Ever notice how most homes are designed to fit the average family, with average needs and average incomes?
But what happens if you're not average? …………..Sterling Oak is a custom home builder in the North Tarrant, South Wise and South Denton Counties.
We believe that houses can be beautiful, but the owner's taste and unique selections make houses homes. And when your house reflects your personality, you feel at home.
At Sterling Oak, we want to help you create your dream home regardless of the size or your budget.
At Sterling Oak each home is constructed the old-fashioned way – through quality construction and a commitment to serving our clients. It is the way homes used to be built and the way Sterling Oak builds them today - with pride and attention to detail. Yet, we rely on our state-of-the-art processes and technology to get you the best products and prices. We are committed to the highest standards in new home construction.
That is why we are designated as a Graduate Master Builder by the National Association of Home Builders and a Texas Star Builder by the State of Texas. Our goal is to build a home you will love every day you live there.We offer innovative designs that are not only flexible, but can reflect your distinctive tastes. And if you want to start from scratch, we can do that as well.We urge you to visit any one of our models and compare us to those of other builders. Once you do, we're confident that you will discover the unbeatable value Sterling Oak offers.
Gary M. Schecter
President
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Real Estate Financial News
We’ve reached a juncture in the credit markets where it really doesn’t matter how low interest rates go -- banks are refusing to lend and consumers either have no desire to borrow – or they are in such troubled financial straits they can’t meet the qualification criteria for a loan.
So what’s the Fed to do?
Many believe the Fed will announce in their post-meeting statement tomorrow afternoon (2:15 p.m. ET) that the answer to rekindling economy growth is actually quite simple – print money like crazy.
In a nutshell the idea here is that by flooding the economy with money – banks will ultimately find themselves bursting at the seams with capital – and they will essentially have no other option than to start lending.
As the short-term credit market swings back into action, business confidence will rise, employment will improve and the engines of commerce will roar back to life.
For more information contact:
Silver Oak Mortgage
Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519
We’ve reached a juncture in the credit markets where it really doesn’t matter how low interest rates go -- banks are refusing to lend and consumers either have no desire to borrow – or they are in such troubled financial straits they can’t meet the qualification criteria for a loan.
So what’s the Fed to do?
Many believe the Fed will announce in their post-meeting statement tomorrow afternoon (2:15 p.m. ET) that the answer to rekindling economy growth is actually quite simple – print money like crazy.
In a nutshell the idea here is that by flooding the economy with money – banks will ultimately find themselves bursting at the seams with capital – and they will essentially have no other option than to start lending.
As the short-term credit market swings back into action, business confidence will rise, employment will improve and the engines of commerce will roar back to life.
For more information contact:
Silver Oak Mortgage
Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519
Daily Real Estate News
Sam Zell Predicts
Spring 2009 Housing Recovery
Financial mogul Sam Zell, beleaguered owner of the Tribune Co., which declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week, told an Israeli business conference Sunday that the U.S. real estate market will be in recovery by spring 2009.
Zell pointed out that the U.S. population is growing and with fewer than 600,000 building starts in 2008, a million fewer than any of the last 10 years, demand for housing will rise.
Zell blamed the current crisis – at least in part – on ill-considered decisions.
"We are living through our first Blackberry recession where, literally, information is instantly disseminated around the world and people, in effect, respond to it, perhaps, often without any particular caution or attention,” he said.
Source: Reuters News, Ori Lewis (12/14/2008)
Spring 2009 Housing Recovery
Financial mogul Sam Zell, beleaguered owner of the Tribune Co., which declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week, told an Israeli business conference Sunday that the U.S. real estate market will be in recovery by spring 2009.
Zell pointed out that the U.S. population is growing and with fewer than 600,000 building starts in 2008, a million fewer than any of the last 10 years, demand for housing will rise.
Zell blamed the current crisis – at least in part – on ill-considered decisions.
"We are living through our first Blackberry recession where, literally, information is instantly disseminated around the world and people, in effect, respond to it, perhaps, often without any particular caution or attention,” he said.
Source: Reuters News, Ori Lewis (12/14/2008)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Extreme Makeover: Keller, TX 76248
http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/12/08/extreme-makeover-house-revealed/
The tentative Build Schedule (all times subject to change):
* Monday, December 8: Knock Day. Media may arrive at 3:45 p.m. for a press conference with the family at 4:00PM is planned for approximately
* at the home site location, 2880 Keller Hicks Road, Keller, TX 76248. Please note: the street will be closed, and security will instruct media members where to park.
* Wednesday, December 10: Braveheart Walk to kickoff of the build. Media check-in is at 8:00AM; Braveheart Walk at approximately 9:00AM. Braveheart Speech by Steve Wall will follow the walk, then demolition will begin immediately thereafter.
* Thursday, December 11: Framing throughout the day, followed by non-stop building for the next several days and nights.
* Monday, December 15: House Reveal, also known as the time for “Move that Bus!”
* Tuesday, December 16: Press Conference at new home. Time for Press Conference will be announced later.
Posted on December 8th, 2008 11:06am by Tim Rogers
Filed under Entertainment, Media, Real Estate, Television
The tentative Build Schedule (all times subject to change):
* Monday, December 8: Knock Day. Media may arrive at 3:45 p.m. for a press conference with the family at 4:00PM is planned for approximately
* at the home site location, 2880 Keller Hicks Road, Keller, TX 76248. Please note: the street will be closed, and security will instruct media members where to park.
* Wednesday, December 10: Braveheart Walk to kickoff of the build. Media check-in is at 8:00AM; Braveheart Walk at approximately 9:00AM. Braveheart Speech by Steve Wall will follow the walk, then demolition will begin immediately thereafter.
* Thursday, December 11: Framing throughout the day, followed by non-stop building for the next several days and nights.
* Monday, December 15: House Reveal, also known as the time for “Move that Bus!”
* Tuesday, December 16: Press Conference at new home. Time for Press Conference will be announced later.
Posted on December 8th, 2008 11:06am by Tim Rogers
Filed under Entertainment, Media, Real Estate, Television
Monday, December 8, 2008
Click here Duncanville,TX for Local Events, Community Corner, Groups & Organizations, Shops & Services, and much more....
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Treasury Department Considers Plan to Lower Mortgage Rates
Financial industry lobbyists are urging the Treasury Department to take steps to lower rates on 30-year mortgages to 4.5 percent.
WASHINGTON -- Financial industry lobbyists are urging the Treasury Department to take steps to lower mortgage rates and help stabilize the battered U.S. housing market.
Under one proposal, Treasury would seek to lower the rate on a 30-year mortgage to 4.5 percent by purchasing mortgage-backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Scott Talbott, chief lobbyist at the Financial Services Roundtable, said Wednesday.
If enacted, such a plan would be an unprecedented opportunity for anyone with good credit and a solid income who could qualify for a mortgage at the lowest rates on records dating to the early 1960s, said Keith Gumbinger, senior vice president at financial publisher HSH Associates.
"You would have the mother of all re-fi booms," said mortgage industry consultant Howard Glaser.
The goal of the industry's proposal would be to take advantage of the unusually large difference, or spread, between mortgage rates and yields on government debt. On Wednesday, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note yield sank as low as 2.65 percent, while the national average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgages was 5.75 percent, according to HSH Associates.
In recent years, there has been about a 1.8 percentage point difference between the yield on a 10-year Treasury note and a 30-year mortgage rate, but that spread currently hovers around 3 percentage points.
