Newcomers to East TN (loan, foreclosure, work)

[hiknapster]

I didn't either. Some people need to back off.

We start cutting up people that relate their experiences when moving to Tennessee, good and bad (and you always give both) then what the heck is the point of this forum?

[VeritasMatters]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I didn't either. Some people need to back off.

We start cutting up people that relate their experiences when moving to Tennessee, good and bad (and you always give both) then what the heck is the point of this forum?

Well said, Hiknapster! Thank you. We have learned from all of it here at CD/TN- the good, bad and ugly - and appreciate being able to visit this forum, hopefully become better educated re: everything TN, make our decisions and then adjust! I prefer to believe the best of everyone, until I know otherwise, and then beware or be fooled. Think better folks than me call this common sense.

Re: the redbird question by an earlier poster -- believe the bird is some kind of tanager not a cardinal. But I'm still learning. Thanks to another smart bird person's comments on this forum, got myself an Audubon Bird book - but it's not here to look up for a better answer, sorry. I would give anything to be able to get a picture of one, see them often, but can never catch them fast enough! But some day....

[sthepoet]

We refinanced a year and a half ago, went with Countrywide, mistake mistake mistake!! By the time we were finished, which seemed to be forever, and the closing... the gal did not let us read the papers, instead kept looking at her watch and tapping her pen on the table. The interest rate was 2 points higher than quoted, and the payments were 220 dollars higher than quoted. They to top it all off,after looking at the papers, we found made up W2's and made up pay stubs. Man I tell you were we mad, we had just refinanced after we bought this farm on a contract for deed 2 years prior, that was AMC. Well we are so fed up with brokers and all there promises that the place we buy in Tennessee is owner finance. By the way, AMC was closed down for awhile for fruadulant business practices, and we are awaiting a check for that and what they did to us and so so so many others. And the states atty general here in Minnesota is currently investigating COUNTRYWIDE! So buyer beware!!

[jguillot]

Originally Posted by sthepoet

We refinanced a year and a half ago, went with Countrywide, mistake mistake mistake!! By the time we were finished, which seemed to be forever, and the closing... the gal did not let us read the papers, instead kept looking at her watch and tapping her pen on the table. The interest rate was 2 points higher than quoted, and the payments were 220 dollars higher than quoted. They to top it all off,after looking at the papers, we found made up W2's and made up pay stubs. Man I tell you were we mad, we had just refinanced after we bought this farm on a contract for deed 2 years prior, that was AMC. Well we are so fed up with brokers and all there promises that the place we buy in Tennessee is owner finance. By the way, AMC was closed down for awhile for fruadulant business practices, and we are awaiting a check for that and what they did to us and so so so many others. And the states atty general here in Minnesota is currently investigating COUNTRYWIDE! So buyer beware!!

Very interesting! I'm in California and see Countrywide ads on TV (via Dish Network) almost daily. I thought they would be a more reputable company. Thanks for the post.

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by sthepoet

We refinanced a year and a half ago, went with Countrywide, mistake mistake mistake!! By the time we were finished, which seemed to be forever, and the closing... the gal did not let us read the papers, instead kept looking at her watch and tapping her pen on the table. The interest rate was 2 points higher than quoted, and the payments were 220 dollars higher than quoted. They to top it all off,after looking at the papers, we found made up W2's and made up pay stubs. Man I tell you were we mad, we had just refinanced after we bought this farm on a contract for deed 2 years prior, that was AMC. Well we are so fed up with brokers and all there promises that the place we buy in Tennessee is owner finance. By the way, AMC was closed down for awhile for fruadulant business practices, and we are awaiting a check for that and what they did to us and so so so many others. And the states atty general here in Minnesota is currently investigating COUNTRYWIDE! So buyer beware!!

I am a mortgage broker. I HATE reading posts like yours. It makes my blood boil. There are some very unethical ones out there and it gives us honest ones a bad rep. Please tell me you didn't sign the papers with the false W'2's and pay stubs? I am sorry this happened to you. I don't know what went wrong with Countrywide either. I can but choose not to use them anymore. I stopped using them about a year ago, their underwriting process is a mess.
But you do realize that those false documents were due to that one particular person and not the company as a whole correct? That person belongs in jail, not continuing to originate loans.

[SmokyMtnGal]

I have used Countrywide for four or five houses. The last two were so difficult that we will not be using them again. There were a multitude of issues from hidden fees, to no contact to you name it. Some of our issues with Countrywide were with particular offices. When we contacted corporate they made things right for us. (They had no record of the $500 that the local person charged for one fee!! We promptly were refunded that money.) What a shame it all had to come to that. We did use First Tennessee three houses ago and were very pleased. We will go local again.

[mjb62676]

It has been my experience that MIG and Smithbilt don't EVER return messages...the only time you hear from them is when they need something from you, and they usually wait until the last minute and then demand an immediate answer, no matter how long you've been asking for information, etc...to make your decisions on.

Will never, ever use MIG again, and very likely have bought our first and last Smithbilt home.

[sthepoet]

yes we signed because the closing gal was in such a big hurry at 10"30 pm on a Saturday night, no time to read a thing. Interest was 2 points higher, then all the fake documents we read after, and I did call them several times, received no assistance at all.I would post the brokers name, but not allowed will say he works out of louisville, Kentucky, and anyone who wants his nams can send me a private message. You live and learn I guess, we had to let the house go back, could not afford the payments, I left my job because my mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer, I cared for her full time in her home until she passed away. So no matter what I might have lost this farm( we paid 15k for it 4 years ago and is now appraised at 108k, and we did all the work ourselves)but I did the right thing, people are more important than things, I was there holding her hand in her livingroom, told her I loved her and it was ok to go, and she simply went home. Wouldn't have changed a thing, other than her still being with us. So that is why it all happened in the first place,and why my credit is so bad now, started out with a good solid, 650 to 700, now is 550, but will build it back up for sure. So ya, looking for the owner finance deal out there someone who still believes in good people who work hard and try even harder, problem is most won't take a small down payment til we get there and get on our feet. Thank you all for your help and friendship, this place is so much better that any chat room they have online, its like a neighborhood here, and I so look forward to reading everyones posts.

[hiknapster]

I've never had a house go back, in fact I never had a house, but I have never come across someone willing to do owner financing. I don't think many people do that. I could be wrong, but I really don't see there being a big chance of that happening.

By the way, did you know that, by law, if you have to care for a sick family member they have to give you your job back? It's called the Family Medical Leave Act.

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

By the way, did you know that, by law, if you have to care for a sick family member they have to give you your job back? It's called the Family Medical Leave Act.

Well as everything else goes there's always away around this law for the business side of course.

(a) An ``eligible employee'' is an employee of a covered employer
who:
(1) Has been employed by the employer for at least 12 months, and
(2) Has been employed for at least 1,250 hours of service during the
12-month period immediately preceding the commencement of the leave, and
(3) Is employed at a worksite where 50 or more employees are
employed by the employer within 75 miles of that worksite.

Theres a whole list of "restrictions" to qualify for this FMLA.


On the other hand, there is a way one could get paid by the Government for taking care of a family member. It supposed to save money for the government from providing Home Health care or any other services that will be billed to the Government. I have a friend who could be doing this as she's caring for her mother but she opted not to go that route as her other siblings are helping her with her finances while she cares for their mother.