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Looking for the Best Mortgage ESPAÑOL Shopping around for a home loan or mortgage will help you to get the best financing deal. A mortgage--whether it’s a home purchase, a refinancing, or a home equity loan--is a product, just like a car, so the price and terms may be negotiable. You’ll want to compare all the costs involved in obtaining a mortgage. Shopping, comparing, and negotiating may save you thousands of dollars. Skip to content Obtain information from several lenders Obtain all important cost information Obtain the best deal that you can Remember: Shop, compare, negotiate Fair lending is required by law Credit problems? Glossary Mortgage shopping worksheet For more information Obtain Information from Several Lenders Home loans are available from several types of lenders-- thrift institutions , commercial banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions. Different lenders may quote you different prices, so you should contact several lenders to make sure you’re getting the best price. You can also get a home loan through a mortgage broker . Brokers arrange transactions rather than lending money directly; in other words, they find a lender for you. A broker’s access to several lenders can mean a wider selection of loan products and terms from which you can choose. Brokers will generally contact several lenders regarding your application, but they are not obligated to find the best deal for you unless they have contracted with you to act as your agent. Consequently, you should consider contacting more than one broker, just as you should with banks or thrift institutions. Whether you are dealing with a lender or a broker may not always be clear. Some financial institutions operate as both lenders and brokers. And most brokers’ advertisements do not use the word "broker." Therefore, be sure to ask whether a broker is involved. This information is important because brokers are usually paid a fee for their services that may be separate from and in addition to the lender’s origination or other fees. A broker’s compensation may be in the form of "points" paid at closing or as an add-on to your interest rate , or both. You should ask each broker you work with how he or she will be compensated so that you can compare the different fees. Be prepared to negotiate with the brokers as well as the lenders. Obtain All Important Cost Information Be sure to get information about mortgages from several lenders or brokers. Know how much of a down payment you can afford, and find out all the costs involved in the loan. Knowing just the amount of the monthly payment or the interest rate is not enough. Ask for information about the same loan amount, loan term, and type of loan so that you can compare the information. The following information is important to get from each lender and broker: Rates Ask each lender and broker for a list of its current mortgage interest rates and whether the rates being quoted are the lowest for that day or week. Ask whether the rate is fixed or adjustable . Keep in mind that when interest rates for adjustable-rate loans go up, generally so does the monthly payment. If the rate quoted is for an adjustable-rate loan, ask how your rate and loan payment will vary, including whether your loan payment will be reduced when rates go down. Ask about the loan’s annual percentage rate (APR) . The APR takes into account not only the interest rate but also points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that you may be required to pay, expressed as a yearly rate. Points Points are fees paid to the lender or broker for the loan and are often linked to the interest rate; usually the more points you pay, the lower the rate. Check your local newspaper for information about rates and points currently being offered. Ask for points to be quoted to you as a dollar amount--rather than just as the number of points--so that you will actually know how much you will have to pay. Fees A home loan often involves many fees, such as loan origination or underwriting fees , broker fees, and transaction, settlement, and closing costs . Every lender or broker should be able to give you an estimate of its fees. Many of these fees are negotiable. Some fees are paid when you apply for a loan (such as application and appraisal fees), and others are paid at closing. In some cases, you can borrow the money needed to pay these fees, but doing so will increase your loan amount and total costs. "No cost" loans are sometimes available, but they usually involve higher rates. Ask what each fee includes. Several items may be lumped into one fee. Ask for an explanation of any fee you do not understand. Some common fees associated with a home loan closing are listed on the Mortgage Shopping Worksheet in this brochure. Down Payments and Private Mortgage Insurance Some lenders require 20 percent of the home’s purchase price as a down payment. However, many lenders now offer loans that require less than 20 percent down--sometimes as little as 5 percent on conventional loans . If a 20 percent down payment is not made, lenders usually require the home buyer to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) to protect the lender in case the home buyer fails to pay. When government-assisted programs such as FHA (Federal Housing Administration), VA (Veterans Administration), or Rural Development Services are available, the down payment requirements may be substantially smaller. Ask about the lender’s requirements for a down payment, including what you need to do to verify that funds for your down payment are available. Ask your lender about special programs it may offer. If PMI is required for your loan, Ask what the total cost of the insurance will be. Ask how much your monthly payment will be when including the PMI premium. Ask how long you will be required to carry PMI. Obtain the Best Deal That You Can Once you know what