Analysts said that the government could use its ability to borrow money at low rates to in essence flood the market for mortgage-backed securities. This increased demand would tend to push down the yield on mortgage securities sold by Fannie and Freddie, which now average about 5.5 percent because of investor concerns about default risks. Once those yields fall, the theory goes, lower mortgage rates should follow.
That would have two benefits for the economy: Immediately adding money to the pocketbooks of homeowners who can refinance their mortgages and reduce their monthly payments, and eventually help arrest the slide in home prices since much lower mortgage rates would allow more potential buyers to qualify for loans.
"The goal is drive mortgage rates so low that home prices not only stop falling but begin to rebound," said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com.
If the government does buy up mortgage securities, it would be similar to the effort announced last week by the Federal Reserve to purchase up to $500 billion of mortgage-backed securities from Fannie and Freddie. The two mortgage giants, which were seized by federal regulators in September, own or guarantee about half of the $11.5 trillion in U.S. outstanding home loan debt.
The Fed, however, did not announce a specific target for mortgage rates, which plunged about a half percentage point after the announcement.
That caused new mortgage applications to more than double last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly survey released Wednesday. Refinance volume more than tripled, and made up for nearly 70 percent of all applications.
Still, the industry plan is not likely to help borrowers whose credit is so damaged that banks don't want to lend to them.
"It doesn't do anything to help all the borrowers facing foreclosures," said Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, a trade publication. "It's going to benefit the people who have equity in their home, who have decent credit and can refinance."
Treasury is considering several options, and could announce a decision as early as next week, industry sources said.
Treasury spokeswoman Brookly McLaughlin said she would not comment on speculation about actions the department may take in the future.
The proposal was reported Wednesday afternoon on The Wall Street Journal's Web site.
Treasury could make such a proposal as part of a request for the second $350 billion of the $700 billion financial rescue fund, industry sources said.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has been criticized by members of Congress for using the bailout money to shore up Wall Street banks, while not doing enough to help homeowners facing foreclosure.
In recent weeks, a diverse set of industry groups from real estate agents to carpet makers have called on lawmakers and the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama to subsidize lower mortgage rates and beef up tax credits to help stimulate housing demand.
The National Association of Realtors has been pushing a plan under which the federal government would spend $50 billion to lower mortgage rates. It says doing so would yield about 500,000 more home sales.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Home Builders is leading a new "Fix Housing First" coalition to push for aid to the ailing housing sector, including a tax credit of up to $22,000 for anyone who buys a home before the end of 2009.
Click here to read more in The Wall Street Journal.
Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519
Financial industry lobbyists are urging the Treasury Department to take steps to lower rates on 30-year mortgages to 4.5 percent.
WASHINGTON -- Financial industry lobbyists are urging the Treasury Department to take steps to lower mortgage rates and help stabilize the battered U.S. housing market.
Under one proposal, Treasury would seek to lower the rate on a 30-year mortgage to 4.5 percent by purchasing mortgage-backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Scott Talbott, chief lobbyist at the Financial Services Roundtable, said Wednesday.
If enacted, such a plan would be an unprecedented opportunity for anyone with good credit and a solid income who could qualify for a mortgage at the lowest rates on records dating to the early 1960s, said Keith Gumbinger, senior vice president at financial publisher HSH Associates.
"You would have the mother of all re-fi booms," said mortgage industry consultant Howard Glaser.
The goal of the industry's proposal would be to take advantage of the unusually large difference, or spread, between mortgage rates and yields on government debt. On Wednesday, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note yield sank as low as 2.65 percent, while the national average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgages was 5.75 percent, according to HSH Associates.
In recent years, there has been about a 1.8 percentage point difference between the yield on a 10-year Treasury note and a 30-year mortgage rate, but that spread currently hovers around 3 percentage points.
Analysts said that the government could use its ability to borrow money at low rates to in essence flood the market for mortgage-backed securities. This increased demand would tend to push down the yield on mortgage securities sold by Fannie and Freddie, which now average about 5.5 percent because of investor concerns about default risks. Once those yields fall, the theory goes, lower mortgage rates should follow.
That would have two benefits for the economy: Immediately adding money to the pocketbooks of homeowners who can refinance their mortgages and reduce their monthly payments, and eventually help arrest the slide in home prices since much lower mortgage rates would allow more potential buyers to qualify for loans.
"The goal is drive mortgage rates so low that home prices not only stop falling but begin to rebound," said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com.
If the government does buy up mortgage securities, it would be similar to the effort announced last week by the Federal Reserve to purchase up to $500 billion of mortgage-backed securities from Fannie and Freddie. The two mortgage giants, which were seized by federal regulators in September, own or guarantee about half of the $11.5 trillion in U.S. outstanding home loan debt.
The Fed, however, did not announce a specific target for mortgage rates, which plunged about a half percentage point after the announcement.
That caused new mortgage applications to more than double last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly survey released Wednesday. Refinance volume more than tripled, and made up for nearly 70 percent of all applications.
Still, the industry plan is not likely to help borrowers whose credit is so damaged that banks don't want to lend to them.
"It doesn't do anything to help all the borrowers facing foreclosures," said Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, a trade publication. "It's going to benefit the people who have equity in their home, who have decent credit and can refinance."
Treasury is considering several options, and could announce a decision as early as next week, industry sources said.
Treasury spokeswoman Brookly McLaughlin said she would not comment on speculation about actions the department may take in the future.
The proposal was reported Wednesday afternoon on The Wall Street Journal's Web site.
Treasury could make such a proposal as part of a request for the second $350 billion of the $700 billion financial rescue fund, industry sources said.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has been criticized by members of Congress for using the bailout money to shore up Wall Street banks, while not doing enough to help homeowners facing foreclosure.
In recent weeks, a diverse set of industry groups from real estate agents to carpet makers have called on lawmakers and the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama to subsidize lower mortgage rates and beef up tax credits to help stimulate housing demand.
The National Association of Realtors has been pushing a plan under which the federal government would spend $50 billion to lower mortgage rates. It says doing so would yield about 500,000 more home sales.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Home Builders is leading a new "Fix Housing First" coalition to push for aid to the ailing housing sector, including a tax credit of up to $22,000 for anyone who buys a home before the end of 2009.
Click here to read more in The Wall Street Journal.
Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance
The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only.
The maximum credit amount is $7,500.
The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before
July 1, 2009.
Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period.
NAHB is providing the information on this web site for general guidance only. The information on this site does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind nor should it be construed as such. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action on this information, you should consult a qualified professional adviser to whom you have provided all of the facts applicable to your particular situation or question. None of the tax information on this web site is intended to be used nor can it be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The information is provided "as is," with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.
1201 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-266-8200
800-368-5242
Copyright © 2008 National Association of Home Builders. All rights reserved.
The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only.
The maximum credit amount is $7,500.
The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before
July 1, 2009.
Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period.
NAHB is providing the information on this web site for general guidance only. The information on this site does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind nor should it be construed as such. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action on this information, you should consult a qualified professional adviser to whom you have provided all of the facts applicable to your particular situation or question. None of the tax information on this web site is intended to be used nor can it be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The information is provided "as is," with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.
1201 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-266-8200
800-368-5242
Copyright © 2008 National Association of Home Builders. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Exterior Door Selection and Installation
New exterior doors often fit and insulate better than older types. If you have older doors in your home, replacing them might be a good investment, resulting in lower heating and cooling costs. If you're building a new home, you should consider buying the most energy-efficient doors possible.
When selecting doors for energy efficiency, it's important to first consider their energy performance ratings in relation to your climate and home's design. This will help narrow your selection.
