home equity loan or

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

rental property. The web

HurricaneHousing.net - OUR VISION Our Vision Main Menu Our Vision List a Rental Property Find Rental Property Contact Us Press Releases FAQs Housing Options Immediate/Emergency Short-Term Needs Long-term Needs Special Needs Housing Related Links Missing Persons Missing Pets Transportation Needs Job Resources Volunteer or Donate OUR VISION In an effort to help Hurricane victims find temporary housing, HurricaneHousing.net was developed for those wishing to post available housing or rental property. The web site also allows visitors to search for temporary housing and provides other useful resources and links designed to help victims recover from the storm. To provide a listing of an available property, please read the instructions under "List a Rental Property" . To begin searching listings, click on the DHRonline logo below. The goal of HurricaneHousing.net is to gather rental housing information and coordinate with our partners "Disaster Housing Resources" — DHRonline.org. DHR is a unique program that provides, in an easily accessible web site, immediately available rental properties — housing resources that can provide disaster victims with safety and peace of mind while their home is repaired or a new home is constructed. HurricaneHousing.net was initiated by Lafayette-area realtors led by Bill Bacqué of VanEaton & Romero, Inc. in Lafayette and Patrick Caffery of Caffery Real Estate in New Iberia. The group turned to the Louisiana REALTORS® and also received help from Lafayette-based technology companies, CBM Technology headed by Chad Theriot, F6Media and Technology experts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) , the U.S. Department of Homeland Security , Disaster Housing Resources and the National Association of REALTORS® . “It’s our hope that this site can be another resource to those in such great need right now,” said Louisiana REALTORS® CEO Malcolm Young. Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth. Disclaimer of Liability

selling home game console

Xbox 360 is the U.K.'s Fastest-Selling Home Console News for Xbox 360 on GamePro.com Microsoft's Xbox 360 is one step closer to world domination. UK data firm Chart-Track has announced that the Xbox 360 is the fastest-selling home game console released in the United Kingdom, beating out Nintendo's GameCube system. Actual figures aren't yet available. But it's likely that the overall shortage of Xbox 360 units in retail stores actually cramped this figure; had Microsoft been able to meet demand, who knows what the final U.K. launch figures might have been? Overall, though, this is a telling sign that Microsoft's global launch strategy is paying off. Now, all eyes are turning to the Japanese sales figures. Can Microsoft break into the notoriously insular Japanese gaming market? " PS2 / Xbox / GameCube / PC / Handheld / Wireless / Entertainment / -- Newsletters / Holiday Gift Guide PSP Guide -- News / Screenshots / Downloads / Cheats / User Reviews / Forums / Free Stuff / Shop Title Keyword Advanced Search --- Xbox 360 Game Finder Reviews Previews Cheats Strategies Features News RPG Sports Action Adventure Direct Feed Win a FREE iPod 2GB Nano! Be a part of the GamePro Team for a day Lucas Arts SWG New Player Experience 2K Sports Xbox 360 Sweepstakes Download and Play Peter Jackson's King Kong! Games.net Presents the 2005 Holiday Gift Guide Win A FREE Xbox 360! Free Newsletters! GamePro Weekly ProNews (daily) Cheats (weekly) Xbox 360 (weekly) PS3 (weekly) GameCube (weekly) Handheld (weekly) PC/Online (weekly) Xbox (weekly) PS2 (weekly) Sports Entertainment Hot Links Newsletters Action Replay Shop 5.0 list Release Calendar Retro PlaySmart The Hub Forums User Reviews Contests Letters Inside GP GP FAQ Register Update Info Magazine Subscribe and Save Subscribe to GamePro EX Inside Current Issue Gift Subscriptions Subscriber Services Past Issue Archive Latest Code Vault Xbox 360 / News / Xbox 360 is the U.K.'s Fastest-Selling Home Console Xbox 360 is the U.K.'s Fastest-Selling Home Console Info News Previews Review Cheats Strategies Features Downloads Prices Publisher : Micrososft Developer : Microsoft Release Date : Available Now ESRB Rating : Everyone 1 of 9 screens Advertisement Recent News Similar Games Final Fantasy Creator Goe... Xbox 360 May Not Be Avail... EA Casts Doubt on Xbox 36... LA Xbox Modders Charged f... Hackers: Xbox 360 Mod-Chi... Xbox 360 Games Already Be... Metal Gear Acid 2 Darwinia Lost In Blue Xbox 360 1503 A.D. Left Behind: Eternal Forc... Community Average 3.9 User Review • Go to User Reviews • Write your own User Review • Go to GamePro Forums • Go to the Official Forum Topic --- News by: Vicious Sid Posted: 12/06/05 [ view screens ] Microsoft's Xbox 360 is one step closer to world domination. UK data firm Chart-Track has announced that the Xbox 360 is the fastest-selling home game console released in the United Kingdom, beating out Nintendo's GameCube system. Actual figures aren't yet available. But it's likely that the overall shortage of Xbox 360 units in retail stores actually cramped this figure; had Microsoft been able to meet demand, who knows what the final U.K. launch figures might have been? Overall, though, this is a telling sign that Microsoft's global launch strategy is paying off. Now, all eyes are turning to the Japanese sales figures. Can Microsoft break into the notoriously insular Japanese gaming market? track this game / --- email this article / print this article / view screens Name Address City State ZIP Email Sponsored Links ©2005 IDG Entertainment. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement Terms Of Service Agreement Advertising Information IDG Entertainment Online Network: GamePro.com Games.net GamerHelp.com GameStar.com BlogFaction.com IDG.net: PCWorld Macworld Playlist CIO Computerworld CSO Infoworld JavaWorld Network World Networking for Small Business PC Advisor PC World Latin America Techworld ITWorld Canada PC World Canada IDG International GamePro.com Customer Service Subscribe Submit a Code Site Comments Contact Print Advertising Online Advertising Staff Jobs About Us Media Kit The 2005 Industry White Paper RSS Feeds Site Map

