Julia Corkey &'s Blog

2410 Collegewood Ct

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:54:01 -0600

24314 Leski Ln

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:47:54 -0600

11731 Chesapeake

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:36:23 -0600

2201 Holly Ridge

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:34:35 -0600

419 Linden Dr

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:54:03 -0500

1105 McMillen Ave

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:54:39 -0500

1609 Heritage Pointe Court

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:52:21 -0500

717 Burgess Hill

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:38:30 -0500

Interest Rates

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:17:23 -0500

The FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) and Chairman Ben Bernanke left the Fed Funds rate unchanged today - no surprise here.

However, they made a very important announcement: the Feds will stop buying U.S. Treasury securities by about the end of this October. What does that mean???

A huge reason mortgage rates have stayed so low has been because the U.S. gov't has been buying up Treasury securities for over a year now. The effect of the gov't buying these securities has been to keep the yields on the securities (ie: interest rates) lower. When the gov't stops buying, the yields will rise, which in turn means mortgage rates will begin to move upward (barring some huge disaster like 9/11).

Buyers be aware to get moving if you are waiting for a better rate because your going to miss what's infront of you!(And sellers who are looking to buy after their sale, but are holding out rather then lowering their asking price) that time is quickly running out on their opportunity to grab rates near 5% on a 30-year fixed rate.

Also remind your 1^st time homebuyers that they must close on their purchase prior to December 1, 2009 to qualify for the $8,000 tax credit.

24 Coolidge Ct Unit B

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:13:50 -0500

3919 Royal Portrush Drive, Naperville

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:03:25 -0500

$8,000 Tax Credit Still Available

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:54:42 -0500

Thanks to the Federal Government's newly implemented First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit (FederalHousingTaxCredit.com) buyers will be given an $8,000 tax refund with the purchase of their first home. The tax credit creates an amazing opportunity for first-time buyers, thanks in part to the market's extraordinary inventory as well as the current historically low interest rates. With the spring market just around the corner new buyers are in a prime position to utilize the provisional credit, which applies to all purchases that close by December 1st, 2009.

So what can an $8,000 credit do for you? The Federal Housing Administration announced this week that it is going to permit its lenders to allow home buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment for FHA financing. Previously, most buyers wouldn't receive the funds until after they filed their tax return, and that deterred some people from using the credit. FHA's approved lenders will be permitted to "monetize" the tax credit through short-term bridge loans. Processes have not been established on how these bridge loans will be offered to use as a down payment, however this will allow eligible homebuyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table. We are happy to keep you up to date as more details are announced regarding the FHA financing.

Over the past few weeks we have already seen an increase in market activity. We want to encourage all of our first-time buyers to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity before it is too late. With the right amount of planning and my extensive knowledge of the real estate market we believe that this is an ideal opportunity for first-time home buyers.

If you are ready to take advantage of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, or want more information regarding market conditions please feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience.

Key Housing Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:53:52 -0500

Key Housing Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Watch this podcast on Today's market and the $8,000 goverment tax credit

Video on Today's Real Estate Recovery Act

Statewide March Home Sales Jump 35.5 Percent

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:46:04 -0500

Statewide March Home Sales Jump 35.5 Percent from February
Illinois Median Price Up to $149,995

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - For the second-straight month, Illinois home sales increased over the month before and for the first time since June 2008 the statewide median home price also rose from the previous month.

According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, total home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) were up 35.5 percent in March 2009 to 6,944 homes compared to 5,125 homes sold in February 2009. Overall, home sales were down 21.1 percent from March 2008 sales of 8,799.

The Illinois median price in March 2009 was $149,995, up 6.6 percent compared to $140,700 in February 2009; it was down 21.1 percent from $190,000 in March 2008. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

"For the first time in over a year, there are several positive signals in the housing market as inventories declined and sales recorded modest increases," said Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois. "Whether this momentum can be sustained over the coming months will be determined by a number of factors-the effects of the federal stimulus package and the state's capital bill, declines in the numbers of job losses and the impact that foreclosed properties will play in dampening the recovery in house prices."

Hewings anticipates that month-to-month sales for April through June will be positive in Illinois and Chicago area with the greatest increases recorded in May.

The monthly average commitment rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for the North Central region was 5.15 percent in March 2009, down slightly from the 5.16 average rate during the previous month, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Last year in March it averaged 6.01 percent.

