For Attorneys
Pleadings Bank
HERA maintains
a library of useful legal pleadings to help consumer attorneys help the
public. Membership is required to access these pleadings.
APPLY
FOR MEMBERSHIP.
To arrange for training or to discuss the possibility
of co-counseling, contact HERA staff.
For Consumers
Free Housing Counseling
The federal department of Housing and Urban Development funds and certifies local non-profits to provide free counseling to the public. Some agencies are trained to advise just homebuyers, while others are also certified to help residents who already own a home with refinancing and foreclosure avoidance information. Check on the HUD website for the certification information of the agencies listed.
- Click here for the California list at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website
- In Oakland, call 1-800-BE-ALERT (the Oakland City Attorney’s Homeowner Hotline) for information on local agencies.
HERA's Tip Sheet for Home Buyers
Download our homebuyer/homeowner tip sheet about how to protect yourself when taking out a loan.
download Spanish version
(Recomendaciones de HERA para propietario de viviendas
y compradores de vivienda)
California's Foreclosure Process and Timelines - Frequently Asked Questions
Download frequently asked questions about California's foreclosure process and timelines.
Legal Representation
To find legal representation:
- Contact HERA staff
- Visit the National Association of Consumer Advocates at www.naca.net for list of attorneys by state and specialty.
Consumer Workshops
HERA provides free monthly workshops for homeowners and homebuyers that help you get the best home loan you can and protect yourself from scams. We also maintain a list of workshops being provided in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, in addition to our own.
If you want to have your workshops included on our list, please contact HERA staff.
Legislative Information
For the latest information on legislation affecting California consumers, check out:
- National Consumer Law Center’s website at www.nclc.org
- California Reinvestment Coalition’s website at www.calreinvest.org
- Center for Responsible Lending’s website at www.responsinblelending.org
- American’s for Fairness in Lending at www.affil.org