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Amazon.com: Home for the Holidays: DVD: Holly Hunter,Robert Downey Jr.,Anne Bancroft,Charles Durning,Dylan McDermott,Geraldine Chaplin,Steve Guttenberg,Cynthia Stevenson,Claire Danes,Emily Ann Lloyd,Zack Duhame,Austin Pendleton,David Strathairn,Amy Yasbeck,James Lecesne,Angela Paton,Randy Stone,Sam Slovick,Susan Lyall,Shawn Hatosy,Jodie Foster Your Store DVD See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Genres | Top Sellers | New & Future Releases | Television Central | Life & Learning | DVD Essentials | Blowout DVDs | Movie Showtimes | Used DVDs Search Amazon.com DVD Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . DVD Information Explore this item buying info editorial reviews customer reviews cast and crew fun facts Listmania! Thanksgiving Movies & Spec... : A list by Jakki Add your List Ready to buy? Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . MORE BUYING CHOICES 59 used & new from $8.78 Available for in-store pickup now from: $14.99 Price may vary based on availability Enter your ZIP Code Have one to sell? Home for the Holidays (1995) Starring: Holly Hunter , Robert Downey Jr. Director: Jodie Foster Rating: See larger image Share your own customer images List Price: $14.94 Price: $9.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details You Save: $4.95 (33%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Want it delivered Friday, December 30? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details 59 used & new available from $8.78 Edition: Other Versions and Languages Other Versions (VHS Tape) List Price Price Other Offers: VHS Tape Home for the Holidays $19.98 26 used & new from $3.00 VHS Tape Home for the Holidays $9.94 10 used & new from $3.97 Other Versions (Audio CD) Audio CD Home for the Holidays $11.98 15 used & new from $5.95 Better Together Buy this DVD with The Ref DVD ~ Denis Leary today! Total List Price: $24.93 Buy Together Today: $16.98 Customers who bought this DVD also bought The Ref DVD ~ Denis Leary Mixed Nuts DVD ~ Steve Martin National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition) DVD ~ Chevy Chase Once Around DVD ~ Richard Dreyfuss Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Music , and in Video Storyline Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance Tagline: On the fourth Thursday in November, 84 million American families will gather together... And wonder why. Plot Synopsis: After losing her job, making out with her soon to be ex-boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson has to face spending the holiday with her family. She wonders if she can survive their crazy antics. Plot Keywords: Dysfunctional Family | Dysfunctional | Christmas | Family | Homosexual | Thanksgiving | Acceptance | Argument | Holiday | Farting Scene | Gay Interest | Mother Daughter Relationship | (Show all 15 plot keywords recommended by customers) Product Details Actors: Holly Hunter , Robert Downey Jr. , Anne Bancroft , Charles Durning , Dylan McDermott , See more Directors: Jodie Foster Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc, Widescreen Anamorphic Region: Region 1 ( U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats. ) Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Number of discs: 1 Rated: Studio: MGM (Video & DVD) DVD Release Date: September 4, 2001 Run Time: 103 minutes Average Customer Review: Based on 85 Reviews DVD Features: Available Subtitles: Spanish, French Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) Audio commentary From IMDb: Quotes & Trivia ASIN: B00005LOKR Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,183 in DVD Theatrical Release Information US Theatrical Release Date: November 3, 1995 MPAA: for thematic material, language and brief drug use. Production Company: Egg Pictures, Paramount Pictures, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment USA Box Office: $18 Million Filming Locations: Baltimore, Maryland, USA| Los Angeles, California, USA Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Holly Hunter plays a Chicago-based single mom who--on the day before Thanksgiving--loses her job and is informed by her daughter of the latter's intention to surrender her virginity while on a weekend-long affair. If that's not enough, Hunter's character then has to fly to Baltimore to join her fractious family for another difficult Thanksgiving. Robert Downey Jr. is terrifically charming as her prankish, gay brother, and Anne Bancroft and Charles Durning show plenty of comic resilience during the predictably interesting Thanksgiving dinner scene. The script by W.D. Richter ( Brubaker ) avoids the usual clichés in family dramas--the deepest, darkest secret revealed here involves the painfully sweet revelation of a 40-year-old crush. Jodie Foster, directing her second feature, focuses instead on the inevitable softening of old grudges and disappointments with time. This is a wise as well as wonderfully fun movie. --Tom Keogh Customers who viewed this DVD also viewed Scrooged DVD ~ Bill Murray A Christmas Story (Full Screen Edition) DVD ~ Yano Anaya Living Out Loud DVD ~ Holly Hunter Pieces of April DVD ~ Katie Holmes Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Music , and in Video Spotlight Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 22 of 23 people found the following review helpful: Going home again , December 1, 2002 Reviewer: J.A.H. "Poetlinus" (Virginia) - See all my reviews "Home for the Holidays" is a quiet, fun little film that I dust off once or twice a year (usually around Thanksgiving!) and sit back and absolutely enjoy. It's become a comfort film for me, one of honesty, predictability, and enjoyment. It's a wonder more people haven't discovered this mini-classic. Holly Hunter plays Claudia, a forty year old woman forced to endure calamity after calamity on her way to her parent's house for the Thanksgiving holiday. Hunter has her role sewn up from the moment we see her; she encapsulates Claudia and makes her very real as she is conforted with mini-nightmares. These problems plague her, only to define her life as unrealized, possibly misdirected. That Hunter refuses to play her as a sack sad, or someone pitiful, is a testament to her understanding of Claudia. The script avoids usual the "family cliches" by showing us a dysfunctional family that functions quite well. Gay brother Tommy, so perfectly mastered by Robert Downey Jr., always the family