Many home owners have lost their homes of the past several years, in fact, several million people have lost their home. If you’re in danger of losing your home you might be able to keep it with a mortgage loan modification with current mortgage rates so low you can’t go wrong. President Obama just annouced the government is expanding the home refief act so many more people can refinance their mortgage now and with current mortgage rates so low you should do so right now! Use a mortgage calculator to see how much money you can save by doing a refinance.
If someone offers to negotiate a loan modification for you or to stop or delay foreclosure or short sale for a fee, carefully check his or her credentials, reputation, and experience, watch out for warning signs of a scam, and always maintain personal contact with your lender and mortgage servicer. Lower mortgage rates might help you save your home so look into refinancing. If you have some money in a certificate of deposit account think about cashing the CD in to paydown your mortgage. The interest rate on your mortgage loan is probably higher than the highest CD rates you can get on a certificate of deposit.
While government-supported mortgage modification and refinancing initiatives are legitimate, the scam artists’ claims are not.Foreclosure or short sale “rescue” and refinance fraud.Private firms frequently compile and sell lists of these foreclosed properties and distressed mortgagees.Avoid paying up-front fees.Never agree to this without getting the advice of your own lawyer, financial advisor, credit counselor, or other independent person you know you can trust.
The cost of doing business with high-cost lenders can be excessive and, sometimes, downright abusive.Scammers may claim to be able to “eliminate” your debt by making illegitimate legal arguments that you are not obligated to pay back your mortgage.Protect your rights with a written document or contract signed by the person making the promise.The difference will be that you will no longer own your house.After reading these notices, con artists approach their targets in person, by mail, over the telephone, or by e-mail.Bankruptcy scams.
Certain lenders, let’s call them predatory lenders target houseowners who have low incomes or credit problems or who are elderly by deceiving them about loan terms or giving them loans they cannot afford to repay.The scam artist offers to act as an intermediary between you and your lender to negotiate a repayment plan or loan modification and may even “guarantee” to save your house from foreclosure or short sale.
They know that people in these situations are vulnerable and often desperate.Contact your lender or mortgage servicer first.If a document is too complex to understand, seek advice from a lawyer you trust or a legitimate, trusted financial counselor.There are legitimate consumer financial counseling agencies.
By signing over your deed, you lose the rights to your house and any equity built up in the house — and you are still obligated to pay the mortgage.It is important to contact your mortgage lender early to preserve all your options.
This Consumer Advisory, issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), describes common scams, suggests ways to protect yourself, provides information.Your mortgage lender can help you find real options to avoid foreclosure or short sale.So don’t be fooled by these scams offering mortgage rates today that aren’t real.
Bankruptcy is rarely, if ever, a permanent solution to prevent foreclosure or short sale.This is true — but only temporarily.The government is taking actions to stop this fraud, but you also need to protect yourself.Today’s mortgage rates might be able to help you keep your house by lowering your monthly mortgage payments.
Foreclosure or short sale scams often involve transfer of ownership of your house to a con artist or another third party.Do not stop making payments on your mortgage based on their claims.If you’re falling behind on your mortgage, others may know it, too — including con artists and scam artists.You could lose your house and your money.You do not have to pay anyone to benefit from them.
Potential victims are easy to find: Mortgage lenders publish notices before foreclosing on houses.In addition, bankruptcy will negatively impact your credit score and will remain on your credit report for 10 years.Do not sign over your deed without consulting a lawyer you select.Never sign a document that contains errors or false statements, even if someone promises to correct them.
So be wary of claims offering government-approved loan modifications. Speak with someone in the loss mitigation department for mortgage modification options and other alternatives to foreclosure or short sale.The scam artist also may tell you to stop making payments or stop communicating with your lender.
You may have heard that filing bankruptcy will stop a foreclosure or short sale.Otherwise, a document may obligate you to terms you don’t want or may even convey ownership of your house to someone else. Refinance because mortgage rates today are very low right now.