Portal to Home Buying Heaven & Meeting Heaven

HUD has a great portal with links to all the info on the programs the Federal Housing Administration has for homebuyers. Her eyou can find the Making Home Affordable program description, as well as the energy efficient mortgages (green mortgages) and links to agencies that help you avoid forclosure that are approved by HUD and the FHA. You can even ask a question via e-mail if you don't see what you need.

http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/federal_housing_administration

On another note, rather than listing all the green events in So Cal, I urge you to go to http://www.meetup.com/. In Orange County, the group is called "Going Green in Orange County", but you can search within meetup for any topic you are interested in, and you will be directed to all the meetings taking place in your area for that topic. I just went to meetup, and searched "Green Home" and found 186 meetups within 25 miles of Dana Point! Never a dull moment!!!

Going Green in Orange County is organized by Evan Little, who is also a Certified EcoBroker® working with Surterre Properties. Speaking of Evan and the great work he is doing in OC to promote green living, he sent me an e-mail about this event I think is definately worth mentioning (one of 186!!):

A Breath of Fresh Air: Inside and Out

Enjoy an engaging evening in one of Orange County's newest, green luxury homes. Sample consciously prepared hors d'oeuvres & refreshments from some of the county's top chefs while you tour the home. Mingle with leading air quality and environmental toxicity experts while we collectively raise funds and awareness for the American Lung Association in California. Celebrity Guests, Organic Wines & Spirits, Consciously Prepared Hors d'Oeuvres, Guided "Green" Home Tours, Mingle with Air Quality Experts, Check out a New Tesla Roadster Electric Car, Learn steps to clean up your air...

Live Presentations by:
• Green Nest • American Lung Association CA • Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D. you have to rsvp, here's the link:

https://www.kintera.org/faf/reg_new/register.asp?ievent=306322&lis=1&kntae306322=78CCF312CEA14252B6A288593B3538EE&teamAction=none

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/

The Greenest thing to do is keep your home! Free Foreclosure Prevention Workshop

As much as I would love to sell your home for you, the greenest thing for the planet, your family and your wallet is to keep your home no matter what. No moving, no boxes, no gas guzzling semi to haul your stuff, and no additional consumerism as you purchase new shelf liner.

This is from the California Board of Realtors:

FREE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION WORKSHOP
Friday, June 12th from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. at the Irvine Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine , CA 92606
PLEASE NOTE: This event is only for CLIENTS facing foreclosure. This FREE workshop will educate homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments on what to do to avoid foreclosure. Lenders and HUD-approved counseling agencies will be on-site to assist with loan workouts. Avoid foreclosure scams! You don’t have to pay for this workshop and these services! To RSVP, please email your name, address, phone number and lender information to: http://us.mc633.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=misidoro@fairhousingoc.org or call (714) 569-0823 x225.

Please pass this on to anyone you know who may have a fear of loosing their home to foreclosure. I'll be there, so I can get this education to help others.

Sometimes, it's not all about selling homes...