Once the leaves have fallen, remove them and other debris from your home’s gutters; by hand, scraper or spatula. Then give the guttering a good hose rinse, so that winter’s rain and melting snow can drain. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into the house. One of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out. The average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall. To find the leaks, on a breezy day, walk around inside holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets. Then, buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or apply tacky rope caulk to those drafty spots. (more…)

search for : gutter, Clogged drains, recessed lighting, door sweeps

One of the least thought-of items that causes excess energy consumption is a poorly designed and installed duct system. The consumer’s guide from the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) says that unsealed ducts in attics and crawl spaces lose air and uninsulated ducts lose heat. Both waste energy and money. The solution is to get a professional to check your house for air leaks. But if plopping down several hundred dollars to find some air leaks doesn’t sound like a fun way to save money on heating, you can accomplish roughly the same results with a little time and a box of incense sticks. Light an incense stick and walk through the house, moving the stick near spots where the walls meet your floors, windows, doors and the ceiling, preferably on a windy day. (more…)

search for : excess energy consumption, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Major home remodeling jobs require more than just money and construction savvy. In most, if not all jurisdictions, homeowners must obtain a building permit, by law. Inspectors increasingly find that not every contractor or do-it-yourself homeowner applies for, and secures the necessary permit. This leaves the homeowner facing penalties for non-compliance with local building statutes.

Sometimes, the lack of a permit means that the contractor simply didn’t think the permit necessary for the size of the job. Other times, the contractor didn’t want the local building inspector poking around, keep an eye on the contractor’s workmanship. Or maybe the contractor wanted the job to be “under the radar”, maybe working for “cash”. For whatever reason, a building permit is good insurance for the homeowner as it requires that the local building inspector will oversee the quality and code compliance of the job.

search for : home remodeling, building permit, contractor, do-it-yourself homeowner

There are many factors to consider in selecting an agent in today’s real estate marketplace. One is that many of the agents working now entered the business recently. They’ve never seen a softer home-sale market before. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use an agent who doesn’t have decades of experience. But, it means you need to find an agent with a definite set of skills. Most sellers in this market want and need an agent that will provide an aggressive and broad-based marketing plan. However, some sellers may not be aware of how important it is to hire an agent who is an adept communicator. Today’s successful agents don’t stop selling when they find a buyer for your home. They manage the transaction carefully and skillfully until the sale closes. (more…)

Home buyers with the very best credit are beginning to have a more difficult time getting mortgages, raising concerns that the real estate market value could fall much further, sending home values spiraling lower and toppling the country’s economy into recession. The drop in home values could cost the typical homeowner as much as $200,000 in lost wealth for some high-end residences. While most of the attention during the housing slump has been directed at subprime mortgages given to those with weak credit histories in high-cost regions have a different problem. Prime borrowers with excellent credit who’ve used subprime-style gimmicks in combination with jumbo loans to overpay for their homes are also effected. (more…)

search for : Home buyers, drop in home values, subprime mortgage

Oil prices have hit a record high as the price of a barrel came within touching distance of $100. This is a level never before seen during a regular trading session on the New York Mercantile Exchange The record prices are starting to torture consumers with questions of when and how the oil rally will impact spending on gasoline at the pump and home heating oil as the winter season approaches. Underpinning the rise was fresh supply fears and concerns over the weakness of the US dollar and a downgrading of expansion expectations in the States. Prices could continue to surge through the milestone barrier if US figures show stockpiles are lower than expected. Many analysts see heating oil supply levels as a problem to keep a close watch on.
“Each winter for the last five years or so, we’ve continued to operate without a safety net in so far as heating oil goes, and this year is not an exception,” said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service. (more…)

search for : Oil prices, home heating oil

Do you need to add or upgrade your attic insulation. Determining such is relatively easy. Take a trip up into the attic with a flashlight and a tape measure. Check the level of the insulation by probing down with your tape measure until the end of the tape touches the ceiling . Then, try to probe the insulation in several different areas so you’re sure that you have a good, accurate average of the insulation’s depth across a reasonable area of the attic. There is no perfect insulation for your attic. Much of your choice will come down to what’s existing and whether or not you want to do the work yourself. If you want to do your own work, you basically have two options: batts (fiberglass or mineral wool) or blown-in cellulose. Batt insulation comes in rolls of standard widths that are designed to fit between the ceiling joists. (more…)

search for : attic insulation, batts, blown-in cellulose

$5,850,000

MLS Number: 50913

City: Valle Crucis, NC
Stories: 2
Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 4.5
Area: Boone-Blowing Rock, NC
Year Built: 1990
Plus Five fully furnished 1,400 sq. ft. Rental Cottages. Each built in 1996 on approx. 1/2 acre sites. Current cottage average annual rental income $150,000.

