Affinity's Blog

Affinity Law Firm Charity Event

noreply@blogger.com (Graham W. Syfert) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:13:00 +0000

The Children at Shriner's Hospital Benefit from Local
Law Firm's Charity Event

   The weather was great, the lights were bright, and the enthusiasm was remarkable for the First Annual Red Carpet Affair at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium on Friday night, January 22, 2010.
   Affinity Law Firm organized and rallied up the troops in effort to benefit the Children Shrine's Fund with all proceeds and donations from the event. The excitement of benefiting such a great cause could be seen from all who participated. The event featured local celebrities such as, Sam Kovaris, Ms. Teen Jacksonville Beach, Southpaw of Jacksonville Suns, and members of the Jacksonville Roar.
   The event was sponsored by Bacardi, Budweiser, Sharky's Wings & Grill and other local food vendors. Also featured were local vendors who provided wine tasting, offered jewelry and makeup, along with various other products benefiting the event. There was no shortage of food, drinks, music and just pure fun.
   A much anticipated silent auction and raffle featuring autographed memorabilia, local restaurant gift certificates and other must-have items was one of the many highlights of the night.

"I was very impressed with how to community supported our event. Having the celebrities, band, Baccardi, Budweiser all supporting out charity, it was greater than we expected, and everyone had fun. We look forward to next years even being even bigger."
- Gust G. Sarris

Judging from the response to the First Annual Red Carpet Affair, the even is surely going to be a great benefit to the Shriner's Children Hospital and the city of Jacksonville for many years to come.

A Red Carpet Affair - Affinity Law Firm

gsarris@affinitylawfirm.com (Gust Sarris) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:08:00 +0000

For Immediate Release
Affinity Law Firm, P.L. is announcing a Red Carpet Affair, Welcome to Hollywood, which will be held at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium, Friday, January 22nd 2010, at seven o'clock. This is a benefit for the Children's Hospital charities with all proceeds being donated.
Come party and dance the night away in this black tie optional event featuring many local celebrities, including the Jacksonville Roar, Sam Kovaris, Ms. Jacksonville, and Miss Teen Jacksonville Beach, among others. A silent auction and raffle will be held on autograph memorabilia, local restaurant gift certificates, and other must-have items. The event will also feature some local vendors offering related items such as, jewelry, food, and makeup, to the Red Carpet Affair.
This annual event is a must attend as only 200 tickets will be sold. A $20 donation is required for tickets which may be available at the door. This includes one free drink for over 21 guests, hors d'oeuvres and dancing the night away. However, it is highly suggested to reserve your tickets in advance as this is no doubt a sellout event. Tickets may be pre-ordered by calling 398-9510.

Red Carpet Affair Jacksonville - Affinity Law Firm

gsarris@affinitylawfirm.com (Gust Sarris) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:35:00 +0000

All,

We all have been working hard to make this fund raiser successful. We have some major sponsors confirmed such as Bacardi, Budweiser, and commitments from local TV stations, the Shriner's Clowns as well as the Jacksonville Roar! Even though we are over 2 months away we have confirmation or "trying to attend" from about 75 people! This is intended to be an annual charitable event that is a must attend.

Affinity is donating 40 simple estate plans for anyone who makes a $250 donation to the Children's fund! This is a $750 value for a $250 donation. ALL PROCEED ARE BEING DONATED! Please call us for more details!

- Gust Sarris
904.398-9510

Friday, January 22, 2010
Time:
7:00pm - 11:00pm
Location:
Morocco Shrine Temple
Description
A Semi Formal Event
Place: Morocco Shrine Auditorium
Time & Date: January 22nd 2010 @ 7:00pm
Pre Ordered Tickets-$15 per person
Pre Order Sale Ends December 31st 2009
Tickets at the Door-$20 per person
All tickets include one free drink
Cash Bar and Appetizers will be provided

Come enjoy dancing, food and fun all for a good cause!

