Keith & Jason Renno

Trying to save money while lessening your impact on the environment is a popular trend these days. Choosing to purchase energy-efficient appliances is one way to save green while going green. But are these appliances all they're promising to be?

The Pros and Cons
Frankly, there is no easy answer. Appliances have increased their energy efficiency steadily over time, while generally not increasing in price at the same pace. So why pay more for an appliance labeled "energy efficient"? The immediate cost of purchasing a house full of new energy-efficient appliances is just not practical for most people, especially in this economy.

Plus, a study by Consumer Reports found that many people don't use their appliances correctly, which can actually mean they spend more money because they need to run the dishwasher twice to get the dishes clean. Following directions and adhering to manufacturers' recommendations is critical to enjoying savings from energy-efficient models.

You should also be aware that most of the highly touted tax advantages of purchasing energy-efficient large appliances have expired. In addition, if you're not planning to be in the home for a number of years, you won't have a chance to recoup the significant initial outlay that many of these items require.

However, if you remain in the home for a number of years and you are able to save 10 percent per year on your energy costs, over time you'll be saving thousands of dollars. When you do decide to sell your home, you'll have newer appliances that will be attractive to a potential borrower, plus you can promote the energy savings of those appliances – two big selling points. In addition, many energy-efficient products are among the highest quality appliances available.

Energy Star
The Environmental Protection Agency started the Energy Star program in 1992, covering computers and monitors. In 1996 the EPA and the Department of Energy teamed up to expand the Energy Star program as a voluntary labeling system to promote energy efficiency and environmental awareness and reduce greenhouse gas for a wide range of products. You can now find the Energy Star label on more than 60 types of products, as well as home assessment tools to determine your home energy efficiency. Energy Star-labeled products must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines. Visit energystar.gov to learn more about the program.

If You Decide to Purchase
If you decide to start shopping for energy-efficient home appliances, here are some tips to help you make the best decision for your needs.

• Check local rebates and offers. Many areas offer discounts and rebates when you purchase energy-efficient equipment. You can check http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=rebate.rebate_locator to see what money-saving offers exist in your zip code.
  
• Measure your space. Some models may be larger than your current appliances. Make sure you know how much room you have and how much is needed to open a door or for ventilation.
  
• Weigh purchase price and energy usage. You may actually find that the models that are more expensive initially will provide greater savings over time.
  
• Use the Energy Guide label as a guide. Nearly all appliances except microwaves, stoves and dryers have this label. The information on the label will help you compare across different brands and models.
  
• Check for an Energy Star logo. These items must meet strict standards of efficiency and may save you up to a third of your current energy bill when used properly.

Save money, increase the comfort of your home, reduce your carbon footprint: if you can afford the initial outlay and plan to stay in your home for a longer period of time, replacing your current appliance with more energy-efficient models may be the right choice for you!

Whether you've already purchased a home or know of someone who is looking to buy a home or refinance, here is a simple outline of the steps you need to take before you walk into the mortgage originator's office to apply for your home financing.

1. Perform your own financial review.

o Obtain copies of your credit reports. You can get a free copy from each of the three credit reporting agencies once every year. Correct any errors immediately, before you begin the home loan process.

o Create a budget. Decide how much you are comfortable spending on your housing. Use online mortgage calculators to take a look at different scenarios. Remember you'll also need to factor in taxes, homeowners insurance and home repairs and upkeep – you can't call the landlord to fix a broken water heater when it's your water heater.

o Do some research. Find out about available home loans and special incentives in your area so you can make an educated decision. While your loan officer will also offer guidance and explain the different options available to you, gathering information on your own will empower you as you start the process.

2. Gather documentation.

o Pay stubs for the previous month

o W-2 forms for the last two years

o Child support/alimony documents

o Awards letter for Social Security and 1099 for disability income

o Information on rental properties, commissions, or other sources of income besides salary

o Bank, stock and securities statements for the last three months

o If you own rental property, provide rental agreements and two years of tax returns

o For gift funds – a gift letter, evidence of transfer and sometimes evidence of withdrawal

o Cancelled rent or mortgage payment checks for past 12 months, if not available on credit report

o Divorce decree

o Explanation of discrepancies in credit

o Self-employed applicants will need additional documentation, including two years' of tax returns

3. Remember these "don'ts".

o Don't go shopping for new furniture yet. Or buy a new car, jewelry or other high-end items. You don't want a ding on your credit report before your loan officer takes a look at it.

o Don't move your money to a new bank, make large transfers between accounts or make large deposits or withdrawals. All your finances must be documented and you want it to be as easy as possible to track your money.

o Don't change jobs. Your lender is looking for a stable work history as that is an indicator of your reliability in regards to making your loan payments.

o Don't pay off all your debt. It sounds counterintuitive, but you need to show a good payment history, so having accounts open to which you make regular payments is actually a good thing.

A home purchase is the biggest transaction most people make in a lifetime, but it doesn't have to be intimidating or even confusing. Once you've prepared by following the steps above, the fun part begins: selecting your loan officer and real estate agent and starting your home search. Remember, there are many programs out there to fit many different financial profiles, and with rates at historic lows and home prices also super affordable, you've made a good decision for your future!

Contact me today to start the home loan process and get on the path to becoming a homeowner!

