can someone take out a mortgage on your home without you knowing?

Question

I got a phone call, left on answering machine, talking about a mortgage. I do not have a mortgage on the home . I am just worried that someone could fraudulently get a mortgage on my home. With people stealing identities how easy would it be?

Answer 1

ABOSLUTELY! One of the first indications of identity theft is when strange debts are recorded to "you". In fact. there's a horror story cited below. There's a reason that most credit experts advise that you check your reports as often as you can. That's discovery of bad things before they go to far. My credit card issuer verifies all purchase more than X dollars with a follow up call. Sometimes annoying but worthwhile. Depending up your state, you can get some reports for free, block access to your "identity" with a password, or other things that come with your location. As a NJ Notary, I am very sensitive to fraud. A notarized power of atorney is gold to a fraudster. I'd suggest that you guard your signature. I use one on "financial" documents and another as a throw away. That is when I charge at Home Depot, I use "fjreinke". When I open a bank account, I use my full name "ferdinandjreinke". It's a little trick but I like it. Also, never use the same password everywhere. Also, when you give answers to security questions, lie. You have to remember your lies, but that a small price. I'd love to see the scammer's face when he answers the security question "what's your wife's name" and gets told the right answer is the wrong one!

Ferdinand J. Reinke
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

Webform that creates an urgent email => http://public.2idi.com/=reinkefj
Web page => http://www.reinke.cc/
My blog => http://www.reinkefaceslife.com/
LinkedIn url => http://www.linkedin.com/in/reinkefj

Answer 2

It would not be easy for anyone to do that. There would have to be an appraisal done for the lender, which would mean (hopefully) you would know something is going on.

We get calls and mail all the time from companies wanting to help us get a better rate than the loan we had refinanced three years ago. If you recently had a mortgage, this could be the reason for the call. It could also be as simple as a wrong number, or a sales call to all listed homeowners, mortgaged or not.

Answer 3

I doubt it, considering the hurdles one must jump through to get a loan in the first place. Before one gets fully approved the property has to be appraised, inspected, and pass a title check. You would have been fully involved in this process, if you were on that title.

When we get a loan to buy a house, we personally never see that big money. That money exchanges through businesses. (Buyers lender to sellers lender, for example). So, I'm not sure what motive one would have for trying.

I get random calls like that too. I lived in an apartment last year and had a similar call that left me laughing. It's more than likely a random telemarketer that has a call list, randomly trying to get people to either take out a mortgage through their company or refinance one they have. It's all about the money they could potentially make by advertising their services.

Afterthought edit:

I've never thought about changing my security question answers to the wrong ones. Great idea. I'm going to change mine now.

Answer 4

A mortgage is a subcategory of "lien", and no one can get a VALID mortgage on your house without you knowing. It's entirely possible they could pretend to be you and leave you a mess to clean up, but if you're innocent, it will be cleaned up.

Now, other liens can be placed on the home without your knowledge or consent. Judgment liens, tax liens, mechanic's liens all can be put on the property without your input. But that isn't what you're talking about.

More than likely the phone call was from someone that wants you to take out a new mortgage. I do believe that lenders feel like no one can be happy without sending someone a house payment each month.

Answer 5

It would be fairly hard-- but I've seen dateline specials on it. The criminal would have to have a good ID in your name, since all mortgage docs are notorized, as well as all the documentation (check stubs, bank statements, etc) for the loan.

Get a title report for yoru house-- it will show any and all liens on the home, including mortgages.

Answer 6

Chances are it is a telemarketer trying to get you to refinance (and they just take a guess that you have a loan) or a scam.

It would be VERY difficult for someone to take out a mortgage in your name without you knowing. Lenders require two forms of identification, pay stubs, some require W-2s, all kinds of stuff.

But if you are worried about someone stealing your identity take ten minutes to get your FREE annual credit report at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/

Answer 7

No, the mortgage companies have to do a title search. If the person asking for the loan isn't in title to the property, they don't get the loan.

Answer 8

The personal loan lender might want to care a lot less what you do with the belongings as long as you save your own loan personal loan contemporary. It does no longer count number number who you employ to pal or someone you do not comprehend. make useful you and your pal signal a written house or employ contract. they are extra helpful understood in courtroom as oppose to i did not imagine my pal might want to attempt this to me. in case you come back to a decision to refinance the belongings you may ought to reply to the question if that's an proprietor occupied belongings or a house belongings. because you've now became this right into a house belongings your interest fee may be somewhat larger than in case you lived in it your self. i'm hoping this has been of a few benefit to you, solid luck. "strive against ON"

Answer 9

it is possible