Real Estate Investing -
B2B Real Estate Investment Opportunities in the Yahoo! Directory Search: the Web | the Directory | this category B2B > Real Estate Investment Opportunities Email this page Suggest a Site Advanced Search Directory > Business and Economy > Business to Business > Business Opportunities > Investment Opportunities > Real Estate CATEGORIES Real Estate Investment Trusts@ SPONSOR LISTINGS ( What's this? ) Creative Real Estate Investing - offering teaching and training in various techniques, including foreclosure, no money down, rent to own, lease option, fixer uppers, hard money loans, and more. SITE LISTINGS By Popularity | Alphabetical ( What's This? ) Sites 1 - 40 of 76 Real Estate Promo - lists local investment clubs and provides education, training, mortgage calculators, and a weekly real estate investing newsletter. Top-Invest - real estate in Germany and Citrus County, Florida, plus investment opportunitues. Offers in English and German. Creative Real Estate OnLine - "how-to" resource for anyone who wants to make money in real estate. Articles, money-making ideas and much, much more. U.S. Land Company, The - offers real estate investing resources including free leads, articles, bookstore, investing clubs, and more. Real Estate Investing Depot - directory of real estate investing resources. RealEstateCourseReviews.com - read and write reviews of the most popular real estate investing courses. Also offers products, articles, and links related to real estate investment. Access Investment Property - find real estate property for sale throughout the world. REIClub.com - provides real estate investing resources such as how-to articles, discussion forums, newsletters, online chats, books, clubs, and more. RealEstateInvesting.com - offers information, books and courses on real estate investing with no-down-payment, lease options, flipping houses, and more. Carleton Sheets - offers products, software, newsletter, audio programs, videos, and more about their real estate investment program. Lease 2 Purchase .com - offers tips and strategies for creative real estate investing. Real Estate Investment Forum - features an investment guide and field reference manual for investing in apartments, houses, and commercial buildings. Pierre & Vacances Conseil Immobilier - designs, builds, and manages holiday homes and apartments throughout Europe. Wiltshire Properties - offers news, reviews, and how to articles. Home Business Solutions - offering information on lease purchasing and homebased businesses. Aaron's Investments - offering tax defaulted land, lien certificates, and foreclosed property deeds. Cash Flow Institute LLC - presents fresh investment plans for real estate investing including foreclosures. Resultsnow.com - offers free real estate investor tips, a book, a newsletter, and information on creating monthly streams of income to generate greater wealth. Fast Home Offers - offers leads for real estate investors with mortgage calculators, a glossary, and homeowner information. Tax Lien Certificates Network - for investors who buy, sell, and trade tax lien certificates. Flipping Homes - offers articles and an active newsgroup on no money down, foreclosure, rehab, fixer upper, and other forms of real estate investing. Creative Real Estate Investing [SPONSOR] - offering teaching and training in various techniques, including foreclosure, no money down, rent to own, lease option, fixer uppers, hard money loans, and more. Note Investors Group - offers programs focused on real estate investment strategy and the discounted cash flow business. B&B Online: Inns for Sale - U.S. bed & breakfast and country inns for sale. Aminoff & Co. - real estate investment opportunities. Invest In Belize - Assisting investors in the purchase, development, and management of Belize real estate and business opportunities. Exodus Island Ventures - specializes in Dominican Republic real estate investment opportunities, Caribbean luxury villa and condo development projects, and property management services. 4 Tax Lien Certificates - tax lien certificate sales and tax deed sale directories and property listings. Fuller Apartment Homes, LLC - An $8,000,000 offering of Limited Liability Company Shares to construct a 138-unit apartment home telecommunity in Bakersfield, California. Available to California Residents only. BnBForSale - features bed and breakfasts for sale. Kilimani Development Holdings - manages investments in small to medium sized residential, retail, and commercial properties in South Africa. Lennox Group, The - specializes in tax lien certificate investments, offering security through collateralized loans secured as legal liens over asset-based property. Operation Enterprise - for commercial and industrial businesses seeking competitive advantages through affordable and strategic site locations. Eastern Consolidated Properties - a commercial real estate brokerage company and commercial real estate investment banking firm. Investment Property Guide - offers advice on investment property in Spain, Dubai, France, Portugal, Thailand, Cyprus, and the United States. Nosy B Resort Hotels Construction Project - features construction plans and information about Andilana, Palm Beach, and Nosy Iranja resort hotels off the north coast of Madagascar. Seaquest Ventures Real Estate, BizOps & Telecommunications Abode Federal Foreclosed Homes - provides reports on homes for sale through bank and government institutions. Euroasian Equities Limited - international mortgage banking, equity capital, and project financing. Ted Thomas Tax Lien Certificates - offers a audio interview and a wealth conference tele-seminar. 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real estate investment course
