HOME RESOURCES : Free Pamphlets Offer Expert Advice

Have you ever stumbled ignorantly through a complicated real estate transaction or home remodeling project, relying on advice from friends, only to come across a little booklet that could have told you how to do the whole thing the right way?

Instead of charging ahead blindly, why not first take advantage of the host of free--or almost free--advice on a wide variety of topics published by the state and federal government, trade groups, lenders and nonprofit agencies?

Although the list of available free information is long, some of the best offerings are listed below grouped by interest category:

Home Buyers

First-time home buyers need all the help they can get when it comes to understanding the real estate game. A number of groups publish information for those entering the market.

One of the most basic publications, “Home Buyer’s Vocabulary,” defines common words and terms used in the real estate world. You can get it by sending $1 to the Consumer Information Center, Dept. 123Z, Pueblo, Colo. 81009.

The Consumer Information Center, part of the U.S. General Services Administration, publishes a catalogue four times a year listing more than 200 booklets not only on housing but also on health, employment, finances, hobbies, travel and other topics. To obtain a free copy of the catalogue, write Consumer Information Catalogue, Pueblo, Colo. 81009.

Great Western Bank offers two good, nonpartisan brochures. “How to Shop for a Home” provides information on picking a realtor, finding the right neighborhood and what to expect when applying for a loan. “How to Shop for a Loan” describes various types of mortgages, sources of financing and includes a list of questions consumers should ask when comparison shopping among lenders.

You can get both booklets, along with a “mortgage calculator” to help you figure out your monthly payments at various interest rates, at most Great Western loan offices. Or you can order them by calling (800) 492-7587.

A couple more good pamphlets on home buying and getting a loan come from Home Savings of America. Pick up your free copies of “HouseHunt” or “LoanHunt” by calling or dropping by the Home Savings branch nearest you.

The Mortgage Bankers Assn. of America publishes a brochure on the various types of home loans and a primer on the loan application process. It can be obtained by sending a letter-sized, self-addressed stamped envelope to the group’s Consumer Affairs Department, P.O. Box 65299, Washington, D.C. 20035.

Seasoned investors, as well as first-time buyers, may be interested in “How to Buy a Foreclosed Home,” a brochure that discusses the opportunities in foreclosures and details the program operated by the Federal National Mortgage Assn.

Fannie Mae also offers other brochures, including one that describes the mortgage loan process and one that describes its “3/2 loan program,” which allows buyers to purchase a home with a down payment as low as 3%. The pamphlet includes a list of lenders who are making the loans.

You can get all that information by calling (800) 7-Fannie, or writing to “Fannie Mae,” Public Information Office, 3900 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., Washington D.C. 20016.

If it’s a condominium you’re thinking about buying, you might want to send for “Consumer’s Guide to Buying a Condominium,” a booklet offered by the Institute of Real Estate Management. Free copies can be obtained by writing to the Institute of Real Estate Management, Attention: Customer Service, 430 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611.

Homeowners

Homeowners interested in energy efficiency, insulation, solar power systems and other energy-related topics can write to a service operated by the U.S. Department of Energy for free fact sheets and other source materials. To get a free listing of the information available, call (800) 523-2929 or write CAREIRS, P.O. Box 8900, Silver Spring, Md. 20907.

If you want to do your part in cleaning up the environment, you can get a list of ecologically safe alternatives to store-bought commercial products by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Citizens for a Better Environment, 122 Lincoln Blvd., Suite 201, Venice, Calif. 90291. A similar list can be obtained by writing People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, P.O. Box 42516, Washington, D.C. 20015.

If you’re concerned about contamination in your home, ranging from asbestos to lead paint, get the “Homebuyer’s Guide to Environmental Hazards,” by sending 50 cents to the Consumer Information Center, Dept. 435Z, Pueblo, Colo. 81009.

Many local water and power companies offer free water-saving kits and energy conservation tips. Their telephone numbers are in the white pages of the telephone book. Local officials also provide a number of free booklets on conservation, as well as on crime-fighting, disaster preparedness and service directories. Stop by your city hall or call your local city or county officials.

If you’re thinking about a home equity loan you should read “When Your Home Is on the Line,” which describes the questions you should ask of lenders, a checklist of things to do and terms you need to know when you’re looking for the best deal. You can obtain the booklet by sending 50 cents to The Consumer Information Center, Dept. 428Z, Pueblo, Colo. 81009.

