buy Home [Magazine Subscription]
Amazon.com: Better Homes and Gardens [MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION]: Magazine Subscriptions Your Store Magazine Subscriptions See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | browse subjects | top sellers | today's deals | gift ideas | newspapers | professional & trade Search Amazon.com Magazines Newspapers Newsletters Web Search This item is not eligible for Amazon Prime, but over a million other items are. Join Amazon Prime today. Already a member? Sign in . MAGAZINE INFO Explore this magazine buying info editorial reviews customer reviews See more images Customers also bought these magazines these other items Share your thoughts write a review write a So You'd Like to... guide tell a friend about this item RATE THIS MAGAZINE I dislike it I love it! 1 2 3 4 5 Edit your ratings Visit the DVD Store The Incredibles (Widescreen 2-Disc Collector's Edition) DVD ~ Holly Hunter Spec tacular Readers Never misplace your reading glasses again with the hip andstylish magnetic readers from CliC . Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . Better Homes and Gardens [MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION] Cover Price: $41.88 Price: $15.97 ($1.33/issue) You Save: $25.91 (62%) Issues: 12 issues/12 months See more images Print a Magazine Gift Card Ordering it as a gift? Give your recipient a personalized Better Homes and Gardens gift card! ( Flash Player required.) See more magazine gift options . Magazine subscriptions always ship free, and they help you qualify for FREE Super Saver Shipping on the rest of your order! See details . Ready to Renew? Learnhow . Availability: The first issue should arrive in 6-10 weeks. Here's why See more product details Better Together Buy this magazine with Good Housekeeping [Magazine Subscription] today! Total List Price : $71.88 Buy Together Today: $25.97 Product Details Format: Magazine Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. Publisher: Meredith Corporation Abstracts and Table of Contents. See here . ASIN: B00005N7OV Average Customer Review: Based on 18 reviews. Write a review . Amazon.com Sales Rank: Today: #89 in Magazine Subscriptions Yesterday: #147 in Magazine Subscriptions For magazine orders, your name and mailing address will be shared with the appropriate publisher. This magazine subscription is provided by Synapse Services, Inc. Customers who bought this magazine also bought: Southern Living [Magazine Subscription] House Beautiful [Magazine Subscription] Country Living [Magazine Subscription] Woman's Day [Magazine Subscription] Explore Similar Items : 20 in Magazine Subscriptions , 4 in DVD , and 1 in Music What similar items do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item? 18% buy Sunset [Magazine Subscription] 8% buy House & Garden [Magazine Subscription] 7% buy this item(Better Homes and Gardens [Magazine Subscription] 4% buy Home [Magazine Subscription] 4% buy Fine Gardening [Magazine Subscription] Explore Similar Items : 9 in Magazine Subscriptions , 9 in Books , and 2 in Kitchen & Housewares Editorial Reviews From the Publisher This home and family service magazine is designed for husbands and wives who have a primary interest in the home and family. It services its readers in the form of ideas, advice, information and inspiration to achieve a better home and family. Description Better Homes & Gardens magazine is designed for people interested in turning home, cooking, and gardening inspiration into action. It is focused on decorating, building and remodeling, crafts, entertaining, cooking, healthy living, and gardening. It also has extensive information specifically for women and families. In addition to providing product reviews, practical homeowner advice, step-by-step instructions, and money-saving suggestions, the magazine covers the latest developments and trends... read more See all editorial reviews... Spotlight Reviews (What's this?) Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful: cluttered but nice , October 17, 2003 Reviewer: Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California)- See all my reviews This magazine has a lower cover price than some of its competitors, and makes up for it with a massive amount of ads. A few ads contain coupons, for those that like to cut those little things out (unfortunately they are hardly ever for anything I want !). The paper is also a lot thinner than the higher priced home/garden publications, and the photographs do not reproduce that well on it. On the bright side, there are many nice dcor ideas, and simply terrific recipes. Taking the October 2003 edition as an example, Fall colors and produce are the theme. It has some ideas on how to display gourds, and an article on a community pumpkin patch, from the June planting by 140 neighbors and friends in a 6000 square ft. area, to harvest time. There are numerous articles on remodeling, "Foolproof Potted Plants", on the joys of having hardy succulents in your home, and a lovely piece with lots of photographs on actor Peter Strauss' gorgeous Ojai, California garden. The best article of all, is "The Magic of Soup", and some of these recipes are so good they might end up in your family for generations. They are simple to prepare, with easy to find ingredients, and will make a healthy, hearty meal for those frosty days ahead. Also included with the recipes is the preparation and cooking time, and nutritional statistics. As someone who writes a lot of notes and cards, I appreciate the final page which is about letter writing, and how this vanishing form of communicating is good for the soul. All things considered, this magazine gives good value, and is meant for those of us who do not live in a mansion or have hours to devote to a single recipe. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: Essential for Decorating Tips! , December 30, 2001 Reviewer: Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Issaquah, WA)- See all my reviews If you are looking for ideas for that next decorating project, more than likely you can find at least one article each month to inspire you. With a focus on friends and family, gardening, interior design, building, family matters, flood, good health and shopping, you can't go wrong! I like the "Yours for the Asking" section where you can send away a postcard for more information instead of contacting each company. For mom's, the "kids project" section will be amusing and your kids will love the ideas. The cartoons are also cute and I had to laugh at the one that said: "Of course I love you. Didn't you get my fax?" Something about the pictures in this magazine always remind me of a bright sunny day. The open kitchens and lush gardens are just a treat to see. The recipe section really has a personality all of its own. The "Petite Caramel Apple" recipe they had in the September 2001 issue was so adorable! I look forward to every issue! