Elk Grove, CA– Jonathan G. Stein of Elk Grove was recently named to BusinessWeek.com’s list of highest-rated foreclosure attorneys. Mr. Stein was the only attorney from California on the list of eleven and was California’s Top-Rated Attorney. “We are honored that Business Week relied upon Avvo for their feature on top foreclosure lawyers. However, we are even more honored to have these great lawyers participating in Avvo. When we help consumers find great lawyers, everybody wins,” according to Mark Britton, CEO of Avvo, Inc.
“It is an honor to be considered in this group,” Mr. Stein said. His slogan, “Protecting Consumers’ Rights,” is indicative of his practice, Stein said. “My practice advises consumers, including homeowners, of their rights. I have successfully helped consumers renegotiate mortgages, avoid foreclosure and keep their largest single investment – their homes.”
Foreclosures are skyrocketing in California, including the Sacramento and Central Valley areas, as reported by the Sacramento Bee. California has led the U.S. into the housing recession with seven of the top ten foreclosure areas in the country. Stockton has the highest foreclosure rate of any U.S. metro area. Modesto ranked third in foreclosure rates. In Sacramento, foreclosures have steadily increased leading to home prices falling faster than anywhere else in the U.S. As mortgages continue to adjust upward and job losses increase, the picture is going to get worse.
“I receive quite a few calls per day from consumers who can no longer pay their mortgages. Some people just need help negotiating with the mortgage company, while some people need to know their rights in a short sale or a foreclosure. The sooner the homeowner calls, the more help I can give them,” Stein said.
Consumer protection law is a growing area of the legal industry. As the credit crunch gets worse, consumers are having more types of problems, including harrasment from debt collectors, increasing interest rates on credit cards even for consumers who pay on time, and a rise in consumer credit companies claiming to be a cure for all a consumers problems.
“There is no easy fix to any of this. If there was some secret or if the process was easy, I would bottle it and sell it. But, consumers who come to me have complex problems that require a thorough analysis of their situation. Credit cards, mortgages and self help programs usually combine in a perfect storm to create a disaster for consumers,” Stein said.
“Consumers need education about their rights, how to help themselves and an advocate to help them through the process,” according to Stein.