The Top Five Mortgage Fraud Scams to Avoid

Victims of mortgage fraud can have their lives upended with almost no warning. Scammers committing mortgage fraud may misrepresent the value of homes, create misleading contracts or hide fees in the fine print to rob homeowners. Fraudsters also create fake companies or contracts to scam people who are not fluent in English or familiar with real estate laws. New mortgage fraud techniques are constantly being created, and thousands of Texans are affected each year. This blog may help homeowners, people shopping for mortgages and family members identify common scams.

Have You Seen These Mortgage Fraud Scams?

1. Avoid loan modification scams: Scammers are most likely to target people who are in vulnerable financial situations. Fraudsters may promise homeowners that they can lower their monthly mortgage payments by negotiating with their lenders. These people will often charge up-front fees (which is illegal) or promise money-back guarantees for using their services. They may also claim to be affiliated with government programs like HAMP.
2. Avoid signing unfamiliar documents: Con artists may target homeowners with fake contracts. The elderly, disabled or foreign homeowners are most at risk for this type of scam. Scammers may pose as attorneys and convince homeowners behind on their mortgages to sign documents that can prevent foreclosure. In reality, homeowners are signing documents that surrender the titles to their homes.
3. Don’t rush signing the mortgage: Some homes have serious problems, such as structural damage or mold. This can not only lower the value of a home, but it can also make it uninhabitable. Take a detailed tour of the home first and ask as many questions as possible.
4. Do your homework: Scammers will sometimes attempt to sell properties they do not own. A title search will allow you to discover who owns properties. Some counties allow you to search for property title information at no cost. You should also research the person you are working with. Scammers sometimes pose as real-estate agents.
5. Avoid predatory lending: These lenders target people who have nowhere else to go by using high interest rates and hidden fees (such as penalties for paying off mortgages early). They may promise fixed rate mortgages at first, but then ask potential homeowners to sign adjustable rate mortgages. If the lender’s initial consultation or good faith estimates of fees and charges differ from what is in the final contract, you are likely dealing with a predatory lender. Predatory lenders also use deceptive ads that promise low fixed rates or low monthly payments. The purpose of these ads is to get people to sign contracts quickly while ignoring the fine print.

Mortgage Fraud Targets the Most Vulnerable

Scammers target the elderly, disabled or financially disadvantaged. People who are not fluent in English or familiar with Texas real estate laws are also frequently targeted. If you have family members who fall into one of these categories, it is important to help protect them from scams.Having an attorney review your documents is another way that homeowners can avoid scams. In Texas, homeowners can nullify refinance and equity loans within three days of signing. Attorneys are also adept at discovering hidden fees in the fine print of mortgage contracts.If you or someone you know is in the process of buying a home, one of our attorneys would be happy to make sure you are getting a fair deal.

Before You Hang Objects from Your Rear View Mirror, Read This Blog

Do you belong to the one in 20 people who hang objects from their rear view mirrors? Objects like CDs, graduation tassels, handicap parking permits, air fresheners, visors, Garfield the cat, and the classic furry dice create a blind spot that can cause line of sight accidents.There are examples in the press of objects hanging from rear view mirrors causing car accidents. An article in the Chicago Tribune recounts the story of a man who was involved in an accident 40 years ago that would have never happened had he not hung a graduation tassel from his rear view mirror. According to the man, a woman he ran over was visible and wearing a white coat, but also silhouetted behind his graduation tassel. The woman was tossed onto the hood of his car and suffered minor injuries.

What Are Other Ways Drivers Cause Line of Sight Accidents?

It is possible to obstruct your view in other ways. For example, if a person hauling furniture in a pickup truck overloads the truck bed. Window stickers and tinted windows are other examples. Failing to clean windows is another. In fact, police may pull you over for these reasons because they present a hazard to you and other drivers or pedestrians.So what happens to drivers who cause line of sight accidents due to hanging objects from their rear view mirrors or overloading their truck beds? As motorists, they have a duty to care for other drivers and pedestrians. This means that drivers who cause line of sight accidents may be sued for causing injuries or wrongful deaths.There are laws in place that prevent obstruction of view for good reasons. When drivers ignore these laws and cause accidents, there can be serious consequences. Continue following our blog for future updates on how you can stay safe while driving by avoiding common mistakes that lead to serious car accidents.The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC, encourage safe and responsible driving practices.

