north shore: Appliance Maintenance: HVAC
- 08/20/10 05:49 AM
Keep your HVAC systems running efficiently and reliably with this simple maintenance routine. “We recommend annual visits from an HVAC contractor each fall and spring,” says Richard Ciresi, owner of the Louisville Aire Serv franchise. In fall, the technician will clean and inspect the furnace blower, burners, and heat exchanger. In spring, he or she will clean indoor and outdoor condenser coils, verify refrigerant charge, and inspect wiring. Here’s a list of maintenance tips to keep your heating and cooling system running efficiently and reliably: Every 90 days, install a new one-inch pleated furnace filter. Families with shedding pets should replace … (0 comments)
north shore: Foreclosure Couselors: What they can and can't do
- 08/20/10 05:47 AM
Foreclosure counselors can make the difference between losing your home and keeping it. Here’s how they work and how to choose one. If you’re facing foreclosure, your foreclosure counselor will be a key part of your foreclosure team. As you start looking for one, however, you need to know what exactly they do, what they don’t do, and how to choose one who’s legitimate and qualified. What a foreclosure counselor does Reviews your finances Helps you establish a budget Explains your non-foreclosure options, such as loan modification, short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure; helps you navigate the process with … (0 comments)
north shore: Appliance Maintenance: Water Heaters
- 08/20/10 05:38 AM
Keep your water heater running efficiently and reliably with this simple maintenance routine. Depending on a homeowner’s water quality, a hot water heater can be expected to last eight to 12 years, says Frank Czeronka, a licensed master plumber and Mr. Rooter franchise owner. Completing the following routine maintenance schedule, however, can greatly extend the unit’s lifespan. Here’s a list of maintenance tips to keep your water heater running efficiently and reliably: Always adjust the thermostat to 120 degrees to avoid the risk of scalding. Always maintain 2 feet of clearance around the appliance unless the manual specifically states otherwise. Annually, … (1 comments)
north shore: Outdoor Appliance Buying Guide: Specialty Items
- 08/20/10 05:35 AM
Specialty appliances for outdoor kitchens are hot items, but you’ll spend thousands of dollars for the added convenience. “There is a trend away from simple barbecue islands and to elaborate outdoor kitchens,” explains Mitch Slater, president of Danver, a manufacturer of outdoor kitchen cabinetry. “Homeowners want to be able to do outdoors all the food preparation that they normally have to do indoors.” For that reason, appliances like ice makers, pizza ovens, and beer fridges are all finding their way to the backyard. However, you should carefully consider your needs and lifestyle to ensure that you’ll get your money’s worth of … (1 comments)
north shore: Evaluate Your House for Basement Finishing
- 08/20/10 05:31 AM
Converting your basement into living space requires being aware of building codes and understanding special requirements. Finishing your basement into a family room, game room, or spare bedroom is a financially sound decision. In addition to increasing the usable (and enjoyable) living space of your home, a finished basement pays back a high percentage of your investment at resale. According to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, a basement remodeling project returns more than 75% of its original cost. The cost of finishing your basement into usable living space is about $100 per square foot—generally less expensive than building up … (0 comments)
north shore: Stock Marktet dips Interest rates go up
- 08/19/10 07:22 AM
What could happen to interest rates with another dip? Q: If there's another drop in real estate real estate prices, would that mean that interest rates will go up? A: Interest rates tend to go down during recessionary times as the Federal Reserve lowers its federal funds rate in an attempt to stimulate economic growth. And as the demand for homes lessens and prices drop, there can be a downward pressure on interest rates. By the time the housing market recovers, mortgage interest rates, as well as interest rates for home equity lines of credit, will likely lift off of … (0 comments)
north shore: Stately Tudor in the Huntington Bay Area
- 08/19/10 06:16 AM
This beautiful Todor in the Huntington Bay area has recently had a price reduction to $3,499,000. Please see my site below or contact Jyll Kata LBA at 516-330-2321, or 516-624-9000 ext 217 for more information.
