SpringHill Group

South Korea announced steps Thursday to bolster its sagging property market, including easing restrictions imposed on some districts of the capital. Seoul in 2003 restricted mortgage loan-to-value ratios to 40 percent and banned buyers from spending more than 40 percent of their income on repayments in three southern Seoul areas seen as most attractive to speculators. From now on, the same rules will apply citywide, with buyers able to borrow up to 50 percent of a property's value and spend up to 50 percent of their income on repayments. House prices in the Seoul metropolitan area have been falling for 10 successive months, with the latest April reading showing a 0.3 percent month-on-month decline. The government said it would also cut taxes on capital gains from property in the three districts, and would offer low-interest loans to a wider range of potential home-buyers in the capital. "We're rolling back excessive regulations adopted back in the early 2000s when the property market was overheating," the land ministry said in a statement. "Despite an increase in home supply... transactions in the housing sector are shrinking, while new apartment sales are also sluggish, hit by (economic) uncertainties."

Mortgage fraud is crime in which the intent is to materially misrepresent or omit information on a mortgage loan application to obtain a loan or to obtain a larger loan than would have been obtained had the lender or borrower known the truth. In United States federal courts, mortgage fraud is prosecuted as wire fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, with penalties of up to thirty years imprisonment.As the incidence of mortgage fraud has risen over the past few years, states have also begun to enact their own penalties for mortgage fraud. Mortgage fraud is not to be confused with predatory mortgage lending, which occurs when a consumer is misled or deceived by agents of the lender. However, predatory lending practices often co-exist with mortgage fraud. Types Occupancy fraud: This occurs where the borrower wishes to obtain a mortgage to acquire an investment property, but states on the loan application that the borrower will occupy the property as the primary residence or as a second home. If undetected, the borrower typically obtains a lower interest rate than was warranted. Because lenders typically charge a higher interest rate for non-owner-occupied properties, which historically have higher delinquency rates, the lender receives insufficient return on capital and is over-exposed to loss relative to what was expected in the transaction. In addition, lenders allow larger loans on owner-occupied homes compared to loans for investment properties. When occupancy fraud occurs, it is likely that taxes on gains are not paid, resulting in additional fraud. It is considered fraud because the borrower has materially misprepresented the risk to the lender to obtain more favorable loan terms. Income fraud: This occurs when a borrower overstates his/her income to qualify for a mortgage or for a larger loan amount. This was most often seen with so-called "stated income" mortgage loans (popularly referred to as "liar loans"), where the borrower, or a l

If you live in a Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) area in Scotland you could benefit from an interest free loan of up to £10,000. To find out if you live in a UHIS area please contact your local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 What's on offer? · Loans of between £500 and £10,000 are available (please note: loans are only available up to a maximum of £4,000 for solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines and small scale hydro technologies · Loans are interest free so you only pay back what you borrow · Applicants can pay back the loan in monthly instalments over a maximum of eight years. Loans can be combined with funding from fuel suppliers under the Carbon Emission Reduction Target. Loans cannot be combined with an Energy Saving Scotland Boiler Scrappage Scheme voucher. What can I use the loan for? · Installing cavity wall or solid wall insulation and/or loft insulation · Installing renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaic, solar water and space heating, heat pumps (ground, air and water source), small scale hydro and wood fuelled boiler systems · Replacing old, inefficient boilers with an Energy Saving Trust Recommended (ESTR) boiler The energy efficiency or renewable measure funded by the loan must be recommended in one of the following documents: · Energy Performance Certificate (within the home report completed when buying, renting or selling a home) · Home energy report for energy efficiency measures only (produced on completion of an Energy Saving Trust Home Energy Check (HEC) · Home Energy Generation report (completed via a phone survey carried out by an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor ) · Home report on renewables and energy efficiency ( completed via a home visit from an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor), or · Energy Assistance Package (EAP) Stage Four managing agent letter detailing the work recommended. You can find out more about all these documents and how to

