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Buying property in Spain Buying property in Spain Introduction to Spanish property market. News, advice, real experiences, buying to let in Spain, mortgages, special offers. Thursday, December 15, 2005 Valencia Land Law debated in the European Parliament This week the European Parliament debated and voted on the recommendations of the Fourtou Report on the controversial Ley Reguladora de la Actividad Urbanistica (LRAU). The law, known by those who protest against its consequences as the Valencia land grab law was originally designed to make sure that areas under development had sufficient infrastructure (roads, street lighting, green belt areas etc.). That was the the theory. However in practice the law has meant that property developers are able to apply to build on land already belonging to other owners where building is not permitted. When their application is approved (as it often is), the land is reclassified by the authorities, and the developers are then allowed to pay exisiting owners prices far below the real market value and build a road, a path or even part of a golf course, sometimes right through the middle of the former owner's back garden. Most of the people affected by this law are Europeans who have seen their dreams of a perfect Spanish home in the sun shattered by ruthless developers. More than 15,000 people have made a formal protest asking the European Parliament to intervene, and the protest group set up to fight the LRAU, Abusos Urbanísticos No , has been active in attracting national, international, political and media attention to a growing problem and demanding a solution. And recently British law firm Irwin Mitchell decided to register land law victims with the European Human Rights Court . Valencia's regional government promised in 2003 to revise and reform the LRAU, but seems in no rush to do so. A pre-project was presented to the Valencian parliament in June this year, but nothing has yet come of it. While the government insists that its intention is to change the law and protect the interests, and land, of property owners, opposition and protest groups allege that it is prevented from doing so from the interest of many of its members in the property development underway in the region. Ever since local and foreign property owners started their active protest, the Government has come under increased pressure to do something. In the Summer a delegation of Euro-MPs visited the Costa Blanca and met with foreign residents, local politicians and property developers to discuss the problem. In November the European Parliament advised the Valencian authorities to modify urban development legislation in the region. And finally this week on 12th December the European Parliament discussed the Fourtou Report and endorsed its contents in a vote on the 13th by a massive majority of 550 in favour, 45 against and 25 abstentions. The Report calls on the European Parliament to urge a moratorium on the approval of new property developments on land where development is not permitted. Any body considering buying property with land in the Valencian Region is advised to seek legal advice from a lawyer who can help with the necessary investigation to ensure that the land attached to the property is not in danger of being subject to eventual seizure by property developers. Related: EU homeowners and ambassadors challenge Valencian land laws European Parliament delegation visit Valencia to challenge Land Laws Valencian landlaws "unconstitutional" Advice from the British Embassy to people purchasing land in Valencia posted by Euroresidentes @ 9:15:00 AM 0 comments Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Home loans in Spain According to figures released by Spain's National Statistics Institute yesterday, the average amount of morgage loans authorised by Spanish banks rose by 18.1 percent in August (compared to the same month in 2005) and reached 146,762€. The overall value of bank home loans rose by 32.1 percent. In August a total of 131,180 mortgages were authorised to customers buying rural and urban properties in Spain and the overall value of these mortgages rose to 19,252 million euros. As usual Spain's savings banks got the biggest share of the home loan market - 53.42 percent - followed by normal banks (36.88 percent) and other lending companies (9.7 percent). Over ninety percent of mortgage loans corresponded to purchases of properties in the so-called " precio libre " (free price) category and just 9.9 percent to purchases of "protected" properties whose selling price is controlled by the government. As far as yearly figures are concerned, the number of mortgaged properties in Spain has so far risen by 9.82 percent this year, while the total amount of loans has shot up by 24.87. Related: Mortgages in Spain Mortages for non-residents in Spain Ranking of Spanish banks Spanish banks Home improvement loans in Spain posted by Euroresidentes @ 9:34:00 AM 0 comments Monday, November 07, 2005 British property buyers prefer Spain According to a study just published by Barclays Bank, the number of UK residents buying property abroad is set to double, and a third of potential property buyers named Spain as their preferred overseas destination. According to the results of Barclay's study, five percent of UK residents (2.2 million people) already own a property overseas, and another 2 million definitely intend to buy one. And a very high 37 percent of those surveyed for the study said they are considering the possibility of buying a property abroad at some time in the future. Spain remains the firm favourite among British overseas property buyers, with the US coming second and France third. Not surprisingly, the main things putting UK citizens off the idea of buying property abroad are legal and tax complications, the possibility of being misled or deceived by local property sellers, and the difficulty of adapting to a new language and culture. Related: Reasons for living in Spain Property taxes in Spain Spanish lawyers Advice on buying a house in Spain posted by Euroresidentes @ 1:07:00 PM 1 comments Sunday, October 23, 2005 Lessons from one unhappy experience of buying a house in Spain It is an unfortunate fact that the legal system in Spain is at times desperately slow. Anyone considering buying a house in Spain is advised to find a good Spanish lawyer before signing anything at all and before parting with any money. David Wright has just started a new blog to share his unfortunate experience of buying property in Spain with other people. See the first entry below. Users interested in following his story as the final part unravels (and as, we hope, justice is finally done and the Wrights win the home and compensation they deserve) should check out his blog: Slow legal system where he intends to keep people updated with events as and when they happen. Considering tourism and housing investment bring considerable amounts of wealth to Spain, the Spanish law system is appalling slow and expensive. At the begginning of 2000 we enetred into a contract to buy a house, paid the 10% deposit and arranged a date with the notary and respective lawyers to complete. The seeler did not turn up and decided not to sell. THE BIG SURPRISE... he also would not repay the 10 % deposit never mind the penalty of 10%. Our only alternative was litigation. As we were not living in Spain at the time we left a deposit with a lawyer who told us that it would be a straightforward case. Well our case was finally heard in the local courts some 18 months later and we "won" including costs. However, the seller chose to appeal on what I understand to be very flimsy grounds. Some 2 years later the case was reheard in the Regional courts of Malaga where the original decision was upheald. ie we "won" again. However, the seller again decided with his lawyer that an appeal was in order and so we have been waiting almost 2 years for the case to come before a judge in MAdrid's high court!!! We still do not have a date nor can the system give us an estimated date as to when the case will be heard.!!! WHAT CAN fellow EURORESIDENTES learn from this? I believe the following: 1: Entering litigation is very expensive - even though we have "won" twice, we have still had to pay our lawyers fees and costs even though the costs were awarded in our favour. The amount equates roughly to 17% of the purchase/contract price!!!! per hearing. At this point we have paid almost 50% of the orginal house contract price, (deposit plus fees) 2: The seller continues to live in the property and with no penalty or change. 3: We have no idea of timescale as to when the High court can hold the hearing. 4: The so called filtering process that was supposed to be implemented to stop people using the appeal process to delay matters as a tactic does not function. 5: The seller is not obliged to pay the costs awarded against them IF they choose to appeal....SO APPEALING is a good tactic to frustrate. 6: So having a contract from a good lawyer and within the letter of the law, still does not really protect your rights in a timely manner. WHAT then is the point of a contract? it is only worth something to the lawyers in preperation for litigation!!! 7: Perhaps the law will one day help us to retrieve our deposit and costs or even the holiday home we wanted to live in and enjoy in the future. However in the meantime, it has only benefited the lawyers and the vendor. 8: So the law can still be seen as having no "teeth" and benefits the unscrupulous property owner/seller. TAKE GREAT CARE. Finally, if anyone has any suggestions as to what can be done to improve the law or indeed speed up the process then let me know posted by Euroresidentes @ 10:08:00 AM 0 comments Saturday, October 22, 2005 Lowest rise in house prices in Spain since 2002 According to the General Director of Arquitecture and Housing Policy, Rafael Pacheco, the rise in the cost property has risen just 13.4 percent in the last 12 months. This represents the lowest rise for 3 years and, according to Pacheco, is the first clear result of the Spanish government's housing policies. The General Director also indicated the regions in which house prices have risen most. These are Castilla La Mancha (19.8 percent), Aragon (16.4 percent) and the Valencian Region (16.3 percent). In Andalucía, traditionally one of the most popular destination for non-resident house buyers, the rise in house prices at 13.7 percent is only just above the national average. The most expensive region as far as the cost of housing is concerned is Madrid (2,719 euros per sq. metre), followed by the Basque Country (2,537 euros), Catalonia (2,037 euros) and the Balearic Islands (2,003 euros). The cheapest regions are Extremadura (864.2 euros per sq. metre), Castilla La Mancha (1,255 euros) and Leon (1,297 euros). Related Revaluation of property in Spain per region Investing in property in Spain Houses for sale