Utility companiesmay offer rebatesto offset the costof upgradingenergy efficiencyThere areother optionsbesidesforeclosure.ENERGYSTAR qualifiedhomes save15-20% onutilitiesYour home isan investmentin: Shelter andprotection foryour familyCompact FluorescentLight Bulbs use 75percent less energythan standardincandescent bulbsand last up to 10times longer.Your home isan investmentin: Yourfinancial futureSave 1-3% ofthe home’svalue per yearfor repairs andmaintenance.Sign ofFinancialDistress: Onlyable to makeminimumpaymentsRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreasethe total interestpaidHeating orcooling yourhome typicallytakes up 56%of your utilitybillsClosingcosts will becharged fora refinance!Refinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill changeyour loan to afixed rateSign ofFinancialDistress:Unsure of whois owed and forhow muchHomeMaintenance:Keep yourhome clean andin good repairOnce or twice ayear, walk throughyour house andcheck thecondition of all itsparts andstructures.A foreclosurepreventioncounselor willhelp evaluateyour options.An energy efficientappliance maycost more upfrontbut operating costis less.Sign ofFinancialDistress: Usingsavings to meetcurrentexpensesFinancialConsiderations:Adjust yourbudgetAppliancesuse differentamounts ofenergy.FinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsSafety repairsshould comebefore aestheticrepairs orimprovementsRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreaseyour paymentamountIt may take up to ayear to adjust tomortgagepayments and thetrue costs of homeownership.Do it yourselfEnergy Audit:www.hes.lbl.govFinancialConsiderations:Contact a HUDapproved HousingCounselingAgencyFinancialConsiderations:Know your loanFinancialConsiderations:Protect equityNew homebuyersshould not take onany new debt forat least one yearafter closing!FinancialConsiderations:PrioritizeexpensesFinancialConsiderations:Beware ofrescue scamsand predatorylenders.Sign ofFinancialDistress:Rely onOvertimeGet an EnergyAudit: Test andevaluates theenergyefficiency of thehomeSign ofFinancialDistress:Frequentlyborrow moneyCompactFluorescent LightBulbs can savemore than $40 inelectricity costsover its lifetimeFederal & Statetax credits mayalso be availablefor energyefficiencywww.dsireusa.orgAppliances with theenergy star logo areconsidered moreenergy efficient thanthe averagecomparable model.Protecting yourhome is morethan just addinglocks or smokedetectorsFinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsRule of Thumb: A newinterest rate should be2% below the rate ofcurrent mortgage andyou should plan to livethere at least 3 moreyears.Your home isan investmentin: The life andhealth of yourcommunitySign of FinancialDistress: Morethan 20% of take-home pay is usedfor non-mortgagedebt repaymentsUtility companiesmay offer rebatesto offset the costof upgradingenergy efficiencyThere areother optionsbesidesforeclosure.ENERGYSTAR qualifiedhomes save15-20% onutilitiesYour home isan investmentin: Shelter andprotection foryour familyCompact FluorescentLight Bulbs use 75percent less energythan standardincandescent bulbsand last up to 10times longer.Your home isan investmentin: Yourfinancial futureSave 1-3% ofthe home’svalue per yearfor repairs andmaintenance.Sign ofFinancialDistress: Onlyable to makeminimumpaymentsRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreasethe total interestpaidHeating orcooling yourhome typicallytakes up 56%of your utilitybillsClosingcosts will becharged fora refinance!Refinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill changeyour loan to afixed rateSign ofFinancialDistress:Unsure of whois owed and forhow muchHomeMaintenance:Keep yourhome clean andin good repairOnce or twice ayear, walk throughyour house andcheck thecondition of all itsparts andstructures.A foreclosurepreventioncounselor willhelp evaluateyour options.An energy efficientappliance maycost more upfrontbut operating costis less.Sign ofFinancialDistress: Usingsavings to meetcurrentexpensesFinancialConsiderations:Adjust yourbudgetAppliancesuse differentamounts ofenergy.FinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsSafety repairsshould comebefore aestheticrepairs orimprovementsRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreaseyour paymentamountIt may take up to ayear to adjust tomortgagepayments and thetrue costs of homeownership.Do it yourselfEnergy Audit:www.hes.lbl.govFinancialConsiderations:Contact a HUDapproved HousingCounselingAgencyFinancialConsiderations:Know your loanFinancialConsiderations:Protect equityNew homebuyersshould not take onany new debt forat least one yearafter closing!FinancialConsiderations:PrioritizeexpensesFinancialConsiderations:Beware ofrescue scamsand predatorylenders.Sign ofFinancialDistress:Rely onOvertimeGet an EnergyAudit: Test andevaluates theenergyefficiency of thehomeSign ofFinancialDistress:Frequentlyborrow moneyCompactFluorescent LightBulbs can savemore than $40 inelectricity costsover its lifetimeFederal & Statetax credits mayalso be availablefor energyefficiencywww.dsireusa.orgAppliances with theenergy star logo areconsidered moreenergy efficient thanthe averagecomparable model.Protecting yourhome is morethan just addinglocks or smokedetectorsFinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsRule of Thumb: A newinterest rate should be2% below the rate ofcurrent mortgage andyou should plan to livethere at least 3 moreyears.Your home isan investmentin: The life andhealth of yourcommunitySign of FinancialDistress: Morethan 20% of take-home pay is usedfor non-mortgagedebt repayments

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