Texas Land Trusts About

Texas Land Trust Council Board of Directors Maincontent Local Navigation print friendly search Regulations Publications Outdoor Learning Kids Game Warden Grants Get Involved Shop FAQ Calendar Español Experience Texas Fishing & Boating State Parks & Destinations Hunting & Wildlife Land & Water Doing Business Home Land & Water Land Private Tltc Board Texas Land Trusts About Texas Land Trusts Starting a Land Trust Texas Land Trust Directory Foreword Listing Regional Index About the Texas Land Trust Council ( TLTC ) TLTC Board of Directors and Honorary Council News 2004 TLTC Conference Speech Bulletin Board TLTC Publications Land Trust Resources Texas Land Trusts Top 1-Million Mark in Acres Conserved Texas Land Trust Council Board of Directors Valarie Bristol, Chair Austin Kathy Pyne, Chair-Elect Houston Steve Bonner, Vice President Boerne Joy Hester, Treasurer Houston June Kachtik, Secretary San Antonio Mary Anne Piacentini, Past Chair Houston David Bezanson Austin Robert Forrester Amarillo Norene Hutchinson San Antonio Anjali Kaul Austin Merritt Kennedy Corpus Christi Jennifer Lorenz Houston Patrick McGloin Corpus Christi Carter Smith San Antonio Jim Varnum Farmers Branch Texas Land Trust Honorary Council Robert Ayres Austin Dave Behm Albany, NY Mickey Burleson Temple Jeff Francell Austin John Hamilton Louisville, KY Terese Hershey Houston Colleen Curran Hook McAllen Amy Monier Dallas Andy Sansom Austin Contact Us | Help | Accessibility | Media | Site Policies | Complaints | Intranet | State of Texas | TRAILS Search | TexasOnline | Compact with Texans Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 Toll Free: (800) 792-1112, Austin: (512) 389-4800 Content of this site © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. Last modified: August 5, 2005, 8:50 am

Real Estate Listing

San Diego real estate, MLS real estate listings, San Diego County real estate San Diego real estate San Diego county real estate - San Diego homes San Diego real estate Search the San Diego MLS San Diego real estate source San Diego real estate . . .Buying, selling, relocating . .to INSURE the BEST POSSIBLE DEAL Use the expertise of Bob Schwartz, Certified Residential Specialist Cell/Pager: 619-300-8819 Home office: 619-286-5604 *This site is continually (usually twice weekly) updated. Just Listed! San Carlos - Cosmetic Fixer! SAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS 4Br./2.5Ba.+Fam. Rm 1,800+Sq.Ft. . Click Here for more info on this San Carlos home Westerly Sunset Views Value Ranged just $499,000 to $529,000 San Diego local real estate facts . Sellers - Expose your property to over 96 Times more traffic than most real estate sites! 17,341 Unique visitors in March '05 San Diego county real estate - San Diego homes San Diego real estate Search the San Diego MLS San Diego real estate news that affects you ! San Diego Neighborhood real estate activity Certified Residential Specialist --- The'inside' secret to your BEST real estate deal! San Diego Home appreciation San Diego CA real estate value growth San Diego California Population Growth San Diego Communities Real estate San Diego - Hi-Tech marketing California Real Estate Prices San Diego (92120) Average Residential Detached sales price Nov. 2005 -- $ 632,434 (Source:S.D.A.R.) Calif. median home price - Oct. 05: $538,770 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region Oct. 05: Santa Barbara So. Coast $1,225,000 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region Oct. 05: High Desert $315,870 (Source: C.A.R.) Come surf the San Diego California real estate market with the assistance of Bob Schwartz , a C ertified R esidential S pecialist with 27 years experience Bob & his long board. In surfing, selecting the right board is very important. When buying or selling real estate, selecting the right real estate professional is even more important! Many times, your real estate transaction is going to be the largest monetary decision you'll ever make! This is not something you want to trust to just anyone! Bob Schwartz, Certified Residential Specialist Just 5% of all Realtors have earned this coveted nation designation! San Diego real estate table of content s Sellers -Expose your property to over 96 Times more traffic than most real estate sites! www.brokerforyou.com Summary by Month Month Monthly Totals Visits Pages Files Hits Mar 2005 17341 41148 238856 309153 Feb 2005 14726 34034 221890 281081 Jan 2005 15353 35013 239054 295682 San Diego rentals For San Diego rental information on these rental and others, visit the free San Diego rental & sale photo site at: San Diego for sale by owner Find YOUR San Diego Dream Home Get FREE local real estate news ! Preferred Real Estate Property Locator San Diego CA e-mail Newsletter San Diego California Real Estate News Real Estate Glossary Get the FACTS before you hire a real estate representative Bob's Background Real Estate 100% Guarantee Client Testimonial s Bob's real estate Awards San Diego real estate services Hi-Tec Radio Broadcasting San Diego MLS website Real Estate Awards brokerforyou.com Site Awards San Diego websites Interesting websites Fun in San Diego San Diego Monthly Events San Diego Padres San Diego Chargers San Diego Sports San Diego Golf Courses San Diego Hotels San Diego Zoo Sea World San Diego San Diego vacation