Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Owning a Home is Less Expensive Than Renting
Owning a Home is Less Expensive Than Renting: Home prices and mortgage rates have fallen so far that the monthly cost of owning a home is more affordable than at any point in the past 15 years and is less expensive than renting in a growing number of cities.
Foreclosures Drop in Denver Metro Area
Foreclosures Drop in Denver Metro Area: Foreclosure filings and sales continue to drop in the Denver metro area, including Boulder and Broomfield counties, according to the latest report from the Colorado Division of Housing.
Existing Home Sales Edge Higher in October: Homebuyers scooped up more previously owned homes in October, slowly putting a dent in the huge inventory on the market, an industry report showed Monday. Sales of existing homes rose 1.4% last month to an annual rate of 4.97 million homes, up from a downwardly revised 4.90 million homes in September, the National Association of Realtors reported November 21st.
Existing Home Sales Edge Higher in October: Homebuyers scooped up more previously owned homes in October, slowly putting a dent in the huge inventory on the market, an industry report showed Monday. Sales of existing homes rose 1.4% last month to an annual rate of 4.97 million homes, up from a downwardly revised 4.90 million homes in September, the National Association of Realtors reported November 21st.
Forbes Rates Colorado 5th-Best State for Business
Forbes Rates Colorado 5th-Best State for Business: Colorado ranks as the nation's fifth-best state for business and careers in the latest annual report by Forbes, posted Tuesday, December 20th.
Colorado Unemployment Drops 8.1%
Colorado Unemployment Drops to 8.1%; Jobs up 8,800: Colorado's unemployment rate dropped again in October, to 8.1 percent, the lowest rate in more than 2-1/2 years, as the state added 8,800 nonfarm payroll jobs, the highest monthly gain since early 2007, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reported Tuesday.
Colorado Small-Business Jobs up 0.5% in November: Employment by Colorado small businesses grew 0.5 percent in November from the previous month, according to a report November 29th from Intuit Inc.
Forbes Rates Colorado 5th-Best State for Business: Colorado ranks as the nation's fifth-best state for business and careers in the latest annual report by Forbes, posted Tuesday.
Colorado Small-Business Jobs up 0.5% in November: Employment by Colorado small businesses grew 0.5 percent in November from the previous month, according to a report November 29th from Intuit Inc.
Forbes Rates Colorado 5th-Best State for Business: Colorado ranks as the nation's fifth-best state for business and careers in the latest annual report by Forbes, posted Tuesday.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Lighthouse Wrapped In Ice for the Holidays!
I thought this was befitting for the holidays!
Lighthouse Wrapped for the Holidays
from www.NationalGeographic.org
Photograph by Mark Duncan, AP
It's not a wedding cake, an ice sculpture, an ice hotel or Snow Miser's palace—just a lighthouse at the entrance to Cleveland Harbor in Ohio, as seen enrobed in ice on December 16 (Cleveland map).
Spray from Lake Erie and below-freezing temperatures turned Cleveland's West Pierhead Lighthouse into a Popsicle last week, leaving the Coast Guard to worry that any stubborn skippers braving the lake this time of year would miss the shoreline. The light's lens, as well as the rest of the building, is completely iced over—and will be for months.
Mariners have been issued warnings to exercise extra caution around the harbor entrance, though most boat traffic has already stopped for the season, said Petty Officer 3rd Class George Degener, who serves with the U.S. Coast Guard's Cleveland-based Ninth Division.
On the bright side: There's no lighthouse keeper shivering inside the icy tower. The facility has been automated for decades.
If you're looking to check out some local ice castles, visit the Silverthorne, CO ice castles...
Silverthorne Ice Castles Article from www.Silverthorne.org
Experience a glacial adventure unlike anything you have ever seen before, right here in Silverthorne! The Ice Castles at Silverthorne opened for business on Friday, December 9, and anticipate to remain open until April 2012.
