Web Resources

Houston Area Links
Appraisal Institute Houston Chapter www.aihouston.com/	Local chapter of professional appraisal organization
The National Association of Professional Mortgage Women - Houston Chapter 007educationportal.com/NAPMWCentral/index.pl?home	Local association of mortgage professionals
Houston Association of Realtors www.har.com	Houston Association of Realtors, local real estate listings and information
Greater Houston Builders Association www.ghba.org/	Professional association of Houston area builders and affiliates
Harris County Appraisal District www.hcad.org/	Harris county tax assessor and real estate information home page
Galveston, Central Appraisal District www.galvestoncad.org/	Galveston, Central Appraisal District
Montgomery, Central Appraisal District www.mcad-tx.org/	Montgomery, Central Appraisal District
Chambers County Appraisal District www.chamberscad.org/	Chambers County Appraisal District
Houston Business Journal www.bizjournals.com/houston	Houston's business newspaper
Houston Chronicle www.chron.com/	Houston's largest local newspaper
Greater Houston Association of Mortgage Brokers www.ghamb.org/	Local Association of Professional Mortgage Brokers
Government Links
The Appraisal Subcommittee (The ASC) www.asc.gov/	The Federal oversight system regarding licensed or certified real estate appraisers.
Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org/	Better Business Bureau
Community Reinvestment Act www.ffiec.gov/cra/	Community Reinvestment Act
Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov/	Comprehensive risk based emergency management programs and assistance
Fannie Mae www.fanniemae.com/	Provides information about federally insured or guaranteed mortgage backed securities
Freddie Mac www.freddiemac.com/	Provides information about federally insured or guaranteed mortgage backed securities
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation www.fdic.gov/	Banking news, information, laws, regulations, bank data and consumer news
The Federal Reserve Board Statistical Releases www.federalreserve.gov/releases/	Information about past and recent Board statistical releases and publications
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) www.hud.gov	Provides information related to federally insured mortgages
Government Printing Office (GPO) www.access.gpo.gov/	The GPO provides free electronic access to a wealth of information products produced by the Federal Government
Ginnie Mae www.ginniemae.gov/	Ginnie Mae
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act www.ffiec.gov/hmda/	Home Mortgage Disclosure Act
RESPA www.hud.gov/fha/	Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act
Texas Appraisers Licensing and Certification Board www.talcb.state.tx.us/	State agency responsible for licensing all Texas Appraisers
Texas Real Estate Commission www.trec.state.tx.us	Regulates and licenses all Texas Realtors
U.S. Census Bureau www.census.gov/	Collects and distributes data about the people and economy of the United
US Department of Housing and Urban Development www.hud.gov/	HUD'S home page
Veterans Administration (VA) Lenders Page www.va.gov/	Provides information about VA mortgages
Mortgage Banking Related Organizations
The National Association of Professional Mortgage Women - Houston Chapter 007educationportal.com/NAPMWCentral/index.pl?home	Local association of mortgage professionals
Mortgage Bankers Association of America www.mbaa.org/	National association of mortgage bankers. What is a mortgage banker?
National Association of Mortgage Brokers www.namb.org/	National association of mortgage brokers. What is a mortgage broker?
National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association www.reversemortgage.org/	Association of reverse mortgage lenders. What is a reverse mortgage?
Texas Savings and Loan Department www.sml.state.tx.us/	Bank regulations and licensing for mortgage brokers
Greater Houston Association of Mortgage Brokers www.ghamb.org/	Local Association of Professional Mortgage Brokers
Texas Association of Mortgage Brokers www.tamb.org/	Local Association of Professional Mortgage Brokers
Real-Estate Related Links
Galveston MLS www.galvestonmls.com	Galveston MLS system. Members only
Greater Houston Builders Association www.ghba.org/	Greater Houston Builders Association
Houston Association of Realtors www.har.com	Houston Association of Realtors, local real estate listings and information
National Association of Realtors www.realtor.com	National Association of Realtors
National Association of Home Builders www.nahb.com/	National Association of Home Builders
Texas A & M Real Estate Center recenter.tamu.edu	Vast amount Texas real estate data and great links to other sites.
Appraisal Related Links
Appraisal.com www.appraisal.com	Web site of interest to appraisers and lenders.
The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board www.talcb.state.tx.us/roster/roster.txt	Underwriters - Search for current Texas Appraiser licenses
Day One www.day1.com	Appraisal Software provider
The Appraisal Institute www.appraisalinstitute.org/	National association of real estate appraisers
Appraisal Institute Houston Chapter www.aihouston.net	Local chapter of appraisal organization
International Association of Assessing Officers www.iaao.org	International Association of Assessing Officers
Employee Relocation Council www.erc.org/	Professional organization committed to the effective relocation of employees.
Relocation Appraisers and Consultants (RAC) www.rac.net	Association of relocation appraisers and consultants
Winsketch www.winsketch.com/	Professional floor plan and living area calculator
Other Fun Stuff
Houston Real-Time Traffic Map traffic.tamu.edu/traffic.html	Real-time traffic from the Houston Area
Houston Sidewalk www.houston.sidewalk.citysearch.com/	Movies, restaurants, bars, music, arts, sports, visitors guide, etc.
Houston Weather www.weather.yahoo.com/forecast/houston_TX_US_f.html	Accurate local weather from with links to national weather info.
Live Search Maps maps.live.com	Find anything, create maps, estimate trip mileage
Welcome to the State of TEXAS www.state.tx.us/	Everything you could want to know about Texas; Government, tourism, recreation, business, employment, education, etc.
Zip Code Look-up www.usps.gov/ncsc/lookups/lookup_zip+4.html

"If I am buying a home, should I get both an appraisal and a home inspection?"

We highly suggest a purchaser get both an appraisal and a Home Inspection performed by individuals well qualified in their fields. Considering the magnitude of your investment in a home, the cost for an appraisal and an inspection are relative bargains. A...

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