CONSUMER ALERT

MIKE COX

ATTORNEY GENERAL

 

The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern.

HOME LENDING AND
FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS

OVERVIEW

Home lending and foreclosure rescue scams are serious problems, costing Michigan residents thousands of dollars and often their most valuable asset - their home.  Scam artists have successfully targeted consumers in danger of losing their homes or home-owners who are equity rich but cash poor.  The elderly and those with low incomes or poor credit are particularly vulnerable.  The scams are not unique to Michigan. See the National Consumer Law Center's June 2005 report, "Dreams Foreclosed: The Rampant Theft of Americans' Homes Through Equity-Stripping Foreclosure 'Rescue' Scams" (http://www.consumerlaw.org/news/ForeclosureReportFinal.pdf).  This Consumer Alert highlights common tactics con artists employ, provides tips to protect yourself, and explains how to complain if you become a victim. 

FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS - BIG PROMISES BUT NO RESULTS

If you are in foreclosure and desperate to save your home, you need to be extremely cautious of any claim offering to lower your monthly mortgage payment while also promising that in a short time you can own your home free and clear of any debt.  The con artist claims to offer or arrange for a new loan but instead tricks the homeowner into selling the home to the con artist or a third party and agreeing to either lease the home back or purchase it back on a land contract.  The con artist or third party will pay off the existing mortgage or take out a loan.  If the scammed homeowner lived in the home for a number of years, he or she likely built up and is surrendering significant equity.  Equity is the market value of the home minus the value of all mortgages and other liens on the home.  The con artist now owns the home and has stripped or taken the equity out of the scammed consumer's home.

The former homeowner's resulting lease or land contract payments may be lower for a few months, but a careful inspection of the agreement is likely to uncover an unaffordable balloon (a large lump sum) payment due at the end of a short period of time - sometimes only 13 months!  This means the entire remainder of the agreement must be paid off.  Few can afford the huge cost in such a short time.  In the end, foreclosure "rescue" victims find themselves being evicted, and the con artist cashes in on the sale of the home!

This scheme is a form of "equity stripping."  Equity stripping occurs when the loan is made on the basis of the equity of the property, rather than the borrower's ability to repay the loan.  This allows the borrower to benefit temporarily but, in the long run, only adds to his or her debt upon foreclosure.

LOCATING VICTIMS

Information disclosing the homeowner name and the property description for a home in foreclosure is readily available.  The con artist obtains the legal description of a property in foreclosure and matches a street address, then solicits the distressed homeowner promising an alternative to foreclosure.  Solicitations are made by letter, a home visit, a telephone call, a road sign, an advertising flyer, and radio or newspaper ads.

SENIOR CITIZENS ATTRACTIVE TARGETS

Seniors often live in homes for many years and the mortgage balance owed is very low or the home is paid off.  By reviewing records accessible through the Register of Deeds and other sources, scam artists are able to determine how much any given individual owes on his or her home.  The equity in your home is an attractive asset the con artist will encourage you to pledge or risk. 

FALSE PROMISES

In a foreclosure situation, an individual or a company may offer to contact the lender on the homeowner's behalf or to work to get another lender to refinance and save the home from foreclosure.  The con artist, however, does little or nothing to help a homeowner out of foreclosure.  Any services actually performed could have easily been performed, at no expense, by the homeowner.  When the homeowner learns the con artist has failed in his promised efforts, valuable time and money has been lost and the homeowner is forced into accepting the con artist's "rescue" program.

HOME REPAIR OR IMPROVEMENT HOOK

The con artist may propose to perform home repairs or improvements promising it will not cost any cash because the homeowner can use the equity in the home to finance the project.  After the homeowner is approved for the loan, the scammer does little or shoddy work while pilfering the money the homeowner took out for the repair or renovation.  In the end, the homeowner owes money on the new loan likely secured by a second mortgage and may even need to hire a reputable company to correct the poor work.  For information on picking a reputable contractor, see the Consumer Alert entitled "Building and Remodeling -- Advice for Homeowners" (http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-34739_20942-44670--,00.html).

FAST CASH IF-YOU-OWN-YOUR-HOME HOOK

Be very cautious of claims offering to quickly get you out of debt by refinancing your home.  Cash now and lower monthly payments means you will be paying off your mortgage over a longer period of time.  Although you may see a few thousand dollars at the closing, your slightly lower mortgage cost may continue for 30 years instead of the few years you had left on the original mortgage.  Additionally, lenders and brokers may add unnecessary closing costs and excess fees.

