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More and more people are looking for ways to increase their home’s energy efficiency”both to conserve energy for the good of our environment and to lower energy costs. The good news, environmentalists tell us, is that there are many ways to accomplish both goals without spending a great deal of money.

From a panel of national energy experts, here are proven ways to do your part:

1. Unplug appliances. Coffee makers and other kitchen appliances, and even your cellphone charger, draw energy even when not in use. Make it a habit to unplug them after use.
2. Caulk and weather strip. Properly caulked windows and doors help keep outdoor air from seeping into your home, increasing the overall efficiency of your heating and air conditioning systems. Materials are inexpensive and replacement doesn’t take a lot of time, so check for drafts and replace as needed.
3. Add insulation. Especially in older homes, adding insulation to the inside of your attic is well worth the minor investment in terms of efficiency and energy cost.
4. Lower the water temp. A water heater set higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit wastes a lot of energy and creates a burn hazard for children. So while it might take a few extra minutes to get your kitchen faucet water really hot, it will be worth the savings to lower your thermostat.
5. Replace incandescent lights. The average household spends 11 percent of its energy budget on lighting. Traditional incandescent lights convert only about 10 percent of the energy they consume into light, while the rest becomes heat. New lighting technologies, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), can reduce the energy use required by lighting by 50 – 75 percent.
6. Maximize laundry and dish cleaning. Don’t run a load until the machine is full. Clean the dryer’s lint filter frequently and use lower temperature settings or lower cleaning settings when clothes or dishes are not heavily soiled.

Hope you found this information helpful! Contact me for more insights and info.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

There are a multitude of things house hunters need to consider before choosing a home, such as price, location, schools, distance to work”the list goes on and on.

Most homebuyers may not think about the costs and rules associated with buying a house thats part of a homeowners association; however, it is an issue they may run across.

For those unfamiliar, a homeowner’s association (HOA) is a legal entity that manages a shared housing complex”that doesnt just mean a condo or a series of town homes. In some cases, it includes a suburban housing development with shared space or a specific neighborhood.

If a home is part of an HOA, the information should be available right in the MLS. You can always ask your REALTOR to be sure. The last thing you want is an unexpected fee tied to your home purchase.

Though the costs vary, most HOAs collect monthly dues and the money is earmarked to fund activities or repairs for fellow participants. This could include things like block parties or lawn maintenance.

Keep in mind that you can’t “choose” to be excluded from an HOA. If you buy a home that has one, youre required to be part of it and pay the dues. The structure of an association can vary, depending on the total number of members, but most have a president, treasurer and some elected board members.

When youre part of an HOA, there are rules you must follow. And depending on how strict yours is, it can be a pain. For instance, there may be a rule about what color you can paint your door, or the type of mailbox you can have, or even where you must place your garbage pails. If you consistently break the rules, you can be fined or, worse, make enemies with those in the neighborhood.

While there are benefits to buying a home thats part of an HOA, you should still understand the requirements before deciding to buy.

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You look at the palm of your hand and you can almost see it, the glistening, sense-of-security-giving key to your new home. Youve planned out your budget, youre on track for mortgage loan approval, youve thought of neighborhoods, youve called the agent, you are pretty much set. But then you figure, wow, what kind of home do I really want?

You could be set on dimensions and location, but deciding what kind of property you want to be responsible for is a whole different ball game. For example, there are condos and there are houses. In hopes of not pining over a decision for the next six months, lets focus on the basic differences between the two.

The biggest difference between condos and houses is that when you own a house you also own the plot of land that it is on. When you own a condo, you own the airspace occupied by said home, and perhaps part of a common area. A house will require lawn and structural maintenance that are solely the owners responsibility, while a condo will require maintenance to the outer structure that is split between the tenants.

Deciding which is better for you depends on many variables, starting with how much having a lawn matters, and whether or not you will be willing to invest on its upkeep.