Ice Castles are one-of-a-kind formations that can reach up to 50 feet high and weigh over 10,000 tons. These creations of walkways, illuminated ice formations, tunnels and arches are all made entirely out of ice and are naturally shaped by gravity and freezing water. Every day at the Ice Castles is unique and different as the ice formations are constantly evolving, depending on the amount of water added at night, the night time temperature and snowfall. For a completely different experience, visit the Ice Castles in the evening, when they are illuminated by lighting, frozen right into the structures!
The Ice Castles’ hours of operation are: Weekdays - noon to 9pm, Saturdays - 10am to 10pm and Sundays 11am-7pm (weather permitting). Tickets can be purchased at the on-site ticket office at 400 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7.50 for children. Kids under the age of 5 are free. Adult and family season passes are also available for purchase. Check out Ice Castles website at www.icecastles.com for more information.
About the Artist: After moving his family from California to Utah in 2002, Brent Christensen was searching for new outdoor winter activities for his children. One year he created an ice skating rink in the backyard. Then one year created various formations of icicles. Another year he started experimenting with icicles to create an ice castle in his front yard. His children loved a castle he built that had a cave, tunnels, and a huge slide with a bank turn on to an ice skating rink. People began driving by the Christensen’s home just to see the unique ice structure in the front yard. The following winter, a Utah resort asked Brent if he would build a larger ice castle on the front lawn of the resort. Brent built the castle in 2009-10 and in two months the word had spread and about 10,000 people had come to see the “Ice Castle” at the Zermatt Resort. The following winter (2010-11) he built another castle in the Town square in Midway, Utah which is about 15 minutes from Park Town. Over 25,000 visitors came to see the ice castles last winter. In the summer of 2011, Brent began looking for a new location for his creation, and chose Silverthorne as a perfect location to create his 2011-12 ice castle masterpiece.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Before You Buy a Home - Look at Eight Reasons to Buy a Home
Before You Buy a Home - Look at Eight Reasons to Buy a Home
www.about.com
If you're like most first-time home buyers, you've probably listened to friends', family's and coworkers' advice, many of whom are encouraging you to buy a home. However, you may still wonder if buying a home is the right thing to do. Relax. Having reservations is normal. The more you know about why you should buy a home, the less scary the entire process will appear to you. Here are eight good reasons why you should buy a home.
Pride of Ownership
Pride of ownership is the number one reason why people yearn to own their home. It means you can paint the walls any color you desire, turn up the volume on your CD player, attach permanent fixtures and decorate your home according to your own taste. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security. It's making an investment in your future.
Appreciation
Although real estate moves in cycles, sometimes up, sometimes down, over the years, real estate has consistently appreciated. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight tracks the movements of single family home values across the country. Its House Price Index breaks down the changes by region and metropolitan area. Many people view their home investment as a hedge against inflation.
Mortgage Interest Deductions
Home ownership is a superb tax shelter and our tax rates favor homeowners. As long as your mortgage balance is smaller than the price of your home, mortgage interest is fully deductible on your tax return. Interest is the largest component of your mortgage payment.
Property Tax Deductions
IRS Publication 530 contains tax information for first-time home buyers. Real estate property taxes paid for a first home and a vacation home are fully deductible for income tax purposes. In California, the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 established the amount of assessed value after property changes hands and limited property tax increases to 2% per year or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.
Capital Gain Exclusion
As long as you have lived in your home for two of the past five years, you can exclude up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a married couple of profit from capital gains. You do not have to buy a replacement home or move up. There is no age restriction, and the "over-55" rule does not apply. You can exclude the above thresholds from taxes every 24 months, which means you could sell every two years and pocket your profit--subject to limitation--free from taxation.
Preferential Tax Treatment
If you receive more profit than the allowable exclusion upon sale of your home, that profit will be considered a capital asset as long as you owned your home for more than one year. Capital assets receive preferential tax treatment.
Morgage Reduction Builds Equity
Each month, part of your monthly payment is applied to the principal balance of your loan, which reduces your obligation. The way amortization works, the principal portion of your principal and interest payment increases slightly every month. It is lowest on your first payment and highest on your last payment. On average, each $100,000 of a mortgage will reduce in balance the first year by about $500 in principal, bringing that balance at the end of your first 12 months to $99,500.
