Home Mortgage

Home Loans, Refinancing, and Home Mortgage Financing tag, as close to the beginning of it as possible-- Purchase Refinance Home Equity Apply Now Online Application Status -- Check Out Today's Rates Search Need Help? Home Quick Info Tools CUSTOMIZE ONLINE RATES Loan Product: Purchase Refinance State: -Select a State- Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware DC Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada N.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 Zip Code: Loan Amount: Est. Home Value: Loan Amount: Interest Rate: Term (Years): Estimated Monthly Payment: SHORTCUTS Today's Rates Local Branch Calculators Privacy & Security The Right Loan Program First-Time Buyer Guide Buying a Home Loan Programs Simplified Flexible Options for New Home Construction THE LEARNING CENTER MY ACCOUNT Registered? Forgot Password? User Name: Password: Log into My Account Build equity faster with the GMAC Mortgage Equity Rewards MasterCard credit card... more... -- Hurricane Relief Current GMAC Mortgage Customers: Call 1-800-766-4622 for assistance if you have been affected by the storm. Find out how we're helping customers Loan Applicants: If you applied for a loan in one of our Louisiana or Mississippi offices, you can check the status of your application by contacting your loan officer or processor directly, or by calling the regional office at 1-888-682-9844 . If you applied for a loan online or over the phone, you can check the status of your application by calling 1-800-876-4622 . Donate Now Donate Now GMAC Mortgage customers affected by the storm should call 1-800-766-4622 for assistance. If you have a loan application in process with one of our local offices in Louisiana or Mississippi, please contact your local office or call our Regional Office at 1-888-682-9844 . -- Start Your Online Application Find a Local Expert Privacy | Legal Information | Auto Insurance | GMAC HomeSolutions | Contact Us | About Us | Careers | Site Map © 2005 GMAC Mortgage Corporation. All Rights Reserved. GMAC is a registered service mark of the General Motors Acceptance Corporation Real Estate and moving services offered by GMAC Home Services, Inc. and GMAC Global Relocation Services, Inc. GMAC Residential Holding Corporation is the parent of GMAC Mortgage Corporation, GMAC Home Services, Inc., Ditech Escrow Services, Inc., GMAC Bank and GMAC HomeSolutions. Because of these relationships, any of these referrals may provide GMAC Residential Holding Corporation with a financial or other benefit. Close This link will take you to another site that is not affiliated with gmacmortgage.com. Therefore, GMAC Mortgage's privacy policy will not apply. For your safety, please check with the sites privacy policy before entering your information. Thank you. Close

Real Estate Broker License

Real Estate Licensing Real Estate Licensing Home / Licensing /Real Estate Licensing HOW TO OBTAIN A UTAH REAL ESTATE LICENSE A real estate license is required of any person who, for another and forvaluable consideration, negotiates or consummates the sale, lease, exchangeor purchase of real estate. The Utah Real Estate Commission determines the qualifications and therequirements of all applicants for a Utah real estate license. Each applicantis required to provide evidence of honesty, integrity, truthfulness, reputationand competency. Each applicant must pass an examination covering the fundamentalsof the English language, arithmetic, bookkeeping, real estate principalsand practices, the Rules established by the Real Estate Commission and anyother aspect of Utah Real Estate License Law considered appropriate. Please take time to go over the screening questionnaire. Your responses tothese questions could have an impact upon whether or not you are able toobtain a Utah Real Estate license. Additional information and requirements are outlined throughout the followingpages. Screening Questionnaire Sales Agent License Associate Broker License Principal Broker License Opening Own Business Property Management License Branch Offices Non-Resident License ApplicantsLicensed in Other States Reciprocity (between Utah and: Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Alberta, Canada) Examination Procedure ChangeCard SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE 1. Do you now hold or have you ever held a real estate license in a state otherthan the state of Utah or in another country? 2. Have you ever had a license to practice in the real estate profession,or any other profession or occupation, denied, restricted, suspended, orrevoked? 3. Have you ever been permitted to resign or surrender your real estate licenseor any other professional license,or have you ever allowed a license to expire while you wereunder investigation, or while action was pending against you by any realestate licensing or other agency? 4. Is any disciplinary action now pending against you by any real estatelicensing or other agency? 5. Are you CURRENTLY under investigation for, or charged with, or have you everbeen convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a felonyor misdemeanor? (If you have had only one misdemeanor conviction or plea and thecase was closed over five years ago, you do not have to answer yes. Caution: DUI's and other alcohol-related traffic offenses may bemisdemeanors. Non-alcohol-related traffic offenses do not need to bedisclosed.) 6. Have you been placed on probation or ordered to pay a fine in connection withany criminal offenseor a licensing action? If you answer YES to this question you will beasked at the time of application for licensure to provide proof of completion ofyour probation and payment of all fines. 