Jamie Mehrhoff’s Blog

A recent survey and a rate increase could mean more competition for homes

Recent indication is that first time home buyers are getting tired of sitting on the sidelines. According to a recent online poll taken by the National Apartment Association, 17 percent of renters plan to make the jump to home ownership in the next year; 41 percent of the 2,041 respondents planned to be home owners within two years. Only 31 percent planned to still be paying rent five years from now.

Another factor that could very soon contribute to an increase in home buying could be rising mortgage costs. Fixed-rate mortgage rates rose to 6.32 percent, the highest it has been since October. After months of aggressively dropping interest rates, many lenders are worried that the Fed will be forced to raise rates back up. As interest rates rise, so do mortgage rates. According to a press release on freddiemac.com, Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist said that, “Mortgage rates jumped this week after a number of Federal Reserve officials, most notably Chairman [Ben] Bernanke and Vice Chair [Donald] Kohn, expressed concern over a threat of inflation.” We may very well be seeing the beginning of the end of the super-low mortgage and potential buyers may realize that with rising rates, now may be the time to jump in. Nothaft added, “Moreover, pending home sales for April unexpectedly rose by 6.3% and mortgage applications for home purchases … were also up last week.”

I constantly find myself saying “I don’t have enough time.”  It’s true, we’re all busier than we’ve ever been before.  I can prove it by the number of people I see driving to work eating their breakfast, putting on make-up or shaving their beard.

I’ve discovered some ways to better utilize my time and feel good about myself at the end of the day. 

When you’re watching a television show, here’s what you can do during the commercial breaks (if you’re not fast-forwarding through the commercials - thanks DVR!):

• Dust under your couch.
• Pick up toys (children’s and dog’s) and put them away.
• Organize magazines under the coffee table or in the magazine rack.  Throw away or recycle the old ones.
• Do a few crunches…a few during each commercial break can really add up!

 Popping popcorn?  Don’t waste those 3 minutes!

• Organize mail:  make a bills pile and throw away any junk mail or unwanted advertisements.
• Empty the trash.
• Put away clean dishes from or put dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
• Sort through your fridge for expired foods and old leftovers.

I’ve found I have a little more time to get done the things I need to…and I don’t have to sacrifice my whole weekend to do them.

• For those difficult to remove hard water spots, try using Coca Cola.
• When polishing chrome or polished brass plumbing fixtures, use Turtle wax.
• If you don’t have any silver polish, use baking soda and water to make a paste. 
• To prevent water spotting on mirrors or shower doors, properly apply Rain-X.
• For shower door tracking cleaning, pour full strength vinegar onto the track.  Let it soak for a few minutes and then rinse. 
• A red wine stain on the carpet can be removed with white wine.
• Using Baker’s Joy or Pam on squeaky door hinges; it will lubricate them without leaving the oily residue.
• Avoid storing touch-up paint in the garage, as it could freeze in the winter if the garage door is left open.

Even in your own home, you and your family are at risk for injury.  Just walking down dark basement stairs in soft socks sets the stage for a fall.  So does climbing atop an unstable chair to reach high objects or to change a light bulb.  “Falls are the most common accident in the home,” says Liberty Mutual Executive Vice President Paul Condrin.  In fact, reports Alan C. McMillan, president of the National Safety Council, in 2002, falls and other home accidents – burns, electrical injuries and more – accounted for more than eight million disabling injuries and 33,000 deaths.  Equally startling, more than four million children under the age of 14 are injured at home each year.  But the vast majority of these accidents are preventable.  All it takes is some knowledge about home safety. 

“Better identification of hazards and increased attention to regular home maintenance can go a long way toward reducing the number of injuries and losses,” Condrin said.  That’s why Liberty Mutual and the National Safety Council teamed up to produce a special educational program – “Home Safety: How to Make Your Home a Safe Haven.”  This important and interactive program includes an educational booklet and your choice of a 10-minute video or a CD-ROM you customize to your personal situation.  But what can you do to make your home safer right now?  Following the guidelines outlined below is a great place to start.

