Making Your Home Picture Perfect

by Phoebe Chongchua

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, in real estate, that picture’s worth translates to dollars and then, if it’s an excellent picture, you can add a few more zeros to that number. That’s why getting the right photos of your home are critical.

Before having your home photographed or, in some cases, videotaped, you’ll want to make sure that it’s in the best possible shape. But what exactly does that mean?

Getting your home ready for a photo shoot is not quite the same as getting it ready to have dinner guests. Yes, there’s the same cleaning rituals such as dusting, and picking up items lying around the house. But making a home picture perfect is about creating an atmosphere that’s welcoming, interesting, and even beckoning viewers and then capturing that with your lens.

How is that done? Professional home photographers use the right equipment to get the job done. Wide angle lens to make the home look larger and show off adjacent rooms in a single photo are one good method. Early morning and late afternoon photo shoots make use of the best lighting times in the day.

Whether you’re going to photograph your home or have a professional do it, adding some props and taking away the clutter will be top priorities.

Let’s start with empty rooms. Showing an empty house isn’t ideal for in-person visits or pictures. Why? You can’t get a feel for how to use the space and when you see an empty room in a picture and it’s hard to grasp its size. The Wall Street Journal suggests bringing in props such as furniture (even just a chair and small table) that will help give the viewer a sense of scale.

If at all possible, rent, borrow, or beg your friends for furniture to have at least a few objects in the room. You don’t need as many pieces of furniture as you would have if you’re living in the home, just some nice tables, lamps, and chairs to create a homey mood.

If you have to photograph the room empty, use a wide-angle lens and capture a bit of an adjoining room like a bathroom“this adds depth and interest. And always use a tripod.

Kitchen comfort. Here’s where you get to have some fun. Think of yourself as a set designer. Your job is to look closely at your kitchen and tuck away all the unnecessary objects. If you leave out an appliance (maybe a good-looking stainless steel one) hide the cord. The appliance isn’t there for use“it’s just a prop.

Now, add some other props“a basket of colorful fruit in a clear glass bowl (nothing too distracting). A plate of cheese and bread with a wine bottle nearby helps set a scene to make the viewer feel welcome.

Clouds are our friends. When you’re shooting outside, a bright sunny day isn’t always the photographer’s friend. If there are big trees and the sun is creating dark shadows, that can make parts of your photo look dreary. Clouds can greatly add mood to the photo without distracting from the exterior shot of a home. On an overcast day, the shadows aren’t as strong and the flowers can actually show up better.

But before you snap that exterior photo, put away those unsightly garbage cans, the seasonal decorations, and those “no soliciting” signs. Remember, you’re making your home not only picture-perfect but model-home perfect too… and that could just be priceless.

Published: January 28, 2011

5 steps to first-time-buyer happiness

Finding best home depends on preapproval, agent

By Dian Hymer, Monday, January 17, 2011.

The first step in the homebuying process is to find out what you can afford to pay for a house, condo or co-op. This will depend on the amount of cash you have available for a down payment, your credit, income, assets and overall financial situation.

Mortgage qualification is easier for buyers who work as employees whose income can be easily verified. Self-employed individuals or buyers with income from investments may find the qualification process more difficult.

A wrinkle in the financing end of the homebuying process is that it’s not as easy to get a preapproval letter from your mortgage broker or loan agent as it used to be. As of Jan. 1, 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) began requiring lenders and mortgages brokers to issue a binding Good Faith Estimate (GFE) within three days of receiving a loan application.

Before then, buyers shopped around for a mortgage. When they saw a house they wanted to buy, they asked their loan agent or broker to provide a preapproval letter to accompany their purchase offer. The loan person would run a credit check and verify the buyers’ income and assets without, in many cases, taking a formal loan application. On the basis of this information, a preapproval letter was written.

Without a formal loan application, many lenders today will issue only a prequalification letter, which does not carry the weight of a preapproval letter. Find out from the loan representatives you talk with what kind of letter they can provide and what you have to do to get a preapproval letter.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: You are in a much stronger position negotiating with a seller if you have a preapproval letter stating that you are qualified for the mortgage you will need to close the sale. It could be essential if you are in a multiple-offer competition. A prequalification letter may suffice in an area where there is a surplus of inventory of unsold homes.

Concurrent with shopping for a mortgage person, you should also be searching for a real estate agent to represent you. Both are good sources of information about where you can afford to buy. Ask friends who bought a home recently if they would recommend their loan representative and real estate agent.

