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Bank of America | Home | Personal Locations • Contact Us • Help • Sign In Search Online Banking Sign In View demo | Learn more | Enroll Enter Online ID Save this online ID Enter Passcode: Account in: the following geographical location Canada ---------- Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Dist. of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Forgot or need help with your ID? Reset passcode " width="190" height="28" border="0" / Sign In to Other Services Service My Mortgage Online Investing Future Scholar Military Bank Online Account Shortcuts Open an Account Checking Accounts Savings Accounts CDs Credit Cards Mortgages Home Equity Account Services Reorder Checks Set up direct deposit Request a Check Card Link accounts Change Address Change Phone Number ATMs & Banking Centers Address: City: State: Choose State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Dist. of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming or ZIP Code: Banking Centers ATMs More Location Search Options " / " / Online Services Online Banking with Bill Pay | Other Online Services Checking & Savings Overview | Checking Accounts | Savings Accounts | CDs | Keep the Change™ Cards Credit Cards | Check Cards | Gift Cards Loans & Home Buying Overview | Mortgages | Refinance | Home Equity | Auto Loans | Education & Other Loans | Movers Resource Center | Real Estate Center Investments & Wealth Management Investment Services | Premier Banking & Investments | The Private Bank | Family Wealth Advisors | IRAs | Columbia Funds | Trust Services | 529 College Savings Plans | Charitable Giving Program Specialized Banking & Additional Services Military Bank | Student Banking | Accessible Banking | Insurance | Foreign Currency / Travelers Cheques | SafeSend Money to Mexico Financial Education & Tools Overview | Savings & Budgeting | Home Purchase | Loans & Credit Cards | Credit Management | Investing | Retirement | Estates | Taxes | Education | Car Purchase En Espaol Your Security and Privacy Partner Learn how we're committed to your security Protect yourself against fraud Guard against scams with the free Bank of America Toolbar " border="0" hspace="5" vspace="5" / Online statements provide security you can bank on. Learn more " border="0" hspace="5" vspace="5" / A simple way to invest online. Now trade for as low as $7. Learn more " border="0" hspace="5" vspace="5" / Home Equity Line of Credit. No fees to get it, use it or keep it. Learn more Visa® Platinum 0% fixed introductory APR* and no annual fee. Learn more Shopping for competitive auto insurance? Get a convenient and free rate quote today. Learn more " border="0" / Service agreement Privacy & Security • Careers • Site Map Investment products provided by Banc of America Investment Services, Inc.®: Are Not FDIC Insured May Lose Value Are Not Bank Guaranteed Banc of America Investment Services, Inc is a registered broker-dealer, member NASD and SIPC and is a nonbank subsidary of Bank of America, N.A. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender © 2005 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

home equity loan or

FRB: Putting Your Home on the Loan Line Is Risky Business ESPAÑOL Are you in need of cash? Do you want to consolidate your debts? Are you receiving home equity loan or refinancing offers that seem too good to be true? Does your home need repairs that contractors tell you can be easily financed? If you are a homeowner who needs money to pay bills or for home repairs, you may think a home equity loan is the answer. But not all loans and lenders are the same--you should shop around. The cost of doing business with high-cost lenders can be excessive and, sometimes, downright abusive. For example, certain lenders--often called "predatory lenders"--target homeowners who have low incomes or credit problems or who are elderly by deceiving them about loan terms or giving them loans they cannot afford to repay. Borrowing from an unscrupulous lender, especially one who offers you a high-cost loan using your home as security, is risky business. You could lose your home and your money. Before you sign on the line, Think about your options Do your homework Think twice before you sign Know that you have rights under the law Think about Your Options If you’re having money problems, consider these options before you put your home on the loan line. Talk with your creditors or with representatives of non-profit or other reputable credit or budget counseling organizations to work out a plan that reduces your bill payments to a more manageable level. Contact your local social service agency, community or religious groups, and local or state housing agencies. They may have programs that help consumers, including the elderly and those with disabilities, with energy bills, home repairs, or other emergency needs. Contact a local housing counseling agency to discuss your needs. Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development toll-free at 800-569-4287 or visit www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hccprof14.cfm to find a center near you. Talk with someone other than the lender or broker offering the loan who is knowledgeable and you trust before making any decisions. Remember, if you decide to get a home equity loan and can’t make the payments, the lender could foreclose and you would lose your home. If you decide a loan is right for you, talk with several lenders, including at least one bank, savings and loan, or credit union in your community. Their loans may cost less than loans from finance companies. And don’t assume that if you’re on a fixed income or have credit problems, you won’t qualify for a loan from a bank, savings and loan, or credit union--they may have the loan you want! Do Your Homework Contact several lenders--and be very careful about dealing with a lender who just appears at your door, calls you, or sends you mail. Ask friends and family for recommendations of lenders. Talk with banks, savings and loans, credit unions, and other lenders. If you choose to use a mortgage broker, remember they arrange loans but most do not lend directly. Compare their offers with those of other direct lenders. Be wary of home repair contractors that offer to arrange financing. You should still talk with other lenders to make sure you get the best deal. You may want to have the loan proceeds sent directly to you, not the contractor. Comparison shop. Comparing loan plans can help you get a better deal. Whether you begin your shopping by reading ads in your local newspapers, searching on the Internet, or looking in the phone book, ask lenders to explain the best loan plans they have for you. Beware of loan terms and conditions that may mean higher costs for you. Get answers to these questions and use the worksheet to compare loan plans: Interest Rate and Payments What are the monthly payments? Ask yourself if you can afford them. What is the annual percentage rate (APR) on the loan? The APR is the cost of credit, expressed as a yearly rate. You can use the APR to compare one loan with another. Will the interest rate change during the life of the loan? If so, when, how often, and by how much? Term of Loan How many years will you have to repay the loan? Is this a loan or a line of credit? A loan is for a fixed amount of money for a specific period of time; a line of credit is an amount of money you can draw as you need it. Is there a balloon payment--a large single payment at the end of the loan term after a series of low monthly payments? When the balloon payment is due, you must pay the entire amount. Points and Fees What will you have to pay in points and fees? One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount (1 point on a $10,000 loan is $100). Generally, the higher the points, the lower the interest rate. If points and fees are more than 5 percent of the loan amount, ask why. Traditional financial institutions normally charge between 1 and 3 percent of the loan amount in points and fees. Are any of the application fees refundable if you don’t get the loan? How and how much will the the lender or broker be paid? Lenders and brokers may charge points or fees that you must pay at closing or add on to the cost of your loan, or both. Penalties What is the penalty for late or missed payments? What is the penalty if you pay off or refinance the loan early (that is, is there a pre-payment penalty)? Credit Insurance Does the loan package include optional credit insurance, such as credit life, disability, or unemployment insurance? Depending on the type of policy, credit insurance can cover some or all of your payments if you can't make them. Understand that you don’t have to buy optional credit insurance--that’s why it’s called “optional.” Don’t buy insurance you don’t need. Credit insurance may be a bad deal for you, especially if the premiums are collected up-front at the closing and financed as part of the loan. If you want optional credit insurance, ask if you can pay for it on a monthly basis after the loan is approved and closed. With monthly insurance premiums, you don't pay interest and you can decide to cancel if the premiums are too high or if you believe you no longer want the insurance. After you have answers to these questions, start negotiating with more than one lender. Don’t be afraid to make lenders and brokers compete for your business by letting them know you are shopping for the best deal. Ask each lender to lower the points, fees, or interest rate. And ask each to meet--or beat--the terms of the other lenders. Once You’ve Selected a Lender, Get the Following A “Good Faith Estimate” of all loan charges. The estimate must be sent within 3 days of applying. Blank