News Release

HUD's HOW-TO WEBCASTS OVERCOME "HOMEBUYING FEAR FACTOR"
Learning How to Buy a Home Is Just a 'Click' Away

WASHINGTON - Sharing in the American Dream of Homeownership may begin by simply 'clicking' on the Internet, according to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. During National Homeownership Month, HUD is promoting a website designed to take the fear factor out of buying a home with a number of instructive step-by-step webcasts.

"Buying a home doesn't have to be intimidating," said Jackson. "Whether you need to know the basics of getting a loan or how to repair your credit, these webcasts will help answer many of the questions people have about the single greatest purchase of their lives."

Viewing HUD’s homebuying webcasts is easy. Computer users need only log on to HUD’s homebuying webcast site. To watch a webcast, there's no need to register. You just need a computer capable of playing sound and a connection to the Internet that is at least 56Kbs. If your computer does not have the required software to view a webcast, HUD directs users to a free video player.

HUD offers four webcasts to help you better understand the process of purchasing a home (*available in Spanish):

• How to Buy a Home* - This 20-minute presentation helps consumers learn the key steps to buying a home and answers the seven questions you should ask yourself before getting started.
  
  
• Five Ways to Move Ahead Fast* - Marcia Griffin, President of Homefree USA shares what consumers need to know about buying a home, including income requirements, debt limits, downpayment/closing costs, who to trust, and the key steps in the process (50 minutes).
  
  
• Purchasing a HUD Home - Are you interested in purchasing a HUD home? Debbie Caruso is Vice President of Homesource, a real estate asset management company, and an expert in the sale of HUD homes. This 50-minute presentation provides a step-by-step guide to purchasing these properties, many of them discounted for sale to the general public.
  
  
• Be a Smart Consumer: Avoiding Predatory Lending* - Learn to recognize signs of fraudulent practices in the homebuying and refinance process and what to do to avoid them (25 minutes).

June is National Homeownership month - a month-long educational outreach effort designed to provide important homebuying information and financial tools, particularly to low- and moderate-income families. In addition to the webcasts, HUD offers a variety of homebuying information that can help consumers understand the homebuying or refinance process at www.hud.gov/buying/index.cfm.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.