"Hogwash!" That’s what you should scream out in your mind if you ever come across a mortgage broker who tells you a lender will only offer you a larger mortgage loan is if you make a bigger mortgage loan down payment or improve your credit score. While both tactics will certainly encourage a mortgage lender to reduce your mortgage interest rate, neither tactic is truly effective in helping you to secure a mortgage loan greater than what you’ve been offered. However, if your dream home is just slightly out of reach, there is one way that may result in a lender granting you some additional credit: A green mortgage.
While they’re not new, green mortgages (aka energy-efficiency mortgages) are gaining popularity today because more Americans are more environmentally conscious. Plus, with rising costs on food, clothing, energy and just about everything else, more homebuyers are looking to cut costs any way they can; that includes agreeing to "green" their soon-to-be new homes. That’s exactly what a green mortgage is designed for: To save homeowners money in the long run.
The way green mortgages work is similar to any other mortgage. First, you must apply and qualify for a mortgage loan! That’s the biggest hurdle to get over. Once you do, and if your lender offers green mortgages or has a green mortgage product, you follow the firm’s specific procedures from there. If you’re accepted as a green mortgage candidate, the lender will loan additional monies.
Now, green mortgages are not "name your mortgage amount: type loans; the amount is capped. Typically, lenders will up to 15% of the home price. Though each mortgage lender may state stipulations in various ways, the main stipulation is that the loan amount beyond the home price must be used for energy-efficient improvements or installments on the home. For example, you may decide to use some of the monies to install lighting that uses electricity more efficiently, low-flow water pumps, and a water recycling irrigation system.
Now, I bet you’re wondering how taking on a bigger mortgage loan and greening a home saves the homeowner money in the long run. Simple: By installing or improving the home so it’s more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, the homeowner saves money on utility bills—water, electricity, etc. Homeowners can easily save $200 or more each year on utilities. That savings will "reimburse" the homeowner well before the 30-year term of the loan has been reached; the savings on utilities also makes managing the slightly higher mortgage payments manageable. Plus, there’s an added benefit for buyers who obtain a green mortgage for a newly constructed home: The homeowner will save on the cost of the building materials used on the home.
If you’re interested in a green mortgage, the first step is to do your research into lenders who offer them; the lenders are few and far between so do not be surprised if they are not available in your area. Also, realize that, mortgage lenders are highly selective in those to who they will offer green mortgages. Don’t let that stop you from asking though because you never know. Besides, even if you don’t get a green mortgage, you’ll still have your home…and can green it when you’re financially able.
