Consumer complaint received 2015-07-15
Product: Mortgage — Conventional fixed mortgage
Issue: Loan servicing, payments, escrow account — 
Company: WASHINGTON FEDERAL BANK (WA)

In 2002, I had entered into a real estate transaction to purchase a single-family residence located at : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX for {$280000.00}. At the time, I was in an XXXX relationship with my former husband and living in XXXX, XXXX. A friend of mine had recommended I use the services of XXXX XXXX, a Realtor for XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX, who then recommended the legal services of XXXX XXXX, an attorney practicing law in XXXX XXXX, XXXX, who has since been disbarred for unrelated financial irregularities. 
The home was valued far less than the sales price. Yet, the HUD 1 Settlement statement shows the loan amount to be 80 % loan-to-value with a loan amount of {$230000.00}. I was never given the XXXX XXXX, Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement, as required under XXXX State law. 
I later found out that XXXX XXXX, who was supposed to be representing my interests in this transaction, had hired an agent from XXXX XXXX, in XXXX XXXX, to do the inspection of the property when I had specifically requested an independent engineer and pest inspection. It was n't until after I had arrived in XXXX XXXX with my XXXX adopted XXXX children, who ages ranged from XXXX months to XXXX years old, that I discovered the property had serious black mold and foundations issues that were never disclosed to me. In addition, the roof leaked and there was serious pest infestation. Further, when I complained to XXXX XXXX 's broker he threw my paperwork in the trash bin in his office and told me XXXX XXXX was an independent sales person and he did not have any responsibilities for her actions and that I did not have a case. Later, when I contacted a lawyer in XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX, she informed me that I had at least XXXX instances of fraud that she could assist me in a legal action but it would cost me approximately {$2000.00} to {$4000.00} a month for a minimum of XXXX to XXXX years. This was impossible for me to do since I was living on very limited monthly income. She also said that Washington Federal was a portfolio lender and that they had very deep pockets and would keep me in civil court until I had completely exhausted all my meager funds. At the time, as you know, there was not a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to file a complaint with and my children and I were rushed to the hospital, in XXXX 2002, or roughly two-and-a-half months since moving into the property, with repertory illnesses, and XXXX as well as XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX. Doctors have determined that our living arrangement is the most likely cause of these problems which only started when we moved from XXXX into the subject property. 
I have all the documentation concerning the transaction and the problems with the house. I still have XXXX children living with me and we are constantly seeking medical treatment. Also, I have a written report showing the house had black mold due to improperly installed furnace exhaust being vented into the crawl space instead of to the outside. In addition, he pointed out that the house was infested with carpenter ants that had never been disclosed even though a pest inspector has given them his report. XXXX of the XXXX footings supporting the house had completely rotted and were never replaced.