at the Forum, please call Congressman Meek’s office at (305) 690-5905.

U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek represents the 17^th Congressional District of Florida which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He serves as the lone Floridian sitting on the House Committee on Ways and Means, and also sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

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