each lender has to offer, negotiate for the best deal that you can. On any given day, lenders and brokers may offer different prices for the same loan terms to different consumers, even if those consumers have the same loan qualifications. The most likely reason for this difference in price is that loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Generally, the difference between the lowest available price for a loan product and any higher price that the borrower agrees to pay is an overage . When overages occur, they are built into the prices quoted to consumers. They can occur in both fixed and variable-rate loans and can be in the form of points, fees, or the interest rate. Whether quoted to you by a loan officer or a broker, the price of any loan may contain overages. Have the lender or broker write down all the costs associated with the loan. Then ask if the lender or broker will waive or reduce one or more of its fees or agree to a lower rate or fewer points. You’ll want to make sure that the lender or broker is not agreeing to lower one fee while raising another or to lower the rate while raising points. There’s no harm in asking lenders or brokers if they can give better terms than the original ones they quoted or than those you have found elsewhere. Once you are satisfied with the terms you have negotiated, you may want to obtain a written lock-in from the lender or broker. The lock-in should include the rate that you have agreed upon, the period the lock-in lasts, and the number of points to be paid. A fee may be charged for locking in the loan rate. This fee may be refundable at closing. Lock-ins can protect you from rate increases while your loan is being processed; if rates fall, however, you could end up with a less favorable rate. Should that happen, try to negotiate a compromise with the lender or broker. Remember: Shop, Compare, Negotiate When buying a home, remember to shop around, to compare costs and terms, and to negotiate for the best deal. Your local newspaper and the Internet are good places to start shopping for a loan. You can usually find information both on interest rates and on points for several lenders. Since rates and points can change daily, you’ll want to check your newspaper often when shopping for a home loan. But the newspaper does not list the fees, so be sure to ask the lenders about them. The Mortgage Shopping Worksheet that follows may also help you. Take it with you when you speak to each lender or broker and write down the information you obtain. Don’t be afraid to make lenders and brokers compete with each other for your business by letting them know that you are shopping for the best deal. Fair Lending Is Required by Law The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits lenders from discriminating against credit applicants in any aspect of a credit transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, whether all or part of the applicant’s income comes from a public assistance program, or whether the applicant has in good faith exercised a right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in residential real estate transactions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. Under these laws, a consumer cannot be refused a loan based on these characteristics nor be charged more for a loan or offered less favorable terms based on such characteristics. Credit Problems? Still Shop, Compare, and Negotiate Don’t assume that minor credit problems or difficulties stemming from unique circumstances, such as illness or temporary loss of income, will limit your loan choices to only high-cost lenders.If your credit report contains negative information that is accurate, but there are good reasons for trusting you to repay a loan, be sure to explain your situation to the lender or broker. If your credit problems cannot be explained, you will probably have to pay more than borrowers who have good credit histories. But don’t assume that the only way to get credit is to pay a high price. Ask how your past credit history affects the price of your loan and what you would need to do to get a better price. Take the time to shop around and negotiate the best deal that you can. Whether you have credit problems or not, it’s a good idea to review your credit report for accuracy and completeness before you apply for a loan. To order a copy of your credit report, contact: Equifax: (800) 685-1111 TransUnion: (800) 888-4213 Experian: (888) 397-3742 Glossary Adjustable-rate loans , also known as variable-rate loans, usually offer a lower initial interest rate than fixed-rate loans. The interest rate fluctuates over the life of the loan based on market conditions, but the loan agreement generally sets maximum and minimum rates. When interest rates rise, generally so do your loan payments; and when interest rates fall, your monthly payments may be lowered. Annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate. The APR includes the interest rate, points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that the borrower is required to pay. Conventional loans are mortgage loans other than those insured or guaranteed by a government agency such as the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), the VA (Veterans Administration), or the Rural Development Services (formerly know as Farmers Home Administration, or FmHA). Escrow is the holding of money or documents by a neutral third party prior to closing. It can also be an account held by the lender (or servicer) into which a homeowner pays money for taxes and insurance. Fixed-rate loans generally have repayment terms of 15, 20, or 30 years. Both the interest rate and the monthly payments (for principal and interest) stay the same during the life of the loan. The interest rate is the cost of borrowing money expressed as a percentage rate. Interest rates can change because of market conditions. Loan origination fees are fees charged by the lender for processing the loan and are often expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. Lock-in refers to a written agreement guaranteeing a home buyer a specific interest rate on a home loan provided that the loan is closed within a certain period of time, such as 60 or 90 days. Often the agreement also specifies the number of points to be paid at closing. A mortgage is a document signed by a borrower when a home loan is made that gives the lender a right to take possession of the property if the borrower fails to pay off the loan. Overages are the difference between the lowest available price and any higher price that the home buyer agrees to pay for the loan. Loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Points are fees paid to the lender for the loan. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. Points are usually paid in cash at closing. In some cases, the money needed to pay points can be borrowed, but doing so will increase the loan amount and the total costs. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) protects the lender against a loss if a borrower defaults on the loan. It is usually required for loans in which the down payment is less than 20 percent of the sales price or, in a refinancing, when the amount financed is greater than 80 percent of the appraised value. Thrift institution is a general term for savings banks and savings and loan associations. Transaction, settlement, or closing costs may include application fees; title examination, abstract of title, title insurance, and property survey fees; fees for preparing deeds, mortgages, and settlement documents; attorneys’ fees; recording fees; and notary, appraisal, and credit report fees. Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the borrower receives a good faith estimate of closing costs at the time of application or within three days of application. The good faith estimate lists each expected cost either as an amount or a range. Mortgage Shopping Worksheet File for Printing Worksheet (12KB PDF) Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender: ___ ___ Name of Contact: ___ ___ Date of Contact: ___ ___ Mortgage Amount: ___ ___ mortgage 1 mortgage 2 mortgage 1 mortgage 2 Basic Information on the Loans Type of Mortgage: fixed rate, adjustable rate, conventional, FHA, other? If adjustable, see below ___ ___ ___ ___ Minimum down payment required ___ ___ ___ ___ Loan term (length of loan) ___ ___ ___ ___ Contract interest rate ___ ___ ___ ___ Annual percentage rate (APR) ___ ___ ___ ___ Points (may be called loan discount points) ___ ___ ___ ___ Monthly Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) premiums ___ ___ ___ ___ How long must you keep PMI? ___ ___ ___ ___ Estimated monthly escrow for taxes and hazard insurance ___ ___ ___ ___ Estimated monthly payment (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, PMI) ___ ___ ___ ___ Fees Different institutions may have different names for somefees and may charge different fees. We have listed some typical fees you may see on loan documents. Application fee or Loan processing fee ___ ___ ___ ___ Origination fee or Underwriting fee ___ ___ ___ ___ Lender fee or Funding fee ___ ___ ___ ___ Appraisal fee ___ ___ ___ ___ Attorney fees ___ ___ ___ ___ Document preparation and recording fees ___ ___ ___ ___ Broker fees (may be quoted as points, origination fees, or interest rate add-on) ___ ___ ___ ___ Credit report fee ___ ___ ___ ___ Other fees ___ ___ ___ ___ Other Costs at Closing/Settlement Title search/Title insurance For lender ___ ___ ___ ___ For you ___ ___ ___ ___ Estimated prepaid amounts for interest, taxes, hazard insurance, payments to escrow ___ ___ ___ ___ State and local taxes, stamp taxes, transfer taxes ___ ___ ___ ___ Flood determination ___ ___ ___ ___ Prepaid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) ___ ___ ___ ___ Surveys and home inspections ___ ___ ___ ___ Total Fees and Other Closing/Settlement Cost Estimates ___ ___ ___ ___ Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender: mortgage 1 mortgage 2 mortgage 1 mortgage 2 Other Questions and Considerations about the Loan Are any of the fees or costs waivable? ___ ___ ___ ___ Prepayment penalties Is there a prepayment penalty? ___ ___ ___ ___ If so, how much is it? ___ ___ ___ ___ How long does the penalty period last? (for example, 3 years? 5 years?) ___ ___ ___ ___ Are extra principal payments allowed? ___ ___ ___ ___ Lock-ins Is the lock-in agreement in writing? ___ ___ ___ ___ Is there a fee to lock-in? ___ ___ ___ ___ When does the lock-in occur—at application, approval, or another time? ___ ___ ___ ___ How long will the lock-in last? ___ ___ ___ ___ If the rate drops before closing, can you lock-in at a lower rate? ___ ___ ___ ___ If the loan is an adjustable rate mortgage: What is the initial rate? ___ ___ ___ ___ What is the maximum the rate could be next year? ___ ___ ___ ___ What are the rate and payment caps each year and over the life of the loan? ___ ___ ___ ___ What is the frequency of rate change and of any changes to the monthly payment? ___ ___ ___ ___ What is the index that the lender will use? ___ ___ ___ ___ What margin will the lender add to the index? ___ ___ ___ ___ Credit life insurance Does the monthly amount quoted to you include a charge for credit life insurance? ___ ___ ___ ___ If so, does the lender require credit life insurance as a condition of the loan? ___ ___ ___ ___ How much does the credit life insurance cost? ___ ___ ___ ___ How much lower would your monthly payment be without the credit life insurance? ___ ___ ___ ___ If the lender does not require credit life insurance, and you still want to buy it, what rates can you get from other insurance providers? ___ ___ ___ ___ This brochure was prepared by the following agencies: Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Justice Department of the Treasury 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 These agencies (except the Department of the Treasury) enforce compliance with laws that prohibit discrimination in lending. If you feel that you have been discriminated against in the home financing process, you may want to contact one of the agencies listed above about your rights under these laws. For more information on home lending issues, visit ( http://www.consumer.gov ), write to the Federal Citizen Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009 or visit the Center’s Web site at ( http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov ). The following brochures are available from the Center: A Consumer’s Guide to Mortgage Lock-Ins A Consumer’s Guide to Mortgage Refinancing Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs and Helpful Information Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages Guide to Single Family Home Mortgage Insurance Home Buyer’s Vocabulary Home Mortgages: Understanding the Process and Your Rights to Fair Lending How to Buy a Home with a Low Down Payment How to Dispute Credit Report Errors The HUD Home Buying Guide What You Should Know About Home Equity Lines of Credit Home | Consumer information | Publications | Brochures | Accessibility | Contact Us Last update: January 22, 2004

Buy Property

Amazon.co.uk: Buying a Home in Spain: Books BOOK SEARCH BROWSE CATEGORIES SPECIAL OFFERS TOP SELLERS AUDIO BOOKS Paperbacks 3 for £12 NEW & USED TEXTBOOKS HARRY POTTER SELL YOUR BOOKS All Products -Books -Used Books -Collectable Books All Subjects -Art, Architecture & Photography -Audio Cassettes -Audio CDs -Biography -Business, Finance & Law -Children's Books -Comics & Graphic Novels -Computers & Internet -Crime, Thrillers & Mystery -Fiction -Food & Drink -Gay & Lesbian -Health, Family & Lifestyle -History -Home & Garden -Horror -Humour -Mind, Body & Spirit -Music, Stage & Screen -Poetry, Drama & Criticism -Reference & Languages -Religion & Spirituality -Romance -Science & Nature -Science Fiction & Fantasy -Scientific, Technical & Medical -Society, Politics & Philosophy -Sports, Hobbies & Games -Travel & Holiday -Young Adult All Subjects Art, Architecture & Photography Audio Cassettes Audio CDs Biography Business, Finance & Law Children's Books Comics & Graphic Novels Computers & Internet Crime, Thrillers & Mystery Education & Languages Fiction Food & Drink Gay & Lesbian Health, Family & Lifestyle History Home & Garden Horror Humour Mind, Body & Spirit Music, Stage & Screen Poetry, Drama & Criticism Reference Religion & Spirituality Romance Science & Nature Science Fiction & Fantasy Scientific, Technical & Medical Society, Politics & Philosophy Sports, Hobbies & Games Travel & Holiday Young Adult BOOKS INFO At A Glance Reviews Customer Reviews See more by these authors: David Hampshire Jim Watson E-mail a Friend About This Item Recommendations If you already own this, rate it and improve your recommendations , Not Rated Find a huge selection of books at 30% off Become an Associate Join our Associates Programme and make money from your website! Buying a Home in Spain David Hampshire , Jim Watson (Illustrator) Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book. Availability: usually dispatched within 1 to 2 working days 31 Used & New from £1.20 See larger photo Edition: Paperback More Product Details Customers who shopped for this item also shopped for: Buying a Property in Spain: An Insider Guide to Finding a Home in the Sun ; Paperback ~ Harry King The Best Places to Buy a Home in Spain ; Paperback ~ Joanna Styles, Jim Watson (Illustrator) Buy to Let in Spain: How to Invest in Spanish Property for Pleasure and Profit ; Paperback ~ Harry King Property Hotspots in Spain: The Hottest Property Locations in the Sunny Costas and How to Invest in Them ; Paperback ~ Ajay Ahuja Buying a Home in Spain 2005 ; Paperback ~ David Hampshire Product Details: Paperback 288 pages(December 1999) Publisher: Survival Books Language: English ISBN: 1901130363 Category(ies): Business, Finance & Law , Health, Family & Lifestyle , Travel & Holiday Average Customer Review: | Write a review Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2,760 (Publishers and authors: improve your sales ) 1 new from 5.95 30 used from 1.20 Have one to sell? (We'll set one up for you) View my Wish List . Customers interested in this title may also be interested in: What's this? ( What's this? ) Feedback Business Finance Directory Find a wide range of business finance services and specialists in the finance section of our free business directory. www.business-search.uk.net Reviews Book Information Buying a Home in Spain is essential reading for anyone planning to purchase property in Spain and is the most comprehensive and up-to-date source of information available. Whether you're seeking a castillo, villa, farmhouse, townhouse or an apartment, a holiday or a permanent home, this book will help make your dreams come true. Packed with over 200 pages of valuable information, it's designed to help you avoid costly mistakes and save time and money. If you're planning to buy a home in Spain or even just thinking about it--this is the book for you. Buying a Home in Spain is designed to guide you through the property maze and make buying a home a pleasant and enjoyable experience. Most importantly, it's packed with vital information to help you avoid the sort of disasters that can turn your dream home into a nightmare. Vital topics covered include: Doing your Homework and Avoiding Problems Choosing the Region Finding the Right Home and Location Real Estate Agents Finance, Mortgages and Taxes Home Security Utilities, Heating and Air-conditioning Moving House and Settling In Renting and Letting Permits and Visas Retirement, Working and Starting a Business Travelling and Communications Health and Insurance Renting a Car and Driving And much, much more. Customer Reviews Avg. Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other shoppers! 