The Dos and Don’ts of Going Hunting in Texas

Are you ready for hunting season? Within months, thousands of Texans will be hunting dove, deer, ducks and other critters. Like many activities we enjoy, hunting requires a great deal of preparation to stay safe. Having the right supplies and training beforehand can help avoid injuries or worse. Going hunting in Texas requires a strict adherence to certain regulations. There are also certain activities you should never do while hunting.

What to Do if You Are Going Hunting in Texas

Supplies: Make sure you have the right supplies before setting out on your trip. It goes without saying that food and water are essential.Communications and GPS equipment: Bring a mobile phone and seal it in a waterproof container. If you are not far from civilization, you may have a chance to pick up a signal from a cell tower and call for help should an emergency arise. This is not going to be an option for everyone, and there are devices made for sending text messages via satellite (such as ROM Communications’ Text Anywhere or DeLorme inReach devices). A GPS device is also a must-have. Make sure these devices are fully charged before setting out on your trip. An extra, rechargeable battery pack can be a life-saver.Survival equipment: If you are venturing far out into the country, bring jackets and rain gear. Tools like knives, ropes, lighters and matches are useful. Wear bright colors to make yourself and others stand out (bright orange is required by law in some cases).Firearms training: If you are bringing someone who has no experience with firearms, it is important they understand basic safety. Shooting outside of the safe zone-of-fire can be a deadly mistake. People new to hunting should know to never point a weapon at another person, even if it is not loaded. Firearms safety is a must for both new and experienced hunters.Complete a hunting education course: Hunters born after September 2^nd, 1971, are required to take a hunting class. However, hunters who have deferred or not taken this course can be accompanied by someone with a Texas hunting license.Landowners may have their own rules: If you are hunting on someone else’s property, they may stipulate their own rules in addition to rules set by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and county. Follow these rules.Bring proper identification and licensing material: Never forget your hunting and driver’s license. If you don’t have a driver’s license, bring a personal identification certificate issued by Texas or another state. Depending on what you are hunting, you will need species-specific endorsements. Some species require a trapping license. Nuisance animals may not require a hunting license.

What Not to Do If You Are Going Hunting in Texas

Texas does have hunting regulations that should always be followed. In addition, there are certain activities that should not be done while hunting.Hunt out of season: Hunt species during the proper seasons. You can find a listing of the seasons for each species and county by visiting the TPWD website.Hunt in restricted areas: There are numerous regulations stipulating where you can and cannot hunt, such as wildlife sanctuaries. Do not hunt in restricted areas. You can see a listing of restrictions by visiting the TPWD website.Use illegal hunting methods: You must use specific weapons for certain species. For example, you cannot go duck hunting with a shotgun that holds more than three rounds of ammunition. Certain times of the year may also require specific weapons for certain species.Drink alcohol: You should never drink alcohol and then go use firearms or bows, no matter what the activity might be. If you are hunting, wait until after you are finished and ready to set up camp for the night or have returned home.If you are going hunting this season, remember that preparation is essential. Hunting is a fun activity that requires a great deal of responsibility.Also remember that landowners have a duty to maintain a safe hunting environment. In some cases, accidents may occur on these lands due to unsafe conditions or rules and hunters may have legal options.The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC, encourage you to have fun this hunting season. Stay safe!

Why Do Overloaded Trucks Cause Accidents?

