ONGOING COVERAGE: Protest in Morgan Junction as veteran, family evicted by deputies – then go back inside

(SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LATEST: Evicted couple back inside as of late afternoon)

9:26 AM: Numerous texts are coming in asking about what sounds like a protest somewhere in Morgan Junction. It’s an eviction protest at a Morgan/lower Gatewood home where local activists are hoping to stop sheriff’s deputies from forcing a disabled veteran, his wife, and children to leave. Public records indicate their house had been sold to a developer in April after being foreclosed on. The advocacy group had advised us and other news media of a 10 am protest and 10:30 am news conference today; apparently it has started early, and we’re on the way over. Updates to come.

9:56 AM: Our crew at the scene says deputies are there evicting the family from the house in the 6500 block of 41st SW. An ambulance is there, apparently to transport 63-year-old Byron Barton, but protesters are trying to stop the ambulance from moving – including by lying under it:

We’re adding Instagram video clips (the service limits to :15 but is the fastest way to get video out) as well as photos. The eviction action was postponed from last month, according to citywide-media reports including this one from KING.

10:05 AM: Our crew reports that sheriffs say everyone in the house is out.

Jean Barton made a brief statement that her husband does not want to go to the VA hospital but has nowhere else to go.

Seattle Police have arrived.

10:26 AM: So has City Councilmember Kshama Sawant.

The original announcement received yesterday had said she would participate in the 10:30 am briefing, which the group SAFE (Standing Against Foreclosure and Eviction) has said they still expect to hold.

11:05 AM: No briefing after all – Byron Barton was removed from the ambulance, and it has left, our crew at the scene reports. The family remains out of the house and there’s no word yet where they will go. A commenter asked if any help was needed; Jean Barton says Byron’s clothes are all in the house so that’s the kind of thing they need – she can be reached directly at 206-355-8300. She works, by the way, at Mary’s Place – an agency that helps homeless women. We’ve been looking into court files; the Bartons filed a lawsuit in May alleging various improprieties in the foreclosure process, which documents indicate has been ongoing since at least 2012. Trustee Quality Loan Service is listed as the firm that sold the house to Triangle Property Development LLC in April.

11:44 AM: Family and activists still there, our crew reports, and just gave a briefing, at which Councilmember Sawant spoke as well, but deputies and most of the police (and most of the rest of the media) are gone.

12:35 PM: Adding the briefing video as soon as it’s uploaded. We’ve been continuing to review court documents and other public records related to all this. The property’s owner as of the April foreclosure auction, Triangle Development, filed the “unlawful detainer” (eviction) suit against the Bartons in May, around the same time they filed the suit alleging the foreclosure was illegal. There is no development proposal for the site yet, by the way, but we note that county records show the house is on a double lot – 9,000 square feet and legally two lots, which likely means two homes could be built on it.

3:33 PM: We went by about an hour ago (en route to something else) and nobody was out on the street – two TV vehicles in evidence, though. One commenter says KIRO is reporting the family got back into the house. We asked KCSO spokesperson Sgt. DB Gates if they plan to go back. Not at the moment, she said, and offered more background, since KCSO is the enforcement agency for evictions anywhere in King County. According to Sgt. Gates, since an earlier incident in which a detective declined to serve the eviction papers, they have met with the Bartons multiple times and warned them that what happened today was going to happen – but the Bartons decided to stay anyway. Gates also says that the family is “not destitute,” and that they are getting “almost six figures” from the auction price, even though they did not initiate the auction, because the winning bid was so much more than what was owed on the house.

5:26 PM: We came back to the neighborhood to see what was going on and discovered that the Bartons are indeed back inside, in the basement, where Jean says Byron is chained to a bed:

That’s longtime friend Cheryl with them. Seattle Police are out on the street but won’t say what their plan is – they say a public-information officer is coming to speak to media (two TV crews are here doing live reports).

6 PM: SPD Captain Dave Proudfoot (South Precinct captain) is here to supervise – he says their first priority is checking Byron Barton’s health/medical status. Jean Barton says he’ll be OK at least until later tonight.

6:15 PM: New precinct liaison from the city attorney’s office Matthew York has been here since before we re-arrived. He is talking with a lawyer for the Bartons. Three of the SPD units that were here have left.

6:24 PM: It appears nothing more will happen here tonight, or so the police indicate. Meantime, the home’s new owner has commented on this story, saying she does not intend to tear down the house.

131 Replies to "ONGOING COVERAGE: Protest in Morgan Junction as veteran, family evicted by deputies - then go back inside"

  • Case July 18, 2014 (10:11 am)

    Wow– this is a sad scene :( Any idea of where the family will be staying?

    • WSB July 18, 2014 (10:21 am)

      Byron Barton apparently will be taken to the VA hospital, though his wife Jean says he does not want to go. Don’t know about the others, yet – at some point there should be a statement; the deputies’ arrival changed the original plans of a 10 am rally and 10:30 am media briefing.

  • Me mama July 18, 2014 (10:21 am)

    Heartbreaking.

  • Me mama July 18, 2014 (10:24 am)

    I say we call on this developer (who will be making a handsome profit, no doubt) to donate a portion of the profits of the sale to these kids’ college fund. Really. What developer is it? Isola???

    • WSB July 18, 2014 (10:32 am)

      Me – I am still reading court/public records documents. The owner of record, also mentioned in the June KING story linked above, is Triangle Property Development LLC (a name I haven’t come across before in coverage of local projects). I am also checking to see if there is an actual development proposal for the site.

  • Case July 18, 2014 (10:34 am)

    So wrong

  • AmandaKH July 18, 2014 (10:35 am)

    How can West Seattle help?

  • Trent July 18, 2014 (10:38 am)

    While it is sad I do not see why a developer, who actually paid for this home, should give anything to previous tenants. When they bought the family got a loan for the home they knew the payments and the risk involved. If they couldn’t afford it they probably shouldn’t have bought it. Just because someone is disabled does not mean that companies, developers or banks, should give them more breaks. The government already does this.

    • WSB July 18, 2014 (10:50 am)

      Currently reading the lawsuit filed by the Bartons alleging the foreclosure was illegal. The disability was not a pre-existing condition but a heart attack and stroke. According to their lawsuit, they have been fighting this for at least a year and a half. 90-page court document so still in the middle of it …

  • Nick July 18, 2014 (10:49 am)

    Typical bottom feeder developer shell company. This is so disgusting thanks for covering and thank you to people who protested this.

  • Brian July 18, 2014 (10:50 am)

    @Trent: What is it like to feel more compassion for a corporation than your fellow man?
    .
    It sounds like you took the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case to heart.

    • WSB July 18, 2014 (11:05 am)

      Regarding how to help – I’m about to update the story so will add info there rather than here, including what’s transpired since our last update.

  • Ms. Sparkles July 18, 2014 (11:02 am)

    Thank you Trent for applying logic where others are only capable of emotion.

    Yes it is sad when misfortune befalls people- but neither the disability, nor Mr.Barton’s inability to meet his financial obligations are the developers fault. They purchased the home and, factoring in the time value of money, these delays are costly.

    This is really too little too late.

  • Viana July 18, 2014 (11:05 am)

    What can we do to help?

  • NotOnHolden July 18, 2014 (11:09 am)

    Trent, you have no clue. I deal with banks and distressed homeowners every single day and it is terrifying how much some people just do not care, even when there is supposed to be a system giving “breaks” to people. The first case I worked on in Seattle involved Recontrust improperly foreclosing on a family in the process of trying to modify their loan and then sell when that didn’t work.