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Buying a Home in Spain , March 8, 2004 Reviewer: A reader from Los Angeles, California USA David Hampshire has written or co-written a series of books on living, working and purchasing homes in different countries; this is the 5th of his "country" books I have bought. We have previously lived in Switzerland and France and have close relatives in Portugal and we find David Hampshire's books invaluable - they are detailed, honest and well-written - good reference books and introduction for anyone contemplating a move abroad. I have given his books to several friends, including his book on the U.S. to a friend who moved to Virginia. I purchased this one for a relative planning to buy a house in Spain. It is not the only hand-book or advice one needs but it is certainly a great guide/check-list of the daily items one needs to deal with in a foreign country. Was this review helpful to you? 25 of 26 people found the following review helpful: BUYING A HOME IN SPAIN , November 25, 2002 Reviewer: Alexandra Campbell from Costa del Sol, Spain Having made several mistakes buying my first property in Spain when it came to the second I invested in David Hampshire's BUYING A HOME IN SPAIN. What a revelation! He has certainly saved me a lot of money, and probably my sanity - Spain is a wonderful place to live, but the laws, regulations, and customs are very different to the UK, and the well-meaning advice of ex-pats can lead to losing your car, home or savings. This book tells it like it is...thank you Mr Hampshire, you obviously HAVE lived here, and your advice really hits the spot. Was this review helpful to you? 28 of 34 people found the following review helpful: One to read if you are one of life's great pessimists! , June 15, 2001 Reviewer: A reader from Britain This book scared the living daylights out of me! Having read it I was convinced that I would never have the mental stamina to deal with all the red tape he describes. I know that it is important that people are warned of the possible pitfalls of buying property abroad but did this book have to be so negative and so pessimistic? The Chapter on Spanish driving was dreadfully insulting, as were the comments about Spain being the noisiest country in Europe! How I would have liked a more ENCOURAGING book - by all means point out potential pitfalls, Mr Hampshire, but please do so in a constructive way. Were I a more timid character I would have read this book and ditched all my plans for moving to Spain in the near future - not a read for the faint hearted. Was this review helpful to you? 27 of 28 people found the following review helpful: Excellent; Should be mandatory reading for prospective owner , July 6, 2000 Reviewer: A reader from Scotland A very comprehensive guide to buying a place in Spain. There's a wealth of facts in this book so don't expect to absorb it all on the first reading. - But don't worry, it's all presented in a very readable and humerous style. The author also provides a useful insight into some of the less palatable aspects of property ownership in Spain (not that Spain is any worse than any other country)and this means that we can approach our negotiations with much more confidence. Indeed, he doesn't appear to be scared to tread on a few toes he also exposes some of the less appealing aspects (for example read the section on Community properties, pages 150-155) Reading the rather vitriolic comments of a previous reviewer made me curious as to why the book prompted such a reaction. It was either somebody in the property trade who's cage he'd rattled or (call me a cynic if you wish) it was deliberate bait. Either way it attracted me to the book. So to that person 'Thank You' for calling it to my attention; it has become my bible. Was this review helpful to you? See all customer reviews... Customers who bought books by David Hampshire also bought books by these authors: Harry King Andre de Vries Charles Davey Joe Laredo Alan S. Lindsey Look for similar books by subject: Browse for Books in: Subjects > Travel & Holiday > General Subjects > Business, Finance & Law > Personal Finance > Property & Real Estate > General Subjects > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Self Help > Practical & Motivational Subjects > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Europe > Portugal > General Subjects > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Europe > Spain > General Subjects > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Self Help > General Search for books by subject: Business / Economics / Finance Economics Europe - Spain & Portugal Property & real estate Real Estate - Buying/Selling Homes Self-Help & Practical Interests Spain TRAVEL & HOLIDAY Travel i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ... Comment on this title I have read this book and I want to review it. I am the author and I want to comment on my book. I am the publisher and I want to comment on this book. Correct errors and omissions in this listing. 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Real estate listings - vacation, investment & retirement homes The Leading Real Estate Marketplace for Vacation Properties & Second Homes Research cities, find local experts, search real estate listings for vacation, retirement, investment, and more! Search By: <Location> INTERNATIONAL Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia 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 <Interest> Beach Golf Hunting Fishing International Island Lakes and Rivers Mountain Ranch Urban Living Wine Country <Property Type> Second Homes Fractionals Timeshares Vacation Rentals Home Exchange Find Me a Top-Rated Agent Home Research Towns | Find an Agent | Real Estate Search | Tools & Articles | For Agents | Sign In -- Find a Town, Property, or Specialist Now! -- Join EscapeHomes today! FEATURED PARTNERS: Private Residence Clubs – fractional ownership at its finest -- A POSTCARD FROM -- A