General References
About Home-Buying and Selling
Find tutorials to help you with every step of a real-estate transaction, free e-courses on many topics, and search engines to help you locate property worldwide.
California Association of Realtors
The CAR offers in-depth coverage of California real estate, including the rules and regulations required within that state. This well-organized Web site includes general information that's helpful for real-estate transactions throughout the United States. www.car.org
Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUD is a government regulatory agency that oversees lenders, manages fair housing issues, and provides resources for numerous other issues related to real estate. www.hud.gov
Credit and Money Management
Equifax
Equifax is one of the three major credit-reporting agencies. It offers a service that allows you to check your credit reports and scores online or order copies by mail. www.equifax.com
Experian
Another of the three major credit-reporting agencies. Check your credit reports and scores online or order copies by mail. www.experian.com
MyFico.com
Developers of the scoring system used by many lenders to determine loan eligibility. The Web site offers a great deal of advice about managing your credit and improving your scores. www.myfico.com
Quicken
Track stocks and other publicly traded investments, manage your money, and read informative articles that can help you buy and sell real estate. www.quicken.com
TransUnion
The third major credit-reporting agency. Check your credit reports and scores online or order copies by mail. www.transunion.com
Foreclosure Information
Foreclosures.com
A company that offers tools to help you locate and buy foreclosed properties throughout the United States. You'll also find advice to help you learn the differences between legitimate foreclosure deals and offerings that might be questionable. www.foreclosures.com
For Sale By Owner Resources
For Sale By Owner
FSBO sellers can advertise their properties here and find marketing advice and general information to help them get a contract and complete the sale. www.forsalebyowner.com
Owners.com
A Web site where you can advertise your properties to buyers worldwide. Resources include general information to help you sell your real estate. www.owners.com
Hazardous Substances
U.S. Centers for Disease Control
The CDC is a government agency that provides information to help you learn about radon gas, toxic molds, asbestos, and other similar topics that affect your health and your real-estate transactions. www.cdc.gov
Environmental Protection Agency
EPA is a U.S. government agency that monitors environmental hazards such as asbestos, radon gas, molds, buried storage tanks, and other toxic materials important to anyone who plans to buy or sell real estate. www.epa.gov
National Flood Insurance Program
FEMA offers details about the National Flood Insurance Program. www.fema.gov/nfip
Home Repair and Home Warranty
About Home Repair
A Web site devoted to providing repair and update how-to information for homeowners. homerepair.about.com
American Home Shield Warranties
A company that provides home warranty coverage to home-buyers, home-sellers, and current owners who plan to keep their homes. www.americanhomeshield.com
HMS Home Warranties
HMS sells home warranty policies throughout the United States. www.hmsnational.com
Advice on Being a Landlord
About Apartment Living/Rental
A user-friendly Web site that offers insights into the world of rental living. Get help with leases and general tenant-landlord relations. apartments.about.com
Listings Online
Homes.com
Homes.com is a real-estate search engine for agencies and agents. You'll find properties for sale throughout the United States. www.homes.com
National Association of Realtors
You will find real-estate listings and an assortment of advice to help you buy real estate and work with real-estate agents. www.realtor.com
Mapping Services
FEMA Hazard Maps
FEMA's online advisory maps cover areas at risk to various types of hazards, including earthquake, hurricane, and flood. http://www.fema.gov/hazard/map/index.shtm
TerraServer.com
Terra Server offers aerial maps for locations throughout the world.
TopoZone.com
Find topographical maps using a zip code and address or by entering longitude and latitude for the location you are seeking. www.topozone.com
Mortgage Lenders and Brokers Online
Citigroup
Citigroup is a large broker that maintains local offices throughout the United States. www.citigroup.com
Bank of America
Bank of America is a lender with banks in many locations throughout the United States. Apply for a loan locally or online. www.bankofamerica.com
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo is a full-service bank that offers its customers loans of all types, along with checking, credit cards and other financial services. www.wellsfargo.com
Real-Estate News
Inman News
A real-estate news portal offering advice for real-estate professionals as well as others who wish to buy and sell real estate. www.inman.com
Realty Times
Realty Times is a Web site that provides real-estate news and feature articles written by a variety of columnists. www.realtytimes.com
Real-Estate Signs and Brochure Boxes
Dee Sign
Dee Sign supplies personalized and stock signs to the real-estate trade. The company also sells transparent brochure boxes. www.dee-sign.com
For Sale By Owner Advertising Service
This company specializes in FSBO yard signs. www.fsboadvertisingservice.com
Innovative Plastics
Innovative Plastics sells durable plastic brochure boxes that you can leave marketing materials in for pickup by passersby. www.plasticfab.com
REITs
National Association of Real-Estate Investment Trusts
Find in-depth information about the history of REITs, plus advice to help you understand the REIT market and make investment decisions. http://www.reit.com/
RV Parks and Campgrounds
National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds
Find information about RV parks, including facts to help you understand what's involved in park development and management. www.gocampingamerica.com
Secondary Mortgage Market Agencies
Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae's Web site offers many resources to help people who wish to buy and sell real estate. www.fanniemae.com
Freddie Mac
Freddie Mac is another secondary market agency that offers real-estate advice on its Web site. www.freddiemac.com
Tax Advice
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Locate forms and instructions to help you understand and abide by income reporting laws within the United States. www.irs.gov
