Should You Move to a Retirement Community After Selling Your Southern New Hampshire Home?

Parker Village, Merrimack

Your kids are grown and gone and without them your Southern New Hampshire home was simply too big and too much work.  So you sold it.  Now you’re asking yourself, “Should I buy a new Southern New Hampshire home in a retirement community?”

The answer depends on what's important to you. Do you crave the company of others? Would you use many of the amenities provided at the community?  If yes, then you might prefer the convenience of a retirement community. 

Many communities offer amenities to attract buyers, such as:

    * Golf courses
    * Swimming pools
    * On-site exercise facilities
    * Trails for hikes and biking
    * Clubs, associations, and various interest groups.

Other things you need to consider before making your decision are:

    * Do you meet the age requirements?  Most senior living communities have a minimum age restriction of 55 for at least one of the residents. Sometimes the age minimum is 60 or 62. If it is 62, then all occupants must be at least that age. Check resident restrictions before purchasing.

    * Do you have enough money in your budget?  Like condo ownership, there are usually Community Association fees that must be paid.  These fees pay for the shared facilities and community maintenance costs.  Make sure your budget covers all housing expenses including the mortgage payment, utilities and all community fees.  

    * Which type of retirement community best fits your needs?
          o Active Adult Communities. These are for those who live independently and have an active lifestyle.  By the way, I just listed a beautiful unit at Parker Village, a 55+ community in Merrimack.  Call me to schedule a showing of this practically brand new Merrimack condo!
          o Independent Living Retirement Communities.  If you can live at home, but still need some help, this type of community may be for you.
          o Continuing Care Communities. These communities have professionals that are able to care for your health needs.

If you’re looking for a new Southern New Hampshire home, whether in a retirement community or not, I can help you find a home that fits your lifestyle and budget.  Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@TeamHeeter.com. 

Winter Blues? 9 Easy Ways to Brighten Your Southern NH Home and Your Spirit

These gray, dreary winter days can really sap your energy and dull your enjoyment of life.  To survive the winter doldrums, brighten your Southern NH home using these easy tips:

   1. Open your Southern New Hampshire home’s window treatments during the day to let the light brighten and warm your room.  Close them again as soon as night falls to retain heat.

   2. Brighten dark rooms with few windows by placing spotlights on the floor behind furniture.

   3. Add a mirror.  Wherever a mirror reflects light in a room, it visually doubles that light.  Place a mirror opposite a window to immediately brighten your space.  No window?  Hang a large mirror above a console table and place a pair of lamps in front of the mirror.

   4. Install higher watt bulbs in rooms that tend to be dark.

   5. Eliminate dark corners by adding recessed lighting.

   6. Use full spectrum lighting in areas where you read, knit or do other up-close work.

   7. Lighten living areas with colorful throws and pillows.

   8. Lift the winter blues by adding flowers and plants to your decor.  Colorful indoor blooming plants include the African violet, Cyclamen, Orchid and desert cactus.  Use tropical flowers to transport yourself mentally to climates where the sun always shines.

   9. Do a little winter cleaning:
         a. Wash the inside of your windows. Fireplace and candle soot coats windows with a dingy film that blocks the sun.
         b. Polish your furniture. Shiny furniture reflects ambient light.
         c. Wash ceiling light fixtures in soapy water. Light is muted when filtered through dirty light fixtures.

Lighting can change how you (and potential buyers) feel about your Southern NH home. It’s one of the easiest and least expensive ways to quickly improve the ambiance of your home.

If you’d like to sell your home, I can help.  Give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@TeamHeeter.com.

5 Myths about Using FHA Loans to Buy Southern New Hampshire Homes Debunked

FHA loans are mortgages issued by qualified lenders, including traditional lenders like Citigroup and Wells Fargo, and insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  The popularity of these loans are skyrocketing and for good reasons.  They feature low down payments, low closing costs and are easier to qualify for.

