Free and Low Cost Recommendations
Replace Light Bulbs
Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and save 75% off lighting costs.
Unplug Electronics
Unplug electronics, battery chargers and other equipment when not in use. Taken together, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator.
Save Water
Installing faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads will cut water heating costs by 50% and save up to $300 per year. It will also cut water use by up to 50%. As much as 19% of California electricity is used to pump, transport and treat water.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Setting your air conditioner 5° higher will save up to 20% on cooling costs.
Buy Energy Efficient Appliances
Always buy ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and equipment - they're up to 40% more efficient. Find rebates and incentives in your area using our rebate finder.
Adjust Your Water Heater
Turn your water heater down to 120° or the "Normal" setting when home, and to the lowest setting when away. Water heating accounts for about 13% of home energy costs.
Keep Cool With Ceiling Fans
Reduce air conditioning costs by using fans, keeping windows and doors shut and closing shades during the day. Most ceiling fans use less energy than a light bulb.
Be Smart About Lighting
Turn off unnecessary lighting and use task or desktop lamps with CFLs instead of overhead lights.
Power Down Your Computer
Enable "power management" on all computers and make sure to turn them off at night. A laptop computer uses up to 90% less energy than bigger desktop models.
Wash Clothes in Cold Water
When possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90% of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
Load Up Your Dishwasher
Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when fully loaded. Fewer loads reduce energy and water use.
Maintain Your Clothes Dryer
Make sure your dryer's outside vent is clear and clean the lint filter after every load. When shopping for a new dryer look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off when clothes are dry.
Find and Seal Leaks
Sealing cracks, gaps, leaks and adding insulation can save up to 20% on home heating and cooling costs.
Test for air leaks by holding a lit incense stick next to windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather stripping.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Homeowner’s Security Survey
If you are interested in making your home more secure AND saving
money on your homeowner’s insurance rates, we offer another free
service to residents:
For Safety - The Security Survey is an inspection conducted on
your home by a certified Crime Prevention Officer. The officer
checks the interior and exterior of your home and discusses how
better to secure the premises. The officer draws up a plan specific to
your home, making recommendations about subjects such as locks,
lighting, landscaping, etc.
For an Insurance Discount - Texas law allows for a 5% insurance
rate discount if the residence meets certain basic requirements. If
your home meets these requirements, the Crime Prevention Officer
submits a report to the Texas Insurance Board for your rate reduction.
If your home fails to meet the requirements, the officer gives you a
report indicating how to bring it up to the insurance standards.
That same Texas law allows for a 15% discount if the residence
meets the basic requirements as well as certain advanced requirements.
This level requires a monitored alarm system connected to specific
windows and doors in the home.
For further information on this service, contact Corporal Mike
Bedrich at 817.748.8137. Corporal Bedrich will get forms to you
to fill out in advance and set an appointment to meet at your home
for the inspection. Please be aware that the insurance discount is not
immediate - this is one government entity dealing with another!
Colleyville Police Department can also provide this service.
Please contact Officer Bill Hudgins at (817) 503-1230 or by email
at hudginsb@ci.colleyville.tx.us
Best regards,
Rhonda Moore
Lieutenant, Community Initiatives Unit
871.748.8349
Southlake DPS
http://www.kencemedia.org/www.peelinc.com/newsletters/0704TM.pdf
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A New Year, a New Statistic - Home Prices Plunge 19%
RISMEDIA, April 2, 2009-While the new year is a time for many to start over, a report released yesterday on U.S. housing prices may encourage many to start house shopping. Prices of single-family homes in the U.S. dropped a drastic 19% for the year from January 2008 through January 2009, according to Standard & Poor’s S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, one of the leading measures of U.S. home prices.
According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, 13 out of the 20 metro areas across the U.S. saw record rates of annual decline, while 14 areas reported declines in excess of 10%, compared with the rates in January 2008. Following the lead of the 14 metro areas, the 10-City Composite and the 20-City Composite also set new records, with annual declines of 19.4% and 19.0% respectively.
“Home prices, which peaked in mid-2006, continued their decline in 2009,” says David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index committee at Standard and Poor’s. “There are very few bright spots that one can see in the data. Most of the nation appears to remain on a downward path, with all of the 20 metro areas reporting annual declines, and nine of the MSA’s falling more than 20 percent in the last year. Indeed, the two composites are very close to that rate and have been reporting consecutive annual declines since October 2007. The monthly data follows a similar trend, with the 10-City and 20-City Composite showing thirty consecutive months of negative returns.”
