IMPORTANT Loan Mod Attorneys under investigation

I like to keep this blog positive, but if anyone has hired an attorney for their loan modification, they need to be aware of this...
This just in from the California Board of Realtors®
LOAN MODIFICATION ATTORNEYS UNDER INVESTIGATION
The State Bar of California has recently launched numerous investigations against attorneys for misconduct related to loan modifications. In a rare move, the State Bar has released the names of 16 attorneys under investigation, by opting to waive investigation confidentiality in favor of public protection. These attorneys have allegedly taken fees for promised services, but failed to perform those services or even communicate with their clients who face the possible loss of their homes. Their non-attorney staff may also be under investigation for unlawfully practicing law.
Not all attorneys engaged in loan modifications are unscrupulous. However, this announcement from the State Bar serves as a good reminder for REALTORS® and their clients to be careful when dealing with attorneys and others for loan modifications. Scam artists may intentionally associate or affiliate themselves with attorneys in an attempt to lend credence to their fraudulent schemes. The list of attorneys currently under investigation is available at http://calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10144&n=96395.

Rmember, the best thing you can do is contact your lender directly, do your research online and see what government programs you are eligible for (refer to my previous blog entry on loan modifications,) and definately get refferences and credentials from anyone you might hire. The Board of Realtor's website is a good place to start. http://www.car.org/

It's that time of the year to think about tax credits

Well, the fourth quarter is upon us, and it's a good time to review the tax credits available to homeowners for 2009. Here's the link to the government's document of the tax credits http://www.energy.gov/media/HR_1424.pdf You may want to make particular purchases now, or put them off until Jan 2010 depending on how the tax credits fall.
Beware of searching for info on the web and clicking on a site which is cleaverly disquised as a government information site and is really just a sales site for a particular company. I find this especially true of review sites, for example you are trying to find a review on a new green cleaning product, and you search "reviews on green cleaning products" and you get a site called"
www.consumerreviewsoncleaningproducts dot com. However, this is merely a particular manufacturer who made up a web site reviewing cleaning products and coming to the concusion, of course, that their products are the best by far.
So, be sure your site ends in .gov and when you look at the web page, it really has government logos on it, and on the contact page an address and e-mail that is official.

Get off your butts and clean up some butts!

When I did my first coastal clean-up I was surprised to find that the #1 trash on the beach was... you guessed it... cigarette butts. I have never been a smoker, but I can't imagine anyone could think it's OK to just drop your butt into the sand. Anyway, this Sat all along all coasts, 9am-noon is the Coastal Clean up. Most beaches have give aways and supply you with gloves and bags. So, get off your butt and clean up some!

For more info, go to ocwatersheds.com:

http://www.ocwatersheds.com/publiceducation/pe_CA_cleanup.asp

Are Solar Panels the Way to Go?

Are you thinking of making some energy efficient improvements to your home? The first thing most people think of is solar panels, right? After all, solar panels save lots of energy. Some people even sell the excess electricity generated back to the power company and have a $0 electric bill. Larry Hagman, of "I dream of Jeannie" and "Dallas" fame actually creates enough energy to power his 5,000 square foot mansion and creates enough extra energy to power 13 inner city homes, which he does as a gift - awesome!

However, for our smaller homes, solar might not be the answer. In many cases than not, taking advantage of other energy efficient improvements such as insulation and weatherstripping, energy star appliances, native plant landscaping and irrigation on timers and sensors, will actually bring you a greater return in money savings and energy in the long run without the huge expense of solar panels. But then on the other hand, with manufacturer and government rebates for solar panels, now is probably the time to buy! Do your due diligence and research.

Also...

The best way to find out what course of action to take is to have an Energy Audit done on your home. It will factor in rebates, and government incentives and give you a report stating exactly what improvements will bring you the most return financially and on energy efficiency.

Here's a website with the energy audit info:http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/tightenup/audit.html

Here's a website detailing government rebates: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?state=CA&re=1&ee=1&spv=0&st=0&srp=1

Don't forget that manufacturers also have rebates. And energy star rebates: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

Let the Sun Shine In!