All Proceeds go to the Shiners’ Children Hospital

R.S.V.P- Sarah @ Affinity Law Firm
(904)398-9510
smills@affinitylawfirm.com

Textron Trust Accounts out of Balance - American Iron Horse

gsarris@affinitylawfirm.com (Gust Sarris) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:08:00 +0000

Former American Iron Horse dealers have been served with lawsuits for selling bikes out of trust by Textron. Many dealers were financially hurt when bikes were sold far below dealer cost into their market areas. These bikes were allegedly owned by Textron, but were sold direct to the public at fire sale prices. After this many dealers voluntarily gave back their bikes after not being paid for warranty work and not receiving rebates from AIH. As bikes were returned they were sold at even lower prices resulting in dealers who had to sell their bikes at $10,000 or more below their cost! Now, Textron has filed suits for deficiencies balances and for bikes sold out of trust.

Currently Affinity Law Firm is investigating these allegations and determining if their are causes of actions for former AIH dealers.

Many former Iron Horse Dealers have contacted us regarding what options they may have. If you are a dealer or know of one who has been financially damaged and wish to discuss this please contact us at 904.398-9510.

Textron Information Form

gsarris@affinitylawfirm.com (Gust Sarris) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:45:00 +0000

Please use this file if you were a American Iron Horse Dealer and are now in a lawsuit with Textron.

Textron%20Questioneer.pdfe

Textron American Iron Horse Lawsuit Action

gsarris@affinitylawfirm.com (Gust Sarris) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:53:00 +0000

Textron has filed suit against many motorcycle dealers throughout the nation for their accounts being out of trust. These lawsuits have many things in common as many dealers have the same allegations and defenses; that Textron controlled American Iron Horse, Textron sold bikes acting as a wholesale to the public dealer, and Textron participated in unfair trade. These common allegations have caused Affinity Law Firm to begin to quickly investigate these claims and determine if a Federal cause of action exists which would allow dealers to combine resources to battle this large financial company. If you are reading this blog and wish to help our investigation please feel free to e-mail me at gsarris@affinitylawfirm.com. Also attach any information that is important and I will review this personally. Thank you.

- Gust Sarris, M.B.A., J.D.
Litigation Services

Jacksonville Loan Modification and Bankruptcy Alternatives

gsarris@affinitylawfirm.com (Gust Sarris) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:13:00 +0000

As a Jacksonville attorney I often see clients who have come to us to late to help. It is both scary and frustrating for the person who now faces loss of their home or possessions. TIME is not on your side!!! You need to seek out help as soon as you know you are in trouble.

At Affinity we can modify your loan terms. This includes interest reduction, extend the repayment time, and even negotiate to get those missed payments put on the end of the loan. This can help to decrease or eliminate the late payments which affect your credit score.

We have assisted many client in renegotiating those high credit cards balances and interest rates. Help is available but all too often it is too late when we see a client.

I urge anyone who knows they are in trouble to come in and see us. Also avoid anyone with a paper sign on the road. Most of these companies are nothing but scams and use disposable phones as their business line. Good luck and I hope this blog post helps people to know that ignoring the problems is the worst possible thing you can do.

Gust Sarris
Affinity Law Firm, P.L.
(904) 398-9510

Jacksonville Foreclosure Defense

noreply@blogger.com (Graham W. Syfert) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:18:00 +0000

Need a foreclosure defense attorney?

The Affinity Law Firm has been helping clients through the financial crisis since the beginning of the Jacksonville foreclosure wave. With an unequaled background in real estate, the members of the Affinity Law Firm are prepared to fight for your rights, battling the bank and ultimately allowing you to stay in your home.

Jacksonville is now the foreclosure capital of Florida. In addition to offering Loan Modification packages to the citizens of Jacksonville, we can also help in the unfortunate event that the bank attempts to foreclose.

Loan Modifications (Mods)

gsarris@affinitylawfirm.com (Gust Sarris) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:43:00 +0000

What is a loan modification?

It is when the lender (Bank) and borrower (Homeowner) enter into a new agreement that replaces or modifies the original agreement. For example, the Bank may allow you to defer 3 months worth of payments without penalty or any negative information being placed on your credit report.

What is modified?

