Home Energy Makeover

HOME ENERGY MAKEOVER
Household Energy Demands With predictions of ever-rising energy costs, it makes sound economic sense to review the following checklist and determine where you can cut energy consumption, at little or no cost.

*Test your home for air leaks. You may be able to save 10 percent or more on your energy bill by reducing the air leaks in your home. On a windy day, carefully run a lighter or smoke stick around windows and door joints, and at electrical outlets and light fixtures. If the flame or smoke is drawn toward or forced away from the object, you have found an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weather-stripping.

*Properly maintain your heating and cooling system. The energy used to heat or air condition a house can account for more than half of the average family’s energy bill. Make sure your heating and cooling systems receive professional maintenance each year. If it is time for a new system, consider that the savings benefit for installing a new higher efficiency system can often be recouped in several years. Installing a heat pump may trim the amount of electricity used for heating and cooling by 30 to 40 percent in some climates.

*Close fireplace dampers when not in use. A chimney is designed specifically for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes, too – 24 hours a day!

*Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely. In just one hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed air. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job.

*Adjust drapes or blinds on your south facing windows during the day in the winter to allow sunlight to help naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows. In the summer, use drapes or blinds to reduce solar heat gain during the day.

*Turn off energy users when not in use. Individually, one general household appliance does not use much energy; but add up all the devices in the typical modern home, you will see that getting all family members to develop the habit of regularly turning off unused devices can have a noticeable effect on energy costs. For more information on home energy use and conservation tips, visit the Websites for the U.S. Department of Energy (http://www.energy.gov/yourhome.htm) or Natural Resources Canada (http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/english/index.cfm?attr=0) Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at www.housemaster

Over Their Head Bail out

Okay the government has now decided that people who got over their head in housing debt, deserve a governement program to let them avoid what they agreed to.

I agree that if fraud was committed, those who committed the fraud should be punished and their victims should be helped. The most predatory lender I ever personally ran into is still actively advertising nationally on radio and TV.

2 years ago we were being told that credit scores were unfair and that whether a borrower paid their bills was irrelevant. So lenders made loans to those people. Now when surprise, surprise the payments are actually due, the lenders who bowed to pressure and made sub-prime loans are being painted as the bad guys.

There is no free lunch. I would like my own private 737, but if I don't make the payments, somebody will reposess it and shame on the lender who takes a bath for making the loan.

Your comments are welcome.

Reflection on the Venezuelan Election

Dictator wannabe Hugo Chavez lost the referendum to scrap a lot of the Venezuelan Constitution. Great celebrations in Venezuela. Lots of self congratulatory "see he really is democratic" from his left wing fans in the U. S. and Europe.

Call me a cynic. Do we really believe that someone who has rigged his voting machines and fired from their jobs the people who didn't vote for him, was suddenly unable to pull this one out?

Based on the fact that he has already introduced all of the defeated measures into the legislature which he controls 100% and has already stated that he is ready for the next round, I think not. He has just bought some cover for his next move at very little real expense to him. He will continue on his stated goal to create the next Cuba.

We'll have to keep a close watch to see how much farther into the ground he can drive this beautiful country which now according to world sources ranks just ahead of Zimbabwe in terms of government interference.

Football the way it should be

Monday night in Pittsburgh - it was football, a game that used to be played outdoors in all kinds of weather. It is not baseball. It is played in the rain. It is played in the snow.

Congratulations to all of the players and coaches would spoke out about how much fun it was.

As if Gas Prices weren't high enough

Thanks to Gov. Ed Pennsylvania drivers will get to pay and extra one cent per gallon soon. rather than pay back the money PA borrowed from the buried tank fund, just raise the cost of fuel. Don't worry, it won't hurt the SEPTA riders, just the rest of the state.
This is called economic development.

One common sense way to avoid future loan problems

Just look them in the eye.

With all of the loan horror stories we have all been hearing, some basic human nature could have gone a long way.

I have yet to have a client whose loan officer was at the settlement table be unhappy with their home loan. It's simple human nature. If they are sitting at the table, they have to look the customer in the eye if a "last minute problem" arises. It's amazing how much more smoothly the process goes when the loan officer is there.

Sure, I buy retail products all of the time from people I have never seen. But these are generally on a credit card which gives me an additional level of protection.

Once you have scheduled your move and are signing up for a 30 year commitment, most of your bargaining power has gone away. And this is from the man who last time he bought a home for himself, closed his papers and headed for the door when the Seller's agent decided to try a little brinksmanship. Most don't want to have to play in that poker game. You just want to move into your house.

Now is the time to buy a home.

If you have thought about a brand new home, Now Is The Time

Yes the market is not as crazy as it has been and your current home is not inflating in value like it was. This makes it the perfect time to buy a new home. THE NUMBERS ARE ON YOUR SIDE.

Let's look at an example:

Let's assume a $200,000 current home and a new home of $400,000, a price difference of $200,000.

Over the last few years, the current home price might increase 4% and the new home price would increase 10% ( remember they aren't making any more land and new home building plus Katrina have kept materials high) Thus in a year of waiting, the gap would increase to $232,000($440,000 less $208,000)

So, do you want to keep waiting untile the upward cycle returns or act now. The numbers say now is the time to ACT. On top of all this, builders today are offering a number of incentives to move their homes.

this is the start

Welcome to my blog which I have started to share my thoughts on real estate and other matters.
Feel free to disagree and I'll be glad to post your responses. However, I will check your responses before posting to try to maintain a modicum of decorum.