home equity. Why? Certain

Home Equity Scams: Borrowers Beware! Home Equity Loans : Borrowers Beware! D o you own your home? If so, it's likely to be your greatest single asset. Unfortunately, if you agree to a loan that's based on the equity you have in your home, you may be putting your most valuable asset at risk. Homeowners-particularly elderly, minority and those with low incomes or poor credit-should be careful when borrowing money based on their home equity. Why? Certain abusive or exploitative lenders target these borrowers, who unwittingly may be putting their home on the line. Abusive lending practices range from equity stripping and loan flipping to hiding loan terms and packing a loan with extra charges. The Federal Trade Commission urges you to be aware of these loan practices to avoid losing your home. The Practices Equity Stripping You need money. You don't have much income coming in each month. You have built up equity in your home. A lender tells you that you could get a loan, even though you know your income is just not enough to keep up with the monthly payments. The lender encourages you to "pad" your income on your application form to help get the loan approved. This lender may be out to steal the equity you have built up in your home. The lender doesn't care if you can't keep up with the monthly payments. As soon as you don't, the lender will foreclose-taking your home and stripping you of the equity you have spent years building. If you take out a loan but don't have enough income to make the monthly payments, you are being set up. You probably will lose your home. Hidden Loan Terms: The Balloon Payment You've fallen behind in your mortgage payments and may face foreclosure. Another lender offers to save you from foreclosure by refinancing your mortgage and lowering your monthly payments. Look carefully at the loan terms. The payments may be lower because the lender is offering a loan on which you repay only the interest each month. At the end of the loan term, the principal-that is, the entire amount that you borrowed-is due in one lump sum called a balloon payment. If you can't make the balloon payment or refinance, you face foreclosure and the loss of your home. Loan Flipping Suppose you've had your mortgage for years. The interest rate is low and the monthly payments fit nicely into your budget, but you could use some extra money. A lender calls to talk about refinancing, and using the availability of extra cash as bait, claims it's time the equity in your home started "working" for you. You agree to refinance your loan. After you've made a few payments on the loan, the lender calls to offer you a bigger loan for, say, a vacation. If you accept the offer, the lender refinances your original loan and then lends you additional money. In this practice-often called "flipping"-the lender charges you high points and fees each time you refinance, and may increase your interest rate as well. If the loan has a prepayment penalty, you will have to pay that penalty each time you take out a new loan. You now have some extra money and a lot more debt, stretched out over a longer time. The extra cash you receive may be less than the additional costs and fees you were charged for the refinancing. And what's worse, you are now paying interest on those extra fees charged in each refinancing. Long story short? With each refinancing, you've increased your debt and probably are paying a very high price for some extra cash. After a while, if you get in over your head and can't pay, you could lose your home. The "Home Improvement" Loan A contractor calls or knocks on your door and offers to install a new roof or remodel your kitchen at a price that sounds reasonable. You tell him you're interested, but can't afford it. He tells you it's no problem-he can arrange financing through a lender he knows. You agree to the project, and the contractor begins work. At some point after the contractor begins, you are asked to sign a lot of papers. The papers may be blank or the lender may rush you to sign before you have time to read what you've been given. The contractor threatens to leave the work on your house unfinished if you don't sign. You sign the papers. Only later, you realize that the papers you signed are a home equity loan. The interest rate, points and fees seem very high. To make matters worse, the work on your home isn't done right or hasn't been completed, and the contractor, who may have been paid by the lender, has little interest in completing the work to your