Real estate fraud and schemes for financial gain are found everywhere in Maryland and the rest of the country for that matter.
Understanding and educating ourselves is one of the best ways to avoid fraud or identify it before falling victim to a scheme that could cost you everything. There are many moving parts in our real estate transactions and a large group of people and entities involved. The fact we have so many moving parts and so many people involved create opportunities for deception and fraudulent schemers. Appraisers, Banks, Lenders, Loan Officers, Underwriters, Processors, Abstractors, Surveyors, Inspectors, Auctioneers, Attorneys, Title Agents, Insurance Agents, Buyers, Sellers, Builders, Developers, Contractors, Brokers, Real Estate Agents, Investors and Court Recorders represent many of the individuals who can play a role in real estate transactions and processes. It is easy imagine with this many moving parts and hands in the cookie jar, the opportunities for fraud exist and occur. Let's all take some responsibility for education and awareness as one of the best methods to avoiding fraud or damaging schemes. Recognizing the danger signals and common ways these fraudulent methods are played out will help you avoid and detect fraud before it happens. There is no guarantee we can avoid every possible situation but if we can learn together protect ourselves from the common schemes we will all be better off.Here are some more common methods of real estate fraud in Maryland:
Escrow Defalcation:
This is
a simple form of fraud in which the title insurance agent or the
attorney managing the escrow funds directs the money in escrow
elsewhere to his/her benefit and leaves town with the funds. This is
always a surprise to everyone involved yet it still happens in the
industry. Lender's send monies to the escrow agent, attorney or
title agency for settlement funding, payoffs and other purposes prior
to settlement. Once settlement occurs they assume the monies have
been moved to all the appropriate places when in fact a fraudulent
person simply directs what should have been delivered to one place to
another for their personal gain or benefit. The amount of monies
involved in real estate transactions make it easy for a fraudster to
obtain significant monies before being detected or found out. One
way to deter this difficult scheme is to make sure you are using a
title agency or settlement company that is conforming to industry
best practices by performing background checks on employees, is
bonded, holds a current license, has E&O insurance, daily
reconciliation and other best practices requirements to minimize the
chance of defalcation fraud. One of the best things the title
industry has going for it now is national best practice standards.
From a financial perspective without going into detail title agents
in Maryland who conform to best practices have more than one person
keeping track of and authorizing escrow money movement so while it's
not impossible is much harder for an individual to commit fraud and
go undetected for any long period of time. Nothing is perfect but
we are heading in the right direction. For this reason we recommend
you find a local title agent in Maryland and that you get some
references and do your due diligence before making a final decision
about who is handling your escrow monies for your next real estate
transaction in Maryland.
Property Flipping:
From a fraud perspective “flipping” occurs when several people work together to form a team of deception. Most commonly this involves a buyer, closer, appraiser and possibly a potential secondary buyer. At the heart of the scam is the inflation of property value to obtain financing monies from a lender. The first stage is the buyer takes out mortgage for the homes actual value or cost to acquire. Then some fake or falsified improvements are supposedly done creating the opportunity to demonstrate a new higher value on an appraisal. The increase is justified by the improvements or additions to the initial property. The problem is the improvements are not real and the value is falsely represented on the appraisal. The bank gets an application for a second mortgage or home equity loan for the increase and with the false appraisal lends the money largely unsecured. Subsequently the property is then sold quickly “hence the word flipping” to a new buyer who may or may not be in on on the scam. Then the fraudsters abscond with the money and the new buyer often defaults on the loan. Lenders and Banks are the ones bearing the majority of the losses in this situation.Aggressive Selling:
Occurs
mainly when the elderly, mentally vulnerable and those financially at
risk of foreclosure are targeted by those criminals who intend to
manipulate them into signing paperwork and legal documents that are a
detriment to their best interests.
Predatory Lending:
Commonly
done door to door with a high pressure sales pitch offering a deal to
good to be true for a new loan. Bait like no money down and no
credit check are offered to lure the borrower to sign paperwork for a
new loan where interest rates and terms are not favorable or what the
borrower could have possibly qualified for by going through normal
underwriting for a loan. This method can also me initiated by phone
solicitation followed by and appointment with and aggressive sales
person.
False Foreclosure Rescue:
When
individuals are faced with foreclosure others may see them as
vulnerable and desperate. Scamming persons will use aggressive ads
and telemarketers to promise relief from debt and perhaps a reduction
or release from the entire burden. All of this in exchange for a
fee. The fee is collected and the fraudster leaves and doesn't
perform any of the promised services. Often the kind of information
a person needs when facing foreclosure is available on government
websites or working with an attorney specializing in this area of
legal practice.
Equity Fraud:
A
traditional form of fraud and theft where the personal private
information of the victim is obtained by the criminal. The
information is used to forge false loan applications and documents.
The forgery can continue to the deed for the purpose of steal the
equity in the property of the victim.
What to do about it?
We can all be on the lookout for the warning signs and be aware of the common sense rule of “if it sounds to good to be true – it probably is!”
For
our friends and family members we can be aware of those who are
elderly, lack financial sophistication and keep and eye on them.
Communicate regularly and educate them on the warning signs.
Encourage open lines of communication before making any major
financial decisions. Don't trust the stranger day one. Help each
other by creating awareness and methods for simple due diligence
before entering into legal agreements or signing documents. Continue
to do business with your local trusted adviser who is well
established and recommended to you by your local Chamber of Commerce,
Bar Association etc. Look for experienced professionals recommended
by trade associations, industry peers and ask them for references you
know. Excalibur Title and Escrow, LLC is proud to be celebrating our10 year anniversary and to be able to provide you with information.
We are happy to provide numerous references in the industry to
bankers, lenders, realtors and past customers whom we have done
business with for years should you need a title agency for your next
real estate settlement in Maryland. Ask the hard questions and
don't be afraid to get the information you need to make and informed
decision. We hope this post is helpful and please pass the word
along.
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