attractions tours Real Estate Facts Home Buyer's Facts Home Seller's Facts San Diego Facts San Diego real estate website traffic San Diego housing value tends California's new sales witholding tax San Diego real estate sales history San Diego County real estate sales history San Diego median price history East County median price history San Diego County real estate news Real estate & Hollywood stars Money Saving Facts San Diego home - finding your own place Condo sellers SAVE over $100 when selling! Tax Breaks Home Energy Saving Tips Epson inkjet cartridges Imprinted products Domain name registration Web hosting Internet software California gold nuggets Web site awards Weather + San Diego Weather San Diego's electric rates & possible ways to lower your cost! San Diego Employment + Legal resources California real estate laws for 2005 San Diego Employers/Business Overview San Diego lawyers - San Diego attorneys Los Angeles Orange County lawyers - attorneys San Francisco Oakland lawyers - attorneys Sacramento CA lawyers - attorneys directory S an Jose CA lawyers - attorneys directory Fresno CA lawyers - attorneys directory Riverside attorneys -San Bernardino attorneys California attorneys - California lawyers legal advice library - legal articles - legal websites Las Vegas Nevda lawyers - Vegas attorneys Houston Texas lawyers Houston attorneys Dallas Texas lawyers Dallas attorneys Austin Texas lawyers Austin attorneys San Antonio Texas lawyers San Antonio attorneys Epson ink cartridge replacements San Diego costal homes - La Jolla Del Mar Encinitas Downtown San Diego real estate for sale Health Health-Care Senior Services San Diego dentist - Tijuana dentist San Diego plastic surgery San Diego cosmetic surgery Hoodia Gordoni info Education San Diego school rankings San Diego State University University of San Diego USD Brokerforyou.com Site Search San Diego lawyers attorneys directory San Diego real estate articles Ready to Move! Moving Tips Buying Process Who pays what? Mortgage Disclosure Eats - Hotels San Diego Restaurants San Diego Hotels San Diego vacation attractions Free Stuff! FREE for my web site visitors: How much is you home worth? Free home market value report R eal estate software. Useful software program for Windows compatible computers San Diego real estate selected to meet your individual needs & full details e-mailed to you Nation-wide Certified Residential Specialist Referrals 'Insiders' money-saving report for home sellers San Diego Monthly e-mail real estate newsletter Vacation/Travel/Air Fare Money-Saving Discounts San Diego for sale by owner - List your home w/picture on the Internet San Diego costal real estate site. Featuring La Jolla real estate Del Mar real estate Encinitas real estate The expertise of Bob Schwartz, real estate broker , Certified Residential Specialist = Your BEST POSSIBLE Deal Buying or Selling San Diego real estate Contact Information Bob Schwartz Telephone: Toll-Fre e : Only for sale/purchase real estate inquires: 1-866-895-3715 Cell/Pager: 619-300-8819 Home office: 619-286-5604 fax: 619-229-0048 Postal address: Brokerforyou c/o Bob Schwartz 7966 Laurelridge Road, San Diego CA 92120 Electronic mail: ***Privacy Policy*** We will NEVER release, sell or give any of your information to any other party or organization. You will only receive requested information or updates and only from us. SAN DIEGO REAL ESTATE INTERNET WARNING: The Internet is a great source for information, but can never be a substitute for 27 years of actual real estate experience! California real estate sales, with their myriad of disclosure laws, makes for one of the most complicated sales transactions. From Natural Hazard Disclosures to City water retrofit transfer of responsibility forms, anyone entering into a real estate transaction here, without proper advice, guidance, and professional opinion is gambling with one of their biggest monetary investments. I care about my clients and strive to help them reach their goals in a conservative, professional manner. There is no substitute for the real estate experience I can bring to any negotiation. To insure an accurate understanding of any Internet real estate data, please contact : BOB SCHWARTZ, real estate broker, Certified Residential Specialist. brokerforyou.com/Bob Schwartz does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose of the information contained in brokerforyou.com. brokerforyou.com does not in any way endorse the individuals described in brokerforyou.com, nor does brokerforyou.com verify qualifications, licenses, practice areas or suitability of the listed service providers or web links. In no event shall brokerforyou.com be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken by you in reliance on such information. Any damages or expenses of any kind, for any reason, shall be limited to the amount paid to access brokerforyou.com. The above warranties are the only warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Del Cerro, Santee, La Mesa, San Carlos Epson inkjet cartridges View our partner real estate websites Best Real Estate website Award Click here to apply for this FREE real estate website award. San Diego Excellent Website Award ... is presented to those San Diego websites whose web content provides useful, instructive information, shows superior design and has achieved levels of excellence deserving of recognition Click here to apply for this FREE San Diego California website award. Web Genie Website Award is presented by search engine placement - Promotions Unlimited San Diego real estate source = brokerforyou.com San Diego real estate broker, Bob Schwartz is a Certified Residential Specialist and is active in San Diego residential sales throughout San Diego County. Just a few of the San Diego communities Bob is active in are: San Carlos - La Mesa - Fashion Valley - Mission Valley - Point Loma - Pacific Beach - Clairemont - North Park - Hillcrest - Mission Hills - Kensington - San Diego State College -Santee - El Cajon - Lakeside - Allied Gardens - Del Cerro

