SAN ANTONIO (San Antonio Express-News) – A federal grand jury in San Antonio has indicted 22 people on charges that they engaged in a “flipping” scheme intended to bilk lenders out of $50 million.
According to the indictment, between May 17, 2005, and Feb. 21, 2008, Robert Brooks of Dallas bought properties at or around market value and then offered people $10,000 to $25,000 to act as straw buyers who would purchase the homes at inflated prices.
With the help of appraisers, title officers, escrow officers, mortgage processors and others, Brooks then allegedly obtained mortgage loans for those buyers using falsified documents. A year later, he let those mortgages go into default, according to the indictment.
The defendants will serve up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Many of the homes listed in the case are condominiums in the Dallas area.
The case is part of a nationwide sweep called Operation Stolen Dreams.

By periodically checking your credit report, you can keep tabs on the factors that influence your credit score. Make sure you know where to get a copy of your reports and how to interpret them. You are entitled to one free credit report per year from all three credit reporting agencies – Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. For free reports, use the AnnualCreditReport.com site. It will not give you the FICO score, but you will be able to view your credit report. Your credit report will show your creditors and the status of each account, public records like judgements, the requests that have been made to view your credit history, and personal data like your name, address, and social security number. Any negative information, like a missed mortgage payment, will stay on your credit for about four years. If you find a mistake on your credit report, you should file a dispute in writing with the agency that provided the report. If you have old charges that need to be paid off and they have been on your credit for many years, do not pay them if you are trying to get a mortgage. When you pay them it shows activity on the account and will actually lower your credit score. If the mortgage company requires them to be paid in order to give you the loan, usually you can pay them at closing. If you suspect that someone is requesting credit under your name you should file a 90-day fraud alert on your credit file.

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Moving to the Houston area?  I would like to be the first to welcome you and assist you with all of your real estate needs whether you are moving to Houston, The Woodlands, or Spring, Texas.  As a relocation specialist, I can help you sell your current property anywhere in the world and find a new one in this area.  As a RE/MAX agent, I help relocate families all over the globe.  Please call me today and I will be happy to send you a copy of the Houston Newcomer Guide.  It will help you narrow your search area and give you a lot of helpful information about the communities in the surrounding area.  I would like to help you with all of your relocation needs and my website offers a wealth of information.  You can search the entire Houston MLS database on my website and see my featured listings, too.  You can read my award winning blog and catch up on all the latest housing news.  Please call me today so we can get started.  When you talk to your human resources coordinator, please ask for me by name!  Shannon Register 832.628.SELL

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Finding a new home can be exciting. But deciding what you truly want and need-and can afford-can be challenging. Making these decisions begins with setting priorities among many different preferences. Most homebuyers invariably face trade-offs. As your buyer’s representative, I can play a key role in helping you sort out your options. My team can also offer important insights specific to our local market. Here are many of the considerations you’ll want to discuss with me or my team members:

Basic Home Features

• Do you prefer a single-family detached home, townhome, condominium, or other type of property?
• Desired number of bedrooms and baths
• Preferences regarding kitchen, dining, family rooms, etc. and preferred home layout
• High-priority home features, such as kitchen appliances, fireplace, etc.
• Other types of rooms needed (e.g., a home office or a hobby space)
• Storage spaces (closets, basement, and outdoor shed, etc.)
• Need for a garage or parking space, and if so, for how many cars?

Other Home Preferences

• Ranch, two story, split level, etc.
• Age and style of home (Victorian, bungalow, modern, etc.)
• How important is energy efficiency or other green home features?

Neighborhoods/Location

• Commuting considerations (to work, shopping, etc.)
• Proximity to desirable features (such as a community center, exercise facility, school, hospital, etc.)
• Views – how important is to find your ideal view (overlooking a park, for example) or avoiding a bad one (busy highway)?

Lot Characteristics

• Size and Shape of yards
• Landscaping Considerations – need for privacy, play areas, decking, etc.
• Home orientation – is it important for your home to face a particular direction?

Life at Home

• If you’ll be sharing your home with kids, pets, or others, how does this impact your housing preferences?
• Proximity to neighbors

Related Costs

• HOA or Homeowner Association Fees
• Property Taxes

Trade-Offs

• How much do you want to invest in a home beyond the purchase price, either financially or in terms of sweat equity, if you can’t find exactly what you want?
• Are you willing to consider other neighborhoods that provide better affordability?
Resale
• How long do you plan to live in this home? How does this impact the type of home you will buy, how much you’ll spend, and your choice of location?

This information is reprinted from a www.REBAC.net publication.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Yahoo News) – Bank of America will pay $108 million to settle charges against Countrywide Financial Corp., which Bank of America purchased in July 2008.
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged three top executives, including CEO Angelo Mozilo, with civil fraud and insider trading last year.
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Job Leibowitz accused Countrywide of “callous conduct, which took advantage of consumers already at the end of their financial rope.”
Settlement agreements include refunding money to approximately 200,000 borrowers and notifying bankrupt borrowers monthly about what they owe, including fees.
The bank did not deny or admit to charges; however, they agreed to pay the settlement “to avoid the expense and distraction associated with litigating the case.”