Make your home purchase more affordable

By Julie Jalone

October 13, 2009

If you or someone you know is thinking about buying an older home make sure your Realtor and Lender are familiar with Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). Financing your home purchase with an EEM program doesn’t affect your income qualification, down payment or appraisal. You literally can afford a better and more comfortable home, equipped with energy efficient upgrades that pay for themselves and, often, you can have everything ready and installed by the time you move in.

The Energy Efficient Mortgage is recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy and enables you to finance valuable energy-related home improvements directly with your mortgage in such a manner that the improvement savings is documented by a qualified energy professional. Any increase in your monthly mortgage payments will be more than offset by a corresponding decrease in your utility bills, in some cases as much as 50 percent.

With an Energy Efficient Mortgage loan program, you can now affordably:

• Replace/convert outdated furnace and air conditioning units
  to modern, energy efficient central systems
  
• Install vinyl-frame dual pane windows
  
• Upgrade or install attic and wall insulation
  
• Upgrade your water heater
  
• Weatherize your doors, windows, walls and pipe penetrations
  
• Upgrade to energy efficient appliances
  

Even better, financing your home purchase with an EEM program doesn’t affect your income qualification, down payment or appraisal. You literally can afford a better and more comfortable home, equipped with energy efficient upgrades that pay for themselves.

The Energy Efficient Mortgage program is available through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA and ENERGY STAR. The program is limited to home upgrades known to reliably save energy and lower utility costs. If the home you are buying or refinancing was built before 1994 it is almost certain that an energy audit of the property and corresponding improvements will provide sufficient utility savings to more than offset the additional cost added to the mortgage by financing the improvements.

There is no cost to apply for the EEM and it is something everyone who is buying or refinancing a home should consider.

If you are considering buying an older home and would like additional information about an Energy Efficient Mortgage please contact me, Julie Jalone, by email at juliej@jalone.com or call me at (916) 290-9339.

The state of California provides a great environment for active lifestyles and is regarded as one of the top states to call home. The path to owning a home is an exciting time for everyone, but one that will bring additional responsibilities. Having the assistance of a reliable and experienced Sacramento real estate agent will make this process easy and stress free!

Utilized in thousands of construction and building applications throughout the 20^th century, asbestos was a highly regarded mineral due to its heat resistant properties. With its qualities as flame and heat resistant, it was not only versatile, but extremely durable.

Homes and buildings built prior to 1980 still maintain the chance of contain asbestos materials. Exposure to asbestos is easily prevented by taking simple precautions. Many green and healthy alternatives exist that replace the need for asbestos entirely.

Asbestos

If any suspected asbestos is located, do not touch or disturb it as this can break its fibers down and make it become airborne. A professional home inspector can determine the validity of danger and determine the best course of action to take. Asbestos removal in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

The removal of asbestos is a finite process that must be done by a professional. The California Department of Health Services has set standards and regulations in regards to asbestos use and abatement. Despite knowledge of the state’s asbestos problems, many communities throughout California still find themselves constructed atop asbestos deposits.

Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers may lead to the development of a rare, but sevre lung ailment known as mesothelioma. Research demonstrates that over 2,000 to 3,000 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Many variables can affect a mesothelioma diagnosis. These include length latency period, age of diagnosis and cigarette smoking. Due to the fact many symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to less serious ailments, diagnosis is one of the more difficult tasks physicians encounter.

Sacramento Going Green
In the 21^st century, there is no need to put yourselves and your families at risk at the hands of asbestos. In California, construction practices are upgrading methods to suit better lighting, heating, cooling systems and environmentally habitable insulation. The move to a greener lifestyle in Sacramento is helping lead the nation in change to more energy and healthy forms of building products.

Green options such as cotton fiber, cellulose and lcynene should be given consideration as replacements to asbestos. These options have been shown to reduce annual energy costs in the home by 25 percent. Cotton fiber is also becoming a favorite insulation method. Made from recycled batted material, it is then treated to be fireproof. Water based spray polyurethane foam, lcynene, is a healthy insulation which contains no toxic components.

Tax breaks are being offered through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. This package extends energy efficiency tax incentives first enacted in 2005 and even creates some new ones for those who remodel their homes using eco-friendly materials.

Some of the measures that are eligible for tax credits include added insulation to walls, ceilings, or other part of the building envelope that meets the 2009 IECC specifications, sealing cracks in the building shell and ducts to reduce heat loss. Storm doors paired with U-factored rated wood doors are also eligible.