My New Blog

With more and more people looking to go "Green" and home heating costs on the rise, maybe now is the time to conduct a Home Energy Audit on your home. While it would cost you a few hundred dollars to have a professional conduct this for you, I found a site with tips on how you can do this yourself. Follow this link for instructions: http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11170

On Wednesday, January 8, 2008, the Massachusetts Senate will be voting on whether or not to make a Home Energy Scoring test mandatory on all home sales. This would increase the cost of selling a home, and could cause delays in the closings of sales. For the Massachusetts Association of Realtor's comments on this issue, please visit: http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/campaign/energyscore/explanation

I normally don't support all the negativity the media has been filling the airwaves and papers with, but I thought the 60 Minutes program tonight did a nice piece on the current forclosure market and how it all came to be.  For those of you that missed it, check it out on their website: 

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3756665n

At the 8 minute mark, they interview 2 couples who are now in trouble. It is very interesting to hear how the first couple had no idea or understanding about their variable rate loan. Who were they working with?  I also found it odd that the second couple thought it was fine for their mortgage payment to go up while the market was still rising, but not when the market is going down. They say the only advice they have gotten is to walk away and ruin their credit. Wow, that's some great advice. (I hope my sarcasm came through on that last sentence)

I find it odd that these couples speing hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home did not understand the risk involved in taking out a variable rate loan.

If you are going to buy a home, interview your Agent, Lender, and Attorrney. Find out how long they've been in the business and ask for references. Buying a home is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime. Do your homework, and make a wise, educated decision.