home equity loan or

FRB: Putting Your Home on the Loan Line Is Risky Business ESPAÑOL Are you in need of cash? Do you want to consolidate your debts? Are you receiving home equity loan or refinancing offers that seem too good to be true? Does your home need repairs that contractors tell you can be easily financed? If you are a homeowner who needs money to pay bills or for home repairs, you may think a home equity loan is the answer. But not all loans and lenders are the same--you should shop around. The cost of doing business with high-cost lenders can be excessive and, sometimes, downright abusive. For example, certain lenders--often called "predatory lenders"--target homeowners who have low incomes or credit problems or who are elderly by deceiving them about loan terms or giving them loans they cannot afford to repay. Borrowing from an unscrupulous lender, especially one who offers you a high-cost loan using your home as security, is risky business. You could lose your home and your money. Before you sign on the line, Think about your options Do your homework Think twice before you sign Know that you have rights under the law Think about Your Options If you’re having money problems, consider these options before you put your home on the loan line. Talk with your creditors or with representatives of non-profit or other reputable credit or budget counseling organizations to work out a plan that reduces your bill payments to a more manageable level. Contact your local social service agency, community or religious groups, and local or state housing agencies. They may have programs that help consumers, including the elderly and those with disabilities, with energy bills, home repairs, or other emergency needs. Contact a local housing counseling agency to discuss your needs. Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development toll-free at 800-569-4287 or visit www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hccprof14.cfm to find a center near you. Talk with someone other than the lender or broker offering the loan who is knowledgeable and you trust before making any decisions. Remember, if you decide to get a home equity loan and can’t make the payments, the lender could foreclose and you would lose your home. If you decide a loan is right for you, talk with several lenders, including at least one bank, savings and loan, or credit union in your community. Their loans may cost less than loans from finance companies. And don’t assume that if you’re on a fixed income or have credit problems, you won’t qualify for a loan from a bank, savings and loan, or credit union--they may have the loan you want! Do Your Homework Contact several lenders--and be very careful about dealing with a lender who just appears at your door, calls you, or sends you mail. Ask friends and family for recommendations of lenders. Talk with banks, savings and loans, credit unions, and other lenders. If you choose to use a mortgage broker, remember they arrange loans but most do not lend directly. Compare their offers with those of other direct lenders. Be wary of home repair contractors that offer to arrange financing. You should still talk with other lenders to make sure you get the best deal. You may want to have the loan proceeds sent directly to you, not the contractor. Comparison shop. Comparing loan plans can help you get a better deal. Whether you begin your shopping by reading ads in your local newspapers, searching on the Internet, or looking in the phone book, ask lenders to explain the best loan plans they have for you. Beware of loan terms and conditions that may mean higher costs for you. Get answers to these questions and use the worksheet to compare loan plans: Interest Rate and Payments What are the monthly payments? Ask yourself if you can afford them. What is the annual percentage rate (APR) on the loan? The APR is the cost of credit, expressed as a yearly rate. You can use the APR to compare one loan with another. Will the interest rate change during the life of the loan? If so, when, how often, and by how much? Term of Loan How many years will you have to repay the loan? Is this a loan or a line of credit? A loan is for a fixed amount of money for a specific period of time; a line of credit is an amount of money you can draw as you need it. Is there a balloon payment--a large single payment at the end of the loan term after a series of low monthly payments? When the balloon payment is due, you must pay the entire amount. Points and Fees What will you have to pay in points and fees? One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount (1 point on a $10,000 loan is $100). Generally, the higher the points, the lower the interest rate. If points and fees are more than 5 percent of the loan amount, ask why. Traditional financial institutions normally charge between 1 and 3 percent of the loan amount in points and fees. Are any of the application fees refundable if you don’t get the loan? How and how much will the the lender or broker be paid? Lenders and brokers may charge points or fees that you must pay at closing or add on to the cost of your loan, or both. Penalties What is the penalty for late or missed payments? What is the penalty if you pay off or refinance the loan early (that is, is there a pre-payment penalty)? Credit Insurance Does the loan package include optional credit insurance, such as credit life, disability, or unemployment insurance? Depending on the type of policy, credit insurance can cover some or all of your payments if you can't make them. Understand that you don’t have to buy optional credit insurance--that’s why it’s called “optional.” Don’t