Buying and Owning a Home

Preparing for Homeownership

Learn some of the benefits and risks about homeownership, the importance of establishing and maintaining good credit, and how to restore good credit when your credit has been damaged.

• Is Homeownership Right For You?
• Credit and Homeownership

Purchasing and Owning a Home

Find tips to help you hunt for the right house in the right neighborhood, make an offer and close on a home. Also learn how to protect the value of your home, manage the financial responsibility of homeownership, and manage homeownership in the event a disaster strikes.

• House Hunting
• Making an Offer
• Closing On an Offer
• Moving
• Owning and Keeping a Home

Calculators and Tools

Compare costs between renting and homeownership, calculate potential tax savings with homeownership, understand how much you can afford and how much you can borrow, compare types of mortgages, and estimate down payments and costs.

All About Mortgages

Learn about different types of mortgages, how to select the right mortgage and the right lender – and avoid predatory lending practices – and how to apply for the mortgage.

• What Is a Mortgage?
• Selecting a Mortgage
• Working With Lenders
• Applying For a Mortgage

Avoiding Foreclosure

By understanding foreclosure, what may lead up to it, and the foreclosure process, you can be in a better position to recognize and address potential problems that may impact your ability to make every mortgage payment on time.

• Warning Signs
• Early Steps to Prevent Foreclosure
• Dos and Don'ts of Foreclosure
• Avoiding Fraud
• Where to Get Help

Properties for Sale

HomeSteps, a service brand of Freddie Mac, is a free-of-charge service to search for homes for sale and local real estate agents, and to learn about a special financing program.