39.4 acres with 360 degree view of Blue Ridge Mountains.

5,200 sq. ft. main house built in 1990 on 1.24 acres.

No restrictions and no zoning offer many other options:

* Family compound
* Corporate retreat
* Religous retreat
* Horse farm / Dude ranch
* Recording studio
* Cottages can be sold separately
* Land can be further subdivided if desired

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

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search for : Valle Crucis, NC, Blowing Rock, NC, Blue Ridge Mountains

When homeowner associations are formed, Roberts Rules Of Order is most often named for the basis of decision making and maintaining decorum throughout the meetings. The system provides an efficient way to get business done in a civil and logical manner. However, parliamentary procedure is based on the democratic notion of “majority rules.” As an individual, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Americans have come to think this is the best option. While the system works pretty well, there is another process for decision making called “Formal Consensus” which is generally understood to mean that all parties agree to a proposal or the proposal fails. (more…)

Few homeowners in the cooler regions of the United States think much about air conditioning during the fall and winter. Depending on where you live, your heat may already be on for the season and you have raided your closet for warmer clothes. But, if your house doesn’t have central air, or if the system you have is older than 15 years, you might consider contracting for an AC installation or upgrade this winter. Not only will it automatically raise the value of your property, but you’ll probably be able to negotiate a hefty discount. Winter is a slow time for HVAC contractors. Typically, homeowners can realize a 10 percent and sometimes as much as 20 percent savings by scheduling a winter-time installation. That’s a savings of up to $3,000 on the $6,000 to $15,000 central AC costs. And, modern day, energy efficient HVAC systems have the ability to cut your energy bills in half. (more…)

search for : central air, HVAC contractor

Small claims court is not for everyone — or every situation. The maximum award possible varies widely by state and jurisdiction. In California, it can be as high as $7,500, while in Massachusetts the usual limit is a mere $2,000. Exceptions to the rule based on type of claim and parties involved should be noted. There is also a statute of limitations or time limit in which claims can be filed. To access the small claims court in your state, type “small claims” and the name of the state into any Internet search engine. Most have links to local courts as well. If the type of case and dollar amount is in line with your situation and the case seems viable, the next step is to organize and evaluate the strength of your case. (more…)

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Chainsaws, like any cutting tool, are dangerous if not handled properly. That doesn’t mean you need to be afraid to use one, just that you need to exercise caution and common sense whether your are male or female. Chainsaws have an exposed cutting chain with highly aggressive teeth, and their length and weight can throw an operator off balance. Cutting often takes place in wooded areas or other areas with unstable footing, adding to the danger. The other thing about chainsaws is the unpredictability of the material that you’re cutting. Limbs can twist and bind the chain; trees can tip or fall in a direction you don’t intend; and the saw can occasionally kick back. (more…)

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Experts now agree that a lot of mortgages shouldn’t have been made in recent years. It was foolish for lenders and homeowners to bet housing prices would keep rising. But allowing millions of foreclosures to punish the imprudent isn’t smart. It’ll damage entire neighborhoods. “It’s not like ‘repo-ing’ cars, where you can move them around,” says Richard Syron, chairman and chief executive of mortgage giant Freddie Mac. An empty house loses 20% of its value in six months, he says. Even worse, the larger economy is at risk. Cue Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke: “A sharp increase in foreclosed properties for sale could weaken the already struggling housing market and thus, potentially, the broader economy.” (more…)

search for : foreclosures

Beautiful Wilkes County NC Timber Frame Home and Mountain Property.

MLS Number: 51166, List Price: $898,500

2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2 half baths, 2 car attached garage, full basement, and a barn on 5 acres of land.

These terms are used to describe thousands of homes and yet some things just can’t be described, they have to be experienced. This is one of those homes that really has to be seen to be appreciated.

This majestic Timber Frame home of the Bob Timberlake genre is not just another house, it provides a feeling of home that is not about walls and floors and windows and doors. It creates a feeling of the flow between your outdoor and your indoor environment that is seamless. Everywhere you look there is a view. Everything you touch feels natural and beautiful in a way that cannot be described, only owned.