Your goal is to buy in the best neighborhood you can afford without overextending yourself financially. Don’t buy a home that you will outgrow in the next couple of years. The economic recovery is going to take years. You don’t want to be caught having to sell at a price lower than what you paid. Even if prices don’t decline further, you won’t break even if you sell for the price you paid after taking the costs of sale into account.

Buy a home that has good resale potential. Many homes that aren’t selling in today’s market have incurable defects, such as a steep or shared driveway, a lot of stairs leading to the front door, or a location on a busy street, next to a freeway or too close to a commercial zone. An incurable defect is one you can’t change. A curable defect includes such things as deferred maintenance or an outdated décor. These can be improved.

When home prices are escalating, buyers are more willing to compromise. They’ll buy a home with an incurable defect, just to have the opportunity to buy in a market where they can make money quickly. Sellers don’t always have control over when they sell.

THE CLOSING: It makes sense to buy a house that has broad-based appeal and will sell well in any market.

Kitchens That Sizzle Heat Up Buyer Interest

by Phoebe Chongchua

Most people know that location is, of course, vital in influencing a buyer’s decision to make an offer. Sellers also understand that kitchens and bathrooms are high on the list of areas to check out first. But what exactly makes a kitchen sizzle?

Designer, Susan Serra who specializes in kitchens, told Realtor Mag, that kitchens are being used for more purposes these days. They’re no longer enclosed by walls. In fact, the more open the kitchen is to other parts of the house, the greater chances it’s liked.

Kitchen walls started coming down a few decades ago. The lack of separation in the rooms in the home leads to great rooms and an easier ability to connect with family members in common spaces.

Growing trends in kitchen architecture include softer lighting, larger windows, and“here’s a surprise“fewer cabinets. That doesn’t mean that you can get away with very little storage space, instead it means you have to be creative.

If you’re selling your home and these popular trends aren’t part of your home’s blueprint, not to worry… you can make your kitchen sizzle with a few simple changes.

Create a gathering space. If you have a large kitchen, consider installing or placing a portable island in it. These are very popular for a number of reasons. They’re handy, useful for extra storage space, and they often become a central gathering spot at parties, especially when there’s food on them. Add a few bar stools and you’ve got a comfy and welcoming place for guests to relax while dinner is being prepared.

Turn down the lights. Not literally, rather use lighting that’s less harsh. Overhead lighting is excellent but, to create a mood, you can place accent lights in tucked-away areas that will still allow the light to shine in the kitchen. Maybe an adjoining hallway, for instance, could have a small lamp on a table or sconces on the walls.

Make room. Even though some architects are taking away the cabinets, buyers still are attracted to plenty of storage space. That means sellers who don’t have it, must creatively devise it. By staging your home with stand-alone cabinet furniture and displaying some kitchen items in them, you give buyers an idea of how to use the space.

You’d be surprised at how many buyers enter a home and may not have any idea about how to use a particular area/space in a house. Taking the time to show them how you’ve used it can help them understand how it will suit their needs, or, at the very least, spark their own ideas about using the space.

Make it comfy. Think about what makes you want to stay and visit at a friend’s home. Good food and company, of course! But also, comfortable seating. Even though your furniture likely won’t be sold with the house, the convenient chairs you have in your kitchen will influence the buyer’s overall reaction to your kitchen and house. If the chairs are too large, don’t match the design and decor, and are uncomfortable looking, they’ll give the buyer a feeling of something being œjust not quite right.

Comfortable chairs“even a love seat, upholstered bench or wing chair“can be very inviting. They sort of beckon buyers to take a seat, stay for a while… and if there’s a plate of cookies and a cup of fresh brewed coffee, well now, the buyer just might have time to really begin to feel at home. And that, after all, is precisely what every seller wants every buyer to feel in their listed home.

Published: January 14, 2011

10 Real Estate Predictions for the New Year

RISMEDIA, December 22, 2010”The start of a new year is often a time of reflection, as well as a time of anticipation for the future. It™s no different for real estate professionals, many of whom have weathered the recession and are now optimistic about 2011. From the return of new construction to the creation of healthier homes, the following are 10 residential real estate trends they see for the coming year:

1.) Building is back: After three years of little to no new development, John Wozniak of Wheaton, Illinois-based J. Lawrence Homes said the builder is excited about 2011. œAfter a couple of very challenging years, the market for new-construction housing is showing signs of life. Slowly but surely, homes are selling and new properties are breaking ground, such as the two communities we opened this year in Lynwood and North Aurora, he said. œWe™ve had encouraging sales and I believe they point to an uptick for 2011.

