Housing Information

—A Consumer Action Project

Welcome to the Housing Information website, a project of Consumer Action. The Housing Information site is designed to help you make intelligent and cost-effective home-buying decisions by providing fact-based and unbiased information and tips.

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News

January 26, 2012 Obama initiatives to address foreclosure crisis face hurdles
January 25, 2012 President to offer way for easing home debt
January 24, 2012 Settlement with mortgage lenders "inadequate"
January 19, 2012 Mortgage settlement deal "very close"
January 18, 2012 Families fighting for their homes

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CA News & Special Reports

CA News Logo Consumer Action INSIDER – January 2012 In our first issue of the INSIDER for the New Year, we review our latest efforts in the various coalitions to which we belong. We cover the CFPB's latest meeting concerning financial education for the military community, and what to do when the "talent agency" says you're beautiful enough for prime time? These and other stories in our latest edition of the INSIDER. ( Friday, December 30, 2011 )

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Five Recent Publications

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Know the Signs of Housing Discrimination. The denial of housing opportunities because of race, color, religion, sex, nationality, familial status or disability is housing discrimination, and it’s illegal. You can recognize if you are a victim of housing discrimination—and protect your rights—if you know what actions by landlords, sellers, lenders and others are against the law.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Filing a Housing Discrimination Complaint. Fair housing laws protect renters and buyers from discrimination. If you believe you were a victim of housing discrimination, you have the right to file a housing discrimination complaint with HUD. Understanding the complaint and resolution process will help you weigh your options and take action.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Recognizing & Fighting Housing Discrimination - PowerPoint Slides. This 23-slide presentation, available for download in the “Download File” section of this page, is designed to be used in conjunction with the "Recognizing & Fighting Housing Discrimination Lesson Plan and Class Activities."

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Recognizing & Fighting Housing Discrimination - Lesson Plan and Class Activities. This 24-page packet, available only as a PDF download, contains a detailed curriculum for teaching consumers what their fair housing rights are and how to file a housing discrimination complaint. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the "Recognizing & Fighting Housing Discrimination PowerPoint Slides."

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Saving Your Home from Foreclosure (2011). Foreclosure is the legal process that your mortgage lender uses to take your home when you fall behind on your mortgage payments. If you are faced with foreclosure, you can work to save your home—or at least limit the financial damage caused by foreclosure—if you understand your options and take the appropriate steps.

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Recommended Publications

Thursday, August 13, 2009

5 Tips for Shopping for a Mortgage. The Federal Reserve Board recommended 5 tips for shopping for a mortgage for consumers.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Foreclosure Rescue Scams Cover Art Foreclosure Rescue Scams. This brochure highlights common foreclosure rescue scams, and provides resources for Santa Cruz and Monterey County residents facing foreclosure or foreclosure rescue scams.

Monday, April 06, 2009

Foreclosure Mitigation Toolkit for Communities. The Federal Reserve Board of Governors created this "toolkit" to help communities assess the foreclosures in their areas, reach troubled homeowners, and provide support for displaced homeowners.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Faces of Foreclosure Cover Art Faces of Foreclosure. Consumers Union created this series of short videos featuring the stories of people targeted by predatory lending practices and how they were forced by the bad mortgages to make difficult decisions.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Your Home Inventory Cover Art Your Home Inventory. You never know when a disaster may strike—but you can be prepared with a home inventory.

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