Archive for July, 2007

The first headlines I saw regarding sub-prime mortgage defaults were dated in February 17, 2007. The wheels began wobbling long before then. Mortgage loan criteria began to become more restrictive and loans issued in 2006 declined from 2005.

What is your recourse if the mortgage company fails to pay your taxes? What if they do not pay your property insurance? If you read about your mortgage broker going to prison or see your mortgage company on Fox News with Shepard Smith you might want to check your statements. The lenders referenced below are stong and healthy and still made mistakes. Cases in point:

Low interest rates and easy loan approvals fueled the fire for the housing price bubble. Human nature is to compare the cost of rent with a comparable house payment. Sounds good, but on income statements the dollar exchange to break even on rental income is the house payment + 36%. A house with a $1000 monthly payment must rent for $1400 monthly to show a profit. $1400 per month rent is not the same as a $1400 house payment.

Roger Miller (see) released a song called “When a house is not a home”, and it is was recently re-released by talented musician Bobby Flores on his CD called “Too Many Rivers.” What is my point?

When a lender or broker checks someone’s credit report, it signals that person is in the market for a mortgage or to refinance. The credit bureaus turn around and sell that contact information to others in the mortgage business looking for leads. Since many mortgage brokers are unemployed and just don’t know it yet they call unsuspecting home owners. Undaunted by the ‘Do Not Call’ registry, and sometimes willing to stab your favorite mortgage broker in the back, use caution when companies call. Some, like former lender Emmco, don’t even know if they can sell the paper or get funding. (see more)

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