Monthly Archives: September 2013

5 September Home Improvement Projects From Bob Vila | North Salem Homes

As another summer slips away, the days seem to straddle the seasons, alternating between warm breezes and brisk winds. So, too, do home improvement tasks. This month, the focus is primarily on the peripheries — clearing clutter in the garage, brightening a lackluster entry, gathering valuable seeds from the garden, replacing tired bathroom fixtures and closing up that vacation home.

Source: Carney Logan Burke Architects

Source: Carney Logan Burke Architects

No. 1: Close up the vacation house

For homeowners fortunate enough to have a vacation retreat, Labor Day weekend signals the start of the annual ritual of closing up the seasonal getaway. Although best practices vary by region, if you have an unwinterized rural cottage, beach retreat or mountain cabin, there are a few basic things you can do to help safeguard your house through the cold months ahead:

  • A few weeks before you leave, begin evaluating the condition of your home top to bottom, inside and out. Find out what broke over the summer (or what’s about to) and arrange to have repairs made. Tradesmen in towns with seasonal occupants are usually inclined to negotiate when the population ebbs.
  • On the exterior, check the foundation, siding and trim for cracks and crevices that could let in moisture or provide an entry point for unwelcome creatures. Closely examine where the roof overhang meets the house. Pests as teeny as wasps and as large as squirrels often seek to nest in the solar-warmed space of house attics.
  • Clear the gutters so that rain and snowmelt run freely away from the base of the house and, using a ladder or binoculars, inspect the roof for raised shingles, making repairs if necessary. Another prudent defense is to trim back any tree branches near the house that could cause damage in a strong storm.
  • Electricity should be shut off at the main, but leave on circuits that control such essentials as the alarm system. Also be sure to unplug appliances, especially the large and expensive ones, just in case lightning strikes. Gas can be turned off at the main, but for many homeowners, it’s probably safer and easier to call the utility and temporarily suspend service.
  • All water pipes should be drained. Accomplish this by turning off the main water supply, opening all faucets and leaving them open. Remember also to drain the supply hoses into indoor outlets like the dishwasher and outdoor outlets like the sprinkler system. If winter conditions are brutal in your area, take the precaution of hiring a professional plumber to do the work.
  • Inside, clean out closets and cabinets, leaving them open to ventilate. Remove and store all bedding in plastic (throw in moth balls if you have them) and, for protection against burrowing mice, cover all mattresses.
  • The kitchen deserves time and attention because food can attract animals and canned goods can explode if they freeze. Store nonperishable food in metal containers and relocate cans to the basement if possible, or take them back to your primary residence.

Go easy on yourself and get started with the close-down process sooner rather than later. Shutting the house properly in the fall helps ensure that your summer abode is healthy and sound upon your return in the spring.

Source: kohler.com

Source: kohler.com

No. 2: Update the bath

If you have a dated bath in need of new fixtures, you’ll have no trouble finding attractive replacements that suit both your taste and budget. But if you’re planning to replace the faucet yourself, be sure to take into consideration the configuration of your sink or vanity. Single-hole sinks fit either single-handled or smaller two-handled faucets. Center-set sinks feature three holes drilled within 4 inches and accommodate single-handled designs or two-handled faucets mounted on a plate or escutcheon. Widespread sinks, which have three separate holes at least 8 inches apart, accept larger two-handled designs. Knowing which configuration you have will make the replacement an easy DIY endeavor.

No. 3: Take advantage of the garden

Many veteran gardeners save seeds almost compulsively. Why? Because if you harvest the seeds from your own garden, you not only save money but also ensure that you have the varieties you love. And, saving seeds is simple enough for even novice gardeners. For flowers, cut heads once their seed pods have dried (or shortly before), then hang them upside down in a paper bag to dry. After allowing enough time for drying, remove the seeds, separating them as much as possible from the chaff and other plant material. For fruits and vegetables, harvest fruit seeds once the fruit has become fully ripe or overripe. Before setting the seeds out to dry, give them a thorough wash. Adjust your approach with podded vegetables like beans and peas. Let these seeds dry in their pods on the plants before you gather them. With a little time and preparation, you will have the makings for a successful planting season come spring.

 

 

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-09-09

 

Home prices hold steady in August | Mt Kisco Real Estate

The median price of homes for sale on realtor.com held steady at $199,900 in August from July, but were up 6.39 percent from August 2012, according to a monthly real estate trends report from realtor.com.