Despite this popularity, there are many misconceptions surrounding FHA loans.  Here are just a few myths and the facts behind them.

Myth #1: FHA only loans small amounts to buyers of Southern NH homes. 
Fact:  To help stabilize the real estate market, the government recently raised the maximum loan amount from its original cap of $362,790 to $793,750. The FHA loan amount a buyer can borrow varies by state and county and by type of home (Single Family, Two-Family, Three-Family, Four-Family).

Myth #2:  FHA loans are exclusively for lower-income borrowers. 
Fact:  FHA loans are available to everyone. There are no maximum income restrictions.  Potential borrowers must verify income and assets to ensure they can afford the loan.

Myth #3:  FHA loans are exclusively for first-time buyers of Southern NH homes.
Fact:  Whether Southern New Hampshire home buyers are making their first home purchase or their twentieth, they can potentially qualify for an FHA loan.

Myth #4: FHA loans are affiliated with the low-income housing program.
Fact:  FHA loans have nothing to do with the Section 8 Housing Program or any other low-income or subsidized housing programs. FHA loans are simply mortgages insured by FHA.

Myth #5: FHA loans are risky. 
Fact:  FHA loans are often easier to obtain, but that does not make them riskier.  The FHA requires full documentation of borrowers’ income and assets to ensure they can afford the loan.

If you’re ready to look at Southern NH homes to buy, whether you’ll be using an FHA loan or a non-FHA loan, I can help you find your perfect home.  Give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@TeamHeeter.com to get started.

Southern New Hampshire Real Estate Investments: 4 Ways to Make Money

Now is a great time to get into the investment real estate market. Not only does investment property give you a real tangible asset for your portfolio, you can also get Southern New Hampshire real estate investments at great prices right now.

Here are four ways to make money from Southern New Hampshire real estate investments that you might want to consider.

    * Rental properties.  Not everyone enjoys owning rental property, but it is one of the most profitable ways to make money from real estate.  Rental properties give you a constant residual income that lasts as long as you keep the property.

    * Flipping. While the house flipping craze of the 80s and 90s cooled down with the current mortgage and housing crunch, for serious investors who take the time to know what they are doing, it is still a viable means of making money in real estate.  This is typically a shorter term method of real estate investing.

    * Rehabbing. Buying a house to live in while you fix it up and resell it is similar to flipping, except that most rehabbers take longer to renovate the home, and use it as their primary residence while doing the work. There are three reasons this is a more comfortable way to flip Southern New Hampshire real estate investments. First, you have a place to live and don't have to pay a mortgage on another property.  Second, you don't have to feel as pressured to sell in a short period of time the way you do a flip.  Third, you may receive all the homeowner benefits like tax breaks and no capital gain tax.

    * Subdivide. This form of investment requires a little advance preparation and investigation. When you discover a sizeable piece of land at a good price, find out if it is zoned so you can subdivide it.  If it is, you can profitably sell off individual parcels to those who want to build on it.

If you would like more information on ways to invest in real estate that makes sense for you, I can help. Contact me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@TeamHeeter.com.

How to Thaw Frozen Water Pipes in Your Southern New Hampshire Home

Frozen pipes are a serious concern in the bitterly cold winter weather, particularly if your home is left vacant for any length of time (Take note, all you snowbirds out there who go to Florida or other warm climates for winter!).  When a pipe bursts in your Southern New Hampshire home, it spills several hundred gallons of water per hour, which can equate to thousands of dollars of damage to your home.

If you wound up with frozen pipes this winter (and both copper & pvc pipes can freeze), here are some tips to thaw frozen pipes in your Southern New Hampshire home:

     1. Prevent potential flooding.  To prevent flooding, you may want to shut off the main water supply.  If the pipe bursts before it’s thawed, you definitely want to immediately shut off the main water supply.
  
