US News

DREAM HOME IS SLIPPING AWAY

Single mom Jocelyne Voltaire was on her way toward paying off her Queens home when she decided to refinance in 2007 to free up money for her son’s education.

That decision proved far costlier than she ever expected. After being duped by an unscrupulous lender, she said, she now faces foreclosure.

Voltaire, 52, bought her Queens Village house in 1987 for $150,000 and put down $55,000 up front.

When her then-34-year-old son Wilber decided to further his education in 2007, Voltaire fell into what she says was a predatory lending scam through Litton Loan Servicing.

In swapping her fixed-rate mortgage with $800 monthly payments for an adjustable one, Voltaire was at the mercy of Litton. She said Litton raised her monthly payments at will – sending her a bill at one point for a staggering $3,800.

As she struggled to make payments, Wilber, a Navy officer, was killed last January while on duty in Iraq.

“My son is already dead and now they want my house,” she said.

Voltaire said Litton has refused to help her or lower her rate – telling her the house could be foreclosed on if she fails to make future payments.

Litton did not return a call seeking comment.