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	Consumer & Debt > Home owners


	Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.

There are 11 resources

	Buying or Selling Real Estate (Separate Website) This pamphlet is intended to provide you with general information about the basics of buying and selling real estate. By: Washington State Bar Association Read this in: Spanish / Español


	Contractor Information (Separate Website) Information about hiring a contractor, reporting unregistered contractors and contractor forms. By: Department L & I


	Don't Be a Victim of Loan Fraud - Protect Yourself From Predatory Lendors (Separate Website) Information you should know before you purchase or refinance a home loan. Link to PDF file. By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Read this in: Spanish / Español


	Foreclosure/Forfeiture If you fall behind in your monthly house payments the seller or lender may try to take your house back. This is generally called foreclosure. If your house is foreclosed you may lose not only your house, but also all of the money you have invested in it. By: Northwest Justice Project Other Formats: PDF File Read this in: Spanish / Español


	Home Equity Loans: Borrower Beware! (Separate Website) Do you own your home? If so, it's likely to be your greatest single asset. Unfortunately, if you agree to a loan that's based on the equity you have in your home, you may be putting your most valuable asset at risk.


	Predatory Lending (Separate Website) Predatory loans harm borrowers by making it difficult or impossible for them to keep up with payments. Borrowers may pay unnecessary fees and excessive interest charges. If they miss their payments, they risk losing their home. Borrowers who do not meet minimum credit standards usually do pay higher interest rates, but no one should be a victim of price gouging and outrageous fees. By: Seattle / King County Coalition for Responsible Lending


	Property Tax Exemptions for Senior Citizens and Disabled People The property tax exemption is a way to lower the property taxes you have to pay by exempting all excess levies (like school construction bonds and other levies passed by voters) and sometimes part of regular levies on your home. The program does not apply to property where you do not live a majority of the time, or to more than one acre surrounding your home. By: Northwest Justice Project Other Formats: PDF File Read this in: Spanish / Español


	Quit Claim Deeds and Life Estates Before transferring any property, it is best to consult with a lawyer to find out all the possible consequences of the transfer in your specific circumstances. Some lawyers will provide services free of charge or for a reduced fee for low-income people. Contact your local bar association for more information. By: Northwest Justice Project


	Reverse Mortgage Loans 3/05 By: Columbia Legal Services


	Smart Borrowing TV: How to Make Wise Borrowing Decisions A series of short videos that cover the topics of borrowing fundamentals, credit cards, payday loans, auto loans, mortgages and mortgage refininancing By: Consumer Education and Training Services (CENTS)


	What to do If You are not Satisfied with a Construction Contractor?s Work and Want to File Suit against the Contractor?s Bond There are number of reasons why you may want to sue a construction contractor. The contractor did not finish the job you hired him to do, for example, or did not do a good job. If the contractor is bankrupt or does not have any other assets, you can sue against the contractor?s bond. By: Northwest Justice Project Other Formats: PDF File


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