Idaho Housing and Finance Association’s Post

TRUE OR FALSE: Predatory lenders are small companies or loan brokers that you have never heard of. To avoid predatory lending, it’s best to stick with large companies with names you know. The answer is… FALSE! Predatory lenders can be a large company with a name you know, or a small company or loan broker you’ve never heard of. They can be an appraiser, a mortgage broker, or a home improvement contractor who: • Sell property for much more than they are worth, using false appraisals • Encourage borrowers to lie about their income, expenses, or cash available for down payments in order to get a loan • Knowingly lend more money than a borrower can afford to repay • Charge high interest rates to borrowers based on their race or national origin and not on their credit history • Charge fees for unnecessary or nonexistent products and services • Pressure borrowers to accept higher-risk loans such as balloon loans, interest-only payments and steep prepayment penalties • Target vulnerable borrowers for cash-out refinance offers when they know borrowers are in need of cash due to medical, unemployment or debt problems • “Strip” homeowners’ equity from their homes by convincing them to refinance again and again when there is no benefit to the borrower • Use high-pressure sales tactics to sell home improvements and then finance them at high interest rates There isn’t one simple definition of predatory lending, because there are so many ways that consumers can be tricked into getting a loan that will be difficult to repay. To avoid falling victim to predatory lending, learn everything you can about buying a home and financing it. Those who have been victims of predatory lending are victims because they weren’t educated enough about loans. Visit finallyhome.org to get educated today.

  • No alternative text description for this image

To view or add a comment, sign in

Explore topics