Brandi Hager looks at the letter informing her of the lien.
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. -
Brandi Hager just bought her first home 6 months ago, made every payment, but now she's facing foreclosure over someone else's debt.
"I haven't been sleeping. I haven't been able to take my mind off of it."
Brandi just found there's a $9,000 lien on her property that belongs to the previous homeowner, and unless she pays it, her family could lose their home.
The mortgage company, Sterling Mortgage, says it thought the property was free and clear or any liens or debts or the company wouldn't have sold it to her.
Sterling Mortgage says the title company, National Real Estate services, should have found the lien and notified Brandi before the sale.
"I paid them a lot of money to avoid this very thing."
The mortgage company and title company are working together to try to resolve the issue before Brandi loses her home.
Frank Bolton with "Title Company of Denver" says the title company should have notified Brandi. He was able to find the lien against the property within minutes.
Bolton says it's important to research the title company before you hire them and don't necessarily trust your mortgage company to find the best one.
You can research a title company by contacting the Colorado Division of Insurance. That's the agency that keeps track of negative reports. Bolton also says you can research your own property by going to your county records office, all you have to do is search the name of the previous owners.
"I haven't been sleeping. I haven't been able to take my mind off of it."
Brandi just found there's a $9,000 lien on her property that belongs to the previous homeowner, and unless she pays it, her family could lose their home.
The mortgage company, Sterling Mortgage, says it thought the property was free and clear or any liens or debts or the company wouldn't have sold it to her.
Sterling Mortgage says the title company, National Real Estate services, should have found the lien and notified Brandi before the sale.
"I paid them a lot of money to avoid this very thing."
The mortgage company and title company are working together to try to resolve the issue before Brandi loses her home.
Frank Bolton with "Title Company of Denver" says the title company should have notified Brandi. He was able to find the lien against the property within minutes.
Bolton says it's important to research the title company before you hire them and don't necessarily trust your mortgage company to find the best one.
You can research a title company by contacting the Colorado Division of Insurance. That's the agency that keeps track of negative reports. Bolton also says you can research your own property by going to your county records office, all you have to do is search the name of the previous owners.
