thegardenisland.com
Friday, January 19, 2024 • B3
THE GARDEN ISLAND
New year, new home: 2024 maintenance tips barriers, dehumidifiers and drainage systems for optimal protection.
BRANDPOINT The arrival of a new year is an ideal time to get your home in tip-top shape, starting from the bottom up. If you want your home to last a lifetime, begin by checking your foundation and everything related to it. In the Southern U.S., especially, the weather and soil conditions are constantly putting stress on the most important, but most often overlooked, parts of the home: the foundation, concrete and crawl space. That’s why the experts at Foundation Support Specialists put together a checklist to help you keep those key areas and the rest of your home in excellent condition throughout the year.
Protect your concrete
Check off another box on your new year maintenance list by inspecting your concrete driveways, walkways and patios. Fluctuating temperatures mixed with unstable soil often causes concrete to crack and sink, which can make your property look unkempt and it also poses a tripping hazard. To fix concrete damage, consider investing in concrete lifting solutions, such as state-of-the-art polyurethane foam injection which is a more effective and long-lasting solution than traditional COURTESY OF BRANDPOINT mudjacking or DIY concrete repair. Drought causes the soil to shrink and crack, while heavy rain makes it swell up again. Eventually, you’ll beThe eco-friendly polygin to see warning signs throughout your home like cracks in walls and floors, doors that won’t close propurethane stays sturdy rain erly or uneven flooring. Invest in expert pier or shine, so your concrete and beam repair stays level all year round. For homes with pier and pier and beam foundations southern states, the soil’s with help from a profesmold growth and strucYear-Round Comfort and beam foundations, mainSafety with Foundation every decade. Nowadays, unique characteristics put sional will give your foun- tural damage. the foundation at risk. Encapsulation creates a Support Specialists taining their structural in- experts recommend redation a solid defense. Drought causes the soil to Experts like those at Foun- controlled environment By focusing on these tegrity is essential. There placing damaged wood shrink and crack, while key areas of your home, are many elements out with metal support piers. dation Support Specialists under the home, cutting you can start the new year down moisture intrusion there that want to destroy These metal piers last lon- heavy rain makes it swell use advanced foundation off on a firm foundation. your beams: moisture, ter- ger, are adjustable for dif- up again. pier systems to secure and risks, enhancing air qualThis cycle constantly For more information on stabilize your foundation, ity and safeguarding the mites, soil movement and ferent home heights and how to keep your home in keeping your home safe. more. All of them can spell resist moisture-related rot, shifts your foundation home’s structure. Althroughout the year. Eventop condition for years to disaster, but the easiest offering a more durable though pier and beam Encapsulate your way to tell that you may and efficient solution. foundations are more com- come, contact a certified tually, you’ll begin to see professional to schedule a have a problem is if you warning signs throughout crawl space mon, encapsulation still Strengthen your notice your floor getting a your home like cracks in Crawl space encapsula- plays a vital role if there is free inspection. You’ll enfoundation bit uneven. walls and floors, doors tion helps create a healthy a crawl space under the hance the comfort of your In the south, homeownThe foundation is the that won’t close properly and energy-efficient home. home. Certified contracliving space and protect backbone of your home. or uneven flooring. Ignoring this space can your most important iners often believe they tors provide comprehenBut in Texas and other Addressing these issues lead to moisture buildup, need to replace wooden sive systems with vapor vestment in the long term.
Average long-term mortgage rate falls to 6.6 percent
Hawaiiana Management Company, Ltd. Serving Kauai’s Condo & Community Associations with award-winning service
Alex Veiga AP BUSINESS WRITER LOS ANGELES — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate fell this week to its lowest level since May, welcome news for prospective homebuyers facing rising home prices and intense competition for relatively few properties on the market. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped to 6.6 percent from 6.66 percent last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.15 percent. The decline, which follows two weeks of increases, brings the average rate down to the lowest level it’s been in since late May, when it was 6.57 percent. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also eased this week, dropping the average rate to 5.76 percent from 5.87 percent last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.28 percent, Freddie Mac said. “This is an encouraging development for the housing market and in particular first-time homebuyers who are sensitive to changes in housing affordability,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “However, as purchase demand continues to thaw, it will put more pressure on already depleted inventory for sale.” Home loan borrowing costs have been mostly coming down since late October, after the average rate on a 30-year mortgage surged to 7.79 percent, the highest level since late 2000. The average rate remains sharply higher than just two years ago, when it was 3.56 percent. That large gap between rates now, and then has helped limit the number of previously occupied homes on the market by discouraging homeowners who locked in rock-bottom rates from selling. Still, the broad decline in rates since last fall is good news for homebuyers, as it boosts their purchasing power at a time when home prices have kept climbing rising despite a deep housing market slump.
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awaiiana currently serves over 60 residential and commercial associations on the Island of Kauai. Kauai native Sunshine Ruiz Hatto serves as Hawaiiana’s Vice President of Kauai Operations from its office at the Kukui Grove Executive Center in Lihue.
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Sunshine Ruiz Hatto Vice President Kauai Operations
WHIT VAN BLARGEN SR. MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
99% retention rate among clients Local (vs. mainland) banking All employees are in Hawaii Serving over 60 associations on Kauai
LUCY TAYLOR SR. MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
JASMIN WAMPLER MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
RICHARD ROBERTS MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
DAVID WONG MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
www.hmcmgt.com
AMY CAMPBELL MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
HINAHEA LANGI OFFICE MANAGER, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
KRISTEN KURZ MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
RACHELE BURNS TOGUCHI OFFICE/LEAD ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
MIRISHAE MCDONALD MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
ASHLEIGH-MORGAN SHIGETA FRONT DESK ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Hawaiiana’s Kauai Properties: Alihi Lani Alii Kai at Hanalei Alii Kai II Aliomanu Estates Apopo Hale Emmalani Court Halaulani Condominium Hale Honu Halelani Village at Puhi Halemalu at Puhi Hanalei Bay Villas Hooluana Condo at Kohea Loa Hookena at Puhi Kahala at Poipu Kai Ka‘iulani of Princeville Kakela Makai Oceanview Kalaheo Pali Kai Kalihiwai Ridge Kamahana Kauai Beach Resort Kauai Beach Resort Association
Kawaihau Sports Villa K.G. Enterprises Condominium Kiahuna Plantation AOBO Kohea Loa Master Association Koloa Garden Apartments Kuhio Shores at Poipu Kukui‘ula Kulana Lae Nani Lihue Townhouse Makanui Manualoha Marriott’s Kauai Resort and Beach Club AOAO Nawiliwili Estates Paradise Court Pali Ke Kua Paliuli Pikake Pili Mai at Poipu Plantation at Princeville
Poipu Crater Poipu Kai Association Poipu Kai Racquet Club Poipu Kai Water Reclamation Poipu Kapili Poipu Sands Princeville II Community Association Princeville II Community Association - Queen Emma Bluff Princeville Makai Ranch at Halele‘a Princeville Paniolo Princeville Sealodge I Puamana
Puhi Industrial Park Pu‘u Po‘a Regency at Poipu Kai Regency Hule‘ia Regency Villas at Poipu Kai Sandpiper Village I Sealodge II The Villas at Poipu Kai Villas at Puali Villas of Kamali’i Villas on the Prince Waikomo Stream Villas Wailua Bay View Waipouli Beach Resort
For more information about Hawaiiana’s services, contact Sunshine Ruiz Hatto at 808-792-0515 or email sunshine@hmcmgt.com.