Equity Loans
Consumers who carry credit card balances cannot deduct the interest paid, which can cost as much as 18% to 22%. Equity loan interest is often much less and it is deductible. For many home owners, it makes sense to pay off this kind of debt with a home equity loan. Consumers can borrow against a home's equity for a variety of reasons such as home improvement, college, medical or starting a new business. Some state laws restrict home equity loans.
www.about.com
If you're like most first-time home buyers, you've probably listened to friends', family's and coworkers' advice, many of whom are encouraging you to buy a home. However, you may still wonder if buying a home is the right thing to do. Relax. Having reservations is normal. The more you know about why you should buy a home, the less scary the entire process will appear to you. Here are eight good reasons why you should buy a home.
Pride of Ownership
Pride of ownership is the number one reason why people yearn to own their home. It means you can paint the walls any color you desire, turn up the volume on your CD player, attach permanent fixtures and decorate your home according to your own taste. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security. It's making an investment in your future.
Appreciation
Although real estate moves in cycles, sometimes up, sometimes down, over the years, real estate has consistently appreciated. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight tracks the movements of single family home values across the country. Its House Price Index breaks down the changes by region and metropolitan area. Many people view their home investment as a hedge against inflation.
Mortgage Interest Deductions
Home ownership is a superb tax shelter and our tax rates favor homeowners. As long as your mortgage balance is smaller than the price of your home, mortgage interest is fully deductible on your tax return. Interest is the largest component of your mortgage payment.
Property Tax Deductions
IRS Publication 530 contains tax information for first-time home buyers. Real estate property taxes paid for a first home and a vacation home are fully deductible for income tax purposes. In California, the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 established the amount of assessed value after property changes hands and limited property tax increases to 2% per year or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.
Capital Gain Exclusion
As long as you have lived in your home for two of the past five years, you can exclude up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a married couple of profit from capital gains. You do not have to buy a replacement home or move up. There is no age restriction, and the "over-55" rule does not apply. You can exclude the above thresholds from taxes every 24 months, which means you could sell every two years and pocket your profit--subject to limitation--free from taxation.
Preferential Tax Treatment
If you receive more profit than the allowable exclusion upon sale of your home, that profit will be considered a capital asset as long as you owned your home for more than one year. Capital assets receive preferential tax treatment.
Morgage Reduction Builds Equity
Each month, part of your monthly payment is applied to the principal balance of your loan, which reduces your obligation. The way amortization works, the principal portion of your principal and interest payment increases slightly every month. It is lowest on your first payment and highest on your last payment. On average, each $100,000 of a mortgage will reduce in balance the first year by about $500 in principal, bringing that balance at the end of your first 12 months to $99,500.
Equity Loans
Consumers who carry credit card balances cannot deduct the interest paid, which can cost as much as 18% to 22%. Equity loan interest is often much less and it is deductible. For many home owners, it makes sense to pay off this kind of debt with a home equity loan. Consumers can borrow against a home's equity for a variety of reasons such as home improvement, college, medical or starting a new business. Some state laws restrict home equity loans.
6 Tips To Sell Your Home Faster
6 Tips To Sell Your Home Faster
www.investopedia.com
In a declining real estate market where supply outstrips demand, a person can generally sell a house faster by lowering the price. But there are other ways to enhance a home's attractiveness besides lowering the asking price. If you're looking to sell your home in a cooling real estate market, read on for some tips on how to generate interest and get the best price possible.
Tutorial: Exploring Real Estate Investing
1. Differentiate From the Neighbors
In order to attract attention and to make your home more memorable, consider custom designs or additions, such as landscaping, high grade windows or a new roof. This can help improve the home's aesthetics, while potentially adding value to the home. Any improvements should be practical and use colors and designs that will appeal to the widest audience. In addition, they should compliment the home and its other amenities, such as building a deck or patio adjacent to an outdoor swimming pool.
