“like i said, i’m not an expert in mortgages, etc..and i know enough to think that putting down a purchase price that isn’t legit is probably a bad idea… but the way he talked about it, it seemed like it was fine. i asked if it was legit and he said it was… but i still wasn’t sure.. hence the post here.”

I think this wraps it up in a nutshell. I believe you said that you were an attorney. At the least you are well educated and have spent some time around this board but even so a lender just about had you swayed “but the way he talked about it, it seemed like it was fine. i asked if it was legit and he said it was”. Now imagine the uninformed masses listened to the lender telling them sure you can afford a $500,000 home on your combined landscaper and 7-11 job incomes. Thats how we got here.