Helpful Links
This page contains links to useful sites covering various aspects of financial literacy and consumer protection.
Special Programs
USDA Rural Development Program
http://www.rd.usda.gov/
http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services
American Dream Downpayment Assistance
https://hudgov.prod.parature.com/link/portal/57345/57355/Article/7414/What-is-the-American-Dream-Down-Payment-Initiative
HUD HOME program
https://www.hud.gov/guidancehudprograms/home-program
HUD Mortgage Insurance programs
https://www.hud.gov/guidanceprogram_offices/housing/sfh/ins/203b--df
HUD Good Neighbor Next Door program
https://www.hud.gov/guidanceprogram_offices/housing/sfh/reo/goodn/gnndabot
HUD Public Housing Homeownership Programs
https://www.hud.gov/guidanceprogram_offices/public_indian_housing/centers/sac/homeownership
HUD Homeownership Voucher program
https://www.hud.gov/guidanceprogram_offices/public_indian_housing/centers/sac/homeownership
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program
http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/
Reverse mortgages (Home Equity Conversion Mortgages)
www.reversemortgage.org/
http://www.aarp.org/money/credit-loans-debt/reverse_mortgages/
Habitat for Humanity
www.habitat.org
Government Regulatory Agencies
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - responsible for enforcing the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
www.ftc.gov/
www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre26.shtm
Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act (RESPA)
https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/hudprograms/respa
Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
http://www.occ.gov/topics/consumer-protection/truth-in-lending/index-truth-in-lending.html
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS)
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
Freddie Mac Spanish Translation of Mortgage Documents
www.freddiemac.com/uniform/spanish.htm/
Fannie Mae list of selling and servicing guide forms -- many in Spanish
www.efanniemae.com/sf/formsdocs/forms/index.jsp
Fannie Mae Appraisal Information
https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/formsdocs/forms/1004.jsp
Spanish/English Bilingual Loan Application
https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/formsdocs/forms/1003s.jsp
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) resource site on foreclosure tax relief
https://www.irs.gov/site-index-search?search=foreclosure&field_pup_historical_1=1&field_pup_historical=1
Credit Agency Information
Free annual credit report
www.annualcreditreport.com
Credit counseling
www.debt.org
www.nfcc.org/
www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/
The three private national credit reporting agencies
www.equifax.com
www.transunion.com
www.experian.com
Financial Literacy
Credit card information
www.choosetosave.org/
http://mymoney.gov/
www.debtadvice.org
www.bankrate.com
How to calculate interest
http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/042315/what-difference-between-compounding-interest-and-simple-interest.asp
Establishing a budget
www.forefieldkt.com/kt/trns.aspx?xd=BP-CORE-02&il=a2&xsl=content
Information on community property state rules
www.irs.gov/publications/p555/ar01.html
Mortgage Servicing: Making Sure Your Payments Count
www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/homes/rea10.shtm
Private Mortgage Insurance
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/202/when-can-i-remove-private-mortgage-pmi-insurance-from-my-loan.html
Fraud Protection
www.fraud.org
Prepayment penalties or premiums
www.freddiemac.com/singlefamily/pdf/ppm.pdf
Understanding simple vs. compound interest
http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/042315/what-difference-between-compounding-interest-and-simple-interest.asp
General financial information
www.thesimpledollar.com/
Education/Financial Aid Information
Financial Aid
www.onlineschools.org/financial-aid/
Foreclosure Scam Avoidance
Neighborworks
www.loanscamalert.org/
Tax Information
First-Time Homeowners
www.irs.gov/publications/p530/index.html
What You Can and Cannot Deduct
www.irs.gov/publications/p530/ar02.html
Credits and Exemptions
http://www.irs.gov/Credits-&-Deductions
Homeowners Insurance
www.homeownersinsurance.org/
State Governments
State and local government site
www.statelocalgov.net/index.cfm
School systems
http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/
State home buying programs
https://www.hud.gov/guidancebuying/localbuying
Community Resources
State and local government Web sites for gathering information on tax rates, schools, history, arts, cultures, education, travel, recreation, voting, healthcare, jobs and more.
www.usa.gov
Newspapers in your area
www.newspapers.com
Helpful Telephone Numbers
HUD Approved Housing
(800) 569-4287
*sourced from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) site
The Arkell Barnes Mortgage Team does not endorse or recommend any entitiy on this page. The source links are for informational purposes only.