Any commercial truck on the road poses increased danger to other motorists, but an overloaded truck presents a variety of additional hazards. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) imposes weight limits on trucking companies in order to prevent as many weight-related truck accidents as possible.According to the FMCSA, the weight limit for a commercial motor vehicle is a gross weight (truck and cargo) of no more than 80,000 pounds. Some trucking companies have been caught ignoring the rule in attempt to boost productivity. In 2014, the Texas Department of Public Safety cited 61,184 drivers for operating overweight trucks. Overloaded trucks are responsible for hundreds of accidents on Texas roads every year. In 2011, 1,137 accidents on Texas highways were caused by overloaded trucks, in which four drivers died and another 30 were injured.

What Risks Do Overloaded Trucks Pose?

A commercial truck can easily weigh 20 or 30 times more than an average vehicle. That means that they cause significantly more damage upon impact. Other dangers associated with overloading include:

• Difficulty stopping – The increased weight means more mass. More mass means more momentum. More momentum means it could take much longer for an overweight truck to stop; too long to prevent a fatal car accident.

• Risk of breaking axles – The axles on a truck are rated to carry a certain weight. If the axles are overloaded, they could break. If the axle on a 100,000-pound, rolling object breaks while it’s traveling 60 mph, that’s going to do some damage to any vehicles nearby.

• Instability and tip overs – Overweight trailers could also cause the truck and its cargo to fall over, potentially crushing cars passing by.

• Increased risk of dropping cargo – Falling debris is also a serious concern with overloaded trucks. When trucks are overloaded, it’s difficult to ensure that cargo is strapped in tightly.

What Can I Do If I’m Injured in an Overloaded Truck Accident?

If a trucking company asks its drivers to take on more weight than regulations allow, they may cause a serious accident. Truck drivers and companies have a responsibility to follow the rules and keep other people on the road safe. The vehicles they are driving are deadly, and should be handled with caution. Depending on the circumstances of an accident, truckers and commercial carriers can be held liable when other drivers are injured or killed. Profits should never take precedence over the lives of other people.If you were injured because a trucking company valued productivity and profit over your safety, you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.

Road Etiquette: How Driving Politely Can Improve Your Safety

Driving etiquette is not only polite, but it may also save lives. If you follow some of the behaviors we have listed below, you may reduce the chances of being involved in a car accident. Getting somewhere a few seconds faster is not worth your life or the lives of others.Use your turn signal: Neglecting your turn signal is a safety risk for obvious reasons. According to research conducted by the Society of Automotive Engineers, failure to use turn signals causes two million accidents every year. The study claims drivers neglect to use their turn signals 48 percent of the time. Please, don’t be one of these people.Be careful using your high beams: High beams can improve your personal safety while endangering others. The truth is, there is a right and wrong way to use high beams. Switch off your high beams to normal lighting when you see an approaching vehicle. Also, do not use high beams while driving directly behind another driver.Avoid distracted driving: Centers for Disease Control statistics show distracted driving kills eight and injures 1,161 drivers daily. Texting behind the wheel is not the only type of distracted driving. Eating while driving, talking to other passengers or reaching for nearby items can also cause distractions. Your only focus should be on driving.Let other drivers merge: Never speed up to keep other drivers from merging, as you may cause a collision.Don’t tailgate other drivers: If the driver in front of you is going too slowly, attempt to switch lanes and pass them. Tailgating is extremely risky because it does not provide you with enough stopping room should the driver unexpectedly hit his or her brakesYield the right of way: If you are at a stop sign or intersection and believe another driver may have the right of way, let them pass first. Attempting to run through the intersection is likely to cause a collision.Don’t slow down to look at roadside accidents: Slowing down to gawk at roadside accidents is known as ‘rubbernecking’. Rubbernecking is an annoyance for other drivers because it causes traffic jams. It can also increase your risk of being involved in an accident because you are taking your eyes off the road.

Why You Should Practice Driving Etiquette

Developing these habits will take repetition. Like all good habits, practicing driving etiquette can take time. According to researchers at the University of College London, new habits take an average of 66 days before they become automatic. If you feel you could be a ‘politer’ driver, give these techniques a try over the next two to three months and see if they stick.The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC, encourage you to practice safe driving habits.