Energy Efficient Mortgages category archives

If you are some sort of Veteran, VA loans can be an excellent way to purchase your new home.  What is great is that if you are buying a home that could be upgraded in regards to energy savers, you can certainly do this with your VA loan. It is called a VA energy efficient mortgages. Congress started a pilot program in 1992 demonstrating the use of energy efficient mortgages, known as EEM’s. And the Veterans Administration added this to their arsenal of VA loans.

Energy efficient loans can be very effective, unless you are having an energy efficient home built.  If you have an older home, it probably won’t be up to current standards, which could cost you hundreds of dollars monthly.

.

Explaining how Energy Efficient Mortgages work for VA loans?

On Va loans, it can be increased up to $6,000 in energy costs without the approval by the VA, as long as the lender thinks the improvements are reasonable. If the costs are over $6,000, it must be supported by an increased valuation in an equal amount.  Here are the different levels of increases.

Directly from the VA handbook, the mortgage may be increased :

• up to $3,000 based solely on the documented costs
• up to $6,000 provided the increase in monthly mortgage payment does not exceed the likely reduction in monthly utility costs, or
• more than $6,000 subject to a value determination by the VA.

The buyer may wish to contact a person or a firm to show such energy improvements. As I mentioned in my FHA post, you can also contact your local utility company for these services.

Acceptable energy efficient improvements, but are not limited to :

• solar heating and cooling systems
• caulking and weather stripping
• furnace efficiency modifications limited to replacing burners, boilers, or furnaces designed to reduce the firing rate or to achieve a reduction in the amount of fuel consumed as a result of increased combustion efficiency, devices for modifying flue openings which will increase the efficiency of the heating system, and electrical or mechanical furnace ignition systems which replace standing gas pilot lights
• clock thermostats
• new or additional ceiling, attic, wall and floor insulation
• water heater insulation
• storm windows and or doors, including thermal windows and or doors
• heat pumps
• vapor barriers

.

Reminder : There are special and certain tax credits both nationally and locally. For tax purposes, there is a $1,500 tax credit until the end of the year. Not sure if the government is going to extend this. There are also state credits and sometimes credits given by your utility companies. Just be careful though, because sometimes you have to use those they recommend when doing the energy inspection report.

Keep in mind, the VA energy efficient loans are a little different than FHA energy efficient loans when calculating what the amount of energy costs that are allowed to be financed. And these EEM’s for VA loans can be used for both purchasing a new home or refinancing your current home.

Please consult Part 1 for the chart, giving you an idea of your monthly savings if you add $6,000 of costs onto your mortgage regarding the energy efficient mortgages.

Energy Efficient Mortgage Series

Energy Efficient Mortgages – EEM loans – Part 1 of 2 – FHA loans going ‘Green’

Energy Efficient Mortgages – EEM loans – Part 2 of 2 – VA loans going ‘Green’

December 14, 2010

Energy Efficient Mortgages have not been used or talked about much, because many loan officers and or lenders don’t know much about them. One could easily associate this type of mortgage with a FHA 203-k loan. But that would be a very bad assumption, because there isn’t much more to an energy efficient mortgage, than to a regular FHA mortgage, as opposed to the paperwork and understanding that goes into a 203-k loan.

Saving money monthly is the key to any mortgage program, especially when it comes to an Energy Efficient Mortgage, also known as EEM loans.  Unless you are having a new home built that could be an energy efficient home, in many cases, the older home probably won’t be up to the current standards, which could cost you hundreds of dollars monthly.

Quick history about EEM’s -  Congress started a pilot program in 1992 demonstrating the use of energy efficient mortgages, known as EEM’s. (Energy Efficient Mortgages) EEM’s recognize that reducing utility expenses will allow a homeowner to pay a higher mortgage payment to cover the cost of the energy improvements that were financed into the mortgage. A good reason behind the EEM’s program is that it offers homeowners who couldn’t initially afford the cost of these energy saving improvements out of pocket, giving them the chance to finance them. These loans can be both done when purchasing a new home or when refinancing. FHA has adopted this into their financing options which allows a borrower to :

• save money monthly
• incorporate the improvement costs into the mortgage
• these improvements are installed after the loan closes
• this program allows you to use normal FHA guidelines with FHA mortgages

How does the Energy Efficient Mortgage program work?

The maximum amount of the portion of the EEM for energy improvements is the lesser of 5% of:

• the value of the property
• 115% of the median area price of a single family dwelling
• 150% of the conforming Freddie Mac limit.

.

Eligibility Requirements

• Properties that are eligible are One to Four unit existing and new construction properties.
• Borrowers are approved through the normal FHA mortgage guidelines for obtaining a mortgage.
• The cost of the energy-efficient improvements that may be eligible for financing into the mortgage is the lesser of 5 percent of the property’s value, depending on 3 different equations. Please refer to these changes above.
• To be eligible for this mortgage, the energy efficient-improvements must be cost effective, meaning that the total cost of improvements is less than the total present value of the energy saved.
• The cost of the energy improvements and the energy savings must be determined by a home energy rating report which is done by a home energy rating system (HERS) or energy consultant. The HERS report usually costs from $250 to $350 and can be paid by the seller, the buyer, or sometimes included into the mortgage.
• The energy improvements are installed after the loan closes. The money is placed into an escrow account and is released once an inspection verifies the improvements are completed and that the savings will be achieved.
• Because of this program, the final loan amount can exceed the maximum mortgage limit by the amount of the energy-efficient improvements. Here is a list of the FHA max mortgage limits.

.

EXAMPLE :

***I am not using a particular credit score and all closing costs are the same for either loan example.***

As you can see, it’s not a huge savings, but it does add up. Just in 1 year you saved $1,135.20. And the cost of the energy improvements that were added onto your mortgage now become a tax write-off.

**** My examples in the cost of improvements and your monthly bills, will vary depending on several different factors, such as age of air conditioner or heating, lighting fixtures, etc, etc. And also depending on what you pay per month. I only used these figures as examples.****

Reminder : There are special and certain tax credits both nationally and locally. For tax purposes, there is a $1,500 tax credit until the end of the year. Not sure if the government is going to extend this. There are also state credits and sometimes credits given by your utility companies. Just be careful though, because sometimes you have to use those they recommend when doing the energy inspection report.

Here is a link to a list of the past mortgagee letters for everything about Energy Efficient Mortgages.  FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages – Mortgagee Letters

.

Energy Efficient Mortgage Series

Energy Efficient Mortgages – EEM loans – Part 1 of 2 – FHA loans going ‘Green’

Energy Efficient Mortgages – EEM loans – Part 2 of 2 – VA loans going ‘Green’

November 22, 2010