July 2025
Mortgage Lender Woes
Betty Buyer was thrilled to be closing on the sale of her large home and moving into something smaller and more manageable. Despite the advice of her Realtor, she used the large, National bank where she holds her checking account to secure the mortgage loan. She was scheduled to close on both houses on the same day, a Friday, so she rented a truck, packed all of her belongings and closed on the sale of her larger home. She then got a last minute call that the close on her purchase was going to be delayed until the following Monday.
The Tale of the Missing Inspection
Once upon a time in Richmond, Virginia, a young couple, Maya and Chris, found what seemed like the perfect house. It was brand-new—modern fixtures, gleaming floors, and that irresistible new house smell. The builder promised everything was done to code and even handed over a thick folder labeled “Certificate of Occupancy.” Their real estate agent recommended they hire a third-party home inspector before closing, but Maya waved it off. “It’s brand new,” she said. “What could possibly be wrong?” Chris hesitated but agreed. They moved in with confidence and started their life—new kitchen, new baby, new mortgage. But just two months in,