** Real Estate Investment ** Foreclosures : Real Estate Investing Course : Foreclosure Information site map Buy Foreclosures - $0 Down Make $5,000-$50,000+ in 45 Days. FREE Foreclosure & Bank Lists included. Click Here Learn How To Make A Fortune Investing in Real Estate Foreclosures! Literally tens of thousands of homes and properties are facing foreclosure. More than 1% of ALL residential property in the United States today is already in, or facing mortgage foreclosure soon. With a staggering 1 million plus homes being foreclosed on any given day, opportunities for buying low-cost real estate foreclosures are plentiful. Every day, smart investors are amassing vast fortunes buying bank foreclosures. Real estate investing is undoubtedly one of the quickest, yet safest way to create enduring, financial wealth. Once you combine methods used by professionals with a proven investment strategy, you have a winning plan to create affluence for yourself. For the prepared individual, foreclosures give rise to circumstances for profit. Buying our ebook course gives you the essential, insider information to acquire a foreclosure home safely and earn considerable profits from any distressed property situation. Foreclosures: Opportunity For Investment There are 3 distinct windows of opportunity for foreclosure investment, each having its unique advantages and degree of risk - pre-foreclosures, real estate auction / sheriff sales and bank owned REO properties. Learning where to find foreclosures, when and how to buy them, the best foreclosure stage for investment, how to research titles, as well as deciding if a property has potential for profit are all critical to success. Our real estate investment course discloses everything you need to know to purchase foreclosure property successfully and profitably. Free Foreclosure Information & Consultation Got a question about buying foreclosures? Purchase our foreclosure course and receive crucial information direct from real estate investor / author Steve Maletos. Steve knows the strategies and shortcuts which can make you successful.Besides getting a complete investment system, you also gain a mentor at no extra charge! Steve's unlimited support and consultation is available only to students of his foreclosure course. Get FREE foreclosure consultation Locate Bank Foreclosures Bank owned, or real estate owned homes (REO) represent one of the safest methods of purchasing foreclosures, especially since their property titles are practically always guaranteed. Whether seeking safe investment opportunities, or a low price home residence, you can find bank foreclosure listings now. Hard Money Lender Source Foreclosure investing for most people will require funding. Included in both the CD-Rom and printed book version of our foreclosure courses, we provide private investor fund sources (with full contact information) who will loan investment money. We can also present your loan application to an exclusive list of hard money lenders . These are short term loans evaluated on an individual basis of property improvements and merit. Tell A Friend! Let your friends know about our Foreclosures Course materials! (or as a reminder to yourself) Testimonials Make Money in Real Estate Investment Affiliate Program Foreclosure Laws Industry Resources Foreclosure Listings Site Map Foreclosed Properties Steve Maletos Investor Mentoring Privacy Policy Real Estate Investor Loans
Real Estate Investing -
B2B Real Estate Investment Opportunities in the Yahoo! Directory Search: the Web | the Directory | this category B2B > Real Estate Investment Opportunities Email this page Suggest a Site Advanced Search Directory > Business and Economy > Business to Business > Business Opportunities > Investment Opportunities > Real Estate CATEGORIES Real Estate Investment Trusts@ SPONSOR LISTINGS ( What's this? ) Creative Real Estate Investing - offering teaching and training in various techniques, including foreclosure, no money down, rent to own, lease option, fixer uppers, hard money loans, and more. SITE LISTINGS By Popularity | Alphabetical ( What's This? ) Sites 1 - 40 of 76 Real Estate Promo - lists local investment clubs and provides education, training, mortgage calculators, and a weekly real estate investing newsletter. Top-Invest - real estate in Germany and Citrus County, Florida, plus investment opportunitues. Offers in English and German. Creative Real Estate OnLine - "how-to" resource for anyone who wants to make money in real estate. Articles, money-making ideas and much, much more. U.S. Land Company, The - offers real estate investing resources including free leads, articles, bookstore, investing clubs, and more. Real Estate Investing Depot - directory of real estate investing resources. RealEstateCourseReviews.com - read and write reviews of the most popular real estate investing courses. Also offers products, articles, and links related to real estate investment. Access Investment Property - find real estate property for sale throughout the world. REIClub.com - provides real estate investing resources such as how-to articles, discussion forums, newsletters, online chats, books, clubs, and more. RealEstateInvesting.com - offers information, books and courses on real estate investing with no-down-payment, lease options, flipping houses, and more. Carleton Sheets - offers products, software, newsletter, audio programs, videos, and more about their real estate investment program. Lease 2 Purchase .com - offers tips and strategies for creative real estate investing. Real Estate Investment