Types of Doors
One common type of exterior door has a steel skin with a polyurethane foam insulation core. It usually includes a magnetic strip (similar to a refrigerator door magnetic seal) as weatherstripping. If installed correctly and if the door is not bent, this type of door needs no further weatherstripping.
The R-values of most steel and fiberglass-clad entry doors range from R-5 to R-6 (not including the effects of a window.) For example: A 1-1/2 inch (3.81 cm) thick door without a window offers more than five times the insulating value of a solid wood door of the same size.
Glass or "patio" doors, especially sliding glass doors, lose heat much faster than other types of doors because glass is a very poor insulator. Most modern glass doors with metal frames have a thermal break, which is a plastic insulator between inner and outer parts of the frame. Models with several layers of glass, low-emissivity coatings, and/or low-conductivity gases between the glass panes are a good investment, especially in extreme climates. Over the long run, the additional cost is paid back many times over in energy savings. When buying or replacing patio doors, keep in mind that swinging doors offer a much tighter seal than sliding types.
Also, with a sliding glass door, it's impossible to stop all the air leakage around the weatherstripping and still be able to use the door. Also, after years of use, the weatherstripping wears down so air leakage increases as the door ages. If the manufacturer has made it possible to do so, you can replace worn weatherstripping on sliding glass doors.
Installation
When you buy a door, it will probably be a pre-hung frame. Pre-hung doors usually come with wood or steel frames. You will need to remove an existing door frame from the rough opening before you install a pre-hung door. The door frame must be as square as possible, so that the door seals tightly to the jamb and swings properly.
Before adding the interior trim, apply an expanding foam caulking to seal the new door frame to the rough opening and threshold. This will help prevent air from getting around the door seals and into the house. Apply carefully, especially with a wood frame, to avoid having the foam force the frame out of square.
If needed, you'll also want to add weatherstripping. Check the weatherstripping on your exterior doors annually to see if it needs replacement.
Storm Doors
Adding a storm door can be a good investment if your existing door is old but still in good condition. However, adding a storm door to a newer, insulated door is not generally worth the expense since you won't save much more energy.
Storm door frames are usually made of aluminum, steel, fiberglass, or wood (painted or not). Wooden storm doors require more maintenance than the other types. Metal-framed storm doors might have foam insulation within their frames.
High-quality storm doors use low-emissivity (Low-E) glass or glazing. Some doors have self-storing pockets for the glass in summer, and an insect screen for the winter. Some have fixed, full length screens and glass panels that slide out of the way for ventilation. Others are half screen and half glass, which slide past each other. Some are removable for cleaning, others are not. All of these features add some convenience and higher costs.
Never add a glass storm door if the exterior door gets more than a few hours of direct sun each day. The glass will trap too much heat against the entry door and possibly damage it.
Storm doors for patio doors are hard to find but they are available. Adding one to a new, multi-glazed, Low-E door is seldom economic. Insulated drapes, when closed for the night in the winter (or on sunny days in the summer) are also a good idea.
Weatherstripping
You can use weatherstripping in your home to seal air leaks around movable joints, such as windows or doors. To determine how much weatherstripping you will need, add the perimeters of all windows and doors to be weatherstripped, then add 5%–10% to accommodate any waste. Also consider that weatherstripping comes in varying depths and widths. Before applying weatherstripping in an existing home, you need to do the following (if you haven't already):
Detect air leaks
Assess your ventilation needs for indoor air quality.
Selection
You need to choose a type of weatherstripping that will withstand the friction, weather, temperature changes, and wear and tear associated with its location. For example, when applied to a door bottom or threshold, weatherstripping could drag on carpet or erode as a result of foot traffic. Weatherstripping in a window sash must accommodate the sliding of panes—up and down, sideways, or out. The weatherstripping you choose should seal well when the door or window is closed while allowing it to open freely.
Choose a product for each specific location. Felt and open-cell foams tend to be inexpensive, susceptible to weather, visible, and inefficient at blocking airflow. However, the ease of applying these materials may make them valuable in low-traffic areas. Vinyl, which is slightly more expensive, holds up well and resists moisture. Metals (bronze, copper, stainless steel, and aluminum) last for years and are affordable. Metal weatherstripping can also provide a nice touch to older homes where vinyl might seem out of place.
You can use more than one type of weatherstripping to seal an irregularly shaped space. Also take durability into account when comparing costs.
Application
Weatherstripping supplies and techniques range from simple to the technical. Consult the instructions on the weatherstripping package. Here are a few basic guidelines:
Measure the area to be weatherstripped twice before you cut anything.
Apply weatherstripping snugly against both surfaces. The material should compress when the window or door is shut.
When weatherstripping doors:
Choose the appropriate door sweeps and thresholds for the bottom of the doors.
Weatherstrip the entire door jamb.
Apply one continuous strip along each side.
Make sure the weatherstripping meets tightly at the corners.
Use a thickness that causes the weatherstripping to tightly press between the door and the door jamb when the door closes, without making it difficult to shut.
For air sealing windows, apply weatherstripping between the sash and the frame. The weatherstripping shouldn't interfere with the operation of the window.
Copyright © 2008 ( DFW Metro Green Consulting ) All rights Reserved.
New exterior doors often fit and insulate better than older types. If you have older doors in your home, replacing them might be a good investment, resulting in lower heating and cooling costs. If you're building a new home, you should consider buying the most energy-efficient doors possible.
When selecting doors for energy efficiency, it's important to first consider their energy performance ratings in relation to your climate and home's design. This will help narrow your selection.
Types of Doors
One common type of exterior door has a steel skin with a polyurethane foam insulation core. It usually includes a magnetic strip (similar to a refrigerator door magnetic seal) as weatherstripping. If installed correctly and if the door is not bent, this type of door needs no further weatherstripping.
The R-values of most steel and fiberglass-clad entry doors range from R-5 to R-6 (not including the effects of a window.) For example: A 1-1/2 inch (3.81 cm) thick door without a window offers more than five times the insulating value of a solid wood door of the same size.
Glass or "patio" doors, especially sliding glass doors, lose heat much faster than other types of doors because glass is a very poor insulator. Most modern glass doors with metal frames have a thermal break, which is a plastic insulator between inner and outer parts of the frame. Models with several layers of glass, low-emissivity coatings, and/or low-conductivity gases between the glass panes are a good investment, especially in extreme climates. Over the long run, the additional cost is paid back many times over in energy savings. When buying or replacing patio doors, keep in mind that swinging doors offer a much tighter seal than sliding types.
Also, with a sliding glass door, it's impossible to stop all the air leakage around the weatherstripping and still be able to use the door. Also, after years of use, the weatherstripping wears down so air leakage increases as the door ages. If the manufacturer has made it possible to do so, you can replace worn weatherstripping on sliding glass doors.
Installation
When you buy a door, it will probably be a pre-hung frame. Pre-hung doors usually come with wood or steel frames. You will need to remove an existing door frame from the rough opening before you install a pre-hung door. The door frame must be as square as possible, so that the door seals tightly to the jamb and swings properly.
Before adding the interior trim, apply an expanding foam caulking to seal the new door frame to the rough opening and threshold. This will help prevent air from getting around the door seals and into the house. Apply carefully, especially with a wood frame, to avoid having the foam force the frame out of square.
If needed, you'll also want to add weatherstripping. Check the weatherstripping on your exterior doors annually to see if it needs replacement.
Storm Doors
Adding a storm door can be a good investment if your existing door is old but still in good condition. However, adding a storm door to a newer, insulated door is not generally worth the expense since you won't save much more energy.
