Toxic mold... nasty and dangerous.
You already have a million things to take think about and worry about. Well, here's another...
toxic mold. This stuff is not only nasty, but can potentially cause serious health problems and, conceivably, kill you.
Mold spores and mold-produced mycotoxins (which are also neurotoxins) are airborne products of mold that many people breath on a regular basis without even knowing it. Although not all molds contain toxins, there are some that can cause symptoms suchs as breathing difficulty, dizziness, and impaired memory and hearing. Most people (approxiamtely 25 million Americans) are unaware they are inhaling these mold bi-products until it's too late. There are thousands of different strains of molds, the most popular being cladosporium, penicillium, aspergillus, and alternaria spergillus. However, there are two that are particularly dangerous;
chaetomium and
stachybotrys chartarum that can lead to very nasty long-term health damage.
Molds need three things to survive: moisture, oxygen, and a source to feed on. Basements, attics, inside wall cavities, beneath wallpaper, and flooring are some common places for mold to grow since these are usually humid areas that can be susceptible to leakage from plumbing or inproper drainage.
Here are some common signs that may indicate the presence
of mold:
- musty odors
- speckled colored walls near any plumbing or pipes
- leaky roof, window, or door
- anywhere that has had plumbing or water damage
- damp, humid basement
If you are thinking about buying a new home or have any hesitation about mold in your existing home, it is always a good idea to get a mold inspection. Mold inspectors can identify where and what level of mold you have and help you determine a strategy to remedy the problem.
posted by B. Samii @ 9:19 AM
Spring market has arrived
The snow has thawed, the weather is getting warm, and people are getting ready to sell homes. At FARS Realty Group we have just listed three great New Hampshire properties in the last couple weeks. We also have three more in the works that will be coming on the market very soon.
The following are some hot properties worth checking out:
Manchester, NH -- Beautiful 3bd/2ba single family home with 2 car garage, storage shed, and many new updates and remodels. This is the perfect family or newlywed home, very cozy and exceptinally clean. Check this one out.
Nashua, NH -- Great 2 bd/1ba condo with garage and new appliances that is priced to sell. Investors take note of this one... you won't find too many condos with a garage for this price!
Neslon, NH -- This property is approximately 160 acres of beautiful, secluded, wooded land just north of Keene. Close to Route 9, Granite Lake and Silver Lake with potential views of Mount Monadnock. Developers, take a note of this one!
Click - Podcast.
posted by B. Samii @ 8:21 AM
Is the market bubblicious?
After all the talk of bubbles and froth, it seems like the real estate market is still speculative, at best. Although reports and data are showing a cooling market compared to the record-breaking pace from last year, there are no strong indications that there is any bubble ready to burst. A
recent report from the National Association of Realtors indicated existing homes sold at an annual rate of 6.91 million in February, up 5.2% from a revised 6.57 million pace in January. This was the biggest gain since a 5.9 percent jump in February 2004.
Specifically, in the Northeast, home sales in February jumped 19.2% (1.18 million homes) or 2.6% higher than February of last year (2005); the best performance in the nation. Moreover, median prices also increased 5.2% higher than last year.
In New Hampshire, the average home sale price increased from $245,495 (last year) to $257,140 for the first ten weeks of 2006. This is good news and shows that the local market is still healthy in spite of all the lingering speculation for the past 6 months.
Bottom line: In the last few years, the real estate market has been a cash cow -- a big fat one. However, the turbo-charged pace and sizzling increase in home values is unlikely to sustain. What we are starting to see is the market going from white hot to luke warm, “housing is simply returning to a normal market, where annual home prices will rise a little faster than the overall rate of inflation,” as stated by Thomas Stevens, president of
National Association of Realtors. Nevertheless, the regional market is healthy and stable, and the so-called bursting of the 'real estate bubble' is just hot air.
posted by B. Samii @ 12:39 PM
How Much Home Can I Afford?
The most important part of the
home search process begins with knowing what your needs are and how much you can afford. The amount of home you can afford is typically based on three elements:
1. The loan amount from your bank or mortgage lender.
2. The amount of money you have for closing costs (normally 2-5%) and down payment (normally 5-20%).
3. The amount you can spend on monthly mortgage and interest payments.
One of the first things you should do before you plan on
buying a home is talk to a bank or mortgage lender and find out how much money they are willing to loan you (what is known as a
pre-approval). The terms and loan amount from your bank or mortgage lender are essentially determined by your credit score, income, cash available, and total debt. A quick and dirty rule to remember is that your housing expense should always be less than 28% of your income. These expenses include PITI: mortgage
principal, mortgage
interest, property
taxes, and
insurance. Although these are the essential factors, you have to also remember the costs associated with home maintenance (electric, gas, water, trash) and repairs.
To get started, there are a number of good
mortgage calculators that will ammortize a loan so you can find out what your monthly mortgage payments will be. However, consulting with a mortgage lender not only helps you determine exactly how much you can afford, but it is almost always free of charge.
posted by B. Samii @ 3:23 PM
You already have a million things to take think about and worry about. Well, here's another... toxic mold. This stuff is not only nasty, but can potentially cause serious health problems and, conceivably, kill you.