To help you better understand the terms of any proposed real estate loan, use the "Before You Make The Loan Checklist"

LOAN FLIPPING

Refinancing to obtain cash necessarily means a larger loan and likely means a higher interest rate and high-priced refinancing fees.  Loan flipping occurs when a mortgage company or broker, after placing a borrower in a high-rate, high-cost loan, seeks to have the borrower refinance the transaction within a short period - often only six months to a year - after signing the original loan.  The enticement usually is a slightly lower interest rate or monthly payment.  However, the loan term becomes longer and the total cost of the loan increases.  And, because various fees, such as loan origination fees and points, inevitably were financed the first time the loan was made, any refinancing where these fees are refinanced results in the consumer borrowing and owing more without any corresponding benefit.

FORGED QUIT CLAIM DEEDS

Homeowners may find they are a victim of a forgery when they begin to get mail with an unfamiliar name or mail in their name but for unfamiliar bills.  These clues may evidence that the homeowner's signature was forged on a quit claim deed purporting to convey the property to the thief.  The thief then takes out a new loan that provides for a substantial cash payment and disappears.  The homeowner victim is left with the burden of clearing title and his or her good name.

LOANS SECURED THROUGH IDENTITY THEFT

Crooks may not even bother with a quit claim deed, instead stealing your identity and taking out loans in your name.  By the time you get the bills in your mailbox, the thief has made off with thousands from a lender who is not aware of any wrongdoing.  The lender may even begin foreclosing on your home before you are aware anything is wrong.  It can be very costly for the rightful homeowner to quiet title and reinstate proper ownership of the property.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR HOME

 

·         When reviewing mortgage choices, consider a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured mortgage.  FHA loans have a low down payment requirement and easier credit and underwriting standards.  Additionally, unlike most conventional lenders, FHA lenders are required to follow foreclosure prevention procedures designed to assist the homebuyer in keeping his or her home through rough times.  For more information, see www.hud.gov.

·         When considering loan and refinancing options, use the "Before You Make the Loan Checklist" available from the Attorney General or at http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Before_You_Make_The_Loan_Checklist__1-2006_147852_7.pdf.  If you do not get straight answers or you feel uneasy about the arrangement, seek a loan from a different lender.

·         Be sure your loan agent is employed by a lender that is a licensee or registrant and therefore authorized to sell mortgages in Michigan. To find out if a lender is authorized to sell mortgages in Michigan, contact the Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) at 1-877-999-6442. You may also check the OFIS website http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/fis/ind_srch/ConsumerFinance/Search.asp

·         Read and understand everything you sign.

·         Obtain copies of everything you sign.  Never sign a blank document.

 

·         Don't sign a power of attorney without discussing it with somebody you know and trust.

·         Get all promises, as you understand them, in writing.

·         Don't deed your property to anyone without consulting an attorney or some other person you trust who is knowledgeable about real estate sales, mortgages, and mortgage transactions.

·         Keep complete records of what and who you paid, including billing statements and cancelled checks.  Challenge charges you believe were not correctly billed.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

The Consumer Mortgage Protection Act (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(hw4npo45uwxfh5554ugh3u2c)/mileg.aspx?page=GetMCLDocument&objectname=mcl-Act-660-of-2002&queryid=12442332&highlight=Consumer%20Mortgage%20Protection%20Act ) provides a Borrower's Bill of Rights which includes in part the right to:

·         Shop for the best loan for you and compare the charges of different mortgage brokers and lenders.

·         Be informed about the total cost of your loan including the interest rate, points, and other fees.

·         Obtain a "Good Faith Estimate" of all loan and settlement charges before you agree to the loan or pay any fees.

·         Know what fees are nonrefundable if you decide to withdraw your loan application.

·         Ask your mortgage broker to explain exactly what the mortgage broker will do for you.

·         Know how much the mortgage broker is getting paid by you and the lender for your loan.

·         Ask questions about charges and loan terms that you do not understand.

·         A credit decision that is not based on your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or whether any income is derived from public assistance.

HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE SERVICES

To find out if a company or individual is a licensee or registrant and therefore authorized to sell mortgages in Michigan, you may contact the Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) at 1-877-999-6442.  You may also check the OFIS website http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/fis/ind_srch/ConsumerFinance/Search.asp.  Complaints regarding a licensed mortgage broker or lender should be sent to:

Office of Financial and Insurance Services

P.O. Box 30020

Lansing, Michigan 48909

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/cis_ofis_fis_1010_25073_7.pdf (online complaint form)

 

HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Consumers may contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division about lending and home foreclosure "rescue" scams:

Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909

517-373-1140
Fax: 517-241-3771

Toll free: 877-765-8388

www.michigan.gov/ag (online complaint form)