As of January 2009, average home prices across the U.S. are at similar levels to what they were in late 2003. From the peak in the second quarter of 2006, the 10-City Composite is down 30.2% and the 20-City Composite is down 29.1%.
While all 20 metro areas reported negative monthly and annual rates of change in average home prices, seven metro areas and the 20-City Composite recorded a record monthly decline in January. Seven metro areas reported declines in excess of 4% in January, with Phoenix leading at -5.5%. On a somewhat positive note, Cleveland, Los Angeles and Las Vegas reported a relative improvement in home prices in year-over-year returns, in terms of lesser rates of decline than the previous month’s values.
In terms of annual declines, the three worst performing cities are Phoenix (down 35%), Las Vegas (down 32.5%) and San Francisco (down 32.4%), while Dallas, Denver and Cleveland had the best results in terms of annual decline: 4.9%, 5.1% and 5.2%, respectively.
Looking at the data from peak-thru-January 2009, Dallas is the least hurt (down 10.8%), while Phoenix is down 48.5% from its peak in June 2006. The rate of decline from the individual heights of each marketplace show how much each market has taken back in terms of the gains they earned within the past 10-15 years. All 20 metro areas are in double digit declines from their peaks, with nine of the MSA’s reporting declines greater than 30% and five of those (Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Diego) in excess of 40%.
For more information, visit http://rismedia.com/2009-04-01/a-new-year-a-new-statistic-home-prices-plunge-19/#
RISMEDIA, April 2, 2009-While the new year is a time for many to start over, a report released yesterday on U.S. housing prices may encourage many to start house shopping. Prices of single-family homes in the U.S. dropped a drastic 19% for the year from January 2008 through January 2009, according to Standard & Poor’s S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, one of the leading measures of U.S. home prices.
According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, 13 out of the 20 metro areas across the U.S. saw record rates of annual decline, while 14 areas reported declines in excess of 10%, compared with the rates in January 2008. Following the lead of the 14 metro areas, the 10-City Composite and the 20-City Composite also set new records, with annual declines of 19.4% and 19.0% respectively.
“Home prices, which peaked in mid-2006, continued their decline in 2009,” says David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index committee at Standard and Poor’s. “There are very few bright spots that one can see in the data. Most of the nation appears to remain on a downward path, with all of the 20 metro areas reporting annual declines, and nine of the MSA’s falling more than 20 percent in the last year. Indeed, the two composites are very close to that rate and have been reporting consecutive annual declines since October 2007. The monthly data follows a similar trend, with the 10-City and 20-City Composite showing thirty consecutive months of negative returns.”
As of January 2009, average home prices across the U.S. are at similar levels to what they were in late 2003. From the peak in the second quarter of 2006, the 10-City Composite is down 30.2% and the 20-City Composite is down 29.1%.
While all 20 metro areas reported negative monthly and annual rates of change in average home prices, seven metro areas and the 20-City Composite recorded a record monthly decline in January. Seven metro areas reported declines in excess of 4% in January, with Phoenix leading at -5.5%. On a somewhat positive note, Cleveland, Los Angeles and Las Vegas reported a relative improvement in home prices in year-over-year returns, in terms of lesser rates of decline than the previous month’s values.
In terms of annual declines, the three worst performing cities are Phoenix (down 35%), Las Vegas (down 32.5%) and San Francisco (down 32.4%), while Dallas, Denver and Cleveland had the best results in terms of annual decline: 4.9%, 5.1% and 5.2%, respectively.
Looking at the data from peak-thru-January 2009, Dallas is the least hurt (down 10.8%), while Phoenix is down 48.5% from its peak in June 2006. The rate of decline from the individual heights of each marketplace show how much each market has taken back in terms of the gains they earned within the past 10-15 years. All 20 metro areas are in double digit declines from their peaks, with nine of the MSA’s reporting declines greater than 30% and five of those (Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Diego) in excess of 40%.
For more information, visit http://rismedia.com/2009-04-01/a-new-year-a-new-statistic-home-prices-plunge-19/#
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Maytag Recalls Refrigerators
March 10, 2009
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Name of product: Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand refrigerators.