     2. Check for damage.  Check for holes, cracks or breaks along the pipe.  If there is no damage and the pipe is simply frozen, immediately thaw the frozen pipe using tips from #4 below.  If there is damage…

     3. Repair the damage.  Repair methods depend on the damage:

         a. Repair a pinhole.  A pinhole can be repaired by wrapping the pipe with electrical or duct tape.
         b. Repair a hairline crack.  Cover a hairline crack with a pipe clamp.
         c. Repair larger cracks.  You may need to replace that section of pipe, or have a plumber replace it.      But, first, you can try repairing the pipe with a patch kit.

     4. Thaw the pipe.  If you've been able to repair the pipe without replacing it, or the pipe was not damaged, it’s time to thaw the pipe.  Thaw it by applying heat to the frozen section. Always heat the pipe from the faucet toward the frozen area. Never use a torch. Instead use a hairdryer or heat gun on a low setting. You can also place a heat lamp or small electric heater near the pipe or wrap the pipe in heat tape or an electric blanket.  You can even wrap the pipe in towels and pour hot water over them. 

Safety Alerts!
    * When using a hairdryer, heat gun, heat lamp or electric heater, please be aware of wet floors and the potential danger of electric shock. Check the area. If you find potentially dangerous electrocution hazards or extensive damage to pipes, call a plumber for assistance.
    * Never use a flame torch because of the fire hazard it creates. Open flame torches are the most common cause of pipe thawing related home fires.

     5. Insulate pipes. Once you're sure your pipes are damage free and thawed, insulate your pipes, don't set your heat lower than 55 degrees and if you're away, have someone check up on your home daily when the outside temperatures are below freezing or fully winterize your home before you leave.

Get Southern New Hampshire home maintenance tips like this automatically emailed to you at no cost.  Just subscribe to my blog now.

More Than 108 Experts Provide National and New Hampshire Real Estate Forecasts for 2011 and Beyond

From national and NH real estate to the U.S. economy, the predictions for 2011 are in.  Like any predictions, they vary from gloomy to cheery.  Overall, the national real estate forecasts are more positive than negative for 2011 and the New Hampshire forecast looks especially positive.  Below are my 6 top sources for expert predictions and a sampling of what they have to say this year:

  1. MacroMarkets Home Price Expectations Survey predicts:  A cumulative 8.3%  home price increase over the next 3 years (i.e. a *very* gradual increase in home prices).  This survey is of a panel of 103 leading housing economists and real estate experts, half of which expect the beginning of housing recovery in 2011, and half who predict the rebound won't take told until sometime in 2012 or later.

  2. The National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun is projecting: 

• Once businesses pick up spending, job gains will quicken and home sales—fueled by strong affordability and plenty of pent-up demand—will rise.

• 5.2 million existing-home sales in 2011, up from 4.8 million last year.

• Modest improvement in prices—a rise of about 1 percent this year on a national basis. That would be the first in what Yun says will be a series of small but steady gains in the years ahead that will eventually bring home sales back to a normal level. 

• All of the price excesses from the housing bubble have been squeezed out of the market and interest rates remain at historically low levels, making buying attractive now.  

  3. The Joint Center for Housing Studies (click on The State of the Nation's Housing 2010 pdf) says:

• If the past is any guide, the strength and sustainability of the housing recovery will depend most on the bounce back in employment growth.  Unfortunately, most economists predict that the unemployment rate will remain elevated as discouraged workers reenter the labor force amid slow gains in jobs.

• The oldest baby boomers are just turning 64, with millions soon to follow. Despite their losses in wealth caused by the correction in home and stock prices, the baby boomers will drive demand for senior housing suited to active lifestyles as well as for assisted living facilities.

  4. According to the Standard and Poor / Case-Schiller index:  Home prices are expected to rise 12 percent in the next five years. And, according to a survey of economists, that upturn should begin in 2011.
 
  5. WalletPop.com’s prediction for renters in 2011:  The American Dream will include both renting and owning.

• Lifelong renters will begin to buy.  As jobs grow, prices hit bottom or move past their bottom in the handful of appreciating markets, and interest rates start what is likely to be a long, volatile climb up from the all-time lows of 2010, extreme affordability will push even some lifelong renters off the fence and into the market.

