It’s that time of year again- My Favorite Freebies!

Written By: Stacey Sprain,
Certified Ambassador Loan Processor (CALP)

At least once a year I like to share a list of “freebies” that I’ve discovered along the road associated with the various hats I wear within our beloved mortgage industry. For the most part, this is a list of websites I’ve discovered that offer vast information for learning purposes or websites that offer products that serve a great need for those of you that work as originators or processors in our business.

Because I’ve discovered so many, I’ll be dividing my list into categories- FHA, VA, USDA and standard freebies. Add these websites to your favorites list of internet sites and be sure to utilize them as they are a great recurring source of important and helpful information.

This week, I’m offering my favorite FHA-related websites and here is my list:

• www.hud.gov - HUD Home Page

• www.fha.gov - FHA Home Page

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/ref/hsgregst.cfm - Subscribe to HUD’s Single Family Mailing List

• http://hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/events/events.cfm - HUD Single Family Events & Training Page

• http://hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/talk/parc/phiarch.cfm - Phili HOC Recorded Webinar Archives

• http://www.hud.gov/groups/lenders.cfm - HUD Lenders Page **NEW**

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/lender/mtgeekit.cfm - Title II Mortgagee Starter Kit of HUD Handbooks

• http://www.disasterhousing.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/handbooks/hsgh/ - Complete List of Handbooks

• http://www.fhaoutreach.gov/FHAHandbook/prod/contents.asp?address=4155-2 - Link to Home Page for new 4155.1 and 4155.2 Searchable Handbooks

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/ref/hsgrcont.cfm - HUD/FHA HOC Reference Guide

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/faqs/faqsmenu.cfm - HUD/FHA FAQ by Category

• http://www.hud.gov/faqs/faqbuying.cfm - HUD Common Questions Page

• http://www.nls.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/letters/mortgagee/ - HUD Mortgagee Letters

• https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm - FHA Mortgage Limits Search

• https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/condlook.cfm - FHA Condominium Search

• https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/apprlook.cfm - FHA Appraiser Roster Search

• http://www.hud.gov/groups/appraisers.cfm - FHA Roster Appraiser Home Page

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/reo/reohome.cfm - HUD REO Home Page

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/owning.cfm - HUD Owning a Home Consumer Info Page

• http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/states - Links to State-Specific HUD Home Pages

• http://www.hud.gov/library/index.cfm - HUD Online Library-Links to Various Common Topics

• http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/webcasts/archives - HUD Webcast Archives-Recorded Webcasts

• http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/webcasts/archives/sinfamily - HUD Single Family Housing Webcast Archives

• https://entp.hud.gov/clas/index.cfm - FHA Connection

• http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/program_offices/administration/hudclips/forms - HUD Forms Search

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/fharesourcectr.cfm - FHA Resource Center Home Page

• http://www.fhaoutreach.gov/FHAFAQ/ - FHA Resource Center Searchable FAQ

• http://www5.hud.gov:63001/po/i/netlocator/ - HUD Employee Locator-Online Search Engine

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/dds/ - HUD Direct Distribution Center- Order Publications!

• http://www.hud.gov/library/bookshelf11/hudgraphics/fheologo.cfm - Equal Housing Graphic/Logo for Printing

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/sys/caivrs/caivrs.cfm - HUD CAIVRS Home Page

• https://www.epls.gov/ - Excluded Parties Listing System Home Page (EPLS)

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/promotingfh/928-1.pdf - Fair Housing Poster-English Version

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/promotingfh/lep.cfm - Booklets HUD Materials in English and Other Languages

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/buying/homebuyingguide.pdf HUD Homebuying Guide for Consumers

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/buying/loanfraudfaq.pdf HUD Smart Consumer Fact Sheet

• http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/ins/hoctenyr.pdf - HUD Approved 10 year Warranty Plans

• http://www.hud.gov/assist/webpolicies.cfm - HUD Web Policies

The below is copied and pasted from HUD’s Web Policies and Important Links Page

HUD's Linking Policy:

o HUD uses links to other websites if they add value to HUD content and help further the goals and mission of the Department, they help HUD's website visitors find related information, and they eliminate the need to duplicate information that already exists.

o We review all of our links at least quarterly, as part of our routine content certification process, to make sure they still work and that they still add value.

o When we choose a link, we make sure that it will add value, do not exist solely to promote specific products or services, are in good taste, and comply with all laws, regulations, and policies.

o As a rule, our links do not promote specific for-profit products or services. Sometimes, however, we do link to the home pages and/or email addresses of a category of private for-profit HUD partners (for example, HUD approved lenders) when it will promote HUD's program and customer service objectives. To make sure that we are fair, we post a complete list of the vendors in that category (both those with and those without websites/email); and we notify all vendors in that category that we will be creating links to the websites/email addresses of those that have them, before any links are posted.

o When we link to a non-federal website, you will see an "interceptor" page that reminds you that you are leaving the HUD website and that HUD does not endorse the organization or content on the site you will see.

o Because HUD's Internet website is in the public domain, anyone can link to it or replicate it without permission.

o If you have or know of a website that you think would add value to the content on HUD's website, you can send us the link. We will review the site to see if it meets our criteria.

Stay tuned next week for my list of VA website freebies!

About the Writer. As one of NAMP's volunteer writers, Stacey Sprain is currently a NAMP member in good standing and is a NAMP Certified Ambassador Loan Processor (CALP). If you would like to become a volunteer writer for NAMP, please email us at: blog@mortgageprocessor.org.

SOURCE: Published by NAMP Publishing Group, a division of the National Association of Mortgage Processors (http://www.MortgageProcessor.org)