Florida Real Estate Market
Florida personal injury lawyers, real estate attorneys, corporate lawyers - Oppenheim Pilelsky, P.A. What's Hot: NEW: Oppenheim Pilelsky spearheads a $5 billion class action lawsuit against DuPont for failing to warn consumers about Teflon dangers. Click here for more.. Dupont sued over alleged carcinogen Lawsuits filed in S. Florida allege Teflon is linked to cancer S. Fla. law firms to lead Teflon class action For more articles Click Here NEW: Roy Oppenhim discusses the Teflon Class Action lawsuit on NBC-6. Click Here NEW: WSVN-7 covers the Dupont Class Action Lawsuit. Click Here NEW: WPLG-10 covers the Dupont Class Action Lawsuit. Click Here NEW: WPEC-12 covers the Dupont Class Action Lawsuit. Click Here For More TV Stories Click Here Founded more than fifteen years ago by a husband and wife legal team , Oppenheim Pilelsky, PA is uniquely positioned as one of Florida's leading boutique law firms with offices in Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa, serving national, international, and local clients. The firm's old fashioned approach of personalized service has contributed to our expanding family of clients. The Firm's practice areas include personal injurylaw, real estate, commerciallitigation, business related matters, and consumer related class actions. Thefirm is outside general counsel to a myriad of residential and commercial developers,coordinating all legal related matters and is outside counsel to manufacturersof suppliers to big box retailers, coordinating litigation, and handling distributionissues and intellectual property disputes. In addition, the firm is regularlyinvolved with representing clients concerning real estate development and investment. Clients also include professional athletes, elected officials, and high profileFlorida entrepreneurs concerning their business, estate and family matters. TheFirm is particularly media savvy and assembles the finest team of professionalsin the the legal profession and other disciplines for high profile matters. What's New: Recent hurricanes deliver leasing troubles for tenants Roy Oppenheim Comments on the Future of the Millennium Mall. Working more than 40 hours and not getting paid for it, please read Employment claims in Florida . Whistle Blowers in Florida : Over the past several years the firm has been proud to represent a number of whistle blowers in connection with high profile related companies and industries. New Whistleblower protection under Federal Law! Roy Oppenheim discusses the South Florida Real Estate Market on the WPBT-Channel 2 program "Issues." Roy Oppenheim discusses the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund High Bandwidth Version Low Bandwidth Version Roy Oppenheim discusses Medical Malpractice Crisis. High Bandwidth Version Low Bandwidth Version Roy Oppenheim discusses Medical Malpractice Crisis. High Bandwidth Version Low Bandwidth Version Recent hurricanes deliver leasing troubles for tenants . Read more about hurricane damage and lease issues here . Oppenheim Pilelsky spearheads a $5 billion class action lawsuit against DuPont for failing to warn consumers about Teflon dangers. Read more about the Dupont Teflon case here . Roy Oppenheim shares his views on the white-hot South Florida Real Estate Market during a guest appearance on WPBT-TV. Read more about the broadcast , or click here to watch video of the show now. Oppenheim comments on music industry crackdown on illegal piracy. Read more about Florida music piracy lawsuits . Oppenheim & Pilelsky Attorneys and Civic Leaders who have Blazed a Trail through our City. Read more about how we're making a difference in Weston and Broward County Oppenheim Pilelsky Represents Custom Home Builder in a $22.5 Million Property Purchase in Boynton Beach. NEW: Roy Oppenheim named one of the Daily Business Review's Top Dealmakers for 2003 Oppenheim Pilelsky Represents Developer in $11.2 Million Sale of Weston Retail Plaza. It’s a Sign of the Times: Oppenheim Pilelsky, Weston’s Oldest Law Firm, Expands into New Offices. Parents of St. John's Meningitis Victim File Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice Suit Against Mayo Clinic-Jacksonville and Others. The Florida Times - St. Johns girl's parents sue over meningitis death . St. Augustine Record - Lawsuit filed by family of teen who died of meningitis . Oppenheim Pilelsky Law Firm Successfully Negotiates Lease-to-Purchase Deal for Old Hollywood Fashion Mall. Oppenheim Pilelsky Announces Closing of Construction Loan for Hallandale Yacht Club Hallandale Beach luxury condo project going up on last available lot near Intracoastal. Hialeah Widow Settles Lawsuit Against Doctor Who Misdiagnosed Her Husband's Fatal Heart Attack for $362,500.00. Woman Settles Lawsuit Against South Broward Hospital District and Dania Women's Center in Spina Bifida Case. Tampa Bay Area Law Office Opened by Renowned South Florida Attorney Roy Oppenheim. Oppenheim Pilelsky Law Firm Announces Closing on Millennium Plaza at Weston. Oppenheim Pilelsky Law