About SCEIP Financing
How SCEIP Financing Works
Participation in SCEIP financing is completely voluntary and available to both residential and non-residential property owners in Sonoma County.
The minimum amount of financing is $2,500. The financed amount becomes an assessment attached to the property, not the owner, and is paid back through the property tax system over a term of 10 or 20 years with a 5.99% interest rate.
Who is Eligible for SCEIP Financing?
Any residential, commercial, or industrial property owner in Sonoma County may participate in the program. The applicant(s) must be legal owners of the property.
- The property must be located within Sonoma County.
- The property owner needs to be current on all property taxes and current on mortgage(s).
- The property owner may not be in bankruptcy and the property cannot be an asset in a bankruptcy. In addition, multiple personal bankruptcies are ineligible for financing.
- The total annual property taxes and assessments due on the property cannot exceed 10 percent of the property’s market value as determined by an automated valuation model (SCEIP service), Brokers Price Opinion or full appraisal. All accepted forms determining value must be issued within the last 90 days.
- Residential property owners with an existing home mortgage modification are eligible to apply with the exception of participants of Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). Due to income qualifications for HAMP and restrictions on additional liens or assessments, HAMP participants are ineligible for SCEIP financing.
- For commercial property, the lender must acknowledge the application for financing.
The History of SCEIP and PACE Financing
In July of 2008, California Assembly Bill 811 was signed into law, establishing contractual assessments to finance the installation of energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy generation improvements.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors authorized the creation of SCEIP in order to meet established goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) is administered through the County of Sonoma and an investment by the County Treasury. Launched in March 2009, it is the first countywide municipal program of its kind to provide residential and non-residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing.
How is SCEIP Different?
SCEIP Financing has several advantages that you may want to consider:
- Financed amount is an assessment, not personal debt.
- Approval is not income or credit based
- Assessments do not appear on your credit report
- Assessments may be passed to subsequent property owners, if your buyer’s new lender agrees.
- For financial reporting, these transactions would be treated the same as other assessments on your property
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