Her Voice: Bruce Marks, the man who saves the American Dream

(This article was written by Jennie S. Bev, Mountain House Action Group Public Relations Committee. Source: Tracy Press. The picture is MHAG’s documentation)

by Jennie S. Bev
October 23, 2009

San Joaquin County is one of the hardest-hit counties in California in this mortgage crisis. And Mountain House was named by New York Times in November 2008 as “the most underwater community in the United States,” as 90 percent of home values there have gone underwater, and the depth of depreciation is as steep as 70 percent.

Those who have been paying skyrocketing monthly mortgage payments and have been receiving reduced earnings are probably feeling the pinch of the economic crisis. Many of them have stopped payments and are facing foreclosure.

With 18.7 million vacant homes this year and 7 million more properties expected to foreclose in 2010 and 2011, this mortgage crisis is more than our neighbors’ issue — it is our own personal issue as well.

Many of us have grown to be skeptical as no one seems to be able to lend a hand. Not attorneys, not government officials, and especially not lenders.

When we started to distrust the system, this man came along.

Meeting with NACA

On Sunday, October 11, 2009 Mountain House Action Group (MHAG) Committee had a meeting with Asghar Shah, NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America), Oakland Office Manager in Mountain House.

Meeting with NACA

In this meeting, the committee were looking for the possibilities to strengthen our bargaining position to achieve Mountain House Action Group’s short term goal that is to help our members and Mountain House residents to stay in their houses. Because of that the committee realized how important it’s to build a network with other organizations and find out the possibilities of working together (It’s a part of our strategy, read: Short-Term Strategic Plan).

Her Voice: Time to protect consumers of home-loan modifications

(This article was written by Jennie S. Bev, Mountain House Action Group Public Relations Committee. Source: Tracy Press. The picture is MHAG’s documentation)

by Jennie S. Bev
Aug 21, 2009

A week ago, the office of Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, and the Mountain House Community Services District co-hosted a Foreclosure Prevention Summit Workshop at Bethany Elementary School in Mountain House.

The resident-led housing activism organization Mountain House Action Group has been involved since the beginning in November 2008 through our advocacy and sharing activities. The event was attended by Bank of America, Chase, Fannie Mae, several Housing and Urban Development Department-approved counselors and more than 150 homeowners.

Two hundred attend Mountain House foreclosure workshop

by Justin Lafferty

Aug 17, 2009 (Source: Tracy Press, pictures are MHAG’s documentation)

MOUNTAIN HOUSE — As many residents struggle while watching the value of their homes plummet, a group of concerned citizens teamed up with the local congressman to offer help.

The Mountain House Action Group, in conjunction with Rep. Jerry McNerney, hosted a free foreclosure prevention workshop on Saturday, having lenders and counselors meet face-to-face with “underwater” residents, those who owe more than their home is worth.

Meeting The Congressman and Foreclosure Prevention Summit

On May 28, 2009, Jonathan Rubin, Jennie S. Bev and Beni Bevly from Mountain House Action Group (MHAG) drove to Stockton, CA to meet Congressman Jerry McNerney. This meeting was different compare to the meeting we had with the Congressman before. This was the follow up meeting regarding the letter we sent to him (to view the letter, click Letter to Congressman) and we agreed to discuss specifically how to help Mountain House residents who were underwater and had the difficulty in paying their mortgages.

Paticipating in 4th of July Parade

For the first time Mountain House Action Group participated in 4th of July Parade in Mountain House. Grace Valencia as the Project Officer who was in charge for this parade reported that the crowd was taking pictures of MHAG members and clapping hands.

The goal in participating this parade was simple that was to show residents that MHAG exist and has been advocating the needs of our residents’, especially to stay in their houses.

Presenting MH Housing Case at Democratic Club at Greater Tracy

Mountain House Action Group (MHAG) which represented by Jennie S. Bev and Raj Singh presented Mountain House housing case at Democratic Club at Greater Tracy on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.

Following were the points of the presentation:

Volunteer Education Workshop

On February 7, 2008 Mountain House Action Group (MHAG) conducted Volunteer Education Workshop at 579 Wicklund Crossing, Mountain House CA 95391.

The workshop that attended by approximately 30 volunteers was presented by Dr. Beni Bevly (the author of Managing For Profit Organization in the Flatter World) that consisted of:

Short-term Strategic Plan

Image source: npu.edu

Mountain House Action Group (MHAG) had developed a short-term strategic plan. Now most MHAG’s actions are based this plan as you can see below:

Mountain House Residents Saving “The Town of Tomorrow”

On Saturday, December 13, 2008, at the Gazebo at the Wicklund Park, Mountain House, approximately 120 residents of Mountain House including volunteers gathered to find the possible of solving their underwater homes. 109 of them signed a petition for:

1. Re-consider mortgage terms in favor of homeowners by using loan modifications (or other loan instruments) by using fair considerations that would be favorable for all homeowners
2. Apply the best possible interest rate and the best terms that are favorable to homeowners;
3. Assure homeowners to stay at and keep their homes during the process of loan modification;
4. Have the county re-assess the property tax based on current market value as provided by independent assessors;
5. Ensure no negative impact to FICO scores.