clown, removes his "make-up" and shows incredible sensitivity when he rescues his sister from her holiday horror. Dylan McDermott charms his way quietly as Leo Fish, and you believe his sincerity towards Claudia. Cynthnia Stevenson and Steve Guttenberg rock as the high strung power couple so insistent on perfection in their imperfect lives. And the wonderful Charles Durning and Anne Bancroft as the parents, so beleaguered, so joyful, so real. While the performances shine, the script shines even brighter, offering little solutions with much insight. You understand Claudia's trauams, but know that none of them are resolvable within a two hour film, and that's ok. Even the ending, which suggests that even daring to dream is enough, is absolutely perfect for this film. A less experienced screenwriter would have fallen into the cliche trap and wrapped everything up in a neat bow, which this film suggests, is simply not possible. "Home for the Holidays" is a signature piece by Jodie Foster, one that people who enjoy a truly good film won't be there to pass up. I hope Foster follows up by directing more classics such as this; American cinema would be better for it. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 10 of 11 people found the following review helpful: Home Anyone...........??? , December 8, 2004 Reviewer: V. Marshall (North Fork, CA USA) - See all my reviews Ahhh the holidays....that wonderful time of thankfulness, love and laughter, NOT!!! This movie will have you in stitches each and every holiday season if you suffer from that ever present disease of dysfunctional family syndrome. Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter) is wallowing in self-pity for good reason, she was fired from her job, her daughter is about to have sex for the first time and she is traveling back home for the holidays. What more could a girl ask for, a cold? She arrives to a snowy existence and a family of little understanding. Her father Henry (Charles Durning) and her mother Adele (Anne Bancroft) are seemingly oblivious to all of the turmoil they have created and that now resides within their children. Soon the house is filled with love and lots of arguments! Gay brother Tommy Larson (Robert Downey Jr.) appears to torture the entire clan with mischief and in tow he has a co-worker/friend, Leo Fish (Dylan McDermott). And of course what family would be complete without the crazy aunt (Geraldine Chaplin) and a branch of perfection that breaks off and becomes the norm, sister Joanne (Cynthia Stevenson) and her [...] husband Walter (Steve Guttenberg). So sit back and have a toast with a perfectly normal American family for the holidays but get ready to laugh uncontrollably too! Jodie Foster directed this film about the typical dysfunctional family during the holiday season and she brings both a sensitive understanding and a full blown sense of humor to this holiday table. Holly Hunter is really wonderful as the hopeful but often misunderstood sister in a clan of crazies. Despite his drug induced performance, Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly cast as the troubled brother with secrets to protect from a family that can't accept modern life. Dylan McDermott is the pretty boy of the film but offers much more than a cute mug in his role as the charming outsider. Charles Durning and Anne Bancroft are brilliant as clueless parents who are stuck in the roles they took upon themselves many years ago; both are unknowingly hilarious just like most parents who prefer to keep their eyes closed. Cynthia Stevenson is great as the perfectionist sister that seems to lurk about in every family and marries a nerd so that she can pretend to be happy. But the true scene stealer of this film has to be Geraldine Chaplin as crazy but oblivious Aunt Gladys, you cannot watch her performance and not fall on the floor in hysterics! Overall this is the perfect holiday movie to bring good cheer where little may truly exist.....after all if you can't laugh at yourself what is the point in holiday reunions, isn't that what brings us back home year after year? Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. Home for Thanksgiving , December 20, 2005 Reviewer: Kim Possible Finicatata "Jen" (Grand Blanc,MI) - See all my reviews I also saw this in one of my classes in college.I think it was the 2nd movie we've seen. The 1st was nobody's fool.this was the 2nd. It's about a woman,who gets fired on Thanksgiving Eve,and goes home to her family on Thanksgiving. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 1 of 3 people found the following review helpful: what's the story? There is no story , November 23, 2005 Reviewer: Rottenberg's rotten book review (nyc) - See all my reviews "Home for the Holidays" is meant to be a post-modern response to years on crudely bogus holiday specials that nobody takes seriously. Somebody must have thought it was high time for a story that actually depicts the mean spiritedness that comes out whenever family gets together, and it's too cold outside to escape. Unfortunately, it's a weird dish of a story that tosses everything at you, but never comes together. Holly Hunter is Claudia, a single mom dragooned by fate to face the weekend with her parents. Forced to sexually service her boss on pain of getting fired, Claudia winds up unemployed nonetheless. Her parents are a compulsively edged-out Anne Bancroft and a terminally mellow Charles Durning - a former airline worker who watches old movies in the basement and keeps a sweet song handy in his head for when scenes get too involved. But Claudia's sibs aren't any help either - with Robert Downey Jr. as Claudia's gay brother and the cute Cynthia Stephenson playing against type as Joanne, Claudia's sister, a button-down, bad-tempered type at odds with her brother's lifestyle. The story traps them all within Durning's house - 5 characters in search of a story. Part of the problem is that the tone is so uneven, you're never sure what kind of story "Home" is meant to be - it could be a bittersweet comedy, but it's never all that funny, and the characters never suggest sufficient depth needed for a decent drama. Some parts are just too cute to be belived - including Dylan Mcdermott as a straight friend of Downey's character who will be drawn to Claudia; Geraldine Chaplin as Claudia's batty aunt Gladys; also David Straithairn as Russ, a boiler repairman having a horrible year. According to IMDB.com legend, Robert