Storm door frames are usually made of aluminum, steel, fiberglass, or wood (painted or not). Wooden storm doors require more maintenance than the other types. Metal-framed storm doors might have foam insulation within their frames.
High-quality storm doors use low-emissivity (Low-E) glass or glazing. Some doors have self-storing pockets for the glass in summer, and an insect screen for the winter. Some have fixed, full length screens and glass panels that slide out of the way for ventilation. Others are half screen and half glass, which slide past each other. Some are removable for cleaning, others are not. All of these features add some convenience and higher costs.
Never add a glass storm door if the exterior door gets more than a few hours of direct sun each day. The glass will trap too much heat against the entry door and possibly damage it.
Storm doors for patio doors are hard to find but they are available. Adding one to a new, multi-glazed, Low-E door is seldom economic. Insulated drapes, when closed for the night in the winter (or on sunny days in the summer) are also a good idea.
Weatherstripping
You can use weatherstripping in your home to seal air leaks around movable joints, such as windows or doors. To determine how much weatherstripping you will need, add the perimeters of all windows and doors to be weatherstripped, then add 5%–10% to accommodate any waste. Also consider that weatherstripping comes in varying depths and widths. Before applying weatherstripping in an existing home, you need to do the following (if you haven't already):
Detect air leaks
Assess your ventilation needs for indoor air quality.
Selection
You need to choose a type of weatherstripping that will withstand the friction, weather, temperature changes, and wear and tear associated with its location. For example, when applied to a door bottom or threshold, weatherstripping could drag on carpet or erode as a result of foot traffic. Weatherstripping in a window sash must accommodate the sliding of panes—up and down, sideways, or out. The weatherstripping you choose should seal well when the door or window is closed while allowing it to open freely.
Choose a product for each specific location. Felt and open-cell foams tend to be inexpensive, susceptible to weather, visible, and inefficient at blocking airflow. However, the ease of applying these materials may make them valuable in low-traffic areas. Vinyl, which is slightly more expensive, holds up well and resists moisture. Metals (bronze, copper, stainless steel, and aluminum) last for years and are affordable. Metal weatherstripping can also provide a nice touch to older homes where vinyl might seem out of place.
You can use more than one type of weatherstripping to seal an irregularly shaped space. Also take durability into account when comparing costs.
Application
Weatherstripping supplies and techniques range from simple to the technical. Consult the instructions on the weatherstripping package. Here are a few basic guidelines:
Measure the area to be weatherstripped twice before you cut anything.
Apply weatherstripping snugly against both surfaces. The material should compress when the window or door is shut.
When weatherstripping doors:
Choose the appropriate door sweeps and thresholds for the bottom of the doors.
Weatherstrip the entire door jamb.
Apply one continuous strip along each side.
Make sure the weatherstripping meets tightly at the corners.
Use a thickness that causes the weatherstripping to tightly press between the door and the door jamb when the door closes, without making it difficult to shut.
For air sealing windows, apply weatherstripping between the sash and the frame. The weatherstripping shouldn't interfere with the operation of the window.
Copyright © 2008 ( DFW Metro Green Consulting ) All rights Reserved.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Home News
Renovation Mistakes in a Buyers' Market
With home prices on the decline, some homeowners may be tempted to renovate their home to make it more desirable or valuable to potential buyers. But there are certain renovations that can actually decrease the value of your home – even in an up market.
If you're trying to sell your home in the next 6 to 18 months, be extremely discerning about your choices, get advice from an expert real estate agent and appraiser before you begin any major renovations, and avoid these costly projects in today's buyers' market:
An in–ground swimming pool or hot tub – In certain parts of the country, yes, a pool or hot tub can increase your home's value. But, for many potential buyers with young children, these items are a true liability and will only decrease your home's value – not to mention the built–in maintenance and energy expenses that come along with them. If you're looking to sell your home in today's tougher market, you simply can't afford to isolate a large number of potential buyers.
New additions – Of course, home additions add valuable square footage, but one false move and your addition can be an eyesore that could hurt your home's value, even when the market turns. A well–designed new addition is time–consuming and expensive and needs to be properly planned and executed. If you're looking to sell your home anytime soon, save yourself the hassle. With just a portion of what it would cost to add a new wing, you could upgrade your kitchen cabinets, appliances, and counter tops and get far more bang for your buck.
Conversions – Yes, with so much competition, it's important that your home stands out from the crowd, but following today's trends could cost you big tomorrow. Right now, space for a home office or a recreation room might be trendy, but converting a den or your garage into one can be a costly mistake. A good real estate agent can achieve the same effect by defining a space through staging. If you want to upgrade your garage, a new door is much cheaper and adds valuable curb appeal.
by
Lisa Warren
Southlake Branch Manager
Silver Oak Mortgage
Phone: (817) 410-2518
Fax: (817) 410-2519
lwarren@somlp.com
www.silveroakmortgagelp.com
Renovation Mistakes in a Buyers' Market
With home prices on the decline, some homeowners may be tempted to renovate their home to make it more desirable or valuable to potential buyers. But there are certain renovations that can actually decrease the value of your home – even in an up market.
If you're trying to sell your home in the next 6 to 18 months, be extremely discerning about your choices, get advice from an expert real estate agent and appraiser before you begin any major renovations, and avoid these costly projects in today's buyers' market:
An in–ground swimming pool or hot tub – In certain parts of the country, yes, a pool or hot tub can increase your home's value. But, for many potential buyers with young children, these items are a true liability and will only decrease your home's value – not to mention the built–in maintenance and energy expenses that come along with them. If you're looking to sell your home in today's tougher market, you simply can't afford to isolate a large number of potential buyers.
New additions – Of course, home additions add valuable square footage, but one false move and your addition can be an eyesore that could hurt your home's value, even when the market turns. A well–designed new addition is time–consuming and expensive and needs to be properly planned and executed. If you're looking to sell your home anytime soon, save yourself the hassle. With just a portion of what it would cost to add a new wing, you could upgrade your kitchen cabinets, appliances, and counter tops and get far more bang for your buck.
Conversions – Yes, with so much competition, it's important that your home stands out from the crowd, but following today's trends could cost you big tomorrow. Right now, space for a home office or a recreation room might be trendy, but converting a den or your garage into one can be a costly mistake. A good real estate agent can achieve the same effect by defining a space through staging. If you want to upgrade your garage, a new door is much cheaper and adds valuable curb appeal.
by
Lisa Warren
Southlake Branch Manager
Silver Oak Mortgage
Phone: (817) 410-2518
Fax: (817) 410-2519
lwarren@somlp.com
www.silveroakmortgagelp.com
Saturday, November 22, 2008
DATES TO REMEMBER
Holiday Happenings in the area.....
Nov. 14 - Jan. 3 - ICE! and Lone Star Christmas (Grapevine)
Nov. 22 - Jan. 4 - The Trains at North Park (Dallas)
Nov. 28 - Jan. 4 - Holiday in the Park (Six Flags in Arlington)
Saturday, Nov. 22 - 3:00 to 9:00 pm
Home For the Holidays (Southlake Town Square)
Tree lighting at 6:30 pm
Saturday, Nov. 22 - 24 - www.SouthlakeFestivalofTrees.com
Friday, Nov. 28 - FW Sundance Square
2:00 to 5:30 pm - Holiday Fun Zone
6:00 to 8:00 pm - Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting
Nov. 29 - Dec. 21 - Snowflakes, Sugarplums, and SANTA! (Fort Worth)
Saturday, Nov. 29 - 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Hurst Annual Tree Lighting Spectacular
Monday, Dec. 1 - 7:00 pm
Historic downtown Grapevine Carol of Lights
Thursday, Dec. 4 - 7:00 pm
Historic downtown Grapevine Parade of Lights
Friday, Dec. 5 - 6:00 to 9:30 pm
Holly Days at Keller Town Center
Saturday, Dec. 6 - 10:00 am
Neiman Marcus Adolphus Children’s Parade Dallas
Saturday, Dec. 6 - 4:00 to 8:00 pm
NRH Night of Holiday Magic at NRH20 Family Waterpark
Saturday, Dec. 6 - dusk
Twinkle Light Parade on Grapevine Lake
Happy Holidays!!!
