| These free home buying guides contain hundreds of pages of useful information. Real Estate Forms |
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| Consumer Notice Lead Base Paint Brochure
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| Consumer Information Brochures
The Federal Reserve Board's brochures and booklets are suitable for classroom use.
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5 Tips for Improving Your Credit Score
Explains how to obtain your credit report, how credit scores are determined, how to verify reported information, and how to improve and maintain a good credit score.
ONLINE | PRINTABLE (92 KB PDF)
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| Choosing a Credit Card Describes credit card features and costs, including information about credit card solicitations and applications. Provides guidance on how to file a complaint. ONLINE
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| Consumer Guide to Check 21 and Substitute Checks Spanish: Guía del consumidor sobre Check 21 y cheques sustitutos Describes changes in check processing due to Check 21 and other check-system improvements. English: ONLINE | PRINTABLE (78 KB PDF) Spanish: ONLINE | PRINTABLE (78 KB PDF)
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| A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Lock-Ins Explains mortgage rate-locks--fees involved, options for setting terms, loan approval process, and lender rate commitments. Provides a list of questions to ask your lender and tips to speed up the approval process. ONLINE
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| A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Settlement Costs Outlines the fees involved in home purchase settlement, including mortgage and lender fees, and charges for establishing and transferring ownership. Provides information on settlement cost estimates and includes a settlement cost worksheet. ONLINE
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| Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages Spanish: Guía para el consumidor sobre hipotecas a tasa ajustable (ARM) Identifies the basic features of adjustable rate mortgages: adjustment periods, interest rate caps, indexes, and margins. Includes cautions about discounts, payment caps, negative amortization, and prepayments. Provides a glossary of key terms and a checklist to compare mortgage lender rates. English: ONLINE Spanish: ONLINE
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| Consumer Handbook to Credit Protection Laws Explains consumer credit laws, how to shop and apply for credit, how to maintain a good credit rating, how to dispute unfair credit transactions, and how to resolve billing errors. Includes a glossary of key terms. ONLINE
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| A Guide to Business Credit for Women, Minorities, and Small Businesses Spanish: Una Guía de crédito comercial para las mujeres, las minorías, y pequeñas empresas Reviews the credit application process for small business loans and steps to take if a loan is denied. Provides information on the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and gives sources for assistance in the application process. English: ONLINE Spanish: ONLINE
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| Home Mortgages: Understanding the Process and Your Right to Fair Lending Provides guidance on shopping for a home mortgage, making an application, and understanding your right to fair lending. ONLINE
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| How to File a Consumer Complaint about a Bank Spanish: Cómo puede un consumidor presentar una queja sobre un banco Information on the types of complaints that the Federal Reserve investigates and how to file a complaint. Explains the major consumer protection laws that protect individuals. English: ONLINE Spanish: ONLINE
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| Interest-Only Mortgage Payments and Payment-Option ARMs--Are They for You? Spanish: Hipotecas con pagos de interés sólo y préstamos ARM con opción de pago Explains features of interest-only mortgage payments (I-O mortgage) and adjustable-rate mortgages with the option to make a minimum payment (a payment-option ARM). Includes cautions about payment shock, negative amortization, and prepayments. Provides a glossary of key terms and a shopping worksheet to compare loan features and future rates and payments. English: ONLINE Spanish: ONLINE
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| Keys to Vehicle Leasing: A Consumer Guide Spanish: Consejos para arrendar un vehículo, Guía del consumidor Guidance for consumers on leasing a vehicle, including information on consumer rights, a sample leasing form explaining costs, and definitions of terms used in vehicle leasing. English: ONLINE Spanish: ONLINE
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| Looking for the Best Mortgage:
Shop, Compare, Negotiate Spanish: Buscando la hipoteca más favorable: Compare, Verifique, Negocie Guidance on identifying mortgage costs, comparing offers and negotiating the best loan terms. Provides a mortgage shopping worksheet and glossary of key terms. English: ONLINE Spanish: ONLINE
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| Privacy Choices for Your Personal Financial Information Guidance on making informed choices about whether to share personal financial information with financial companies. Explains the right to opt out of sharing some personal information and lists the types of personal information that financial companies can share. ONLINE | PRINTABLE (78 KB PDF)
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| Putting Your Home Loan on the Line Is Risky Business Spanish: Utilizar su hogar como garantía para un préstamo es arriesgado Describes how to avoid potential borrowing pitfalls, including high-cost "predatory" home loans, and provides tips for getting the best financing deal possible. Includes a worksheet to use in comparison shopping for a home equity loan. English: ONLINE | PRINTABLE (110 KB PDF) Spanish: ONLINE | PRINTABLE (110 KB PDF)
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| A Series on the Structure of the Federal Reserve System No. 1: The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System No. 2: The Federal Open Market Committee No. 3: The Federal Reserve Banks No. 4: The Federal Reserve Bank Boards of Directors Details the main elements and functions of the Federal Reserve System. ONLINE
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| There's a Lot to Learn about Money Illustrates the importance of budgeting, saving, and managing money. PRINTABLE (188 KB PDF)
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| What You Should Know about Home Equity Lines of Credit Spanish: Lo que usted debería saber sobre las líneas de crédito con garantía hipotecaria Information on home equity lines of credit; includes a glossary of terms and a checklist to use in shopping for a plan. English: ONLINE Spanish: ONLINE
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| What You Should Know about Your Checks Spanish: Lo que usted debería saber sobre sus cheques Explains the changes in checking accounts, Check 21 and substitute checks, and electronic check conversion. English: ONLINE | PRINTABLE (130 KB PDF) Spanish: ONLINE | PRINTABLE (130 KB PDF)
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| When Is Your Check Not a Check? Electronic Check Conversion Spanish: ¿Cuándo no es su cheque un cheque? Intercambio electrónico de cheques Explains the electronic check conversion process and outlines consumer rights. English: ONLINE | PRINTABLE (163 KB PDF) Spanish: ONLINE | PRINTABLE (130 KB PDF)
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