MYTH: My mortgage company would rather foreclose on my home than keep me in it. The mortgage company sustains an average loss of about $58,000 when foreclosure occurs (TowerGroup study). They are in the business of providing mortgages - not owning or selling homes - and would always prefer to keep you in your home. By calling the Homeowner's HOPE Hotline™ at 888-995-HOPE, we'll help you work with your mortgage company to pay back your loan and stay out of foreclosure.
MYTH: I’m getting many offers of “help” from a variety of different people. Are they all scams?
Because of the public nature of foreclosures, anyone is able to access foreclosure listings on a daily basis. These include the owner's name and address at the very least, and in some states, they could include other sensitive information. Armed with this data, scammers can take advantage of a desperate owner. Here's what to look for to avoid foreclosure scams:
1. Your home's ownership changes hands. A common scam is where a party buys your home, then lets you rent it back. It sounds good at first, but you're losing your property, and your new landlord can now legally kick you out of your home with little to no notice.
2. You're asked to pay something up-front and/or you're asked to stop making mortgage payments. Usually, these scams involve paying large sums of money to some sort of "foreclosure prevtention service." These services offer to do what our counselors do: counseling, a budget and approaching the mortgage company to consider a payment plan. But the services don't do always do this work thoroughly, or follow through at all. The most important thing to remember when it comes to any foreclosure service is this: Foreclosure advice and direction should always be free.
3. You're under pressure to act immediately. Some will prey on the stress and anxiety surrounding the foreclosure process by convincing owners to sign things they don't understand. Don't sign anything without either first talking to an attorney, your mortgage company or a nonprofit foreclosure prevention organization like the Homeownership Preservation Foundation.
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If you want more information on Short Sales & Bank-Owned Properties, visit Understanding Foreclosures Las Vegas.
