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Select One: Wed., Feb. 13, 2008 Full Forecast LATEST NEWS THE PATRIOT LEDGER THE ENTERPRISE WICKEDLOCAL.COM WICKED LOCAL TOWNS AP WORLD & NATIONAL NEWS LOCAL WEATHER LOCAL TV LISTINGS CLASSIFIEDS Announcements Automotive Employment Flea Markets Merchandise Real Estate Rentals Recreation Services Yard Sales RUN YOUR AD Business Non-Business MARKETPLACE Search MORTGAGE CENTER ONLINE DIRECTORIES Pamper Yourself In Time of Need PET DIRECTORIES Patriot Ledger Pet Directory Enterprise Pet Directory KID'S DIRECTORIES Patriot Ledger Kid's Corner Enterprise Children's Directory DEATH NOTICES Patriot Ledger Enterprise HOME DELIVERY Patriot Ledger Enterprise LOCAL GUIDES Dining/Entertainment Golf Guide Business Profiles Home & Garden Business Directory PLYMOUTH GUIDE SPECIAL SECTIONS LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, FEATURES & OPINION | Free mortgage advice for homeowners in Brockton By Kyle Alspach, Enterprise staff writer BROCKTON— Sam Preval has watched his mortgage payments rise, the value of his house sink and his headaches multiply. Like countless others, the 48-year-old Brockton resident is worried about the future of his home and his sanity amid the continuing mortgage crisis. “I started getting nervous when I realized how tight things were getting,” Preval said. “I’m now behind (on my payments) by one month. I don’t want it to escalate.” Preval was among the 60 homeowners who attended a free mortgage counseling event Tuesday night at St. Patrick’s Church in Brockton. Those attending met one-on-one with volunteer counselors from local banks and nonprofit groups who offered advice and referrals to other resources. The ultimate goal was to help homeowners avoid foreclosures, which has happened to hundreds in the region in the past year. “We plan to do this again some time soon,” said Mayor James Harrington in remarks at the event. For Preval, the adjustable-rate mortgage for his Hawthorne Street home is the problem. His monthly payment jumped from $1,800 to $2,100 last fall, and it is set to rise another $200 in April. Lowest Mortgage Rates Buying, Refinancing, or Equity Loan please visit my website. www.davidlops.com Low Mortgage Find Low Mortgage. Search In Your Local Area Now. Justclicklocal.com Short Sale Secrets Step-by-Step Guide To Getting Banks To Discount Properties by 40%! www.ShortSaleMagic.com Free Mortgage Analysis Mortgage Thoughts, Advice, Q&A Get the Real Answers Here mortgagewriter.blogspot.com DEATH NOTICES Send us your News or Sports Tip Send a Letter to the Editor Request a Photo Reprint WORLD NEWS Ads by Google Divided Turkey debates rights, religion Indonesia issues tsunami alert IRAQ Mideast politics Hamas profile Iraq Shrine Myanmar's Endless War NATIONAL NEWS Clear Channel, fire victims OK $22M deal Law curbing inmates' lawsuits questioned Colo. university selection upsets campus UN says soaring prices leave poor hungry Doc gets 18 months for removing prints SPORTS NASCAR 2006 NASCAR Drivers SPRING TRAINING HOCKEY PRO BASKETBALL Clemens tells Congress he is innocent Pettitte admits using HGH in 2004 NCAA: Sampson misled IU about calls ENTERTAINMENT The Oscars Even with two jobs — as an office equipment technician and a staffer at a special needs school — he couldn’t put the funds together for the payment last month. On top of it all, his home dropped in value from $289,000 to $258,000 as the real estate market cooled the past few Writers end strike; now they must write Winkler testifies in John Ritter lawsuit CBS announces 2/13/2008 4:38 PM The Enterprise at SouthofBoston.com 2 of 3 Living Well/Health News Wedding/Bridal Education & Training Coupons ONLINE PERSONALS SOUTHOFBOSTON.COM Archive Contact Us Work for Us Home Page http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2008/02/13/news/news/news... years. “I’m trying to find out what I have available as an option before it gets too bad,” he said. It was a similar motive for 36-year-old Laura Joseph of Plympton, who said she is two months behind on her payments. Joseph said that starting a business last year and a custody battle over her children have put strains on her finances. FEATURED ADS “It might cost me my home,” she said, noting that her payments have jumped from $2,900 to $3,400 a month in recent months. BROCKTON, MA Wicked Local Classifieds Read more... The advice given to homeowners all depended on the seriousness of the situation, said Leo MacNeil, senior vice president of marketing at HarborOne Credit Union. Brockton saw 363 foreclosure deeds recorded in 2007, more than twice the previous year’s total and one of the highest numbers of any community in the state. Read more... Other local communities — such as Bridgewater, Stoughton, Holbrook and Whitman — saw their foreclosures more than triple in 2007. MA Wicked Local Classifieds Read more... MORE WORLD & US NEWS: POLITICS BUSINESS HEALTH TECHNOLOGY OFFBEAT STORIES Woman, 89, uses ax to get back home Radio station giving away free divorce Wis. ends sturgeon-spearing season “In some cases, there’s hope for refinancing,” he said. “In the worst case, they might have to the accept the fact they won’t be able to stay in this home.” Southeastern Massachusetts has been hit hard by the mortgage crisis. BROCKTON, MA Wicked Local Classifieds return dates for 14 shows Tuesday’s event was organized by the Brockton Housing Partnership, the Brockton Interfaith Community and the city of Brockton. Kyle Alspach can be reached at [email protected]. Give us your opinion on this story. The Enterprise 60 Main St. P.O. Box 1450 Brockton, MA 02303-1450 (508) 586-6200 AP INTERACTIVE Ice Climbing An interview with jazz great Chick Corea The Hurricanes: Six months later Pet pampering Mining Safety Death Penalty State-by-State Federal Reserve Quiz Perspectives: 'Baby Boomers' 9/11 Assessment CIA Leak Investigation Tracking Avian Flu Fighting the Flu The Supreme Court Oil Crunch Freedom of Information Act Iraq War Casualties Database CONTACT US Free Mortgage Analysis Mortgage Thoughts, Advice, Q&A Get the Real Answers Here mortgagewriter.blogspot.com Income Property Cash Flow 0% Down Pmt / 100% Financing $200-400/mo Cash Flow w/Prop Mgt. CashFreeInvestors.com Mortgage Refinance Top 5 Websites For Mortgage Refinance www.Click-Request.com Mortgage FHA w/low down money. No FICO? 97%Purchase or 95% Refi w/ Cash-out www.mycarteret.com CONTACT US The Enterprise, 60 Main St., P.O. Box 1450, Brockton, MA 02303-1450 Telephone: (508) 586-6200 2/13/2008 4:38 PM The Enterprise at SouthofBoston.com 3 of 3 http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2008/02/13/news/news/news... 2/13/2008 4:38 PM