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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

Colorado Real Estate

Colorado Springs Real Estate - El Paso County Real Estate - Teller County Real Estate Select Page Free Reports Buyer Seller Tips School Information Consumer Links Real Estate News Resource Center Useful Tools Community Info Your Home's Value Serving the Entire Pikes Peak Region Colorado Springs Real Estate - El Paso County Real Estate - Teller County Real Estate RESIDENTIAL SALES - Merit Co., Inc. has been a prominent force in the real estate structure of Colorado Springs since 1969. In direct proportion to the growth of Colorado Springs, we have expanded the number of our offices, making us easily accessible to all our customers. RELOCATION - Merit Co., Inc. is a member of RELO , one of the world leaders in relocation. Nearly half of the country's top 100 brokers are RELO members. RELO is made up of more than 1,100 member companies and 93,000 sales associates, producing $170 billion in collective real estate volume. RELO provides a strong network of support for Merit Co., Inc.'s Relocation Department. MILITARY RELOCATION - Merit Co., Inc. has real estate professionals who are either retired military members or military spouses who understand military moves and are dedicated to assisting military families with their relocation. "Our Goal is Service and Customer Satisfaction" CORPORATE RELOCATION - Merit Co., Inc has some innovative programs that help guarantee these families a positive experience. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT - Merit Co., Inc. has a vast inventory of residential rental properties. Each of these are subjected to an extensive analysis by our large experienced group of licensed property managers and their support staff. We pride ourselves on personal service and our tenants are screened with the utmost care. We believe renters should treat a property as if it were their own. MOUNTAIN PROPERTY - Our Woodland Park office is staffed with the best local agents who are extremely knowledgeable about all types of mountain homes and land opportunities. Thanks for visiting the Merit Company online real estate source. Please bookmark this site for future reference, and ENJOY! Featured Homes Local Weather Your Home's Value Maps Directions Local Schools Buyer & Seller Tips Translate this page into: Select Language French Spanish German Italian Portuguese Easy Guide to Buying a Home 1 MERIT CO., INC. West 1150 Elkton Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 8090 7 719-598-6200 2 MERIT CO., INC. East 6120 Tutt Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80922 719-596-7800 3 MERIT CO., INC. South 6710 U.S. Hwy 85/87 Fountain, CO 80817 719-390-7877 4 MERIT CO., INC. Woodland Park 510 W. Hwy 24 P.O. Box 9013 Woodland Park, CO 80866 719-687-1112 Email: meritrealestate@worldnet.att.net http://www.MeritCo.com Please read our disclaimer and our privacy statement. Return to: Colorado Springs Real Estate About - Featured Listings - Search for Homes - Meet Our Agents Apply Online - School Info - Merit Rentals Oahu Hawaii Real Estate Real Estate Agents & Realtors Click here for more links! Web Site Design and Hosting Provided By: Advanced Access © 1998-2005

Real Estate Agents |

Weichert Realtors: Homes for Sale & Real Estate Listings in NJ,NY,FL,VA,MD,DC,CT,PA,MA,SC,NC,TX,GA,DE,OH,TN,WV En Espanol City & State, or Zip: MLS #: Price Range: $ ,000 To: $ ,000 Rentals Careers at Weichert Luxury Homes Historic Homes New Homes and Land Corporate Housing Commercial & Investments Insurance Gold Services Relocation Real Estate Schools Referral Associates Franchise Opportunities Start your Home search here, or click on the map. Please Select Alabama Arkansas Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Illinois Maryland Massachusetts Missouri New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennesee Texas Virginia Washington, DC West Virginia Weichert, Realtors proudly donated $1.3 million to the American Red Cross for the victims of Hurricane Katrina Also Search For: Selling · Open Houses · Mortgages · Associates · Offices Browse By State: Alabama Real Estate Properties New York Real Estate Properties Arkansas Real Estate Properties North Carolina Real Estate Properties Connecticut Real Estate Properties Ohio Real Estate Properties Delaware Real Estate Properties Pennsylvania Real Estate Properties Florida Real Estate Properties South Carolina Real Estate Properties Georgia Real Estate Properties Tennesee Real Estate Properties Illinois Real Estate Properties Texas Real Estate Properties Maryland Real Estate Properties Virginia Real Estate Properties Massachusetts Real Estate Properties Washington, DC Real Estate Properties Missouri Real Estate Properties West Virginia Real Estate Properties New Jersey Real Estate Properties Call 1-800-USA-SOLD (1-800-872-7653) Buying a House | Selling a Home | Open Houses | Real Estate Agents | Realtor Offices Find a Mortgage | My Real Estate Listings | About Weichert | Home | Contact Us Real Estate Franchise Opportunities | Weichert Careers © 2005 Weichert Realtors. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Statement 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. Inquiries regarding the Code of Ethics should be directed to the board in which a REALTOR® holds membership. © 2005 Weichert Realtors. All Rights Reserved.

