Inman

FHA backing energy efficiency retrofits

The Federal Housing Administration has signed up 18 lenders to participate in a pilot program that offers homeowners "PowerSaver" loans of up to $25,000 to make their homes more energy efficient.

About 30,000 homeowners are expected to qualify for the loans by installing insulation, duct sealing, replacement doors and windows, HVAC systems, water heaters, solar panels, and geothermal systems.

Homeowners must have good credit, manageable debt, and at least some equity in their home. FHA mortgage insurance will cover up to 90 percent of the loan amount, with lenders retaining the remaining risk to encourage responsible underwriting and lending standards.

Lenders currently participating in the PowerSaver are Admirals Bank; AFC First Financial Corp.; Bank of Colorado; the City of Boise, Idaho; Energy Finance Solutions; Enterprise Cascadia; HomeStreet Bank; Neighbor’s Financial Corp.; Paramount Equity Mortgage Inc.; Quicken Loans; SOFCU Community Credit Union; Stonegate Mortgage Corp.; Sun West Mortgage Co. Inc.; The Bank at Broadmoor; University of Virginia Community Credit Union Inc.; Viewtech Financial Services Inc.; WinTrust Mortgage; and W. J. Bradley Mortgage Capital Corp.