Realtor ®-The Woodlands Real Estate

This should lead it off quite nicely:)

Back in my early days of lending, I recall quite vividly the very first Rehab Loan I did.  While I did some legwork in actually knowing the ropes of that particular product before advertising the bejesus out of a very niche loan, I still was caught like a reindeer in some oncoming car's speeding headlights when trying to get them closed in a streamlined sort of fashion.  And then, I had it mastered.  As my particular luck would have it, most of those programs disappeared shortly thereafter.

The echoes in the back of my head rang of a long-lost product I had only heard about and most of what I heard were borderline horror stories.  The FHA 203(K) loan reared its mysterious head and stared me in my wide-eyed glance.  I gotta admit, there was major hesitation on my part in even wanting to get involved in such a misunderstood product.  I knew little about it and wanted to concentrate more on the Conventional sort of stuff that I grew up with in the industry... at least at that point.  Hey, of course I want to corner the market, but not at the risk of looking like an incompetent SOB at the end of the day.

Then, I encountered experts in that very product.  I figured, let's roll repair.

After doing more homework than my combined High School & College Education would vouch that I did back in the day, I chose to go after a market that just may make a dent in not only enhancing the housing market... but the very neighborhoods we live in.

This is just a taste of the FHA 203(K) Renovation Loan!

• Add a deck or porch, makes for one heck of a Summertime BBQ.
• Upgrade the electrical system and avoid reading overdue utility bills under candlelight.
• Modernize the kitchen and watch the The Food Channel in a comparable stadium.
• Replace a furnace and heck, it's a furnace.  You really don't want that entity breaking down anytime soon!
• Paint the exterior and/or interior.  Yours could be the only lavender house in the neighborhood:)
• Install new carpeting.  There's nothing like getting rid of stained residue from a German Shepard you never owned.
• Remodel a bathroom.  Hey, might as well let loose of your naked body in comfortable surroundings!
• Replace roofing and/or siding.  There were 58 mile per hour winds in Pennsylvania today, that stuff may come in handy.
• Refinish wood floors.  That's a big selling point for yours truly.  I adore wood floors and have an aggressive amount of ShamWow merchandise to prove it:)

Program Features:

• Low down payment
• Buy and remodel a home with one mortgage!  You can finance the purchase plus the cost of the improvements with one monthly mortgage payment.
• At least $5,000 in repairs needed to qualify for the 203(K) Loan.
• They can be used for owner occupied 1-4 unit family dwellings.
• Closing takes place before the improvements/repairs are made.
• Money for the repairs and renovations is held in an escrow account and paid out after each phase of work is completed, inspected and approved.
• By the way, they are fixed rates!

Consider this the teaser post to the taste buds of home renovation lending.  Yup, I'm your proverbial appetizer.

 

Jason Sardi

Mortgage Consultant

1-866-262-8720 ext. 229

jsardi@ihmci.com

Located at our Allentown, Pennsylvania office.  Pennsylvania Based Mortgage Banker/Broker whose area of service include PA, NJ, NY, CT, DE, MD, VA, SC, FL, MI and IN.

I'm all for environmentally friendly practices and I've written for a few years now about various ways to help improve the energy efficiency of homes that are not new construction as well as highlighting programs that utility companies offer for these kinds of home improvements.  In a meeting I was in this week at the Bellevue office of the Seattle-King County Association of Realtors, there was discussion regarding Seattle's plan to make a potential mandatory requirement of energy audits on home owners when they sell their home.  Concerns were raised that these audits would be required at the point of sale of a home and that if a home didn't pass some currently unknown acceptable level it could cancel a sale.

Hmmmmm.... let's see... is this a good idea?

It all stems from a greater common goal of reducing human carbon emissions in commercial and residential buildings which are the largest source of releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.  Seattle is trying to lead the way nationally and as part of its plans has put together the Green Building Task Force.  You can read more about the program at this link.