Hazard: An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard. Description: The recall includes certain Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand side by side and top freezer refrigerators. The affected refrigerators were manufactured in black, bisque, white and stainless steel.
Sold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from January 2001 through January 2004.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MODELS AND SERIAL #'S - CLICK LINK BELOW
Maytag Recalls Refrigerators
provided by
Tammi Burgee * Senior Account Manager * 214 -732- 5999 * tammi.burgee@fnf.com www.homewarranty.com * 1-800-862-6837
March 10, 2009
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Name of product: Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand refrigerators.
Hazard: An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard. Description: The recall includes certain Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand side by side and top freezer refrigerators. The affected refrigerators were manufactured in black, bisque, white and stainless steel.
Sold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from January 2001 through January 2004.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MODELS AND SERIAL #'S - CLICK LINK BELOW
Maytag Recalls Refrigerators
provided by
Tammi Burgee * Senior Account Manager * 214 -732- 5999 * tammi.burgee@fnf.com www.homewarranty.com * 1-800-862-6837
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Home value is secondary
The key to refinancing today is the amount of equity you have
By Lew Sichelman
Last update: 7:31 p.m. EST Jan. 29, 2009Comments: 5WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) --
Question: Is it possible for me to refinance my home even though the value of the house is about the same as the loan I have that will reset next year (5-year, interest-only). I am in the Southern California area which has been hit by the loss of home values.
Answer: The key to refinancing these days is the amount of equity you have in the house, not the value of the property.
These days, consumers are seeking practical products for their homes and economical ways to transform their living spaces, says Robin Avni, consumer strategist at Iconoculture. MarketWatch's Amy Hoak reports. (Jan. 27)Values are important, of course. Nobody is going to give you a loan for more than the property is worth.
But more important is what you are willing to put into the deal in the form of equity. If you owe more than 80% of the newly appraised value of the property, you won't be offered as good a rate as if you owed less than 80%. Once you start approaching the 90% level, the rate goes up some more, and it starts getting real tough to find a lender willing to take the deal.
Since you have an interest-only loan, I am going to bet that you didn't put a lot of money down when you bought the house, if you put up anything at all. If I'm right, you might have to approach your current lender as a potential hardship case who will go into foreclosure if your loan is not reworked.
On the other hand, your saving grace might be that you bought your house four years ago while values were still trending north. If that's the case, you might have enough equity to refi at a decent rate. So start talking to lenders right away. Rates are currently at or under the 5% level.
Q: What are the chances of interest rates being reduced to allow a refinance on an existing VA mortgage? I am currently at 6% but at age 62 would like to be able to refinance at a lower, more manageable, rate/payment in retirement.
A: I'd say the chances are pretty good. Rates are the lowest they've been in years, and they may be heading down even further. As long as you have a decent credit score and are still employed, you should be good to go.
But you need to compare the cost of refinancing to the net savings to see if such a move is worthwhile. If it costs, say, $3,000 out of your pocket to refi, and you end up saving $100 a month, it would take 30 months to recoup your cost. After that, it is found money. But if you sell or otherwise pay off your new loan before that, you would have wasted your money you spend to close on the new loan.
Q: More than 10 years ago in Ohio, I was notified by the IRS that a tax lien had been placed on my small business. After closer review, it was discovered that the IRS made a mistake and it was another company with the same name, only "Inc.", not "llc" as mine was. The government sent me a statement that the $110 owed was satisfied. It was not mine to begin with, but the IRS would not agree to send a letter to the credit agencies except to say it was satisfied. Since this occurred more than a decade ago, can I now have this removed from credit files?
A: Because the lien was placed in your files in error, Norm Magnuson of the Consumer Data Industry Association says the IRS absolutely should have notified the credit repositories to remove it from your files rather than simply reporting that it was satisfied. But that's water under the proverbial bridge.
More important at the moment is that paid liens -- the IRS is using the term "satisfied" to mean "paid" -- should automatically be removed from your files. Under the law -- Section 605(a)(3) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act -- a paid lien must be dropped from your records seven years after it has been paid. So, if it is still there, more than three years after it should have been deleted, write to the three national credit reporting agencies and tell them in no uncertain terms to get on the ball.
Nationally syndicated columnist Lew Sichelman has been covering the housing market for more than 35 years. Because of the volume of mail he receives, he cannot answer individual questions, nor can all questions be answered in this space.
