Taking the Spooky Out of the Mortgage Process [INFOGRAPHIC]

Taking the Spooky Out of the Mortgage Process [INFOGRAPHIC]

Who lives among us?

My costume this year....

Owning a home is easier than you might think!

Just over one third of those currently renting a property would be motivated to buy by affordable home prices. Some 16% would feel motivated to buy property if they had the down payment required to make the purchase, while another 15% would feel motivated if they saw their finances improve.

A shout out to RENTERS -- there are several good programs available that require little down payment.  I'd be happy to get you started! (There are some great homes available at good prices right now!)

Fr instance -- you could use a USDA loan (A that programs helps rural communities and individuals by providing loans and grants for housing) for 0% down to buy this house in Watertown.

Principal and interest payments would be approx $582.69 - now compare that dollar figure to your current rent. 

Contact me to look ---- it really is a dollar wise decision!

Do Halloween Dangers Lurk at Your Entryway?

Do Halloween Dangers Lurk at Your Entryway?

By: Oliver Marks

 

Is your front entryway ready for Halloween visitors? Keep everything fun and accident-free with these seven safety tips.

Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween -- as long as it’s just a trick.

To help you avoid any real-life scares -- such as falls, fires, and traffic accidents -- around your property this All Hallows Eve, play it safe while you’re setting up your Halloween lights and decorations.

Here are seven simple precautions recommended by John Pettibone, curator of Hammond Castle, a Gloucester, Mass., mansion that draws thousands to its renowned 20-room haunted house every Halloween season.


1. Light the Scene

Providing plenty of illumination ensures that your visitors can see where they’re walking, helping to avoid missteps and falls. Pettibone suggests using the highest wattage bulbs your outdoor lighting fixtures can safely take (check the label on the socket), and adding landscape lights every few feet along your front walk.

“We use the solar-powered kind because there’s no wiring needed,” he says. “Just push them into the ground, let them soak up the sun during the day, and they’ll light up the walk after dark.”

2. Secure the Footing

Clear your walk, steps, and stoop of any obstructions that could trip youngsters focused more on tricks and treats than watching where they’re going. That means moving potted mums and jack o’lanterns out of the way, and hammering down any nail heads protruding out of your steps.

If you have a concrete stoop, which can get slippery when wet, apply friction tape ($16 for a 60-foot roll of 1-inch-wide tape) to ensure stable footing, says Pettibone. He also stocks up on chemical ice melt ($20 for a 50-lb. bag) just in case of an early freeze.

3. Tighten the Railings

If your porch railings are wobbly or broken, family members and friends may know not to lean too heavily on them, but Halloween visitors won’t. So hire a contractor or handyman to fix the problem. It’ll make your home safer for guests all year round. Because more strangers come to your front door this night than the rest of the year combined, now is the time to take care of it.

4. Eliminate Fire Hazards

Don’t put real candles into your carved pumpkins or paper lanterns. “That’s a fire waiting to happen,” says Pettibone. Instead, pick up a bulk pack of LED-bulb faux candles, which emit a yellowish, flickering, battery-powered light that looks amazingly similar to the real thing -- without the danger.

5. Secure your Property

To prevent burglaries and Halloween pranks -- especially on mischief night the previous evening -- make sure to keep all windows and doors (other than your main door) locked shut.

You might have an electrician add motion-sensor lights around your property, so anyone who walks down your driveway or around into the backyard will be discouraged from intruding any farther.

6. Set the Scene

In addition to spooky items like cotton cobwebs and half-buried skeletons, consider a few safety-related scene-setters. Pettibone suggests propping open the screen or storm door so it doesn’t get in the way when there’s a big group of kids congregated on your stoop. “We use yellow caution tape to tie open the door,” he says. “You can order it online and it works well with the Halloween theme.” A 1,000-ft. roll of 3-inch-wide caution tape is about $8.

You’ll also want a working doorbell, so if yours is broken, either hire an electrician or handyman to fix it -- or install a wireless doorbell in its place.

7. Enhance Street Safety

Four times as many child pedestrians get killed on Halloween night than a normal night. So limit the danger as much as you can by clearing parked cars off the curb to allow better visibility and placing a reflective “watch for children sign” at the edge of the road. For for high-traffic roads in Halloween-intensive neighborhoods, consider posting an adult in the street with a hand-held traffic control light to help maintain safety.

Read more: http://members.houselogic.com/articles/halloween-safety-rules/preview/?cid=eo_em_mkt_rcrnewsletter#ixzz3HT86YG54
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Is your costume shocking?

Short Sale accepted offer -- on our way to a close!

Do you have odd sounds in your home?

What’s Causing Those Footsteps in the Attic and Other Spooky Sounds and Smells?