Downey Jr. went through the flick hopelessly stoned and, unable to keep him clean & sober, director Jodie Foster just ratcheted up the film's speed to match its star. Claudia's parents are very conventional, but not so much as to be intolerant of their madcap son - if you were gay, you could do worse than Charles Durning's character as your father. On the contrary, it's Joanne with her straitlaced ways that suffers being on the outs with her family and the story, suffering just about every indignity the weekend can throw at her and her dim-witted husband (Steve Guttenberg). What really kills the story is its focus on Claudia who, unemployment aside, is so otherwise normal, it's difficult to understand what she's doing there - she plays little if any part in the weird stuff that goes on that weekend, she's the main character in a story that doesn't much involve her. That said, I'm not going to outright slam the story - it's a holiday story that's watchable as long as you don't think about too much. I first caught this flick on TV around Thanksgiving about 8 years back when I lost my job, so it's a bit of a sentimental fave, and sentimentality means seldom having to ask yourself what you're watching. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 2 of 3 people found the following review helpful: "What's the point?" "There is no point..." , November 22, 2005 Reviewer: A viewer (NJ) - See all my reviews Ten years after I first saw it in the theatre, I'm about to pull out my DVD for my annual screenings (almost on a continuous loop) beginning a few days before and ending a few days after Thanksgiving. Who needs the Thanksgiving Day Parade when you can watch Home for the Holidays? This is one of my holiday favorites and a staple every year at Thanksgiving. The script is unique, the performances spot-on, and the soundtrack is classic (from Nat King Cole and Tom Jones to Rusted Root's impeccable cover of Evil Ways). The actors deliver spectacular individual performances, all of which are praiseworthy--- my favorite may be Robert Downey Jr's outstanding portrayal of brother Tommy, which may be my favorite role of his in any movie, Chaplin notwithstanding--- right down to the smallest roles of the beleaguered co-passengers in the airport. This movie, above all, makes me feel that our modern American family, however wacky they may be, however much our parents make us nuts, is really just that--- the modern American family. And it's okay to be wacky, because family (however it's defined) is just that. And we love them and they love us. The movie makes a point of asking "What's the point?" several times, only to be told there is none. But the point is that we keep our sense of humor, we love our family, and we accept that we'll probably never understand them-- or they us. Just have fun, have some turkey, and have some love. I love this movie. It makes a great pairing with Love Actually as Thanksgiving ends and Christmas begins, if you want to keep smiling and feel the holiday love. Happy holidays! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 3 of 4 people found the following review helpful: Enjoying the Humor of family and holidays! , October 17, 2005 Reviewer: M. Alley (Arkansas) - See all my reviews This movie is a must for those that dread the family gatherings. It touches on so many aspects of life it is amazing the movie is not 6 hours long. I recommend this for viewing all year long. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 85 customer reviews... Listmania! Treasured Dysfunctional Thanks... : by Invisible Lizard "ardent reade... Thanksgiving movies : by mijacogeo22 "mijacogeo22" Thanksgiving Movies & Spec... : by Jakki So You'd Like to... Enjoy Reality-based, twisted, dark Holiday Movies : by MontezumesRevenge , Victim of the perfect fantasy media family, sooo ... "See The Films Contributing To My State Of Sloth : Pt 8" : by youngrhi , "Room Filler" Know the Queens of Comedy! : by reelgood , movie critic Fun Facts from IMDb.com: Nominations Click here to see more Nominations GLAAD Media Awards: GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film Young Artist Awards: Young Artist Award for Best Young Leading Actress - Feature Film Trivia Click here to see more Trivia Robert Downey Jr. publicly admitted to using drugs during the making of this film, and to having great difficulty filming his scenes. Jodie Foster tried to intervene but could not. Goofs Click here to see more Goofs The whipped cream on Claudia's father's pie. Movie Connections Click here to see more Movie Connections References: Shaft | Silkwood | Jurassic Park Features: Wheel of Fortune Quotes Click here to see more Quotes Joanne : You're calling me a freak? Tommy : No, I'm calling you a product of baboon lovin'. There's a distinction. Tommy : Well, that was absurd, let's eat dead bird! For more information about "Home for the Holidays" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Look for similar items by category Browse similar items in: DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( B ) > Bancroft, Anne DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( C ) > Chaplin, Geraldine DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( D ) > Danes, Claire DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( D ) > Downey Jr., Robert DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( D ) > Durning, Charles DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( G ) > Guttenberg, Steve DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( H ) > Hunter, Holly DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( M ) > McDermott, Dylan DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( P ) > Paton, Angela DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( P ) > Pendleton, Austin DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( S ) > Stevenson, Cynthia DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( S ) > Strathairn, David DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( Y ) > Yasbeck, Amy DVD > Directors > ( F ) DVD > Genres > Comedy > By Theme > Family Gatherings DVD > Genres > Comedy > General DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > Holidays & Festivals > Christmas Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. 