7. Have you been ordered to pay restitution in connection with any criminaloffense or licensing action? If you answer YES to this question you willbe asked at the time of application for licensure to provide proof that you havefully complied with the restitution order. 8. Have you had a civil judgment entered against you based on fraud,misrepresentation, or deceit? If you answer YES to this question you will be asked at the time of application for licensure to provide proof that the judgment has been fully satisfied. 9. Are you under 18 years of age? WARNING: IF YOU PASS THE EXAMINATION, YOUR FINGERPRINTS WILL BE TAKEN ANDSUBMITTED FOR A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK. FAILURE TO ACCURATELY DISCLOSEYOUR CRIMINAL HISTORY WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE AND AUTOMATIC REVOCATION OF YOURLICENSE. SALES AGENT LICENSE License Requirements - The applicant for a sales agent license must be at least 18 years ofage. Education Requirements - An applicant for a sales agent license must complete an approved educationalprogram of 90 classroom hours. The subject matter of the course will consistof Real Estate Principals and Practices and Utah Real Estate License Law. All courses must be completed at a Division approved real estateschool . Membership in the Utah State Bar will satisfy this education requirement. Experience will not satisfy the education requirement. Licensing Procedure - Within 90 days after the successful completion of the examination, theapplicant must return the following to the Division: Score Report/License Application - The applicant will provide a score report/license application receivedfrom Promissor ( the professional testing service) which indicates that both the nationaland state portions of the examination have been passed. The passing score report/license application must besigned by the principal broker with whom the applicant will be affiliating.No such signature is required of the applicant who desires inactive status. Education Documentation - The applicant will provide documentation of the successfulcompletion of 90 hours of classroom education taken within the previous year.Documentation will consist of the signed and stamped education certificatelocated in the examination Candidate Handbook, and/or an education waiverissued by the Division. Fees - The fee will include the license fee, the fee for the Recovery Fund, and the fingerprint processing fee. Currently, this totals $151.00. ASSOCIATE BROKER and/or PRINCIPAL BROKER LICENSE License Requirements - The applicant for an associate broker/principal broker license must beat least 18 years of age. The applicant must have a minimum of three years real estate experience and a total of at least 60 points accumulated within the five years prior to licensing. A minimum of two years (24 months) and at least 45 points will be accumulated from Tables I and/or II. The remaining 15 points may be accumulated from tables I, II, or III. The Principal Broker may accumulate additional experience points by having participated in real estate related activities as outlined in Experience Points Table III. Education Requirements - An applicant for an associate broker or principal broker license mustcomplete an approved educational program of 120 hours. The subject matterof the course will consist of 12 classroom hours in Brokerage Management, 24 classroom hours in Advanced Appraisal,24 classroom hours in AdvancedFinance, 24 classroom hours in Property Management, 24 classroom hours in Advanced Real Estate Law, and 12 hours in Utah License Law. All courses mustbe completed at a Division approved real estateschool . The Division may waive all or part of the education requirement by virtueof equivalent education. Education waivers may be granted only by the Division.To obtain an education waiver, the applicant must provide to the Divisionvalid documentation of his/her equivalent education. Experience will not satisfy the education requirement. Licensing Procedure - Please refer to the following information and forms (Broker Application Packet) Application for a Broker License Procedures Checklist Requirements for Obtaining a Real Estate Broker License Experience Points Tables (Rule 162-2.2.5) Documentation of Full Time Experience Real Estate Sales/Leasing Transaction Log Real Estate Property Management Transaction Log Brokerage Verification Form OPENING OWN BUSINESS If the applicant wishes to open his/her own business, the following isalso required: Business Name Approval - The principal broker applicant must submit evidence that the name underwhich he/she will be doing business has been registered and is approved bythe Division of Corporations, Utah Department of Commerce. The Division ofReal Estate will not accept a proposed company name that may mislead thepublic into thinking they are not dealing with a real estate brokerage orproperty management company. Company Registration - The principal broker applicant must submit a Company Application on theform required by the Division. Evidence of Trust Account - The principal broker applicant shall submit documentation from a financialinstitution that is less than 30 days old verifying the applicant's trustaccount. Change Cards - A Change Card must be submitted for each agent who will be affiliatingwith the principal broker. Fees - Appropriate fees for company registration mustbe submitted. Currently this fee is $25.00. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LICENSE License Requirement - All persons who, for another and for valuable consideration, engage inproperty management must hold a current Utah real estate license to functionas a property manager. Property management is defined as providing the followingservices which may include, but are not limited to: Advertising real estate for lease or rent. Procuring prospective tenants or lessees. Negotiating lease or rental terms. Executing lease or rental agreements. This requirement does not apply to: An owner who manages his/her own property. A regular salaried employee of the owner of real estate who manages property owned by the employer. Apartment managers who manage the apartments at which they reside in exchange for free or reduced rent on their apartments. A full time salaried employee of a homeowners association who manages units subject to the declaration of condominium, which established the homeowners association. Individuals who, as employees of a licensed property management company, provide prospective tenants with access to vacant apartments, provide secretarial, bookkeeping, maintenance or rent-collecting services, quote predetermined rent and lease terms, and fill out preprinted lease or rental agreements, the terms of which are not negotiable by the person completing the form. Broker Supervision - All property management conducted by a sales agent or associate brokermust be supervised by the principal broker with whom the licensee isaffiliated. S EPARATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY A principal broker may be granted a license to operate a property managementcompany separate from an existing real estate brokerage upon compliance withthe following conditions: Application - The principal broker, as a single proprietor or a company, must obtainan additional broker's license by submitting an application on the form requiredby the Division together with the license fee plus the fee for the RecoveryFund. Business Name Approval - The applicant must submit evidence that the name of the new company hasbeen registered and is approved by the Division of Corporations, Utah Departmentof Commerce. The Division of Real Estate will not accept a proposed companyname that may mislead the public into thinking they are not dealing witha real estate brokerage or property management company. Company Registration - The principal broker applicant must submit a Company Application on theform required by the Division. Evidence of Trust Account - The principal broker applicant shall submit documentation from a financialinstitution that is less than 30 days old verifying the applicant's trustaccount. Affiliated Licensees - The principal broker must designate with which company each of the licenseesaffiliated with him/her will be located - either the real estate brokerageor the property management company. Property Management Company Only - No Brokerage - If a principal broker (an individual or company) wants to operate a propertymanagement company only AND does not operate a real estate brokerage, theprincipal broker may do so by the same procedure as for opening a real estatebrokerage. Fees - Appropriate fees for company registration mustbe submitted. Currently this fee is $25.00. BRANCH OFFICES A branch office is a real estate office affiliated with and operating underthe same name as a principal brokerage but located at a different address.A branch office must be registered with the Division of Real Estate priorto operation. Application - To register a branch office, the principal broker must submit to the Division,on the forms required by the Division, the location of the branch, the nameof the branch manager and the names of all associate brokers and sales agentsassigned to the branch. He/she must also submit trust account documentationthat is less than thirty days old of a valid trust account. This accountcan be the same trust account used by the main office. Branch Manager - Each branch office must have an associate broker as a branch manager whowill actively manage the office. Fees - Appropriate fees for company registration mustbe submitted. Currently this fee is $25.00. NON-RESIDENT LICENSE A person who is actively licensed and in good standing in anotherstate as a real estate principal broker, associate broker or sales agentmay be issued an equivalent license in Utah by successfully completing specificeducation hours required by the Division with the concurrence of the Commission,and by passing the state and, in some cases, the general portion of the Utahreal estate licensing examination. The general portion of the exam may notbe waived for licensees from California due to the way California administerstheir exam. If the license in another state is expired, the applicant will be required to comply with all of Utah'sprelicensing requirements. Education and examination waivers will not beprovided if the license has expired. The applicant must also comply with each of the following requirements: Application - The applicant must submit an application for examination and license inaccordance with the requirements of the state of Utah. License History - Proof of licensure and disciplinary action, if any, (a "history letter")from each state in which the applicant has been licensed. Education Documentation - A waiver toward the Utah education requirement may be granted for educationtaken in another state. The applicant must provide to the Division validdocumentation of any certified real estate education taken in another statethat correlates with the education requirement of the state of Utah. Validdocumentation shall show proof of completion of the subject matter, the dateof completion and the number of classroom hours of each course taken. The application will be required to take a minimum of 12 classroom hoursin Utah License Law and may be required to take additional