Housing

The Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), through the Minnesota Energy Challenge, is giving away 10 free home energy audits and, for one lucky winner, an energy “makeover” worth up to $15,000. The deadline to enter is May 15. Register online, or a paper application is available by calling 612-335-5852. MORE »

The escalating rate of home foreclosures is putting American homeowners in crisis-mode. As of March this year, more than “900,000 households [were] in the foreclosure process, up 71% from a year ago, according to a survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association. That figure represents 2.04% of all mortgages, the highest rate in the report’s quarterly, 36-year history.” (cnnmoney.com) MORE »

In an effort to ward off the rising tide of vacant homes, the city of Minneapolis is offering forgivable $10,000 loans to qualified buyers purchasing homes in one of the city’s 18 eligible neighborhoods. The zero-interest, zero-payment loans are forgiven at a rate of 20 percent each year. MORE »

Minnesota’s property tax is regressive, meaning that a disproportionate share of the property tax burden falls upon those with the least ability to pay. In recent years, both the amount of statewide property taxes and the degree of property tax regressivity have increased, contributing to the overall growth in tax regressivity in Minnesota. MORE »