Two years ago, when I started toying with the idea of coming to Korea to teach English, my main concern was managing my finances back home. Like so many recent college graduates, I had student loans that would require monthly payments, a car lease, and a credit cards to pay down. Since I had never lived in another country, or been out of the country for that matter, I had no idea how efficient and simple Korean banking and managing your overseas accounts can be. So, if you're like me and you want the scoop on money matters before you head to Korea, read on for quick tips and tricks to help you save money, transfer large sums, and even pay your taxes. Tip #1: Be prepared! Before you leave your country, make sure that you notify your bank, credit cards, student loan lenders, cellphone company, auto loan lenders, etc. Essentially, if you owe money to anyone or you have money saved in any account, make those institutions aware that you will be traveling for a year or more. Most importantly, bring a record of ALL of your banking information: routing numbers, account numbers, and your SWIFT CODE. What's a Swift Code? It's a bank-specific number that allows a foreign bank to easily locate and transfer funds to your domestic accounts. This number, along with your other account information, is essential for seamless transactions and can be obtained simply by contacting your bank and requesting their current Swift Code. Tip #2: On-line Banking: Now-a-days I do the majority of my banking, shopping, and paying bills online. Most banking networks give you access to your funds and statements in an on-line account, so make sure that you set one up before you leave the country. You can also pay your student loans, credit cards, and most other bills online. Furthermore, this is an excellent way to track your savings and be notified of any transfer fees (most banks assess a $15-$20 fee for wire transfers). Tip #3: Enlist Friends and Family: It may also be a wise decisio

If you live in a Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) area in Scotland you could benefit from an interest free loan of up to £10,000. To find out if you live in a UHIS area please contact your local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 What's on offer? · Loans of between £500 and £10,000 are available (please note: loans are only available up to a maximum of £4,000 for solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines and small scale hydro technologies · Loans are interest free so you only pay back what you borrow · Applicants can pay back the loan in monthly instalments over a maximum of eight years. Loans can be combined with funding from fuel suppliers under the Carbon Emission Reduction Target. Loans cannot be combined with an Energy Saving Scotland Boiler Scrappage Scheme voucher. What can I use the loan for? · Installing cavity wall or solid wall insulation and/or loft insulation · Installing renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaic, solar water and space heating, heat pumps (ground, air and water source), small scale hydro and wood fuelled boiler systems · Replacing old, inefficient boilers with an Energy Saving Trust Recommended (ESTR) boiler The energy efficiency or renewable measure funded by the loan must be recommended in one of the following documents: · Energy Performance Certificate (within the home report completed when buying, renting or selling a home) · Home energy report for energy efficiency measures only (produced on completion of an Energy Saving Trust Home Energy Check (HEC) · Home Energy Generation report (completed via a phone survey carried out by an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor ) · Home report on renewables and energy efficiency ( completed via a home visit from an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor), or · Energy Assistance Package (EAP) Stage Four managing agent letter detailing the work recommended. You can find out mor

Two years ago, when I started toying with the idea of coming to Korea to teach English, my main concern was managing my finances back home. Like so many recent college graduates, I had student loans that would require monthly payments, a car lease, and a credit cards to pay down. Since I had never lived in another country, or been out of the country for that matter, I had no idea how efficient and simple Korean banking and managing your overseas accounts can be. So, if you're like me and you want the scoop on money matters before you head to Korea, read on for quick tips and tricks to help you save money, transfer large sums, and even pay your taxes. Tip #1: Be prepared! Before you leave your country, make sure that you notify your bank, credit cards, student loan lenders, cellphone company, auto loan lenders, etc. Essentially, if you owe money to anyone or you have money saved in any account, make those institutions aware that you will be traveling for a year or more. Most importantly, bring a record of ALL of your banking information: routing numbers, account numbers, and your SWIFT CODE. What's a Swift Code? It's a bank-specific number that allows a foreign bank to easily locate and transfer funds to your domestic accounts. This number, along with your other account information, is essential for seamless transactions and can be obtained simply by contacting your bank and requesting their current Swift Code. Tip #2: On-line Banking: Now-a-days I do the majority of my banking, shopping, and paying bills online. Most banking networks give you access to your funds and statements in an on-line account, so make sure that you set one up before you leave the country. You can also pay your student loans, credit cards, and most other bills online. Furthermore, this is an excellent way to track your savings and be notified of any transfer fees (most banks assess a $15-$20 fee for wire transfers). Tip #3: Enlist Friends and Family: It may also be a wise decision t

If you live in a Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) area in Scotland you could benefit from an interest free loan of up to £10,000. To find out if you live in a UHIS area please contact your local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 What's on offer? · Loans of between £500 and £10,000 are available (please note: loans are only available up to a maximum of £4,000 for solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines and small scale hydro technologies · Loans are interest free so you only pay back what you borrow · Applicants can pay back the loan in monthly instalments over a maximum of eight years. Loans can be combined with funding from fuel suppliers under the Carbon Emission Reduction Target. Loans cannot be combined with an Energy Saving Scotland Boiler Scrappage Scheme voucher. What can I use the loan for? · Installing cavity wall or solid wall insulation and/or loft insulation · Installing renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaic, solar water and space heating, heat pumps (ground, air and water source), small scale hydro and wood fuelled boiler systems · Replacing old, inefficient boilers with an Energy Saving Trust Recommended (ESTR) boiler The energy efficiency or renewable measure funded by the loan must be recommended in one of the following documents: · Energy Performance Certificate (within the home report completed when buying, renting or selling a home) · Home energy report for energy efficiency measures only (produced on completion of an Energy Saving Trust Home Energy Check (HEC) · Home Energy Generation report (completed via a phone survey carried out by an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor ) · Home report on renewables and energy efficiency ( completed via a home visit from an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor), or · Energy Assistance Package (EAP) Stage Four

Two years ago, when I started toying with the idea of coming to Korea to teach English, my main concern was managing my finances back home. Like so many recent college graduates, I had student loans that would require monthly payments, a car lease, and a credit cards to pay down. Since I had never lived in another country, or been out of the country for that matter, I had no idea how efficient and simple Korean banking and managing your overseas accounts can be. So, if you're like me and you want the scoop on money matters before you head to Korea, read on for quick tips and tricks to help you save money, transfer large sums, and even pay your taxes. Tip #1: Be prepared! Before you leave your country, make sure that you notify your bank, credit cards, student loan lenders, cellphone company, auto loan lenders, etc. Essentially, if you owe money to anyone or you have money saved in any account, make those institutions aware that you will be traveling for a year or more. Most importantly, bring a record of ALL of your banking information: routing numbers, account numbers, and your SWIFT CODE. What's a Swift Code? It's a bank-specific number that allows a foreign bank to easily locate and transfer funds to your domestic accounts. This number, along with your other account information, is essential for seamless transactions and can be obtained simply by contacting your bank and requesting their current Swift Code. Tip #2: On-line Banking: Now-a-days I do the majority of my banking, shopping, and paying bills online. Most banking networks give you access to your funds and statements in an on-line account, so make sure that you set one up before you leave the country. You can also pay your student loans, credit cards, and most other bills online. Furthermore, this is an excellent way to track your savings and be notified of any transfer fees (most banks assess a $15-$20 fee for wire transfers). Tip #3: Enlist Friends and Family: It may also be a wise decision to

If you live in a Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) area in Scotland you could benefit from an interest free loan of up to £10,000. To find out if you live in a UHIS area please contact your local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 What's on offer? Loans of between £500 and £10,000 are available (please note: loans are only available up to a maximum of £4,000 for solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines and small scale hydro technologies Loans are interest free so you only pay back what you borrow Applicants can pay back the loan in monthly instalments over a maximum of eight years. Loans can be combined with funding from fuel suppliers under the Carbon Emission Reduction Target. Loans cannot be combined with an Energy Saving Scotland Boiler Scrappage Scheme voucher. What can I use the loan for? Installing cavity wall or solid wall insulation and/or loft insulation Installing renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaic, solar water and space heating, heat pumps (ground, air and water source), small scale hydro and wood fuelled boiler systems Replacing old, inefficient boilers with an Energy Saving Trust Recommended (ESTR) boiler The energy efficiency or renewable measure funded by the loan must be recommended in one of the following documents: Energy Performance Certificate (within the home report completed when buying, renting or selling a home) Home energy report for energy efficiency measures only (produced on completion of an Energy Saving Trust Home Energy Check (HEC) Home Energy Generation report (completed via a phone survey carried out by an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor ) Home report on renewables and energy efficiency ( completed via a home visit from an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor), or Energy Assistance Package (EAP) Stage Four managing agent letter detailing the work recommended. You can find out more about all these documents and ho

These house poor families were spending more than 30 percent of their income to pay back the principal and interest for their loans, and had more liabilities than available assets, meaning they would be unable to repay their debts even by selling off all their non-home assets. Most house poor, or 96.3 percent, said in the survey that they were finding the repayment ofloans extremely burdensome. About three-quarters of them said they were reducing their spending to pay off the loans.Sixty-four percent said they would like to sell their homes soon. As for the reasons for wanting to sell off their home, 26.9 percent said they wished to readjust their asset portfolio, and 25.4 percent cited the burden of repaying loans.Others said they wished to change the size of their homes (18.7 percent) or to withstand the economic downturn (13.7 percent).Nearly two-fifths of the house poor were in their 30s and 40s. Following those in their 30s (19.6 percent) and 40s (18.9 percent) were people in their 50s (13.5 percent) and 60s (11.2 percent), indicating that many people were financially squeezed before and after retirement.The more expensive the homes, the greater the number of house poor. Some 22.3 percent of the house poor in the survey hadmortgage loans on residential properties worth more than 900 million won. About 14.5 percent had homes worth between 600 million and 900 million won. Seventeen percent had homes worth between 300 million and 600 million won, and 15.6 percent between 150 million and 300 million won. Only 13.2 percent had homes valued less than 150 million won. Seoul (17.4 percent) and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province (18 percent) showed the highest rate of house poor families. In the capital, four of the 25 districts - which have the most expensive apartments - accounted for 17.2 percent of the house poor. "About 26.2 percent of all mortgage loans were taken out by people with a low ability to repay the debts," the research institut

Whenever scammers and con artists see an opportunity, they seize on it. One fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008 was that many people found themselves with a mortgage they could no longer afford. When faced with foreclosure, some people become desperate, which sets the stage for swindlers to try to make a buck off of another's misfortune. Mortgage elimination scams are nothing new, but they have reared their ugly heads in recent years. History Before the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, mortgage elimination scams were popular in the 1980s and early 1990s when farmers in the Midwest were losing their land to the banks. The problem was so great that in 1985, concerts known as "Farm Aid," organized by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp, began to raise money for farmers. This desperation by farmers made them susceptible to con men who tried to sell them kits to teach them how to use allodial title schemes, put fake liens on their property or claim that the bank never actually made any loans. How the Scams Work Most mortgage elimination scams work the same way, by coming up with untrue and crazy theories about why you don't really owe a mortgage at all and that your mortgage is not legally enforceable, according to Quatloos.com. The scammers find quotes from the Federal Reserve, taken out of context, that your mortgage is somehow illegal in the first place, and therefore, you don't owe any money. Features Once the homeowner decides that these schemes may actually work, he goes to the local courthouse and files a bogus claim. An "allodial title" is one, whereby the homeowner makes the argument that it is illegal to foreclose because of a concept that exists in some systems of property law, whereby property cannot be taken for any reason. The fallacy of this argument is there is no allodial title in the U.S. And, even if there was, an allodial title cannot be mortgaged in the first place. The courts view this as a frivolous claim. The s