Evaluate Your Space 

• The first step in making your home a safer place is to take a tour, looking for potential dangers.  Then you need to know how to correct them.  Examine every room – your kitchen, living areas, bedrooms, baths and utility room.  Be sure to check the garage too.  To help you start, the Home Safety program recommends you:

• Reduce your risk for falls by keeping stairs and halls well lit and by installing and using sturdy handrails.  Use slip-resistant backing for all area rugs.

• Ensure electrical safety – replace frayed or damaged electrical cords, avoid overloading sockets and never run cords under rugs or hang them from nails.

• Lessen the risk for fire by having your chimney and fireplace inspected and cleaned annually.  Dispose of ashes in a proper metal container – never in a paper bag (even if the ashes seem cold).

7 Steps for a Safe Basement 

The lower level of your home should be as free of hazards as your main living areas.  Check for:

1. Burned out light bulbs in the stairwell.  It’s easy to get tripped up on the stairs if they lack adequate lighting.
2. Broken or loose handrails.  Basement stairs should be equipped with a sturdy handrail.
3. Clutter on the stairwells.  To prevent falls, avoid putting anything at the top or bottom of the stairs, such as boxes or holiday decorations.
4. Area rugs without proper backing.  Throw rugs can slide right out from under you, so make sure all your carpeting is secure and slip-resistant.
5. Faulty valves or switches.  All equipment must be in working order – in case you need to turn off your gas, electricity or water.  Be sure all adults in the household know how to operate them.
6. Non-insulated water pipes that can freeze or burst.  Use foam pipe covers on all exposed pipes.
7. Protruding nails.  Check that nails in exposed wood are not loose or sticking out.

Prevent Kitchen Mishaps 

• Shut cabinet drawers and doors to prevent trips and falls.  Also, if you have kids or frequent young visitors, install child safety locks.

• Keep household cleaners and other chemicals away from children and food.  Be sure these products stay in their original, labeled containers to avoid confusion.

• Use an approved step stool – not a kitchen chair or other makeshift option – to reach objects in high cabinets.

• Avoid wearing loose fitting clothes that could catch fire while cooking.

• Turn cookware handles inward on the kitchen range to avoid tip-overs and spills.

• Store a fully charged fire extinguisher near your cooking area, and check its pressure at least once a year.

By following these simple guidelines, you can dramatically reduce the chances of having a serious accident in your home.  The time that you invest now will be well worth it if you can prevent hazards before they strike.

By:  Suzanne Bennett

 Suzanne Bennett is a Personal Sales Representative with Liberty Mutual Group in Saint Louis,
Missouri.  Liberty Mutual is the nation’s eighth-largest provider of personal lines of insurance products in the
U.S.  The company sells full lines of coverage for automobile, homeowners, valuable possessions and personal liability insurance.  Call (314) 843-0600, ext. 391 for a no obligation quote.

By Suzanne Bennett

Did you know that more Americans die from fires than all natural disasters combined,  or that fire can spread throughout an entire house in less than five minutes?*  Prevention is your best defense against fire.  This article offers valuable tips to protect your family and your home.  But don’t procrastinate.  By the time you finish reading this article, a home fire will have erupted somewhere in the United States.**

Common Causes of Home Fires 

Three in every ten reported home fires start in the kitchen, and cooking fires are the leading cause of home fire injuries.**  Do not leave stoves, toaster ovens, and other heat-producing appliances unattended while cooking.  Wear short, close fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking to prevent loose fabric from coming into contact with the burners.  Also, do not leave combustible materials on the stovetop, including towels, potholders, papers, or food which can ignite.

