The Weatherization Assistance Program helps eligible low-income households lower their energy costs by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes, while ensuring their health and safety. Priority is given to homeowners who are elderly, disabled and families with children and/or who have the highest energy consumption. Examples: improvements to hot water systems, lighting retrofits, insulation in the attic, floors and walls and to clean and tune the furnace. Information:

http://www.dhcd.state.md.us/ARRA/WAP.aspx

Maryland recently ranked fifth in a Mortgage Asset Institute study of states with significant mortgage fraud problems.  Consumers throughout the country have lost their homes due to their lack of awareness and contact with lenders, mortgage brokers, appraisers, and home improvement contractors.

Avoiding foreclosure : starts with being informed when you are purchasing or refinancing a home. Specifics

Resources: Maryland has created a website to guide you to resources that may be available to assist both homeowners and renters facing foreclosure. The site includes information to help you understand the foreclosure process and the options that may be available to you. You also can find information that will lead you to a local housing counseling agency in your area that can assist you on a more personalized level: http://www.mdhope.org/

The Permits and Code Enforcement Division of Baltimore Housing has instituted aggressive new measures to ensure that all required permits are obtained before any construction work begins in Baltimore City. For the new rules and regulations, permits, and searches, visit: www.baltimorehousing.org/ps_permits.asp.

There has been much talk recently about the Homestead Tax Credit program.  Since I have been receiving a number of questions about the program, I wanted to try to clear up any confusion.

1) For the first time ever, homeowners must now actually complete an application in order to qualify for the Homestead Tax Credit.  This change is a result of recent legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly in the 2007 session.  While I support the reasons behind this change, I fear that many Baltimore residents may not realize that they must now take a proactive step in order to continue to receive the Homestead Tax Credit.

Failure to apply for the credit means that property taxes can jump thousands of dollars for many long-time Baltimore residents.

To learn more about the application process and the reasons behind the change, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page at the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (DAT):
http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/Homestead_app.htm

You can also go directly here to download the form (or complete it online, if you have your 8 digit security code from DAT):

http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/homesteadappl.pdf

2) The current Homestead Tax Credit cap in Baltimore City remains at 4%.  While the Blue Ribbon Committee on Property Tax Reform has made a recommendation to raise that cap to as much as 10%, the 4% cap remains unchanged at present.

3) Appealing your assessment does not impact your Homestead Tax Credit in any way.  The two are completely unrelated and you have every right to appeal your assessment. 

Please share this information with your neighbors!