Buying/brought your first house?
BEFORE you sign [or close], hire a real estate (R. E.) lawyer, even IF you are NOT required to by law to review the good faith agreement and any/all documents related to your closing.Hire your R. E. lawyer to sit at the closing with you. Hire a R. E. lawyer who is recommended by someone you trust.
ANYTIME you speak to your mortgage company, ON THE PHONE, REMEMBER THIS IS JUST hear-say and will NOT stand up in court.
ANYTIME you speak to your mortgage company, ON THE PHONE, answer ANY questions by NOT answering them. Say, you'll have to get back to them and discuss the conversation with your real estate lawyer BEFORE answering any questions.
WHATEVER your mortgage company is trying to say, assume you do NOT understand and ask them to send it in writing. Then, take the letter to your R. E. lawyer.
ALWAYS submit mortgage payments with a U. S. P. S. (US Postal Service) or bank Certified Check. IF you prefer to allow your mortgage company to have access to your checking account, Do NOT give your mortgage company access to your checking account which is also is used for ANY other bills and/or savings or other purposes. IF your mortgage company makes a mistake, the problem should be oscilated.
ALWAYS submit your mortgage payments via USPS certified mail with a return receipt card or some other way to absolutely prove when and where they received your payments. Consult your R. E. lawyer about this if you wish.
I am NOT a lawyer but, a New Yorker. I learned long ago, that IF you are going to sign for the largest debt in your life, you MUST PROTECT YOURSELF.
And to help guard against related unforseen problems, cut up and close all but one of your credit card accounts. Over-extented credit card debt can destory your life.
Good luck!