HAGENS BERMAN

Real estate fraud and predatory lending are some of the many problems revealed through the current lending and financial crisis. Our firm created a real estate fraud team to assist victims of unlawful practices from various home mortgage lenders and other real estate companies.

Most of our work focuses on the complicated home buying process and shining a light on the many loopholes companies create and use to mislead vulnerable homeowners. With previous housing booms, many of these companies became money hungry and engaged in various schemes to boost profits. Private litigation is a resource both individuals and groups can use to change these wayward practices and seek recovery for individual and class damages.

Our work covers several areas, including:

• False title and closing costs associated with home purchases,
• Inflated appraisal fees and schemes among lending and appraisal companies,
• Phony appraisals,
• Inflated home value reports and sales, and
• Bait and switch mortgage charges and more.

Currently, our firm has several active lawsuits against some of the nation's largest and most recognized mortgage companies, appraisal companies and title and escrow providers. This includes Countrywide, Wells Fargo, KB Home, LandSafe and several title and escrow companies.

We continue to actively investigate reports of other companies and corruption on a regular basis. Companies currently under investigation include Bank of America, E Appraise It, LSI, Toll Brothers and Richmond American Homes.

In addition to homeowners and appraisers, we've learned the government may be included as well. We are working with insiders at various companies to develop whistleblower cases involving FHA and VA Loans.

To report real estate or lending practices that you believe to be corrupt, please contact our firm. You can also reach attorneys at (206) 623-7292.