Understand the Oct. 3 Changes to HUD-1, Closing Process

The days of filling out the HUD-1 settlement form and getting a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) from the lender are winding down. On August 1, those two forms are going away. The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) disclosure form is going away, too. Replacing them are two new forms: the Closing Disclosure and the Loan Estimate. You can familiarize yourself with these new forms on the website of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which has taken over administration of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) from HUD. Just go to CFPB.gov and type in the name of the …

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USDA Announces Conservation Incentives for Working Grass, Range and Pasture Lands

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that beginning Sept. 1, farmers and ranchers can apply for financial assistance to help conserve working grasslands, rangeland and pastureland while maintaining the areas as livestock grazing lands. The initiative is part of the voluntary Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a federally funded program that for 30 years has assisted agricultural producers with the cost of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. In return, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides participants with rental …

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Thornberry Introduces Bill to Rein in EPA Overreach

Thornberry Introduces Bill to Rein in EPA Overreach Regarding the EPA’s efforts to expand their control of all water, and therefore having more control over private land water, US Congressman Mac Thornberry has proposed a Bill that would better define navigable waters and help protect private land owners from the EPA overreach.  See his press release here…