What I'd like to know is whether this will remain a choice by homeowners, to have the energy performance scoring, or if the city will force sellers to not only be tested, then advertise in property listings what their rating is, but to also then make changes that will upgrade properties as part of a sale.  Some are hypothesizing that this will happen.  I think there'd be too much lashback to have that happen, but you never know.  I'm also of the mind that those that are for the preservation of historic style homes will also weigh in on the potentially devastating aesthetic effect that forced upgrades might create in some of our most charming parts of the city where early 1900's homes exist.

I've already offered to be a test case and to be on the pilot program that would include local real estate agents.  In fact, I actually suggested that they not only ask agents to offer these tests to their clients but to also be a recipient of one of the audits personally to better understand the program and results.  Leading by example is a big thing for me and it only make sense given the line of work.  Plus, I'm also wondering if items outside the house will be part of the overall scoring process.  What is you recapture rain from roofs and decks in rain barrels?  Organic gardening?

What do you think of the ideas presented?

FEBRUARY Spread the Link Love CHALLENGE 

UPDATE: Winner gets 3,000 points....

Posts MUST be reBlogged
from the ECO-All-Stars' Group

 WHAT  does "spread the link love" mean ? In the context of the Eco-All-Stars and our 900+ members, and maybe for the members of your Groups, it can mean a nod to community spirit....colleagues posting and commenting and appreciating the time and energy and valuable contributions of others... 

THINK of yourself as the Acquisitions Editor for an eco-friendly publication. Review what is on your desk. Which posts would YOU select?

THAT'S the February LINK LOVE Challenge.It  sends a Valentine of appreciation. It is a nonlocal hug that counts. 

 

 

HERE is all you have to do:  (UPDATE: Winner gets 3,000 points)

•1)      GO to YOUR OWN posts (current or from way back when) and SELECT the
OK to REBLOG box so that what you have written can be reBlogged.

•2)      EACH DAY for the remainder of the month review posts, then select two (2) posts you would like to share with your readers..

•3)      CLICK on the REBLOG Arrow....possibly write a lead in to the post that you are reBlogging.

•4)     PUT the links of the posts you reBlogged in the comment section here.

•5)      WINNER:The most reBlogged wins...but only IF...that member has commented on others' posts .

 GOOD BACKGROUND INFO: I have been doing some research on reBlogging . If you have any questions, here are two (2)  links that I have found to be  helpful.... 

http://activerain.com/blogsview/633408/Whoops-there-it-is  and http://activerain.com/blogsview/632756/Blog-Blog-and-Now-ReBlog 

Facts about Link Love: 

You can reBlog up to 10 posts in a week.

You can earn points by having your post reBlogged.

Each time someone reBlogs your post, you earn 25 points, up to a maximum of 500 points per post.

____________________________________________________________________________

Curious about sustainable Green real estate possibilities ? Simply pedal on over to  Convivial Blogger Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG  and SUBSCRIBE

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............

 FEBRUARY Spread the Link Love CHALLENGE .The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

____________________________________________________________________________________________

HEY THERE!!! Here is your amazing opportunity to Win 1500 Points!
but there is only 1 Week Left  to enter THE Big (green) Thumbs-up

Eco-All-Stars' JANUARY CHALLENGE...  

 WINNERS ANNOUNCED: January 31, 2009

DEADLINE:  JANUARY 28th, 2009.

NEWBIES NOTE: Generous points make this contest a good one for you

THE ECO-ALL-STARS' JANUARY CHALLENGE**********  

in your own words

·1)    REVEAL HOW  your home buyers might benefit from sustainable (green) home designs

•2)    REVEAL HOW members of the Active Rain Community can demonstrate  to Brad Pitt the benefit of making the designs from his New Orleans project available for a nominal price to Individuals, Eco-communities, and/or Builders and Developers.

 Here is an example...Here is MARY BIGELOW'S  entry

THE  POINTS***********

1,500  points for 1st Place. 
1,000 points for 2nd Place
750  points for 3rd Place
 
 200  points for Entering as per the rules. 

