Finding a First Time Home Buyer Program

Most first time home buyers don't realize what they are getting themselves into when they begin to fantasize about home sweet home. There is the home inspection, the closing costs, buyer's broker fee, appraisal fees, mortgage approval fees--you name it! The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development includes on its Web site a list of approved housing counseling agencies many of which offer first time home buyer programs. First time home buyers who participate in one of these courses are much less likely to fall prey to predatory lending practices and report a higher level of satisfaction with their home ownership decision.