Inventory stood at 1.98 million in August, a 2.5 percent dip from a year ago and a 0.93 percent increase from July’s number, realtor.com data showed. Homes were on the market for a median of 92 days in August, down 8 percent from a year ago, but up 8.24 percent from July.

“Where we have seen significant volatility in many markets, including double-digit declines in inventory as well as increases in median price for both yearly and monthly views, we are now looking at a housing market that much more closely resembles ‘normal,’ ” said Steve Berkowitz, CEO of realtor.com operator Move Inc., in a statement.

 

Source: realtor.com

 

read more at: http://www.inman.com/wire/home-prices-hold-steady-in-august/#sthash.UWs9E1TZ.dpuf

Solar Panel Is Next Granite Countertop for Homebuilders | Waccabuc Real Estate

Solar panels are the next granite countertops: an amenity for new homes that’s becoming a standard option for buyers in U.S. markets.

At least six of 10 largest U.S. homebuilders led by KB Home include the photovoltaic devices in new construction, according to supplier SunPower Corp. (SPWR) Two California towns are mandating installations, and demand for the systems that generate electricity at home will jump 56 percent nationwide this year, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

People view a model a Garbett Homes net zero energy house, which produces as much energy as it consumes, in Daybreak, Utah, on Aug. 14, 2013. Photographer: George Frey/Bloomberg

“In the next six months, homebuilders in California and the expensive-energy states will be going solar as a standard, and just incorporating it into the cost of the house like any other feature,” Jim Petersen, chief executive officer of the PetersenDean Inc., the largest closely held U.S. roofing and solar contractor, said in an interview.

With high-quality components, state-of-the-art monitoring and superior customer service, switching to solar power with Linked Solar Preston is the smart choice.

Lashing panels to roofs during construction is about 20 percent cheaper than after a house is built. Homeowners who can afford the extra $10,000 to $20,000 cost in return for free power threaten the business of traditional utilities such as Edison International of California or Kansas’ Westar Energy Inc.

Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor » Blog Archive » Solar Panel Is Next Granite Countertop for Homebuilders | Waccabuc Real Estate.

Solar Panel Is Next Granite Countertop for Homebuilders | Waccabuc Real Estate

Solar panels are the next granite countertops: an amenity for new homes that’s becoming a standard option for buyers in U.S. markets.

At least six of 10 largest U.S. homebuilders led by KB Home include the photovoltaic devices in new construction, according to supplier SunPower Corp. (SPWR) Two California towns are mandating installations, and demand for the systems that generate electricity at home will jump 56 percent nationwide this year, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

People view a model a Garbett Homes net zero energy house, which produces as much energy as it consumes, in Daybreak, Utah, on Aug. 14, 2013. Photographer: George Frey/Bloomberg

“In the next six months, homebuilders in California and the expensive-energy states will be going solar as a standard, and just incorporating it into the cost of the house like any other feature,” Jim Petersen, chief executive officer of the PetersenDean Inc., the largest closely held U.S. roofing and solar contractor, said in an interview.

Lashing panels to roofs during construction is about 20 percent cheaper than after a house is built. Homeowners who can afford the extra $10,000 to $20,000 cost in return for free power threaten the business of traditional utilities such as Edison International of California or Kansas’ Westar Energy Inc.

 

 

Solar Panel Is Next Granite Countertop for Homebuilders – Bloomberg.

Construction spending grows in July | Cross River Real Estate

Construction spending in the U.S. grew in July to its highest level in four years, due to gains in residential real estate, Bloomberg News reports.

Outlays climbed 0.6% to a $900.8 billion annual rate, the most since June 2009, after being little changed in June, the Commerce Department reported today in Washington. 

“We’re going to continue to post growth,” Mike Englund, chief economist at Action Economics LLC in Boulder, Colorado, said before the report. “It’s growing a little faster than the broader economy, obviously getting help from residential construction.”

Construction spending grows in July | 2013-09-03 | HousingWire.

All-cash deals on the rise | Katonah Real Estate

As mortgage rates creep up and stringent lending standards continue to make it difficult for many homebuyers to get loans, all-cash deals are accounting for more and more home sales completed in the U.S.

RealtyTrac data released today shows that 40 percent of all home sales in July — including single-family homes, co-ops, condos and townhomes — were made without a loan being recorded, up from 35 percent in June and 31 percent in July 2012.

A Goldman Sachs Group report released this month estimated that more than half of home sales during the last year and a half were all-cash deals.