copies of the forms you’ll sign at closing, when the loan is final. Study them. If you don’t understand something, ask for an explanation. Advance copies of the forms you’ll sign at closing with the terms filled in. A week or two before closing, contact the lender to find out if there have been any changes in the Good Faith Estimate. By law, you can inspect the final settlement statement (also called the HUD-1 or HUD-1A form) one day prior to closing. Study these forms. Write down any questions you want to ask. Think Twice before You Sign Have a knowledgeable friend, relative, attorney, or housing counselor review the Good Faith Estimate and other loan papers before you sign the loan contract. Be sure the terms are the same ones you agreed to. For example, a lender should not promise one APR and then--without good reason--increase it at closing. Refer to the list of questions you’ve written down. Ask where these terms are covered in the loan contract. And ask for an explanation of any dollar amount or term you don’t understand. Don’t let anyone rush you into signing the loan contract. Make sure all promises, oral and otherwise, are put in writing. It’s only what’s in writing that counts. Get a copy of the documents you signed before you leave the closing. Don’t Sign on the Dotted Line if the Lender … Tells you to falsify information on the loan application (for example, suggests that you write down more income than you really have). Pressures you into applying for a loan for more money than you need, or one that has monthly payments larger than you can afford. Promises one set of terms but gives you another with no good reason for the change. Tells you to sign blank forms or forms that aren't completely filled in. If an item is supposed to be blank, draw a line through the space and initial it. Pressures you to sign today. A good deal today should be available tomorrow. Know that You Have Rights under the Law You Have 3 Business Days to Cancel the Loan If you're using your home as security for a home equity loan (or for a second mortgage loan or a line of credit), federal law gives you 3 business days after signing the loan papers to cancel the deal--for any reason--without penalty. You must cancel in writing. The lender must return any money you have paid to date. Do You Think You've Made a Mistake? Has the 3-day period during which you may cancel passed and you're worried that you've gotten in over your head? Do you think your loan fees were too high? Do you believe you were steered into monthly payments you can't afford? Has your lender repeatedly pressured you to refinance? Is your loan covered by insurance you don't need or want? If you think you've been taken advantage of, state and federal laws may protect you. Also, the following organizations may be able to help: Your local or state bar association--sometimes listed under "Lawyers Referral Service" in the Yellow Pages of your phone book. The association may be able to refer you to low-cost or no-cost lawyers who can help. Your local consumer protection agency, state attorney general’s office, or state office on aging, listed in the Blue Pages of your phone book. Your local fair housing group or affordable housing agency, housing counseling agency, or state housing agency. You can learn more about credit and home equity loans by visiting the federal government’s web site for consumers, www.consumer.gov (see the Home and Community section). If you don’t have access to the Internet, ask a friend or relative to get the information for you. Or visit your local library or senior center, which may offer you free access to the Internet on their computers. For More Information State Banks that Are Members of the Federal Reserve System Division of Consumer and Community Affairs Mail Stop 801 Federal Reserve Board Washington, DC 20551 (202) 452-3693 www.federalreserve.gov Federally Insured State Non-Member Banks and Savings Banks Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Consumer Response Center 2345 Grand Boulevard, Suite 100 Kansas City, Missouri 64108 (877) 275-3342 www.fdic.gov National Banks and National Bank-Owned Mortgage Companies Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Customer Assistance Group 1301 McKinney Street Suite 3450 Houston, TX 77010 (800) 613-6743 www.occ.treas.gov Federally Insured Savings and Loan Institutions and Federally Chartered Savings Banks Office of Thrift Supervision Consumer Programs 1700 G Street, N.W., 6th Floor Washington, DC 20552 (800) 842-6929 www.ots.treas.gov Federal Credit Unions National Credit Union Administration Office of Public and Congressional Affairs 1775 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 518-6330 www.ncua.gov For state-chartered credit unions, contact your state's regulatory agency. Mortgage Companies and Other Lenders Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20580 (877) FTC-HELP (877-382-4357, toll free) www.ftc.gov Other Information Sources U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division 950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, NWB Washington, DC 20580 (202) 514-4713 www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/index.html Federal Housing Finance Board 1777 F Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20006 (202) 408-2500 www.fhfb.gov Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20410 800-669-9777 (voice) 800-927-9275 (TTY) www.hud.gov Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) 1700 G Street, N.W. 4th Floor Washington, DC 20552 (202) 414-6922 www.ofheo.gov Adobe acrobat version of text for printing (119 KB PDF) is formatted for printing on two sides of a 11 x 17" sheet of paper. Fold the paper in half. The PDF contains a fillable area on the back panel for you to provide your own contact information. Worksheet for printing (58 KB PDF) Obtaining the Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Web Site This information was prepared by the following federal agencies: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Housing Finance Board, Federal Reserve Board, Federal Trade Commission, National Credit Union Administration, Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision. Home | Brochures Accessibility | Contact us Last update: March 24, 2004

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Texas landscapes of our

American Farmland Trust Texas region Texas Special Report Going, Going, Gone: The impact of land fragmentation on Texas agriculture and wildlife The Texas of legend, and of our memories, is a land of vast, wide open spaces. The reality, however, is that over the last 30 years, the average size of land ownership—the average acreage of land holdings—in Texas has been shrinking dramatically. A March, 2003 report from Texas Cooperative Extension of the Texas A&M University System and American Farmland Trust, entitled Texas Rural Lands: Trends and Conservation Implications for the 21st Century [ More ] , assesses the extent of land fragmentation in Texas and identifies predictors that warn of areas around the state most at risk for fragmentation. The report also examines how effective a purchase of development rights program may be in stemming the tide of land fragmentation in Texas. ( More information on PDR in Texas) Going, Going, Gone: The Impact of Land Fragmentation on Texas Agriculture and Wildlife summarizes some of the findings of that report, by discussing the effect of land fragmentation on our citizens, wildlife, farming, ranching and water supplies. This 12-page study also outlines recommendations made by American Farmland Trust with an eye toward conserving family lands and the Texas landscapes of our memory. To accommodate new landowners, the vast farms and famous Texas ranches are being rapidly splintered into smaller and smaller pieces. Each year since 1970, about 1,000 new farms and ranches have been established in Texas. At the same time, the total area devoted to agricultural uses declined by almost 3 million acres. That's 33,000 more farms and ranches on 3 million fewer acres. This process is part of a trend known as land fragmentation. ( Look at a map of Texas' most fragmented counties) Those new "ranchettes" are typically too small for traditional farming, ranching or forestry. But that's fine with most new landowners who have limited interest in working the land. Instead, they want a place where they can escape the crowds and noise of urban life. They want to do a little hunting, explore the countryside, own a few cattle and reconnect with the spirit of the old West. One recent survey of new landowners by the Texas A&M University's Real Estate Center found that 80 percent of buyers said that finding land for non-agricultural uses, like hunting, fishing and other recreation were "very important" motives for their purchase. Sadly, this rush to embrace the land may be ruining it. Thousands of new "ranchettes" are gobbling up open space and degrading wildlife habitat, while at the same time depleting and polluting scarce water resources. The most vivid examples of this phenomenon can be found in the more populous eastern half of the state and on the outskirts of just about any major city. From 1992 to 2001, over half a million acres of farm and ranchland in twenty-five Texas counties were converted to land uses other than agriculture. While this loss due to "urban sprawl" was primarily confined to the fringes of our major metropolitan areas, the fragmentation of agricultural lands into smaller ownerships has occurred in areas that have not been affected by urban sprawl. Fragmentation is starting to eat away at large ownerships even in areas such as the Trans Pecos and South Texas, which seem the very definition of "wide open spaces." This fragmentation