Most Common Types of Housing Scams

Most Georgia homeowners who seek assistance from foreclosure rescue companies or companies are the ones who usually get scammed. Based on studies conducted in all states including Georgia, one of the major types of fraudulent schemes involves mortgage assistance relief scams. These scams promise to save homeowners from foreclosure, reverse their mortgage or even lower their mortgage payment for a certain amount. Other scam artists even pretend to be associated with different government agencies to quickly earn their victim’s trust. These are just some of the most common housing scams right now. Let’s take a closer look at the most common types of scams.

Avoid-Moving Fraud

These are moving companies who take advantage of their clients by quoting a lower price and then asks for more money before they remove your belongings from their truck. This leaves the owners no choice but to pay them extra for their services. Although most moving companies do quality work, this type of fraudulent activity leaves a bad reputation to the moving industry.

What you can do so that you won’t get trapped is to get a written estimate from several movers. Don’t just accept offers from companies that quote a low price. Check their reviews on the internet or even the local consumer advocacy organizations to see if there are any suspicious posts or forums about them. You can also make sure the mover is licensed by the proper authority and has insurance. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration releases a U.S. Department of Transportation No. for moves that are from one state to another. You may try visiting FMCSA’s website to search for a registered mover.

Foreclosure Scams

Foreclosure scams are mortgage relief scams are probably one of the most common housing scams across all states, including Georgia. They usually sift through public notices of foreclosures in different platforms like newspapers and the internet, then send personalized letters to homeowners. Others would even go the extra mile of creating ads on the internet, television or radio, and even the newspapers. They will use different kinds of tactics to entice you to get your hard- earned money.

Predatory Lenders

Predatory mortgage lending is when lenders, appraisers, home improvement contractors, and even mortgage brokers sell properties that are much more than they are worth using false appraisals. They also encourage borrowers to create false information about their expenses, income, and their available savings just to get a loan. Some would even lend more money to the borrower even if he knows that they wouldn’t be able to repay it. Some lenders go the point of basing the borrower’s interest rates on their race or national origin. You can avoid these things by getting a qualified and licensed home inspector to fully check your property and to determine if you’re paying the right amount. You can also shop for another lender and compare costs.