POSTCARD FROM MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA Since buying our second home near Mammoth Mountain, both my husband and I have become expert skiers! The ... Learn more FEATURED PROPERTY -- FEATURED PROPERTY #1 Ski Resort Fractional Learn more FIND REAL ESTATE ON MLS Instantly view homes for sale on the same MLS that real estate professionals use. All for free  with no obligation! -- ONLINE FORUMS Whether you are a second homebuyer, real estate investor, retiree or REALTOR® you'll find valuable information here. IN THE NEWS See what CNN, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and The New York Times are saying about us. -- NEW HOMES Find top resort communities throughout the country. Golfing, skiing, mountain sports, lakefront living, retirement, and more! Advertise your properties, resort development, or real estate professional services on EscapeHomes.com Partners Newsletters Press About Us Contact Us Privacy Statement Terms EscapeHomes is the leading real estate listings source for vacation homes, investment homes and retirement homes, matching vacation home buyers with local real estate agents. Search free real estate listings in all major markets for second homes. Access real estate tools and articles to make informed purchase decisions on vacaton homes, investment homes and retirement homes. Site Map | Real Estate Articles | Alabama Real Estate | Arizona Real Estate | California Real Estate | Colorado Real Estate | Delaware Real Estate | Florida Real Estate | Hawaii Real Estate | Idaho Real Estate | Maine Real Estate | Massachusetts Real Estate | Nevada Real Estate | New Jersey Real Estate | New Mexico Real Estate | New York Real Estate | North Carolina Real Estate | Oregon Real Estate | Pennsylvania Real Estate | South Carolina Real Estate | Texas Real Estate | Utah Real Estate | Vermont Real Estate | Virginia Real Estate | Washington Real Estate | Wyoming Real Estate | Beachfront Vacation Property | Golf Real Estate | Hunting Fishing Real Estate | International Real Estate Listings | Island Property For Sale | Lake Homes For Vacation | Mountain Homes | Ranch Property | Urban Real Estate | Wine Country Property | Second Homes for Sale | MLS Home Search | Homes For Rent | Fractional Real Estate | Real Estate Search Engine | Recreational Real Estate | New Homes | Resort Communities | Luxury Homes | Online Forums

House Rent

Renting - HUD HUD News Newsroom Priorities About HUD Homes Buying Owning Selling Renting Homeless Home improvements HUD homes Fair housing FHA refunds Foreclosure Consumer info Communities About communities Volunteering Organizing Economic development Working with HUD Grants Programs Contracts Work online HUD jobs Complaints Resources Library Handbooks/ forms Common questions Tools Webcasts Mailing lists Contact us Help Renting Information by State Esta página en español Print version Email this to a friend Talk to a Housing Counselor HUD funds housing counseling agencies throughout the country that can give you advice on renting. Find the address of a housing counseling agency closest to you or call toll-free 1-888-466-3487 Looking for an apartment or house to rent? It can be both exciting - and frustrating. Read these tips before you begin. And happy hunting! Step 1: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities When you live in an apartment, you have both rights and responsibilities. Know what's expected of you - and what you can expect in return. Fair housing rights Ten tips every tenant should know Rights of tenants displaced by government-funded projects Rights and responsibilities of tenants in federal assisted apartments Security deposits Landlord and tenant law Other legal information for landlords and tenants Step 2: Figure Out How Much You Can Afford Some experts recommend that you budget 25-30% of your income for housing. Here's more information about budgeting for your rent: Budgeting for your first apartment How much rent is too much rent? Buy vs. rent Think you can't afford to buy a home? You might be surprised. Did You Know? You can apply at more than one public housing agency . Each housing agency has its own system for applications. Sometimes there are long waiting lists. If you're willing to move, you might find a housing agency that can offer you housing right away. So check around. Find out how your rent is determined by public housing agencies.. Step 3: Take Advantage of Special Services and Programs to Help You Need financial help? HUD and other agencies fund programs that may help you rent a home. Low-rent housing : the government provides funds directly to apartment owners, who lower the rents they charge low-income tenants. You can find low-rent housing for senior citizens and people with disabilities, as well as for families and individuals. To be eligible, you can earn no more than the income limit . To apply: Visit the management office for the apartment(s) that interest you. Public Housing is apartments for low-income people, operated by local housing agencies. To be eligible, you can earn no more than the income limit . To apply: Contact a public housing agency . Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly called "Section 8") let you find your own place to rent, using the voucher to pay for all or part of the rent To be eligible, you can earn no more than the income limit . To apply: Contact your housing authority Local rental programs - Your state and local governments may use HUD funds to create local rental programs. You can contact your state and local governments to find out. These rental programs may have different income limits, so be sure to ask. State and local government websites Rural Rental Assistance Programs : The Department of Agriculture has rental assistance programs, home improvement and repair loans and grants, and self-help housing loans for low income individuals and families in rural communities. To apply: Visit the Rural Housing Service website or contact your local Rural Development office (check the Federal Government section of your telephone book). Programs and Services in Federal Rental Housing : Many of the apartments that are aided by federal funding offer additional services for residents. Neighborhood networks trains residents in computer and job-seeking skills Step Up is a construction apprenticeship program for public housing residents and other people with low incomes Step 4: Figure Out What You Need Think through what you need in an apartment BEFORE you begin shopping. How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? Do you need to be close to schools? Do you need parking? Do you need to be close to public transportation? Where is the grocery store? Make a list before you begin...that will help you narrow down your search. Step 5: Go Shopping Shop for an apartment or house to rent just like you shop for anything else. Look around. Compare features. Get the best deal for you. Checklist to help you compare each unit Accessible apartment clearinghouse Visit your favorite search site and search on "apartments for rent" - you'll find many websites that will help you find apartments in your area Step 6: Get Ready to Move OK - you've found your place. You've signed your lease. You're ready to move in. Here are a few more resources and suggestions you might consider. Renter's insurance can help you protect your belongings Moving guide 10 things to pack last Content updated October 17, 2005 Back to Top FOIA Privacy Web Policies and Important Links Home U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455 Find the address of a HUD office near you

Home Equity Fraud How

Don’t Lose Your Home. Home Equity Fraud Home Equity Fraud Consumers Union West Coast Regional Office Don’t Lose Your Home. Home Equity Fraud How To Protect Yourself From Home Equity Lending Fraud DO Get free pre-loan counseling before you sign on the dotted line. Shop around for the best home equity loan for your financial situation. Read every word on any loan document before you sign. Avoid loans with one large "balloon payment" at the end. Protect your friends and neighbors by reporting home equity fraud immediately. DON’T Don’t fall for a loan from a door-to-door salesman or home improvement contractor who comes to your home. Don’t decide whether you can afford a loan by the monthly payments alone. Don’t sign anything that has blank spaces. Don’t take out a loan on your property for anyone else unless you can afford to lose that money forever. What Is Home Equity Fraud? Sometimes, taking out a loan against your home’s equity can be a good idea. Home equity borrowing should not be a problem as long as the loan is a fair one and you have the ability to repay the loan. Home equity lending fraud is different: Lenders seek you out and trick you into taking out a loan against your home which you cannot afford to repay. Most times, these loans have very high interest rates and steep fees. When you fall behind on your payments, the lender can take your home and all your equity through a legal process called foreclosure. The lender then owns your home. Once the damage is done, it is very hard to undo. Most people never get their homes back again. Why Should I Care? Nationally, home repair and home equity fraud have stripped the value from the homes of an estimated 100,000 people in 29 states. In the entire country, the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the areas hardest hit by home equity fraud. Real people, many of them senior citizens, have lost ownership of their homes and all their equity, with no hope of ever getting any of it back. Anyone with equity in a home is a potential target. You could be next. Your home equity is just like money. Protect it! If you are a homeowner or know someone who is, you should learn about home equity lending fraud. Knowing what to look for and how to protect yourself can keep you or a loved one from losing a home. Here’s How To Protect Yourself From The Most Common Types Of Home Equity Fraud: Don’t take out a loan from an uninvited door-to-door contractor who appears at your home. Instead: Many local government agencies have special programs to make it easy to repair housing. See if you qualify for one of these programs available in your area. See the Home Improvement Resource List, a separate Consumers Union publication. Find your own contractor; don’t wait for one to come to you. Shop for your own financing. You’ll probably get a better deal. Steer clear of door-to-door salespersons who want to fix your home after a disaster such as an earthquake or flood. Instead: Call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1(800)462-9029 for information about repairing and financing repairs to your home after a disaster. If you are in foreclosure because you couldn’t pay your mortgage, someone you never heard of will offer you a new loan. Watch out. Instead: Think about selling your home and keeping your equity rather than taking out another loan. See a credit counselor to talk about all of your alternatives. Don’t put your other debts "on the house" through a bill consolidation plan. When you consolidate credit card debt or your car loan, for example, into a home equity loan, you put your home on the line for that debt. Once you put that debt "on your house," you can lose your home if you don’t make those payments. Instead: Talk to a credit counselor. You can get help to work with your creditors to make payments more manageable, possibly without putting debt "on your house." Look Out For These Danger Signs "No Credit? No Job? No Problem!" "Don’t worry, you have plenty of equity in your home to qualify for a loan." Walk away from anyone who says any of these things to you. You may be dealing with someone who will treat you unfairly. They don’t care if you can pay the loan. They know they can legally take your house through foreclosure if you don’t pay. In their