Once we are familiar with the process we meet with the City Planner or Zoning Administor to ascertain their thoughts on the receptivity of the municipality's governing board. 

You also get rebates for the install through a program called Efficiency Maine which is funded by a Federal Grant (I think?).

I could never understand the "fear of government".

The breakdown would be like this,$50,000 sale price $5,000 Government incentive Mortgage $45,000Monthly P & I @ 5.5% for 30 years - $256Taxes - $100Insurance - $80Total monthly payment - $436If they rented the same house, it would have been $550-600Their monthly salary (After layoff) is $1,87933% of that is $625They are much better off buying!

Most macro-economic data are published by the U.S. and the various state and city governments and are free to obtain.

They'll tend to have more organization, block-clubs and government influence when it comes to services/police presence/being heard when change is needed. 2) DOM is a good indicator of the seller's motivation/willingness to sell low IF the home has been on-market for a long time.

One of them is that every piece of Real Estate is OWNED by someone or some entity (bank, government, insurance company, retirement fund, etc...)

Single people not part if the lowest income range often like the space and flexibility of 2 BRs, or just two people without the apparently government-mandated minimum number of 3-4 kids for SSI receivers.

Key criteria, in my opinion, should be -1) Stable government & non-corrupt officials - carribean tax havens with glittering opportunities and such, often turn to an investors graveyard, as the government, police or local influentials can make your property (and visa, and permission to enter or trade in the country) disappear in a single phone call.

I believe there is a recent FHA guideline for refinancing underwater properties with borrowers who are current and qualify, it primarily addresses the property value with a government guarantee.