2. What Are My Mortgage Rights?

RESPA – Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act

RESPA is about closing costs and settlement procedures. RESPA requires that consumers receive disclosures at various times in the transaction and outlaws kickbacks that increase the cost of settlement services. RESPA is a HUD consumer protection statute designed to help homebuyers be better shoppers in the home buying process, and is enforced by HUD.

For more information on RESPA, visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website.

Predatory Lending

Over the last several years, our nation has made enormous progress in expanding access to capital for previously under served borrowers. Despite this progress, however, too many families are suffering today because of a growing incidence of abusive practices in a segment of the mortgage lending market. Predatory mortgage lending practices strip borrowers of home equity and threaten families with foreclosure, destabilizing the very communities that are beginning to enjoy the fruits of our nation’s economic success.
For more information on Predatory Lending, visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

What Are My Mortgage Rights?

You should know your rights as mortgage borrower.  A mortgage will probably be the most important loan your entire life.  Understand your rights as a borrower before entering into a loan agreement with a lender.

• You have the RIGHT to shop for the best loan for you and compare the charges of different mortgage brokers and lenders.
• You have the RIGHT to be informed about the total cost of your loan including the interest rate, points and other fees.
• You have the RIGHT to ask for a Good Faith Estimate of all loan and settlement charges before you agree to the loan and pay any fees.
• You have the RIGHT to know what fees are not refundable if you decide to cancel the loan agreement.
• You have the RIGHT to ask your mortgage broker to explain exactly what the mortgage broker will do for you.
• You have the RIGHT to know how much the mortgage broker is getting paid by you and the lender for your loan.
• You have the RIGHT to ask questions about charges and loan terms that you do not understand.
• You have the RIGHT to a credit decision that is not based on your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or whether any income is from public assistance.
• You have the RIGHT to know the reason if your loan was turned down.
• You have the RIGHT to ask for the HUD settlement costs booklet “Buying Your Home.”