Share your home buying horror stories!

[Crankin]

I can't imagine it, either. The first house we bought in MA had a Jenn Aire range, but the owners made it clear they were taking it with them. The original oven was fine, just not upscale.

[Trek420]

More detail. I was in favor of going with our credit union for the loan but our realtor has a mortgage broker he works with. We were expecting a bidding war. He felt that having their mortgage would give us an edge. Whatevah, we went with them.

Approval for the loan went smoothly and then the paperwork began. "We have this online tool to submit your paperwork" they said "it'll be easy" they said. Nothing worked. "You can fax everything" they said "24/7 right to our desk" they could not find anything we sent" lord knows where our social security numbers are now.

Their office is near my work so I started going in early, drop the files off, go on to work. Over and over again I'd be in their office, we'd go over the paperwork "here it all is, my favorite color, the deed to my first born child, list of my tattoos ....is this everything you need?" Yes, they said. Perfect, they said. And I head off to work 5 minutes or less away and by the time I get there, I get a text or call from Knott that they are missing documents WE JUST CONFIRMED I DROPPED OFF IN PERSON!

Insurance, they wanted to verify we have insurance. I drop off cards and policy statements, they want to call my agent which they do and then .... "We don't show that you have insurance" WTF??!! You called our agent. How did you call our agent if we don't have insurance?

We got part of the down payment from my now late Mom. And the worst thing was they were rude to her and me. The incompetent office manager who kept losing paperwork tried to finagle my bank and my mom's bank into releasing account information to her. She tried to call both our banks and gain info about both accounts by posing on the phone as me and as my mom.

This was a point I told realtor, mortgage broker we're about to cancel the deal and file identity theft charges on the mortgage broker. You.do.not.try.to.gain.access.to.someone's.account. You do NOT do this to my mom

Want bank statements? You got it. Want me to drive them to your office 5 times? Not unexpected. But you do not try to impersonate me or my mom on the phone.

Let's see, they put the wrong address on many documents, were still straightening that out. But must admit the rate on a 15 year mortgage was exceptional and other than the crazy neighbor (see Crazy Condo Neighbor thread) http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=53328 we are very happy.

If you are in the Seattle region ask me who NOT to use for your mortgage needs.

[IBrakeforPastry]

We got part of the down payment from my now late Mom. And the worst thing was they were rude to her and me. The incompetent office manager who kept losing paperwork tried to finagle my bank and my mom's bank into releasing account information to her. She tried to call both our banks and gain info about both accounts by posing on the phone as me and as my mom.

This was a point I told realtor, mortgage broker we're about to cancel the deal and file identity theft charges on the mortgage broker. You.do.not.try.to.gain.access.to.someone's.account. You do NOT do this to my mom


If you are in the Seattle region ask me who NOT to use for your mortgage needs.

Did you file charges, or at least make a formal complaint? The other stuff sounds like sheer incompetence, but this seems much more serious. Did your mother's bank refuse to release the info? I think I would be livid.

[Trek420]

Did you file charges, or at least make a formal complaint? The other stuff sounds like sheer incompetence, but this seems much more serious. Did your mother's bank refuse to release the info? I think I would be livid.

My bank and her bank notified us that someone with ID information had attempted to call and get info. Customer service at both banks had wisely not given anything. Mom, then 91, smart as a whip and had a password on her account. Everyone should get one.

I had a cow but am mostly satisfied that it's likely our realtor who is popular, successful and deals with some moto expensive properties might not be using them anymore. At minimum they got a harsh talking to from one of Seattle's best or lost a great client.

[shootingstar]

In Canada, one can go to a mortgage lender...but I've stuck to one of the major 6 national (or now international since Canada's brand has gone beyond our borders ) banks for mortgage. I just can't be bothered to deal with an independent small firm/person.

[Trek420]

In Canada, one can go to a mortgage lender...but I've stuck to one of the major 6 national (or now international since Canada's brand has gone beyond our borders ) banks for mortgage. I just can't be bothered to deal with an independent small firm/person.

Best to pre qualify for the loan with a bank or credit union before you even look. But our dog found this condo before it listed and we needed to move and bid fast. All's well that ended well. Have always pre qualified before on the other home buys.

[NoNo]

My mortgage company was incompetent, but at least they never tried to impersonate me! How unprofessional!

So far the house has been as advertised. I did find a dead outlet behind the couch, and we did have to move a massive wardrobe that was left from the living room to the basement, but everything else has been fine. I did try to turn on the A/C just to see if it runs, and it did, although not particularly strongly. I was kind of worried there was something wrong with the house when I first looked at it because there had been a successful open house just a few days earlier, yet no one had made an offer. In my town, cheap houses are snatched up, so I was puzzled. Still don't know what people didn't see in this house, but I sure do love it!