in Spain posted by Euroresidentes @ 10:29:00 AM 0 comments Thursday, October 20, 2005 Spanish-English real estate dictionary Because of the amount of enquiries we receive from non-Spanish speaking property buyers in Spain about Spanish real estate terms and how the system here works, we are compiling an extensive Spanish-English glossary of real estate terms . Having completed the glossary, we are now working on full definitions of each term, so that our users can get an idea of how the Spanish property market differs from the property market in the UK. In this sense we want to go beyond a simple bilingual list of property terms. Send us any words not included. We hope to finish all the definitions in the next few days. Click on each term to get the full definition. posted by Euroresidentes @ 12:07:00 PM 0 comments Wednesday, October 05, 2005 Real estate market in Spain, latest statistics According to a study carried out by the Pompeu Fabre University (Barcelona) and Tecnocasa, the housing market in Spain has started slowing down and a halt in the massive price increase experienced over the past fews could be near. The authors have based their opinions and conclusions on the analysis of the sale of over 12,000 second-hand houses and flats and details of mortgages granted to buyers from the first semester of 2004 up to June this year. According to the report, lived-in property (as opposed to brand new) now takes an average of 83 days to sell, which is 15 days longer than a year ago. Another finding of the report is that property sellers this year are more likely to be prepared to negotiate the price than they were last year, and that on average buyers are able to secure a 5 percent reduction in the original asking price. During the presentation of the report yesterday, executives of Tecnocasa said that this should not be interpreted as an indication that the price of housing in Spain was at last starting to come down, since the reduction was usually agreed on property that was overhoused in the first place. However, in their opinion, the findings of the report do suggest that the conditions necessary for an eventual slowing down in the Spanish real estate market at some time in the near future are starting to appear. Other findings of the report: 30 percent of house-buyers in Spain are foreign. 72 percent of all house-buyers come from Spain or another EU country. The rest are non-European, mostly people from South America, Eastern European countries and North Africa who have settled in Spain Over 49 percent of second-hand house buyers are between 25 and 35 years old, and 61 percent buy the property together with another person The average mortgage in Spain in June was 154.890 euros, a rise of 18.80 percent with respect to the same month last year In over 60 percent of all cases, the mortgate loan covers between 75 and 100 percent the total value of the property Small flats are proportionally more expensive than larger flats and houses The average price of lived in property in Spain per sq. metre is 3,000 euros in the most expensive areas of Spain (Madrid, Barcelona and Vizcaya). dropping to just 1,500 euros per sq. metre in the provinces of Alicante, Cadiz, Seville and Valencia The most expensive cities in Spain in terms of housing prices are (in order) Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (3.070 euros). Related links: Mortages in Spain Mortgages for non-residents in Spain The price of housing in Spain Investing in property in Spain posted by Euroresidentes @ 9:38:00 AM 0 comments About Me Name: Euroresidentes Location: Spain View my complete profile Previous Posts Valencia Land Law debated in the European Parliament Home loans in Spain British property buyers prefer Spain Lessons from one unhappy experience of buying a house in Spain Lowest rise in house prices in Spain since 2002 Spanish-English real estate dictionary Real estate market in Spain, latest statistics High-quality Spanish houses to be marketed in the UK New state property rental agency ready for business in Spain Costa del Sol property market may have reached peak Links Feedback Property market in Spain Reasons for living in Spain Properties for sale in Spain Properties for rent in Spain Hotels in Spain Restaurants in Spain Paradors in Spain Spanish recipies Spanish classical music Spanish courses in Spain Euroresidentes Spain Web Euroresidentes Archives

Florida Real Estate

4Brevard Relocation Brevard Florida Real Estate - SpaceCoast Homes for Sale - Coldwell Banker SpaceCoast Home Finder Team Richard & Ana Webb and 127 Professional Realtors (321) 480-5514 9am to 10pm eastern eMail: Webb@4Brevard.com Let our team help YOUrelocate to Orlando's Seaside Suburbs 40 minutes due east SELLERS Thisbuyer-oriented website can sell your home. Go where BUYERS go - 4Brevard.com Click towns within our Brevard Real Estate eMagazine Cape Canaveral Cocoa Village Merritt Island Viera Palm Bay Satellite Beach Cocoa Beach Melbourne Titusville Rockledge Suntree Indialantic In 2002 Brevard ranked 6th hottestmarket in the U.S. We've gotten hotter (see MarketTrends ). Instantlysee ALL Brevard homes(not just ours) with PICTURES! Explore Central Florida living, excitinglifestyles in the SpaceCoast complete database of ALL Brevard property: Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, CocoaBeach, Melbourne. (Click underlined links for moreinformation) VIP Program Search for Homes Now Click for Instant eMail Updates Customized Search Click for Brevard