Archive for March, 2009
LEAD USED IN MANY INDUSTRIES – DON’T BRING IT HOME
March 31st, 2009 categories: Home Life
You have probably heard about lead-based paint, but you may not know that lead, not to mention other toxic metals, are in other everyday products. Also, what about the surfaces we come in contact with…more than enough unpleasant chemicals there too.
Hand washing, even with a disinfectant, does not really do the trick.
Another option is a serious wipe like Hygenall.
Hygenall is a cleansing wipe that removes metal oxides from the skin’s surface, including lead. The wipe produces a specially-formulated lather that grabs and traps heavy metals, then pulls them away from the skin.
The Hygenall website recommends its product for people including:
- Pregnant mothers
- Children in daycare
- Sportsmen, policemen and others weapon-handlers
- Construction workers
The site also provides links to studies on lead poisoning. Apparently, when someone is exposed to lead at work they can bring it home.
Hygenall is not a cure for lead poisoning, but it would appear to help in preventing it — including avoiding contaminating one’s home.
If you want to buy it you can check out Amazon.com for a 3-pack..pretty inexpensive. Maybe it is also available in places like Home Depot or Lowe’s.
| Discussion: No Comments »
WHEN OIL GOES UP, KEEP AN EYE ON MORTGAGE RATES
March 29th, 2009 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
Here is a “heads-up” for home buyers and home owners considering refinancing.
Are rising oil prices your sign that mortgage interest rates are headed up?
There are a number of factors at play that have pushed crude oil past the $50 mark for the first time in 4 months, and these forces may also cause mortgage rates to rise.
For example, on March 18, the Fed pledged an additional $1.15 trillion to support the economy.
Is this part of a Federal Reserve strategy to intentionally trigger inflation? The Fed’s total debt purchases now total $1.75 trillion.
To finance its commitments, the Federal Reserve is cranking up the printing presses. New money is on the way, along with a devalued dollar.. This moves us toward inflation which in turn contributes to rising oil prices, and very possibly higher interest rates on mortgages.
Nobody can plan a home purchase or a refinance around a set of possibilities, but these conditions are worth keeping an eye on.
(Image courtesy: The Wall Street Journal)
| Discussion: No Comments »
MAKING SPRING CLEANING EASIER
March 27th, 2009 categories: Home Life
Did you grow up with a Spring Cleaning ritual? It has become part of American culture, and now that Spring has officially started, we are in that Spring Cleaning season as well.
No doubt it is a time of serious house cleaning for some, and for others maybe a light touch up.
Whatever it is for you, you may be able to make it easier with a strategy.
If you like s systematic approach, take a look at the Spring Cleaning Organizer on Martha Stewart’s website for a good reference to get the job done as easily and efficiently as possible.
It’s got the basics and for some folks, having the checklist can help you power through the important cleaning stuff a whole lot easier that jumping from one task to another. Give it a shot and see what you think. Most of the items are easily doable with normal home supplies. A few require heavier artillery that you may need to rent. For example, you may not have a rug cleaner. Although even these are available in home consumer type models in department stores.
If you are considering getting professional help for some of the bigger cleaning jobs, take a look at Angie’s List as a place to get information on contractors to perform these services.
One good safety reminder in the checklist is to remember the batteries in your safety devises, such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
(Image courtesy: Junk Bee Gone)
| Discussion: No Comments »
THE GREENS AT SOUTH RIDING STATION
March 23rd, 2009 categories: New Construction
If your home search includes town homes in the Chantilly area, you may want to be aware of The Greens at South Riding Station.
It is a Toll Brothers community in the South Riding area. I visited a few weeks ago and wanted to do a short post on it.
On my visit, I looked at attractive 3 bedroom, 3 and 1/2 bath townhouse style units, with rear garage and deck. Delivery looks to be around late Summer and early Fall of 09.
Prices points were in the $325,000 range when I visited, with some nice standard features, but in the current environment prices are not static.
More details on the Toll website, and of course, give me a call if you would like a sense of the property values in the area before you visit this community, or if you have any other questions about other new town house developments in the area that you may want to consider for comparative purposes.
GREENS AT SOUTH RIDING STATION
GREENS AT SOUTH RIDING STATIION - BACK VIEW
| Discussion: No Comments »
THE SEVEN STRATEGIES OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE HOME SELLERS
March 22nd, 2009 categories: Seller Strategies
Here is a truism that can help home owners getting ready to put their home on the market: good results comes from applying the right principles. It is true in basketball, it is true in chess, and it also is true in home selling.
Apply the right home selling principles and you are likely to get a better result.
To assist home owners who are coming up to a time of selling, we have done a series of podcasts that lay out what I believe are seven solid strategies..principles if you will..that, at least from my experience, are what gets homes sold well. They don’t require any registration, so you can access them immediately.
I mention in the podcasts that I don’t offer a quick fix or easy answer. These principles require due diligence. There is probably nothing really surprising, but what is surprising is how much of an advantage the home sellers who puts all of these in play can have over their less diligent competition.
A few things to keep in mind. These principles are a bit more geared toward the typical home owner who is not in a distressed circumstance. Also, if you are coming up to a home sale, do remember that you are entering a competitive arena. This is the time to get your competitive mindset up to full steam.
We hope they are helpful to you. If you give these a listen, I definitely recommend that you start with Episode 1. The order of application makes a difference. All current episodes are in the Chantilly Radio link.
| Discussion: No Comments »
WHEN MORTGAGE RATES DROP REMEMBER THE BOUNCING BALL
March 21st, 2009 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
It has certainly happened before. Dropping mortgage rates then quick recovery of those rates.
This past Wednesday, the Fed’s giant mortgage market commitment contributed to pushing conforming mortgage rates to some of the lowest levels we’ve seen since World War II.
But whether these rates will stay down or bounce up a little is another question. After digesting the possible implications of all that new printed money, markets got nervous over inflation. And inflation is not a friend of mortgage rates.
The history is worth noting. Something similar also happened on these occasions:
1. After the Fed’s “surprise” rate cut in January 2008
2. After the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac takeovers in September 2008
3. After the Fed announced its first massive level of support in November 2008
4. After the Fed zeroed out the Fed Funds Rate in December 2008
The pattern is like a bouncing ball. The energy from the sudden drop throws the ball right back up.
As things work out, not ever homeowner in the middle of refinancing saw it coming. But those who did lock in at the right moment got some sweet rates.
No one can perfectly predict these things. Bounces happen. But when they drop that quickly they are likely not to last. At least that is one interpretation based on recent history.
So, when you see a rate you like, remember the trade-offs involved in locking in vs waiting. What is here today, is sometimes gone tomorrow.
| Discussion: No Comments »
SAVE MONEY AND SLEEP BETTER
March 20th, 2009 categories: Home Life
Getting a new mattress is not an insignificant investment, especially in the current environment. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: KIRKPATRICK FARMS
March 19th, 2009 categories: Chantilly Loudoun Cnty
If your home search includes the area in the western region of Fairfax County, and maybe into Loudoun County, you may want to know about Kirkpatrick Farms.
If you are driving west on Route 50 in Fairfax County, when you cross Route 28 you still have a few miles before you are in Loudoun County. After you pass South Riding, you can take a left on Gum Springs Road. Proceed on Gum Springs to the entrance of Kirkpatrick Farms.
Since the community first started, I have done a fair amount of business there, so I have gotten to know it well. If it is on your list of developments to check out, the links below will help.
If you want to see what properties in this community are Foreclosures or Bank-Owned, please send me an email. I will get you a list, and of course, if you want to take a look at any particular property or have questions, just contact me directly.
KIRKPATRICK FARMS - NEAR ROUTE 50 & GUM SPRINGS ROAD
Here are CURRENT LISTINGS IN KIRKPATRICK FARMS.
For list of FORECLOSURES and BANK OWNED properties just CONTACT US and I will get that information to you.
Here are a few other links that will give you more information about this community and others in this general area.
MORE INFORMATION ON KIRKPATRICK FARMS.
MORE INFORMATION ON: CHANTILLY-FAIRFAX COUNTY, CHANTILLY- LOUDOUN COUNTY, CENTREVILLE AREA, and NEARBY COMMUNITIES.
Moving to the Northern Virginia area? Visit our RELO CENTER.
| Discussion: No Comments »
A SIMPLE WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND ENERGY AT HOME
March 18th, 2009 categories: Home Life
Routine replacement of the air filters in your home’s central heating/air conditioning system is one very easy way to save on energy costs. But there are two other benefits as well. It will help keep the physical unit itself in better condition, and the air you breathe cleaner. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
WHY THE SOUND OF IRISH LAUGHTER MAKES GOD SMILE!
March 17th, 2009 categories: Community Life
A heartfelt Happy St. Patrick’s Day to any and all who may be reading our blog today! Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
