973house.com

Apartment for Rent

2009-05-15T21:53:00.001-04:00

2 bedroom apartment in the Weequahic Section Newark

$875.00/mo. (1 mos. And 1/2 security required)

Separate Utilities

Available Immediately

Please Call 973.392.3929 or email 973house@gmail.com

396 Summer Avenue Update

2009-05-15T21:41:00.004-04:00

396 Summer Avenue is almost complete. The website is up and running. Visit http://www.396summeravenue.com/ You can download an application right online under the documents tab from the main website.

Call (973.494.9548) or email (396SummerAvenue@gmail.com) with any questions.

72TelfordSt.Com

2009-04-27T20:16:00.006-04:00

Hi Readers, I have a featured listing at a great price in excellent condition. Easy to show. Call me with more information.

Incentives To Buy for 2009

2009-03-04T20:18:00.008-05:00

As if today's buyers needed another incentive to buy in today's market. The rates are at an all-time low, prices dropped, and now...

A Sweet Deal for First-Time Home buyers
The ins-and-outs of the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit
If you are – like many Americans – trying to figure out the best time to make your first home purchase, then you may want to take a closer look at the first-time homebuyer tax credit included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed into action by President Barack Obama on Feb. 17, '09

Repayment
The 2009 homebuyer credit DOES NOT require repayment. Repayment of the credit is only required if the owner sells the property within three years of purchase.

Credit Amount
While the credit is equivalent to 10 percent of the purchase price of the home, the 2009 credit increases the limit of the credit from $7,500 to $8,000.

OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING THE CREDIT

1. Qualifying for the homebuyer credit
The credit is for first-time homebuyers only. As it relates to this credit, a first-time homebuyer is defined as any taxpayer who has not owned a principal (or main) residence for a period of three years prior to the home purchase. The first-time purchase must be of a principal residence.
2. Income limitations
The legislation does limit availability of the first-time homebuyer credit based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Single filers with MAGI of $75,000 or less and married couples with MAGI of $150,000 or less are eligible for the full $8,000 credit. Those individuals or couples with MAGI above these limits may be available for a reduced credit on a phase-out basis.
3. Purchase window
The 2009 first-time homebuyer tax credit is retroactive to January 1, 2009 and covers purchases through November 30th, 2009.
4. Refundable credit
The tax credit reduces your final tax liability and you will be refunded whatever portion, if any, of the credit that remains after applying the credit to taxes you owe for that year. For example, let’s say you qualify for the full $8,000 homebuyer credit and your total tax liability (after withholding) is $2,000. Your tax liability will be zero, and you will receive a refund for the remaining $6,000.
5. Claiming the credit
Claiming the credit is actually very simple. To take advantage of the first-time homebuyer credit, you’ll need to complete IRS Form 5405 which will help determine the tax credit amount. You’ll then claim that amount on line 69 of your 1040 tax return form. No pre-approval forms or applications are required!

As with most issues related to a home purchase, be sure to consult with ME your RealEstate.com REALTOR® for additional information or to ensure that you and your prospective purchase qualifies for this homebuyer tax credit.

RealEstate.com Realtors

2009-03-02T20:56:00.008-05:00

I am pleased to announce that I have joined RealEstate.com Realtors as a sales associate and I am excited and looking forward to working with this great company.

If you have viewed my personal profile, you will know that I am primarily a buyers agent (and that is the reason for emphasizing what realestate.com can benefit buyers). I have experience working with first-time home buyers and with bank-owned (REO) properties.

For buyers RealEstate.com is committed to providing the resources for home buyers to find the right home with the least amount of effort. In addition to providing a wealth of tools and services on the RealEstate.com website, our agents are local experts who excel in responsiveness and buyer service. Rather than simply signing you up to receive e-mail notifications of new and changed listings, our agents will call you immediately when a property that may match your criteria comes on the market or has a price change.

RealEstate.com is really your one stop shop for all your real estate needs. If you haven't already visited, I encourage you to at least take a few minutes to browse through the site. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. RealEstate.com is also mobile! You can begin your search right from your phone. It doesn't get that convenient than that folks. Visit http://www.realestate.com/mobile

Amanda M. Rodriguez
Realtor-Associate
RealEstate.com Realtors
379 Thornall Street, 5th Fl
Edison, NJ 08837

You have little to no $$ for a down payment...

2009-03-02T18:59:00.007-05:00

You want to buy a home, credit is good, you have little to no money for down payment. Can you still buy a home? The answer is YES!