 

ENTRIES MUST USE THIS - 7-Point CHECKLIST ***********
: (check these off and you will be all set)

_____  1.   YOU MUST design and publish your own original contentspecifically for the ECO-ALL-STARS' January Challenge.

_____    2. YOU MUST  put a link to your entry in this post

_____   3. Post MUST be 300+ words with 2+  Photographs

_____  4.   YOU MUST post contest submission(s) in the Eco-All-Stars Group  AND   in at least ONE of the following 2 other groups:  Almost Anything Goes and Active Rain Block Party

_____    5.  YOU  MUST PUT A  LINK to your submission in  the COMMENT SECTION of THIS official contest post so that the judges can easily find your submission. THX!

_____     6.  YOU MUST TAG the post JANUARY 2009 ECO Challenge   and finally...

_____    7. SELECT the Active Rain CHANNEL: "Eco-All-Stars January 2009 Challenge"  when you post  We created that channel so that we will not miss you!

 INCREASE YOUR CHANCES TO WIN the ECO-ALL-STARS' Challenge
Familiarize yourself with this nifty BACKGROUND INFO:

The idea of sustainable or (otherwise known as) Green Building is that the home is built for the Homeowner and thus offers features such as: : ··       Sustainability- will maintain its luster through storms, be more fire resistant, less prone to water damage and other natural occurrences- ··       Energy Efficiency- Save $$ on your utility bills  - ··       Water Efficiency- Can save you money if certain parts of the Country··       Healthier-Products used that will promote a better lifestyle. Especially important to those with Allergies, Asthma, Chemical Sensitivities and other Auto Immune Disorders •·       Low Maintenance- Because none of us like to change our siding, paint, etc. all the time---GOOD IDEA:  .  consider the CONTEXT.... as per Deb Hurt : Dave Roberts:

MORE DETAILS?? See

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/879290/The-ECO-All-Stars-1500-Points-JANUARY-CHALLENGESustainable-Designs-Turn-frosty-white-to-serene-GREEN

 

REBarCamp Houston is an exhilarating gathering of minds & passions in a spontaneous, eclectic, organic, open format event where real estate professionals and technology experts share new discoveries/trends happening in the industry, and discuss their practical application in the present and future of real estate. Get connected with experts - show, tell, share, and learn. Go deep with the innovators of the industry and discuss ways to incorporate on-line strategies, such as blogging, new media, tech tools, social networks, search optimization, and much more, into your business.

And the best thing, it's FREE!!!

In today's challenging market, you need an advantage and skillset that will set you apart from the masses, and empower you for greater success. REBarCamp Houston will help to equip and launch your marketing efforts with a renewed vision and effectiveness!

Keynote speaker, Paul Chaney, co-author of "Realty Blogging" and President of the International Blogging and New Media Association, will open the event with his usual talented enthusiasm. Paul also plans on conducting a few of the sessions as well.

ActiveRain is pleased to be one of the event sponsors, and Community Builders, Brad Andersohn and Rich Jacobson, will be on-hand to facilitate several break-out sessions, including "Boot Camp for Beginning Bloggers," "Social Media 101," and "7 Steps of Effective Blogging."

When:  October 22, 2008 - registration at 8:30AM
Where: Shenandoah Convention & Meeting Facility
(adjacent to The Woodlands Texas)

Follow @rebarcamphou or @mlbroadcast on Twitter for updates, and use the hash tag #rebch08 with all tweets.

For more details, to RSVP, volunteer, or help sponsor this event, go to REBarCampHouston

Well, I guess getting to know someone better through a podcast interview really paid off! - Paul Chaney, author and president of the International Blogging and New Media Association will be joining us a REBarcamp Houston to deliver our Keynote presentation. How cool is that?

Jump over to the REBCH blog for more details and be sure to RSVP soon. You won't want to miss it!

Cheers!

Mike