2.) Apartments continue to thrive: If there has been one bright spot over the past few years in the real estate industry, it has been the rental market.

œPeople have realized the many benefits of renting, from having more flexibility with your housing commitments to a higher level of finishes and amenities. And, this demand will continue to outpace supply, said Steve Fifield, president of Fifield Cos. œAppraisal Research reports that Chicago™s Class A downtown apartments are at a nearly 95 percent occupancy rate, and those numbers will continue to stay very strong for 2011.

3.) Opting for established: The mega-communities in the exurbs are a thing of the past, said Brian Brunhofer of Meritus Homes. Instead, 2011 will see builders move toward smaller neighborhoods or pockets of homes in established communities. œClose-knit communities with respected homeowner associations, mature landscaping and neighbors waiting to greet you “ that attractive quality of life is going to appeal to buyers much more in 2011.

Seconding the movement toward established communities is Jeff Benach of Lexington Homes. œBuyers are looking for a safer investment for their home purchase, he said. œWe won™t see them roll the dice like in the past on a fast-growing town in a far-out suburb. They want a proven area with access to retail development and employment corridors. They don™t want to wait for the surrounding area to be built. They want everything already in place, he said.

4.) Make it modern: Chalk it up to œMad Men or simply a pendulum swing in taste, but either way transitional and warm-modern design will be prevalent in 2011, said Brian Goldberg, a partner in LG Development Group. œOur clients are looking for a cleaner approach to the style of their homes “ more mid-century and less traditional with a warm and tailored aesthetic, he said.

Ray Hartshorne, principal of Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, agrees. œFrom the single-family side, our clients are gravitating toward modern design instead of strictly traditional, that is simple, clean line exteriors and open floor plans that are comfortable for the family and versatile for entertaining, he said. œIn the multi-family sector, now more than ever, we are seeing an interest in contemporary-themed and luxurious interior design for lobbies and common areas.

5.) Buying for the long term: The Census shows the average person moves about 11 times, but Jim Chittaro, president of Smykal Homes, predicts that number will slowly decrease. œThankfully, the idea of a home as a short-term moneymaker is essentially gone, so when people do buy, they™ll do it with the intention of staying put for closer to 10 years rather than two to three, he said

This means people will be studying floor plans more closely, to ensure the home will grow with them, Chittaro continued. œBuyers want to be sure the home will suit their needs not only now, but down the road, whether they plan to expand their family or prepare for kids to leave the nest, he said. œFloor plans that can adapt to lifestyle changes with flexible features like second family rooms should do well in 2011.

Brunhofer agrees that more buyers will be looking for a home for the long haul. œIt™s not just floor plans that buyers are going over with a fine-tooth comb, Brunhofer said. œOur buyers are very careful about school districts. They want to know they can send all of their children to a school with a proven track record and not have to relocate a few years down the road to ensure a good education.

The shift to long-term buyers will also put long-term builders in the spotlight. œPeople are hesitant to buy a home from a builder or secure a mortgage from a lender they don’t perceive to be well-established, said Benach. œBuyers want to know their builder is committed to them and the community, and that it™s not about making a quick buck or boosting a shareholder™s financial interest. That personal connection is really important.

6.) Upping the ante on amenities: In 2011, developers will continue to create new and exciting amenities to differentiate their properties and keep them relevant in the marketplace, said Tony Rossi, president of RMK Management Corp. œRenters are looking for something special, like an outdoor grilling area or special events like dance lessons, he said.

But it™s not just enhanced outdoor spaces in apartments that will matter in 2011. Benach thinks condo and townhome buyers will also place a higher importance on outdoor space in the coming year, especially those who live in an urban setting.

œPeople may realize they don™t need to live with as much square footage inside their home, so to compensate they™ll want a place to call their own outside their home, said Benach.

7.) High-tech takes over: Running your home entertainment system, appliances and lighting from a centralized control panel is old news. Going forward, we™ll see more homeowners want a smart phone app that can control their residence remotely, noted Goldberg.

œEach year, the demand increases for home technology that makes homeowners™ lives easier, he said. œWe™ll get to a point, and some of our clients are almost there, where homeowners can leave work and by activating an app on their phone have all of their home electronics queued up when they walk in the door “ the oven is preheated, lights come on and a TV show turns on when motion sensors recognize they™ve walked into the room. It may sound like a movie, but some of this technology we can build into homes now.

8.) Smaller homes stay the course: The average size of a new home decreased for the first time in decades from 2008 to 2009, and that trend will continue into 2011, said Benach.

