Tips on Saving Electricity and Lowering Your Electricity Bill

From TheFamilyHandyman.com

Save on electric water heating: Save up to $25 a year

If you only use an electric water heater at certain times of the day, you’re wasting electricity keeping the water hot 24/7. To solve that problem, install an electronic timer switch (Photo 1; sold at home centers). Timers are available for 120- and 240-volt heaters. They can be programmed for daily or weekly schedules so you only heat the water when you need it. A timer can save you $25 per year.

To make your water heater even more efficient, drain the tank and flush out the sediment at the bottom (Photo 2). Otherwise, you could be heating through inches of sediment before heating the water.

If your electric water heater is warm or hot to the touch, it’s losing heat. Wrap it with an insulating blanket (sold at home centers).

 Water heater timer
A timer turns on the water heater only when you need it,
so you don’t waste electricity heating and reheating
water that sits in the tank.

 Drain sediment
Sediment lowers the efficiency of your water heater.
Turn off the power, hook up a hose to the drain valve
 and drain the tank every 6 to 12 months.

David Beckham plans to bring MLS franchise to Miami, if he can get a stadium

BY PATRICIA MAZZEI

MIAMIHERALD.COm

David Beckham dreams of an iconic stadium on the shore of Biscayne Bay. Tens of thousands of ardent fans walk over from the mainland to watch some of the world’s best footballers playing for Miami’s own Major League Soccer team.

That vision is still far from becoming a reality. But Wednesday, Beckham took a significant step toward his goal: MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced that Beckham, a retired English player, will get an expansion franchise, and its home will be Miami — if Beckham and his investors score a new stadium.

Nothing will be made final until that takes place — probably not for months, if at all. The team wouldn’t start playing until 2017, most likely.

Yet, in starstruck Miami, those caveats did little to tamp down the frenzy that surrounded Beckham’s visit.

“This is an exciting time,” Beckham said at a crowded news conference. “It’s something that we’re really looking forward to bringing to Miami.”

He was welcomed by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who pointed to five county commissioners in attendance as evidence that there is some political support for a new stadium.

“The world’s most popular sport is coming to the world’s hottest city,” Gimenez said.

Several hundred people, including British reporters and staunch MLS fans, gathered on the patio of the new Pérez Art Museum Miami with an unobstructed view of Beckham and his investors’ preferred site for a 25,000-seat stadium: the southwest corner of PortMiami.

“We don’t want public funding. We will fund the stadium ourselves,” Beckham said to applause.

Fund the construction, perhaps, but the tract of land at the seaport is owned by the county. The Miami Beckham United investment group is seeking a deal with Gimenez’s administration to build on the property.

The investors have also hired Tallahassee lobbyist Brian Ballard to ask for a state subsidy. Beckham told the Miami Herald that the team wants a Florida sales-tax rebate “to be treated exactly like every other sports franchise.”

“There will be a certain amount of funds from that, but, yeah, the build of the stadium is privately funded,” said Beckham, who would become the first former MLS player to join the ownership ranks as the new team’s managing partner.

He also told the newspaper that he is open to the possibility that the University of Miami Hurricanes football team, who have had trouble filling the Miami Dolphins’ Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, could someday play at an MLS stadium.

“That’s definitely one of the options,” he said. “We want this to be a stadium that Miami, the city of Miami, can be proud of. And I think we can achieve that solely with soccer, but if there’s other things like you say, you know, there’s always options.”

Beckham exercised an option in his MLS contract — he played six years and won two titles with the LA Galaxy — to purchase a franchise for a below-market $25 million. His investors include his business partner, Simon Fuller, who createdAmerican Idol, and Marcelo Claure, the Miami-based billionaire chief executive of the global wireless distribution firm Brightstar Corp.

Local politicians still feel burned by the public financing deal many of them approved for the Miami Marlins — an agreement so unpopular that it contributed to the ouster of a former county mayor.

Nevertheless, Claure told the Herald that, if private investors are going to pony up hundreds of millions of dollars to bring soccer to Miami, then local government needs to have some skin in the game.

“They have to contribute a site; we have to contribute a stadium,” Claure said. “Other cities are contributing sites and stadiums. There are very few private sites left. This is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world that doesn’t have a team.”

The Miami Fusion folded in 2001, in part due to poor attendance. And even with Beckham’s star power, a new team remains risky. Fans here are notoriously of the fair-weather variety. Before LeBron James arrived in 2010, not even the National Basketball Association champion Miami Heat sold out all its games.