By: John Riha

 

Are you haunted by strange noises and weird odors? With the proper maintenance, you’ve got more than a ghost of a chance to rest easy.

Creaking and Popping in the Night

The many materials that make up your house — wood framing, plywood, glass, metal ducts, nails, plumbing pipes — all expand and contract at different rates.

When a house cools at night, these materials may move slightly, rubbing against each other and making noises. Occasionally, they’ll contract with an audible pop.

These sounds tend to be more noticeable in fall, when warm days give way to rapidly cooling nights. The bad news? Not much you can do about it. The good news? Those sounds are harmless and normal.
Zombie Odor

It’s either time to throw out the garbage, or you’d better call your gas utility to check on your gas lines and connections.

Natural gas is odorless, but natural gas suppliers add a foul-smelling odorant -- butyl mercaptan — to alert occupants to any leaks. The smell is like rotten eggs.

Leaks can occur at your gas-fired water heater, fireplace, clothes dryer, and any gas line. Leaking natural gas is potentially dangerous — leave the house and call your natural gas provider to assess the situation. Most utility companies perform safety checks for free.

Footsteps in the Attic
Amplified by an unfinished attic space, a raccoon or even a good-size squirrel on your roof might sound like an ax murderer is doing the polka overhead.

These rooftop transits are normal for critters — roofs offer a nice long unobstructed highway.

Make sure your soffit, rafter, and gable roof vents are covered with screens and in good shape, or your rooftop buddies might find their way into your attic for real. Trim back branches that provide critters easy access to your roof.

Something’s Burning

You can smell the odor of burnt wood, but the smoke detectors aren’t going off and there’s no smoke in the house. The culprit could be your fireplace — even if you haven’t had a fire for days.

The probable cause is a drafty chimney and negative air pressure in your home, meaning that outside air is infiltrating down your chimney, bringing stale burnt smells with it.

Stop drafts by making sure your damper has a good seal. Regulate air pressure by adding more cold air return ducts to your HVAC system. You’ll get rid of the odor and save on your energy bill, too.

Moaning and Clattering

These classic spooky sounds often show up when the wind blows and there’s a storm brewing.

Vents for clothes dryers, bathrooms, and water heaters exit out the roof or the side of the house. To prevent backdrafts, these vents have dampers — flaps designed to let vented air out and prevent outside air from coming in. These flaps sometimes move and rattle in high winds.

Because dampers often are located in attics or in between floor joists, the sound can be difficult to pinpoint. You may need a new damper ($85).

Read more: http://members.houselogic.com/articles/spooky-house-noises-bad-smells/preview/?cid=eo_em_mkt_rcrnewsletter#ixzz3HSxVoMvr
Follow us: @HouseLogic on Twitter | HouseLogic on Facebook

21789 W Birchwood Dr Lannon, Wisconsin 53046 - Accepted offer!

Do you have a need for an HOA?

Home for sale in Mary Hills Subdivision in Hartland, WI

1286 Mary Hill Cir Hartland, Wisconsin 53029-8006
$805,000
 
Hwy 16 to Jungbluth Rd. North to Hwy K, West to Mary Hill. North into Mary Hill to Mary Hill Circle, turn left to 1286 Mary Hill Circle.

Incredible Quality and Craftsmanship throughout this beautiful Regency Built home in highly sought after Mary Hills Subdivision. Fantastic panoramic views. 

All the amenities with built in book cases and professional grade appliances. Dramatic vaulted LR with wall of windows. Abundant entertainment possibilities in the lower level full bar & media center. Features energy efficient geothermal heating and cooling system. 4.5 Car heated garage w/spancrete workshop below. 

Swallow/Arrowhead School District.

CLOSED - 302 E Green St Watertown, Wisconsin 53098-2826

302 E Green St Watertown, Wisconsin 53098-2826

Home for sale in Hawks Pointe Subdivision - Brookfield, WI

615 Talon Trail Brookfield, Wisconsin 53045-6314

Home for sale in Hawks Pointe Subdivision - Brookfield, WI

Brookfield Road to Davidson Road. East on Davidson Road to Hawks Ridge, North to Coopers, East to Talon Trail to 615.


Incredible details throughout this Masterfully built Regency home. From the Stunning Foyer Entry complete with a set of Unique Curved Stair cases and breathtaking imported chandeliers. This home offers the finest millwork finishes. Open concept with beautiful Cherry Cabinets complimented by 3 Fire Places. A Chef's kitchen with granite throughout. Remaining personal belongings are negotiable.

You would probably actually pay less annually to own this condo than you do in rent!

With the availabilty of this great side by side condo -- why rent? You would probably actually pay less annually to own this condo than you do in rent!  BOTH SIDES ARE AVAILABLE!!!

453 S Lyman St
OCONOMOWOC, WI 53066 

 

 

This is one way to get rid of a Mortgage!