Appraisal fraud and inflated values

Inflated Appraisals: How an Overvalued Home Can Cost You

10 days ago – Most people think a high appraisal is good news. If you’re selling or refinancing, a bigger number sounds like free money. But an inflated appraisal...

Read More

Inflated Appraisals: How a Too-High Home Value Can Cost You Thousands

1 month ago – You find a house you love, make an offer, and the lender orders an appraisal. A few days later, the appraiser says the home is worth exactly what you...

Read More

When the Appraisal Comes in Too High, Watch Out

1 month ago – You’d think a high appraisal on your home would be great news. More value, more equity, more bragging rights at the neighborhood cookout. But...

Read More

When Your Appraisal Comes In Too High, Watch Out

3 months ago – Imagine getting ready to close on a house. The seller accepts your offer. The bank orders an appraisal. A week later, the report comes back and the...

Read More

How to Spot an Inflated Home Appraisal Before It Costs You

4 months ago – Here is a scenario you might not have thought about: your home appraises for more than you expected, and you feel like you just won the lottery. You...

Read More

The Hidden Dangers of an Inflated Appraisal

5 months ago – When you get an appraisal on your home, the natural reaction to seeing a high number is to smile. You might think, “Great, my house is worth more...

Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to the questions we hear most.

The Closing Disclosure (CD) is a five-page form that provides the final details of your mortgage loan. It includes the loan terms, your projected monthly payments, and a comprehensive list of all closing costs and fees. By law, you must receive this document at least three business days before your loan closing to give you time to review it.

A Mortgage Aggregator is a company that provides back-office support, licensing, and accreditation services to a network of individual Mortgage Brokers or smaller broking firms. Think of them as the “umbrella” organisation that brokers operate under. They do not deal directly with the public but are crucial to the broker ecosystem.

If you cannot afford your original payment even after forbearance ends, you should immediately contact your servicer to discuss a long-term solution. The most common option is a loan modification, which permanently alters your loan terms to create a more affordable monthly payment based on your current financial situation.

A “no closing cost” loan typically means the lender covers your closing costs in exchange for a slightly higher interest rate. Negotiating fees, on the other hand, is the process of asking the lender to reduce or eliminate their specific fees without necessarily adjusting the rate. You can often do both: negotiate fees down and then decide if you want to pay them upfront or take a higher rate to cover them.

APR, or Annual Percentage Rate, is a broader measure of your loan’s cost than the interest rate alone. It represents the annual cost of your mortgage, expressed as a percentage, and includes the interest rate plus other lender fees and charges.
Get weekly rate updates and mortgage tips

Are you interested in learning more about mortgage brokers in your area? Tell us a bit about yourself and we'll point you in the right direction — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.