What is Predatory Lending?
Predatory lending is a scam where a person or group can obtain real estate property without having to pay the fair value of the property. Predatory lenders look for people who are in need of a loan or a mortgage and use the deed of the property as collateral until the borrower has paid back the money and interest. If the borrower does not pay back the entire loan, the lender gets to keep the property and sell it for a significantly higher value than the loan.
Predatory lenders will generally grant loans to any potential borrower, even if that borrower is obviously incapable of repaying.
How Can I Spot Predatory Lenders?
There are some key signs to let you know if you are getting into a bad deal:
- The terms on the loan you are going to sign are different from the terms you have discussed
- The final payment is much larger than the regular monthly payments
- You are asked to mortgage your home by a telemarketer or door-to-door salesman
- You are asked to overstate your income on your loan application
- Your broker is the one trying to sell you a loan instead of trying to find you the best loan
- The same lender keeps refinancing the mortgage
What Are the Best Ways to Avoid Predatory Lenders?
First off, know when and when not to take out a loan on your home. For example, if you are worried about paying back medical bills or credit card debts, keep in mind that the consequences of late payments or nonpayment will never result in the foreclosure of your home, but nonpayment on a home loan can. Therefore, it would probably not be worth the risk of taking out a home loan just to pay back credit card and medical bills.
There are a few other precautions you can take to reduce your risk of getting involved with a predatory lender when you take out a home loan or mortgage: - Only borrow from institutions with an established reputation, such as banks, credit unions, and savings and loans
- Read a contract all the way through before you sign it and make sure you understand the terms; do not be pressured into signing before you are ready
- Have someone, preferably a lawyer, review the contract before you sign it
At What Point Should I Consider Contacting an Attorney if I am Taking Out a Home Loan?
When you are about to sign the contract for a home loan, you may want to run it by an attorney who has experience in dealing with home loans. Your attorney will be able to explain all the terms of the contract to you in a clear manner, and will help you decide if you are getting a good deal. Also, if you have just signed a loan and think you may have gotten into a rotten deal, contract an attorney immediately. Generally you can get out of a loan within 2-3 days of signing the contract, so time is of the essence. Your attorney can also review the contract to see if there are any terms in it that are unfair and therefore not legally enforceable. |
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