What is MERS: In 1995, banks and others in the mortgage lending industry created the
Mortgage Electronic Registration System (“MERS”) – a national registry to track ownership and
servicing rights for residential mortgages. This system is designed to facilitate mortgage
securitizations and circumvent the traditional county Recorders of Deeds offices. The rapid rise
in popularity of mortgage backed securities and their subsequent decline in value is a major
cause of the housing crisis that sent America’s economy into the largest collapse since the Great
Depression.
Mortgage Electronic Registration System (“MERS”) – a national registry to track ownership and
servicing rights for residential mortgages. This system is designed to facilitate mortgage
securitizations and circumvent the traditional county Recorders of Deeds offices. The rapid rise
in popularity of mortgage backed securities and their subsequent decline in value is a major
cause of the housing crisis that sent America’s economy into the largest collapse since the Great
Depression.
Foreclosure crisis in Delaware: Delaware is experiencing a record rate of foreclosures. The
foreclosure rate tripled from 2008 to 2009, rising from 2,000 homes annually to 6,000. A record
6,457 homes were foreclosed on in 2010.
foreclosure rate tripled from 2008 to 2009, rising from 2,000 homes annually to 6,000. A record
6,457 homes were foreclosed on in 2010.
Who owns/uses MERS: There are more than 5,500 members representing the most significant
players in the mortgage industry, including: mortgage lenders and servicers (Bank of America,
CitiMortgage, Inc., GMAC Residential Funding Corporation, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.);
government-sponsored entities (e.g., Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac); insurance and title
companies and the Mortgage Bankers Association.
players in the mortgage industry, including: mortgage lenders and servicers (Bank of America,
CitiMortgage, Inc., GMAC Residential Funding Corporation, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.);
government-sponsored entities (e.g., Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac); insurance and title
companies and the Mortgage Bankers Association.
MERS in Delaware: MERS purports to hold more than 30% of Delaware mortgages. Since
January 1, 2008, MERS has filed more than 1,600 foreclosure actions in its own name against
Delaware homeowners. Additionally, thousands of other homeowners whose mortgages have
been tracked in the MERS system were foreclosed on by entities whose right to the property was
unclear because of the unreliability of MERS’ records. Thousands more Delaware homeowners
currently hold mortgages with MERS listed as the owner, but with no way to actually determine
the true owner.
January 1, 2008, MERS has filed more than 1,600 foreclosure actions in its own name against
Delaware homeowners. Additionally, thousands of other homeowners whose mortgages have
been tracked in the MERS system were foreclosed on by entities whose right to the property was
unclear because of the unreliability of MERS’ records. Thousands more Delaware homeowners
currently hold mortgages with MERS listed as the owner, but with no way to actually determine
the true owner.
What is Attorney General Biden alleging: MERS violated Delaware’s Deceptive Trade
Practices Act by creating an unregulated shadowy registry that is unreliable and inaccurate and
blocks homeowners from learning which entity truly owns their mortgage. The complaint
highlights three major deficiencies:
Practices Act by creating an unregulated shadowy registry that is unreliable and inaccurate and
blocks homeowners from learning which entity truly owns their mortgage. The complaint
highlights three major deficiencies:
• MERS obscures important information from borrowers and what is available to
borrowers is frequently inaccurate.
borrowers is frequently inaccurate.
• MERS acts without authority
• MERS is a “front” organization that does not enforce its own rules
How the mortgage industry works: A mortgage loan taken out by a homeowner is really two
documents – the first is a promissory note requiring the borrower to repay the holder of the note.
documents – the first is a promissory note requiring the borrower to repay the holder of the note.
The second document (the mortgage instrument) allows the holder to foreclose on the property if
the loan is not repaid. The person or entity holding the note receives the money from the
borrower’s monthly mortgage payments.
the loan is not repaid. The person or entity holding the note receives the money from the
borrower’s monthly mortgage payments.
How securitization works: Banks that make the mortgage loans to homeowners sell the
mortgage notes to other financial institutions. Several times over, the loans are bundled into
investments known as mortgage-backed securities and the notes are sold to large investment
groups, such as pension funds.
mortgage notes to other financial institutions. Several times over, the loans are bundled into
investments known as mortgage-backed securities and the notes are sold to large investment
groups, such as pension funds.
Where MERS comes in: As the notes are sold in the securitization process, someone has to
service the loans and hold legal title to the mortgage instrument. Servicers do all the work
involved with a mortgage loan on the lender side – physically collecting and distributing
payments, answering borrowers’ questions, etc. MERS acts as passive place-holder on the
County Recorder of Deeds public registry. Additionally, MERS can also file foreclosure actions
on behalf of the note-holders in foreclosure proceedings. MERS allows its members to sell
mortgages many times over without recording the transactions at the local Recorders of Deeds
offices, thereby avoiding fees, eliminating any official paper trail and creating significant
confusion that has led to improper foreclosures.
service the loans and hold legal title to the mortgage instrument. Servicers do all the work
involved with a mortgage loan on the lender side – physically collecting and distributing
payments, answering borrowers’ questions, etc. MERS acts as passive place-holder on the
County Recorder of Deeds public registry. Additionally, MERS can also file foreclosure actions
on behalf of the note-holders in foreclosure proceedings. MERS allows its members to sell
mortgages many times over without recording the transactions at the local Recorders of Deeds
offices, thereby avoiding fees, eliminating any official paper trail and creating significant
confusion that has led to improper foreclosures.
What the lawsuit seeks: The suit asks the Court of Chancery to impose various sanctions on
MERS, including requiring it to audit its records to ensure accuracy, stop foreclosing on homes
without divulging the true owner of the mortgage, and correct records filed with county Recorder
of Deeds that do not list the entity that owns the mortgage. The suit seeks a civil penalty against
MERS of up to $10,000 for each willful violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, as well
as restitution to borrowers who were harmed by these violations. The exact amount will be
determined during trial.
MERS, including requiring it to audit its records to ensure accuracy, stop foreclosing on homes
without divulging the true owner of the mortgage, and correct records filed with county Recorder
of Deeds that do not list the entity that owns the mortgage. The suit seeks a civil penalty against
MERS of up to $10,000 for each willful violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, as well
as restitution to borrowers who were harmed by these violations. The exact amount will be
determined during trial.
PDF copy below…
Delaware v. Mers Fact Sheet
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