| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
Home Refinancing Scam - Thieves Use Identity Theft to Steal Your Equity
Since the demise of the stock market in 2000, the real estate market has been booming. Investors who are justifiably cautious about investing in stocks have been investing in homes. This has driven the prices of homes in the United States to record levels. Long-time homeowners are discovering that they have a tremendous amount of equity in their homes as the values rise, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The past five years have been good to homeowners and lenders. Unfortunately, the past five years have also been good to equity thieves, who are using identity theft to steal the equity from homes, often without the homeowner's knowledge. As the median value of a home in the United States is currently a little more than $200,000, there is plenty of incentive for the equity thief. The scam is relatively simple and usually involves homes that are completely paid off. The thief obtains a copy of the homeowner's Social Security number and a fake driver's license in the homeowner's name. Using this fake identification, the thief forges a quitclaim deed, a document transfers a homeowner's interest in a property to a third party. The document says, in essence, "I don't want this property anymore." The property can then be transferred to anyone the thief chooses. Once the transfer has taken place, the thief applies for a home equity loan, takes the money, and simply walks away. In an alternate scenario, the thief simply sells the house and pockets the money. As most agencies involved in real estate transactions are quite busy these days, property transfers of this type can often be accomplished without drawing undue attention. This is just one of many scams that have sprung up in recent years involving real estate. While the authorities are certainly interested in catching the thieves, such cases quickly become rather complicated and few police departments have the necessary expertise required to deal with these cases, since they are fairly new. More often than not, the homeowner has little recourse other than to sue the mortgage company involved in the transaction. The best defense against a possible identity theft/equity theft scam is to protect your identity carefully and to avoid giving anyone your Social Security number if you can possibly avoid it. Failing to do so could cost you your home. ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to debt consolidation information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on home equity loans.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Home Loans - Lenders Continue to Offer High-Risk Loans Home prices in the Untied States continue to soar, and the remarkable run of real estate as the "must have" investment continues. The median price of a new home, which only recently crossed the $200,000 barrier, is now $215,000. Getting The Best Home Equity Loan Owing to the popularity of home equity loans, there are numerous lending agencies offering a variety of mortgage products. A bad choice of mortgage can lead to disastrous effects, as there is a risk involved of foreclosure and losing one's home. Home Equity Loan - Beware of the lingering lien! A problem that often arises when people try to refinance their home is the discovery of a pre-existing lien from a previous loan that was not removed by the lending company. The cost of removing a lien and returning the title to the homeowner, a process known as reconveyance, is usually included in fees associated with a home equity loan. Guide to Home Equity Loans Here is a useful guide to home equity loans. A home equity loan is quite simply a loan against your house. Home Equity Line of Credit - Great for Remodeling Projects Many homeowners are lucky enough to find a house that represents exactly what they want in a home. They buy it, make the payments on it, and live more or less happily ever after. Build Your Own Dream House! So you're thinking about building your own house, are you? Well, you've come to the right place! It's a lot of fun (hard work and eventually fun!) to build your own home and it will save you thousands of dollars(we saved over a Hundred Grand by doing it ourselves - that's pretty significant cash!). If you happen to live in a Large City, like Los Angeles, or anywhere that Real Estate Values are 'close-to-insane', you could potentially save millions of dollars. Ending Your Private Mortgage Insurance Early Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is the safety net of the lender. PMI benefits lenders because it guarantees payment on the balance of loans not covered by the sale of foreclosed properties. Online Mortgage Brokers - What You Might Not Know About Home Loans & The Internet You may think that applying online for a mortgage is the same as applying with a broker in the 'real world', only more convenient.While applying for a mortgage online is much more convenient, and sure to help you get a lower rate because of the amount of competition online, there is another benefit to using the internet when applying for a loan. Buying a Home? Dont Get Saddled with Two Mortgage Payments I have a lot of friends and family who are currently buying houses. Many of them have had a problem with timing. Renters Have Much to Gain by Pursuing Home Ownership Buying a home vs. renting is a big decision that takes careful consideration, as most mortgage consultants will agree. Guide to Interest Only Mortgages Here is a useful guide to interest only mortgages. An interest only mortgage is one where your regular payments only go to pay off the interest on the money you borrow. The Power of a Home Equity Loan to Pay Down Debt Households across the country are finding themselves in a similar situation. They lack the financial funds to make the necessary changes to their home and need to find a way to fund upgrades and eliminate debt. Follow A Few Simple Steps To Make Shopping For Your New Home Loan A Little Easier It is likely to be one of the largest purchases of your life, and it can be extremely nerve racking and overwhelming. Buying a new home! Whether you are buying your first home, or moving to a new home; purchasing a home and shopping for home loans is a major decision that requires a lot of time and energy. The Debt Test: Are You Making Out a Mountain Out of Your Mortgage? According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, first-time buyers are the most susceptible group of homeowners to debt, as they are more likely to have higher loan-to-value ratios and commit a higher proportion of their income to mortgage repayments. Despite their susceptibility to debt, there is evidence which indicates that insurance take-up and employee benefits provide recent first-time buyers with a safer foundation than the general population of mortgage borrowers. Reverse Mortgages: When Is One Right For You? How do you know if a reverse mortgage is right for you? The answer depends on your current financial situation of course.But other factors such as your medical condition and lifestyle are important in determining whether or not a reverse mortgage is your best choice compared to a home equity loan, a line of credit, or just selling your home. What On Earth are Home Equity Loans? Home equity loans are one of the most common types of financing for doing improvements on your house. These loans are not necessary used for home improvements but can also be used to simply obtain extra cash. Stated Income Mortgage Loan - Get Approved Online A stated income or no doc mortgage loan allows individuals with difficult to document income to buy a home. With a documented credit score and reasonably stated income, you can qualify for a mortgage at a slightly higher rate. Is It Time To Buy A House? At some point as you're writing out your rent check, you get to the point where you look at the amount and think to yourself - at this rate, I could BUY a house. If you're fed up with paying rent every month that's high enough to finance a mortgage, it may be time to take a serious look at what it would take for you to get a mortgage loan and buy a home of your own. Mortgage Tips For The Frantic It is a curious fact of human nature that people will haggle over the price of an umbrella, but buy a house on impulse.We understand small amounts of money; we know what they can buy. Stop Foreclosure - 7 Tips to Save Your Home Faced with the threat of a foreclosure on their home, with all the weight of the mortgage industry and its army of attorneys against them, the average homeowner might feel like David facing Goliath.But David defeated Goliath !David had a sling and some pebbles.
|
| Home | Privacy Policy & Legal Information | Contact |
