New homebuyersshould not take onany new debt forat least one yearafter closing!Sign ofFinancialDistress: Onlyable to makeminimumpaymentsYour home isan investmentin: Shelter andprotection foryour familyFinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill changeyour loan to afixed rateA foreclosurepreventioncounselor willhelp evaluateyour options.Refinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreasethe total interestpaidFinancialConsiderations:Beware ofrescue scamsand predatorylenders.Utility companiesmay offer rebatesto offset the costof upgradingenergy efficiencySign ofFinancialDistress:Rely onOvertimeSafety repairsshould comebefore aestheticrepairs orimprovementsFederal & Statetax credits mayalso be availablefor energyefficiencywww.dsireusa.orgFinancialConsiderations:Adjust yourbudgetSign ofFinancialDistress:Unsure of whois owed and forhow muchAn energy efficientappliance maycost more upfrontbut operating costis less.Your home isan investmentin: Yourfinancial futureProtecting yourhome is morethan just addinglocks or smokedetectorsHeating orcooling yourhome typicallytakes up 56%of your utilitybillsCompactFluorescent LightBulbs can savemore than $40 inelectricity costsover its lifetimeSign of FinancialDistress: Morethan 20% of take-home pay is usedfor non-mortgagedebt repaymentsIt may take up to ayear to adjust tomortgagepayments and thetrue costs of homeownership.Rule of Thumb: A newinterest rate should be2% below the rate ofcurrent mortgage andyou should plan to livethere at least 3 moreyears.Get an EnergyAudit: Test andevaluates theenergyefficiency of thehomeSave 1-3% ofthe home’svalue per yearfor repairs andmaintenance.Sign ofFinancialDistress: Usingsavings to meetcurrentexpensesAppliancesuse differentamounts ofenergy.FinancialConsiderations:PrioritizeexpensesThere areother optionsbesidesforeclosure.Your home isan investmentin: The life andhealth of yourcommunitySign ofFinancialDistress:Frequentlyborrow moneyAppliances with theenergy star logo areconsidered moreenergy efficient thanthe averagecomparable model.FinancialConsiderations:Know your loanRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreaseyour paymentamountClosingcosts will becharged fora refinance!Compact FluorescentLight Bulbs use 75percent less energythan standardincandescent bulbsand last up to 10times longer.HomeMaintenance:Keep yourhome clean andin good repairFinancialConsiderations:Contact a HUDapproved HousingCounselingAgencyOnce or twice ayear, walk throughyour house andcheck thecondition of all itsparts andstructures.Do it yourselfEnergy Audit:www.hes.lbl.govFinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsFinancialConsiderations:Protect equityENERGYSTAR qualifiedhomes save15-20% onutilitiesNew homebuyersshould not take onany new debt forat least one yearafter closing!Sign ofFinancialDistress: Onlyable to makeminimumpaymentsYour home isan investmentin: Shelter andprotection foryour familyFinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill changeyour loan to afixed rateA foreclosurepreventioncounselor willhelp evaluateyour options.Refinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreasethe total interestpaidFinancialConsiderations:Beware ofrescue scamsand predatorylenders.Utility companiesmay offer rebatesto offset the costof upgradingenergy efficiencySign ofFinancialDistress:Rely onOvertimeSafety repairsshould comebefore aestheticrepairs orimprovementsFederal & Statetax credits mayalso be availablefor energyefficiencywww.dsireusa.orgFinancialConsiderations:Adjust yourbudgetSign ofFinancialDistress:Unsure of whois owed and forhow muchAn energy efficientappliance maycost more upfrontbut operating costis less.Your home isan investmentin: Yourfinancial futureProtecting yourhome is morethan just addinglocks or smokedetectorsHeating orcooling yourhome typicallytakes up 56%of your utilitybillsCompactFluorescent LightBulbs can savemore than $40 inelectricity costsover its lifetimeSign of FinancialDistress: Morethan 20% of take-home pay is usedfor non-mortgagedebt repaymentsIt may take up to ayear to adjust tomortgagepayments and thetrue costs of homeownership.Rule of Thumb: A newinterest rate should be2% below the rate ofcurrent mortgage andyou should plan to livethere at least 3 moreyears.Get an EnergyAudit: Test andevaluates theenergyefficiency of thehomeSave 1-3% ofthe home’svalue per yearfor repairs andmaintenance.Sign ofFinancialDistress: Usingsavings to meetcurrentexpensesAppliancesuse differentamounts ofenergy.FinancialConsiderations:PrioritizeexpensesThere areother optionsbesidesforeclosure.Your home isan investmentin: The life andhealth of yourcommunitySign ofFinancialDistress:Frequentlyborrow moneyAppliances with theenergy star logo areconsidered moreenergy efficient thanthe averagecomparable model.FinancialConsiderations:Know your loanRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreaseyour paymentamountClosingcosts will becharged fora refinance!Compact FluorescentLight Bulbs use 75percent less energythan standardincandescent bulbsand last up to 10times longer.HomeMaintenance:Keep yourhome clean andin good repairFinancialConsiderations:Contact a HUDapproved HousingCounselingAgencyOnce or twice ayear, walk throughyour house andcheck thecondition of all itsparts andstructures.Do it yourselfEnergy Audit:www.hes.lbl.govFinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsFinancialConsiderations:Protect equityENERGYSTAR qualifiedhomes save15-20% onutilities

Protecting Your Investment - Call List

(Print) Use this randomly generated list as your call list when playing the game. There is no need to say the BINGO column name. Place some kind of mark (like an X, a checkmark, a dot, tally mark, etc) on each cell as you announce it, to keep track. You can also cut out each item, place them in a bag and pull words from the bag.


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  1. New homebuyers should not take on any new debt for at least one year after closing!
  2. Sign of Financial Distress: Only able to make minimum payments
  3. Your home is an investment in: Shelter and protection for your family
  4. Financial Considerations: Save money for repairs
  5. Refinancing can be beneficial if it will change your loan to a fixed rate
  6. A foreclosure prevention counselor will help evaluate your options.
  7. Refinancing can be beneficial if it will decrease the total interest paid
  8. Financial Considerations: Beware of rescue scams and predatory lenders.
  9. Utility companies may offer rebates to offset the cost of upgrading energy efficiency
  10. Sign of Financial Distress: Rely on Overtime
  11. Safety repairs should come before aesthetic repairs or improvements
  12. Federal & State tax credits may also be available for energy efficiency www.dsireusa.org
  13. Financial Considerations: Adjust your budget
  14. Sign of Financial Distress: Unsure of who is owed and for how much
  15. An energy efficient appliance may cost more upfront but operating cost is less.
  16. Your home is an investment in: Your financial future
  17. Protecting your home is more than just adding locks or smoke detectors
  18. Heating or cooling your home typically takes up 56% of your utility bills
  19. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs can save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime
  20. Sign of Financial Distress: More than 20% of take-home pay is used for non-mortgage debt repayments
  21. It may take up to a year to adjust to mortgage payments and the true costs of home ownership.
  22. Rule of Thumb: A new interest rate should be 2% below the rate of current mortgage and you should plan to live there at least 3 more years.
  23. Get an Energy Audit: Test and evaluates the energy efficiency of the home
  24. Save 1-3% of the home’s value per year for repairs and maintenance.
  25. Sign of Financial Distress: Using savings to meet current expenses
  26. Appliances use different amounts of energy.
  27. Financial Considerations: Prioritize expenses
  28. There are other options besides foreclosure.
  29. Your home is an investment in: The life and health of your community
  30. Sign of Financial Distress: Frequently borrow money
  31. Appliances with the energy star logo are considered more energy efficient than the average comparable model.
  32. Financial Considerations: Know your loan
  33. Refinancing can be beneficial if it will decrease your payment amount
  34. Closing costs will be charged for a refinance!
  35. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
  36. Home Maintenance: Keep your home clean and in good repair
  37. Financial Considerations: Contact a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency
  38. Once or twice a year, walk through your house and check the condition of all its parts and structures.
  39. Do it yourself Energy Audit: www.hes.lbl.gov
  40. Financial Considerations: Save money for repairs
  41. Financial Considerations: Protect equity
  42. ENERGY STAR qualified homes save 15-20% on utilities