The Western Insurance Information Institute, a nonprofit research group, offers several free leaflets that can help you cut your annual homeowners’ insurance bill or prevent you from being underinsured. Among the institute’s publications are “Home Insurance Basics,” “How to File an Insurance Claim” and “Taking Inventory.”

You can order any of these pamphlets or others on home security and disaster preparedness by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the institute’s publications department, 110 William St., New York, N.Y. 10038. Or call (800) 942-4242.

Older homeowners should be particularly interested in the variety of free publications targeted to retired persons.

Fannie Mae offers a brochure on home-equity conversion, describing how people who own their homes outright or have substantial equity can turn that equity into a source of income. To get the information, write Fannie Mae, Public Information Office, 3900 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016. Or call (800) 7-Fannie.

The American Assn. of Retired Persons also offers a guide to home-equity conversion, along with brochures on adapting homes to the needs of the elderly, a guide to home-sharing for seniors, understanding senior housing and home-equity loans. Order the booklets by writing to AARP Area 9, 4201 Long Beach Blvd., Suite 422, Long Beach, Calif. 90807.

Anyone who needs how-to information will profit by ordering “Simple Home Repairs Inside,” a brochure giving step-by-step directions with pictures on how to repair faucets, plugs, replace doors, windows, tiles, and more. Order it by sending $1.50 to the Consumer Information Center, Dept. 126Z, Pueblo, Colo. 81009.

The Toro Co., meantime, offers a free guide on how to make your home more secure by adding inexpensive, do-it-yourself outdoor lighting. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Lighting Brochure, Toro News Center, 8500 Normandale Lake Blvd., Suite 1200, Minneapolis, Minn. 55437.

If you’re considering a remodeling project, you should first get a copy of “What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor,” a 34-page guide published by the Contractor’s State License Board. The board also puts out a guide to asbestos removal and “A Guide to Filing a Construction Complaint.” They are available by calling (800) 321-2752.

Need an appraiser? The National Assn. of Master Appraisers offers a free directory of more than 5,000 real estate appraisers doing business across the country. To get your copy, write to NAMA, Appraiser Directory, P.O. Box 12617, San Antonio, Tex. 78212-0617 or call (800) 229-6262.

Renters and Investors

If you’re looking for a place to rent, you might benefit from “Consumer’s Guide to Selecting an Apartment,” a checklist and shopping guide published by the Institute of Real Estate Management, Attention: Customer Service, 430 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611.

Some potential renters may find that “Fair Housing: It’s Your Right” is helpful. It outlines protection against discrimination when buying, selling or renting and includes a Housing Discrimination Complaint form to use if you think your rights have been violated. It’s available free from the Consumer Information Center, Dept. 567Z, Pueblo, Colo. 81009.

Once you rent an apartment, you’ll need to know the ins and outs of buying renters’ insurance. So, you should get a copy of “Tenants Insurance Basics,” a handy leaflet published by the Western Insurance Information Institute. Call (800) 942-4242 or send your self-addressed, stamped envelope to the institute’s publications department, 110 William St., New York, N.Y. 10038.

Apartment and office building owners may want to send away for some of the titles offered by the Institute of Real Estate Management. They include: “Safe and Secure: Residential Safety,” a guide for distribution to tenants on medical emergencies, fire prevention, crime prevention and the like; “30 Ways to Conserve Energy in Multihousing Properties”; “Safe and Secure: Office Building Commercial Safety,” and “20 Ways to Conserve Energy in Commercial Properties.” To obtain free copies, write to the Institute of Real Estate Management, Attention: Customer Service, 430 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611.

Real estate investors might also want to get their free copy of Robert J. Bruss’ “Real Estate Newsletter,” which examines a variety of investment topics each month. Bruss writes the “Real Estate Q&A;” column that appears in The Times’ Real Estate Section and other newspapers. You can get your copy by writing to the Robert J. Bruss Real Estate Newsletter, 75 E. Amelia St., Orlando, Fla. 32802.

Bruss also offers a free copy of his monthly “California Real Estate Law” newsletter, which recaps recent legal decisions in the state. You can get it by writing directly to Bruss at P.O. Box 328, Burlingame, Calif. 94011.

Next: A sampling of the wide variety of booklets of interest to renters and homeowners offered by the state Consumer Affairs Department. Also, free catalogues for gardeners.

SEND US YOUR GOOD FREEBIES

Do you know of any good free, nonpartisan, non-promotional consumer-oriented booklets or other materials that you’d like to share with other Times readers? If so, please send your suggestions to Dick Barnes, Real Estate Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, Calif. 90053.