buy insurance you don’t need. Credit insurance may be a bad deal for you, especially if the premiums are collected up-front at the closing and financed as part of the loan. If you want optional credit insurance, ask if you can pay for it on a monthly basis after the loan is approved and closed. With monthly insurance premiums, you don't pay interest and you can decide to cancel if the premiums are too high or if you believe you no longer want the insurance. After you have answers to these questions, start negotiating with more than one lender. Don’t be afraid to make lenders and brokers compete for your business by letting them know you are shopping for the best deal. Ask each lender to lower the points, fees, or interest rate. And ask each to meet--or beat--the terms of the other lenders. Once You’ve Selected a Lender, Get the Following A “Good Faith Estimate” of all loan charges. The estimate must be sent within 3 days of applying. Blank copies of the forms you’ll sign at closing, when the loan is final. Study them. If you don’t understand something, ask for an explanation. Advance copies of the forms you’ll sign at closing with the terms filled in. A week or two before closing, contact the lender to find out if there have been any changes in the Good Faith Estimate. By law, you can inspect the final settlement statement (also called the HUD-1 or HUD-1A form) one day prior to closing. Study these forms. Write down any questions you want to ask. Think Twice before You Sign Have a knowledgeable friend, relative, attorney, or housing counselor review the Good Faith Estimate and other loan papers before you sign the loan contract. Be sure the terms are the same ones you agreed to. For example, a lender should not promise one APR and then--without good reason--increase it at closing. Refer to the list of questions you’ve written down. Ask where these terms are covered in the loan contract. And ask for an explanation of any dollar amount or term you don’t understand. Don’t let anyone rush you into signing the loan contract. Make sure all promises, oral and otherwise, are put in writing. It’s only what’s in writing that counts. Get a copy of the documents you signed before you leave the closing. Don’t Sign on the Dotted Line if the Lender … Tells you to falsify information on the loan application (for example, suggests that you write down more income than you really have). Pressures you into applying for a loan for more money than you need, or one that has monthly payments larger than you can afford. Promises one set of terms but gives you another with no good reason for the change. Tells you to sign blank forms or forms that aren't completely filled in. If an item is supposed to be blank, draw a line through the space and initial it. Pressures you to sign today. A good deal today should be available tomorrow. Know that You Have Rights under the Law You Have 3 Business Days to Cancel the Loan If you're using your home as security for a home equity loan (or for a second mortgage loan or a line of credit), federal law gives you 3 business days after signing the loan papers to cancel the deal--for any reason--without penalty. You must cancel in writing. The lender must return any money you have paid to date. Do You Think You've Made a Mistake? Has the 3-day period during which you may cancel passed and you're worried that you've gotten in over your head? Do you think your loan fees were too high? Do you believe you were steered into monthly payments you can't afford? Has your lender repeatedly pressured you to refinance? Is your loan covered by insurance you don't need or want? If you think you've been taken advantage of, state and federal laws may protect you. Also, the following organizations may be able to help: Your local or state bar association--sometimes listed under "Lawyers Referral Service" in the Yellow Pages of your phone book. The association may be able to refer you to low-cost or no-cost lawyers who can help. Your local consumer protection agency, state attorney general’s office, or state office on aging, listed in the Blue Pages of your phone book. Your local fair housing group or affordable housing agency, housing counseling agency, or state housing agency. You can learn more about credit and home equity loans by visiting the federal government’s web site for consumers, www.consumer.gov (see the Home and Community section). If you don’t have access to the Internet, ask a friend or relative to get the information for you. Or visit your local library or senior center, which may offer you free access to the Internet on their computers. For More Information State Banks that Are Members of the Federal Reserve System Division of Consumer and Community Affairs Mail Stop 801 Federal Reserve Board Washington, DC 20551 (202) 452-3693 www.federalreserve.gov Federally Insured State Non-Member Banks and Savings Banks Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Consumer Response Center 2345 Grand Boulevard, Suite 100 Kansas City, Missouri 64108 (877) 275-3342 www.fdic.gov National Banks and National Bank-Owned Mortgage Companies Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Customer Assistance Group 1301 McKinney Street Suite 3450 Houston, TX 77010 (800) 613-6743 www.occ.treas.gov Federally Insured Savings and Loan Institutions and Federally Chartered Savings Banks Office of Thrift Supervision Consumer Programs 1700 G Street, N.W., 6th Floor Washington, DC 20552 (800) 842-6929 www.ots.treas.gov Federal Credit Unions National Credit Union Administration Office of Public and Congressional Affairs 1775 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 518-6330 www.ncua.gov