Forum - features an investment guide and field reference manual for investing in apartments, houses, and commercial buildings. Pierre & Vacances Conseil Immobilier - designs, builds, and manages holiday homes and apartments throughout Europe. Wiltshire Properties - offers news, reviews, and how to articles. Home Business Solutions - offering information on lease purchasing and homebased businesses. Aaron's Investments - offering tax defaulted land, lien certificates, and foreclosed property deeds. Cash Flow Institute LLC - presents fresh investment plans for real estate investing including foreclosures. Resultsnow.com - offers free real estate investor tips, a book, a newsletter, and information on creating monthly streams of income to generate greater wealth. Fast Home Offers - offers leads for real estate investors with mortgage calculators, a glossary, and homeowner information. Tax Lien Certificates Network - for investors who buy, sell, and trade tax lien certificates. Flipping Homes - offers articles and an active newsgroup on no money down, foreclosure, rehab, fixer upper, and other forms of real estate investing. Creative Real Estate Investing [SPONSOR] - offering teaching and training in various techniques, including foreclosure, no money down, rent to own, lease option, fixer uppers, hard money loans, and more. Note Investors Group - offers programs focused on real estate investment strategy and the discounted cash flow business. B&B Online: Inns for Sale - U.S. bed & breakfast and country inns for sale. Aminoff & Co. - real estate investment opportunities. Invest In Belize - Assisting investors in the purchase, development, and management of Belize real estate and business opportunities. Exodus Island Ventures - specializes in Dominican Republic real estate investment opportunities, Caribbean luxury villa and condo development projects, and property management services. 4 Tax Lien Certificates - tax lien certificate sales and tax deed sale directories and property listings. Fuller Apartment Homes, LLC - An $8,000,000 offering of Limited Liability Company Shares to construct a 138-unit apartment home telecommunity in Bakersfield, California. Available to California Residents only. BnBForSale - features bed and breakfasts for sale. Kilimani Development Holdings - manages investments in small to medium sized residential, retail, and commercial properties in South Africa. Lennox Group, The - specializes in tax lien certificate investments, offering security through collateralized loans secured as legal liens over asset-based property. Operation Enterprise - for commercial and industrial businesses seeking competitive advantages through affordable and strategic site locations. Eastern Consolidated Properties - a commercial real estate brokerage company and commercial real estate investment banking firm. Investment Property Guide - offers advice on investment property in Spain, Dubai, France, Portugal, Thailand, Cyprus, and the United States. Nosy B Resort Hotels Construction Project - features construction plans and information about Andilana, Palm Beach, and Nosy Iranja resort hotels off the north coast of Madagascar. Seaquest Ventures Real Estate, BizOps & Telecommunications Abode Federal Foreclosed Homes - provides reports on homes for sale through bank and government institutions. Euroasian Equities Limited - international mortgage banking, equity capital, and project financing. Ted Thomas Tax Lien Certificates - offers a audio interview and a wealth conference tele-seminar. Results Page: 1 2 Next B2B > Real Estate Investment Opportunities Email this page Suggest a Site Advanced Search Directory > Business and Economy > Business to Business > Business Opportunities > Investment Opportunities > Real Estate Search: the Web | the Directory | this category
real estate agents Money
Feds probe real estate agents - Apr. 22, 2005 Web CNN/Money Buying & Selling Investment Property Home Improvement Million $ Life Financing Best Places SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Feds probe real estate agents Money magazine investigation shows Justice Dept. looking into anticompetitive practices. April 22, 2005: 5:27 PM EDT By Jon Birger, Money Magazine NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Did you pay your real estate broker too much? The U.S. Department of Justice may be set to turn Tulsa, Okla. into a test-case for ending the stranglehold 6 percent commissions have over the real estate brokerage business. MONEY has learned that Justice's Antitrust Division is gathering information on the bully tactics that full-commission brokers in Tulsa allegedly use against their discount rivals to discourage commission-cutting. The probe follows other recent efforts to spur competition in the real estate industry. According to a copy of a Justice Department subpoena obtained by MONEY, federal investigators are seeking information on "possible anticompetitive conduct in the provision of real estate services in the Tulsa area" as well as "documents related to refusal to cooperate on real estate transactions." An Antitrust Division spokeswoman confirmed the existence of the investigation but declined to provide additional details. Al Unser, executive director of the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors said: "We received a CID [civil investigative demand] from the Justice Dept. and we have responded." Economists who study real estate, such as the University of Cincinnati's Norm Miller, believe anti-competitive behavior is the primary explanation for the persistence of the 6 percent commission. J.D. Smith and Bob Meyer are two Tulsa discount real estate agents