Tuesday, March 30, 2010

New Regulations on Overdraft Fees: Should You “Opt-In”?

By: Ellen Frick, Outreach Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

New regulations that banks must abide by are abundant these days. Not too long ago, certain information was made available to consumers about how long it would take them to pay off a credit card if they only paid the minimum. Now the Federal Reserve has put forth a set of rules governing overdrafts on debit cards. Expect your bank to begin making changes in the coming months as financial institutions must comply with the Federal Reserve’s guidelines by July 1, 2010. Bank of America has already decided to get rid of overdraft fees on debit cards by simply not allowing the purchase to go through if there is not enough money in your account.

Getting rid of overdraft charges seems like a good thing. No longer will we have to worry about accidentally spending thirty-something dollars on a soda or coffee. However, banks may begin shifting fees around in order to make up for the money lost in charging customers for overspending their accounts. Last year, banks made $20 billion in overdraft charges alone, so from a business standpoint they are likely to find other places to make that money back. For instance, we may begin to see a decrease in services such as free checking.

As per the Federal Reserve’s new mandates, banks must give customers the choice to “opt-in” to overdraft fees. This means that individuals must give consent in order to be charged a fee for overdrafting an account. An article in The New York Times suggests that it may be best to pass up overdraft protection as you could end up paying a lot of money in the end. When given the choice between expensive fees and a denied transaction, one would think very few people will opt-in to these fees. But some financial institutions speculate that consumers would rather be charged big bucks for something small like coffee than face the embarrassment of a declined transaction. This claim may not hold true during today’s tough economic times. However, it may be nice to have overdrafting (with fees) as an option if you have an emergency and do not have a credit card.

Keep in mind the other things you can do instead of opting-in to overdraft fees. One cheaper alternative that some banks offer is to arrange for money to come out of a savings account or credit card if you overspend on your checking account. And it is always a good idea to keep track of your funds by setting up internet or mobile banking and balancing your account.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Remain Aware of Baltimore City Homeownership Incentive Programs

By: Raevyn Jones, Marketing Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

Before people think that becoming a homeowner in Baltimore City is impossible, it is extremely important that they make themselves aware of the variety of incentives that the City of Baltimore offers for potential homebuyers. Each program has specific qualifications managed by different city departments or nonprofits.

The Community Development Block Grant

This program can give first-time homebuyers $5,000 towards down payment and settlement expenses. This program is beneficial because there is a combined amount of $11,000 in incentive money and a possible $8,000 tax credit.

Eligibility includes:

• First time homebuyers with a certificate from a city approved counseling agency
• Property must be located in Baltimore City
• The buyer must contribute at least $1,000 towards purchase and must use the property as their primary residence
• Buyer must secure a HQS Home Inspection on the property
• There must not be any flaking, peeling, or chipping paint in or outside the home
• Contract of sale must be executed on or after 01/01/2010, contracts that have already gone to settlement do not qualify
• Closing on the property must occur within 90 days of the contract date
Income limitations

Buying into Baltimore

This program is a joint project of the City of Baltimore and the Live Baltimore Home Center. Neighborhood tours are scheduled in the spring for the West side and the fall for the East side. The first 50 homebuyers that attend the trolley tour and complete a sales contract within 90 days of the fair receive a $3,000 award towards closing costs. Only homebuyers executing contracts of sale within 90 days of the Buying into Baltimore Home Buying fair and Neighborhood Tours.

Restrictions/Terms of Loan:
•Use a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac approved lender with a mortgage loan that cannot exceed $417,000
•The buyer must contribute at least $1,000 towards purchase and must use the property as their primary residence
•Borrower must attend the fair, get a ticket, and have ticket validated in at least four tour homes
•The home must be located in the designated region for that fair
•Contract must be signed after the event
•Loan is forgivable (20 percent per year) over 5 years for each year of occupancy

The Baltimore City Employee Homeownership Program

This program has been around for 11 years and is designed to assist employees of the City of Baltimore to become homeowners within the city limits. All employees of Baltimore city’s agencies and quasi-agencies who have been working for a minimum of six months are eligible. This program is beneficial as there is a $3,000 down payment and closing assistance with no annual income limits.

Restrictions/ Terms of Loan:

•The mortgage loan may not exceed $417,000
•The buyer must contribute at least $1,000 towards purchase and must use the property as their primary residence
•Closing on the property must occur within 90 days of the contract date
•Only one city employee per household may receive assistance
•Loan is forgivable (20 percent per year) over 5 years for each year of occupancy
•Property must be located in an eligible neighborhood in Baltimore City. Ineligible neighborhoods are: Bellona-Gittings, Blythewood, Canton, Cedarcroft, Cross Keys, Evergreen, Federal Hill, Guilford, Hunting Ridge, Homeland, Homeland-Gallagher, Kernwood, Keswick, Lake Evesham, Loyola, Mount Washington, North Roland Park, Otterbein, Original Northwood, Roland Park, Rosebank, Sabina-Mattfeldt, Ten Hills, The Orchards, Tuscany-Canterbury, and Wyndhurst.