There are still programs out there to help the first time home buyer with their down payment and even closing costs.

Courtesy of the wonderful Gina Peterson of Jersey Mortgage Company, she has provided us with the information and resources about the down payment assistance programs. She recently issued a newsletter (Volume 1, Issue 5) that went into discussed down payment assistance programs which triggered me to do my own research for my first-time home buyers. (Which consisted of asking Gina the same questions over and over).

If you would like to contact her or if you would like a copy of the newsletter she issued she can be reached at: gpeterson@jerseymortgage.com OR 732.259.1030
She will be more than happy to answer any questions and get you started on purchasing a home by pre-qualifying you over the phone.

Live Where You Work: The New Jersey Housing Finance Agency (HMFA) has a program which offers home buyers who will live and work in a participating municipality a low interest 30 or 40-year, fixed-rate, first mortgage.
Smart Start Program: The NJ HMFA has this other program that will make Smart Start down payment and/closing cost loans in the amount of 2%, 3% or 4% of the first mortgage to qualified Home Buyer Program borrowers purchasing in Smart Growth areas as determined by the Agency’s Smart Growth locator. To view if the home is located in a Smart Growth locator Click here.

We covered having credit issues and now down payment issues. Anything else that might be preventing you from making the next step and finally purchase a new home. NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY! Prices are at their all time lows, interest rates are great.

Overcoming Credit Issues? What is my credit score?

2009-01-24T15:48:00.011-05:00

Okay, Lets talk about the poll I had up some time ago. Read previous post 12/2 Poll What is stopping you from buying a home.

Part One: Credit Issues

When was the last time you ran your credit?
Did you know that you are entitled to a free credit report for all 3 of the credit reporting companies once every 12 months. There might be some false items on your credit report that prevent you from having a good credit score or there might be fraudulent activity on your account that you don't know about because you haven't reviewed your report in a while.

You can request your free annual credit report by clicking here, which I want to add I have no affiliation to. You can also request your free annual credit by phone and it will be mailed to you from the credit reporting companies within 15 days. This report will not give you your credit score but it will give you an overview of what you need to pay. You should review the report before attempting to purchase a home to know what items need repairing.

If there are any items that were in collections and you paid it but it shows as open with a balance...YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISPUTE YOU with the credit reporting company. Visit one of the three credit reporting companies; experian, transunion, or equifax to dispute the account. When you dispute it, the credit reporting companies will verify with the company and if it was indeed paid they will remove it off of your credit report, resulting in a better score.

To view your rights on credit reporting under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) visit Federal Trade Commission website.

There are many companies to claim they can fix up your credit for a fee BE VERY CAUTIOUS. Most of the repair you can do yourself, if you have the proof that you did pay the account.

If and when you decide to buy a house and have negative items on your credit report the mortgage broker will tell you what you have to pay in order to get the mortgage. Mostly any medical collections you will have to pay in full and any judgements on your credit report. MAKE SURE YOU PAY WITH PERSONAL CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO PROVIDE MORTGAGE BROKER WITH PROOF OF PAYMENT. (I have to stress that because I had an issue with a buyer who paid her medical collections with her credit card after I gave her specific instructions to pay by check and it became an issue because she settled less than the amounts on her report.) Some collection companies will send you a "Paid Off" letter but you NEED to request it.

Each mortgage broker is different and have different guidelines and will provide you with the guidance you need to help you fix your credit to obtain the mortgage. After you have paid whatever items necessary to satisfy mortgage brokers requirements they might order what is called as a "rapid rescore". Usually in order to have the items showed as paid on your credit report it will take months or even years. Rapid rescore is a way of improving your credit score quickly, by correcting items and then having your credit score "rapidly" corrected in a few days. There is a fee for that service from the credit reporting companies which most brokers would have the client pay upfront.

I can't stress enough how important it is to know what your credit score is and what you need to do to fix it. It will save you time and energy getting the legwork done before looking to buy your new home.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

Good Luck!

Find Foreclosures Fast and Free

2009-01-11T18:05:00.001-05:00

Foreclosures

2009-01-11T17:59:00.005-05:00

It's been a while...With the holidays it's easy to get caught up with work.

Let's talk foreclosures aka (Real Estate Owned or REO's). There are a ton of new construction REO's. I've been taking a few of my clients to see. Priced in below the $250,000...good deals. Most just need a good cleaning. So for those who don't know, REO's are properties that were taken back from the bank since they couldn't sell through short-sale or auction. They are usually placed back on the market with a realtor at a discounted price.

