real estate brokers. Real

Real Estate Agent Printer-friendly version ( HTML ) Real Estate Agent What is this job like? | How do you get ready? | How much does this job pay? | How many jobs are there? | What about the future? | Are there other jobs like this? | Where can you find more information? What is this job like? Back to Top Real estate agents help people buy and sell houses. They must be able to say approximately how much money a house is worth. They need to know what the neighborhoods in their towns are like. They must know the laws that have to do with buying or selling a house. They also can tell home buyers where to get a loan if they need more money to buy a house. In return for selling a house, real estate agents get to keep a small part of the money that the buyer paid for it. Real estate agents work for real estate brokers. Real estate brokers manage real estate offices. People who want to buy a house often ask a real estate agent to help them. They meet with the agent to tell him or her what kind of house they want. They must also discuss how much money they can afford to spend. The agent then takes them to see houses for sale. Buying a house is a very important decision because houses cost a lot of money. This means that buyers often want to look at many houses before they decide to buy one. Real estate agents also sell houses for people. They help the seller set the price for the house. To do this, they must know what the house is like. They must also figure out what people would be willing to pay for the house so that it will sell quickly. They make sure that people see ads for the house so that they can think about buying it. Once a person agrees to buy a house, real estate agents still have work to do. They must fill out special forms that let everyone know that the house has a new owner. Both the buyer and the seller of the house must sign these forms for the sale of the house to be legal. Often, the agents must help the buyer to get a loan from the bank to pay for the house. Real estate agents generally work in offices. Since much information about properties is available over the Internet, some agents can work out of their own homes. In either case, however, much of their time is spent outside the office showing houses to buyers. Sometimes they must leave the office to meet with people who have houses to sell. Good real estate agents also spend time away from the office finding out more about the houses in their town that might one day be up for sale. Agents often work more than 40 hours a week. They often must work in the evening or on weekends. This is because most buyers and sellers are free only at those times. How do you get ready? Back to Top Real estate agents must have a license from the State in which they work. To get a license, a person must have graduated from high school. The person must be at least 18 years old and pass a written test. In some States, a person who wants to be a real estate agent must go to a special school for a few months. Sometimes it helps to take some college courses about real estate. This is because the process of selling a house can be hard to understand. Good real estate agents must get along well with buyers and sellers. It helps if real estate agents are pleasant and dress neatly. They should be well organized and be able to remember people's names. They should deal honestly with people and have good manners. They must also be very eager to sell houses, which is sometimes a lot of hard work. How much does this job pay? Back to Top Most real estate agents do not get a regular paycheck. Instead, they get part of the money that the home buyer pays to the home seller when a house is sold. This means that agents who sell more houses earn more money. It also means that agents who sell more expensive houses earn more. The middle half of all real estate agents earned between $21,010 and $52,860 a year in 2002. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $15,480. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $83,780 a year. The middle half of all real estate brokers earned between $29,240 and $90,170 a year in 2002. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $17,290. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $145,600 a year. How many jobs are there? Back to Top Real estate agents and brokers held about 407,000 jobs in 2002. Many work part time, and have other jobs as well. Most real estate agents work in large cities. Many also work in smaller cities that are growing quickly. This is because there are more houses being bought and sold in such places. What about the future? Back to Top The number of jobs for real estate agents is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2012. This is partly because more information about real estate is available on the Internet. This allows agents to conduct more business in less time, so fewer agents are needed. It should be rather easy to find a job as a real estate agent. This is because many agents find that they cannot sell enough houses to be successful, so they quit their jobs. Only people who enjoy selling, and are good at it, should try to become real estate agents. Are there other jobs like this? Back to Top Insurance sales agents Retail salespersons (car salespersons, etc.) Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents Travel agents Where can you find more information? Back to Top More BLS information about real estate brokers and sales agents can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook . The Handbook also shows where to find out even more about this job. Last Modified Date: October 21, 2004

real estate prices and

