Why are home loans so hard to get now? This is a question that has undoubtedly been on every homebuyer’s mind since the recession began. Well, as it turns out, the economy is not the sole reason for the banks’ recent stinginess. Recently a fraud probe in Oregon charged 39 people with loan fraud, including lending professionals, real estate agents and others affiliated with the real estate industry. Many of these cases were committed by falsely inflating a property’s selling price, which contributed to the housing bubble. While many of those committing loan fraud have been put out of business by the latest crackdown, fraudsters still remain. “Rescue fraud” has become increasingly popular; victims are those in danger of foreclosure and unscrupulous types are preying on them.