What Do I Need to Know About Refinancing My Mortgage?
Frequently asked questions about refinancing, equity, and protecting your home from foreclosure.
By: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program
Glossary of Loan Terms
Definitions of terms used in the context of loans and lending.
By: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program
100 Questions and Answers About Buying a New Home
(Separate Website)
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Affordability Calculator
(Separate Website)
This website helps you calculate how much you can afford to spend when purchasing a home.
By: Ginnie Mae
Are You Behind on Your Mortgage? Information on your right to mediation before the bank can foreclose on your home.
By: Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia - NW Office
Avoiding Predatory Lenders
(Separate Website)
Comprehensive information about predatory loans, including signs of predatory lending.
By: Center for Responsible Lending
Common Questions of First-time Homebuyers
(Separate Website)
This document contains frequently asked questions that first-time homebuyers have about purchasing a home.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Foreclosure Prevention Resources
(Separate Website)
This website provides links to resources about how to avoid foreclosure.
Foreclosures
Frequently asked questions about mortgage forclosure.
By: DC Bar Antitrust and Consumer Law Section
How to File a Housing Discrimination Complaint with HUD
(Separate Website)
Federal law prohibits housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability. If you have been trying to buy or rent a home or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
HUD Homes (Answers to Common Questions)
(Separate Website)
This web page explains how to buy a HUD Home and provides links to properties that are available near you for purchase from HUD. When someone with a mortgage insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can't meet their payments, the lender forecloses on the home. HUD pays the lender what is owed and HUD takes ownership of the home. Then HUD sells it at market value as quickly as possible.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
If the Property You Rent Has Been Sold in a Foreclosure Sale This is a letter that you can send to the new owner of the property or the new owner's lawyer. In the District of Columbia, a property owner cannot evict a tenant just because the property was sold at foreclosure. (This is a letter for tenants only. It does not apply to former owners.)
By: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program
Information on Mortgage and Home Equity Loans from the Federal Trade Commission
(Separate Website)
This web site contains documents relating to: (1) home equity loans, home equity credit lines and common home equity scams, (2) high rate, high fee mortgages, (3) reverse mortgages, and (4) mortgage discrimination. You may view the documents on-line and print them out or print them in PDF format.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Look Out for Foreclosure Rescue Scams! If you're trying to save your home from foreclosure, here are some tips about how to avoid being scammed.
By: Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
Reverse Mortgages
(Separate Website)
A reverse mortgage is a loan against your home that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live in your home. With a reverse mortgage, you can turn the value of your home into cash and not have to make monthly repayments. The total loan must be paid back when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or permanently moves away.
Reverse mortgages are quite a bit different from other types of debt. These loans can be complicated, and you have a lot at stake. So be sure to investigate reverse mortgages carefully before deciding if one makes sense for you.
By: AARP Legal Services Network
The Law and Your Home
(Separate Website)
Information about laws related to home repair and remodeling, including how to choose a contractor and what to do if the contract is violated.
By: ABA
Understanding the Foreclosure Process in DC Facing foreclosure? Here's a step-by-step guide on what to expect next and what you can do.
By: Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Washington DC Tenant Survival Guide
(Separate Website)
This guide provides a wide-ranging discussion of issues relevant to tenants in the District of Columbia. Some of the topics covered include:
- Leases
- Security Deposits
- Repairs
- Renter's Insurance
- Evictions
- Rent Control
- Public Housing
By: Harrison Institute for Public Law in conjunction with the District of Columbia Office of the Tenant Advocate
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
LawHelp.org/DC is a project of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program with support from the D.C. Consortium of Legal Services Providers and funding from the D.C. Bar Foundation.
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