Home Buyer Articles & Advice

Foreclosure Scams to be Aware of

Homeowners facing foreclosure should be aware of unscrupulous lenders and scammers. Don’t get me wrong, most lenders and agencies are reputable and legit. However some lenders, commonly second mortgage issuers will use unethical practices that increase the risk of nonpayment by the borrower. These tactics may include lending a large amount in hopes that the borrower will not be able to keep up with the payments, charging outrageous interest, points or fees. They may also repeatedly refinance the loan without any real beneficial reason to the borrower. Homeowners facing foreclosure are often targets of these scammers because they are seeking any solution possible at the time.
One of the most common tricks is an “equity skim”. What is equity skimming? This is when a buyer approaches you and offers to get you out of foreclosure buy paying off the mortgage or offering money when the property is sold. They will often suggest you move out quickly and sign the deed over to them. They will then collect rent from the property and fail to make payments on the mortgage. The lender will continue the foreclosure process and foreclose. Signing over the deed does not mean you are no longer obligated to make mortgage payments.

Another trick scammer’s use is to set up a “counseling” agency. They may contact you offering to do certain services for a given fee. Often times these are thing you can do yourself for free. It is important to note that most services are legitimate and will provide lots of great help.

So what do you do if you suspect you are being duped? The most important things is don’t sign any documents unless you fully understand what you are signing. If the party you are dealing with makes any sort of promises make sure they are in writing. If you arrange a contract of sale loan assumption make sure you know weather or not you are released from liability of the debt. Consult with your attorney before agreeing to any deal that involved your home. Should you decide to sell your home to stop foreclosure, have a look at any possible complaints pertaing to the prospective buyer.

Mark Lambie is the owner of Stop Home Foreclosure a website for helping people facing foreclosure

Related Pages

Home Buying Strategies - Five home buying strategies to make your transition easier - Get pre-approved for a mortgage is key to making a clean offer on the new home you want.

Home Buying Tips - Information and tips about buying a new home and getting pre-approved for a loan before you start seriously looking.

Home Buying Mistakes - Tips on buying your new home - Avoid these common home buying mistakes that will cost you thousands extra.

Nothing Down Real Estate - Flipping houses is not illegal - Make money in real estate by using nothing down strategies or 100% financing with no PMI.

Real Estate Investment Tips - Seven real estate investment tips - Best sources for investment property loans - How to find good real estate investment properties for resale.

Online Lenders - Tips on evaluating online lenders and their offerings.

Terms - Information and explanations about home loan terms, mortgages, and home equity loans.

Mortgage Brokers - Shop these top lenders for comparison quotes.

Down Payment Leverage - Avoid PMI with a two-loan strategy. How to grow your equity faster.

Refinance- Tips on when refinancing is the right decision - How to avoid paying points and other lender fees.

Home Loan Online - Discover the best ways to get the lowest rates - Links for checking current rates.

Loan Directory - Complete home loans directory for thousands of loan products, companies, brokers, and lenders. Search our loan directory by keyword or by category for complete listings of all things related to mortgages, home equity loans, refinance, and more.

In The News

	Web Home-Loans-Help.com