Home
In working with lenders and borrowers alike I have had to become familiar
with the website at U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development and its many different
sections. I was asked a number of times if there was a guide to using
their website and finally I decided to put one together.
HUD.gov has a menu system that changes as you are in different sections of
the site but when you visit the main page you are given 6 main sections;
News, Homes, Communities, Working with HUD, Resources and Tools. Each
section groups together subsections and make up the structure of HUD.gov.
HUD News
The News section had three areas. Newsroom for current stories on HUD in
the news, frequently requested information and research quick links.
Priorities provides links to current initiatives and recent reports. About
HUD gives links to information about staffing, general mission, historical
information and quick links to important parts of the site.
Homes
This section of the site navigation has all of the main information a home
buyer or home owner will want. The following list describes each section.
Note that each subsection of Homes has links on the right hand side of the
screen to relevant tools, articles and other resources.
Buying -
I lengthy page with clear and short descriptions about home buying
including knowing your rights, first time buyers faq and other home buying
resources.
Owning -
A listing of all home owner information links available from HUD.gov
including maintenance articles and resources, energy efficiency topics and
financial information for home owners.
Selling
- A small collection of useful articles to help you prepare for and easily
sell your home.
Renting
- A 6 step process walking you through how to find an apartment or house
to rent. Starting at knowing your rights and ending on preparing to move.
Homeless - Links to information about local homeless
assistance resources, information for providers of servers for the
homeless and information on what we all can do to help resolve the issue
of homelessness.
Home
Improvements - Links to information about federal loan programs,
community based programs and consumer information.
HUD Homes
- The main page discussing the HUD program and offering links to help you
to better understand this program.
Fair
Housing - This is a major sub sections of the Homes category and your
left hand navigation will reveal more than 10 new subsections about fair
houseing and equal opportunity housing (FHEO).
FHA Refund - There is a form where you can search with
name and case number to see if you are due a refund on part of your FHA
insurance premiums.
Forclusure - A lengthy article in question and answer
format about foreclosure and how to avoid it.
Consumer
Info - Links to the most important information to help you avoid
disaster in your home buying experience.
Communities
This section has 4 main subsections and is intended to help develop
communities and community resources. You can learn what community
development programs are available from HUD and other government programs
and how you can take part in in different ways to help improve your
neighborhoods and towns.
Working With HUD
Has 6 subsections about grants, current programs, contracts, online work,
employment with HUD and the complaints department. Some of these
subsections are large and the left hand navigation changes to open up new
options.
Resources
The resources area includes a link to the HUD.gov online library with
links to all books and documents available there. There are also a
handbook/forms area and common questions link leading to a list of all the
FAQ at HUD.gov.
Tools
For information on HUD.gov webcast, mailing list, contact information and
general help in using the site.
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