Minneapolis woman is fighting to stay in home

Advocates hope to keep her from being evicted after refinancing deal gone bad.

By ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune

Last update: November 13, 2009 - 10:00 PM

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Another battle is brewing between advocates for a woman fighting to stay in her Minneapolis house and a lender moving forward with foreclosure.

Advocates say Leslie Parks will be unfairly ousted from the house at 3749 Park Av. S. because her mother, Tecora Parks, who owns the duplex, was duped into refinancing the home with an adjustable rate mortgage when she had to pay for city-ordered window upgrades for the rental property.

Linden Gawboy, of the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout, said when Tecora Parks refinanced the duplex several years ago, she wanted a conventional loan and was told by a mortgage broker that was what she was signing for. But she found out it was an ARM when her monthly payment shot up and she was unable to afford it.

"She had perfect credit," Gawboy said. "She said, 'I want the same loan I have now,' and the person insisted that was what he was selling her. But he outright lied."

Minneapolis city spokesman Matt Lindstrom confirmed that a city inspector in 2003 required that storm windows be placed on the duplex.

Indymac Federal Bank, now known as Onewest Bank, foreclosed during the summer, and a sheriff's sale took place. Tecora Parks has until Nov. 30 to pay the balance of the mortgage or Leslie Parks will be evicted. The advocacy groups supporting the Parks are demanding that IndyMac negotiate with them and come to a settlement that will allow Leslie Parks to stay in the home. A spokesperson for Indymac could not be reached Friday.

In a similar case this year, another resident, Rosemary Williams, faced foreclosure on her south Minneapolis home by GMAC. In September she was arrested when she and others refused to leave the house.

Gawboy said Williams is now staying with relatives and still trying to get her house back. She also has traveled to various speaking engagements to talk about her experience.

Abby Simons • 612-673-4921