MLS Instant Home Finder with Pictures Bookmark 4Brevard.com for help with your move. Click for Wow! Homes Click topic for details: Besides help findinga home, this buyer's agent helps you get adjusted to a new place. The links onthis homepage are your first step; just click the underlined words. Thanks forstopping by! Use our great resources to make your move easier. School Selector Job Finder Rentals Vacant Land Mortgages Surf Report Fishing Guide What's to Do? Explore Brevard County in Pictures & Video Market Trends Brevard County Parks & Recreation Property Tax Exemptions Avoid Buyer/ Seller Mistakes Brevard Neighborhoods eMagazine Orlando Flights (40 minutes due West) Tourist Development Council showsyou why people come here to play and stay. Beaches, surfing, wildlife, fishing, golf, attractions, shuttle launchschedule, calendar of events, where to stay, travel deals.How about nightlife ? Discover Brevard . Waterfront Experts Brevard enjoys 230 miles of coastline. My team specializes in oceanfront, Indian Riverfront, and Banana Riverfront homes andcondos, some with tricky navigation. We're Realtors and boaters who know the waters. Buyer's Agent We are relocation specialists, investors, and Buyer's Agents.Fees are totally paid by home sellers, but by Florida law, a buyer's agent worksexclusively for YOU! Listing agents work for the SELLER! Every call answered by a licensed Realtor. Call now. Send us eMai l This site won The Real Estate Library "Pure Gold" award for design, accessibility, content, and relevance. and --

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Best Buy " ');}else {document.write('');}//-- Entire Site Electronics Cameras & Camcorders Computers Home Appliances Phones & Communications Office Products Music -Album Title -Artist -Song Movies -Title -Person Games Software Resources empty Digital Cameras MP3 Players Flat-Panel TVs Notebook Computers Satellite Radio Video Gaming Shopping Made Easy In-store Pickup Store Locator Pricing Guarantee Weekly Ad Gift Cards Safe and Secure Holiday Shipping Info Holiday Returns More Benefits En espaol » THIS WEEK This Week's Specials Free Shipping Events Weekly Ad Hot Deals Wednesday Outlet Store Gift Ideas Privacy Reminder Computers » Desktops Notebooks Printers Software Accessories » See all Music, Movies & Games » Movies Music Video Games Toys » See all Electronics » Televisions DVD Players MP3 Players Home Theater Systems » See all Cameras & Camcorders » Digital Cameras Camcorders Camera Media » See all Home & Appliances » Refrigerators Laundry Care Heaters Vacuums » See all Phones & Communications » Telephones Cellular Cell Phone Accessories Two-Way Radios » See all Office Products » Office Equipment Office Furniture Networking » See all Services Store » High-Speed Internet Music Downloads Satellite Radio » See all See all categories » Shop by Brand » Canon Sony Toshiba Pioneer Intel Samsung » See all Great Deals on Intel® Centrino™ Notebooks This week, save up to $400 on select notebooks featuring Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology — and with your purchase, get a notebook case and USB 2.0 mobile hub free, plus free shipping on all three items! Find out how. Online only offer. Free Insignia Portable DVD/CD/MP3 Player with Qualifying Refrigerator Purchase! Get a free Insignia™ 9" Widescreen Portable DVD/CD/MP3 Player with car adapter and remote with your purchase of any Refrigerator, $999 and up. Find out how. Online only offer. Xbox 360 Console, Games and Accessories HD output, amazing graphical power, wireless connectivity and DVD playback are just some of the features that make the Xbox 360 so much more than just a gaming platform. Check it out today. NEW at Best Buy: Magnolia™ Home Theater Inside select Best Buy stores, Magnolia Home Theater offers premier brands, expert consultants and state-of-the art demo rooms for an experience that exceeds your every expectation. Magnolia's in-home design and installation services make dreams real. Learn more . Get More with Best Buy From personal shopping assistants and Geek Squad to Magnolia Home Theater, Test Drive and Best Buy for Business, there's more going on at Best Buy. Computer Problems? Call in Geek Squad®! Bring in your PC for repair to a Geek Squad precinct in a Best Buy store or have a Geek Squad Agent come directly to your home or office. Plus, their Computer Support Task Force is available by phone 24/7. Learn more. Design It Online, Using Our New Kitchen & Laundry Design Center! Our online tools let you design your new kitchen, laundry room or wet bar, creating custom layouts that include your appliance selections, color scheme and floor plan. It's easy and it's free. 4" x 6" Prints Just 19 Each at Best Buy™ imagelab Having great digital prints is easy with Best Buy imagelab photo processing. 4" x 6" prints are only 19 each! Guide to Television Features Best Buy's Guide to Speakers 'Secrets' of the Audio Elite Shoot and Digitize Photos from Film 10 Virus Detection and Prevention Tips More topics About Us News Center Careers For Our Investors Business to Business Community Relations Store Pickup Returns & Exchanges Store Locator Weekly Ad Financing Offers Buy Gift Cards Check Gift Card Balance Best Buy Credit Card Affiliates Program Offer Sign-Up Rebates Warranties Service Plans PC Upgrades Repairs Replacement Parts Software End User License Agreement Car Home Entertainment Satellite Appliances Welcome . Please create an account or Sign in . Your Cart Contains 0 items Subtotal: $0.00 View Cart | Checkout Your Account Best Buy Credit Order Status Wish List Gift Cards TV, Home Theater & Audio Accessories Computer Accessories Camera & Camcorder Accessories Appliance Accessories Game Accessories Visit our Accessories Store Order Status Shipping Rates Returns Rebates Store Pickup Site Map Performance Plans Your California Privacy Rights Conditions of Use | Legal Policies | Privacy Policy Online prices and selection generally match our retail stores, but may vary. Prices and offers are subject to change. © 2003-2005 Best Buy. All rights reserved. Best Buy, BestBuy.com and the tag design are trademarks of Best Buy. For personal, noncommercial use only.

