Submit your Fafsa Early to Increase your Chance of Receiving Federal Student Loans

NextStudent, the Phoenix-based premier education funding company, recommends that you submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as close to Jan. 1 as possible because, although official deadlines for submitting the FAFSA vary from state to state, disbursement of federal aid is limited and awarded on a first-come first-serve basis. Students and parents should find time before the new year to collect all the information they need to complete the FAFSA so they can be prepared to submit as soon as possible and increase their chance of receiving need-based federal student loans.

The Application Process Made Easier

Students should visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/fafsaws78bw.pdf to get tools that will help them complete the FAFSA, including the pre-application work sheet. Although not part of the official application, this work sheet helps students and parents gather all the information they need to complete their application online (and offline, for that matter), including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, W-2s and Federal Income Tax Returns.

If families have not filed their 2006 tax returns by Jan. 1, they can estimate their income as accurately as possible and then make corrections to their application at a later date by going to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/complete014.jsp

 

Online Advantages

The U.S. Department of Education recommends that students fill out and submit their FAFSA online. Results are received faster than submitting by mail, and the Web version automatically checks the application for errors before submitting, which decreases the chance that it will be rejected due to missing or incomplete information.

When submitting the FAFSA online, the Department of Education requires that the application be signed electronically. Students must apply for a PIN (Personal Identification Number) that serves as the electronic signature. To receive a PIN, users can go to http://www.pin.ed.gov. 

Federal Aid Confirmation

Several weeks after a student submits the FAFSA online, that student and the colleges indicated on his or her FAFSA will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Department of Education. Colleges use that report to determine a student’s financial aid eligibility. It is important for the student to double check the SAR to make sure there are no errors. If there are errors, changes can be made online by going to the corrections link mentioned above.

After a student finds out the types of federal student loans for which he or she qualifies, it then is a good time to look into applying for Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans or Graduate PLUS Loans.

NextStudent’s Federal College Student Loan Programs

NextStudent is a federal lender that can help students and their parents secure student loans for college. Almost every student qualifies for an unsubsidized Stafford loan. It is easy to apply for NextStudent Stafford Student Loans because there are no credit checks, payments are delayed until after graduation, and the interest rate is a low 6.8 percent. 

Other incentives offered by NextStudent include: 3 percent cash rebate on the remaining principal balance after 30 consecutive months of on-time payments when repaying using Auto-Debit, .375 percent interest rate reduction for using Auto-Debit for repayment, and a 2 percent upfront cash rebate.

It is important for students to submit a FAFSA because not all federal aid programs are need-based. When students submit early they put themselves in line to obtain the federal student loans to help pay for their higher education, and NextStudent is there to help with an array of federal student loan benefits and incentives.

 

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about student loans at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

The Home Buying Process – Here are Six Basic Steps you Should Take Before Starting

Before starting the home buying process there’s some basic steps we recommend to help you get the best rates and deals.

Applying for a home loan is important. Most Realtor’s won’t show you homes without a letter from a creditor showing how large a home loan you will qualify for. But ideally, you should work on your home buying project long before you actually apply for a loan and start the process of actually buying a home.

According to a survey taken by the National Association of Realtors most buyers take eight weeks to actually shop for and purchase a home. So don’t panic and think it will take months and months to find a home. It’s more important for you to spend some time on your financial prep work before to ensure the best home buying experience and before you apply for a home loan.
Find Out About Any Home Buying Incentives Available To You

Tom Johnston a local Phoenix realtor advises people to start to talk to a local Realtor as much as six months ahead of time. Tom says, “Most realtors have a good handle on the programs available, and there are a lot of cool programs for the first time buyer”.

For example Johnston says some of the local city governments will offer interest rate or down payment subsidies to buyers that agree to buy a home in certain areas.

In fact, a good friend of mine purchased a home in Peoria, AZ because the city offered her a grant of $15,000 for being a first time home buyer! That translated to a lot less money per month in house payments.

Also governments or employers may subsidize teachers, fire fighters, police officers, nurses and other service professionals who have difficulty affording a home in high-priced communities. Many hospitals that are trying to recruit and retain nurses, might offer a down payment loan, which is forgiven and turned into a grant if that nurse remains employed at the hospital for several years.

