clid3r
585
23
10
I've debated whether or not to even post this, because while I know there are tons of people on IMGUR and Reddit that have financial issues, I dont know how many would genuinely like to see routine posts regarding certain issues and how to handle them.
First off, my background.
Mortgage broker since 2004. Had a financial company that did mortgages, credit repair, real estate and traded MBS on the secondary market. I have worked for both JPM and Citi on contract when they were being told by the government they had to buy back a few billion worth of mortgages. I routinely 'assist' people with their taxes (people that owed thousands before we reviewed it and ended up getting thousands back, legitimately, because they didn't know about certain deductions). I assist people with credit repair (for free and on the side) as well as debt validations and in some instances, helping file complaints in small claims court (something people think is too scary to worry about). I am certainly not the smartest, but I would say I am more well rounded than anyone else in my industry and after years of watching people on here give bad advice or solicit advice and not getting it, I figured this may be helpful.
Things I would cover:
From 'what to do if I get sent to collection' to 'collection agencies wont stop calling me' to 'I haven't filed taxes in 8 years what do I do (something I elaborated on in /r/personalfinance).
We would cover things relating to the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act). This basically spells out what you can and can't do in regards to getting sent to collection, like:
Did you know that if you get sent to collection, you have 30 days to file a debt validation request, basically making the collection agency prove you owe the debt with a complete accounting of where the debt came from, how they got the much higher amount than the original debt (when it balloons from $200 to $550)...
...or...
...do you know you can request a debt collection agency STOP harassing you by sending them a very specific letter? That if they call you once that letter is received, it's a violation of the FDCPA and you can sue them carte blanche for a few grand (and win) if you can prove you sent the letter.
...or did you know that not filing your taxes isn't the end of the world and most people are actually OWED money when they file back returns?
I am a mortgage broker first (dont actively originate anymore - not soliciting here)... I just did collection/debt assistance for free to help people qualify, got really really really good at it, help people all the time get mortgages when they didn't think they would qualify.
I read a comment a few days ago about needing 20% down and a 720 score... that couldn't be further from the truth. You can have a 560 and qualify for a mortgage, you can have ZERO credit and qualify for a mortgage via non-traditional lines of credit. People just think because the market crashed, they cant qualify. Rules have laxed, programs have improved and you can purchase a house with 3% down and sometimes, qualify for down payment assistance. Hell if you live in a rural area, USDA loans will give you 102% and VA loans will give you 100%, both with down payment assistance.
So much bad financial advice has come from this site and it's exhausting trying to help people via a 140 character reply...
...so I figured I'd post this and see if anyone wanted help.
If this becomes popular, big *if*, I'll create an email address specifically for this site that people can send emails too as well as posting here and I'll answer as many questions as I can. Encourage others to add to this, because quite frankly, too many people get taken advantage of by collection agencies and the IRS because they dont know their legal rights to defense and how to be proactive.
tl;dr - I have a background in consumer finance pertaining to mortgages, IRS, collection, debt and want to help people as much as I cana.
slinkhi
Well look at you. "Not trying to solicit" my arse! Who do you think you are? If you can't solve my problems in 140 characters or less, then
BeckyLookAtHerButt
Spill the beans.
clid3r
What do you want to know about?
CrazyLikeEd
YES PLEASE
clid3r
Maybe it's something we can discuss here (or via PM). What's on your mind?
thevortexmaster
Nice guy! This in the USA though so no help for us non American users.
clid3r
Yah. I unfortunately don’t know anything about credit overseas. Sorry friend. :/
thevortexmaster
Well I’m doing alright. I found out all that crazy tax stuff owning a restaurant hahahahaha I’m not overseas though. Right above ya
IOnlyHatePeople
I don't know whether to up or down vote without you making it clear if you're offering people free help, or if this is a business advert.
clid3r
Free help/advice. This isn't a secret advert. If you go back through all my comments, there are plenty trying to help people w/o soliciting
IOnlyHatePeople
No worries. Up vote it is.
clid3r
...or even mentioning my companies (maybe once or twice but not in a reply trying to help someone).
[deleted]
[deleted]
clid3r
Well I dont know your background or what advice you gave, so I can't comment. I know my background and education and previous work history
clid3r
And while I wont post the names of my companies, they weren't one man operations, they were huge and I had two lawyers on staff.
clid3r
And it chaps my ass when people are given bad advice, so we are trying it this way. When I post a comment or PM someone...
clid3r
I get a lot of responses. On REDDIT, my comments get 4-10 private messages asking for me to elaborate. Maybe I should post there.
bubblin
I am a veteran living in Los Angeles making 30/hour. No debt. Credit score of 740. What can I afford?
clid3r
So you only pay rent and utilities? Nothing revolving? No loans? Car? Etc?
bubblin
Yup. Car is paid off.
clid3r
I’m also a veteran FYI. What branch? Army here.
bubblin
Air Force.
clid3r
Also. Do you work overtime and if so is it consistent year to year? Any bonuses? Investment income? Or just straight pay?
bubblin
Usually 45 hour weeks. Just started new job so no bonuses yet.
bubblin
I have couple hundred in stocks but never touch it. Hate investments.
clid3r
Give me a few, I’m about to throw a steak on the grill, I’ll let you know generically what an underwriter would approve you for w/o issue
clid3r
So I'll reply here so others can see instead of in our sub-replies. At $30 an hour you make $62,400 a year (w/o OT). That equates to $5200..
clid3r
..a month. Typically, DU (the UW system most brokers use next to LP), will approve a full doc, high credit loan all day long @ 50% DTI...
clid3r
..so assuming 50% DTI and ZERO debt load, you would easily qualify for a $2600 a month mortgage payment. I dont know where you live...
clid3r
...so I'll pretend you're in florida and use our prop taxes. A $400k mortgage is roughly 1900 at the avg rate around 4%, add $500 in tax...
clid3r
...and $200 in insurance (that's high) and you are at $2600 bucks. So essentially, without issue or having to ask for exception...