The COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted the national economy, forcing businesses to close and employers to layoff workers. Local, state, and federal governments and agencies have created programs to help, but families and businesses alike are beginning to file bankruptcy—or getting close to it.
Two critical consequences of this financial crisis are evictions and foreclosures. Due to job loss, medical emergencies, and more, tenants and homeowners are struggling to make rent and mortgage payments. To respond to this issue, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order in April that suspended foreclosures and evictions for 45 days. He has since extended it twice, protecting renters and homeowners until August 1st.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency has also issued and extended a national moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, lasting until August 31st. However, this moratorium only applies to single-family mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. To see whether your loan is backed by these Enterprises, visit each link.
The CARES Act also issued an eviction moratorium that ends on July 25th, and qualifying tenants will have until August 25th to respond to the eviction notice. This 30-day window is a temporary extension from the standard three days. If you are a tenant in Florida, visit Florida Eviction Protection to see if you qualify for relief.
Unfortunately, nothing is currently available to free homeowners and tenants from their financial burden. The above programs and suspensions simply delay the consequences. In other words, if you miss your payments, you will still owe your landlord or lender once the moratoriums end.
For more substantial relief, you may consider:
- Requesting a loan modification
- Consolidating debt
- Negotiating a debt settlement
- Conducting a short sale
- Filing bankruptcy
To implement any of these solutions, however, you’ll need dedicated assistance from a seasoned legal team.
Bring Your Financial Crisis to Our Attorneys
At The Buchalter Law Group, our lawyers have 45+ years of combined experience. Our nation is experiencing an unprecedented crisis, but we have what it takes to help you navigate this uncertain terrain, take the steps to protect your financial security, and obtain relief from unmanageable debt. When you bring your legal or financial matter to our firm, you can trust us to keep you up to date on state and federal laws, helping you make fully informed decisions for your future.
Put your financial security in the best possible hands by calling (321) 320-6088 or contacting us online today.