north shore: Mortgage Rates Fall to 4.59%, Enough To Move Demand
- 07/23/10 06:57 AM
Finally. Record low mortgage rates spurred an uptick in new-purchase mortgage applications last week for just the second time in the past two months, while more Americans also applied to refinance, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Rates fell last week to 4.59% on an average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which is down from 4.69% one week ago and the lowest ever recorded by the trade group since its survey began in 1972. Other measures show that rates continued to fall this week: Zillow’s Mortgage Marketplace quoted an average of 4.37% on Tuesday. Those low rates haven’t done much to drive up … (0 comments)
north shore: Hamptons Home Sales Double as Wall Street Buyers Fuel Rebound
- 07/23/10 06:53 AM
Hamptons, New York, home sales more than doubled in the second quarter from a year earlier, solidifying a turnaround after two years of Wall Street reluctance to splurge on beachfront property. Transactions climbed to 479 in the towns on Long Island’s East End, the second-biggest jump in at least a decade of record keeping. Larger, more expensive homes boosted the median price 17 percent to $900,000, New York-based appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and broker Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate said in a report today. The largest sales rise was in the first quarter. “We’ve returned to a more normal volume of … (1 comments)
north shore: 10 Tips for Saving Water in the Garden
- 07/23/10 04:16 AM
Even if you don’t live in a dry climate, fresh water may be an increasingly scarce and expensive commodity. One way to conserve water is to design a landscape plan that cuts down on the need for irrigation. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, converting to a water-efficient landscape can reduce your outdoor water use by 20% to 50%, or as much as 10,000 gallons a year. That saves money, too, shaving between $30 and $70 off the average annual household water bill. Often called xeriscaping or drought-tolerant landscaping, low-water landscaping also makes yard maintenance easier. Here are 10 strategies that … (0 comments)
north shore: The "Bay Crest House" in Huntington Bay
- 07/07/10 05:13 AM
Huntington Bay <!-- Neighborhood --> <!--Cross Sts--> Web ID: 2305479 Community Info | Local Amenities | Local School Reports Beautifully Furnished 6 Bedroom, 4.5Bath Victorian In The Baycrest Association Community. Tastefully Appointed Through Out. Rolling Lawns, Covered Porch. Beach And Mooring. Unfinished Cottage Offers Loads Of Storage. Can Also Be Rented Unfurnished For $5,000Mnth. … (0 comments)
north shore: Lovely Ranch in East Norwich, NY
- 07/07/10 04:50 AM
East Norwich <!-- Neighborhood --> <!--Cross Sts--> Web ID: 2301587 Community Info | Local Amenities | Local School Reports Lovely Property Backing Golf Course. Possible Subdivision. Super Value. Convenient To All. Seller Will Entertain Offers From $949,000-$1,094,876. … (0 comments)
north shore: Was The Pending Home Sales Report Really That Bad? It Depends Who You Ask -- Buyer Or Seller.
- 07/07/10 04:03 AM
The Pending Home Sales Index plunged in May 2010, just one month after the expiration of the federal home buyer tax credit program. The Pending Home Sales Index is now at a record-low level. A "pending home sale" is an existing home under contract to sell, but not yet closed. According to the National Association of Realtors®, 80 percent of homes under contract close within 60 days. Because of this timeline, we can expect the summer's Existing Home Sales to be weak, too. With fewer homes going under contract, fewer homes can close. On the surface, May's Pending Home Sales Index … (0 comments)
north shore: The 1 Force That Can Really Change A Mortgage Rate
- 07/07/10 03:45 AM
All day, every day, conforming and FHA mortgage rates are in flux. Rates move in response to hundreds of factors which exact varying levels of influence. Among the biggest influences on mortgage rates is inflation. When inflation is unexpectedly high, mortgage rates tend to rise quickly. Conversely, when inflation is unexpectedly low, rates tend to fall quickly. But what is inflation? By definition, inflation is when a currency loses its value; when what used to cost $1.00 now costs $1.10. As consumers, we recognize inflation by the items we buy on a daily basis becoming more expensive. However, it's not that … (0 comments)
north shore: Outdoor Appliance Guide: Gas Grills
- 07/07/10 03:39 AM
With models priced from $29 to $5,000 and up, outdoor gas grills offer convenience and ease-of-use to fit any budget. There may be no home cooking appliance with a wider price range than the outdoor gas grill. With models starting as low as $29 and climbing to $5,000 and higher, it is an understatement to say there’s is a model for every budget. When shopping for a gas grill, the motto “You get what you pay for” is especially fitting, explains Dan Marguerite, owner of Backyard Barbecue Store in Wilmette, Ill. Basement models, he says, offer poor performance, are cheaply constructed, … (0 comments)
north shore: Robert De Niro Kin Buys East Hampton Home for 2.5 Million
- 06/25/10 09:40 AM
Claudine De Niro, actor and Montauk resident Robert De Niro's daughter-in-law and a senior vice president of Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, has purchased an East Hampton home with her father for $2.5 million, according to the Long Island Real Estate Report. The five-bedroom, 6.5-bath postmodern is 5,480 square feet. There is a wine cellar. The three-acre property has a heated gunite pool with direct access from the master suite, which features his and her closets. The stone patio also has a spa, a bar area and a pergola. Claudine De Niro's father, Joao DeMatos, used to own a Brazilian restaurant … (2 comments)
north shore: Buyers Take The May 2010 Sales Data all The Way To The Bank
- 06/25/10 05:15 AM
One month after the federal homebuyer tax credit's official expiration, the New Home Sales report turned in its worst showing ever. In May 2010, for the first time in 11 months, the inventory of unsold new homes crossed the 8-month marker, posting an 8.5 month supply overall. Additionally, new homes sales volume fell to 300,000 units nationwide -- a drop of 32% and its lowest level since the Commerce Department started tracking data in 1963. Now, universally, the press is referring to the May New Home Sales report as "poor". A closer look, however, shows that may not be the case. … (0 comments)
Keep your HVAC systems running efficiently and reliably with this simple maintenance routine.
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