Homeowner Tips and Insights

Tips for First-time Homeowners

by David Glenn | May 9, 2016 | CRESTICO

In all likelihood, if you’ve been living with your folks, in a dorm room or an apartment, you probably don’t know a whole lot about home maintenance, landscaping or home security. These tips may help to prevent costly mistakes, save money and help you to learn about homeowner responsibilities.

Valve for Water Shutoff

After purchasing a new or used home, you need to locate the main valve for shutting off the water to the home in an emergency. Shutoff valves are typically located near the water main where it comes into the home. Everyone living in the home should understand how to turn the valve off.

You may need to shut the valve off when pipes burst or an overflowing toilet floods the floors, carpeting, cabinets or wallboards. These items are difficult to dry out and can lead to costly repairs.

Landscaping

Planting new or additional landscaping is a wonderful way to add a bit of your own personality to the home, and it can help to keep your home much cooler during hot summer weather.

Choose trees and vines to plant on the southern and western sides of the home, which will provide much needed shade. Call 811 before you begin digging around your home to learn where wires, cables and underground pipes are located from the dig-safely hotline.

Improve Security

Whether you’ve purchased a used or a new home, it is a smart idea to change out the locks. As a matter a fact, consider deadbolts, which offer the most security.

Take a quick tour of your new home looking for weak areas that could provide easy access to thieves. Adding window locks, outdoor lighting and light sensors in vulnerable areas could reduce vandalism and thefts.

Electrical Panel

Locate the electrical panel in your house that contains breakers to shut off power to various parts of the home. Check to see that all breakers are labeled with the names of each room, so you’ll know which breaker to shut down in the event of an emergency.

Home Systems and Appliances

Determine whether you want to make repairs or replace home systems and appliances yourself. Perhaps you would rather purchase a home warranty from a service company that offers warranty plans to make repairs or replace faulty units.

Warranty plans can be tailored to the needs of homeowners. Many basic plans cover the major home systems like plumbing, heating, electrical and cooling. Some plans include a number of common household appliances like refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers. Generally, you pay a flat fee once a year to purchase a contract and are responsible for paying the cost of any service calls.

Checking for Plumbing Issues

Plumbing might not be much of a concern in newer homes, but you definitely want to discover plumbing problems in any used home.

Open cabinets below sinks to search for leaks. Check to see whether faucets are leaking or continually dripping. Make sure the toilet doesn’t run constantly, and look around the base of the toilets for signs of water leaks.

Insulation

It’s a smart idea to check out the attic insulation to determine if it has at least the minimum requirements to keep your home cooler in the warm months and warmer during chilly weather. Insulation should be anywhere from 10 to about 14 inches thick depending upon the type and quality of insulation.

Locate the water heater and consider purchasing an inexpensive water heater jacket if it doesn’t already have one. Also, check the settings on the water heater. Setting it to 120 degrees should more than cover your needs and may help to lower your electric bill.

Add insulation around exposed pipes in garages and basements to reduce heat loss.

Fire Prevention

Remove shrubbery and trees that are too close to the home. Maintaining a 30 foot perimeter around the home free of large bushes and trees is recommended.

Install fire alarms throughout the home. Multi-level homes should have alarms for each floor. Make sure your home is also equipped with working fire extinguishers.

There is no doubt about it, owning your first home is a learning experience. Just remember to seek advice from neighbors and when in doubt, consider calling a professional.

Bundling Insurance

If you’re wondering if you should bundle home and car insurance, the answer is almost always yes. The discounted amount from bundling home and auto always varies depending on who you are bundling with, but the average bundle discount will get you 20% off. While the immediate and obvious benefit of bundling is saving money, the benefits go beyond just savings. Because you’re bundling, there is no doubt you’ll develop a better relationship with that company as you’ll be talking to them more frequently. No yo mention you could also benefit from paying a single deductible as opposed to two.

New Home Trends We Hope to See in 2017

by David Glenn | Apr 21, 2016 | CRESTICO

Home trends change from year to year, but overall, home ownership is a beautiful thing. You have a place to call your own while building up equity in your investment. And there’s also something about owning your home yourself rather than renting it from someone else. Investing in your home most likely will bring a great return, so the following are a few tips from the pros as you look at what your home needs next.

Getting back to nature

The down-to-earth vibe is here to stay for a while. Designers and homeowners are loving the clean, Nordic design look cozied up with natural pine flooring and furnishings, soft textures like shearling, hides and fur with the occasional pop of color. Dark shades of green (as in, deep jungle, forest and olive tones) and nuances of ocean hues (blue-green, lime, jade, and cobalt)are on the horizon as some of the top color trends for the coming year. Of course, strategically placed indoor plants (trend alert: olive plants and trees!) lend a touch of green to enliven a space.

Dedicated, technology-free space in floor plans

As open concept design and technology evolve, homeowners are increasingly looking for a small place to escape to where technology is absent. A bedroom nook, library or entry alcove along with warm, enveloping furnishings provides the perfect retreat from the barrage of screen information most homeowners face daily. Early in the design process is the best time to nail down exactly where and how to carve out a peaceful sanctuary within your home.

Natural Textures

For furniture design, cane, rattan and abaca have been reinvented with a modern flair. Cork, a fast-growing and renewable resource, is emerging as a strong sound buffer for the pervasive open floor plan. Think a side or coffee table, stool or even an entire wall in a home office. Cork’s warmth and renewability make it a top choice for 2017 homeowners. Terra cotta tiles are also on the upswing with a new matte finish that stays away from the rustic feel of previous years. Look for terra cotta to influence fireplace surround design and bathroom design.

Art-inspired wallpaper

After years of removing wallpaper, homeowners and designers are now considering its many benefits. In addition to many up-and-coming designs in today’s marketplace, artists can now turn their work into wallpaper murals by enlarging their art to a grand scale. Area Environments is one such studio that has seen a rise in demand for art-inspired wallpaper and creates impressive wallscapes.

Black as a staple kitchen design element

White as a preferred design element is slowly being upstaged by its direct opposite. Black cabinets, countertops, appliances and more are coming into their own as designers seek a warmer, sleeker silhouette. As the perfect foil for metals, plants and colorful food, black seems to be coming into its own. If homeowners aren’t sure about a full-on black kitchen, dark gray and strategically designed black and white layouts are growing in popularity worldwide.

Fair realtor fees

Too often realtors are given their set fees automatically without any direct correlation to the quality of service they have provided. With housing prices possibly leveling off in late 2017, homeowners who are considering selling need to get top dollar without costly realtor fees. A popular option is a flat fee MLS listing service. Basically, this is a Real Estate broker offering to list the property for a flat fee rather than a percentage of the sale price. There are some additional details to consider before deciding if this option is the right one for you, but typically a successful property sale in this scenario results in a seller saving half of the traditional commission and retaining the right to sell on his or her own.

Your home is typically one of your biggest investment over your lifetime. Make it a great space to retreat to, play in and even sell when the time is right.

Short Sale: California’s Transition Assistance Program

by CRESTICO | Dec 5, 2013 | CRESTICO, Mortgage, Real Estate

Distressed California Homeowners May Qualify for California’s Keep Your Home California Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

If your financially distressed California clients can no longer afford their homes and are pursuing a short sale or a deed in lieu of foreclosure, they may be eligible for financial help with their relocation to alternative housing.

The funds come from the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), part of the Keep Your Home California Program.

The state of California is providing up to $5,000 in transition assistance to qualified homeowners who can no longer afford to stay in their homes. You can help by advising your distressed clients that they must:

Apply for the funds through their state’s website or by calling 1.888.954.5337.
Maintain their property until their house is sold or returned to the lender via a negotiated deed in lieu of foreclosure.

For qualified homeowners, these state funds may be used in addition to any other transition assistance that the homeowner may receive by participating in the Federal Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program or in any other pre-offer short sale program.

To learn more about the Transition Assistance Program’s guidelines, and how your clients may qualify, please visit that program’s website at http://keepyourhomecalifornia.org. You can also direct your clients to call 1.888.954.5337 and identify themselves as Bank of America customers

Three EASY Ways to Save Money on your Homeowners Insurance

by CRESTICO | May 21, 2012 | CRESTICO

73% of homeowners are paying too much for their home insurance! Let me tell you about three easy things you can do today to cut down your cost:

#1 – Give them more business and reap the rewards! – By combining your auto and home (or boat, motorcycle, RV, business, life, etc) policies with the same insurance company they will reward you with a multi-policy discount. If your insurance company doesn’t offer you this discount then chances are I can beat your current policies.

#2 – Cut the middleman out – Brokers make their money by charging a brokerage fee and they add that fee to your costs. By switching to a private insurance agent, you can cut out the brokerage fee and save yourself some additional money.

#3 – Discounts, Discounts, Discounts!!! – By installing a burglar fire alarm in your home you can save up to 20% off your policy. You can also get discounts for dead-bolt locks, indoor fire sprinklers, and even smoke detectors (which you should have anyways). If you currently aren’t offered these discounts, check with me to see what I can do for you.

Distressed Homeowners : You Must Read This!!!

by CRESTICO | Aug 18, 2011 | CRESTICO

Distressed Homeowners : You Must Read This!!!

This information is being brought to you directly from the California Attorney General’s Website:

SAN FRANCISCO — Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced that the California Department of Justice, in conjunction with the State Bar of California, has sued multiple entities accused of fraudulently taking millions of dollars from thousands of homeowners who were led to believe they would receive relief on their mortgages.

