If you haven’t done so, now is the time for your annual home maintenance.
Air Conditioning Filter Change – Replace Filters Monthly to improve energy costs and air quality.
Air Conditioner Inspection – Have you’re a/C inspected by a licensed HVAC mechanic to ensure top efficiency. Don’t wait until it reaches over 100° and your system isn’t working.
Roof Insulation & Ventilation – Property insulated and ventilated attics reduce heating and cooling costs. Make sure attic, vents and soffit are running, open and clear of debris.
Gutters – Clean debris out of gutters; repair any loose or leaking gutters which cause water damage to soffits.
Grout & Caulking: Check grout around sink, tubs, showers, windows and doors. Replace if damaged to protect material behind the walls from water damage and mold growth.
Dryer Vents – Clean out your dryer vent from lint accumulation. Built up lint can keep dryers from running efficiently, drives up energy costs and can cause fires.
The U.S. Treasury released statistics the end of July, 2010 for the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) program. The statistics showed that loans that have been permanently modified had a re-default rate to be around 2% – 5.9% 60 or more days past due after modification and 1.7% 90 or more days delinquent. When those statistics came out, they received a huge outcry from analysts questioning the validity of these statistics.
The Treasury pulled the numbers and re-evaluated the statistics after retaining a third-party consultant to provide independent validation. A few weeks later, they corrected the re-default assessments as follows: 10% of six month old permanent modifications are 60+ days delinquent and 6% are 90+ days delinquent.
Analysts say that’s still too low and the rates will surely go higher the longer the program is in place. Up until six months ago, permanent modifications had been offered to only about 434,716 borrowers. The Treasury has cancelled the temporary modifications of 616,839 borrowers.
The analysts at Barclays are predicting a 60% re-default rate and Fitch Ratings projects 55-75%.
http://www.dsnews.com/articles/print-vie…
When you hear the words “I’ll call you right back” or “I’ll be there”, what are the odds it won’t happen? What happened to personal integrity, did it go out the door? It seems we live in a world of excuses or lies.
How important is it to you to give your word? Verbal promises are nothing more than tongue wagging appeasement to fill up the time when one should be speaking the truth.
Think about it, when you give your word, does it really mean something? It does to me, it means you are known to be Reliable, Respectful, Trusted, Dependable and your Integrity is multiplied.
So next time you give your word, mean it. Wouldn’t you rather have someone tell you the truth? Do you want to be known as the one who always says they will call you back or be there and everyone knows you won’t? Take a step forward and think about the benefits derived from making your “word” count for something (a promise kept). If you can’t call them back, or you can’t make it, be up front and just tell the truth that you can’t make the appointment or you have appointments and won’t be able to call back right away. Sometimes, the truth will set you free.
With the Sacramento Real Estate market full of Short Sale Properties for Sale it is taking longer to close on the purchase of your new home. Due to the vast number of short sale properties available, the banks are starting to back up again on the approval of short sale properties.
If you are unwilling to wait a minimum of 60-90 days for an approval of your offer then a short sale is NOT for you. With the decrease of inventory available for sale in the Sacramento area, we are seeing an increase of multiple offers on our listings for sale. We are also seeing quite a few buyers who are unwilling to wait for short sale approval. This is the main reason we take BACKUP offers on our listings and ask that our buyers be held in backup position. We have seen countless buyers who are in 1st, 2nd and even 3rd backup position get their home. Patience is the name of the game in the short sale process.
If you are making an offer on a Short Sale Property, be prepared for a lengthy process. Updates are sometimes hard to come by, but working with a diligent agent who is well versed in Short Sales will help make the process quite a bit smoother and sometimes quite a bit faster.
After doing a little research, we have located short cuts to assist you in obtaining your Solar Energy & Energy Efficiency Rebates for the Greater Sacramento Area:
PG&E Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Rebates for Qualifying Products:
Clothes Washer – $50.00
Dishwasher $50.00
Room Air conditioner $50
Variable Speed Motor Air handler System $50.00
Whole House Fan $100
Pool Pump Replacement $100
Refrigerator, Freezer & Room AC Recycling $25-$35
Natural Gas Furnace $300
Duct Sealing $200
Roseville Electric – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Utility Rebate Program – Expires 12/31/10 or until funds depleted
Clothes Washers – up to $75
Refrigerators – up to $100
Heat Pumps – $200/unit
Central Air Conditioners – $550 to $750/unit
Pool Pumps – $400
SMUD Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Utility Rebate Program – Expires 12/31/10
Appliances must be ENERGY STAR rated
Duct Sealing $300
Central Air Conditioners $400, $500, $650 or $1,100 depending on efficiency
Clothes Washer – $35, $75 or $125 depending on efficiency
Cool Roof $0.10 – $0.20 per square foot
Dishwasher $30 or $50 depending on efficiency
Heat Pump $400 or $500 depending on efficiency
Refrigerator Recycling $35
Whole House Fan $100
CFL Light: reduced prices at retailers
California – Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program *
Utility Rebate Program – Expires when funds are exhausted
http://www.cash4appliances.org/consumers/Rebate-Form.pdf
Refrigerators $200
Clothes Washers $100
Room Air Conditioners – up to $50
Dishwashers $100
Freezers $50
Water Heaters $300-$750
HVAC $500-$1000
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Equipment must be replacing older, less efficient equipment. The appliance that is being replaced must be recycled, and the program participant must provide evidence that the old appliance was recycled.
Solar Incentives
Federal Incentives – Tax Credit 30% of
State Incentives – Property Tax Exemption
Local Incentives – Rebate from local utility company (see your local utility provider)
SMUD – Solar Rebate Program
Photovoltaic – $1.90 per AC watt
http://www.smud.org/en/community-environment/solar/Pages/index.as
www.smud.org/rebates/
Solar Water Heat $1,500 – per system
Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency
www.energystar.gov/taxcredits
30% of cost up to $1,500 – Expires 12/31/10
Must be an EXISTING HOME & YOUR PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE. New construction and rentals do not qualify.
Biomass Stove
Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Insulation
Roofs (Metal & Asphalt)
Water Heaters (non-solar)
Windows & Doors
30% of cost with no upper limit – Expires 12/31/16
Existing homes & new construction qualify. BOTH PRINCIPAL RESIDENCES and SECOND HOMES QUALIFY. Rentals do not qualify.
Geothermal Heat Pumps
Small Wind Turbines (Residential)
Solar Energy Systems
30% of cost up to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity – Expires 12/31/16
Fuel Cells (Residential Fuel Cell and Micro turbine System)
CCSE (California Center for Sustainable Energy) and California Contractors State License Board also offers the following tips and recommends that you consider the following:
- Get three different contractor’s bids
- Check the status of Contractor’s License at https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/checklicense.aspx. License must be an active A, B, C-10, or C-46 in order to meet the eligibility requirements for the California Solar Initiative (CSI) Program
- Check the Better Business Bureau or personal references of contractor
- Look for feedback from previous customers, talk to customers who have used the contractor and conduct an internet search to find out about the Contractor and Company
- Find out what the average project costs, how much contractors charge per watt, etc. by downloading CCSE program data at https://csi.powerclerk.com/Default.aspx
- Don’t pay more than 10% or $1,000 whichever is less, as a down payment
- Hire only licensed contractors and ask to see their license
- Don’t hire the first contractor who comes along
- Don’t rush into repairs
- Don’t pay cash, and don’t let the payments get ahead of the work
- Get a written contract
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With utility costs on the increase, homeowners and businesses are making the move towards solar energy. We know that solar energy is a good thing, but we don’t always know why.
Advantages
- Government financial incentives available
- No fuel required
- Savings on your utilities are noticed immediately and for many years to come
- Energy from the sun is virtually free
- Solar energy is clean, sustainable and renewable which helps protect our environment
- Solar energy doesn’t release carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide or mercury into the air like most traditional forms of electrical generation does
- Contributes to the decrease of harmful greenhouse gas emissions
- Solar energy is generated where it is needed and can be utilized to offset utility-supplied energy consumption
- Continues to supply energy to your home in the event of a power outage
- Virtually maintenance free and will last for decades
- No additional recurring costs after installation
- If additional energy is required, you can add additional panels
Disadvantages
- Initial upfront costs to install
- Solar panels require a large area for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency
- Efficiency of the system relies on the location of the sun; however this problem can be overcome with the installation of certain components
- Production of energy is effected by the presence of clouds
- No energy will be produced during nighttime although a battery backup system and/or net metering will solve this problem
- Pollution can be a disadvantage as it can degrade the efficiency of photovoltaic cells
- Appearance
As you can see, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages for installing solar energy and with all of the government incentives now may be the time for you to consider solar energy.
Check back for the next blog on Government incentives available for Solar Energy products.
Are you still on the fence trying to decide whether to keep on renting or take the leap into home ownership? You may never again experience these low home prices combined with the lowest interest rates ever again. Check out this handy calculator to help you see the advantages of home ownership. (CLICK HERE)
If you are still unsure, you should contact a REALTOR to discuss the advantages of purchasing a home and find out how much of a loan you can qualify for.
Don’t be left sitting on the fence saying should’ve…..would’ve…..could’ve Act now and contact your Real Estate specialist.
Fair Oaks Fun Facts
You haven’t enjoyed Fair Oaks, CA until you have been to Fair Oaks Village and enjoyed the free roaming chickens and roosters. It has been such a delight for many to enjoy lunch, dinner, shopping or a concert in the park with our feathered friends. The village is so famous for it’s chickens, it made the pages of People Magazine.
The celebration of our feather friends continues again this year at the 4th Annual Chicken Festival sponsored by Fair Oaks Park and Recreation District on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Come out and enjoy the celebration with lots of craft and food vendors, bands, fun and games for the kids and a special Microbrew area for the adults.
The charm of the chickens and the centrally located town makes Fair Oaks one of the most desirable towns in the Sacramento area. Fair Oaks charm is that it has a little country feel with city amenities. Fair Oaks boarders the north edge of Lake Natoma and the American River. Many residents enjoy walking, biking or rafting down the American River Parkway.
Jean Wright, Realtor
If you haven’t done so, now is the time for your annual home maintenance. 
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