Home Loan

Home Equity Scams: Borrowers Beware! Home Equity Loans : Borrowers Beware! D o you own your home? If so, it's likely to be your greatest single asset. Unfortunately, if you agree to a loan that's based on the equity you have in your home, you may be putting your most valuable asset at risk. Homeowners-particularly elderly, minority and those with low incomes or poor credit-should be careful when borrowing money based on their home equity. Why? Certain abusive or exploitative lenders target these borrowers, who unwittingly may be putting their home on the line. Abusive lending practices range from equity stripping and loan flipping to hiding loan terms and packing a loan with extra charges. The Federal Trade Commission urges you to be aware of these loan practices to avoid losing your home. The Practices Equity Stripping You need money. You don't have much income coming in each month. You have built up equity in your home. A lender tells you that you could get a loan, even though you know your income is just not enough to keep up with the monthly payments. The lender encourages you to "pad" your income on your application form to help get the loan approved. This lender may be out to steal the equity you have built up in your home. The lender doesn't care if you can't keep up with the monthly payments. As soon as you don't, the lender will foreclose-taking your home and stripping you of the equity you have spent years building. If you take out a loan but don't have enough income to make the monthly payments, you are being set up. You probably will lose your home. Hidden Loan Terms: The Balloon Payment You've fallen behind in your mortgage payments and may face foreclosure. Another lender offers to save you from foreclosure by refinancing your mortgage and lowering your monthly payments. Look carefully at the loan terms. The payments may be lower because the lender is offering a loan on which you repay only the interest each month. At the end of the loan term, the principal-that is, the entire amount that you borrowed-is due in one lump sum called a balloon payment. If you can't make the balloon payment or refinance, you face foreclosure and the loss of your home. Loan Flipping Suppose you've had your mortgage for years. The interest rate is low and the monthly payments fit nicely into your budget, but you could use some extra money. A lender calls to talk about refinancing, and using the availability of extra cash as bait, claims it's time the equity in your home started "working" for you. You agree to refinance your loan. After you've made a few payments on the loan, the lender calls to offer you a bigger loan for, say, a vacation. If you accept the offer, the lender refinances your original loan and then lends you additional money. In this practice-often called "flipping"-the lender charges you high points and fees each time you refinance, and may increase your interest rate as well. If the loan has a prepayment penalty, you will have to pay that penalty each time you take out a new loan. You now have some extra money and a lot more debt, stretched out over a longer time. The extra cash you receive may be less than the additional costs and fees you were charged for the refinancing. And what's worse, you are now paying interest on those extra fees charged in each refinancing. Long story short? With each refinancing, you've increased your debt and probably are paying a very high price for some extra cash. After a while, if you get in over your head and can't pay, you could lose your home. The "Home Improvement" Loan A contractor calls or knocks on your door and offers to install a new roof or remodel your kitchen at a price that sounds reasonable. You tell him you're interested, but can't afford it. He tells you it's no problem-he can arrange financing through a lender he knows. You agree to the project, and the contractor begins work. At some point after the contractor begins, you are asked to sign a lot of papers. The papers may be blank or the lender may rush you to sign before you have time to read what you've been given. The contractor threatens to leave the work on your house unfinished if you don't sign. You sign the papers. Only later, you realize that the papers you signed are a home equity loan. The interest rate, points and fees seem very high. To make matters worse, the work on your home isn't done right or hasn't been completed, and the contractor, who may have been paid by the lender, has little interest in completing the work to your satisfaction. Credit Insurance Packing You've just agreed to a mortgage on terms you