    Recently Wells Fargo made a loan in the modification process just “disappear” and the conversations with the Rep were like something out of The Twilight Zone and Kafkaesque.

    From a professional stand point I would really like to know the history of what was being done to assist this family with a loan mod or something.

  • Crowe July 18, 2014 (11:16 am)

    Heartbreaking! This just makes me so sad. What this will do to those kids and the parents… awful.

  • AA July 18, 2014 (11:19 am)

    Was this a predatory loan situation? Sad that there were no interest rate modification programs.

    Eta: be mad at the bank not the developer. It’s not like they told the bank to foreclose

  • HC July 18, 2014 (11:38 am)

    Sad story, but the developer didn’t foreclose on this family, the lender did. It appears the family has been living in the house for free and using the court system and the media to delay being evicted. If the foreclosure was improperly handled, then hopefully they have good representation to straighten it out.

  • A July 18, 2014 (11:58 am)

    I’m with Trent. Pay your bills and you won’t lose your home. It’s that simple.

  • flimflam July 18, 2014 (12:02 pm)

    it seems like there is a lot of the story that is unclear, but I will say that while it is very sad for this family, i’m not sure what the “developer” is supposed to do.

    .
    its actually pretty hard to get evicted – my old neighbor has a someone renting their house out that hasn’t paid rent in six months and is jumping through so many hoops just to get these people out. they are still in the home as we speak. they have two kids also – sad, yes, but totally unfair to my old neighbor.

  • AmandaKH July 18, 2014 (12:02 pm)

    @A – it’s never that simple. Ever.

  • Ed July 18, 2014 (12:04 pm)

    Why is everyone so upset? Do you realize how often this happened in tragic cases? You are getting mad over nothing, the guy hasn’t paid on his house in a while so he’s evicted. Did you people give him money? No one is worried about paying livable wages in posh parts of Seattle! No one is worried about the gentrification policies that push minorities out of the city! No one is worried about how to humanely deal with local homelessness!

  • Robin July 18, 2014 (12:07 pm)

    If this house had been in a less desirable hood, I would imagine that the original bank, not “Trusty Quality Loan “Service”” would have worked with the owners. This is prime real estate. Probably a bit of a view, and smacks up against the Urban Villiage. Developers and, really, opportunistic people will be circling these like vultures to do a quick scrape, big box with roof view and flip. It will be interesting what gets put there. But at least give the people their stuff. Jerks.

  • Willie Ellenberg July 18, 2014 (12:11 pm)

    I don’t use my real name here often. To all the people saying “too bad, shoulda paid the bill”; there’s a special place in hell for you. I hope that the misfortune this family incurred falls upon you tenfold.

  • Smitty July 18, 2014 (12:14 pm)

    The “local activists” could have helped by buying the property themselves or paying his mortgage for him. Stopping an ambulance from a potential life-saving assignment will not get much sympathy. Ambulances are in short supply, and while the current occupant didn’t want the service another call could come in at any second and this ambulance can’t assist. Hope it’s not one of your friends or relatives.

    Sheesh.

  • Kayleigh July 18, 2014 (12:18 pm)

    This makes me super sad.
    .
    I’m sure the same people being righteous about contracts and responsibility will complain about having to deal with those darn homeless people on the streets.
    .
    This is one way people *become* homeless in the first place.

  • MargL July 18, 2014 (12:22 pm)

    I feel for the family! Remember the fight Vera from Village Green had to keep her place from foreclosure? https://westseattleblog.com/2011/07/foreclosure-fight-sprouts-at-village-green-perennial-nursery/

    I can’t imagine being disabled, not having a steady income -and- having to go thru the process of fighting with the bank!

    • WSB July 18, 2014 (12:30 pm)

      Still reading court documents, now on to the “unlawful detainer” – eviction suit – which was filed by the house’s new owner, Triangle Development. (No development proposal filed for the site so far, according to city records.)

  • HC July 18, 2014 (12:22 pm)

    @Willie Ellenberg – wishing people a special place in hell without all the facts? What do you know about this story? Do share.

  • Jason July 18, 2014 (12:25 pm)

    @Willie, damning people to hell and wishing on misfortune on them is no better – maybe try to show how love and kindness is better by example, not by displaying the same characteristics?
    .
    This is an emotional and sad situation, and a good time for us to all step up, put aside our differences of opinion and help our neighbors.

  • sittingbird July 18, 2014 (12:34 pm)

    The landlord has every right to do what they did through proper law. That’s how it goes. And they were given extra time.

  • Wendell July 18, 2014 (12:40 pm)

    It’s a Wonderful Life…

  • unknown July 18, 2014 (12:54 pm)

    I don’t know the whole story… but there are people that will use their disabilities to their advantage, now is this one of them?

    I also applaud this man for serving his country but is his disability from serving in the “war” and is he bing evicted because he has defaulted on his mortgage?

    • WSB July 18, 2014 (12:57 pm)

      Medical records are part of the 90-page lawsuit filed by the Bartons, indicating he had a stroke in 2012, and also a heart problem. He can barely speak.

  • Sarah Jones July 18, 2014 (12:56 pm)

    The story says the family was fighting what they felt was an illegal foreclosure. Those of you saying it’s as simple as paying your bills on time do you actually believe this could never happen to you? There are people who have lost their homes without ever missing a payment because of bank errors, and once your house is sold its nearly impossible to get it back, because as so many of you pointed out the buyers have rights too. This is a sad situation and I am glad people gathered to stand up for them.

  • West Seattle since 1979 July 18, 2014 (12:57 pm)

    I don’t understand why they can’t let the people get their clothes and belongings out of the house.

  • NotOnHolden July 18, 2014 (1:12 pm)

    Trustee’s Deed says the original note was for $456,500.00 and the developer bought this for $646,000.00, King County Recorder shows a 2nd DOT, and a recent judgment. There should have been other options available besides foreclosure.

  • Two Sides July 18, 2014 (1:19 pm)

    Yes this is unfortunate. What if you were the person that purchased this house? Now you have a mortgage that you’re paying on a house that you can’t move into. If you honestly believe that you’d be the good samaritan and allow the previous family to continue living there (while you pay the mortgage) then I challenge you to put your money where your mouth is and invite this family to move into your current home.

    @1979 The eviction wasn’t a surprise. There are multiple notices provided to residents before the sheriff gets involved. They could’ve gotten their clothes out.

  • sophista-tiki July 18, 2014 (1:42 pm)

    Regardless of the familys personal circumstances. This is a PRIME example of whats happening to West Seattle. You better watch your assets because these greedy bastards will go to any lengths to snatch your property. The deck is being stacked in their favor NOT OURS. Some of us have lived here long before trendy rich whitey decided to develop the crap out of this area. The’ll go to any lengths to work the system to get their grubby hands on a piece of property to rake in their share of the profits.