There are several components to a loan.

The Rate, or Interest which is usually a percent (APR)
The Term which is a number of months or years
The Principle which is the total owed
The Payment which is the amount you must pay each month
Penalties - Some loans have early repayment fees.
Costs - These are the "fees" that are charged to get or modify the loan
First payment due date

All of these may be modified, but it is uncommon for them all to be modified at once. Usually a Bank will allow a customer to modify what is reasonable based on their unique situation.

Some examples:

Example#1) If you currently pay $1,500 per month Principle and Interest (PI), and your income decreases by 30% due to a temporary condition such as illness. The bank may allow you to pay $1,000 for the next 12 months until you are able to recover.

Example #2) Lets say you are 70 days late due to a tropical storm causing damage to your property, and the insurance company is refusing to pay for the damage. You have the money to make the payment but are being charged late fees, and damaging your credit every month as you are now continuously 60 days late. The bank could take 3 payments off the mortgage as of the date of modification, and move those payments to the end of the loan. This means that you would pay those payments 20 or 30 years from now by extending the final payment date 3 months.

Who can do it?

You - IF IT IS YOUR LOAN - but it does take skill. If you found a "Loan Mod" business make sure they are legal. This is the biggest scam currently in Florida and numerous other states! As a rule, all attorneys can perform the loan modification. In many states, Mortgage Brokers can do them as well. In some states Real Estate Brokers are allowed. As a good rule - If the number you call is a cell phone, no website exists for the company or is a brand new website, the BBB has no information, you cannot Google anything about the company, or if you saw the ad on the side of the road on a 1x3 handmade sign, or if you are made promises that seem too good...MOVE ON! In many states, such as Florida, only $150 can be collected upfront by an agency, however, attorneys are exempt due to trust accounting regulations and other rules.

How is it done?

The procedure is started by contacting the "loss mitigation" or "workout department" or "loan modification" department of your bank or loan servicer. They may have forms for you to complete or instruct you to begin the process online.

You will need many documents:

Hardship Letter stating why you need the modification
Pay stubs or documentation of income
A qualified opinion of price - Appraisal, BPO, CMA, Etc.
A request for what you want modified
Condition or pictures of the house (If it helps)
Documentation of changes in the neighborhood
Crime rates (If it helps)
Credit score knowledge - Do you still have good credit - if not why?
Copies of your last statements (1st mortgage, and the 2nd mortgage if applicable)
Proof that you are you - Drivers license etc.
Proper phone numbers to call and initiate the process
All other documents they may request.

AND . . . REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

Things to avoid:

Long excuses or unnecessary details of your colonoscopy or illness
Trying to be their friend - Just give the basics details of what you need
Sending in documents one a time - be organized!
Unrealistic offers - Don't waste their time
Blaming them or being angry that they cannot "give more"

We have performed many loan modifications and always tell our clients two things

1. Be Realistic
2. There are no guarantees that we can get exactly what you want - This is an agreement that they (Bank) must feel needs changed or they will not do it. Put yourself in their shoes for a second. If your credit card company called you and asked that you pay an additional 10% interest on your balance because they spent too much money or did not budget properly would you just say, "sure that sounds great!" Of course not! Don't expect this to be easy if you do it on your own.

Also note that this is not a science but an art. Some companies will work quickly, some will not even respond. Some banks prefer to deal with a professional as the documents are usually more organized.

How long does it take?

Most modifications can be professionally performed in 30-90 days. In the do-it-yourself the range is usually 90-180 days due to the delays of not having the right department, paperwork delays and unrealistic requests.

What if I need more help?

Although this article is about loan modifications, there are many other options that are available. If you are located in Florida our law firm can help with many other options. These other options include: short sales, refinance, bankruptcy, foreclosure litigation, and other kinds of debt restructuring. If you want to find an agency to assist you, they are easy to find. Just be sure they are licensed, regulated, and have been in business for more than a few months. The disadvantage with all "loan mod" businesses is that they cannot help with other legal alternatives such as bankruptcy. Although you may not want to consider bankruptcy an option, creditors are sometimes more willing to work with attorneys because they fear a bankruptcy will follow your hiring of an attorney. Whatever you do you must not procrastinate! Time wasted may cause you to lose your house.