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Investment Property Databank IPD Home About IPD Portfolio Analysis Services Events Indices and Market Information Indices for Derivatives Online Services -- Home Company Overview Directors IPD Measurement Methods Locations Sponsors IPD Links IPD Awards FAQs Press Releases Contact Us Jobs at IPD IPD Frequently Asked Questions Q: Who is IPD? Q: What countries do you cover? Q: What is the company structure? Q: What does IPD do? Q: What services does IPD offer? Q: What is OPD? Q: Who are the IPD's main clients? Q: How do the clients use IPD information? Q: What do you gain from using IPD? Q: How do I join IPD? Q: What type of information is required to join IPD? Q: How do you start a new country service? Q: Who is IPD? A: IPD is an independent research company, who employs over 100 graduates to provide investors, occupiers, advisors and researchers with objective, reliable property benchmarks and indices. back Q: What countries do you cover? A: We cover a growing range of countries. At present we have databanks in the UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and USA. back Q: What is the company structure? A: IPD’s Head Office is based in London, UK with subsidiaries in Paris, France (IPD France) , Johannesburg, South Africa (IPD South Africa) and Sweden (IPD Norden). In other countries we work with local partners who are established within their particular country to provide a regional contact in the national language. back Q: What does IPD do? A: IPD produces high quality reports and results which are used around the world by investors, occupiers, advisors, lenders, analysts and researchers. These consist of : • Portfolio analysis on commercial property investment funds. This gives fund managers and investors fair benchmarks for total returns, plus a full evaluation of investment strategy and portfolio quality. • Indices and market information to give the definitive statement for property returns in each country and each city. This provides a consistent basis for comparison with other assets, and for research that informs investment decisions from international portfolio allocation down to individual building selection. Annual indices are free and can be downloaded from this site. Other publications are various prices and come in the from of an annual subscription. Please email marketing@ipdglobal.com" marketing@ipdglobal.com for more information or call +44 (0)20 7643 9246. back Q: What services does IPD offer? A: • Portfolio analysis (PAS) & benchmarking • Market information and publications • D-PAS – (Desktop-PAS). Available for PAS clients this software can be used to analyse the performance and characteristics of the portfolios and benchmarks from your own PC, with exclusive access to figures not available in the report. • IPD Online - Available for PAS clients, this is a secure delivery mechanism giving secure access to report publications. • Research - Publications and custom data. • TICCS - Tenants, Income, Credit Rating & Covenant Strength - adds business information to Dun & Bradstreet on each tenant, to give investors unique benchmarks of portfolio income quality and the covenant strength of individual tenants. • Management Cost Survey - the only source of comprehensive benchmarks for overall costs of portfolio management, the eficiency of in-house management teams and charging rates of external providers. • Remuneration Service – This offers independent design advice to instruct lawyers, help with selection of appropriate benchmarks and targets, ability to model historic or potential out-turn of proposed schemes and authoritative advice on all technical aspects of performance measurement. • IPD Events - These include conferences , training and briefings. back Q: What is OPD? A: IPD Occupiers Property Databank is the market leader in its field of performance measurement for occupiers, with clients from a long list of FTSE 100 and multinational companies. The Databank contains a building-by-building record of complete estates showing total occupational costs, building utilisation, facilities and estate management overheads to give owners a thorough profile and comparative management tool. OPD also runs a Facilities Management benchmarking group, a Workplace Productivity Appraisal and publishes the International Total Occupancy Cost Code. To see OPD's website go to www.opd.co.uk. back Q: Who are IPD's main clients? A: IPD’s clients are mainly Pension and Life Fund companies. IPD has over 300 UK clients, internationally over 200 clients. OPD has approximately 60 clients. back Q: How do the clients use IPD information? A: Property owners need an industry standard yardstick against which they can compare the returns they achieve on their investments and evaluate their performance. The IPD annual database is the most reliable benchmark of direct property performance in the UK. It comprises 11,000 properties (with a total value of over €170bn at December 2004), equivalent to 45% of the total property assets of UK Institutions and listed property companies. back Q: What do you gain from using IPD? A: • An independent audit of investment returns, calculated on an industry standard basis • A benchmarking service which gives owners an objective measure of their performance against relevant yardsticks • Systematic analysis of the sources of above- or below-average performance • A powerful internal management tool to help to set agendas, monitor progress against targets, and to guide strategy, stock selection and active management decisions • Results in electronic form to permit further internal analysis. back Q: How do I join IPD? A: Please contact claire.herd@ipdindex.