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) All Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Better Ads & More Ads , June 20, 2005 Reviewer: theosuperstar "theosuperstar" (Hallstead, PA United States)- See all my reviews This magazine is a waste of money and bores me. Nothing here to see but ads. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: I love this magazine but... , October 7, 2004 Reviewer: Miss Seattle (Parker, Colorado)- See all my reviews most of the beautiful gardens I see are in Washington or Oregon or back east somewhere. Having lived in Washington, I do enjoy seeing some of the plants that I am missing here in Colorado, but it would be nice to see a more varied selction of gardens becasue we all can't live in the Pacific Northwest. I have a subscription to Sunset so I guess that will have to suffice, but I do wish BH&G would take that into consideration. Otherwise, I LOVE this magazine. I used to get several magazines, but this was always my favorite. It is chock full of ideas that we can really use. And I love the photography. What sets BH&G apart is that you can see a hint of life in these beautiful houses. Slippers on the floor, newspaper on the table and often the owners of the home are in the pictures too. They are sometimes blurred from movement which is actually nicer than a posed shot. It helps set the feeling that this home is lived in and is attainable. I would say get this magazine right away. I would have given it 5 stars except for the whole garden thing. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 7 of 10 people found the following review helpful: AKA...Better Homes and Advertising , February 18, 2004 Reviewer: A magazine reader (Glendale, CA United States) I ordered this magazine recently only to cancel my subscription. There is way too much advertising in the magazine and none of the crafts or projects really enticed me to get creative. It's too bad. Go with Martha Stewart Living or Sunset magazines instead, both high quality. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 6 of 17 people found the following review helpful: Hello... , January 8, 2004 Reviewer: A magazine reader (St. Helens, OR United States) For those of you that complain about advertisments in magazines, what are you whining about? How do you think magazines get a nice chunk of their funding? They have companies pay to have their products advertised in the mag. so shut up. On a happier note, I love this magazine. It has wonderfuly lovely ideas for make your house look beautiful though some of the ideas do seem a little pricey. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 18 customer reviews... So You'd Like To... "Be Well-Rounded" :by Mara Baechemel , 4th Grade Teacher, avid Amazon shopper Protecting Your Spines Natural Curves., :by Dr Adam Weiss , Doctor and Author "Enjoy a Terrific Media Mix" :by Mara Baechemel , 4th Grade Teacher, avid Amazon shopper Listmania! Interior Decorating Delights :A list by Psboston7 , 16 Various Magazine Subscriber Relaxing Gifts fro Mom :A list by hugandkiss , anyone Best Magazines for a Quiet Afternoon :A list by candi92 , Magazine Fiend and New Texan Browse for magazine subscriptions in: Titles, A-Z > B Subjects > Home & Garden > General Subjects > Home & Garden > Gardening I have read this magazine, and I want to review it. Is there a specific product you'd like us to sell? Tell us about it. Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. If you've found something incorrect, broken, or frustrating on this page, let us know so that we can improve it. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to suggestions made via this form. If you need help with an order, please contact Customer Service . Please mark as many of the following boxes that apply: Product information is missing important details. Product information is incorrect. The page contains typographical errors. The page takes too long to load. The page has a software bug in it. Content violates Amazon.com's policy on offensive language . Product offered violates Amazon.com's policy on items that can be listed for sale. Comments or Examples: Examples: Missing information such as dimensions and model number, typos, inaccuracies, etc. Where's My Stuff? • Track your recent orders . • View or change your orders in Your Account . Shipping & Returns • See our shipping rates & policies . • Return an item (here's our Returns Policy ). Need Help? • Forgot your password? Click here . • Redeem or buy a gift certificate. • Tax and seller information • Visit our Help department . Search Magazines Newspapers Newsletters All Products for Turn your past purchases into $$$ Learn more about selling at Amazon.com today! Top of Page Search | Browse Subjects | Top Sellers | Today's Deals | Gift Ideas | Newspapers | Professional & Trade Amazon.com Home | Directory of All Stores Our International Sites: Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | Japan | France | China Help | Shopping Cart | Your Account | Sell Items | 1-Click Settings Investor Relations | Press Releases | Careers Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1995-2005, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates
Real Estate Learning Center
Real Estate | Homes for Sale | Houses for Sale | RealEstate | REALTORs ® | Real Estate Agent State/Province: Anchorage Fairbanks Anniston-Oxford Auburn-Opelika Birmingham-Hoover Columbus Decatur Dothan Florence Gadsden Huntsville Mobile Montgomery Tuscaloosa Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Fort Smith Hot Springs Jonesboro Little Rock-North Little Rock Memphis Pine Bluff Texarkana Flagstaff Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale Prescott Tucson Yuma Bakersfield Chico El Centro Fresno Hanford-Corcoran Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale Madera Merced Modesto Napa Oakland-Fremont-Hayward Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura Redding Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville Salinas San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta Santa Cruz-Watsonville Santa Rosa-Petaluma Stockton Vallejo-Fairfield Visalia-Porterville Yuba City-Marysville Boulder Colorado Springs Denver-Aurora Fort Collins-Loveland Grand Junction Greeley Pueblo Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford New Haven-Milford Norwich-New London Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Dover Wilmington Cape Coral-Fort Myers Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin Gainesville Jacksonville Lakeland-Winter Haven Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall Naples-Marco Island Ocala Orlando Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville Panama City-Lynn Haven Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent Port St. Lucie-Fort Pierce Punta Gorda Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice Tallahassee Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Vero