Today we conclude the interview with Jason Sampson of Envirolending. Many thanks to Jason for taking the time to answer our questions and giving us information on his company.

Interview with Jason Sampson of Envirolending, Pt II

AS: Tell us what kind of market share forecasts you expect to see in coming years.

JS: We don’t have specific numbers in terms of market share forecasting for EEMs but we fully expect EEMs to make big gains. In large part this will be due to the increasing number of energy efficient homes being built each year. Builders recognize that consumers are demanding more efficient homes so they are building them. For instance, a Texas builder, McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc., has pledged to build over 800 energy efficient homes in the coming year in the DFW area. Additionally, as consumers become more educated about the ability to save money with energy efficient home improvements we expect to see an increase in the adoption of the EEM product for refinance loans.

AS: I see from visiting your website that you are based in Texas. Does you company serve only Texas residents, or are you a nation wide lender?

JS: We are currently only doing business in Texas although we are considering expanding to other states. Our plate is pretty full with the Texas market alone. Texas builds more energy efficient homes than any other state. ENERGY STAR statistics show that Texas built 60,839 ENERGY STAR qualified homes in 2006 whereas the next closest state was Arizona with 20,101. See the Energy Star website for results. By the way, EnviroLending is one of only 20 approved ENERGY STAR partner lenders in the state of Texas. You can view our ENERGY STAR listing online.

AS: Going Green is a tight niche - does you business plan take any stock in diversification to supplement your green mortgage business?

JS: Our parent company, winning Mortgage Solutions, handles the more traditional mortgage loans while EnviroLending focuses solely on the energy efficient mortgage market.

AS: Does your company work with green contractors, builders and specifically green resources, or do you rely on normal contractors and builders most of the time?

JS: We prefer to work with green contractors and builders as they have the experience necessary to navigate the rating process. We are experts in lending, not contracting. While we can offer suggestions to normal contractors in an effort to “green” the process, it is best to have experts involved in all phases of the loan to reap the most benefit.

AS: Your website lists current Texas mortgage rates. Do you give better rates to buyers of green homes as an incentive?

JS: As with any home loan, the interest rate is inextricably tied to a buyer’s credit score. There is a current effort being undertaken by the Energy Programs Consortium to enhance existing EEM products to include a reduced interest rate but this has not yet materialized. You can view a brief on this effort at Energy Programs.org. The current benefit of an EEM really comes into play with debt to income ratio adjustments that come about as a result of the underwriting process of an energy efficient home. The incentives for homebuyers to utilize EEM’s comes from realizing the benefit of lower utility bills, being able to qualify for a more expensive home, and knowing that their home’s carbon footprint is as small as it can be.

AS: In your own words, tell me why I would want to do business with you.

JS: Our specialization in Energy Efficient Mortgages is what sets us apart from our competitors. We understand the EEM process and have experience with the ins and outs of dealing with the slightly more complex requirements of the EEM.

For more information about Envirolending, visit their website at http://envirolending.com.