In the colder months, heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires from December through February.  Portable and fixed-space heaters including fireplaces, chimneys, and chimney connections accounted for roughly two of every three (64%) home heating fires and five of every six (84%) of associated deaths.**  A space heater is dangerous and should not be used as a long-term heating solution.  If you do use a space heater, leave a three-foot clearance area around the heater, and turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep.  Place heaters on the floor, but out of traffic pathways.  Purchase a space heater that has the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) label and automatic shut-off features.  Consider replacing metal-rod and quartz radiant heaters, which can generate enough heat to start a fire, with safer ceramic heaters.

What’s the best type of fire extinguisher to keep in your home?  Type ABC, because it’s multipurpose.  The other types are for specific kinds of fires:  Type A is used on combustible materials, such as paper, wood and cloth;  Type B is for use on flammable liquid fires, including kitchen grease;  Type C is for use on fires involving ‘live’ electrical equipment.

Only use a fire extinguisher on a small, contained fire after you have called the fire department, made sure everyone has left the house, and have received training on how to use it.

Effective

Can Save Lives 

When it comes to safely evacuating your home in the event of fire, every second counts.  That’s why it’s important for your family to create and practice an escape route.  First, plan two ways out of every room, and make sure that windows and doors open easily.  In homes with two or more stories, be sure to include an accessible portable fire escape ladder on each floor.  If you family includes infants, toddlers, the elderly, or physically or mentally challenged, appoint someone to help family members who may need assistance.  Also, designate a central outside meeting place that is located away from the house and driveway and inform all family members (especially young children) that they should not reenter the house, even for pets.

Make a commitment to practice your escape plan twice a year, preferably at night, which is when most fatal fires occur.  Daylight savings time changes are a good time to do so.  Lastly, prior to the drill, remind children not to hide when they hear the smoke alarm.  Instead, they should crawl on the ground, following their designated escape route to safety.

Suzanne Bennett is a Sales Representative with Liberty Mutual Group in Saint Louis,
Missouri.  Liberty Mutual is the nation’s eighth-largest provider of personal lines of insurance products in the
U.S.  The company sells full lines of coverage for automobile, homeowners, valuable possessions and personal liability insurance.  Call 314-843-0600, ext., 391, for a no-obligation quote. 

*Sources: 
U.S. Fire Administration; Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

**Sources:  National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): U.S. Fire Administration:  A home fire in the
United States is reported every 1.5 minutes.

According to Forbes Magazine, St. Louis is one of the most affordable places to live well in the United States.  That’s right!  The Gateway City ranks number 4 on the list, just underneath Minneapolis, MN, Indianapolis, IN and Cincinnati, OH.

What is it that makes St. Louis’ housing market so appealing?  It’s stability.  When other areas of the country are fluctuating each year, St. Louis’ real estate market is for the most part unwavering.  You’ll also find “smartest place to live,” “best place to live,” “best cities for singles” on its resume. 

Plus, you get a pretty nice selection!  Seventy-seven percent of homes for sale in the area are within the means of the median income-earning household.  It’s no wonder why St. Louis is such a great place to live!

When selling a home by yourself, you should be conscious of security for you, your family and your home.

Buyers coming through with Real Estate agents are accompanied and usually pre-qualified.  When you have prospective buyers that are not using agents, ask yourself these questions:

• Will your home be available for showing during the day?  If yes, who will be showing it?
• Will your home be available to show at odd hours?  If so, how late?  Will your children be allowed to show the home?  Will you husband/wife be showing the home alone?
• If you’re alone and showing a prospective buyer your home when the phoen or the doorbell rings, do you leave the stranger alone to answer?
• Are all entry ways secured and locked at all times?
• If the home has a security system, should you show it to prospective buyers?
• Are emergency numbers and the telephone easily accessed if needed quickly?

Tips to Remember:

• Do no let anyone know your schedule, when you won’t be there to show, etc.
• Do not set an appointment with anyone unless they have given you their name and number and you have called them back to verify the number.  Ask for a form of ID on arrival.
• Put away all valuables, especially jewelry, money, etc.
• Put away all prescriptions, chemicals, etc.  If weapons are in the home, make sure they are locked away or secured.
• If you allow strangers into your home, do so during daylight hours and have a spouse, friend, neighbor, etc. accompany you.
• Be conscious of SAFETY when selling on your own!

