INDIANA — Indiana officially leads the nation in housing foreclosures, and consumer advocates warn that predatory actors are already moving in to exploit vulnerable families.
A coalition of legal and housing experts is sounding the alarm on a rising financial product known as Home Equity Investments (HEIs), labeling them “subprime loans in disguise.” To educate the public and frontline advocates, a statewide webinar will be held on June 16, 2026, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET, detailing the severe risks these unregulated products pose to Hoosier wealth.
HEI providers aggressively market themselves as a flexible, stress-free alternative to traditional home equity loans or cash-out refinances. They specifically target homeowners with distressed credit, pitching their services as a financial lifeline to help them avoid foreclosure. Their biggest selling point? No monthly payments and no cumbersome credit assessments.
However, advocates warn that these deceptive offers are a predatory trap.
“What’s actually behind the deceptive offer is a complex contract that puts the homeowner on the hook for a major lump-sum payment,” advocates stated in a briefing for the event.
Because there are no monthly payments, the total balance accumulates quietly. When the contract matures, the massive lump-sum demand frequently forces the absolute sale of the property, effectively stripping homeowners of the equity they spent decades building.
Upcoming Webinar: How to Protect Hoosier Wealth
To pull back the curtain on these complex financial contracts, the upcoming webinar will feature two of the nation’s leading consumer protection minds:
- Judith Fox, Professor Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame School of Law.
- Andrew Pizor, Senior Attorney with the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC).
Alongside local housing advocates, the panel will provide a comprehensive overview of how HEIs operate, the psychological marketing tactics used to target distressed homeowners, and what common-sense regulatory protections are desperately needed to safeguard Indiana residents.
As long as these products remain entirely unregulated in the state of Indiana, homeowners are left completely exposed. Housing counseling agencies, legal aid attorneys, and community leaders are highly encouraged to attend.
Click here to register for the webinar.
