Before Lighting:
• Trim the wick to ¼ inch each time before burning.
• Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use.
• Burn candles in a well-ventilated room.
• Place the candleholder on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
• Keep the wax pool clear of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.
• Avoid drafts, vents or air currents.

During Lighting:
• Never touch or move a burning candle.
• Don’t burn a candle all the way down.
• Extinguish a candle if the flame becomes too high or flickers repeatedly.
• Always keep the candle within your sight.

When Extinguishing:
• Use a candle snuffer to extinguish a candle.
• Never use water to extinguish a candle.
• Make sure the candle is completely out and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
• Don’t touch or move the candle until it has completely cooled.

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The remodeling of older homes in Lower Merion  is shaping up to be the next big trend in green building. Dr. David Crowe, Chief Economist of the National Association of Home Builders, predicts U.S. home remodeling expenditures will increase by at least 20 percent by the end of 2011.

Crowe says, “Due to the housing market, homeowners will choose to stay in their homes and invest in updates rather than upgrade by moving.”

That trend apparently is fueling another development in the remodeling industry—the increasing number of products being targeted to the do-it-yourselfer, says Dan Kahn of Floors to Your Home. “With products, such as flooring, becoming more technologically advanced and accessible to the homeowner, remodeling is easier and more cost effective,” he says.

“Due to the economy, homeowners are choosing to add on to their existing homes and manufacturers are helping them with these products that are much easier to install than they were in the past,” Kahn says. “Manufacturers are creating products specifically with the do-it-yourselfer in mind.”

He also said that remodeling is popular because “small updates to the home can dramatically change the look and feel of a home, while boosting its value. For example, laminate flooring can make a home look more modern—at a much cheaper rate than a major renovation.”

Real estate statistics also show that homes with hardwood flooring—real or not—often get a higher price than those with carpet. In an effort to make the house more “sellable,” homeowners are opting to make those smaller renovations before selling.

Studies show that in the next five years, the focus of remodeling spending will shift from upper-end discretionary projects to replacements and systems upgrades. Kahn says, “Homeowners should look to do-it-yourself projects, such as laying a floating floor that can go above their existing floor. This way they can still refinish their home, but do it in such a way that it will be cost effective.”

For more information, visit www.floorstoyourhome.com.

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Mortgage rates fell once again, to the lowest point on record, according to mortgage rate research website, ForTheBestRate.com. Rates for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage were advertised as low as 3.875% (APR: 4.040%, Lender: LoanDepot) on Thursday, September 8th. Pricing this low for residential home loans is unprecedented, and while it reflects the weakness of the US and global economy, represents a huge opportunity for home buyers and current mortgage holders.

The record setting drop was confirmed in the weekly mortgage survey released September 8 by Freddie Mac, a government sponsored enterprise that purchases residential mortgage loans in the secondary market. The report showed that the average 30 year fixed rate mortgage was down to 4.12% (0.7% points), the lowest point since Freddie Mac began keeping records four decades ago. 15 year fixed rate pricing also fell to an average of 3.33% (0.6 points) from 3.39% (0.6 points) the week prior. 5 year arm rates held steady averaging 2.96% (0.6 points).

Below is a snapshot of mortgage rates for a variety of products listed on ForTheBestRate.com on 9/8/2011. Rates are subject to change. Please visit the site to view the criteria used in the survey.

Now is the time to buy a home in Lower Merion, call Rachel Levin today!

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In some residential areas, a monitored home security system may be more a necessity than a luxury. But such systems can be expensive, concedes security advisor Bill Wilson, whose career has spanned the gamut from increasing protection from unwanted entry into residences, retail businesses and commercial buildings.

“Professional alarm systems and closed circuit TV are the surest way to increase any building security,” Wilson says. “But there are quick fixes homeowners can choose to lessen the chances of home intrusion.”

Wilson offers five inexpensive ways to increase home security:

1. Improve the lighting – Turn on garden and porch lights every evening, and install extra lights on a timer near all entry points and walkways—enough light to make any would-be burglar feel exposed. When you are away, a timer on several interior lamps can mask the fact that the home is unoccupied.
2. Trim the trees – Tree limbs near the roof can be an invitation to an intruder. Keep trees and shrubbery well-trimmed all around the house.
3. Check the locks – A good deadbolt is better protection from unwanted entry than a simple door handle lock. Also, if your sliding glass doors do not have built-in locks, cut wood or metal rods to size and drop them in the tracks to prevent the doors from opening more than an inch.
4. Don’t tempt fate – Protect small valuables such as cash or jewelry by storing them in a home safe. Don’t display expensive electronics near the windows. When you unpack newly purchased equipment, don’t advertise it at the curb. Cut up the packing boxes and put them into a trash container or drop them at a recycling center.
5. Look for inexpensive alarm protection –Any tripped alarm will deter a would-be intruder. If you can’t afford a monitored system, look for an economical unmonitored system or check local papers and online ads for used alarm system components.

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Renters now spend five percent more of their household budgets on housing costs than do homeowners, and the difference is growing as rents rise.

Since 2005, homeowners’ expenditures for housing have risen from 31.9 percent of their household budget to 33.2 percent, but renters’ costs have risen even more, from 35.6 percent to 38.4 percent, according to the October CoreLogic U.S. Housing and Mortgage Trends.

Since 1985, homeowners have increased their housing expenditure allocation by 12 percent, while renters increased by 22 percent.

As consumers allocate more of their expenditures toward housing, they have less money to spend on non-housing consumption. The largest decline in a household’s budget occurred in transportation expenditures which fell by 17 percent and 22 percent since 1985 for homeowners and renters, respectively, CoreLogic said.

The increased spending allocation for housing, which is largely due to the stagnation of incomes among Americans of home buying age beginning in the 1990s, has actually contributed to the decrease in homeownership by making buying a home more difficult.

Demographics have also contributed to the decline in homeownership. For the 25 to 34 age group, the homeownership rate fell from 51.6 percent in 1980 to 42.0 percent in 2010. For 35 to 44 year olds, homeownership rates fell from 71.2 percent to 62.3 percent over the same time period.

The CoreLogic report also found that a significant number of foreclosures are remaining on the market for as long as four years or more. One out of five REO foreclosures (21 percent) are taking more than a year to sell. Nearly 10 percent, or 23,200 properties that were auctioned in 2006, remained in REO as of Q2 2010. In other words, these properties have been in REO continuously since 2006.

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Bring in an air conditioning contractor each spring to tune it up. Change filters, lubricate all moving parts, check refrigerant levels, clean the condenser and optimize the settings. This will prolong the system’s life and maximize its efficiency. Remember to replace the filters every two – three months when the system is operating.

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