Consumer and Job Resources Center

Welcome to our Consumer and Job Resources Center. Here you will find tips and information on a variety of topics impacting you as a consumer, as well as helpful job hunting resources. Please feel free to contact my office for assistance about any of this information.

Housing and Mortgage Resources
Job Resources and Training Information
Student Loan Resources
Consumer Financial Protection

 

 

Housing and Mortage Resources

Put More Money in Your Pocket Today!

Mortgage rates are at historic lows and potentially going lower. You may be eligible to refinance your home and get a lower mortgage rate -- but you may not know it. Day after day I receive calls from concerned homeowners who are trying to refinance their homes and keep up with their mortgages. We know the government can't fix the housing market on its own, but responsible homeowners shouldn't have to get behind on payments before they are eligible for relief, especially when there are tools at hand to help now.

Many mortgages are owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac even though you make your mortgage payments directly to a bank or mortgage servicer. This is important to know because if it is owned by Fannie or Freddie, you may be eligible to take advantage of programs such as the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) or the Home Affordable Refinancing Program (HARP). To find out if your loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac visit some of the links below. If your loan is not owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, there may be other programs available through the Mortgage Settlement recently agreed to by the five leading bank mortgage servicers. You can learn more at www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com.

Below are some links to information and programs to help you. Of course, you can always call my office and we will help you figure out the best options for you and your family.

Making Home Affordable is the one-stop shop for all issues related to HAMP, HARP and the national mortgage servicing settlement. - www.makinghomeaffordable.gov

To find out if your mortgage is owned by Fannie Mae - http://www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup

To find out if your mortgage is owned by Freddie Mac - https://ww3.freddiemac.com/corporate

You can also find out if Fannie or Freddie owns your mortgage from here as well - http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/tools/does-fannie-or-freddie-own-your-loan/Pages/default.aspx


Other helpful links include:

To get your FASFA application: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

 

 

Job Resources

My office has held seven job fairs and workshops over the last three years. The good news is there are more employers who are hiring for jobs in our area participating in these events. I will keep hosting these regular events. Below are some more resources to help you if you or someone you know needs job assistance.

Recent Career Fair Participating Companies

On Tuesday, August 14, 2012, my office hosted our seventh Career Fair pairing job seekers with employers.  Below is a list of employers who participated in our previous Career Fair.

Previous Career Fair Participating Companies

On Monday, September 19, 2011, my office hosted a Career Fair at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall with over twenty employers on hand who were hiring. If you were unable to attend the event or want more information about the previous career fair companies, and current participating companies see the list below:

 

Non-Profit Employment Groups:

 

Federal Job Resources:

 

  • USA Jobs.gov – USAJOBS is the official jobsite for the US Federal Government. You can search USAJOBS to find thousands of available federal jobs, and use our search tools to narrow your results to find the job that is right for you.
  • Career OneStop – You can search for jobs and explore different career options. You can also get tips to help improve your resume and interview skills.
  • Veterans Administration (VA) – Official website for the VA – with a variety of position available nation-wide.

  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) – Located in Golden, is the world’s premiere renewable energy laboratory and is expanding both it's facilities and staff levels.

 

Local Job Resources:

  • University of Colorado Hospital – Located in Aurora, the new Anschutz Medical Campus is expanding both their research and patient care facilities.

  • Find local help – The Department of Labor has offices all over the country that offer employment assistance programs. Find an office near you.

 

Resume Writing & Interview Tips. 

  • http://career-advice.monster.com/  – This website provides tips on everything from how to successfully write a cover letter to how to go about salary negotiations.  There is also helpful advice about all aspects of job hunting.

  • Read Focused Jobseeking – This free publication offers guidelines for taking control of your job search.
     

Fastest Growing Occupations - What are the fastest growing occupations projected to 2018?  Are you thinking of a career change?  If so the U.S. Department of Labor has sent out this list of the fastest growing occupations.

 

Fastest Growing Occupations

Postsecondary Education / Training

Biomedical Engineers

Bachelor’s degree

Network Systems and Data Communications Analysis

Bachelor’s degree

Home Health Aides

Short-term on the-job-training

Personal and Home Care Aides

Short-term on the-job-training

Financial Examiners

Bachelor’s degree

Medical Scientists, Excerpt Epidemiologists

Doctoral degree

Physician Assistants

Master’s degree

Skin Care Specialists

Postsecondary vocational award

Biochemists and Biophysicists

Doctoral degree

Athletic Trainers

Bachelor’s degree

Physical Therapist Aides

Short-term on the-job-training

Dental Hygienists

Associate degree

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Associate degree

Dental Assistants

Moderate-term on the-job-training

Computer Software Engineers, Applications

Bachelor’s degree

Medical Assistants

Moderate-term on the-job-training

Physical Therapist Assistants

Associate degree

Veterinarians

First Professional Degree

Self-Enrichment Education Teachers

Work Experience in a related Occupation

Compliance Officers (except Agriculture, Construction & Health and Human Services)

Long-term on the-job-training

Occupational Therapist Aides

Short-term on the-job-training

Environmental Engineers

Bachelor’s degree

Pharmacy Technicians

Moderate-term on the-job-training

Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software

Bachelor’s degree

Survey Researchers

Bachelor’s degree

Physical Therapists

Master’s degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Bachelor’s degree

Environmental Engineering Technicians

Associate degree

Occupational Therapist Assistants

Associate degree

Fitness Trainers and Aerobic Instructors

Postsecondary Vocational Award

Source: Employment Projections Program, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics "Occupational Employment Projections to 2018," published in the November 2009 Monthly Labor Review

 

 

Student Loan Resources


Congress recently passed a bill extending the low student loan interest rates for federally subsidized student loans.  However, many students and their parents still have questions about options to finance higher education. Below are some helpful resources. 

An overall view of federal aid, how you can fund your education, and other important factors to consider when applying for federal aid:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/funding.jsp

To see the eligibility requirements for federal student loans including students with intellectual disabilities:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/aideligibility.jsp?tab=funding

For an idea of how much federal aid you are eligible for use the following FASFA tool:
https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1

 

 

Consumer Financial Protection


File a Complaint if You've Been Mistreated


As part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).  This entity serves as a “consumer watchdog” for Americans  dealing with banks, mortgage companies and other non-bank financial institutions.

To better protect consumers from predatory practices by the financial services industry, the CFPB has created a website to submit a complaint online.  Once a complaint has been submitted, the CFPB will verify the information with the company and work as a facilitator between you and the company to find a resolution to the dispute. 

Prior to the CFPB, there were few options available for consumers to seek assistance with financial companies.  If you believe you were treated unfairly by a financial institution and would like to file a complaint with the CFPB, visit www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

Millions of Americans are affected by outstanding student loan debt, large credit card balances, and underwater mortgages.  While we should all strive to be responsible consumers, sometimes companies take advantage of unsuspecting and vulnerable individuals.  You deserve a fair shot in repaying their debts and avoiding financial distress.  I remain committed to supporting the CFPB and will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to continue our economic recovery to benefit all Americans.