Tag Archives: homeowners
Home Improvements With Free Grants
If you are like so many of today’s homeowners you may be considering greening up your home. Hey, why spend your own money to cut your carbon footprint when you can use free grants courtesy of the US government? After all, it is your tax dollars that you paid in!
Remember one thing and that’s that grants are not loans, so they will not have to be paid back. However there are two basic factors that they will want you to provide them information on. Also understand that there may be a fair amount of paper work.
The government will want to know how much it will take bring your project to completion. That is how extensive is the the work that will need to be done to cut your utility costs. They are also going to want to know how much it is estimated that it will raise the value of your home.
What many people are unaware of and you may be one of them, is that grants for straight forward non-energy related home improvements are also available. One of the most common and easy to get is a grant to make your home wheel chair accessible.
In many of these cases they may require you to have a specified contractor do the work. However; this is in most cases your best option, as the contractors have been pre-certified to do the work and in many cases their fees are also set or capped.
In some rare cases, people have gotten free grants for home improvements after having their home declared a historical landmark. It’s highly unlikely that this is something that you would qualify for but if you do, the amount of renovation and restorative work you can receive at no cost can be quite extensive.
You will not have to be concerned with your beacon score, or collateral or repayment terms, because there are none. The government is not worried about those factors either.
Many people apply for the free grants for home improvements when they are interested in larger home improvement projects. Like new heating or air conditioning units, weatherization or solar panels to conserve energy. These larger projects are the ones that interest homeowners in getting assistance with the bill, which usually comes back to the homeowner in the form of tax credits and decreased energy bills.
But, there are also straight forward grants, if you qualify, that you can get to upgrade your home and make it a safer, nicer place to live. As long as you have a solid plan on the reason for the money, you should be fine. But make sure you have thought it through. Talk to contractors and priced equipment. These will all need to be assessed in the grant application process.
And let’s not forget that the government is encouraging homeowners to weatherize their homes in order to help lower the energy bills and conserve the earth in the long run. When considering weatherization, make sure you think of the front all the way to the back. Remember, it does not help to weatherize part of it; you need to do all of it.
These grant application processes can be tricky, but just be certain that you review everything. Read everything and if you have any questions, ask someone. It is very important you understand what you are applying for. Once you are awarded one of these free grants for home improvements, have fun with your renovation and enjoy the final product.
Talking to your Mortgage Lender for a Loan Modification
Homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgage and are considering applying for a loan modification to save their home from foreclosure should be aware that how you talk to your bank will make a huge difference in the final outcome of your application.
Mortgage lenders do put a lot of emphasis on the interaction they have with their borrowers. Homeowners often end up thinking that simply sending all the required documents and submitting the application is all they can do. The fact is you need to do much more if you are serious about saving your home. You need to engage your mortgage lender in a way where they will not only know about your situation but also try to expedite your application approval sooner than the timeframe they give you.
The first aspect of engaging your mortgage lender is writing a good hardship letter. You need to put in a fair amount of thought in writing this as it is the hardship letter which will inform your bank why they must consider you for a loan modification. It tells your bank about your financial situation and why it is getting tougher for you to meet your mortgage requirements. A good hardship letter can capture your banks attention and allow your application to progress further.
Just be careful not to go overboard on your hardship letter. The letter should not sound so extreme that your lender will feel you wont be able to meet even the modified mortgage payment if they approve your application.
The next step would be to complete your financial worksheet. This is the single biggest reason homeowners get denied or approved for a loan modification. You dont want to go overboard listing so many expenses and being so negative at the end of the month that even a loan modification wont help you save your home or get you out of your financial hole. You want to give the minimum payments you are paying on credit cards along with the exact car payment and current mortgage payment. For example, when it comes to expenses like your grocery bill or gasoline bill there is a little more flexibility with those numbers since your credit report does not report on these areas.
Once you have submitted your loan modification application, it is absolutely essential you follow up regularly with your bank or mortgage lender. Remember, they are talking to thousands of homeowners each day and your file could end up at the back of the pack if you do not follow up at least once a week. You need to make sure your case stays active and you are moving up the line to get your loan reviewed. Follow up in regular intervals and be courteous, each time politely inquiring if they need any information or documentation to expedite the review process.
If you are not sure about how to talk to your bank or you feel you need some assistance for your specific situation, try researching on the internet or get a guide which would not only provide you with step by step instructions on how to modify your mortgage but also give you essential tips on how to talk to your mortgage lender.