Consumer complaint received 2019-02-22
Product: Mortgage — FHA mortgage
Issue: Struggling to pay mortgage — 
Company: First Title & Escrow, Inc (VA)

Dear To, Whom This May Concern, I would like to place a claim with First Title and Escrow who closed my home in XXXX. By them representing both the seller and me the buyer they knowingly neglected to inform me of an abatement of real estate taxes on the property leaving myself a first time FHA buyer in financial ruin. I have in the past made several claims explaining to First Title and Escrow and to XXXX XXXX XXXX why I feel they are liable for not informing me or my XXXX XXXX  of the abatement leaving me with a debt in taxes to the mortgage company XXXX. As a result, they denied me settlement to any claims in this matter. 
It was on XX/XX/XXXX, that I put a contract on the home which was eventually ratified by the seller on XX/XX/XXXX. At that time, it was requirement not an option that I use First Title and Escrow to receive seller concessions instead of being able to receive concessions and still use my own attorney through the Freedom of Choice Act. As a first time FHA buyer, and having very little reserves other than the normal down payment and with my debt to income ratio being 49.9 % I accepted the contract. Unknown to myself and the mortgage company XXXX XXXX, there was an abatement on the property with the City of XXXX greatly thereby greatly reducing the taxes owed on the property. 
Having the unfortunate experience of closing myself at XXXX XXXX on the eve of XX/XX/XXXX weekend and the title company nowhere in sight, I found myself alone and own my own. 
It wasnt until a year later in the of XX/XX/XXXX, when XXXX my loan servicing company gave me my new mortgage payment. As I looked at the increased in payments I thought there had to a discrepancy. I in turn, contacted XXXX and discussed with them why my mortgage payments had increased over {$200.00}. I was then that they mentioned that my real estate taxes skyrocketed from last year making my mortgage payments go up over {$200.00}. 
It was at that time, and burdened with the reality of such a huge jump in mortgage, I had to succumb to negotiate with the XXXX placing me on monthly installments for back taxes because I could not afford such an increase at one time. I then contacted the City for information on this abatement program they stated the abatement connected to the house significantly reducing the taxes from the previous owner and when I purchased the house it was no longer on the property because the foreclosure company changed the deed and took over the one time transfer thereby leaving me without the abatement. I was shocked, angry and had no one to turn to for a resolution. 
I blame the title company who closed both the seller and me because they neglected upon a title search to contact my mortgage company to let them know of the abatement and how much the taxes would be once the property transferred to me as the new owner. The title company is liable for the neglect it placed on me knowing that there was an abatement on the property and not informing the mortgage company or myself that said of the already high debt to income ratio before closing ; I personally would not have qualified for the home. 
Now, being sick and worried of the new mortgage payments, I am faced with the reality of no longer being able to afford a home I couldnt afford after closing. I do want to keep my home and go after the title company First Title and Escrow and or XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for the pain and suffering I have endured and the constant denial of claims once brought against them. 

Please investigate this matter for me in hopes of finding retribution towards this dilemma. 
You may feel free to contact me directly at XXXX. 
Thank you for your expeditious resolution in this matter.