Beckham said he thinks soccer can succeed because a stronger MLS has grown steadily since the Fusion’s demise. So has Miami, which has become younger and more international.

“I wanted to create a team that we can start from scratch,” he said. “I know this city is ready for football — soccer — this time around.”

Beckham cited the Heat’s recent success as a model, saying he has spoken to Heat owner Micky Arison and seen how top-shelf players can lure fans. While he wouldn’t name any players on his wish list, Beckham said some have reached out to ask when the new Miami team will kick off.

As part of his plan, Beckham would also open a local youth soccer academy to train the next generation of home-grown talent — benefiting not only the Miami franchise but also the U.S. men’s national team. Beckham was mobbed by children, parents and reporters Wednesday afternoon when he visited Kendall Soccer Park.

Earlier in the day, Beckham courted the business community by showing up as a surprise guest toward the end of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon.

“I was sitting near the front row and was almost run over,” said Jack Lowell, a former Chamber chairman. “I haven’t seen that kind of enthusiasm at the Chamber in a while.”

Beckham also courted the grass roots, joining an online video chat with the Southern Legion, a group of dedicated MLS fans that planned a party Wednesday night on Brickell to celebrate the day’s announcement.

“This is the furthest along we’ve ever been” to getting a team again, fan Brian Corey, 28, said at the morning news conference.

Fans cheered when Beckham said his group intends to build a stadium near the public transit hub in downtown Miami — even though some politicians have questioned potential traffic gridlock and parking nightmares.

Elsewhere across the globe, Beckham said, fans create a sense of community by trekking on foot to see their teams.

“Football fans — soccer fans — they love, you know, to commute. They love to walk,” Beckham said. “I’m hoping that’s the same in Miami.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/05/3914127/soccer-star-david-beckham-to-bring.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/05/3914127/soccer-star-david-beckham-to-bring.html#storylink=cpy

Confidence in 55+ housing market at 7-year high

WASHINGTON – Feb. 4, 2014 – Builder confidence in the 55+ housing market for the fourth quarter of 2013 is up sharply, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) latest 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI) y.

All segments of the market – single-family homes, condominiums and multifamily rentals – had strong increases compared year-to-year. The single-family index increased 20 points to a level of 48, which is the highest fourth-quarter reading since the inception of the index in 2008, and the ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvements.

“We’re seeing continued improvement in the 55+ housing market because consumers have gained confidence in the economy and are able to sell their current homes and move,” says Robert Karen, chairman of NAHB’s 50+ Housing Council and managing member of the Symphony Development Group. She expects builder optimism to continue through 2014.

There are separate 55+ HMIs. Each focuses on different segments of the 55+ housing market: single-family homes and multifamily condominiums. Each HMI measures builder sentiment based on a survey that asks if current sales, prospective buyer traffic and anticipated six-month sales for that market are good, fair or poor (high, average or low for traffic). An index number below 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as poor than good.

All of the components of the 55+ single-family HMI showed significant growth from a year ago: present sales climbed 26 points to 53, expected sales for the next six months rose 24 points to 62 and traffic of prospective buyers increased 9 points to 33.

The 55+ multifamily condo HMI posted a gain of 16 points to 35, which is the highest fourth-quarter reading since the inception of the index. All 55+ multifamily condo HMI components increased compared to a year ago. Present sales increased 20 points to 37, expected sales for the next six months increased 15 points to 40 and traffic of prospective buyers increased 9 points to 30.

The 55+ multifamily rental indices also showed strong gains in the third quarter. Present production increased 12 points to 43, expected future production rose 12 points to 46, current demand for existing units increased 16 points to 54 and future demand increased 16 points to 55.

“The 20 point year-over-year increase in 55+ HMI for single-family homes matches earlier gains in the NAHB/Wells Fargo HMI for the overall single-family market and surpasses the more recent gains in the other housing segments,” says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.

© 2014 Florida Realtors®

Pulling a Zuckerberg: Why Tech Titans Are Buying Neighbors’ Homes

AUTHOR:CATHERINE SHERMAN
ZILLOW BLOG

s Mark Zuckerberg’s social networking company, Facebook, celebrates its 10th anniversary tomorrow and has worldwide usage by 1.23 billion people, the tech titan finds himself at the forefront of a real estate trend: tech bosses who are buying up their neighbors’ properties.

Zuckerberg made headlines last fall when he reportedly spent $30 million to purchase four of his neighbors’ homes. Not only were the homes not on the market, but Facebook’s chairman and chief executive officer turned around and leased them back to their original owners.