"Interest rates remain near record lows while recent reports on housing affordability, the pending home sales index and home builder confidence are on the rise," said REALTOR® Pat Callan, president of the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. "And while still lower than a year ago, both statewide home sales and the state's median home price were up from February 2009 and that is a step in the right direction. Stabilized prices will lead the way to a housing market recovery."

Adds Callan: "More must be done to help qualified buyers finance their homes. FHA loans now account for more than 30 percent of the mortgage financing market, but additional federal resources will be needed to help it keep up with demand. Potential buyers, in turn, would benefit if FHA made it easier to purchase a condominium and if first-time buyers were allowed to use the new $8,000 tax credit upfront as down payment assistance."

In the Chicago Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA), home sales were up 38.3 percent to 4,260 homes sold in March 2009 compared to 3,081 home sales in February 2009; sales were down 26.0 percent from 5,759 home sales in March 2008.

The median home sale price for the Chicago PMSA was $194,000 in March 2009, up 5.7 percent from $183,500 in February 2009; the median price is down 21.8 percent from $248,000 in March 2008.

In the city of Chicago, March total home sales (single-family and condominiums) were up 40.6 percent to 1,181 sales compared to February 2009 sales of 840; sales were down 42.2 percent from 2,044 in March 2008.

The city of Chicago median price also rose 0.8 percent to $220,000 in March compared to $218,125 in February 2009; the city of Chicago median price was down 26.9 percent from $300,980 in March 2008.

"We see positive signs in March numbers over February, and are cautiously optimistic about the second quarter sales and median pricing in the Chicago market," said David Hanna, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®. "We continue to observe disparity in the ability of buyers to find adequate financing, especially in the condominium sector. While pricing has continued to make this a buyer's market, the activity levels needed for a sustained recovery in local housing are still far above the current numbers. We will need several months of increasing sales, declining inventory and continuous absorption of distressed properties if this is to be called a recovery."

According to the IAR report, home sale prices comparing March 2009 to the same month in 2008 were up in 41 of 98 Illinois counties reporting including Adams, up 13.1 percent; Boone, up 7.3 percent; Kendall, up 1.3 percent; Livingston, up 23.9 percent; Marion, up 11.6 percent; McLean, up 0.9 percent; Sangamon, up 8.0 percent; Whiteside, up 12.2 percent; and Winnebago, up 1.0 percent.

Sales and price information is generated from a survey of Multiple Listing Service sales reported by 37 participating Illinois REALTOR® local boards and associations. The Chicago PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is a voluntary trade association whose 53,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, the Illinois Association of REALTORS® works to protect the rights of private property owners in the state by recommending and promoting legislation that safeguards and advances the interest of real property ownership.

Why work with a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:14:51 -0500

Why work with a CLHMS?

Market Snapshot

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:24:00 -0500

Keep a watch on your homes area or on an area you would like to buy!

Good News in Real Estate

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:09:39 -0500

You hear the bad news everywhere you turn. It's on the television, the Internet, the radio and in print headlines. What you don't hear is the good news about the real estate market.

Bad news sells newspapers and gets high television ratings; therefore, the media has no reason to report the upside of today's real estate market to the average American. This is where we come in. For example, did you know that approximately 30 percent of homeowners own their home free and clear?

The current market also affords some great opportunities for those looking to purchase a home. First-time homeowners, move-up buyers and investors can all benefit from low home prices, large selection and historically low interest rates.

In addition, the government recently approved a First Time Buyer Tax Credit, up to $8000, that does not require repayment if the borrower resides in and maintains ownership of the property for at least three years. Regulations do apply and can be reviewed at www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com, or just give us a call and we will be happy to discuss it with you.

Call us to hear more about the good news in today's housing market. We can't wait to share it with you.

630-418-1800/630-842-3401

Info@homesbyteamelite.com

11816 Heritage Meadows Drive, Plainfield

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:08:06 -0500

Obama Unveils Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:34:51 -0600

Obama Unveils Homeowner Affordability

and Stability Plan

Revised February 20, 2009

President Obama unveiled his plan to help stabilize the housing market and keep

millions of borrowers in their homes.

The Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan includes two initiatives to help

struggling homeowners. One is a refinancing program for homeowners with less

than 20% equity in their homes, or who owe more than their home is worth. The

second program attempts to lower monthly payments for homeowners at risk of

losing their home. In addition, the plan includes a third initiative to support low

mortgage rates by strengthening confidence in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Many of the plan's details are still being worked out and will not be announced

until March 4, here is an overview of the plan's main components.