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 7643 9217 to join or for more information. back Q: What type of information is required to join IPD? A: To participate in the Portfolio Analysis Service you will need to provide: • A series of annual Open Market capital values, carried out to standard RICS Red Book specification, property level rent passing and open market rental value. • A schedule of tenant leases as at the most recent valuation date, including tenant level rent passing and market rental value. • Annual capital expenditure amounts, preferably timed to the month or quarter. • Completion dates of transactions, with gross and net purchase and sale prices. • Property management costs. • Other non-recoverable revenue expenditure (vacant rates, non-recoverable maintenance costs, bad debts etc). back Q: How do you start a new country service? A:IPD systems can be established in any country where property investors are committed to understanding the financial performance of their holdings. This commitment can then ensure that the essential building blocks of the IPD databank are in place: • Valuations: In the property market where transactions are few, appraisals of market value are needed to form the capital basis of the return calculation. If necessary, IPD will work with local bodies to develop valuation standards to performance measurement. • Participation: IPD databases require a critical mass to build adequate samples of properties to cover complex national markets. Typically investors holding at least 20% of the investment market are required to form the core of the new system. • Definitions: Nationally accepted and appropriate data definitions must be agreed to ensure the compatibility between investors while maintaining the application of international principals. How will the system be established? • Promotion: IPD will work within the market, most likely in collaboration with a local partner, to identify and secure the critical mass of participating investor organisations. • Development: The databank will be constructed by IPD in collaboration with participating investors to ensure that market characteristics are reflected and their reporting needs are met. • Data Testing: IPD will analyse the data initially submitted to ensure its quality is sufficient to support the benchmarks and market indices. Improvements will be proposed and verified before full products and services are available. 1 St. John's Lane London EC1M 4BL Tel: +44 (0)20 7336 9200 Fax: +44 (0)20 7336 9399 Privacy Policy | © 2005 IPD Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Home | About IPD | Portfolio Analysis Service | Events | Indices and Market Information | Indices for Derivatives | OPD Designed by Webrepro
Buy Home
FCIC: HUD Home Buying Guide Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development THE HUD HOME BUYING GUIDE www.hud.gov espanol.hud.gov YOUR DREAM HOME COULD BE A HUD HOME. OWNING A HOME OF YOUR OWN. Almost everybody has a dream home. A place they like to wander through in their thoughts, choosing imaginary wallpaper and putting in imaginary skylights. But for too many people, dream homes remain just thatdreams. The reality of owning their own home never seems to become theirs. Thats where the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) comes into the picture. HUD is a government agency created to help make the American dream of homeownership a real possibility for everyone. Since 1934, HUDs Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has helped millions of Americans unlock the door to homeownership and have a home of their own. We do it by making homebuying easier and more affordable. One way we can do this is by selling homes HUD owns in many communities throughout the U.S., at attractive prices and economical terms. So that home youve been dreaming about just may be one you buy from HUD. But whether you decide on a HUD Home or not, you can use this guide to take you step by step through each stage of finding and buying your own home. HOW MUCH HOME CAN YOU AFFORD? Before you start shopping for a home, you need to know what kind of home to shop for. To determine that, of course, youve got to figure out how much you can afford to pay each month. Fortunately, theres a pretty simple formula for coming up with this number. Its the FHA formula that many mortgage lenders use. The FHA has found that most people can afford to budget 29 percent of their gross monthly income to housing expenses, depending on total debt. Buyers with no debt can budget as much as 41 percent of monthly income to housing. No need to reach for your calculatorweve done the math for you. The two charts on the opposite page should tell you everything you need to know. The first chart tells you how much 29 percent of your monthly income is. Find your annual income, or a figure close to it, in the column at the left. Then read across to find out howmuch yourmonthly gross income is, and finally,what 29 percent of that figureamounts to. This is approximately how much you can spend on total housing costs each month. The second chart tells you how much your monthly mortgage might be based on a homes selling price. Remember to keep in mind that the monthly figure from this second chart is based on a 30-year fixed mortgage and includes monthly principal and interest payments only. Taxes and insurance which vary from community to community are not included. So if 29 percent of your gross income is, say, $604, that doesnt mean you can pay a $604-per-month mortgage. You need to look at a mortgage somewhat below that, to leave room for taxes and insurance. Be sure to ask your lender to help you estimate how much your total costs will be. Annual Gross Income Monthly Gross Income 29% of Gross Income $15,000 $1,250 $363 20,000 1,667 483 25,000 2,083 604 30,000 2,500 725 35,000 2,917 846 40,000 3,333 967 45,000 3,750 1,088 50,000 4,167 1,208 MORTGAGE PAYMENT CALCULATOR. Monthly principal, interest payments for 30-year, fixed rate mortgage.Monthly taxes, insurance not included. COST 6% 6.5% 7% 7.5% 8% 8.5% 9% 9.5% 10% $25,000 $ 150 158 166 175 183 192 201 210 219 $30,000 $ 180 190 200 210 220 231 241 252 263 $40,000 $ 240 253 266 280 293 308 322 336 351 $50,000 $ 300 316 333 350 367 384 402 420 439 $60,000 $ 360 379 399 420 440 461 483 505 527 $70,000 $ 420 442 466 489 514 538 563 589 614 $80,000 $ 480 506 532 559 587 615 644 673 702 $90,000 $ 540 569 599 629 660 692 724 757 790 $100,000 $ 600 632 665 699 734 769 805 841 878 $110,000 $ 660 695 732 769 807 846 885 925 965 $120,000 $ 719 758 798 839 880 923 966 1,009 1,053 $130,000 $ 780 822 865 909 954 1,000 1,046 1,093 1,141 $140,000 $ 839 885 931 979 1,027 1,076 1,126 1,177 1,229 $150,000 $ 899 948 998 1,049 1,101 1,153 1,207 1,261 1,316 $160,000 $ 959 1,011 1,064 1,119 1,174 1,230 1,287 1,345 1,404 $170,000 $1,019 1,075 1,131 1,189 1,247 1,307 1,368 1,429 1,492 IT'S TIME TO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND BEGIN DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. HELP IS AVAILABLE. You will have lots of questions and countless issues to consider when you buy a home. You'll need someone that can help you through the process.Agood real estate agent is a good place to start. The quality of local schools, neighborhood safety, the number of children in the area, and traffic patterns are just a few of the issues to be considered in shopping for the right home. A real estate professional can be helpful in guiding you to the right source for facts and useful information. And all the financial details that can seem so mind-boggling to first-time home buyers are something the agent deals with every day. He or she will help you figure the price range you can afford, explain the different types of mortgages, guide you through the paperwork, and be there to answer last-minute questions when you sign the final papers at closing. If you're buying a HUD Home, you're required to use a real estate agent. While purchasing a HUD Home may be easier than many private real estate transactions, there are still some requirements which must be metcertain forms that must be used, and procedures that must be followed. But these requirements are clearly stated in advance, and the real estate agent will be there to help you through it all. There are no negotiations between buyer and seller when you buy a HUD Home. This can be a real advantage. There's no haggling about priceeverything is spelled out in black and white. What's more, your offer is responded to promptly, and if it's accepted, closing on the home usually will occur within 30-60 days. Finding a HUD-approved selling broker is not difficult, especially since so many real estate brokers are happy to sell HUD Homes. All you need to do is to call a few brokers who work in the area you're interested in and you'll find someone willing and experienced. Some brokers specifically advertise their desire to sell HUD Homes in the real estate sections of newspapers. Best of all, the valuable help you'll receive from the real estate agent is usually free! In most instances, agents get their sales commission from the home seller, not you, the buyer. Even if you're buying a HUD Home, HUD will pay the broker's commission. THERE'S A HUD HOME WITH YOUR NAME ON IT. Out of all the homes for sale in your area, there is likely to be one that has everything you want. The trick is simply to find it. Of course, your real estate agent can be a big help. But even the agent will need to know what your priorities are. Is a short commute important to you? Or are schools your biggest concern? How many bedrooms do you think you need? Before you begin looking at homes, try to decide in advance exactly what you want. This can save you and the agent a lot of time. It's a good idea to actually write down your wishes, and share the list with your agent. This is helpful because he or she will usually have lists of the properties for sale in your area, including all the HUD Homes. HUD Homes are listed in the local multiple listing service (MLS) and on the internet at www.hud.gov. A broker should have all the information you need. Almost any home you look atwill have room for improvement. But the more that needs to be done to a home, the less you're going to have to pay for it.HUDHomes, because they're sold in as-is condition, can often be a great, affordable opportunity for the fixer-upper. Many are in fine neighborhoods and offer outstanding values. And while some HUD Homes do qualify as handyman specials, many are in very good condition. HUD does not warrant the condition of its properties, butwill give you the information it has about the condition of the property you're interested in. You can use this information in formulating your bid. There's even a HUD loan program available called the 203(K), where buyers can borrow money to make repairs on some properties. You repay these funds later, as part of your mortgage. Just be aware that 203(K) funds aren't available for all houses in all areas. Ask the real estate agent you're working with about 203(K) availability in your area. BEGINNING TO MAKE IT YOUR OWN. Once you've found the home of your dreams, it's time to make an offer to buy it. Before deciding how much to offer, HUD urges you to get a professional home inspection. It can also be helpful to find out how long the home has been on the marketif it's been for sale awhile, the seller may be more willing to bargain. After you and the agent have prepared your offer, he or she will present it to the seller. It may be accepted or rejected, or the seller may counter your offer by asking for a higher price or by making changes in the sales contract. Making an offer to buy a HUD Home is often much easier than the process of buying a homeon the private market.Your bidwill be submitted electronically through a computer, a touchtone telephone or by real estate broker. The person making the highest acceptable bid is generally awarded that HUD Home. Offers for HUD Homes can only be made through a licensed real estate broker. This way, HUD requirements are met and buyers get the help they need. HUD will pay real estate commissions if the commission amount is requested as part of the bid. The initial listing price of each property is HUD's estimate of current fair market value and is based upon an appraisal conducted by an independent real estate appraiser. HUD may accept an offer that is less than the listing price, depending on market conditions and the length of time the property has been on the market. In some instances, buyers will offer more than the listing price if they believe the market conditions demand it or if the home is particularly appealing. It is important for buyers to be aware of the property values established by HUD and submit offers knowingly. You will generally make your offer for a HUD Home during a designated Listing Period. With the commencement of the Initial Listing Period, bids may be submitted by all potential purchasers. However, priority will be given to owner-occupant purchasers for the first 10 calendar days as follows: All owner-occupant offers received during the first five days of this10 day period will be considered to have been received simultaneously. On the first business day following the expiration of the five day period, owner-occupant bids are reviewed, at which point the highest acceptable net owner-occupant will be accepted. Should there be no acceptable owner-occupant bids, owner-occupant bids will be reviewed on a daily basis for the remaining five days. At each such daily review, HUD will accept the highest acceptable net owner-occupant bid. At the conclusion of the 10-day owner-occupant priority period, should the property remain unsold, a review of all general public bids (e.g. investor) received during the 10 day period will be conducted. Earnest