home tips and advice: Holiday Home Safety
- 12/01/10 07:35 AM
The Holiday season is upon us, and for most it is a time full of joy, fellowship, and family. But the unexpected can and does happen. So, from stopping theft to preventing fires, here are a few tips from the experts that can help keep your family safe this time of year. Fire safety comes with the territory of the holidays. Trees and lighting can both be dangerous if not done correctly. When selecting a real tree, be sure to buy one that is fresh. This means you should look for a fragrant tree that is a rich, deep green color. … (0 comments)
It's all about choices when you decide to build your next home. From craftsman to colonial, what you choose for your home says a lot about you. As energy prices rise and concern over the environment touches home for many Americans, one choice is gaining popularity. And that is passive solar homes. They do not require any fancy photovoltaic panels, inverters, or batteries. It is simply the design of your home that will bring you energy savings. Passive solar homes harness the power of the sun. They are designed to collect, store, and distribute solar energy. And they do … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: Turning A Tract Home Into a Custom Home
- 11/22/10 09:19 AM
For many, building their own home is just a dream. Financing the construction, buying the land, and overseeing the project are too overwhelming. So instead, many buyers purchase tract housing. Making that tract house look like a custom home is easier than you might think. Debbie Kaplan loves her remodeled tract house. When you step inside it, you immediately feel like you're in a custom home. Amenities such as a smart coffeemaker that is plumbed so you never have to fill it, heated floors, a built-in trash compactor, a pantry, an over-the-stove pot filler, and a surround sound audio system … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: Green Living: Water Purification
- 11/22/10 06:57 AM
The safety of water in the developed world has grown by leaps and bounds over the last century. And while many countries, unfortunately, still deal daily with issues of water contamination, most Americans have access to clean water. This luxury, however, may have caused some level of complacency concerning what goes into our water and thus into our bodies. The copious amount of prescription drugs, bacteria, and hazardous chemicals (detergents, bleaches, etc) that are dumped into the water supply each day increases exponentially as our population grows. If the system works correctly, these chemicals are identified and processed out before water … (3 comments)
home tips and advice: 10 Tips For New Buyers
- 11/19/10 04:21 AM
It is a great time to buy for many would-be homeowners. The market offers historically low interest rates, as well as affordable home prices. Here are 10 steps that buyers can take to make home dreams a reality! 1. Savings. You may already know how much monthly payment you can support (experts recommend no more than 1/3 your monthly income), but the buying process will also include upfront costs, such as a downpayment and closing costs. 2. Downpayment options. Do you qualify for downpayment assistance programs? Will you be able to get an FHA loan and pay 3.5 percent down? Do … (4 comments)
home tips and advice: Four Questions Help Determine Improve vs. Move
- 11/16/10 04:06 AM
The walls are closing in. Your teenagers are warring over closet space and you long to have a real office room instead of camping out at the kitchen table. What's the best solution? Should you improve the house or move to another? The answers to four primary questions are a good place to start in the dilemma to improve the house or purchase another. Homeowners who are happy with their current neighborhood and school district (usually the top two owner' priorities) are wise to weigh answers to the following: 1. How long do you intend to keep the house? This initial … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: Enhance Lifestyle, Boost Mood with Smart Updates to Home and Office
- 11/15/10 07:13 AM
Despite today's challenging economy - and perhaps because of it - improving the ambiance of our homes and offices is a simple way to fight the doldrums and boost morale. Millions of Americans suffer from depression in the United States, and many have turned to exercise, reading, and listening to music are ways helping people cope. According to internationally renowned architect and designer Lauren Rottet, the interiors we live in have a powerful impact on our mood and well being, particularly in winter when we spend more time indoors. Rottet says simple design elements such as natural light and architectural … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: Enhance Lifestyle, Boost Mood with Smart Updates to Home and Office
- 11/12/10 05:52 AM
Despite today's challenging economy - and perhaps because of it - improving the ambiance of our homes and offices is a simple way to fight the doldrums and boost morale. Millions of Americans suffer from depression in the United States, and many have turned to exercise, reading, and listening to music are ways helping people cope. According to internationally renowned architect and designer Lauren Rottet, the interiors we live in have a powerful impact on our mood and well being, particularly in winter when we spend more time indoors. Rottet says simple design elements such as natural light and architectural style … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: Coping With Real Estate Market Change
- 11/11/10 05:52 AM
Like calling a nuclear-tipped missile the Peacemaker, real estate market buzz words "stabilizing market," "returning to normal" and "market softening" may send the wrong signal to consumers. The housing market isn't likely to implode in a mushroom cloud, but words like "normal," "stable" and "soft" are more likely to produce complacent acquiescence when it's time for a more proactive approach to changes in the market. Experts who have lived and worked through past market shifts take a decidedly more robust "cover your assets" approach to today's real estate market rather than trying to pigeon hole it as typical. One of those … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: Green-building Growing, More Jobs, More Buyer Interest
- 11/11/10 05:42 AM
According to a new study from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Booz Allen Hamilton, construction in the green-building industry will support 7.9 million jobs over the next four years while pumping into the American economy $554 billion. Currently, 2 million American jobs are supported by the same industry and more than $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages is generated. The USGBC writes on its Web site that "buildings in the United States are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent water consumption and 15 percent of Gross Domestic Product … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: Energy Efficiency Investments Remain Strong despite Global Recession
