There are many fair housing laws and Presidential executive orders that are in effect that are a part of HUD housing laws and regulations. The Fair Housing Act is Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. It prohibits discrimination in the sale or rental of a home, based on race, color, nationality, religion, sex or family status (e.g. with kids). There are rules against discriminating against families receiving federal financial assistance, rules against discriminating against those with disabilities. The list goes on and on.

HUD housing laws and regulations also include executive orders such as the one that prohibits discrimination in the sale, leasing, rental of a property that is owned or operated by the federal government or provided with federal money. Another executive order puts the Secretary of HUD in charge of coordinating the effort to further fair housing in the US.

To find out more about HUD housing laws and regulations:

1. Start with federal resources on HUD Housing.

2. Use additional HUD Housing law resources.

3. Take advantage of legal sites to find out more on HUD rules.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with HUD housing laws and regulations information on a federal level

HUD Housing information can best be found at a federal level of government. Also take the time to review the federal website's information on general information, news, laws and additional resources.

I recommend: Learn about federal fair housing laws and presidential executive orders from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). You can also find information by state, information in Spanish as well as additional related information. HUD also has helpful resources on what do if you have a housing discrimination complaints, if you have a deceptive contractor or if you witness fraud, waste or abuse. These topics also stand as a warning for any business entering the HUD arena who offer their services to HUD housing developments or homes.

Take advantage of additional HUD housing resources

Many resources can provide information on HUD Housing laws, regulations and rules. Use non-for-profit as well as news sources to help you increase your understanding on the topic.

I recommend: Learn about HUD Rental Housing rules and regulations from the National Housing Law Project. Read from AllBusiness.com how the Department of Housing and Urban Development commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act in 2008.

Learn more about HUD housing laws and regulations

Discover additional information about specific HUD Housing Laws and Regulations from various legal web sources.

I recommend: Find out from USLegal how to fill out how to fill out the HUD-1 and the HUD-1a of the Settlement Statements. They offer in-depth, line by line instructions. JD Supra posts information about the final RESPA Rule and the how the Federal Reserve Board makes more changes to Regulation Z.

Many landlords are often afraid of renting to tenants who are receiving HUD housing benefits. They fear that the low-income tenants may not stick around for long or that the property they purchase may be in disrespair. However, the federal government offers several benefits to investors who buy the property and put it on a HUD housing list for low-income renters.

Before you jump into HUD housing for your next investment property, make sure you do your homework first. You will want to:

1. Get HUD housing information from the federal government and see how you can benefit including tax breaks and grants.

2. Become a certified HUD housing provider so you can rent your property to people with rent vouchers that will be paid directly to you.

3. Find HUD housing available where you live and assess the need of affordable housing.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find HUD housing to buy for your next investment property

For your investment to make a profit, you will want to find a property that is a deal and also make sure that there is a market for affordable housing where you live. Consider using a realtor to help point out some of the best available properties or use a HUD housing directory to do the legwork yourself.

I recommend: Find available HUD homes through HUD Foreclosed.com and to get the latest information available, sign up for HUD's multifamily property disposition mailing lists. This will let you know about available investor properties as soon as they become available. To check out the affordable housing market in the area, check out HUDUser.org which will analyze and break down local housing statistics.

Search HUD housing information for tax breaks and grants

Before using your own money for your HUD housing investment, search out as many tax breaks and grants as you can find to help you pay for it. There are a lot of options for landlords who plan on renting to people who qualify for low-income housing.

I recommend: Affordable Housing Finance Magazine has a state-by-state contact list for tax credits and tax-exempt bonds. Fannie Mae has solutions for HUD buyers who want to purchase multifamily properties. Check out Grants.gov for available housing grants for HUD properties.

Become a certified HUD housing provider

If you become a certified HUD housing provider, it means you can rent your property to people who qualify for affordable housing assistance. Each month they are allotted a rent voucher which is paid directly to you. If you become a certified provider, you won't have many problems keeping tenants in your investment property.

I recommend: HUD's website has a section dedicated to landlords who want to become certified providers. Section8Bible.com has tips and tricks for landlords who receive the Section 8 assistance vouchers from tenants. MassResources.org has a landlord guide to Section 8 on its website.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure you always have your HUD housing property thoroughly inspected before you buy. Some of the properties available have so much damage that it won't make sense to buy.
• •  Apply for as many HUD housing grants as you can find. Free money is always better than loans.

The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is charged with the important task of increasing home ownership in our country, and HUD housing programs provide the means to do so. HUD makes an effort to turn home ownership into a reality for more people and offers support to developing communities.

Because of the sheer magnitude of government programs, it can be difficult to stay on top of all the news concerning housing. Luckily, there are plenty of sources that can keep you up-to-date on the latest HUD housing news and trends. Online sources give daily updates of news about HUD and other forces that affect housing.

To get the complete picture on HUD housing news and trends, it's important to look at a variety of sources.

1. Get HUD housing news such as statistics, goals, and budget information from official government websites.

2. Find analyses of the success of HUD housing programs on websites devoted to housing news.

3. Look for stories in the mainstream press on HUD housing news and trends.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get the official story on HUD housing at government websites

You can find official information on HUD housing programs on government websites. Useful information can include current housing trends, news on current programs, and upcoming opportunities.

I recommend: The HUD Newsroom offers daily updates on HUD programs and news affecting the department's goal of promoting affordable housing. Mortgage Daily is a good source of news about HUD and other government programs, with news about government loans available by paid subscription.

Find information on HUD housing news and trends related to multifamily programs

Many HUD programs involve multifamily housing, as that is the most affordable option for many Americans. Unfortunately, the reality of HUD housing projects often falls short of the department's goal to expand opportunities for safe, affordable housing.

I recommend: Multihousing News provides business owners with timely information on the multihousing industry and includes articles on HUD programs. The American News Project takes a look at HUD's problems in keeping up with the huge demand on the department to build new projects and maintain and upgrade existing projects.

Get HUD housing news from sites targeted to specific populations

As part of its mission, the Department of Housing and Urban Development tries to increase access to affordable housing that is free from discrimination. There are several sources available that keep track of how well HUD is doing with regard to people with disabilities and the elderly.

I recommend: Senior Housing News gives information on HUD news as it affects the retired population. Disability Info comments on HUD efforts to help the disabled, such as providing assistance regarding housing rights to individuals with hearing disabilities.