  • Diane July 18, 2014 (1:42 pm)

    this is so horrific; I 1st saw the dramatic footage on noon tv news on kiro7; only location they gave was 41st Ave SW, so I was hoping there’s a full story here of what really happened; thanks wsblog for being there and continuing to dig up details
    ~
    this sheds more light on the true story of how good people get kicked out of their longtime homes, through no fault of their own (he had a heart attack & stroke people) no matter how hard they try, no matter how much work they put into trying to deal with banks to stay in their homes, whether through foreclosure or through apt flipping (developers buying affordable apts, then doubling rents, forcing longtime low-income renters out)
    ~
    thanks to the activists for bringing this to media attention, and for fighting on behalf of this Vietnam veteran, who (as TR pointed out) is severely disabled and can barely speak
    ~
    I am equally appalled by all the heartless and uninformed comments here; absolutely shameful
    ~
    and really, truly, this could happen to any of us, in any neighborhood; I applaud this group of activists for bringing these injustices to light; they have assisted many families being evicted, and protested, and tried every legal means to help families keep their homes; there was a home recently in SE Seattle where a woman had to watch her home of 30+ yrs be demolished after it was sold off by the banks to a developer
    ~
    and yes, as someone else said here, this is how people become homeless; literally kicked out of their homes after becoming disabled and unable to work to pay their bills
    ~
    and btw, activism is a good thing; more people should speak up; activism is how women finally got the right to vote after 70 yrs of going to jail for just wanting to participate in our democracy with our vote; activism is how blacks were finally allowed to sit at the same counter and on any seat of the bus and enter any establishment; many many activists died for that simple basic right; the activism of our current times is keeping people from being kicked out of their homes onto the streets with no where to go; yay activists

  • FACTS July 18, 2014 (1:44 pm)

    You guys know this family is getting 100k for this eviction right? Sold over 100k of min bid price.

    This person lived in this house for 60 years so why do they still have a mortgage? I will give them the benefit of the doubt that all the cash out refi’s he did were for his medical expenses but let’s be real.

  • Bradley July 18, 2014 (1:46 pm)

    I missed just part of one mortgage payment to Wells Fargo (sent the other half in two weeks later) in 2006 after 15 years of perfect payments and they started a foreclosure action. I had to borrow $26,000 and pay a year’s mortgage payments in advance to stop the public auction. I was still forced to sell my house, hence lost it anyway. I would have been thrown out a lot sooner than these people because this was all before the Great Recession and foreclosures were still rare then. I had to pay very expensive rent for years after that and my credit is still dinged. I feel bad for this family but unless those protestors are willing to give their own money to pay to house these people, I don’t understand what they’re protesting for. All of those families around them are paying their mortgages or rent and would be thrown-out if they stopped paying, too. I know this is sad (I’ve been through it), but should they be allowed to live there for free while everyone else struggles to pay for their homes?

  • A. July 18, 2014 (2:03 pm)

    Sure, let’s give a person who hasn’t paid their mortgage a free place to live! Everyone should be able to live somewhere for free!!

    Give me a break.

  • Runner Girl July 18, 2014 (2:26 pm)

    To everyone feeling sorry for this family, my rent is due by the 5th of every month. If I don’t pay it I will be evicted. Make the check out to Associated West. $1200. Thank you

  • may take awhile July 18, 2014 (2:28 pm)

    KIRO has posted on their site that the protestors broke the locks, and the family is back in the house. So they won’t need any clothes right now.

  • Shane Renecker July 18, 2014 (2:30 pm)

    A GOFUNDME Page has been created to help..

    Please share this link to everyone you know..

    http://www.gofundme.com/brsohs

  • A July 18, 2014 (2:35 pm)

    Oh Willie,
    Give me a break. I pay my bills and and therefore I don’t lose my home. You are a loser. See you in hell I guess. Haha

  • Two Sides July 18, 2014 (2:36 pm)

    @Diane and others: What do you propose? It seems that you would support legislation that makes it illegal for banks to reclaim their collateral on mortgage defaults. The result? No one but the very wealthy will qualify for mortgages because the lending risk will be through the roof. Then you’ll probably scream about how (insert disparaged group name here) is discriminated against because they can’t buy a home. Another result? The popularity of renting will skyrocket. Unfortunately, all the landlords will be large companies (probably from out of town) because they are the only ones able to get financing. Emotional reactions are natural but they need to be tempered with an understanding of real world consequences.

  • me July 18, 2014 (2:56 pm)

    They knew the morgage payments. You dont buy a house you cant afford. There are other options. If he’s disable he could have signed up for some type of public housing. So no I dont feel bad. I have to work everyday to pay my bills. Live where you can afford it. How are they paying for a lawyer to fight the evection? House was bought fairly

  • HC July 18, 2014 (3:03 pm)

    @ Diane- you are making “uninformed comments” by assuming this family is being evicted “through no fault of their own.”

  • Ms. Sparklez July 18, 2014 (3:06 pm)

    Diane- are you seriously comparing this protest to the Women’s Sufferage & Civil Rights movements? What, exactly, do you hope they accomplish?

    A change in eviction laws? Previous posts have already explained how arduous & drawn out the eviction process is; if you make it harder to evict then landlords will only rent to people with perfect credit – thus increasing homelessness.

    Or maybe you’re hoping they change the foreclosure process? I’m admittedly not very familiar with it (but my sister did go almost a year without paying her mortgage- she finally got a modification; her loan is no 40ys instead of 30). But I suspect that banks will then only lend to people with perfect credit & 35% down- thus barring many from home ownership.

    This has been going on for YEARS! Showing up to “help” now is nothing more than a disingenuous publicity stunt.

  • sittingbird July 18, 2014 (3:39 pm)

    Banks will ultimately cause the fall of this country. It almost happened in 2008. There will be another chance very soon.

    • WSB July 18, 2014 (3:43 pm)

      Please note that we have added another update, this time after speaking with the King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.

  • Ms. Sparkles July 18, 2014 (3:52 pm)

    Post update – $100,000 plus living several months (maybe years?) rent free; where’s your outrage over this sort of system milking?

  • Ray July 18, 2014 (4:00 pm)

    The family is definitely in the wrong here and milking as much attention as they can get evidenced by our resident Socialist-in-chief showing up for some press time.

    The family has been given ample opportunities to defuse this situation. They have milked the process for more than two years now, and are milking the health issues in a sad and desperate attempt for sympathy.

    The family is not being left destitute. They are getting 6 figure proceeds of the sale. They had ample opportunity to move, or make other accommodations.

    The house is no longer theirs. It was handled via the established legal requirements for processing and the family should now follow the law and get out. All they are doing now is wasting tax payer dollars for police and medical support because they refuse to follow the law.

    The house does not belong to them anymore.

  • Dave July 18, 2014 (4:26 pm)

    Wow there are some disgusting people in West Seattle, how does it feel to be a corporate water carrier? I bet you all have “support our troops” stickers on your cars too. Pathetic.

  • wetone July 18, 2014 (4:46 pm)

    Why does everyone always blame the developers ? they have nothing to do with it as they bought the property just like anyone else could have or does buying property. These people have known for a very long time what was going on and could of left or sold and moved on with life, but they chose not to. Sad it is, but they are the ones at fault. Create debt pay it off that’s just the way it works for the 99% of us. What I see here in this deal today is nothing more Socialistic antics, there is much better ways these people could of helped if that is what they really wanted to do.

  • WsBoB July 18, 2014 (4:49 pm)

    I certainly do not know all the facts, but if you cannot pay your mortgage or find assistance, you have to be smart enough to sell it and live within your means. I am glad to hear this family will receive their equity and hopefully start a new chapter somewhere within their means.

    • WSB July 18, 2014 (5:09 pm)

      And this is STILL developing – we ran back through the neighborhood again to see what was going on as TV stations prepared to report “live” at 5, and there’s now an SPD presence, the precinct liaison from the City Attorney’s Office, and word that protesters might be inside the house. Stay tuned …
      .
      ALSO: Do *not* get nasty toward each other – some of that’s already reared its ugly head in this thread. Please discuss and critique all the many aspects of this situation if you want to – and certainly there are major political components and philosophies – but no name-calling and accusations, thank you.

