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Insurance

Ohio Department Of Insurance (Main Page)
For questions or complaints about insurance matters.

Ask Questions When Using Title Insurance Agencies (Ohio)

www.insure.com  
Provides well written, authoritative advice on buying home and other insurance as well as dealing with insurers.  Buyers can search for firms offering specific coverage in their state and can check a company's strength.  You can also link to insurance companies, quote services and agents, but any  selling takes place off their website site.

See Consumer-SOS/Insurance

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Legal

Find The AARP In Ohio
The AARP offers legal advocacy for seniors and may also have state specific consumer brochures which are available to everyone.

Condominium Sales Act (Ohio)
Protects the rights of condominium unit owners.
Mandates disclosures during construction.

Homebuyer’s Protection Act (Predatory Lending Law) (Ohio)
Protects against abusive lending practices committed after December 31, 2006 by non-bank lenders, loan officers and mortgage brokers.

For More Help, See Lawyers, Courts & Self Help

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Media & NonProfits

Call For Action  
Staff of volunteers hear consumer complaints and act as mediators between the service provider and aggrieved consumer and seller.  These volunteers often have the clout of a major TV or radio station behind them which often makes people much more cooperative. 

Your Local Better Business Bureau

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Mortgage Issues & Loan Programs

 If you want to buy a house but don't think you can afford the down payment, consider this: Many lenders offer programs which allow a buyer to get a home for as little as 3 percent by using mortgage insurance.  The premiums vary, depending on the size of the down payment, type of mortgage, and the amount of insurance coverage. 

Many of the groups below either regulate the Mortgage industry or offer assistance for lower income first time buyers. The website offer loans for anyone who qualifies.

Department Of Agriculture
For information about rural housing loan programs.

www.quickenmortgage.com/ 
Provides to be homeowners with information on their credit and obtaining a mortgage.

Bankrate Monitor
Will tell you the best rates for a mortgage or home equity loan.

www.eloan.com
Licensed in at least 40 states, E-LOAN allows consumers to apply for a home loan via e-mail. On this site, consumers can search for the best rates on mortgages and home equity loans. It costs nothing to apply for a loan and your application will get a response within 24 to 48 hours.

www.hsh.com
Current and past mortgage rates and market commentary.  Loan terms and conditions explained
.

Federal Trade Commission-Division Of Credit Practices Bureau Of Consumer Protection (202) 326-3224
For complaints, and reporting unfair lending practices.

Federal Housing Administration (800) 225-5342  
For information about FHA-insured home mortgage loans on one to four family dwellings.

HUD Customer Service Distribution Center (800) 767-7468  
Can order lots of government publications on your legal rights.

HUD Counseling Clearing House (888) 466-3487  
Provides a variety of contacts and information for first-time home buyers, owners, renters and people at risk of default or foreclosure.
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Fannie Mae (800) 732-6643  
Lender with various home ownership programs.

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Moving Companies  (Complaints)   

Federal Highway Adminstration (FHWA) (202) 358-7027(to check on licensing)  
For complaints, licensing and insurance status on interstate moving companies. 

American Moving & Storage Association (703) 683-7410       
They can tell you if the mover is licensed.  For disputes, you have only 60 days after a move to request for arbitration with an interstate mover.  All requests must be in writing.  

Find The AARP In Ohio
The AARP offers legal advocacy for seniors and may also have state specific consumer brochures which are available to everyone.

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Nuisances

Illegal Drug Tipline (Ohio Attorney General)
Works with local law enforcement agencies to fight illegal drug activity in Ohio. The bureau’s Narcotics Unit assists law enforcement on a variety of drug cases, ranging from cracking down on street-level drug dealers to participating in larger investigations involving multiple law enforcement agencies. The bureau also has a special unit that focuses on eradicating marijuana in indoor grow houses throughout the state.

Property Law (An Overview With Some Reference to Ohio Law)
Types of Property, Types of Ownership, Liens, Mortgages and Condo Ownership, Easements, Licenses, Deeds, Titles, Adverse Possession and more!
For Zoning and Unit planning, see "Other Real Property Issues" on left hand index.