Two weeks later, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer reportedly bought a funeral home near her residence, with the Daily Mail proclaiming, “Yahoo! Marissa Mayer does a Zuckerberg and starts to buy up her neighborhood.” Three days later, the Silicon Valley Business Journal announced “Elon Musk pulls a Zuckerberg,” when news surfaced that the inventor and Tesla Motors CEO had purchased a home across the street from his Bel-Air pad.

While this tech titan home-buying spree was newsworthy in its own right, buying up neighbors’ homes is not a new phenomenon. From Brad Pitt to Reese Witherspoon, celebs long have been known for making multiple real estate moves in their neighborhoods. The question is whether tech titans have the same motives as Hollywood stars or if this new breed of celebrity is rewriting the high-end real estate playbook. To find out, we asked The Agency’s Kofi Natei Nartey, who helps celebrities and athletes buy and sell homes on HGTV’s “Selling LA,” and Silicon Valley real estate agents of the Boyenga Team to share their insight.

Privacy is paramount

According to Nartey, it’s common for Hollywood stars to purchase neighbors’ homes as a way of protecting their privacy.

“It’s a way to control who is your neighbor,” Nartey explained. “In the Hills, there are homes with amazing views, but with that comes limited privacy.”

Eric Boyenga says it’s the same for high-profile tech execs, who are increasingly becoming household names.

“It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to purchase neighbors’ property,” he said. “In the social era of today, those like Zuckerberg tend to be a mix of Hollywood star and tech titan, whereas a lot of execs in the past didn’t get a lot of fanfare.”

A normal quality of life

But unlike A-list celebs who are accustomed to dodging paparazzi, Boyenga says tech bosses are often in search of a more “normal” quality of life.

“We’re more engineer-driven here. Execs don’t want any news about them,” he said. “For a celebrity, that’s par for their course, but for a tech entrepreneur, they want the focus on their firm and [to have] a life outside of that.”

Younger tech company execs — including 29-year-old Zuckerberg — are drawn to the vibrant culture in Palo Alto.

“We have hills like the Hollywood Hills here that are more private, gated estates with views,” Boyenga said. “But, Palo Alto is where things are happening. It’s a very idyllic neighborhood and a great place to raise a family.”

Zuckerberg purchased three homes behind him and the one next door in his Palo Alto neighborhood.

He says most people who move to Palo Alto want to keep the neighborhood the way it is, and tech entrepreneurs are no exception. For instance, when Zuckerberg began buying additional homes in his neighborhood in December 2012, it was because he reportedly learned of a developer’s plans to capitalize on his residence in the area.

“These are tech titans that want to be part of their community but also want to make sure they don’t have someone move in next door that they don’t want there,” he explained. “It’s not a control thing as much as about quality of life.”

No way to buy bigger

Because Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are drawn to historic neighborhoods such as Old Palo Alto and Crescent Park, they’re subject to a competitive market.

“Inventory is so hard to come by,” said real estate agent Janelle Boyenga, Eric’s wife. “What we’ve seen is people are buying properties and keeping them to pass on to generations to come. Inventory is only going to get tighter as the years go by.”

And, unlike celebs who buy sprawling Beverly Glen estates or Manhattan penthouses spanning multiple floors, execs living in the Valley don’t always have the choice to buy a bigger home.

“In Old Palo Alto, there are not many large lots. Most are less than a quarter of an acre,” Eric Boyenga said. “Only a handful are half an acre, and they just don’t get sold off.”

Making room for friends & family

But when tech titans buy neighboring properties, it instantly raises questions about what they’re going to do with the lot and how it will impact the neighborhood.

“Marissa Mayer [buying the funeral home] — I’m curious about that one,” Boyenga said. “It could just sit there for years to keep a big development from coming near her property.”

He’s skeptical that Mayer can drastically change the property, even if she wants to, because of building restrictions. For this reason, Boyenga says most people tend to use neighboring property as a place to have friends come and visit.

“It’s not easy to buy a parcel and take the house down,” he said. “Most of these people are looking to use for guesthouse purposes or just for privacy.”

Rumors about high-profile real estate purchases are common — fashion mogul Kimora Lee Simmons’ reported 2009 purchase of her neighbor’s tennis court to build a pool is a good example. Nartey points out that often rumors are just because, frankly, it’s very difficult to drastically change a residence in L.A.

“You have to get permits from the city for any remodel or new construction — anything that might undermine the aesthetics of the neighborhood,” he said.

At the end of the day, whether celebrity or tech titan, it’s about finding a place to call home.

