Tampa Bay ranked among high-risk metro areas for mortgage application fraud

In this Friday, July 19, 2019 photo, a for sale sign is posted in front of a home in Miami. On Tuesday, July 23, the National Association of Realtors reports on sales of existing homes in June. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Posted: Aug 3, 2019 / 07:43 AM EDT

Updated: Aug 2, 2019 / 04:58 PM EDT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Tampa Bay is the sixth most high-risk metro area in the country for mortgage application fraud, according to mortgage risk mitigation provider CoreLogic.

Even while ranking No. 6 in the country, the Tampa Bay area – which has a population of more than three million – saw a decreased fraud rate between Q1 and Q2 this year, down 16 percent from 233 to 197 on the CoreLogic index.

The Miami-Fort Lauderdale area ranked first in the country.

Using the largest mortgage application database in the country, the index measures the rate at which borrowers lie about their income or engage in the other types of potential fraud when applying for a mortgage.

Overall, the company’s annual National Mortgage Application Fraud Risk Index decreased significantly, from 152 in Q1 of 2019 to 132 in Q2 2019.

Year-over-year trends are down 11.4 percent from Q2 2018 (at 149).