Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Publications From The Federal Consumer Information Center

#1. Consumer's Guide To Radon Reduction

#2. Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home

(The 2 most popular real estate publications)

(For the publications below, click on the .HTM or Text icons at the right to hyperlink to any of these excellent HUD publications.  To print the information, simply click the "printer Icon" at the top of your browser's command bar.)

Housing	Want to read it?
Financing & Sales
100 Questions and Answers About Buying A New Home. This great guide focuses on finances-from how much home you can afford to various loan programs, insurance, taxes, and more. 40 pp. (1998. HUD) 569H. Free.
Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs and Helpful Information. Describes the home buying, financing, and settlement (closing) process. Also gives tips on shopping for a loan. 35 pp. (1997. HUD) 125H. $1.75.
Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Lock-Ins. Basic information to help you obtain the terms of credit you really want. Lists questions to ask when shopping for a mortgage. 14 pp. (1995. FRB) 336F. 50¢.
Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Refinancings. Will refinancing be beneficial to you? Learn the costs and how to tell if the time is right. 8 pp. (1996. FRB) 335G. 50¢.
Guide to Single-Family Home Mortgage Insurance. Explains FHA mortgage insurance programs, including types available, how to qualify, how to apply, restrictions, and more. 14 pp. (1999. HUD) 332H. 50¢.
How to Buy a Home With a Low Down Payment. Describes how to qualify for a low down payment mortgage, determine what you can afford, and how mortgage insurance works. 9 pp. (2000. USDA) 570H. Free.
How to Buy a Manufactured (Mobile) Home. Tips on selection and placement, warranties, site preparation, transportation, installation, and more. 22 pp. (1997. FTC) 333H. 50¢.
HUD Home Buying Guide. Here are step-by-step instructions for finding and financing a HUD home. Includes charts to help you estimate mortgage payments. 11 pp. (1999. HUD) 571H. Free.
Looking for the Best Mortgage - Shop, Compare, Negotiate. Using these 3 steps can save you thousands of dollars on a home loan or mortgage. Find many useful tips in this booklet. 7 pp. (1999. FRB) 334H. 50¢.
Twelve Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs. Practical tips to help reduce your expenses. Lists phone numbers of state insurance departments for more information. 4 pp. (1995. HHS) 335H. 50¢.
Home Maintenance
Am I Covered?. Answers 15 common questions regarding homeowners insurance and explains what is covered in a standard policy. 9 pp. (1997. HHS) 336H. 50¢.
Automatic and Programmable Thermostats. How to choose which of the five basic types is best for your home and will help you save the most money and energy. 4 pp. (1997. DOE) 123G. $1.00.
Backyard Bird Problems. How to control common problems such as destruction of garden plants, nesting in gutters and chimneys, and damage to your home's exterior. 27 pp. (1993. DOI) 574F. Free.
Cooling Your Home Naturally. Ways to save electricity and keep your home cool with landscaping, roof treatments, and more. 8 pp. (1994. DOE) 126H. $1.00.
Elements of an Energy-Efficient House. Learn the benefits of having these elements--a well-built thermal envelope, controlled ventilation, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, and energy-efficient doors, windows, and appliances. 8 pp. (2000. DOE) 127H. $1.00.
Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home. A practical guide on reducing your home energy use, with tips on insulation, weatherization, heating, and more. 36 pp. (1998. DOE) 337H. 50¢.
Energy-Efficient Windows. Describes how to reduce your home's heating, cooling, and lighting costs using properly selected and installed windows. 6 pp. (1994. DOE) 125G. $1.00.
Fixing Up Your Home and How to Finance It. Information about hiring a contractor, doing the work yourself, and the HUD Title 1 home improvement loan program. 2 pp. (1998. HUD) 342G. 50¢.
Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment. Tips on soil preparation, grasses, watering, mowing, pesticides, choosing a lawn care service, and more. 19 pp. (1992. EPA) 338H. 50¢.
Home Sweet Home Improvement. Handy tips for home improvement, with everything from choosing a contractor to cleaning up the job site. 11 pp. (1998. FTC) 344G. 50¢.
Homeowner's Glossary of Building Terms. Taking on a home improvement project can open a whole new world of terms you may not know. Here's a quick reference to help you keep up with the language of the trade. 12 pp. (1996. HUD) 128H. $1.75.
How to Prune Trees. Illustrated guide shows what to do, what not to do, tools to use and when for healthy, strong trees. 30 pp. (1995. USDA) 129H. $1.50.
Indoor Air Hazards Every Homeowner Should Know About. How to identify and reduce the hazards of indoor air pollutants such as asbestos, radon, lead, molds and more. 13 pp. (1998. USDA/EPA) 577G. Free.
Keeping Your Home Safe. Use the crime-stoppers' checklist and other practical tips to protect your home from fire and theft. 13 pp. (1996. DOJ) 576F. Free.
Making Your Home Safe from Fire and Carbon Monoxide. Tips on preventing fires, creating an emergency exit plan, what types of safety equipment you need, and more. 6 pp. (2000. USDA) 572H. Free.
Power$mart: Easy Tips to Save Money and the Planet. Learn how to make energy-efficient choices that are good for your family, your finances, and the environment without sacrificing comfort. 24 pp. (1998. DOE/EPA) 573H. Free.
Selecting a New Water Heater. Describes how different types of water heaters work and important features to consider when buying. 6 pp. (1995. DOE) 130H. $1.00.
Should You Have Your Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?. Tips on deciding if your ducts need cleaning, choosing a cleaning service, evaluating health claims, and keeping ducts clean. 20 pp. (1997. EPA) 131H. $2.00.
Weather Patterns Are Changing, and So Are Your Chances of Being Flooded. In recent years, 2 out of every 3 U.S. natural disasters were flood related. Learn how to obtain the flood insurance you should have. 5 pp. (1999. FEMA) 577F. Free.