However, while it can pay to spice up your home, don't over-improve it. According to a 2006 article in Realtor Magazine, some renovations, such as adding a bathroom or a sun room, might not always pay. The data suggests that the nationwide average amount recouped for a bathroom addition is about 75%. For a sun room, it's even less. If you're going to invest in renovations, do your research and be sure to put your money into the things that are likely to get you the best return. In addition, if you have added any custom features that you think buyers will be interested in, make sure they are included in the home's listing information. More than ever, in a down market you should take every small edge you can get. (For more insight, see Fix It And Flip It: The Value of Remodeling.)
2. Clean the Clutter
It is imperative to remove all clutter from the home before showing it to potential buyers because buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the space. This might include removing some furniture to make rooms look bigger, and putting away family photographs and personal items. You may even want to hire a stager to help you make better use of the space. Staging costs can range from a couple hundred dollars for a basic consultation to several thousand dollars, particularly if you rent modern, neutral furniture for showing your home. Many people feel that stagers can make a home more salable, so hiring one deserves some consideration. (For more insight, see Staging Your Home For A Quick Sale.)
3. Sweeten the Deal
Another way to make the home and deal more attractive to buyers is to offer things or terms that might sweeten the pot. For example, sellers that offer the buyer a couple of thousand dollars credit toward closing costs, or offer to pay closing costs entirely will in some cases receive more attention from house hunters looking at similar homes. In a down market, buyers are looking for a deal, so do your best to make them feel they're getting one.
4. Another tip is to offer a transferable home warranty, which can cost $300 to $400for a one-year policy and will cover appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, that fail. Depending on the policy, other appliances and house gadgets may be covered as well. A potential buyer may feel more at ease knowing that he or she will be covered against such problems, which could make your home more attractive than a competing home.
Finally, it's important to note that some buyers are motivated by the option to close in a short amount of time. If it is possible for you to close on the home within 30 to 60 days, this may set your deal apart and get you a contract.
5. Improve Curb Appeal
Sellers often overlook the importance of their home's curb appeal. The first thing a buyer sees is a home's external appearance and the way it fits into the surrounding neighborhood. Try to make certain that the exterior has a fresh coat of paint, and that the bushes and lawn are well manicured. In real estate, appearances mean a lot. What better way to set your home apart than to make it attractive at first glance?
Get Your Home in "Move In" Condition
Aesthetics are important, but it's also important that doors, appliances and electrical and plumbing fixtures be in compliance with current building codes and in working order. Again, the idea is to have the home in move in condition and to give potential buyers the impression that they will be able to move right in and start enjoying their new home, rather than spending time and money fixing it up.
6. Pricing It Right
Regardless of how well you renovate and stage your home, it is still important to price the home appropriately. Consult a local real estate agent, read the newspapers and go to online real estate sites to see what comparable homes are going for in your area.
It's not always imperative to be the lowest priced home on the block, particularly when aesthetic and other significant improvements have been made. However, it is important that the listing price is not out of line with other comparable homes in the market. Try to put yourself in the buyer's shoes and then determine what a fair price might be. Have friends, neighbors and real estate professionals tour the home and weigh in as well. (To learn more, read 10 Tips For Getting A Fair Price On A Home.)
The Bottom Line
Selling a home in a down market requires a little extra work. Do everything you can to get the home in excellent shape and be prepared to make some small concessions at closing. These tips, coupled with an attractive price, will increase the odds of getting your home sold.
www.investopedia.com
In a declining real estate market where supply outstrips demand, a person can generally sell a house faster by lowering the price. But there are other ways to enhance a home's attractiveness besides lowering the asking price. If you're looking to sell your home in a cooling real estate market, read on for some tips on how to generate interest and get the best price possible.
Tutorial: Exploring Real Estate Investing
1. Differentiate From the Neighbors
In order to attract attention and to make your home more memorable, consider custom designs or additions, such as landscaping, high grade windows or a new roof. This can help improve the home's aesthetics, while potentially adding value to the home. Any improvements should be practical and use colors and designs that will appeal to the widest audience. In addition, they should compliment the home and its other amenities, such as building a deck or patio adjacent to an outdoor swimming pool.
