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CASEY’S PARENTS SAVE HOME FROM FORECLOSURE

Casey Anthony’s parents saved their home from foreclosure Wednesday and it only took them a few months to obtain the same loan modification that other homeowners have pursued for years.

The Anthonys’ attorney said he thinks it’s because both parties wanted to keep the case out of court; if it went to court, it would have created a media frenzy.

For the past couple of months, people who live near the Anthony family thought their neighbors were going to move, but last month a new deal was made and now the Anthonys are going to be able to keep their home. Bank of America modified their loan.

“This foreclosure was one of the fastest ones I handled,” Attorney Mark Lippman told WFTV.

Lippman, who represents the Anthonys, said it only took four months to settle the issue. They qualified for the federal program called Making Homes Affordable.

Bank of America started the foreclosure process in February. Documents show the Anthonys bought the home for almost $91,000 in 1991, but now owe more than $115,000.

Cindy is on disability and George lost his job. Lipton would not tell WFTV the amount of the new mortgage payment, but said it is 31 percent of their anticipated income.

“It was reduced to what they can afford,” Lippman said.

Ana Biascoechea also lives in east Orange County. When she learned about the Anthonys’ new settlement, she wasn’t too happy. She has been trying to modify her loan through Bank of America for more than a year. WFTV found some cases can take up to two years.

“We are all in the same predicament as they are. Why should they get preferential treatment?” Biascoechea asked.

Lippman disagrees, but says both sides wanted to avoid a media circus.

“I think it was addressed because Bank of America and myself wanted to get this done without exposing this to the press,” he said.

A Bank of America spokesperson said the Anthonys got their loan modification within a normal period of time. When WFTV asked about the other woman’s loan, the spokesperson never returned the call.

http://www.wftv.com/news/24437188/detail.html