buy property to prevent

Neighbors Buying Property To Prevent The Establishment Of A Group Home The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Issue: Housing About News In court Take action Publications More resources Topics : Information sheets Advocacy resources on fair housing Jump to an issue: Advance Psych. Directives Children Civil Rights and the ADA Criminalization Education Elders with Mental Illnesses Housing Insurance Involuntary Commitment Managed Care Medicaid Medicare Rx Drug Benefit Mental Healthcare Privacy Restraint and Seclusion Supports in the Community - SSI - Temp. Assist. for Families Voting Fair Housing Information Sheet # 3 Neighbors Buying Property To Prevent The Establishment Of A Group Home Imagine the following scenario: A house in a residential neighborhood is for sale. A provider of residential services to persons with mental retardation believes that the house would be a great location for a group home for three women and submits a bid to purchase the house. Neighbors of the seller learn of the provider's interest in the home and meet to develop strategies for preventing the women from moving into the neighborhood. Eventually, the neighbors conclude that the only way to prevent the provider from purchasing the home is to submit a higher bid. The neighbors realize that none of them can afford to buy the home alone, so they pool their resources, give the money collected to one of the neighbors, and that person offers the seller $5,000 more for the home than does the provider. The seller sells the home to the neighbor acting on behalf of the group. Do the actions of the seller or of the neighbors who purchased the home violate the Fair Housing Act? The FHA makes it unlawful to discriminate in the sale or rental, or to otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of a handicapof (A) that buyer or renter; (B) a person residing in or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is so sold, rented, or made available; or (C) any person associated with that buyer or renter. 42 U.S.C. 3604(f)(1). The FHA contains an exemption for single-family houses sold or rented by an owner, provided that the owner does not use the services of a real estate agent or broker, own more than three such single-family houses, and, if the owner is not a resident, has not completed more than one sale within a 24-month period. 42 U.S.C. 3603(b). Thus, assuming the listed conditions are met, it is likely that the owner cannot be found liable under the 3604(f)(1) of the FHA. But what of the neighbors, who banded together to buy the home in order to prevent persons with disabilities from living there? Courts that have faced this and similar scenarios have answered the question in different ways. In Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, Inc. v. Babin , 18 F.3d 337, 344 (6 th Cir. 1994), the Sixth Circuit called action similar to that described above as "normal economic competition." The Babin court analyzed the liability of the neighbors who contributed extra funds to make the purchase possible under 3604(f)(1), specifically the "otherwise make unavailable" provision. The court explained that, in normal economic competition, every purchase of a unique commodity affects availability to others. Thus, the court concluded, finding the neighbors liable would cause the statute's reach to be overbroad, and it affirmed the summary judgment entered by the court below. A claim also was asserted against the seller and the neighbors pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 3617, which makes illegal interfering with the exercise and enjoyment of the right to fair housing. The Sixth Circuit also rejected this argument, finding that the seller was motivated purely by economic considerations and that, while the purchase of the house disrupted the provider's negotiations, it did not prevent the provider from making an even higher bid on the property. Babin, then, stands for the proposition that actions related to the purchase of property — even when taken for the sole reason of preventing the use of that property by persons protected under the FHA — is "normal economic competition" and therefore is not a violation of the FHA. Not every court that has considered the issue since the Babin decision has agreed with that proposition, however. In United States v. Hughes , 849 F. Supp. 685 (D. Neb. 1994), the court denied a motion to dismiss and found the Babin decision "plainly wrong" in suggesting that there is an economic competition exception to the FHA. In Hughes , the court determined that a lender, who agreed to finance the purchase of property knowing that the intention of the buyer was to prevent the establishment of a group home, could be liable under 42 U.S.C. 3617. The court held that a bank violates the FHA by intentionally aiding buyers in keeping a home from other purchasers because those other purchasers are or are associated with persons with mental illness: [T]rue ' economic competition' does not exist when the purpose of the competition is to deny a protected person access to housing, as opposed to securing housing for oneself or for investment purposes. In fact, it is irrational to spend money for the purpose of prohibiting someone else from living next to you, if the reason you do not wish to live next to that person is because he or she has a handicap protected by the Act.