So before you start the home buying process, contact your local chamber of commerce’s or talk to a Realtor to see if there are any incentives in the various cities around you, then concentrate on homes in those areas.
Get Your Credit In Shape: Order Your Credit Reports

Before even thinking about home buying, everyone should order their credit report (from all 3 bureaus). It is imperative that you do this before you apply for a mortgage loan and begin searching for a home. You will want to check the reports for errors now.
It is reported that 79% of credit reports contain errors and it is your responsibility to find and remove these – not the company that put the erroneous ding on your credit in the first place.

If you want to see all three reports you can order them from any number of sources or you can go to our website: http://www.1-800BadCredit.com and follow the link. Don’t forget to order your FICO score too – that isn’t included with your free report.

We also recommend that you protect yourself against Identity Theft. According to the FBI this is the fastest growing crime worldwide. If you know anyone who has had their credit stolen then you know the horrible time you are in for if this happens to you. If you think it can’t happen to you, you’re mistaken. It recently happened to Michael Bloomberg the billionaire Mayor of New York City. It can happen to you also. We have information about this service also on our site – check it out.
Pay Down Your Credit Cards But DO NOT Cancel Any Cards!

While paying down your credit card balances will improve your financial picture and score, this is not the time to close credit accounts because reducing the amount of credit available to you can actually lower your credit score.

Also, when applying for a home loan lenders look at longevity with a creditor as a sign of stability. In other words if you have the same cards for 10 years vs. all new credit in the last 6 months.

Jumping from credit card to credit card does not show the banks that you know how to handle “long term debt” responsibly. Don’t assume you should just get rid of your credit cards because you think you have too many. It will improve your credit picture however to pay the balances down.
Get Your Financial Paperwork Organized

Before you start the home buying process and apply for a loan, collect all the financial documents that a lender will need when you submit your application. These documents will also help you put together a realistic budget and figure out your monthly payments for mortgage principal and interest, plus property taxes and insurance.
Documents To Gather When Buying A Home:

§ Tax returns for last two years

§ W-2 income statements

§ Two most recent pay stubs

§ Most recent credit card statement

§ Most recent bank and investment account statement

§ Divorce decrees and child support statement

§ Your budget (this is very important)
Create A Budget

There is a difference between the maximum payment a borrower can qualify for, which can be surprisingly high in some cases – and the amount you can comfortably afford. Before buying a home and applying for a home loan, figure out how much you know you can afford comfortably each month.

Home loan lenders will typically allow you 50% of your income towards a home. But do you really want to spend that much in payments? Are you leaving something for savings? What if the air conditioner goes out or your car breaks down. Budget yourself ahead of time so that you don’t purchase “too much house.” A good, reasonable budget is as much for your benefit as for the lender.

If you haven’t ever put together a budget we’ve provided you with a couple of simple worksheets here:

Simple 1-Month Budget Planner 12-Month Budget Planner

Don’t be intimidated, it’s actually easier than you think to create a budget and when you’re looking into home buying, it’s more important than ever to know exactly how much you’re spending each month and what you NEED vs. what you WANT.

The Florida Real Estate Market & Competition from Other States

Beginning in the 1920s, Florida was a magnet for people looking for an ideal place to call home. For example, senior citizens and retired persons started to move to Florida in ever increasing numbers. The number of retired men and women that flocked to Florida became a proverbial flood after World War II.

Beyond senior citizens, there are over a million so-called Snow Birds that spend part of the year in the Sunshine State. These people spend the summer months in other locales.

Over the course of the past ten years, Florida has started to experience some head on competition in regard to the recruitment of retired individuals and Snow Birds alike. A number of other states have developed intense programs to draw retired men and women to their states as permanent residents and have striven to attract Snow Birds in their own right.

For example, Arizona has been on the forefront of developing a concerted campaign to attract both retired persons and Snow Birds into its borders over the course of the past decade. Indeed, the Phoenix-Scottsdale metro-plex is the fastest growing community in all of the United States.

In addition, many other Southern states have become residential destinations for an increasing number of retirees and Snow Birds alike. For example, a growing number of men and women who might otherwise have landed in Florida are settling instead in the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee. There are other retiree residential destinations such as Branson, Missouri, that have enjoyed tremendous growth.

However, Florida remains the dream locale for many, many people heading towards retirement and for men and women who want to spend winter in a relaxing environment. Additionally, a most concerted effort is being made to stabilize and enhance the Florida real estate market.

