Alaska

In this case it is easy being green. Alaska Green Star is holding a fall recycling event this Saturday and Monday from 10:00AM - 4:00PM in the back parking lot of the Westmark Hotel on 8th and Noble (Google Maps Link). Green Star collected 12 tons from the recycling drive in April - a number they're hoping to match or exceed.

According to the National Safety Council approximately 41 million computers became outdated in 2004 and 63 million in 2005. That number was expected to reach upwards of 500 million in 2007. Research shows that 75% of outdated, unused computers are stored and awaiting disposal.

Electronic equipment contains a myriad of hazardous materials. A typical desktop computer contains between 2-4 pounds of lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, lithium, brominate flame retardants and phosphorus. Do something green and recycle your old unwanted electronics.

The electronics you turn in will be sorted and packed for shipment to a recycling center in Seattle (the closest recycling plant). Many of the materials in those old electronics items such as the plastics, glass, steel, gold, lead, mercury, cadmium and fire retardants can be recaptured for reuse. The recycling process separates CRT's and other equipment into component parts, some of which will be used to reduce our demand for raw materials and of course, reduce the amount of waste pouring into the landfill.

There is a nominal cost for disposing of your old electronics ranging from .50 cents to $38 depending on what you wish to recycle. A bulk discount was offered in April although no mention has been made of it for this even. Regardless, get together with your friends and colleagues and get rid of that old equipment you're not using.

Get involved. This is something we can all easily do to protect our pristine environment.

There are a few items that will not be accepted; video and audio cassette tapes, smoke detectors, loose batteries, vacuum cleaners, household electric appliances without a circuit board (toasters, vacuum cleaners, etc.). For more information please contact Interior Alaska Green Star at (907) 452-4152 or info@iagreenstar.org.

If you live or own a home in Alaska and facing foreclosure, please see below for the step-by-step process.

When you develop a definite plan of action with well-timed, well-informed steps, you can stop the foreclosure process and save your home. We have outlined the foreclose process for the state of Alaska.

Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

Non-judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

Alaska offers two ways to borrow money against real estate: a true mortgage, and a deed of trust. The true mortgage may be foreclosed in Superior Court, according to the rules of equity. The deed of trust names the trustee who will oversee the foreclosure sale by recording and posting a notice of sale and arranging an auction to the highest bidder. Alaska law provides a procedure to appoint a substitute trustee by recording a proper notice of the appointment.

Preferred Method of Foreclosure: Non-judicial deed of trust sale.

Non judicial Power of Sale Foreclosure

The deed of trust must be foreclosed according to its own terms, provided those terms are consistent with the minimum protections of Alaska’s laws.

Preliminary Notices

Recording

Not less than 30 days after the default and not less than three months before the sale, the trust will record notice of default stating the name of the borrower and the book and page where the trust deed is recorded. It must describe the property, the borrower’s default, the amount the borrower owes, and the trustee’s desire to sell. It must give the date, time and place of the sale.

Mailing

Within ten days after recording the notice of default, the trustee must mail a copy of the same by certified mail to the last known address of

(1) The borrower

(2) Any person whose claim or lien on the property appears of record or is known to the lender or trustee

(3) Any occupant. The trustee may have the notice delivered personally instead of sending it by certified mail.

Reinstatement Rights

Any time before the sale, the borrower may cure the default and stop the sale by paying a sum equal to the missed payments plus attorney’s fees. The lender may not require the borrower to pay off the entire remaining principal balance of the loan to cure the default; just the missed payments and attorney’s fees. If the lender has recorded a notice of default two or more times, then the Alaska statutes provide that the lender can refuse to accept the borrower’s monies for the missed payments and attorney’s fees and proceed with the foreclosure sale instead.

Sale Procedures

Place of Sale

The front door of the Superior Court for the judicial district where the property is located, unless the deed of trust specifies another location.

Manner of Sale

The trustee can conduct the auction or bring in an auctioneer to call out the sale.

Postponement

The trustee can postpone the sale by giving the person who conducts the sale a signed and written postponement request moving the foreclosure to a different time and place, which must be publicly announced at the time and place originally fixed for the sale.

Terms

The trustee must sell to the highest and best bidder. The lender may bid at auction. The trustee’s deed must give the book and page where both the original deed of trust and the default notice were recorded. It must state the notice of default was properly mailed. It must give the time, place and manner in which the foreclosure sale was conducted, and the amount paid for the property at foreclosure. After the sale, the trustee must record an affidavit that the notice of default was properly mailed.

Redemption

If the lender forecloses by means of an out-of-court foreclosure sale under a deed of trust, then the borrower has the right to redeem the property. However, the borrower does not have the right to redeem if the sale was the result of a lawsuit and a court order commanding the sale.

Deficiency

Judicial foreclosure permits a deficiency suit. However, if the lender forecloses through an out-of-court foreclosure sale under the deed of trust, then the lender may not sue for a deficiency judgment afterward.

Callie Thompson

Infinity Funding Group

407-860-1993

How to Avoid Loan Modification / Loss Mitigation Scams

Infinity Mitigation Services FAQ's

Investors Facing Foreclosure

Why won't my lender won't work with me?

www.KeepYourProperty.info

With energy costs in Alaska still some of the highest in the nation, it's no surprise that the cost of heating fuel has been a major topic of discussion in Fairbanks lately. While my crystal ball is on the fritz it's a fairly safe bet that heating costs will be significantly higher this winter than last. However, there are some things you can do to ease the pain of seeing the fuel invoice hanging on your door.

Shopping for the best price goes without saying, but don't forget to see what programs are available to help with the cost, such as;

* Cash Discounts: Ask if your fuel company offers a discount for cash payments and/or immediate payments.

* Employer Plan: Ask if the fuel company offers a discount plan to employees of your company?

* Builder/Contractor Discount: If you have a new home, ask if your builder gets a special rate and if you can be on their plan.

* Multi-Property Discount: If you own several properties, you could be eligible for a discounted per gallon rate.

Budget plans are another very popular option in the Interior. The fuel company will estimate the total cost of fuel for your home for the winter and divide that amount by 12 months. A home with an annual heating oil expense of $6,000 will be billed $500 per month.

Another important reminder is to sign up for auto-fill with your fuel company of choice. With auto-fill your fuel company will keep your tank full by making a delivery (generally) once a month. You'll get a significant price per-gallon discount by being an auto-fill customer. Those folks who order small quantities of fuel at a time often pay as much as 30%-35% more than auto-fill customers. Ordering an emergency after-hours delivery because you ran out of fuel will cost even more - in cost per gallon and damage from a freeze up.

Local Fuel Companies

If you want to apply for a rebate from the AHFC, it looks like patience will need to be a virtue that you will have to cultivate.

A few weeks ago in my blog( Anchorage Sponsors Energy Efficiency!), I mentioned that the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) is offering rebates to homeowners who opt to make their homes more energy efficient.

Apparently, there are many in Anchorage, as well as the rest of the state, who believe in living green and receiving the additional benefit of a rebate from the AHFC.

So, what's the problem with that? Before a homeowner can qualify, the home must be rated by a professional home energy rater. So many homeowners have called in to get information about the rebate program or to place their name on the list that the AHFC cannot process all the calls.

The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is working to consolidate and streamline the process. AHFC says it is working as fast as it can to make it easier for homeowners to get an appointment with a home energy rater.

Next week, they will begin the task of streamlining by consolidating the first-come, first-served calls to a central processing database. Instead of each individual energy rater receiving a call and making their own appointments, the centralized database will place the calls (in order that they are received) and assign the caller to an energy rater.

This will help reduce the backlog and, hopefully, speed up the process of applying for the rebates. But, with the overwhelming response to the program, it looks like patience will be a virtue you will need to cultivate in the mean time.

Related Websites:
The Anchorage Department of Neighborhoods (Anchorage energy grant information)
The Alaska Building Sciences Network (Anchorage, Alaska)
Alaska homeowner energy audits and green living information (ABSN)