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Property Line - Your Commercial Property Listing Resource Username Password -- Username: Password: Need help logging in? Need help logging in? -- -- LIVE HELP CONTACT US IMMEDIATE ACCESS Registration is an easy three-step process that offers instant access to the complete range of tools Property Line has to offer. Your Country: Please select your country United States Canada Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Ashmore Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Rep Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo (Brazzaville) Congo, Democratic Rep Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Gabon Gambia, The Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Korea, South Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia, Federated Moldova Monaco Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent Samoa San Marino Sao Tome Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Your State: Please select your state Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Guam 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 Washington DC West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming -- Privacy Policy · Terms of Service The response I received from Property Line's marketing was better than I have ever received for any marketing in the nine years I have been a commercial real estate broker. Burt Gay Marcus & Millichap Commercial Property Listing Resource Property Line is a listing reference resource that caters exclusively to a national database of commercial real estate professionals. List inventory and search for inventory in an unlimited capacity. Bulk upload inventory with unlimited attachments at no charge. Property Line also offers proven marketing tools that "push" inventory to a national database to help close deals and move inventory. About Property Line Property Line supports the commercial brokerage community by marketing properties, promoting commercial brokerage companies, and offering unparalleled marketing tools to the commercial broker. Property Line began in 1984 as a graphic design, print and distribution facility that specialized in networking for commercial real estate brokerage houses. Property Line's commitment to the brokerage community combines the power of emerging technologies to the time-tested practices of professional commercial real estate. The Property Line goal is to streamline the commercial agent's responsibilities, boost production and improve financial returns. Reliable information, dependable marketing vehicles, and organizational tools created specifically to meet the needs of today's competitive-and successful-commercial agent have been Property Line's hallmark since its inception. Property Line offers unparalleled customer service, free tools to assist brokers in listing and searching inventory, and the latest technology to "push" inventory to a national database of Commercial Real Estate Professionals. HOME · PRODUCTS · FAQ · SIGN UP · ADMIN LOGIN · CONTACT US © 2005 Property Line International, Inc. · PRIVACY POLICY · TERMS OF SERVICE

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Federal Trade Commission -- Search: Facts for Consumers PDF Version Looking for the Best Mortgage Shopping around for a home loan or mortgage will help you to get the best financing deal. A mortgage—whether it's a home purchase, a refinancing, or a home equity loan—is a product, just like a car, so the price and terms may be negotiable. You'll want to compare all the costs involved in obtaining a mortgage. Shopping, comparing, and negotiating may save you thousands of dollars. Obtain Information from Several Lenders Home loans are available from several types of lenders— thrift institutions , commercial banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions. Different lenders may quote you different prices, so you should contact several lenders to make sure you're getting the best price. You can also get a home loan through a mortgage broker. Brokers arrange transactions rather than lending money directly; in other words, they find a lender for you. A broker's access to several lenders can mean a wider selection of loan products and terms from which you can choose. Brokers will generally contact several lenders regarding your application, but they are not obligated to find the best deal for you unless they have contracted with you to act as your agent. Consequently, you should consider contacting more than one broker, just as you should with banks or thrift institutions. Whether you are dealing with a lender or a broker may not always be clear. Some financial institutions operate as both lenders and brokers. And most brokers' advertisements do not use the word "broker." Therefore, be sure to ask