Statistics.com Courses: Real Estate Pricing and Financial Stability -- Login Register -- Join mailing list for course announcements Introductory Basic Concepts Intro Stats Data Mining Intro Data Mining Data Mining 2 Data Mining Security -- Decision Trees Text Mining Life Science Adaptive Trials Biostatistics Clinical Trials Fundamentals of Epi Bias in Epi Data Analysis of Epi Meta Analysis Microarray Analysis Survival Tox Risk Engineering Design Experiments Adv DOE Engineering Queueing Theory SPC Environment Directional Data Environmental Geostatistics Social Science Census GLM Longitudinal Data Rasch SEM Advanced SEM Survey Design Survey Analysis Business Derivatives Time Series Real Estate Special Topics Poker Probabilities Stat Methods Bayesian Statistics Categorical Cluster Analysis Count Data Logistic Regression Intro to R Mixed Models Modeling in R Resampling Adv Resampling Regression Sample Size S-PLUS Course Calendar View Full Course List Faculty Testimonials Tour a Course About our Courses Register Statistical Software Free Web-Based SQC calculators Online Consulting Discussion Boards Stat Terms Glossary Statistics Symbols Search Newsgroups Other Resources Certificates RSS Prep Statistics Jobs Online Printed Encyclopedia Tutoring Service Teachers Puzzles Homework Discussion Other Resources -- Real Estate Pricing and Financial Stability Instructor to be Arranged [preliminary information - this course is in development] Course Cost: $399 commercial ($299 academic) if pre-paying online via credit card or via check sent with our printed order form. $449 per participant ($349 academic) if you need us to invoice you, process a purchase order, process a wire transfer, or process an EFT. Dates: This course is under development and has not yet been finalized for scheduling, which will depend somewhat on the level of interest in the course. If you are interested in participating in a course like this, please use the form below to let us know. Level: Intermediate/Advanced Registration: You may register online ; students and teachers are eligible for a discount - register here (you will be required to state your academic affiliation). If you prefer, you may fax or mail us this printed registration form . Note: We will not charge your card until one week before the course begins. You can cancel at any time prior to that day. Also, courses may fill up at any time and registrations are processed in the order in which they are received. Course Discussion Board: Click here to go to the course discussion board (pre-paid registration required, see above to register). Note that the discussion board is not activated until the course start date. -- Aim of the Course: Is there a real-estate bubble? How will changes in real-estate prices affect national economies? At a recent conference, IMF experts lamented the lack of timely information on real estate markets. This course covers the statistical methodologies used in constructing both commercial and residential real estate price indexes, which are important tools that financial institutions can use to monitor their exposure to risk from volatility in real estate markets. It also addresses relationships between real estate prices and banking profitability, and the roles that bank credit, GDP, stock equity prices and interest rates play in determining real estate prices.. Who Should Take this Course: Analysts in private and central banks, government financial analysts, lending agencies and organizations such as the IMF and World Bank, anyone who needs to understand the role that real estate prices play in sound banking practices, and the impact they have on financial system stability. Modern Engineering Statistics , Modern Experimental Design , Modern Regression Methods and Statistical Methods for Quality Improvement , all from Wiley, plus numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals.-- Prerequisite: Participants should be familiar with the fundamentals of statistics as found in Basic Concepts in Probability and Statistics and Introduction to Statistics: Design and Analysis . Organization of the Course: The course takes place over the Internet at statistics.com. Course participants will be given access to a private discussion board that will serve as a forum for discussion of ideas and problem solving. The course is scheduled to take place over four weeks. At the beginning of each week, participants receive the relevant material, in addition to answers to exercises from the previous session. During the week, participants are expected to go over the course materials and work through exercises. click here . -- Course Program : The course is structured as follows SESSION 1: : Real estate prices and other major economic indicators. Banking profitability and property prices The boom and bust cycle Correlations with GDP, stock prices, bank credit, and interest rates SESSION 2: The data Key characteristics of data available in various countries Residential real estate price indexes (methodology) Commercial real estate price indexes (methodology) SESSION 3: Accounting for quality, aggregating Hedonic functions Case studies (hedonic models in Brazil and France) Aggregating non-harmonized national data (Euro zone) SESSION 4: Country case studies (choose two) Availability and usefulness of real estate data in East Asia US: quality adjusted prices for non-residential structures Japan: the late 1980s asset price bubble UK: housing price indexes I Am Interested in this Course: Name : Email : Comments : Site Design by NEW TARGET © statistics.com 2005 To contact www.statistics.com: click here

Real Estate Broker License

Real Estate License Preparation Tutoring Program Real Estate License Preparation Software for all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands with Legal Aspects & Office Practices Practice online at home, in the office or on the road Included FREE all: Study Guide For All Subjects, All Ages Agents: Workplace Assessment Questions Brokers: Income Property Evaluation Program Use this top-rated Real Estate license preparation software for: Acing Course Quizzes, Midterm Tests, and your Final Exam for Agent (Realtor) Broker Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer Buying and selling your own or a relative's home – FSBO (For Sale By Owner) Effective Training and Sales Team Evaluator for the Office Manager . To find out how you can secure your copy of this essential and valuable program explore our comprehensive Web site by first clicking here: Specific States: Alabama Arizona California Florida Georgia Illinois Louisiana Mississippi New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Tennessee Texas Washington (State) All other states: (The user selects a state during registration) License Preparation for Real Estate Agent License Preparation for Real Estate Broker License Preparation for Realtor License Preparation for Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer License Training & Evaluation Tool for the Sales Team And don't forget to Experience our interactive live demonstration What you see is what you'll get For Your Privacy: We do not sell customer lists and we do not share customer e-mail addresses with outside companies. Amelox Incorporated P.O. Box 2573 Sunnyvale, CA 94087-0573, U.S.A. Comments? Questions? us. For Your License Exam Preparation the Amelox College Tutor delivers results site map about us FAQ writing jobs Best viewed with 800x600 pixels and higher resolutions.