For state-chartered credit unions, contact your state's regulatory agency. Mortgage Companies and Other Lenders Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20580 (877) FTC-HELP (877-382-4357, toll free) www.ftc.gov Other Information Sources U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division 950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, NWB Washington, DC 20580 (202) 514-4713 www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/index.html Federal Housing Finance Board 1777 F Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20006 (202) 408-2500 www.fhfb.gov Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20410 800-669-9777 (voice) 800-927-9275 (TTY) www.hud.gov Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) 1700 G Street, N.W. 4th Floor Washington, DC 20552 (202) 414-6922 www.ofheo.gov Adobe acrobat version of text for printing (119 KB PDF) is formatted for printing on two sides of a 11 x 17" sheet of paper. Fold the paper in half. The PDF contains a fillable area on the back panel for you to provide your own contact information. Worksheet for printing (58 KB PDF) Obtaining the Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Web Site This information was prepared by the following federal agencies: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Housing Finance Board, Federal Reserve Board, Federal Trade Commission, National Credit Union Administration, Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision. Home | Brochures Accessibility | Contact us Last update: March 24, 2004

Home Equity Loans &

Wachovia Texas Home Equity Loan Home | Customer Service | Contact Us | Locations Search Tips Personal Finance Wealth Management Small Business Corporate & Institutional Home Personal Finance Lending Center Home Equity Loans & Lines Home Equity Loans Texas Only Online Services Center Banking Center Investing Center Retirement Center Lending Center Mortgage Loans Home Equity Loans & Lines Home Equity Loans Texas Only All Other States Prime Equity Lines of Credit Comparison Charts Education Loans Credit Cards Vehicle Loans Secured Personal Loans Insurance Center Planning Guides Customer Service T EXAS H OME E QUITY L OAN Check Current Home Equity Rates   Home equity loans are used when you want to borrow a specific dollar amount against the equity in your home, and are available on both homestead and non-homestead properties. A homestead property is generally considered your primary residence in Texas. A non-homestead property is typically a second/vacation home, or a rental/investment property.  The money can be used for a variety of purposes, such as refinancing, home improvements, debt consolidation 1 , vacations, and more.   Why a home equity loan may be right for you: You may be able to deduct your interest expense on your taxes, just like your mortgage 2 The closing cost is typically lower than refinancing your first mortgage You may be able to borrow against the available equity in your home, up to 80% of the value of your homestead property 3 You may be able to borrow up to 100% of the available equity in your non-homestead property Features of a Wachovia home equity loan include: Up to 30-year terms 4 $8,000 minimum loan amount Up to $750,000 for loan requests to access equity Up to $250,000 for purchase requests The links below can also help you make a more informed decision and show you how the application process works. Texas Home Equity Comparison Chart How to Use the Equity in Your Home Understanding the Application Process Email This Page Printer Friendly Version 1 While consolidation may decrease your overall monthly payment obligations, refinancing pre-existing debt with a home equity loan/line will require you to give Wachovia a security interest in your home and may increase the total number of monthly debt payments, as well as the aggregate amount paid by a borrower over the term of the mortgage loan. Debt consolidation restrictions may apply. 2 Consult your tax advisor concerning interest deductibility. 3 Line amounts are based upon collateral value, creditworthiness and state maximum loan to value limitations. In accordance with state law, the maximum combined loan to value may not exceed 80% of the fair market value of your homestead property. 4 For example, repayment of a 30 year home equity loan would consist of 360 monthly payments of $6.42/$1,000 borrowed at 6.59% APR. The disclosed APR assumes that the borrower will pay 1% at the time of origination. The maximum loan amount for this offer is $750,000. If you pay off your loan early, there may be a prepayment penalty. You will be responsible for the cost of any mortgage recording or other taxes where applicable. Term of up to 360 months available on loan amounts greater than $35,000. Other rates and terms available. All loans and lines of credit are subject to credit approval, verification, and collateral evaluation. Initial decision is subject to your meeting specific underwriting requirements and final approval will be based upon your satisfying those requirements. Loans originated by Wachovia Mortgage Corporation or Wachovia Bank, National Association. Products not available in all states and are subject to change without notice. Member FDIC Personal Finance Login Home Equity Loans Contact Us Home Equity Loans Locations ATM/Branch Locations Related Links Loan Payment Calculator Loan Amount Estimator Customer Satisfaction Rating Personal Finance Customer Service Personal Finance Contacts Personal Finance FAQs Site Map Glossary Search Text Only About Wachovia | Privacy | Security | Legal | Merger © 2005 Wachovia Corporation. All rights reserved.

