A brochure released last month hits on predatory lending and offers consumers tips on how to avoid those lending practices.

The five page brochure is titled "Shopping For A Mortgage? Do Your Homework First" and was released to an audience listening to speakers at a real estate convention.

The National Association of Realtors President, Pat Combs, was at the convention and offered a bit of insight to the growing mortgage problem.

Combs said, "Foreclosures can lead to high vacancy rates, which in turn, can cause all homes in the neighborhood to lose value".

The theme of the convention was realtors informing consumers that foreclosures are not only devastating for them, but that foreclosures also have a devastating impact on local communities.

Concentrated areas and clustered cities have always had problems with loans. Some areas are susceptible to high foreclosure rates and can seriously threaten a neighborhood's stability.