Colorado Real Estate -

Colorado HomeFinder | Brighton Real Estate, Search Brighton Homes for Sale in the MLS Call 800.231.9153 | Contact Us If you already have an account, sign in here Brighton Colorado Real Estate - find out first about the newest Brighton real estate listings! You learn about Brighton homes for sale the day they hit the market - before other buyers. Automated HomeAlert emails you new listings that fit your personal home search criteria and gives you access to all the Brighton Colorado real estate listings. It's easy - Just submit your email address and home search criteria. Your email is not shared or sold to anyone. You incur no obligation or cost for this free Brighton real estate service. Our Privacy Policy: We respect your privacy. All information provided is strictly confidential and you can unsubscribe at any time. Colorado HomeFinder will never sell or share your information with any outside parties. Click here to review our Privacy Policy . Your Automated HomeAlert Search Criteria * Required information Property Type: * Please select... 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(Please provide your phone number) I have a MEDIUM interest in buying a home, but I just started my search and need to become more familiar with the market. I do not have any definite plans to move at this time. I am just curious about the listings that are currently on the market. I currently: * live in Colorado plan to move to Colorado Your Comments Any additional information that will help us better understand your needs I agree with Colorado HomeFinder Terms & Conditions Just getting familiar with Brighton Colorado real estate? Or, do you know the exact street where you want to live? No matter what stage you are in your Brighton home search, Automated HomeAlert is for you! The latest technology makes finding Brighton homes for sale easier than ever ! Automatic email notification of new listings and access to all the Brighton real estate listings from all the brokerages saves you time - and makes searching for homes fun. You are in control! 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home loan that you

FCIC: Borrower's Guide to Home Loans Borrower's Guide to Home Loans Introduction Before you borrow money on your home's equity, think twice so you don't end up paying more than you expected. As part of AARP's Campaign Against Predatory Home Lending , AARP prepared this Borrower's Guide for you. We don't want you to be the next person who says, "They Didn't Tell Me I Could Lose My Home." AARP's Borrower's Guide gives you information that can help you get the best possible loan and avoid bad, or predatory, loans. You'll find worksheets , a glossary of terms , and information about: Getting the best loan possible ; Identifying the warning signs of a bad loan; Comparing home equity lenders ; Using reverse mortgages as an alternative to home equity loans; Making home improvements : contractors and contracts; Getting bids and selecting a home contractor ; and Examining the home improvement contract . People borrow on their homes for many reasons-to make repairs or improvements, to consolidate debts, to pay off medical bills, or something else. Sometimes there may be benefits to using your home equity when you borrow. But if the loan costs too much, the benefits disappear ... and so might your home. Remember: Get the facts before a bad loan gets you. Getting the Best Loan Possible Sometimes a home equity loan is a good way to borrow money, but there are some lenders that only bring problems. Predatory home mortgage lenders look for people who may have financial difficulty. They hunt for people who may be behind on property taxes, who need to fix up their home, or who need money for medical bills. Once they find these people, the lenders often use highpressure sales talk, high interest rates, outrageous fees, and repayment terms that the person can't afford. Fast talkers can trick homeowners into taking out loans that they can't afford to pay back. When they can't make the payments, their homes are at risk of foreclosure. Even if you don't have financial troubles, no one wants to pay more than is needed. Why pay interest rates higher than you need to? Why pay unneeded fees or charges? Whether you have excellent credit or not-sogood credit, you want the best possible loan you can get. Don't be fooled by loan offers you see on television or receive in the mail. They don't tell the full story. Be a smart borrower. Don't get caught in a bad loan! Follow these steps: Know your credit rating and credit score. Sometimes people who have good credit are charged higher rates and fees for loans because they don't know that their credit is good. Getting your credit report and credit score may help you negotiate the best loan for you so you don't pay more than you should have to pay. You'll want to look for any mistakes in your credit report and take steps to correct them. You can get your credit score on the Internet, usually for a fee, or a lender can give you a free copy when you apply for a loan. Avoid lenders who won't give your score to you. Most credit scores range from 300-850, and the higher the score, the better your credit. Most lenders consider scores over 700 as "good" to "excellent" scores. The three major credit reporting agencies are: Equifax: (800) 685-1111, www.equifax.com ; Experian: (888) 397-3742, www.experian.com/consumer ; and TransUnion: (800) 916-8800, www.transunion.com/index.jsp . For More Information AARP Webplace: Credit Scores and Credit Reports Check Your Credit Report Credit Scores: Before You Borrow