Official sources for researching a property.
A sound real-estate decision relies on primary sources. This directory brings together public agencies and national institutional resources for checking housing data, financing, hazards, taxes and local rules.
44 dependable starting points.
These external links open in a new tab. Always confirm the date, geography and whether information applies to the actual parcel and property. The document icon identifies an external source and does not imply agency endorsement.
INSTITUTIONAL SOURCECensus Bureau · data.census.gov
Official demographic, housing and income profiles for states, counties, cities and census tracts.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEConsumer Financial Protection Bureau
Mortgage education, Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure guides, plus complaint resources.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEHUD housing counseling
Find HUD-approved housing counseling, homebuyer education and local assistance information.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEFEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
Look up official flood-map information for a specific address before making an offer.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEFEMA disaster declarations
Check federally declared disasters by state, county and incident type.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEEPA Envirofacts
Research environmental facilities and regulatory information near an address.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEEPA radon
Learn how to test for radon and locate state radon-program contacts.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEUSGS earthquake hazards
Check earthquake-hazard information and learn how local risk is assessed.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCENOAA climate data
Explore climate normals, weather records and climate data tools for local due diligence.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEIRS · home ownership
Federal tax information for homeowners, sellers, landlords and international transactions.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEUSA.gov · state governments
Official gateway to each state government, where licensing, tax and property rules can be verified.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEUSA.gov · local governments
Find official county and municipal websites, then locate the assessor, recorder, tax and planning offices for a property.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEFederal Housing Finance Agency · HPI
Compare repeat-sales house-price indexes by state, metro, county and ZIP code while reviewing methodology and release dates.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEBureau of Labor Statistics · local data
Research employment, unemployment, wages and industries for states and metropolitan areas.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEFederal Reserve Economic Data · FRED
Build dated economic and housing series while retaining source, frequency, units and revision notes.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEUSDA Rural Development · housing
Check official rural housing loan, guarantee, repair and eligibility resources.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · home loans
Review VA-backed purchase, refinance, appraisal, fee and eligibility information.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCENMLS Consumer Access
Verify mortgage companies and professionals in the nationwide licensing registry before sharing documents or paying fees.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEU.S. Department of Energy · Home Energy Score
Understand the standardized 1-to-10 home energy assessment, estimated energy use and improvement recommendations.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEFreddie Mac · mortgage rates
Review the Primary Mortgage Market Survey methodology and dated weekly national mortgage-rate averages.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEFannie Mae · HomeView
Use the free English- and Spanish-language homebuyer education course and supporting ownership resources.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEFDIC · BankFind Suite
Verify whether a bank is FDIC-insured and review its official profile, history, locations and regulatory information.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCENCUA · Credit Union Locator
Find federally insured credit unions and review official charter, address and insurance-status information.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEOCC · HelpWithMyBank.gov
Read official answers about national-bank accounts and mortgages, identify the appropriate regulator and submit a complaint when applicable.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEHUD · FHA mortgage limits
Look up the current FHA mortgage limit by state, county, property type and calendar year before evaluating program fit.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCENOAA · Sea Level Rise Viewer
Explore coastal inundation scenarios, high-tide flooding and map confidence; use address-level and local planning evidence before deciding.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCECFPB · Consumer Complaint Database
Review published mortgage and financial-service complaints with their dates and context; complaints alone do not establish misconduct.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEEPA · Lead-based paint disclosure
Find current federal disclosure guidance and English- and Spanish-language forms relevant to many older homes.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEHUD · Report housing discrimination
Read fair-housing complaint options and time-sensitive reporting instructions for suspected discrimination.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEUSGS · Groundwater wells
Understand groundwater evidence and the limits of regional well data before ordering a property-specific well test.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEDepartment of Energy · Home energy evaluation
Learn what an energy assessment can reveal about a building and which improvements deserve closer investigation.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCENCES · Public school district locator
Identify public school districts and the school year of the national record before confirming exact address assignment locally.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCENCES · School district boundaries
Review published boundary data with its school year and methodology, then ask the district about current attendance zones.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCECFPB · Mortgage escrow changes
Explain changes in a mortgage payment and distinguish principal, interest, escrow and fees.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCECFPB · PMI cancellation
Check the difference between borrower-requested cancellation and scheduled automatic termination for covered loans.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEHUD · Report housing discrimination
Find the official reporting channel and guidance about time limits and relevant evidence.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEHUD · Disability housing resources
Research accommodations, modifications and housing accessibility with official guidance.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCECensus · Comparing ACS data
Check survey periods, margins of error and compatible geographic definitions before comparing figures.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCECensus · Connecticut county equivalents
Understand the replacement of historical counties with planning regions in current Connecticut statistics.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCECFPB · Compare mortgage Loan Estimates
Use the standardized form and a common set of assumptions to compare loan terms, charges, credits and cash to close.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCECFPB · Mortgage closing scam prevention
Establish trusted settlement contacts and independently verify payment instructions before any transfer.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEEPA · Radon in real estate transactions
Find buyer and seller guidance on testing, interpreting results and qualified follow-up.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCEFTC · Rental listing scams
Learn how false listings operate and verify a property and manager before paying or sharing identity data.
Open sourceINSTITUTIONAL SOURCECFPB · Tenant-screening reports
Review the report used in a rental decision and learn how to identify and dispute inaccurate information.
Open sourceResearch in layers.
Start with the place, continue with property-specific costs and hazards, then finish with documents and professionals in the relevant jurisdiction. A national source is a foundation—not a substitute for state, county or city authority.
- Locate the area and compare Census data.
- Review flood, climate, radon and surroundings.
- Confirm taxes, zoning and licenses locally.
- Request property-specific quotes and reports.