Before you become a home buyer you first need to learn something about RESPA.

RESPA is the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. The purpose of the Act is to disclose to you the home buyer the costs incurred by buying your new home. It also prohibits kickbacks among the various service providers such as real estate agents, title companies, loan companies, or settlement agents. Kickbacks only drive the costs higher and it is you, the home buyer, who will end up paying the cost of kickbacks. RESPA is enforced by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. To learn something about RESPA, go to the HUD web page that provides all you need to know about RESPA.

Before choosing a realtor, selecting a mortgage company, settlement agent, title company, or buying a home, compare different sites to find the one that best fits you and your needs.