The Difference between a House and a Home

What do you think is the difference between a house and a home?

How many times have you thought about all the places you have lived over your lifetime? Christmas at home with your parents when you were allowed to open one present before Christmas eve dinner and the excitement that brought? You remember the living room with the tree you decorated with your parents, which looked so warm and festive in that cozy room. The memory of that home is still special to you today.

Maybe it was that attic apartment above the corner grocery store, where every time the milk cooler door closed, you could hear it loud and clear.

How about your first home where the Kitchen was so small that you and your spouse took turns when you needed to enter it?

So many memories that put a smile on your face. That’s why memories are so special. Whether it’s remembering a loved one that has passed or the memory of living in a home that brought back happy feelings of an earlier part of your life.

Those special memories of our past are part of the process for keeping us happy. Although, we should never live in the past, it will always be a part of who we are.

Maybe driving past a previous home and remembering when your daughter fell off the bike on that driveway, skinning her knee and wanting a hug from you so the hurt would go away.                                                              

The basketball hoop on your garage where you taught your son or daughter to do layups.

Remembering the home where you read, “Twas the night before Christmas” to your children and that priceless look in their eyes.

It’s really not the act that you remember, it’s the feeling of that moment that you will never forget.

So, when you are at your home with those special people in your life, drinking your spiced coffee and hot chocolate, turn off that TV and talk about those special moments in your life that are etched in your mind.          

I guarantee there will be laughs and some happy tears!

This is what makes a house, a home.

After all, Tis the season to remember, that we're never far from home.

Happy Holidays, Everyone

Furnace Filters! I'm So Confused!!

 

Question:  I am so confused about what type of furnace filter I should use for optimum performance? What do you see when you view so many homes?

Answer: We recently read this in Hvac.com. There seems to be so many opinions on what kind of furnace filter should be used in your furnace. There are filters with heavy material and filters with very little material. They say one may not do the job and the other may harm your furnace and wallet. You should check with your Hvac provider. 

Anyway, here's what the they wrote:

"When it comes to measuring air filter efficiency, a rating system called MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) is used. This system rates filters on a scale from 1 to 20, with higher numbers indicating better particle removal efficiency. Filters with a higher MERV rating tend to cost more than less efficient filters.

It’s essential to note that air filters with a higher MERV rating may not be appropriate for use with your furnace. Depending on your unit, a high MERV rating can be too restrictive and may affect your HVAC system’s overall performance.

Filters with higher MERV ratings typically have denser materials designed to trap finer particles. However, this density can lead to increased resistance to airflow. If the filter restricts airflow excessively, it can strain the HVAC system, causing reduced efficiency and potentially leading to overheating.

The higher resistance to airflow caused by a high-MERV filter can force the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the desired temperature. This increased workload results in higher energy consumption, leading to elevated utility bills.

Strain on the HVAC system caused by restricted airflow can contribute to premature wear and tear on components such as the blower motor and the fan. This can cause more frequent breakdowns and a shortened overall lifespan of the system.

A filter with too high of a MERV rating may impede the flow of conditioned air into your living spaces. This can result in uneven heating or cooling and decreased comfort levels throughout your home. 

To avoid these issues, it’s essential to choose an air filter with a MERV rating that aligns with the recommendations of your HVAC system’s manufacturer. Most residential HVAC systems work well with filters in the MERV 8 to MERV 13 range. Higher-rated MERV filters should only be used with systems designed to accommodate such filters." 

 

Thoughts about today's Mortgage interest rates

 

Question: We would like to move, but we are concerned about high mortgage interest rates. What are your thoughts?

Answer: Here is something that hasn’t received its fair share of attention: the 30-year fixed- rate mortgage. Nine out of 10 American homebuyers opt for this type of loan, but it remains a rarity in much of the world and is often underappreciated in the U.S.

The existence of the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is one of the most unique features of the U.S. housing market. In most other countries, homebuyers typically don’t have this option.              

In the U.K., for instance, most mortgages are fixed for two- to five years, after which they reset based on market conditions. Similarly, in Canada, mortgage terms rarely exceed five years before adjusting to prevailing interest rates. This leaves home buyers in other countries vulnerable to payment increases when interest rates rise.

The 30-year fixed mortgage insulates American homeowners from market volatility, which allows them to budget confidently without worrying about sudden rate hikes.

Even with higher borrowing rates, the 30-year mortgage remains a financial lifeline for Americans. It offers flexibility, stability, and predictability — advantages that are more valuable than ever in today’s economic climate. Being able to lock in a predictable payment for decades isn’t just a financial tool — it’s an economic privilege.

Certainly, many Americans do not qualify for a loan because of higher interest rates, and many are content to keep their present mortgage and interest rate without moving.

But many people need to move for various reasons.

Keep in mind that mortgage interest rates are still historically low, and the benefits of home ownership are priceless. In addition to that, if rates fall, you can refinance at the lower rate.

  

Local Market Opinion

The Local real estate market is changing.

Homes are sitting on the market longer.

The main problem is sellers think that their home should sell in a day for above asking price with multiple offers.

The real estate cycle is moving. This is not 2021.

If your home hasn't been updated, the buyers that are out there, are picking the nicer homes.

If you have updated your home and it shows attractive, you will still do well.

If interest rates fall, home inventory will probably increase.              

If high inventory doesn't match buyer demand, prices will fall.

This is the most likely scenario, because buyers are still affected by these high inflation prices, making qualifying for a loan much harder.

Only time will tell.

Did You Know this?

 Why are airplane routes are curved and not straight?

Airplane flights do not follow a straight line but rather a curved path, and this choice goes beyond any technical issue—it is an adaptation to the curvature of the planet itself. In geometry, we learn that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but this principle applies only to flat surfaces, like a sheet of paper. When considering the spherical shape of the Earth, the shortest distance between two points becomes a curve known as a geodesic.

10-25-24

 10-25-24:

2024 is now 82% Complete!

Watch out for this:

 QR code scam spreading big: 

Watch out for malicious QR codes in your email, posing as your bank or shipping services. 

Scan one and you’ll land on a fake login page hungry for your real username and password.

Also, beware of QR codes on a restaurant table. They could be overlays!

 Always check the sender’s full email address, watch the URL you’re redirected to, and turn on multifactor authentication for every app and service you can. I know it’s a pain.