Sources and Resources
Client
www factfinder census gov- source of housing, economic, demographic, and geographic data
www jchs harvard edu/son/index.htm - The State of the Nation’s Housing Report, an annual report by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies
www nhc org/chp/p2p/ - wage information and housing affordability database
www nlihc org/oor2009 - downloadable report comparing wages and rents across the US
www realtor org/research - portal for research and statistics collected by NAR’s research department
Housing Counseling & Education
www acorn org - find a housing counselor
www hud gov - finding housing counselor
www nw.org - NeighborWorks® America - find a housing counselor
www homefreeusa com - find a housing counselor
www naca.org - find a housing counselor
www homeownershipstandards.com -information on the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling
www treas gov/financialeducation - financial literacy information
www debtadvlsor org - find a credit counselor
www mymoney gov - US Government site on saving and managing money
www natctax org/education.php - provides information and education on tax issues and benefits
www irs gov -IRS Form 5405 allows consumer to monetize the homebuyer tax credit
Affordable Housing
www realtor org/housingopportunity - NAR’s housing opportunity program provides information and resources relating to affordable housing opportunities, including a Housing Opportunity Toolkit with resources for Realtors® and Realtor® associations.
www huduser.org - information on affordable housing
www makinghomesaffordable.gov - consumer website with information on the government refinance and modification programs
http://www.knowledgeplex.org/topic.html?c=231 -information on development, finance, management and preservation of affordable housing.
http://www.nhc.org - national housing conference
http://www.housingpolicy.org - data and information on housing policies
http://www.nlihc.org - national low income housing coalition
http://www.hud.gov/renting- available rentals
http://www.socialserve.com - available rentals
www.manufacturedhousing.org -the Manufactured Housing Institute website
Lender
http://www.fanniemae.com - Fannie Mae corporate website
http://www.efanniemae.com - Fannie Mae business website
www.homepath.com - Fannie Mae site dealing with REOS, foreclosures, etc.
http://www.freddiemac.com- Freddie Mac corporate website
http://www.hud.gov - HUD website
http://www.homeloans.va.gov - Veteran Administration home loan programs website
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs - USDA Rural Development program website
http://www.fhlbanks.com - Federal Home Loan Banks website
http://www.federalreserve.gov - Federal Reserve Banks website
http://www.ncsha.org - National Council of State Housing Agencies, trade association for State HFAS
Sources for Baseline Data on Average Mortgage Rates
http://www.bankrate.com lists national average mortgage rate daily and average mortgage rates and points in top 10 markets.
http://www.freddiemac.com compiles a national average mortgage rate from a weekly market survey.
http://www.mbaa.org publishes national mortgage rates weekly.
http://www.myfico.com provides instant online interest rate comparisons.
Credit Reporting
http://www.equifax.com - credit reporting agency
http://www.transunion.com - credit reporting agency
http://www.experian.com - credit reporting agency
http://www.annualcreditreport.com - source of free credit reports
http://www.myfico.com - system for credit score; provides credit score, credit reports and other services.
Community Initiatives
http://www.realtor.org/government)affairs/housing_opportunity/index - link to NAR’s Housing Opportunity Program
http://www.realtor.org/smart_growth.nsf- link to NAR’s Smart Growth program
http://www.realtor.org/realtormag - link to Realtor Magazine online
www.realtor.org /smart_growth.nsf , “On Common Ground”
http://www.realtor.org/stateissues- link to NAR’s State Issues Tracker database
http://www.realtor.org/eahclass- link to NAR’s EAH Class Web page
http://www.realtoractioncenterzcom/realtors- link to NAR’s ReaItor® Action Center
http://www.hud.gov- search for Employer Assisted Housing
http://www.cltnetwork.org- Community Land Trusts
http://www.iceclt.org- Community Land Trusts
http://www.natresnet.org- energy conservation
http://www.greencommunitiesonline.org- green affordable housing
http://www.enterprisecommunity.org- affordable housing communities
Consumer Protection
http://www.realtors.org- fair housing information
http://www.responsiblelending.org- general financial information
http://www.hud.gov- search for fair housing, predatory lending
http://www.dontborrowtrouble.com- Freddie Mac predatory lending information
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre42.shtm- scam alerts
http://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/ADVISORY/2008-1html- Treasury Department information on scams and resources.
portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portaI/HUD/topics/avoiding_foreclosure - HUD page with information on avoiding foreclosure and finding foreclosure counseling
http://www.995hope.org- HOPE Hotline (888-995-HOPE) provides free counseling and information to borrowers concerned about their mortgage
