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HUD

HUD - Home Loan Safety

HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will embrace high standards of ethics, management and accountability and forge new partnerships--particularly with faith-based and community organizations--that leverage resources and improve HUD's ability to be effective on the community level.

Protect yourself when buying or refinancing a home with these important tips from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Buying or refinancing your home may be one of the most important and complex financial decisions you'll ever make. Many lenders, appraisers, and real estate professionals stand ready to help you get a nice home and a great loan. However, you need to understand the home buying process to be a smart consumer. Every year, misinformed home-buyers, often first-time purchasers or seniors, become victims of predatory lending or loan fraud.

Don't let this happen to you!

to buy a HUD owned home continue reading below

Federal Trade Commission

Investment Risks

Picture this:

In search of investments for working capital, an oil company sends consumers surveys of property that suggest the land is oil-rich. The company’s sales force tells interested consumers that top oil experts project the fields will yield thousands of barrels of oil a day — and a tidy return to investors within a year.

A film production company tells potential investors it is raising capital to produce a high-quality, low-budget family film with actors who are willing to sacrifice their usual high salaries for the sake of art. Claiming that the independent film market, cable television and video stores have increased the demand for movies, investors are "guaranteed" to make their money back. According to the prospectus, investor money will be spent on production, distribution and the screenplay.

Brokers of gemstones, rare coins or precious metals tell investors that the market price of these hard assets is skyrocketing. According to the brokers, the assets will increase in value —  not only because experts have graded them rare, but also because of the demand.

Brokers of an FCC-licensed partnership tell consumers they’re raising capital to acquire a communications business that can be enhanced with new technology and turned into a competitive high-tech enterprise to be sold or developed for huge profits.

Investment brokers are claiming to sell ownership interests in a company that will offer Internet access to the public. The brokers maintain that investors will realize substantial gains from the fees the company will charge its users.

What’s wrong with these pictures? In a word — plenty.

THEY ARE ALL SCAMS!

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Federal Trade Commission

The Bureau of Consumer Protection                  

The Bureau of Consumer Protection's mandate is to protect consumers against unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices. The Bureau enforces a variety of consumer protection laws enacted by Congress, as well as trade regulation rules issued by the Commission. Its actions include individual company and industry-wide investigations, administrative and federal court litigation, rulemaking proceedings, and consumer and business education.

In addition, the Bureau contributes to the Commission's on-going efforts to inform Congress and other government entities of the impact that proposed actions could have on consumers.

Test Your Investment IQ

The Federal Trade Commission publishes the Test Your Investment IQ which is a guide for detecting scam artists, rather than investment professionals. Please read this before you decide to invest with anyone you are not familiar with.

to locate your local office click on continue below

FDIC - Money Smart

FDIC - Money Smart

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) recognizes the importance of financial education, particularly for people with little or no banking experience. That's why we created Money Smart, a training program to help adults outside the financial mainstream enhance their money skills and create positive banking relationships.

Financial education fosters financial stability for individuals and for entire communities. The more people know about credit and banking services, the more likely they are to increase savings, buy homes, and improve their financial health and well being. The Money Smart curriculum helps individuals build financial knowledge, develop financial confidence, and use banking services effectively.

click below for an overview of the program