First of all, there are a number of important efforts being made to lessen the property tax burden on people who purchase residences in the State. Indeed, there are some constitutional amendments that have been proposed and that are likely to be enacted that should provide significant property tax relief to residents.

In addition, more generalized efforts are being made to stabilize and improve the Florida real estate market more broadly. As with other states across the country, the Florida real estate market has taken some hits in recent years.

Finally, a great deal of effort is being spent on developing a system to improve the availability of more affordable housing. Due to the high dollar damages caused by natural disasters in Florida (and in some other Gulf States) the cost of homeowners insurance actually has made homeownership an impossibility for some men and women today.

In the end, experts who understand the Florida real estate market tend to agree that improvement will be seen in the market in 2008 and beyond. Because direct action is being taken to enhance the state of the Florida real estate market, most predict that the Sunshine State will remain a residential goal for many people.

Forclosures at High Levels Across the Country

Most Americans go for a mortgage to finance their residential properties. This is a good option and in most cases the repayment period is around 15 years. However, there may be times when we face financial hardships and as a result we may be unable to pay the monthly mortgage installments. In such scenarios our properties may face a foreclosure notice from the lender.

A foreclosure notice is recorded to make the default public and to inform interested bidders to bid for the property. It is a mechanism to help lenders to recover their dues from the borrower. If the borrowers pay off the failed installments along with the charges then foreclosures can be avoided. There is also an option to refinance the mortgages through a different lender at a cheaper interest rate. If the borrower fails to take any corrective action in that case the property is sold off to a new buyer. The new buyer will take on all the liability that is associated with the mortgage and start the repayment of the outstanding dues.

States have different time frame to sell off the property from the date the foreclosure notice is recorded. The time period varies and in some states it can be between 90-120 days while in other states it can be up to 12 months. If you are looking for a foreclosure property the best way to approach is through a foreclosure website. You can check out various sites and most of them have a free trial period offer to prospective customers. When buying into foreclosures there are few drawbacks which customers should be aware of. The property should be inspected thoroughly which sometimes become tough if there is a stiff competition. Foreclosed property can also be bought from a lender. Institutions are sometimes in a hurry to sell of distressed properties to shore up their balance sheets. Investors also have a fair opportunity in the present market conditions to buy foreclosed property. After the market turmoil, property rates are surely going to move high. The top cities in present conditions are Phoenix, Denver, Los Angeles and Irvine to name a few. Understanding the federal tax liens is important before buying a property. If you do not have the time to go through the tax procedures, it is always advisable to visit a consultant who is thorough with the procedures. This will help avoid any complications later. All across the United States the situation is quite the same and all the leading lenders such as Citibank, UBS, and Bear Sterns have suffered in the meltdown.

A borrower’s financial position is exposed if a foreclosure notice is recorded. It will become difficult to get fresh loans or enter into transactions with financial institutions. Before buying a mortgage property we should always chalk out our repayment plans. If we get the right property at the correct price investing in foreclosures is a good option. So, you can move in now either as an investor or for yourself. I am certain that the time is right now for making an investment.

Cash is King in Las Vegas Real Estate

Over the last 5 years I have sold a lot of real estate in many different markets nationwide.   In 2003 droves of investors came into the Las Vegas market and purchased single family homes and condos.  In 2004 the scene repeated itself in the Phoenix market.  In 2005 markets like Albuquerque and Austin had a large amount of investors snatch up new construction homes.  In 2006 the Carolinas became hot and east coast investors invested very heavily in many markets in Florida.

All the while I was out buying and selling in many of these markets myself I was sitting on the sidelines in the Las Vegas market because home prices were too high and just did not make good investor cash flow sense.  That all began to change in the summer of 2008 as prices began falling faster that normal and the point of cash flow was once again reached.  This point of cash flow I speak of is a simple equation in which the amount of money an investor can get from renting a home exceeds his/her costs of ownership.  These costs of ownership would include the mortgage, taxes, insurance, repairs, and property management.  With a 20% down payment positive cash flow can now be achieved in this market for the first time in several years.  Las Vegas has lead the nation in foreclosures for well over a year now and the amount of foreclosures coming on the market are near triple the amount from just a year ago.  Nearly 1 home in out of every 70 is in some stage of foreclosure here in the Las Vegas market.  The median home price in Las Vegas has come down near $10,000 a month over the last year from a high of near $300,000 to a new median price of only $189,000.