Property Listing

Find Real Estate, Rentals, New Houses, Real Estate Agents and Mortgages on Yahoo! Real Estate Find Real Estate, Rentals, New Houses, Real Estate Agents and Mortgages Choose Location Home Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent Home Loans Moving & Insurance Tools My Real Estate Hurricane Katrina Resources Features Classifieds • Sell Your Home • Rent Your Apartment Home Loans • Mortgage Rates • Online Rate Quotes • Refinance Loans & Rates • Home Equity Loans & Rates • Free Credit Reports Resources • Find & Compare REALTORS • Find a Mover Insurance • Homeowner's Insurance • Renter's Insurance Tools • What's My Home Worth? • Research Neighborhoods • Free School Reports • Foreclosure Center • Home Service Center Commercial Real Estate • List Commercial Property National Mortgage Rates Thu Dec 29 Mtg Loan Rate APR 30-yr Fixed: 5.70% 5.88% 15-yr Fixed: 5.27% 5.57% 1-yr ARM: 4.53% 6.89% See Local Mortgage Rates Provided by Bankrate.com Neighborhood Profile Research neighborhoods nationwide! City, State, or Zip: Real Estate Listings Browse by City New! Home Loans Center - Find, Compare, & Graph Rates Find a Home Find a Rental City & State, or Zip: Price Range: $0 $30,000 $50,000 $80,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $650,000 $750,000 $850,000 $1 million $1.25 million $1.5 million $1.75 million $2 million $2.25 million $2.75 million $3 million $3.5 million $4 million $4.5 million $5 million $6 million $8 million $10 million to No limit $30,000 $50,000 $80,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $650,000 $750,000 $850,000 $1 million $1.25 million $1.5 million $1.75 million $2 million $2.25 million $2.75 million $3 million $3.5 million $4 million $4.5 million $5 million $6 million $8 million $10 million Beds: Any 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ Baths: Any 1+ 1 1/2+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ Search For: Existing Homes Yahoo! Classifieds New Homes Foreclosures Advanced Search Search Commercial Real Estate Mortgage Payments Calculate your biweekly & monthly payment for different loan amounts, interest rates and amortization terms. Loan Amount: $ Term (years): Interest Rate: % Show table?: Yes No See More Loan Calculators Sponsored Links Real Estate Agent License $59 online exam prep 1st time pass guarantee all 50 US states. Free teaching assistant. www.e-realestatelicense.com CA Real Estate License Course DRE approved real estate agent, broker and appraiser license courses. Study at home. Job assistance and payment plan available. www.educationengine.com Real Estate License - CA, VA, TX or WA CA, VA, TX or WA real estate license. DRE-approved online and traditional courses with a proven 98% state-exam pass rate. 110% money-back offer. Quick and easy packages. www.realestatelicense.com (Become a Sponsor) Partner Spotlight Featured Sponsor Find a Local REALTOR by HomeGain • Find & Compare REALTORS • Get Home Prices Featured Videos Dream Home Videos by Inman Stories Real Estate News Government requirements for disclosure fail to make the grade Dec 27, 2005, Inman News Top Mistakes of Home Buyers and Sellers in 2005 Dec 29, 2005, Realty Times Housing Affordability Hits 14-Year Low Dec 22, 2005, RealEstateJournal.com Home loan applications fall to over 3-1/2-yr low Dec 28, 2005, Yahoo! Finance Weekly Home Mortgage Rates (AP) Dec 28, 2005, Yahoo! News Despite Decline, Housing Still Strong Dec 28, 2005, Quicken Loans more real estate news Homes For Sale - Apartments For Rent - Current Mortgage Rates - Real Estate Agents - Local - Yellow Pages

Las Vegas Real Estate