  • midnight hour July 18, 2014 (4:56 pm)

    You know what? I’m middle class and struggle to pay all my bills and mortgage on time. But I do it. I’m sorry that he’s being evicted but it’s a predictable outcome when you live beyond your means. Not defending the developer here– I’m sure they are the ‘pump and dump’ variety and could care less about west Seattle. Just being honest here. It’s a harsh world out there but a little common sense goes a long way.

  • flimflam July 18, 2014 (5:04 pm)

    hmm. this is starting to look pretty slippery re: the family evicted. something stinks here.

    .
    also, sawant is already getting tedious.

  • Thatguy July 18, 2014 (5:06 pm)

    I’m not sure why everyone is blaming the new owner, he/she purchased the property and he wants his house. If I rented from you and I didn’t pay the rent, I’m sure you would let me live at your rental for free because you felt sorry for me.

    I assure you these people were not just thrown out, they had to miss several payments before the notice went out, then the trustee gets involved ( they got to stay for another few months) when the new owner purched the house, he/she had to give them 20 days noticed, if they didn’t move out, the new owner files papers in court and requests an eviction, the Sheriff serves the eviction ( that gives them another 20 days) in all, I would bet these folks lived at the property for the past 16 months without paying, do you still feel sorry for them? According to the media, they fled legal action against the trustee and the lender, how is it these folks didn’t have money to make their mortgage payment but found the money to file legal action?

    It’s always sad when someone looses their home ( regardles what the reaons are) but blaming the guy who purchased the home because the former owner made poor choices or had bad luck is unfair.

  • Cait July 18, 2014 (5:15 pm)

    The issue isn’t whether or not the eviction should be happening the question is why is there no assistance for a disabled vet who is trying to keep his home.

  • SrslySharon July 18, 2014 (5:20 pm)

    Living in a house for 61 years and having a $400K+ mortgage? Maybe they should have rented instead.

  • seaopgal July 18, 2014 (5:23 pm)

    KIRO-7 just showed video of the man getting back into his bed. They said the house was “not secured” and so the people went back inside.

  • Community Member July 18, 2014 (5:34 pm)

    Some people have said that the residents must have had money to file the legal action. That is an incorrect assumption. They may have a lawyer who believes that their case is worth taking on contingency.

  • k July 18, 2014 (5:45 pm)

    Does your journalism get out to the associated press (AP)? Just curious…

  • k July 18, 2014 (5:55 pm)

    You know.. WSB.. I think you could do everyone a favor and research and reports the facts you find related to this case. I can’t speak for everyone.. but I know a lot of disabled vets, and disabled others who never did anything to anyone, ever. I also know lots of people who work and struggle every month to make their payment to keep their house in this crazy, unstable financial world. Please report some facts about what happened so that we can understand. In my experience… fact diffuse emotions. What is really going on here? I don’t know but would like to know.. Thanks.

    • WSB July 18, 2014 (6:09 pm)

      K – everything I know so far is in this story. Everything we’ve seen today and everything I’ve found so far. Layers seem to keep peeling, like an onion – also please see the developer comment above (the name checks out). It seems to be a complicated situation, to say the least. What I don’t know are the nuances … the situation seems to pre-date even Mr. Barton’s stroke/heart trouble. Right now, the city attorney’s precinct liaison is here talking with a lawyer for the Barton’s, a police captain is here, media reps including my co-publisher are right next to them while I’m in the “mobile newsroom” a short distance from the house (we didn’t come here expecting to be here a while again), and waiting to see what will happen. – TR

  • AA July 18, 2014 (5:57 pm)

    Let me get this straight. This family has chained a man who can’t speak, and presumably can’t give consent, to a bed?!?! I’m sorry but that is messed up

  • Wendy Adams July 18, 2014 (6:01 pm)

    I want to thank WSB for its coverage of this situation. I represent Triangle Property Development, the new owner of the property at the heart of this matter. I responded here because at the end of the day, I do what I do because neighborhoods matter to me and, aside from TPD and the Barton’s, this impacts West Seattle most of all. There is no doubt that foreclosure is an unfortunate reality faced by many homeowners, which is why we tried so hard to negotiate an assistance package that would be acceptable to the Barton’s. Unfortunately, we could not give them what they wanted, but that shouldn’t fool us into forgetting that, when it works, the financial system benefits us all. However, when it doesn’t work, it can leave scars; not just on people, but on neighborhoods. What I hope to do, what I hope TPD does, is help the healing process begin. One last thing: I saw the excellent research about the development potential of this property, so I thought I should also let you know that I chose this house because I think it is a beautiful home in a lovely neighborhood. SOMEONE was going to buy the property that day at the sale, and I felt like if TPD was lucky enough to own it, I could remodel the home in a way that would respect all the people who had loved the home before we bought it. I didn’t choose it to tear it down.

  • joel July 18, 2014 (6:06 pm)

    I hear Sawant is declaring eminent domain and will take the house over and give it to the people. seriously though you pay our bills or you may loose your home. sheriff says knock, knock then it’s time to pack up and go. take the 100k you just got from auction and get an apartment.

  • Been there done that July 18, 2014 (6:06 pm)

    I lost my home in foreclosure. You could say it was bad luck (a divorce) or poor decision making (hey, I picked the jerk that I married). Regardless of how I got there, I accepted that I could not pay my mortgage and therefore I no longer had a claim on that home. I now live in a small studio apartment. It fits my budget. I don’t blame the bank nor the new owners who bought the home and I don’t feel they played a role in my misfortune. My bad luck/ bad decisions should not mean that others, whether a corporation or individual, should have to take a hit. It happened to me and I need to be responsible for myself, accept the challenges that life brings and adjust my life so that I can live within my means. I have lived the nightmare of foreclosure and this is my take on it based on my personal experience.

  • ummm July 18, 2014 (6:10 pm)

    He didn’t buy a house he couldn’t afford. He’s owned it so long there’s no online record of his purchase.
    .
    But he did refinanced several times in the 2000s, presumably taking out cash based on the loan amounts. Now has lived without making a payment for the past 3+ years and gets close to 100K from the auction.
    .
    Basically, he sold his house slowly over the last 10 years through refis, non payment, and auction funds.
    .
    Yes, this is a sad story I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but it isn’t the poster child case of evil bank foreclosing.

  • heather July 18, 2014 (6:14 pm)

    I agree with what others have said “it’s never black and white”. One possible scenario could have been a reduction/loss of income due to illness. If they tried to modify their mortgage under HAMP & HARP (which require you to be behind in your mortgage in order to participate in the program – if you’re current, they instruct you to miss 1-3 mortgage payments), they might have met all the criteria (legally qualified), but even so, mortgage companies are illegally foreclosing on qualified applicants. It is not an uncommon occurrence. Two years negotiating…ugh. Unfortunately, monitoring these programs has been poor and inconsistent, leaving many people with few resources (legal council) to turn to. The money paid to them for the foreclosure sale may sound decent but if they had chosen to split their lot and sell one portion, it could have been the difference between 100k or 500 – a big difference in the ability of a family to start another home.

  • wetone July 18, 2014 (6:16 pm)

    If anyone is inside house without new owners permission they should be thrown in jail for trespassing, no if ands or buts. Only in Seattle do people get away with doing crap like this. I hope protesters don’t end up destroying the couples belongings if a scuffle brakes out. That would be a real win win deal don’t you think. But hay if it works maybe everyone should stop paying utility bills to the city and county taxes and see what happens. Where will it end if the judicial doesn’t start enforcing the laws we have on the books now. Pretty scary

  • Jeanine July 18, 2014 (6:22 pm)

    This is so sad. It truly breaks my heart. I’m not quite sure what this world has morphed into. People only see dollar signs instead of a human who lives and breaths like the rest of us. And to say the least, a human who served this country.

