Fannie Mae announces guides to educate homeowners and homebuyers

Fannie Mae has launched the first three in a series of “Five Step” guides, offering useful information for current homeowners, those interested in purchasing a home and homeowners who may be struggling with their current mortgage. Each guide focuses on a different topic and provides five specific tips. The first three guides released today provide tips on the following subjects: ►Actions to Take Before Buying a Home: As the housing downturn has shown, homeownership is about more than buying a home. It’s important to make sure you can keep your home over the long-term. Fannie Mae offers five steps to help those thinking about buying a home select the right house for them and understand the affordable financing options that can help make homeownership a long-term success. ►How Housing Counselors Can Help: Whether you’re thinking about buying a home or you’re a current homeowner, Fannie Mae highlights five key ways housing counselors can help make homeownership successful for you. Housing counselors offer professional advice, ensuring you can sustain your home purchase over the long term and providing guidance if unforeseen circumstances make it difficult for you to continue paying your mortgage. ►Protect Yourself From Mortgage Modification Scams: Mortgage modification scams can occur when unscrupulous people prey on borrowers who are struggling to keep their homes. While they promise to help, the people who perpetuate mortgage scams do little to no work, charge excessive fees, and use tactics that often put the homeowner at greater risk of losing their home. If you’re modifying your mortgage or facing foreclosure, Fannie Mae offers five keys ways to protect yourself from mortgage rescue scams. The guides are available online by clicking here. For more information, visit www.fanniemae.com.