Consumer complaint received 2021-06-11
Company: Mortgage Research Center, LLC
State: GA
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: VA mortgage
Issue: Applying for a mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage

Complaint:
I contacted Veterans United on XX/XX/2021. I found out troubling things about the property I was purchasing and requested a decline for property. The loan was not reviewed by an underwriter. The loan officer decided it was a withdrawal even though I provided all of the telephone numbers, email addresses, and contact information to verify the property renovation was unpermitted ( County stated that what was done was illegal ). 

We were going to purchase a property XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX GA XXXX ( county has as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX GA XXXX XXXX ID XXXX ). We requested some repairs and found them unsatisfactory ( the railing on the new deck was shaking badly, there was a gap in the floor in the screen vinyl planks near the wall ( rain water could get under floor ), windows were still not working ( painted shut ). This was all for a {$520000.00} purchase. It disturbed me so I did some digging and called the county. Per the county at XXXX there are no permits for the renovation she is also at XXXX number verified at XXXX XXXX XXXX. I called on XX/XX/2021. I sent all of this information to the loan officer and requested a decline for VA MPR. He instead withdraws the file instead of having it declined. I submitted again to him that there is now a code violation as of XX/XX/2021 per XXXX at XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX. XXXX was out of the office so I resent my email to XXXX XXXX at XXXX. I further found out the contractor is the seller 's husband ( seller is also the real estate agent ). I called the Secretary of State and he is not licensed and neither is his business. I provided all of this to Veterans United to get the withdrawal letter fixed and yet I am told that an appraisal which cost {$450.00} is the only way to decline for property. No one has picked up the phone and verified or called any of the places I called. How is it fair to pay {$450.00} for an appraisal just so the appraiser can find out the same thing that I found out? How does that benefit the veteran? I am beyond frustrated. The letter stating that I wish to withdraw was sent to the closing attorney so I am now at risk for losing my Earnest Money Deposit because I can't seem to get the mortgage company to understand that the property does not meet VA MPR. How can it be a withdrawal when the renovations require a permit per the Building Department and there were none? How can it still be a withdrawal when I submit more proof that the contractor is not licensed and there is now a open code violation? I can't get the loan officer to understand or follow up with all the information I have provided. I requested an underwriting manager 2x. I called into Veterans United at XXXX and asked to escalated to a manager. I have spoken to XXXX XXXX who says she talked to her manager and I have to pay for an appraisal. 

This is basically forcing me to pay for a property without permits completed by an unlicensed contractor OR forfeit my EMD. How is that fair to the Veteran when you call the company Veterans United.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation