Blog - Sandra Meranda

September 6, 2012 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

10 Lessons to Learn as the Housing Market Recovers

The busy Summer season is here! This is the busiest Summer season we have had in 5 years! It is the prime time of year for buying and selling real estate. There are large numbers of homes at below-market prices & the Interest rates are hovering below around 3.5% !! The home sale numbers have been increasing every month since June 2011. Call me for details today!

10 Lessons to Learn as the Housing Market Recovers – by Ron Phipps, 2012 Immediate Past President, National Association of Realtors® (NAR)

Headlines abound: The Housing Bust is over… In June, a survey of economists concluded that housing has hit bottom. Realtors®, homeowners and renters, Americans, and citizens of the world all are sighing with collective relief. The economy and housing values both have cycles. It has been more than eighty years since the difference between the top and the bottom was so great.

As Realtors®, we are relieved that we are at the bottom, but we are realistic with the changes in the market and our work. In the not too distant past, the overwhelming majority of our work was prior to sales agreement, now it can be after. In that same time, most transactions closed. The”fallout rate” was nonexistent. Most sobering is what is now required to get to closing and how many things can derail a transaction for a “willing, ready, and able” buyer.

So we are cautiously engaging the new reality, but first we need to pause. If we do not learn from history, we are bound to repeat it. We do not want to repeat the last ten years. So what are the lessons we should learn? Here are 10 lessons that come to mind:

1. The economy cannot recover without housing.
2. Everyone needs shelter, but not everyone needs to own their shelter.
3. High homeownership rates are important but they must be sustainable.
4. Home prices go up and go DOWN.
5. The process of purchasing /financing a home is more complicated.
6. Sound underwriting of mortgages is critical.
7. Home equity should not be used for ordinary living expenses.
8. Financial reserves for family, companies, and countries are necessary.
9. Homeowners confidence in the economy is directly related the value of their own homes.
10. The economy is global.

What lessons did the last decade teach you? We would love to know what you learned from the last cycle.

What is important is that we remember what happened as we prepare to write the future. Most importantly, we should also have a sense of accomplishment that we endured these life lessons.

There are seasons in the weather: spring, summer, fall and winter. So there are in economic cycles. It is great to be at the thaw of winter and the budding of spring.

If you are thinking about buying and selling a home in St. Charles, working with a Real Estate expert than knows the St. Charles market can really help you. Sandra Meranda specializes in the St. Charles and St. Louis county home markets. Contact me for help with finding or selling your home.

August 21, 2012 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

Windows Can Affect Cooling Efficiency

If you are thinking about upgrading the windows in your home, consider options designed to help cut energy loss. Here’s some good information on what to consider when you are thinking about new windows for your home from HouseMasters:

If shopping for windows for your home, be sure to examine the energy performance numbers. Years ago window manufacturers used R-value, a measurement of a materials resistance to heat flow transfer, to rate windows. But this provided to be an ineffective way for homeowners to evaluate overall windows performance.

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), a nonprofit collaboration of window manufacturers, government agencies, and building trade associations, however, has developed a set of standardized rating procedures to help consumers compare and select windows. The NFRC labels use whole-window U-value (or U-factor), which is a measure of the amount of heat transfer through a window. U-value is the inverse of R-value, thus the lower the U-value the better the energy performance of the window. Always choose a window with a low U-value.

Other criteria, such as certified air leakage rate, solar heat gain coefficient, visible light transmittance, and warranty on the seal should also be taken into consideration when purchasing windows.

In addition to using double-pane, insulated glass units for low U-values, modern window technology also incorporates one or more of the following features in the more efficient, low U-value windows available:

Low-emissivity glass (low-e glass)
Heat-absorbing (tinted) glass
Reflective glass coatings
Gas-filled windows
Low-iron glass

Any one of these features can improve window efficiency; however, it is very common to now find combinations of these features in any particular new windows. Radiant heat gain is a very big factor in the summertime, especially in houses with large window surfaces facing south or west. Low-emissivity glass or any tinted or coated windows help reduce the radiant heating factor to not only keep occupants more comfortable but also to limit solar damage to furnishings.

If you are unable to or just don’t want to upgrade older windows, simply closing the blinds or curtains on the windows is an economical way to keep out the sunlight (and heat) during the day.

Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue.

If you are thinking about buying and selling a home in St. Charles, working with a Real Estate expert can help you make your home a cost-effective, energy efficient home. Sandra Meranda specializes in the St. Charles and St. Louis county home markets. Contact me for help with finding or selling your home.