real estate educationhours. The applicant will be notified by the Division of his/her specificeducation requirements in the form of a "waiver letter." WAIVER LETTER - Upon receipt of the "license history" and the documentation of previouslycompleted real estate education, the Division will determine how many hours,if any, of Utah's education requirement may be waived and how many hoursthe applicant will still be required to complete before he/she will be allowedto sit for the examination. The licensee will be notified of his/her educationrequirements in the form of a "waiver letter." If applicable, the "waiverletter" will also indicate whether the general (national) portion of thelicensing examination will be waived. The "waiver letter" must be presented: to the school to show the number of education hours required of the candidate, at the time of the examination, and at the time of application for licensure. EXAMINATION - If the applicant has been actively licensed in another state for the precedingtwo years, he/she will be required to take only the Utah state portion ofthe examination. If the applicant has been on an inactive status in anotherstate for any portion of the past two years, he/she will be required to takeboth the national and Utah state portions of the examination. The general portion of the exam may not be waived for licensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. TRUST ACCOUNT - If the applicant is a principal broker, he/she must establish a real estatetrust account in this state. CONSENT TO SERVICE - Upon applying for licensure, the applicant must submit to the Divisionan irrevocable written consent allowing service of process on the Commissionor the Division. PRINCIPAL BROKER AFFILIATION - If the applicant is an associate broker or sales agent, the principalbroker with whom he/she is affiliated must hold an active Utah license. APPLICANTS LICENSED IN OTHER STATES A person who is licensed in another state as a real estate principalbroker, associate broker or sales agent may become licensed in Utah by successfully completing specific education hours requiredby the Division with the concurrence of the Commission, and by passing thestate and, in some cases, the general portion of the Utah real estate licensingexamination. The general portion of the exam may not be waived forlicensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. If the license in another state is expired, the applicant will be required to comply with all of Utah'sprelicensing requirements. Education and examination waivers will not beprovided. The applicant must also comply with each of the following requirements: Application - The applicant must submit an application for examination and license inaccordance with the requirements of the state of Utah. License History - The applicant must be or have been licensed as a principal broker, associatebroker or sales agent in another state. Proof of licensure (a "history letter")from the regulatory agency of each state of previous licensure must be providedto the Division of Real Estate. Education Documentation - A waiver toward the Utah education requirement may be granted for educationtaken in another state. The applicant must provide to the Division validdocumentation of any certified real estate education taken in another statethat correlates with the education requirement of the state of Utah. Validdocumentation shall show proof of completion of the subject matter, the dateof completion and the number of classroom hours of each course taken. The applicant will be required to take a minimum of 12 classroom hours inUtah License Law, and may be required to take additional real estate educationhours. The applicant will be notified by the Division of his/her specificeducation requirements in the form of a "waiver letter." WAIVER LETTER - Upon receipt of the "license history" and the documentation of previouslycompleted real estate education, the Division will determine how many hours,if any, of Utah's education requirement may be waived and how many hoursthe applicant will still be required to complete before he/she will be allowedto sit for the examination. The licensee will be notified of his/her educationrequirements in the form of a "waiver letter." If applicable, the "waiverletter" will also indicate whether the general (national) portion of thelicensing examination will be waived. The general portion of the exam may not be waived forlicensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. The "waiver letter" must be presented: to the school to show the number of education hours required of the candidate, at the time of the examination, and at the time of application for licensure. EXAMINATION - If the applicant has been actively licensed in another state for the precedingtwo years, he/she will be required to take only the Utah state portion ofthe examination. If the applicant has been on an inactive status in anotherstate for any portion of the past two years, he/she will be required to takeboth the national and Utah state portions of the examination. The general portion of the exam may not be waived for licensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. RECIPROCITY The State of Utah currently has signed reciprocity agreements with Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Alberta, Canada. To apply for reciprocity, send us a written request for licensing through reciprocity, including what states you currently have and previously have had a license in, as well as your contact information. Have the state(s) send a certified license history to us (see contact information ). The reciprocal state MUST show that your license is on an