money. When you make an offer on a home, the seller will usually require an earnest money deposit as proof that your offer is serious. If the offer is accepted, your earnest money deposit will become part of your down payment or closing costs. If your offer is rejected, the broker will return your earnest money to you. YOU'RE ALMOST HOME. DIFFERENT LOANS FOR DIFFERENT HOME BUYERS. Just as there is more than one kind of home, there is more than one way to finance it. Mortgage lenders have come up with many different methods of helping you pay for a home each one with its own advantages and disadvantages. First of all, you should know that HUD itself does not provide financing. You obtain financing through a bank or mortgage lender. Since many HUD Homes are eligible for FHA-insured mortgage loans, this can make financing easier to obtain. However, you are not required to get an FHA loan to buy a HUD Home. Fixed-Rate Mortgage. With a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage, which is usually 30 years. Your principal and interest payment remains stable, making it easier to plan a monthly budget. However, initial interest rates tend to be higher than with other types of loans. Adjustable-Rate Mortgage. With an ARM, your interest rate and monthly payments start out lower than with a fixed-rate, but your rate and payments can change either up or down, depending on where interest rates in general are going. (If they're going up, your monthly payments will probably go up as well, sometimes significantly.) FHA-Insured Mortgage. In this type of loan, the Federal Government insures the lender against loss in case the home buyer defaults on the loan. This program was set up so that Americans who can't afford the 10 percent to 20 percent down payment required by most lenders can still buy a home. Many HUD Homes can be bought with FHA-insured mortgages, which allow you to purchase the home with a low down payment. You do not have to be a first-time buyer in order to qualify for an FHA loan. VA Loan.Under this program, the Department of Veterans Affairs guarantees the lender against loss. HUD Homes may be purchased with a VA loan or any other loan. Assumable or Non-Assumable. You may find a home with a mortgage loan you can assume from the previous owner. This means that the lender is willing to transfer the old loan on the home to you. These loans can be wonderful bargains, and the paperwork is usually not very complicated. Before you decide which loan is right for you, talk to your loan officer. You'll get information that will help you figure out which option best suits your needs. HUD BRINGS UP-FRONT COSTS DOWN. The costs of buying a home are more than just the price you agree to pay for it. Before you move in, you'll have to pay various charges, which we explain below. The good news is, with HUD Homes these costs may be lower than they are with other homes. DOWN PAYMENT. Most people know that a down payment is a percentage of the price of the home that must be paid up front, in cash. The typical downpayment is three percent and family members may give a gift to make up the balance of the downpayment. CLOSING COSTS. This term covers various fees your lender charges for providing your loan, and other expenses. Closing costs typically add up to about 3 percent or 4 percent of the price of your home, depending on where you purchase it. But when you buy a HUD Home, these costs may be picked up by HUD if this incentive is offered by HUD and if they are specifically requested, by dollar amount, in the bid offering. If you buy a HUD Home, HUD may pay many of your usual and customary closing expenses plus real estate sales commissions. Just remember that closing costs and sales commissions are deducted from the bid amount in making the decision as to which offer brings the greatest return to HUD. Since bidding is competitive, you may, in order to offer a more competitive bid, pay your own closing costs. This makes HUD's net return greater, making your bid more favorable and increasing the likelihood that HUD will accept your offer. COMMISSIONS. These are paid to the broker by the seller, and usually amount to 6% or 7% of the cost of the house.When you buy aHUDHome, the selling agent's commissions are usually paid by HUD. CHECKING IT OUT BEFORE YOU CHECK IN. Before you buy anything, you'll want to know exactly what it is you're getting. With something as important as your home, you can't know too much. That's why it's a good idea to get a professional inspection of your home even before you make the offer. HUD strongly urges every home buyer to get a professional inspection, whether you're buying a HUD Home or not. HUD Homes are sold in as-is condition. That means you agree, if you buy the home, to accept it in its present condition. HUD does not pay for the correction of defects in existing homes that it sells or on homes purchased with FHA-insured mortgages. The owner of the home will be responsible for needed repairs. Therefore, be sure of the condition of the home before you submit your offer. THE FINISH LINE. The day you finally close on your new home will probably be one of the most exciting in your life. Finally, the long, tedious process of finding a home and getting a loan is over, and by the time the day is done, you'll be the proud and happy owner of your new home. Before that day ends, you will be asked to sign a seemingly endless number of forms, but the closing agent will go over each one with you. It's all necessary, but you can make it a little easier by asking the real estate agent about it before the big day comes. Also, when you apply for your loan, your lender is required to give you a booklet explaining closing costs, an estimate of how much cash you'll have to supply at the closing, and a list of all the documents you'll need. If you have any questions, perhaps they are answered in the Q and A section that follows. If not, why not go straight to the phone right now, and call a real estate agent and ask about HUD Homes? It's a small, first step. But the journey could eventually end at the door to a home you call your own. Good luck and have fun! QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT HUD HOMES. What is a HUD Home? A HUD Home may be a single-family house, a townhome, condominium or other type of residence. The properties were deeded to HUD/FHA by mortgage companies who had foreclosed on FHA-insured mortgage loans. Now HUD must sell