Email lsichelman@aol.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/key-refinancing-today-equity-you/story.aspx?guid=%7BB225ADEB%2D13B7%2D47A4%2D9FA0%2D21FF16946614%7D
The key to refinancing today is the amount of equity you have
By Lew Sichelman
Last update: 7:31 p.m. EST Jan. 29, 2009Comments: 5WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) --
Question: Is it possible for me to refinance my home even though the value of the house is about the same as the loan I have that will reset next year (5-year, interest-only). I am in the Southern California area which has been hit by the loss of home values.
Answer: The key to refinancing these days is the amount of equity you have in the house, not the value of the property.
These days, consumers are seeking practical products for their homes and economical ways to transform their living spaces, says Robin Avni, consumer strategist at Iconoculture. MarketWatch's Amy Hoak reports. (Jan. 27)Values are important, of course. Nobody is going to give you a loan for more than the property is worth.
But more important is what you are willing to put into the deal in the form of equity. If you owe more than 80% of the newly appraised value of the property, you won't be offered as good a rate as if you owed less than 80%. Once you start approaching the 90% level, the rate goes up some more, and it starts getting real tough to find a lender willing to take the deal.
Since you have an interest-only loan, I am going to bet that you didn't put a lot of money down when you bought the house, if you put up anything at all. If I'm right, you might have to approach your current lender as a potential hardship case who will go into foreclosure if your loan is not reworked.
On the other hand, your saving grace might be that you bought your house four years ago while values were still trending north. If that's the case, you might have enough equity to refi at a decent rate. So start talking to lenders right away. Rates are currently at or under the 5% level.
Q: What are the chances of interest rates being reduced to allow a refinance on an existing VA mortgage? I am currently at 6% but at age 62 would like to be able to refinance at a lower, more manageable, rate/payment in retirement.
A: I'd say the chances are pretty good. Rates are the lowest they've been in years, and they may be heading down even further. As long as you have a decent credit score and are still employed, you should be good to go.
But you need to compare the cost of refinancing to the net savings to see if such a move is worthwhile. If it costs, say, $3,000 out of your pocket to refi, and you end up saving $100 a month, it would take 30 months to recoup your cost. After that, it is found money. But if you sell or otherwise pay off your new loan before that, you would have wasted your money you spend to close on the new loan.
Q: More than 10 years ago in Ohio, I was notified by the IRS that a tax lien had been placed on my small business. After closer review, it was discovered that the IRS made a mistake and it was another company with the same name, only "Inc.", not "llc" as mine was. The government sent me a statement that the $110 owed was satisfied. It was not mine to begin with, but the IRS would not agree to send a letter to the credit agencies except to say it was satisfied. Since this occurred more than a decade ago, can I now have this removed from credit files?
A: Because the lien was placed in your files in error, Norm Magnuson of the Consumer Data Industry Association says the IRS absolutely should have notified the credit repositories to remove it from your files rather than simply reporting that it was satisfied. But that's water under the proverbial bridge.
More important at the moment is that paid liens -- the IRS is using the term "satisfied" to mean "paid" -- should automatically be removed from your files. Under the law -- Section 605(a)(3) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act -- a paid lien must be dropped from your records seven years after it has been paid. So, if it is still there, more than three years after it should have been deleted, write to the three national credit reporting agencies and tell them in no uncertain terms to get on the ball.
Nationally syndicated columnist Lew Sichelman has been covering the housing market for more than 35 years. Because of the volume of mail he receives, he cannot answer individual questions, nor can all questions be answered in this space.
Email lsichelman@aol.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/key-refinancing-today-equity-you/story.aspx?guid=%7BB225ADEB%2D13B7%2D47A4%2D9FA0%2D21FF16946614%7D
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Severe Weather Closings
Sorted by Category, then Organization
Charter Schools,Colleges,Other Schools,Private Schools,Public Schools
click on the link: http://media.myfoxdfw.com/closings/
Sorted by Category, then Organization
Charter Schools,Colleges,Other Schools,Private Schools,Public Schools
click on the link: http://media.myfoxdfw.com/closings/
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Down Payment Assistant Program
DPAGroundSwell2 was launched today to coincide with the introduction of H.R. 600, FHA Seller-Financed Downpayment Reform Act of 2009, by Representative Al Green (D-TX). H.R. 600 is the 2009 version of last year's bill (H.R. 6694) that would restore seller-funded downpayment assistance (DPA).
