I explained to MonsterMatt that this was not the deal we had discussed. He had a million excuses and explanations. A few more weeks passed and MonsterMatt told me that the loan had gone through and everything was almost done. As to the question of closing, he stated that the underwriters had the file and that they would have an answer within a few days. By the time we spoke again the next week, MonsterMatt said that the underwriters had decided that they needed updated pay stubs again. I quickly complied. By now it was early July and I asked MonsterMatt if I needed to pay my current mortgage company. He said no, everything is done. All the numbers are in the buyout. I asked again and he was absolutely certain that I did not need to pay my current mortgage company.

In late July, MonsterMatt faxed me another good-faith estimate, with different numbers. The numbers were, again, not what we had discussed. Again, I asked if I needed to pay my mortgage company, still he said no, everything is done. Because I didn't want to start all over again, I just kept listening to MonsterMatt.

In August 2006, they needed pay stubs again from my wife. No problem, sent them the same day. From what I understand now, the mortgage company they were using, Graveyard Ghouls Mortgage, backed out of the agreement because, by now, I was 60 days behind on payments.

Now I am on the verge of going into foreclosure without a refinance that should have been done and completed back in May or June at the latest. I'm speaking with my current mortgage company to see if we can work something out. I want to keep my home!

A taxing dilemma
I was in the market for a house last year. I was shown a house and the real estate agent told me that the taxes were $1,800 a year. That's what was on all of the materials about the house. I bought the house, and a few months after closing, I received a statement from the tax assessor informing me that the taxes on my property were nearly $7,000 a year! Needless to say, that kind of changed the monthly mortgage-payment figure.

I talked to some of my neighbors about it, and they were hit with the same thing. We live in a new development and the taxes were based on the land before it was built upon. As soon as we bought our houses, they were reassessed. Nobody was warned about it, and everyone was angry. I think the real estate agents should have some responsibility for explaining to buyers what the real taxes will be.

Real estate shenanigans on Zombie Island
My wife and I contracted to purchase a home under construction for $242,000. This was a home that a group of real estate investors, incorporated as an LLC, had contracted to build with a reputable builder.