Information for Idaho Housing Homeowners Summer 2016
HomeSense Did You Know? ■■ Your
loan number is important. You will need your loan number in order to create your Borrower Connection account at www.HomeLoanServ.com which you can access anytime. It will also save you time if you ever need to speak with customer service.
■■ Escrow
Analysis. An escrow analysis is performed annually and will arrive in the mail with your new coupon book near the anniversary date of your loan. It is adjusted to account for property taxes and other expenses that are paid with your house payment. A sample copy is available online in your Welcome Home packet.
■■ Idaho
Housing and Finance Association offers refinance loans. With interest rates still low, you may be interested in refinancing with one of our great loan products. To learn more, please email our lending department at resloan@ihfa.org or call toll free at 866-432-4066.
■■ Mortgage
Credit Certificates (MCC). If you signed up for a Mortgage Credit Certificate to receive a tax credit each year of up to $2,000 on your income tax, your copy will be mailed the following January. Watch for a reminder each January about filing form 8396 with the IRS to receive the tax credit. There is more information available at www.irs.gov/form8396.
Idaho Housing’s Mortgage Services Department is Now Called HomeLoanServ Our new department name reflects our continued growth and ability to provide excellent home loan services here in Idaho and beyond. How does the change affect me? The only change you will see is that your communication from Idaho Housing will now say HomeLoanServ. Your Idaho Housing home loan has not been sold or transferred to any other organization. In fact, at Idaho Housing, we pride ourselves on servicing Idaho Housing home loans right here in Idaho and will continue to provide you the special care and customer service you deserve. Just remember to look for the HomeLoanServ brand on all letters, postcards, coupon books, emails, and your HomeLoanServ Borrower Connection customer service portal available anytime at www.HomeLoanServ.com.
Easy to pay and manage your mortgage online! Why not simplify your life by managing your mortgage payments online through our HomeLoanServ Borrower Connection. If you already pay your home loan online, you’ll be happy to know there is no change to your Borrower Connection login. Just log in at www.HomeLoanServ.com to access your loan information. Don’t have an online account yet? You can easily set up your free and secure account by going to www.HomeLoanServ.com. Our online payment tool provides an easy, convenient and secure way to manage your mortgage account anytime, anywhere from any device. Through HomeLoanServ Borrower Connection you can: ■■Check
your loan balance. automate your payments by setting up an auto draft from your checking account. ■■ Pay your mortgage each month at your convenience using ACH for electronic payment.
www.homeloanserv.com ■■ Get
updated statements and loan documents. up your interest rate. ■■Access your 1098 information for the most recent tax year. ■■ Download a digital copy of your Welcome Home packet and HomeSense newsletter. ■■ Look
Can’t remember your login? Just click “Reset Password” and you’ll receive a confirmation link sent to the email address you used to create the account. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check the online FAQs, or email customer service from the Contact Us page at www.HomeLoanServ.com. Thank you for being such a valued customer! We are always looking for ways to better serve you. We hope you find the HomeLoanServ Borrower Connection an easy and convenient way to manage your home loan online anytime.
■■ Fully
Get to know HomeLoanServ.
Remember: Idaho Housing also has a great team of housing counselors available to assist you with your housing needs.
idahohousing.com
SafetySense
Connect with us!
Safe Summer Grilling
There’s nothing like outdoor grilling. It’s one of the most popular ways to cook food. But, a grill placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. They can be very hot, causing burn injuries. Follow these simple tips and you will be on the way to safe grilling. ■■ Propane
and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
■■ The
HomeSense To view past HomeSense newsletter issues, please visit the newsroom at idahohousing.com. To order additional copies or to offer comments, please contact the IHFA marketing and communications department at 208.331.4858 or marcomm@ihfa.org. For questions about your home loan, contact HomeLoanServ at 800-526-7145. Published three times a year by Idaho Housing and Finance Association
■■ Never
29M0716
CoolingSense
There are a number of ways to keep your costs low while keeping your home cool and comfortable. Here are some of the best indoor cooling tips to help keep your family cool this summer:
make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
■■ Keep
children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
Download the National Fire Prevention Association’s Grilling Safety Tips here: http://www.nfpa.org/publiceducation/by-topic/outdoors-and-seasonal/grilling
1. Change or clean your air filter. Changing your air filter keeps the air in your home safer and cleaner, but it also saves energy, improves cooling performance and lengthens the life of your HVAC system. 2. Close the curtains, blinds or drapes. 3. Keep A/C unit clear of weeds, vines and other debris. These materials can clog the unit and cause efficiency problems. 4. Set the thermostat higher. Try to aim for a consistent temperature on the thermostat (between 75 and 78 degrees) with very minimal adjustments, or consider investing in a programmable thermostat to make needed adjustments for you. 5. Close or seal registers in the basement. Since basements keep a fairly consistent cooler temperature due to their location underground, any cold air directed into the basement will be wasted. 6. Partially close air vents in unused rooms. 7. Keep all vents clear and unblocked. 8. Keep heavy cooking to a minimum. Turning on the oven or cooking anything on the stove for a long time will only make your house warmer, so try to focus on meals that include a lot of fresh or raw foods, like salads, or cook foods that have short cooking times. 9. Use ceiling fans to help cool your home. Reversible fans can be adjusted with the season, forcing cool air down in the summer and helping to keep your family comfortable.
your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
Source: www.NFPA.org
ProgramSense Paying your Idaho Housing mortgage online through HomeLoanServ Borrower Connection will save you money on postage and the time it takes to write a check. If you make your payment online and on-time for three consecutive months, you’ll automatically be entered into a drawing to receive a $100 gift card to a home improvement store near you in Idaho Housing’s online payment contest. This issue’s winners are Beth and Tyler of Twin Falls. According to Tyler they pay their mortgage online because it’s so easy. This
leave your grill unattended.
■■ Always
■■ Keep
Idaho Housing does not maintain, endorse, or control any of the third-party websites in this publication or warrant the accuracy, reliability, or currency of the information found on them.
Source: www.Angieslist.com
grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
Win $100 By Making Your Mortgage Payments Online
family was excited to learn about winning the $100 Home Depot gift card. “We plan to use it towards a fire pit area,” said Tyler. It’s easy to join Beth and Tyler. Just go to www.HomeLoanServ.com. Then log into your account and make your payments online. Congratulations to the Twin Falls family who won Idaho Housing’s $100 gift card.
PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Boise, ID Permit No. 479 P.O. Box 7899 Boise, ID 83707-1899 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED