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Monday, December 22, 2008
Dave Ramsey :: Townhall.com Columnist
Are Loan Modification Companies Legit?
by Dave Ramsey
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Dear Dave,

I’ve noticed that lately there are a lot of loan modification companies opening in my area. I’ve been getting lots of information in the mail, too.

What are your thoughts on these companies?

- Lonnie

Dear Lonnie,

There are some legitimate people out there who have a good track record and know what they’re doing in the loan modification and short sale processes. My gut feeling, though, is that 70 to 80 percent of them are brand new to the field. They probably bought a business in a box. They think a lot of folks are in trouble, so they’re going to “help” them. The problem is that a lot of these same people couldn’t even spell “loan modification” a week ago!

If I were going to consider getting involved in this process, I’d do a whole lot of investigating into the history of the people. I’d want to know how long they’d been in the business, how many “modifications” they’d done, and how much experience – and real clout – they have with the banking industry and the mortgage and real estate industries.

Here’s a tip: if you hear phrases like “everyone’s doing it these days” or “I started doing this a few months ago,” you need to get away from them as fast as you can!

- Dave

Dear Dave, Continued...

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About The Author
Dave Ramsey is a personal money management expert, popular national radio personality and the author of three New York Times bestsellers.
 
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Some advice to Dave

Dave I have never heard or read of anyone in your business give what I think is an excellent piece of advice, I thought of, and have followed for years.

In these days of computers and the Internet, each and ever day I check each credit card and each bank account, to make sure I am aware of each and every penny I have, and each I have spent. And I have found and corrected mistakes. Even if I buy a loaf of bread, it goes on my Credit Card.

That card is dated 1967, and I would guess we have charged well over a million on that card. Years ago when my Sweetie took care of the bills, for one or two months in the ‘60s she did pay a few dollars of interest, but not one cent since.

That card is paid in full, automatically from my bank account each month. For 25 years we traveled many months, all over the world, and the card was used in dozens of countries, and was paid in full each month from my bank account.

Over several years we owned a dozen real estate properties, and of course paid interest on the Trust Deeds. A few years ago as we applied for a new loan, they insisted they check my credit record.

What a shock, they found that I did pay interest for a few months on my new ‘65 Olds. They could not imagine such a thing.

But check all accounts each day. And yes don’t spend more than you can afford.

No one is touching the free of debt
I like what you call that credit score...it's just your liklihood to get into debt...
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