Beware Of Scam Artists

Beware Of Scam Artists

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) just recently published information to help people be on the lookout for scam artists. These scam artists can take advantage of individuals when they are the most vulnerable, during disasters. Please ensure that you share this information with your family, friends and loved ones. Take a few moments to forward this information to help prevent those you know from being taken advantage of.

Green Refinance Plus Program

Green Refinance Plus Program

The Federal Housing Authority and Fannie Mae announced a new program to help pay for energy efficient upgrades in affordable apartment buildings. This is a great program to help the governments mission on improving both living conditions and reducing energy costs and consumption. The program includes funding for energy and water saving upgrades. Please take a few moments to share this program with a friend or a family member. The information below is from the HUD.gov website.

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FHA AND FANNIE MAE ANNOUNCE GREEN REFINANCE PLUS TO PAY FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT UPGRADES IN AFFORDABLE APARTMENT BUILDINGS

Energy Improvement Finance Program for Older Affordable Housing Developments

WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced Green Refinance Plus, a program between HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Fannie Mae to allow owners of existing affordable rental housing properties to refinance into new mortgages that include funding for energy- and water-saving upgrades, along with other needed property renovations.

Under the program, FHA and Fannie Mae will share the risk on loans to refinance existing rent-restricted projects while permitting owners to borrow additional funds to make energy-saving improvements to their properties.

Donovan and Fannie Mae’s Executive Vice President for Multifamily Business Ken Bacon unveiled the program at a senior housing development in the San Francisco Bay Area where HUD is investing in energy-saving green retrofits.

“All across the country, owners of affordable housing properties are looking for a way to refinance their mortgages and to make energy improvements and other needed renovations at the same time,” said Donovan. “This program kills two birds with one stone – it preserves our affordable rental stock and it helps finance upgrades that will save energy and money over the long haul. We must make the smart investments in a more energy independent economy. These investments will strengthen our economy, create the new industries and new jobs of the future and reduce our dependence on an ever fluctuating oil market. ”

Bacon added, “Green Refinance Plus supports Fannie Mae’s ongoing commitment to creating a more sustainable rental housing market that is affordable to low- and moderate-income families. This program will provide more renters with renovated apartments in which to live, allow building owners to better manage their energy costs, and help communities by reducing the environmental footprint of our rental properties. Leveraging existing technology and expertise to bring proven energy and cost savings to rental housing is a win for everyone.”

California Congressman Pete Stark said, “Today's event highlights an exciting new refinancing opportunity for owners of affordable housing to make energy- and water-saving upgrades. It’s appropriate that the Green Refinance Plus program is being unveiled by Secretary Donovan at the Eden Issei Terrace in Hayward, in the heart of a community poised to help propel our country’s clean, green energy economy.”

Approximately every 10-to-15 years, owners of existing multifamily affordable properties typically refinance their mortgages. In older apartment buildings, however, owners are hard-pressed to find additional financing to maintain or improve the physical condition of their properties, including making energy-efficient upgrades. Beginning next month, Fannie Mae and its participating lenders will begin accepting applications to refinance owners’ debt as well as improve the energy efficiency of their properties.

Green Refinance Plus is intended to refinance the expiring mortgages of Low Income Housing Tax Credit and other affordable projects and to lower annual operating costs by reducing energy consumption. Fannie Mae and HUD anticipate approximately $100 million in initial refinance volume with an average loan amount of $3.5 to $5 million. FHA will insure up to an additional four-to-five percent of the loan amount, or an average of approximately $150,000 to $250,000 per loan, to provide additional loan funds to pay for i) property improvements that save energy and water costs for owners and tenants, such as energy efficient windows and ENERGY STAR appliances, as well as ii) other needed property renovations.

Property owners will be able to select the energy- efficiency upgrades that make the most economic sense for their properties. Borrowers will obtain a "Green Physical Needs Assessment" completed by a qualified provider. This assessment identifies property improvements that both reduce energy and operating costs and will help borrowers make rehabilitation choices that will give them the greatest energy savings for their investment.

Green Refinance Plusis an enhancement of the Fannie Mae/FHA Risk-Share program, begun in the 1990s. It will provide funding for the refinance, preservation and energy-efficient retrofits of older affordable multifamily housing properties, including those that are currently in Fannie Mae’s or FHA’s portfolios. This program allows for lower debt service coverage and higher loan-to-value ratios, to generate extra loan proceeds for property rehab and energy-efficient retrofits.

Read more about FHA/Fannie Mae’s Green Refinance Plus Program.