active status. Once we receive your written request and the certified license history/histories, we will generate an application form for you. We will also send you: a questionnaire, the Consent To Service form and acknowledgement, which must be signed and notarized; 2 fingerprint cards; and the fingerprint waiver form (fingerprints required for sales agent applicants only - not for broker applicants). Fingerprints must be obtained by the applicant. The application and other relevant forms must be completed and submitted with the $100 licensing fee and $12 recovery fund fee for sales agents or $18 recovery fund fee for brokers (plus $39 fingerprint processing fee for sales agent applicants). If a broker applicant wishes to open his or her own company, additional paperwork and fees are required. See " Opening Own Business " information above. EXAMINATION PROCEDURE Education - Before an applicant will be allowed to sit for the examination, he/shemust have completely satisfied the appropriate educational requirement. Application - The candidate should obtain the Candidate Handbook from the pre-licensingschool. This handbook will outline the procedure for registering for andtaking the examination. Date/Location - The examination will be given twice daily (Tuesday thru Saturday) in theSalt Lake City area. The examination is also available at the testing centersin Provo, Ogden, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Grand Junction, Colorado. Waiver Letter - Any candidate who is granted a waiver of the general portion of theexamination must submit proof of such waiver from the Division at the timeof application. Questions - The test consists of 80 questions on the general portion of the examination,40 questions for sales agents and 50 questions for brokers on the state portionof the examination. Both the general and state portions of the examinationmust be passed within a six-month period of time. More Information - Please refer to the Candidate Handbook for complete details on takingthe examination. Special Services - The testing center complies with the provisions of the Americans withDisabilities Act (42 USCS Section 12101 et seq.). If the candidate has adisabling condition, he/she may request special testing services. The disabilitymust be verified by a professional who is qualified to diagnose and documentthe disability. Utah Department of Commerce Home | Utah Division of Real Estate Home | Contact the Division of Real Estate | Site Map | Links

Rental Property Stocks and

How to Buy Rental Property - eHow.com Clear Instructions on How To Do (just about) Everything Web eHow.com Home Finance & Business Center Real Estate How to Buy Rental Property Stocks and bonds aren't the only money-making investment in town. Consider rental property if you're prepared for extensive research, a fair amount of financial commitment and, depending on how you set things up, a significant role in maintaining the property. Steps: 1. Assess your financial requirements and goals. Do you need a steady stream of income from your rental or do you plan on selling it for a profit in a couple of years? If it's the latter, look for lower priced property that you can fix up as you rent it out. 2. Consider being a resident landlord by purchasing a multiunit property and living in one apartment. In many cases, the income from the other unit(s) will cover your mortgage payment, allowing you to effectively live for free. Being on-site has other advantages, including ensuring that the property is well-maintained. 3. Decide if you want to do maintenance yourself. If you have the skills, equipment and temperament to deal with upset tenants and a backed up toilet at 2 a.m., fine. If you plan on hiring a property manager, add about 5 percent of gross income into your calculations. 4. Choose the kind of property you want. Single-family houses are generally less expensive than apartment complexes because of pure size, but generate less income. Apartments, on the other hand, can require more upkeep. 5. Get preapproved for a mortgage (see How to Shop for a Mortgage ). Financing investment property is different from residential property in that it requires a much larger down payment. 6. Start shopping: Check out classified ads in the newspaper and online. Find a real estate agent who specializes in commercial or income-generating properties. 7. Choose property where people want to live, close to shops, parks and decent schools, and in a well-kept neighborhood. There's nothing worse than owning a rental property without any renters. In addition, check out any restrictions on renting with the home owners association, which, if there is one, can have a say in any rental agreements. 8. Consider what improvements, if any, you may be willing to make. Buying a fixer-upper will be less expensive than a property in pristine condition, but you can go broke bringing a property up to rentable condition. Before you buy, get cost estimates for all necessary fixes. See How to Buy and Sell a Fixer-Upper . 9. Have the property inspected. You may also want to order an appraisal to get a fair market value. 10. Search past records for vacancy rates over the last five to ten years as well as at present. If the building is occupied, find out how long the tenants have lived at the property. Long-term residents are valuable, but may also have been signed on at a lower rental rate. 11. Plan on spending time and money advertising for and interviewing potential renters. Have a contingency plan in place if a unit remains vacant for a few months. 12. Determine what a competitive rental rate is for your property by asking rental agents what they would expect to charge, by reviewing area apartment listings, and by personally visiting units available in the neighborhood. 