In the early 2000's, the laws were different on foreclosures. I've never been a fan of more government, but tightening the laws to protect the consumer did not come too soon.
At the time, when someone was ninety days past due on their mortgage, it became a matter of public record. After that, the homeowner had seventy-five days to cure their delinquency before their home was scheduled for Public Trustee Sale. At the time of the ninety-day delinquency was the time the troubled homeowner was most in danger of the hovering vultures.
Recently I wrote a post entitled Beating Mr. Diabolical. A Win for the Good Guys. The stories I got involved with didn't always have so happy an ending. In the late 90's and early 2000's, there was a local group of Realtors, former Realtors, and their minions (called grunts) who carried out their dirty work. Keith Sherriff was an active agent who owned a company called Halleluia Properties. (names changed)
Mr. and Mrs. Weber owned a 5,000 square foot downtown Victorian with eight magnificent fireplaces. On day ninety-one of being delinquent on their loan, they came home from work to a notice on all their doors that they would be arrested for trespassing if they tried to 
enter. Having no idea what was happening, they called Countrywide Home Loans to see if they could at least enter the house to get their possessions. Countrywide, of course, had no idea what they were talking about.
The next day, Keith Sherriff placed a For Sale sign in the front yard and put the property on the MLS. (How many violations do you see there?) The Webers again called Countrywide, and Countrywide said they were clueless to the couple's plight.
Daily they would drive by . . . daily there would be clothes, furniture, and growing piles of their possessions. Daily they would bring a truck and gather their belongings, having no idea that what was happening to them was illegal and had nothing to do with Countrywide.
These people were long past-due on their mortgage, had no money and no ability to hire an attorney, and they were ashamed because of their situation, having no clue who to turn to. All they knew was they were losing everything because they were delinquent on their loan, and even the police couldn't help them.
They looked through the windows one afternoon, and not only were all of their possessions gone, so were their glorious fireplaces, the antique chandeliers, and many priceless items that had been in the home. Still no one at Countrywide could help them, except to tell them that their Public Trustee Sale date was rapidly approaching.
The Webers showed up in Denver at the Countrywide offices after the Sale to see if they could get in one more time. Finally someone listened to them and sent a representative. There was nothing left that had belonged to them, and everyone finally realized the horror that had been perpetrated on these poor people (and many others like them). My involvement in this property started right about this time, and began a crusade to end this kind of abomination as much as it was in my power.
Keith Sherriff spent years in jail and lost his license forever (duh). But like the others with whom he associated, that didn't stop them from continuing their practices and running their dealings through the few agents that still had an active license.
A time came for me to turn in my shining armor. Here is the article I wrote about The Rest of the Story.
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