Real Estate Information

Surveys are showing that many people are not exactly sure what their homeowner insurance policy covers…and does not cover. Here are a few things to be aware of that it does NOT cover:

• Flood Insurance. You must purchase separate coverage.
• Cars, motorcycles and boats are not covered.
• Damages due to a break in the water line on your property.
• Damages due to a break in the sewer line on your property.
• Earthquake damage.
• Mold damage.
• Termites or other infestation damage.
• Injured or stolen pets.

Many people surveyed believed these things were covered, and they are not. Experts also recommend that you add coverage if you acquire valuable possessions, or make any major home improvements. If you own a trampoline or pool, you may need to increase your liability coverage. If you have valuable jewelry you may also want to add an additional floater to cover any special items that will not be covered by your basic homeowners policy. For more information about homeowners insurance, see the consumer education website InsureUonline.

Many people are afraid thieves will somehow get their information off of the computer. This is possible for them to do, but there are ways to protect yourself. Some people find that installing anti-virus, anti-spy ware, firewall protection and hardware firewalls is over-kill. In reality, when protecting your personal information you should always err on the side of caution.

 

• When setting up wireless Internet access, educate yourself on wireless security.
• Store your backed-up data away from your computer.
• Never open an e-mail from someone you don’t know.
• Never open attachments unless you know where it is coming from. Make sure you set up Windows to show all file extensions.
• Make sure you set up your browser to block pop-ups.
• Never use your credit card on a website that does not direct you to a secure page with a URL starting with https://.
• Use different passwords for every single site you use that asks for one. Always mix letters and numbers to make up that password.
• Never keep financial information on your hard drive.

For more information on Computer Safety go to Internet Safety Solutions.

Homeowners having financial difficulties and in fear of losing their homes to foreclosure could be helped by the newest addition to the government’s housing-rescue plan. It entails a standard process and incentives for a short sale. It will simplify the process for borrowers to transfer ownership of their home to the mortgage company through a “deed in lieu” of foreclosure. This will benefit the buyer because they avoid “foreclosure” and it will benefit the lender because they will avoid the high foreclosure expenses and large amount of time it takes to complete the process. This year, short sales have increased to 20% of all home sales. Compared to foreclosure, a short sale is less costly to the lender, but for the buyer it must be approved and can take up to four months to complete. The government plans to pay mortgage-servicing companies up to $1,000 and borrowers up to $1,500 for completed short sales and “deed in lieu” of foreclosure.  These incentives will help make the process go faster. For more information on the government housing-rescue plan see USA Today for common questions.

Frustrated homesellers have begun looking into more and more creative ways to sell their homes. Long gone are the days of simply baking a pie during a showing for the enticing aroma or setting out beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers to interest a buyer. Here’s what some are actually doing to sell their homes more quickly:

• Throwing an Open House Party. The offerings at these shindigs are wine, catered food, live music and prizes.
• Consulting a Feng Shui home stager. Their homes are being rearranged to make potential buyers feel more welcome by following the ancient chinese philosophy to improve the home’s “chi”, or energy.
• Helping buyers with the financing. Many are offering lease-to-own deals, financing it themselves, paying the closing costs, or paying a point to lower the interest rate for the buyer.
• Burying statues. People are swearing by the fact that shortly after burying a statue of the patron saint of family and household in their yards, they sold their homes.
• Throwing in BIG extras to seal the deal. Gone are the days of generously offering a big-screen TV. Sellers are now offering cars, vacations, home upgrades, furniture stipends and even a year’s mortgage.

For more interesting ways to consider selling your home faster go to the Fun Times Guide.

Since the kids will be out of school soon and many people will be planning vacations, it is time to start thinking about the best ways to protect your home from a possible burglary while you are away. The most obvious things most people do are stop the mail, stop the newspaper delivery, lock the house up tight and leave a light on. The following ideas go a step beyond these old stand-bys:

• If you happen to be going away on an extended trip, you may be better off asking a neighbor to pick up your mail and newspaper and bring it into your home each day.
• Invest in  a couple of timers. You can set them to turn a light on and then off at the same time each day. You can also use a timer on a radio or stereo.
• Hire a house sitter in the form of your neighbor’s responsible teen, or work out a system with your neighbor where you can cover their house when they go away and they look after yours when you are away.
• If your neighborhood does not already have a “neighborhood watch” program, be the one to start it. That way you will always have someone to tell your travel plans to.
• Consider purchasing a home security system. Your home will be regularly monitored and many companies offer a neighborhood patrol.