Miami, FL - Requestmaster, LLC form partnership with the Environmental Solutions Association

Miami, FL - Requestmaster, LLC form partnership with the Environmental Solutions Association

Press Release

Miami, FL - Requestmaster, LLC form partnership with the Environmental Solutions Association

Requestmaster and the Environmental Solutions Association (ESA) are pleased to announce a new partnership that is extremely beneficial to both ESA and Requestmaster members.

Requestmaster is an online resource connecting consumers to service professionals. Requestmaster provides a free membership to ESA members with built in tools designed to help them grow their relationships with other businesses such as Real Estate Agents. Their free membership also provides them with a unique and collaborative email marketing system designed to help them stay in touch and foster networking with other businesses in their local communities.

Requestmaster’s goal is to align the services available via Requestmaster.com with industry leaders and associations that promote consumer confidence, standards and integrity. Environmental Solutions Association is the nation’s premiere Indoor Air Quality training organization, and we are proud to have ESA as our partner.

For more information about Requestmaster, visit our website at http://www.requestmaster.com or for press inquiries please call 305-470-2776.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

Just recently we found a great website that provides information on state rebate programs that you might want to be aware of. If you know of someone who is looking to make an investment in their home by installing either energy efficient appliances, solar water heaters, solar panels. This is a great resource to find out what kinds of rebate programs are available and information on who to contact. You may want to share this article with your family or friends who might want to know what programs are out there.

Here are some examples of what I found:

Fort Lauderdale Florida: Fort Lauderdale Smart Watts Rebate Program

Sunset Valley Texas: Sunset Valley - PV Rebate Program

New York: Refundable Clean Heating Fuel Tax Credit (Personal)

Here is some general information about the website:

Established in 1995, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) is an ongoing project of the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). It is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), primarily through the Office of Planning, Budget and Analysis (PBA). The site is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Information about the program:

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is providing a total of $300 million to U.S. states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia to establish rebate programs for new energy-efficient appliances that replace existing appliances in homes. Each state and territory has designed its own program. Rebates will be available until the state or territory program's funding is exhausted.

To find rebates in your area please visit: Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

Telstar Recalls Energy-Saving Light Bulbs Due to Fire Hazard

Telstar Recalls Energy-Saving Light Bulbs Due to Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission just recently announced a recall for energy saving light bulbs due to a fire hazard. If you know of someone that has just recently purchased these energy saving light bulbs please share this article with them. Below are the details from the consumer product safety commission:

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Telstar Recalls Energy-Saving Light Bulbs Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Light Bulbs

Units: About 317,000

Manufacturer: Telstar Products d/b/a Sprint International Inc., of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Hazard: The light bulbs can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Telstar Products has received two reports of fires. In one incident, the fire was contained to the light fixture. The other reported incident resulted in a residential fire.

Description: This recall involves energy-saving light bulbs sold under the Telstar and Electra brand names. The bulbs were sold in two styles: spiral and the "3-Us" shape. The Telstar bulbs were sold in 20 and 23 watts with model number LB-1020 and LB-1023 printed on the packaging. The Electra bulbs were sold in 18, 20, 23, 26, 28, 30, 34, 36, 38 and 40 watts with model numbers LB-18, LB-20, LB-23, LB-26, LB-28, LB-30, LB-1018, LB-1020, LB-1023, LB-1026, LB-1134, LB-1136, LB-1138 and LB-1140 printed on the packaging. "CE 110V," "China" and the wattage number are printed on the bulb.

Sold at: Discount stores throughout New York and New Jersey from August 2010 through March 2011 for between $1 and $1.50

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the light bulbs and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Telstar Products toll-free at (888) 828-1680 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.telstarpro.com

Source: CPSC.gov

Requestmaster, LLC form partnership with the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)

Requestmaster, LLC form partnership with the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)

Miami, FL - Requestmaster, LLC form partnership with the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)
Requestmaster and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors are pleased to announce a new partnership that is extremely beneficial to the InterNACHI's membership.

Requestmaster is an online resource connecting consumers to service professionals. For Home Inspectors, Requestmaster provides a free membership to InterNACHI members with built in tools designed to help them grow their relationships with other businesses such as Real Estate Agents. Their free membership also provides them with a unique and collaborative email marketing system designed to help them stay in touch and foster networking with other businesses in their local communities.
Requestmaster’s goal is to align the services available via Requestmaster.com with industry leaders and associations that promote consumer confidence and integrity. InterNACHI is one of the largest Home Inspector associations in the Home Inspection Industry, and we are proud to have InterNACHI as our partner.
For more details on the offering for InterNACHI members please visit the InterNACHI Home Inspector offering page.
For more information about Requestmaster, visit our website at http://www.requestmaster.com or for press inquiries please call 305-470-2776.