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4 Is homeownership within your reach? Real Estate
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If you’ve ever thought about purchasing a home, you’re not alone. Called the “American Dream” for good reason, nearly four out of five renters now say that homeownership is a priority for them in the future, according to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2013 National Housing Pulse Survey. Homeownership is often associated with creating a sense of community, making memories and building financial security. But if you’re a renter, the possibility may sound daunting, particularly if you’ve heard that credit is getting harder to attain and mortgage rates and house prices are rising. Owning your own home can provide you with financial stability and the opportunity to
build equity over time -- so don’t make a decision to take yourself out of the market before doing your homework and reaching out to an experienced housing professional for guidance. Why buy? While renters are subject to rising rents, often on an annual basis, a monthly mortgage payment that stays the same for the entire period of a loan provides significant stability, making long-term planning and budgeting easier. So when deciding if homeownership is within reach, consider the added benefits of a 30-year fixed mortgage rate. Not only will you have stable payments for 30 years, you’ll be building equity and can take advantage of certain tax breaks. Recent numbers suggest that
now is a great time to buy, according to many industry experts, as mortgage rates are still historically low. Although rates have been rising in the past few months, as of mid-September, the Freddie Mac update on mortgage rates showed the 30year fixed-rate mortgage rate still below five percent. In the early 1980s, the rates exceeded 18 percent. And in an economy that’s bouncing back from a recession, potential homebuyers are feeling more confident -with less concern about jobs and foreclosures than in 2011, according to the NAR survey. Homeownership may be within reach if you: • Have reliable income, good credit and documentation to verify your savings.
• Can afford at least a five percent down payment plus related closing costs. • Have adequate cash reserves to withstand a loss of job, long-term illness, large maintenance costs or other financial setback. While homeownership can provide many benefits, it’s important to carefully evaluate your lifestyle and financial situation before diving in, particularly if you’re a first-time homebuyer. You’ll also want to become educated about the responsibilities associated with homeownership -- financial and otherwise. It’s one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make and the more you know the better. “Educated borrowers are bet-
ter prepared for successful longterm homeownership and overall financial stability,” says Christina Diaz-Malone, Vice President of Housing and Community Outreach at Freddie Mac. To determine if homeownership is right for you, and learn more about credit, mortgage options, and the mortgage process, speak with your lender, or visit Freddie Mac’s homeownership pages at www.freddiemac.com/ homeownership. Don’t defer the dream of homeownership because of what you may be hearing. Do your research and reach out to an experienced housing professional. You may find that it’s an attainable goal for you and your family. -StatePoint
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Is your heating system ready for cooler weather?
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Tips to ensure your home is well-prepared In cool weather, wise homeowners will take steps to ensure their homes are well-prepared. There are a number of ways you can keep your home comfortable and your energy bills in check all season. Is your heating equipment working optimally or are you wasting energy and paying more than you should? It is estimated that nearly half of all heating and cooling equipment in U.S. homes never performs to its advertised capacity and efficiency due to incorrect installation, according to U.S. government statistics. And if you have an older system that was built before current efficiency standards, you could be spending more than needed on
heating your home. If you need to replace your system, be sure to have it properly installed by an HVACR professional, certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE), the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit certification body for HVACR technicians. NATE-certified technicians are skilled professionals who have proven their knowledge in the HVACR industry by passing specialized certification tests. Beyond having an efficient heating system properly installed, there are several other steps you can take to make your home cool-weather friendly: • Clean heating filters. Check them every couple of weeks and change them at least twice in the season, or as directed by the manufacturer. • Check and maintain insulation. Improperly insulated walls, floors, attics, basements and crawlspaces drain away heat and can also lead to moisture imbalance. Adding weather stripping and caulk around windows and doors can also improve a home’s insulation. • Turn down the thermostat or install a programmable thermostat to regulate temperature. • Clean the furnace area. Don’t keep chemicals or cleaning products near a heater, and don’t store anything next to it that could impede ventilation. • Keep vents and returns free of obstructions. Don’t lay carpet over vents, place furniture over or in front of them, or obstruct
