Home Restoration Repairs: 203(k) Program/Rehabilitation Mortgage

It's no secret that many homes across the country, including New York, have been placed into foreclosure because of the economy. As a result, some homes become neglected over time and develop situations that subsquently require a restoration company to perform repair work. Initiating necessary foreclosure repairs for a property can be accomplished by a potential homeowner applying for a mortgage related to the 203(k) Program.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), administers various single family mortgage insurance programs like a 203(k) mortgage. These programs operate through FHA-approved lending institutions which submit applications to have the property appraised and have the buyer's credit approved. These lenders fund the mortgage loans which the Department insures. HUD does not make direct loans to help people buy homes.

The Section 203(k) program is the Department's primary program for the rehabilitation and repair of single family properties. As such, it is an important tool for community and neighborhood revitalization and for expanding homeownership opportunities.

When a homebuyer wants to purchase a house in need of repair or modernization, the homebuyer usually has to obtain financing first to purchase the dwelling; additional financing to do the rehabilitation construction; and a permanent mortgage when the work is completed to pay off the interim loans with a permanent mortgage. Often the interim financing (the acquisition and construction loans) involves relatively high interest rates and short amortization periods.

The Section 203(k) program was designed to address this situation. The borrower can get just one mortgage loan, at a long-term fixed (or adjustable) rate, to finance both the acquisition and the rehabilitation of the property. To provide funds for the rehabilitation, the mortgage amount is based on the projected value of the property with the work completed, taking into account the cost of the work. To minimize the risk to the mortgage lender, the mortgage loan (the maximum allowable amount) is eligible for endorsement by HUD as soon as the mortgage proceeds are disbursed and a rehabilitation escrow account is established. At this point the lender has a fully-insured mortgage loan.

Advanced Restoration Corporation is a full service property damage restoration company that has the abiltiy to execute all necessary repairs to a property that qualifies for a 203(k) loan.

For more information on the 203(k) program, contact Continental Home Loans:

Wendy Doerzbacher-Mortgage Planner

Continental Home Loans

175 Pinelawn Rd.-Ste 400

Melville, NY 11747

(800) 540-8838 Ext. 4140

(516) 982-6339 Cell

Email: wendyd@cccmtg.com

This information is designed to be of general interest and should not be considered legal advice. The specific information discussed may not apply to you. Before acting on any matter contained herein, you should consult with your personal legal adviser.

Burn Hazard Recall Alert:

On December 18th, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission sent out a Recall Alert related to Chef's Mark Cookware sets.

Recall Alert
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
December 18, 2008Alert #09-714
Article Source: U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission

Fingerhut Recalls Chef’s Mark Cookware Sets Due to Burn Hazard
The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Chef’s Mark® 15 piece cookware sets
Units: About 9,000
Importer: Fingerhut Direct Marketing, of Eden Prairie, Minn.

Hazard: The handles on the cookware can break, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Fingerhut has received six reports of handles breaking including three reports of minor burn injuries to consumers.

Description: This recall involves Chef’s Mark® 15 piece cookware sets with model number 515 and Fingerhut product code H6637. The model number and product code are printed on the cookware’s packaging. The non-stick cookware has red, green, black, blue or purple exteriors, black handles, glass lids and came with spoons, spatulas and ladles.
Sold exclusively by: Fingerhut catalogs and Fingerhut.com from January 2008 through October 2008 for about $80.
Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the cookware immediately and contact Fingerhut to receive a free repair kit. Fingerhut is directly contacting purchasers.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Fingerhut toll-free at (866) 931-5417 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at
www.fingerhut.com
---
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at
www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Advanced Restoration Corporation

Ice Storm: NY State Insurance Dept. Activates Disaster Hotline

The New York State Insurance Department just sent out a news release related its Disaster Hotline, which was activated due to an ice storm that hit multiple counties in upstate New York:

See below...

New York State
Insurance
Department
NEWS
RELEASE
Contact:
Public Affairs
(212) 480-5262
www.ins.state.ny.us

Eric R. Dinallo Superintendent of Insurance 25 Beaver Street New York, N.Y. 10004
ISSUED 12/15/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INSURANCE DEPARTMENT ACTIVATES DISASTER HOTLINE
The New York State Insurance Department today activated its toll-free Disaster Hotline to assist property owners affected by the ice storm that struck 16 Upstate counties and left thousands of New Yorkers without power, Superintendent Eric Dinallo said.
The Insurance Department's Disaster Hotline number is 1-800-339-1759. The hotline is staffed by personnel from the Department's Consumer Services Bureau on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

"Consumers who have storm-related damage and are having difficulty dealing with their insurance company or understanding their coverage should give the hotline a call," Dinallo said. "We are available to help New Yorkers work through the claims process with their insurance companies in the event they need help."