Anyone interested in viewing some of these REO's let me know... Mostly all are vacant and easy to show. I'll be more than happy to show.

Poll What is stopping you from buying a home.

2008-12-02T23:14:00.003-05:00

I posted a poll on the left hand menu for about a two months and I only received two responses. Just to recap the poll question was: What is stopping you from buying a home? Answers: 1. Credit Issues 2. No $$ for downpayments/Closing Costs 3. Don't know where to start 4. Insecurity/Nervousness/Media Hype. I received one response for Credit Issues and another for Don't know where to start. I posted that poll so I can see what my readers want to read about. I might not have too many readers but I will still respond to the poll and compile information to post at a later date. Some readers might be thinking the answer but not select an answer for any given reasons. Which is okay with me. Thank you to the two people who responsed. I will come back at a later date and give some insight about those two choices.

I reposted the poll to give my readers the chance to answer. You can view it on the left hand menu.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T16:58:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to take the time to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Just Got Back from (Mini) Vacation

2008-11-13T22:22:00.005-05:00

Hi All, I just got back from Florida. I was attending a real estate convention in Orlando from Thursday 6th to Wednesday 12th. I received a few phone calls while away, some of which I answered. For those that I didn't I apologize but I was in different sessions at the convention. While I wasn't at the convention I was enjoying the weather and enjoying the attractions. I have to catch up on all my work this weekend. So I will be sending emails and returning phone calls. I will probably post more pictures of my trip later on but for right now here's a picture of me next to the Universal Globe. I'm convinced that I gained some pounds while on vacation too, which I have to work on my diet plan this weekend as well.

Homeowners Mold Problem

2008-11-03T19:47:00.003-05:00

News commercial comes on last night about a story the 9 Team was covering of a homeowner who is living in home that has a horrible mold problem. So it sparked my interest because in real estate we come across mold issues so I thought I would watch the story before I went to bed. Long and behold it is about my hometown of Newark.

My heart goes out to Freddy Ballester and his family and also the other Third St property owners that are suffering with this mold problem.

The facts I state here are solely from the news story viewed on TV and now online as I interpret them. These homeowners purchased these properties from the City of Newark over 6 years ago. Over the years the homes have developed the most horrible mold problem and have been contacting the City of Newark since December 2005 to help with the situation. According to a mold inspector the average range of spores is 50 to 3500 and in Mr. Ballester basement picked up a range of 84,400 spores. Spores I'm going to assume measures the amount of mold. That is beyond dangerously levels of mold. Mold is a very serious issue since it can cause health issues. And as the news report states that Mr. Ballester has 2 out of 3 asthmatic family members that live in the household. The report states that in May 2008 Cory Booker was confronted with this issue and he claimed not to have any knowledge of it and would research it. The report also states that 3 weeks ago (Mid-October), Mr. Ballester attended one of the cities meeting and sat down with Cory Booker and addressed it again and now present day still no repairs have been made...nothing.

Shame, Shame, Shame City of Newark and even bigger Shame to Cory Booker. Don't get me wrong I Love Newark. And I have personally meet Cory Booker at one of the cities event and believe that he has done this city a good change but I was so shocked that he would let this get so far and not solve the problem. He might have acknowledge it back in May of 2008 but 6 months later NOTHING...I am shaking my head.

To view Mr. Freddy Ballester's Story (& Third St. properties) first video clip of click here. The video clip that I viewed last night was the update video clip which they don't have on their website. You need to scroll down and select Homeowners Mold Problem.

NHA Owner Participant Information Systems

2008-10-30T22:09:00.004-04:00

For those homeowners who are participants or who are interested in receiving information about the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) there will be a seminar discussing dealing w/ difficult tenants, there will be a Q&A open session and a general session for spanish speaking homeowners accepting section 8. Seminar will be held on December 11, 2008 and February 12, 2009 from 6-7:30pm. Held at 500 Broad St Nwk NJ 07102. Register in advance by calling 9732736261 to reserve your seat.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

2008-10-26T01:16:00.005-04:00

I want to hear from the people who read this blog...Tell me what you would like to know about the real estate market. Maybe you are "hanging on the fence" trying to decide if you should buy in this market but there are things holding you back, there's soooo many questions...ASK ME! I am trying to make this blog interactive but most importantly want to post articles that my readers WANT to read.

Simply click on the comment icon and type in your question. You can ask questions about any aspect of the real estate market; whether it be buying, selling, financing options, Investings, Losing your home to foreclosure, Renting, Property Management for Landlords, Steps on how to buy a home...the list can go on and on when it comes to real estate.

