LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Homeowners in Lake County are now invited to apply for zero-percent financing to make energy efficiency upgrades to their home as part of the CHF Residential Energy Retrofit Program.

Energy efficiency improvements such as caulking and sealing the home, improving insulation, installing new windows, water heaters, and heating and air conditioning systems, are just a few of the types of improvements that can be made to a home to significantly decrease energy bills and improve the comfort of the homeowner.

The program helps homeowners to finance home energy efficiency improvements by providing loan interest rate loans and grants to qualifying homeowners.

Qualifications include verification that the homeowner is current on the mortgage, property taxes and have a current source of income within the program limits.

There is no minimum credit score to meet, no appraisal required on the home nor any down payment required from the homeowner.

Up to 100 percent of the approved project can be financed with the CHF Loan. Additional guidelines and terms and conditions on loan financing apply and are available from CHF.

“The program is a win-win for the homeowner and community. Reducing the amount of energy usage in your home, can potentially put a lot of money back in your pocket,” said Carolyn Holmes, CHF marketing director. “Improvements may increase the home’s overall value, and energy upgrade projects can help create jobs in the local area.”

The energy efficiency program is funded through a $16.5 million grant awarded to CHF by the California Energy Commission State Energy Program as part of the federal stimulus American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

CRHMFA (California Rural Home Mortgage Finance Authority) Homebuyers Fund – or CHF – is a California government entity with 30 member counties who are also members of the nonprofit Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC).

CHF has supported affordable home ownership in California for almost two decades, and has helped nearly 37,000 families and individuals to purchase homes.

The above example of 100 percent financing of qualified retrofit projects approved in Lake County under the CHF Residential Energy Retrofit Program is based on a 15-year, zero-percent fixed-rate CHF Loan.

The monthly payment on a $10,000, 15-year fixed-rate CHF Loan at 0.00 percent interest would be $55.56 and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) would be 0.441 percent.

For more information, or to apply, please contact CHF toll-free at 855-740-8422 or visit www.chfloan.org.