Atlanta Home Buyers - Shopping for a Mortgage! Avoid the Traps of Predatory Lending!

Atlanta Home Buyers - Shopping for a Mortgage!   There is more to buying a home in Atlanta that looking at pretty homes! When it comes to a home buyer shopping for a mortgage in Atlanta or anyplace across the country, most of them do not have a clue what they are actually looking for.  Atlanta home buyers are not educated and tend to look at the wrong things.  All too often Atlanta home buyers make the fatal mistake of searching for actually for the lowest monthly payment, but never really read what they are getting themselves into. That is why in Atlanta we lead the nation in loan fraud and foreclosures.  The buyers need to look only at themselves for the mess they are in!   There is always a lender that will take advantage of the uninformed.  They saw you coming, and you can easily become a victim of predatory lending!  It isn't the cheapest monthly rate that is important.  It is about all the terms of the loan!

Getting the best mortgage is all about making the right choice.  It is about getting loans that you can afford to pay until you pay off the home you've just purchased.  It isn't about dreaming about the home, it is about doing the math and knowing you can afford the home you are purchasing...there's no free lunch!  You can either afford it, or you can't!  If you purchase a home with the wrong type of mortgage you will soon find yourself in very deep water!  ****To avoid predatory lending you need to ask questions before signing any documents.  Take your documents home to review before signing them and read them!****

  • How long have you been originating loans?
  • Do you have references of past clients?
  • Do you work as a full time lender?
  • How much down payment will I need?
  • What will be the approximate closing costs of this loan? 
  • What is the interest rate of this loan?  What is the APR of this loan?
  • What discount points and origination fees are on the loan?
  • What is the loan going to cost me in monthly payment? Principle Interest, Taxes and Insurance?
  • What type of mortgage will this be?  30 years, 15 Years Fixed, Adjustable Rate, Interest Only...?
  • How long is this payment fixed?
  • If the loan increases what are the worse case scenarios of my monthly costs?
  • Will there be private mortgage insurance on the loan?  How much?
  • With this loan product, is there a negative amortization?
  • Is there a pre-payment penalty for this loan or administrative fees for early payment of principle?
  • If there is a pre-payment penalty what are the costs and terms?
  • Will you provide me with a written good faith estimate?
  • Does the good faith estimate include taxes, insurance, escrows and company fees?
  • When can I lock in the loan rate?  How long is it good for?
  • How much money will I have to have to start the loan process?
  • What documents will I need to provide?
  • What timeframe can we close this loan in?
  • What fee will you be paid for originating the loan?

Will you be willing to put all of this in writing and sign and date it?

 

 
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6 Comments on Atlanta Home Buyers - Shopping for a Mortgage! Avoid the Traps of Predatory Lending!

Jim,

Home buyers ought to have the basic knowledge of the mortgage process and ask pertinent questions, like the ones you present here. That way they can make responsible decisions on the type of loan they'll get. Excellent point here is to avoid aiming at the lowest monthly payment. Instead the focus should be on the right loan product for the borrower.

03/21/2008 09:12 PM by Esko Kiuru - Las Vegas NV Mortgage Consultant (Sinifox Financial)


Esko Kiuru - Las Vegas NV Mortgage Consultant I think if the process is more transparent everyone benefits from it.  Certainly in the Atlanta area we lead the nation for a while with loan fraud, and I am sure a lot of that involved predatory lending. No one is served by that.  If everything is above board with complete disclosure and acknowledgement...it will work!  This is the price to pay because a few have ruined it for the many!

03/21/2008 10:04 PM by Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO (RE/MAX Greater Atlanta)


Great tips on how to prepare homeowners to shop for a loan. If the lenders can answer these questions the borrower will know where he/she stand. The pre-payment penalty question is among the big ones.

03/22/2008 12:26 AM by LLoyd Nichols~SW Florida Homes (Right Choice Realty LLC)


LLoyd Nichols~SW Florida Homes   We are quickly moving into uncharted teritory and we need to protect our future in real estate for all sides.  Buyers need to be informed before buying anything or signing on the dotted line!

03/22/2008 09:54 AM by Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO (RE/MAX Greater Atlanta)


Jim, predatory lenders are scum. You've outlined a great list to identify the red flags. Happy Easter to you and your family.

03/22/2008 01:55 PM by Gary Woltal - REALTORĀ® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty)


Gary Woltal - REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth  So many folks have fallen victim to bad loans because they did not do a due diligence!  a lot of this was really preventable if they only asked questions, and reviewed the documents.  Happy Easter to you and your family also!

03/22/2008 02:06 PM by Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO (RE/MAX Greater Atlanta)


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Real Estate Agent: Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO (RE/MAX Greater Atlanta)
Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO
Atlanta, GA
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RE/MAX Greater Atlanta

Office Phone: (770) 993-4848
Cell Phone: (770) 238-0122
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Atlanta real estate broker associate, real estate columnist for www.RealtyTimes.com, real estate speaker. Real estate marketing, Internet marketing for real estate, real estate coaching

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