these homesas quickly as possible at market valuein order to obtain the maximum financial return on its mortgage insurance funds. Who can buy a HUD Home? Anyone who has the money or can qualify for the necessary amount of mortgage financing can purchase a HUD Home. You do not have to be low-income or meet any other such limitations. Can I get a HUD Home for free, or for one dollar? No. HUD acquires its properties through the foreclosure of FHA insured mortgages. One of HUD's many missions is to maximize return to the FHA insurance fund, which it does by selling the properties at fair market value. How do I buy a HUD Home? Our policy is to market acquired properties on a competitive basis with offers being submitted through any participating licensed real estate broker. Local brokers will assist you in the transaction. They can show the property to prospective buyers, as well as answer questions and provide information on the location of parks, schools, shopping, and employment centers. Are HUD Homes meant for low income people? HUD Homes come in a variety of price ranges, though most are affordably priced, making them accessible to low and moderate income Americans. What are the income requirements? If youmake a cash purchase, there are no income requirements. Otherwise, you must be able to qualify for a particular type of mortgage financing based on established mortgage lending criteria (see page 3). How does HUD decide how much to charge for a HUD Home? The listing price of a HUD property is a price based on the appraised value. Can investors purchase HUD Homes? Yes. However, HUD offers its properties to owner/occupants for a period before making them available to investors. What happens if I can't close the sale within the time permitted by HUD? You'll probably have to pay fees for an extension of time, usually in increments of 15 days. Is there any way for me to get advanced notice about homes that will be coming up for sale? No. HUD Homes are listed for sale in the local multiple listing service (MLS), the Internet at www.hud.gov or ask your broker. A WORD ABOUT LEAD-BASED PAINT. HUD and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have begun a nationwide effort to alert home buyers to the risk that older homes may contain lead-based paint. Lead exposure can be harmful to young children. If you are making an offer on a home constructed prior to 1978, you should receive a copy of the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home from your broker. You will be required to submit a lead-based paint addendum with your offer on the HUD Home. You will be given the opportunity to conduct a risk assessment or lead-based paint inspection (at your own expense) prior to being obligated under the contract. TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW. Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) . A type of mortgage rate loan whose interest rate changes periodically up or down, usually once or twice a year. Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Everything financed in your mortgage loan package (interest, loan fees, points or other charges) expressed as a percentage of the loan amount (usually slightly above the actual interest rate alone). Assumable Loan. A loan in which the lender is willing to transfer from the previous owner of the home to the new owner, sometimes at the same interest rate, sometimes at a new rate. An assumable loan can make your home more attractive to buyers when you want to sell. Closing Costs. Costs the buyer must pay at the time of closing in addition to the down payment: including points, mortgage insurance premium, homeowners insurance, prepayments for property taxes, etc. Closing costs average 3 percent -4 percent of the loan amount. If you're buying a HUD Home, you can request they be paid by HUD, if the sales incentive is offered. Contingency. A condition put on an offer to buy a home; such as the prospective buyer making an offer contingent on his or her sale of a present home. Conventional Mortgage. A type of mortgage not insured by either the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and thus usually requiring a 10 percent - 20 percent down payment. (HUD Homes may be purchased with a conventional mortgage.) Earnest Money. Funds submitted with an offer to show good faith to follow through with the purchase. Earnest money is placed by the broker in an escrow/trust account until closing, when it becomes part of the down payment or closing costs. (HUD generally requires an earnest money deposit of $500-$2,000.) Escrow. A procedure in which documents or transfers of cash and property are put in the care of a third party, other than the buyer or seller. FHA Financing. Financing for a loan which will be insured against loss by the Federal Housing Administrationa part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Such financing allows for a lower down payment than required by most lenders. Homeowners Insurance. Insurance that protects the homeowner from casualty (losses or damage to the home or personal property) and from liability (damages to other people or property). Required by the lender and usually included in the monthly mortgage payment. Loan Origination Fee. A fee charged by the lender for evaluating, preparing, and submitting a proposed mortgage loan. Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). A charge paid by the borrower (usually as part of the closing costs) to obtain financing, especially when making a down payment of less than 20 percent of the purchase price, for example on an FHA-insured loan. Point. An amount equal to one percent of the principal amount being borrowed. The lender may charge the borrower several points in order to provide the loan. Property Taxes. Taxes (based on the assessed value of the home) paid by the homeowner for community services such as schools, public works, and other costs of local government. Paid as a part of the monthly mortgage payment. Title Insurance. Protects lenders and homeowners against loss of their interest in property due to legal defects in the title. VA Loan. A loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs against loss to the lender, and made through a private lender. (HUD Homes may be purchased with a VA loan.) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Single Family Housing 451 Seventh Street, SW Washington DC 20410-3000 August 2004 Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page --