œThis trend is fueled by first-time buyers with smaller budgets, requiring smaller homes, he said. œNew buyers will have to be more conservative with their mortgages and will need to pay a higher percentage for a down payment, which means they™ll need a home with a smaller price, he said. œPeople won™t be buying more than they need. So to meet their needs, we™ll see builders continue to trim the size of their homes and look for new ways to make square footage work harder.

9.) Green and gorgeous: As the green movement continues to grow, high-end builders and developers have found ways to make homes both green and gorgeous. œThe old mind set was that a green home couldn™t also be stylish and sophisticated. It was as if the two concepts were mutually exclusive, said Hartshorne. œBut new products and forward-thinking design have proved that today™s homeowners can have both. Also, building a green home doesn™t have to break the bank. We are constantly being introduced to attractive, sustainable building materials that are more cost effective than in the past.

10.) Healthy homes: When you consider a study by the National Institutes of Health that found the number of people with allergies is as much as five times higher than 30 years ago, the trend toward building homes with a healthier environment will also gain ground in 2011, said Goldberg.

œIndoor air quality, low VOC paints and adhesives, and all-around healthier materials are becoming more and more of a concern for people building homes “ especially for those with children, he said.

Rick Croce, from Wheaton-based Smykal Renovations, said this trend applies to existing homes, too. œDue to the economy, many people have decided to stay put in their existing home, which means they™ll be investing in changes to make it look better and live healthier, he said. œWe expect to be pricing out more jobs that include installing HVAC systems with better filtration, using low-VOC materials and even replacing old doors and windows to safeguard against exterior pollutants.

10 Real Estate Predictions for the New Year

RISMEDIA, December 22, 2010”The start of a new year is often a time of reflection, as well as a time of anticipation for the future. It™s no different for real estate professionals, many of whom have weathered the recession and are now optimistic about 2011. From the return of new construction to the creation of healthier homes, the following are 10 residential real estate trends they see for the coming year:

1.) Building is back: After three years of little to no new development, John Wozniak of Wheaton, Illinois-based J. Lawrence Homes said the builder is excited about 2011. œAfter a couple of very challenging years, the market for new-construction housing is showing signs of life. Slowly but surely, homes are selling and new properties are breaking ground, such as the two communities we opened this year in Lynwood and North Aurora, he said. œWe™ve had encouraging sales and I believe they point to an uptick for 2011.

2.) Apartments continue to thrive: If there has been one bright spot over the past few years in the real estate industry, it has been the rental market.

œPeople have realized the many benefits of renting, from having more flexibility with your housing commitments to a higher level of finishes and amenities. And, this demand will continue to outpace supply, said Steve Fifield, president of Fifield Cos. œAppraisal Research reports that Chicago™s Class A downtown apartments are at a nearly 95 percent occupancy rate, and those numbers will continue to stay very strong for 2011.

3.) Opting for established: The mega-communities in the exurbs are a thing of the past, said Brian Brunhofer of Meritus Homes. Instead, 2011 will see builders move toward smaller neighborhoods or pockets of homes in established communities. œClose-knit communities with respected homeowner associations, mature landscaping and neighbors waiting to greet you “ that attractive quality of life is going to appeal to buyers much more in 2011.

Seconding the movement toward established communities is Jeff Benach of Lexington Homes. œBuyers are looking for a safer investment for their home purchase, he said. œWe won™t see them roll the dice like in the past on a fast-growing town in a far-out suburb. They want a proven area with access to retail development and employment corridors. They don™t want to wait for the surrounding area to be built. They want everything already in place, he said.

4.) Make it modern: Chalk it up to œMad Men or simply a pendulum swing in taste, but either way transitional and warm-modern design will be prevalent in 2011, said Brian Goldberg, a partner in LG Development Group. œOur clients are looking for a cleaner approach to the style of their homes “ more mid-century and less traditional with a warm and tailored aesthetic, he said.

Ray Hartshorne, principal of Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, agrees. œFrom the single-family side, our clients are gravitating toward modern design instead of strictly traditional, that is simple, clean line exteriors and open floor plans that are comfortable for the family and versatile for entertaining, he said. œIn the multi-family sector, now more than ever, we are seeing an interest in contemporary-themed and luxurious interior design for lobbies and common areas.