Firm Announces Closing on Millennium Plaza at Parkland. Landmark Custom Ranches Development Announces Closing on Land For Multi-Million Dollar Homes at Weston Border. Family Settles Lawsuit Against MacDill Airforce Base in Deadly Meningitis Case. Miami Woman Awarded Nearly $1 Million in Winn Dixie Slip-and-Fall Case. Updates Archive >> Weston Law Firm Overview - Practice Areas - South Florida Litigation - Florida Real Estate Law Florida Corporate Litigation - Florida Family Law - Sitemap Other Areas - Biography Of Attorneys - Representative Cases - Recent Deals Media - Press Releases - Published Legal Articles - Media Clips - Contact Us Related Links - Employment Opportunities - Disclaimer © 2003. Oppenheim Pilelsky, P.A. All Rights Reserved. Design, Hosting and Marketing by Webcast1
Buy Home
Mortgages, Mortgage Rates and Home Loans by Quicken Loans America's Home Loan Experts SM GO My Quicken Loans Login Great Rates. Expert Advice. Fast Process. Call 800-251-9080 To Get Your Rate Refinance Refinance Center Learn About Refinancing Refinance Calculators Refinance Loan Options Contact a Refinance Expert Home Purchase Home Purchase Center Learn About Buying a Home Home Purchase Calculators Home Purchase Loan Options Contact a Purchase Expert Home Equity Home Equity Center Learn About Home Equity Home Equity Calculators Home Equity Loan Options Calculators Calculators Refinance Calculators Home Purchase Calculators Home Equity Calculators Contact a Loan Expert Loan Options Loan Options Refinance Loan Options Purchase Loan Options Home Equity Loan Options Contact a Loan Expert Bad Credit Rates Get your loan approved in just minutes over the phone We bring the paperwork to you for signing it's quick and easy! Calculate YOUR potential mortgage payment below. Select Loan Purpose Refinance Purchase Desired Loan Amount: Expected Purchase Price: Choose A State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Current Monthly Payment: Expected Down Payment: Calculate YOUR potential mortgage payment below. Select Loan Purpose Refinance Purchase Choose A State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Desired Loan Amount Current Monthly Payment Expected Purchase Price Expected Down Payment -- Dis-ARM Yourself Now! Lock into a fixed rate today! Quicken Loans' Chairman Dan Gilbert hosts CNBC's "Squawk Box". Read More Start Taking Control of Your Credit! Introducing FreshStart Get approved for your mortgage - even with less-than-perfect credit Get on the path to paying off debt and repairing your credit Consolidate high-interest bills into one low-interest mortgage payment FIND OUT MORE Rates Keep Rising. Get a Fixed Rate Now! The Fed will keep raising interest rates - Get out of your adjustable rate mortgage or home equity line of credit! Lock your rate for 30 years with payment flexibility. Introducing FIND OUT MORE Flexible guidelines to fit your needs! Introducing Advantage1st No doc and full doc options available Cash out and interest-only options Get a low rate on a mortgage that fits your needs FIND OUT MORE Want a low mortgage rate? Call a Quicken Loans Mortgage Banker now to find out how you can get a low mortgage rate and payment flexibility with our SmartArm ® loan. A Quicken Loans Exclusive FIND OUT MORE What's the Difference between Interest Rate and APR? When you get a mortgage, you are charged two different rates--the annual percentage rate (APR) and the interest rate. Understanding the difference between the two rates is important and will help you make an informed decision when shopping for the right lender and the right loan... Read More Archived News Homeowners Can Still Refinance at Low Rates Dec 29, 2005 Despite Decline, Housing Still Strong Dec 28, 2005 More Mortgage News Quicken Loans - We Are Here to Help You! No one makes it easier than the home loan experts at Quicken Loans! We are ready to help you with your new mortgage , refinance , or home equity loan needs — all at great low interest rates. Explore our web site for exclusive home loan options, easy-to-use mortgage calculators , home loan articles, and instant rate quotes on several mortgages. Quicken Loans is America's #1 online mortgage lender. Apply for your mortgage online or talk to a Quicken Loans home loan expert today. Call us now at 800-251-9080. 3,400 home loan experts ready to help you Refinancing | Home Loans | Home Equity Loans | My Quicken Loans Login Mortgage News | Mortgage Rates | Mortgage Calculators | Apply Online About Us | Careers | Contact Us | Feedback | Site Map | Help | Search Security and Privacy | Disclosures and Licenses | Terms of Use © 2000 - 2005 Quicken Loans Inc., All rights reserved. Lending services provided by Quicken Loans Inc., a subsidiary of Rock Holdings Inc. “Quicken Loans” is a registered service mark of Intuit Inc., used under license. Build 2741 2005-10-25 09:50:43
real estate investment management
Real Estate CU Home Libraries Home Search | Site Index | FAQ | Help Search Library Catalog: Title (start of title) Journal (start of title) Author (last, first) Keyword (and, or, not, "") Subject Go To CLIO Find Databases: Title Keywords Title (start of title) Keywords Go To Databases Find E-Journals: Title (start of title) Title Keywords Subject Keywords Go To E-Journals Search the Libraries Website: Go To Advanced Website Search Libraries & Collections About the Libraries Libraries Collections Digital Collections Special Collections -- Hours Directions to Columbia Map of Campus Libraries Locations & Contact Info More... Catalogs CLIO (Columbia's Online Catalog) Course Reserves Educat (Teachers College) Pegasus (Law) WorldCat More... E-Resources Citation Finder Databases E-Journals E-Books E-Data E-News E-Images DigitalCommons -- Subject Guides More... Report Problems Request It BorrowDirect Medical Center/Morningside In Process/Ordered Science Fast Track Interlibrary Loan Recommend Titles for Purchase More... Ask Us Contact a Reference Desk Email a Question Frequently Asked Questions Make a Suggestion Online Chat Service (Ask Us Now) Report an E-Resource Problem Schedule a Research Consultation Staff Contacts & Directories More... Using the Libraries My Library Account Borrow & Renew Computing, Laptops, Wireless Course Reserves Info Frequently Asked Questions Hours Library Access & Privileges Printing & Photocopying Workshops & Research Help More... Real Estate In addition to the resources found in the Business and Economics Library, Avery Library has an extensive real estate collection. These resources were selected for their authority, ease of use, and accessibility. If you need more assistance, speak to a reference librarian. See http://www.columbia.edu /cu/lweb/indiv/business/refservices.html for Reference Desk hours or email the reference librarians: business@libraries.cul.columbia.edu Additional resources can be found in CLIO , the library catalog. Contents: Directories Handbooks Periodicals Indexes, Abstracts and Full Text Internet Resources DIRECTORIES Crittenden Directory of Real Estate Financing. HG2040 .C7 (Reference) Alphabetical directory of real estate lenders (banks, REITs, pension funds, etc.) throughout the U.S. Includes type of financing, type of projects, and contact information. Cross-indexed by real estate sector (apartments, offices, industrial, etc.). Crittenden Directory of Real Estate Investors & Buyers HD1361.D57 (Reference) Directory of real estate investors. Manhattan Cooperative and Condominium Directory. AA50 M3 (Avery Reserves) Directory of cooperative and condominium apartment houses in Manhattan. Nelson's Directory of Institutional Real Estate. AA50 N33 (Avery Library Reference) Separate sections cover real estate investment management firms, real estate service firms, pension funds and foundations that invest in real estate, the 2,000 largest corporations with active real estate operations, and real estate investment trusts. Each entry includes an overview of the firm, names of key executives, and contact information. Searchable geographically and by type of service offered. Covers mainly the U.S., with some foreign entries. Back to the table of contents. HANDBOOKS Handbook of Real Estate Terms. HD1390 .D48 (Reference) Brief definitions of 2,700 terms and acronyms. McGraw-Hill Real Estate Handbook. HD1375 .M17 1993 (Reference) Has 31 chapters by various authors on aspects of the real estate business, financing, buying and selling, and taxation. Back to the table of contents. PERIODICALS National Real Estate Investor http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3327469.001 Also available in print: Slot N-254 (Current Periodicals) Forecast -- Conditions in Leasing, Financing, Construction and Investment Trends: published in February. Real Estate Alert http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3327945.002 Professional newsletter covering the industry. Real Estate Economics: Journal of the American Real estate and Urban Economics Association http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3430028.004 Also available in print: Slot R-200 (Current Periodicals) Scholarly journal covering various aspects of real estate markets. Real Estate Finance http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3430029.001 Also available in print: Slot AB R221 (Avery Library Reserves) "The quarterly review of commercial finance techniques." Published by Institutional Investor, Inc. Real Estate Finance and Investment http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio4814204.002 Also available in print: KF5698.3.Z9 .R42 (Business Reserves) Professional newsletter covering the industry. Real Estate Forum http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3431203 Also available in print: Slot R-206 (Current Periodicals) Real Estate Issues http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio3430030.001 Also available in print: Slot AB R224 (Avery Library) Real Estate Review Print: Slot R-220 (Current Periodicals) Covers real estate market trends, financing and investment opportunities. Back to the table of contents. DATABASES ABI/Inform on ProQuest Direct . http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/databases/4371876.html Online database which contains citations and abstracts of over 1700 business and economics journals with over 700 of these available full-text and/or imaged. Delivery options include email, downloading, and printing. Coverage: 1971 to present; Updates: Weekly Bloomberg. Business Electronic Resources (Library Use Only) Bloomberg is rich with information on Real Estate Investment Trusts, Real Estate Financing, and related data. Tye "REL" and hit the GO key for the real estate menu of equity analytics. Coverage: varies; updates: constant. Business Source Premier http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/databases/4784657.html Covers all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, accounting, finance, international business, econometrics and economics. Contains full text of the Harvard Business Review, California Management Review and other important journals. BSP also includes country reports from EIU and Global Insight as well as company reports from Datamonitor. Factiva http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/databases/3272677.html Factiva is an excellent resource for finding company and industry information. Factiva contains a database of nearly 8,000 publications, including: academic and trade publications, industry newsletters, international and regional newspapers, business magazines, and business newswires. The two sections of the database that are most commonly used for this assignment are the "Factiva Library" (which allows researchers to search the 8,000 sources) and the "Quick Company Search" (which contains company profiles - information about: finances, competitors, company history, etc.). LexisNexis Academic http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/databases/2100385.html Comprehensive online database which affords access to hundreds of information sources, including the full text of newspapers, magazines, wire services, newsletters, journals, and broadcast transcripts. Coverage: Varies by source; Updates: Varies by source ULI Development Case Studies http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/databases/4823442.html Access to more than 300 detailed case studies of completed projects ranging from low-income housing to mixed-use downtown developments to commercial and industrial projects. The case studies provide photographs and site plans, information on costs and rents, innovative features and strategies of the project, and an explanation of the entire development process. It covers projects from 1985 to the present. Thirty new case studies are added every year. Back to the table of contents. All electronic services are restricted to current students, staff, and faculty at Columbia University, Teachers College, and Barnard College with a valid CUNIX ID and logon. © Columbia University Libraries My Library Account | Hours | Contacts | Suggestions Last update: 2005-11-30
Purchase Property
Construction News Special Focus X-Communication and X-presso Books: Tony Dierckins Around The Region Role of women in region's economy grows: wages are rising but it remains a perilous place for single mothers On The Move NRRI Forest Products promotes lean manufacturing processes News Makers Newsmakers for November-December Construction Minimize risk when you purchase real estate Thursday December 29, 2005 Business News CNNfn CBSMarketwatch Bloomberg Reuters BusinessWeek PRNewswire Political News Salon Slate The Atlantic The Nation Mother Jones Sports ESPN Local Sports Comment on This Story / Send This Article to a Friend Construction News Minimize risk when you purchase real estate 10/14/2005 by Paul Kilgore and Melissa Maloney Purchasing real property involves a substantial financial investment. Whether buying real property to start or relocate a new business, or solely for investment purposes, you can take certain steps to protect your investment. Together, a title insurance policy and survey can protect you from many of the risks. Title Insurance A title insurance policy insures the status of the title to a parcel of real property. Simply put, title means the formal right of ownership of property. While most insurance policies insure against unforeseen future risks, title insurance insures against possible defects in title based on events that have already happened. A title insurance policy may be an owners policy, issued to the purchaser of real property, or a lenders policy, issued in favor of the lender that finances the purchase. An owners policy provides for reimbursement of damages suffered by an owner as a result of title being different than that stated in the title insurance policy. Reimbursement is available up to the stated amount of the title insurance policy. Title insurance also covers attorneys fees and other costs of any covered claim. A lender financing a real property purchase almost always will require the purchaser to obtain and pay for a lenders policy of title insurance. Among other things, a lenders