Owning your own home is the American Dream…but you need to be prepared for its challenges. These tips, tricks, and other information can help make your experience as a homeowner a little easier.
Maintaining and Improving Your Home
HUD programs - HUD has a number of programs that may help you with home improvements
Rural housing repair and rehabilitation grants and loans
Home improvements for senior citizens
Avoid deceptive home improvement contractors
Tips for hiring a contractor
Home maintenance and repair - great index of "how to's" from repairing leaky faucets to getting ketchup out of carpet
Specially adapted housing program at the Veterans Administration
Information for people with disabilities
Energy and Your Home Environment
Make your home energy efficient with the Energy Star program
Home energy saver - find the best ways to save energy in your home
Consumer Energy Information from the Department of Energy
Protect your family from lead poisoning
Protect your home from lead hazards
Indoor air quality
Radon
Paying Your Mortgage
Escrow accounts - in most cases, part of your monthly mortgage payment goes into an escrow account. Know what to expect
Mortgage insurance premiums
Your rights and the responsibilities of the mortgage servicer
Reservists, Guardsmen, and Other Military Personnel have special protections
Having trouble with your FHA lender? - HUD's National Servicing Center may be able to help you
If you are facing the loss of your home…
Avoiding foreclosure on an FHA loan
If you have trouble paying your VA loan
Refinancing
Should I refinance? - this simple calculator can help you see if refinancing is right for you
FHA streamline refinance
Interest rate reduction refinancing loans for veterans
Predatory Lending - don't be a victim of unscrupulous lending practices
When not to refinance
Reverse Mortgages
Manufactured Homes
Have a problem with your manufactured home?
Disaster relief
HUD disaster relief assistance
Disasterhelp.gov
Selling Your Home
Selling your home can be exciting, but it also takes work. You’ll need to fix all those little problems you’ve let go for so many years. You need to decide if you’re going to try to sell your own home or use a professional real estate broker. And you’ll need to be patient! Selling your home can take some time, depending on your local real estate market.
Learn about the process and the pitfalls of selling your home, before you begin. Here are just some of the resources available.