Home Equity Home Equity

Mortgages, Mortgage Rates and Home Loans by Quicken Loans America's Home Loan Experts SM GO My Quicken Loans Login Great Rates. Expert Advice. Fast Process. Call 800-251-9080 To Get Your Rate Refinance Refinance Center Learn About Refinancing Refinance Calculators Refinance Loan Options Contact a Refinance Expert Home Purchase Home Purchase Center Learn About Buying a Home Home Purchase Calculators Home Purchase Loan Options Contact a Purchase Expert Home Equity Home Equity Center Learn About Home Equity Home Equity Calculators Home Equity Loan Options Calculators Calculators Refinance Calculators Home Purchase Calculators Home Equity Calculators Contact a Loan Expert Loan Options Loan Options Refinance Loan Options Purchase Loan Options Home Equity Loan Options Contact a Loan Expert Bad Credit Rates Get your loan approved in just minutes over the phone We bring the paperwork to you for signing it's quick and easy! Calculate YOUR potential mortgage payment below. Select Loan Purpose Refinance Purchase Desired Loan Amount: Expected Purchase Price: Choose A State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Current Monthly Payment: Expected Down Payment: Calculate YOUR potential mortgage payment below. Select Loan Purpose Refinance Purchase Choose A State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Desired Loan Amount Current Monthly Payment Expected Purchase Price Expected Down Payment -- Dis-ARM Yourself Now! Lock into a fixed rate today! Quicken Loans' Chairman Dan Gilbert hosts CNBC's "Squawk Box". Read More Start Taking Control of Your Credit! Introducing FreshStart Get approved for your mortgage - even with less-than-perfect credit Get on the path to paying off debt and repairing your credit Consolidate high-interest bills into one low-interest mortgage payment FIND OUT MORE Rates Keep Rising. Get a Fixed Rate Now! The Fed will keep raising interest rates - Get out of your adjustable rate mortgage or home equity line of credit! Lock your rate for 30 years with payment flexibility. Introducing FIND OUT MORE Flexible guidelines to fit your needs! Introducing Advantage1st No doc and full doc options available Cash out and interest-only options Get a low rate on a mortgage that fits your needs FIND OUT MORE Want a low mortgage rate? Call a Quicken Loans Mortgage Banker now to find out how you can get a low mortgage rate and payment flexibility with our SmartArm ® loan. A Quicken Loans Exclusive FIND OUT MORE What's the Difference between Interest Rate and APR? When you get a mortgage, you are charged two different rates--the annual percentage rate (APR) and the interest rate. Understanding the difference between the two rates is important and will help you make an informed decision when shopping for the right lender and the right loan... Read More Archived News Homeowners Can Still Refinance at Low Rates Dec 29, 2005 Despite Decline, Housing Still Strong Dec 28, 2005 More Mortgage News Quicken Loans - We Are Here to Help You! No one makes it easier than the home loan experts at Quicken Loans! We are ready to help you with your new mortgage , refinance , or home equity loan needs — all at great low interest rates. Explore our web site for exclusive home loan options, easy-to-use mortgage calculators , home loan articles, and instant rate quotes on several mortgages. Quicken Loans is America's #1 online mortgage lender. Apply for your mortgage online or talk to a Quicken Loans home loan expert today. Call us now at 800-251-9080. 3,400 home loan experts ready to help you Refinancing | Home Loans | Home Equity Loans | My Quicken Loans Login Mortgage News | Mortgage Rates | Mortgage Calculators | Apply Online About Us | Careers | Contact Us | Feedback | Site Map | Help | Search Security and Privacy | Disclosures and Licenses | Terms of Use © 2000 - 2005 Quicken Loans Inc., All rights reserved. Lending services provided by Quicken Loans Inc., a subsidiary of Rock Holdings Inc. “Quicken Loans” is a registered service mark of Intuit Inc., used under license. Build 2741 2005-10-25 09:50:43