who say they were interviewed by federal investigators. They say the investigators wanted information on full-commission agents' alleged refusal to show home-buying clients properties listed by discount brokers -- a tactic known as boycotting. Boycotting exploits the one major weakness of the multiple listing service. The MLS's upside is that it centralizes all homes for sale in a single electronic marketplace that can be accessed by all agents -- and these days by Web-savvy consumers as well. The downside is that brokers must depend on one another to help sell their homes, and that discourages them from undercutting each other's commissions. While boycotting the listings of discounters is generally considered an antitrust violation -- if undisclosed, it's also a breach of fiduciary duty to clients -- industry insiders are well aware that boycotting goes on, even if they claim not to condone it. For Smith, the Feds' investigation comes a year or so too late. His realty business on the brink of ruin, Smith recently abandoned discount brokerage and went back to charging 6 percent. "In one week," Smith said, "I've had more showings and more offers from other realtors than I had in the previous two months." The Tulsa investigation is part of an ongoing Antitrust Division foray into the sharp-elbowed realty world. In March, the Antitrust Division sued the Kentucky Real Estate Commission over a state law that prohibits real estate brokers from offering commission rebates to consumers. More recently, Assistant Attorney General R. Hewitt Pate sent letters to lawmakers and regulators in Oklahoma and Texas, urging them to reject proposals that would effectively prohibit brokers from engaging in limited-service or fee-for-service realty -- such as listing a home for sale on the multiple listing service for a flat fee of $500. Bruce Hahn, chairman of the American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance, argues that state prohibitions on rebates and fee-for-service discourage competition and inflate commissions paid by consumers. "We've talked to Justice, and we think what they're doing is tremendous," he said. E-mail Jon Birger at jbirger@moneymail.com. The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? Big new tax credits for hybrid cars More Real Estate How to buy and build on rural land Most overvalued housing markets When booms go bust... contact us | magazine customer service | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business2.0 = Money subscribers = Premium content -- * - Time reflects local markets trading time. † - Intraday data is at least 15-minutes delayed. Disclaimer © 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Terms under which this service is provided to you. privacy policy Reprints of site stories are available. Top Stories Most overvalued housing markets Risks to the economy in 2006 Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? After the ride, a rest Hilton brands reunite after 40 years YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Real Estate Antitrust Division Corporate Governance Oklahoma or Create your own Manage alerts | What is this?
Home Mortgage Insurance U.S.
FCIC: The Guide to Single Family Home Mortgage Insurance Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page -- Guide To Single Family Home Mortgage Insurance U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Housing Office of Single Family Housing www.hud.gov espanol.hud.gov Revised February 2005 Becoming a Homeowner Many people in the United States dream of owning their own homes,but few are able to pay cash for them. Many individuals and families whocould not otherwise afford to own a home become homeowners with thehelp of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance programs. FHA is a part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) . One of the chief purposes of FHA is to help people obtain financing to buy their homes. This booklet can help homebuyers understand how they can make use of FHA mortgage insurance programs. It explains: How FHA mortgage insurance works Who can get FHA mortgage insurance How to shop for a HUD-approved lender How to apply for an FHA-insured mortgage loan What restrictions apply to FHA-insured mortgage loans Buying a home is the biggest single purchase that most people will make in their lifetimes. Most people borrow money through a mortgage loan to buy a home. Some people reduce the amount of money they borrow by making a large downpayment on the loan to buy a home. Persons who do not have money for a large downpayment may need the help of an FHA-insured mortgage to get a loan. MortgageA legal document that promises a property to the lender as security for payment of a debt. Here is more information about mortgage loans. DownpaymentThe part of the purchase price that a buyer pays in cash and is not included in the mortgage. How FHA Mortgage Insurance Works FHAs mortgage insurance programs help low- and moderate-incomeindividuals and families obtain financing to buy homes or refinance theircurrent mortgages. FHA mortgage insuranceallows a homebuyer to make a low downpaymentand get a mortgage loan for the balance ofthe purchase price. The mortgage loan is made by a HUDapproved lender, such as a bank, mortgage company, or credit union. FHA insures the mortgage and pays the lender if the homebuyer defaults on the loan, or fails to repay the loan. FHA/HUD does not make direct loans to people who want to buy, build, or refinance homes. Who Can Get FHA Mortgage Insurance If you are buying a home, refinancing a mortgage for a home youalready own, or making home improvements, you may qualify for