Sharon's eNewsletter

Essential Heating System Maintenance Getting your home’s heating system professionally serviced every year will keep it running smoothly and help keep heating costs under control. Read Save Money With an Insulation Upgrade Beefing up inadequate insulation is one of the quickest energy-payback projects you can do, resulting in lower heating and cooling bills and increased comfort. Read Chimney Maintenance for Warmth and Safety Maintaining your chimney and fireplace can make the difference between warm safety and drafty danger. Read Cleaning and Caring for Siding The annual cleaning and repair of your home’s exterior will pay off in a long life and increased value. Read Conduct Your Own Energy Audit A do-it-yourself energy audit can teach you how to be more energy efficient and make you a more-educated consumer should you decide to hire an expert. Read Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. © Copyright 2009...

Did you ever wonder, what's so "short" about a Short Sale? It's no wonder that so many consumers are confused about the home buying process today with terms like, REO, bank-owned, pre-foreclosure, foreclosure, and the now infamous "Short Sale". Most consumers that are ready, willing and able to purchase these days are looking for a great buy and want to close on the property quickly, so when they see "Short Sale" in the advertisement for the property they naturally think it is going to be quick. Wrong. The only thing short about the "Short Sale" process is that the seller's pocket book is " short " since they don't have enough money (assets) to pay off what they owe to their bank (lender). Now I don't know about you, but if someone owes me money and they don't have enough to pay it off, I'm going to need some time to think about it. That is exactly what is going to happen with the bank when their borrower...

Sharon Curtiss, REALTOR with Hileman Real Estate, Inc. in Berlin, Maryland shares these 5 Tips for buyers interested in claiming the home-buyer tax credit? Below are five tips: 1. Don’t procrastinate. Start searching for a home now. Getting an early start will give you a better chance of finding the right house before the credit deadline. Before you start house hunting, get pre-approved for a mortgage, said Eddie Fadel, a Miami-based mortgage banker, and do a realistic assessment of what you can afford. Buyers who have to sell an existing home should price it aggressively from the beginning to drum up interest and get a buyer as soon as possible. 2. Don’t count on another extension. The credit won’t be available forever, Fadel said. If you want to take advantage, be sure to make that spring deadline. “This is a medication for the housing crisis. Once the patient—which is the housing market—cures, there will be no medication needed,” he said. 3. Mind the interest rates. Mortgage ...

Tax Credits for Solar Water Heaters A federal tax credit makes energy-efficient solar water heaters a more affordable and sustainable option for many homeowners. Read Tax Credits for Replacing Heating and Cooling Systems Upgrading to an energy-efficient heating and cooling system can save hundreds on your utility bills and up to $1,500 on your tax bill. Read Tax Credits for Replacing Your Roof Upgrading to a qualifying energy-efficient metal or asphalt roof can cut your cooling bill as well as knock off up to $1,500 from your tax bill. Read Tax Credits for Adding or Replacing Insulation Adding insulation is one of the easier and cheaper ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency and cut your heating and cooling bills. Read Tax Credits for Replacing Windows, Doors, and Skylights If money seems to be escaping through drafty windows, doors, and skylights, this federal tax credit might make energy-efficient replacements more affordable. Read Visit houselogic.com for more arti...