Beach West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach Albany Athens-Clarke County Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Augusta-Richmond County Brunswick Chattanooga Columbus Dalton Gainesville Hinesville-Fort Stewart Macon Rome Savannah Valdosta Warner Robins Honolulu Ames Cedar Rapids Davenport-Moline-Rock Island Des Moines Dubuque Iowa City Omaha-Council Bluffs Sioux City Waterloo-Cedar Falls Boise City-Nampa Coeur d'Alene Idaho Falls Lewiston Logan Pocatello Bloomington-Normal Champaign-Urbana Chicago-Naperville-Joliet Danville Davenport-Moline-Rock Island Decatur Kankakee-Bradley Lake County-Kenosha County Peoria Rockford Saint Louis Springfield Anderson Bloomington Cincinnati-Middletown Columbus Elkhart-Goshen Evansville Fort Wayne Gary Indianapolis Kokomo Lafayette Louisville Michigan City-La Porte Muncie South Bend-Mishawaka Terre Haute Kansas City Lawrence Saint Joseph Topeka Wichita Bowling Green Cincinnati-Middletown Clarksville Elizabethtown Evansville Huntington-Ashland Lexington-Fayette Louisville Owensboro Alexandria Baton Rouge Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux Lafayette Lake Charles Monroe New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner Shreveport-Bossier City Barnstable Town Boston-Quincy Cambridge-Newton-Framingham Essex County Pittsfield Providence-New Bedford-Fall River Springfield Worcester Baltimore-Towson Bethesda-Frederick-Gaithersburg Cumberland Hagerstown-Martinsburg Salisbury Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Wilmington Bangor Lewiston-Auburn Portland-South Portland Ann Arbor Battle Creek Bay City Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn Flint Grand Rapids-Wyoming Holland-Grand Haven Jackson Kalamazoo-Portage Lansing-East Lansing Monroe Muskegon-Norton Shores Niles-Benton Harbor Saginaw-Saginaw Township North South Bend-Mishawaka Warren-Farmington Hills-Troy Duluth Fargo Grand Forks La Crosse Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Rochester Saint Cloud Columbia Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Jefferson City Joplin Kansas City Saint Joseph Saint Louis Springfield Gulfport-Biloxi Hattiesburg Jackson Memphis Pascagoula Billings Great Falls Missoula Asheville Burlington Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Durham Fayetteville Goldsboro Greensboro-High Point Greenville Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir Jacksonville Raleigh-Cary Rocky Mount Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News Wilmington Winston-Salem Bismarck Fargo Grand Forks Lincoln Omaha-Council Bluffs Sioux City Manchester-Nashua Rockingham County-Strafford County Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Atlantic City Camden Edison New York-Wayne-White Plains Newark-Union Ocean City Trenton-Ewing Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Wilmington Albuquerque Farmington Las Cruces Santa Fe Carson City Las Vegas-Paradise Reno-Sparks Albany-Schenectady-Troy Binghamton Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Tonawanda Elmira Glens Falls Ithaca Kingston New York-Wayne-White Plains Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown Rochester Suffolk County-Nassau County Syracuse Utica-Rome Akron Canton-Massillon Cincinnati-Middletown Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor Columbus Dayton Huntington-Ashland Lima Mansfield Parkersburg-Marietta Sandusky Springfield Toledo Weirton-Steubenville Wheeling Youngstown-Warren-Boardman Fort Smith Lawton Oklahoma City Tulsa Bend Corvallis Eugene-Springfield Medford Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton Salem Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Altoona Erie Harrisburg-Carlisle Johnstown Lancaster Lebanon Newark-Union Philadelphia Pittsburgh Reading Scranton--Wilkes-Barre State College Williamsport York-Hanover Youngstown-Warren-Boardman Providence-New Bedford-Fall River Anderson Augusta-Richmond County Charleston-North Charleston Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Columbia Florence Greenville Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach Spartanburg Sumter Rapid City Sioux City Sioux Falls Chattanooga Clarksville Cleveland Jackson Johnson City Kingsport-Bristol Knoxville Memphis Morristown Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro Abilene Amarillo Austin-Round Rock Beaumont-Port Arthur Brownsville-Harlingen College Station-Bryan Corpus Christi Dallas-Plano-Irving El Paso Fort Worth-Arlington Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Laredo Longview Lubbock McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr Midland Odessa San Angelo San Antonio Sherman-Denison Texarkana Tyler Victoria Waco Wichita Falls Logan Ogden-Clearfield Provo-Orem Saint George Salt Lake City Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Bristol Charlottesville Danville Harrisonburg Kingsport-Bristol Lynchburg Richmond Roanoke Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Winchester Burlington-South Burlington Bellingham Bremerton-Silverdale Kennewick-Richland-Pasco Lewiston Longview-Kelso Mount Vernon-Anacortes Olympia Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton Seattle-Bellevue-Everett Spokane Tacoma Wenatchee Yakima Appleton Duluth Eau Claire Fond du Lac Green Bay Janesville La Crosse Lake County-Kenosha County Madison Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Oshkosh-Neenah Racine Sheboygan Wausau Charleston Cumberland Hagerstown-Martinsburg Huntington-Ashland Morgantown Parkersburg-Marietta Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Weirton-Steubenville Wheeling Winchester Casper Cheyenne Please Choose Your State Alabama, AL Alaska, AK Arizona, AZ Arkansas, AR California, CA Colorado, CO Connecticut, CT Delaware, DE District of Columbia, DC Florida, FL Georgia, GA Hawaii, HI Idaho, ID Illinois, IL Indiana, IN Iowa, IA Kansas, KS Kentucky, KY Louisiana, LA Maine, ME Maryland, MD Massachusetts, MA Michigan, MI Minnesota, MN Mississippi, MS Missouri, MO Montana, MT Nebraska, NE New Hampshire, NH New Jersey,, NJ New Mexico, NM New York, NY Nevada, NV North Carolina, NC North Dakota, ND Ohio, OH Oklahoma, OK Oregon, OR Pennsylvania, PA Rhode Island, RI South Carolina, SC South Dakota, SD Tennessee, TN Texas, TX Utah, UT Vermont, VT Virginia, VA Washington, WA West Virginia. WV Wisconsin, WI Wyoming, WY Metro Area: What's My Home Worth? Find a Home Sell a Home New Home Construction Get Pre-Qualified Home Remodeling Inventing a better way to buy or sell a home RealEstate.com offers you a smarter way to buy or sell a home. We offer a complete set of tools, tips, and resources that you can use as you progress throughout your entire process -- from dreaming of owning a home to moving into a new home of your own. RealEstate.com serves as a personal guide to help you with everything you need along the way! Buying a Home | Selling a Home | Homes for Sale | Credit Report & Score | House Prices at