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Mortgage fraud has made headlines locally and nationally. Most of the time, mortgage fraud involves identity theft or fraud - making a borrower appear to be somebody else, with a better job, more income or fewer debts, somebody more creditworthy. |
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But some mortgage fraud involves a broker or loan officer telling the mortgagee - the lender - and the borrower that the house is worth more than it is. This way, they can close a larger loan and make a bigger commission. Since real estate agents also usually make a percentage of the sale as commission, sometimes they can be involved. In reality, most loan officers, mortgage brokers and real estate salespeople are ethical and would never think of engaging in mortgage fraud. But mortgage fraud of this type always originates with one of the parties who makes a commission on a closed sale. Sometimes, fraud like this can be accomplished without an appraiser involved. Honest, professional appraisal reports are simply altered, or honest, professional appraisers' signatures forged. But in reality, a complicitous appraiser often makes it easier to perpetrate mortgage fraud. At the same time, appraisers are also homeowners', lenders' and the economy's best defense against mortgage fraud. Ap Appraisers do not work for individual, commissioned loan officers, mortgage brokers or real estate agents. If they did, there would be too much pressure to "make the deal work," rather than arrive at a professional, considered opinion of the market value of the property. Appraisers also do not work for borrowers, at least in the context of a mortgage loan. But borrowers work closely with mortgage brokers, loan officers and real estate agents, and benefit the most from a third party, objective valuation of the home they want to buy. If something catastrophic happens, such as a job loss, illness, divorce or death, and a borrower can no longer make payments on the home they've mortgaged, they will need to be able to sell the home for enough money to cover the balance of their mortgage. So, nobody benefits more from an appraiser's professional opinion of value on a home than the new homeowner, even though there is no direct client relationship. Like some mortgage brokers, loan officers and real estate salespeople, some appraisers are "bad apples" and will agree to go along with a scheme to defraud lenders and homebuyers so bigger commissions can be had. To learn more about our appraisal review services
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You may have been a victim of mortgage fraud committed by your mortgage broker and facilitated by an over inflated appraisal report. You may have recourse against one or both parties.
Do you have the appraisal from the closing package?
We are on a mission to rid the real estate and valuation professions of unscrupulous parties and routinely submit high risk appraisal reports to state licensing boards for further investigation.
A forensic review professional will analyze the appraisal report associated with your current mortgage loan to identify the potential for further action.
The appraisal report will be reviewed for risk indicators/overvaluation techniques and compared against available market data at the time of the origination appraisal.
To learn more about our forensic appraisal review services
Whether you require accurate valuations for originations, are looking to measure exposure or performing internal audits to monitor loss reserves, our services protect the interests of the client
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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praisers are paid a set fee for their work whether a deal is closed or not. Appraisers are hired by and work for the lender that is considering loaning the money to buy a house. That lender is interested in an objective, third party, professional opinion of the true value of the home. The lender needs to know that if the borrower defaults, the collateral used to secure the loan - the house - is valuable enough to cover their loss.
