The Department of Housing and Urban Development was created by President Johnson in 1965 as a means to combat the issues facing a rising urban population across the United States. Since then, the task of the department has been to provide more efficient housing solutions, which has evolved into affordable loan programs for the disadvantaged or those who need the assistance. However, as with many federal programs, HUD, as it is known, has faced significant problems with fraud in these loan programs.
Considering that these loans are primarily used to assist those who might not be able to work through the average bank-backed program, fraud is especially damaging to needy citizens. As all fraud involving federal entities harms the overall American populous, federal loan fraud can especially destabilize urban communities and cause foreclosure in areas where the housing market was already substandard.
There are a few ways to recognize a possible fraudulent offer for a loan. Fraud can occur in several ways, but a real estate agent pushing for additional funds from a loan is a good indication that this person is acting fraudulently. Homebuyers are also advised to avoid loan offers that take out more money than can possibly be covered by a person’s income. This can lead to foreclosure once payments cannot be made. Similarly, a homebuyer can engage in fraud if they lie about their information. This can include falsehoods about their income and their financial history.
Additionally, a homebuyer should never be pressured to repeatedly refinance their property. This can result in damage to the person’s financial stability as well as destroy the future possibility of refinancing a house when someone actually could benefit from that process.
For more information regarding HUD loan fraud and how a whistleblower can help their nation with a qui tam suit, contact a qui tam attorney.