• Lifelong owners will begin to rent.  Baby Boomers who have owned homes for decades and lost them at the trough of the job and housing markets will become renters-by-choice.  Retirees will rent their current homes, rather than selling them, move to warmer climes and rent instead of own their retirement homes, at least until the housing market stabilizes and the mortgage market relaxes.

  6. Local demographics and consumer markets expert, Peter Francese says:

•  "Measuring by the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank's index of economic activity, New Hampshire is recovering from this recession better than any other state...."

• "One other important indicator is our unemployment rate, which was 5.4 percent in November. That was the fourth lowest rate in the nation but is probably below 5 percent by now. Our state is clearly moving toward a period of economic growth that can only be good news for our housing market."

• "End of the year data from NNEREN shows that about 850 homes were sold in December 2010, a 2 percent increase over the previous December. The median selling price was $214,900, which was 4 percent higher than December 2009."

• "For the year 2010, the median home selling price was $215,000, which was 1 percent higher than the 2009 median of $212,000. That’s the first annual increase in several years, and when combined with positive indicators discussed above, suggests that home prices have stabilized and are likely to continue on an upward trend this year."

Although no one can be certain what will happen in 2011 - especially for the struggling markets and price points - we can all gain a little hope from these 2011 forecasts.

If you’d like to buy or sell a home in 2011, I can help. Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@TeamHeeter.com for more information.

Easy Bathroom Makeover for Your Southern New Hampshire Home (Updating to Sell or for You)

Before you put your Southern New Hampshire home up for sale, you want to make sure it looks as attractive and modern as possible. Buyers usually walk away from a Southern NH home for sale with outdated color schemes and fixtures. This is especially true of bathrooms. Even if you lack the budget and space to turn your bathroom into a spa-like retreat, you can still give this room a quick facelift.  (And even if you aren't planning on selling in the near future, these tips can help you enjoy your home more without spending lots of money.)

   1. Get creative with color. If you don’t have the time or budget to replace dated ceramic tile, try camouflaging it with towels, rugs, and other accessories for a more modern color scheme. For example, you can pair pink with brown or bright blue with light green.

   2. Replace your fixtures. Brushed aluminum and pewter bathroom fixtures are more modern than the shiny chrome fixtures from years ago. They are also easier to clean because they don’t show water marks as easily.

   3. Find new lighting. A bathroom light can do more than just illuminate the space; it can create an atmosphere. Sconces placed on either side of a mirror tend to look better than harsh overhead light. Track lighting can be arranged to provide light in dark corners of the room.

   4. Accessorize. Put your personal touch on your bathroom with shower curtains, soap dispensers, and scented candles. Don’t feel like you have to stick to the bath accessories aisle, either. A clear vase can display bath salts. Baskets can hold rolled-up towels. A beautiful serving bowl can be filled with potpourri.

Preparing your Southern New Hampshire home for sale is an important part of the process. I can help you prepare your home to sell it faster and for more money. Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@TeamHeeter.com to schedule a free consultation.

5 Steps to Rebuilding Your Credit After a Southern New Hampshire Foreclosure

When you go through a Southern New Hampshire foreclosure, your credit score drops considerably. The good news is that you can rebuild your credit.  Here are a few tips to help:

   1. Create a budget. A budget lets you see exactly how much money you have to spend each month. It also helps you track where you spend your money. Put together a budget that fits your lifestyle and then stick to it.

   2. Build an emergency fund. You never know when an emergency will happen. When you’re prepared for a financial emergency, you’re better protected from financial problems.

   3. Repair your credit.  Review your credit reports from all three credit bureaus.  Dispute any errors you find.  Removing errors from your credit reports help improve your credit.