whether a broker is involved. This information is important because brokers are usually paid a fee for their services that may be separate from and in addition to the lender's origination or other fees. A broker's compensation may be in the form of "points" paid at closing or as an add-on to your interest rate , or both. You should ask each broker you work with how he or she will be compensated so that you can compare the different fees. Be prepared to negotiate with the brokers as well as the lenders. Obtain All Important Cost Information Be sure to get information about mortgages from several lenders or brokers. Know how much of a down payment you can afford, and find out all the costs involved in the loan. Knowing just the amount of the monthly payment or the interest rate is not enough. Ask for information about the same loan amount, loan term, and type of loan so that you can compare the information. The following information is important to get from each lender and broker: Rates Ask each lender and broker for a list of its current mortgage interest rates and whether the rates being quoted are the lowest for that day or week. Ask whether the rate is fixed or adjustable . Keep in mind that when interest rates for adjustable-rate loans go up, generally so does the monthly payment. If the rate quoted is for an adjustable-rate loan, ask how your rate and loan payment will vary, including whether your loan payment will be reduced when rates go down. Ask about the loan's annual percentage rate (APR). The APR takes into account not only the interest rate but also points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that you may be required to pay, expressed as a yearly rate. Points Points are fees paid to the lender or broker for the loan and are often linked to the interest rate; usually the more points you pay, the lower the rate. Check your local newspaper for information about rates and points currently being offered. Ask for points to be quoted to you as a dollar amount—rather than just as the number of points—so that you will actually know how much you will have to pay. Fees A home loan often involves many fees, such as loan origination or underwriting fees , broker fees, and transaction , settlement, and closing costs . Every lender or broker should be able to give you an estimate of its fees. Many of these fees are negotiable. Some fees are paid when you apply for a loan (such as application and appraisal fees), and others are paid at closing. In some cases, you can borrow the money needed to pay these fees, but doing so will increase your loan amount and total costs. "No cost" loans are sometimes available, but they usually involve higher rates. Ask what each fee includes. Several items may be lumped into one fee. Ask for an explanation of any fee you do not understand. Some common fees associated with a home loan closing are listed on the Mortgage Shopping Worksheet in this brochure. Down Payments and Private Mortgage Insurance Some lenders require 20 percent of the home's purchase price as a down payment. However, many lenders now offer loans that require less than 20 percent down—sometimes as little as 5 percent on conventional loans . If a 20 percent down payment is not made, lenders usually require the home buyer to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) to protect the lender in case the home buyer fails to pay. When government-assisted programs such as FHA (Federal Housing Administration), VA (Veterans Administration), or Rural Development Services are available, the down payment requirements may be substantially smaller. Ask about the lender's requirements for a down payment, including what you need to do to verify that funds for your down payment are available. Ask your lender about special programs it may offer. If PMI is required for your loan, Ask what the total cost of the insurance will be. Ask how much your monthly payment will be when including the PMI premium. Ask how long you will be required to carry PMI. Obtain the Best Deal That You Can Once you know what each lender has to offer, negotiate for the best deal that you can. On any given day, lenders and brokers may offer different prices for the same loan terms to different consumers, even if those consumers have the same loan qualifications. The most likely reason for this difference in price is that loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Generally, the difference between the lowest available price for a loan product and any higher price that the borrower agrees to pay is an overage . When overages occur, they are built into the prices quoted to consumers. They can occur in both fixed and variable-rate loans and can be in the form of points, fees, or the interest rate. Whether quoted to you by a loan officer or a broker, the price of any loan may contain overages. Have the lender or broker write down all the costs associated with the loan. Then ask if the lender or broker will waive or reduce one or more of its fees or agree to a lower rate or fewer points. You'll want to make sure that the lender or broker is not agreeing to lower one fee while raising another or to lower the rate while raising points. There's no harm in asking lenders or brokers if they can give better terms than the original ones they quoted or than those you have found elsewhere. Once you are satisfied with the terms you have negotiated, you may want to obtain a written lock-in from the lender or broker. The lock-in should include