Mortgage companies still advertising aggressively
But their continued aggressive marketing indicates otherwise, with the mortgage industry as a whole making no reduction in its advertising budget since the heady days of the bubble. Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) is still pitching ads urging homeowners to refinance to "get the cash you need, when you need it," according to the New York Times.
That banks are still looking to provide cash for buying homes and refinancing is a bullish indicator. The zeal with which they're marketing these products may mean that consumers are being unduly timid about entering the housing market in the face of considerable headline shock.
Alternatively, it could just mean that the lenders still haven't learned their lessons.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-18-2008 @ 11:51AM
Steve in Denver said...
Advertising aggressively?!! Like for over a year! Someone tell this guy about Pearl Harbor.
2-18-2008 @ 12:38PM
reappzr said...
I love the wuu hoo ad of Washington Mutual , they were probably the most agressive wholesaler in the market, are we supposed to bail them out and go wuuu hwho too. Real estate appraiser that would " make numbers for them , oh well
2-18-2008 @ 1:08PM
reappzr said...
Excuse me , I would NOT make the numbers they wanted...They were always asking for another 5-8000 so the people would'nt have to pay closing cost that they would notice, Instead hide the fees in the mortgage amount.
2-18-2008 @ 2:10PM
reappzr said...
Excuse Me , I was one of the guys that WOULD NOT make the numbers for them reappzr
2-18-2008 @ 3:28PM
forestman said...
Untill the Spring of this year (March 2007) I had an ajustable rate with CountryWide Mortgage and was at that time concerned with the interest rate going higher, so I elected to change financial institutions and apply with Option One, as I slid from the "Frying Pan into the Fire"
Evitdently I originally signed closing papers with CountryWide that stated "No prepayment penalty clause" on one paper and the other stated that in fact there was, very confusing to say the least! Turns out that at my new closing with Option One, CountryWide was paid at closing over $14,500.00 for early payment!!
This now increased my new mortgage with Option One and my interest rate that was promised to be lower was in fact higher (fixed) with Option One.
I contacted CountryWide to have my funds returned ($14,500.00)They Turned Me Downed! They stated that it was in their right to charge this fee!
Now Im stuck with Option One Mortgage with a higher balance and a higher interest rate and behind 1 month with the threat of "Forecloser!! They also have a "Prepayment Penalty Clause" in their contract! So if I were able to change lenders they too would be able to STEAL additional monies!
Where do I go? What do I do?
2-18-2008 @ 10:17PM
jnielsen said...
Unfortunately it is a buyer's beware product - as the aggressive market only points out. Please explore your options by contacting a real estate attorney or legal aide as well as a locally approved FHA lender. You may be a candidate for the FHA Secure product which is designed to keep borrowers out of foreclosure. I have been in the mortgage industry for over 10 years and what you describe in "not knowing" is really not having it disclosed properly. You may have signed something that you did not fully understand. Please know you ALWAYS have the right to refuse to sign anything you don't understand. If consumers would refuse to close the loan until it was fully understood or refused to sign loans that terms suddenly change or involve prepayment penalties it would force more honest lending - for no other reason than to stop the walk away at closing -
2-18-2008 @ 5:36PM
gumby said...
I thought Fed Express or Cisco or Oracle would be the logical choice, but Chevron?? Big Oil was responsible for our current economic mess!! We fill up tanks everyday and we are paying thorugh our noses for that and we chose Chevron as if we will still keep on doing it for the forseeable future... $6 gas any one?? That will help with DJIA average, sure, but do we really want to REFUSE TO CONSERVE ??? We are perfectly capab le of pushing gasoline prices back down to where they belongs ... under $2... We are DINOSAURS AND INCAPABLE OF ADAPTING TO NEW REALITIES... WE ARE DOOMED TO FILLING UP TAN KS EVERY WEEK!!! OR MORE OFTEN... IT IS STILL THE STUPID ECONOMY AS USUAL!!
2-18-2008 @ 7:30PM
Theresa said...
A better way
http:\\liveyourdreams.designingfutures.tv
2-19-2008 @ 3:09AM
Johannes Bowers said...
Sure, they are advertising, products they won't sell to the people who could actually use them. The only people who qualify for anything are the people who DON'T NEED IT. I have a guaranteed income, I have an outrageously responsible payment history on ALL of my credit, open and closed, but all I get whenever I apply for consolidation or refinancing, even after all the push to fix the excesses of the market, is the inevitable "DTI too high" and "too many balances too high" litany. Well guess what....give me the money and the DTI and the balances GO AWAY. I am not in danger of failing to meet any of my obligations even in this hostile market, and will in fact aggressively eliminate over 250k in debt within 7 years even without a consolidation. The only thing the lenders fail to recognize is that their choice is to continue to ignore me and NOT get my money as it is spread across several other recipients, or they can be the beneficiary of my responsible financial history for the same 7 years I'll take to become debt free with them. But a person will not hear that. "The Formula" is all they care about and their "added risk avoidance regulation" will simply continue to assure that for all the product they obnoxiously advertise, they won't actually close (and therefore be held responsible for) anything. I'm in that black hole of the market where I am "too good" to bailout, and "too bad" to risk anything on. What are my options? 1. Intentionally fail to meet forclosure avoidance assistance (not happening), 2. continue the slow bleed and kill off my debts one at a time with ruthless efficiency or 3. pray for a relative to kick the bucket for the money...oh, wait, the Dems want the Estate tax back at 55% so what's the point in that?
2-24-2008 @ 2:43PM
lance4finance said...
forestman,
Have your original loan agreement reviewed by a RE Attorney, with regard to your "Pre Payment Penalty (PPP)". I worked for Countrywide as a loan officer, before being laid off in September, and they tried to charge one of my former client's a $18,000 (PPP) when she sold her home, but her loan had a "Soft" (PPP) which allows the homeowner to "sell", without penalty, but not refinance her home.
Countrywide charged the fee and expected too be paid until, her RE agent called me and asked for the details on her loan terms. Only when challenged about the "soft" vs "hard" (PPP) did Countrywide reverse their decision to charge the $18,000 fee.
5-12-2008 @ 9:41PM
Andrew said...
My name is Andrew Monohan.
I work at www.hccbank.com
I'm a loan officer.
It is a great time for a refinance or purchase.
email
ask4financing@gmail.com
---Andrew