August 7, 2012 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

Fans Move The Air; Cool The Body

Here is another way to help stay cool in this brutal summer in St. Charles. Ceiling fans are more of a fashion statement than an effective way of cooling your house; however, the air they move can make you feel cooler. Here’s more on ceiling fans from HouseMaster:

Finding a ceiling fan to meet functional needs as well as match any interior decorating style is not a problem these days. Fans come in several sizes with blades made in just about any shape and/or material, sometimes making them the center of attention in a room and not just an accessory. And the style of lighting fixtures that can be added to the fans is equally varied. Prices are surprisingly low for a basic but quite adequate model to over $1,000 for decorator styles. Many now come with remote controls as well.

Aside from style, features to consider when selecting a fan include the size and height of the room. A basic 36-48 inch fan can fit in just about any room; if needed, a larger fan or multiple fans can be used. If the ceiling is high or slanted, as would be the case with a cathedral or vaulted ceiling, a special hanger and extension rod will be needed. Years ago, there were a lot of problems with the mounting components, actually allowing fans to fall. Now however, fans that have been tested and are listed as complying with certain manufacturing standards come with the necessary hardware. That leaves it up to the installer to make sure in is installed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

As far as the function of the fan, a properly installed unit with a good quality motor should be fairly quiet. Fan blade pitch is a consideration for air movement as well as fan noise. The more air moved the noisier it may be. Blade pitch varies from about 11 to 20 degrees. Most units are multi-speed; at high speed, a 15 pitch fan will move considerable amounts of air.

The airflow direction produced by the fan can be changed to accommodate personal preferences for both the heating and/or cooling season. Setting the fan to blow the air down in the summer will provide a strong cooling breeze; while setting it to draw air upwards will pull the cool air toward the ceiling and circulate it around the room for more mild air flow. In the winter, running the fan at low speed with the airflow directed downward is helpful in rooms with high ceilings, as the fan will push the hotter air that accumulates at the ceiling down to the occupied areas. Alternately, setting the fan to pull the warm room air upwards, causes it to wash over the colder outer wall surfaces, reducing the uncomfortable feeling caused by convection cooling on a cold winter day.

Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue.

July 28, 2012 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

Cool Your Wallet As Well As Your House

We’ve had a brutal summer so far in St. Charles, and we’ve still have August around the corner. I came across from these tips from HouseMaster that I wanted to share with you to help cut down energy costs and consumption.

With some proper maintenance and upkeep, as well as some adjustments in living habits, homeowners can greatly cut down on home energy consumption, while increasing efficiency and protecting the environment. HouseMaster advises keeping the following tips in mind to ensure a cost-effective and energy efficient summer:

Avoid opening windows and exterior doors when the air conditioning system is running, unless needed to remove excess humidity or strong cooking odors.
Caulk around windows and door openings to reduce air and moisture leakage.
Make sure attic insulation matches or exceeds the locally recommended minimums, including the cover over the access opening.
Change replaceable air filters and clean re-usable filters before starting up the system and then every month. Like dirty coils, dirty filters restrict air flow, increasing operating costs and reducing the life and efficiency of the system. At a cost of a few dollars, it may be a good idea to change the filter each month when you pay your utility bill.
Avoid using heat producing appliances such as the oven, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer during the day since heat from those appliances typically increases the demands of air conditioning.
Consider closing off supply vents in unused rooms and/or the basement. Located fully or partially below grade, basements are naturally cooler and also benefits from the natural movement of cooler air to the lower levels. (Remember to reopen the registers in the winter for heating needs).
Have your cooling system professionally checked and serviced periodically to keep it functioning properly and efficiently.

Two other important considerations:

Maintain a moderate temperature during the day or other periods when no one is at home — only setting the thermostat to a lower temperature when the house is occupied. Less heat enters the house when the indoor temperature is closer to outdoor temperature, so it is not energy efficient to maintain the same cooler temperature all day long. On the other hand, constantly readjusting the thermostat when the house is occupied is not effective either. There should be two basic setpoints used in most cases, one when the house is occupied, and the other when no one is home. If used, a third night setting generally would fall between the two other settings.
If buying a new unit, make sure the central air conditioning system or window unit is sized properly for the space it is intended to cool, since improperly sized units use more energy than necessary. And when the unit is installed, make sure the outdoor unit is installed level on a firm base away from anything that might obstruct the air flow.

July 10, 2012 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

Relo assistance to short-sellers

Bank of America says it will provide up to $30,000 in relocation assistance to delinquent borrowers who work with the bank to obtain a preapproved short-sale price before submitting purchase offers. In order to be eligible for the payments, short sales must be initiated by the end of this year and close by Sept. 26, 2013.

For more details please read the whole story here Relo assistance to short-sellers

A top real estate agent can help you navigate the short sale process and to be able to take full advantage of the various programs that are available. Sandra Meranda specializes in the St. Charles and St. Louis county home markets. Contact me for help with short sales or other relocation assistance.

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