The defendants just sit back and ride the gravy train of their insurance carrier's defense fund. Nobody really has any urgency to see this nightmare end except us. In fact, I've said it before; the intent is to wear you out or run you penniless and attorneyless. The lawyers have been marking up legal expenses and logging their outrageous fees in six (6) minute increments for over two years now. They get rich while stroking their egos in grunt wars by way of motions and legal briefs.
Last mortgage payment was made last month and the phone calls from Chase come several times a day on our home phone and Michael's cell. This week we made the last of our available tractor payments. We now have a $1,500 balance on a $16,800 zero interest loan for a small John Deere and attachments that we were forced to purchase back in April 2008 after the first flash flooding on our new property. We didn't want a tractor and never even considered getting one until it was unavoidable. We don't have a trailer to tow a rental and well, the math was in favor of the 0 interest loan.
We only have one vehicle between us since I can't drive. Last payment went out on that one and I suppose they probably don't have any more compassion for us than our "friends" over at Chase Home Finance.
Our down payment on this property was $80,000 in cash. Now Chase has that eighty thousand dollars and we can't touch it. Chase Home Finance is holding it hostage while continuing to beat us over the head with a mortgage payment for a house they know is worth $0. We can not sell the property because it is a realtor's nightmare. "We Buy Ugly Houses" corporate office didn't want to touch it because the entire property is located in flood zone A; the house illegally built in the middle of a designated drainage easement.
In addition to the unjust mortgage payment; Chase has also added an additional $500 a month mandated flood insurance policy premium through an escrow account attached to the mortgage. This does not cover our personal possessions, carpet, furniture, etc. It merely protects the ZERO valued structure! And, if you don't pay the premium then the mortgage is not paid in full and Chase merely takes your "incomplete" mortgage payment and holds it in a reserve account until you pay the entire amount or they proceed with a foreclosure process. Long story short...NIGHTMARE!
Chase's legal department has communicated with our attorney; and they have seen the Tax Appraisal District's $0 appraisal on the home; as well as the professional private appraisal also valued at $0. They are also aware of the evidence and issues of real estate fraud. They just do not care. We have communicated via emails and telephone with them; and we have been as helpful as possible to get them all the information they have requested. After we woke up from the silly idea that there were humans involved in our mortgage; I subsequently broke down and contacted them sobbing and begging for mercy; asking if they would hold our mortgage payments until the case is over. Our attorney offered to draft up an agreement ensuring that they would get first monies out of any settlement or verdict award. Not a chance. John Bunyan describes them best; they are Diabolonians, followers of their dark lord Diabolus!
Sarah, our grey dun jenny, is due in March with a new foal. She's always been my favorite; so precious and humble...a little shy. Next week we have to put another ad out in an effort to find homes for the donkeys. We have tried several times and none have been successful as of yet due to the economy. In Texas, you have to be very careful or your animals can easily end up in the possession of an unscrupulous hores trader; and wind up over the border and in a can of dog food. Not all horse traders are bad. But the bad ones are very good liars, and come with wives and kids sometimes, if you know what I mean!
We didn't buy the donkeys because we needed more animals. We looked into them before we got the horses and had spoken to a Christian woman who ran a local farm. Months later she came to us; it being time to close down a farm she and her husband had run together for many years. She was a sister in the LORD, widowed and in need. We had the means and a love for animals.
The horses went to a rescue back in June 2010, and that felt like having open heart surgery without the anaesthesia. I was crushed watching the trailer pull out of the property and down the road with Prince's muzzle sticking out through the barred window on the side of the trailer. I wept so hard I could hardly breath; and at that moment recalled the most surreal moment during my husband's deposition.
I was sitting across the conference table watching one of the sellers' real estate agents giggling as she and her partner in crime were text messaging each other. She's sitting there with her cute little pony tail off the side of her head holding her little pink PDA. We're taking a brief recess and somehow the topic of my horse comes up between my attorney and me. She overhears and speaks out with great pride; "My daughter shows paints!" Hmmm, I never mentioned that my horse was a paint? Oh, that's right...y'all have been doing those drive-bys to torment us. It was surreal! Here I am listening to this woman brag about her daughter showing Paints when I know mine is up for sale because of the real estate fraud that is devastating our lives.
It's not that things own my husband or me; we are not about material possessions and never have been. He's the coupon king and our home is decorated by BigLots. Things mean nothing to us; what hurts is losing things you have worked hard for and especially family members "pets" in such a vile and evil manner.
I find myself crying a lot, and feeling guilty for the tears as I think of the complaining Israelites. My heart has been acting up and sometimes find it hard to catch my breath. Neither Michael or I sleep much. Probably more like an average of a couple hours a night.