Be cautious about using a home equity loan to consolidate credit card debts. Loan offers may tell you how you can save money by paying off credit cards with a home equity loan, but what they don't say is that your home is at risk if you do it. Yes, sometimes this type of loan is useful, but only if the loan's terms are very good-and you won't run up another credit card bill. Even then, if something should happen and you can't make the home equity payment, your home is at risk of foreclosure. An important difference: Credit card lenders can't foreclose on your home if you don't pay your credit card bills. But, a home equity lender can foreclose if you don't make the mortgage payment. Shop around. Get several offers and pick the loan that's best for you-not one that is best for the lender or broker. Use the worksheet on page 11 to help you pick the best loan offer you can get, and Know whether you want a loan or a line of credit. Talk to several lenders-not just those who send you mail, call you, or knock on your door. Start with several banks, savings and loans, credit unions, and mortgage companies. Understand the role of brokers if you decide to use one. Brokers charge you to find a lender; they don't lend the money themselves. Some lenders also pay the broker and then pass their cost on to you as a higher interest rate. Since you are paying the broker either directly or indirectly, using a broker may not get you the least expensive loan. Ask all lenders to explain in detail the loan plan they have for you. Pay close attention to the fees. Remember-the loan with the lowest monthly payment might not be the best deal. There could be hidden fees that may cost you more in the end. See a housing counselor to discuss your options. You can locate counselors certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by calling 1-888-466-3487 or visiting the HUD Web site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hccprof14.cfm . Learn about reverse mortgages. For homeowners age 62 or older, this may be a better option than a home equity loan. These are loans you don't have to pay back as long as you live in your home. With a reverse mortgage you can get a lump sum of money, a monthly income, a credit line, or a combination of payment options. Close your deal carefully . Once you've found the loan you want, make sure you get the deal you were promised. Follow these steps: Read the loan papers carefully before you sign. Ask a lawyer, housing counselor, or a trusted friend to help you go over the papers. Be sure you understand exactly what the lender is offering -and what you're going to have to pay. Ask to have all fees explained. Ask questions if you don't understand something. Take your time. Don't be rushed. Be sure that all blank spaces are filled in on all copies before you sign. Know your options about credit life insurance. Only buy it if you really need it. Many people don't. If you do want it, shop elsewhere for the best terms. If the lender insists on it, find another lender. Be sure to look for this item on the forms given you at settlement. If what you read in the loan is not what you wanted or expected, don't sign the papers! Be prepared to walk out of the settlement (closing) if you find surprises. Tip: To Reduce Unwanted Credit Offers call 1-888-567-8688 or 1-800-353-0809 and ask all three credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion not to provide information about you to companies wanting to send you loan offers. Know your legal rights and use them. You have a legal right to know: The total cost of borrowing the money (fees and interest); The annual percentage rate (APR); The number of payments and the payment amounts; How long you have to pay back the loan; and The total amount you have borrowed With home equity loans, you have the right to change your mind, even after you have signed the papers. If you decide within three business days after you sign the papers that you do not want the loan, you have the right to cancel. You can cancel by sending the lender written notice of your decision to cancel by mail, hand delivery, or telegram within three business days. Saturday is a business day. For example, if you sign at 3 PM on Thursday, you have until the end of Monday to cancel. Ask for "return receipt requested" at the post office for proof of when you sent the notice. Report things that go wrong and get legal help. If you think that your lender is dishonest-for example, you discover fees that you weren't told about or you were required to buy credit insurance-report it! Call your State, County and City Government Consumer Protection Offices: (may be called consumer protection). You can find the phone number in the government listings of the phone book. Call your state Attorney General or state office of banking. You can find the phone numbers in the government listings of your phone book. Report the problem to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP, or at www.ftc.gov . Ask a lawyer to look at all of your documents to see if there are state or federal laws that would let you get out of the loan. Warning Signs Be cautious if anyone: Advertises or says,"Poor credit? No problem!" Calls on the phone or comes to your door offering you a "bargain loan." Rushes you to sign that day. Asks you to pay a fee "up front" to cover a first payment or other expenses. Offers you a loan with small monthly payments and a balloon payment that you'll have difficulty paying when it comes due. If You're Over 61, a Reverse Mortgage May Be a Better Choice for You A reverse mortgage is a home loan