-- Hughes at 686 (emphasis in original). A third opinion on this issue adopts the Hughes analysis. In Step-by-Step v. Lazarus , No. CV-97-1006 (M.D. Pa. Oct. 17, 1997), the court, in denying a motion to dismiss, held that the FHA "does apply to a buyer who purchases a property with the intention of preventing the purchase by an entity planning to use the property as a Group Home for members protected by the Act." Id. , slip op. at 1. In reaching this conclusion, the court agreed with the Hughes reasoning and stated that normal economic considerations do not exist where the underlying intent of the purchaser is to discriminate. The court found support for this proposition in 24 C.F.R. 103.20(a), which allows the filing of a complaint against "any person" engaged in a discriminatory housing practice, and in 24 C.F.R. 100.50(b)(3), which makes it unlawful to engage in "any conduct" that denies or makes housing unavailable to persons with disabilities. As these cases demonstrate, determining the motives of a buyer, seller, or neighbors and whether such motives are legally relevant is a complex issue. On the one hand, Congress has clearly mandated an end to discrimination in housing, and a narrow interpretation of the FHA, such as in Babin , allows persons with discriminatory intent to prevent individuals with disabilities from moving into a community. On the other hand, examining the private motives to all the various parties to a real estate transaction may be both unwieldy and burdensome. Clearly, it is helpful to fair housing advocates that the reasoning in Babin — even though articulated by an appellate court — was not convincing to the next two courts to consider very similar situations. While it remains too soon to make any definitive pronouncements on the merits of the issues, it is apparent, given the holdings in Hughes and Step-by-Step , that the actions of neighbors who buy property to prevent the establishment of group homes remain subject to viable challenge under the FHA. This information sheet was produced under a contract with the Advocacy Training/Technical Assistance Center of the National Association of Protection & Advocacy Systems For more information, contact Michael Allen, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, 1101 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1212 Washington, D.C. 20005-5002. Phone: 202/467-5730 ext. 117. E-mail: Michaela@bazelon.org . Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law 1101 15th Street, NW, Suite 1212 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-467-5730 Fax: 202-223-0409 Email: webmaster@bazelon.org Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law 1101 15th Street, NW, Suite 1212 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-467-5730 Fax: 202-223-0409 Email: webmaster@bazelon.org

Home Equity Loans Features

DCU Fixed-Rate Home Equity Loans Mortgages / Home Equity Home Equity Loan Menu Fixed-Rate Home Equity Loans Fixed-Rate Home Equity Loans Features / Compare with other DCU HELs Rates And Applications DCU Fixed-Rate Home Equity Installment Loans A Fixed-Rate Home Equity Installment Loan is much like an auto loan in that you get the full amount at the start of the loan and pay it down in equal payments for the term you selected. DCU's Fixed-Rate Home Equity Loans offer you... Low competitive fixed rates – Your actual rate is determined by your personal credit history Finance up to 100% of your home's value minus your first mortgage – (Maximum 80% in Texas by state law.) Loans from $5,000 Choose from 4 Terms – 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, and 20 years. Shorter loans mean lower interest rates. Longer loans mean smaller monthly payments. No closing costs* No application fees or pre-payment penalties * Excludes state mortgage taxes in FL , MD , MN , NY , OK , TN , and VA . Fixed-rate Home Equity Loans are available in all 50 states. To beginning of page Comparing DCU Options Here's a side-by-side comparison of DCU's Home Equity Loan options to help you decide which is best for you. Major Features Fixed- Rate Home Equity Loan Equity LinePLUS Type of Rate Fixed for life of the loan. Variable as low as Prime minus 1/4% on line advances. Same as Fixed-Rate Loans for fixed-rate advances Maximum Loan Percentage of home value 100% 100% Minimum Loan or Line $5,000 $5,000 for initial line and $5,000 for each fixed-rate advance Available Terms Balance is Maintained 5, 10, 15, and 20 year terms 20 year draw / 20 year repayment on total loan. Fixed-rate advances for 5, 10, or 15 years Annual Fees None None Closing Costs None None Application Fees None None Prepayment Penalties None None Tax Advantage Yes Yes To beginning of page Rates and Applications Apply for Home Equity Loans Apply Online or by calling 800.328.8797 (select 3). If you need additional information press 0 and ask to speak with one of our Mortgage Specialists. Home Equity Rates Apply Online Use our Loan Calculators to help you determine the loan financing and payment options that are best for you. Back to beginning What's New at DCU | Join Us | New Member Guide | Links Branches | ATMs | Questionnaire | Help Digital Federal Credit Union 220 Donald Lynch Boulevard, PO Box 9130, Marlborough, MA 01752-9130 • 800.328.8797 ® 2005 Digital Federal Credit Union

Land Loans Fixed Rate

First Hawaiian Bank: Hawaii/Guam — Mortgage Options select an online service -------------------- FHB Online FHB Business Online StrataWeb PlanWeb QuickTax Web Cash Manager - Hawaii Web Cash Manager - Guam for a new account -------------------- CREDIT CARDS Gold Aloha AirAwards MasterCard Gold Aloha AirAwards Visa Aloha AirAwards MasterCard Aloha AirAwards Visa Aloha Business AirAwards Business MasterCard Gold MasterCard Diamond Head MasterCard Ukulele MasterCard Gold Visa Mosaic Visa Surfer Visa -------------------- LOANS Morgage Pre-qualification Personal Loan Personal Line of Credit Business FirstLine Business FirstTerm Business Equipment Lease -------------------- CHECKING FirstChecking Discount Checking Regular Checking Bonus Checking Priority Banking Checking Business Checking -------------------- SAVINGS Regular Savings MaxiMizer Savings Certificates of Deposit -------------------- PrimeTime/Primera about products & services Business Services Cash Management Checking Accounts Credit Cards Foreign Exchange Insurance Services Investment Services IRA Leasing Lines and Loans * Home Equity Line of Credit * Personal Loans * Student Loans * Calculators Mortgages Online Banking PrimeTime/Primera Savings and TCDs Small Business Banking Student Banking Trust and Estate Services a branch or ATM Oahu * Oahu - Honolulu * Oahu - East Oahu * Oahu - Windward * Oahu - Northshore * Oahu - Leeward Maui & Lanai Big Island Kauai Guam Saipan First Investment Center Insurance Services Mortgage Banking • Mortgage Options • Mortgage Document Checklist • Current Rates • Foreclosures • Mortgage Glossary • Calculators • Realtor News • Contact Us Compare Options Pre-Qualify Now! Contact Us Mortgage Options For a free analysis and recommendation of the best mortgage loan program for you, please call us at 643-HOME (4663). Click on the options below to learn more about each of our mortgage solutions.  You can also use our  Online Comparison Tool  to compare options side by side. Fixed Rate Mortgage Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) Balloon Mortgage First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Absolute Zero Mortgage FHA/VA Flex 100 Rural Housing Service Loan (RHS) Construction Loans Home Improvement Loans Second Mortgage Land Loans Fixed Rate Mortgage Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Interest rate is constant over the life of the loan Features: · Variety of terms available · Finance with as little as 3% down payment · Flexible qualifying guidelines Benefits: · Stable monthly payments · Protection against rising interest rates · Fully amortized over the life of the loan Best Suited For: · Borrowers seeking a set interest rate · Borrowers who want the certainty of knowing their payment amount · Borrowers on a fixed monthly income Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Interest rates and monthly payments can adjust periodically over the life of the loan Features: · Conversion to a fixed rate option available · Initial interest rate may be lower than fixed rate products · Variety of terms available · Annual and lifetime interest rate caps Benefits: · Interest rates and monthly payments can adjust periodically over the life of the loan · Conversion to a fixed rate option available · Initial interest rate may be lower than fixed rate products · Variety of terms available · Annual and lifetime interest rate caps Best Suited For: · Borrowers who expect to move within 5-7 years · Borrowers who anticipate rising incomes · Borrowers who can manage payment changes · Borrowers expecting large cash settlements in the future Balloon Mortgage Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Interest rate is fixed for a set term Features: · Monthly payments amortized over a longer period than the loan term · Balance is due on balloon date · Outstanding balance may be refinanced for qualified borrowers on balloon date Benefits: · Lower interest rate than fixed-rate mortgage · Borrower may qualify for higher loan amount · Stable monthly payments for term of loan · Rate re-set feature available after 7-years Best Suited For: · Borrowers who expect to move or refinance within 7 years · Borrowers who want to take advantage of lower short-term rates and can tolerate some uncertainty about future loan terms · Owner occupants and second homeowners First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Fixed or adjustable interest rates Features: · Variety of terms available · As little as 3% down payment · Flexible qualifying guidelines · Fully amortizing · Reduced loan fees Benefits: · Payments go towards equity rather than rent · Minimum down payment enhances buying power · Flexible guidelines may qualify borrower for larger loan amount · Reduced closing costs make buying easier Best Suited For: · First-times home buyers · Borrowers with limited personal funds for down payments and closing costs · Borrowers on modest incomes Absolute Zero Mortgage Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Fixed interest rate loan Features: · 0 points and 0 closing costs · Competitive fixed rate pricing · Finance with as little as 3% down Benefits: · Allows buyers to save on closing costs and use the savings towards their down payment instead · Gives borrowers an opportunity to refinance and reduce their interest rate without paying expensive closing costs make buying easier Best Suited For: · Ideal for those limited on cash to close their loan · Best for those considering a move or refinance in 5-7 years · Ideal for those who want to reduce their rate without paying for points or closing costs · For those with limited down payment who want to buy now instead of later · Restricted to owner occupants FHA/VA Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Fixed or adjustable interest rates Features: · Requires little or no down payment · Flexible qualifying guidelines Benefits: · Low down payment · Certain closing costs may be financed · Less cash on hand required to qualify Best Suited For: · First-time home buyers · Borrowers on modest incomes · Eligible veterans Flex 100 Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Fixed long term rates Features: · No down payment · Able to use "flexible" funds for closing cost such as gifts, grants, or unsecured loans from relatives Benefits: · No income limits · Stable monthly payments for term of the loan · Possibly maximize your tax deduction Best Suited For: · Borrowers with excellent credit · Borrowers on modest incomes · Eligible veterans Rural Housing Service Loan (RHS) Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Fixed long term rates Features: · No down payment · Guaranteed loan to assist eligible households in rural areas Benefits: · No reserves required · May be able to finance all closing costs Best Suited For: · Limited to owner occupants · For borrowers located in rural areas Construction Loans Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Fixed or adjustable interest rates Features: · Interest only payments during the construction period · Permanent financing means applying only once · Competitive pricing Benefits: · Buy your land and build, all with one permanent financing plan · Interest only payments provide some relief on the budget during the construction period · Flexible pricing to meet your construction contract terms Best Suited For: · Those planning to buy land and build within a year · Large dollar home improvement projects Home Improvement Loans Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Fixed long term interest rate loan with competitive pricing Features: · As little as 5% down payment Benefits: · Buy a home and renovate with one loan · Stable monthly payments for term of loan Best Suited For: · Those who are owner occupants, second homeowners and investors · Those who want to buy a "fixer-upper" Second Mortgage Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages Features: · Competitive pricing Benefits: · Use the equity in your home to consolidate higher interest rate loans, purchase automobiles, make home improvements and more. · Does not affect a current low rate first mortgage Best Suited For: · Those with established equity in their homes · Best for shorter term obligations Land Loans Pre-Qualify Online Rates: · Fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgages available Features: · Competitive pricing Benefits: · Buy the land now, build later · Recieve a discount on fees when applying for a construction loan at First Hawaiian Bank within a 1-year period Best Suited For: · Those seeking to invest in land, but not ready to build just yet About Us | Career Opportunities | Bancwestcorp.com | Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender | Site Map | Contact Us

Florida Real Estate Commission's

