Loans abusive is much more prevalent in the refinancing of the purchase on the market. One reason is that buyers tend to seek established and recognized mortgage lenders, many of whom are bound by the rules established by Fannie Mae, FHA, or the Veterans Administration. If they do not follow the rules, they can not sell their loans on the secondary market.
Another is that real estate brokers, determined to protect its sales outside wave borrowers of loans not exceeding its own “smell test”. However, buyers can be and should be alert to the possibility of abusive loans.
1) Sales and aggressive advertising techniques
There is nothing wrong with advertising, is essential to build a business. However, predatory lenders go over the top. Some specific neighborhoods or demographics, which is called “red-lining” or “direction” and is definitely illegal.
Be very careful when you see ads targeted at specific neighborhoods, ethnic groups, or demographics. A good general rule is that if the loan was not originated by you, can be targeted to retain on its radar.
2) loans to people who can not afford the loan
This is a tactic that both home buyers and refinancers need to be aware. A legitimate lender does not want to exclude their borrowers and has many safeguards to maximize the ultimate recovery of the capital that is provided. A predatory lender plans for the sake of the image before things go wrong.
Predatory lending practices in this category may overstate income, falsifying debt levels, or pushing borrowers into a higher interest rate in order to increase the commission of lenders. A good general rule is that if a lender never asks you to sign or say something that is not the truth, not running on foot through the exit nearest!
3) High Prices
As discussed in depth in Mortgage Secrets Revealed, the interest rate on your loan is determined by many factors. Most are totally beyond their control, because the underlying market determined rates. However, their creditworthiness, income and the amount of your downpayment all affect its end.
The bad guys sometimes convince borrowers that are a risk worse than what they really are, what justifies a higher interest rate and / or higher rates. A good general rule is that if things seem strange or fees seem high, ask. If the loan officer can not give you a good reason, get a second opinion with another loan officer.
4) High rates, points, costs and cushioned
Everyone has to make a profit and mortgage companies and brokers have every right to levy charges to compensate for the service they provide. However, the charges must be reasonable and must be fully disclosed and explained.
It’s hard for a borrower to crack the code in this category of loans misleading. A good rule of thumb is if you feel comfortable and feel like the loan officer will earn their money. If it seems too high, get a second opinion and see if the rates are comparable. Do take care, because lenders can say what they jack up later. Ultimately, nothing is as important as feeling like you can trust your loan officer.
5) Directing
Unethical lenders can steer borrowers away from fair and reasonable and products to those with higher rates and fees. This may be because the lender receives a referral fee for doing so, or can relate to a company that is financially linked to their own, participation in higher profit margins.
Generally speaking, most loan officers have a lot of products available. They must spend time with you determine what types of loans that is comfortable and what is most appropriate for their situation. You must complete two or three options and let you decide. If you feel like you’re being pushed into a loan that you’re not comfortable with, stay away!
6) bait and switch
Like the special advertising on the appliance store that was “sold” when you arrive the next morning, mortgages that seem too good to be true tend to be just that, once accepted, they disappear. There is always a good explanation, but somehow change always comes after the loan officer has coupled with a non-refundable application fee or an assessment.
You will not hear this mortgage brokers in the industry, but in cases like this the best we can do is bring his original Good Faith and demand to explain why the rates changed. If the explanation does not seem right or you’re not comfortable, back and ask for the tariffs it has already paid back. If rebels, only to mention the Department of Real Estate and should be much more useful …
7) Home Improvement Scams
These are particularly ugly regimes, usually targeting the elderly or those with lower incomes. In a nutshell, someone comes to the door offering to do the work to the house needs to be done, and that will refinance the house at the same time, so you do not cost any money pocket. However, the work is usually done wrong and the refinancing is typically a rip-off.
Remember what we said before about people who come to the door? Always be cautious when someone comes to the door offering a refinance or other work that you do not feel it necessary.
The sanctions undisclosed prepaid
A prepayment penalty requires that the borrower pays a fee (usually, a number of months of interest) if he / she pays the mortgage before the due date. There is usually a period of time from the date of origination prepayment penalties apply. Prepayment penalties are now illegal in some states, but in states where they are legal must be fully disclosed.
I would say two things in this situation. First, make sure you read your loan documents carefully. If there is no prepayment penalty mentioned and you see something about it, beware! Two, if a prepayment penalty is part of its loan and loan officer has told about it, we know that this is a subprime loan. Make sure the deadline is the same as what the loan officer and told him that this is a period of time that is convenient.