Waste Not, Want Not!

Green Living: Making it Last by Carla Hill

We live in a disposable society. The products that fill our daily lives are used and discarded. This habitual "use and lose" puts a dent in not only our pocketbooks, but also in the environment.

According to Cleanair.org, every year Americans throw away enough paper and plastic cups, forks, and spoons to circle the equator 300 times. Yes, 300 times.

This is just the tip of the trash iceberg. Parents all across the nation gird the loins of their joyful little cherubs with disposable diapers.

Cleanair notes, "Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about 4% of solid waste. In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of household waste." In addition, these diapers take hundreds of years to decompose and cost thousands of dollars to use.

Plus, the oil used to produce those dandy disposables is more oil than used during the lifetime use of your car!

The EPA reports that in 2010, American generated about 250 million tons of trash, with just a 34.1 percent recycling rate. What is being tossed that could be repurposed, reused, or revisioned?

Learning to reduce, reuse, and recycle is a great way to cut down on household expenses, something that many homeowners are searching out.

There's a honorable movement spreading across the nation bent on saving money and preserving the environment.

The new book Make it Last: Prolonging and Preserving What We Love bridges the gap between life in a disposable culture and the basic skills needed to save money and live more sustainably. This book teaches the reader how to extend the lives of the things they love by repairing clothing, preserving home-grown food, and even repairing your kitchen sink.

Raleigh Briggs takes her longtime commitment to community building through the DIY movement and shares her valuable experience with the reader through a conversational tone in her hand drawn and illustrated guide.

"People are starting to realize not only that they can do this stuff, but that it's fun and fulfilling to boot." says Briggs. "Whenever you think about the choices you're making, you're doing a good thing."

Verbicide Magazine described it as "a Gideon Bible-like manual that should be heavily circulated to people who are just scraping by in life. Her pragmatic approach to taking back your home is what makes this book so appealing."

Save money while saving the planet. That's some noble work!

Published: November 29, 2012 realtytimes.com

Moving Can Be So Stressful! Here's Help On How To Manage.

Keep Moving Stresses at Bay by Carla Hill

"Moving is frequently cited as being one of life's most stressful events and it's really no wonder why. It involves a massive change of routine, takes physical labor, and of course, is one of life's largest financial decisions.

These can all weigh heavily on the mind and body. What are some ways that you can deal with this momentous occasion and the stresses it brings? Here are a few simple ways you can deal with the weight of a move.

First, create a support team. This could include friends, family, a significant other, or even a counselor. Don't bottle up your emotions and concerns. Express them before they become pent-up frustration. A good support team can also serve as an excellent sounding board. Offering support is just part of the equation. It's great to have someone that can talk you down or act as a voice of reason.

The next step is to take breaks. It does no good to obsess 24/7 about every last detail. Set aside time each day to discuss and plan your move. Use the rest of your time for normal daily activities. Play with the kids, watch a movie, walk the dog, or go out to eat. The world does not quit turning during a move.

Proper diet and exercise are crucial to helping your body deal with stress. Sometimes we forget that our bodies are machines that require good fuel and servicing to run efficiently. The better we take care of our bodies the better equipped we are to deal with stresses.

There are great exercise routines for all fitness types. If you are new to working out then consider adding in a daily walk. Swimming is also an ideal beginner activity. For those more "fit" buyers, you could join an aerobics class, go for daily jobs, or add in a weight-lifting routine to your current workout.

When the weather permits, exercise outdoors. The fresh air and sounds of nature can be soothing to tired nerves.

Simple yoga and meditation can also do a body wonders. Yoga is about connecting the mind, body, and spirit. If you don't have the time or money to join a class then consider purchasing a yoga DVD. Even simple practices can do wonders for reducing stress.

Finally, don't rush yourself into a new "identity". The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says that moving to a new community is "one of the most stress-producing events a family faces." Moving can mean big changes in friends, groups, clubs, schools, and neighborhoods. We identify strongly with these. Give yourself time to adjust and to fall into new roles.

Yes, moving is a stressful time, but by taking the proper steps you can greatly reduce the amount of stress this event brings.

Published: August 30, 2012"

Advantages of Home Warranties

Having a home warranty is always an advantage, not only for the buyer but for the seller as well. Warranties reduce the worries that may arise with the purchase of a new home. When a pipe busts, unexpected repairs are needed or anything out of the ordinary occurs you don’t have to worry about a thing, just place a call to your warranty provider. This will allow you to keep your peace of mind.

