Secure Your Homeownership Journey

March 10, 2026

National Consumer Protection Week may have ended, but the mission to safeguard your largest investment continues year-round. When it comes to your home, “protection” means more than a security system; it means financial transparency and knowing your rights.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provides specialized resources to shield homeowners from predatory lending, hidden fees, and costly surprises.

By exploring the Government Publishing Office (GPO) U.S. Government Bookstore CFPB collection, you can access essential guides such as:

Your Home Loan Toolkit: Your first line of defense against overpaying. It helps you shop for the best mortgage and understand every line item of your closing costs.

Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages: Understand how an ARM works, evaluate its risks, and learn how to review critical application documents to see if it’s the right choice for you.

By utilizing these titles, you aren’t just reading—you’re building a shield for your financial future. Visit the collection today and take the next step in securing your financial well-being.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From the US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger Trudy Hawkins is the Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office, supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).

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Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Homeownership Resources

March 17, 2025

Purchasing a home is a major financial decision that can significantly impact a person’s life. If you are considering buying a new home or refinancing an existing mortgage, a great first step is to check out the following publications from the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) bookstore.

Your Home Loan Toolkit: A Step-by-Step Guide takes home buyers through the home loan process in a breeze. This easy-to-understand toolkit includes interactive worksheets, checklists, smart research tips, financing terms, helpful conversation points to discuss with lenders, and much more. The guide also provides the closing disclosure to help home buyers become more comfortable accepting financial documents.

What You Should Know About Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC). This booklet can help you explore and understand your options when borrowing against the equity in your home. After you finish this booklet, you’ll understand the effect of borrowing against your home, various financing options, how to get the best HELOC, and what to do if the economy or your situation changes.

There are many benefits to homeownership, including:

  • Building equity: When you own a home, you build equity in the property. This means you are essentially paying yourself back for purchasing your home over time.
  • Tax benefits: Homeowners can deduct mortgage interest and property taxes from their federal income taxes.
  • Financial stability: Homeowners tend to be more financially stable than renters. This is because they have a fixed monthly mortgage payment, which can help them build a strong credit history.
  • Sense of community: Homeowners invest more in their communities than renters. This is because they have a stake in the property and want to see it thrive.

Homeownership can be a great investment, but it is important to ensure you are prepared for the responsibilities and costs. By researching and planning, you can increase your chances of success as a homeowner.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.  Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Trudy Hawkins is the Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).

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Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Government Resources for Homeownership

July 14, 2022

Are you considering a home purchase or refinancing?

An excellent resource for homeowners or prospective owners is the Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This handy booklet can help you determine if an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is the best choice for you during the home buying process.

It explains how an ARM works and whether it’s the right option. It also describes important features of the loan the lender is offering, and there’s an easy-to-understand illustration showing the parts of a loan estimate specific to ARM loans.

Another excellent resource Your Home Loan Toolkit: A Step by Step Guide, takes home buyers through the home loan process in a breeze. This easy-to-understand toolkit includes interactive worksheets, checklists, smart research tips, financing terms, helpful conversation points to discuss with lenders, and much more. The guide also provides the closing disclosure to help home buyers become more comfortable accepting financial documents. 

With significant financial changes coming to the mortgage market, it’s more important to understand the critical details of shopping for the right financing, recognizing the risks with the various ARMs, and making the best financing choice for you and your family.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Sign up to receive promotional bulletin emails from the US Government Online Bookstore.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.  Email orders to ContactCenter@gpo.gov

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publications and Information Sales Office.

Images and additional content provided by Government Book Talk Editor Trudy Hawkins. Trudy is the Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).

 

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Posted by Trudy Hawkins