Jim Carollo
Assistant Vice President
jim@jimcarollo.com
800-444-4029
- Click topic category to go to that section -
  • Home Buyer Guide
  • Home Seller Guide
  • Borrower Guide
  • Consumer Information & Resources

    Consumer Information & Resources
    B0RROWING MONEY
    Borrow Smart - loan shopping, borrowing strategies and money management
    Debt Counselors - Consumer assistance to get out of debt
    CONSUMER EDUCATION
    The American Council on Consumer Interests - organization for professionals involved in consumer economics
    Consumer Action
    - consumer education and advocacy - site is in English and Spanish
    Consumer Reports - an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization.
    Consumer Review
    - product reviews and ratings written by consumers
    Consumer Tips - consumer tips, resources, advocacy, alerts, advice column
    Consumer Watchdog
    - nationally recognized non-profit education and advocacy organization
    Consumer World - a public service guide cataloging over 2000 of the most useful consumer resources
    CREDIT INFORMATION
    American Collectors Association - resource guide offers information about the credit and collection industry.
    Credit Guide - Multi-lingual guide to knowing and understanding your credit
    Equifax - provider of credit information
    Experian - provider of credit information
    National Foundation for Credit Counseling - a national non-profit network designed to provide assistance to people dealing with stressful financial situations
    Trans Union - source of credit information, offers risk and portfolio-management services
    FINANCIAL NEWS AND INFO
    Bloomberg Investment - provides news, data and analysis to the business community and media outlets.
    CNN Financial Network
    - coverage of world business news and financial markets
    eSignal - global provider of time sensitive financial and business information
    Fast Company - chronicles how changing companies create and compete, highlights teams and individuals inventing the future and reinventing business
    Financial Times - editorial analysis of financial markets, industries, and companies
    FinWeb substantive resources concerning economics and finance-related topics
    Forbes - real-time original reporting on business, technology, investing and lifestyle
    PRARS - Company financial profiles, annual reports, research reports, message boards
    FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
    American Bankers Association - the ABA represents banks of all sizes on issues of national importance
    Financial Executives
    - association for the corporate finance profession
    Mortgage Bankers Association of America - represents legislative and regulatory interests before the United States Congress and federal agencies
    National Association of Mortgage Brokers - non profit organization dedicated to the improvement of the mortgage broker industry
    GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
    Comptroller of the Currency - charters, regulates, and supervises all national banks. Also supervises the federal branches and agencies of foreign banks.
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
    - insures deposits and promotes safe banking practices
    Federal Reserve Board - the central bank of the US, conducts the nation's monetary policy; regulates banking, maintains the stability of the financial system
    Federal Trade Commission
    - enforces a variety of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws
    Office of Thrift Supervision
    - supervises thrift institutions to maintain their safety and soundness in a manner that encourages a competitive industry
    Securities and Exchange Commission
    - the primary mission of the SEC is to protect investors and maintain the integrity of the securities markets
    SEC Edagr Corporate Database
    - access and download information about companies and others who are required by law to file forms with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
    U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
    - federal agency responsible for national policy and programs that address America's housing needs
    HOME IMPROVEMENT
    411 Home Repair - Links for local contractors, architects & landscapers
    Better Homes and Gardens - Encyclopedia of home improvement projects
    DYI Online - Design, purchase materials or find a contractor
    Do It Yourself - Advice on many topics, from appliances to insulation to paint
    e-How - How to do just about everything
    Handyman Wire - Information guide and resource for do-it-yourselfers
    Hints from Heloise - Advice on household projects and cleaning
    Home Toolz - Info for all your home improvement projects
    Home Tips - Ideas, advice, buying guides, and do-it-yourself help
    Lowe's - Home improvement plus online shopping
    Michael Holigan - How to improve your home
    Mr. Fix-It - All your home repair questions answered from radio's Mr. Fix-It
    Natural Handyman - Home repair help, humor, and encouragement
    Old House Web - Unique home-repair and restoration solutions
    Plans for Dummies - Plans and instructions on a variety of projects
    This Old House - America's favorite home renovation TV program
    Today's Homeowner - Home improvement, remodeling and decorating
    Ubuild
    - Do-it-yourself projects and advice for home and garden
    HOME INSPECTIONS
    ASHI - National professional organization of home inspectors in the US and Canada
    CSLB - Contractors State License Board licenses and regulates contractors
    Code Check - guide to the most commonly cited code violations for one and two family dwellings.
    Home Inspector Locator - searchable database of over 3,000 experienced Home Inspectors all across the US.
