First Time Buyer Mortgage Tips – 90% Mortgages
After the subprime mortgage crisis, which began to surface in 2008, the Maryland Legislature passed The Real Property-Maryland Mortgage Fraud Protection Act in April of that year. The Maryland Legislature passed several laws to help homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes, and to prevent future homeowners from becoming at risk for losing their homes. From a realtor’s point of view, the most notable issues are the changes to the lending industry: * Lenders will now be required to be licensed, and all mortgages must contain the license number of a mortgage originator or mortgage lender. This would allow regulators to track which mortgage providers have the highest foreclosure and default rates. * Changes in the number of days until several steps of the process take place: The foreclosure sale cannot occur sooner than 135 days after default. * SB218/HB 361 establishes requirements for a foreclosure consultant. All of the details of this professional will be fleshed out in the future. Suffice it to say, the foreclosure consultant will be trained and probably licensed, not a real estate agent or bank representative. The consultant will have a fiduciary responsibility to the homeowner, similar to a RE agent, and will counsel the homeowner in all the aspects of the process. * The third bill passed establishes stricter penalties for anyone engaged or intending to engage in mortgage fraud. Overall, I think these are some great steps toward preventing further fraud and helping homeowners in trouble. I especially like the licensing of lenders. It will make it possible to track fraud and actually find the people who are initially responsible. The inability to hold lenders accountable has been a huge hole in the ability to prosecute fraud.