   4. Establish new credit. This can be tricky after a Southern New Hampshire foreclosure. New credit will give you a chance to prove you can manage debt. However, you certainly don’t want to find yourself owing more than you can possibly pay. If you can get a traditional credit card, your interest rate will be very high, so choose and use your credit cards wisely. An alternative is to apply for a secured credit card, which requires that you put money down as a deposit before credit is extended to you. Use your card regularly but lightly, and you will see your credit start to improve as you make consistent payments.

   5. Have patience. It takes time to rebuild your credit. Don’t expect your credit score to be in the good or excellent range within weeks or even months after your Southern New Hampshire foreclosure. It’s going to stay on your credit report for seven years, so there’s no need to rush.

A foreclosure is not the end of the world. Let me help you plan for and find your next home so it fits your budget. Give me a call at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@TeamHeeter.com.

Is FSBO the Way to Go When Selling Your Southern New Hampshire Real Estate?

Considering selling a home 'by owner' has been a fairly consistent desire in the Southern New Hampshire real estate market over the past few decades. Everyone wants to save a buck and some think they can save a lot of money by selling their homes by themselves.  But would you really save money by doing it yourself?

To start off with it should be said that there are indeed people who can sell their homes for sale by owner (FSBO) (FSBOs accounted for 9% of home sales in 2010), and some may even save a few dollars doing it. These are people who have five important skills:

   1. They have the detailed knowledge of their local real estate market to be able to appropriately price their home to get the best possible price while still attracting enough interest to get it sold.
   2. They know how to market and advertise their Southern New Hampshire real estate both online and offline without spending a fortune.
   2. They know how to pre-qualify buyers to be sure they’re actually able to afford the home.
   3. They are excellent sales people and are great at negotiating without getting emotionally involved.
   4. They know how to execute real estate contracts and all the other associated legal work necessary to sell a home.

Additionally, they need to have plenty of time to:

    * Market and advertise their home.  A lot of time can be spent writing ads, creating flyers, taking photos, and loading everything to a wide variety of real estate websites.
    * Show their home to potential buyers at times that are best for the buyer.
    * Negotiate with buyers.
    * Execute the real estate contract.
    * Follow up on any contingencies the buyer may have requested.

If you do not have those five skills or the extra time needed to perform all the necessary tasks, selling your Southern New Hampshire real estate by owner probably isn’t a good idea for you.

Instead, you can hire a real estate agent to do it all for you.  A professional real estate agent is more than just someone who puts their name on a sign on your front lawn.

    * They have significant training and experience in determining the appropriate list price for a home.
    * They are the person who is your first line of defense when it comes to dealing with buyers. They know how to be sure the person coming to look at your house really has the qualifications to actually make a purchase, not just some Sunday shopper.
    * They also have the marketing know-how and the advertising power of a real estate company behind them.
    * They have vast connections and relationships with professionals such as home inspectors, title offices and mortgage companies.  They work with these people many times a month year in and year out.
    * They’re skilled negotiators.
    * They understand what legal work has to be done and how to keep it on track. 

Obviously, a professional real estate agent saves you time, but they also save you money.  Statistics show that homes sell for more money when sold by an agent, especially in today’s real estate market.  In fact, in 2010, the typical FSBO home sold for $140,000 compared to $199,300 for agent-assisted home sales.  That's quite a bit more of a difference than just a 5 or 6% commission! 

How can that be?  People who buy a FSBO know you’re saving money on commission and expect you to pass those savings on to them, and since most FSBO sellers aren't able to reach a broad enough base of buyers to have the possibility of multiple offers, they often get stuck with bargain hunters.

If you’d like more information on how a real estate agent can help save you time and money by selling your home, give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Source for 2010 FSBO stats: 2010 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

6 Snow Safety Tips for Your Southern New Hampshire Home or Vacation Property

With snow in 49 of the 50 states today, it seems appropriate to share some snow safety tips for those who need to venture out into the weather, either for work or an important errand.  Although there hasn't been much snow in Southern New Hampshire up until now this winter, we still have many more months of winter to deal with.