  • Diane July 18, 2014 (6:37 pm)

    thank you Wendy Adams for your comment, and for saving the beautiful home; at least that’s something; when I looked at the pic on the county record that TR linked to this story, I thought “oh no, on top of everything else, another gorgeous old home will be demolished”; so it’s very good to hear you will save and rehab this home
    ~
    now, if we could just find some positive resolution for this family

  • BMC July 18, 2014 (8:27 pm)

    I haven’t read much of this article. Regardless of the legal/ethical/moral ins and outs I am touched that some humans are passionate and caring enough to think this a worthy cause. Looking at only the pictures, the man is in dire condition…..

  • G July 18, 2014 (8:29 pm)

    I won’t comment on such a private, and ugly dispute, but Sawant and her understudy using this situation as campaign rally….really? How utterly tacky. What a circus, step right up folks, take a look!

  • Diane July 18, 2014 (8:33 pm)

    thanks for the video wsblog; wow, very confusing; the family is saying their house will be demolished and replaced with condos; the new owner says she will not demolish the house, will rehab
    ~
    and so many more conflicting stories from both sides; I hope someone can get more of the facts on this whole thing

    • WSB July 18, 2014 (8:56 pm)

      You can’t put ‘condos’ on a single-family lot. This is not Morgan Junction transitional low-rise, it’s single-family. SF 5000, to be specific: http://info.kingcounty.gov/Assessor/eRealProperty/Detail.aspx?ParcelNbr=2719100105
      .
      And as I noted, it’s 9200 square feet but technically two lots. So depending on lot boundaries and all that, it COULD POSSIBLY be demolished – it’s about 90 years old – and replaced with two houses. But no condos, no townhouses, it’s a strictly SF neighborhood. I don’t know why they would make that claim – there is not even a pre-filing in the system (many property sales do get accompanied by early filings of at least a site plan, but not this) of any kind.
      .
      TR

  • Alkidoc July 18, 2014 (8:52 pm)

    I agree that Sawant is escalating this. I am an Indian woman too, so I’d love to cheer for one of my own in politics. And I’m liberal as hell – Canadian citizen even. But this lady is scaring me. (I’m also a business owner)

  • HC July 18, 2014 (9:41 pm)

    @WSB – you ask people to be nice in their comments, but don’t you think when you don’t report facts, but rather speculate what’s going on — i.e., it could be this or it could be that — only escalates emotional comments? And why do many people assume the home is going to be torn down? Distressed properties are purchased all the time and “flipped.” Wait for the facts, people, and wait to hear both sides of the story.

  • Penelope July 18, 2014 (10:23 pm)

    Whether the new owner rebuilds or not is so irrelevant to this issue.
    It sounds to me like this family has had some financial problems and has known for awhile that they can no longer afford the house. Sad?Yes. But just because it’s a sad situation for this family does not mean they should be able to stay in a house that is no longer theirs to stay in. And now they have broken the locks and have chained a disabled man to a bed. That’s just bizarre behavior. I wish the family luck but it sounds like it’s time for them to find a new place to live.

  • Greta July 18, 2014 (10:36 pm)

    Sawant will exploit any situation to gain supporters (WS Whole Foods debate, $15/hr minimum wage (have you seen her posters in WS hosting a celebration?), this circus, and the list goes on).

  • A Concerned Neighbor July 18, 2014 (10:37 pm)

    To WetOne:
    You say: “Where will it end if the judicial doesn’t start enforcing the laws we have on the books now. Pretty scary.”

    I say, “The judiciary is not enforcing laws. The trustees in every foreclosure are using forged documents from the banks to begin the foreclosure procedure. In addition, right now in Superior Court in King County, there is a case, Lemelson v. Northwest Trustee Services, where a wealthy homeowner simply wanted to PAY OFF his mortgage. When he sent the proper question: who is the owner of my note, the bank would not provide any evidence of to whom he was supposed to pay! So, now the homeowner is in litigation. Three judges, Judge Linde, Judge Prochnau and Judge Dubuque have denied the homeowner DISCOVERY pending the defendant’s Motion to Dismiss. The homeowner fought diligently to lift the stay on discovery ban to no avail. Rather than serving up a Motion to Dismiss, the defendants served a Motion for Summary Judgment, which WAS GRANTED! What this all means is: THE PLAINTIFF’S LITIGATION WAS DISMISSED WITHOUT BEING GRANTED DUE PROCESS! And all this homeowner wanted was to pay off his mortgage! So, should the judiciary uphold the rule of law? YOU BETCHA!

    IF the judiciary AND the Attorney General’s office had upheld the rule of law, the Barton’s foreclosure would never have happened. You see, the Barton’s “trustee” on their Deed of Trust is Quality Loan Service Corporation of Washington. The Attorney General Bob Ferguson could have AND SHOULD HAVE shut this gang of crooks down a long time ago. This outfit is worse than crack dealers on the corner. At least crack dealers give you a nice high.

    We will be protesting the Superior Court for this denial of due process on AUGUST 1 at the King County Courthouse at NOON. I hope we can get you, who are so concerned about upholding the rule of law, to come and protest this injustice with us!

  • Jason July 18, 2014 (10:57 pm)

    There’s no black and white here, the folks who lived in the home are suffering and the new owner is in a bad position (though I’m not sure I’m buying that whole line about doing what they do to because neighborhoods matter but that’s totally besides the point) but that doesn’t mean we can’t be compassionate about the situation. It’s very sad to to see so many people fighting about this concept of how things are supposed to work without simply considering there are humans here having a hard time.
    .
    If you think these people should have to move, at least can you recognize that they are having a hard time emotionally and might be feeling helpless? You don’t have to agree with their perspective to at least consider their pain.
    .
    And for those saying they should get to stay, can you see why that would be a real burden to a business that just made an investment of $600k+ in inventory?
    .
    I can certainly agree Sawant is kinda scary.

  • patchveggie July 18, 2014 (11:04 pm)

    It sounds like the facts are:

    -family with vet fell on hard times and could no longer afford home, over a period of years.
    -at some point after process had begun, vet had heart attack and stroke, and can no longer speak.
    -bank sold home to developer.
    -developer has no intention of tearing down house but plans to restore it.
    -family will receive 100k due to sale of home.
    -family is currently back in home and vet is chained to bed.

    Look, I’m as Liberal as they come, but this is not right. I’m also a huge proponent of veteran’s rights and do not think they get treated even remotely well in this country. HOWEVER, as other posters have mentioned, this family had a lot of notice on this. They were on a sinking ship and refused get off. I really get the ins and outs of chronic illness going on here. Some posters are really not having any compassion at all. :( What this man and has family are dealing with is horrible. It’s hard to think clearly when you are going through chronic illness. The trauma involved doesn’t always permit you to think clearly. That said, it’s time to go. I would just like to know more about their Illegal Foreclosure lawsuit. The only questions are: was it illegal? Did the bank work with this family? It sounds like this has been going on for years, and that they did.

    I think they deserve a lot of compassion and support, but this circus isn’t really helping. If you want to help the family, help them find a new place to live and then help them move.

    And puhlease do not bring up the Village Green situation in comparison. That woman took the community’s money and then went to France for three weeks. There are unfair foreclosures. That wasn’t one of them.