anFHA-insured mortgage. In fact, almost anyone who has a satisfactory credit record, enough cash to close the loan, and sufficient steady income to make monthly mortgage payments can be approved for an FHA-insured mortgage. There is no upper age limit and no certain income level required, although individual mortgage amounts are limited by law. Generally, homebuyers must live in the home in order to get an FHA-insured mortgage loan. The program is not open to investors. To find a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you, call the HUD housing counseling and referral line toll-free at 1-800-569-4287 or visit the HUD website at www.hud.gov . To find a HUD-approved lender , search online at www.hud.gov . You can also find lending institutions in the yellow pages of the telephone directory under the heading Mortgages. To find out if you qualify for an FHA-insured mortgage loan, youshould visit a HUD-approved housing counseling agency or a HUD-approved lender , such as a bank, credit union, or mortgage company. The housing counselor or lender will look at certain information about your income and spending to determine if you qualify. Federal law prohibits housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability. How FHA Mortgage Insurance Can Help You Whether you are buying a home, making home improvements, or refinancingyour current mortgage, you should work with a HUD-approvedlendersuch as a bank, a mortgage company, or a credit unionto applyfor a mortgage loan.Once your loan isapproved, FHA willinsure the loan and paythe lender if you defaulton the mortgage.Because the lender isprotected by this insurance,the lender cangive you better termson your loan. A lower downpayment Some lenders require borrowers to pay 10 percent or more of the price of a home in cash as a downpayment. With FHA-insured mortgages, your downpayment can be as low as 3 percent. The lender will likely require you to prove that you have enough money for the loan downpayment. Use of cash gifts toward downpayment With an FHA-insured mortgage, under certain circumstances you can use a gift from a relative, a local nonprofit organization, or a government agency for all or part of the downpayment and closing costs. The Kinds of Homes Covered by FHA Mortgage Insurance FHA-insured mortgages are available in urban and rural areas for: Single family houses Houses with two, three, or four units Condominium units Houses needing rehabilitation In addition, FHA-insured mortgages are available for reverse mortgages for seniors, called a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage . To make sure that its programs serve low- and moderate-income people, FHA sets upper limits on the dollar value of the mortgage loan. These limits change every year and vary by city and state. Check with a local lender or look online on HUDs website, www.hud.gov . Shopping for an FHA-Insured Loan Since buying a home is one of the most important purchases you willmake in your lifetime, HUD recommends you visit a HUD-approved housing counseling agency where a counselor can help you compare loansand give you homebuying tips. You can find counseling agencies by callingthe HUD housing counseling and referral line toll-free at 1-800-569-4287 or visiting the HUD website at www.hud.gov . You can also findHUD-approved lenders on the HUD website. Your house hunting and homebuying experience can be easier when you become pre-qualified for a loan. To become pre-qualified, you will complete a pre-qualification loan application. When a lender pre-qualifies you, the lender tells you the maximum amount of money you can borrow to buy a home. With that information, you can spend your time looking at homes that you can afford rather than ones that are too expensive. Some lenders may charge a fee for pre-qualification, so you should ask about fees and compare two or more lenders. You should shop for an FHA-insured mortgage loan the same way you shop for any high-cost itemcompare prices and features. The cost of getting a mortgage can vary from one lender to another, so compare these features when you are comparing lenders: Interest rate Discount points Closing costs and other fees Annual percentage rate FHA/HUD does not set the amounts for the above factors. You can negotiate with the lender and come to agreement on the interest rate, points, and most processing fees. Interest Rate You can negotiate with your lender on the interest rate that you will pay for your mortgage. Interest rates fluctuate daily, depending on conditions in the mortgage market. FHA recommends that you check with several mortgage lenders to make sure you get the best interest rate available. Discount Points Lenders can charge you discount points when the interest rate is lower than the yield required by investors who buy mortgage securities. A discount point is $1 for every $100 of the mortgage loan amount. The number of points charged varies in different places at different times and among different lenders. Discount points for an FHA-insured mortgage may be paid by you as the homebuyer, by the homebuilder, or by the person selling the house. Closing Costs and Prepaid Items When your loan is finalized, you will have to pay closing costs. Closing costs are costs in addition to the price of the property that are paid when you close your loan to cover the transfer of ownership. A mortgage loan is made up of two parts: principal and inter- est. Principal is the amount of money borrowed to buy your home. Interest is the amount paid for the privilege of borrowing the money and paying it back later, usually over 30 years. When the borrower pays the mortgage each month, some