The American Homeowners Foundation was there in September of 1998 to help housing consumers through the refinance rush.

"Start calling first thing in the morning, before lenders get swamped," said Bruce Hahn, president of the Arlington, VA-based non-profit education and research group for homeowners.

Earlier this year, in April, the foundation warned that hot market hotheadedness could lead consumers to spending too much for a home.

"The highest bidder is not necessarily the smartest bidder. There are some prices you just don't want to match or exceed," said Hahn.

And just last month, as zero-down mortgages became more and more the rage, the foundation stepped in with hard questions about the easy money.

"What happens if you lose your job and you have to put your home on the market? You've got a six percent commission to pay plus selling costs. You are up to 8 to 10 percent in transaction costs and you don't have any equity. What are you going to do?" Hahn asked.

Whether it's a caution about the latest realty trend, suggestions about how to overcome some market anomaly or plain basics for home buying, selling or fixing up, the housing consumer watch dog has been at it -- just not in cyberspace. That's changed.

If you've been a frustrated consumer who had to write, e-mail or call for mortgage counseling, REALTOR® referrals, or buying guides, you can now key in http://www.americanhomeowners.org and get the latest on the issues that affect you.

The new site won't win any design contests, and it can be slower than a phone call, but the same housing-related education and services consumers have come to rely upon by other contact means is now available on the Internet.

The foundation is using the launch to announce a new service to objectively monitor public policy issues and legislation that affect real estate consumers.

"In some cases the interests of business groups in the real estate sector can be in conflict with each other and/or the interests of home owners," Hahn said, giving as an example, recent rifts between the National Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents.

Along with reviewing and analyzing the issues, AHF's Public Policy Issues area will allow consumers, using a somewhat sluggish ZIP-code based search engine, to find, contact their local representative and give them what for.

The foundation has also prepared initial position pages on mortgage interest deductions, capital gains on home sales, property rights and the environment, real estate law, private mortgage insurance and computers, telecommunications and the Internet.

"We invite everyone -- real estate editors, business groups, policy makers, and homeowners -- to help by providing additional relevant information to help improve our research quality," Hahn said.

The new site also offers a library of self-help books you can purchase; contracts for home purchases, remodeling and renting; free tips on remodeling, financing, refinancing, buying and selling; mortgage prequalification mortgage application from Norwest Mortgage and a directory of exclusive buyer's agents. Unfortunately you still have to call 1-(800) 489-7776 for the referral.

Published: October 28, 1999

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A journalist for 35-years, Broderick Perkins parlayed an old-school daily newspaper career into a digital news service offering editorial content and consulting services. Perkins' San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group includes the flagship news site, DeadlineNews.Com, offering real estate, personal finance and consumer journalism, and a backshop, the Deadline Newsroom.