| Fed
Designs New Web Sites
for Home Buyers, Professionals
Community development professionals, bankers and prospective home
buyers can find valuable information on new web sites from the Federal
Reserve. Two sites focus on community development investments and
best practices. Another site helps individuals navigate the sometimes
complex finances of purchasing a home. All three sites were developed
by the Fed’s Community Affairs function.
The Community Development Investments web site explains
Federal Reserve policies that promote investment in community
development
activities by bank-holding companies and state-member banks. The
site features a regulatory overview, information on investment
authority
and procedures, and links to additional resources. State-member
banks will find a link to a form that notifies the Fed of their
investments in community development. The address is www.federalreserve.gov/communityaffairs/cdi/default.htm.
The Lessons Learned: Community and Economic Development Case
Studies site is a database that profiles the methods used
in various communities to finance economic development. Each
case study
identifies a problem, the solution, the results, the lessons learned
and contact information for the project. The address is www.chicagofed.org/cedric/lesle_index.cfm.
First-time home buyers can use Partners Online, a mortgage
loan calculator, to figure projected monthly payments and a maximum
loan amount. The software also offers customized information based
on FHA guidelines or a bank’s underwriting criteria. Partners
Online will tell users whether they prequalify for a loan.
It lists actions that can be taken to qualify for a mortgage.
Information
is available at www.frbatlanta.org/comm.cfm.
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