As a full time investor and also a licensed realtor I spend my time looking for the best deals for myself and my investors here in this market.  Local newspaper articles and analysts talk about 30% declines in values.  The reality is that we are seeing prices that are being discounted 50-70% off of where they were just 2 years ago. Many of my deals over the last month or two are coming in at well below 50% of older higher values from 2006.   I just sold a one bedroom condo at $53,000 that was $148,000 two years ago.  This is near 35 cents on the dollar folks. New 2 year old three bedroom homes that were as high as $300,000 just 2 years ago are now priced under $120,000. 

This opens the doors for virtually anybody to step back into the Las Vegas market and begin buying once again.  Because of the governments Housing Recovery Foreclosure Bill 1st time buyers have a $7500 tax credit to take advantage of; baby boomers and retirees looking to relocate to a warmer weather destination do not have to head south of the border as the Southwest has become affordable once again.  The vacation capital of the world now makes sense again for second home and vacation home buyers and of course investors are delighted to be able to cash flow on their investments again.  Of course all of these groups will benefit greatly as the possibility for appreciation is guaranteed over prices from 2 years ago.  Let’s face it, anyone that purchased in 2006 or 2007 bought at the height of the market and have seen their equity evaporate almost overnight.

We all know that lending has tightened up over the last year.  But prices are ½ of where they were also.  If you have a good job and good credit it is a great time to be buying a home.  Interest rates are at historic lows so I soundly suggest you put a 30 year fully amortized note in place to lock in historic low interest rates as they literally have only one place to go and that is up.  Earlier this week I was chatting with one of my title company officers and she informed me that 85% of her closings are being financed thru a lender.  I offered her the suggestion that she get more cash buyers as only 2 of my 11 deals in the last month have been financed and the other 9 deals or 82% of my deals have all been cash deals.  The old phrase “Cash is King” is never more relevant than right now in this market.  Not only am I getting more deals accepted, but I am getting them at a lower than list price amount in most cases and getting them pushed thru rapidly.  My buyers are very happy because they are getting a great deal at a great low price, closing quickly, getting a great cash flow play and getting tremendous upside appreciation potential too.  I just had a lender counter me over the weekend stating they will accept our lower than list price offer but they want to close in 10 days with our cash offer.  They had two other offers on the table but banks do not want to fool around with financing either.  They want to take the sure sale of cash even if it is at a huge discount.

So folks if you were able to save up some money, not spend it all over the lasts couple of years during the great real estate boom or you still have a line of credit open I suggest you come on back into the Las Vegas market and start looking around for some real bargains.  The banks are ready to deal and the timing to buy a great foreclosure is as good as it gets.

Is Residential Solar Energy Worth It?

The amount of solar energy produced varies greatly depending on which region of the world you may live. Locations that receive plenty of sunlight are the most beneficial when it comes to installing residential solar energy systems. Anybody residing in an area like Florida or Phoenix would really be missing out on some serious savings. You can save thousands of dollars a year with a residential solar energy system if you live in one of these areas. It really is a no-brainer and if you thought you couldn’t afford it, but have some handy-man skills, think again!

Prices and quality will vary when converting your home to residential solar energy. There are many factors that effect the productivity of any solar powered home. The big one is the location in which you live, but another factor can be the type of system that you wish to install.

Some residential solar energy owners disconnect from the utility grid completely and make use of back-up batteries. By including a battery backup system, the price of your solar energy system will increase. However, if you truly want to be free from the utility company, this is your route. The energy is stored within the batteries when more electricity is produced than what is being used. This energy is saved for times in which the panels do not receive any sunlight, such as at night.

Most families decide to stay connected to the utility grid instead of using a battery storage system. By staying connected to the grid you’ll be able to draw additional electricity (when needed) from the power company. This is also necessary for anybody looking to install a partial solar energy system, for those who cannot afford a full system to cover their entire home.

For those who stay connected to the grid and produce more energy than they use at any one time, their meter box will actually rotate backwards. When this happens, it means you’re actually feeding electrical power into the utility grid and getting credit for it on your bill! This is known as “net-metering.”

There are some factors to take into account when looking into the price of a residential solar energy installation. A lot of people can be awe-struck by the initial cost of a system. However, tax rebates are available to families running their homes on green energy. This can help offset the costs drastically and can be in the form of a credit, direct payment, or cuts to your property taxes.

As more residential solar energy options become available and more solar breakthroughs occur, solar energy is becoming more practical than ever. At the same time the cost of all forms of energy continue to rise. Do you actually think they will get lower any time soon? Are you ready to get more for your money and go green?

In today’s day and age we have more opportunities to reduce our footprint and save money than ever before. The cost of installing a residential solar energy system has become affordable for the average family. Depending on the installation, converting your home to utilize solar power can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to upwards of ninety thousand dollars (professionally installed systems are extremely expensive).

If you’ve been worried about our environment or looking to save money, I strongly suggest giving residential solar energy a try. If you can afford a professional installation, go for it! However, if you’re looking to go green and can’t afford such a system, try a do it yourself solar energy project. DIY solar projects sound complicated but are actually very simple and more affordable. The level of quality depends on your care and craftsmanship, but DIY solar panels produce just as much power as any other solar panels!

Employees That Pay You

Employees That Pay You

 

            Business operating costs go up and up.  Possibly, your production and sales can no longer keep pace.  Your first knee-jerk reaction is probably to cut back on overhead. Your next response is lying off some of staff, all the while still trying to meet the same production demands. You may go over your financial data, yearly, quarterly, maybe even more often.  Finally you see it… your energy costs have been increasing for the past few years.  But how do you fix a problem you seemingly have no control over? Well there may be a solution! I suggest that you hire a specialist. This will increase your just slightly but your specialist will more than save this offset many times over.  Who is this Specialist?

  A REM will also look at the tax and rebates available for reduction of utility consumption, they will work with the local utility company to find ways to raise money to fix problems, or help pay for the change out of old equipment. The REM is familiar with the State programs and stimulus money from the Federal Government. To help ensure that your REM provides these services, you can put them into his REM contract.

            A REM is not a fix it all, but by doing audits they can identify the first low cost and high payback projects which will immediately reduce your energy costs.  Then they move on to more long-term efficiency equipment.  They are trained in lighting, heating, ventilating and air conditioning units.  They know boiler systems, and chiller units.  A REM does not replace the maintenance staff, but assist them in identifying poor efficiencies and qualities of equipment.  REMs are often Certified Energy Managers, CEM, and have a background with a PE or Mechanical Engineering license.

            Another resource a REM brings to the table; he assist the public relations department of your company.  If you do not have a public relations division, the REM becomes one.  Their job is to contact outside media outlets and notify them that XYZ Inc. has made certain changes to bring his carbon footprint to such and such a point.  They ensure that the public knows how “Green” your company is becoming.  They scrutinize your competitors and set goals to ahead of them, and present these changes to the authorities whether it is the State or Federal Government authorities. 

The Energy Team.

            Every company should have a “magic six” energy team ideally consisting of a Senior Manager, Accounting Department Representative, Maintenance Manager, the Energy Manager, a Utility Company Representative; (all 3 electric, gas and water)  and of course the REM.  They should meet often at first to set goals, and outline steps to meet those goals.  They should be able to measure the progress completed from their efforts, and they should begin to see the downturn in their utility bills.

            The REM’s job is to not only save money for the company, but also to assist the Mechanical Engineer get the best performance from the equipment so that facility occupants can feel refreshed and relaxed when in the environment they set up.  This takes more than just turn off, turn on equipment depending on the season of the year.  It also takes getting involved with “Earth Day”, “Green Day”, and possibly even the local schools.  This positions your company as a leader in the community when it comes to making the smartest changes to become eco-friendly business.

Who needs to hire a REM?

 

 The United States Government has several REMs as government contractors who are required by contract to save 3 times their salaries in obtainable and measurable energy savings.  These REMs work on the military bases throughout the world all doing the same things at each base, and within their own group they have a powerful ‘reach-back’ program. Because of this,  a REM who has an expertise in one field can assist the other REMs to make base-specific, appropriate recommendations.  If you would like to see if you need a REM in your business do the self screening survey below.

1. Does your facility have a full-time energy manager?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

2. Does your facility have a written energy management plan?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

3. Do you have a reliable, timely and accurate means of measuring energy performance?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

4. Are you on schedule for meeting your energy efficiency goals?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

5. Have you completed comprehensive energy audits at your facilities?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

6. Have you identified and prioritized your energy efficiency projects?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

7. Do you have an annual budget for energy efficiency projects?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

8. Have you installed significant energy efficiency projects already?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

9. Do you have a preventive maintenance program?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

10. Are you practicing reliability-centered maintenance?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

11. Do you have a recycling program?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

12. Do you regularly track and verify utility bills?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

13. Have you entered into any energy savings performance contracts?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

14. Has anyone onsite received an energy efficiency award?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

15. Have you completed any renewable energy projects?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

16. Do you have a peak electric load reduction program in place?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

17. Do you have an emergency or contingency plan for energy shortages,              price spikes, brownouts or blackouts?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

18. Does your senior management support energy efficiency in general?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

19. Would your senior management support an alternatively financed full-time person?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

20. Does your contracting officer understand and support alternative methods of procuring energy efficiency?

[ ] YES

[ ] NO

Totals  Yes: ________ No: ________

 

 

 

Self-screening survey

After taking the above survey address the questions you answered no to.  (If all answers are yes I will address that in a moment.)  What you want to do is try to bring those no’s up to a yes.  Depending on how critical the question answered was a no, and how many no answers you may only need to contract the services of a REM to get you up to speed.  This indicates your energy team is aware of their facility and they are working hard to run it at the best efficiency level they can given the age of the equipment and environment they have to work within.  If you answered all of the questions yes, or even the majority, you may not need a REM on salary, however it is recommended that you bring in the REM or their company to conduct a full energy audit compared to a base year.  It is like every once in a while bringing in an accountant CPA to certify your books, and validate that everything has been properly accounted for.

            Who other than Military needs REMs?  Actually large manufacturing facilities, Commercial Real Estate Owners, School Districts, Hotels and Motels or any other large energy using facility would all benefit from engaging the services of REM.

            What else besides discovering places where we can conserve energy and capture those savings along with appropriate tax credits does a REM do?  Let’s define REM this way:

What can the REM do for you?

The REM can provide a variety of services including:

Energy Awareness Training & Marketing of the Program O&M Improvements Utility Rates & Billing Reviews Low/No-Cost Efficiency Improvement Options Project Facilitation Finding funds – ECIP, Rebates, Grants, Alternative Financing, etc Assistance with Alternatively Financed Projects Performance Assurance of Alternatively Financed Projects New Building Design Review Program Management Support Other Energy Program Support as Assigned

Where Do You Find A REM

            Surprisingly,  a good REM is not easy to find.  You could use a head hunter to track one down, or you could go to companies like Sain Engineering Associates Inc. to help you with your REM problems.  You should also go to the website for the FEMP program that links you to a booklet that describing the proper way to contract a REM.

 

Contracting for a Resource Efficiency

Manager

A Federal Energy Management

Program, Operations & Maintenance

Center of Excellence Guidebook

This book is the best place to begin your search for the REM that you need.  Remember REMs have specialties.  Some are familiar with Nuclear Power productions, Old Boiler Systems, co-generation, heat sink heat pumps, Lighting Control, Closed air handlers, and Chiller Towers.

            You may need to call on companies like CEM of Phoenix to do a stage 1 to a full stage 3 Energy Audit and provide you with a book so you can get started with a REM, that will give you direction.  This Energy Audit will pay for itself the first year if the suggestions are implemented.

            Ideal candidates who need REMs are Hospitals, Multi Building owners (Federal buildings are under government mandate to meet certain goals) School Districts, Hotels, High rise buildings, manufacturing companies, and production distribution companies.  In fact, REMs benefit just about everybody!

 

 

The Self Screening Survey taken from  FEMP Federal Energy Management Program, Contracting for a Resource Efficiency Manager • Page 4

Taken from the Web Site of: Sain Engineering Associates Inc.  Under REMS

 

Contracting for a Resource Manager on line web location: www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/rem_guidebook.pdf -

Get a New Air Conditioner and qualify for upto 1500 stimulus

No one wishes to tell you how hot Arizona can get in the summertime. With average high temperatures over 100 degrees in the summer months, a well-functioning air conditioning system is a must have to making it thru the frequently savage summer heat in comfort. Since your air conditioner gets so much use in the summer and of course, winters are pretty mild here, this seasonal air conditioning usage is the top energy expense for Arizona residents.

Just like we don’t have to explain how hot it becomes during a characteristic Arizona summer, we don’t need to tell you how costly cooling your home in these hottest months of the year can be. Naturally, we’d all like to keep our energy bills lower. If you’re using an older central air conditioning unit, you might be losing plenty of money! A lot of older central AC units use much more energy than do more modern systems and what’s more, it’s used by them less efficiently.

You might be spending a load less cash towards your energy costs and staying cooler in the bargain . What you’ll need to do is to upgrade your home’s central air conditioning system by getting a new unit. The best time to try this is in spring, before the summer temperatures arrive and you’re left paying higher energy bills than you want to.

Of course, a new central air-con unit can be expensive – but you should look at it as in investment in the energy potency of your home. A new, energy efficient central air-con unit is also something which adds to the value of your home ; something that you should bear in mind if you’re planning to relocate in the subsequent two years. The increased price of your home can more than offset the price of a new central air conditioning unit. Naturally, it should also be kept in mind the money you’ll save on energy cooling your home will over time more than pay for the price of a new AC unit as well.

Thankfully, there is help available for householders who would enjoy making this investment in your comfort and efficient energy usage a less expensive one. Rebates are offered by utility corporations in Arizona including SRP ( Salt stream Project ) in the larger Phoenix metropolitan area. There could also be rebates offered by the manufacturers and shops of air con systems to inspire homeowners to upgrade to more recent, more energy efficient central air conditioning units wholesale to the public. $1500 stimulus package now available for 15 and 16 seer air conditioner systems.

Not only are there discounts and incentives available from use providers and makers for householders who decide to purchase a new air conditioning system, the federal government can also help to effectively lower the price of this purchase. tampa florida gas furnaces Delawarecommatampa florida personal air conditionerscomma The Fed. industrial stimulus plan includes a tax break administered through the Energy Star program. Purchasing a new, Energy Star authorized energy efficient central air-con system for your home could mean getting a tax break of as much as $1,500. This helps take some of the sting out of making this dear but terribly worthwhile investment in your home and your own comfort in the summer heat of Arizona. ArticlesBase

Remember, now that spring has eventually arrived this means that summer will be here before you know it ; and summer temperatures have a way of showing up early here in the Grand canyon state and sticking around longer than they do elsewhere in the country.

Will Cash Flow For Cash

Over the last five years I have sold a lot of real estate in many different markets nationwide. In 2003, droves of investors came into the Las Vegas market and purchased single family homes and condos. In 2004, the scene repeated itself in the Phoenix market. In 2005, towns like Albuquerque and Austin saw investors moving in to snatch up large quantities of new construction homes. Finally, in 2006, the Carolinas became hot and certain areas on the Gulf Coast enjoyed profitable buying conditions.

I was on the move throughout this time period, visiting all of these markets and helping my investors find deals there. All the while, I was sitting on the sidelines at home. After 2003, home prices in the Las Vegas valley became too high to cash flow and purchasing here no longer made sense to investors. Of course, that all began to change in the summer of 2008 as the real estate bubble burst abruptly and prices began free-falling throughout much of the West. As home prices plummeted, Las Vegas began to make sense again for investors because the point of cash flow was once again reached. The “point of cash flow” is a simple equation in which the amount of money an investor can make from renting a home exceeds his/her costs of ownership. These costs of ownership include the mortgage, taxes, insurance, repairs, and property management. With a 20% down payment (or in many cases less), positive cash flow can now be achieved in the Las Vegas market for the first time in several years. This is due primarily to the rock bottom prices of the foreclosures that have been flooding the market. Not only has Las Vegas lead the nation in foreclosures for well over a year, but the amount of foreclosures coming on the market now are near triple the amount from just a year ago. Currently, in the Las Vegas valley, nearly one home in 40 is in some stage of the foreclosure process. The median home price has come down approximately $10,000 per month, every month for the last year and a half from a high of near $300,000 to a new median price of only $140,000. These drastic price reductions have created a new buying boom.

Local newspaper articles and analysts talk about a 30% declines in home values here in Las Vegas. But as a full time investor myself and a licensed Realtor, I can tell you the reality is that we are seeing prices that are being discounted 50-70% off of where they were just two years ago. Many of my deals over the last couple of months have been coming in at well below 50% of older, higher values from 2006. I recently sold a one bedroom condo at $31,000 that sold for $148,000 two years ago. That is nearly 20 cents on the dollar! Three bedroom homes, only two years old, that sold new as high as $300,000 are now priced under $120,000. I recently closed on a three bedroom, 1300 square foot home for $75,000. This same home sold for $244,000 just three years ago. Deals like these are typical of what I have been getting for my investors.