For more information about safety and selling your home, call Jamie at 314.775.2711.

Have you ever wondered how much home you could afford?  Below are some basics for getting a home loan. 

Down Payment Requirements:

Most loans today require little or no downpayment depending on the type and terms of the loan.  If you are able to come up with a down payment, you may be eligible to take advantage of special fast-track programs and eliminate mortgage insurance.

Closing Costs:

You will be required to pay fees for loan processing and other closing costs.  These fees must be paid in full at the final settlement, unless you are able to include them in your financing.  Typically, total closing costs will range between 2-5% of  your mortgage loan.

Qualifying for the Mortgage:

Most lenders require your monthly payment range be no more than 25-28% of your gross monthly income.  Your mortgage payment to the lender includes the following items:

• Principal on the loan (P)
• Interest on the loan (I)
• Property taxes (T)
• Homeowner’s insurance (I)

Your total monthly PITI and all debts (from installments to revolving charge accounts) should range between 33-38% of your gross monthly income.  These key factors determine your ability to secure a home loan: 

• Credit report
• Assets
• Income
• Property Value

Find out how much you can afford:  http://www.jamieshomes.com/frame.shtml?http://nt.mortgage101.com/partner-scripts/calculators.asp?p=z57139827

When driving down a street, have you ever noticed how some houses just seem to have it all together…from paint, to landscaping, to proper proportions?  That quality, often called curb appeal, can be somewhat indefinable.  From a real estate standpoint, curb appeal makes a home more valuable and easier to sell.  For a homeowner, it brings satisfaction.

 What about your home?  When you look at it impartially, does it immediately bring a strong first impression?  If not, what’s missing?  Here are four techniques that are guaranteed to liven up your home’s curb appeal.

1. Clean up.  This is often one of the cheapest yet most important things you can do to improve the look of your home.  You can make a big difference just by picking up the front yard, putting away unused items, such as lawn furniture, and cleaning up the driveway.
2. Prune and plant.  Cleaning up your landscaping is another fairly simple step.  You can enhance their beauty just by pruning your trees and shrubs.  When planting, use trees to create focal points.  Tall shrubs can frame and accent interesting features of your house and yard, and conceal unsightly garbage cans, structures, and the like.  Low plants and groundcover tie everything together.  Brightly colored flowers in the foreground are a sure way to make a yard look lively.
3. Wash the siding.  If you can work safely from the ground or ladder, this is a job you can do yourself; otherwise call a handyman or professional pressure washing service.  If doing the cleaning yourself, protect stone and brick walls, patios, and plants with plastic sheeting.  Sweep off dirt, working from the eaves to the base.  Hose off the walls, again working from the top down.  If necessary, scrub them with a stiff-bristle brush attached to a long handle, using a mixture of water and non-phosphate detergent.  If you decide to use a pressure washer yourself, be very careful to keep the nozzle moving (holding it in one place will remove the paint).
4. Paint.  If cleaning doesn’t revive your home’s paint job, painting–which is relatively inexpensive–will give you plenty of bang for your buck, transforming your home with an entirely fresh, new look.  If painting the siding is a bit beyond your means, consider painting just the trim.

Discover the newest and simplest way to search the latest homes for sale.

 www.JamiesHomes.com

• Search all of the St. Louis and surrounding areas
• Create custom searches and edit criteria
• Inquire about listings and request showings
• Calculate monthly payments on each property
• Be alterted immediately when new properties are available
• Access your saved searches and favorites folder at any time
• Email your favorites to your agent, co-buyer or friends
• Mouse over houses on map for summary info (photo, price, address, beds, baths, sq ft & year built)
• Map listings from your searches
• Print flyers that include photos and descriptions