That's the word from Joseph M. James, president judge of Common Pleas Court who is working with Sheriff William P. Mullen and others to craft a plan to help prevent hundreds and possibly thousands of people from losing their homes.
James is considering Mullen's proposal that residents facing foreclosure be given up to two months, rather than the current five weeks, from the time they receive an official notice before their homes are scheduled for a sheriff's sale.
The idea is to give borrowers time to meet with lenders and work out deals for lower mortgage rates, revised payment plans or new loans.
One of the reasons James doesn't see the need for a moratorium is that there are means available for homeowners with legitimate reasons to have sales postponed.
He noted that homeowners often appear before a county motions judge with such requests -- requests that frequently are granted.
"It happens all the time," he said.
"It can happen even up to the day of the sale," said Sgt. Richard Fersch of the sheriff's office. Fersch said county judges generally are sympathetic to defendants in a foreclosure action and often grant postponements from one to three months.
"They don't like to take people's homes from them," Fersch said.
The county conducts the sales on the first Monday of every month. Advertisements for the sales provide information for those who are on the list about how to get help.
There is contact information for the Allegheny County Bar Association, Lawyer Referral or Neighborhood Legal Service, or the sheriff's office itself.
The office offers a packet of materials that provides advice on steps homeowners should consider. There's even a form on the sheriff's office Web site that borrowers can print and use to file with a motions judge, Fersch said.
"But then the homeowners have to make the next move," he said. "Once the judges give them the chance, then the defendants in such actions have to do something to help themselves."
That can mean working with their lender to resolve the problem -- a situation that could be made easier under the proposal being considered by James.
Mullen said he proposed the plan because there have been complaints that it's often difficult to get lenders to agree to work with borrowers.
James said he's met with lawyers representing lenders and with representatives of the Allegheny Bar Association and Neighborhood Legal Services who might assist homeowners in their discussions with lenders.
But he said the solution will likely be a little less formal than a deal worked out in Philadelphia after the president judge there imposed a one-month halt on all sheriff's sales for owner-occupied properties at the request of the sheriff and Philadelphia City Council in order to put pressure on lenders to meet with borrowers.
"One size doesn't fit all. We will look at a less structured way to do it," James said.
Real estate notes
• Seneca Construction of Gibsonia has been selected by Baker Young Corp. to make improvements to leased space at the Lexington Technology Center in the East End at a cost of upt o $422,000. Funding was approved by the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority.
• The University of Pittsburgh's College of General Studies is moving its Monroeville satellite location from the ExpoMart to Building 4 at Penn Center East on Route 22, Wilkins. Four fall classes will be held in the new space.
• Three Pro Bicycle stores have opened in the region, owner Craig Cozza says. The original location is in Squirrel Hill; others are in the former National Bank building on Fort Couch Road, South Hills, and the shopping center at the intersection of Rts. 22 and 48, across from the former Palace Inn, Monroeville.
Transactions
• The Chartiers Valley Industrial and Commercial Development Authority has sold a shopping center on Washington Avenue, Scott, to the RJJ Family LP, Mt. Washington, for $803,357, according to a document filed with the Allegheny County recorder of deeds.
• ASLA Realco Pa. II LLC in McKees Rocks purchased the following properties from Gary and Debra Blanchin and Aglaia Corp: a personal care home at 822 Chartiers Ave.; a two-story house, nursing home and St. John of God Church lots at 810-16 Chartiers Ave., and a personal care home at 820 Chartiers Ave. The price was $3.25 million, according to deeds filed in Allegheny County.
• Kohls Pennsylvania Inc.'s 20-year lease with Richland Zamagias LP was recorded in Allegheny County. Kohl's probably will open in late October at the 5375 Rt. 8 shopping center site at Pioneer Road and William Flynn Highway, Richland. The 5.9-acre site was valued at $1.1 million.
Real estate gallery
• Fourth River Development LLC hired James Robison, Neil R. Morrow and Steven Ari Letwin in the sales, leasing and property management division, and Joshua R. Hensler in marketing support.
• Strada principal John Martine was named to the Pennsylvania State Architects Licensure Board. He is one of five registered architects on the nine-member board and will sit on the board until June 5, 2010. Board members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
• Coldwell Banker Real Estate appointed Rohn Neugebauer as sales director in its Fox Chapel office. He has been a licensed real estate professional for 12 years.
• Prudential Preferred Realty hired Darlene Toker in its Murrysville office.
Contributors: Sam Spatter and Laura L. Lenk
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