Send to KindleThis week, Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA 25) and Congressman Scott Peters (D- CA 52) introduced H.R. 1997, the Communities Achieving Sustainability Act (CASA). CASA Authorizes the Housing Urban Development (HUD) to make 203k loans to small investors for a 2-year period. This legislation will help revitalize communities (especially those hurt most by [...]
Send to KindleIf you’re not very careful with how you handle your mobile device internet connections, your account numbers, loan and case numbers, real estate pass key codes and other sensitive data are at risk of being hacked and your information is at risk of being compromised. Here’s what I do to assure you that when you [...]
Send to KindleStreamlining Inspection and Warranty Requirements for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Single-Family Mortgage Insurance: Removal of the FHA Inspector Roster and of the Ten-Year Protection Plan Requirements for High Loan-to-Value Ratio Mortgages In February of this year HUD proposed this rule change: If passed, HUD proposes to eliminate its national Inspector Roster (Roster). The Roster is [...]
Send to KindleThe most obvious time to change your roofing material is when it begins to leak…but, that’s not always true. I use this 4 stage method when performing a roof inspection. Remember that the roof’s life span can be shortened by a number of factors, which includes poor attic ventilation, hail damage and poorly manufactured roofing [...]
Send to KindleA few weeks ago I shared that “Greening the MLS” can help disclose the addition of energy efficient elements in residential construction and how that might affect the liabilities of the MLS system. Last week the Appraisal Institute introduced the Residential Green & Energy Efficiency Addendum, Version 2.0. Laura Stukel, an efficiency “insider,” is developing the Real [...]
Send to KindleThe Deep South Inspector Conference included Hollis Brown sharing the Do’s and Do Better’s of the home inspection business. He says, “you learn in two ways, by repetition and by shock”. The key is to not be repeatedly shocked! Hollis Brown came to the home inspection profession in 1997, a 25‐year veteran of the east coast [...]
Send to KindleYesterday’s inspection included a home with an open carport. The home’s attic access was located inside the carport in the plywood ceiling. Normally, you’d find a string hanging from the cover of the stairway. For outside locations that might present a bit of a security issue. A quick pad lock will help secure [...]
Send to Kindle The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recently released the 2012 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. After the grades were tallied, Mississippi ranked 51st—lowest of all the states and Washington, DC, and down from last year’s 49th ranking. Please consider contacting your state representative and senator & encouraging them to support these bills pending [...]
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