1.  Dress in layers.  Ideally, the layer against your skin should be made of a synthetic microfiber that wicks moisture away from your body.  Avoid cotton, which gets wet and stays wet. Top the wicking layer with something warm like fleece and finish with a jacket that’s windproof.

2.  Wear boots with good traction.  Make sure they aren't too tight, either because they're too small or because you have on bulky socks.

3.  Wear sunglasses and sunscreen.  A sunny day in winter is often brighter and more dangerous to your eyes and skin than summer sun.  That’s because of the reflection off the snow.  So before leaving your Southern New Hampshire home, slip on sunglasses and generously apply sunscreen.

4.  Shovel with care or hire it out.  If you’re not in tip-top shape to shovel the snow from your Southern New Hampshire home’s driveway, hire a neighborhood teen to do it.  You’ll give that teen some much wanted income, and save yourself from strained muscles at the least and a heart attack at the worst.  If you do not have a history of heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure or any other ailment that could result in injury or death, you may decide to shovel the snow yourself.  Here are a few tips for safe snow shoveling:

    * Stay well hydrated.  Don’t drink caffeine or alcohol during or immediately before shoveling.
    * Take frequent breaks.  Do not remove deep snow all at once; take off an inch or two at a time.  Preferably, start when the snow is not yet heavily packed, and shovel periodically if the snow continues to fall.
    * Pick a shovel with a smaller blade.  This puts less strain on your body because you lift less snow at once.
    * Use a back-friendly shoveling technique.  Keep the shovel close to your body.  Bend from your knees, not your back.  Tighten your stomach muscles.  Do not twist. Instead, move your body so your feet face the direction in which you’re shoveling.  Do not throw the snow over your shoulder; throw it in front of you. 
    * Check your body.  Are you experiencing shortness of breath, dizziness or chest pains?  Stop immediately and seek medical help.

5.  Prepare your car for snowy conditions.  Clean all the snow off your car before leaving your Southern New Hampshire home.   Make sure your windshield wipers and headlights are cleaned off and working.  Stock your car with a shovel, extra clothes, a blanket, a flashlight, snacks, water, an ice scraper and wood ashes or sand for traction in case you get stuck in the snow.

6.  Go slowly.  Whether walking or driving, give yourself additional time to get to your destination.  The roads, driveways and sidewalks get slick, and even a generous amount of salt can leave behind spots of ice and snow.

Stay safe and warm this winter!  If you’d like to buy a safe, warm Southern New Hampshire home, I can help.  Give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

National and Southern New Hampshire News Roundup from December 2010

Frequently, there are news stories that impact our Southern New Hampshire real estate market.  Here are two I want to share with you this month:

Rising Interest Rates Could Get Buyers Moving

Rising interest rates may finally push Southern New Hampshire real estate buyers off the fence and into the market.  (In fact, December and the early part of January have been much busier than normal for the winter months.)

In December, after President Obama agreed to extend tax cuts for two years, the financial markets indicated this event would most likely push mortgage interest rates higher.

Analysts predict that buyers will move quickly when it looks like rates are going up and are unlikely to come down. "Once people see this might actually be the bottom, they’ll go for it," says Paul Dales, U.S. economist at Capital Economics Ltd.

For an example of interest rate increases, note what happened in December, 2010.  

    * On December 2, the 30-year fixed interest rate hovered around 4.46 percent.
    * One week later, on December 9, it was up to 4.61 percent.
    * Then by December 26, the 30-year fixed interest rate was up again to 4.875 percent.

National Foreclosure Rates Fall

Has the real estate market hit bottom?  One sign that it has is RealtyTrac’s report that foreclosures fell sharply in November.  RealtyTrac’s November, 2010, U.S. Foreclosure Market Report™ indicated a 21 percent decrease in foreclosure activity from the previous month and a 14 percent decrease from November, 2009.