However, while it can pay to spice up your home, don't over-improve it. According to a 2006 article in Realtor Magazine, some renovations, such as adding a bathroom or a sun room, might not always pay. The data suggests that the nationwide average amount recouped for a bathroom addition is about 75%. For a sun room, it's even less. If you're going to invest in renovations, do your research and be sure to put your money into the things that are likely to get you the best return. In addition, if you have added any custom features that you think buyers will be interested in, make sure they are included in the home's listing information. More than ever, in a down market you should take every small edge you can get. (For more insight, see Fix It And Flip It: The Value of Remodeling.)
2. Clean the Clutter
It is imperative to remove all clutter from the home before showing it to potential buyers because buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the space. This might include removing some furniture to make rooms look bigger, and putting away family photographs and personal items. You may even want to hire a stager to help you make better use of the space. Staging costs can range from a couple hundred dollars for a basic consultation to several thousand dollars, particularly if you rent modern, neutral furniture for showing your home. Many people feel that stagers can make a home more salable, so hiring one deserves some consideration. (For more insight, see Staging Your Home For A Quick Sale.)
3. Sweeten the Deal
Another way to make the home and deal more attractive to buyers is to offer things or terms that might sweeten the pot. For example, sellers that offer the buyer a couple of thousand dollars credit toward closing costs, or offer to pay closing costs entirely will in some cases receive more attention from house hunters looking at similar homes. In a down market, buyers are looking for a deal, so do your best to make them feel they're getting one.
4. Another tip is to offer a transferable home warranty, which can cost $300 to $400for a one-year policy and will cover appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, that fail. Depending on the policy, other appliances and house gadgets may be covered as well. A potential buyer may feel more at ease knowing that he or she will be covered against such problems, which could make your home more attractive than a competing home.
Finally, it's important to note that some buyers are motivated by the option to close in a short amount of time. If it is possible for you to close on the home within 30 to 60 days, this may set your deal apart and get you a contract.
5. Improve Curb Appeal
Sellers often overlook the importance of their home's curb appeal. The first thing a buyer sees is a home's external appearance and the way it fits into the surrounding neighborhood. Try to make certain that the exterior has a fresh coat of paint, and that the bushes and lawn are well manicured. In real estate, appearances mean a lot. What better way to set your home apart than to make it attractive at first glance?
Get Your Home in "Move In" Condition
Aesthetics are important, but it's also important that doors, appliances and electrical and plumbing fixtures be in compliance with current building codes and in working order. Again, the idea is to have the home in move in condition and to give potential buyers the impression that they will be able to move right in and start enjoying their new home, rather than spending time and money fixing it up.
6. Pricing It Right
Regardless of how well you renovate and stage your home, it is still important to price the home appropriately. Consult a local real estate agent, read the newspapers and go to online real estate sites to see what comparable homes are going for in your area.
It's not always imperative to be the lowest priced home on the block, particularly when aesthetic and other significant improvements have been made. However, it is important that the listing price is not out of line with other comparable homes in the market. Try to put yourself in the buyer's shoes and then determine what a fair price might be. Have friends, neighbors and real estate professionals tour the home and weigh in as well. (To learn more, read 10 Tips For Getting A Fair Price On A Home.)
The Bottom Line
Selling a home in a down market requires a little extra work. Do everything you can to get the home in excellent shape and be prepared to make some small concessions at closing. These tips, coupled with an attractive price, will increase the odds of getting your home sold.
11 Ways to Cut Your Electricity Bill
Cut Your Electricity Bill
Time to complete: 5 minutes to unplug devices
10-20 minutes to buy bulbs
Money you'll spend: $3 to $13 per fluorescent bulb
$80-120 for a microwave or toaster/convection oven
What you'll get: Around $100 to $500 per year off your electric bills.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Electricity-Saving Tips:
1. Use compact fluorescent bulbs in lamps that are on for more than one or two hours per day. Fluorescent lights have greatly improved in quality over the past ten years, and prices have come down recently: you can get 13-watt bulbs for less than four dollars. Fluorescent bulbs are 6-8 times more energy-efficient. They last 10-20 times longer than normal bulbs, so you won't have to change them for years. You can buy fluorescent bulbs that give off a very warm yellowish light, not that harsh white light. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, a fluorescent bulb will prevent the emission of 1000 pounds of carbon dioxide from electrical power plants.
