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.

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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…

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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.

Here are a few inexpensive tips that will help you stage and sell your home more quickly:

• Wipe down all of the walls and outlets of dirty fingerprints
• Shampoo Carpeting
• Wash the Windows and Screens
• Vacuum and Dust often
• Remove all books from bookcases
• Pack up the knickknacks
• Clean off everything on kitchen counters
• Put items used daily in a small box that can be stored away when not in use
• Re-Organize Closets and Pantry
• Make Minor Repairs – Touch up any holes, scratches or damage to the walls and if you have touch up paint laying around, touch up these areas
• Keep Lawns Mown and Watered
• Trim Shrubs & Plant Colorful Flowers
• Air out House of Musty or Pet Odors
• De-Personalize – Pack up personal photos and heirlooms.  Buyers can’t see past personal artifacts and you want them to see the home.
• De-Clutter – If you don’t need it, sell it, donate it or throw it away
• Get a head start on packing, you will eventually need to do it anyway

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 1^st, 2^nd and even 3^rd 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.

Where is this week’s hot market????  It seems to be Laguna in Elk Grove.  This past week we had two listings in the Laguna Area of Elk Grove that were almost SOLD faster than we could get them posted in the Multiple Listing Service and Internet.  

There are some great deals out there for the price and size of the homes available.   The homes were 2333 sq ft for $224,950 and 3161 sq ft for $310,000.  There aren’t many areas where you   can pick up a home for under $100 per sq ft. for a newer home.

If you are sitting on the fence waiting for your dream home in these areas, you need to move quickly.  The first home received SEVEN offers within 3 days and the larger home received THREE offers in the 1^st day and SOLD in 1 day.    

 Don’t miss out on your dream home.  You need to be extremely active in your home searching and get out and see the homes the first day they come on the market as they may not be available tomorrow.   

 California Housing Finance Agency “CalHFA” will be the administrator of this program as the state’s affordable housing bank.  In the capital region, unemployment has soared to 12.4 percent and the State of California has more than 42,000 laid off homeowners. 

Beginning on November 1, 2010, the government will help those QUALIFIED individuals help make their mortgage payments (up to $1,500 month) while they look for another job.   They aim to help 19,000 make a few months of mortgage payments between November and next July and 23,000 will receive help in the next two years.

 Qualifications for this program:

• Homeowners must be out of work
• Eligible for unemployment benefits
• Live in the home tied to the problem
• They must be FEWER than 90 days behind on mortgage
• Meet LOW & MODERATE income guidelines (generally less than $70,000 for couples in El Dorado, Sacramento & Placer counties
• EXCEPTION:  Loan must be purchase money mortgage and NOT a refinance

To find out additional information at the KEEP YOUR HOME website at http://www.keepyourhomecalifornia.com/ or call (916) 373-2585.

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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

Utility Rebate Program – Expires 12/31/2012 (www.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/

Rebate Finder:  http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=rebate.rebate_locator

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

For qualifying appliances, visit www.roseville.ca.us/electric/home/rebates/default.asp

 Clothes Washers – up to $75

Refrigerators – up to $100

Heat Pumps – $200/unit

Central Air Conditioners – $550 to $750/unit

Pool Pumps – $400

Solar – $2.00 per AC watt up to $6500   http://www.roseville.ca.us/electric/home/rebates/solar.asp

 SMUD Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

Utility Rebate Program – Expires 12/31/10

For qualifying appliances, visit www.smud.org/en/rebates/pages/index.aspx

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

Room Air Conditioner $50

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

• 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)

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• 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.