On April 14, 2011, Washington became one of only three ‘non-judicial’ foreclosure states to actually enact a mortgage mediation program. Once the new law goes into effect in July, a mortgage servicer will not be allowed to send a borrower a notice of default until it sends a notice to the homeowner requesting that borrower contact the servicer and, perhaps more importantly, urging the homeowner to contact a neutral housing counselor or attorney.
It is hoped that with the mortgage mediation program in place, fewer borrowers in hard hit areas like the Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver metro areas will be forced to file Chapter 13 Bankruptcies in order to stop the foreclosure process, but only time will tell.
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