the flow of air. • Dry air feels cooler than moist air, so install a humidifier. A simple humidifier may make the home feel five degrees warmer than a home with dry air. • Look into geothermal heating systems. By using the earth`s natural heat, these systems are among the most effi-
cient and energy-conserving heating and cooling technologies currently available. • Have your system serviced regularly for optimal performance. To avoid poor service and scams, be sure to hire an HVACR professional certified by NATE. To find a qualified local contractor who employs certified technicians, look for the
NATE logo or go to HVACRAdvice.com. By making sure your heating system is operating efficiently and by adopting a few energyfriendly habits, you can maintain a warm, comfortable home while keeping heating costs down. - StatePoint
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10 Celebrate Halloween and Fall affordably Real Estate
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With the beginning of autumn comes time to decorate your home for Halloween and harvest, stock the pantry with heartier foods and spruce up your wardrobe with seasonal fashions. Transitioning into fall can be easy by staying on a budget and the shopping experts at Dollar General are sharing ways to celebrate fall affordably: • Make a picnic: There’s no better way to celebrate the season than with a picnic at a local park as the leaves change colors, complete with hazelnut cocoa spread and jelly sandwiches, turkey wraps and fresh fall apples. Be sure to pack plenty of reusable plates and silverware available in rustic fall colors too. It’s an affordable way for the whole family to enjoy the weekend outdoors. • Halloween: Welcome trick-or-treaters with festive yard signs and decorations. Save
on all your Halloween celebrations by stocking up on candy, chocolates, treats and more from national and private brands. Throw a festive and lowcost Halloween party with simple costumes and spooky décor by finding your supplies at a discount store such as Dollar General. Great free party recipe ideas for dips and snack mixes can also be found online. • Highlight your home: Be inspired by the spectacular natural colors of the season and accent your home with the latest fall trends and harvest décor items. Greet your guests with hospitality with a fall wreath and accent your kitchen with new owlthemed housewares. Plus, as the temperatures drop, make your home cozier with throw blankets and area rugs. Candles in seasonal scents are another great fall addition. • Get dressed: Enjoying the
season means you’ll need new items in your wardrobe to stay comfortable, warm and fashionable. Don’t spend a fortune ramping up your family’s wardrobe with sweaters, knit shirts, jeggings and skinny jeans. A discount retailer will have all the same styles for less, including outerwear and shape wear designed for cooler weather, so you can stay active all season. • Eat well: Warm up the family with hearty meals made from inexpensive ingredients. Name brands can be pricey, so opt for private store brands such as Clover Valley Soup. For main dishes, think about hot entrees that can feed the whole family easily. For more ideas for affordable fall fun and coupons, visit www.DollarGeneral.com. It’s easy to make this season the fun and festive, yet affordable. -StatePoint
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Five signs you need to insulate your home this winter The average family spends more than $1000 annually -nearly half a home's total energy bill -- on heating and cooling costs, according to the U.S. government’s Energy Star program. Unfortunately, a large portion of those expenses are wasted due to poor home insulation. Homeowners prepping for winter can stop the energy waste cycle by taking a closer look at their insulation. As one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to reduce energy waste and lower bills, insulation traps warm air inside a home’s walls -similar to how a fleece sweater does for the body -- to regulate a home’s temperature. But how do you know if your home is properly insulated? “Fortunately, there are telltale signs that can alert any homeowner that it’s time to add to or replace their home’s insulation -- before the temperature plunges and the energy bill rises,” says Mike Benetti, segment manager at Roxul, a leading manufacturer of stone wool insulation. The experts at Roxul advise any homeowner with a do-ityourself mentality to run through the following checklist to determine whether their home has adequate insulation: • Vintage home: Prior to consistent building codes, most homes built before 1980 were not insulated. If your home has no materials trapping heat, energy conservation is an uphill battle. Walls, ceilings and floors are the most important areas to add insulation for an immediate, positive impact on a home’s energy usage and bills.