OrganizationEstimated percentage of deals that were all-cash in July 2012Estimated percentage of deals that were all-cash in July 2013
RealtyTrac31%40%
Goldman Sachs Group50-plus%55-plus%
National Association of Realtors27%*31%*

Sources: RealtyTracGoldman Sachs Group (PDF)National Association of Realtors *Existing-home sales

Goldman Sachs analysts compared home sales data from the National Association of Realtors and the Census Bureau with data from the Mortgage Bankers Association and Lender Processing Services to come up with that estimate.

NAR’s data, built from monthly surveys of agents, shows all-cash deals made up 31 percent of existing-home sales in July, up 4 percentage points from the same time a year ago. But that estimate is made by calibrating sales with Census Bureau home sales data from 2011 — the last time NAR had enough data to recalibrate estimates — which could account for the some of the difference, NAR spokesman Walt Maloney said.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/08/29/all-cash-deals-on-the-rise/#sthash.3VWjHkN5.dpuf

 

 

All-cash deals on the rise | Inman News.

The 4 Most Common Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes | Bedford Hills Real Estate

What’s the secret to a successful kitchen remodel? Knowing what mistakes to avoid! Almost everyone who has been through a remodel has a war story to share about what they’d do differently. Whether it’s the neighbor’s never-ending remodel, or the friend of a friend whose contractor couldn’t get along with the architect, keep your dream kitchen from becoming a nightmare by protecting yourself from these common first-timer mistakes.

 

 

The 4 Most Common Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes | Cultivate.

Housing Inventories Rose in August | Bedford NY Real Estate

Housing inventories increased in August and stood just 2.5% below their levels of a year ago, offering the latest sign that more sellers are testing the market after swift home-price gains over the past year.

Nationally, there were 1.98 million homeslisted for sale in August, according to a report released Thursday by Realtor.com. That was up by more than 24% from the low point in February and up 1% from July. Inventories have increased for six straight months.

While the overall level of homes for sale remains relatively depressed, the report suggests that inventory may have hit a bottom earlier this year after an extended two-year decline.

The report also suggests that home-buyer traffic has eased following a period in which mortgage rates have jumped by more than one percentage point.

Inventories in nine of the nation’s top 30 housing markets were above their levels of last August, led by Los Angeles, where inventory was up by 17.4% from a year ago to its highest level since April 2012. Inventories in Atlanta were 13.9% above last year’s level. Other gains were reported in Orlando, Fla. (up 7.1%); Orange County, Calif. (6.9%); Miami (5.1%); Philadelphia (4.2%); and Phoenix (2.8%).

Listings stood 23.3% below last year’s levels in Detroit and were down by 20.1% in Boston, 17.9% in Denver and San Diego, and 14.8% in Dallas.

Median asking prices nationally were unchanged from July at $199,900, which represented a 6% increase from a year earlier. Asking prices were below last year’s level in Cleveland, but they were unchanged or up from a year ago in every other major market.

Half of all homes listed in August had been on the market for less than 92 days, up from 85 in July and 79 in May, but still below the median market time of 100 days last year.

The Realtor.com figures include sale listings from more than 800 multiple-listing services across the country. They don’t cover all homes for sale, including those that are “for sale by owner” and newly constructed homes that aren’t always listed by the services.

 

 

Housing Inventories Rose in August – Developments – WSJ.

Armonk-based IBM Transforms Mortgage Fulfillment Process | Armonk Real Estate

IBM Corp. has launched a new comprehensive digital-loan processing platform that will allow borrowers to engage in every aspect of the loan application process: applying online, uploading documents, acting on inquiries and monitoring loan approval status — all from their smartphone or tablet device.

“We believe delivering a transformational customer experience will differentiate future mortgage leaders from the pack,” Eric Ray, IBM general manager, Financial Services Sector said. “By partnering with IBM, lenders can out-maneuver the competition with a rich digital customer experience that gives borrowers the self service and transparency they desire.”

With the new IBM Digital Loan Platform solution, application forms are automatically aggregated and indexed to ensure consistency for efficient underwriting. As a result, both borrowers and lenders benefit from significantly compressed cycle times, lower origination costs, reduction in errors, and compliance enforcement.

 

 

Armonk-based IBM Transforms Mortgage Fulfillment Process | The Armonk Daily Voice.

RFK’s sex diary: His secret journal of affairs | Bedford Corners Real Estate

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. grappled with what he called his biggest defect — “my lust demons” — while keeping a scorecard of more than two dozen conquests, according to his secret diary.