Is renting out your property in your future plans? Then consider that condos will see tenants come and go more quickly. However, when it comes to selling, you might be get a better return on your investment when selling a house.

Do you prefer the privacy of your own property lot or the community of a condo? Communities are not a given in condominiums, but you sure will be seeing your neighbors whenever you use any of the common areas.

In the end, no one kind of property trumps the other. Instead, careful consideration of what your priorities and preferences are when it comes to your future home will guide you to making the right choice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Buying title insurance is a pretty straightforward process. A title company will walk you through the process and will do almost all of the work itself. Still, there are some things to know about how to find a good title insurance company and how much the service costs.

When buying title insurance, look to your lender for the best recommendation. Its interests intersect with yours because its guaranteeing a large loan based on the property youre using as collateral. Also, your lender will likely require you to get title insurance. Never rely on a seller’s recommendation as it could be biased.

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or RESPA, prohibits a lender, real estate agent, attorney or other person or entity involved from requiring the buyer to use a particular company. Homebuyers can shop for title insurance and a provider that best fits their needs.

The price of title insurance is regulated in many states, so there shouldnt be much of a price difference between companies. The average title insurance policy has a one-time premium of about $1,000, covering all upfront work and ongoing legal and loss coverage. However, premiums can range from $200 or so to more than $2,000.

You want to find a title insurance company that has been around for a long time and will continue to be around. Verify that the underwriter is financially sound by checking financial solvency ratings at companies such as Demotech Inc. and A.M. Best Co. Also, research the underwriter and title company, or the attorney, to see what other customers have said about their service.

Homebuyers often pay for title insurance, so it’s in their interest to shop around for it. Some jurisdictions may require sellers to pay for it. Even if the buyer pays, title insurance is still an expense that can be negotiated by a real estate agent and split by both sides or paid entirely by the seller. If youre not paying for title insurance but still want to choose the company, you may have to share some of the costs.

If the seller is pushing their title company, you may want to avoid it because it could lead to the same results from when they originally bought the house. A new title insurance company could find new records or summaries that a previous search didnt unearth. This will give you a better chance of fixing any problems before you buy the home.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Utility bills seem to go up every year”and every year we hear the call to save our nation’s natural resources. Financial management site Quicken.com suggests seven savvy ways to save on electric, gas, and water bills while helping to save our planet in the bargain:

• Pull the plug. Appliances that have a clock or operate by remote, as well as chargers, suck electricity even when not in use. In fact, of the energy used to run home electronics, 40 percent is consumed when the appliances are off”so pull the plug when not in use.
• Insulate the water heater. The newest models have plenty of insulation, but if yours is vintage 2004 or earlier, wrap it in an insulating jacket and save 10 percent”about $30 a year”on your water heating bill.
• Set the washer to cold. Use cold water to wash clothes and save 50 percent of the energy you would use for hot water. Also, set your dryer on the moisture sensor, not the timer, and cut energy use by 15 percent.
• Go low-flow. Older shower heads send as many as 5.5 gallons per minute (gpm) down the drain. The new fixtures go as low as 1.5 gpm, saving 7,300 gallons and $30 – $100 a year.
• Run full loads. Run full loads of clothes and dishes. Most of the energy used is to heat a set amount of water, so running smaller loads wastes both energy and water. Also, air-dry dishes for added energy savings.
• Retrofit your faucets. Consider faucet aerators, which screw into your faucet threading and cut the water flow from 3 – 4 gallons per minute. Aerators blend water and air, reducing the flow without sacrificing pressure. At $0.50 – $3 apiece, the devices are some of the cheapest green gadgets available.
• Go drip. For gardens, consider installing a drip irrigation system, which maintains moisture in the soil. Drip irrigation can reduce water loss by 50 – 60 percent when compared with hand-watering or sprinkler systems.

Interested in more real estate tips? Feel free to contact me directly.

Published with permission from RISMedia.