• Non-stop furnace: Does your furnace seem to run nonstop in the winter? Adequate insulation leads to less maintenance on your heating system, as it lasts longer, runs less and will require less maintenance for long-term cost savings. • Temperature inconsistency: If you feel cold spots coming from the walls or attic, or one room of your home is drafty and another one warm, you may need to beef up your insulation. The fireplace, walls and attic are prime spots for drafts. Look for insulation that can fit snugly in rafters and other tight areas. For example, Roxul ComfortBatt insulation made from recycled stone, can be cut with a serrated blade for an exact fit. • Roof hot spots: If your shingles are exposed after a recent snowfall, chances are these “hot spots” are indicative of warm air escaping. Check your attic for adequate insulation. If you can easily see your floor joists, you should add more. Use insulation, such as stone wool, that won’t sag or lose density over time. • Mold Growth: Mold in the corners of ceilings could mean your current insulation slumps and holds moisture. If this occurs, it’s time to replace your insulation with one that does not store or transfer moisture and is completely resistant to mold, mildew, rot and bacterial growth, such as Roxul ComfortBatt. Don’t let cool weather take you by surprise. With proper insulation, you can improve the comfort of your home. - StatePoint
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16 Three kitchen upgrades for easier cooking Real Estate
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Whether you’re a serious athome chef or a casual cook, a kitchen renovation should be more than a superficial makeover. By improving the functionality of the space, you can pave the way toward better cooking and happier hosting. How do you make your kitchen renovation not only eyecatching, but useful as well? Here are three things to consider: Counter Space Counter space isn’t for collecting clutter. It’s crucial for storing important utensils and tools, and for chopping, prepping, mixing and mashing. Be sure you give yourself plenty of elbow room. If you have the space for it, consider multiplying your workspace with an island or peninsula. Be advised, you won’t do yourself any favors by including these features if your kitchen is too small. An architect or interior designer can help you determine what is feasible. If you’re tight on space, a rolling kitchen cart with a countertop may be your best bet. You can also create more room for food preparation by purchasing a cutting board for the top of your cooking surface. Appliances Are your appliances as old as your family’s secret recipes? You may not realize it, but your aged appliances are probably making your job more difficult than need be. Don’t settle for uneven cooking, slow pre-heating, and insufficient burners. Without sacrificing beauty, craftsmanship or style, you can replace outdated appliances with highquality ones that are designed for accuracy and precision. Gain more control of your cooking by taking a cue from professional chefs. Opt for a range or cooktop that features high efficiency sealed gas burners designed for pinpoint accuracy, flame control and better heat distribution. Another feature to look for is a “tri-flame” burner, with control of the center, outer and inner flame, giving you greater flexibility in how much heat you’re cooking with and where it’s being applied. For a more functional, beau-
tiful kitchen, it’s all about finding the intersection of cutting edge technology and craftsmanship. Consider checking out a brand such as Verona, at www.VeronaAppliances.com, an Italian manufacturer of kitchen appliances that applies cooking expertise to make ranges, cooktops and ovens. Another great way to up-
grade is by outfitting your oven, cooktop and range with helpful accessories that can make cooking easier, such as a rotisserie, a griddle, a steam basin and BBQ grill top. Be sure to find a multiple-use oven that performs a scope of functions. For example ILVE offers ovens that can go from defrosting to grilling to baking a pizza with a turn of a
knob. To learn more about cooking easier with upgraded appliances, visit www.ilveappliances.com. Lighting Too often, homeowners tolerate insufficient lighting in the room where they need it most. Ensure your space is bright enough for you to work efficiently. In addition to your ambient
overhead lighting, make good use of the natural light in your kitchen by day. By evening, strategically positioned task lights over work surfaces can make cooking easier. Kitchen renovations can be costly. Make key upgrades that are worth your time and money. - StatePoint
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