that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live in your home. It can be paid to you in one lump sum, as a regular monthly income, or at the times and in the amounts you want. The loan and interest are repaid only when you sell your home, permanently move away, or die. Eligible Homeowners All homeowners must be at least 62 years old. At least one owner must live in the house most of the year. Eligible Homes Single family, one-unit dwelling. Two-to-four unit, owner-occupied dwelling. Some condominiums, planned unit developments or manufactured homes. NOTE: Cooperatives and most mobile homes are not eligible. How They Work Most require no repayment for as long as you live in your home. They are repaid in full when the last living borrower dies, sells the home, or permanently moves away. Because you make no monthly payments, the amount you owe grows larger over time. By law, you can never owe more than your home's value at the time the loan is repaid. You continue to own the home, so you must pay the property taxes, insurance, and repairs. If you fail to pay these, the lender can use the loan to make payments or require you to pay the loan in full. What You Get and How Much You Get Reverse mortgages can be paid to you: - All at once in cash; - As a monthly income; - As a credit line that lets you decide how much you want and when; - In any combination of the above. The amount you get usually depends on your age, your home's value and location, and the cost of the loan. The greatest amounts typically go to the oldest owners living in the most expensive homes getting loans with the lowest costs. Most people get the most money from the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HELM), a federally insured program. Types of Reverse Mortgages Loans offered by some states and local governments are generally for specific purposes, such as paying for home repairs or property taxes. These are the lowest cost reverse mortgages. Loans offered by some banks and mortgage companies can be used for any purpose. The Cost of a Reverse Mortgage The costs for loans from banks and mortgage companies usually include the following: - Application fee - Insurance - Origination fee - Monthly service fee - Closing costs - Interest These costs are usually added to the loan balance (what you owe). HECM loans are almost always the least expensive reverse mortgage you can get from a bank or mortgage company, and in many cases are significantly less costly than other reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgages are most expensive in the early years of the loan and generally become less costly over time. Before getting a reverse mortgage other than a government or HECM loan, carefully consider how much more it will cost you. What Else You Must Know The federal government requires you to see a federally-approved reverse mortgage counselor as part of getting a HECM reverse mortgage. For More Information AARP Webplace: Understanding Reverse Mortgages www.aarp.org/revmort " Home Made Money , "a free booklet by AARP, is available by calling 1-800-209-8085 or writing AARP Fulfillment, 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049. Ask for stock number D15601. Home Improvements Your home is worth a lot to you ... but dishonest home contractors see the value in it, too. Every year, people spend billions of dollars for home improvements. Usually the work is done well, but each year many homeowners are victims of poor, overpriced, or never-completed work. Some people posing as home repair specialists are simply con artists looking for easy money. Others are "front men" for predatory lenders. If you are planning on making repairs or improvements to your home, it is important to pick the right contractor and the right financing. Here's how. Identify what you want done and how much you can afford. Write a detailed description of the work you want done, including the quality of materials, brand names and model numbers you want to be used. Know how much you can afford to borrow and repay. Take time to find a reliable home improvement contractor. Get recommendations from friends, family and neighbors. Check with the State, County and City Government Consumer Protection Offices or Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints against the contractor. However, having no complaints filed is no guarantee of reliability. Have the contractor prove he is licensed, bonded, and has insurance. Check that information with local government offices. Get two or three written estimates that give details about materials, labor charges, and start and finish dates. Use the worksheet to help you ask the right questions to compare the bids you get. Remember: A clear and detailed contract can protect you if something goes wrong. In general, a contract should spell out who does what, where, when, and for how much. Don't be pressured to get your financing through a particular company. Be cautious of financing offered by the contractor. Dishonest mortgage brokers anc contractors often work together to take advantage of homeowners. Get several estimates for the financing, apart from the contractor's estimate. Ask a lawyer or housing counselor to explain all the terms of the financing agreement. Know your legal rights. You can cancel the home repair contract by sending a letter within three business days, if the contract was signed in your home or somewhere other than the contractor's permanent place of business. You can cancel the financing by sending a letter within three business days, and maybe even later, if your home is used as security for the loan. If you think