  • Michelle Darnell July 18, 2014 (11:14 pm)

    Sad to say stories like this dot our country and state like bodies on a battlefield. I am a foreclosure defense paralegal and the bank and trustee malfeasance I see is appalling. Frankly, I know if most Americans truly knew what was going on they would be in total outrage. Further if they realized the implications on their own financial security whether they are a homeowner of not, they would be irate.

    40% of middle class wealth has been extracted and over 10 million families displaced.

    I am running for office because I am frustrated by the lack of attention given to this issue by those in our service. I am calling attention to the issue as best I can.

    While I differ philosophically with Counsel woman Kshama with respect to how to solve the problem, I applaud her willingness to address it. She and I met a couple of years ago as we both were very concerned and were in solidarity with SAFE.

    I am a republican and a capitalist but we do not have capitalism right now. If grassroots republicans understood the true nature of the problem they would be leading the charge as republicans stand for truth, justice and liberty. This is not and issue of left v. right because if you go fr enough to the top, they are both very much the same. We mustn’t allow party politics to divide us any longer.
    I strongly support business and free enterprise. ut I also support the rule of law and when business becomes so powerful that they control politics, then we the people;left for right, need to take back the power and when our legislators are not protecting our interests, we must displace them no matter what party they re aligned with.

    Further,this is not a dead beat homeowner issue but a property rights issue and these homeowners are being denied due process because they have unequal footing with the banks. We have a non-judicial foreclosure system that has been taken over by trustees and banks working in collusion to take homes. The trustee is supposed to be unbiased and have a duty of good faith to the borrower and the bank but they don’t. their fiduciary duty to the bank precluded this and in effect the trustees have become vertically integrated foreclosure machines.

    Every case I see have multiple causes of action but often thehmeowner lacks the fund to hire representation. Contrast that with the banks endless stream of money from their customers and taxpayers (remember the bailouts?).The mortgage payment made today is the foreclosure on your neighbor tomorrow.

    For those who blame the homeowner for not paying, more times then not the homeowner was instructed by their bank to miss three payments to qualify for HAMP. They often ask their bank for help when they suffer financial hardship as a consequence of the recession, a health emergency or loss of a spouse. Because of the market inversion they usually owe more then their home is worth and have lost all equity.They ask their bank for help when they sense they may not be able to keep making their payment. The bank tells them the qualifier for HAMP: default. This was what I call a bank and switch because the bank never intends on modifying. They simply go thru the motions, lead the the homeowner on and then delay and deny the modification, sometimes even through WA FFA mediation. I have seen this happen so frequently that I know it to be a business model.

    That being said we already have laws in place to address this problem. What we need is enforcement of those laws. Because of the banks enormous financial capacity, they use the system to circumvent the laws. We must balance the playing field by strengthening the WA State Foreclosure fairness act and by providing homeowners with a public defender.

    I am going to continue in my quest to expose this issue and seek to create unity among diverse opinions to restore the integrity of our systems an keep people in their homes.

    Michelle Darnell
    Michelledarnellforsenate.com

  • WS gal July 19, 2014 (12:13 am)

    The whole situation is sad- no right or wrong, just sad. No words.

    Sawant however has officially turned my stomach in a new direction. The narcissit Councilmember needs to stop her sideshow antics for the media- please!

  • JoB July 19, 2014 (7:02 am)

    one has to ask
    would this foreclosure have gotten the attention it did without the media pressure driven by Sawant’s presence?
    This story has been on facebook for several days.
    it only hit the media when it became a “publicity stunt”.

    • WSB July 19, 2014 (7:19 am)

      No, actually, Sawant had little to do with it – ‘disabled Vietnam veteran’ was the main hook of interest, if you want to analyze it that way. SAFE sent out an advisory late Thursday that there would be a rally Friday morning at 10 and a news conference at 10:30; she wasn’t even mentioned until the eighth paragraph. That advisory was the first we had heard about it – several citywide outlets did stories on the Bartons back in June but we hadn’t received any info back then; I found them while researching after getting the Thursday advisory. SAFE sends advisories now and then. The last one we received/covered involved an eviction in South Park some time back.- TR

  • arbor heights friend July 19, 2014 (8:14 am)

    so proud of the activists there protesting. solidarity! thanks for your bravery.

  • Brian M. July 19, 2014 (8:49 am)

    Shame on Sawant and now, shame on Darnell for exploiting this for political gain. This is a sad situation, made absolutely worse by their involvement.

  • It's called taking responsibility July 19, 2014 (9:10 am)

    I sincerely appreciate emotional attachment and how difficult letting go can be.
    I appreciate standing up for what you believe in.
    I also appreciate taking care of your personal business while at the same time, upholding the law.

    This family is far from destitute.
    They choose to stay in this situation and make it more difficult.
    They have had time to make other housing arrangements and take advantage of programs and services needed, yet they choose not to.
    They choose to stay which now means they are trespassing.
    They are making it harder on themselves.

    They are breaking the law by choice and must be willing to accept the consequences.

  • Gatewood neighbor July 19, 2014 (9:31 am)

    I think that the Bartons had every right to expect that their mortgage holder, apparently Chase Bank, to modify or otherwise come up with a workout on their loan. I think some people are forgetting about the whole economic implosion of 2008 that still impacts people like the Bartons today. The banks were bailed out with our tax dollars in 2008; one of the provisions of the bailout was that they are to do loan workouts to keep struggling homeowners in their homes. The Bartons seem to meet the criteria for a modification or workout: loss of income, in this case both due to their business as well as Mr. Barton’s condition. It is unfortunate that the bank apparently neither followed its legal obligation, let alone moral one, in this case. I think the blame is squarely on Chase. It was one of the largest banks to receive government bailout funds that required to do loan workouts for struggling homeowners, but it couldn’t even come up with a loan workout to keep a disabled vet in his home

  • rob July 19, 2014 (11:10 am)

    You think this whole thing is bad just think of our neighbors over in eastern Wa and what they are going through. This is minor

  • Zark July 19, 2014 (11:42 am)

    5 minutes of internet research to discover this is more than likely NOT as simple as “pay your bills”.
    This is the forclosing company, Quality Loan Services, LOSING a lawsuit for “stealing” a 73 year old woman’s home by falsifying documents including a fake auction sale for $1 more than the woman owed when the home was valued about $150k over what she owed.
    http://www.courts.wa.gov/index.cfm?fa=controller.managefiles&filePath=Opinions&fileName=871051.pdf
    To reiterate – THEY LOST and had to pay the $150k, for trying to steal a woman’s home – the word steal isn’t in the judgement but you read it and tell me they dont steal for a living. Did I mention the woman was diagnosed with dementia before they scammed her out of her home – still think it’s just about paying your bills? God forbid your next mortgage payment gets lost in the mail, if it does, QLS is within their right to forclose on you, and they have been proven in a court of law to falsify documents, including fake auctions, to sell your house out from under you (that part is illegal).

  • K July 19, 2014 (12:40 pm)

    Hi WSB.. might be a lot to ask but how about this template for the weird sounding situation:
    SBAR
    Situation
    Background
    Assessment
    Recommendation.

    A lot of this doesn’t make sense to me but my heart strings are pulling for the guy. Facts are helpful.

    • WSB July 19, 2014 (12:43 pm)

      This was a developing story. Did the best we could. Not over yet but we’ll be checking back.

  • K July 19, 2014 (12:45 pm)

    And… I wouldn’t ever tell a public official how to do their job… but, don’t they have to take a class in how not to be obnoxious before signing up for city council responsibilities? Maybe not… I can be very obnoxious when I give a crud so maybe I should run for the position…

  • K July 19, 2014 (12:46 pm)

    You guys did great, WSB… just very convoluted. Would think the whole story would help the community.