Domania New Home Construction | Find a Mover | Find a REALTOR ® | Home Financing | Real Estate Learning Center Customer Service | Publications | For the Media | News Releases | Join Our Real Estate Network | Post Home Listings Privacy | Security | Terms of Use | Jobs | Disclosures and Licenses | Sitemap | Loans | Commercial Real Estate Houses for Sale in: Atlanta | Austin | Boston | Charlotte | Chicago | Dallas | Denver | Houston | Las Vegas | Los Angeles Miami | Minneapolis | New York | Philadelphia | Phoenix | San Antonio | San Diego | San Francisco | Seattle Washington, DC | Real Estate in More Cities LendingTree technology and processes are patented under US Patent Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816. © 1998 - Real Estate.com, a service of LendingTree, LLC. All Rights Reserved.This site is directed at, and made available to, persons in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii only. Conversion to LendingTree, LLC We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. REALTOR ® -- A registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS ® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all of the real estate professionals participating in the "Agent's Competing" program are REALTORS ® , which are members of the National Association of REALTORS ® . The Home Depot ® is not affiliated with LendingTree, LLC. The Home Depot ® is a registered trademark of Homer TLC, Inc. RealEstate.com is not sponsored by or affiliated with the parent franchisor companies of any of the participating members of its network. * Represents amount of consumer incentives and rebates (in the form of gift cards or other incentives) paid to consumers since August, 2000. ** Full Terms and Conditions Partner Sites: Citysearch | Expedia | Hotels.com | Ticketmaster.com | Hotwire.com | Entertainment.com | Match.com Home Shopping Network | ReserveAmerica | LendingTree.com | iNest | ServiceMagic | Ask Jeeves | Gift Ideas Mortgage Calculator | Refinance at GetSmart | LendingTree Mortgage | Free Online Credit Report | Home Equity Loans
Home Equity Fraud How
Don’t Lose Your Home. Home Equity Fraud Home Equity Fraud Consumers Union West Coast Regional Office Don’t Lose Your Home. Home Equity Fraud How To Protect Yourself From Home Equity Lending Fraud DO Get free pre-loan counseling before you sign on the dotted line. Shop around for the best home equity loan for your financial situation. Read every word on any loan document before you sign. Avoid loans with one large "balloon payment" at the end. Protect your friends and neighbors by reporting home equity fraud immediately. DON’T Don’t fall for a loan from a door-to-door salesman or home improvement contractor who comes to your home. Don’t decide whether you can afford a loan by the monthly payments alone. Don’t sign anything that has blank spaces. Don’t take out a loan on your property for anyone else unless you can afford to lose that money forever. What Is Home Equity Fraud? Sometimes, taking out a loan against your home’s equity can be a good idea. Home equity borrowing should not be a problem as long as the loan is a fair one and you have the ability to repay the loan. Home equity lending fraud is different: Lenders seek you out and trick you into taking out a loan against your home which you cannot afford to repay. Most times, these loans have very high interest rates and steep fees. When you fall behind on your payments, the lender can take your home and all your equity through a legal process called foreclosure. The lender then owns your home. Once the damage is done, it is very hard to undo. Most people never get their homes back again. Why Should I Care? Nationally, home repair and home equity fraud have stripped the value from the homes of an estimated 100,000 people in 29 states. In the entire country, the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the areas hardest hit by home equity fraud. Real people, many of them senior citizens, have lost ownership of their homes and all their equity, with no hope of ever getting any of it back. Anyone with equity in a home is a potential target. You could be next. Your home equity is just like money. Protect it! If you are a homeowner or know someone who is, you should learn about home equity lending fraud. Knowing what to look for and how to protect yourself can keep you or a loved one from losing a home. Here’s How To Protect Yourself From The Most Common Types Of Home Equity Fraud: Don’t take out a loan from an uninvited door-to-door contractor who appears at your home. Instead: Many local government agencies have special programs to make it easy to repair housing. See if you qualify for one of these programs available in your area. See the Home Improvement Resource List, a separate Consumers Union publication. Find your own contractor; don’t wait for one to come to you. Shop for your own financing. You’ll probably get a better deal. Steer clear of door-to-door salespersons who want to fix your home after a disaster such as an earthquake or flood. Instead: Call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1(800)462-9029 for information about repairing and financing repairs to your home after a disaster. If you are in foreclosure because you couldn’t pay your mortgage, someone you never heard of will offer you a new loan. Watch out. Instead: Think about selling your home and keeping your equity rather than taking out another loan. See a credit counselor to talk about all of your alternatives. Don’t put your other debts "on the house" through a bill consolidation plan. When you consolidate credit card debt or your car loan, for example, into a home equity loan, you put your home on the line for that debt. Once you put that debt "on your house," you can lose your home if you don’t make those payments. Instead: Talk to a credit counselor. You can get help to work with your creditors to make payments more manageable, possibly without putting debt "on your house." Look Out For These Danger Signs "No Credit? No Job? No Problem!" "Don’t worry, you have plenty of equity in your home to qualify for a loan." Walk away from anyone who says any of these things to you. You may be dealing with someone who will treat you unfairly. They don’t care if you can pay the loan. They know they can legally take your house through foreclosure if you don’t pay. In their eyes, the one thing that "qualifies" you for a loan is your inability to pay it. Before you borrow against your home, ask yourself these two questions: Can I afford this loan? Just because a lender says you "qualify" doesn’t mean you are getting an affordable or fair loan. If you cannot afford the loan, you will lose your home. What will I do if I lose my home? Most people have nowhere to go after they lose their homes. Remember that it is easier to learn how to protect your home now than it is to pick up the pieces after it’s gone. Take advantage of free, local loan