Increase The Efficiency Of Your Air Conditioner
By Jackie Kent
If you have ever spent the summer in Wichita Falls, Texas, or just the month of August in Sacramento, you appreciate your central air conditioner. Summer in any part of the world can be brutal, save the poles, without some kind of cooling system. There are easy tricks you can employ that will increase the efficiency of your central air conditioning system, increase the cooling factor, decrease the temperature within your home and lower your power usage, which will in turn lower your electric bill. First and foremost, just using common sense will save you a ton of money. If the temperature cools off in the evening, turn your air conditioner off and open windows. Letting the cool air in will work to cool your home in two ways. Thermal mass such as furniture and the structure of your house itself holds heat in and will release it into the air. Cooling the large structures by utilizing the outdoor temperatures will decrease the time the air conditioner needs to run and when it is on... Before the temperature begins to rise and when the sun shines, closing the windows and covering them, will keep the cool temperatures comfortable longer. Using the air conditioner only when the temperatures begin to rise inside the home will save money. Utilizing ceiling fans in each room used in your home will make the air feel cooler and decrease the need for lower temperatures to be obtained by the air conditioner... Close the air conditioner vents in the rooms not used in your homes. If your dining room is rarely used, or you have spare bedrooms, close those vents... Make sure your home is well insulated; drafts are just as uneconomical in the summer as they are in the winter. Use insulated drapes, especially on southern facing windows. Keep them closed during the day. These simple tips will keep your home cooler and use less energy, equaling lower energy bills...
source: http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/jk.air.htm accessed August 4, 2009 9:42p.m.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
City of Springfield Housing Perks
Housing Assistance Programs
Homebuyer Assistance
Access to homeownership for many households can be an impediment for many desiring to acquire their own home. A critical barrier for prospecting homebuyers often is an inability to provide a sufficient down payment or pay closing costs in purchasing a home. The City, acting through the Office of Housing and in conjunction with HAPHousing; makes two homebuyer assistance loan programs available to help expand home ownership opportunities for low and moderate-income households:
1) The American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) program, offered through HAPHousing. This program provides financial assistance of up to the lesser of $10,000.00 or 5% of the purchase price. Qualified household income may not exceed 80% of the area median income, adjusted for family size. Please refer to the chart below to see if your household may qualify based on these income categories:
Maximum Household Income
1 Person $43,450
2 Persons $49,700
3 Persons $55,900
4 Persons $62,100
5 Persons $67,050
6 Persons $72,050
2) The Downpayment Assistance Program (DAP), available through the Office of Housing, offers potential homebuyers $2,500.00 in financial support. This program is available to households whose incomes are greater than 80.0% of the area median income, but does not exceed 115% of the area median income, adjusted for family size. The chart below establishes the income limits specific for these participants:
Maximum Household Income
1 Person $43,451 < $62,450 2 Persons $49,701 < $71,400 3 Persons $55,901 < $80,300 4 Persons $62,101 < $89,250 5 Persons $67,051 < $96,400 6 Persons $72,050 < $103,500 These programs are supported by HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, and are designed to provide upfront financial support in the form of down payment and closing costs assistance, as well as work in conjunction with homebuyer counseling. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis and levels of assistance are subject to available funding. General requirements for all first-time homebuyers include: Not having owned a home during the previous three (3) tax years. Household income may not exceed 80% of the area median income for the ADDI program and; 115% of the area median income for the DAP program. Applicants must contribute a minimum of $750.00 of their own funds toward the purchase of the property for the ADDI program and; 1% of their own funds toward the transaction for the DAP program. The property must be the borrower(s) primary residence. The property must be located within the City of Springfield. The price must not exceed 95% area median purchase price for single-family properties (1 to 4 units) The maximum loan-to-value is subject to lender program requirements but may not exceed 103%. The property must satisfy the minimum HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) requirements. Qualifying ratios for housing and total debt expenses may not exceed 33% and 40%, respectively. Applicants must successfully complete a CHAPA or HUD certified homebuyer education class. Landlord training is required for properties with 2 or more units. Homebuyers interested in more details about the ADDI program may contact Marta Santiago at HAP Housing, 322 Main Street, Springfield, MA or by phone at (413)233-1500. For more information about the DAP program, contact Patricia Montana or Maritza Santiago at the Office of Housing, 1600 East Columbus Avenue, Springfield, MA or by phone at (413) 787-6500
Homebuyer Education
The Office of Housing has designed a first-time homebuyer’s education program that provides an in depth overview of the home buying process. Classes are featured in two, four-hour long sessions and are generally conducted on Saturdays. Topics of discussion typically include: A guide to homeownership; obtaining a mortgage and the various types of loan products; understanding credit and what lenders look for; shopping for a home; what to expect in a home inspection; understanding the aspects of a real estate closing... The course is free to the public... All first-time homebuyers seeking downpayment and closing cost assistance must complete a certified homebuyer education class.