Let's say you have a light on for 4 hours a day, 250 days in a year. On average, running a 23-watt fluorescent bulb for that long will cost you $1.88, while a 100-watt incandescent bulb will cost you $8.30 in electricity. A 23-watt fluorescent bulb costs about $13, but it saves you $6.42 in energy costs per year, so it will pay for itself in 2 years. Your local power company might even help you pay for your fluorescent bulbs. I recommend that you buy them at a local hardware store rather than buying them online, because many fluorescent bulbs don't fit into normal light sockets. If you still want to buy them online, check out Bulbs.com.
Note: Sometimes you'll see a light bulb advertised as a "long-life bulb", or something like that. That's not a fluorescent bulb, and it won't really save you much money.
2. Do you work at a desk at home? Use a 20-watt desk lamp instead of turning on a 60-watt light bulb that lights the entire room. You'll save about $5 on electricity for every 500 hours you spend at the desk. Look for one in the Electronics category at the MySimon.com shopping agent.
3. Go around your home and unplug devices you haven't used in the past month. Even if they aren't turned on, they probably use some juice just to stay warm.
4. Use a microwave oven or toaster oven when cooking small items. They use less energy and they don't require preheating. The approximate yearly cost to use ovens of various types is:
Electric Oven: $27
Toaster Oven: $14
Gas Oven: $13
Convection/Toaster Oven: $10
Microwave Oven: $5
Use the MySimon.com shopping agent to look for one.
5. A computer system can use $35 to $140 worth of electricity per year. You can reduce this cost by about 85% if you use a laptop computer. Or you could use the "standby" mode that's available in newer desktops, and/or use flat-screen monitors. You can go to your PC's power settings and tell it to automatically go into standby after not being used for a while (when it wakes up, your PC will still have the files and programs that were there when it "sleeped" itself.)
6. Set your refrigerator temperature to 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit. If it's set 5 degrees lower than that, it's costing you about $5 more per year than it should. Defrost it as needed, to save another few bucks per year. Don't open the door too often, or for too long.
7. Employ your kids as "Energy Rangers": Offer to pay them half of the utility-bill savings they can generate, compared to last year's bills. Turn them loose on this site, then sit back and watch as they frantically plug every energy leak you can imagine.
8. Get your deposit back from the power company (you probably paid it when you moved in.) Usually you can get it back after living in your home for a year or two. So if you've established a reliable payment record, ask to get it back. They'll usually pay you 6% yearly interest on the deposit.
9. Washer/Dryer. You can save money by washing clothes with cold water, drying only full loads (without overloading), cleaning the lint filter, and stopping the dryer as soon as the clothes are dry.
10. Your local power company probably has a "Time of Use" program. This means you'll be charged more for electricity during prime times and less during off hours. When you switch to TOU, the power company will install a new meter. You may be able to save as much as $500 a year with this idea. Businesses can participate too.
11. For more ideas see Home Energy Savers, a government site that helps consumers find the best ways to save energy in their homes.
Time to complete: 5 minutes to unplug devices
10-20 minutes to buy bulbs
Money you'll spend: $3 to $13 per fluorescent bulb
$80-120 for a microwave or toaster/convection oven
What you'll get: Around $100 to $500 per year off your electric bills.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Electricity-Saving Tips:
1. Use compact fluorescent bulbs in lamps that are on for more than one or two hours per day. Fluorescent lights have greatly improved in quality over the past ten years, and prices have come down recently: you can get 13-watt bulbs for less than four dollars. Fluorescent bulbs are 6-8 times more energy-efficient. They last 10-20 times longer than normal bulbs, so you won't have to change them for years. You can buy fluorescent bulbs that give off a very warm yellowish light, not that harsh white light. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, a fluorescent bulb will prevent the emission of 1000 pounds of carbon dioxide from electrical power plants.