counseling. See the Resources section at the end of this pamphlet. Don’t Let Anyone Steal Your Home! Here’s How: DO Get the "big picture" on a loan. Look at more than the monthly payments. Make sure that a loan’s interest rate and fees are competitive and fair. Shop around with different lenders to compare. Hang-up on unsolicited telephone callers. Toss-out mailers you receive from companies offering to arrange a home loan for you. Steer clear of high-pressure sales tactics, such as claims that an offer is good only for a limited time. Seek help from a trusted family member or friend who understands financial matters and can help you get free loan counseling. Avoid loans that are set up as "interest only, non-amortizing or partially amortizing loans." With this type of loan, you still owe the money you borrowed after you make all the payments. You must make one large, final payment, known as a balloon payment. If you can’t make this payment, you may lose your home through foreclosure. You should avoid these loans at all cost. Beware of lenders or contractors who try to trick you into signing away your home. Make sure that a "Contract for Home Improvement Services" is only that. Don’t give your house away by signing a "Deed of Trust" or a "Quitclaim Deed." Think twice about taking out a loan against your home to give money to anyone,even a friend or family member. Consider such a request only if you can afford lose that money forever. Otherwise, you may lose your house if the other person doesn’t repay you in time. Act fast if you were pressured into signing for a loan you didn’t really want or cannot afford. Federal law gives you three days to get out of a loan contract whenever your home is used as security for a home equity loan. You may cancel the loan for any reason, but only if you do it in writing within 3 days. This is known as the right of rescission. Contact an attorney immediately if you have any questions about whether your lender violated the law. DON’T Don’t sign anything related to a home loan without first obtaining independent, free advice from a nonprofit counseling agency. Check the Resources list below. Don’t take the first loan offer that lands in your lap. Shop around! Some lenders charge more than others do. Don’t trust door-to-door loan sellers. If you really need or want a home loan, you should make the first contact and carefully investigate all the possibilities before considering a loan. Don’t take out a loan that is made solely on the value of your home, not on your ability to repay it. Your home equity alone does not give you the income you need to make the monthly payments. Don’t borrow more money than you need. The bigger the loan, the more stake your lender will have in your home equity. Don’t sign a form with incorrect information about yourself on it. Don’t sign anything to do with your home that contains blank spaces. Once your signature is on a form, anyone can fill in those blank spaces with obligations that may be very different than the ones you have agreed to. Don’t sign any forms written in a language you do not understand. You may be signing away your home without even realizing it! It’s okay to say "I don’t understand and I will not sign this." Remember: if the offer is good today, it should be good tomorrow If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Resources Before you take out a home equity loan, get pre-loan counseling for free: San Francisco Bar Association of San Francisco Equity Fraud Hotline and lawyer referral (415) 782-8903 Consumer Credit Counseling Service (415) 788-0288 or (800) 777-7526 Consumer Action (415) 777-9635 Alameda County ECHO Housing (510) 271-7931 Contra Costa County ECHO Housing (925) 679-8023 San Mateo County Consumer Credit Counseling Service (800) 200-6444 Legal Aid Society of San Mateo (650) 377-0158 East Palo Alto Law Collective (650) 853-1600 Santa Clara County Consumer Credit Counseling Service (800) 969-7526 If you feel you are the victim of home equity lending fraud, call one of the local agencies above. Then call the National Fraud Information Center. File a written complaint against the lender with the appropriate local law enforcement and state regulatory agencies. National Fraud Information Center (800) 876-7060 Fraud reports from consumers are sent within minutes to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Law Enforcement: San Francisco Office of the District Attorney: (415) 553-1814 Alameda County Office of the District Attorney: (510) 569-9281 Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney: (925) 646-4500 San Mateo County Office of the District Attorney: (650) 363-4677 Santa Clara County Office of the District Attorney, Real Estate Fraud Division (408) 792-2880 State Regulatory Agencies: Call each agency to see if the lender you are complaining about is licensed by that agency. Sometimes lenders are licensed by both agencies. California Department of Real Estate 185 Berry Street, Room 3400 San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 904-5925 California Department of Corporations 3700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 600 Los Angeles, CA 90010 (800) 347-6995 (toll free) [ Health ] [ Finance ] [ Food ] [ Product ] [ Other ] [ About CU ] [ News ] [ Tips ] [ Home ] Please contact us at: http://www.consunion.org/contact.htm All information ©1998 Consumers Union
Home Loan Center Mortgage
Sallie Mae Home Loans -- Click Here to Apply Today search SMHL.com " / Finance your child's private K-12 education to keep your payments practical and affordable Apply Today ! -- Home Loan Center Mortgage Solutions Manage Your Credit Calculators Glossary FAQs You Are Unique! -- At Sallie Mae Home Loans, we understand your individuality. With a Sallie Mae Home Loan you can look forward to: Financial Options personalized for you. Less Paperwork and faster turnaround. One-of-a-kind service and expert support. Not sure where to start? Check out our Loan Center or call us at (800) SLM-6404 to speak with one of our Home Loan Experts. If you are interested in receiving a free copy of our Sallie Mae Home Loans Home Buyers Guide, you can download one now or call us at (800) SLM-6404 to request one by mail. Click here to read the latest version of the Sallie Mae Home Loans Unique Expressions Newsletter or call us at (800) SLM-6404 to request one by mail. What Will My Payments Be? Loan Amount Appraised Value Term (years) Interest rate Property tax (yearly) Insurance (yearly) " name="B1" © FinanCenter Wipe out your student loans! Win up to $25,000 in student loan payoffs, or $12,000 cash. Learn more now. Privacy Statement Terms and Conditions of Use Licenses Contact Us Site Map Sallie Mae is a registered service mark and Sallie Mae Home Loans and the Sallie Mae Home Loans logo are service marks of Sallie Mae, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SLM Corporation. SLM corporation and its subsidiaries other than the Student Loan Marketing Association are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America. Sallie Mae Home Loans, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Lender. © 2004 Sallie Mae All Rights Reserved.
Real estate agents usually
Real estate brokers and sales agents Skip Navigation Links Latest Numbers U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov Search the Handbook BLS Home | OOH Home | Frequently Asked Questions | A-Z Index | Contact Us Printer-friendly version ( HTML ) -- PDF ) -- Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents Nature of the Work Working Conditions Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement Employment Job Outlook Earnings Related Occupations Sources of Additional Information Significant Points Real estate brokers and sales agents often work evenings and weekends and usually are on call to suit the needs of clients. A license is required in every State and the District of Columbia. Although gaining a job may be relatively easy, beginning workers may face competition fromwell-established, more experienced agents and brokers in obtaining listings and in closing an adequate number of sales. Employment is sensitive to swings in the economy, especially interest rates; during periodsof declining economic activity and increasing interest rates, the volume of sales and the resultingdemand for sales workers fall. Nature of the Work [ About this section ] Back to Top One of the most complex and significant financial events in peoples lives is the purchase or sale of a home or investment property. Because of this complexity and significance, people typically seek the help of real estate brokers and sales agents when buying or selling real estate. Real estate brokers and sales agents have a thorough knowledge of the real estate market in their communities. They know which neighborhoods will best fit clients needs and budgets. They are familiar with local zoning and tax laws and know where to obtain financing. Agents and brokers also act as intermediaries in price negotiations between buyers and sellers. Real estate agents usually are independent sales workers who provide their services to a licensed real estate broker on a contract basis. In return, the broker pays the agent a portion of the commission earned from the agents sale of the property. Brokers are independent businesspeople who sell real estate owned by others; they also may rent or manage properties for a fee. When selling real estate, brokers arrange for title searches and for meetings between buyers and sellers during which the details of the transactions are agreed upon and the new owners take possession of the property. A broker may help to arrange favorable financing from a lender for the prospective buyer; often, this makes the difference between success and failure in closing a sale. In some cases, brokers and agents assume primary responsibility for closing sales; in others, lawyers or lenders do. Brokers supervise agents who may have many of the same job duties. Brokers also supervise their own offices, advertise properties, and handle other business matters. Some combine other types of work, such as selling insurance or practicing law, with their real estate business. Besides making sales, agents and brokers must have properties to sell. Consequently, they spend a significant amount of time obtaining listings—agreements by owners to place properties for sale with the firm. When listing a property for sale, agents and brokers compare the listed property with similar properties that recently sold, in order to determine a competitive market price for the property. Once the property is sold, both the agent who sold it and the agent who obtained the listing receive a portion of the commission. Thus, agents who sell a property that they themselves have listed can increase their commission. Most real estate brokers and sales agents sell residential property. A small number—usually employed in large or specialized firms—sell commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other types of real estate. Every specialty requires knowledge of that particular type of property and clientele. Selling or leasing business property requires an understanding of leasing practices, business trends, and the location of the property. Agents who sell or lease industrial properties must know about the regions transportation, utilities, and labor supply. Whatever the type of property, the agent or broker must know how to meet the clients particular requirements. Before showing residential properties to potential buyers, agents meet with them to get a feeling for the type of home the buyers would like. In this prequalifying phase, the agent determines how much the buyers can afford to spend. In addition, the agent and the buyer usually sign a loyalty contract which states that the agent will be the only one to show houses to buyers. An agent or broker then generates lists of properties for sale, their location and description, and available sources of financing. In some cases, agents and brokers use computers to give buyers a virtual tour of properties in which they are interested. With a computer, buyers can view interior and exterior images or floor plans without leaving the real estate office. Agents may meet several times with prospective buyers to discuss and visit available properties. Agents identify and emphasize the most pertinent selling points. To a young family looking for a house, they may emphasize the convenient floor plan, the areas low crime rate, and the proximity to schools and shopping centers. To a potential investor, they may point out the tax advantages of owning a rental property and the ease of finding a renter. If bargaining over price becomes necessary, agents must follow their clients instructions carefully and may have to present counteroffers in order to get the best possible price. Once both parties have signed the contract, the real estate broker or agent must make sure that all special terms of the contract are met before the closing date. For example, the agent must make sure that the mandated and agreed-upon inspections, including that of the home and termite and radon inspections, take place. Also, if the seller agrees to any repairs, the broker or agent must see that they are made. Increasingly, brokers and agents are handling environmental problems as well, by making sure that the properties they sell meet environmental regulations. For example, they may be responsible for dealing with lead paint on the walls. While loan officers, attorneys, or other persons handle many details, the agent must ensure that they are carried out. Working Conditions [ About this section ] Back to Top Advances in telecommunications and the ability to retrieve data about properties over the Internet allow many real estate brokers and sales agents to work out of their homes instead of real estate offices. Even with this convenience, much of the time of these workers is spent away from their desks—showing properties to customers, analyzing properties for sale, meeting with prospective clients, or researching the state of the market. Agents and brokers often work more than a standard 40-hour week. They usually work evenings and weekends and are always on call to suit the needs of clients. Although the hours are long and frequently irregular, most agents and brokers have the freedom to determine their own schedule. Consequently, they can arrange their work so that they can have time off when they want it. Business usually is slower during the winter season. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement [ About this section ] Back to Top In every State and the District of Columbia, real estate brokers and sales agents must be licensed. Prospective agents must be high school graduates, be at least 18 years old, and pass a written test. The examination—more comprehensive for brokers than for agents—includes questions on basic real estate transactions and laws affecting the sale of property. Most States require candidates for the general sales license to complete between 30 and 90 hours of classroom instruction. Those seeking a brokers license need between 60 and 90 hours of formal training and a specific amount of experience selling real estate, usually 1 to 3 years. Some States waive the experience requirements for the brokers license for applicants who have a bachelors degree in real estate. State licenses typically must be renewed every 1 or 2 years; usually, no examination needs to be taken. However, many States require continuing education for license renewals. Prospective agents and brokers should contact the real estate licensing commission of the State in which they wish to work in order to verify the exact licensing requirements. As real estate transactions have become more legally complex, many firms have turned to college graduates to fill positions. A large number of agents and brokers have some college training. College courses in real estate, finance, business administration, statistics, economics, law, and English are helpful. For those who intend to start their own company, business courses such as marketing and accounting are as significant as courses in real estate or finance. Personality traits are equally as important as ones academic background. Brokers look for applicants who possess a pleasant personality, are honest, and present a neat appearance. Maturity, good judgment, trustworthiness, and enthusiasm for the job are required in order to encourage prospective customers in this highly competitive field. Agents should be well organized, be detail oriented, and have a good memory for names, faces, and business particulars. Those interested in jobs as real estate agents often begin in their own communities. Their knowledge of local neighborhoods is a clear advantage. Under the direction of an experienced agent, beginners learn the practical aspects of the job, including the use of computers to locate or list available properties and identify sources of financing. Many firms offer formal training programs for both beginners and experienced agents. Larger firms usually offer more extensive programs than smaller firms. More than a thousand universities, colleges, and junior colleges offer courses in real estate. At some, a student can earn an associates or bachelors degree with a major in real estate; several offer advanced degrees. Many local real estate associations that are members of the National Association of Realtors sponsor courses covering the fundamentals and legal aspects of the field. Advanced courses in mortgage financing, property development and management, and other subjects also are available. Advancement opportunities for agents may take the form of higher rates of commission. As agents gain knowledge and expertise, they become more efficient in closing a greater number of transactions and increase their earnings. In many large firms, experienced agents can advance to sales manager or general manager. Persons who have received their brokers license may open their own offices. Others with experience and training in estimating property value may become real estate appraisers, and people familiar with operating and maintaining rental properties may become property managers. (See the Handbook statements on property, real estate, and community association managers ; and appraisers and assessors of real estate . ) Experienced agents and brokers with a thorough knowledge of business conditions and property values in their localities may enter mortgage financing or real estate investment counseling. Employment [ About this section ] Back to Top In 2004, real estate brokers and sales agents held about 460,000 jobs; real estate sales agents held approximately 24 percent of these jobs. Many worked part time, combining their real estate activities with other careers. About 6 out of 10 real estate agents and brokers were self-employed. Real estate is sold in all areas, but employment is concentrated in large urban areas and in rapidly growing communities. Most real estate firms are relatively small; indeed, some are one-person businesses. By contrast, some large real estate firms have several hundred agents operating out of numerous branch offices. Many brokers have franchise agreements with national or regional real estate organizations. Under this type of arrangement, the broker pays a fee in exchange for the privilege of using the more widely known name of the parent organization. Although franchised brokers often receive help in training sales staff and running their offices, they bear the ultimate responsibility for the success or failure of their firms. Real estate brokers and sales agents are older, on average, than most other workers. Historically, many homemakers and retired persons were attracted to real estate sales by the flexible and part-time work schedules characteristic of the field. These individuals could enter, leave, and later return to the occupation, depending on the strength of the real estate market, their family responsibilities, or other personal circumstances. Recently, however, the attractiveness of part-time real estate work has declined, as increasingly complex legal and technological requirements are raising startup costs associated with becoming an agent. Job Outlook [ About this section ] Back to Top Employment of real estate brokers and sales agents is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through the year 2014, because of the increasing housing needs of a growing population, as well as the perception that real estate is a good investment. Relatively low interest rates should continue to stimulate sales of real estate, resulting in the need for more agents and brokers. In addition, a large number of job openings will arise each year