policy insures the lender has a valid, enforceable lien on the purchased property, and that the lien has priority over any other lien. A lenders policy should not be relied upon to protect the purchaser in case of a title defect. Most standard real estate purchase agreements require the seller to pay for and provide the purchaser with a commitment from a title insurance company to provide title insurance. The preparation of that commitment involves a search of the public records to determine the status of title. This process can take a title company a few days or a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the propertys title history. A title insurance commitment is the insurers proposal regarding the terms of the policy. To some extent, these terms are negotiable. The commitment includes the legal description of the property, its fee owner, the proposed insured party, and any exclusions from coverage. A title insurance commitment typically excludes coverage for liens, easements, or mortgages already recorded in the public records, as well as any facts - such as encroachments and roadways - that would be revealed by a survey. The purchaser, rather than the seller, typically pays the one-time premium for an owners policy. This responsibility may be negotiated between the parties. The premium is based on the purchase price. An owners title insurance policy provides coverage throughout the insureds ownership of the property. If it later is conveyed by warranty deed, coverage continues (for the insured party, not to the new buyer) even after the property is conveyed. Survey A property survey is the process by which a parcel of land is measured, and its boundaries and contents ascertained and mapped. The finished product of a survey most often is a scaled drawing that illustrates locations of buildings, fences, streets and other improvements in relation to property lines. A survey assists the parties to a real estate transaction in understanding exactly the property included in the transaction. In Wisconsin, only a professional land surveyor licensed by the states Department of Regulation & Licensing may perform a survey. The cost depends on the characteristics of the area to be surveyed, including the parcel size and level of detail required by the transaction. From the buyers perspective, the purchase agreement should make the obligation to purchase contingent upon an A.L.T.A.(American Land Title Association) survey by a registered land surveyor, with the results acceptable to the purchaser. The purchase agreement also should state who will pay for the survey. It should be ordered early in the purchasing process to allow sufficient time for completion. Obtaining the survey early also will leave time to deal with title defects or other issues the survey may reveal. To remove the title insurance policy exclusion regarding facts ascertainable by a survey, a recent survey performed by a registered land surveyor must be presented to the title insurer, along with the surveyors certificate of no encroachments. An encroachment occurs when a building or other improvement to a parcel of real estate overlaps the boundary line and encroaches onto a neighboring land parcel, or when a neighboring improvement overlaps onto the insured property. Therefore, unless a survey is obtained and the survey exclusion is deleted, a title insurance policy alone does not protect a purchaser if an encroachment is later discovered. The title insurance commitment and survey should be examined by the purchasers attorney well in advance of closing to allow time to work out any title issues and to negotiate the terms of the title insurance policy. The bottom line: A comprehensive title insurance policy and survey protects the buyer from undiscovered title issues and minimizes risk in a real estate purchase. Paul Kilgore is a shareholder at Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, and practices in the areas of real estate acquisition, finance, litigation and mineral rights law. Hes a certified real property law specialist. Melissa Maloney is an associate attorney at the firm, practicing in the areas of commercial and residential real estate. They can be reached at the law firms Duluth office at 218-722-0861. Previous Construction Articles: Minimize risk when you purchase real estate -10/14/2005 Permit process begins for Range mine, steel mill -8/26/2005 UW-Barron County due for $6.5 million renovation -8/26/2005 Grand Marais landmark slated for vacation condos -5/27/2005 Resort condo developer markets phase 2 sales -5/19/2005 -- Site Map Home Page About Us Advertising Archives Around the Region BN Columnists BN Lists Business Law Business Mentor Calendar Coaches Corner Construction Daily Briefing Editorials Exclusives Investing Letters to the Editor News From KUWS News From KDAL Marketing Newsmakers Nonprofit Hotline On the Move Press Releases Search Send Us News Special Focus Stock Charts Subscribe Now! 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home equity credit lines