Baltimore City Live Near Your Work Program

This program is a partnership with participating employers and Baltimore City to persuade people to live near their place of employment. Employees of participating companies who are first time homebuyers are eligible. Participating employers reserve the right to develop additional eligibility requirements for their employers. Benefits from the program are a $2,000 minimum grant or conditional grant ($1,000 from City of Baltimore, and $1,000 from employer) to be used toward down payment and closing assistance with no annual income limits.

Restrictions:

•The buyer must contribute at least $1,000 towards purchase and must use the property as their primary residence
•Participating employers can develop additional restrictions such as eligible neighborhoods

Additional homeownership incentives include Baltimore's Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program, State Mortgage Programs and Homeownership Assistance, Baltimore City Tax Incentives, Federal Mortgage Programs and Homeownership Assistance, and Maryland Homestead Tax Credit. To find our more information about these incentives please visit http://www.baltimorehousing.org/ps_homeownership.asp .

Monday, March 22, 2010

Filling the Nutritional Gaps in Baltimore Neighborhoods

By: Salina Greene, Outreach Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

The many “food deserts” of East and West Baltimore have suffered for many years without access to basic food needs due to lack of adequate supermarkets in these areas. The City of Baltimore has decided to create the new “Virtual Supermarket Project”. It will be the latest attempt to help alleviate the fresh food shortage in these areas. The city has a long-standing history of having a lack of healthful foods for its residents. Many neighborhoods are plagued with nothing but corner stores and local carryouts that are filled with processed fast foods which are high in sugar and fats. Health officials have concluded that a neighborhood located around Orleans Street library has an unusually high rate of mortalities from food-related conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. They do not have access to a single supermarket within walking distance. With the recent closing of the 60,000 square foot Safeway in Mount Clare, a void was left in Southwest Baltimore and many jobs were lost. Some are lobbying for smaller grocery stores to come back into these communities to boost the area’s economy. However, it has been a slow process. Changing the nutritional landscape of an area requires cooperation from all avenues of the neighborhood. This cannot change overnight but it can assist in its promotion.

The Food Policy Task Force has received a $60,000 federal stimulus grant to support this program. The virtual grocery store can be accessed through the Project-sponsored laptops at the Orleans Street and Washington Village library branches. For now, the food is ordered from Santoni’s Super Market in Highlandtown (www.santonismarket.com). Orders placed at the Orleans Street location on Wednesdays between the hours of 11 a.m.-3 p.m., can be picked up the following day between 1 p.m.-2 p.m. The Washington Village location will be accepting orders on Mondays between 12 p.m.-3 p.m. Pickup is the next day between 1 p.m.-2 p.m. as well. Cash, credit cards, as well as food stamps are accepted for purchases. Although there is no home delivery and limited hours at the moment, the program hopes to include these services in the near future. For more information go to: http://www.baltimorehealth.org/virtualsupermarket.html

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Making homes healthier to live in, NHS incorporates Green Rehab Specifications

By: Raevyn Jones, Marketing Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

With the stimulus money brought about by the Obama Administration, the opportunity has come for many homeowners to buy more energy efficient appliances for their homes. To create healthier living environments, NHS has “gone green” with new green rehab specifications.

With these new specifications, homeowners who get home rehab services from NHS could get paint and carpeting among other things that are less toxic to their homes. Environmental friendly paint and carpeting can help prevent the amount of off-gassing in a home. This is extremely important because when newer homes are built, they tend to be sealed up tighter therefore more off-gassing may occur. Energy efficient products in your home also make it more comfortable to residents with asthma or other respiratory problems.

In the initial stage of home rehab services at NHS, a list of specifications is generated and edited by a computer program to incorporate green specifications. Low flow toilets, tankless hot water heaters, bamboo flooring, solar tubes, compact fluorescent light fixtures, and low-VOC paint are some of the green specs that go into the home rehab services. Because energy efficient products are costly, the rehab specs must coincide with what the homeowner can afford. However, every new project that gets written up has green aspects to it.

NHS recently used green standards in the rehab of six homes in Riverview by covering exterior walls with environmentally approved house wrap under vinyl siding, insulation of the hot and cold water pipes, low flow faucets and showerheads, “energy star” labeled fixtures, and double panned energy efficient windows. In the future NHS plans to do larger scale projects that will attempt to make home rehab even more environmentally friendly.