13. Run the numbers. Make certain that whatever income you derive covers your costs of owning the property, plus a profit. 14. Work with an attorney to draw up and review any necessary papers relevant to the purchase. 15. Negotiate the terms of the sale. Some sellers may be willing to pick up a share of closing costs and other expenses. The eventual price will also be affected by prevailing market conditions--keep these in mind when negotiating. Overall Tips: Check to see whether the value of other area properties have increased or decreased in the past five years. Try to buy in an area that's on the way up. Pay attention to when improvements were made to a property, which aids in the estimate of the building's value. Recent renovations are worth more than upgrades done a decade or more ago. Be on the lookout for any hazards common to older properties, such as asbestos, lead-based paint and electrical systems that are not up to code. Budget in reconciling these problems. Some cities offer low interest financing to property owners needing to make renovations. Look into such programs if you know you'll need to have the property painted, windows replaced or similar exterior repairs made. Discuss any tax benefits with a tax specialist. There may be local tax incentives for renovating your property as well as advantageous approaches to declaring your expenses. What to look for: Income produced meets financial goals Suitable property Appealing location Vacancy rates Neighborhood rental rates Please Share Your Tips with Us More Resources: Contribute to eHow: Write an eHow Article Suggest a Topic Give Us Feedback on This Article Related eHows: Advertise Your Rental Property Evaluate Prospective Tenants for Your Rental Property Buy and Sell a Fixer-Upper Rent Your Home for a Movie or Catalog Shoot Buy a House Project Details: Skill Advisory: Challenging New! -- Related eHows: Advertise Your Rental Property Evaluate Prospective Tenants for Your Rental Property Buy and Sell a Fixer-Upper Rent Your Home for a Movie or Catalog Shoot Buy a House Check out Thousands of How-To Solutions in eHow's Centers Automotive Careers & Education Computers & Home Electronics Family & Relationships Finance & Business Food & Entertaining Health Hobbies & Games Holidays & Traditions Home & Garden Personal Care & Style Pets Sports & Fitness Travel How to: --? 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Real Estate Broker License

Home Equity

Avoiding Home Equity Scams Avoiding Home Equity Scams Y ou could lose your home and your money if you borrow from unscrupulous lenders who offer you a high-cost loan based on the equity you have in your home. Certain lenders target homeowners who are elderly or who have low incomes or credit problems—and then try to take advantage of them by using deceptive practices. The Federal Trade Commission cautions all homeowners to be on the lookout for: Equity Stripping: The lender gives you a loan, based on the equity in your home, not on your ability to repay based on your income. If you can’t make the payments, you could end up losing your home. Loan Flipping: The lender encourages you to repeatedly refinance the loan and often, to borrow more money. Each time you refinance, you pay additional fees and interest points. That only serves to increase your debt. Credit Insurance Packing: The lender adds credit insurance to your loan, which you may not need. Bait and Switch: The lender offers one set of loan terms when you apply, then pressures you to accept higher charges when you sign to complete the transaction. Deceptive Loan Servicing: The lender doesn’t provide you with accurate or complete account statements and payoff figures. That makes it almost impossible for you to determine how much you have paid or how much you owe. You may pay more than you owe. Some of these practices violate federal credit laws dealing with disclosures about loan terms, discrimination based on age, gender, marital status, race, or national origin; and debt collection. You also may have additional rights under state law that would allow you to bring a law suit. The FTC suggests if you’re thinking about using your home as collateral for a loan, be careful. Unless you can make the loan payments out of current income, you could lose your home as well as the equity you’ve already built up. Some additional tips to remember: The lure of extra money or the chance to reduce monthly credit payments can be very costly in the long run. High interest rates and other credit costs could get you in over your head. Credit insurance may not be a good deal from a lender. If you want the added security of credit insurance, shop around. Don’t sign a loan agreement if the terms are not what you were given when you applied. Ask for an explanation of any dollar amount, term, or condition that you don’t understand. Federal law is very clear about what credit and loan term information must be provided in writing when you apply for a loan and before you sign any agreement. In addition, shop around for the best loan terms and interest rates. Contact lending institutions, such as banks and credit unions, and consult a legal or financial advisor, or someone you can trust before you make any loan decisions. Or contact your local Fair Housing Office, legal aid, or senior services organization for information and help. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues , visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel , a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE CONSUMER 1-877-FTC-HELP www.ftc.gov Jan. 1998