According to RealtyTrac, a mortgage research firm, foreclosure activity decreased dramatically in November with fewer than 300,000 properties receiving a foreclosure notice for the first time since February, 2009.

While foreclosures typically decrease in November, and we’re sure to see a rebound in foreclosure activity, these statistics are not to be dismissed because they show the lowest level of foreclosure activity since November, 2008.  Additionally, both the 21 percent month-over-month decrease and 14 percent year-over-year decrease in foreclosure activity were the highest drops recorded since RealtyTrac began publishing the U.S. Foreclosure Report in January, 2005.

Want to know more about the Southern New Hampshire real estate market?  Give me a call at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com to discuss our real estate market.  I look forward to hearing from you.

4 Types of Mortgage Lenders for Your Southern New Hampshire Home Loan

One of the least understood aspects of Southern New Hampshire home loans is the different types of lenders.  Many people assume they have to get a home loan from a traditional bank.  Not so.  There are many different types of lenders. 

Here are the main types of mortgage lenders and how they function:

   1. Mortgage Bankers: Mortgage bankers are loan originators that operate with the sole objective to sell the loan they create to another source. Even though they will sell the loan they must have the ability to finance the loan in the first place and hold it until it is sold.

   2. Mortgage Brokers: This type of lender does not originate loans for your Southern New Hampshire home, they prepare the paperwork to submit to multiple lending institutions and get offers they will present to you to choose from. Their offers may come from any of the other types of mortgage lenders.

   3. Banks and Savings & Loans: These are the most common traditional sources of mortgage loans.  They use the backing of their depositors to fund mortgages.  In turn, they use the money paid by borrowers to repay the depositors’ interest for allowing them to use the money as an investment.

   4. Credit Unions: Credit Unions operate in largely the same way a bank or savings and loan does by using money from a pool of depositors to finance investments in the form of mortgages and other types of loans. The difference is that most credit unions are operated out of a collective pool of closely associated people generally through a work place or professional organization.

If you’d like help determining the best type of mortgage lender for your Southern New Hampshire home purchase, give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

2011 New Year’s Resolutions for Southern New Hampshire Home Owners

Most people make New Year’s resolutions to improve themselves.  This year, consider making a few New Year’s Resolutions to improve your Southern New Hampshire home.  Here are 6 ideas to choose from:

   1. Renovate.  Choose one project you really want to do, and get it done this year.  Add on a deck, make minor kitchen renovations or install a new bathroom floor.

   2. Practice home safety.  Practice fire safety by ensuring your smoke alarms work and holding fire drills. Prevent poisoning by keeping cleaners, medications and beauty products in a place where children can’t reach them and using child safety locks.  Avoid falls by having bright lights over stairs and steps and on landings. Also, keep stairs clear of clutter.

   3. Test for radon.  Radon is a significant contaminant that affects indoor air quality worldwide. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Even if you live in an area that typically doesn’t have radon problems, the US EPA recommends testing your home for radon because testing is the only way to know your Southern New Hampshire home's radon levels.

   4. Do one thing to go green.  Change to Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL), install a low-flow shower head, use green cleaning products or start recycling.

   5. Check water quality. Drinking water quality varies from location to location in New Hampshire, depending on the condition of the source water from which it is drawn and the treatment it receives. Every community water supplier must provide an annual report to its customers. Read your report to find out what your water contains. 

Private wells and homes drawing water from other sources such as lakes and rivers are not regulated. If your drinking water does not come from a public water system, you alone are responsible for assuring that it is safe. Routine water testing is essential.

   6. Reduce your utility bills.  Review your electric and gas expenses for the previous 12 months and make a plan to reduce them. There are many ways to save on energy bills:  increase your insulation, weather strip windows and doors, purchase energy efficient appliances, install energy efficient windows and adjust home temperatures.

Automatically receive home owner tips like these when you subscribe to my blog.  It’s free and fast.  Just click to subscribe.