Financing Your Project
LE Construction works with GoGreen Financing, the State of California program that helps homeowners finance energy-saving upgrades, including the ones that come with a remodel.
GoGreen Financing is a State of California program. The lender, not LE Construction, approves the loan and sets its rate and term.
What GoGreen Financing is
GoGreen Financing is a State of California program for home energy upgrades, run through the State Treasurer's office. The state does not lend the money itself. It works with participating lenders and provides a credit enhancement that lets those lenders offer better terms on energy upgrade loans than they otherwise would.
According to the program, loans come with no money down, no closing costs and no lien on your property. The program lists unsecured loans of up to $50,000 for energy efficiency projects, with terms of up to 180 months. The lender sets the rate and approves the loan, so we cannot promise either one.
What it can pay for in a remodel
The loan is meant for energy upgrades. Examples the program lists include heat pump heating and cooling, heat pump water heaters, induction ranges, Energy Star appliances, insulation and lighting. A kitchen remodel with an induction range and new LED lighting, or a whole-home remodel that adds insulation while the walls are open, can include several of these.
The program also lets up to 30% of the financed amount go toward other upgrades, which it describes with examples like new cabinetry. That means part of the non-energy side of a remodel can ride along on the same loan. We will go through your estimate with you and point out which line items are likely to qualify.
Kitchens
Induction ranges, Energy Star dishwashers and refrigerators, and high-efficacy LED lighting, which California's energy code already requires in remodels.
Whole-home and additions
Insulation in walls and attics opened during the work, heat pump heating and cooling, and better windows where the project includes them.
Water heating
A heat pump water heater, often added when a remodel moves the water heater or the old one is near the end of its life.
How it works with us
You start the way every project starts: a free visit and a written estimate. Tell us at that visit that you want to look at financing. We will mark the parts of the scope that may qualify, and you apply through one of the program's participating lenders using our estimate. Once the lender approves the loan, we schedule the work.
California law also limits what a contractor can collect up front on a home improvement contract: no more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less, with later payments tied to work done. That protects you whether you finance or pay cash. See our process for how payments line up with each stage of a job.
Other ways homeowners pay for remodels
GoGreen covers energy upgrades, so it may not cover a whole remodel. Homeowners also use home equity loans or lines of credit, cash-out refinancing, personal loans and savings, often in combination. Each has different costs, tax treatment and risks, and a lender or financial advisor is the right person to compare them for your situation. We are happy to give you a written estimate and a payment schedule to bring to that conversation.
Ask at your estimate
Tell us you want to look at financing when we visit. We will mark the parts of your project that may qualify.
Financing FAQs
Can GoGreen Financing pay for my entire kitchen remodel?
Probably not all of it. The program is built for energy upgrades, and it allows up to 30% of the financed amount for other improvements such as cabinetry. In a kitchen, the induction range, efficient appliances and lighting are the parts most likely to qualify. We will mark those on your estimate so you can see how much of the project the loan could cover.
Does applying put a lien on my house?
The GoGreen program says its loans are unsecured, with no lien on your property, no money down and no closing costs. The participating lender handles the application and approval. Ask the lender to confirm the terms of your specific loan before you sign.
Who approves the loan, you or the lender?
The lender. LE Construction provides the written estimate that describes the work. The participating lender reviews your application, sets the rate and term, and decides whether to approve it. We schedule the work once financing is in place.
How much do I pay you up front if I finance?
The same as if you paid cash. Under California law, the down payment on a home improvement contract can be no more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. After that, payments follow the work as it is completed. Your contract spells out the schedule.