Tiny Vegas home sits at center of housing craze - Real Estate - MSNBC.com Skip navigation Business Stocks & Economy Personal Finance Real Estate U.S. Business Intl Business Oil & Energy Automotive Aviation Food Inc. CNBC TV Forbes.com BusinessWeek Financial Times Motley Fool Small Business Local Business U.S. News World News Business Sports Entertainment Tech / Science Weather Health Travel Blogs Etc. Local News Newsweek Multimedia News Video Most Popular NBC NEWS MSNBC TV Today Show Nightly News Meet the Press Dateline NBC MSNBC Home Business Real Estate Tiny Vegas home sits at center of housing craze His property in demand, former waiter raises asking price to $1.2 million Jae C. Hong / AP Manuel Corchuelo's 700-square-foot housein the Las Vegas neighborhood ofNaked City,purchased for $30,000 in 1978,is currently on the market for $1.2 million. The tract home is rapidly being surrounded by high-rise condominium projects. LAS VEGAS - Its front windows wish you "Feliz Navidad" in paint that won't wash off. The landscaping consists of four shriveling cacti and a patio piled with empty cat food boxes. Inside, it's 700 square feet of confirmed bachelor's clutter. And it can all be yours for $1.2 million - cash. There's perhaps no better evidence of the condo fever raging through Las Vegas' real estate market than the asking price on Manuel Corchuelo's home. Once considered deadlocked in the wasteland where the Las Vegas Strip fizzled into a decaying downtown, the World War II-era home is now happily nestled in the shadows of billions of dollars of new and proposed high-rise condominium projects. Corchuelo is sitting on much-coveted land. From his front lawn, Corchuelo likes to smile up at the cranes and listen to the clang of construction. "It's a good sound," he said. The former catering waiter and Colombian immigrant bought the home in 1978 for $30,000. He worked more than 20 years serving high rollers and conventioneers. He never married, saved some money and lost $15,000 of it on the stock market. Ten years ago, he started reading about investors' plans to build condominiums outside his door. He cut the clipping from the newspaper and put it in a three-ring binder. A few years later, he put his house on the market. He is still holding out for an acceptable offer. At last count, there were 93 luxury condominium projects, totaling 175 towers, proposed, planned or under construction in the Las Vegas valley in the second quarter of this year, according to a report released in September by Applied Analysis, a Las Vegas-based consulting firm. Though Brian Gordon, an analyst for the group, estimates that little more than one in three of the 93 will ever open its doors, 15 projects representing 10,000 units are expected to be completed by the end of next year. Developers tout the boom as the Manhattanization of Las Vegas, the move to "verticality" instead of sprawl. They promise an urban lifestyle, skyline views and celebrity neighbors. They court the young, rich and out of town. About 85 percent of condo buyers are non-Nevada residents or investors, Gordon said. Most of the projects are huddled on or around the Strip. "It's sort of like beach-front property. They're not making any more of it. Everybody that's within a stone's throw thinks their property is worth $20 million an acre," he said. The hype is fueling increases throughout the city. The cost of a vacant acre in the Las Vegas area has hit $601,600 - an 88 percent increase over last year. Corchuelo's home is one block off Las Vegas Boulevard and across the street from the future home of the Allure, a 41-story luxury complex under construction. Five years ago, his initial asking price of $350,000 attracted few offers. His agent dropped the listing. Corchuelo continued to collect articles about the market, filling three binders full of stories and notes handwritten in Spanish. He studied the moves of the city's real estate tycoons. "Even Trump makes mistakes," he said, citing a sale he says cost real estate mogul Donald Trump millions. "You have to know the area. Steve Wynn, he knew what he was doing. He had experience - 20 years building hotels. He knows everything moves in cycles." Corchuelo found an agent who, like him, is convinced they're riding an upturn that hasn't peaked. The pair has upped the asking price several times and are looking for a buyer who doesn't need financing. CONTINUED: Why they call it Naked City 1 | 2 | Next > Print this Email this MORE FROM REAL ESTATE Real Estate Section Front . Sales of previously owned homes fall . Mortgage rates continue December descent . U.S. mortgage applications fell last week . New-home sales tumble in November . Q3 mortgage delinquencies jump . Report: Millions face critical housing needs . Bubble, bubble -- then trouble . Calif. home affordability near record low . Slowdown could claim 800,000 jobs . ARCHIVE: More on real estate . Real Estate Section Front 'Nasty fires' feared in Texas, Okla. Rains raise flood fears in California NBC: 'Weighty' Mideast challenges Man turned in by sons gets 40 years Grieving Dungy rejoins Colts MSNBC-TV Question of the Day Man ending 1,000-bar journey NOPD Chief addresses shooting Scarborough vlog: Advice for Dems Red flags within Red Cross? SPECIAL REPORT Related coverage Hot or not? Affordability index Mortgage calculator Full coverage City-by-city data Midwest Northeast South West Related Stories | What's this? Turnberry keeps rolling in Las Vegas Was that Elvis? Las Vegas Marathon set to roll Californians gamble on career in real estate Las Vegas buries a slice of history to end centennial events Station plans another neighborhood casino in North Las Vegas Most Popular Most Viewed Call it the year of lame excuses Insurgents slay 11 Shiite family members in Iraq Man turned in by sons gets 40 years in prison Body of missing N.J. police officer recovered Top 10 films of 2005 Most viewed on MSNBC.com Top Rated Dungy rejoins Colts, expected to coach Sunday Abramoff probe spells trouble for Congress Mother of 5 locked in battle with music industry The lowest scam Study: Vitamin D lowers risk of major cancers Most viewed on MSNBC.com Most E-mailed Call it the year of lame excuses 2-year-old gets drunk; baby-sitter charged Abramoff probe spells trouble for Congress FSU star linebacker accused of sexual assault Survey: One in 10 teens face major depression Most viewed on MSNBC.com Cover | U.S. News | World News | Business | Sports | Tech/Science | Entertainment | Travel | Health | Blogs Etc. | Weather | Local News Newsweek | Today Show | Nightly News | Dateline NBC | Meet the Press | MSNBC TV About MSNBC.com | Newsletters | RSS | Podcasts | Help | News Tools | Jobs at MSNBC.com | Contact Us | Terms & Conditions | Privacy © 2005 MSNBC.com MSN Privacy | Legal Feedback | Help

Texas Land Trusts About

TPWD:About Texas Land Trusts Maincontent Local Navigation print friendly search Regulations Publications Outdoor Learning Kids Game Warden Grants Get Involved Shop FAQ Calendar Español Experience Texas Fishing & Boating State Parks & Destinations Hunting & Wildlife Land & Water Doing Business Home Land & Water Land Private Tltc Texas Land Trusts About Texas Land Trusts Starting a Land Trust Texas Land Trust Directory Foreword Listing Regional Index About the Texas Land Trust Council ( TLTC ) TLTC Board of Directors and Honorary Council News 2004 TLTC Conference Speech Bulletin Board TLTC Publications Land Trust Resources Texas Land Trusts Top 1-Million Mark in Acres Conserved Texas Land Trusts What is a land trust? A land trust is a local, state or regional nonprofit organization directly involved in protecting land for its natural, recreational, scenic, historical or productive value. How do I find a land trust in my area? There are currently 39 land trusts in Texas. Let the Texas Land Trust Directory be your guide in locating a land trust close to you. How do you start a land trust? Setting up a land trust requires careful research and planning. The Texas Land Trust Council has compiled many of the resources you need to answer your questions and establish a successful land trust. About the Texas Land Trust Council The Texas Land Trust Council is committed to promoting and sustaining the conservation efforts of Texas's land trusts. Learn more about the growing number of Texans protecting our distinct heritage . What's a conservation easement? A conservation easement ( PDF 1.6 MB ) is a restriction landowners voluntarily place on specified uses of their property to protect natural, productive or cultural features. It is recorded as a written legal agreement between the landowner and the "holder" of the easement, which may be either a nonprofit conservation organization or government agency. Contact Us | Help | Accessibility | Media | Site Policies | Complaints | Intranet | State of Texas | TRAILS Search | TexasOnline | Compact with Texans Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 Toll Free: (800) 792-1112, Austin: (512) 389-4800 Content of this site © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. Last modified: October 12, 2005, 12:46 pm