HUD's Web Publication Procedures and Style Guide

Appendix E: State Page Rules

3. Rules for the Homeownership Topic

a. Getting Started section:

• Mandatory links/teasers:
  • Housing counseling agencies: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/hsgcounseling.cfm
    Note: If you do not have a Housing Counseling 3rd level page, link directly to the listing of housing counseling agencies for your state at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/states/xxxxxxxxxx.txt
  • Predatory lending: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/predatorylending.cfm
• Optional link (if including, use standardized teaser):
  • Education: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/eduprgms.cfm

b. Buying a Home section:

• Mandatory links/teasers:
  • Assistance programs: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/buyingprgms.cfm
  • HUD homes for sale
  • Homeownership vouchers: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/hsgvouchers.cfm

c. Owning and Maintaining Your Home section:

• Mandatory link/teaser:
  • Home repairs: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/hometips.cfm
  • Avoiding foreclosure: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/foreclosure.cfm

d. Other State Resources section:

• Mandatory links/teasers:
  • Legal assistance: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeless/legalaid.cfm
  • Help with your utility bills: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/renting/energyprgms.cfm
  • Disaster relief and emergency assistance: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/library/disasterrelief.cfm
  • Health and environmental information: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/library/healthandenviron.cfm
  • Rural housing programs
• Optional links (if including, use standardized teaser):
  • Housing resources for seniors: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/seniors.cfm

e. More from HUD box:

• Homebuyer's kit: http://www.hud.gov/buying/index.cfm
• How much home can I afford? http://www.ginniemae.gov/2_prequal/intro_questions.asp?Section=YPTH
• Mortgage insurance programs: http://www.hud.gov/buying/insured.cfm
• How to buy a HUD home: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/reo/reobuyfaq.cfm
• FHA mortgage limits: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm
• Settlement and closing costs: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/res/sfhrestc.cfm
• More about owning a home: http://www.hud.gov/initiatives/homeownership/index.cfm
• Home improvements: http://www.hud.gov/improvements/index.cfm
• Refinancing home mortgages: http://www.hud.gov/buying/refinance.cfm
• Reverse mortgages: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/rmtopten.cfm
• Help save my home: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/econ/econ.cfm
• Approved mortgage lenders: http://www.hud.gov/ll/code/llplcrit.html
• Mortgage calculator: http://www.ginniemae.gov/ypth/index.asp?Section=YPTH
• Fair housing: http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/promotingfh/atyourservice.cfm

f. Links box:

• Compare mortgage rates: http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/mortgage/mortb_1.htm
• Loan programs for veterans: http://www.homeloans.va.gov/

g. Housing Counseling (sub-page): This page provides information on HUD-approved housing counseling agencies as well as similar programs. Some local governments or other entities offer housing counseling; and though they may not be "HUD Approved", they may provide good housing counseling options.

• Top section: mandatory link/teaser (if including page): HUD-approved housing counseling agencies: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/states/xxxxxxxxxx.txt
• Other Housing Counseling Services and Resources section: If you do not have any information for this section, page is optional. If you would like to use page and include links, links and teasers are optional. (If not including this page, link directly from Homeownership topic page to listing of housing counseling agencies in your state-- http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/states/xxxxxxxxxx.txt.)
• More from HUD box: Housing counseling for Native Americans: http://www.codetalk.fed.us/OLG_homebuycounsel.html

h. (Homeownership) Education (sub-page). Page is optional. If including page, the following link/teaser is mandatory: Homeownership assistance programs: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/buyingprgms.cfm

• More from HUD box:
  • Tips for homeowners: http://www.hud.gov/buying/index.cfm
  • Mortgage calculator: http://www.ginniemae.gov/ypth/index.asp?Section=YPTH

i. Predatory Lending (sub-page): This page provides local resources on predatory lending, discrimination, fair housing assistance providers, and any other fair housing information. All center links are optional depending on the resources available in each state, but at a minimum, a link to legal assistance should be included: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeless/legalaid.cfm

• More from HUD box:
  • More on predatory lending: http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/lending/predatory.cfm
  • Homebuyer rights – RESPA: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/res/respa_hm.cfm
• Don't Be a Victim of Loan Fraud: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/buying/loanfraud.cfm

j. Assistance Programs (sub-page): This page lists programs that promote/assist homeownership and/or are homebuyer training programs - sort information by city/town and/or county, if possible.

