Mortgage & Refinancing Information

Home Equity Loan - Beware of Equity Stripping Scam


The market for mortgage refinancing has been brisk during the last few years. The boom in business can be attributed to interest rates that have been at or near historic lows, and to lenders who have more money to lend now that they aren't investing in risky tech stocks anymore. Low rates and agreeable lenders are certainly good for consumers who might be interested in refinancing their home or taking out a home equity loan. Those considering such loans should be aware that the booming market for refinancing has led to increased competition among lenders. And when the competition increases, so does the number of lending scams.

These days, lenders are surprisingly aggressive. It's not unheard of to have people knock on your door, asking if you would be interested in refinancing your home. Lenders that are eager to lend you money are great, provided that you are actually interested in borrowing. If you are, then you should be careful Make an effort to thoroughly investigate your lender if you do not have a previous relationship with them.

A scam that is increasingly common in today's market is a lending scheme known as "equity stripping." A homeowner applies for a home equity loan, or perhaps applies to refinance their home. A lender then encourages the homeowner to borrow more money than they can afford, and perhaps "assists" by falsifying some information on the application. The lender does this with hopes that the homeowner will default on the loan. When the homeowner defaults, the lender forecloses on the property, sells the property, and keeps the home's equity as profit.

This is one of many scams that can currently be found in the mortgage industry, and one that can be avoided if potential borrowers will take the time to do a bit of research before signing on the dotted line. Homeowners who are interested in refinancing their home should investigate prospective lenders before doing business with them. Contacting friends who have recently refinanced or the local Better Business Bureau would be a good place to start. Lenders who call you out of the blue or knock on your door are probably best avoided.

©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:

UPDATE 1-US mortgage refinance applications plunge -MBA
Reuters - Jun 18, 2008
NEW YORK, June 18 (Reuters) - Applications for US home mortgages dropped for the fourth week in the last five as soaring interest rates choked off ...


Best Syndication

Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance
Best Syndication, CA - Jun 19, 2008
Here are a few tips that you can follow in getting excellent terms with your mortgage refinance venture. First, you should save up about three percent of ...


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Here are a couple of pointers for those considering mortgage refinance to take cash out of their home: The traditional way of judging the market value of a ...


Mortgages Refinance
Central Asian and Southern Caucasus Freedom of Expression Network (CASCFEN), Azerbaijan - Jun 12, 2008
Mortgage refinance refers to applying for a secured loan in order to replace an existing loan secured by the same assets. Home mortgage is the most common ...


Citizen

Sens. Dodd, Conrad tied to special mortgage deals
The Associated Press - Jun 13, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd, a leader of Congress' efforts to help homeowners ensnared in the subprime mortgage ...
Senator Conrad Says Countrywide Waived Point on His Mortgage Bloomberg
Sens. Dodd, Conrad tied to special mortgage deals guardian.co.uk
Senator says loan favoritism is possible Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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Refinancing Online Provides Opportunities for Homeowners
WCIV, SC - Jun 23, 2008
(ARA) - Homeowners refinance for a variety of reasons including to take cash out of their home equity to make home improvements, to consolidate debt, ...


Mortgage rescues turn out to be scams
Allentown Morning Call, PA - Jun 22, 2008
| For people about to lose their homes to foreclosure, the advertisements are like a lifeline: ''WE BUY HOUSES FOR CA$H,'' or ''Refinance Your Mortgage! ...
Homeowners can seek help when faced with foreclosure Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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Washington Times

Mortgage Q&A: Value drop adds PMI to refinance
Washington Times, DC - Jun 5, 2008
You and thousands of homeowners are in the same boat. While I have always preached that real estate has proven to be a good investment over time, ...

Mortgage-Refinance - Google News

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