Financial Information
Posts tagged Predatory
Recognizing a Predatory Mortgage Lender
0When looking to buy a house, you will find that the mortgage options are endless. In fact, you probably will notice this even if you aren’t buying a house right now. The majority of lenders in the marketplace are legitimate. They comply with all state and federal laws and work for consumer satisfaction. However, there are lenders out there that take advantage of the uninformed.
There are many predatory lenders out there that are looking for mortgage borrowers. Many people don’t completely understand the mortgage process, making them a great target for mortgage schemes.
To start with, you shouldn’t respond to unsolicited mortgage offers. These include flyers on your car, signs on street corners, direct mail from unknown companies and telephone calls from telemarketers. If they are contacting you about a mortgage, you shouldn’t do business with them. In general, you should always be the one to initiate contact.
The mortgage industry is a high dollar industry. We are talking billions of dollars a year. This makes it ideal for fraud. When shopping for a lender, keep a watch out for:
Fast-talking representatives
If you feel that the discussion is a spiel or too rehearsed, you might want to watch out. Ideally, you should feel as though you are in a conversation with a lender. Really pay attention to the way the conversation goes. Are you comfortable? Are both sides asking and answering questions?
Companies you have never heard of
If you have never heard of the mortgage lender, make sure you check them out thoroughly. Call the Better Business Bureau and your State Attorney General’s office for any complaints or investigations. Make sure that they are licensed in your state.
The rates and fees are off
If the rates and fees seem to be really high, have the lender explain your credit score to you. You should already know what your score is and what rates you can expect. Take the time to shop around and compare rates among various lenders.
You should also beware of the lender that offers a rate that is much lower than the other lenders. The terms of the loan may not be the same. The rate may not include all of the costs. In general, most lenders will offer you approximately the same rate. At least in the same ballpark.
You are being pressured to sign now
Listen, there is no rush. You should never, ever be pressured into signing a loan. Walk away. If you are refinancing, you do have three days after signing in which you can change your mind. If you are buying a home, find out about locking your rate, or at least what to expect if you don’t lock it. Don’t sign anything you aren’t ready to sign.
Encouragement to lie
Don’t lie on your loan application. It is against the law. The lender may ask you to up your income or lie about the length of your employment. He may tell you that it is done all of the time. Don’t do it — you could go to jail.
Signing blank documents
Don’t sign anything that is blank, even if the lender promises to fill it in for you later. It is a good idea to even cross through blank spaces on documents before you sign. That way, nothing can be added later.
How To Protect Yourself From Predatory Home Mortgage Lenders
0Home mortgage lenders are, for the most part, the ordinary American’s stepping stone towards realizing the American dream. To many, buying and owning a home is the American dream. Because of the prohibitive costs of houses, however, very few have the resources to pay for the house of their dreams right there and then.
Still, buying a house remains a much wiser option than renting an apartment. When you rent, you are paying off someone else’s mortgage and are helping them acquire equity. When you buy a house, however, you not only acquire equity on your own, you will eventually own the home.
While on the lookout for home mortgage lenders, do not get blinded and sidetracked by fabulous offers of immediate assistance. You must remember that the home mortgage industry is an industry that rakes in billions of dollars per annum. It is, literally, a mother lode that attracts all sorts of miners and gold diggers.
To protect yourself and your hard-earned money, be cautious of the following:
1. Unheard of home mortgage lenders
Before dealing with specific home mortgage lenders, be sure you know everything there is to know about them. Ask for identification cards. Ask for licenses. Better yet, direct inquiries to the Better Business Bureau or the office of the State Attorney General. Another option is your town or city’s local association of home mortgage lenders. Should such a group exist in your neighborhood, it will be easy for you to ask them for a list of their members in good standing.
2. Astonishingly high or low rates and fees
Always shop for home mortgage lenders before focusing on one. This way, you can compare different loan providers and then pick the one offering the best deal. In your dealings with home mortgage lenders, however, be sure to watch for abnormally high mortgage rates and charges. Have them explain the credits calculation. Your many talks with different lenders will help you anticipate the average rates that different home mortgage lenders are willing to give you. Also, be sure to inquire about hidden charges. Unscrupulous lenders gloss over this in their presentation and hide this in small print in your contract.
3. Abetting of unscrupulous practice
If your lender asks you to provide false data on your application form, be very wary. If there’s one thing legitimate home mortgage lenders advise you to do, it is to be painfully honest in filling out your application form. A predatory lender, on the other hand, will request that you state down a higher income than is factual, or overstate the span of your employment. He will try to convince you that everyone does this. Do not believe him. People may be sent to prison for falsification of documents.
4. Insistent requests for signatures on blank documents
Signing blank documents is a sure recipe for disaster. You don’t have to be a lawyer to figure this out. Should your lender shove a blank document in your face and ask you to sign, firmly and politely refuse to do so. This is not industry practice. It never will be. After all, with a blank document, you will never know what you are signing away.
Vigilance is the key to protecting yourself and your future home from embezzlers. Never do anything rash where taking out a mortgage is concerned. Remember what an old proverb says about doing things without taking the time to examine them first. What you do in haste, you will eventually repent in leisure.
