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.Discrimination charged in post-Katrina housing lawsuit. Civil rights and fair housing groups filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and the Louisiana Recovery Authority alleging that the Road Home, Louisiana's Hurricane Katrina recovery program, discriminated against African-American homeowners in New Orleans.
Survey reveals California homeowners not being helped as promised. The California Reinvestment Coalition, of which Consumer Action is a member, has released a report with the results from its surveys of California mortgage counseling agencies. The report found that despite lenders' promises to help borrowers, foreclosure is still the most common outcome for homeowners struggling to make mortgage payments.
Take MoneyWi$e interactive classes online. Consumer Action and Capital One, long-time partners in the MoneyWi$e financial literacy project, have created an online interactive course to help you manage your money.
Financial education for the armed forces. Outreach staff members Mikael Wagner and Linda Williams are featured in a video segment about Consumer Action’s MoneyWi$e partnership with Capital One and how important financial literacy is to military families.
IRS: No tax on forgiven mortgage debt. Homeowners with forgiven mortgage debt in 2007 may be able to claim tax relief.
View: Spotlight Archive
News
- January 07, 2009 A rush to refinance homes
- January 07, 2009 IRS changes offer relief to delinquent taxpayers
- January 06, 2009 Free heating oil program suspended
- January 06, 2009 Bankruptcy filings jump one-third in 2008
- January 05, 2009 Pawn shops see surge in well-to-do clients
CA News & Special Reports
Winter 2006: Housing Report Consumer Action News takes an in-depth look at some important housing topics, including predatory lending, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan reform and the controversial "exotic" mortgages as well as stories to help people consider whether they should buy a home or continue to rent, and whether to sell or rent their homes if they have to move.
( Tuesday, December 12, 2006 )
Five Recent Publications
Friday, December 05, 2008
Keeping Your Home (Chinese) Tips for Successful Homeownership. 那些為了成功擁有住屋而去做計劃、訂預算以及有儲蓄的人，他們會有很高的＂居者有其屋＂機會並且將在幾年之後因為物業增值而建立財富．這本手冊涵蓋了房屋業主的理財責任及經營方法、如何保持和保護個人物業，以及如何增加及保留房屋凈值．
People who plan, budget and save for successful homeownership have a much better chance of keeping a roof over their heads and building wealth as property values increase over the years. This brochure covers the financial responsibilities of homeownership and how to manage them, how to maintain and protect your property, and how to build and preserve your home equity.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Keeping Your Home. People who plan, budget and save for successful homeownership have a much better chance of keeping a roof over their heads and building wealth as property values increase over the years. This brochure covers the financial responsibilities of homeownership and how to manage them, how to maintain and protect your property, and how to build and preserve your home equity.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Successful Homeownership Leader's Guide Protect your Greatest Investment. Buying a home is a major achievement. But successful homeownership does not begin and end when the closing documents are signed. This Leader’s Guide provides information and background to help you teach prospective, new and established homeowners what they need to know to be successful at homeownership.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Successful Homeownership - Seminar Lesson Plan & Class Activities. This PDF packet provides guidance for teachers and team leaders. The 20-page packet contains a detailed curriculum, classroom activities and take home worksheets.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Successful Homeownership - Powerpoint Training Slides. The Successful Homeownership Powerpoint training file is available for download in the "Download File" section.
Recommended Publications
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Your Home Inventory. You never know when a disaster may strike—but you can be prepared with a home inventory.
Friday, July 25, 2008
How Greedy Corporations Destroy the American Dream. A short documentary about the foreclosure crisis created by the California Reinvestment Coalition
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Protect Yourself From Mortgage Fraud. Short film on how to spot home equity fraud.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Beehive Guide to Homeownership. The Beehive Guide to Homeownership, created by the global nonprofit One Economy, is a multilingual self-help web site for homeowners and people preparing to buy a home.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
If Your Lender Closes or Files for Bankruptcy. Suggestions from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on what to do if your mortgage company or mortgage servicing company closes or files for bankruptcy.
More recommended publications »