think you can afford. At closing, the lender gives you papers to sign that include charges for credit insurance or other "benefits" that you did not ask for and do not want. The lender hopes you don't notice this, and that you just sign the loan papers where you are asked to sign. The lender doesn't explain exactly how much extra money this will cost you each month on your loan. If you do notice, you're afraid that if you ask questions or object, you might not get the loan. The lender may tell you that this insurance comes with the loan, making you think that it comes at no additional cost. Or, if you object, the lender may even tell you that if you want the loan without the insurance, the loan papers will have to be rewritten, that it could take several days, and that the manager may reconsider the loan altogether. If you agree to buy the insurance, you really are paying extra for the loan by buying a product you may not want or need. Mortgage Servicing Abuses After you get a mortgage, you receive a letter from your lender saying that your monthly payments will be higher than you expected. The lender says that your payments include escrow for taxes and insurance even though you arranged to pay those items yourself with the lender's okay. Later, a message from the lender says you are being charged late fees. But you know your payments were on time. Or, you may receive a message saying that you failed to maintain required property insurance and the lender is buying more costly insurance at your expense. Other charges that you don't understand-like legal fees-are added to the amount you owe, increasing your monthly payments or the amount you owe at the end of the loan term. The lender doesn't provide you with an accurate or complete account of these charges. You ask for a payoff statement to refinance with another lender and receive a statement that's inaccurate or incomplete. The lender's actions make it almost impossible to determine how much you've paid or how much you owe. You may pay more than you owe. Signing Over Your Deed If you are having trouble paying your mortgage and the lender has threatened to foreclose and take your home, you may feel desperate. Another "lender" may contact you with an offer to help you find new financing. Before he can help you, he asks you to deed your property to him, claiming that it's a temporary measure to prevent foreclosure. The promised refinancing that would let you save your home never comes through. Once the lender has the deed to your property, he starts to treat it as his own. He may borrow against it (for his benefit, not yours) or even sell it to someone else. Because you don't own the home any more, you won't get any money when the property is sold. The lender will treat you as a tenant and your mortgage payments as rent. If your "rent" payments are late, you can be evicted from your home. Protecting Yourself You can protect yourself against losing your home to inappropriate lending practices. Here's how: Don't: Agree to a home equity loan if you don't have enough income to make the monthly payments. Sign any document you haven't read or any document that has blank spaces to be filled in after you sign. Let anyone pressure you into signing any document. Agree to a loan that includes credit insurance or extra products you don't want. Let the promise of extra cash or lower monthly payments get in the way of your good judgment about whether the cost you will pay for the loan is really worth it. Deed your property to anyone. First consult an attorney, a knowledgeable family member, or someone else you trust. Do: Ask specifically if credit insurance is required as a condition of the loan. If it isn't, and a charge is included in your loan and you don't want the insurance, ask that the charge be removed from the loan documents. If you want the added security of credit insurance, shop around for the best rates. Keep careful records of what you've paid, including billing statements and canceled checks. Challenge any charge you think is inaccurate. Check contractors' references when it is time to have work done in your home. Get more than one estimate. Read all items carefully. If you need an explanation of any terms or conditions, talk to someone you can trust, such as a knowledgeable family member or an attorney. Consider all the costs of financing before you agree to a loan. For More Information 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. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE CONSUMER 1-877-FTC-HELP www.ftc.gov April 1998

home mortgage tools ,