I would be more than happy to respond by posting my response.

Incentives to Buy In This Market

2008-10-25T22:20:00.007-04:00

Think About This!

For those of you who are hanging on the fence trying to decide whether or not they want to purchase a home, NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY! Who said we are in a bad market. Don't believe the hype! House prices have had BIG declines which creates opportunity for those individuals (future homeowners) who couldn't afford to buy a house (back) in the "blooming" market just two-three years ago. Take advantage...the government is acting on the problem by creating these bills and now this $7500 First-time home buyer tax credit to create an incentive to buy, if the decline in market values wasn't enough. I specialize in helping First-Time HomeBuyers. I am also a tax preparer, so for those who want to read over the terms of the tax credit read it on my other blog at http://www.247notarytaxservices.blogspot.com/.

Connect with me to discuss financing options. FHA is the way right now. With a min 3% down you can get qualified for that new home. For those homes that need some updated, FHA 203K will allow up to $35,000 for repair cost. And then for tax season of 2008 you can claim the Homebuyer tax credit (if you qualify) and receive a (bigger) refund.

If you want to chat about this post, or have any questions feel free to reach out to me. You can signup to receive listings of homes on the market (free of charge) by email. Your privacy is extremely important and I donot sell your email address to any third party. Simply click on this link a new window will pop out and simply fill out the information .Please be as truthful as possible and as specific as possible so I can send the right match of homes that your are looking for.

You can also view my website (which needs some updating...sorry!) @ 973house.com But feel free to look around...you can email me with any questions or call me @ 973.392.3929.

Looking forward to working with you!

Rent Vs. Buy

2008-10-24T23:30:00.006-04:00

Why Rent When you can buy?

Look at How Much You Are Spending On Rent!!!

RENT 3 YRS 10 YRS 15 YRS
$900 $32,400 $108,000 $162,000
$1,000 $35,000 $120,000 $180,000
$1,100 $39,600 $132,000 $198,000
$1,200 $43,200 $144,000 $216,000

Did You Know...
For the same amount of money that you are spending on rent you can be the owner of your own home? So Why waste money every month? We can make this dream come true, even if you have had credit problems in the past.

Other benefits of owning a home...TAX BENEFITS. When you rent you are only giving your landlord a bigger refund because he can expense everything (well almost everything) on his taxes. If you buy a single family home you can file schedule-A and expense your mortgage interest, annual real estate taxes, charitable donations and medical & dental expenses. If you buy a two family home, if you occupy one unit, you could claim any expenses related to the property from the percentage (by square footage) that is rented. For example: 55% of the home is rented and you pay all the utilities for the entire house which totals $3,600 then ($3600/55%=$1980), $1980 would be the amount claimed for utilities. Other expenses you can claim (besides utilities) for a multifamily home is advertising, repairs, cleaning/maintenance fees, insurance, management fees, supplies, taxes, mortgage interest and you can also depreciate the property.

AND now for 2008 you would be able to claim the $7500 First-Time HomeBuyer Tax Credit. You can read my tax blog to get more info on the Tax Credit. So as you can see it is very beneficial when it comes to taxes to own a home besides renting.

Prices have dropped. Don't think because the economy is suffering right now that it will be like this forever. Real estate is the best investment you can make. Records show that real estate almost always doubles in value if kept long-term. If you buy in this down market when the market turns around again you will be sitting on a pot of gold.

FHA has great loans that are government insured. They are fixed-rate programs that allow Not so perfect to qualify. And if you can't qualify on your own they allow more than one co-signer. The minimum you would have to put down on a FHA loan is 3% of the purchase price. But in reference to closing costs, depending on what type of home you decide to purchase, we can include the closing costs for the seller to pay so you don't have to pay them out of your pocket. I will have to go over the different types of homes (Re-sale, Short-Sale, & REO) in another posting.

Just to give a little background, I am also a tax preparer. I have been providing tax preparation since 2004. You can talk to your preferred tax preparer or CPA in reference to what type of deductions are allow when owning a home.

If you have any questions, click on the comments icon and post away!

**Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

Custom Built Bayfront Home (Jersey Shore) Open House!