Nov. 14 - Jan. 3 - ICE! and Lone Star Christmas (Grapevine)
Nov. 22 - Jan. 4 - The Trains at North Park (Dallas)
Nov. 28 - Jan. 4 - Holiday in the Park (Six Flags in Arlington)
Saturday, Nov. 22 - 3:00 to 9:00 pm
Home For the Holidays (Southlake Town Square)
Tree lighting at 6:30 pm
Saturday, Nov. 22 - 24 - www.SouthlakeFestivalofTrees.com
Friday, Nov. 28 - FW Sundance Square
2:00 to 5:30 pm - Holiday Fun Zone
6:00 to 8:00 pm - Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting
Nov. 29 - Dec. 21 - Snowflakes, Sugarplums, and SANTA! (Fort Worth)
Saturday, Nov. 29 - 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Hurst Annual Tree Lighting Spectacular
Monday, Dec. 1 - 7:00 pm
Historic downtown Grapevine Carol of Lights
Thursday, Dec. 4 - 7:00 pm
Historic downtown Grapevine Parade of Lights
Friday, Dec. 5 - 6:00 to 9:30 pm
Holly Days at Keller Town Center
Saturday, Dec. 6 - 10:00 am
Neiman Marcus Adolphus Children’s Parade Dallas
Saturday, Dec. 6 - 4:00 to 8:00 pm
NRH Night of Holiday Magic at NRH20 Family Waterpark
Saturday, Dec. 6 - dusk
Twinkle Light Parade on Grapevine Lake
Happy Holidays!!!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Foreclosure Prevention
The two secondary-mortgage-market companies are well aware of the market pain and are taking a number of steps to provide relief, particularly to prevent foreclosures.
Among other things, Freddie Mac is allowing lenders to modify their at-risk loans into 40-year, lower interest-rate mortgages and to reduce borrowers' burdens by permitting them to roll up to six months of missed payments into what amounts to an unsecured second loan. The two companies are also ramping up their staff and adjusting compensation so their internal structure better matches the size and complexity of the processing demand they face.
What’s more, to help facilitate short sales, Lockhart’s agency will be releasing a large-scale, streamlined, standardized process for expediting short sales, which he said will give lenders flexibility and tools like principal forbearance that they can’t easily use right now.
But Lockhart made it clear that the bulk of the problem isn’t with Fannie and Freddie loans, but debt in what the financial services industry calls private-label securities, the Wall Street loans, many of them subprime, that are held by investors all over the world.
The streamlined short sale process his agency will be announcing soon—he didn’t give a time line—could go a long way to focusing the minds of lenders on the problem. But ultimately the problem won’t go way until interest rates come down, buyers start streaming back into the market again, and prices firm up, he suggested.
—Robert Freedman
Realtor Magazine
The two secondary-mortgage-market companies are well aware of the market pain and are taking a number of steps to provide relief, particularly to prevent foreclosures.
Among other things, Freddie Mac is allowing lenders to modify their at-risk loans into 40-year, lower interest-rate mortgages and to reduce borrowers' burdens by permitting them to roll up to six months of missed payments into what amounts to an unsecured second loan. The two companies are also ramping up their staff and adjusting compensation so their internal structure better matches the size and complexity of the processing demand they face.
What’s more, to help facilitate short sales, Lockhart’s agency will be releasing a large-scale, streamlined, standardized process for expediting short sales, which he said will give lenders flexibility and tools like principal forbearance that they can’t easily use right now.
But Lockhart made it clear that the bulk of the problem isn’t with Fannie and Freddie loans, but debt in what the financial services industry calls private-label securities, the Wall Street loans, many of them subprime, that are held by investors all over the world.
The streamlined short sale process his agency will be announcing soon—he didn’t give a time line—could go a long way to focusing the minds of lenders on the problem. But ultimately the problem won’t go way until interest rates come down, buyers start streaming back into the market again, and prices firm up, he suggested.
—Robert Freedman
Realtor Magazine
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Mortgage Loans
URGENT!! Dont let the media spook you!! You do not have to have 20% down to obtain a home loan, we are financing people with a minimum of 3% down and even 0% down on special programs and areas. Right now is the perfect time to buy a home, it is the largest investment you and your family will make. if you do not own a home or are interested in moving to a new one please call us. We can find a program that will best suit your needs.
by:
Silver Oak Mortgage
Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Is My Money Really Safe?
Frank Answers to Your Tough Questions
When IndyMac bank failed this summer, the lines of nervous account holders trying to withdraw their money made headlines everywhere. But that was an anomaly.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) has taken over ten other banks this year without incident. If you are worried about the safety of your money – in banks or brokerages, such as Lehman Brothers, which filed for bankruptcy September 14 – or money you've paid your mortgage servicer for taxes or insurance, here are answers to your pressing questions.
YOUR BANKER
Should I worry about the safety of my bank accounts? In most instances, your money is insured by the FDIC, which is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, up to a limit of $100,000 at each bank. Add up all the accounts in your name at a bank, including checking, savings and money-market accounts as well as certificates of deposit. If your funds total more than $100,000, move the excess to another bank.
My spouse and I have a joint checking account, and each of us has individual savings accounts at the same bank. How much insurance does each of us have? Each co-owner of a joint account has $100,000 in insurance, and your individual accounts are each insured for $100,000, for a total of $400,000 in this example. If you want to shelter more cash, you can open revocable-trust or payable-on-death (POD) accounts for your spouse, children, grandchildren or siblings. Each beneficiary's account is insured up to $100,000. Or you can just move the excess cash to another bank.
My retirement-savings accounts are with my bank. What is the maximum coverage for them? Certain types of retirement accounts are covered by FDIC insurance, including IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs and Keogh plans. All deposits in these types of accounts are added together and insured up to $250,000 per person. If you have both a regular and a Roth IRA, the assets would be added together and insured up to $250,000.
I bank at a credit union. Is my money insured? Yes. The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), which was established by Congress and is backed by the U.S. government, insures individual accounts up to $100,000. As with FDIC insurance, a two-person joint account is insured up to $200,000.
Are my credit-union retirement accounts insured? Yes, the NCUSIF covers retirement accounts, too. The funds in traditional and Roth IRAs are added together and insured up to $250,000; Keogh accounts are insured separately up to $250,000. If you have both IRAs and a Keogh at your credit union, you can have a total of $500,000 in insured retirement assets.
I have a bank money-market account. Are those funds insured? Yes, but your money-market deposit account is lumped with all other accounts bearing your name, and together they are insured up to $100,000. Money that you keep in a money-market mutual fund is not insured. Unlike most mutual funds, however, the share price does not fluctuate -- it usually remains a constant $1. However, the Reserve Primary Fund, which holds securities issued by bankrupt Lehman Brothers, announced September 16 that its share price fell below $1.