Attorney General Harris sued Philip Kramer, the Law Offices of Kramer & Kaslow, two other law firms, three other lawyers, and 14 other defendants who are accused of working together to defraud homeowners across the country through the deceptive marketing of "mass joinder" lawsuits. "Mass joinder" lawsuits are lawsuits with hundreds, or more, individually named plaintiffs. This is the first consumer action by the Attorney General's Mortgage Fraud Strike Force.

Kramer's firm and other defendants were placed into receivership on Monday, Aug. 15. The legal actions were designed to shut down a scheme operated by attorneys and their marketing partners, in which defendants used false and misleading representations to induce thousands of homeowners into joining the mass joinder lawsuits against their mortgage lenders. Defendants also had their assets seized and were enjoined from continuing their operations. Nineteen DOJ special agents participated as the firms were taken over Wednesday, Aug. 17, along with 42 agents and other personnel from HUD's Office of Inspector General, the California State Bar, and the Office of Receiver Thomas McNamara at 14 locations in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Sixteen bank accounts were seized.

"The defendants in this case fraudulently promised to win prompt mortgage relief for millions of vulnerable homeowners across the country," said Attorney General Harris. "Innocent people, already battered by the housing crisis, were targeted for fraud in their moment of distress."

"The number of lawyers who have tried to take advantage of distressed homeowners in these tough economic times is nothing short of shocking," said State Bar President William Hebert. "By taking over the practices of four attorneys accused of fraudulent marketing practices, the State Bar can put a stop to their deplorable conduct as part of our ongoing effort to protect the public."

It is believed that at least two million pieces of mail were sent out by defendants to victims in at least 17 states. Defendants' revenue from this scam is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.

As alleged in the lawsuit, defendants preyed on desperate homeowners facing foreclosure by selling them participation as plaintiffs in mass joinder lawsuits against mortgage lenders. Defendants deceptively led homeowners to believe that by joining these lawsuits, they would stop pending foreclosures, reduce their loan balances or Interest Rates, obtain money damages, and even receive title to their homes free and clear of their existing mortgage. Defendants charged homeowners retainer fees of up to $10,000 to join as plaintiffs to a mass joinder lawsuit against their lender or loan servicer.

Consumers who paid to join the mass joinder lawsuits were frequently unable to receive answers to simple questions, such as whether they had been added to the lawsuit, or even to establish contact with defendants. Some consumers lost their homes shortly after paying the retainer fees demanded by defendants.

This mass joinder scam began with deceptive mass mailers, the lawsuit alleges. Some mailers, designed to appear as official settlement notices or government documents, informed homeowners that they were potential plaintiffs in a "national litigation settlement" against their lender. No settlements existed and in many cases no lawsuit had even been filed. Defendants also advertised through their web sites.

When consumers contacted the defendants, they were given legal advice by sales agents, not attorneys, who made additional deceptive statements and provided (often inaccurate) legal advice about the supposedly "likely" results of joining the lawsuits. Defendants unlawfully paid commissions to their sales representatives on a per client sign-up basis, a practice known as "running and capping."

Defendants' alleged misconduct violates the following laws:

-False advertising, in violation of section 17500 of the Business and Professions Code

-Unfair, fraudulent and unlawful business practices, in violation of section 17200 of the Business and Professions Code

-Unlawful running and capping, in violation of section 6152, subdivision (a) of the Business and Professions Code (i.e., a lawyer unlawfully paying a non-lawyer to solicit or procure business)

-Improper fee splitting (defendants unlawfully splitting legal fees with non-attorneys)

-Failing to register with the Department of Justice as a telephonic seller.

Homeowners who have paid to be added to one of the lawsuits should contact the State Bar if they feel they may be victims of this scam. They can also contact a HUD-certified housing counselor for general mortgage related assistance.

The Department of Justice has seized the practices of the following non-attorney defendants:

Attorneys Processing Center, LLC; Data Management, LLC; Gary DiGirolamo; Bill Stephenson; Mitigation Professionals, LLC; Glen Reneau; Pate Marier & Associates, Inc.; James Pate; Ryan Marier; Home Retention Division; Michael Tapia; Lewis Marketing Corp.; Clarence Butt; and Thomas Phanco.

The State Bar has seized the practices and attorney accounts of the attorney defendants:

The Law Offices of Kramer & Kaslow; Philip Kramer, Esq; Mitchell J. Stein & Associates; Mitchell Stein, Esq.; Christopher Van Son, Esq.; Mesa Law Group Corp.; and Paul Petersen, Esq.

Attorney General Harris is challenging the defendants' alleged misconduct in marketing their mass joinder lawsuits; her office takes no position as to the legal merits of any claims asserted in the mass joinder lawsuits filed by defendants.

Victims in the following states are known to have received these mailers, or signed on to join the case. This is a preliminary list that may be updated:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington

The complaint, temporary restraining order, examples of marketing documents and photos of the enforcement action are available with the electronic version of this release at http://oag.ca.gov/news.

For more information, please visit:

http://oag.ca.gov/news/press_release?id=2552