The drive for energy-efficiency is hitting home in Omaha, Lincoln and around the Midlands. Spurred by a desire to go green and save money on their utility bills, owners of existing homes and people building new houses are upgrading their energy-efficiency. Insulation is in, along with Energy Star appliances and higher-rated furnaces.
After months of sunshine, cookouts, beach-going and outdoor entertaining, it can be a little disappointing to realize the cool bite of fall is on its way. But warding off those cold-weather blues can be as simple as redecorating a room (or a few) to create a hideaway that you can enjoy until spring arrives. With a little time and creativity, you can create a fresh space that will outlast the dreary weather of the coming months.
As Americans head outside to tend to their lawns and repair their houses, it’s just as important to consider what might be happening out of sight, deep inside the home. Termites, which are found in every state except Alaska, live in colonies that eat continuously. These wood-destroying pests eat homes from the inside out, making their presence difficult to detect. Termites annually cause more than $5 billion in damage, and the destruction termites cause is not normally covered by homeowners insurance, leaving owners to pay an average of $3,000 in out-of-pocket costs for repairs, according to Terminix.
As summer winds down, heat and drought may have left your grass a little tired. Soccer, picnics and chasing fireflies have likely taken a toll. Luckily, because of cooler temperatures and an increase in precipitation, fall is the best time for lawn rescue.
The lilac print wallpaper in your bedroom may not be your style. And if your house is on the market, that lilac print wallpaper is probably not your prospective buyer’s style either. Removing wallpaper is easier than you may think and it has a big impact on a home’s appearance. In fact, removing aging, sagging wallpaper is one of the least expensive ways to improve a home’s resale value and shorten its time on the market, according to a survey of real estate appraisers.
You might think the end of summer means bidding farewell to fresh, homegrown veggies. Not so - many cool-season crops hit their heyday as autumn temperatures drop, and some even taste better when nipped by a light frost.
Owing more on your mortgage than your house is worth may seem like a bad investment. But the alternative - choosing to default on your mortgage even if you can afford the monthly payments - will take a significant toll on your credit rating.
Iowa homes sales and prices both increased in June, statistics show. That’s good news to local real estate officials. “I think we’re turning in the right direction,” said Realtor Jason James. “I think we’re in better shape than in other parts of the world.” According to the Iowa Association of Realtors, about 4,136 homes were sold in the state in June, a 19 percent jump from June 2009. It was also an increase from May when 3,538 homes were sold.
When it comes to do-it-yourself projects that will save money on energy costs, many new products on the market make it possible to save hundreds of dollars over time, with just a few hours of easy installation. Few of these products come close to the long-term benefits of installing a radiant barrier in your attic. There’s even a federal tax credit (available on your 2010 federal tax return) to help you recoup a portion of your purchase price, saving you up to $1,500.
When Family Housing Advisory Services Inc. held its first “Surviving Today’s Economy” conference in 2009, organizers considered it a success, but when planning this year’s event they wanted to add something more. For the conference July 15, the agency has added “personal growth” workshops, in addition to presentations focusing on housing issues and financial education.
