Every time I think about energy efficiency or see some new Ad about how "green" a business is all I can think about is that PG&E commercial where the kid is leaving the classroom hollering: "The Future is clean energy!".. It was catchy enough for me. I grew up in one those households where we recycled everything (even separated the paper types) and DROVE it to the recycling center (because it wasn't picked up curbside in our town). We had a compost bucket and were super diligent about turning off lights whenever we left a room. The environment in my home was a sensitive issue. Greenpeace was a standard print item to be found on the coffee table.

SO, I decided to work in the finance business. Makes sense right? The mortgage business has got to be one of the most paper intensive business segments (besides the publishing business) that I know of. Just look at the loan files in your drawer. Those have got to be like small Encyclopedia's. We certainly know there is at least that much information in them; am I right?

About 18 months ago (9-08) I decided that I wanted to give back for all the tree hacking I was doing by my participation in the business. So I committed to giving $1 dollar for every loan I funded to California ReLeaf. 1000 trees later I'm hoping that the $1/tree pledge I give is starting to make a difference. California ReLeaf is an organization committed to planting trees in Urban Centers in California. Link them up. Give some back (it's super easy) and it will cost less than your coffee obsession.

The other thing that I (and my Company) do is promote our ability to fund the Energy Efficient mortgage.

I've even dedicated a section of my Government Loan Programs page to this program feature: Click here:

Part of the FHA Product guidelines. This Program allows for the installation of Solar, Energy Efficient Appliances, Windows and Central Heat/Air units for an amount of either 5% of the base loan amount (subject to appraisal) or a maximum of $8,000. The borrower may opt in for about $2k in weatherization items as well. There is s a new ML that has increased these limits but these are the parameters my company uses. As it turns out, my company is one of the few firms that write this program on top of an FHA loan and I am one of the ONLY AE's at my firm to write this loan (in the country) go figure.

The great thing about this mini-improvement loan is that its cost is not part of the DTI considerations. In that way the loan is basically a free way to improve the home in the first few months of occupancy. All the while improving the long term benefits of the home your customer just closed on. The escrow time is no longer than normal (if properly executed) and Escrow holds the funds on your borrower/contractors behalf for a 90 day period while the work gets done.

So you want to change your advertising this Quarter leading into the all important summer selling season?

GREEN your business?

Have a new product to sell?

Work on understanding the Energy Efficient Mortgage for your customers and Realtors. And if you're interested in California ReLeaf let me know. I've opened a line of communication with this program's CEO/Director. I would love to be able to spearhead a collaborative giving effort.

I've included a Copy of the ML05-21 (FHA Guides on EEM), My Company's Guidelines on EEM & an EEM Checklist to get you started on originating this product today.

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