These new specification writing programs have put NHS of Baltimore a step ahead when it comes to home rehabilitation. They have been very helpful in generating a scope of work that automatically comes out green and make our clients homes healthier to live in.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Importance of Knowing Your Credit

By: Salina Greene, Outreach Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

As many Americans are facing unemployment, landing a job in this tough economy or keeping one is a challenge within itself. Many are discovering that their past credit problems are affecting their current job search. In some instances, job offers are rescinded. Critics say personal credit is one more barrier that hinders economic recovery. Nowadays, many people have tarnished credit after they lose their jobs and struggle to make ends meet. On the other hand, past credit histories are affecting even more people as employers are becoming more strict in their hiring processes. The reason behind this is the massive surge of job seekers in relation to available jobs. This process has stirred a movement amongst advocacy groups supporting consumers and workers.

In Maryland, lawmakers are lobbying for a new legislation to be put in place to ban credit checks in the hiring and firing processes. This new law, if passed, will not affect financial institutions that are required by law to run credit checks. While other states are considering lobbying for similar laws, legislation is under way in Congressional meetings. If passed, creditworthiness would not be a factor in employers hiring or firing employees. In many ways, this is a positive move as credit reports can contain errors and lead to discriminatory judgments against a worker’s abilities. Some argue credit checks are necessary to assess risks critical to many business owners. Stuart K. Pratt, president and CEO of the Consumer Data Industry Association stated, “Key indicators of potential fraud were employees living beyond their financial means and employees experiencing financial difficulties”. One of the ways not get into financial straights is to become educated in financial matters before it becomes too late.

You are able to review your credit report for free once a year through: www.FreeCreditReport.com. During this period of recession, it is of the utmost importance to manage your resources well. One way to do this is to attend one of our Financial Fitness Workshops at Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore. If you are unable to attend any of these classes, we are holding an event April 17th, 2010 at Pleasant Hope Baptist Church, surrounding issues related to consumer responsibility. We will be able to pull credit reports during this time for a nominal fee. Please contact us at 410-327-1200 for more information. Remember, knowledge is the key.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Take 10 Minutes to Complete the 2010 Census

By: Ellen Frick, Outreach Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

The 2010 Census is upon us and the government is urging every American to take ten minutes and fill it out. The Census determines the amount of federal funding and political representation in Congress that every state of the nation is entitled to. Therefore, more people completing the Census can mean more money for things like schools and hospitals. Additionally, many researchers and planners utilize statistics from the Census in formatting new policies and community initiatives.

Unfortunately, many individuals do not fill out the Census. Some people may not be aware of the importance or they are worried about the government knowing too much about them. Keep in mind that any personal information given is protected by law. In 2000, the last year the Census was taken, the average nationwide response rate was seventy-two percent. The state of Maryland’s response rate was similar at seventy-three percent, only sixty percent of Baltimore City residents completed the Census the last time around. City officials in Baltimore are strongly encouraging every household to take a few minutes and fill out the questionnaire this year.

Completing the Census is simple and does not take long. Every household should have recently received a short questionnaire by mail, including a postage-paid envelope in which to return the form. If you do not fill out and return the form, a census taker will visit your home on or after April 1, 2010 and ask the same questions. The Census website provides an overview of each question asked as well as the reasoning behind each query. If you have any concerns check out the Census FAQ database.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

New Home Buyers: What do you need to know?

By: Raevyn Jones, Marketing Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

As a result of the revised first-time homebuyer federal income tax credit coming in effect, now is the time when many Americans will be taking the big step of buying their first homes. Because buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make, there are certain things people should know when they are in the process of buying a home.

Researching the first-time homebuyer federal income tax credit is the first thing new homebuyers should look into. They should make sure they understand the guidelines of the first time homebuyer tax credit and find out how it may benefit them. Homebuyers should also think about what they can afford and search for homes that are within their budget. What you can afford can be based on how much the down payment is that you are able to make and how much money you can borrow.

After figuring out the budget for your home purchase, finding the right neighborhood is the next important step. There are many factors such as location, distance, schools in the area if you have children, crime, and basic neighborhood demographics that come into the equation when looking for the right neighborhood you should live in. Other things to think about when buying a home are the basic things you want your home to have. This can include the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, a large backyard, wall to wall carpeting, or a finished basement etc.

One of the most intimidating factors for first time homebuyers is that they often do not know where to begin. Right now there are many unique opportunities in the market and consumers should take advantage of buying at the right time. If first time homeowners keep these things in mind before then the transition to homeownership should not be very difficult.