Let's say you have a light on for 4 hours a day, 250 days in a year. On average, running a 23-watt fluorescent bulb for that long will cost you $1.88, while a 100-watt incandescent bulb will cost you $8.30 in electricity. A 23-watt fluorescent bulb costs about $13, but it saves you $6.42 in energy costs per year, so it will pay for itself in 2 years. Your local power company might even help you pay for your fluorescent bulbs. I recommend that you buy them at a local hardware store rather than buying them online, because many fluorescent bulbs don't fit into normal light sockets. If you still want to buy them online, check out Bulbs.com.
Note: Sometimes you'll see a light bulb advertised as a "long-life bulb", or something like that. That's not a fluorescent bulb, and it won't really save you much money.
2. Do you work at a desk at home? Use a 20-watt desk lamp instead of turning on a 60-watt light bulb that lights the entire room. You'll save about $5 on electricity for every 500 hours you spend at the desk. Look for one in the Electronics category at the MySimon.com shopping agent.
3. Go around your home and unplug devices you haven't used in the past month. Even if they aren't turned on, they probably use some juice just to stay warm.
4. Use a microwave oven or toaster oven when cooking small items. They use less energy and they don't require preheating. The approximate yearly cost to use ovens of various types is:
Electric Oven: $27
Toaster Oven: $14
Gas Oven: $13
Convection/Toaster Oven: $10
Microwave Oven: $5
Use the MySimon.com shopping agent to look for one.
5. A computer system can use $35 to $140 worth of electricity per year. You can reduce this cost by about 85% if you use a laptop computer. Or you could use the "standby" mode that's available in newer desktops, and/or use flat-screen monitors. You can go to your PC's power settings and tell it to automatically go into standby after not being used for a while (when it wakes up, your PC will still have the files and programs that were there when it "sleeped" itself.)
6. Set your refrigerator temperature to 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit. If it's set 5 degrees lower than that, it's costing you about $5 more per year than it should. Defrost it as needed, to save another few bucks per year. Don't open the door too often, or for too long.
7. Employ your kids as "Energy Rangers": Offer to pay them half of the utility-bill savings they can generate, compared to last year's bills. Turn them loose on this site, then sit back and watch as they frantically plug every energy leak you can imagine.
8. Get your deposit back from the power company (you probably paid it when you moved in.) Usually you can get it back after living in your home for a year or two. So if you've established a reliable payment record, ask to get it back. They'll usually pay you 6% yearly interest on the deposit.
9. Washer/Dryer. You can save money by washing clothes with cold water, drying only full loads (without overloading), cleaning the lint filter, and stopping the dryer as soon as the clothes are dry.
10. Your local power company probably has a "Time of Use" program. This means you'll be charged more for electricity during prime times and less during off hours. When you switch to TOU, the power company will install a new meter. You may be able to save as much as $500 a year with this idea. Businesses can participate too.
11. For more ideas see Home Energy Savers, a government site that helps consumers find the best ways to save energy in their homes.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Federal report: Home flipping drove housing bubble
Denver Post
LAS VEGAS—The Federal Reserve Bank of New York says real estate investors drove the housing bubble that led to record foreclosures in Nevada, California, Arizona, Florida and other states.
The report released last week says the financial crisis was amplified by the rise and fall of housing prices during the last decade.
The report says investors who used mortgage credits to purchase multiple residential properties helped inflate home prices. According to the report, more than a third of all U.S. home mortgages granted in 2006 went to people who already owned at least one house.
Those buyers then defaulted in large numbers after home values began to drop.
The report notes that in Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada, investors made up nearly half of all mortgage-backed purchases.
LAS VEGAS—The Federal Reserve Bank of New York says real estate investors drove the housing bubble that led to record foreclosures in Nevada, California, Arizona, Florida and other states.
The report released last week says the financial crisis was amplified by the rise and fall of housing prices during the last decade.
