Keys to My House – Resource List
A Consumer’s Guide to Buying Your First Home
Real Property Law
Home Buying Resources
The Keys to My House video provides consumer advice on buying a home. Here are links to other websites that provide additional information on how to put that advice into practice.
Determine Financial Readiness to Purchase a Home
What Can You Afford?
Mortgage calculator
This mortgage calculator will calculate your monthly payments without asking for your contact information.
Freddie Mac – Mortgage Calculator
This mortgage calculator will calculate your monthly payments without asking for your contact information. It also helps you determine how much home you can afford.
Rent vs. buying
Is It Better to Rent or Buy?
This site gives you an interactive tool that allows you to determine whether you should rent or purchase a home.
Freddie Mac – Rent or Buy
This Freddie Mac site discusses how people should analyze whether to rent or purchase a home.
How Much Can You Borrow?
Freddie Mac – How Much Can You Borrow?
Freddie Mac give you an interactive tool that shows users how you analyze whether you can afford a mortgage or not and at what price.
Consultants for Advice on Home Buying
Find a Realtor
National Association of Realtors
Find a realtor; can narrow it down and search by names, city, and language
National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals
Fill out contact us information to ask for a local referral
Find a Certified Financial Planner
CFP Board
Search for a certified financial planner (CFP) in your city and state; advanced search also lets you pick language.
Find a Lawyer
American Bar Association
Look up local bar associations in your area based on city, state or zip
Find a Housing Counselor
HUD Certified Counseling Agencies
Find a HUD counselor in your area based on state. Can narrow the search by language
Translators/Interpreters
American Translators Association
Search by area of practice
Understanding the Home Purchase Contract
Redfin
Explains the different components of the contract
Documents Involved
Lists the documents involved and what different closing costs are involved
Home Financing Options
Get a Loan
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Home buying programs in your state
Lender List
Find a HUD approved lender in your area
Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program
Program for law enforcement officers, pre-kindergarten through 12 grade teachers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians looking for homes in revitalization areas
How FHA can help buy a home
VA Home Loans
US Dept of Veterans Affairs page on home loans
Rural Development Loans
United States Department of Agriculture has assistance program that provides funding for single family homes, apartments for low-income persons or the elderly, etc.
Down Payment Assistance Resource Directory
Provides links to government-subsidized programs by state
mortgageloan.com
This guide helps Hispanic homebuyers to better understand the home buying process
Hispanic National Mortgage Association
This association is a for-profit company focused on increasing homeownership opportunities for Hispanic families
Anticipating Hidden Fees, Closing Costs, and Ownership Costs After Acquisition
The Mortgage Process
Freddie Mac – Mortgage Process
Freddie Mac provides you a step by step checklist from financing to closing
Closing Cost Calculator
Freddie Mac – Closing Costs Calculator
Freddie Mac provides users a calculator to determine closing costs
Down Payment Calculator
Freddie Mac – Down Payment Calculator
Freddie Mac provides users a calculator to determine down payment costs
What to Expect at Closing
Freddie Mac – Closing
Freddie Mac provides users a list of closing documents and the meaning behind them
The information contained in the websites noted herein represent the opinions of the authors and editors of those respective websites and should not be construed to be those of the American Bar Association ("ABA") or its Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section or its Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities. Links to these websites are provided for informational purposes only and neither the ABA nor any of its affiliates take responsibility for the content of any of these websites. No representations or warranties whatsoever, express or implied, are given as to the accuracy or applicability of the information contained herein or therein. Transmission of the information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship between any attorney and any other person, group or entity. Nothing contained herein or therein is to be considered as the rendering of legal advice for specific cases, and readers are responsible for obtaining such advice from their own legal counsel .