For more information about home security tips go to HowStuffWorks for additional ideas

The idea of ‘going Solar’ is incredibly intriguing to most people but until we become more comfortable with understanding the technology, many of us will continue to pay utility companies the ever-growing costs for our electricity. Here are some interesting things to know about ‘going solar’:

• You can calculate how much solar energy your home will need by simply looking at your utility bill.
• You can choose to supplement your power needs or go “off the grid” completely.
• Your numbers will help you determine what size PV (photovoltaic) modules you will need. Photovoltaic is the method most all solar cells use to convert sunlight to energy.
• Night time darkness and cloudy days reduce the amount of “insolation”. Most people will opt for a battery storage system to supplement these uncontrollable sunlight reduction factors.
• If your system generates more power than you need, many utility companies will buy any excess back.
• All systems must be inspected by your local utility company to ensure that it is safe for their linemen. They must be guaranteed that during a power outage, your system was installed properly and that it will have no power running through the lines.
• All in, solar panel systems can cost between $30,000 and $50,000. This is a costly up-front expense. But don’t forget that cost will be offset against what you would have paid for electricity over your lifetime, the ever-rising cost of electricity, the nice tax credits that are now available AND the improved systems that are coming down in price.

Make a change - move to Lake Shaffer. Spend the rest of your life doing what you like best – fishing, boating, water sports! If it's lakefront property you want - this is it. A great open concept, 2 BR home overlooking Bedford Bay on Lake Shaffer is waiting for you. A very nice home with a white picket fence and beautiful perennial flowers and tasteful landscaping is pleasant to the eye.  There is a 2-car detached garage.  A new well has been drilled, the hi-efficiency furnace, air conditioner, and water heater are only 2 years old. A Kinetco water filtration system is installed. Year-round living on Lake Shaffer - fish 'til you are tired of fishing. Spend countless days on the large patio overlooking the bay – plenty of room for entertaining family and friends.  Or, just sit back and enjoy the sunsets!!! 45 ft. of water frontage comes with the home. Life is good on Lake Shaffer!!        

     

See supplement. Home warranty available.

Quality built home has a lot to offer you.

Shaded by mature trees make the front porch perfect to sit outside and enjoy those hot summer evenings. Hardwood floors in formal living and dining room add to the charm of this home. Located in the basement is a large family room, half bath, a bedroom and large laundry room.  For those crisp cool evenings you can warm up by the charming fireplace, play board games and maybe even roast marshmallows in the family room

The newly remodeled kitchen offers plenty of storage also has a bright cheery nook.

In the master suite is a spacious shower.

The yard has been well landscaped with a vegetable garden area and your own grape arbor. A great place for kids to explore. This four bedroom, two and a half bath home is perfect for your growing family.

     

Totally remodeled inside. Maple cabinets, stainless appl., tile counters, screened porch, huge family room, fireplace. Home warranty available.

Cute home totally remodeled on the inside. This spacious kitchen will be the heart of your home.  You’ll have loads of room for family and friends to sit and visit without getting into the cooks way.  Lovely maple cabinets with tiled counter tops and all new stainless steal appliances add to the charm of this kitchen. The huge family room is a great place for your family to spend time together.  If you like to roast marshmallows you’ll be able to do it with your fireplace.  The master bedroom has a full size master bath. You can enjoy bug free summer evenings in your screened-in patio.  Watch the kids play on the play set in your large fenced in back yard. This three bedroom, two full baths home is worth your time to CHECK IT OUT!

     

Awesome, very well kept ranch w/loads of space, 3 car gar. Formal DR, corner FP, Huge kit, MBA has corner, garden tub. SUN also listed as FR. Corner lot. Home warranty available.

A well-kept, family friendly home with a flowing floor plan will be a great addition to your lifestyle. The kitchen is the heart of the home.  Stunning cabinetry, tile flooring, loads of storage along with the spaciousness of the kitchen are a few of the attributes.

Formal dining room will make it easy for you to entertain. You can be whisked away to your master suite and indulge yourself in a relaxing whirlpool garden tub. After the kids are in bed, you can enjoy a crackling fire in your corner fireplace.  This lovely West Lafayette home is located on a corner lot in Arbor Chase subdivision. and is waiting for you.