5.) Buying for the long term: The Census shows the average person moves about 11 times, but Jim Chittaro, president of Smykal Homes, predicts that number will slowly decrease. œThankfully, the idea of a home as a short-term moneymaker is essentially gone, so when people do buy, they™ll do it with the intention of staying put for closer to 10 years rather than two to three, he said

This means people will be studying floor plans more closely, to ensure the home will grow with them, Chittaro continued. œBuyers want to be sure the home will suit their needs not only now, but down the road, whether they plan to expand their family or prepare for kids to leave the nest, he said. œFloor plans that can adapt to lifestyle changes with flexible features like second family rooms should do well in 2011.

Brunhofer agrees that more buyers will be looking for a home for the long haul. œIt™s not just floor plans that buyers are going over with a fine-tooth comb, Brunhofer said. œOur buyers are very careful about school districts. They want to know they can send all of their children to a school with a proven track record and not have to relocate a few years down the road to ensure a good education.

The shift to long-term buyers will also put long-term builders in the spotlight. œPeople are hesitant to buy a home from a builder or secure a mortgage from a lender they don’t perceive to be well-established, said Benach. œBuyers want to know their builder is committed to them and the community, and that it™s not about making a quick buck or boosting a shareholder™s financial interest. That personal connection is really important.

6.) Upping the ante on amenities: In 2011, developers will continue to create new and exciting amenities to differentiate their properties and keep them relevant in the marketplace, said Tony Rossi, president of RMK Management Corp. œRenters are looking for something special, like an outdoor grilling area or special events like dance lessons, he said.

But it™s not just enhanced outdoor spaces in apartments that will matter in 2011. Benach thinks condo and townhome buyers will also place a higher importance on outdoor space in the coming year, especially those who live in an urban setting.

œPeople may realize they don™t need to live with as much square footage inside their home, so to compensate they™ll want a place to call their own outside their home, said Benach.

7.) High-tech takes over: Running your home entertainment system, appliances and lighting from a centralized control panel is old news. Going forward, we™ll see more homeowners want a smart phone app that can control their residence remotely, noted Goldberg.

œEach year, the demand increases for home technology that makes homeowners™ lives easier, he said. œWe™ll get to a point, and some of our clients are almost there, where homeowners can leave work and by activating an app on their phone have all of their home electronics queued up when they walk in the door “ the oven is preheated, lights come on and a TV show turns on when motion sensors recognize they™ve walked into the room. It may sound like a movie, but some of this technology we can build into homes now.

8.) Smaller homes stay the course: The average size of a new home decreased for the first time in decades from 2008 to 2009, and that trend will continue into 2011, said Benach.

œThis trend is fueled by first-time buyers with smaller budgets, requiring smaller homes, he said. œNew buyers will have to be more conservative with their mortgages and will need to pay a higher percentage for a down payment, which means they™ll need a home with a smaller price, he said. œPeople won™t be buying more than they need. So to meet their needs, we™ll see builders continue to trim the size of their homes and look for new ways to make square footage work harder.

9.) Green and gorgeous: As the green movement continues to grow, high-end builders and developers have found ways to make homes both green and gorgeous. œThe old mind set was that a green home couldn™t also be stylish and sophisticated. It was as if the two concepts were mutually exclusive, said Hartshorne. œBut new products and forward-thinking design have proved that today™s homeowners can have both. Also, building a green home doesn™t have to break the bank. We are constantly being introduced to attractive, sustainable building materials that are more cost effective than in the past.

10.) Healthy homes: When you consider a study by the National Institutes of Health that found the number of people with allergies is as much as five times higher than 30 years ago, the trend toward building homes with a healthier environment will also gain ground in 2011, said Goldberg.

œIndoor air quality, low VOC paints and adhesives, and all-around healthier materials are becoming more and more of a concern for people building homes “ especially for those with children, he said.

Rick Croce, from Wheaton-based Smykal Renovations, said this trend applies to existing homes, too. œDue to the economy, many people have decided to stay put in their existing home, which means they™ll be investing in changes to make it look better and live healthier, he said. œWe expect to be pricing out more jobs that include installing HVAC systems with better filtration, using low-VOC materials and even replacing old doors and windows to safeguard against exterior pollutants.

Barbara Baker Talks Toys for Tots and

the Feast of the Seven Fishes

Peters resident and real-estate agent shares her holiday traditions and annual charity work.

By Jacob Flannick | Email the author | 6:00am

During the height of the Christmas season, unique traditions liven households while charitable endeavors grace each community, indeed creating a vibrant time of the year.

Although this holiday may take a bow to consumerism and over-indulgence, it also emphasizes togetherness and goodwill.

Peters resident and real-estate agent, Barbara Baker, embraces this season with great generosity.