Dinallo urged homeowners and business operators to make every effort to protect their homes and businesses from further damage. This includes reviewing insurance policies for important information related to electric utility interruptions. Coverage for power failure is generally excluded in a homeowners policy. However, coverage may be available for damage occurring during the restoration of electricity by such events as electrical power surges.

Commercial property policies generally exclude coverage for power or utility service failure if the failure occurs outside the premises. There may also be waiting periods in policies before business interruption coverage is triggered. It is important for these property owners to confer with their insurance agent to determine the extent of coverage available.

Following are some typical questions and answers consumers may find helpful:

What damage to your home is covered?
Damage caused by wind, wind-driven rain, trees or other falling objects, as well as the collapse of a structure due to the weight of ice or snow, is covered under most standard homeowner policies. The repair of pipes frozen as the result of extreme cold weather may not be covered if damage is due to negligence, such as failing to maintain an adequate temperature in the house.

What damage to your home is not covered?
Many policies do not cover losses of any type incurred as the result of a flood, costs associated with the removal of a fallen tree (unless the tree lands on your home), food spoilage expenses created by an off-premises power outage, and water damage resulting from backed-up drains or sewers. Some insurers offer endorsements (additional protection that may be purchased) for certain coverage not included under a standard homeowner policy. Consumers should check with their insurance agent or company to determine their needs.

What should I do after damage to a car or an accident?
Damage to automobiles due to falling ice or trees is covered under your comprehensive automobile insurance policy. In the event of an accident while driving on icy roads, call your insurance agent or insurance company with your policy number and other relevant information as soon as possible, although you have 30 days in which to report the accident. Be sure you cooperate fully with the insurance company and ask your agent what documents, forms and data you will need.

Advanced Restoration Corporation

Fire & Smoke Restoration Video

ADVANCED RESTORATION IN ACTION

Advanced Restoration Corporation, a full-service property damage restoration company, has been in business for over 20 years and provides complete Restoration and Reconstruction services across Long Island and the NY Metro area.

Our expertise includes all aspects of Fire & Smoke Restoration, Water Mitigation and Mold Remediation. The attached video represents the quality workmanship Advanced Restoration provides our customers on every completed project.

Our objective is to be a lifeline to clients and provide prompt, courteous and personalized service. To ensure we are meeting customer expectations and providing the highest quality service available, our project managers consistently communicate with a client throughout the restoration process. We also conduct a feedback survey upon the completion of any service.

Advanced Restoration is a member of multiple industry associations, including: NYARM, BOMA, PIA, YIP, IICRC, NARI, NIDR and RIA. We are licensed in Nassau and Suffolk County, as well as the five boroughs of New York City.

At Advanced Restoration, we are truly committed to Making Disaster Temporary and Restoration Permanent. Please contact us with any questions regarding our services at (800)693-6263.

Going Green Around the Holidays

Every day, more and more Long Island businesses and homeowners are "going green" in order to provide a healthier environment for residents of Nassau & Suffolk County.

The world has a fixed amount of natural resources, some of which are already depleted. So as population growth greatly strains our finite resources, there are fewer resources available. If we intend to leave our children with the same standard of living we have today, we must preserve the foundation of that standard of living. Saving clean air, water, fuel sources and soil for future generations is essential, and everyone needs to start thinking green.

Some of the greatest threats to future resources come from things we throw away everyday. Household batteries and electronics often contain dangerous chemicals that may, if sent to a local landfill, leak through the bottom barrier and pollute the groundwater. This can contaminate everything from the soil in which our food grows, to the water which will eventually come out of aquifers and into our tap water. Many of these chemicals cannot be removed from the drinking water supply, nor from the crops that are harvested from contaminated fields. The risks to human health are tremendous and educating the public will help to alleviate those risks.

Simple ways to increase the energy efficiency of a home during the building or remodeling process include:

Lights
Turn off unnecessary lights , indoors and outdoors, to conserve electricity. Install lighting timers or sensors to automatically turn off lights when not needed.

High-Efficiency Heating/Cooling System
Installing high efficiency heating and cooling equipment also conserves electricity. Use programmable thermostats to minimize energy use, especially when no one is home.

High-Efficiency Windows and Appliances
High-efficiency windows reduce heating and cooling costs by minimizing the impact the outside environment has on a home.

Low-Water Consumption Fixtures
Low-consumption or dual-flush toilets, low-consumption or waterless urinals, and low-flow bathroom, sink and shower faucets all help to reduce water use.

Fluorescent Bulbs
Using compact, fluorescent bulbs use less power and last longer than conventional bulbs.

Advanced Restoration recently joined various green organizations and is looking to explore green relationships in New York with other business entities.