Useful Stuff

 

IRS.gov - Internal Revenue Service
		The mission of the IRS is to provide America's taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all.

 

USA.gov - Homeowner Resources
		As the U.S. government's official web portal, USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web. USA.gov also serves as the catalyst for a growing electronic government. This particular link goes directly to the site's section on housing-related resources.

 

FEDSTATS.gov - Federal Govt Statistics Center
		FedStats, which has been available to the public since 1997, provides access to the full range of official statistical information produced by the Federal Government without having to know in advance which Federal agency produces which particular statistic. With convenient searching and linking capablilties to more than 100 agencies that provide data and trend information on such topics as economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more, FedStats is your one location for access to the full breadth of Federal statistical information.

 

HUD.gov - Dept. of Housing & Urban Developement
		HUD's mission is to increase home- ownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will embrace high standards of ethics, management and accountability and forge new partnerships--particularly with faith-based and community organizations -- that leverage resources and improve HUD's ability to be effective on the community level.

 

FHA.gov - Federal Housing Authority
		The Federal Housing Administration is the largest government insurer of mortgages in the world, insuring over 35 million properties since its inception in 1934. A part of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FHA provides mortgage insurance on single-family, multifamily, manufactured homes and hospital loans made by FHA-approved lenders throughout the United States and its territories.

 

NCES.ED.gov - National Center for Education Statistics
		The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences, is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education.

 

FTC.gov - Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Protection Site
		This website is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft. On this site, consumers can learn how to avoid identity theft – and learn what to do if their identity is stolen. Businesses can learn how to help their customers deal with identity theft, as well as how to prevent problems in the first place. Law enforcement can get resources and learn how to help victims of identity theft.

 

PROTECTYOURMOVE.gov Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
		Moving to a new home is a significant event that is often stressful, and the U.S. Government, in partnership with the moving industry, law enforcement and consumer groups, is arming consumers with the information they need to protect themselves against one of the most stressful situations that can plague a household move: being taken advantage of by a dishonest or rogue mover.

 

USDA.gov - United States Department of Agriculture Plant Identification Guide
		The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories. It includes names, plant symbols, checklists, distributional data, species abstracts, characteristics, images, crop information, automated tools, onward Web links, and references.

 

EPA.gov - Environmental Protection Agency Radon Information
		EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.

 

USGS.gov - United State Geological Survey
		As the Nation's largest water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. The diversity of our scientific expertise enables us to carry out large-scale, multi-disciplinary investigations and provide impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers.

 

THE MORTGAGE LENDER IMPLODE-O-METER Mortgage "Watchdog" Site and Blogs.
		The mission of ml-implode.com is transparency, education, and accountability. They focus on the housing finance sector, which they believe has become the focal point of extreme distortions in the US economy.

 

MORTGAGE101.com Mortgage Information and Education
		Mortgage101.com is a leader in educating online consumers about the mortgage process and connecting them with the best rates, programs, and local mortgage companies. Developed in 1996, the website is visited by over 750,000 consumers monthly, connecting them to an online network of over 700 mortgage companies.

 

BUGGUIDE.net
		An online community of naturalists who enjoy learning about and sharing our observations of insects, spiders, and other related creatures. They enjoy the opportunity to instill in others the fascination and appreciation shared for the intricate lives of these oft-maligned creatures.

 

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS VISUALIZER
		Pick an indoor or outdoor scene, open a can of virtual paint, and visual how your color choices will actually look on wall. Very cool tool!

 

VALSPAR AT LOWES PAINT NOTEBOOK
		Project-oriented paint selection tool. Choose scense to paint everything from walls to floors to furniture. Very cool tool!