Archive for June, 2010

Important Reminders and Caution Against Real Estate Fraud



Real estate investments are remarkably fulfilling ventures especially in the midst of a recovering and down economic and financial sector. There are many ways of ensuring the profitability and productiveness of your venture however there are also deteriorating instances such as real estate frauds that jeopardize the fruits of your investment. It is therefore of utmost importance to gather all salient and necessary information that will help you know and understand the consequences of any illegal real estate activities.

Take note that real property related frauds are also known as mortgage fraud and not necessarily predatory mortgage lending. These two are separate entities with different essences and meanings. The illegal activity often starts during the mortgage loan application particularly when the home buyer or loan applicant resorts into provision of falsified and inaccurate information regarding their required documents and proofs of eligibility.

One thing that often happens and resorts into fraudulent activities is when home buyers fabricate their employment history to qualify for the approval of a home equity loan. It is common knowledge that mortgage lenders have fundamental basis and criteria to determine if you are eligible. Steady income through job salary wage is vital and is primary basis that makes you a qualified borrower. Hence, in order to secure the needed financial assistance, most home buyers opted to put inaccurate details regarding their work stability and the salary they receive in a monthly basis and the like.

Another false documentation that is often included in real estate or mortgage fraud is fabrication of their credit report. It is not a surprise if most home buyers have tainted records in their credit standing because of the prevalence and impact of the contemporary economic downturn. Having a bad credit score is a downfall for most borrowers that oftentimes results to their disqualification for a home equity loan or getting a lesser mortgage rate than what they want to have. Hence, to remedy this dilemma, they are often lured into making illegal solutions to their problem and thus falsify their credit report. These are very offensive activities which results to imprisonment and fines hence, if you want to make it big in the industry, do something that is not deviating from the law.

Most real estate scams are also done through deceiving mortgage providers into giving extra money or larger amounts rather than the asking price of the home seller. For instance, home buyers give a different settlement statement to the home seller and the mortgage lender respectively. He gives a correct statement to the home seller which reflects the accurate price rate of the prospective property. However, the buyer intentionally provides an erroneous statement to the lender in order to secure a larger loan amount. The excess money incurred through this illegal transaction or activity is then distributed among those involved in this scamming venture.

Home loan and real estate frauds are truly blatant and malicious activities that bring you more harm than good. Start your real property ventures right to secure a very reliable and productive investment in this vast and rewarding market.

The Georgia Residential Mortgage Fraud Act

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From the years 2002 to 2005, Georgia has been consistent on the top among mortgage and real estate fraud cases in the United States documented by The Prieston Group. The Prieston Group is a fraud protection and prevention group. The types of fraud operations preying on Georgia real estate investors include false rent verifications, occupancy fraud,appraisal fraud,investment schemes, broker fraud, and identity theft. Because of this, the state now upholds the Georgia Residential Mortgage Fraud Act which names misstating, omitting, and misrepresenting facts and intentions in real estate deals as criminal acts. The Georgia Residential Mortgage Fraud Act continues to boom the real estate industry of state.

Source: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-19-2006-99686.asp
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