My New Blog

Now that the cold weather is among us. It is time to prepare your home for the winter months to come. This year was one of the most rainiest years I have seen in a long time.  Since there is alot of moisture in the air it would seem as though this winter will be a bad winter.  I could make predictions about how much snow there is going to be. I will leave that up to the weather professionals. 

To prepare your home for the long 3 months of cold wintery weather take these steps to cut down on costs and illness. 

1. Go to the store and buy caulking material, caulking gun, insulation material, gloves, snow shovel, ice melting pellets, weather stripping and pipe insulation.

2. Go around the entire house and feel for drafts at the windows.  If there is a draft take the caulking material and underneath the window frame spread caulk filling in the holes. Repeat this step for each window. Also, do not forget to do this on the outside too.  If the draft is strong you may want to put special plastic that conforms to the window frame. This will seal the window so no cold drafts get through. 

3. Next go to each door leading to the outside such as the front door, side door and back door.  Inspect the weather stripping. If it looks worn or torn replace it with the weather stripping you purchased at the store.  The new weather stripping will keep the cold out. 

4. Next go into the attic and lay a new layer of insulation on top of the old insulation.  This will help keep the heat in your home.  Check the pipes and wrap the pipes with pipe insulation. This will ensure the pipes from not freezing especially those that are exposed to the cold. Make sure all drainage pipes and gutters are clear of debris.  When the snow melts you want the water to going into the drain and not staying in the gutter or on the roof.  You will end up paying more in the long run.

5. When it snows make sure your sidewalks in front of the house are clear and free from ice. Assuming you have a sidewalk that neighbors walk by the house.  You do not need a lawsuit for someone slipping and falling on your property. 

By doing the above keeping the cold out of your home should reduce your electric/gas bills.  Drink plenty of fluids and take extra vitamins to reduce the chances of catching the flu. 

In 2010, the mortgage industry, for the first time in 20 or more years there will be a change to the Good Faith Estimate (GFE).  Congress asked the Federal Housing Agency (FHA) to make changes to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act known as RESPA. 

 The current economic conditions in the housing industry led to these changes. Everyday on the news we hear how bad the housing market is with homeowners going into foreclosure and the banks are modifying mortgages to save a few homeowners from losing their homes. Some of these borrowers were put into loans considered extremely risky, volatile and with higher payments.  When some adjustable loans adjusted people were forced to refinance. Unfortunately, the property values were much lower leaving people owing more than what the property was actually worth. This left alot of homeowners out in the cold to the point where they could not afford the mortgage.   

The changes that were made to the Good Faith Estimate are noticably drastic.  Allied Mortgage Group will give 2 distinct scenarios with different closing costs showing higher settlement costs or a higher interest rate with lower closing costs. The other change is certain services can be shopped by the borrower.  Your Allied Mortgage Group Loan professional will inform you what services can be shopped around for.  We always think of the customer first and try to save you as much money when it comes to third party charges. 

Understanding your loan is important to us. We strive to make sure that you understand all the terms upfront before you go to settlement whether it is a refinance or purchase.  If you do not understand the terms of the loan or any other part just call us anytime.  Apply Now!  It is fast, simple and secure.  One of our loan professionals will get back to you within minutes after you have finished filling out the application.  We will be able to get you pre-approved.  To find out your credit score before applying click here. 

Have a great holiday and a safe one! 2010 will be a better year for everyone.

It is that time of the year-Christmas with the malls buzzing once again, people wrapping gifts, and yes, the smell of a fresh live Christmas tree in the living room of people's houses.  It is also a time for tragedy caused by not properly caring for the Christmas trees. With all the twinkling lights and beautiful decorations on the tree there are more fires every year because someone forgot to properly take care of the tree. Below is instructions on caring for your Christmas Tree by the National Christmas Tree Association:  

When a Christmas tree is cut, over half of its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your displayed trees. Below are a number of tips relating to the care of displayed trees: Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems. Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree. Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water. Don't bruise the cut surface or get it dirty. If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water. To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand. Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed. Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake. Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake. Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of the tree. Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set. Do not overload electrical circuits. Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed. Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house. Go to www.realchristmastrees.org and type in your ZIP code to find a recycling program near you. Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace. If you get a tree with roots attached, either in a pot or burlap, please read these suggestions: The adaptability of the species should be considered. Many species are shipped outside of their natural area and may not be adaptable to other areas. Check with a reliable nursery or extension forester. Keep in mind that Living Trees are VERY heavy and bulky. A six foot tall balled and burlapped tree will weigh as much as 250 pounds. The tree should be stored in an unheated, sheltered area such as a garage or porch, out of the wind and sun. Do not expose the tree to freezing temperatures at any time. The tree will need adequate water. The root ball or soil should be kept slightly damp but not flooded. Wrap the root ball of a balled tree in plastic or place in a tub while it is in the house. Live trees may be decorated, but with care. If lights are used, they must not give off any heat. Do not remove the tree directly from a warm house out into freezing temperatures. Instead, move to a sheltered area first for several days. If the ground is unfrozen, the tree may be replanted. The spot to be dug should be mulched to prevent freezing. Plant as soon as possible. Do not remove the burlap and strapping (unless it is plastic). This keeps the root ball solid and secure. In the instance of a plastic cover, cut the cord and roll down the plastic at least half way prior to planting. Tap the tree container of a potted tree and remove prior to planting. Do not attempt to remove soil from the root system. Earth removed from the original hole should be backfilled around the root ball. Mulch heavily over the top of the planted root ball to prevent it from freezing. Water only as needed: a flooded tree may not survive. Stake the trees to prevent wind tipping or damage during the first growing season. Prepared by Dr. Gary Chastagner and Dr. Eric Hinesley Edited by the Scientific Research Committee of the National Christmas Tree Association

Please print this out and give it to your loved ones, who have a real Christmas trees and let's prevent fires on such a joyous holiday. 

 Merry Christmas! Have a wonderful and safe New Year. 

For more information on refinancing go to www.loansbyallied.com or call us at 215-626-3833