  • gia July 19, 2014 (2:21 pm)

    I agree with K,,,,WSB did a fantastic job covering a story that is very confusing.

    And something else that puzzles me. When or how do you just take someone to “the hospital” because there is no place else to go? I am not downplaying this mans health conditions, but simply not having a place to live does not make for a hospital admission.

    I hope more info on this story is published.

  • Gatewood Neighbor July 19, 2014 (2:22 pm)

    Tracy and West Seattle Blog staff – thank you for your very excellent coverage of this complex and emotional issue. We don’t always know all of the facts immediately, and West Seattle Blog was so very good in keeping us apprised of what you knew when it was happening. What you gave us is certainly more than any other media did and in live, ongoing fashion, and you spent a lot of time keeping us apprised. You are pioneering a new kind of journalism, and I hope others in the neighborhood appreciate it. I certainly do.

  • MeronJuneau July 19, 2014 (2:39 pm)

    I have stopped reading ALL of the comments, so please accept my apologies if I am reiterating someone else’s statement.
    To all of those who say it is as simple as paying one’s own bills, my reply to is you is this:
    The world is not black and white. Did you not see that these people lived here on this property for over SIXTY years? The small amount of money that they may have been behind on to illicit foreclosure is probably chumpchange to the equity built while they indeed kept up with the payments.Not to mention, it has been stated that the bank foreclosed illegally. It is not as simple as “pay your bills.”
    It takes a callous individual to run a profitable company that turns a profit off of others misfortune,i.e., Triangle. For some to say “business is business” is just insane, IMHO.

    Let me break something down, and it hopefully may shed some light on the state of West Seattle’s current economic boom.
    My husband and I bring home roughly a combined income of 110 k year. Which is a nice amount for two early thirty somethings without children or debt. However, do to the rising cost of living in this little peice of paradise we pretty much live paycheck to
    paycheck. The cost of living is INSANE in our great little neighborhood. My landlord wants to raise our rent again from 1700 to 2100 per month. My house is on a busy road and has less than 700 sq ft of livable space. Our old back yard was sold to a developer a few years back and we now do not have a yard nor do I have a view. My neighbors up the hill 8 blocks away have a view, but I dont see why that should effect the cost of my rent. Not to mention, small houses, tiny houses down the street are selling for half a million, which doesn’t even make sense. The local economy doesn’t support it. Personally, I think it is a made up market that will tumble upon it’s self again.
    What is happening in west seattle at this current juncture is gentrification shown at its finest.

  • sittingbird July 19, 2014 (4:13 pm)

    Sawant is a hypocrite in more ways than you can possibly imagine. Don’t let the wool be pulled over your eyes. Don’t get trapped into her ideology.

  • joel July 19, 2014 (4:29 pm)

    MeronJuneau….if you are paying 1700 to 2100 rent per month perhaps looking into buying and own your house with a smaller mortgage than what you know pay in rent……personally if I pay rent in one of the nicer neighborhoods then I can’t complain about what the rent costs. if I did not like the rent then I’d move. for certain you can get more for less rent.

  • Gatewood Neighbor July 19, 2014 (5:41 pm)

    Joel – the median price for a home in Seattle is around $420,000. At 4 percent interest, that would be a monthly payment of $2005. Of course this would be less after a down payment, but not many people can afford a 20 percent down, so then you have to add PMI insurance to that. Plus factor in homeowners insurance, not to say the things that landlords have to pay for, such as maintenance, home repairs and the like. Median rent for simply a one bedroom apartment is around $1300 a month in Seattle. Of course commuting from outlying areas can reduce costs but then you have factor in higher commuting costs plus the stress of travelling in traffic.

    • WSB July 19, 2014 (6:14 pm)

      Even some of the new microhousing units are going for almost $1000 (35th/Avalon Footprint building recently advertised some of its units at $990). Just a datapoint to the side discussion above.

  • MeronJuneau July 19, 2014 (6:20 pm)

    Joel

    I agree, we are starting the process of buy-in our first home. However, we can not afford to buy a decent sized houseout here in W S given the cost. For example if we buy a 450k house, even with 20% down our mortgage would be over 2000 per month. I couldn’t imagine I we would make it with a couple kids. The whole point of my comment was to attest the high cost of living in west seattle. Btw we dont even live in a great area…

  • AmandaKH July 19, 2014 (8:42 pm)

    Lot’s of houses for sale in Westwood/Roxhill/Arbor Heights! And with a Roxbury re-channel – its about to get a WHOLE lot nicer over here! And! We’ve got a very active Community Council :)

  • Gatewood Neighbor July 19, 2014 (8:57 pm)

    Tracy thanks for the data point for side discussion on housing costs. If you go on Craig’s List, you can find West Seattle apartments (both one bedroom and studios) for under $900. So offering microhousing for as much, if not more, than regular apartments seems odd, and seems to defeat the purpose of microhousing, which was supposedly to offer more affordable housing to those who could not afford aparments. I don’t get it, and maybe WSB can offer more enlightenment in future coverage. All it seems like from my perspective is that the microhousing developers get to offer more housing units at the same price, but with fewer amenities as well as crowding our streets because they don’t have to offer parking spaces. If WSB can offer more insight on this topic is would be great, especially since we’re seeing all the construction going on in the Alaska Junction that is changing our sweet little community.

  • joel July 20, 2014 (1:28 am)

    housing prices…being this is the WS blog I assume MeronJuneau lives in West Seattle…..so let’s look at WS and not compare to the rest of Seattle which is going to include Magnolia, Madison Park, Leschi etc which drive the median price up…..a quick search on Redfin for WS with a filter of a MAX of $350 for single family homes (NO town homes or condos) yielded 56 homes for $350 and under. it is very doable…..if you want Admiral then it’s likely not going to happen but get closer to Arbor Heights and Highland Park etc and it can easily happen.

  • Mike July 20, 2014 (8:17 am)

    Quality Loan Services has already been in hot water with the state attorney generals office recently. http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?id=32004#.U8vZ3pRX-uY
    .
    And in Arizona http://www.azdfi.gov/Consumers/PublicRecords/Forms/Consent/QUALITY_LOAN_SERVICE_CORP_Consent.pdf
    .
    More about the scam that is ‘Quality’ Loan Services
    http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=27506906
    .
    I cannot defend the actions of what I don’t know (I don’t know the full circumstances of these individuals being foreclosed on), but from multiple lawsuits by state attorney generals against illegal activity by Quality Loan Services, it’s pretty much a guarantee that they did not act in good faith. In a housing market as hot as West Seattle’s, they’re itching to get their hands on this house to sell it, it’s quick profits in a high return rate. Did they ever once work with this family to have the family sell the home before being foreclosed on? Did they obstruct paperwork processes for a potential sale due to the real estate laws and loan nightmare that is dealing with purchasing a home in pre-foreclosure?
    .
    I don’t see this as a one house/family issue, this is a much bigger issue.

  • FionaEnzo July 20, 2014 (10:01 am)

    Heartened to see people actively and peacefully protesting- as their conscience dictates – at the site. Takes energy and will.
    Most people today are staring at their phones, monitors, plasma screens or plastering a bumper sticker on a vehicle rather than exercising their rights.
    I don’t think anyone believes financial institutions are benevolent entities. How many times do they need to show you that they will cripple a nation financially for their own gain – if the opportunity presents itself? They need to be challenged constantly.
    I appreciate this conversation.