Las Vegas Real Estate

Las Vegas Real Estate Featuring 1,773,932 Opinions! Join | Login | Logout | Help | User Page SEARCH FOR: SEARCH FOR: -- Topics Computers & Internet Education Entertainment & Media Features People Politics Products Sports & Recreation Travel, Food & Culture WebLists Computers & Internet Education Entertainment & Media Features People Politics Products Sports & Recreation Travel, Food & Culture RateLocal Atlanta Directory Austin Directory Boston Directory Chicago Directory Cleveland Directory Dallas Directory Houston Directory Las Vegas Directory Los Angeles Directory Miami Directory New Orleans Directory New York City Directory Philadelphia Directory San Francisco Directory Seattle Directory Washington DC Directory More Cities Shortcuts Recent Comments New Additions Top Reviewers User Search RateItAll Contributors Advertising Sponsorships Web Site Directory Content RateLocal Shop Computers Photography Electronics More Categories RateItAll Gear Company About Us Press Room Company FAQs RateItAll Blog Privacy Policy Jobs Newsletters Contact Testimonials Help Help FAQs WebList FAQs Site Rules WebList Buy Back RSS Help Terms of Service Now In: RateItAll.com > Local > Las Vegas Directory > Las Vegas Real Estate Las Vegas Directory Use this section to find and share opinions about this city's local businesses and merchants. To find a specific merchant and browse its reviews & ratings, drill down through the index on this page. To learn more about RateLocal.com, click HERE . RateItAll Local Get Listed. Get Noticed. Learn more Hottest Topics TV News Personalities Actors (Current) Best Guitarist of All Time Actresses (Current) TV Drama Shows (Current) Hottest WebLists Deserving of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? (by garjen55 (11) ) Male TV Characters as Role Models (by mrnocal (0) ) Most Obnoxious Public Figure of All Time (by CastleBee (60) ) Things that Advertise an Individual's Status as Lower or Working Class (by SZinhonshu (34) ) Disney's Animated Masterpieces (by excelsior30 (3) ) BROWSE LAS VEGAS REAL ESTATE Showing LOCAL TOPICS 1-7 of 7 Las Vegas Architects Las Vegas Interior Decorators & Design Las Vegas Movers Las Vegas Property Management Las Vegas Real Estate Agents Las Vegas Real Estate Developers Las Vegas Storage Showing LOCAL TOPICS 1-7 of 7 Search | Send Us Feedback | Create Your Own Ratings List | Privacy Policy | About Us | Site Rules | Business Services © 1999-2003 RateItAll.com, Inc.

Las Vegas Real Estate

AOL City Guide: Restaurants, Events, Entertainment, Concerts, Tickets, Movies, Hotels & Weather - Make It Your Town (SM) Coast to coast, AOL CityGuide covers your city's essentials, like New York restaurants , Las Vegas hotels , Chicago real estate , Miami weather , Los Angeles bars , San Francisco theaters and much more. Find your city below. Popular Cities: Atlanta Baltimore Boston Charlotte Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus, OH Dallas - Fort Worth Denver Detroit Houston Indianapolis Kansas City Las Vegas Long Island Los Angeles Miami - South Florida Milwaukee New Orleans New York North Jersey Orange County Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland, OR Raleigh - Durham San Antonio San Diego San Francisco Seattle St. Louis Tampa Bay Twin Cities Washington, DC See More Cities: Choose by state Explore Your Region: Northeast / Mid-Atlantic , Midwest , South , West Popular Categories: Restaurants , Bars & Nightlife , Music & Concerts , Movies , City's Best , Hotels , Tickets , Real Estate , Shopping , Weather , Personals , Yellow Pages , Your Top Clicks Eat, Drink Vote: City's Best 2006 The nominees are in for this year's City's Best poll. Vote for your favorite spots around town: bars, restaurants, dance clubs and much more. Support your city favorites now. Holidays Here We've got you covered with a seasonal event guide, local lighting displays, shows, tours and 15 must-do activities. Check out our Holiday guide. Entertainment, Shopping, People & More Enter a ZIP code or city and state name. Ex. 90210 or Beverly Hills, CA Click here to choose from a list of states Bars, Music & Nightlife | Restaurants & Dining Guide | Movies | Tickets People & Personals | Real Estate | Visitor's Guide | Shop & Find | Yellow Pages | Government Guide About Us | Advertise With Us | Help & Feedback | Updated Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Trademarks | Site Map AOL Music | Moviefone | AOL Games | AOL TV | Black Voices | Shopping AOL CityGuide has a finger on the pulse of this city, and cities around the nation: from New York restaurants to Las Vegas entertainment, Chicago real estate, Washington hotels, Florida weather, San Francisco theaters, Boston markets and Los Angeles nightlife. You'll find the best local restaurants, hotels, entertainment, movies, concert tickets, events, weather, bars, nightlife, personals and so much more. We're the better way to search your city. © 2005 America Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved.