Inventory and Interest Rates Should Inspire Action Among Sellers and Buyers This Fall
OCTOBER 2011
The robo-signing scandal that rocked the real estate industry at the end of 2010 was one more black mark on the U.S. housing market. But in retrospect, it may wind up being the best thing that happened to home sellers this year.
That's because the resulting foreclosure moratorium kept hundreds of thousands of bank-owned properties off the market (thousands in the Chicago area alone) allowing inventories to fall throughout the year and alleviating some of the downward pressure on prices. In fact, a common, though somewhat unexpected, complaint from homebuyers in certain neighborhoods this year was that there just weren't that many quality choices.
However, it now appears that the nation's largest banks have addressed their processing problems, and the foreclosure market is ramping up again. According to Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac, default notices rose 33% from July to August and were at their highest level in nine months. The 33% jump was the biggest single-month increase in default notices in four years.
The silver lining for sellers is that the increase in bank activity is focused on the early stages of foreclosures. Bank repossessions were actually down in August according to RealtyTrac. So there may be some time before this new wave of foreclosures works its way into the resale market.
Still with storm clouds potentially gathering, right now could be the best opportunity for the foreseeable future for sellers to make a deal. In the city of Chicago, Months Supply of Inventory (MSI) registered 7.4 months for September, its lowest level in more than two years. And more buyers can afford your home with 30-year conforming mortgage rates at a mouth-watering 4%. While sales rates typically slow in the fall and winter causing MSI to rise, the looming foreclosure inventory could throw off the curve and lead to an oversupply in certain markets next spring. Therefore, our advice to sellers this fall is to get your home in tip-top shape, price it in line with the market, and allow @properties' comprehensive marketing programs to generate maximum exposure.
A note to buyers: We have gotten so used to low mortgage interest rates that the 4% rates we're seeing today barely make headlines. Rates actually dipped as low as 3.75% late last month, and sub-4 rates have been popping up now and again into early October. Don't get caught napping. Today's rates are a huge deal, especially when coupled with lower home prices. Meanwhile, apartment rents continue to shoot up. Class A rents downtown are up over 15% during the last two years, and are expected to climb even higher. Whatever the future holds for home prices, the day-to-day economics of own vs. rent are looking more and more attractive to buyers.
Remember, you don't have to be buying or selling a home today to contact me with questions about the real estate market. I'm available to talk anytime, and I always welcome your referrals.
Dave Straub
@properties
773.255.3180
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Fall and Winter Home Maintenance Checklist
15 things for you (or the handyman) to tackle before winter sets in.
By Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Read more: http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/fall-winter-home-maintenance-checklist.html#ixzz1aPW8kQ9Z
Become a Fan of Kiplinger's on Facebook
Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to prepare your home for cold weather. These steps, most of which you can do yourself, will lower your utility bills and protect your investment
Read more: http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/fall-winter-home-maintenance-checklist.html#ixzz1aPW3iYbE
Become a Fan of Kiplinger's on Facebook
1. Tune up your heating system.For about $80 to $100, a technician will inspect your furnace or heat pump to be sure the system is clean and in good repair, and that it can achieve its manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection also measures carbon-monoxide leakage.
If you act soon, you’ll minimize the chance of being 200th in line for repairs on the coldest day of the year. Look for a heating and air-conditioning contractor that belongs to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and employs technicians certified by the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) program. The contractor should follow the protocol for ACCA’s "national standard for residential maintenance" (or the QM, short for “quality maintenance").
2. Reverse your ceiling fans. If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to run the fan’s blades in a clockwise direction after you turn on your heat. Energy Star says the fan will produce an updraft and push down into the room heated air from the ceiling (remember, hot air rises). This is especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings -- and it might even allow you to turn down your thermostat by a degree or two for greater energy savings.
3. Prevent ice dams.If your home had lots of icicles last winter -- or worse, ice dams, which can cause meltwater to back up and flow into your house -- take steps to prevent potential damage this year. A home-energy auditor or weatherization contractor can identify and fix air leaks and inadequate insulation in your home’s attic that can lead to ice dams. If you have the work done before December 31, 2011, you can claim the federal energy-efficiency tax credit for 10% of the cost (excluding installation), up to $500. Your state or utility may offer a rebate, too.
4. Hit the roof.Or at least scan it closely with binoculars. Look for damaged, loose or missing shingles that may leak during winter’s storms or from melting snow. If need be, hire a handyman to repair a few shingles ($95 to $1275, according to www.costhelper.com) or a roofer for a larger section ($100 to $350 for a 100-square-foot area). Check and repair breaks in the flashing seals around vent stacks and chimneys, too.
If your roof is flat and surfaced with asphalt and pebbles, as many are in the Southwest, rake or blow off fall leaves and pine needles, which hold moisture, says Bill Richardson, past president of the American Society of Home Inspectors, in Albuquerque. (Don’t sweep aside the pebbles; that will expose the asphalt to damaging sunlight.)
5. Caulk around windows and doors. Richardson says that if the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to reapply exterior caulk. (Check the joints in window and door frames, too.) Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements. Try GE’s Silicone II Window and Door product, which is “rain ready” in three hours ($6 at Home Depot). Check window-glazing putty, too (which seals glass into the window frame). Add weatherstripping as needed around doors, making sure you cannot see any daylight from inside your home.
6. Clean the gutters. If your gutters are full of detritus, water can back up against the house and damage roofing, siding and wood trim -- plus cause leaks and ice dams. You’ll typically pay $70 to $225 to clean gutters on a single-story house, depending on its size. Also look for missing or damaged gutters and fascia boards and repair them.
7. Divert water. Add extensions to downspouts so that water runs at least 3 to 4 feet away from the foundation, says David Lupberger, home-improvement expert for ServiceMagic, which connects consumers with service providers. For example, HomeDepot.com sells Amerimax Flex-a-Spout extension (which extends 25 to 55 inches) for $9.
8. Turn off exterior faucets. Undrained water in pipes can freeze, which will cause pipes to burst as the ice expands. Start by disconnecting all garden hoses and draining the water that remains in faucets. If you don’t have frost-proof faucets (homes more than ten to 15 years old typically do not), turn off the shut-off valve inside your home.
9. Drain your lawn-irrigation system. But call in a professional to do the job. Your sprinkler service will charge $75 to $150, depending on the size of the system. Draining sprinkler-system pipes, as with spigots, will help avoid freezing and leaks.
10. Mulch leaves when you mow. Mow your leaves instead of raking them, say studies at the University of Michigan and Purdue. The trick is to cut the leaves, while dry, into dime-sized pieces that will fall among the grass blades, where they will decompose and nourish your lawn over the winter. Use your lawn mower without its bag, and optionally swap the cutting blade for a mulching blade (about $15 to $20). The process may take several passes. For more information, see "Turn Over a New Leaf/Mulching Leaves in Place."
11. Prepare to stow your mower. As the mower sits through the winter, fuel remaining in its engine will decompose, "varnishing" the carburetor and causing difficulty when you try to start the engine in the spring. John Deere offers these preventive steps: If you've added stabilizer to your fuel to keep it fresh longer, then fill the gas tank to the top with more stabilized fuel and run the engine briefly to allow it to circulate. If not, wait until the tank is nearly empty from use and run the engine (outdoors) to use up the remaining fuel. Check your mower's manual for other cold-weather storage steps.
12. Don't prune trees or shrubs until late-winter. You may be tempted to get out the pruning shears after the leaves fall, when you can first see the underlying structure of the plant. But horticulturalists advise waiting to prune until late winter for most plants, when they've been long dormant and just before spring growth begins. To get advice specific to your plants and region, consult master gardeners at local nurseries or horticulturalists with your state university's cooperation extension department. One exception: You may need to hire an arborist to remove deadfall or trim limbs close to your home or power lines that could cause problems in a winter storm.
13. Test your sump pump. Slowly pour several gallons of water into the sump pit to see whether the pump turns on. You should do this every few months, but especially after a long dry season or before a rainy one. For more complete instructions for testing and maintenance, check your owner’s manual. Most sump pumps last about ten years, according to Chubb Personal Insurance.
14. Call a chimney sweep. Before you burn the Yule log, make sure your fireplace (or any heating appliance burning gas, oil, wood or coal), chimney and vents are clean and in good repair. That will prevent chimney fires and prevent carbon monoxide from creeping into your home. Search for a sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. You can expect to pay $50 to $90 for an inspection to see if you need a cleaning, and $100 to $300 for the cleaning, according to www.costowl.com.
15. Avoid the rush. Don’t wait for the first winter storm to restock cold-weather essentials, such as salt or ice melt. If you can’t abide a snowblower’s roar or the back-breaking workout of shoveling, check out the Sno Wovel, a wheeled shovel that does much of the heavy-lifting for you ($150; go to www.wovel.com to locate retailers or Amazon.com to buy it online).
By Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
15 things for you (or the handyman) to tackle before winter sets in.
By Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Read more: http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/fall-winter-home-maintenance-checklist.html#ixzz1aPW8kQ9Z
Become a Fan of Kiplinger's on Facebook
Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to prepare your home for cold weather. These steps, most of which you can do yourself, will lower your utility bills and protect your investment
Read more: http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/fall-winter-home-maintenance-checklist.html#ixzz1aPW3iYbE
Become a Fan of Kiplinger's on Facebook
1. Tune up your heating system.For about $80 to $100, a technician will inspect your furnace or heat pump to be sure the system is clean and in good repair, and that it can achieve its manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection also measures carbon-monoxide leakage.
If you act soon, you’ll minimize the chance of being 200th in line for repairs on the coldest day of the year. Look for a heating and air-conditioning contractor that belongs to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and employs technicians certified by the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) program. The contractor should follow the protocol for ACCA’s "national standard for residential maintenance" (or the QM, short for “quality maintenance").
2. Reverse your ceiling fans. If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to run the fan’s blades in a clockwise direction after you turn on your heat. Energy Star says the fan will produce an updraft and push down into the room heated air from the ceiling (remember, hot air rises). This is especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings -- and it might even allow you to turn down your thermostat by a degree or two for greater energy savings.
3. Prevent ice dams.If your home had lots of icicles last winter -- or worse, ice dams, which can cause meltwater to back up and flow into your house -- take steps to prevent potential damage this year. A home-energy auditor or weatherization contractor can identify and fix air leaks and inadequate insulation in your home’s attic that can lead to ice dams. If you have the work done before December 31, 2011, you can claim the federal energy-efficiency tax credit for 10% of the cost (excluding installation), up to $500. Your state or utility may offer a rebate, too.
4. Hit the roof.Or at least scan it closely with binoculars. Look for damaged, loose or missing shingles that may leak during winter’s storms or from melting snow. If need be, hire a handyman to repair a few shingles ($95 to $1275, according to www.costhelper.com) or a roofer for a larger section ($100 to $350 for a 100-square-foot area). Check and repair breaks in the flashing seals around vent stacks and chimneys, too.
If your roof is flat and surfaced with asphalt and pebbles, as many are in the Southwest, rake or blow off fall leaves and pine needles, which hold moisture, says Bill Richardson, past president of the American Society of Home Inspectors, in Albuquerque. (Don’t sweep aside the pebbles; that will expose the asphalt to damaging sunlight.)
5. Caulk around windows and doors. Richardson says that if the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to reapply exterior caulk. (Check the joints in window and door frames, too.) Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements. Try GE’s Silicone II Window and Door product, which is “rain ready” in three hours ($6 at Home Depot). Check window-glazing putty, too (which seals glass into the window frame). Add weatherstripping as needed around doors, making sure you cannot see any daylight from inside your home.
6. Clean the gutters. If your gutters are full of detritus, water can back up against the house and damage roofing, siding and wood trim -- plus cause leaks and ice dams. You’ll typically pay $70 to $225 to clean gutters on a single-story house, depending on its size. Also look for missing or damaged gutters and fascia boards and repair them.
7. Divert water. Add extensions to downspouts so that water runs at least 3 to 4 feet away from the foundation, says David Lupberger, home-improvement expert for ServiceMagic, which connects consumers with service providers. For example, HomeDepot.com sells Amerimax Flex-a-Spout extension (which extends 25 to 55 inches) for $9.
8. Turn off exterior faucets. Undrained water in pipes can freeze, which will cause pipes to burst as the ice expands. Start by disconnecting all garden hoses and draining the water that remains in faucets. If you don’t have frost-proof faucets (homes more than ten to 15 years old typically do not), turn off the shut-off valve inside your home.
9. Drain your lawn-irrigation system. But call in a professional to do the job. Your sprinkler service will charge $75 to $150, depending on the size of the system. Draining sprinkler-system pipes, as with spigots, will help avoid freezing and leaks.
10. Mulch leaves when you mow. Mow your leaves instead of raking them, say studies at the University of Michigan and Purdue. The trick is to cut the leaves, while dry, into dime-sized pieces that will fall among the grass blades, where they will decompose and nourish your lawn over the winter. Use your lawn mower without its bag, and optionally swap the cutting blade for a mulching blade (about $15 to $20). The process may take several passes. For more information, see "Turn Over a New Leaf/Mulching Leaves in Place."
11. Prepare to stow your mower. As the mower sits through the winter, fuel remaining in its engine will decompose, "varnishing" the carburetor and causing difficulty when you try to start the engine in the spring. John Deere offers these preventive steps: If you've added stabilizer to your fuel to keep it fresh longer, then fill the gas tank to the top with more stabilized fuel and run the engine briefly to allow it to circulate. If not, wait until the tank is nearly empty from use and run the engine (outdoors) to use up the remaining fuel. Check your mower's manual for other cold-weather storage steps.
12. Don't prune trees or shrubs until late-winter. You may be tempted to get out the pruning shears after the leaves fall, when you can first see the underlying structure of the plant. But horticulturalists advise waiting to prune until late winter for most plants, when they've been long dormant and just before spring growth begins. To get advice specific to your plants and region, consult master gardeners at local nurseries or horticulturalists with your state university's cooperation extension department. One exception: You may need to hire an arborist to remove deadfall or trim limbs close to your home or power lines that could cause problems in a winter storm.
13. Test your sump pump. Slowly pour several gallons of water into the sump pit to see whether the pump turns on. You should do this every few months, but especially after a long dry season or before a rainy one. For more complete instructions for testing and maintenance, check your owner’s manual. Most sump pumps last about ten years, according to Chubb Personal Insurance.
14. Call a chimney sweep. Before you burn the Yule log, make sure your fireplace (or any heating appliance burning gas, oil, wood or coal), chimney and vents are clean and in good repair. That will prevent chimney fires and prevent carbon monoxide from creeping into your home. Search for a sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. You can expect to pay $50 to $90 for an inspection to see if you need a cleaning, and $100 to $300 for the cleaning, according to www.costowl.com.
15. Avoid the rush. Don’t wait for the first winter storm to restock cold-weather essentials, such as salt or ice melt. If you can’t abide a snowblower’s roar or the back-breaking workout of shoveling, check out the Sno Wovel, a wheeled shovel that does much of the heavy-lifting for you ($150; go to www.wovel.com to locate retailers or Amazon.com to buy it online).
By Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)