2008-10-01T22:42:00.001-04:00

4 Bedrooms, 2 1/2 Baths bay front custom home built in 1998; 2274 Sq Ft with 3 levels.

Open House 10/5 & 10/12 from 11am to 4pm

Most Desirable street in Manasquan, Cul-de-sac. This home gives a new meaning to open layout, pride of ownership. Beautifully lit-stone paved driveway for 3 cars and a great feel of comfort at the shore. Sunken living room & family room area w/chestnut hardwood floors 30ft ceiling and a full wall of windows overlooking the lagoon. Home is equipped with 2 zoned a/c and heat. Open kitchen w/stainless steel top-line appliances and granite counters. New deck outside w/hot-tub, a new outside shower, outside lightening, and Jet Ski Dock. Great layout in Master suite w/ Jacuzzi, double sinks & balcony.

It is truly a fantastic home and a must-see. 9 Captains ct. Manasquan, NJ 08736

Call for more information Amanda M. Rodriguez (973) 392-3929 OR Visit http://amandamrodriguez.point2agent.com/Listing/ViewListingDetailsAuthenticated.aspx?preview=true&listingid=2012960

Exit Elite Realty Group*Each office independently owned & operated

Hope Starts With Us!

2008-09-30T21:39:00.001-04:00

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Sunday October 19, 2008
@ Military Park in Newark, NJ

Join my in my efforts to volunteer and donate my time to a great cause. My family and I have faithfully been apart of this event for 6 years in loving memory of my aunt, Carmen Rodriguez. My aunt suffered by the hands of breast cancer in October of 2001. We watched her battle it out and we walk/donate to make a difference, to let her know that we remember, we love her, and think about her everyday.

I believe that hope for a world without breast cancer starts with me. That’s why I donate & volunteer in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. Not only is this my opportunity to join my community to fight back against breast cancer, it is a way to inspire hope by raising funds and awareness to help those facing the disease and save more lives. And you can be a part of it, too.

I have signed up to walk and hope you will join me in my effort by signing up to join my team or make a donation in support of my participation. Hope starts with us.

Visit My Personal Page and Show your support by donating! Every dollar counts!

Join My Team "La Familia" to show your support and walk!

In Loving Memory Of Carmen Rodriguez

What is a Short Sales?

2008-09-11T23:57:00.004-04:00

Have you heard the term Short Sale or Pre-Foreclosure lately. This post goes over a few down-sides and up-sides to buying a Short-Sale Property.

Short Sales is becoming very popular and very common. Out of 5 listings on the market at least 3 will be short sales. So What is a Short Sale you Ask?

A Short Sale (aka Pre-Foreclosure) is when the 1st trust deed lender agrees to reduce the loan balance enough to get the property sold to avoid the foreclosure process to the seller. The advantage to the current homeowner is that they will get to stay at the property until closing and they don't have the foreclosure reported on their credit report.

Why are Short Sales great property to consider purchasing? Most likely there will be either homeowners or tenants still living at the property. Which means there is a better chance that the property has been kept in okay or good condition. With Foreclosed properties, it is more at risk of vandalism.

The Down-Sided to a Short Sale...THEY TAKE FOREVER FOR THE LENDER TO APPROVE. Short-Sales can vary from anywhere to 3 months to 6 months+ to be approved in order to proceed with the ordinary process of buying a home. So BUYERS if you are in a rush to find a home a short sale might not be the property type you are looking for. Also another Down-Sided (In most cases) the Sellers Lender will not negotiate any repair costs for the property. Therefore, The property is being sold AS-IS. You can scratch closings costs or down payment assistance out of the question too.

You might be asking why at this point...Well the Sellers Lender is already taking a loss on the property. The sellers at the very minimum have not paid 3 mos. of mortgage, the lender will take a loss for the difference of what the short sale is approved for (example: Seller owes $350,000 on mortgage and short sale approved for $300,000=$50,000 LOSS), and they have to pay attorney fees and any other fees associated with selling the property. Therefore, the chances of them paying for any closing costs or downpayment assistance is slim to none.

So what's the up-side of these short sales. Well the up-side is that you get a property that is in most cases in move-in condition at a discounted price. Your appraisal inspection will most likely be more than what you have offered anyway so you already have good equity in this property. If you have the time and the money to make a downpayment and pay for your own closing costs it might be a good deal for.

If you are interested in viewing any Short Sales (aka pre-foreclosures), I will be more than happy to assist you in the searching process. You can contact me at: (973) 392-3929 or email me Visit my website @ http://www.973house.com/

***I am not an attorney and cannot provide legal or tax advice**

Hello All!

2007-07-15T22:45:00.001-04:00

Hello Everyone! I haven't posted in a while because I have been quite busy. But I need to dedicate at least a half to one hour a day to post some type of useful information for my readers.