Two years ago, when I started toying with the idea of coming to Korea to teach English, my main concern was managing my finances back home. Like so many recent college graduates, I had student loans that would require monthly payments, a car lease, and a credit cards to pay down. Since I had never lived in another country, or been out of the country for that matter, I had no idea how efficient and simple Korean banking and managing your overseas accounts can be. So, if you're like me and you want the scoop on money matters before you head to Korea, read on for quick tips and tricks to help you save money, transfer large sums, and even pay your taxes. Tip #1: Be prepared! Before you leave your country, make sure that you notify your bank, credit cards, student loan lenders, cellphone company, auto loan lenders, etc. Essentially, if you owe money to anyone or you have money saved in any account, make those institutions aware that you will be traveling for a year or more. Most importantly, bring a record of ALL of your banking information: routing numbers, account numbers, and your SWIFT CODE. What's a Swift Code? It's a bank-specific number that allows a foreign bank to easily locate and transfer funds to your domestic accounts. This number, along with your other account information, is essential for seamless transactions and can be obtained simply by contacting your bank and requesting their current Swift Code. Tip #2: On-line Banking: Now-a-days I do the majority of my banking, shopping, and paying bills online. Most banking networks give you access to your funds and statements in an on-line account, so make sure that you set one up before you leave the country. You can also pay your student loans, credit cards, and most other bills online. Furthermore, this is an excellent way to track your savings and be notified of any transfer fees (most banks assess a $15-$20 fee for wire transfers). Tip #3: Enlist Friends and Family: It may also be a wise decision to gi

If you live in a Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) area in Scotland you could benefit from an interest free loan of up to £10,000. To find out if you live in a UHIS area please contact your local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 What's on offer? Loans of between £500 and £10,000 are available (please note: loans are only available up to a maximum of £4,000 for solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines and small scale hydro technologies Loans are interest free so you only pay back what you borrow Applicants can pay back the loan in monthly instalments over a maximum of eight years. Loans can be combined with funding from fuel suppliers under the Carbon Emission Reduction Target. Loans cannot be combined with an Energy Saving Scotland Boiler Scrappage Scheme voucher. What can I use the loan for? Installing cavity wall or solid wall insulation and/or loft insulation Installing renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaic, solar water and space heating, heat pumps (ground, air and water source), small scale hydro and wood fuelled boiler systems Replacing old, inefficient boilers with an Energy Saving Trust Recommended (ESTR) boiler The energy efficiency or renewable measure funded by the loan must be recommended in one of the following documents: Energy Performance Certificate (within the home report completed when buying, renting or selling a home) Home energy report for energy efficiency measures only (produced on completion of an Energy Saving Trust Home Energy Check (HEC) Home Energy Generation report (completed via a phone survey carried out by an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor ) Home report on renewables and energy efficiency ( completed via a home visit from an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor), or Energy Assistance Package (EAP) Stage Four managing agent letter detailing the work recommended. You can find out more about all these documents and how to get th

These house poor families were spending more than 30 percent of their income to pay back the principal and interest for their loans, and had more liabilities than available assets, meaning they would be unable to repay their debts even by selling off all their non-home assets. Most house poor, or 96.3 percent, said in the survey that they were finding the repayment ofloans extremely burdensome. About three-quarters of them said they were reducing their spending to pay off the loans.Sixty-four percent said they would like to sell their homes soon. As for the reasons for wanting to sell off their home, 26.9 percent said they wished to readjust their asset portfolio, and 25.4 percent cited the burden of repaying loans.Others said they wished to change the size of their homes (18.7 percent) or to withstand the economic downturn (13.7 percent).Nearly two-fifths of the house poor were in their 30s and 40s. Following those in their 30s (19.6 percent) and 40s (18.9 percent) were people in their 50s (13.5 percent) and 60s (11.2 percent), indicating that many people were financially squeezed before and after retirement.The more expensive the homes, the greater the number of house poor. Some 22.3 percent of the house poor in the survey hadmortgage loans on residential properties worth more than 900 million won. About 14.5 percent had homes worth between 600 million and 900 million won. Seventeen percent had homes worth between 300 million and 600 million won, and 15.6 percent between 150 million and 300 million won. Only 13.2 percent had homes valued less than 150 million won. Seoul (17.4 percent) and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province (18 percent) showed the highest rate of house poor families. In the capital, four of the 25 districts - which have the most expensive apartments - accounted for 17.2 percent of the house poor. "About 26.2 percent of all mortgage loans were taken out by people with a low ability to repay the debts," the research instit

