Rise in Foreclosure Listing Resulted in More Fake Rescue Firms
The rise in the number of homes falling under foreclosure listing in Virginia has spawned a number of companies taking advantage of troubled homeowners, market analysts have reported. A housing agency in the region has recently sought the help of the Attorney General's Office to prosecute these companies that are offering fake rescue services to borrowers in the state.
According to Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), several companies operating in the state are encouraging borrowers to take steps that can lead them to financial troubles and might even be illegal. Housing counselors have reported that the rise in the number of Big Island foreclosures and distressed properties in various areas of the state has created a market for these fraudulent companies. Around 300 state homeowners have reportedly fallen victim to these firms' practices.
Meanwhile, HOME has reportedly investigated around 60 of these businesses that are believed to be targeting homeowners whose properties are under Virginia foreclosure lists. Most of the victims, reports have revealed, are borrowers seeking loan modifications. Reports also claimed that the companies get in touch with homeowners through phone and mail. Majority of the homeowners who have reported being approached by these companies are said to have paid upfront fees in exchange for assistance in their loan modification applications.
However, these companies have failed to deliver the promised assistance, with most of their supposed customers eventually seeing their homes included in foreclosure listing. Housing counselors have warned homeowners not to entertain such companies, particularly when they ask for upfront fees even before a service is rendered. They advise borrowers to instead get in touch with a housing agency that is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD.
In addition, counselors have stated that companies that promise that they can definitely put a stop to foreclosures are most likely fake. They also warn homeowners with properties in pre foreclosure listings not to stop paying their mortgages if a company approaches them and asks them to give the payment to them instead. Victims of these fraudulent businesses have also reported that they were sometimes asked by such firms to provide fake information on their loan modification application documents.
With a lot of homes ending in foreclosure listing in Virginia, housing counselors asserted that it is not surprising that there are those who will take advantage of homeowners' plight. They advise borrowers to report to local authorities if they had been approached by any of these fake businesses.
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