eyes, the one thing that "qualifies" you for a loan is your inability to pay it. Before you borrow against your home, ask yourself these two questions: Can I afford this loan? Just because a lender says you "qualify" doesn’t mean you are getting an affordable or fair loan. If you cannot afford the loan, you will lose your home. What will I do if I lose my home? Most people have nowhere to go after they lose their homes. Remember that it is easier to learn how to protect your home now than it is to pick up the pieces after it’s gone. Take advantage of free, local loan counseling. See the Resources section at the end of this pamphlet. Don’t Let Anyone Steal Your Home! Here’s How: DO Get the "big picture" on a loan. Look at more than the monthly payments. Make sure that a loan’s interest rate and fees are competitive and fair. Shop around with different lenders to compare. Hang-up on unsolicited telephone callers. Toss-out mailers you receive from companies offering to arrange a home loan for you. Steer clear of high-pressure sales tactics, such as claims that an offer is good only for a limited time. Seek help from a trusted family member or friend who understands financial matters and can help you get free loan counseling. Avoid loans that are set up as "interest only, non-amortizing or partially amortizing loans." With this type of loan, you still owe the money you borrowed after you make all the payments. You must make one large, final payment, known as a balloon payment. If you can’t make this payment, you may lose your home through foreclosure. You should avoid these loans at all cost. Beware of lenders or contractors who try to trick you into signing away your home. Make sure that a "Contract for Home Improvement Services" is only that. Don’t give your house away by signing a "Deed of Trust" or a "Quitclaim Deed." Think twice about taking out a loan against your home to give money to anyone,even a friend or family member. Consider such a request only if you can afford lose that money forever. Otherwise, you may lose your house if the other person doesn’t repay you in time. Act fast if you were pressured into signing for a loan you didn’t really want or cannot afford. Federal law gives you three days to get out of a loan contract whenever your home is used as security for a home equity loan. You may cancel the loan for any reason, but only if you do it in writing within 3 days. This is known as the right of rescission. Contact an attorney immediately if you have any questions about whether your lender violated the law. DON’T Don’t sign anything related to a home loan without first obtaining independent, free advice from a nonprofit counseling agency. Check the Resources list below. Don’t take the first loan offer that lands in your lap. Shop around! Some lenders charge more than others do. Don’t trust door-to-door loan sellers. If you really need or want a home loan, you should make the first contact and carefully investigate all the possibilities before considering a loan. Don’t take out a loan that is made solely on the value of your home, not on your ability to repay it. Your home equity alone does not give you the income you need to make the monthly payments. Don’t borrow more money than you need. The bigger the loan, the more stake your lender will have in your home equity. Don’t sign a form with incorrect information about yourself on it. Don’t sign anything to do with your home that contains blank spaces. Once your signature is on a form, anyone can fill in those blank spaces with obligations that may be very different than the ones you have agreed to. Don’t sign any forms written in a language you do not understand. You may be signing away your home without even realizing it! It’s okay to say "I don’t understand and I will not sign this." Remember: if the offer is good today, it should be good tomorrow If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Resources Before you take out a home equity loan, get pre-loan counseling for free: San Francisco Bar Association of San Francisco Equity Fraud Hotline and lawyer referral (415) 782-8903 Consumer Credit Counseling Service (415) 788-0288 or (800) 777-7526 Consumer Action (415) 777-9635 Alameda County ECHO Housing (510) 271-7931 Contra Costa County ECHO Housing (925) 679-8023 San Mateo County Consumer Credit Counseling Service (800) 200-6444 Legal Aid Society of San Mateo (650) 377-0158 East Palo Alto Law Collective (650) 853-1600 Santa Clara County Consumer Credit Counseling Service (800) 969-7526 If you feel you are the victim of home equity lending fraud, call one of the local agencies above. Then call the National Fraud Information Center. File a written complaint against the lender with the appropriate local law enforcement and state regulatory agencies. National Fraud Information Center (800) 876-7060 Fraud reports from consumers are sent within minutes to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Law Enforcement: San Francisco Office of the District Attorney: (415) 553-1814 Alameda County Office of the District Attorney: (510) 569-9281 Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney: (925) 646-4500 San Mateo County Office of the District Attorney: (650) 363-4677 Santa Clara County Office of the District Attorney, Real Estate Fraud Division (408) 792-2880 State Regulatory Agencies: Call each agency to see if the lender you are complaining about is licensed by that agency. Sometimes lenders are licensed by both agencies. California Department of Real Estate 185 Berry Street, Room 3400 San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 904-5925 California Department of Corporations 3700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 600 Los Angeles, CA 90010 (800) 347-6995 (toll free) [ Health ] [ Finance ] [ Food ] [ Product ] [ Other ] [ About CU ] [ News ] [ Tips ] [ Home ] Please contact us at: http://www.consunion.org/contact.htm All information ©1998 Consumers Union