In her second year hosting a Toys for Tots open-house charity event, Baker invited her neighbors and past real-estate clients to partake in the warm buzz created by the kind-hearted project.

“It’s a great atmosphere,” said Baker. “Neighbors have a chance to spend time together and you can come whenever you want and leave whenever you want.”

Funded by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, the Toys for Tots foundation reveals Christmas’s themes of hope and prosperity through holding annual nationwide fundraisers that collect toys for less-fortunate youth.

“So many of us have so much, while so many have so little,” said Baker. “It’s for such a great cause.”

Baker also volunteers at an Assisted Living facility, where she spends much of her time assisting residents.

A major reason for Baker’s recent involvement at the facility is due to her 87-year-old mother,  Francis Zuchowski, who is now a resident recovering from a recent stroke. While her mother’s condition has been difficult to bear, Baker’s resilient optimism allows her to accept such trials.

“I remember how she used to be so vibrant around this time of year,” said Baker. “It’s been hard not having her around this year, but that’s a part of life.”

Although her mother may not be physically present this year, Baker will have her family over this Christmas Eve. As one of five children, Baker has volunteered her house as the central meeting place for the family every year.

As Roman Catholics with Italian and Polish roots, Baker’s family celebrates the Feast of the Seven Fishes every Christmas Eve, a Roman Catholic tradition that practices abstinence from consuming meat or milk products in reverence of the birth of Jesus. This feast usually includes shrimp, salmon, cod and other types of savory fish that crowd the dinner table .

Although the seafood smorgasbord varies from year to year, Baker always reserves a spot at the dinner table for pierogies.

Unlike typical store-bought pierogies, these are handmade by the parishioners of St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church in Richeyville, Pa.

“They’re awesome,” said Baker. “The best I’ve ever had.”

For Baker, the most valued aspect of the Christmas season lies in the time spent with good company.

“To me, it’s about friends and family,” said Baker. “Everyone seems to make more of an effort to be together around this time of the year.”

11 Ways to Save on Airfare in Any Season

By George Hobica

RISMEDIA, December 7, 2010–(MCT)–Yes, fares on many routes are much more expensive this holiday season than last, but airfares are not static and there are (relative) deals to be had any time of year. Here is Airfarewatchdog.com’s best advice for making your airfare dollars go further, no matter what the time of year.

1. Sign up for the airlines’ email feeds and frequent flyer programs
We know, you already get too much e-mail, but the airlines want to develop a one-on-one relationship with you, so they’ll send you special deals, such as 50 percent off promo codes or two-fers, if you sign up. Airline sites sell much more than airfares these days (hotels, rental cars, credit cards and such), and they will entice you to deal direct rather than use a third party site such as Orbitz. If you’re on Twitter, you might also want to follow the airlines’ tweets, which they’re using to promote exclusive Twitter-only deals.

2. Sign up for third-party fare alerts
Many airfare websites offer alerts, and they all have something to offer. Yapta.com lets you track your specific itinerary, down to the flight number and dates of travel, and will let you know if the airline owes you a price-drop refund. Travelocity’s easy-to-use FareWatcherPlus lets you track up to ten routes and you can choose to be notified either when a fare goes down by $25 or more, or when it goes below a price you choose. Orbitz also offers alerts, as does Bing Travel, TripAdivsor.com/flights and FareCompare.com.

3. Search airline sites individually, but not exclusively
As noted above, many airlines have “private” sales, reserving their very best fares for their own sites. These are different from promo code fares. International airlines such as Aer Lingus, Iberia and Qantas regularly offer lower fares (i.e., $100-$400 less) on their own websites compared to what you’ll find on Kayak or Orbitz. And yet, you shouldn’t ignore online travel agencies such as Expedia and Travelocity, because these sites will tell you if it’s cheaper flying out on one airline and back on another. In general, airline sites want you to fly only on their “metal.”

4. Buy hotel plus air packages
It’s often significantly cheaper to buy an air plus hotel package rather than airfare alone, especially for last minute travel. We often see Travelocity “TotalTrip” offerings, especially on last minute flights, pop up with hotel plus air for half the price of air alone. Lastminute.com is also a great source for finding last minute packages.

5. Use Priceline for last-minute trips
If you don’t have a 7-, 14-, or 21-day advance purchase window to buy your fare, your best bet is the “name your own price” feature of Priceline.com. True, you won’t know the exact flight times or airline you’re flying until to pay for your trip, but you can save 50 percent or more. Hotwire.com can also be useful for last minute trips.