satisfaction. Credit Insurance Packing You've just agreed to a mortgage on terms you think you can afford. At closing, the lender gives you papers to sign that include charges for credit insurance or other "benefits" that you did not ask for and do not want. The lender hopes you don't notice this, and that you just sign the loan papers where you are asked to sign. The lender doesn't explain exactly how much extra money this will cost you each month on your loan. If you do notice, you're afraid that if you ask questions or object, you might not get the loan. The lender may tell you that this insurance comes with the loan, making you think that it comes at no additional cost. Or, if you object, the lender may even tell you that if you want the loan without the insurance, the loan papers will have to be rewritten, that it could take several days, and that the manager may reconsider the loan altogether. If you agree to buy the insurance, you really are paying extra for the loan by buying a product you may not want or need. Mortgage Servicing Abuses After you get a mortgage, you receive a letter from your lender saying that your monthly payments will be higher than you expected. The lender says that your payments include escrow for taxes and insurance even though you arranged to pay those items yourself with the lender's okay. Later, a message from the lender says you are being charged late fees. But you know your payments were on time. Or, you may receive a message saying that you failed to maintain required property insurance and the lender is buying more costly insurance at your expense. Other charges that you don't understand-like legal fees-are added to the amount you owe, increasing your monthly payments or the amount you owe at the end of the loan term. The lender doesn't provide you with an accurate or complete account of these charges. You ask for a payoff statement to refinance with another lender and receive a statement that's inaccurate or incomplete. The lender's actions make it almost impossible to determine how much you've paid or how much you owe. You may pay more than you owe. Signing Over Your Deed If you are having trouble paying your mortgage and the lender has threatened to foreclose and take your home, you may feel desperate. Another "lender" may contact you with an offer to help you find new financing. Before he can help you, he asks you to deed your property to him, claiming that it's a temporary measure to prevent foreclosure. The promised refinancing that would let you save your home never comes through. Once the lender has the deed to your property, he starts to treat it as his own. He may borrow against it (for his benefit, not yours) or even sell it to someone else. Because you don't own the home any more, you won't get any money when the property is sold. The lender will treat you as a tenant and your mortgage payments as rent. If your "rent" payments are late, you can be evicted from your home. Protecting Yourself You can protect yourself against losing your home to inappropriate lending practices. Here's how: Don't: Agree to a home equity loan if you don't have enough income to make the monthly payments. Sign any document you haven't read or any document that has blank spaces to be filled in after you sign. Let anyone pressure you into signing any document. Agree to a loan that includes credit insurance or extra products you don't want. Let the promise of extra cash or lower monthly payments get in the way of your good judgment about whether the cost you will pay for the loan is really worth it. Deed your property to anyone. First consult an attorney, a knowledgeable family member, or someone else you trust. Do: Ask specifically if credit insurance is required as a condition of the loan. If it isn't, and a charge is included in your loan and you don't want the insurance, ask that the charge be removed from the loan documents. If you want the added security of credit insurance, shop around for the best rates. Keep careful records of what you've paid, including billing statements and canceled checks. Challenge any charge you think is inaccurate. Check contractors' references when it is time to have work done in your home. Get more than one estimate. Read all items carefully. If you need an explanation of any terms or conditions, talk to someone you can trust, such as a knowledgeable family member or an attorney. Consider all the costs of financing before you agree to a loan. For More Information 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 April 1998

