Daily Archives: January 21, 2015

Why you need grab bars in your bathroom | Mt Kisco Real Estate

You might think the kitchen, with its hot stoves and sharp utensils, would be the most dangerous room in your home, but it’s actually the bathroom. According to a 2011 report from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls­—the No. 1 problem—most often occurred in or around the bathtub, shower, or toilet.

“We get lots of calls for slips and falls in the bathroom,” says Howard Mell, M.D., a spokesman for the American College of Emergency Physicians who works at several hospitals in Cleveland.

The bathroom is especially hazardous for women, who are at a higher risk than men for falling and getting hurt, perhaps because of lesser body strength and bone mass. And let JustWedi provide quality products for your new bathroom and make it look like you always wanted.

For those age 65 and older, falls often cause more serious injuries, such as hip fractures. Seniors, according to the report, were also more likely to be injured getting on or off the toilet. Standing after sitting for a long time, especially if you’re dehydrated or taking certain med­ications, can result in a sudden drop in blood pressure that can cause light-­headedness or dizziness.

But few of us have bathrooms that are equipped with grab bars, a secure safety device that looks like a railing and could prevent falls. Also, installing a shower head filter for hard water is the solution to low pressure, water waste and hard to clean shower heads. Here are other modifications you can make to your bathroom to make it a safer place.

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https://homes.yahoo.com/news/why-grab-bars-bathroom-201500727.html

Mortgage Loan Rates Fall to 16-Month Low | Cross River Real Estate

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its most recent report on mortgage applications Wednesday morning. It noted a week­over­week increase of 14.2% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index for the week ending January 16, following a rise of 49.1% for the two­ week period endingJanuary 9. Mortgage loan rates dropped on all types of loans for the third consecutive reporting period and are now at levels equal to mid­2013.

On an unadjusted basis, the composite index increased by 17% week­over­week. The seasonally adjusted purchase index decreased 3% compared to the week ended January 2. The unadjusted purchase index rose by 3% for the week and is now 3% higher year­ over ­year.

The MBA’s chief economist explained:
Mortgage application volume increased last week to its highest level since June 2013, led by a
22 percent increase in refinance application volume. This increase was largely due to mortgage
rates dropping to their lowest level since May 2013. However, the recent reduction in FHA
mortgage insurance premiums also played a role: FHA refinance applications increased 57
percent last week.
Adjustable rate mortgage loans accounted for 6.4% of all applications, up from 5.9% in the prior week.
The MBA’s refinance index increased 22% week­over­week, and the percentage of all new applications that were seeking refinancing rose from 71% in the prior week to 74%.

Conventional refinancing applications rose 21% week­over­week, while government refinancing rose 29%.
FHA refinancing applications rose 57%, raising the FHA share of all refinancings from 4.1% to 5.2%, compared with the prior week.

 

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http://247wallst.com/housing/2015/01/21/mortgage-loan-rates-fall-to-16-month-low/

All Eyes on Texas Real Estate as Oil Prices Plunge | Waccabuc Real Estate

When you live in a state heavily influenced by oil, saddle up and hold on for the ride. What comes up must come down, and real estate has room on the downside. The real question is really just how much. My clients are all energy professionals, and when I visit with them, nine out of ten have one thing in mind: housing prices in Texas. They buy out of need, but wait… didn’t most people already buy when Texas was booming?

Demand poured in and buying was frenzied. Now, demand is leveling off and prices will too. Where you purchased will dictate whether it will be a reward or a risk. If you think you’ll find a goldmine this time around, think again. The last time I saw a foreclosure in Tanglewood, Houston people were lined up for showings, and that was when banks weren’t even lending money. Now, Texas has more money pouring into the economy from all parts of the globe and a “deal” might mean just being happy with current pricing.

Considering residential pricing is not at $2500.00 per square foot yet, there are lots of deals in the area; but it’s all relative to what you’re used to. Getting a property that’s already discounted is a pretty good deal even though it doesn’t have a sale tag on it. But watch out for those new high rises, now that crude is at $50.00 per barrel, you may want to think twice about buying that new penthouse. If you have already purchased when crude was priced at $100.00, well, let’s just say you might have to wait for the next merry-go-round.  High-rises take as long to build as a boom, so by the next time we see $80.00 oil, buyers will be back at those doorsteps again too.

 

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All Eyes on Texas Real Estate as Oil Prices Plunge

 

Mixing Vintage and Modern in an Urban Family Kitchen | South Salem Real Estate

Emily and Ian Allison’s kitchen looked like it was thrown together on a whim, that’s because it kind of was. When previous owners converted their 1888-built home into a duplex, they put together an ad hoc kitchen on the second floor because the original kitchen resided on the ground floor. So when the Allisons bought both units and rented out the bottom floor, they were stuck with a kitchen that seriously lacked function. “There wasn’t even a single drawer,” says Ian. “It was a bummer.”

Hip Hillside Spec Home | Katonah Real Estate

Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Price: $1,849,000
One of a pair of “brother and sister residences” designed by Fung + Blatt architects and developed by Ground Up is on the market for the first time. But is this terraced spec home the brother or the sister?

This one’s called the Jem Residence, and the other is the Scout Residence. Which doesn’t really bring us any closer to answering the question, because to the extent that those words can be considered human names, neither is very gendered. Update: A commenter who advises me to “read a book” sometime says that these are characters from Harper Lee’s 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which I haven’t read. Jem is the brother and Scout is the sister. And here I thought Scout Willis was the only noteworthy Scout.

Anyway, this 2,170-square-foot three-bedroom home was built with “careful recognition and nod to the masters of mid-century and modernist architecture,” with large balconies and a very chic and chicly decorated interior, with folding glass doors a few raw concrete-block walls. The asking price is $1,849,000.

 

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http://curbed.com/archives/2015/01/20/fung-blatt-jem-residence-for-sale.php