6. Use consolidators, but beware of the restrictions
Especially with the economic downturn, business and first class cabins will be emptier in 2010, and deals will be amazing. Consolidators specializing in premium cabins will have some great deals, and the airlines themselves will be heavily discounting their premium cabins, so check the specials on their websites. Sites like Vayama.com, airfare.com and Asia.com also sometimes sell consolidator fares.

7. Use a flexible date search
True, many people are not flexible in their travel dates, but would you fly in a different month or a day or two earlier or later to save hundreds of bucks? If so, learn how to do a flexible travel date search on airline and third-party sites.

8. Consider the extra fees before you buy
If Southwest has a fare of $198 round-trip and United has one for $148, and you are checking three bags, then Southwest actually has the lowest fare because Southwest charges nothing for the first two checked bags, whereas United would charge you an additional $165 each way for three.

9. Combine two separate fares rather than buying one fare
If you’re flying to a destination in Europe, you might save money by purchasing one fare from the U.S. to, say, Dublin, and another from Dublin onward on Ryanair.com (just beware of Ryanair’s rather onerous fees). Same holds true for some destinations in Asia (fly into Singapore and catch a low-cost carrier such as Airasia.com from there) and to some smaller Caribbean destinations via San Juan or the Bahamas. Even domestically, two fares are often less than one, such as the recent scenario where Dallas to Honolulu was selling for $350 round-trip with tax, but Houston/Honolulu was $800. As you’re no doubt aware, you can fly Houston-Dallas for a lot less than $450!

10. Buy tickets on an airline that will refund the difference if a fare goes down
Let’s say you’ve found the lowest fare, and then the day after purchase your non-refundable fare for the same itinerary goes down. If you ask for it you can get a refund for the difference. But some airlines will charge you a costly “administrative” fee of $150 or more, wiping out any savings. Others will give you the entire fare difference without extracting a fee. Currently, the “nice” airlines are JetBlue, Southwest and Alaska.

11. Check fares several times a day, and don’t listen to airfare pundits who predict airfares
A lot of people like to pretend they’re clairvoyant, and they know where airfares are headed. But airlines are unpredictable creatures, and any airfare expert who claims he or she knows that airfares will be lower or higher in the coming months or the coming day is suspect. No one can accurately predict where airfares are heading, any more than we can predict the stock market, because we have no idea when the economy will improve, or how much airlines will cut back capacity, or when the next flu epidemic will hit. If we could, we’d all be comfortably retired by now! Fares fluctuate throughout the day, and the number of seats offered at the lowest fares also changes frequently. So if you don’t like the fare at 10 a.m., check at 2 p.m. or the next day and you may be surprised.

(c) 2010, Airfarewatchdog.com.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Holiday Home Safety

by Carla Hill

The Holiday season is upon us, and for most it is a time full of joy, fellowship, and family. But the unexpected can and does happen.

So, from stopping theft to preventing fires, here are a few tips from the experts that can help keep your family safe this time of year.

Fire safety comes with the territory of the holidays. Trees and lighting can both be dangerous if not done correctly.

When selecting a real tree, be sure to buy one that is fresh. This means you should look for a fragrant tree that is a rich, deep green color. Also, the trunk should still be sticky with sap. Old trees are dry and brittle, and thus can be very flammable.

To keep your tree fresh throughout December, be sure to keep it immersed in water at all times. If needles start to fall off, give it more water!

For those with artificial trees, don’t use electrical lights on metallic trees! And be sure to always turn your lights off you go to bed or leave the house.

Another fire hazard are those beautiful, twinkling lights. Every year’s decorating should begin with checking light strands for cut or frayed wires.

Also, be sure that lights are used as marked. Indoor lights are for use inside only. Outdoor lights are kept outside.

Next, don’t overload your outlets. Three sets of lights to an extension cord is plenty!

Another looming threat during the holidays is home burglary. Thieves prey on those that travel during this season.

To prevent thieves from targeting your home, you need to make your schedule unpredictable. That means keep your routine varied. Come home randomly for lunch one day a week. Leave for work at different times.

And to give the appearance that someone is always home, leave on a tv or use lights that are on timers.

Never post on social media that you’ll be out of town or away from your house for extended periods of time.

And as added measures of security, consider installing an alarm system, or having a house-sitter stay at your home or check on it periodically during your vacation.

Use these tips to have a safe and merry holiday season!

Published: November 25, 2010

Most Say it’s a Good Time to Buy

by Broderick Perkins

Most Americans believe the housing market has hit the bottom and that it’s a good time to buy, in part because many also think rents will rise faster than home prices.

