Be Smart Home Buying
With 500 Years Experience

Note: Addresses and web sites were current at the time of publication. Not responsible for changes.

Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal

The American Heritage Dictionary

Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus

You Can Negotiate Anything - Herb Cohen

How to Estimate Building Losses and Construction Costs - Paul I. Thomas

Mortgage Terms - Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

Modern Carpentry - Willis Wagner

Evidence in Procedure for Boundary Location - Curtis L. Brown and Winfield Eldridge

BOCA Code Books

Great Lakes Realty Systems, Inc. Continuing Education Manual

100 Q&A about Buying a New Home

U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, 19209 P. Chennault Way, Box 8, Gaithersburg, MD 20879-1786

Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs and Helpful Information

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 451 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410
Web site http://www.hud.gov

Fannie Mae Foundation, P.O. Box 1810, Aurora, IL 60507-9806
Web site: http://www.fanniemaefoundation.org

1. Opening the Door to a Home of Your Own (Free)
2. Knowing and Understanding Your Credit
3. Choosing the Mortgage That's Right for You
4. Borrowing Basics: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

MOLD:

Testing For Mold - Minnesota Department of Health

A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home 

EPA
Web site: www.epa.gov/iaq/molds 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Indoor Air Quality 
Web sites: www.epa.gov/iaq
http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html

Questions and Answers on Stachybotrus chartarum and other molds 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health
Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/asthma/factsheets/molds/default.htm

Minnesota Department of Health
Web sites: www.health.state.mn.us -- www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/aialr/lair/moldweb.html

California Department of Health Services, Environmental Health Investigations Branch
Web sites: www.dhs.ca.gov
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/deodc/ehib/EHIB2/topics/mold.html

Consumer Information on Home Purchasing and Related Topics
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 451 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410
Web site: http://www.hud.gov

For information about FHA-Insured home mortgage loans on one-to-four family dwellings call: 1-800-CALL FHA (800-225-5342)

For information about buying a HUD home call: 1-800-767-4HUD (800-767-4483)

For consumer counseling referrals call: 1-888-HOME4US (1-888-466-3487)

For Information regarding housing discrimination issues contact: 1-800-669-9777
Web site: http://www.hud.gov/fhe/fheo.htm

For information about RESPA contact: Office of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (see above HUD address)
Web site: http://www.hud.gov/fha/res/respa_hm.html

Other Agencies:

For information about programs and pamphlets offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, contact your nearest VA Regional Office.
Web site: http://www.va.gov/vas/loan

For information about rural housing loan programs contact: Department of Agriculture Rural Development/Rural Housing Services, Stop 0783, Washington, DC 20250
Web site: http://www.bog.frb.fed.us

Septic System References/Michigan State University Extension Service

On-site Domestic Sewage Disposal Handbook, MWPS-24, Midwest Plan Services
Request from Department of Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University ($6)

Septic Tank Systems: A Homeowner's Guide
Michigan Environmental Health Association
Web site: www.meha.net

So... Now You Own a Septic System

Groundwater Protection and Your Septic System

These and several additional on-site waste disposal publications, National Small Flows Clearinghouse
Web site: www.nsfc.wvu.edu

Onsite Works! An Introduction to Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System
Housing Education and Research Center (HERC) at Michigan State University
Web site: www.canr.msu.edu/cm/herc/onsite/index.html

Several bulletins on septic systems are available in Michigan State University Extension's WQ (water quality) bulletin series. Contact your local MSUE office, or the MSU Bulletin Office, 10-B Agriculture Hall, MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
Web site: www.msue.msu.edu/waterqual/wq-mats.html

These bulletins include:

Home "A" Systems (WQ-51)

Managing Shorelines to Protect Water Quality (WQ-52)

What to Do if Your Septic System Fails (WQ-14)

Buying or Selling a Home? What to Find out about Your Water and Septic Systems

How to Conserve Water in Your Home and Yards (WQ-16)

Managing Your Septic System (WQ-39)