Foreclosure sites to Avoid

2007-07-15T22:42:00.001-04:00

Here's a good site for Investors or any one, for that matter, who has considered using a foreclosure website to search for so called great deals: http://www.foreclosures.com/pages/sites_to_avoid.asp

Some real estate listings for the very well-heeled

2007-05-09T18:29:00.000-04:00

By Vicki Hyman ~ The Star-Ledger Monday May 7, 2007 Page. 27

In the market for a gated 35,000 square-foot limestone manor on four park-like acres in Saddle River? How do 10 bedrooms, his and hers master bathrooms, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools with waterfalls, caves and a Jacuzzi grab you? Here's the trump card: a formal, tented salonn with a towered stone firplace carved to look like a lion's head.

Now, how much you would pay?

The palatial estate of hip-hop mogul Russel Simmons and wife Kimora Lee Simmons is on sale for $23.8 million. The property, represented by Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty in Tenafly, also has a movie theater with marquee and popcorn machine, a sprawling gym and a wine cellar with sit-down tasting areas.

If Saddle River doesn't do it for you, there are two other homes with a celebrity pedigree for sale in Englewood, on the other side of Bergen County.

If you're bargain-hunting, Eddie Murphy has slashed the price on his seven-bedroom gated Colonial-style estate on five acres from $30 million to $22 million. "Bubble Hill" has a huge gourmet kitchen, a music studio, indoor pool and spa, and bowling alley.

Rapper 50 Cent is selling his 52-room Farmington, Conn., estate that was once owned by Mike Tyson. He bought the 18-bedroom, 37-bathroom home in 2003 for $4.1 Millon; it's unclear what the asking price is, but it's believed to be around $10 million. Cent (real name: Curtis James Jackson III) updated the property with a helicopter pad, a movide theater, and an infinity pool and spa.

To view this complete article: Go to www.nj.com

Have you Faced Housing Discrimination?

2007-05-02T21:59:00.001-04:00

Intelligence Report by Lyric Wallwork Winik-Parade Magazine

Have you Faced Housing Discrimination? If you're buying or renting a home there's a law that protects your rights.

The Fair Housing Act became law in 1968, yet thousands of people still are illegally turned away from renting or owning a home in the U.S. each year. Those with disabilities are most likely to be discriminated against, followed closely by Blacks, Hispanics and Asians. What is "housing discrimination"? Refusing to allow a person with a disability to have an accessible parking spot or a service animal. Charging higher rent or a larger security deposit for some tenants because of race and religion. Telling prospective tenants that housing is no longer available when it is. Imposing restrictions on families with children, such as saying kids are not allowed on the property. Asking for sexual favors in lieu of rent. To learn more about your rights under the Fair Housing Act or to file a complaint, call the HUD hotline, 1-800-669-9777, or visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing

5 Tips for Energy Efficient

2007-04-27T21:40:00.001-04:00

1. Check windows and doors. Heat lost through windows and doors represents a significant chunk of most heating bills. Some sources estimate that loss through windows alone could account for up to 35 percent of heating bills. If you are tired of watching your hard earned money slip through the cracks, there are things that you can do. 2. Conserve with ENERGY STAR.® By choosing ENERGYSTAR for every application in your home, you can Save up to 20 percent or about $400 per year on your energy bills. Appliances account for about 20 percent of your household’s energy consumption, with the refrigerator and clothes dryer being the biggest culprits. A typical household does nearly 400 loads of laundry per year, using about 40 gallons of water per full load with a conventional washer. An ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer uses 18-25 gallons per load, saving you 7,000 gallons of water! An ENERGY STAR refrigerator uses less energy than a 75-watt bulb, saving you between $30-$70 a year. 3. See the light. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are the most energy-efficient of all light bulbs. They use 67 percentless energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last longer: They cost more, but last up to sixteen times longer than incandescent bulbs. 4. Programmable thermostats help reduce energy costs by lowering energy use during those times when you do not need it. A programmable thermostat can tell your home’s heating system to gear up for your arrival after work, or to knock off a bit until an hour or so before you get up in the morning. 5. Turn down your water heater to 120° F and save up to 50 percent of a household’s hot water costs. Electric heaters benefit most from this approach to saving energy. Timers are also available which allow you to make the water heater conform to your water usage schedule. They prevent the water heater from trying to maintain hot water during periods when it is never used. Check out the complete article @ https://www.lowesrealtorbenefits.com/newsletter/pdf/042007.pdf