A Great Financing Option for Home Upgrades

The FHA 203k Loan is a great mortgage option that can provide clients up to $45,000 on top of their purchase loan for property upgrades.  It is specifically for renovation of a purchased home (but can also be used as a refinance option for people who want to renovate their existing homes).

This loan allows buyers to add up to:

$35K for non-structural home improvements and upgrades

$8K for Energy Efficiency Upgrades (Ex. windows, furnace, insulation, energy star appliances, etc.)

$2K for Weatherization Upgrades

These loans are the perfect solution for buyers who want to buy a “fixer upper” or even those who simply want to update a home that doesn’t have the granite countertops and new appliances they want.

While these loans are perfect for the right buyer, they can be tricky to navigate.  Make sure you work with a loan officer who knows the ins and outs of the 203K process and can minimize the impact on the borrower.

For more information, or to see if you qualify, contact Carl Churchill, Mortgage and Refinance Specialist, at 801.573.8475 or carl@mortgagebycarl.com.

Recycled Granite Pavers

Recycled Granite Pavers

While attending the Live Green SLC! Festival in Salt Lake City this past weekend, I discovered a new player in the recycled home decor category: Recycled Stone Products. They salvage left-over material from stone fabricators in the mountain west region, and shape them into pavers for a beautiful and 100% recycled look for your patio.

100% Recycled Granite Patio

According to one of the owners, Levi Ernest, the cost is about the same as regular garden pavers – yet they are keeping millions of pounds of waste out our landfills each year!

Check them out online or contact Levi at 801 580-3305.

Recycling Efforts in Salt Lake City

Who says recycling isn’t working?

As joint owners of the landfill Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County each received a one time dividend of $7 million dollars from landfill funds that were intended to cover some of the expenses to close the landfill.  Due to waste diversion efforts, the life of the landfill has increased, and we expect it to remain open for at least 50 more years.  The City has chosen to use the funds to support further sustainability efforts.

The “waste diversion efforts” means, in large part, RECYCLING.

Utah Renewable Energy Conference

Are you interested in learning more about Solar Energy? Have you considered converting your home to this energy efficient system? The paybacks might be quicker than you ever thought – especially now, since more than 50% of the cost of a new solar energy installation could be covered with available tax credits and the new rebate!

Come to the Salt Lake Community College this Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. to learn more – for only $5.00 admission.

For details, please see www.utsolar.org

Sugar House Community Council Meeting – February 3rd

If you’re interested in knowing what’s going on in the local Sugar House community, plan to attend the monthly council meeting on Wednesday, February 3rd from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Homeowners, business owners, and concerned residents can all benefit from knowing what is going on in your community.

Location: Sprague Library in downtown Sugar House.

Salt Lake City: Top 10 Cities to Find a Job

I always knew Salt Lake City is a great place to live, and now it’s also a great place to find a job!  With unemployment at less than 6% (U.S. average is getting close to 10%), it’s obvious that employers see this as a great place to run a business too.

See the U.S. News and World Report story:

http://www.usnews.com/listings/americas-best-places-to-find-a-job/7

Of course, all these employed workers need a home to live in – call me for a personalized “Rent-vs-Own” calculation.

Beverly Hanson

801 680-4325

Back Home in Utah!

Back Home in Utah!

Downtown Sugar House

Downtown Sugar House

It’s so great to be back in Salt Lake City, Utah! The mountains, the people, the wonderful neighborhoods – like Sugar House. In June, the editors of “This Old House” magazine named Sugar House one of the nations best “Old House Neighborhoods.”

Truly, the walkability of this area is outstanding. From my house, I’m .8 miles from my office, .6 miles to a grocery store, and just blocks from some cool restaurants and shops. You can’t beat it!

Home prices here, in zip code 84105, have actually INCREASED year-over-year. Per the Salt Lake Board of REALTORS®, the median sales price for first quarter of 2009 was up almost 8%.

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