These house poor families were spending more than 30 percent of their income to pay back the principal and interest for their loans, and had more liabilities than available assets, meaning they would be unable to repay their debts even by selling off all their non-home assets. Most house poor, or 96.3 percent, said in the survey that they were finding the repayment ofloans extremely burdensome. About three-quarters of them said they were reducing their spending to pay off the loans.Sixty-four percent said they would like to sell their homes soon. As for the reasons for wanting to sell off their home, 26.9 percent said they wished to readjust their asset portfolio, and 25.4 percent cited the burden of repaying loans.Others said they wished to change the size of their homes (18.7 percent) or to withstand the economic downturn (13.7 percent).Nearly two-fifths of the house poor were in their 30s and 40s. Following those in their 30s (19.6 percent) and 40s (18.9 percent) were people in their 50s (13.5 percent) and 60s (11.2 percent), indicating that many people were financially squeezed before and after retirement.The more expensive the homes, the greater the number of house poor. Some 22.3 percent of the house poor in the survey hadmortgage loans on residential properties worth more than 900 million won. About 14.5 percent had homes worth between 600 million and 900 million won. Seventeen percent had homes worth between 300 million and 600 million won, and 15.6 percent between 150 million and 300 million won. Only 13.2 percent had homes valued less than 150 million won. Seoul (17.4 percent) and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province (18 percent) showed the highest rate of house poor families. In the capital, four of the 25 districts - which have the most expensive apartments - accounted for 17.2 percent of the house poor. "About 26.2 percent of all mortgage loans were taken out by people with a low ability to repay the debts," the research instit

Recent headlines about the troubled subprime lending industry are making Americans more aware of the consequences of risky lending practices. But unscrupulous lenders and scam artists continue to prey on unsuspecting loan shoppers and homeowners. Unfortunately, loan-related scams aren't restricted to tricking consumers into loans with outrageously high interest rates. Today's sophisticated scammers are using loans as a vehicle to do everything from stealing sensitive personal information to virtually stealing a credit-challenged homeowner's own home. The mortgage experts at Loan.com have identified five top scams that all consumers - mortgage shoppers and homeowners alike - should be on the look-out for. 1. Unsolicited phone calls Americans across the country have reported receiving phone calls from telemarketers posing as representatives from well-known organizations such as Fannie Mae offering to refinance loans at low rates. These "representatives" often ask for personal information, claiming they need it to qualify a victim for a loan. This information is then used to steal a victim's identity. Loan.com's Advice: Be wary of any phone call offering remarkably low interest rates on loans, especially if you have registered your phone number with the Do Not Call Registry. Most major nationwide lenders do not solicit business over the phone. Never give out personal information over the phone unless you are absolutely sure who you are speaking with. 2. "Helpful" contractors Many homeowners have reported contractors - often roofing or remodel professionals - approaching them with an offer to perform upgrades on their home at a reasonable price. These contractors offer financing through low-interest loans. It's not until after signing numerous forms that too many homeowners realize they have signed off on a high-interest home equity loan, and that the contractor has been hired by unscrupulous lenders to sell loans, not improve

