Check out this great little tip that you may benefit from:
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Stay cool this summer with these A/C tips…
June 10, 2011 By
Remember, air conditioners are designed to keep your home 20-25 degrees cooler than the temperature outdoors.
Common Reasons and Possible Solutions to Get Your Air Conditioning Unit Running Cool Again.
The power may be out.
Check the circuit breakers, fuses and plugs. Ensure that the circuit breakers are not tripped, or the fuses blown. Reset the circuit breakers if needed.
The batteries in the thermostat may need to be replaced.
Check the batteries in the thermostat and replace them if needed.
The thermostat may be set incorrectly.
Ensure that the thermostat is set to the A/C setting, COOL.
The thermostat may be set too high.
Set the thermostat on the air conditioner below room temperature.
The selector switch may be set to FAN ONLY.
Set the selector switch to circulate. Seal any leaks where the housing meets the window.
The outdoor temperature may be too cool.
The outside temperature must be over 70° in order for the air conditioner to work to capacity. Set the thermostat to COOL first thing in the morning to maintain the temperature throughout the day.
There may be obstructions or debris in the ductwork blocking the flow of air.
Clear the ducts and the unit of any debris or obstructions for proper air flow.
The registers may be closed.
Open the register(s) to let air flow into the room(s).
If these solutions don’t solve your problem or you still need help, feel good knowing that I have a great referral for you. All you have to do is take out your cell phone, look up my number and give me a call so you can get the help you need from some you can trust, like me. Have a great day and make sure you share this with your friends and family.
Where’s my phone?
June 4, 2011 By
This is a great tool that I came across and I hope that it benefits you and the people you know, like and care about. Enjoy!
June 2011 – Home Improvement Tips and Ideas
June 2, 2011 By
Information provided by Carroll Property Inspections.
An amazing discussion is going to take place…
May 23, 2011 By
Please check out this quick video.
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This month in Real Estate…
May 7, 2011 By
Builders, banks offer free job-loss insurance to home buyers – LA Times
April 8, 2011 By
The insurance programs would make borrowers’ mortgage payments for up to six months if they become unemployed during the coverage period.
By Kenneth R. Harney- March 27, 2011
Reporting from Washington —
Insurance programs that make borrowers’ mortgage payments for up to six months if they lose their jobs during an initial one- to two-year coverage period are gaining popularity. Home builders are offering it to new buyers, and some of the country’s largest banks and mortgage lenders think it’s a win-win idea for shaky economic times.
Better yet, the bank, builder or other sponsor of the plan typically provides it free — no direct, out-of-pocket cost to the consumer — as part of its marketing package. Most programs come with specific dollar ceilings on coverage, often ranging from $2,000 to $2,500 a month. Some limit the amount they’ll pay to principal and interest only. Others cover principal, interest, property taxes and homeowners insurance up to a specific amount.
Although there are no hard statistics on the number of such plans in the marketplace, Teri Cooper, executive vice president of Mortgage Payment Protection Inc. of Heathrow, Fla., one of the largest providers of “involuntary unemployment” policies, estimates that as many as 200,000 buyers are covered by her firm’s Mortgage Guardian programs alone.
Bank of America, which operates a “borrower protection plan” that the bank funds itself, says it has covered thousands of new mortgages — limited to those with initial principal balances less than $500,000. Terry H. Francisco, a spokesman for the bank, said the plan has covered $110 million in monthly payments for unemployed borrowers during the last two years. During 2010, the bank provided 156,000 purchasers with its protection program; as of last December, mortgages covered by the plan totaled $36 billion in loan balances.
Read the full article here
Home prices near a double dip – CNN Money
April 7, 2011 By
By Les Christie, staff writerMarch 29, 2011: 10:51 AM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — January home prices fell for the sixth month in a row, edging closer to a double dip.
The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index covering 20 major markets fell 3.1% year-over-year, hovering near the market’s bottom set in April 2009.
“January brings us weakening home prices with no real hope in sight for the near future,” says David M. Blitzer, a spokesman for S&P.
The dismal report followed other negative housing market indicators recently. Sales of existing homes were off nearly 10% in February and new homes sales were at a record low.
“The housing market recession is not yet over,” said Blitzer, “and none of the statistics are indicating any form of sustained recovery. At most, we have seen all statistics bounce along their troughs; at worst, the feared double-dip recession may be materializing.”
Read the full article here
Million-Dollar Homes Face More Audits – Smart Money Blogs
April 6, 2011 By
By Arden Dale
Some people who owe more than $1 million on their homes are coming under the microscope at the Internal Revenue Service over how much of their mortgage interest they can deduct on their tax returns.
The number of taxpayers involved could be in the tens of thousands because in some parts of the country, many homes sell for more than $1 million and even a buyer who puts down 20% or 30% may need to borrow. The amount of interest at stake is substantial, in some cases as much as $50,000 to $60,000 on a $1.1 million mortgage.
The IRS didn’t comment, but the scrutiny follows a period of confusion by taxpayers, advisers and even some IRS agents about how much interest can be deducted, based on what kind of debt the homeowner holds. Tax rules distinguish between two kinds of home debt. There is home acquisition debt, which is a loan used to acquire, construct or substantially improve a qualified home, and is secured by the home. Then there is home equity debt, which is any other kind of loan that is also secured by the home.
Some tax advisers were telling clients it was acceptable to deduct all interest on a single mortgage of up to $1.1 million. Others contended that the limit for mortgages was $1 million, but they could also deduct interest on another $100,000 in a home equity loan, according to Melissa Labant, tax technical manager at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Click here for the full article.