September 2009

Get Ready for Winter

- Order a Furnace Maintenance Check-Up. Do this early to avoid the rush that happens after the first cold weather

- Change Air Filters

- Clean landscaping debris and lawn furniture away from the outside air conditioning condensing unit

- Use a ?Water Power Nozzle? to clean the condensing unit and the surrounding area

Source: Sharon Harrison, Nations Home Warranty

2009 State Fair Of Texas

It's that time of the year! The 2009 State Fair of Texas runs from September 25 through October 18th.

Founded in Dallas in 1886 by a group of civic leaders who wanted to focus attention on their young city?s accomplishments and prospects, the State Fair of Texas has consistently offered its visitors a first look at the newest and best in products and performances.

Visit www.bigtex.com for all the details or click here to download a State Fair of Texas Guide provided by Republic Title.

Source: Republic Title (PDF Guide), State Fair of Texas Website (Historical Text), State Fair of Texas Inc (Photo Credit)

The Rain Has the Ants Looking For Higher Ground

After several days of heavy rain in the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex I was out looking around my home. I discovered fire ants building nests up the foundation and entering my home through the weep holes in the bottom course of bricks. The heavy rains have all kinds of things looking for dry ground!

I often tell our clients to watch their foundations for signs of termites building tubes, but I'm reminded that checking it after a heavy rain is also a good idea. While fire ants are not necessarily a wood-destroying insect, I don't want to share my home with them either!

I treat fire ant mounds in my yard with a granular fire ant killer but prefer liquid when treating the foundation. You can hire a professional to spray for you or you can purchase a small sprayer and the chemicals at your local home supply store.

Source: Tom Branch, The Branch Team - RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs

Many Experts Support Extending Tax Credit

Real estate professionals and home builders are pushing for an extension and an increase in tax incentives to encourage homebuying. Otherwise, they argue, that it is very likely that the current housing uptick will end on Dec. 1, when the tax credit does.

?The giddiness we see out there [about a recovery] is without merit," says Richard A. Smith, CEO of Realogy, which is the parent company of Century 21, ERA, Coldwell Banker, and Sotheby's International Realty.

Not everybody sees things Smith?s way. Michelle Meyer, an economist with Barclays Capital in New York, says that while the tax credit did contribute to an increase in sales, some of the improvement reflects an improving economy.

?Even if you say some of the gain is artificial, it's still true that we're seeing an increase in housing demand, and that shows fundamental strength," she says.

Mark M. Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, ignores this chicken-or-egg argument and points to an analysis he did that suggests increasing the tax credit to $15,000 for all home owners through the end of next year would result in 675,000 additional home sales.

Source: BusinessWeek, Prashant Gopal (09/11/2009)

Frigidaire Recalls Clothes Washers Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Crosley®, Frigidaire®, Kelvinator®, Kenmore®, Wascomat®, and White-Westinghouse® clothes washers

Units: About 35,000

Distributor: Frigidaire, of Cleveland, Ohio

Hazard: An internal defect in the washer?s drain pump can cause heat to build up, posing a fire hazard to the consumer.

Incidents/Injuries: No incidents or injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves the Crosley®, Frigidaire®, Kelvinator®, Kenmore®, Wascomat®, and White-Westinghouse® top load washers, 3.1 cubic foot front load washers and laundry centers.

Click here to read the entire release.

Source: Tammi Burgee - Fidelity National Home Warranty

Try These 10 Tips for Boosting Curb Appeal

1. Trim shrubs and trees in the front yard; a homebuyer should be able to see your home?s architectural features (such as that beautiful picture window). Tidy up your yard; put away hoses, trash cans, etc.

2. Remove the screen door (if any), dress up the front porch with a plant (if there?s room), and wash your windows and your screens.

3. If the mailbox is visible from the curb, ensure that it is attractive.

4. Repaint any peeling trim or exterior paint.

5. Define the approach: Add a stone walkway or path leading to the house, or define it with plants or flowers.

6. Ensure any automatic lights along the house and walkways light up when it gets dark.

7. When visible from the street, replace that tired looking garage door with a new one. Remember to keep the door style in tune with the home?s architectural style.

8. Make sure the driveway isn?t cracked. If so consider repair or resurface.

9. Add details such as shutters and decorative moldings. Make boring windows come alive and (depending on your home?s style) define the architecture of your house with shutters or ironwork.

10. Take one more close look at the exterior of the property from a buyer?s perspective. Imagine the real estate professional at your front door fumbling with the lockbox as the homebuyers are looking at your neighborhood?what do they see? Is there trash in the street? Is the neighbor?s lawn overgrown?

Click here to read the original entry

Source: Phyllis Harb - Posted on Styled, Staged & Sold

My House Won?t Sell

There are a variety of factors that contribute to a home languishing on the market, including price, condition, and location. Pricing the house too high is one of the top reasons homes fail to sell. When setting an asking price, it?s important to do your homework. Conduct market research and ask your REALTOR® for a comparative market analysis (CMA). As a homeowner, try to stay on top of market conditions. Is real estate in your neighborhood relatively hot? Visit some open houses and see what others are doing. What terms and conditions are other sellers offering buyers?

Most buyers want to walk into a home that is in model condition. Although it may be difficult, you should walk through your house as if you are a potential buyer, being very critical and asking whether you would purchase a home in this condition. It may be as simple as getting that stove to shine, or you may need to do a little more like adding a fresh coat of paint to your home?s exterior. Whatever the case, talk to your Texas REALTOR® about staging your home to sell.

The third big reason a house won?t sell in a good market is location. Such things as undesirable schools, a higher crime rate, a busy road, or noise pollution can mark a bad location. If your house is located poorly, you may have to compensate with a lower listing price. Favorable terms, such as owner financing or a lease with options, could also help sell your house. Your Texas REALTOR® can recommend a strategy for selling that will overcome a poor location.

Source: Texas Association of REALTORs®

Dallas Home Prices Showing Gains, Fueling Optimism

The outlook for Dallas home prices was brighter in two indexes released Tuesday.

They were down 2.2 percent in June from a year earlier but rose 2.7 percent from May to June to the highest level since last September, according to the closely watched Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Index. It was the fourth consecutive month of gains in the Dallas index price, S&P said Tuesday.

Click here to read the complete story.

Source: Steve Brown - The Dallas Morning News