Refinancing Initiative

Under current rules, those families who own less than 20% equity in their homes

have a difficult time refinancing and taking advantage of the historically low

interest rates. Therefore, the refinancing initiative in the new plan provides

refinancing help for homeowners with less than 20% equity in their homes or who

owe more than their home is worth. This initiative is open to homeowners who

have conforming loans which are guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,

and who owe up to 5% more than their home is worth.

According to the plan, "credit-worthy" or "responsible" homeowners can refinance

their mortgage into a 30- or 15-year, fixed-rate loan based on current market

rates. The refinanced loan, however, cannot include prepayment penalties or

balloon payments. For many families, this low-cost refinancing may help reduce

their mortgage payments by up to thousands of dollars per year.

As with the rest of the plan, details about this initiative will be released at a future

date-including what, if any, credit score requirements will be included.

Stability Initiative

This initiative aims at providing help to individual families as well as entire

neighborhoods by helping reduce foreclosures and stabilize home prices. It is

intended to help homeowners who are struggling to afford their mortgage

payments, but cannot sell their homes because prices have fallen significantly.

The goal of this initiative is simple: "reduce the amount homeowners owe per

month to sustainable levels." To accomplish this, lenders are encouraged to

lower homeowners' payments to 31 percent of their income by lowering their

interest rate to as low as 2% or by extending the terms of the loan. In addition,

lenders can also lower the principal owed by the borrower, with Treasury sharing

in the costs.

Homeowners who are current on their mortgages but are struggling can still

apply for this program. As such, this is one of the few programs designed to help

homeowners who may face delinquency soon, but are current at the moment.

Since the focus of this initiative is on helping families and neighborhoods,

investment properties do not qualify. This initiative also includes a number of

additional elements and incentives that benefit homeowners and lenders alike,

including:

· Incentives to Help Borrowers Stay Current: To provide an extra incentive

for borrowers to keep paying on time, the initiative will provide a monthly

balance reduction payment that goes straight towards reducing the

principal balance of the mortgage loan. As long as a borrower stays

current on his or her loan, he or she can get up to $1,000 each year for

five years.

· Reaching Borrowers Early: To keep lenders focused on reaching

borrowers who are trying their best to stay current on their mortgages, an

incentive payment of $500 will be paid to servicers, and an incentive

payment of $1,500 will be paid to mortgage holders, if they modify at-risk

loans before the borrower falls behind.

Supporting Low Mortgage Rates

As part of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, the Treasury

Department is increasing its funding commitment to Fannie Mae and Freddie

Mac to ensure the strength and security of the mortgage market and to help

maintain mortgage affordability. This portion of the plan will use using funds

already authorized in 2008 by Congress for this purpose.

The increased funding will enable Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to carry out

ambitious efforts to ensure mortgage affordability for responsible homeowners,

and provide forward-looking confidence in the mortgage market.

Again, the government plans to unveil the final details of the plan on March 4,

2009. For now, you can download a sheet of common Questions and Answers

produced by the government at: www.treas.gov/initiatives/eesa/homeowneraffordability-

plan/ConsumerQA.pdf

Stimulus Package

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:12:17 -0600

Economic Stimulus Plan Benefits the Housing and Mortgage Industries

Revised February 17, 2009

Just signed and sealed...a $787 Billion Stimulus Plan made up of tax cuts and spending programs aims at reviving the US economy. Although the package was scaled down from nearly $1 Trillion, it still stands as the largest anti-recession effort since World War II.

Home owners and potential homebuyers stand to gain from key provisions in this stimulus plan. Here is what we know as of today...

The following discussions are intended for you to use directly with your client either in writing or verbally.

Tax Credit for Homebuyers

First-time homebuyers who purchase homes from the start of the year until the end of November 2009 may be eligible for the lower of an $8,000 or 10% of the value of the home tax credit. Remember a tax credit is very different than a tax deduction - a tax credit is equivalent to money in your hand, as opposed to a tax deduction which only reduces your taxable income.

The tax credit starts phasing out for couples with incomes above $150,000 and single filers with incomes above $75,000. Buyers will have to repay the credit if they sell their homes within three years.

