Buying a car is a major purchase, so shop carefully. Your goal: to find the car you need at a price you can afford. The resources below will steer you right.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation's consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies.
Source: Federal Trade Commission
Should you rent or should you buy your home? It takes more than looking at your mortgage payment to answer this question. This calculator helps you weed through the fees, taxes, and monthly payments to help you make a decision between these two options. This report is based on the original purchase price, fees and taxes payable at that time. Insurance and tax costs can fluctuate from year to year.
Source: Ginnie Mae
Determine How Much Home You Can Afford
What is your maximum mortgage? That largely depends on your income and current monthly debt payments. This calculator collects these important variables and determines your maximum monthly housing payment and the resulting mortgage amount.
Source: Ginnie Mae
You have a price you'd like to spend on a house. Use this tool to estimate your closing costs and monthly mortgage payments.
Source: Ginnie Mae
All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR® logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.
Source: ©1995-2008 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and Move, Inc. All rights reserved.
For each home you are considering, bring a copy of the following list and fill it in. This form will enable you to have a record of all the homes you visit and to compare their features. You may be able to fill in much of the information from the multiple listing service sheets your real estate agent provides. Write down the size, materials, and any other comments you have about each item.
Source: ©CPA Site Solutions
Locate a neighborhood that best fits your needs.
Buyer's market? Seller's market? Get a snapshot of current conditions in your area from a local real estate professional.
Source: ©2008 Realty Times. All Rights Reserved.
Determining which loan provides you with the best value involves more than simply comparing monthly payments. Use this calculator to sort through the monthly payments, fees and other costs associated with getting a new loan. By comparing these important variables side by side, this calculator can help you pick the loan that works best for you.
Source: ©CPA Site Solutions
Browse the latest mortgage rates and choose the best local lender to help you with your home loan.
Source: ©2008 Move, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ten Questions to Ask your Home Inspector
Before you select your home inspector, be sure you know you'll get your money's worth. Get answers to these ten important questions.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development