Home Equity Credit Lines Home Equity Credit Lines U sing a credit line to borrow against the equity in your home has become a popular source of consumer credit. And lenders are offering these home equity credit lines in a variety of ways. You will find most loans come with variable interest rates, some come with attractive low introductory rates, and a few come with fixed rates. You also may find most loans have large one-time upfront fees, others have closing costs, and some have continuing costs, such as annual fees. You can find loans with large balloon payments at the end of the loan, and others with no balloons but with higher monthly payments. No one loan is right for every homeowner. The challenge, then, is to contact different lenders, compare options, and select the home equity credit line best tailored to your needs. Be sure to review the home equity contract carefully before you sign it. Do not hesitate to ask questions about the terms and conditions of your financing. To help you do this, you may want to consider the following questions and to use the checklist at the end of this brochure. (We apologize that the checklist is not available on-line. To obtain a copy of the checklist, please request a free copy of the brochure by contacting: Public Reference, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580; (202) 326-2222. TDD call (202) 326-2502.) Is a home equity credit line for you? If you need to borrow money, home equity lines may be one useful source of credit. Initially at least, they may provide you with large amounts of cash at relatively low interest rates. And they may provide you with certain tax advantages unavailable with other kinds of loans. (Check with your tax adviser for details.) At the same time, home equity lines of credit require you to use your home as collateral for the loan. This may put your home at risk if you are late or cannot make your monthly payments. Those loans with a large final (balloon) payment may lead you to borrow more money to pay off this debt, or they may put your home in jeopardy if you cannot qualify for refinancing. And, if you sell your home, most plans require you to pay off your credit line at that time. In addition, because home equity loans give you relatively easy access to cash, you might find you borrow money more freely. Remember too, there are other ways to borrow money from a lending institution. For example, you may want to explore second mortgage installment loans. Although these plans also place an additional mortgage on your home, second mortgage money usually is loaned in a lump sum, rather than in a series of advances made available by writing checks on an account. Also, second mortgages usually have fixed interest rates and fixed payment amounts. You also may want to explore borrowing from credit lines that do not use your home as collateral. These are available with your credit cards or with unsecured credit lines that let you write checks as you need the money. In addition, you may want to ask about loans for specific items, such as cars or tuition. How much money can you borrow on a home equity credit line? Depending on your creditworthiness (your income, credit rating, etc.) and the amount of your outstanding debt, home equity lenders may let you borrow up to 85% of the appraised value of your home minus the amount you still owe on your first mortgage. Ask the lender about the length of the home equity loan, whether there is a minimum withdrawal requirement when you open your account, and whether there are minimum or maximum withdrawal requirements after your account is opened. Inquire how you gain access to your credit line -- with checks, credit cards, or both. Also, find out if your home equity plan sets a fixed time -- a draw period -- when you can make withdrawals from your account. Once the draw period expires, you may be able to renew your credit line. If you cannot, you will not be permitted to borrow additional funds. Also, in some plans, you may have to pay your full outstanding balance. In others, you may be able to repay the balance over a fixed time. What is the interest rate on the home equity loan? Interest rates for loans differ, so it pays to check with several lenders for the lowest rate. Compare the annual percentage rate (APR), which indicates the cost of credit on a yearly basis. Be aware that the advertised APR for home equity credit lines is based on interest alone. For a true comparison of credit costs, compare other charges, such as points and closing costs, which will add to the cost of your home equity loan. This is especially important if you are comparing a home equity credit line with a traditional installment (or second) mortgage, where the APR includes the total credit costs for the loan. In addition, ask about the type of interest rates available for the home equity plan. Most home equity credit lines have variable interest rates. These variable rates may offer lower monthly payments at first, but during the rest of the repayment period the payments may change