These incredible prices open the door for virtually anybody to step back into the Las Vegas market and begin buying once again. Utilizing the government’s Housing Recovery Foreclosure Bill, 1st time buyers have a $8000 tax credit to take advantage of and Baby Boomers and retirees looking to relocate to a warmer weather destination do not have to head south of the border as the Southwest has become affordable once again. The vacation capital of the world now makes sense for second home and vacation home buyers, and, of course, investors are delighted to be able to cash flow on their investments in Las Vegas once again. All of these groups will also benefit from price appreciation over the next several years as the market continues its recovery.

The only bad news, as we all know, is that lending guidelines have tightened up considerably over the last year. But, to offset this, prices are ½ of where they were two years ago. If you have a good job, and good credit, it is a great time to be buying a home. Interest rates are at historic lows and now is a great time to lock in a good rate on a 30 year fully amortized note, rates literally have no place to go but up. Current reports show that nearly 85% of closings in this market are being financed through a lender. So it is clearly still possible to get a loan. However, of the nearly 50 deals I have closed this year, only five of them were financed. Nearly 90% of my deals have been all cash. Not only am I getting more deals accepted, but I am getting them at or near list price in most cases and getting them pushed through rapidly. I just had a lender for a bank owned property countact me stating that they were willing to accept our lower than list price offer as long as we could close in 10 days with all cash (as we had stated). They had two other offers on the table for more money but banks do not want to fool around with financing either. They want to take the sure cash sale even if it is at a huge discount. This just goes to show that even though financing is available, cash is still king right now in this market.

June and July of 2009 have seen record sales in Las Vegas with 4702 and 4602 closes in each of the last two months. After 18 months of declines we have seen 3 months of holding steady on pricing. Investors have sensed the bottom has been reached and are coming in droves to pick up homes and condos at the bottom of the market. So, folks, if you have been able to save some money, or if you still have a line of credit open, I suggest you come back into the Las Vegas market and start looking around for some real bargains. The banks are ready to deal and the timing to buy a great foreclosure is as good as it gets.

Tucson Real Estate Market still Experiencing increased Buyer Activity

Tucson is still experiencing a significant increase in buyer activity, as we head into the Fall/Winter Season.

The amount of active Tucson Home listings on the market was 6,095. This is a decrease of 25% from the same time last year in August 2008. There were also a total of 957 closings in August 2009, when compared to the same time last year, the sales figured are up by 6%.  Tucson home inventory on the market is also showing a decrease which appears to be reinforcing the latest trend for Tucson.

In August this figure was 6.4, a significant decrease from 9.0 in August 2008. However, the median price of sold homes was $162,500 for the month of August 2009, which has reduced 12% from August 2008.

It is therefore a great time to purchase a home as Tucson prices are very affordable, inventory is coming down and home prices appear to be stabilizing. New home builders are offering great incentives for you to buy before the first time home buyer’s tax credit runs out on November 30th 2009.

New property sales are up 52% from the same time last year in August of 2008. The inventory of homes has reduced in the Foothills. 85718 now has around 8 months of inventory compared to a few months ago when the inventory was over 12 months. 85750 still has 11 months of inventory, but this has also reduced from 13 months several months ago. the most significant drop in inventory is in the 85749 Zip Code where three months ago there was over 24 months of inventory. This has now reduced to 10 months, which although still high, is showing signs of improvement.

Many Zip Codes now have a less than six month inventory, a good sign for an improving market. However many lenders still see the whole of Arizona in a depreciating market, and Tucson often gets evaluated with the Phoenix market as one area. Our statistics are quite different.

Interest rates are still very low for FHA and Conventional Loans and this week were hovering around 5%. There are still strict qualifications for Jumbo Loans, but they are out there and at great rates. Fixed Rates can be obtained for 5.5% for less than $500,000 and then 5.75% over $500,000.

The Tucson Real Estate Market is experiencing a significant increase in Buyer activity, something that we will be watching into the usually busier Fall/Winter Season. Remember Tucson homes must be closed before the cut off date of November 30th 2009 to get the tax credit.

Call Anne and Eddie for updated Tucson Real Estate Market news or visit them online at www.TheTucsonExperts.com

Author: Aniruddha Badola

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