Foreclosure Workshop This Week in Bowie

Bowie homeowners who are struggling to make their mortgage payments or have underwater mortgages are invited by the city to attend a workshop to learn about their options and potential solutions.

The Bowie City Council, the 23rd District Delegation and Prince George’s County Counclmembers Ingrid Turner and Derrick Davis are co-sponsoring a Homeowner Relief and Foreclosure Prevention Workshop on Wednesday, May 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Kenhill Center at 2614 Kenhill Drive in Bowie.

This workshop is targeted to residents who are in foreclosure, concerned about foreclosure, or just looking for more information or legal help.

Bowie Mayor G. Frederick Robinson said the city's participation in this workshop is part of ongoing efforts to help residents struggling in the current economy. The city also hosted a job fair earlier this month that saw almost 800 visitors, and the city plans to host a college financial aid seminar this fall for local students and parents.

“Although the unemployment rate in Bowie is lower than in the county and in the state, we are not immune to these concerns,” said Robinson.

Late last year, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development identified greater Bowie as one of the ten foreclosure “hot spots” in the state reporting “very high” foreclosure rates, according to their 2011 fourth quarter report.

Homeowners may also learn if they are eligible to receive funds as part of Attorney General Doug Gansler’s February billion-dollar settlement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers, Ally/GMAC, Bank of America/Countrywide, Citi, JP Morgan Chase/WaMu, and Wells Fargo/Wachovia.