Teddy Astin is the vice president and general manager for TLA Real Estate Consulting. The company specializes in loan modifications and foreclosure prevention and prides itself on helping struggling homeowners keep their homes by personalizing loan modifications for their specific needs. Astin spoke with rolling out about real estate and getting into loss mitigation.
What attracted you to real estate consulting?
Too many people losing their homes because of circumstances beyond their control like the reduction of income, divorce, separation, two incomes reduced to one, the death of someone contributing to the home expenses and [more].
What is your philosophy regarding legal representation?
If you filed bankruptcy with an attorney to save your home, you can get your loan modified and eliminate those expensive attorney fees and court costs each month.
Regarding foreclosure, should people seek legal counsel?
When it comes to bankruptcy to save your home, you don’t always need an attorney for that. Call TLA, for further details.
When did you first develop an interest in loss mitigation?
In 2007 and 2008 during the real estate crash, too many homeowners were losing their homes. Loan modifications were for the privileged, not for everyday people like you and [me]. I went to several mortgage companies and had a heart-to-heart talk with them. Several told me about the system. Others weren’t so willing to share this information. At that point, it really didn’t matter because the same rules for [one] mortgage applied to all — FHA, VA, HUD, USDA, Freddy Mae, Freddy Mac, conventional loans, etcetera.
Describe your real estate experiences. What have been some of your most significant moments?
Helping homeowners with loan modifications when they feel that they are at a point of no return. Helping senior citizens avoiding foreclosure because they are now living on a fixed income. Helping homeowners avoid foreclosure because of predatory lenders and ruthless mortgage companies.