If the FDIC takes over my bank, as it recently did with IndyMac Bank, how long will it take for me to have access to my money? IndyMac's depositors had continuous access to their funds through ATM and debit cards. After federal regulators seized the bank on a Friday, some customers did not have online or phone access for a weekend, but everyone had full access to all their insured money by Monday morning.
If the FDIC takes over my bank, will I lose all my uninsured funds? No. IndyMac account holders had access to 50% of their uninsured funds immediately. When Mutual of Omaha Bank took over First National Bank of Nevada and First Heritage Bank of Newport Beach, Cal., in July, depositors had immediate access to both insured and uninsured funds.
How can I check to see if all my money is insured? Both the FDIC's Web site and the National Credit Union Administration's site have a calculator that allows you to plug in all your accounts and the amounts deposited so you can find out whether any of your money is uninsured. Go to www.fdic.gov and click on the Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE), or go to www.ncua.gov and use its Share Insurance Estimator Report.
YOUR BROKER
What happens to my brokerage account if my firm goes bankrupt? Brokerage firms must follow strict rules about segregating customers' investments from the firm's money, so your accounts should remain intact even if the brokerage goes under and another firm takes over its business. For example, stocks, bonds and mutual funds are physically held by an independent depository, not the brokerage firm.
What if the firm misappropriated my assets? You have another layer of protection in case the firm hasn't followed all of the rules: The Securities Investor Protection Corp. (SIPC) covers stocks, bonds and other assets held at a brokerage firm that goes bust, and nearly every brokerage firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must be a member. "We get involved only when a firm has used up its capital and has misappropriated customers' securities," says Stephen Harbeck, president and chief executive of SIPC.
If a brokerage firm fails, SIPC first tries to transfer the investors' securities to another firm. If that doesn't work, it then attempts to rebuild the investors' portfolios, even buying new stocks or bonds to make up for any missing shares. If the investments aren't available, SIPC will give you cash based on their value when the brokerage failed.
How much does SIPC cover? SIPC first returns your share of the broker's remaining assets, then uses its own funds (up to $500,000 per account, including a $100,000 limit on cash) to buy the same shares that you originally owned.
What happens if I have more than $500,000 at that brokerage firm? The $500,000 limit applies only to the maximum amount of its own money SIPC will spend to make up for any missing securities, not the total amount of money you can get back. If the customers' assets remain largely intact at the brokerage firm, then you can get back a lot more than that SIPC limit, which is a key difference between how SIPC protects brokerage customers and how the FDIC covers bank depositors.
In the 38-year history of SIPC, only 349 people have not received the full value of their accounts from their share of the firm's assets plus SIPC coverage -- and most of those instances occurred three decades ago or more.
If an investor's losses exceed SIPC's limits, the difference is usually covered by the broker's supplemental insurance -- often provided by Lloyd's of London or a new firm called Capco, the Customer Asset Protection Co. Capco provides coverage above SIPC limits to 15 major brokerage firms, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Raymond James and Wachovia Securities.
Do I have access to my money after SIPC takes over? That's the most common problem. It tends to take from one week to two or three months to regain control of your account while SIPC sorts everything out. It can take even longer if the brokerage firm kept shoddy records or was involved in fraud. SIPC does not protect against market losses while your account is in limbo.
For more information about how SIPC works, and to make sure your brokerage firm is a member, go to the SIPC Web site.
YOUR LENDER
What if my mortgage lender or servicer goes belly up? The problem is the lender's, not yours. Continue paying your mortgage as before. During the bankruptcy process, your lender will transfer your loan file to a new owner or servicer, and both parties will notify you by letter. If you mistakenly send your payment to the old lender's address, you won't owe a late fee if you're within the federally mandated 60-day grace period after the transfer.
But what happens to my escrowed funds for taxes and insurance? The money belongs to you, held in trust, so it won't become part of the lender's bankruptcy assets. The new servicer will take over making tax and insurance payments from the account. As a backstop, review your monthly mortgage statement and the escrow account analysis that you should receive from the new servicer within 45 days of the transfer. If anything seems awry, call your lender or servicer, the property-tax office or your insurance company.
Article by Joan Goldwasser, Senior Reporter; Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor; Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate Editor. Reprinted with permission. All Contents © 2008 The Kiplinger Washington Editors
When IndyMac bank failed this summer, the lines of nervous account holders trying to withdraw their money made headlines everywhere. But that was an anomaly.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) has taken over ten other banks this year without incident. If you are worried about the safety of your money – in banks or brokerages, such as Lehman Brothers, which filed for bankruptcy September 14 – or money you've paid your mortgage servicer for taxes or insurance, here are answers to your pressing questions.
YOUR BANKER
Should I worry about the safety of my bank accounts? In most instances, your money is insured by the FDIC, which is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, up to a limit of $100,000 at each bank. Add up all the accounts in your name at a bank, including checking, savings and money-market accounts as well as certificates of deposit. If your funds total more than $100,000, move the excess to another bank.
My spouse and I have a joint checking account, and each of us has individual savings accounts at the same bank. How much insurance does each of us have? Each co-owner of a joint account has $100,000 in insurance, and your individual accounts are each insured for $100,000, for a total of $400,000 in this example. If you want to shelter more cash, you can open revocable-trust or payable-on-death (POD) accounts for your spouse, children, grandchildren or siblings. Each beneficiary's account is insured up to $100,000. Or you can just move the excess cash to another bank.
My retirement-savings accounts are with my bank. What is the maximum coverage for them? Certain types of retirement accounts are covered by FDIC insurance, including IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs and Keogh plans. All deposits in these types of accounts are added together and insured up to $250,000 per person. If you have both a regular and a Roth IRA, the assets would be added together and insured up to $250,000.
I bank at a credit union. Is my money insured? Yes. The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), which was established by Congress and is backed by the U.S. government, insures individual accounts up to $100,000. As with FDIC insurance, a two-person joint account is insured up to $200,000.
Are my credit-union retirement accounts insured? Yes, the NCUSIF covers retirement accounts, too. The funds in traditional and Roth IRAs are added together and insured up to $250,000; Keogh accounts are insured separately up to $250,000. If you have both IRAs and a Keogh at your credit union, you can have a total of $500,000 in insured retirement assets.
I have a bank money-market account. Are those funds insured? Yes, but your money-market deposit account is lumped with all other accounts bearing your name, and together they are insured up to $100,000. Money that you keep in a money-market mutual fund is not insured. Unlike most mutual funds, however, the share price does not fluctuate -- it usually remains a constant $1. However, the Reserve Primary Fund, which holds securities issued by bankrupt Lehman Brothers, announced September 16 that its share price fell below $1.
If the FDIC takes over my bank, as it recently did with IndyMac Bank, how long will it take for me to have access to my money? IndyMac's depositors had continuous access to their funds through ATM and debit cards. After federal regulators seized the bank on a Friday, some customers did not have online or phone access for a weekend, but everyone had full access to all their insured money by Monday morning.
If the FDIC takes over my bank, will I lose all my uninsured funds? No. IndyMac account holders had access to 50% of their uninsured funds immediately. When Mutual of Omaha Bank took over First National Bank of Nevada and First Heritage Bank of Newport Beach, Cal., in July, depositors had immediate access to both insured and uninsured funds.
How can I check to see if all my money is insured? Both the FDIC's Web site and the National Credit Union Administration's site have a calculator that allows you to plug in all your accounts and the amounts deposited so you can find out whether any of your money is uninsured. Go to www.fdic.gov and click on the Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE), or go to www.ncua.gov and use its Share Insurance Estimator Report.
