Chain of Title: How Three Ordinary Americans Uncovered Wall Street's Great Foreclosure Fraud
Their names are Lisa Epstein, Michael Redman, and Lynn Szymoniak.

- Author: David Dayen
- Publisher: The New Press, 320 pages
Their names are Lisa Epstein, Michael Redman, and Lynn Szymoniak. In 2009, they were living in Florida, and like many others in the Sunshine State, facing the loss of their homes in the subprime mortgage crisis. Then, they did something lenders never expected - they actually read their mortgage papers. There they uncovered the tip of a massive scam, with banks and mortgage companies faking millions of foreclosure documents and illegally forcing families from their homes.
Fiscal Times journalist David Dayen tells their stories in this 2016 book that picks up where The Big Short left off. He explores how some lenders and servicers engaged in shoddy practices and illegal shortcuts as the market for subprime mortgage securities boomed. They failed to properly transfer ownership among banks, servicers, investors and trustees. When the housing market collapsed, banks and mortgage companies that couldn’t prove they owned a homeowner’s mortgage foreclosed anyway, hiring third party firms and robo-signers to fabricate documents after the fact. The assumption was no one would ever know. And as the book explores, some judges and courts looked the other way - until a few ordinary folks figured out the whole scheme. If you want to understand the subprime mortgage fiasco, you’ll find this book both useful and concerning.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Visit the Kiplinger Bookshelf
-
-
What Is a Stock Split, and Why It Matters to You
A stock split can indicate that a company is healthy — but don't fall for the hype.
By Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA • Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Rally on Debt Ceiling News, Manufacturing Data
A slow start turned into a strong finish for stocks thanks to encouraging debt ceiling updates and the latest economic data.
By Karee Venema • Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Rally on Debt Ceiling News, Manufacturing Data
A slow start turned into a strong finish for stocks thanks to encouraging debt ceiling updates and the latest economic data.
By Karee Venema • Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Close Lower Ahead of Key Debt Ceiling Vote
The major benchmarks spent most of Wednesday in the red as the House prepares to vote on the debt ceiling deal this evening.
By Karee Venema • Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Give Back Big Debt Ceiling Deal Gains
The major benchmarks opened solidly higher Tuesday after lawmakers announced a debt ceiling deal, but optimism faded into the close.
By Karee Venema • Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Jump on Debt Ceiling Progress
The major benchmarks rallied into the long weekend after lawmakers said they're making strides in debt ceiling negotiations.
By Karee Venema • Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Rise After AI Outlook Sparks Explosive Nvidia Rally
The Nasdaq and S&P 500 made impressive advances today after chipmaker Nvidia forecast record quarterly revenue on AI growth.
By Karee Venema • Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Sink on Debt Ceiling Impasse
While the major benchmarks finished in the red, retail stocks Abercrombie & Fitch and Kohl's popped after earnings.
By Karee Venema • Published
-
Debt Ceiling Crisis: What Did Stocks Do the Last Time the U.S. Nearly Defaulted?
Playing chicken with the debt ceiling has been bad for stocks in the past.
By Dan Burrows • Last updated
-
Stock Market Today: Debt Ceiling Anxiety Weighs on Stocks
While a Monday night meeting between Biden and McCarthy was "productive," there are no signs the two sides are nearing a deal.
By Karee Venema • Published