Statewide California Indian Legal Services Assistance: Foreclosure to all Native Americans living in California and other Residents of select Counties Location: Escondido, Bishop, Eureka, and Sacramento Website: http://www.calindian.org/ Phone: Escondido: (760) 746-8941 or (800) 743-8941 Bishop: (760) 873-3581 or (800) 736-3582 Eureka: (707) 443-8397 or (800) 347-2402 Sacramento: (916) 978-0960 or (800) 829-0284 Services: The various offices provides free and low-cost legal services to Native Americans and Native American tribes and residents of the Counties of Alpine, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Tuolumne, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity , Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Kings, Lake, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, Yuba. California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) Assistance: Foreclosure and Loan Modification Scams for California Residents in Rural Areas in English and Spanish Location: Coachella, Delano, El Centro, Fresno, Gilroy, Lamont, Madera, Marysville, Modesto, Monterey, Oceanside, Oxnard, Paso Robles, Salinas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Santa Rosa, Stockton, Watsonville Website: http://www.crla.org/ Phone: To find the contact information for the office closest to you, please visithttp://www.crla.org/index.php?page=office-locations-amp-staff Services: CRLA provides free legal services to low-income residents in various rural counties. The organization assists with foreclosure and loan modification scam issues. In particular, CRLA operates free foreclosure intervention workshops out of t

By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Cases of residential mortgage fraud in the US done in collusion with mortgage industry professionals dropped 35 percent between 2010 and 2011, according to the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Mortgage Fraud Report. The report tracked actual cases of mortgage fraud or misrepresentation by mortgage sector professionals, as reported by lenders and other financial institutions. These include cases of borrowers falsifying information on mortgage documents but only if they conspired with mortgage industry professionals. One reason for the significant decline is because mortgage loan originations fell to its lowest level in 2011 since 2001, indicating a sharp reduction in sales of new and previously-occupied homes. Another reason is that fewer fraud schemes are committed when a buyer is trying to get a home loan. However, the FBI noted that loan fraud involving selling or buying homes is more common at some stages of foreclosure, adding that mortgage fraud investigations led to 1,082 convictions in FY 2011. According to the LexisNexis study, home appraisal and loan application fraud, along with misrepresentation, accounted for the biggest category of fraud investigated by lenders in 2011. Related Stories: Fixed-rate mortgage in demand despite cheaper tracker-rate loans 15% discount on mortgages reappears in Shanghai US mortgage rates fall to new record lows More from PropertyGuru: Fixed-rate mortgage in demand despite cheaper tracker-rate loans 15% discount on mortgages reappears in Shanghai US mortgage rates fall to new record lows HK mortgage numbers shrinking

LA CRESCENTA, Calif. (KABC) - More than two dozen people say they fell victim to a costly home loan scam that targeted Korean immigrants. The lawyer accused of orchestrating it all is being sued. It took a life savings to buy this La Crescenta home. Losing it took mere months, all because of accused lawyer Timothy D. Thurman and Trinity Law Associates. Ok Kee Shin is just one of 28 alleged victims. "It is just such a shock, and that the house had been sold and foreclosed," said Shin through a translator. In a lawsuit, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center details a web of fraud. Though the plaintiffs are all Korean immigrants, people of any nationality could fall for this one. The suit says Trinity Law Firm hired Koreans to place ads, then illegally paid them, like bounty hunters, to bring in customers. "This practice known as 'running and capping' is against the law," said Yungsuhn Park, Asian Pacific American Legal Center. "Attorneys are prohibited from paying non-attorney agents to find clients." Everything seemed so credible. The Trinity Law Firm operated out of a high-rise on Wilshire Boulevard. "So he flipped through my loan documents and he told me that this was a bank that had a lot of errors in their loan documents," said Shin's translator, quoting her. She says Thurman assured her he could fix her loan for a fee of $7,000, and that she should stop paying her mortgage and ignore the foreclosure notices. Legal advocates now spread a warning: Avoid any person who offers guarantees to stop a foreclosure. Don't pay up-front fees: They are also illegal after a state law was passed last October. And seek help from a non-profit first. You don't need an attorney for loan modifications. As for Thurman, he was in trouble even before this suit. He pleaded guilty to forging the signature of a judge on a foreclosure document, a crime punishable by five years in prison - a penalty that comes too late to save former homeowners.