the rate that you have agreed upon, the period the lock-in lasts, and the number of points to be paid. A fee may be charged for locking in the loan rate. This fee may be refundable at closing. Lock-ins can protect you from rate increases while your loan is being processed; if rates fall, however, you could end up with a less favorable rate. Should that happen, try to negotiate a compromise with the lender or broker. Remember: Shop, Compare, Negotiate When buying a home, remember to shop around, to compare costs and terms, and to negotiate for the best deal. Your local newspaper and the Internet are good places to start shopping for a loan. You can usually find information both on interest rates and on points for several lenders. Since rates and points can change daily, you'll want to check your newspaper often when shopping for a home loan. But the newspaper does not list the fees, so be sure to ask the lenders about them. The Mortgage Shopping Worksheet that follows may also help you. Take it with you when you speak to each lender or broker and write down the information you obtain. Don't be afraid to make lenders and brokers compete with each other for your business by letting them know that you are shopping for the best deal. Fair Lending Is Required by Law The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits lenders from discriminating against credit applicants in any aspect of a credit transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, whether all or part of the applicant's income comes from a public assistance program, or whether the applicant has in good faith exercised a right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in residential real estate transactions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. Under these laws, a consumer cannot be refused a loan based on these characteristics nor be charged more for a loan or offered less favorable terms based on such characteristics. Credit Problems? Still Shop, Compare, and Negotiate Don't assume that minor credit problems or difficulties stemming from unique circumstances, such as illness or temporary loss of income, will limit your loan choices to only high-cost lenders. If your credit report contains negative information that is accurate, but there are good reasons for trusting you to repay a loan, be sure to explain your situation to the lender or broker. If your credit problems cannot be explained, you will probably have to pay more than borrowers who have good credit histories. But don't assume that the only way to get credit is to pay a high price. Ask how your past credit history affects the price of your loan and what you would need to do to get a better price. Take the time to shop around and negotiate the best deal that you can. Whether you have credit problems or not, it's a good idea to review your credit report for accuracy and completeness before you apply for a loan. To order a copy of your credit report, contact: Equifax: (800) 685-1111 TransUnion: (800) 916-8800 Experian: (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742) Glossary Adjustable-rate loans , also known as variable-rate loans, usually offer a lower initial interest rate than fixed-rate loans. The interest rate fluctuates over the life of the loan based on market conditions, but the loan agreement generally sets maximum and minimum rates. When interest rates rise, generally so do your loan payments; and when interest rates fall, your monthly payments may be lowered Annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate. The APR includes the interest rate, points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that the borrower is required to pay. Conventional loans are mortgage loans other than those insured or guaranteed by a government agency such as the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), the VA (Veterans Administration), or the Rural Development Services (formerly know as Farmers Home Administration, or FmHA). Escrow is the holding of money or documents by a neutral third party prior to closing. It can also be an account held by the lender (or servicer) into which a homeowner pays money for taxes and insurance. Fixed-rate loans generally have repayment terms of 15, 20, or 30 years. Both the interest rate and the monthly payments (for principal and interest) stay the same during the life of the loan. The interest rate is the cost of borrowing money expressed as a percentage rate. Interest rates can change because of market conditions. Loan origination fees are fees charged by the lender for processing the loan and are often expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. Lock-in refers to a written agreement guaranteeing a home buyer a specific interest rate on a home loan provided that the loan is closed within a certain period of time, such as 60 or 90 days. Often the agreement also specifies the number of points to be paid at closing. A mortgage is a document signed by a borrower when a home loan is made that gives the lender a right to take possession of the property if the borrower fails to pay off on the loan. Overages are the difference between the lowest available price and any higher price that the home buyer agrees to pay for the loan. Loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Points are fees paid to the lender for the loan. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. Points are usually paid in cash at closing. In some cases, the money needed to pay points can be borrowed, but doing so will increase the loan amount and the total costs. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) protects the lender against a loss if a borrower defaults on the loan. It is usually required for loans in which the down payment is less than 20 percent of the sales price or, in a refinancing, when the amount financed is greater than 80 percent of the appraised value. Thrift institution is a general term for savings banks and savings and loan associations. Transaction, settlement, or closing costs may include application fees; title examination, abstract of title, title insurance, and property survey fees; fees for preparing deeds, mortgages, and settlement documents; attorneys' fees; recording fees; and notary, appraisal, and credit report fees. Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the borrower receives a good faith estimate of closing costs at the time of application or within three days of application. The good faith estimate lists each expected cost either as an amount or a range. This brochure was prepared by the following agencies: Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Justice Department of the Treasury 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 These agencies (except the Department of the Treasury) enforce compliance with laws that prohibit discrimination in lending. If you feel that you have been discriminated against in the home financing process, you may want to contact one of the agencies listed above about your rights under these laws. For more information on home lending issues , visit www.consumer.gov , write to the Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009 or visit the Center's Web site . The following brochures are available from the center: A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Lock-lns A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Refinancing Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs and Helpful Information Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages Guide to Single Family Home Mortgage Insurance Home Buyer's Vocabulary Home Mortgages: Understanding the Process and Your Rights to Fair Lending How to Buy a Home with a Low Down Payment How to Dispute Credit Report Errors The HUD Home Buying Guide When Your Home Is on the Line Mortgage Shopping Worksheet Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender Name of Contact Date of Contact Mortgage Amount Basic Information on the Loans Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Type of Mortgage: Fixed rate, adjustable rate, conventional, FHA, other? If adjustable, see below. Minimum down payment required Loan term (length of loan) Contract interest rate Annual percentage rate (APR) Points (may be called loan discount points) Monthly Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) premiums How long must you keep PMI? Estimated monthly escrow for taxes and hazard insurance Estimated monthly payment (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, PMI) Fees Different institutions may have different names for some fees and may charge different fees. We have listed some typical fees you may see on loan documents. Application fee or Loan processing fee Origination fee or Underwriting fee Lender fee or Funding fee Appraisal fee Attorney fees Document preparation and recording fees Broker fees (may be quoted as points, origination fees, or interest rate add-on) Credit report fee Other fees Other Costs at Closing/Settlement Title search/Title Insurance For lender For you Estimate prepaid amounts for interest, taxes, hazard insurance, payments to escrow State and local taxes, stamp taxes, transfer taxes Flood determination Prepaid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) Surveys and home inspections Total Fees and Other Closing/Settlement Cost Estimates Mortgage Shopping Worksheet - continued Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender Other Questions and Considerations about the Loan Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Are any of the fees or costs waivable? Prepayment penalties Is there a prepayment penalty? If so, how much is it? How long does the penalty period last? (for example, 3 years? 5 years?) Are extra principal payments allowed? Lock-ins Is the lock-in agreement in writing? Is there a fee to lock-in? When does the lock-in occur -0 at application, approval or another time? How long will the lock-in last? If the rate drops before closing, can you lock-in at a lower rate? If the loan is an adjustable rate mortgage: What is the initial rate? What is the maximum the rate could be next year? What are the rate and payment caps each year and over the life of the loan? What is the frequency of rate change and of any changes to the monthly payment? What is the index that the lender will use? What margin will the lender add to the index? Credit life insurance Does the monthly amount quoted to you include a charge for credit life insurance? If so, does the lender required credit life insurance as a condition of the loan? How much does the credit life insurance cost? How much lower would your monthly payment be without the credit life insurance? If the lender does not require credit life insurance, and you still want to buy it, what rates can you get from other insurance providers? The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues , visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel , a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. January 1999