Fannie Mae’s latest nation housing survey found that 70 percent of Americans think it’s a good time to buy a home, up from 64 percent in January.

By an overwhelming majority, 78 percent, also believe home prices will either hold steady or increase over the next year, compared to 85 percent believing the same thing about rental increases.

While Americans expect rents to rise by 3.6 percent on average, home prices are expected to turn up only by 0.9 percent, Fannie Mae found.

“Given the remaining level of shadow inventory, as well as the high number of adjustable rate resets still looming which could in turn lead to further defaults, it is difficult to see the supply of housing falling in an amount sufficient to move prices upwards in many parts of the country,” said Nancy Osborne, chief operating officer of Erate.com, a Santa Clara, CA-based financial information publisher and interest rate tracker.

Also 67 percent believe housing is a safe investment, down three points since January and down 16 percentage points from a similar 2003 survey and the largest drop by far among all investment types tracked since then. Housing ranked second behind putting money into a savings or money market account (76 percent).

“Our survey shows that consumers see a mixed outlook for housing and homeownership,” said Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s vice president and chief economist.

“These findings indicate a return to a more balanced and realistic approach toward housing. While this will likely weigh on the housing recovery in the near-term, it should, over time, help to build a stronger and healthier market focused on sustainable homeownership,” he added.

The Fannie Mae National Housing Survey polled homeowners and renters between June 2010 and July 2010 and compared the findings to similar surveys released earlier this year and 2003.

The survey also found:

¢ Mortgage borrowers (74 percent) and underwater borrowers (69 percent) are more likely to say owning a home is a safe investment than delinquent borrowers (57 percent) and renters (54 percent). However, this measure has fallen among all sub-groups since January, with delinquent borrowers and renters showing the largest declines, down eight and seven points, respectively.

¢ More than 70 percent of all respondents believe it will be harder for the next generation to buy a home, up three points from the beginning of the year.

¢ Fifty-four percent think it would be very difficult or somewhat difficult to get a home loan today, down six points since January.

¢ Thirty-three percent of all Americans said they would be more likely to rent rather than buy if they were going to move, up from 30 percent in January.

¢ Among renters, 60 percent said they would rent again if they were to move, up from 54 percent in January. However, 69 percent of renters think it makes more sense to buy a home than to rent.

¢ Mortgage borrowers (83 percent) and underwater borrowers (77 percent) remain bullish on housing and said they are more likely to buy in the future than rent ” both groups increased two points from January.

“If you couple this (high inventories and rate resets) with the reality that it is far more difficult to obtain a mortgage as well as a job, when selling a home to someone who presumably needs financing to buy it, housing is still facing a conundrum.” Osborne added.

Published: November 4, 2010

Go Green: Energy Tax Credits

by Carla Hill

 There are many reasons that homeowners search out green living. Energy-efficient and renewable products can help a homeowner save both energy and the environment.

Many shy away, however, from these upgrades. They fear that higher initial costs are out of their reach. Recent studies have shown, though, that green options are many times only a fraction higher in initial costs. And with the energy savings that many homeowners see, the upfront cost quickly is erased by the long term savings.

Numerous tax credits and rebates are available, causing green to gain in popularity. Homeowners currently may take advantage of up to $1,500 in tax credits. These credits are set to expire on December 31st, but they could be extended.

“We think it would be a great benefit to both the environment and to our economy to extend these tax benefits, but they are scheduled to expire at the end of the year,” Shirey noted. “For that reason, NAHB suggests that home owners get the work done before Dec. 31, while the tax credits are still available.”

What does the tax credit covers? According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), “The tax credit for efficiency upgrades in existing homes (Internal Revenue Code Section 25C) is available for 30 percent of the cost, up to a $1,500 limit for 2009 and 2010, for the installation of certain types of insulation, windows, roofs, water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners and furnaces.”

Additionally, some energy star rated appliances are gaining steam. According to energystar.gov, “If you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit.” How much can an energy star appliance save you? A washer can cut your energy costs by one third and cut your water costs by half!

There’s also a tax credit with no upper limit — that for geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines (residential), and solar energy systems. Geothermal heat pumps use the earth’s natural heat, from the ground, to provide heating, hot water, and air conditioning. Small wind turbines use energy from the wind to make electricity, while solar systems harness the energy of the sun. This credit is good until December 31, 2016, and can be used for existing homes and new construction. Both principal residences and second homes qualify, but rentals do not.

You can read more details on the kinds of products that qualify and instructions for obtaining the credit at nahb.org and energystar.gov.

Published: November 2, 2010