I believe your statement about them hoping for sympathy is spot-on. However, I doubt that they’ve gotten the message that they’re not victims in this situation. In Lisa’s rant, she appears to say that the bank that originated the loan went out of business after construction was completed, and that they were forced into the higher interest rate with NCB. However, a closer examination of the article reveals that, in Nov 2006, they were approved for the mortgage with Temecula Valley Bank, who brokered it to NCB. Construction began in March 2007 with a $1.5 million construction loan from NCB. There was plenty of time for them to pull out of this “predatory” loan prior to construction.
The Danielses have created this alternate reality for themselves in which they are the victims. I have no doubt that, twenty years from now, they’ll still be holding fast to that myth. I do, however, agree with Lisa’s statement, “There was fraud.” I don’t necessarily concur with her perception of the origin of that fraud.