- 11/09/10 05:47 AM
Energy. There's no denying you have heard, read or watched a story about it in the last 12- to 24-hours. As time goes on and momentum from consumers demanding new and better ways to produce energy, more and more companies are taking advantage of the economic and transactional advantages of efficiency, especially those decision makers outside the U.S. who appear to realize the current and future impact of sustainability on property values. A new survey, by the Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) released by Johnson Controls, a global leader in delivering products, services and solutions that increase energy efficiency in buildings, … (1 comments)
home tips and advice: Tools for New Homeowners
- 11/09/10 05:24 AM
Living in a condo or a rental unit comes with one definite perk. You don't have to make your own repairs! Now that you have moved into your new home, it's time to put on a new hat, that of "handyman." For the big jobs, like roofing and rewiring, you'll more than likely still rely on a professional. And unless you are truly versed in those specialties, that is what we'd recommend! But there will be many small jobs that come up which you will be able to fix on your own. Really! Not only will it save you money, but … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: Debunking Credit Score Myths
- 11/03/10 08:00 AM
Parents aren't so bright when it comes to what behaviors will impact their credit scores and that could brush off on their kids. In March, ING Direct bank commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct an online survey of 1,042 parents of children age 17 years and younger. • The survey discovered more than half, 56 percent, of those surveyed thought bouncing a check or paying a fee for having non-sufficient funds in their bank account would reduce their credit scores. Wrong. Credit reports typically don't include information about checking and debit accounts, nor non-sufficient fund issues unless they somehow impact an … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: How to Repair Your Home Without Damaging Your Wallet
- 11/03/10 07:49 AM
Some homeowners have a long laundry list of to-do repairs and, interestingly enough, many of those items don't get addressed until (or if at all) it's time to sell the house. In hot real estate markets, repairs are sometimes not done before the sale. Remember bidding wars over properties that needed work? Well, today sellers are looking for the advantage that makes their home stand out. Even though housing inventory declined toward the end of last year, it's expected to rise as more foreclosures tumble into the marketplace this year. While fixing up a home to sell can be costly, there … (1 comments)
home tips and advice: Is Your Home Wired Properly?
- 11/02/10 08:05 AM
We all know that as things age, they often need replacing but sometimes homeowners neglect to take care of their home's electrical wiring and that can set them up for potential danger. Electrical consumption since the middle of the last century has increased in most homes on average about 400 percent. If you're tripping your main safety circuit box that could be a sign that you're overloading the electrical outlets and an indication that an electrical contractor should examine your wiring. Oftentimes, homes are renovated several times without any electrical wiring updated. Yet, this is a part of the house … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: Heated Floors, a Warm Welcome for Chilly Buyers
- 11/01/10 08:47 AM
When you feel a chill in the air and the leaves start to turn (okay, not so much in San Diego) but certainly in other parts of the country, then you know it’s time to load up the fireplaces with wood, close up the windows, and turn on the floors. Turn on the floors? Yes, radiant heating is as attractive to cold toes as peanut butter is to jelly--they just go together. These days radiant floors are becoming more popular especially for those interested in green design. There are several benefits for the environment and your pocketbook. As … (1 comments)
home tips and advice: How to Recognize a Buyers Market
- 11/01/10 08:40 AM
Are you on the search for a new home? Are you a first-time home buyer ready to enter the market? Then a buyers market is right where you want to be! Recent years have turned many real estate markets on their heads. One-time hotbeds for rapid appreciation and booming sales have turned into areas rampant with dropping prices and foreclosures. Making matters even more complicated, is the realization that every market is different. Even neighborhoods within cities have varying markets. How can you tell if you are living in an area experiencing a buyers market? Key Indicators: … (0 comments)
home tips and advice: Home Warranty Frequently Asked Questions
- 10/26/10 07:05 AM
Home warranties are on the rise. Realty Times takes a moment to look at some of the most common questions regarding these products. What is a home warranty? A home warranty is a residential service contract giving the homeowner repair and replacement coverage for major operating systems and appliances in a home. These repairs must be due to wear and tear, and not negligence or damage. How can you benefit from a home warranty? Repairs to homes are inevitable. And while homeowners cross their fingers in hopes that these repairs are relatively inexpensive, what if an entire system needs replaced, … (0 comments)
Condos can be a great option for many buyers. But is this type of home the best fit for you? Let's examine some of the pros and cons of buying a condo. Pros Maintenance. Most condominiums require very little maintenance from their tenants. Yard work and the like are done and paid for through your monthly dues. Reserve funds are saved up by the condo association for larger periodic repairs, such as roof replacement and painting. Amenities. In many condominium communities you'll find you have access to a clubhouse, pool, exercise facilities, concierge, or even door security. These great … (2 comments)
home tips and advice: Homeowners Advice: Housewarming Party Etiquette
- 10/21/10 04:40 AM
Buying a home can be the single largest purchase of a lifetime. And in our society, celebrating that purchase is a common and happy occurrence. But questions arise as to what are the proper procedures and etiquette regarding a housewarming party. Can you throw the party yourself? Are gifts mandatory? When should the party happen? And can renters throw a housewarming party? These are a few of the questions that we'll cover in this article. The first tip from the experts is to wait to have your party until you are actually settled into the house. Sometimes new homeowners are … (0 comments)
The Holiday season is upon us, and for most it is a time full of joy, fellowship, and family. But the unexpected can and does happen.;)
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