Housing Opportunity Program
Understanding Today's Mortgages
These brochures will help prospective buyers make informed decisions about mortgages and help them keep their homes in times of financial hardship.
How to Avoid Foreclosures and Keep Your Home
You're not alone if you're having trouble paying your mortgage. The housing boom led to a record homeownership rate of nearly 70 percent, but some homeowners now face problems making their mortgage payments and can't refinance their loans. This brochure will help you understand your options and give you tips on how to avoid losing your home — regardless of what kind of mortgage you have. Read more >
How to Avoid Predatory Lending
Finding an affordable home loan with fair terms and reasonable costs is a crucial step towards achieving homeownership. Unfortunately, home buyers need to be aware that some lenders offer predatory loans that take advantage of consumers. This brochure, produced jointly by NAR and the Center for Responsible Lending, identifies the warning signs of predatory loans and offers tips on how to avoid them, including questions they should ask when shopping for a loan. Read more >
Specialty (Nontraditional) Mortgages: What are the Risks and Advantages?
Produced jointly by NAR and the Center for Responsible Lending, this brochure can help prospective buyers make decide on the kind of home financing that is best for them. It will help your clients assess the risks and advantages of interest-only, negative amortization, payment option ARM, and 40-year mortgages. Available in English and Spanish. Read more >
Traditional Mortgages: Understanding Your Options
With the rise of specialty (nontraditional) mortgage options, consumers have more choices than ever before. Although specialty mortgages may help make homeownership more affordable, they generate more risk. Consumers should understand these risks before they choose a mortgage. This brochure, produced jointly by NAR and the Center for Responsible Lending, explains that traditional fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) continue to be excellent options for most consumers. Read more >
Learn About FHA Mortgages
The Federal Housing Administration has made significant improvements to its mortgage insurance programs. Many aspects of the FHA application process have been streamlined to be more user-friendly and efficient. This brochure, produced by NAR, the FHA, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, outlines changes to FHA, how to qualify for an FHA mortgage, and other resources available from FHA, HUD, and NAR. Read more >
