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"The greed that led the world economy into crisis will not defeat our commitment to good work." Rick Fedrizzi This quote came in a letter from the the CEO of the US Green Building Council, Rick Fedrizzi, offering the hope for homeowners and those in the green building industry who are concerned about the viability of our Green Movement during tough economic times. With everyone questioning the viability of the housing market in general, he reminds us that good is always valued. In fact, when you come right down to it, good equals value. We tend to choose better things that last longer and forego short term gratification when the dollars really matter. He reminds us that we cannot wait for change to be effected by our legislators, our bankers, our employers or our mentors. It's up to us to create these positive changes for ourselves. By voting for officials we can support and then NOT just leaving it up to them but to get to work behind them and speak about, write about, ...

Manufactured and Modular Homes have come long way, baby! History Lesson If you happened to grow up in a Mobile Home park in the early 50's it was probably a lot of fun compared to previous sub-standard housing offered to waged farm and factory workers. These mass produced affordable homes were a fact of life in many rural communities. They meant home ownership and a lot more room for your buck. People lived in closer proximity to each other and were less isolated. In many ways they created a sense of community that felt more like a village where people looked out for each other, actually knowing and caring for their children and elderly. What we didn't know then and we do know now is that Mobile Homes, now kindly referred to as Manufactured Homes, were quickly constructed with price in mind. Naturally corners were cut on things like materials. You were lucky if your roof lasted ten years. The real problems that have been identified since those early years have more to do w...

There’s probably nothing more challenging and fun than building your own home. It helps to understand how your lender sees you and your project: they want you both to succeed! Whether you intend to build your own home or hire a professional architect or builder, you need to know a few facts about your project before you apply for a Construction Loan: 1. The specific time frame required to build your home, 2. How much equity (cash and/or land) you are bringing into the project, 3. How much it will cost to build your home, and 4. Liquid assets you will need (to live & operate) during your construction period. Naturally lenders have higher credit standards for complex projects. This is NO place for the first time homeowner. Your Home Building Team At the outset, whether you are designing your own home or hiring a home designer, you will need to find a lot suitable to your needs and design. A realtor working your architect or builder is a great asset. Working with a designer o...

Construction Lenders offer a range of funding options for Owners, Owner/Builders and Investors of 1-4 Unit Residential Dwellings for up to $6 million dollars. It wasn't so long ago that if you wanted to build your own home, you had to first either buy your land or get a lot loan, then get a construction loan, pay the closing costs, build the home, and then refinance the whole kitandkaboodle into a mortgage = 3 hassles and 3 sets of closing costs! Custom-Perm Loans (1- Step, 2-Step or One Time Close) Custom Construction loans are designed to allow a home owner or investor to custom build a home and cover the cost of land, design fees, contractor(s) and other hard costs in one loan. After the Construction Term (4 months to 2 years) is finished, your loan is then converted or ‘rolled over’ into a Permanent Mortgage. There are no closing costs when you convert from the construction phase to your permanent mortgage unless you change lenders. Interest payments may be rolled into the lo...