YOUR BROKER
What happens to my brokerage account if my firm goes bankrupt? Brokerage firms must follow strict rules about segregating customers' investments from the firm's money, so your accounts should remain intact even if the brokerage goes under and another firm takes over its business. For example, stocks, bonds and mutual funds are physically held by an independent depository, not the brokerage firm.
What if the firm misappropriated my assets? You have another layer of protection in case the firm hasn't followed all of the rules: The Securities Investor Protection Corp. (SIPC) covers stocks, bonds and other assets held at a brokerage firm that goes bust, and nearly every brokerage firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must be a member. "We get involved only when a firm has used up its capital and has misappropriated customers' securities," says Stephen Harbeck, president and chief executive of SIPC.
If a brokerage firm fails, SIPC first tries to transfer the investors' securities to another firm. If that doesn't work, it then attempts to rebuild the investors' portfolios, even buying new stocks or bonds to make up for any missing shares. If the investments aren't available, SIPC will give you cash based on their value when the brokerage failed.
How much does SIPC cover? SIPC first returns your share of the broker's remaining assets, then uses its own funds (up to $500,000 per account, including a $100,000 limit on cash) to buy the same shares that you originally owned.
What happens if I have more than $500,000 at that brokerage firm? The $500,000 limit applies only to the maximum amount of its own money SIPC will spend to make up for any missing securities, not the total amount of money you can get back. If the customers' assets remain largely intact at the brokerage firm, then you can get back a lot more than that SIPC limit, which is a key difference between how SIPC protects brokerage customers and how the FDIC covers bank depositors.
In the 38-year history of SIPC, only 349 people have not received the full value of their accounts from their share of the firm's assets plus SIPC coverage -- and most of those instances occurred three decades ago or more.
If an investor's losses exceed SIPC's limits, the difference is usually covered by the broker's supplemental insurance -- often provided by Lloyd's of London or a new firm called Capco, the Customer Asset Protection Co. Capco provides coverage above SIPC limits to 15 major brokerage firms, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Raymond James and Wachovia Securities.
Do I have access to my money after SIPC takes over? That's the most common problem. It tends to take from one week to two or three months to regain control of your account while SIPC sorts everything out. It can take even longer if the brokerage firm kept shoddy records or was involved in fraud. SIPC does not protect against market losses while your account is in limbo.
For more information about how SIPC works, and to make sure your brokerage firm is a member, go to the SIPC Web site.
YOUR LENDER
What if my mortgage lender or servicer goes belly up? The problem is the lender's, not yours. Continue paying your mortgage as before. During the bankruptcy process, your lender will transfer your loan file to a new owner or servicer, and both parties will notify you by letter. If you mistakenly send your payment to the old lender's address, you won't owe a late fee if you're within the federally mandated 60-day grace period after the transfer.
But what happens to my escrowed funds for taxes and insurance? The money belongs to you, held in trust, so it won't become part of the lender's bankruptcy assets. The new servicer will take over making tax and insurance payments from the account. As a backstop, review your monthly mortgage statement and the escrow account analysis that you should receive from the new servicer within 45 days of the transfer. If anything seems awry, call your lender or servicer, the property-tax office or your insurance company.
Article by Joan Goldwasser, Senior Reporter; Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor; Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate Editor. Reprinted with permission. All Contents © 2008 The Kiplinger Washington Editors
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Real Estate Update
Rates Tick Up
In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.09% for the week ending September 25, 2008, up from the previous week when it averaged 5.78%. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.42%.
"Mortgage rates followed Treasury bond yields higher this week amid market uncertainty over the current state of the economy," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.
Mortgage Rates
Source: Realty Times
U.S. averages as of September 25, 2008:
30 yr. fixed: 6.09%
15 yr. fixed: 5.77%
1 yr. adj: 5.16%
And while up, interest rates for 30-year FRMs are still more than 0.5 percentage points below this year's peak of 6.63 percent set the week of July 24th.
Where Are Lenders Getting Credit Scores?
Consumers often mistakenly believe that mortgage lenders use only credit scores from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Fair Isaac's myfico.com to gauge creditworthiness. However, Consumer Reports recently found that lenders also use NextGen FICO scores, FICO Expansion Scores, and Industry Option FICO scores — which take car loans into consideration — as well as custom formulas. Given that these scoring models are not available to consumers, experts say that consumers should not rely solely on available credit scores to determine their likelihood of getting a loan. They would be wise to make timely bill payments, make more than the minimum payment, and hold down credit card balances.
Buyers Crave Green More Than Extra Space
Buyers of custom homes are increasingly interested in money-saving features like extra insulation and energy-efficient furnaces, rather than game rooms and space for in-laws, according to a Home Design Trend Survey by the American Institute of Architects. Sixty-eight percent of the survey's respondents said customers were requesting extra insulation in the attic compared with 56% a year ago. Two-thirds of respondents said green products such as tankless water heaters, double or triple-glazed windows, and sustainable flooring products such as bamboo or cork were gaining in popularity.
Only 8% of the survey's respondents said game rooms were increasingly popular among their customers, down from 23% last year.
Eight Ways To Help a Home Sell Faster
Simple fixes and staging practices can focus buyers' attention in the right places and keep them from getting sidetracked by personal items in the home.
Here are some staging suggestions from Deborah Ehrlich-Layne of Staging Plus in Tampa, Fla., Handyman Matters, and HGTV's The Stagers.
Eliminate countertop clutter. A countertop covered with small appliances and utensils looks crowded, not spacious.
Pack up the too-personal. Don't leave toiletries on the counter. Stash family photos.
Be prepared for snoops. Prospective buyers pull open drawers, look in closets and peek behind the shower curtain.
Make sure things work. Dripping faucets, burned-out light bulbs, and squeaking hinges detract from the home's appeal.
Think "white-glove clean." Mop, dust, vacuum, clean baseboards, wash windows. Make sure the house looks fresh and smells neutral.
Make sure the front door is clean and the hardware polished. Power-wash walkways.
Store furniture that makes rooms feel crowded.
Show every room for the kind of room it is. Maybe you've turned your formal dining room into a home office. Get rid of the desk and computer, and bring back the dining table and chairs.
Copyright 2008 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved
In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.09% for the week ending September 25, 2008, up from the previous week when it averaged 5.78%. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.42%.
"Mortgage rates followed Treasury bond yields higher this week amid market uncertainty over the current state of the economy," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.
Mortgage Rates
Source: Realty Times
U.S. averages as of September 25, 2008:
30 yr. fixed: 6.09%
15 yr. fixed: 5.77%
1 yr. adj: 5.16%
And while up, interest rates for 30-year FRMs are still more than 0.5 percentage points below this year's peak of 6.63 percent set the week of July 24th.
Where Are Lenders Getting Credit Scores?
Consumers often mistakenly believe that mortgage lenders use only credit scores from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Fair Isaac's myfico.com to gauge creditworthiness. However, Consumer Reports recently found that lenders also use NextGen FICO scores, FICO Expansion Scores, and Industry Option FICO scores — which take car loans into consideration — as well as custom formulas. Given that these scoring models are not available to consumers, experts say that consumers should not rely solely on available credit scores to determine their likelihood of getting a loan. They would be wise to make timely bill payments, make more than the minimum payment, and hold down credit card balances.