How much does it cost?

If you do all the work on your own, it will probably cost nothing but your time. If you have attorneys do it - probably $2,000 to $2500. At Affinity Law Firm, we generally charge $1995 as a flat fee. So why pay someone for something you can do? Several advantages and unknown cost(s) must be considered. First, a professional will know what is realistic and what can be obtained for you modification. Often, we see people after the modification fails and they are now facing foreclosure. Time is not your friend! Also, when we represent someone, the bank knows you are serious and not just trying to save some cash. Lastly, your credit is damaged until the issue is resolved. One or two extra months may ruin years of excellent credit, and you may risk losing your house to foreclosure.

THIS ARTICLE IS COPYWRITED AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION AND CREDIT. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE MAY BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING THE AUTHOR.

Gust G. Sarris, M.B.A., J.D.
Managing Partner
Affinity law Firm, P.L.
www.AffinityLawFirm.com
(904) 398-9510

SBA Loan Fees Reduced!!!!!

gsarris@affinitylawfirm.com (Gust Sarris) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:31:00 +0000

Small business owners will find it a great time to borrow. This information came from one of my commercial lenders and summarizes the changes very well. If anyone is interested I can help in this process!

1. SBA 504 program fee waiver. Example of money that can be saved for a customer buying commercial real estate at the 10% down payment and long term fixed (presently 5.60%) program is 1.5% of the SBA's second mortgage loan amount. For example, a $500,000 SBA second mortgage loan would save the customer about $7,500 in closing costs. Further reducing the amount of cash needed to make the purchase.

2. SBA 7A program guaranty increase and guaranty fee waiver. Business acquisitions, startups, working capital loans or commercial real estate loans less than $1,666,666 can be eligible for a 90% SBA guaranty, increasing the attractiveness of the deal to the bank. The sliding scale fees for the guaranty fee are also waived. In a $500,000 loan amount example the normal $11,250 fee would be waived further saving the customer money in closing costs.

- Gust Sarris, Partner
Affinity Law Firm, P.L.
904.398-9510

Spring Fling - Open House

noreply@blogger.com (Graham W. Syfert) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:57:00 +0000

Affinity Law Firm will be hosting an open house at our office, celebrating the expansion of our offices. We're rapidly growing, and this is an invitation to all current clients, former clients, or curious people to come visit with us. Enjoy appetizers and drinks with our Professionals and Staff!

When: Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Where: 3947 Boulevard Center Drive, Suite 101, Jacksonville 32207.

We hope to see you there!

Obama's Bailout Seminar - Jacksonville FL - March 13th, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Graham W. Syfert) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:46:00 +0000

The Affinity Law firm will be presenting an educational seminar on Obama's mortgage bailout plan on March 13th, 2009. From 2pm to 4pm and from 6pm to 8pm.

Topics included will be:

Obamas Mortgage Bailout
The Foreclosure Crisis
Alternative Options to Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Asset Protection

The seminar will be located at 7077 Bonneval Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32216.

The cost is $25.00 (spouse free) if you RSVP, and $30.00 at the door.

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Tidal Title 's New Website

noreply@blogger.com (Graham W. Syfert) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:04:00 +0000

A new website has been launched for Tidal Title , LLC! A sister company of Affinity Law Firm, this title company has become a force in the Jacksonville real estate industry.

The site comes complete with an order form for title commitments, and can be visited here:

http://www.tidaltitlellc.com

Affinity Law Firm Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Graham W. Syfert) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:33:00 +0000

Welcome to the new Affinity Law Firm blog. It is our hope that over time this blog creates a valuable resource for our clients, our potential clients, and other legal professionals throughout our community.

It is our plan to use this blog to post articles, legal commentary, videos, upcoming events, and links to important events within the Jacksonville Business community.

Comments on our posts are welcome, but all comments will be moderated.

Again, welcome.

Sincerely - Graham W. Syfert