Wendell J. Jones, attorney at law, is highly experienced at helping people who have been victims of real estate fraud. Real estate is a field that is rife with opportunists, and many of the victims are unfamiliar with the practices these fraudsters use.
Real estate is a booming business. Houses, condominiums, apartment buildings, vacant lots – there is a market for all of them. Popular urban areas have extremely high prices, and homes often sell the same week they are listed. Small lots with a single houses are sold so that the house can be torn down, and an apartment building is constructed in its place. Large land lots are divided so that an extra house (or houses) can be built there; this is particularly good for homeowners who don’t want a very large yard, and prefer to build rental property on part of the lot to earn a profit. It is fairly easy to get a mortgage.
Owning a home comes with its own problems. There are property taxes, for one. And, of course, there are mortgage payments, for those who weren’t fortunate enough to be able to pay for their house in cash. Upkeep is another issue. Before even moving into a home, the owners usually paint it inside, as well as outside (depending on the time of year). Carpets are replaced; plumbing is fixed; electrical wiring patched up. The yard has to be kept in good condition, particularly if the owner is a member of a homeowners’ association, which can have very strict rules on the appearance of every house and yard in the association. Security is almost always an issue, and various alarms are implemented to prevent break-ins, or to chase away intruders who have already broken in. Roofs must be re-roofed every now and then. The chores are endless.
And then there are the so-called “counseling agencies”. These companies target homeowners with various offers that seem too good to be true, and they are. They attempt to convince homeowners that the company can perform various services for the owner, which will result in lower mortgage rates. They claim that they can negotiate a new mortgage payment plan, or they drop hints of rate reductions. The problem is, these companies charge a large sum for their “services”, which can include making homeowners pay for information provided by the company that is available for free online.
Real estate is a booming business. Houses, condominiums, apartment buildings, vacant lots – there is a market for all of them. Popular urban areas have extremely high prices, and homes often sell the same week they are listed. Small lots with a single houses are sold so that the house can be torn down, and an apartment building is constructed in its place. Large land lots are divided so that an extra house (or houses) can be built there; this is particularly good for homeowners who don’t want a very large yard, and prefer to build rental property on part of the lot to earn a profit. It is fairly easy to get a mortgage.
Owning a home comes with its own problems. There are property taxes, for one. And, of course, there are mortgage payments, for those who weren’t fortunate enough to be able to pay for their house in cash. Upkeep is another issue. Before even moving into a home, the owners usually paint it inside, as well as outside (depending on the time of year). Carpets are replaced; plumbing is fixed; electrical wiring patched up. The yard has to be kept in good condition, particularly if the owner is a member of a homeowners’ association, which can have very strict rules on the appearance of every house and yard in the association. Security is almost always an issue, and various alarms are implemented to prevent break-ins, or to chase away intruders who have already broken in. Roofs must be re-roofed every now and then. The chores are endless.
And then there are the so-called “counseling agencies”. These companies target homeowners with various offers that seem too good to be true, and they are. They attempt to convince homeowners that the company can perform various services for the owner, which will result in lower mortgage rates. They claim that they can negotiate a new mortgage payment plan, or they drop hints of rate reductions. The problem is, these companies charge a large sum for their “services”, which can include making homeowners pay for information provided by the company that is available for free online.
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