Buyers Crave Green More Than Extra Space
Buyers of custom homes are increasingly interested in money-saving features like extra insulation and energy-efficient furnaces, rather than game rooms and space for in-laws, according to a Home Design Trend Survey by the American Institute of Architects. Sixty-eight percent of the survey's respondents said customers were requesting extra insulation in the attic compared with 56% a year ago. Two-thirds of respondents said green products such as tankless water heaters, double or triple-glazed windows, and sustainable flooring products such as bamboo or cork were gaining in popularity.
Only 8% of the survey's respondents said game rooms were increasingly popular among their customers, down from 23% last year.
Eight Ways To Help a Home Sell Faster
Simple fixes and staging practices can focus buyers' attention in the right places and keep them from getting sidetracked by personal items in the home.
Here are some staging suggestions from Deborah Ehrlich-Layne of Staging Plus in Tampa, Fla., Handyman Matters, and HGTV's The Stagers.
Eliminate countertop clutter. A countertop covered with small appliances and utensils looks crowded, not spacious.
Pack up the too-personal. Don't leave toiletries on the counter. Stash family photos.
Be prepared for snoops. Prospective buyers pull open drawers, look in closets and peek behind the shower curtain.
Make sure things work. Dripping faucets, burned-out light bulbs, and squeaking hinges detract from the home's appeal.
Think "white-glove clean." Mop, dust, vacuum, clean baseboards, wash windows. Make sure the house looks fresh and smells neutral.
Make sure the front door is clean and the hardware polished. Power-wash walkways.
Store furniture that makes rooms feel crowded.
Show every room for the kind of room it is. Maybe you've turned your formal dining room into a home office. Get rid of the desk and computer, and bring back the dining table and chairs.
Copyright 2008 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
What's At Stake?
What's At Stake?
Pass the Emergency Economic Stability Act
A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT
Click Here:
http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/campaign/eesa/explanation
Pass the Emergency Economic Stability Act
A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT
Click Here:
http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/campaign/eesa/explanation
Duncanvulle Panthers Football Schedule 2008
Date Time Opponent Location Results
(W/L, Score)
Regular-Season
8/28 - @ Permian HS Shotwell Stadium L 22-28
9/5 - Garland HS Duncanville High School L 20-23
9/12 - North Mesquite HS Duncanville High School L 24-30
9/19 - @ Desoto HS TBA W 27-20
9/26 - Macarthur HS Duncanville High School W 31-21
10/3 7:30 PM @ Grand Prairie HS TBA -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall Record: 2 - 3 - 0
Winning Percentage: 40%
Home Record: 1 - 2 - 0
Away Record: 1 - 1 - 0
Points For: 124
Points Against: 122
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clickable Results - Statistics available for game
TBA - To Be Announced
- Notes
http://www.duncanvillefootball.com/schedules/default.asp?t=27092
(W/L, Score)
Regular-Season
8/28 - @ Permian HS Shotwell Stadium L 22-28
9/5 - Garland HS Duncanville High School L 20-23
9/12 - North Mesquite HS Duncanville High School L 24-30
9/19 - @ Desoto HS TBA W 27-20
9/26 - Macarthur HS Duncanville High School W 31-21
10/3 7:30 PM @ Grand Prairie HS TBA -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall Record: 2 - 3 - 0
Winning Percentage: 40%
Home Record: 1 - 2 - 0
Away Record: 1 - 1 - 0
Points For: 124
Points Against: 122
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clickable Results - Statistics available for game
TBA - To Be Announced
- Notes
http://www.duncanvillefootball.com/schedules/default.asp?t=27092
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Duncanville ISD Students Go Green
To students in Duncanville High School instructor Kevin Miles’s DECA class, Going Green means more than recycling a few cans. These marketing students are working in classroom research teams to collect and analyze information about real-world environmental issues. Through this learning engagement, students are discovering new information about:
· emission control and air quality,
· alternate chemical\pest control usage
· and recycling and energy saving techniques.
As part of this class, they hope to share their findings and create awareness throughout the student body. “They’re discovering the potential negative results that may occur in the future if these issues continue to be ignored by the public,” said Miles. “They have become motivated to share their new-found knowledge and make a difference in their community.”
Community experts are sharing their environmental expertise with DHS students. Michael Ladd of Integrated Resources Group and University of Texas at Arlington engineering professor Dr. Melanie Sattler worked together to conduct Duncanville ISD emissions testing. UTA Civil Engineering staff measured emissions from a school bus both before and after the installation of emission-reduction products, and recorded a 40 percent reduction in two types of pollutants.
Enrolled marketing students can earn dual credit upon the successful completion of this course. In addition to affecting their environment, these students are positively impacting their educational future. Said Kevin Miles, “We hope that we can make an impact beyond the walls of DHS and extend this world-changing opportunity to our local community.”
http://www3.duncanvilleisd.org/
· emission control and air quality,
· alternate chemical\pest control usage
· and recycling and energy saving techniques.
As part of this class, they hope to share their findings and create awareness throughout the student body. “They’re discovering the potential negative results that may occur in the future if these issues continue to be ignored by the public,” said Miles. “They have become motivated to share their new-found knowledge and make a difference in their community.”
Community experts are sharing their environmental expertise with DHS students. Michael Ladd of Integrated Resources Group and University of Texas at Arlington engineering professor Dr. Melanie Sattler worked together to conduct Duncanville ISD emissions testing. UTA Civil Engineering staff measured emissions from a school bus both before and after the installation of emission-reduction products, and recorded a 40 percent reduction in two types of pollutants.
Enrolled marketing students can earn dual credit upon the successful completion of this course. In addition to affecting their environment, these students are positively impacting their educational future. Said Kevin Miles, “We hope that we can make an impact beyond the walls of DHS and extend this world-changing opportunity to our local community.”
http://www3.duncanvilleisd.org/
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
National Night Out In Duncaville
Duncanville Prepares To Celebrate National Night Out Texas Style
National Night Out, an annual crime prevention event, for the first time in its 25-year history will be celebrated in October instead of August in an effort to avoid Texas’s extreme summer heat.
“National Night Out will be held October 7, 2008. This works out very well since October is recognized as National Crime Prevention month,” said Crime Prevention/ Community Relations Officer Doug Sisk.
The City of Duncanville will be participating in this year’s National Night Out activities and Officer Sisk encourages the community to get involved as well.
“Those neighborhood groups or homeowner’s associations that would like to participate in National Night Out and want public safety personnel or city representatives present, must register with the Duncanville Police Department Crime Prevention Office by September 29,” explained Officer Sisk.
Registration forms are available at www.duncanvillle.com/police by clicking on the National Night Out banner or in the Duncanville Police Department lobby. For more information, contact Officer Doug Sisk at (972) 780-5027 or dsisk@ci.duncanville.tx.us.
National Night Out, an annual crime prevention event, for the first time in its 25-year history will be celebrated in October instead of August in an effort to avoid Texas’s extreme summer heat.
“National Night Out will be held October 7, 2008. This works out very well since October is recognized as National Crime Prevention month,” said Crime Prevention/ Community Relations Officer Doug Sisk.
The City of Duncanville will be participating in this year’s National Night Out activities and Officer Sisk encourages the community to get involved as well.
“Those neighborhood groups or homeowner’s associations that would like to participate in National Night Out and want public safety personnel or city representatives present, must register with the Duncanville Police Department Crime Prevention Office by September 29,” explained Officer Sisk.
Registration forms are available at www.duncanvillle.com/police by clicking on the National Night Out banner or in the Duncanville Police Department lobby. For more information, contact Officer Doug Sisk at (972) 780-5027 or dsisk@ci.duncanville.tx.us.
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