The report says investors who used mortgage credits to purchase multiple residential properties helped inflate home prices. According to the report, more than a third of all U.S. home mortgages granted in 2006 went to people who already owned at least one house.
Those buyers then defaulted in large numbers after home values began to drop.
The report notes that in Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada, investors made up nearly half of all mortgage-backed purchases.
New Colorado School Grades website grades schools with simple A through F
www.DenverPost.com
Www.coloradoschoolgrades.com
A coalition of 18 community organizations has launched a nearly $1 million Internet-based project that translates state rankings of public schools into simple letter grades.
"Every parent can relate to grades A through F," said Colorado Succeeds president Tim Taylor, a member of the Colorado School Grades coalition. "We're not changing inputs, just translating in a way that is clear."
The website — in English and Spanish — went live today to coincide with the start of choice enrollment for many districts in Colorado.
The launch includes an advertising campaign with 18 billboards across the state and multiple radio and television commercials.
The coalition has been working with the Center for Education Policy Analysis at the University of Colorado Denver's School of Public Affairs to determine the grade breakdown.
The state Department of Education ranking system labels 60 percent of public schools in the top category of "performance," according to Colorado School Grades.
"We thought it would be better to be able to acknowledge who our top performers were," Taylor said. "Clearly some schools need help too."
Under the coalition's grading system, most schools are given a letter C for average, allowing the top performers to be highlighted.
The coalition grades on a curve, allowing only schools with the top 10 percent of scores — based on the state's calculation — to receive an A.
The state calculations of school rankings take academic growth into high consideration, letting it account for 75 percent of the final score in elementary and middle schools, and 50 percent in high school grades.
The website provides links to the original state school grades.
"Transparency is the most important factor — clear, concise and easy-to-understand information," Taylor said. "But the second part is taking action."
In addition to grading every school and allowing side-by-side comparisons, the website provides information on how to reach out to teachers, principals, superintendents, board members and legislators to push for school improvement.
"If someone's not satisfied with their school's grades, they can see the different opportunities and suggestions on how to get involved to make an improvement," Taylor said.
Other coalition members include the Colorado Children's Campaign, Stand for Children, the Professional Association of Colorado Educators, the Walton Family Foundation and the Adolph Coors Foundation.
Www.coloradoschoolgrades.com
A coalition of 18 community organizations has launched a nearly $1 million Internet-based project that translates state rankings of public schools into simple letter grades.
"Every parent can relate to grades A through F," said Colorado Succeeds president Tim Taylor, a member of the Colorado School Grades coalition. "We're not changing inputs, just translating in a way that is clear."
The website — in English and Spanish — went live today to coincide with the start of choice enrollment for many districts in Colorado.
The launch includes an advertising campaign with 18 billboards across the state and multiple radio and television commercials.
The coalition has been working with the Center for Education Policy Analysis at the University of Colorado Denver's School of Public Affairs to determine the grade breakdown.
The state Department of Education ranking system labels 60 percent of public schools in the top category of "performance," according to Colorado School Grades.
"We thought it would be better to be able to acknowledge who our top performers were," Taylor said. "Clearly some schools need help too."
Under the coalition's grading system, most schools are given a letter C for average, allowing the top performers to be highlighted.
The coalition grades on a curve, allowing only schools with the top 10 percent of scores — based on the state's calculation — to receive an A.
The state calculations of school rankings take academic growth into high consideration, letting it account for 75 percent of the final score in elementary and middle schools, and 50 percent in high school grades.
The website provides links to the original state school grades.
"Transparency is the most important factor — clear, concise and easy-to-understand information," Taylor said. "But the second part is taking action."
In addition to grading every school and allowing side-by-side comparisons, the website provides information on how to reach out to teachers, principals, superintendents, board members and legislators to push for school improvement.
"If someone's not satisfied with their school's grades, they can see the different opportunities and suggestions on how to get involved to make an improvement," Taylor said.
Other coalition members include the Colorado Children's Campaign, Stand for Children, the Professional Association of Colorado Educators, the Walton Family Foundation and the Adolph Coors Foundation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