Register for scheduled classes... contact the Office of Housing at at (413) 787-6500.
source: http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/housing/home-buyer.0.html accessed Aug. 4, 2009 9:36p.m.
Homebuyer Assistance
Access to homeownership for many households can be an impediment for many desiring to acquire their own home. A critical barrier for prospecting homebuyers often is an inability to provide a sufficient down payment or pay closing costs in purchasing a home. The City, acting through the Office of Housing and in conjunction with HAPHousing; makes two homebuyer assistance loan programs available to help expand home ownership opportunities for low and moderate-income households:
1) The American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) program, offered through HAPHousing. This program provides financial assistance of up to the lesser of $10,000.00 or 5% of the purchase price. Qualified household income may not exceed 80% of the area median income, adjusted for family size. Please refer to the chart below to see if your household may qualify based on these income categories:
Maximum Household Income
1 Person $43,450
2 Persons $49,700
3 Persons $55,900
4 Persons $62,100
5 Persons $67,050
6 Persons $72,050
2) The Downpayment Assistance Program (DAP), available through the Office of Housing, offers potential homebuyers $2,500.00 in financial support. This program is available to households whose incomes are greater than 80.0% of the area median income, but does not exceed 115% of the area median income, adjusted for family size. The chart below establishes the income limits specific for these participants:
Maximum Household Income
1 Person $43,451 < $62,450 2 Persons $49,701 < $71,400 3 Persons $55,901 < $80,300 4 Persons $62,101 < $89,250 5 Persons $67,051 < $96,400 6 Persons $72,050 < $103,500 These programs are supported by HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, and are designed to provide upfront financial support in the form of down payment and closing costs assistance, as well as work in conjunction with homebuyer counseling. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis and levels of assistance are subject to available funding. General requirements for all first-time homebuyers include: Not having owned a home during the previous three (3) tax years. Household income may not exceed 80% of the area median income for the ADDI program and; 115% of the area median income for the DAP program. Applicants must contribute a minimum of $750.00 of their own funds toward the purchase of the property for the ADDI program and; 1% of their own funds toward the transaction for the DAP program. The property must be the borrower(s) primary residence. The property must be located within the City of Springfield. The price must not exceed 95% area median purchase price for single-family properties (1 to 4 units) The maximum loan-to-value is subject to lender program requirements but may not exceed 103%. The property must satisfy the minimum HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) requirements. Qualifying ratios for housing and total debt expenses may not exceed 33% and 40%, respectively. Applicants must successfully complete a CHAPA or HUD certified homebuyer education class. Landlord training is required for properties with 2 or more units. Homebuyers interested in more details about the ADDI program may contact Marta Santiago at HAP Housing, 322 Main Street, Springfield, MA or by phone at (413)233-1500. For more information about the DAP program, contact Patricia Montana or Maritza Santiago at the Office of Housing, 1600 East Columbus Avenue, Springfield, MA or by phone at (413) 787-6500
Homebuyer Education
The Office of Housing has designed a first-time homebuyer’s education program that provides an in depth overview of the home buying process. Classes are featured in two, four-hour long sessions and are generally conducted on Saturdays. Topics of discussion typically include: A guide to homeownership; obtaining a mortgage and the various types of loan products; understanding credit and what lenders look for; shopping for a home; what to expect in a home inspection; understanding the aspects of a real estate closing... The course is free to the public... All first-time homebuyers seeking downpayment and closing cost assistance must complete a certified homebuyer education class.
Register for scheduled classes... contact the Office of Housing at at (413) 787-6500.
source: http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/housing/home-buyer.0.html accessed Aug. 4, 2009 9:36p.m.
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