Advantage for the buyers

Prior to purchasing a home, the buyer can always ask the seller to include a home warranty in the purchase contract, this way the seller pays for it. If by chance the seller refuses, the buyer can easily drop the current deal and search for a seller who is more than willing to include a home warranty in the purchase. This is a buyer’s market, meaning that normally the buyers have the upper hand in negotiating since there are numerous sellers and limited buyers in the market today. So, sellers are normally more open to negotiating the demands of the buyer due to the slim chance of a sale.

Advantage for the sellers

The buyers aren’t the only ones who benefit from a home warranty, seller do as well. Some sellers view this as a marketing strategy to generate buyers who are serious about purchasing. It assures their buyers that any damages on major systems and appliances will be taken care of without spending a dime. This is very ideal for the buyer and it will keep them satisfied. Because you, as a seller, have offered a home warranty you don’t have to worry about a buyer calling you after closing due to a problem arising with the home. You will no longer have to worry about the house because the new occupants will be taken care of by the warranty provider in the event that something goes wrong with the home.

Choosing an ideal home warranty company

No matter who pays for the home warranty, the buyer or the seller, it is very important that party who pays checks the coverage carefully to make sure that all the essential items are covered. Also, make sure that you are paying a reasonable value for your coverage, you don’t want to be paying too much. You have to research to find good deals. Look for different providers and compare their coverage and rates. 

             It’s not ALL about the coverage and rates; you also need to be concerned of the background of the provider. Is the company financially stable? This is important because they will incur expenses when repairing or replacing damaged systems or appliances. You should also find out more about their services. Are they prompt in responding to customers? Will they make the necessary repairs right away? Ask about the quality of their work as well.

Summary

             If you want to protect your home, make sure that you invest in home warranty. Both the sellers and buyers can benefit from it. However, it is vital to choose a good provider for the warranty. Aside from the coverage and rates, see to it that the company will be able to provide aid when you need it. Ask their existing clients about their services and ask if it is satisfactory.

Buying A Home: A getting Started Guide

Do you currently rent your home? Maybe you have thought about buying a home and you feel as if you are just throwing your money away on rent. It’s time to get a place to call you own, home! But of course, you have a few reservations about purchasing a new home.

Sure you have questions and may be a bit nervous, those are all normal feelings after all this is an important financial decision in your life. But being educated on the home buying process will empower you to overcome those first-time home buyer jitters. 

Is buying a home is the right thing for you?

Many people are petrified of buying a home, and some of those fears are justified. As a real estate agent I hate to admit it, however, owning a home is not a perfect fit for everyone. There are some factors to keep in mind when making the decision to rent or buy.  

Renting vs. Buying – Things to consider:

Bad Credit

Ø  If your credit report is less than 620, it is a good chance that you will not receive a good rate for a loan and could potentially put you in the hands of lenders that do not have your best interest at heart.  

Ø  If you decide to pursue buying a home with bad credit, I would advise trying to raise it prior to applying for a loan.

Ø  Did you know that four (4) late payments is all it takes to make you ineligible from getting a loan?!  You can order a copy of your free credit report online. 

High Debt Ratios

Ø  When getting a loan lenders look at two ratios: front-end and back-end.  Your mortgage payment (including taxes and insurance divided by your monthly salary) is considered the front-end. The back-end factors in your monthly debt to your PITI payment before dividing the total for your salary. If after your calculations your debt ratio is 50% or higher you may not qualify for a loan. ANY lender willing to fund such a loan is NOT who you would want because you will be paying too much.

Job Instability or Relocation

Ø  How stable is your job? In 6 months, 1 year, or more will you be able to support the payments required by your loan? Things to look at in relation to your job is; Is your company laying people off? Could you be fired? Remember that unemployment is usually not sufficient enough to support a mortgage payment.

Ø  In relation to relocation, is it possible that you may be relocating in a few years? Military members should think about this prior to buying. Is this a city/town/state that you want to reside in after retirement? Are you willing to rent out your house in the event of a PCS move?  If you did purchase and had to relocate more than likely you would have to sell. When buying a house, the intent should be to at least stay for a while.

Pulling Maintenance

Ø  Every house requires upkeep, but not everyone is handy enough to tackle all the home repair projects that may but may also not have the means to support a professional to correct the issues. A good thing to keep in mind is to set aside at least 5% of the purchase price to cover any upkeep/maintenance issues that may arise when you purchase your home.

So to sum everything up, prior to getting geared up to purchase your first home you should line up your finances, put aside a down payment and do some research on the loan programs that are available for you. By researching and doing your homework you will be able to estimate how much you can afford and how much it will cost you. 

Good luck on your home search pursuit!

 

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