Reformed DPA will help stimulate the housing market by providing working-class Americans with a path to homeownership and generate $150 billion in home sales this year. Purchasing a home now puts homebuyers in a position to build equity as markets recover.
CONGRESS INTRODUCES BILL THAT WOULD REINSTATE DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE: NEHEMIAH RESPONDS
- Bill Would Broaden Opportunities for Sustainable Homeownership Without Government or Taxpayer Dollars -
Sacramento, CA, January 16, 2009 -- The following statement was issued today by Scott Syphax, president and CEO of the Nehemiah Corporation of America in response to H.R. 600, a bill introduced in Congress that would reinstate seller-funded downpayment assistance (DPA). Prior to the October 1, 2008 ban on DPA, Nehemiah was the oldest and largest provider of downpayment assistance.
"There is an overlooked solution to today's housing crisis and fortunately several members of Congress recognize the role DPA plays in getting us there. We commend Congressman Al Green [and additional members of Congress] for working tirelessly to support a bill (H.R. 600) that creates opportunities for sustainable homeownership, which serves as the cornerstone to strengthening a crumbling housing market and breathing life back into the economy. With foreclosures on the rise and banks maintaining their stranglehold on credit, DPA offers a simple solution without spending a single government or taxpayer dime according to the Congressional Budget Office. Further, it enables worthy families to take advantage of depressed home prices, therefore reducing the glut of homes on the market. We urge Congress to reach across the aisle and prioritize broadening opportunities for responsible homeownership in America by reinstating DPA."
http://www.nehemiahcorp.org/
Copyright © 2008 Nehemiah Corporation of America. All Rights Reserved
Broker of Texas Sold Team Realty says about DPS:
This program alone will really kick off the market!
By losing the DPA it is likely to be one of the biggest reason that people are not buying. They don't have enough cash to make the down payment.
I would say that 99.9 percent of our clients that used this help are still in their homes.
1- Because they had a good job and credit, just not cash. If we lend smart we will keep our people in homes and buying homes.
2- This will help investors the most.
3- This will bring back the under 200K buyers by the droves.
Reformed DPA will help stimulate the housing market by providing working-class Americans with a path to homeownership and generate $150 billion in home sales this year. Purchasing a home now puts homebuyers in a position to build equity as markets recover.
CONGRESS INTRODUCES BILL THAT WOULD REINSTATE DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE: NEHEMIAH RESPONDS
- Bill Would Broaden Opportunities for Sustainable Homeownership Without Government or Taxpayer Dollars -
Sacramento, CA, January 16, 2009 -- The following statement was issued today by Scott Syphax, president and CEO of the Nehemiah Corporation of America in response to H.R. 600, a bill introduced in Congress that would reinstate seller-funded downpayment assistance (DPA). Prior to the October 1, 2008 ban on DPA, Nehemiah was the oldest and largest provider of downpayment assistance.
"There is an overlooked solution to today's housing crisis and fortunately several members of Congress recognize the role DPA plays in getting us there. We commend Congressman Al Green [and additional members of Congress] for working tirelessly to support a bill (H.R. 600) that creates opportunities for sustainable homeownership, which serves as the cornerstone to strengthening a crumbling housing market and breathing life back into the economy. With foreclosures on the rise and banks maintaining their stranglehold on credit, DPA offers a simple solution without spending a single government or taxpayer dime according to the Congressional Budget Office. Further, it enables worthy families to take advantage of depressed home prices, therefore reducing the glut of homes on the market. We urge Congress to reach across the aisle and prioritize broadening opportunities for responsible homeownership in America by reinstating DPA."
http://www.nehemiahcorp.org/
Copyright © 2008 Nehemiah Corporation of America. All Rights Reserved
Broker of Texas Sold Team Realty says about DPS:
This program alone will really kick off the market!
By losing the DPA it is likely to be one of the biggest reason that people are not buying. They don't have enough cash to make the down payment.
I would say that 99.9 percent of our clients that used this help are still in their homes.
1- Because they had a good job and credit, just not cash. If we lend smart we will keep our people in homes and buying homes.
2- This will help investors the most.
3- This will bring back the under 200K buyers by the droves.
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