Helping You Go Green!

Here you will find information and resources to help you make your home more energy efficient and green. I welcome all questions!

FREE Home Energy Assessment!
GC Green is a local company who specializes in providing energy assessments of your home and will make recommendations on upgrades that will improve energy efficiency and cost savings! They also can provide you with incentives and programs that can help you pay for these upgrades! Contact Rick Halperin at 619-204-2809 or email at rick@gcgreen.com. You can visit their web site at http://www.gcgreen.com/.

Renovation Financing!
There are lenders who specialize in providing financing to help with improvements that will improve energy efficiency. Whether you are purchasing a new home or refinancing your existing home, you might consider taking advantage of some financing that help you pay for improvement costs! Contact Dennis Fontes from Go Green Lending at 562-505-3668 or email dennis@gogreenlending.com Ask about these loan programs:
- FHA 203k Renovation Loan: provides up to 35k for improvements
- Energy Efficient Mortgage: This mortgage allows you to stretch your debt to income ratio to cover energy efficient improvements in your loan, while ensuring the improvements pay for the increased payment amount for that loan. Check out the Energy Star web site for more information Energy Star - EEM

How much cheaper are CFL's than Incandescents?
Check out the comparison chart between CFL's and Incandescent light bulbs. This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to save money on your energy bill. The CFL's have improved a lot. There are different types of lights available such as cool versus warm lighting. They are also doing a better job at making the bulb more appealing such as the ones used for recessed cans. Remember the higher the number, the warmer the light will be!

Table 2. Cost Comparisons between CFLs and Incandescents

25-Watt Compact Fluorescent

100-Watt Incandescent

Cost of Lamps

$3.40

$.60

Lamp Life

1667 days (4.5years)

167 days

Annual Energy Cost

$6.00

$25

Lamps Replaced in 4.5 years

0

10

Total cost

$29

$134

Savings Over Lamp Life

$105

0

Source: Life Cycle Cost Estimate for ENERGY STAR Qualified Compact Fluorescent Lamp(s)


Low-Cost Ways to Address Green Potential in Your Home
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Green Designation Core Course, the following are low-cost ways you can address your home's Green Potential!

- Use CFL or LED light bulbs
- Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators
- Start a compost pile
- Plant trees
- Insulate hot water heater
- Weatherstrip and caulk doors and windows
- Collect rainwater to water plants
- Paint with low or no VC paint
- Replace heater filters
- Install a programmable thermostat
- Plant a rain garden
- Plant native plants
- Place appliances or office equipment on powerstrips to reduce "phantom" load'
- Install motion sensors in offices and other common areas to turn off lights when not in use
- Install efficient restroom fixtures
- Take advantage of day light
- Provide recycling bins

URGENT - Interest Rate Advisory!

Hi,

I received this notice from an associate mortgage consultant, Brian Beres. I felt it was important information to pass along to you. Interest rates are at an all time low. If you are thinking of buying a home now may be the perfect time! Please read the following and contact the mortgage consultant directly if you have questions.


Thanks!

Crista :)


URGENT - Interest Rate Advisory!

Hi, it's me Brian the Home Loan Guy. I wanted to send you this "Interest Rate Advisory" to let you know that over the last 2 weeks we have seen interest rates increase more than a half percent, ".50%" on all loan programs due to deteriorating market conditions. Interest rates are still in the 4% range on some loan programs, however as the minutes go by rates are increasing at rapid pace!

Many market speculators, and our investors have told us that as the end of the Year nears, and with the New Year to come, to expect higher and higher rates. This is not to say that rates will not go back down from time to time as market conditions improve, it's just a warning to let everyone know that the rates we have seen over the last several months are most likely going to be a thing of the past for a very, very long time! With this being said, it's my professional opinion and urgent suggestion that you recommend to anyone you know who is looking to purchase or refinance property, to do it ASAP in order take advantage of what the market "currently" has to offer. Interest rates reached a historic low in the beginning weeks of November 2010, since then we have seen dramatic rate increases ever since. With information pouring in from speculators and our investors, now is the time to act and lock in a low rate before it's too late!

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to contact me at anytime. I will however be out of the office all day today, Wednesday the 8th attending a mandatory meeting regarding current market conditions and interest rate projections for the New Year. Please feel free to forward my information along to anyone you know who's in need of a Home Loan to either purchase or refinance property, and wanting to take advantage of what the market "currently" has to offer. I am here to help in any way that I can.

Thank you for taking the time out to read this!

Brian Beres
Mortgage Consultant
(951) 639-3733 CA. direct
(702) 207-2283 NV. direct
(702) 528-1925 cell
(702) 940-9862 fax
bberes@beresconsulting.com

"A referral is guiding someone you care about, to someone you trust"

$250.00 towards a Appraisal Report

This coupon can only be used towards the re-imbursement cost of a Home Appraisal Report. This coupon is only good for a 1 time use per customer, per transaction. This coupon can only be used for the customer who we are doing the Home Loan Financing for. This coupon can only be used once the Home Loan Financing transaction for the customer has been completed and the transaction is closed. This coupon can be used on any Purchase or Refinance transaction. This coupon is only valid for an amount up to $250.00. This coupon has NO CASH VALUE and cannot be redeemed for CASH. This coupon cannot be used in connection with any other coupons. This coupon must be presented before the Close of Escrow in order to be valid. For further details please contact me directly, thank you.
Offer expires: December 31st, 2010

$250.00 towards a Home Warranty

This coupon can only be used towards the purchasing of a Home Warranty Protection Policy. This coupon is only good for a 1 time use per customer, per transaction. This coupon can only be used for the customer who we are doing the Home Loan Financing for. This coupon can only be used once the Home Loan Financing transaction for the customer has been completed and the transaction is closed. This coupon can be used on any Purchase or Refinance transaction. This coupon is only valid for an amount up to $250.00. This coupon has NO CASH VALUE and cannot be redeemed for CASH. This coupon cannot be used in connection with any other coupons. This coupon must be presented before the Close of Escrow in order to be valid. For further details please contact me directly, thank you.
Offer expires: December 31st, 2010



If you are a First Time Homebuyer you may qualify to receive $25k in down payment assistance in Escondido!

Hi,

If you are a First Time Homebuyer (by definition, haven't owned a home in the last 3 years) and want to buy a home, but don't have enough for a down payment, then the City of Escondido may have a solution for you. You can receive up to $25,000 of down payment assistance if you qualify as a first time homebuyer and a moderate or low income household. The down payment assistance is a loan that you don't have to make payments on or pay back until you sell your home, transfer it, refinance it, or convert it to a rental.

This may be the opportunity you have been waiting for! You must purchase a home in the City of Escondido. Please give me a call if you want more information on this program or to get a list of approved lenders for this program. You can also visit the City of Escondido web site at http://www.escondido.org/Data/Sites/1/pdfs/Housing/FirstTimeHomebuyerProgramEnglish.pdf 

Happy House Hunting!

Crista :)