from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. However, job growth will be somewhat limited by the increasing use of technology, which is improving the productivity of agents and brokers. For example, prospective customers often can perform their own searches for properties that meet their criteria by accessing real estate information on the Internet. The increasing use of technology is likely to be more detrimental to part-time or temporary real estate agents than to full-time agents, because part-time agents generally are not able to compete with full-time agents who have invested in new technology. Changing legal requirements, such as disclosure laws, also may dissuade some who are not serious about practicing full time from continuing to work part time. This occupation is relatively easy to enter and is attractive because of its flexible working conditions; the high interest in, and familiarity with, local real estate markets that entrants often have; and the potential for high earnings. Therefore, although gaining a job as a real estate agent or broker may be relatively easy, beginning agents and brokers may face competition from their well-established, more experienced counterparts in obtaining listings and in closing an adequate number of sales. Well-trained, ambitious people who enjoy selling—particularly those with extensive social and business connections in their communities—should have the best chance for success. Employment of real estate brokers and sales agents often is sensitive to swings in the economy, especially interest rates. During periods of declining economic activity and increasing interest rates, the volume of sales and the resulting demand for sales workers falls. As a result, the earnings of agents and brokers decline, and many work fewer hours or leave the occupation altogether. Earnings [ About this section ] Back to Top The median annual earnings of salaried real estate sales agents, including commissions, were $35,670 in May 2004.The middle 50 percent earned between $23,500 and $58,110 a year.The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,600, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,770.Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of real estate sales agents in May 2004 were as follows: Residential building construction $54,770 Offices of real estate agents and brokers 37,970 Activities related to real estate 32,460 Lessors of real estate 25,840 Median annual earnings of salaried real estate brokers, including commission, were $58,720in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,480 and $99,820 a year.Median annual earning of real estate brokers were $61,550 in offices of real estateagents and brokers and $44,920 in activities related to real estate. Commissions on sales are the main source of earnings of real estate agents and brokers.The rate of commission varies according to whatever the agent and broker agree on, the typeof property, and its value. The percentage paid on the sale of farm and commercialproperties or unimproved land is typically higher than the percentage paid for selling a home. Commissions may be divided among several agents and brokers. When the property issold, the broker or agent who obtained the listing usually shares the commission with thebroker or agent who made the sale and with the firm that employs each of them. Although anagents share varies greatly from one firm to another, often it is about half of the totalamount received by the firm. Agents who both list and sell a property maximize their commission. Income usually increases as an agent gains experience, but individual motivation,economic conditions, and the type and location of the property also affect earnings.Sales workers who are active in community organizations and in local real estate associationscan broaden their contacts and increase their earnings. A beginners earnings often areirregular, because a few weeks or even months may go by without a sale. Although some brokersallow an agent to draw against future earnings from a special account, the practice is notcommon with new employees. The beginner, therefore, should have enough money to live forabout 6 months or until commissions increase. Related Occupations [ About this section ] Back to Top Selling expensive items such as homes requires maturity, tact, and a sense of responsibility.Other sales workers who find these character traits important in their workinclude insurance sales agents ; retail salespersons ; sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing ; and securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents .Although not involving sales, the work of property, real estate, and community association managers ,as well as appraisers and assessors of real estate, requires an understanding of real estate. Sources of Additional Information [ About this section ] Back to Top Disclaimer: Links to non-BLS Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement. Information on licensing requirements for real estate brokers and sales agents is available from most local real estate organizations or from the State real estate commission or board. More information about opportunities in real estate is available on the Internet site of the following organization: National Association of Realtors. Internet: http://www.realtor.org OOH ONET Codes [ About this section ] Back to Top 41-9021.00, 41-9022.00 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook , 2006-07 Edition , Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents , on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ ocos120.htm (visited December 29, 2005 ). Last Modified Date: December 20, 2005 Occupations: Management | Professional | Service | Sales | Administrative | Farming | Construction | Installation | Production | Transportation | Armed Forces Related Links: Tomorrow's Jobs | OOH Reprints | Important Info | How to Order a Copy | Teacher's Guide to OOH Additional Links: Career Guide to Industries | Career articles from the OOQ | Employment Projections | Publications Home | BLS Home Back to Top www.dol.gov Frequently Asked Questions | Freedom of Information Act | Customer Survey Privacy & Security Statement | Linking to Our Site | Accessibility U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections Suite 2135 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20212-0001 URL: http://www.bls.gov/OCO/ Phone: (202) 691-5700 Fax: (202) 691-5745 Do you have a question about the Occupational Outlook Handbook ? Technical (web) questions: webmaster@bls.gov Other comments: feedback@bls.gov Occupations: Management Professional Service Sales Administrative Farming Construction Installation Production Transportation Armed Forces Related Links: Tomorrow's Jobs OOH Reprints Important Info How to Order a Copy Teacher's Guide to OOH Additional Links: Career Guide to Industries Career articles from the OOQ Employment Projections Publications Home BLS Home