is likely to continue in some of the most rural areas of the state where natural amenities such as recreation potential and scenic beauty are in high demand. Texas Rural Lands: Trends and Conservation Implications for the 21st Century examined the issue of land fragmentation and its impact on land uses across the state and found that this phenomenon is rapidly transforming Texas. The changes often go unnoticed by the average Texan, but those close to the land see the consequences. Things are changing. Follow the links below to view the rest of the report. Or download a PDF of the full report here . Look at the Texas Land Trends interactive report here . For more information on both reports, contact: Bob Wagner American Farmland Trust 1 Short Street Northampton, MA 01060 413-586-4593 Texas Regional home page AFT's Press Release on Going, Going, Gone Fragmentation study overview New Breed of Landowners Ranches and Wildlife Water Worries A PDR program for Texas Recommendations Charts and Graphs 1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 info@farmland.org 202-331-7300 202-659-8339 (f) [ << AFT Home ]

real estate loan fraud

Inman Real Estate News - Loss from real estate loan fraud soars to $1 billion FBI launches mortgage fraud-fighting initiative Loss+from+real+estate+loan+fraud+soars+to+%241+billion FBI+launches+mortgage+fraud-fighting+initiative %3ca+href%3d'http%3a%2f%2fwww.inman.com'+target%3d'_blank'%3eInman+News%3c%2fa%3e 2005-12-16T00%3a00%3a00.0000000-08%3a00 49246 HOME | NEWS | JOIN | PRODUCTS | CONFERENCES | ADVERTISE | ADVICE | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | SUBMIT A TIP Member Resources Members Home Search Inman News Content Warehouse Cartoon Database Weekly Newsletter Special Reports Audio Files Inman Blog Feedback Connect Registration Audio Conference LETTERS TO THE EDITOR There's no denying real estate bubble Re: ' Worst-case scenario for housing next year ' (Dec. 28) Dear Editor: I have been a real estate investor since I was 19. I am now 54. To deny a real estate bubble is to ignore the obvious market fundamentals. Obviously, there are different factors in different markets, but as a longtime investor/Realtor/broker there is no logical argument against real estate prices declining 10 percent to 30 percent in the "hot markets." The South Florida condo market will be a blood bath. The median income cannot buy the median house in most markets; interest rates will continue creeping up; speculators have driven prices to insane levels and when the going gets rough they will walk from a lot of residential properties. Most "hot" areas are becoming alarmingly overbuilt with residential inventories rising; lenders have ticking time bombs in their ARMs, negative equity and interest-only mortgages. Do your homework. Be wary of those whose opinions are tainted by the fact that they or their company have a stake in this insane market continuing. Michael H. Mosieur Mosieur Business Brokers Re: ' America closes doors to architectural expression ' (Dec. 26) Dear Editor: This is one of the most insightful articles I've read in a long time. We might add, "And what are we doing to our children as we worship at the altar of the mundane?" Years ago I read that about 1,000 children were tested for creativity just prior to entering kindergarten. Eighty-five percent of the children tested "creative." Twelve years later the same group was tested, and only 35 percent of the students tested "creative." What happened to the children along the scholastic way, and does the country even care? Where's the outcry? Isn't the creativity of our generations one of our most precious resources? It's been said that we're only one generation away from losing our freedom. Could it be that with escalating offshore competition in view, and stultifying U.S. scholastic models utilized, that the above advisory could also apply to our economic freedom? A. Bruce Belfield III Associate real estate broker Hurricane, W.V. FREE website content! Make Inman.com your homepage Get the Inman News Toolbar Link to Inman News Consumer News Commercial News Real Estate Articles from Inman News Already a Member? Log in below to view full story: User ID: Password: Lost Password? Loss from real estate loan fraud soars to $1 billion FBI launches mortgage fraud-fighting initiative Friday, December 16, 2005 Inman News To read this article, become a Member of Inman News now! JOIN NOW TO BECOME AN INMAN MEMBER 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Group discounts available First Name: Last Name: E-mail: User Name: Call 1.800.775.4662 x128 8am - 5pm Pacific Time to order by phone or to get a discount group membership for your company or colleagues. View News Article Sample Hear Sample View Newsletter Sample Connect Info View Audio Conference Schedule Back Top © 2005 Inman News Home | Privacy | Editorial | Legal | Site Map