Tag: Mortgage Fraud
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Judge Forces White House Budget Director to Keep Consumer Bureau on Life Support
Begrudgingly, Russell T. Vought just requested $145 million from the Federal Reserve to keep the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — which he runs — alive. Barely. Only a few months of the CFPB’s work will be covered by that $145 million. Judge Amy Berman Jackson declared in a December 30, 2025 federal court order that…
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Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Boss Faces Investigation—After Accusing Others of Loan Fraud
Real estate developer William (Bill) Pulte directs the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Pulte is also the self-assigned chair of the boards of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Now, an investigation is underway as to whether Pulte (together with select employees) has misused federal authority and resources.
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Mortgage Fraud Risk Rises, as White House Moves to Banish the Watchdog
Mortgage applications with signs of fraud have increased more than 8% since this time last year. The news comes from the property analytics firm Cotality. The firm runs algorithms through applications, pinpoints possible fraud, and maintains the National Mortgage Application Fraud Risk Index. Cotality notes that real estate fraud rises as more investors take out…
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Politically Connected Broker Pushed Senior Into Reverse Mortgage, Says Lawsuit
A current member of the Council of Calistoga, California, who is also a broker, faces a hearing this month. A lawsuit accuses Councilmember Scott Cooper, along with his company, of exploiting an elder financially.
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Millions of Dollars Pilfered From the Pockets of Ohio Families, Says Suit Against Top Mortgage Company
There’s a case pending in Montgomery County, Ohio that will either startle or sadden everyone who cares about people struggling to buy homes. At this time, everything discussed here is alleged. The case has yet to be decided. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed the suit. Yost claims UWM Holdings — doing business as…
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Tip Line Will Bust Lying Mortgage Applicants, Says Trump Administration (Before Going After New York’s AG)
The Trump administration believes mortgage fraud is out of control. So, federal officials now run a tip line, to get people to report suspicious behavior. The administration is so gung-ho about mortgage fraud that it’s even accused New York Attorney General Letitia James of filing improperly completed mortgage applications. That’s bullying, and the charges are…
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Opinion: Who Really Wins? New York’s Deed Fraud Bill Protects Title Insurers, Not Homeowners
New York lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 7732 as a response to the growing crisis of deed fraud — a real and rising threat to property owners across the country. On the surface, the bill looks like reform. But a closer look reveals what it really is: a convenient liability shield for title insurers.
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Borrowing Against Your Title to Ward Off Deed Theft: A Smart Idea?
Some deed holders deliberately get a lien recorded on their properties to make it harder for anyone to commit deed theft and take their homes. Is there anything to this? First, it’s music to our ears when homeowners ask how to keep their deeds safe and sound. Borrowing against home equity to get a voluntary…
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Deed-Stealing Florida Broker Pleads GUILTY
Michael B., a real estate broker, has changed his mind. He’s now pleading guilty in a felony fraud case involving deed theft. In Florida, fraudulent real estate schemes are not unusual. But when a real estate broker in active status is pursued for deed fraud, that’s the kind of case that stands out. Yes, you read…
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In the News: Struggling and Elderly Homeowners Targeted by Deed Fakery
Imagine a licensed real estate broker — of all people — accused of taking other people’s homes and selling them. Imagine someone deciding to fake a deed to steal the house of an elderly homeowner who’s ill and in a nursing home. These are both real stories, now unfolding in Florida.