    House Detective - Ask the Inspector," a public awareness forum
    Pest World - Why you need to inspect a home for termites before buying or selling
    Termite Bites - Prevention, inspection, treatment and facts about termites
    INVESTMENTS
    Briefing.com - live market analysis on the US stock and US fixed income markets
    CBS Market Watch
    - the story behind the numbers
    Smart Money - daily stock and mutual fund recommendations, hourly market updates, personal finance investing research tools
    Yahoo Financial Center - stock market info and financial resources
    LEGAL RESOURCES
    Attorney Directory - Search for an attorney based on location & practice
    Better Business Bureau BBB report can help you determine if a company has a good record
    Consumer Law Page - A "know your rights" consumer law resources site
    Find an Attorney - Categories of lawyers across the US and around the world
    FindLaw - provides access to a comprehensive and fast-growing online library of legal resources for use by legal professionals, consumers and small businesses
    It's Legal
    - do-it-yourself legal resources for consumers
    LectLaw - material on problems and questions consumers run into
    Legal Survival - extensive information on consumer, debtor/creditor, divorce/family, traffic, e-commerce, elder, estate planning, health care, immigration, landlord/tenant, municipal, personal injury, real estate, small business and tax law
    Notice.com - legal and consumer notices of class actions, product recalls, financial notices
    MAPS AND DRIVING DIRECTIONS
    MapBlast - Maps and driving directions on the web
    MapQuest - Online maps and directions
    Yahoo Driving Directions - Driving directions and maps
    MONEY MANAGEMENT
    American Savings Education Council - a coalition of private and public sector institutions to raise public awareness about long-term personal financial independence
    Bank Rate - the web's leading aggregator of information on over 100 financial products
    Dollar Stretcher - living better for less
    Hoover's
    - money management, career development, news, and business travel
    Kiplinger News - personal finance and business forecasting guidance
    MoneyCentral
    - stock research, portfolio tracking, news, online bill payment, retirement, college, taxes, insurance, real estate, and savings information
    Motely Fool - financial education and information
    Quicken - organize and track your finances
    The Money Page - consumer guide to investment, banking and finance
    Pro2Net is a comprehensive online esource for accounting, financial services, human resources, insurance and legal professionals
    Your Money Page - tools and calculators for your financial future
    Worth - manage money, pursue your passions, make a difference
    X-Rate - foreign currency exchange rates
    MORTGAGE AND LOAN INFO
    Multi-lingual Mortgage Guide - download a free guide to choosing the right mortgage, in Spanish and English
    Daily Mortgage Rates - mortgage rate updates by mortgage market information services
    Fannie Mae
    - financial services make it possible for low, moderate, and middle-income families to buy homes
    Freddie Mac
    - corporation chartered by Congress to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing.
    Ginnie Mae - partners with non-profits, the investor community, and others to make homeownership opportunities available to more families.
    Mortgage Law - an informational overview and resources
    Mortgage Magazine - A global database of information related to real estate finance
    VA Home Loan Program - provides information on VA programs, veterans benefits
    MOVING RESOURCES
    Click and Move - They've compiled a directory of over 1,000,000 moving and relocation related services.
    Monster Moving - Directory of movers and moving services worldwide
    Moving Resources - Anything and everything related to moving
    Move Source - full service relocation company providing timely, professional guidance to relocating clients
    Self Storage - Storage locations in the US and Canada
    REAL ESTATE RESOURCES
    ABC's of Real Estate Information and resources useful in buying or selling a home, plus mortgage tools
    Best Places to Live - Get a statistical snapshot of over 3,000 places to live in the US
    Insurance Shop - Receive real quotes tailored to your specific insurance needs
    Home Buyers' Center - Helpful hints, checklists and "To-Do" lists for buying a home, as well as links to other info
    Home Fair - Interactive tools and useful information when buying or selling a home
    Home Path - Help with buying or refinancing a home
    Home Warranty - Comprehensive Plus Plan - 37 items not covered in other home warranty standard plans
    MSN House and Home - Guide to home buying, and tools to research homes, neighborhoods and loans
    Real Estate Library - Resources for Real Estate professionals, buyers, sellers.
    REALS - A comprehensive Real Estate and Mortgage directory
    RealtorŪ Code of Ethics - Available in 6 languages
    1031 Exchange - Use a 1031 exchange to defer payment of capital gains taxes
    TITLE INSURANCE
    American Land Title - ALTA represents the interests of the land title industry on a national level
    The Title Report - Market information for the Title Industry
    Title Web - Online source for information on title industry technologies and trends
    SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
    eSchool Profile - Providing quality school information online
    Great Schools - The premier online guide to K-12 schools
    School Match - School research and data consulting services
    The School Report - School information, reports, and comparisons for moving families.
    US Department of Education - Promoting education excellence for all Americans
    TAX INFO AND RESOURCES
    Taxpayer Relief Act - Explanation of 1997 law and it's imlications
    1031 Exchange - Use a 1031 exchange to defer payment of capital gains taxes