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South Boundary Historic residence, circa 1902 this rare opportunity to own a beautifully restored home located on one of the most desirable Avenues in Aiken. fabulous professionally landscaped yard with 2 car garage.Please call Susan @ 803 645 8881 with any questions.
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Don’t Lag on Winter Home Maintenance
Homes may require some extra attention when it comes to maintenance to protect itself against the cold, harsh weather.
A recent article at Realty Times offers up some maintenance tips for the winter months:
Keep out drafts. Twice a year check your windows and doors for any air leaks, and add caulking, if needed. If extra caulking won’t suffice and you don’t have the money for a replacement, consider adding a storm door to keep out drafts or at least purchasing a draft blocker, which lies at the bottom of your door to block out the cold air.
Check the heating system. “Central heat and air units need to be checked over,” the Realty Times article notes. “When a unit is well-serviced it will save you fuel and thus money.”
Assess the ductwork. Make a trip to the attic to ensure that any parts haven’t become disconnected as well as a critter hasn’t chewed through any duct work.
Clean the gutters. Gutters can become clogged of leaves or other debris. When that happens, they can hold water, which can eventually rot away the siding or roof of your home. Make sure to keep the gutters clean.
Prevent freezing pipes. “When the weather drops below freezing you need to keep your pipes from freezing,” the Realty Times article notes. “Let faucets drip and unhook all outdoor hoses.”
Read more winter maintenance tips at Realty Times. NAR’s consumer site HouseLogic.com also has thorough tips and information for seasonal maintenance that you can provide to your customers and clients.
Source: “Winter Home Maintenance,” Realty Times (Jan. 19, 2012)
Front Gate Properties, We’re selling the BEST Real Estate in Aiken, SC
Mortgage Applications Surge 23%
Record-low mortgage rates sparked a wave in mortgage applications for home purchase and refinancings last week, increasing more than 20 percent in a week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports.
For the week ending Jan. 13, mortgage applications for refinancing applications jumped 26.4 percent while home purchase applications, a future gauge for home buying, increased 10.3 percent.
“With mortgage rates reaching new lows, refinance volume jumped,” Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, said in a statement. “Purchase activity also increased as buyers returned to the market after the holiday season.”
Freddie Mac reported that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged a record low of 3.89 percent for the week ending Jan. 12. For six consecutive weeks, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages — the most popular choice among home buyers — has averaged below 4 percent.
Source: “Mortgage Applications Surge on Refinancing Demand,” Reuters (Jan. 18, 2012)
Front Gate Properties, We’re selling the BEST Real Estate in Aiken, SC
Home Inspector Sues Agent for Calling Him ‘Total Idiot’
A Lincoln, Neb., area housing inspector says he resents being described as a “total idiot” in an e-mail that was reportedly sent to more than 400 real estate agents, and he’s suing a real estate agent and her company for the name-calling.
According to the lawsuit, home inspector Matthew Steinhausen alleges that real estate agent Shelly Nitz was asked for feedback from agents at her company, Wood Bros. Realty and HomeServices of Nebraska, about Steinhausen.
In response, Steinhausen says in court documents that Nitz responded in an e-mail to the 400 or so agents: “He did an inspection in Seward for the agent that sold one of my listings. I will never let him near one of my listings ever again. Total idiot.”
In the defamation lawsuit, Steinhausen says the comment has greatly hurt his business and has resulted in more than $50,000 in damages.
“When I lose work because of a falsehood e-mailed en masse accusing me of being an idiot, it’s infuriating,” Steinhausen told the Lincoln Journal Star. Steinhausen told the Lincoln Journal Star that he felt Nitz was upset over an August 2008 inspection he did of one of her listings that she may have felt was overly critical.
Nitz and HomeServices have declined to comment publicly on the lawsuit.
Source: “Nebraskan Sues over ‘Total Idiot’ Description,” Associated Press (Jan. 17, 2012) and “Idiot Comment Spurs Lawsuit,” The Lincoln Journal Star (Jan. 17, 2012)
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