The thick, red journal was found in their home by his wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy, who, distraught over their impending divorce and Kennedy’s serial philandering, committed suicide last year.

A copy of the 398 pages, reviewed by The Post, details RFK Jr.’s daily activities, speeches, political activism and the lives of his six children in the year 2001. But they also record the names of women — with numbers from 1 to 10 next to each entry.

Modal Trigger

RFK’s dirty diary

The codes corresponded to sexual acts, with 10 meaning intercourse, Mary told a confidant. There are 37 women named in the ledger, 16 of whom get 10s, since sexual activities are really popular and that’s why men look for sexual satisfaction in women or even in toys, like the new range of sex robots which are made specifically for this.

On Nov. 13, 2001, RFK Jr. records a triple play. The separate encounters — coded 10, 3 and 2 — occur the same day he attended a black-tie fund-raiser at the Waldorf-Astoria for Christopher Reeve’s charity, where he sat next to the paralyzed “Superman” star, magician David Blaine and comic Richard Belzer.

It was a hectic month for Kennedy, who traveled to ­Toronto, Louisiana and Washington, DC — and listed at least one woman’s name on 22 different dates, including 13 consecutive days.

Most women are identified only by first name in the ledger. They include a lawyer, an environmental activist, a doctor and at least one woman married to a famous actor. He also found out that there are also so many horny contacts online looking for naughty fun.

A Post reporter who questioned Kennedy Friday about the diary was first met with six seconds of stunned silence.

“I don’t think there is any way you could have a diary or journal of mine from 2001,” Kennedy then said. “I don’t have any comment on it. I have no diary from 2001.”

The diary is laced with Kennedy’s Catholic guilt over his infidelities, which follow the same pattern of affairs pursued by his uncles, John F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy, as well as his own father.

On days without a woman’s name, Kennedy would often write “victory.” This meant he’d triumphantly resisted sexual temptation, according to a source close to Richardson. But for those days when he couldn’t resist such temptation, he would do everything to quench that. If you’re like him who thirsts for earthly desires and if you want some real fun, you need to find a Kinky Bitch as they are the ones that will do literally anything!

“Despite the terrible things happening in the world, my life is . . . great,” he wrote on Nov. 5, 2001. “So I’ve been looking for ways to screw it up. I’m like Adam and live in Eden, and I can have everything but the fruit. But the fruit is all I want.”

The 59-year-old son of the assassinated US senator was so tortured by his desire that spending a month in jail in Puerto Rico was a welcome respite.

“I’m so content here,” he writes during his July 2001 incarceration for taking part in protests of the US Navy’s bombing exercises in Vieques. “I have to say it. There’s no women. I’m happy! Everybody here seems happy. It’s not ­misogyny. It’s the opposite! I love them too much.”

Yet Kennedy adds, “I love my wife and I tell it to her every day, and I never tire of it and write her tender letters.”

Nine years later, Kennedy and his wife separated when he filed for divorce. And on May 16, 2012, Richardson, 52, committed suicide by hanging herself in an outbuilding on the couple’s Bedford ­estate.

Kennedy’s cheating had become a huge issue in the marriage.

Richardson told a friend that her husband noted the names of his romantic conquests on pages in the back of his journal under the preprinted heading “cash accounts.”

The journal begins with word that Richardson is pregnant with the couple’s fourth child.

The couple had known each other since Richardson was 14 and a boarding-school roommate of Kennedy’s younger sister, Kerry. They married in 1994, weeks after Kennedy divorced his first wife, Emily Black, with whom he had two children.

Richardson was pregnant with their first child, Conor, when they married. They moved into the 1920 clapboard house in Westchester County.

Modal TriggerKennedy, an environmental lawyer and board president of the nonprofit Waterkeeper Alliance, spent much of his time traveling to give speeches, according to his diary.

He had recently been weighing a possible Senate run for New York, before Hillary Rodham Clinton stepped into the race. Richardson stayed home with the children.

The beautiful brunette struggled with depression and alcoholism. Her husband described her at her funeral as “fighting demons.”

The couple was not yet divorced when she died and were bitterly arguing over issues involving custody and finances. Kennedy had temporary custody of the four children and was dating actress Cheryl Hines.

A sealed document in which Kennedy portrayed his wife as an abusive alcoholic who beat him up and threatened suicide in front of the children was leaked to the press.

Kennedy said in the affidavit that by 2001 he had “lost hope” in his marriage and was “committing numerous infidelities to keep my sanity,” according to a published report.

RFK’s sex diary: His secret journal of affairs | New York Post.