About Us

Federal Housing Authority (FHA)

http://www.hud.gov/

Information about buying and financing residential real estate using Federal Housing Administration insured mortgages, and about servicing these loans; includes RESPA statute and regulations, escrow accounting procedures, proposed and final HUD rules and regulations.

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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

http://www.fema.gov/

Information on the national flood insurance program, disaster management and recovery and geographical mapping of flood/disaster zones. Includes forms library and information for filing flood/disaster claims.

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Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

www.hud.gov/

Information about FHA insured mortgages, lending and servicing. Includes proposed and final HUD regulations and all mortgagee letters from 1976.

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Veteran’s Administration (VA)

www.va.gov/

Veteran’s Administration guaranteed mortgages and programs; includes frequently asked questions about qualifying for VA guaranteed loans.

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Office of Banks and Real Estate

http://www.obre.state.il.us/

Web site of the Illinois state agency charged with the responsibility of overseeing the operation of banks in Illinois and the administration and enforcement of the Illinois Real Estate License Act of 1983, the Time Share Act and the Land Sales Registration Act of 1989. A sub-agency, the Bureau of Real Estate Professions, seeks to protect the interests of the public while providing service to the real estate and real estate appraisal industries. The site includes the texts of applicable laws and other helpful regulatory information of interest to those involved in real estate, as well as mortgage banking and real estate professions complaint forms.

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Cook County Assessor’s Office

http://www.cookcountyassessor.com

Information regarding assessments, locations, office hours and telephone numbers of assessors offices in Cook County. Taxpayers who have recently received notices of increased assessments due to triennial reassessment can check assessments of neighboring properties at this web site to check whether proposed assessment is in line with similar properties.

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Cook County Treasurer’s Office

http://www.cookcountytreasurer.com/

Pay current Cook County taxes online (through system established through Amalgamated Bank using funds on deposit with any bank). Check Cook County tax payment status online by entering the Permanent Index Number for a parcel. The site also contains a database of probate estates searchable by year, by names of probate cases, and, where available, by names of listed heirs setting forth amounts deposited with the Treasurer’s Office pursuant to probate court order, as well as instructions to potential heirs regarding how to file a claim. Forms such as Change of Address and Application for a Duplicate or Overpayment Refund are available for downloading. Also has general information regarding taxes in various languages.

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Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety

http://www.state.il.us/idns

Information regarding radon testing and remediation requirements in Illinois, text of new radon rule promulgated by the state, as well as lists of current measurement and mitigation licensees authorized under recent regulations to perform radon services. Call IDNS at 1 (800) 325-1245 to verify licensure and individuals offering measurement services.

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FannieMae
http://www.fanniemae.com/

Information from FNMA, a private corporation with the National Housing Act as its "mission" and the largest source of home mortgage funds and secondary mortgage market to increase the availability and affordability of homes; Includes information for home buyers and lenders, and monthly newsletter discussing federal regulations relating to mortgages, and the text of guidelines and lender letters relating to servicing of mortgages.

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FreddieMac
www.freddiemac.com/

Information about purchasing and repackaging mortgages as securities for sale and investment; includes current and historical prime mortgage rate information, public relations materials about the secondary mortgage market, and a listing of Freddie Mac owned real estate for sale.

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Transfer Tax information

www.atgf.com/member/transferTax/default.asp

Helpful database maintained by Attorneys` Title Guaranty Fund (and provided as a service by ATG to the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association) on Transfer Taxes imposed by the State of Illinois, by Illinois counties, and by various Illinois municipalities which have passed transfer tax ordinances. Unless exempt, transfer tax stamps must first be purchased and affixed to a deed (or an Assignment of Beneficial Interest in a land trust) before the document can be recorded.

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Municipal Codes

http://www.spl.lib.wa.us/collec/lawcoll/municode.html/

Published and maintained by the Seattle Public Library and designed to provide hyperlinks to all U.S. cities Municipal Codes; includes "Municipal Codes On-line" with links to actual text and annotations where available.

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Current Mortgage Information

http://www.ired.com/

Current and statistical data relating to mortgage rates; daily and weekly rates, market trends and forecasts, home equity rates, ARM index rates, financial calculators and articles.

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American Society of Home Inspectors

http://www.ashi.com/

Web site maintained by national organization providing information on home inspectors. Includes a searchable database to find a local ASHI inspector.

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Illinois Association of Realtors

http://www.illinoisrealtor.org/

State Board of Realtors web site with property search information, real estate-related links, including state and federal government links, industry and financial links, and links to local realtors associations throughout Illinois.

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Northwest Association of Realtors

http://www.nwar.com/

Board of Realtors web site for Northwest Association of Realtors based in the suburban area northwest of Chicago with comprehensive information for sellers, buyers, and agents and links to various real estate-related sites, including governmental, industry, and financial sites. Includes lists of radon Measurement and Mitigation professionals licensed by the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety (click on "real estate links" and then select "service links").

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North Shore - Barrington Association of REALTORS

http://www.nsbar.org/

Board of Realtors web site with lots of general information for sellers, buyers, and agents. Includes forms, information and data regarding continuing education opportunities.

Liability Disclaimer The information on this web site does not constitute legal advice. The law is constantly changing, and we make no warranty of the accuracy of information on this site or any site to which we link.