RESPA: The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) is a consumer protection statute, first passed in 1974. One of its purposes is to help consumers become better shoppers for settlement services. Another purpose is to eliminate kickbacks and referral fees that increase unnecessarily the costs of ... more...

How Much Home Loan Can I Afford?
Have you ever asked yourself how much home loan can I afford? If you know how much of a payment you qualify for before shopping for a home, your purchase will go much smoother and it can save you a lot of headaches.How would you like to find the perfect place to live then not know if you can ... more...

Common Real Estate FAQs: Are You Ready to Buy a Home?
When looking into anything new, it is normal to have questions. Here are some common questions and answers about real estate to help you gain that edge when deciding whether buying a home is right for you.Which is better: renting or buying? Before buying, you need to determine what will save you ... more...

Debt Reduction By Setting a Budget
Most people avoid budgets like the plague. When mentioning a budget Ive heard comments such as, Isnt that for retired folks?, Theres no way I can stay on a budget! and A budget feels so limiting, like a diet: you see something you want and cant have it because of guilt, shame and restrictions. Yet ... more...

Tips on Apartment Building and Multi Family Property Loans
Real estate investment has become an extremely popular way for people to try to make money. Owning an apartment or multi family housing unit can be a way to wealth, however, real estate investing requires a lot of time, knowledge and up-front capital.Apartment building loans are often offered on ... more...

Creative Home Equity Strategies for Retirement
The Baby-Boom generation is nearing retirement and it is clear that millions of aging Boomers are financially under prepared. Reasons are many - poor savings habits, rising medical costs, the demise of guaranteed corporate pensions, and the dreaded squeeze faced by many: i.e. having to pay college ... more...

Where Did All The Farmers Go?
Several times a year, I hear someone complain about the development of farm land in our area. These complainers consider it a crime that so much of our farm land has been converted to housing, business, shopping, etc. They seem to consider the farmers and developers to be criminals.If you want to ... more...

Don't Buy The Government Grant Guides From The Joker Or The Joke Will Be On You
Government grants are available on-line for free.Go to Firstgov.gov which also includes state grants and assistance. Then go to grants, fill in the brief questionaire and it does a search that narrows down what you want and what you qualify for.There are seemingly unlimited amounts of grants, funds ... more...

Houston First Mortgages
Planning for a new home, new property and other finances for the first time is not only a question of gathering money-- it is a building a dream to create heaven for you and your loved ones. Though it is a hard fact that getting a mortgage loan is always a question of liability.Houston based first ... more...