of the amount goes toward paying the principal and some toward interest. Equity is an owner's financial interest in a property. It is the difference between the amount still owed on the mortgage loan and the fair market value of the property. Closing costs are generally made up of thefollowing: Closing agents or attorney fees Interest paid from date of closing through the end of the month of closing Loan origination fee to cover lender administrative costs Credit report fees Appraisal fees Recording fees Survey fee First mortgage insurance premium Title insurance (yours and your lenders) Certain of these closing costs, as well as certain of the prepaid items listed below, may be paid by the seller, or shared between the borrower and the seller, depending on the terms of the sales contract. Prepaids are advance payments (property taxes, first annual premium for homeowners insurance, etc.) made at closing by the borrower that may be placed in an escrow account and used by the lender to pay these bills as they become due. The property tax you will pay is the amount that the state or locality, or both, assesses as a tax on your piece of property based on the value. While the property taxes due at closing are usually covered in your prepaids, your mortgage payment will also include an amount to pay future taxes as assessed by your state or locality. These tax rates vary by area and typically increase over time. Homeowners insurance combines hazard insurance and lia- bility insurance. Hazard insurance covers property damage caused by fire, wind, storms, and other similar events. Coverage for earthquakes and floods may or may not be included with hazard insurance, and you should check with your insurance carrier to determine if this is included in your policy. Liability insurance coverage protects you against claims alleging negligence or inappropriate action resulting in bodily injury or property damage. Annual Percentage Rate The Truth in Lending Act requires the lender to tell you the annualpercentage rate (APR) charged on your home mortgage. The annual percentagerate is calculated by adding the interest rate, the discount points,the initial service charge, the premium paid to insure the mortgage, andcertain other charges collected by the lender. The APR is not the sameas the mortgage loan interest rate. The Cost of FHA Mortgage Insurance When you get a mortgage loan insured by FHA, you have to pay an up-front insurance premium, which can be included in the loan you get through a lender. You will also have to pay a monthly insurance premium that is added to the regular mortgage payment. FHA uses the premiums to pay the lender if you default on your mortgage. The Importance of Getting a Home Inspection Buying a home is one of the most important purchases you will make in your lifetime, so you should be sure that the home you want to buy is in good condition. A home inspection is an evaluation of a homes condition by a trained expert. During a home inspection, a qualified inspector takes an in-depth and impartial look at the property you plan to buy. The inspector will: Evaluate the physical condition: the structure, construction, and mechanical systems. Identify items that should be repaired or replaced. Estimate the remaining useful life of the major systems (such as electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning), equipment, structure, and finishes. After the inspection is complete, you will receive a written report of the findings from the home inspector, usually within five to seven days. FHA does not guarantee the value or condition of your future home, and FHA does not perform home inspections. If you find problems with your new home after closing, FHA cannot give or lend you money for repairs, nor can it buy the home back from you. Thats why it is so important for you, the buyer, to get an independenthome inspection. You should remember that an inspection is differentfrom an appraisal, which also will be performed as part of the mortgageprocess. Ask a qualified home inspector to thoroughly examine the physicalcondition of your future home and give you the information you needto make a wise decision. Information Resources You may want more information for yourself, your family, or others.The following services are available to help you. Internet www.hud.gov or espanol.hud.gov HUDs website contains comprehensive information about homebuying, homeownership, selling a home, making home improvements, and other housing-related topicsin English and Spanish. HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency Locator HUD supports a network of approved housing counseling agencies that provide counseling services across the nation. For a complete list of HUDapproved agencies in your area, call the HUD housing counseling referral line toll-free at 1-800-569-4287 or visit the HUD website at www.hud.gov. HUD-Approved Lenders A searchable database of HUD-approved lenders, including banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions, is available on the HUD website at www.hud.gov. HUD Customer Service Center 1-800-767-7468 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) https://webapps1.hud.gov/dds/ Most of the information products developed by HUD are available from HUDs Customer Service Center by calling toll-free 1-800-767-7468 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. EST. Written requests should be addressed to: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Customer Service Center Room B-100 451 Seventh Street, SW Washington, DC 20410 You may fax requests to (202) 708-2313. Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page --