ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - The state will be on the lookout over the next 90 days for mortgage companies or brokers engaged in predatory lending. Starting Monday, state Regulation and Licensing Department officials will conduct unscheduled inspections of a random sample of the 1,600 mortgage companies and brokers. The effort is to make sure brokers and lenders are complying with state laws. A spokesman for the department, Bob Hagan, says the department receives about 70 complaints a year from borrowers unhappy with their mortgage companies. Hagan says the state has some national figures but doesn’t know how widespread the practices are locally. If a lender or broker is found to be in violation of the law, Hagan says they could be fined or have their license revoked. (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) |