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Buying a Home |
For most of us, purchasing a home is the largest purchase we ever make during our lives. It can also be one of our best and most secure investments. If your home's value increases over the duration of your home loan, the resulting value can be higher than the total interest you've paid. After factoring in your tax savings, you may be eligible to get back close to the total amount you've spent, if you were to sell the home.
With wise home buying and mortgage skills, you too can find the opportunities to get the home you've always wanted, get your investment back when you sell, and say 'goodbye' to rental fees.
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- Looking For the Best Mortgage - Shopping, comparing, and negotiating for your next home loan may save you thousands of dollars. (FTC)
English 
Website 
PDF Espanol Website PDF - Knowing and Understanding Your Credit - Explains what credit is, how to establish good credit, repair credit problems, and take control of your credit as the first step in the home-buying process. (Fannie Mae)
PDF - Opening the Door to a Home of Your Own -
Step-by-step guide explains the home-buying process, including how to finance a home and how the mortgage process works. (Fannie Mae)
PDF - Choosing the Mortgage That's Right for You -
Learn more about shopping for the right mortgage for your personal situation. (Fannie Mae)
PDF - Borrowing Basics: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You -
Explains predatory lending and how it can affect you. Provides helpful tips on getting the best loan and ways to avoid bad loans that could result in the loss of your home. (Fannie Mae)
PDF - 9 Steps to Home Ownership - Advice from Practical Money Skills.
Website - 100 Questions and Answers About Buying a New Home - Focuses on finances, from how much home you can afford, to various mortgage loan programs, insurance, taxes, and more.
Website - Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs and Helpful Information - Describes home buying, financing, and settlement (closing) process and how to shop for a loan. (HUD)
Website PDF - Consumer Handbook On Adjustable Rate Mortgages - Basic features, advantages, risks, and terminology associated with adjustable rate mortgages. How ARM's work, how to reduce your risk, and more. Includes a table for comparing mortgages.
Website PDF - Guide to Single-Family Home Mortgage Insurance - Explains FHA mortgage insurance programs, including types available, how to qualify, how to apply, restrictions, and more.
Website - How to Buy a Home With a Low Down Payment - Describes how to qualify for a low down payment mortgage, determine what you can afford, and how mortgage insurance works.
Website PDF - Twelve Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs - Practical tips and phone numbers of state insurance departments for more information.
Website PDF - Am I Covered? - Answers 15 common questions regarding homeowners insurance and explains what is covered in a standard policy.
Website PDF - Home Sweet Home Improvement - Check for the warning signs of a shady contractor; ask questions to protect yourself from fraud; complete the post-job checklist; and get tips on how to resolve complaints.
Website PDF - National Flood Insurance Guide - Property owners can purchase insurance against flooding losses. Learn the requirements, questions to ask, and more.
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Real Estate Listings & Community Information
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Realtor.com - National and Lake County home listings. |
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Chicago Tribune: Homes - Home listings in Lake County and Chicago area. |
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Daily Herald: Homes - Home listings in Lake County and Chicago area. |
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Homes.com - National home listings. |
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MetroChicago Real Estate - Home listings in Chicagoland area. |
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Lake County Communities: Links to information on various villages and towns in Lake County. |