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

click here for more information

The ugliness in today’s housing market is claiming a new class of victims — customers of insolvent home builders. What a builder’s troubles mean for its customers can vary depending on factors such as state law, contract terms and how long it takes to get the project back on track. In some cases, buyers may lose all or part of their deposit or wait a year or more for their house to be completed or the builder’s financial troubles to be sorted out. Homeowners who’ve already moved into a new development can find themselves living near a half-finished house where work has been halted. (more…)

search for : customers of insolvent home builders

Major mortgage lenders have made it tougher for all types of customers to get loans over the past three months, according to the Federal Reserve’s quarterly survey of bank lending officers. This summer’s credit squeeze prompted an unprecedented tightening in lending standards at major banks. As credit standards toughened, demand for loans also fell, the Fed reported Nov. 5, providing some fresh details on the fallout from the credit crunch. Residential mortgages were harder to get than at any time in the 17-year history of the Fed’s survey of banks’ senior loan officers, the Fed said. The survey covers 52 domestic banks and 22 foreign banks, which together account for a majority of bank lending in the country. (more…)

search for : mortgage lenders, tightening in lending standards

Fair market value is generally what a buyer is willing to pay for a property whose owner is not selling under duress. This is real estate’s version of that time-honored trading axiom, “what the market will bear.” Factors such as market demand, a home’s condition and “location, location, location” do play large roles in determining fair market value in residential real estate. Most real estate agents can calculate a reasonably accurate price based on “comps,” short for a comparative market analysis. You can create your own “comps” based on information from your local property tax office and perusal of Internet and newspaper sale ads, but this strategy probably won’t give you as accurate a picture as actual recent neighborhood sales in your price and size range. (more…)

search for : Fair market value, comparative market analysis

Contractors generally agree that cost-per-square-foot is a terrible way to budget for a home, because there are so many variables involved. Do you insist on top-of-the-line cabinets and appliances for your gourmet kitchen, or will mid-range ones do? Are you planning to side the house with cheap vinyl or expensive stone brick? Is the house going to be one story, or two? (The latter is generally cheaper because the foundation is smaller.) Will you have simple, rectangular rooms that minimize the materials and the labor required for framing, or unusual shapes like octagons with vaulted ceilings? (more…)

search for : cost-per-square-foot, ourmet kitchen

The National Association of Homebuilders, a trade group whose members build about 80% of the country’s new homes each year, say the Green Building Council’s criteria for a “green” label are too impractical and costly. They are developing their own standards, which they say are flexible depending on the region and include easier-to-achieve green home certification in order to appeal to first-time buyers. A new draft will be available for public comment next month, and the standards should be finalized by February.

(more…)

search for : National Association of Homebuilders, Green Building Council, green home certification

When you purchased your home, you should have been given a small map, typically just a photocopy of one portion of a larger map, that showed the size of your lot. Known as a plat map, it typically shows the length of each side of your lot, the name of the streets that border it, the tax lot number, and perhaps the legal description. If you were not given a map, or if you no longer know what became of it, you’ll want to obtain a new one. Most title companies can provide you with one, or you can get one through your city or county assessor’s or surveyor’s office — it’s something you really should have a copy of for your records. (more…)

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Beautiful Wilkes County NC Log Home and Mountain Property.

MLS Number: 50863, List Price: $359,900

Bedrooms: 3, Full Baths: 2, Half Baths: 0, Est Total SqFt: 2600, Type/Style: Log Home, Area: Area 6, Middle School: Cntrl Wlks, High School: Wlks Cntrl, Construction: Log

Foundation: Combination, Roof: Metal Roof, Floors: Carpet/Hardwood/Tile, Garage/Carport: None-Garage, None-Carport, Interior Features: Master Bedroom, Main Level, Large Master Bedroom, Walk-In Closet(s), Hardwood Floors, Fireplace(s), Great Room, Exterior Features: Double Pane Windows, Wooded Lot, 1-5 Acres, Hot Tub, Subdivision: N/A, Lot Size: 2.47, Apx SqFt: 2600 – 2800 SF, Basement: None

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

click here for more information

It would be emotionally draining to have your home on the market for more than 10 months. But it probably wouldn’t be a financial disaster, so long as you’re still in the house and you can comfortably cover the mortgage. However, maybe you have an adjustable rate loan that’s no longer affordable. Maybe you’re trying to sell a vacation home. Maybe you moved cross-country for a new job, but your old house still hasn’t sold. Sellers are sometimes loath to cut their asking price, which is the reason prices have barely budged. People focus on what their home was worth two years ago, or how much they’ve sunk into it, or on their desire not to bring a check to the closing,” notes financial adviser Bert Whitehead, author of “Why Smart People Do Stupid Things With Money.”