Your neighborhood can feel like your family when you find the right home and the right location. Building relationships with your neighbors while you make your home your own is exciting and can foster a sense of protectiveness and pride. One way to show your pride in your neighborhood while also ensuring you live in a safe environment is to start a Neighborhood Watch group.

Founded in 1972, the Neighborhood Watch program encourages residents to partner with local law enforcement to keep a watchful eye on the happenings in their community and to show a strong and vigilant presence to deter crime and violence. According to www.ncpc.org, the website for the national Crime Prevention Council, "Neighborhood Watch works because it reduces opportunities for crime to occur."

Actually, the best place to start when you're looking to launch a Neighborhood Watch is to visit www.ncpc.org. Here you'll find numerous resources, including a checklist detailing how to set up your initial meeting, tips for making that meeting successful and information on making local law enforcement and businesses partners in your Neighborhood Watch.

Next, you'll need to gather crime statistics for your area, talk to victims of crime, and find out how your neighbors perceive the crime rate in your area. Arming yourself with facts will help ensure your organization focuses on the real problems in the neighborhood and doesn't get sidetracked into pet projects (or peeves).

When you're ready to get started, look to your neighbors. Find like-minded people who believe that controlling crime, maintaining order and looking out for one another are the building blocks to create a safer and better living environment. Organize a meet-and-greet event and be sure to tell the people you know to invite others that you may not have met yet. Make an effort to include the people you may not see every day: the elderly, young people, shift workers. These residents may see things others do not.

The first meeting should be used to elect a coordinator and to ask for volunteers to be block captains, who will gather information and notify residents of meetings, disseminate information about crimes in the neighborhood and help liaise with local law enforcement.

Remember, Neighborhood Watch is not about spying on your neighbors. From cleaning up vacant properties, to paying attention to the activities of the children on your street, to going door to door to meet the people in your neighborhood and recruit them to your organization, Neighborhood Watch entwines your life and your well-being with the well-being of your neighborhood. Even low-crime areas benefit from having neighbors watching out for each other and their families, cleaning up litter and promoting public safety.

Launching a Neighborhood Watch is a positive way to get involved in your community, meet new people and raise the standard of living for yourself and the people you see every day. It's an effective and inexpensive way to raise the value of the place you call home, not just in property values but in the eyes of those who live, shop, eat, visit and work in your community.

Picking the right upgrades can help set your home apart and above the competition in a hotly contested real estate market. Moreover, kitchen upgrades are the sorts of improvements that you and your family will benefit from and enjoy, given that the kitchen serves as the nexus for many families. You cook in your kitchen, you eat there, you talk there, and you even play there, so why not make it the best it can be?

When you pencil things out, the numbers of a kitchen upgrade are quite compelling in terms of adding value to a home while giving you upgrades that you will enjoy throughout the use of your kitchen. A major kitchen upgrade with a budget of $57,500 can recoup 66 percent of its cost when the home is sold, according to Remodeling magazine's "2011-12 Cost vs. Value Report." If you want to give your home a competitive edge while adding to its enjoyment, here are some great kitchen improvements to consider:

• A professional-style sink that helps you prepare food in addition to cleaning dishes. Many options offer features such as removable trays for cutting food and racks for knives and other cutlery so that you can chop veggies and quickly clean up.
  
• A hands-free faucet you operate by tapping it with your arm or elbow. This is a great way to prevent cross-contamination by keeping hands that have been cutting food from spreading germs to your faucet.
  
• A pot-filler above your stovetop. This lets you fill up cooking pots while they sit on your range, which obviates the need to toddle back and forth across the kitchen balancing full pots while trying not to suffer a major spill.
  
• A kitchen island that incorporates both a sink and electrical outlets along with the extra countertop, drawers and cupboards. This gives you additional workspace that you can truly use for food preparation.
  
• A kitchen wine cooler to properly store your wine collection so that it is at the right temperature and well preserved. This will motivate you to collect and reserve unique bottles to highlight special occasions.
  
• New countertops that buck the dominant trend. Sure, granite has been the trendy counter material, but there are some new options, such as recycled wood, bamboo, recycled glass, and unique tiles, that not only give your kitchen a custom look, but are also friendly to Mother Earth.
  
• Kitchen cabinet replacements that focus on functionality. Don't just go for looks. Add kitchen cabinets that deliver storage and organization features that emphasize efficient use of space and that truly improve your kitchen efficiency.

What is identity theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information, like your name, Social Security number or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

How can you find out if your identity was stolen?

The best way to find out is to monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report at least once per year from each of the three major credit bureaus. You can request a free credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com.

You can minimize your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft by making it more difficult for identity thieves to access your personal information. Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission to help protect you from becoming a victim.

• Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information, before you discard them.
  
• Protect your Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Ask to use another identifier, if possible.
  
• Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet, unless you know whom you are dealing with.
  
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails. Use firewalls, anti-spyware and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date.
  
• Don't use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
  
• Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having work done in your house.
  
• Purchase an identity theft insurance policy to recover stolen funds or to pay for legal and/or other fees associated with recovering your identity.

By using these simple tips as a precaution you can greatly reduce the chances of having your identity stolen. Be sure to share them with your friends and family!