  • mark July 20, 2014 (11:22 am)

    Money uber alles, eh Trent?

  • LucyGoosey July 20, 2014 (12:05 pm)

    To Mike:
    Regarding Quality Loan Services Corporation, our Attorney General Bob Ferguson can shut them down RIGHT NOW, but thus far has not.

    You see, he has a mandate in the Klem v. WaMu case with Judge Mack called the Stipulation and Injuction. This mandates that the Attorney General can act if Quality Loan Service Corporation of Washington violates their duty of good faith AGAIN, after the WA Supreme Court decision came down.

    Well…..

    Quality Loan Service Corporation violated their duty of good faith AGAIN! Judge George Bowden in the Brevick case found that QLS violated their duty of good faith!

    Homeowners have brought this to the attention of AG Ferguson, with no action being taken from his office! Unbelievable, right?

    Please contact his office and encourage him to shut down this unlawful trustee:
    bob.ferguson at atg.wa.gov
    mwebb at atg.wa.gov (his executive aide)

  • GuyFawkesLives July 20, 2014 (12:57 pm)

    TO Brian M:
    I know Michelle Darnell. She is not “exploiting this issue for political gain.” She is a paralegal who works defending family’s homes from the banks. She has actually seen the devastation that has been caused by this rotten system and is now running for office to EXPOSE this rotten system.

    I’m sorry, but have YOU been working to stop foreclosures and expose this rotten system? Because if not, then you have no leg to stand on. There have been MANY of us working in the background to no avail. What do you do when the legislators who are responsible for protecting their citizens instead look away as 40,000 Washington homes go needlessly into foreclosure?

    What do you do when you bring this to the attention of people negotiating for the “Foreclosure Fairness Act” (I’m sorry but there is NOTHING fair about what’s happening right now with foreclosures) tell you that they KNOW that the FFA is just “kicking the foreclosure can down the road” and they DON’T care? What do you do?????

    YOU STICK YOUR NECK OUT AND RUN FOR OFFICE YOURSELF!

    I find what Michelle is doing is incredibly brave. She has the guts to put her hat into a very sick and twisted political machine. She is susceptible to people trying to twist the message as you are attempting to do right here. That is not fair.

  • Gatewood Neighbor July 20, 2014 (6:23 pm)

    Actually the average price for a home in West Seattle sold in the second quarter of this year is $441,000, according to the latest data released by the Multiple Listing Service. Even if one can find a home here for under $350,000, the mortgage payment on that for a first time homebuyer who uses a five percent down would be $1587.41. That does not include PMI, taxes or homeowners insurance, all of which would be taken out monthly as part of the regular mortgage payment for putting less than 20 percent down. That would add at least another $400 to $500 to the monthly payment. Most homes in West Seattle are older (or old) so you have to factor in higher home maintenance costs due the aging components of the home. Plus, if you’re lucking enough to find a home at $350K or less here, there is a *good* chance you might be doing some cosmetic fixing to it. Plus not everyone likes to live in fixer uppers. Here’s the link to the latest MLS home price data: http://seattletimes.com/html/localpages/2024087315_averagehomepricesgained10percentannually.html

  • robert July 20, 2014 (9:43 pm)

    HOW IS THAT HOPE AND CHANGE TREATING YOU NOW???????????? SOCIALISIM WON’T WORK HERE OR ANY WHERE ELSE. PAY YUOUR BILLS /LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS/FORGET THE PLASTIC RELY ON COLD HARD CASH,AND IF YUOU CAN’T AFFORD IT DON’T BUY IT!!!

  • miws July 20, 2014 (10:19 pm)

    robert,

    http://www.keepcalmandposters.com/posters/26516.png

    .

    Mike

  • Lucy Goosey July 20, 2014 (10:55 pm)

    To Mike:
    Robert’s got a little bit of a point. Obama is presiding over the largest transfer of African American wealth the world has ever seen.

    When faced with forgery and counterfeiting crimes littering the land records, Obama said, “The foreclosures must move forward.”

    The Democrat-controlled legislature in Olympia has said the very same thing to the citizens of Washington. They have looked the other way as the Washington Bankers have raped and pillaged with abandon.

    However, the Republicans don’t yet know that this is truly a Republican issue. It is a PROPERTY RIGHTS issue. They need to open their eyes and see if they start to understand what’s going on, they could dominate.

    My vote’s up for grabs. I certainly am not a Democrat anymore. Not with the response from Olympia and DC in the aftermath of this crisis.

  • wetone July 21, 2014 (11:39 am)

    People crack me up when then they complain about they can’t afford a house in this area, well look in another area then. I would like to have a waterfront or nice view house in W/S also but I know that is just not realistic. If one is making 110k a year and complains about having a hard time paying $1700-2000k month for a rental you better take a look at your lifestyle as usually that’s were the money is spent. New cars=payments add full coverage insurance, newest phones, computers, TV’s, travel, dining out all the time, it’s the choices you make. I put money down on my first house in W/S at 18 with the money I earned not given or borrowed. It was the size of a one car garage 300sqft, but it was a stepping stone. Funny how many people expect to start at the top of the ladder now instead of working there way up. What are the schools teaching these days ? any common sense ? If one wants to blame someone for all the high $$ housing in this town then take a look in the mirror, the more that moves here the higher cost go up for everything.

  • Rick July 21, 2014 (1:26 pm)

    I believe they’re going to the Sawant school.

  • joel July 22, 2014 (6:45 am)

    you want to put down 20% for a house?….you don’t find this in your ashtray or under the couch. you plan for it well in advance. if you are paying 2k in rent then you move to an apartment and paying 1,000 in rent. you save 12k per year and do this for 3 years and then have 36k. it’s a matter of priorities and planning. unless you got wishes from a Jeannie bottle then it’s time to put a plan into place and if you are serious about it then put your efforts in to make it happen…..Your FIRST home – well those are normally called STARTER homes for a reason. I’d rather drive a Beamer but ya know I drive something I can afford.

  • Ben Branson July 22, 2014 (10:07 pm)

    This is just another insult from the Banking industry, they find ways to use our money to make more money they have so many hidden clauses that give them the right to do anything and then when they loose money they go to the Whitehouse and get a tax payers bailout, then they do what they did sell the properties mortgage at a profit ( they say loss) because, they write it off as a business loss and keep the money the purchaser paid. And guess what another Veteran homeless and on the street no remorse for his treatment at all then his family suffers the humiliation and indignity for what. And this from a State and City that makes a lot of money from Military Families but look at them as disposable again no remorse shown.

  • Byron Barton July 26, 2014 (7:38 pm)

    Hello my follow Americans.
    My lawsuit is public record so the facts can be confirm what I have to say. There’s forgery in our Washington Mutual mortgage that Chase Bank illegally foreclose. Chase Bank give up their trustee of recorder and then use the same trustee to illegally foreclose.

    I hen pick the 17 page lawsuit that took 80 hours to complete. I then hired Jill Smith to help us in court to fight this illegal foreclosure. This is America and the Bank had no right in stealing our home. All I ever ask for is due process.
    Byron Barton

  • SAFE July 30, 2014 (9:28 am)

    This is your community, these are your neighbors help stand up for what is right.

    https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/safe-standing-against-foreclosure-eviction/x/8273101

  • R August 4, 2014 (1:05 pm)

    @sophistica-tiki sorry for the late reply but have been busy. “whitey”? Really? How many colors should be included here? Next time I require a dose of ipecac I’ll just look up your comments.

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