Maine State Housing Offers $5000 to 1st Time Buyers

I just learned today that MSHA (Maine State Housing) has finally launched their "Gift of Green" program. This program offers $5000 that can be put towards closing costs, down payment, or escrow funds. There are also coupons for up to $500 for energy audits. The money is limited to approximately 500 buyers. There are upper income linits. This is in addititon to the $8000 tax credit being offered by the Feds. For more information go to www.mainehousing.org.

Sizzling Summer - and dazzling oil prices!

Good evening as I gaze out at the beautiful mid summer sunset! I seems hard to believe that another six months will see us in the cold and dark. Have you planned for the oil prices? With a sense of deja vu ( I came of age in the last major oil crisis), I gritted my teeth and made plans to lock in my oil and gas for the winter. $4.42 a gallon seemed unbelieveable a month ago, but now looks like a darned good deal. It's all relative I guess. So..what do we do?

Just like the late seventies and erly eighties, we need to get serious about conserving what we have and searching for new soluttions. It's too late to bemoan what might have been, but it is real easy to start thinking about winterizing the house, figuring out how to turn down the heat or close off rooms, tuning up the furnace, checking out alternatives, and putting aside some money to pay for it all.

Does your oil supplier offer lock in prices? Is there a downside plan if prices drop? Can you hook into natural gas? Would a Rinnai or Monitor work? How about those old drafty windows? Can you make use of passive solar gain? How about quilts for the windows?.......the list goes on.

Don't wait until the snow flies! Make plans now. It won't hurt as much. I promise!