Online Florida Real Estate License Courses Login Online real estate courses at rock bottom prices...FREE SHIPPING all orders.** Online Florida Sales Associate Pre-License Course Take your 63-hour prelicensing course online. Fulfills the Florida Real Estate Commission's (FREC) education requirement for all persons wanting to become licensed sales associates (real estate agents) in Florida. Available online or on CD-ROM. Enroll now and get started in minutes! Special this week— $199. [ learn more ] Online Florida Sales Associate Post-License Course Take your 45-hour post-licensing course online. Fulfills the Florida Real Estate Commission's (FREC) education requirement for a sales associate's first renewal. Available online or on CD-ROM. Enroll now and get started in minutes! Tuition starts at just $175. [ learn more ] Online Florida Broker Pre-License Course Take your 72-hour pre-licensing course online. Fulfills the Florida Real Estate Commission's (FREC) education requirement for becoming a Florida Broker. Enroll now and get started in minutes! Tuition starts at just $349. [ learn more ] Online Florida Broker Post-License Courses Take your 60-hour post-licensing requirement online.Our courses fulfill the Florida Real Estate Commission's (FREC) education requirementfor Florida Broker post-licensing education. Enroll now and get started in minutes! Tuitionstarts at just $165 per course. [ learn more ] Did you find it cheaper somewhere else? Request a price match. real estate news Special Holiday Hours: Friday, Dec. 23 - closed @ noon. Mon. Dec. 26, closed Fri. Dec. 30th closed at noon Mon. Jan. 2nd closed Governor Bush, in response to the damage of Hurricane Wilma, has changed the expiration date for real estate applications. 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Please take a few minutes to explore our site. You will find information on our school, our course offerings and our instructors, as well as important resources for real estate professionals such as links to real estate license law , the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) and other industry-related sites. Conveniently located in Tallahassee, at 2100 Centerville Road, we have been training real estate professionals in North Florida for more than 20 years. We have helped more students obtain real estate licenses than any other school in the area. You'll love the wall-to-wall windows with tree-top views. Our instructors are personable and knowledgeable, with years of experience in the fields of real estate sales, brokerage and appraisal. Our online real estate courses are second to none. We offer online sales associate pre-licensing and online post-licensing courses , with a wide variety of supplemental material to help students pass the Florida real estate exam . 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House Rent

Renting a House RENTING A HOUSE If you rent a house, rather than an apartment, you'll have some additionalconcerns: Lawn care and snow removal will probably be your responsibility. City codes require that lawns be mowed. If you think the landlord is providing either of these services, make sure your lease says so. Garbage hauling is not a municipal service in Champaign-Urbana. Unless your lease says that the landlord provides and pays for hauling, you'll have to call a private hauler and arrange service. Look in the yellow pages under "garbage." (Note: references in your lease to sanitary fees are for the sewer system, not for garbage hauling). Don't assume the garage comes with the house; make sure the lease says you are renting the "house and garage." If the house has no garage but you plan to park in the driveway, make sure the lease says Lessee may park in the driveway at no extra cost. Be sure the lease states the number of bedrooms in the house, especially if any bedrooms are in the basement or attic. If any area containing bedrooms becomes unfit for habitation while the rest of the house is still habitable, you'll be in a better bargaining position with your landlord if you can prove that the uninhabitable space was leased to you for living and sleeping purposes. Zoning laws prohibit more than four unrelated adults from living together in a single family home. The tenants, as well as the landlords, can be held liable by the city for violating the law. Enforcement is complaint-driven. If you live in Urbana near the U of I campus, or if you live anywhere and annoy your neighbors with noise or illegally parking cars on the lawn, you are a likely target for enforcement. See section of this handbook on " Zoning ." Be especially careful about including in your lease a list of all appliances that the landlord will "provide and maintain." Don't assume the washer and dryer in the basement will be repaired by the landlord if one breaks down. They may have just been left in the house by previous tenants. Protecting your deposit is a bigger job with a house. Many tenants report being charged at the end of the lease for leaving trash in the yard, damage to a porch, lawn care, cleaning out the basement, etc. Both when you move in and when you move out, you should take photographs of the basement, attic, front and back yards and the porch , in addition to photographs of walls, floors, insides of oven, fridge and cabinets and all fixtures. Damage deposit refund law does not cover houses (except in the City of Urbana). If the house is in Champaign, Savoy or anyplace other than Urbana, be sure your lease states the time period for refund of the deposit and requires the landlord to provide you with an itemized statement of damages within a certain time period. A sample clause appears in the section of this handbook on signing a lease. Return to Home Page Return to Table of Contents