Not knowing what's involved, you may be apprehensive about a home inspection. A home inspection by Ingraffia Home Inspections service aims to protect you and your lender from impending losses. The typical home buyer has no way of knowing if the home has underlying problems. Most people fall in love with the external appearance of a house, little realizing that there could be many potential problems just waiting to go wrong. Buying a home is definitely not something you want to do on impulse. That’s why it's best to enter the home buying process with an objective mind and leave your heart out of it until the house you’re interested in buying gets a clean bill of health from the Ingraffia Home Inspection service. Providing home inspections, residential inspections, building inspections, energy audits, and exterior property inspections in Orange County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Orange County Home Inspection Service: Protecting the Home Buyer
There’s a lot you don't see when you're looking at a prospective home. The electrical wiring is hidden behind the wall, the plumbing runs through the basement or under the crawl space and the shingles on the roof are completely inaccessible without a ladder. How would you know if they are all in perfect working condition? Who would want to buy a home that may have troubles or leave you regretting your purchase? This is where Orange County home inspection service can prove invaluable. Our home inspection provide peace of mind in terms of letting you know that everything in your prospective home is safe and in working order. And this is where a qualified Orange County home inspection service comes in. www.IngraffiaHomeInspections.com
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Condo Project Checklist
Condominium Project Checklist for Realtors®
The following information is designed to assist Real Estate Agents in determining whether a
condominium project may be prone to disqualification for financing. This information is general
in its scope and for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace a lender’s HOA
certification.
How to use this information:
Use this checklist to uncover possible deficiencies in the HOA’s qualifying criteria. An HOA that
cannot meet certification guidelines may prevent a buyer from obtaining financing for that
property.
Project Approval
What to ask: is the project approved by the appropriate agency?
Who to ask: the agency’s condo lookup website.
• FHA: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/condlook.cfm
• Fannie Mae: https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/refmaterials/approvedprojects/. The list of
approved projects is at the bottom of the webpage organized by state.
• Freddie Mac: follows Fannie Mae and HUD (reciprocal review).
• VA: http://condopudbuilder.vba.va.gov/2.2/frames.html
What to look for: project must be approved by the agency associated with the expected
financing (FHA, Fannie, Freddie, VA).
HOA Dues Delinquency
What to ask: how many units are late 30 days or more on HOA dues?
Who to ask: HOA / property management.
What to look for: no more than 15% of the units delinquent 30 days or more in HOA dues.
Non-Owner Occupancy Rate
What to ask: what is the ratio of non-owner occupied units to owner occupied?
Who to ask: HOA / property management.
What to look for: 51% or more of units must be owner occupied. Non-owner occupancy is
usually determined by identifying off site mailing addresses.
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Litigation
What to ask: is the HOA in litigation or is there pending litigation?
Who to ask: HOA / property management.
What to look for: no litigation in process or pending.
Adequate Reserves
What to ask: what is the total budget and how much is held in reserves (for unexpected
expense and insurance deductible).
Who to ask: HOA / property management.
What to look for: amount held in reserves must be 10% or more of total budget.
Percentage of Units Owned by a Single Entity
What to ask: how many units are owned by a single entity?
Who to ask: HOA / property management.
What to look for: no ownership by any single entity of more than 10% of the units.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
WARNING: 2010 Census Cautions from the Better Business Bureau
GOOD INFORMATION TO PASS ON TO EVERYBODY THAT YOU KNOW:
2010 Census to Begin
WARNING: 2010 Census Cautions from the Better Business Bureau
Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers by Susan Johnson
With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau
(BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.
The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:
** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. . Census.
REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS..
While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.
AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.
Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the
Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.
Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH FAMILY, COLLEAGUES, AND FRIENDS.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Friday, December 18, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Thermal Imaging for Energy Auditing & Home Inspections
To identify areas of energy waste infrared imaging has quickly become a valued tool in identifying problems related to energy loss, missing insulation, inefficient HVAC systems, radiant heating, water damage on roofs, and much more. A thermal imaging camera identifies patterns of heat loss that are invisible to the naked eye. Thermal imaging will quickly indicate the air leaks within a property and measurement data are easily compiled into a report.
- Detection and Visualisation of Air Infiltration and Exfiltration:
