ComputerHunter.org

 

Are You A Victim Of A Predatory Mortgage Foreclosure?


Help is available to borrowers who have claims against their lenders for violating the Truth in Lending Act and other laws regulating credit transactions. Such violations may be a defense to a mortgage foreclosure. If there is a violation, you may be able to void the mortgage and apply 100% of your payments to principal. You may also be able to recover money damages.

If the answer to any of the following questions is "yes," please arrange for a professional auditor to review your loan documents (including demand and collection letters, correspondence, and any account histories or monthly statements).

1. Have you repeatedly refinanced your loan? Was the last refinance within the last 3 years? (A common predatory practice is "flipping," which involves "repeatedly refinancing a mortgage loan without benefit to the borrower, in order to profit from high origination fees, closing costs, points, prepayment penalties and other charges, steadily eroding the borrower's equity in his or her home.").

2. Did you increase rather than lower your rate upon refinancing?

3. Are you paying an interest rate in excess of 9.5%?

4. Was the loan obtained to pay for home improvement work that was not done properly, or even at all?

5. Have you had problems with the mortgage company regarding untimely posting of monthly payments? Sudden increases in payments? Adding amounts to your balance for insurance, "property preservation," or other "advances"? Does your principal balance never seem to go down?

6. Were you charged high closing costs (points and fees) on the mortgage?

7. Did the terms of the mortgage change to your detriment at the last minute before the closing?

8. Did the lender pay money to your mortgage broker (look on your HUD-1 Settlement Statement for a "premium" or POC (paid out of closing) "YSP" or "yield spread premium")?

9. If you have an adjustable rate mortgage, were any adjustments done improperly? Can you even tell if the adjustments were correct or not?

10. Does your loan contain a prepayment penalty?

11. Do you believe you were treated unfairly by your mortgage company? Has correspondence with the mortgage company gone unanswered? (Mortgage companies have a statutory obligation to respond to complaints and requests for explanations of accounts. Often, they don't. Each failure may entitle you to $2,000. If your claim against the mortgage company may exceed the number of monthly payments you allegedly missed, the mortgage company may not be able to prove that you are in default.)

12. Did all collection letters sent to you by debt collectors comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act? (Up to $1,000 more if they did not.)

13. Did you (or anyone else who has an ownership interest in and lives in the house) receive a "notice of right to cancel" that was not completely filled out?

14. Did you receive your copy of the loan documents at the closing (as opposed to being sent to you later or did the closing agent send you signed copies at all)?

15. Did you sign a document at the closing stating that you were not canceling?

16. Did the closing occur by mail, or at your home, or in another city?

There is a common assumption (among judges, borrowers, and the public) that mortgage companies do not desire to foreclose and acquire real estate. This assumption is no longer well founded.

There are an increasing number of "scavengers" that buy bad debts, including mortgages, for a fraction of face value and attempt to enforce them. Such entities profit by foreclosure. "Mortgage sources confide that some unscrupulous lenders are purposely allowing certain borrowers to fall deeper into a financial hole from which they can't escape.

Why? Because it pushes these consumers into foreclosure, whereupon the lender grabs the house and sells it at a profit." Robert I. Heady, The People's Money, "Foreclosure, You Must Avoid It," South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Feb. 25, 2002. In addition, if the loan is guaranteed (by private mortgage insurance or the government), a mortgage company may find it more profitable to foreclose and make a claim on the guarantee.

Mr. Kenneth M. DeLashmutt is a recognized Predatory Lending Defense Specialist and an authority on the subject of predatory lending practices, foreclosure defense, consumer protection and debtor's rights.

He has more than 10 years experience in the area of consumer protection related to predatory mortgage lending practices and debt resolution. He has provided regulatory consulting services nationwide to financial institutions, consumers and regulatory agencies as well as real-estate and financial services organizations.

Areas of Expertise include: Banking Operations and Administration; Lending Policies and Laws to Protect Consumers, Mortgage Brokers and Mortgage Lender Predatory Lending Custom & Practice; Credit Administration; Bankruptcy and Foreclosures; Trust & Fiduciary Issues / Operations; Real Estate Transactions; Consumer Protection Litigation and Foreclosure Defense.

email: educationcenter2000@cox.net

website: http://www.educationcenter2000.com







Google News - Top Stories

FOXNews

Hillary Clinton, Robert Gates on Obama national security team
Los Angeles Times - 45 minutes ago
The president-elect formally announces he will nominate Clinton as secretary of State and retain Gates in his current Defense post.
Video: Obama names Clinton US secretary of state AlJazeeraEnglish
Obama Names Hillary Clinton to State Post Washington Post
CBS News - FOXNews - Newsweek - Atlanta Journal Constitution
all 3,190 news articles


Voice of America

India Tells Pakistan to Match Its Words With ‘Action’ on Terror
Bloomberg - 33 minutes ago
By Bibhudatta Pradhan and Pratik Parija Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- India blamed “elements” from Pakistan for last week’s deadly Mumbai terror attacks and told its neighbor to match its words of cooperation with “strong action” to build a “qualitative new ...
India makes protest to Pakistan BBC News
Mumbai attacks raise pressure on a beleaguered Pakistan Christian Science Monitor
Wall Street Journal - Washington Post - Voice of America - Times Online
all 3,977 news articles


SkySports

Burress Reports to Police Station
Washington Post - 53 minutes ago
New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress arrived at a New York police station this morning. He is expected to be charged with criminal possession of a weapon after suffering a thigh wound in an accidental shooting Friday.
Plaxico Burress Surrenders to Police New York Times
Burress arrives at station to turn himself in FOXSports.com
Sports Network - National Post - Rotoworld.com - Newsday
all 2,599 news articles


Javno.hr

Alabama mayor arrested over payments: report
Reuters - 3 hours ago
BIRMINGHAM (Reuters) - Federal investigators arrested the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, on Monday on charges of receiving illegal payments, the Birmingham News newspaper reported on its website.
Feds arrest Birmingham Mayor on bribery charges Houston Chronicle
Alabama Mayor Arrested on Federal Charges, Birmingham News Says Bloomberg
International Herald Tribune - Detroit Free Press - USA Today - MyFox Birmingham
all 392 news articles


Times Online

What are travelers being told about Thailand?
CNN International - 1 hour ago
(CNN) -- Governments have warned their citizens about traveling to Thailand during the current wave of protests and blockade of international airports.
Israelis stress while stranded in Bangkok Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Britons in Bangkok furious at lack of rescue flights Times Online
Minneapolis Star Tribune - International Herald Tribune - Reuters India - KTLA
all 1,582 news articles

Google
 

Copyright 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base