“More than anything else these buyers are buying for privacy and quality of life,” Boyenga said.

Tips on Saving Electricity and Lowering Your Electricity Bill

From TheFamilyHandyman.com

Clean out the lint for dryer efficiency: Save up to $25 a year

Clean out lint
Keep your dryer safe and efficient by cleaning lint out of the ductwork once a year.

Keeping your furnace (gas or electric) tuned up has two big benefits: It makes the furnace run efficiently and it prolongs the furnace’s life span. And you can perform the annual tune-up yourself in about three hours.

Change the filter every month of the heating season (or year-round if the filter is also used for A/C). Be sure you insert the new one so it faces the right way. The filter protects the blower and its motor; a clogged filter makes the motor work harder and use more power.

Documents Needed for a Mortgage

From the Superpages.com

In addition to personal identification, financial documents are often among the documents needed for mortgage loans. Buyers usually give this documentation directly to the bank or mortgage lender. Depending on the mortgage company, a broker may verify some of the information or the underwriter will verify all of the information. Once the bank verifies a prospective buyer’s financial information, the underwriter can continue to process the loan. Sometimes, if information is not clear or cannot be verified, the mortgage broker will contact the prospective buyer for additional documentation.

Basic Documents Needed for Mortgage Loans

In almost every situation, your prospective lender will want to see the following documents needed for mortgage loans before qualifying you for a mortgage or issuing you a loan.

Pay stubs

Most mortgage brokers or banks will request copies of pay stubs from the three months prior to the loan application. If a prospective buyer owns his own business or works on a commission basis, the mortgage broker or bank may request additional documentation of income – up to a year’s worth of pay stubs or profit and loss statements.

Proof of Retirement Income 

If the prospective buyer is retired, the bank may require documents to verify retirement income, such as social security statements, pension statements, or IRA or 401K statements.

Bank Account Statements

The bank may also request bank account statements for the past three months. If the prospective buyer has both checking and savings accounts, they should submit statements for both accounts.

Copy of Lease or Rental Verification

The bank may also request a copy of the prospective buyer’s current lease or a form signed by the landlord. The mortgage broker or bank may contact the landlord to verify rent paid and whether or not it was paid on time.

Employment Verification

Sometimes, the bank requests an employment verification form. This is simply a form that a prospective buyer’s employer fills out and signs. The form includes information about the prospective buyer’s salary, length of employment, whether there is going to be a change in the prospective buyer’s employment status and whether the prospective buyer may have a raise scheduled.

Tax Returns

The lender will request at least one year’s tax returns among the documents needed for mortgage loans. Many brokers will ask for up to three years of tax returns. The full tax return should be submitted.

Documents Needed for Mortgage Refinance

If the prospective buyer is refinancing a home, the new mortgage broker or bank may also request a copy of the current mortgage and note. Mortgages are filed in the public records and are easily accessible to the prospective buyer. Notes are not always filed and the prospective buyer may have to contact the old lender for a copy of the note. Often, these notes are sold to third parties and cannot be easily tracked down. Mortgage companies know and understand this, so a note is usually not required among the mandatory documents for mortgage refinancing.

Oh, That’s Good: Bourdain Samples East Side With Condo Purchase

AUTHOR:LAURA VECSEY
ZILLOW BLOG

Source: Cox News

It’s no longer “Kitchen Confidential” that “Parts Unknown” host and celebrity foodie Anthony Bourdain is a native New Yorker and as such, is looking to strike up his new culinary adventure right at home.

That explains Bourdain’s purchase of a new home in the Big Apple just as he’s planning to launch a food market for the varieties of street food he has shown such a penchant for during his CNN travel/food show. 

According to The Real Deal, Bourdain and his wife settled into a coveted condo in the Carnegie Hill Tower on the Upper East Side.

Word is that the closing took place in late January 2014 with Bourdain shelling out $3.35 million. The unit is a respectable 2,250 square feet — enough to accommodate the tall food show host whose larger-than-life personality and sardonic wit have turned him into a rising TV star.

It appears that Bourdain and his wife have settled on a second-floor unit, which might keep the impatient foodie from having to wait too long for elevators in the 32-story post-war building.

Bourdain’s new digs comes with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It’s also been noted that for a man who knows how to cook, this unit is not decked out with anything resembling a chef’s kitchen, at least by luxury apartment standards.

Then again, some of the food Bourdain has raved most about over the years has been produced in food trucks, outdoor markets and train stations. The man is not ostentatious when it comes to presentation, as long as it delivers a kick.