Additional Housing-Related Provisions

Tax Incentives to Spur Energy Savings and Green Jobs - This provision is designed to help promote energy-efficient investments in homes by extending and expanding tax credits through 2010 for purchases such as new furnaces, energy-efficient windows and doors, or insulation.

Landmark Energy Savings - This provision provides $5 Billion for energy efficient improvements for more than one million modest-income homes through weatherization. According to some estimates, this can help modest-income families save an average of $350 a year on heating and air conditioning bills.

Repairing Public Housing and Making Key Energy Efficiency Retrofits To HUD-Assisted Housing-This provision provides a total of $6.3 Billion for increasing energy efficiency in federally supported housing programs.Specifically, it establishes a new program to upgrade HUD-sponsored low-income housing (for elderly, disabled, and Section 8) to increase energy efficiency, including new insulation, windows, and frames.

Expanding Housing Assistance-This provision increases support for several critical housing programs. It includes $2 Billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to help communities purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed, vacant properties.

More Help for Homeowners in the Future

Another thing to keep an eye on in the coming weeks is President Obama's plan to help struggling borrowers before they are faced with a default on their mortgage.

According to reports, the Obama administration is discussing plans to help borrowers who are struggling to stay afloat, but who have not yet fallen behind on their payments. At this point, details are scarce; however, reports indicate that President Obama is looking to spend approximately $50 Billion to directly help homeowners before they face foreclosure and financial disaster.

While this is good news for individual homeowners, it will likely be good for the housing industry as a whole. That's because, assisting struggling borrowers before they default should help stop the wave of foreclosures, which are estimated to top two million this year. That, in turn, will help stabilize home prices.

Pending Home Sales Show Healthy Gain

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:11:31 -0600

Pending Home Sales Show Healthy Gain

WASHINGTON, February 03, 2009

Pending home sales increased as more buyers took advantage of improved affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors^®. Big gains in the South and Midwest offset modest declines in other regions.

The Pending Home Sales Index,¹ a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in December, rose 6.3 percent to 87.7 from an upwardly revised reading of 82.5 in November, and is 2.1 percent higher than December 2007 when it was 85.9.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the index shows a modest rebound. "The monthly gain in pending home sales, spurred by buyers responding to lower home prices and mortgage interest rates, more than offset an index decline in the previous month," he said. "The biggest gains were in areas with the biggest improvements in affordability."

NAR's Housing Affordability index rose 10.9 percent in December to 158.8, the highest on record.² The HAI shows that the relationship between home prices, mortgage interest rates and family income is the most favorable since tracking began in 1970.

"Significant uncertainty still clouds the housing market despite improved affordability conditions. For a sustainable housing market recovery and, hence, sustainable economic recovery, we need a significant housing stimulus and mortgage availability for qualified borrowers," Yun added.

The PHSI in the Northeast slipped 1.7 percent to 62.1 in December and is 14.5 percent below a year ago. In the Midwest the index jumped 12.8 percent to 83.7 but remains 1.2 percent below December 2007. The index in the South surged 13.0 percent to 96.8 in December and is 1.6 percent above a year ago. In the West, the index fell 3.7 percent to 97.5 but remains 17.5 percent higher than December 2007.

NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth, said the rise in contract signings is encouraging. "However, housing activity remains weak compared with potential demand, and the market is fragile given the economic backdrop," he said.

"We can't take our eye off the need to stimulate housing, which can set the foundation for an economic recovery," McMillan said. "Last week's actions in the House to eliminate the repayment feature on the first-time home buyer tax credit, and to raise mortgage loan limits, are helpful. However, we need to take additional steps to meaningfully draw down inventory and stabilize home prices."

McMillan said some enhancements that could bring more buyers into the market include expanding the $7,500 tax credit to all home buyers and extending it until the end of 2009, and making loan limit increases permanent. "We also need to direct funds in the Troubled Asset Relief Program to add liquidity to the mortgage market, buy down mortgage interest rates and increase other forms of credit," he said.

Yun said the outlook for housing and the economy is murky. "Although Congress and the Obama administration are taking steps to help the economy, the stimulus package must deal with the root cause of the economic downturn, and apply the right fix to turn it around. If housing is ignored, a significant downward overshooting of home prices would continue to drag the economy down independent of the scale of the stimulus," Yun said.

# # #

¹The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.

