Buy a Home With a Government Grant? Avoid this Scam

If you watch enough late night television, you'll see advertisements that suggest that the Federal Government is giving all kinds of things away. You'll see ads for auctions that promise that you can buy a Ferrari for $500 or a home for $1000 through "government liquidations" or some such thing. You'll also see ads that promise to tell you how you can get money for free to purchase a home. Is this for real? Will Washington provide you with money to purchase a home?

It shouldn't surprise anyone who wasn't born yesterday that these ads that sound too good to be real are just that. Yes, the Government makes millions of dollars available for certain uses, and yes, some of those uses include housing. But little of that money is available for individuals, and none of it is available for John Q. Public to buy a home on a golf course in Shady Pines Estates. Most of the available funds are available only to businesses and other organizations, not individuals. You can obtain grant money if you own a company that would like to build a 100-unit apartment complex for low-income residents. You might even obtain some grant money if you'd like to overhaul a 100-year old home in a blighted neighborhood as a step towards urban renewal. You won't get the money to build or buy the mansion next door to Tiger Woods.

So yes, funds are available, but only under fairly limited circumstances. And the process of applying for and receiving grant money is fairly complicated. It's not just a matter of filling out a form and waiting for the money to arrive. The process involves a pile of forms, and reports, and plans and outlines for how, when and where you intend to spend the money. After you get the money, you'll probably have to report exactly how the money is being spent and whether or not everything is going according to your plan. Obtaining grant money is not a free lunch. It's hard work, and the people responsible for handing out the money want to know that the money is being spent wisely.

It may be worthwhile to check out what sort of grant money is available. If you are interested, you can find out what's available, for free at http://www.grants.gov. That's a far better alternative than spending money from some huckster on late night TV, and if you decide that you don't qualify for grant money, then you haven't wasted anything but your time.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.

Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to personal bankruptcy, debt consolidation and credit counseling, and HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity loans.

---

Home Mortgage Rate Shopping - Why Some Shoppers Give Up And Others Dont

About 29% of current homeowners and a much larger percent... Read More

Bad Credit Mortgage Lenders - Things You Should Know About Subprime Lenders

Interest rates and fees vary between subprime lenders just like... Read More

Getting a Home Improvement Loan: What Your Bank Needs

The popularity of stores like Home Depot and Lowe's show... Read More

Know Your Mortgage Fees, and Youll Never Pay Too Much for Your Loan

If you buy new windows, you'll not only pay for... Read More

Why You Should Not Get Hung Up on the Interest Rates!!

This is what a mortgage can do for you!AND Why... Read More

Buying a Home With Bad Credit - Get Approved With a Recent Bankruptcy or Foreclosure

A few years ago, if you had a bankruptcy or... Read More

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

If your down payment on a home is less than... Read More

Who Else is Ready to have Their Money Work Harder for Them?

What does it mean to refinance? Why would anyone want... Read More

Selecting the Right Mortgage for You

A mortgage is a loan you take out to buy... Read More

Getting The Best Rates On Mortgages And Loans

With an impending up-grade to the family due in a... Read More

Poor Credit Home Mortgage Loans - The Role of the FICO Score

If you have bad credit history and are looking to... Read More

Why a Mortgage Professional Beats a Banker Every Time -- The Story Tells It All

The best way to explain why a mortgage professional is... Read More

What Is The Best Deal For A Mortgage?

Few of us invest the time and effort into researching... Read More

What Your Mortgage Lender Is Not Telling You About Accelerated Mortgages

For years, mainstream banks and financial advisors have been recommending... Read More

Sorting through mortgage elimination programs

Mortgage elimination programs are all the rage these days. In... Read More

Bad Credit Home Financing - Get The Mortgage Loan You Want Even With Poor Credit

Having poor credit alone cannot hold you back from getting... Read More

Foreclosure Scams To Be Aware Of

Homeowners facing foreclosure should be aware of unscrupulous lenders and... Read More

What You Dont Know About The Real Estate Process, Some Inside Secrets

Some people in the real estate industry have a terrible... Read More

Adjustable vs Fixed Rate Mortgages

Mortgage rates can either be fixed for the duration of... Read More

Mortgage Research Good News for House Buyers

Figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that in... Read More

Borrow on a Budget: Getting the Cheapest Home Improvement Loans

Getting the cheapest home improvement loans isn't always easy. It... Read More

Guide to Mortgages

A mortgage is a loan that is guaranteed by a... Read More

Why Choose a Home Owner Loan?

Most people choose a home owner loan as it can... Read More

What is a Mortgage?

A mortgage is a loan, usually from a bank, finance... Read More

Taking the Time to Find the Best Home Improvement Loans

The best home improvement loans usually aren't going to be... Read More

Florida Refinance - Refinancing in Florida

The decision to buy a home in Florida can be... Read More

Guide to Mortgage Terms

Listed below is a guide to mortgage terms. It is... Read More

Mortgage Terms Explained

When you are hunting for a mortgage, you will find... Read More

6 Helpful Mortgage Tips

Here are some mortgage tips that can help you obtain... Read More

How to Find the Best Mortgage

The purchase of a new home is one of the... Read More

Home Equity Loans ? There?s Gold In That There House

To paraphrase an old familiar quote that goes "there's gold... Read More

Follow A Few Simple Steps To Make Shopping For Your New Home Loan A Little Easier

It is likely to be one of the largest purchases... Read More

Home Mortgage Loan Information - Which Type of Home Loan is Best For You?

If you are considering buying a home, then you may... Read More