Rule of Thumb: A newinterest rate should be2% below the rate ofcurrent mortgage andyou should plan to livethere at least 3 moreyears.Protecting yourhome is morethan just addinglocks or smokedetectorsAn energy efficientappliance maycost more upfrontbut operating costis less.Your home isan investmentin: Yourfinancial futureSafety repairsshould comebefore aestheticrepairs orimprovementsAppliancesuse differentamounts ofenergy.New homebuyersshould not take onany new debt forat least one yearafter closing!Heating orcooling yourhome typicallytakes up 56%of your utilitybillsRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill changeyour loan to afixed rateHomeMaintenance:Keep yourhome clean andin good repairAppliances with theenergy star logo areconsidered moreenergy efficient thanthe averagecomparable model.There areother optionsbesidesforeclosure.FinancialConsiderations:Know your loanDo it yourselfEnergy Audit:www.hes.lbl.govSign ofFinancialDistress:Frequentlyborrow moneySave 1-3% ofthe home’svalue per yearfor repairs andmaintenance.Utility companiesmay offer rebatesto offset the costof upgradingenergy efficiencyFederal & Statetax credits mayalso be availablefor energyefficiencywww.dsireusa.orgCompactFluorescent LightBulbs can savemore than $40 inelectricity costsover its lifetimeA foreclosurepreventioncounselor willhelp evaluateyour options.Your home isan investmentin: The life andhealth of yourcommunitySign ofFinancialDistress:Unsure of whois owed and forhow muchFinancialConsiderations:Beware ofrescue scamsand predatorylenders.Refinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreasethe total interestpaidFinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsClosingcosts will becharged fora refinance!Get an EnergyAudit: Test andevaluates theenergyefficiency of thehomeFinancialConsiderations:Contact a HUDapproved HousingCounselingAgencyFinancialConsiderations:Adjust yourbudgetSign ofFinancialDistress:Rely onOvertimeFinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreaseyour paymentamountCompact FluorescentLight Bulbs use 75percent less energythan standardincandescent bulbsand last up to 10times longer.FinancialConsiderations:Protect equitySign of FinancialDistress: Morethan 20% of take-home pay is usedfor non-mortgagedebt repaymentsSign ofFinancialDistress: Usingsavings to meetcurrentexpensesIt may take up to ayear to adjust tomortgagepayments and thetrue costs of homeownership.Your home isan investmentin: Shelter andprotection foryour familyENERGYSTAR qualifiedhomes save15-20% onutilitiesSign ofFinancialDistress: Onlyable to makeminimumpaymentsOnce or twice ayear, walk throughyour house andcheck thecondition of all itsparts andstructures.FinancialConsiderations:PrioritizeexpensesRule of Thumb: A newinterest rate should be2% below the rate ofcurrent mortgage andyou should plan to livethere at least 3 moreyears.Protecting yourhome is morethan just addinglocks or smokedetectorsAn energy efficientappliance maycost more upfrontbut operating costis less.Your home isan investmentin: Yourfinancial futureSafety repairsshould comebefore aestheticrepairs orimprovementsAppliancesuse differentamounts ofenergy.New homebuyersshould not take onany new debt forat least one yearafter closing!Heating orcooling yourhome typicallytakes up 56%of your utilitybillsRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill changeyour loan to afixed rateHomeMaintenance:Keep yourhome clean andin good repairAppliances with theenergy star logo areconsidered moreenergy efficient thanthe averagecomparable model.There areother optionsbesidesforeclosure.FinancialConsiderations:Know your loanDo it yourselfEnergy Audit:www.hes.lbl.govSign ofFinancialDistress:Frequentlyborrow moneySave 1-3% ofthe home’svalue per yearfor repairs andmaintenance.Utility companiesmay offer rebatesto offset the costof upgradingenergy efficiencyFederal & Statetax credits mayalso be availablefor energyefficiencywww.dsireusa.orgCompactFluorescent LightBulbs can savemore than $40 inelectricity costsover its lifetimeA foreclosurepreventioncounselor willhelp evaluateyour options.Your home isan investmentin: The life andhealth of yourcommunitySign ofFinancialDistress:Unsure of whois owed and forhow muchFinancialConsiderations:Beware ofrescue scamsand predatorylenders.Refinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreasethe total interestpaidFinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsClosingcosts will becharged fora refinance!Get an EnergyAudit: Test andevaluates theenergyefficiency of thehomeFinancialConsiderations:Contact a HUDapproved HousingCounselingAgencyFinancialConsiderations:Adjust yourbudgetSign ofFinancialDistress:Rely onOvertimeFinancialConsiderations:Save money forrepairsRefinancingcan bebeneficial if itwill decreaseyour paymentamountCompact FluorescentLight Bulbs use 75percent less energythan standardincandescent bulbsand last up to 10times longer.FinancialConsiderations:Protect equitySign of FinancialDistress: Morethan 20% of take-home pay is usedfor non-mortgagedebt repaymentsSign ofFinancialDistress: Usingsavings to meetcurrentexpensesIt may take up to ayear to adjust tomortgagepayments and thetrue costs of homeownership.Your home isan investmentin: Shelter andprotection foryour familyENERGYSTAR qualifiedhomes save15-20% onutilitiesSign ofFinancialDistress: Onlyable to makeminimumpaymentsOnce or twice ayear, walk throughyour house andcheck thecondition of all itsparts andstructures.FinancialConsiderations:Prioritizeexpenses

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