Citizens Can Take Action Against Water and Air Polluters (Ohio)

How To Start Your Own Neighborhood Watch (Good For All States)
See Also Basic Tips To Follow For Stopping Crime

Health & Safety
(Consumer-SOS)

Animals (Consumer-SOS)

Neighborhood Organizations
Find out about neighborhood watches and other community groups in your area or anywhere else throughout the country.

Zoning (Consumer-SOS)

Lighting Up for Crime Prevention (HTML)
See right hand side Table of Contents. Outlines the frameworks in which lighting is used to prevent crime, presents key questions to help assess lighting needs, presents evidence of lighting's impact, and suggests numerous resources.

Neighborhood Watch Gets Residents Prepared
See right hand side Table of Contents. Provides residents with the information they need to strengthen their com`ties and effectively prevent and respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, or any kind of disaster through a Neighborhood Watch Program.

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Parks

Google or Check your city government pagesfor "parks" or "recreation"

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Realtors/Brokers

Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (Ohio)
Forms, complaints, appraisers and information for home buyers and sellers.

License Look Up For Ohio Realtors or Ohio Construction

Real Estate Links For Most States and Big Cities

For more on who regulates them,

See Realtors & Brokers

See Occupational Licensing Boards

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RESPA

Homebuyer’s Protection Act (Predatory Lending Law) (Ohio)
Protects against abusive lending practices committed after December 31, 2006 by non-bank lenders, loan officers and mortgage brokers.

RESPA Enforcement (202) 708-4560
Regulates escrow and loan servicing accounts (the taxes and insurance on a mortgage).

RESPA-Consumer Protection Laws For Home Buyers And Home Owners

FAQs On The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
(RESPA)
When RESPA Does & Does Not Protect You against Unfair Housing Practices.

Real Estate Licensee Rules. A compendium of online real estate manuals and laws for most states (34 States Including GA)
Search for rules on discipline, complaints and breach of duties.
Site links don't work unless you link manually.
Select state, use your right mouse click and copy the link into the address box.


County Real Estate Records. A Nationwide Listing of County Real Estate Recording Offices

FAQs On RESPA From HUD

RESPA Resource Links For Many Of The States

For more information about RESPA and where to for complaints.

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Streets/Sidewalks

Ohio Department of Transportation
For roads, public works, transportation.

City Code Site  (All 50 States, Not DC)
Learn how your city code treats, garbage, nuisance and safety hazards.

Also check your city government pages in the phone book for "public works" or "streets and sidewalks."

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Taxes

Tax Assessor Data Base (All 50 States, Not DC)
Find phone numbers and links to tax assessors throughout the US.

See Consumer-SOS-Taxes

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Transportation

Ohio Department of Transportation
For roads, public works, transportation.

See Carpools

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Trees

City Code Site  (All 50 States, Not DC)
Learn how your city code treats, garbage, nuisance and safety hazards.

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Truth In Lending Problems

Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (Ohio)
Forms, complaints, appraisers and information for home buyers and sellers.

Federal Reserve Board
For information on the Truth In Lending Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

See Mortgages

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Utilities

For More See Phones & Utilities

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Veterans

Resource Guide For Veterans and Military Personnel (Ohio)
Scroll down for health medical and financial resources for veterans. also has consumer law.

The Department Of Veteran Affairs (800) 827-1000
For information about the various programs available to veterans.  

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Zoning

Property Law (An Overview With Some Reference to Ohio Law)
Types of Property, Types of Ownership, Liens, Mortgages and Condo Ownership, Easements, Licenses, Deeds, Titles, Adverse Possession and more!
For Zoning and Unit planning, see "Other Real Property Issues" on left hand index.

Citizens Can Take Action Against Water and Air Polluters (Ohio)

City Code Site  (All 50 States, Not DC)
Learn how your city code treats, garbage, nuisance and safety hazards.

Environment Ohio
A statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization that combines independent research, practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for Ohio's environment.

Also check your phone book's city & county government pages for 
you local "Zoning Enforcement Division."

See Also Nuisances
And        Health & Safety

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Home Matters-Ohio