Green Homes Attractive to Buyers

(ARA) - Home buyers of all income levels are looking for environmentally friendly properties, according to a study taken by the U.S. Green Building Council and McGraw-Hill Construction. And in the difficult housing market of today, sellers are looking for new ways to attract buyers. Making a home greener with cleaner air quality may just be the answer to getting bids. Homeowners can use the following tips to make their house more environmentally friendly: * Buy appliances that use less water and electricity. Many companies sell appliances like washing machines and dishwashers which use 10 to 15 percent less energy and water than standard models. Not only are the appliances using less, but they save money when it comes to the electric and water bills. * Use environmentally friendly flooring. A wood floor produced without VOCs (volatile organic compounds) keeps the air clean in the house. Globus Cork offers cork flooring in 37 different colors which not only helps to maintain a constant air temperature in the room thanks to its natural thermal insulation properties, but also is a renewable resource. This is because only the cork bark is trimmed from the tree and the cork oak trees continue living. In addition, cork has a waxy substance called suberin, which repels bugs, mold, mites and even termites, keeping allergens at bay. Go to www.CorkFloor.com to learn more about the product. * Change heavily used lights with energy-efficient models. According to the U.S. Department of Energy ENERGY STAR program, if every American home replaced its five most frequently-used light fixtures – such as the kitchen ceiling lamps, outdoor post lamp or the living room table lamps – with fixtures that have earned the ENERGY STAR, almost $8 billion would be saved each year in energy costs and greenhouse gasses reduced at the rate of almost 10 million cars. * Keep inside air from escaping. Seals around windows and doors can break or be damaged over time and need to be replaced. Homebuyers shopping for a new property tend to check the house’s summer and winter energy bills, and a properly sealed home can change those bill amounts significantly to make a house more attractive. According to the Green Building Council study, 70 percent of home buyers are more inclined to purchase a green home than a conventional home during a down housing market, and half of the homes renovated between 2005 and 2007 used products chosen for their green qualities. With just a few changes or upgrades, a house that has been sitting on the market for some time can become a quick sell thanks to its environmentally friendly features. Courtesy of ARAcontent

Add A WOW Effect to Sell Your House!

(ARA) - Whether you're selling your home or planning to live there for years to come, you can add interest and value using architectural elements. Customizing your kitchen, bath or master bedroom using architectural elements is a simple way to set your home apart and increase the "wow factor" of those rooms that real estate agents say sell houses. Kitchens * Add decorative corbels (an architectural support bracket), panel and crown mouldings to stock cabinets to create a high-end, customized appearance. * Add a ceiling medallion above the breakfast bar or table to enhance a light fixture and create a focal point. Baths * Switch out the simple wood trim around doors for elegant casings and add a chair rail at mid-wall height. * Add a decorative shelf or mantel for display of art, plants or your favorite fragrance bottles. Master Bedrooms * Trimming the bedroom with crown moulding shows attention to detail and complements rooms of any style. * Add a niche to your wall for dramatic display space. Highlight special photos, keepsakes or a piece of art. Adding architectural elements to customize the spaces in your home doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. Companies such as Focal Point use a light-weight, closed-cell polyurethane that won't rot or mildew to create detailed mouldings and decorations. The pieces look like plaster and wood, but offer a cost-effective and time-saving alternative to traditional materials. For more information or design inspiration, visit www.FocalPointProducts.com or call (800) 662-5550 to find a dealer near you.

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Congress and President Bush recently passed the Homebuyer Tax Credit which allows first time homebuyers a credit on their income tax return of up to $7500 towards the purchase of a home. This could be a significant benefit for first time buyers because it would reduce their tax liability this year by up to $7500 - if they owed tax on $10,000 the credit would reduce their tax liability to $2500. Hopefully we can help buyers take advantage of this new opportunity!

Fed Cuts Do Not Mean Mortgage Rates Will Also Drop

The Fed cut rates several times this year but it doesn't seem like mortgage rates experienced the same drop. This is a source of confusion for many of us but the answer is simple. The Fed cut the funds rate and the discount rate which are the rates charged when banks borrow short term money from other "banks". These are not mortgage rates. Mortgage rates are based on mortgage backed securities - essentially the investment market performance of bonds issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. If we are buying bonds as an investment for the long term we do not want inflation to degrade the fixed rate of return they provide. So, in an inflationary period, bonds will be less desireable and therefore carry a higher rate which will translate into higher mortgage rates.

Of course, sometimes mortgage rates are based on other indexes but generally speaking the vast majority of mortgage rates are based on Freddie and Fannie bonds.

Bugs Around The House

As bug infestations tend to peak this time of year in most areas, now is a good time to familiarize yourself with some of the critters that can cause damage to you and/or your home. Hopefully, you will have no more than a casual encounter with a few of these pests. While most homeowners understand that termites can cause serious structural damage, here is a brief primer on some other common insects found around homes. Homeowners can deal with some of these insects, however, the HouseMaster Technical Staff recommends contacting a professional exterminating company in the case of a termite infestation or a serious infestation by any other insects.

CARPENTER BEES
Characteristics: Broad head; metallic blue/black with yellow or white hairs; ¾” – 1” (18-25 mm) in length. Location: Dry wood on the outside of homes, barns, fences; twigs or tree limbs.Diet: Plant nectar.Damage: Cuts ¼” – ½” tunnel at a 90° angle to the entry hole; usually in exterior trim pieces; can cause extensive damage if recurring.Comments: Prefers to nest in unpainted/untreated soft wood, such as pine, cedar and redwood.
CAVE CRICKETS
Characteristics: Straw-color with 3 dark bands on the head; ¾” body length (18 mm). Location: In warm, dark places in homes, trash dumps in warm weather. Diet: Plants and other organic matter, including cloth. Damage: They can make an annoying noise; presence usually indicates moisture concerns. Comments: Infestations can include a large number of insects, particularly in suburban areas. BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER
Characteristics: Brown with violin shaped marking on back; 3/8” (10 mm). Leg span 1 to 1½” (25-35 mm). Has three eyes. Location: Lives in cracks and crevices and other dark areas; spins fine cotton-like webs near its shelter. Diet: Insects. Damage: Poisonous; can cause skin damage around bite and serious secondary infections. Comments: If a brown recluse bite is suspected, or any reactions occur from a bite by an unknown insect, see a doctor immediately.
CARPENTER ANTS
Characteristics: Variable but typically black or reddish/black; ¼” – ½” (6-12 mm) in length. Location: Trees, stumps, logs, houses. Diet: Insects, meat, sweets, fruit, eggs. Damage: Can cause structural damage. Excavations in wood; tends to be localized but can be extensive if untreated. Comments: Needs moisture, migratory; will drop onto houses from overhanging trees.
SCORPIONS
Characteristics: Brown, gray, black or yellow; ½” – 2½” (12-60 mm). Location: Under rocks, trash, crawl spaces, attics. Diet: Soft-bodied insects. Damage: Will sting humans if provoked; can be very poisonous. Comments: All stings should be treated by a doctor immediately. Generally found across the southern United States.
BLACK WIDOW SPIDER
Characteristics: Black with red hourglass on underside of abdomen or back; ½” body length (12 mm). Location: Seldom found in homes; more common in wood piles, porches, outhouses. Diet: Insects. Damage: May bite humans; can be very dangerous. Comments: If bitten, see a doctor immediately.
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.com.

Copyright © HMA Franchise Systems, Inc.

Reprinted from the Housemaster eNewsletter July 2008