By Michael and Stephen Szakos / Guest contributors
Among the downtown Oxnard storefronts, a weekly gathering is attracting local residents trying to save their homes. Each Wednesday night, volunteers are working with homeowners facing foreclosures.
The situation is all too common among Ventura County’s Latino community which now represents nearly half of all the homeowners countywide who are facing foreclosure. On average, as many as 1,600 properties a month are going to foreclosure; in November the number spiked to 2,300.
“This community is the epicenter, ground zero, of an economic crisis that is destroying families and unfortunately, the situation is far from over,” said Michael Szakos, a Ventura County realtor who along with his brother decided to start free weekly clinics at 8 p.m. Wednesdays at Café on A to help distressed homeowners.
“What we’re seeing is a population that has been repeatedly and deeply preyed upon to the point just getting them to trust us has taken months,” said Stephen Szakos, a real estate professional whose experience as a former law enforcement officer has been an asset.
“The scams we are uncovering as we meet with these families involving some unscrupulous real estate agents, brokers and even attorneys and lenders is mind boggling, “ Stephen Szakos said. “Many of these people have been victimized two or three times and lost tens of thousands of dollars.”
As word of the pro bono assistance spreads among the mostly Spanish-speaking Latino community, families arrive early and wait for the one-on-one counseling sessions to begin with Miguel and Esteban as they are now known. Some people come straight from work and sit patiently for up to four hours.
“I come here because everywhere else they want to charge me thousands of dollars to help and many of us still lose our houses,” says a Latino farm worker who is too ashamed to give his real name. “You can call me Pedro or Juan, what does it matter? We are all in trouble and no one cares.”
Ventura County is stepping up enforcement of real-estate related fraud and District Attorney Greg Totten has made fighting this type of criminal activity one of his top priorities. A Real-Estate Fraud Unit headed by Assistant District Attorney Miles Weiss is tackling the problem daily.
“Real estate fraud is bringing to light the tremendous need that exists in our community for more education and knowledge to prevent becoming a victim,” Weiss told the audience at a recent town hall meeting held in South Oxnard. “And we need your help reporting the crimes,” he added.
Afterward, as volunteers stack plastic chairs and turn off lights, the two brothers talk about how months of these encounters have affected them.
“It’s truly heart-breaking to see these cases,” Michael Szakos said. For Stephen Szakos, the bottom-line is even simpler, “We have to do more and we will. We have to.”
For more information on the free Wednesday evening “Save Your Family First” foreclosure prevention clinics held at 8 p.m. each Wednesday at Café on A, 438 S. “A” St., Oxnard, call Michael or Stephen Szakos at (888) 700.9658.
— This guest commentary is contributed by Michael and Stephen Szakos of Cobalt Realty, 940 E. Santa Clara St., Suite 100, Ventura. They can also be heard live each Wednesday morning on the David Cruz bilingual radio program on KOXR AM-910. The show is aired from 6 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (888) 700.9658, visit http://www.teamszakos.com/ or send an email to michaelszakosandassociates@gmail.com