• Statewide and Regional Programs section:

  	Mandatory links/teasers: Homeowner education programs (if you have the page to link to): http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/eduprgms.cfm
  	U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Programs by City/Town section - optional
  	Wording for both subheadings is optional

• More from HUD box:

  	American Dream Downpayment Initiative: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/programs/home/addi/
  	Homebuyer's kit: http://www.hud.gov/buying/
  	Fair housing: http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/
  	Mortgage calculator: http://www.ginniemae.gov/ypth/index.asp?Section=YPTH
  	Homebuyer rights – RESPA: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/res/respa_hm.cfm

• Links box:

  	Homebuying steps: http://www.freddiemac.com/corporate/buyown/english/preparing/right_for_you/index.html
  	Find a mortgage lender: http://www.fanniemae.com/homebuyers/homepath/index.jhtml?p=Homepath
  	Loans for veterans: http://www.homeloans.va.gov/

k. Homeownership Vouchers (sub-page): This page either links to a list of all PHA's and/or lists housing agencies that are participating in this program. Making the voucher available for homeownership is the decision of the PHA, not HUD.

• Listing of "current participants" is optional.
• More from HUD box: Questions about vouchers: http://www.hud.gov/offices/ pih/programs/hcv/homeownership/

l. Home Repairs (sub-page)

• Top section: Mandatory links/teasers:
  • Veterans Affairs Regional Loan Center
  • USDA Rural Development Office
  • Programs by City/Town: Listing of city/town links to programs is mandatory. Places to begin searching for links to programs:
    • CDBG Contacts ( http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/community/cdbg/)
    • Home Contacts ( http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/community/home/)
    • Websites of HUD Partners ( http://www.hud.gov/local/ xx/community/partnerwebsites.cfm)
    • SF Approved Nonprofit Roster – select those approved for secondary financing ( http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/np/np_hoc.cfm)
  • Other Local Resources section: optional
  • More from HUD box:
    • Home improvement programs: http://www.hud.gov/improvements/index.cfm
    • Reverse mortgages: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecmhome.cfm

m. Avoiding Foreclosure (sub-page)

• Mandatory links/teasers:
  • Housing counseling agencies: (links to either level page at http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/hsgcounseling.cfm or directly to housing counseling agency list at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/states/xxxxxxxxxxx.txt if you do not have a 3 rd level page)
  • Consumer Credit Counseling Service (name of organization in your state)
  • Veterans Affairs Regional Loan Center
  • Legal assistance: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeless/legalaid.cfm
  • Add foreclosure laws if can find for state.
• More from HUD box:
  • How to avoid foreclosure: http://www.hud.gov/foreclosure/index.cfm
  • Help save my home: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/econ/econ.cfm

n. Housing Resources for Seniors (sub-page): optional.

• Mandatory links/teasers:
  • U.S. Administration on Aging's ElderWeb (drilled down to state): http://elderweb.com
  • Housing counseling agencies: (link to either level page at http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeownership/hsgcounseling.cfm or directly to housing counseling agency list at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/states/xxxxxxxxxxx.txt if you do not have a 3 rd level page)
  • Discounted utility rates: http://neaap.ncat.org/programs/lowincome/xx-li.htm
  • Legal assistance: http://www.hud.gov/local/xx/homeless/legalaid.cfm
• More from HUD box:
  • Information for senior citizens: http://www.hud.gov/groups/seniors.cfm
  • Reverse mortgages: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecmhome.cfm
• Links box:
  • FirstGov for seniors: http://www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Seniors.shtml
  • Eldercare Locator: http:// www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp
  • SeniorResource.com: http:// seniorresource.com/
  • ElderWeb directory: http:// www.elderweb.com/
  • AARP housing options: http://www.aarp.org/life/housingchoices/
  • AARP reverse mortgages: http://www.hecmresources.org/requests.cfm
  • Home modification resources: http://www.bsu.edu/wellcomehome/