and may be higher. Fixed interest rates, if available, may be slightly higher initially than variable rates, but fixed rates offer stable monthly payments over the life of the credit line. If you are considering a variable rate, check and compare the terms. Check the periodic cap, which is the limit on interest rate changes at one time. Also, check the lifetime cap, which is the limit on interest rate changes throughout the loan term. Ask the lender which index is used and how much and how often it can change. An index (such as the prime rate) is used by lenders to determine how much to raise or lower interest rates. Also, check the margin, which is an amount added to the index that determines the interest you are charged. In addition, inquire whether you can convert your variable rate loan to a fixed rate at some future time. Sometimes, lenders offer a temporarily discounted interest rate -- a rate that is unusually low and lasts only for an introductory period, such as six months. During this time, your monthly payments are lower too. After the introductory period ends, however, your rate (and payments) increase to the true market level (the index plus the margin). So, ask if the rate you are offered is "discounted," and if so, find out how the rate will be determined at the end of the discount period and how much larger your payments could be at that time. What are the upfront closing costs? When you take out a home equity line of credit, you pay for many of the same expenses as when you financed your original mortgage. These include items such as an application fee, title search, appraisal, attorneys' fees, and points (a percentage of the amount you borrow). These expenses can add substantially to the cost of your loan, especially if you ultimately borrow little from your credit line. You may want to negotiate with lenders to see if they will pay for some of these expenses. What are the continuing costs? In addition to upfront closing costs, some lenders require you to pay continuing fees throughout the life of the loan. These may include an annual membership or participation fee, which is due whether or not you use the account, and/or a transaction fee, which is charged each time you borrow money. These fees add to the overall cost of the loan. What are the repayment terms during the loan? As you pay back the loan, your payments may change if your credit line has a variable interest rate, even if you do not borrow more money from your account. Find out how often and how much your payments can change. You also will want to know whether you are paying back both principal and interest, or interest only. Even if you are paying back some principal, ask whether your monthly payments will cover the full amount borrowed or whether you will owe an additional payment of principal at the end of the loan. In addition, you may want to ask about penalties for late payments and under what conditions the lender can consider you in default and demand immediate full payment. What are the repayment terms at the end of the loan? Ask whether you might owe a large payment at the end of your loan term. If so, and you are not sure you will be able to afford the balloon payment, you may want to renegotiate your repayment terms. When you take out the loan, ask about the conditions for renewal of the plan or for refinancing the unpaid balance. Consider asking the lender to agree ahead of time and in writing to refinance any end-of-loan balance or extend your repayment time, if necessary. What safeguards are built into the loan? One of the best protections you have is the Federal Truth in Lending Act, which requires lenders to inform you about the terms and costs of the plan at the time you are given an application. Lenders must disclose the APR and payment terms and must inform you of charges to open or use the account, such as an appraisal, a credit report, or attorneys' fees. Lenders also must tell you about any variable-rate feature and give you a brochure describing the general features of home equity plans. The Truth in Lending Act also protects you from changes in the terms of the account (other than a variable-rate feature) before the plan is opened. If you decide not to enter into the plan because of a change in terms, all fees you paid earlier must be returned to you. Because your home is at risk when you open a home equity credit account, you have three days to cancel the transaction, for any reason. To cancel, you must inform the lender in writing. Following that, your credit line must be cancelled and all fees you have paid must be returned. Once your home equity plan is opened, if you pay as agreed, the lender, in most cases, may not terminate your plan, accelerate payment of your outstanding balance, or change the terms of your account. The lender may halt credit advances on your account during any period in which interest rates exceed the maximum rate cap in your agreement, if your contract permits this practice. 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 June 1992