Buy property via the

UK Property & Housing Market News & Websites, Estate Agents; House Buying and Car Buying Websites UK Property Search Websites Mortgages & Building Societies Property News & Media Home RightMove.co.uk UK Housing Market Find A Property.com UK property search Fish4Homes AssertaHome.com www.Property Finder.com Net House Prices.com Search for sales prices of UK property Up My Street.co.uk Find out what your property is worth, and what's going on in your area, including schools UK.Real Estate.Yahoo.com Buy it Privately.com private property sales directory New-Homes-Direct.com off plan property, buy to let property IRED.com International Real Estate Digest Prime Location.com Home buying, selling, renting and investing Moves.co.uk Office and household removals Abbey Self Storage Business and private storage services Good Migrations.co.uk Moving planner; advice; estate agents; local information HBF.co.uk The House Builders Federation - the trade federation for private house builders in England and Wales UK Property & Housing Market News Find a Property/news | NewsNow.co.uk | BBC Nationwide | Hometrack | Land Registry Google News | MSN Newsbot | Yahoo News Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Net House Prices.com Property Entrepeneur.co.uk Details of worldwide properties in high growth areas Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) UK Property Shop.co.uk National directory of estate agents Property Live.co.uk UK House Market Your Mortgage.co.uk Includes advice on mortgage types, buying to let, moving checklist, property price calculator BBC Homes/.../ UK property price guide PrimeLocation.com Houseweb.com Rent, buy, or sell property within the UK Home Check.co.uk Advice for home owners and buyers about potential hazards such as flooding and subsidence Homeclick.co.uk Buy property via the internet without the need for an estate agent Pickfords.co.uk Domestic and international removals The National Federation of Builders National House Building Council (NHBC) Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RISC) Inside Housing.co.uk From Inside Housing magazine BBC.co.uk/homes DIY SOS | House Invaders | Big Strong Boys | To Buy or Not to Buy | Trading Up | Life Laundry | Sunday Home and Garden | Changing Rooms Channel4.com/4 homes Property Ladder | House In The Sun | The Property Chain | Relocation Relocation | Room For Improvement | Grand Designs International Real Estate Directory.com Worldwide directory of estate agents, builders, relocation consultants and more The Move Channel.com UK property information / UK property proces UK Property Guide Homes-Exchange.com Private central London homes and apartments for rent and sale Buying Property in Spain I am Moving.com Free change of address service The Big Yellow.co.uk Storage services Estate Agency News.co.uk latest developments affecting the residential market Mortgages & Building Societies menu/top Money Supermarket Financial products compared Money.MSN.co.uk More financial websites... Charcol Online.co.uk Mortgages-Online.co.uk Your Morgage.co.uk Find.co.uk/mortgages Complete A-Z of UK websites for mortgages, covering lenders and brokers Mortgage Point.co.uk Mortgages 2 homes.co.uk Apply for a mortgage online, even with adverse or bad credit Money Supermarket Britannia.co.uk Cheshire Building Society Coventry Building Society.co.uk Cumberland Building Society Darlington Building Society Derbyshire Building Society Dudley Building Society Dunfermline Building Society Ecology Building Society Furness Building Society Hinckley and Rugby Building Society Ipswich Building Society Kent Reliance Building Society Lambeth Building Society Leeds & Holbeck Building Society Leek United Building Society Loughborough Building Society Manchester Building Society Mansfield Building Society Market Harborough Building Society Marsden Building Society Melton Mowbray Building Society Mercantile Building Society National Counties Building Society Nationwide Building Society Newbury Building Society Newcastle Building Society Norwich and Peterborough Building Society Nottingham Building Society Portman Building Society Principality Building Society Progressive Building Society Scarborough Building Society Scottish Building Society Skipton Building Society Stafford Railway Building Society Staffordshire Building Society Stroud & Swindon Building Society Swansea Building Society Teachers Building Society Tipton & Coseley Building Society Universal Building Society West Bromwich Building Society Woolwich.co.uk Yorkshire Building Society

Land Loan

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Florida Real Estate

South Florida Real Estate - Homes, Condos, Apartments For Rent & For Sale - Palm Beach Post Real Estate Jobs | Autos | Classifieds | Personals | Shopping | Health | Travel Travel | Subscribe | Archives | Customer Care | Today's Paper All Residential | Condos | Luxury | Commercial | Land/Lots Neighborhood, School & Community Info Due to the storm, some information may be incomplete. ------ Search By Web ID What's a Web ID? Mapping the Housing Boom • Where The Investors Are. • Where and why prices and sales have jumped. • This Week's Housing Boom Advertisers Buying or Refinancing? • Mortgage Lender Guide | Mortgage Calculators Browse new homes in Real Estate Weekend Search the New Homes Locator Directory Find ads & articles from Residences - our guide to existing home sales View Rental ads in The BIG Apartment Magazine This month's featured... Developments | Properties | Realtors This week's... Hot Properties | Hot Rentals Must See! Open Houses Neighborhood Experts • Find a Real Estate Agent • Find a Real Estate Company • Find a Rental Agent LaPalmaInteractivo.com Clasificados • Clasificados en Español This Week's Local Commercial Real Estate • From Our Business to Business Section • Search For Sale Commercial Real Estate Listings Home Improvement • Design Center | Service Directory | Gardening New to the area? • Newcomer's Guide | Neighborhoods | Schools Local Property Values • Check Out Area Property Sales For information about advertising opportunities contact Linda Goings a product of The Palm Beach Post Classifieds ©2005 The Palm Beach Post By using PalmBeachPost.com, you accept the terms of our visitor agreement . Please read it. Customer Care | Privacy Policy | Want to advertise here? | Job Opportunities