Maine Home Mortgage Home Page. Welcome to Maine Home Mortgage Choose Experience and the Lowest Mortgage Rates in Maine . Serving Maine for over 15 years . Now is the perfect time to take advantage of low interest ratesto purchase real estate in Maine or refinance a mortgage in Maine. Use our web site to applyfor a mortgage online , use our home mortgage tools , view our home loan programs , contactus , or learn more aboutus ! It only takes 10 minutes to apply for a Maine Home Mortgage by phone or online! Local: 1-800-LOW-RATE / Out of State: 1-800-471-5730 Free Credit Report with Mortgage Application! We offer a variety of loan application options , including a Quick Application, a Standard Application, and a 5 Step Application that allows you to log in and complete your mortgage application later. To see how easy it is to apply for a mortgage online with Maine Home Mortgage, click here . Whatever your Maine mortgage residential financing needs, we will tailor a home loan that's right for you: Purchase Refinance Construction Home Improvement Home Equity Loans Investment Properties 100% Financing Debt Consolidation Loans Stated Income Loans Damaged Credit Loans! VA/FHA Seasonal Properties And more ! Distressed Credit? Get Answers Here! SELECTED RATES. CHECK MENU FOR MORE Rate APR Disc. Points 30 Year Fixed 6.125% 6.182% 0.000 20 Year Fixed 6.000% 6.076% 0.000 15 Year Fixed 5.875% 5.970% 0.000 30 Year Fixed Jumbo 6.375% 6.384% 0.000 15 Year Fixed Jumbo 6.000% 6.015% 0.000 3/1 ARM 5.750% 7.224% 0.000 5/1 Year ARM 5.875% 8.336% 0.000 Assumptions Apply Now! Portland Lewiston Bangor Augusta Maine Home Mortgage, your experienced, statewide mortgage lender and mortgage broker, offering the lowest rates for all kinds of home loans, whether for purchase or refinance. Check rates and apply on-line, or call 1-800-471-5730. It only takes a five minutes, so apply now. Equal Housing Lender. © 2005 Maine Home Mortgage. Trade/service marks are the property of Maine Home Mortgage and/or its subsidiaries. Back to Top | Apply Now | Contact Us | Home | Privacy | Licensing DESIGNED AND POWERED BY ETRAFFICERS, LLC .

home equity loan? How

Home equity brochure Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner Home Equity Loans in Texas: Frequently Asked Questions Printer-friendly PDF version What is a home equity loan? How much can I borrow? Why can't I borrow against more than 80% of the home's value? How are home equity loan interest rates determined? What other costs are involved? What if I feel a lender has overcharged me on closing costs? Are there different kinds of home equity loans? Can I set up a line of credit with my home equity? How can I use the money? What if I change my mind? How many home equity loans can I have? Why do I have to wait a year to refinance a home equity loan? Could a lender foreclose on my home if I'm late paying on a car loan or a credit card? What else should I know? What are some other helpful resources? Top of Page What is a home equity loan? A home equity loan is a financial product that allows a borrower to use the market value of a home as collateral for a loan. Loans secured by real estate generally are considered safer by lenders, resulting in lower interest rates than for other types of loans. Equity is easily calculated by subtracting the amount owed on the home from the current market value. For example, if a house with a market value of $100,000 has an outstanding mortgage of $30,000, the homeowner has equity of $70,000. If there were no mortgage or other type of lien on the house, the homeowner would have $100,000 in equity. Top of Page How much can I borrow? Through home equity loans, Texans can borrow money using up to 80% of the value of their homes as collateral. Consider the example of a home valued at $100,000 with an outstanding mortgage debt of $30,000 and $70,000 worth of equity. Because homeowners are limited to borrowing no more than 80% of the home's value, the homeowner would simply calculate 80% of $100,000 ($80,000) and then subtract $30,000 to arrive at a maximum loan amount of $50,000. Total mortgage debt, including the amount of any existing mortgages plus the projected home equity lien, cannot exceed 80% of the home's current fair market value. Homeowners with 20% or less equity in their homes are not eligible for home equity loans. Top of Page Why can't I borrow against more than 80% of the home's value? Texans voted to limit the loan amount to 80% to help prevent overextensions of credit and protect our economy during times of economic slowdown. Top of Page How are home equity loan interest rates determined? Market competition and conditions determine the rates in general; the borrower's own credit history will further affect the rate offered. Home equity loans usually have lower interest rates than do other types of consumer loans, such as loans secured by personal property or loans secured simply by a borrower's signature (unsecured loans). First mortgages (the primary loan on a house) generally have the lowest interest rates. As with any financial arrangement, you should shop around to find the best deal. In the Consumer Assistance section of our Web site are links to some handy online calculators that will help you compare loan programs. Top of Page What other costs are involved? Lenders can charge certain fees, usually called closing costs, in addition to interest. On a home equity loan, closing costs cannot exceed three percent (3%) of the principal amount borrowed. Prepaid interest, also known as points, is not subject to the 3% cap. Top of Page What if I feel a lender has overcharged me on closing costs? As a savvy consumer, you should always carefully examine a loan agreement before signing it. Have the lender thoroughly explain the contract's fee structure; you'll discover that any points you've purchased are not considered part of the fee amount subject to the three percent limitation. If a lender has overcharged you, you must give the lender a chance to correct the mistake (called curing the loan) before you can take legal action