The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity from 2001 through 2004 parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. There is a closer relationship between annual index changes (from the same month a year earlier) and year-ago changes in sales performance than with month-to-month comparisons.

An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales.

²The Housing Affordability Index is a relative index where a value of 100 means that a family with the median income has exactly enough income to qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced existing single-family home, taking into account the relationship between median home price, average effective interest rate for loans closed on existing homes, and median family income. The higher the index, the greater housing affordability.

The calculation assumes a downpayment of 20 percent and a qualifying ratio of 25 percent of gross income for mortgage principle and interest payments. The index is a general gauge with conditions varying widely around the country. Affordability conditions are lower for first-time buyers with smaller downpayments and less income.

Monthly publication of the index began in 1981 with annual data calculated back to 1970.

New Stimulus Bill

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:59:15 -0600

To give you an update of the new stimulus bill they are trying to pass through congress. Wednesday night, the Senate voted to include a $15,000 tax credit in the new stimulus plan, up from the previous figure of $7,500, in hopes of revitalizing the slumping housing market. The proposal would allow a tax credit of 10% of the value of new or existing residences, up to a $15,000 limit. The details are not yet known, but I'll be watching for more information that we can share with our clients. The stimulus bill is still working its way through Congress after being voted on in the House last week. I understand that the road back to economic prosperity must include shoring up the housing market - but a tax credit may not help someone who is worried about keeping his/her job. We are looking for this stimulus package to do something special to create jobs, thereby providing the much needed boost in consumer confidence to get people thinking about investing in a home. Food for thought.

What is Radon?

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:46:18 -0600

Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas.

According to the US EPA, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium and enters homes, schools and other buildings from the soil.

Elevated indoor levels are found in every state in the US, and in every county in Illinois.

Radon is by far the greatest single source of radiation exposure to the general public

For more information visit ReliableRadon.com

Conserve Energy - Save Money - Protect the Environment

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:19:35 -0600

Illinois Association of
Energy Raters

Implementing the Illinois Home Energy Rating System (HERS)
Conserve Energy - Save Money - Protect the Environment

Directory of:
Illinois Home Energy Raters

Useful Information:
How to become a member
What is a Home Energy Rating?
What is an Energy Efficient Mortgage?

A home energy rating is similar to fuel efficiency (miles per gallon) standards for cars. It lets you know how efficiently your home uses energy.

Did you know that the typical Illinois household spends nearly $2450 each year on their utility bills? Unfortunately a large portion of the energy purchased as electricity, natural gas, and propane is wasted due to inefficient windows, inadqequate insulation, unsealed air ducts, or leaky building shells.

The Illinois Association of Energy Raters is a newly-created group of energy consultants and building technicians specializing in identifying cost-effective residential upgrades for new and existing homes that can save homeowners money on their utility bills.

The members of the Illinois Association of Energy Raters use a whole house approach to examine the ways that a home consumes energy and the ways that the building systems in the home interact. All members have are certified within the national energy raters organization, RESNET.

A home energy rating by an association member can be used to certify that a home is an ENERGY STAR Home.

Homes that rate as energy efficient are eligible to apply for Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) which allow a purchaser to stretch their debt-to income ratio and qualify for a larger mortgage.

Since an efficient home will require less for utilities more money is available for mortgage payments. An energy improvement mortgage (EIM) allows owners of existing homes to include the cost of energy improvements in the mortgage. Either way the homeowners will keep more of their money and be more comfortable.

The IAER is an ENERGY STAR Partner

The ENERGY STAR Homes Program is part of a family of ENERGY STAR Programs designed to prevent pollution and save homeowners' money.

ENERGY STAR Homes are designed to use at least 30% less energy than standard construction.

To contact us, e-mail:

Brian Kumer
Executive Director, Illinois Association of Energy Raters
Brian_Kumer@yahoo.com

This page was last updated on November 23, 2008.

Attn: First Time Home Buyer-- Could you or someone you know use $7500.00!

Julia Corkey & Vickie Schoenfeld (RE/MAX Professional Select) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:41:55 -0600

Call for further information on the 2008 Housing Stimulus Legislation (Tax Credit)!

Who's Eligible - First Time Home Buyers or Buyers that have NOT owned a home in the last Three Years!

Tax Credit for up to $7500.00!

You must buy and close your home before June 30th, 2009!!

Call us today for further details at 630-418-1800 or 630-842-3401!

*Some restrictions may apply.