Buy Home

How to Buy a HUD Home Housing About Housing Contact us Keywords Single Family Audience groups Buying a home Events & training FHA insured loans Common questions Housing counseling HUD homes/ REO Owning a home Reference guide Regulatory programs Hospitals Multifamily OAHP Reading room Online forums Work online HUD news Homes Communities Working with HUD Resources Tools Webcasts Mailing lists Contact us Help FAQs About Buying HUD Homes Information by State Esta página en español Print version Email this to a friend Question 1: What is a "HUD Home"? Answer: When someone with a HUD insured mortgage can't meet the payments, the lender forecloses on the home; HUD pays the lender what is owed; and HUD takes ownership of the home. Then we sell it at market value as quickly as possible. Question 2: Who can buy a HUD home? Answer: Almost anyone! If you have the cash or can qualify for a mortgage, subject to certain restrictions, you may buy a HUD home. HUD employees and relatives of HUD employees are eligible, but must receive written approval from the Director of HUD's Office of Single Family Asset Management in order to purchase a HUD-owned single family property. HUD employees should refer to paragraph 10-29C of Handbook 4310.5, REV-2, Property Disposition Handbook-One to Four Family Properties for the exact requirements to purchase a HUD-owned single family property. Other less common restrictions may apply. Question 3: Are HUD Homes meant for people with low incomes? Answer: HUD homes range in price, but most are affordable for low- and moderate-income Americans. Question 4: Is it true I can get a HUD Home for a dollar? Answer: No. HUD sells homes at market value - that means that the price is set based on the price of similar homes sold in the area. Question 5: If the HUD Home needs repairs, will HUD make them? Answer: HUD Homes are sold "as-is," without warranty. That means that HUD will not pay to correct any problems. But even if a HUD Home needs fixing up - and not all of them do - it can be a real bargain! For example, HUD's asking price on the home will reflect the fact that the buyer will have to invest money to make improvements. HUD might offer special incentives such as an allowance to upgrade the property, a moving expense allowance, or a bonus for closing the sale early. And keep in mind that on most sales, the buyer can request HUD to pay all or a portion of the financing and closing costs. Your real estate agent will have details. We encourage you to get the home professionally inspected before you make an offer so you will know what repairs you may have to make BEFORE you submit your bid. Question 6: How do I buy a HUD home? Answer: Start by finding a participating real estate agent. Your real estate agent must submit your bid for you. Normally, HUD Homes are sold in an "Offer Period." At the end of the Offer Period, all offers are opened and, basically, the highest reasonable bid is accepted. If the home isn't sold in the initial Offer Period, you can submit a bid until the home is sold. Bids can be submitted any day of the week, including weekends and holidays. They will be opened the next business day. If your bid is acceptable to HUD, your real estate agent will be notified, usually within 48 hours. Question 7: If my bid is accepted, what happens next? Answer: Your real estate agent will help you through the paperwork process. You'll be given a settlement date, normally within 30-60 days, by which you need to arrange financing and close the sale, or forfeit your earnest money deposit, or pay for an extension of your sales contract. We have an excellent booklet to help you understand the settlement process: " Buying Your Home - Settlement Costs and Helpful Information . When you buy a HUD Home, the selling agent's commission will be paid by HUD but only if you make this a condition of your offer. The listing agent's commission is always paid by HUD. HUD will pay a total sales commission of up to 6%. Question 8: How can I find out what HUD Homes are for sale? Answer: Right here! We update our lists of HUD Homes for sale every day. If you see one that interests you, contact one of the real estate agents in your area who shows HUD homes. They can help you from there. Question 9: How can I get a loan to buy a HUD Home? Answer: HUD doesn't make loans directly. But we do have a number of mortgage insurance programs that could help you buy a home. You can read about those programs . Then contact a HUD approved lender , who will take you through the steps and actually make the loan. Question 10: Can I buy a HUD Home as an investment? Answer: Most HUD Homes are initially offered on a priority basis to owner occupant purchasers (people who are buying the home as their primary residence). Following the priority period, unsold properties are then available to all buyers, including investors. Question 11: Is there anything else I should know about HUD Homes? Answer: We encourage every homebuyer and homeowner to be a wise consumer, so be sure to read our consumer information . Houses built before 1978 may have lead-based paint , which can cause harm to your family; so be sure to read about this hazard and about what you would need to do to correct it. Teachers and law enforcement officers qualify for 50% discounts in certain situations. Attention: Nonprofits and Government Agencies! HUD has a special sales program under which approved nonprofit organizations and government agencies may purchase properties at discounted prices for use in local housing or homeless programs. Content updated March 16, 2005 Back to top FOIA Privacy Web Policies and Important Links Home U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455 Find the address of a HUD office near you