(more…)

search for : adjustable rate loan, sell a vacation home

The NIMBY movement is a force to be reckoned with. Not Republican nor Democrat, not much more liberal than moderate or conservative, and with no single staunch geographic base, the NIMBY (the acronym for the controversial “not-in-my-backyard” movement) crowd is comprised of people from all walks of life who have a common goal — to send virtually all developers packing. Apparently, when all is said and done, the sentiment is largely bottom-line oriented. NIMBYs have been criticized as an I’ve-got-mine gang of elites, but the 2007 Saint Index found that 78 percent of Americans want to zero out all new development in their hometown. That’s up from 73 percent last year. What’s more, one in four say they actually took part in some action against a project.

(more…)

search for : NIMBY, not-in-my-backyard

Many homeowners are expressing outrage to subprime mortgage bailouts, whether they involved tax dollars or not, after Countrywide announced good deals for bad loans. Countrywide said it will refinance or restructure loans or reduce interest for hybrid ARM borrowers whose rates are scheduled to reset. And no one will have to pony up prepayment penalties for retiring loans early. Countrywide then announced it will rework loans, prime and subprime alike, for any troubled borrower, adjusting payments to reflect what individuals can afford. The company will administer the program with non-profit community advocate, the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA). Some troubled borrowers will escape with refinanced loans as low as 5.25 percent. Why should help be given, and possible taxpayer money spent, to home owners in trouble? (more…)

search for : subprime mortgage bailout, restructure loan

According to a report released Thursday, foreclosure filings climbed during the third quarter of 2007 with no relief in sight. RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosure properties, filed a report showing that the number of filings rose 30 percent from the previous quarter and nearly doubled from a year earlier. With the number of loans due to reset through the middle of 2008, and the continuing weakness in home sales, experts are expecting foreclosure activity to remain high and even increase over the next year in many markets.

(more…)

search for : foreclosure filings, foreclosure properties, foreclosure activity

Lightning safety experts, endorsing common sense, have long advised that indoors is the safest place to be during an electrical storm. The National Weather Service recently adopted the slogan, “When thunder roars, go indoors.” But the spread of high-tech devices, including laptops and videogames, means there are new ways in which people can suffer injuries or property losses, even in the relative safety of their homes. A division of Sony Corp., Sony Computer Entertainment America, the maker of PlayStation products, says it hadn’t heard of incidents like this and says its devices come with safety instructions about lightning. Activision Inc., which makes the Guitar Hero game, advocates staying off electronics during storms. (more…)

This one-of-a-kind lakefront lot is truly unique within the Malone Bay community. It is one of the most desirable, if not the most desirable lot among the few remaining properties with waterfront access to W. Kerr Scott Lake.

Malone Bay features 18 lots at W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir. 14 are Lakefront and meet private dock requirements. This is a gated community with Lots ranging from 2.3+- acres to 6.8+- acres On the Hwy 421 side of the lake just off South Minton Road, Wilkesboro, NC 28697

Main Channel Views.
300 feet of waterfront.
Dock with boat slip and 2 jet ski slips.

2.86 acres.

MLS Number: 51155
List Price: $359,000
Lot Size: 2.86 ac.
Apx Acreage: 2.86
Type: Waterfront
Area: Area 2
Suitable Use: Residential

Topography: Rolling
Utilities: Underground Utilities
Road Frontage: Private Road
Restrictions: yes
Water/Sewer: Public Water
Miscellaneous: 1-5 Acres
Location: Malone Way

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search for : Malone Bay, W. Kerr Scott Lake, W. Kerr Scott Dam

Do you need to restore some of the natural color and texture of the original brickwork surrounding your fireplace opening? Chemical stripping doesn’t work very well. The alternative is sandblasting. Most homeowners are ill equipped to take on a sandblasting job, especially an inside one. The preparation is intense and the cleanup of sand and leavings will be significant. Also, a deft touch with the wand is necessary to avoid gouging out too much mortar while trying to get rid of the paint. It’s a job better left to the pros. To find someone to tackle the job, you might check the Yellow Pages. Call several blasters to see if they can do the job and get references. As an alternative, you might want to consider another alternative to sandblasting such as refacing with brick. It would be a lot less messy than sandblasting; you could choose the look you want; and it’s definitely a do-it-yourself project. (more…)

search for : Chemical stripping, sandblasting