A federal judge on Nov. 9 sentenced three men to prison for participating in a real estate scheme where they lied on loan and credit applications in order to buy 14 properties across Northern California. One defendant reportedly bought five houses, including one in Elk Grove. “All of these homes were ultimately either foreclosed upon or sold in a short sale,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported in a press […]
Fraud isn’t exactly rampant in the mortgage field. But it does happen, perhaps more frequently than you’d think. Sometimes, it’s the would-be borrower who commits the crime. Some lie on their applications about how much they earn, how long they’ve been on their current job, or the extent of their […]
Your house isn’t a piggy bank, so don’t use your home equity to pay off credit card debts. Dear Liz: My ex-husband is a self-employed carpenter who just turned 64. He’s gotten a bit over his head with his credit cards. He tried for a home equity loan since he […]
Here’s what every first-time home buyer needs to know to dive into house hunting with confidence—and with as few curveballs as possible. Whether it’s getting a mortgage, choosing a real estate agent, shopping for a home, or making a down payment, we lay out the must-knows of buying for the […]