against them. You need to send a written request to the lender specifying the error so that the lender can issue a corrected loan agreement and refund any amounts due. For more information on this process, contact our Consumer Helpline at 800.538.1579 or send your questions to us via e-mail . Top of Page Are there different kinds of home equity loans? No, but a home equity loan can hold either first lien or junior lien (often called second) position. If you own your home outright and take out a home equity loan, it will be considered a first mortgage because it is first in line to receive payment if the home is sold or a borrower defaults. If you refinance an existing first mortgage, and pledge some of your equity to receive cash in hand, you will still have just one-but larger-first mortgage. In this loan, generally called a cash out re-fi, the dollar difference between the original mortgage and the refinanced mortgage is the home equity loan amount. A secondary mortgage is a loan secured by a house that already has at least one other mortgage or lien. Taking out a home equity loan in addition to a first mortgage places a second lien against the home. The law prohibits a homeowner from having more than one home equity loan at a time, although a homeowner may have secondary liens from other sources, such as a home improvement loan or a tax lien. Top of Page Can I set up a line of credit with my home equity? As of September 2003, Texans can establish lines of credit using up to 50% of the value of their homes as collateral (as opposed to the 80% allowed on standard loans). Top of Page How can I use the money? However you choose. There are no legal restrictions regarding how you use your loan proceeds. Top of Page What if I change my mind? The law requires a 12-day waiting period from the time an application is taken AND a legally mandated written consumer rights notice is given to the borrower. For example, if a potential borrower submits an application on Monday, but doesn't receive a copy of the consumer rights notice until Wednesday, then the 12-day countdown would begin on Wednesday. The 12-day period is measured in calendar days (rather than business days) per the Home Equity Commentary issued by this office. Once the waiting period has passed, the loan can be closed. Further, the homeowner or homeowner's spouse may still cancel the loan agreement without penalty within three days after closing. Top of Page How many home equity loans can I have? A borrower may have only one equity loan at a time. Furthermore, it cannot be refinanced more frequently than once a year. Because of this limitation, it is crucial to shop for the best terms among lenders. It is also important, as in any credit transaction, to compare the total costs of a home equity loan to other types of credit available to the consumer. For example, a borrower might not face a prepayment penalty for early payoff of a home equity loan. However, if the loan is paid off early, a home equity loan could end up being more expensive than an unsecured loan with a higher interest rate if you paid closing costs and points. To better determine the best solution to your situation, see the financial calculators in the Consumer Assistance section of our Web site for help crunching the numbers. Top of Page Why do I have to wait a year to refinance a home equity loan? Texas voters placed this provision in the Texas Constitution as a consumer protection. Because closing costs and points are collected each time a mortgage loan is closed, generally it's not a good idea to refinance often. Top of Page Could a lender foreclose on my home if I'm late paying on a car loan or a credit card? On a standard car loan, the car itself is the collateral, and Texas law prohibits using a person's homestead as additional collateral on the same loan. However, if a homeowner decides to take out a home equity loan to pay off credit card debts or buy a car, the home is then collateral for the home equity loan and can be foreclosed on if the homeowner does not make payments on time. Top of Page What else should I know? It's always a sound practice to shop around for a loan, but don't fill out any applications until you've picked the company you definitely want to work with. Filling out too many applications may unduly harm your credit report. Before you sign on the dotted line, find out what kind of experience other consumers have had with your potential lenders. Check out lenders with the Better Business Bureau . The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner regulates certain home equity lenders and offers a Consumer Helpline for credit-related questions at 800.538.1579. We can let you know about consumer complaints we have on file. To get more information about home equity issues or to request lender complaint files, visit our Consumer Assistance page. Other Helpful Resources Texas Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline: 800.252.8011 Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center: 877.382.4357 U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development Main number: 202.708.1112 State of Texas / TRAIL (Texas Records and Information Locator) Texas Finance Commission / Department of Information Resources Sunset Advisory Commission / Privacy Policy Open Records Requests En Español