your contractor or lender is fraudulent, notify the police, the local consumer protection agency, your state Attorney General, and state/city office of banking. Contact a lawyer. You may be able to sue the contractor or lender using state or federal laws. Warning Signs Be cautious if contractors: Sell door-to-door; Call you by your first name and act friendly. Say they are doing work "up the street" or "in the neighborhood." Claim to have left over material fro another job. Talk fast to confuse you or pressure yore to sign immediately. Accept only cash or want you to pay for the entire job upfront. Push you to borrow from their lender. Worksheet: Comparing Home Equity Lenders This worksheet can help you when you're comparing loans. Ask lenders questions and write down their answers. Remember, it's not only the monthly payment or the interest rate that matters in making your choice. If you compare the at least three lenders for borrowing the same amount, you may find a better deal. See the Glossary below to learn about any terms you don't understand. Worksheet: Getting Bids & Selecting a Contractor This worksheet can help you select a home repair contractor and compare bids. Ask contractors questions and write down their answers. If you compare at least three contractors, you may find a better deal. See the Glossary below to learn about any terms you don't understand. Glossary Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM): A home loan where the interest rate can go up or down during the time you are repaying the loan. Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The cost of a loan expressed as a percentage rate. It includes both the interest rate on the loan and many of the costs in getting the loan. APRs are the best way to compare loans. Balloon Payment: This is the very large payment that is due at the end of some loans. A balloon payment means that the borrower's monthly payments are used to pay the interest on the loan and that little of the payment is used to pay back the amount that was borrowed. Unless you know how you will make this payment, these loans can be risky. Bid: A written estimate of what your home improvement project will cost. Closing Costs: All of the "other" costs that you have to pay when borrowing money. They could include fees for credit reports, land survey, appraisal, title search, title insurance, document preparation, notary, points, credit life insurance, and attorney fees. Credit Insurance: An insurance policy (such as life, disability, or unemployment) that pays the lender the balance of the loan if something happens to the borrower before the loan is paid off. Sometimes the lender adds the entire price of the policy to the amount you are borrowing and this is very expensive because you pay interest on that amount. Credit Report: Credit bureaus collect information about your credit history-where you owe money, how much you owe, your credit cards, and your payment history. Lenders determine whether to give you a loan and how much to charge you based on information in your credit report. Credit Score: Your credit score is a number that is used by lenders to decide whether to give you credit and at what cost. It is based on information in your credit report. Equity: The difference between what your house is worth and what you owe on it. For example, if your house is worth $150,000 and you owe $100,000, your equity is $50,000. Fraud: Dishonest business practices that lead to your doing something against your best interest. Housing Counselor: Counselors can help you explore your options, find a loan, and explain loan documents. They also offer help with foreclosure problems. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) certifies housing counselors. Installment Payments: Partial payments made to home improvement contractors as the work is being done. Interest: The percentage rate lenders charge you for using their money. The higher the percentage, the more you pay. Line of Credit: A pre-approved amount that you can borrow. You only borrow what you need, when you need it. Mortgage Broker: A person you pay to help you find a lender. Points: Each point is 1% of the amount you are borrowing. Predatory Lenders: Lenders who take advantage of borrowers and make loans that the borrowers cannot afford. They may charge very high interest rates or fees, hide costs, or lie about loan terms. Principal: The amount of money that you borrow. Reverse Mortgage: A home loan you do not have to pay back for as long as you live in the home. Repayment of the loan is due when the last surviving homeowner dies, sells the home, or permanently moves away. Settlement: The meeting where you review and sign your loan papers. Also called a "closing." Total Amount to Repay: This is the total amount of fees, points, and all monthly and balloon payments that you will pay over the life of the loan. American Association of Retired Persons is a nonprofit, nonprtisan membership orgnization for people 50 and over. We provide information and resources; advocate on legislative, consumer, and legal issues; assist members to serve their communities; and offer a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services to our members. These benefits include AARP Webplace at www.aarp.org , Modern Maturity , and My Generation magazines, and the monthly AARP Bulletin . Active in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP celebrates the attitude that age is just a number and life is what you make it. 601 E Street NW Washington DC 20049 Email: member@AARP.org © 2001. All rights reserved. Reprinting with permission only.