1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I am writing as a Maine homeowner and constituent to urge you to enact strong protections against “zombie” mortgages in our state. Zombie mortgages are typically old second mortgages or lines of credit that homeowners reasonably believed were resolved, charged off, or simply dormant, only to resurface many years later when a lender or debt buyer attempts to collect or even foreclose. These surprise claims often arise after property values increase, catching families completely off guard and threatening their housing stability. Maine families who have worked hard to keep or regain their homes should not live in fear that a decades‑old second mortgage can suddenly be used to take their property. In other states, borrowers have faced foreclosure actions on loans they have not heard about for 10, 15, or even 20 years, brought by companies they never knew owned the debt. Many have received no periodic statements, no regular communication, and no meaningful opportunity to resolve the matter before a foreclosure is filed. Other states are starting to respond by passing targeted laws that limit how long such dormant liens can be enforced, require regular statements and clear notice before foreclosure, and provide homeowners with defenses when a debt is too old or poorly documented. Maine should not wait until more of our residents are harmed before acting. I respectfully ask you to consider legislation that would: (1) impose a clear, reasonable time limit on foreclosure of second mortgages and similar junior liens; (2) require that servicers send periodic statements and maintain accurate records as a condition of foreclosure; and (3) make it unlawful to threaten or pursue foreclosure on clearly time‑barred or undocumented mortgage debts. These reforms would not prevent legitimate, timely mortgage enforcement, but they would protect Maine families from surprise foreclosures based on stale, confusing, or long‑forgotten obligations. I hope you will make preventing zombie mortgage abuses a priority in the upcoming session. Thank you for your attention to this important issue and for your service to the people of Maine.