Ouch!

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Tyrone Willingham was dismissed as University of Notre Dame football coach Tuesday, three years into a five-year contract.

"We simply have not made the progress on the field that we need to make," athletic director Kevin White said. "Nor have we been able to create the positive momentum necessary in our efforts to return the Notre Dame program to the elite level of the college football world."

White said a decision had not been made on whether the team would play at the Insight Bowl on Dec. 28 or who would coach the game. Notre Dame accepted the invitation to the game on Sunday.

No action has been taken on a successor to Willingham, White said.

White praised Willingham's handling of the team, but pointed to its struggles in winning games.

"From Sunday through Friday our football program has exceeded all expectations, in every way," he said. "But on Saturday, we've struggled. We've been up and down and sideways a little bit."

Willingham had a three-year record of 21-15. Notre Dame went 6-5 this season.

Speculation on a successor immediately centered on University of Utah coach Urban Meyer, a former Notre Dame assistant. Meyer, who has guided undefeated Utah to a No. 6 national ranking, reportedly has an out clause in his Utah contract allowing him to seek the Notre Dame job if it became available.

Meyer said he hadn't heard about Willingham's departure from Notre Dame until he was asked about it by The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Asked whether he has had any contact with Notre Dame or whether he would be interested in coaching the Fighting Irish, Meyer responded: "I won't comment on it."

Notre Dame started the 2004 season on a sour note with a loss at Brigham Young, but bounced back with an upset victory over Michigan and a win over Michigan State. The Irish also beat Tennessee, which was ranked 11th at the time. But losses at home to Boston College and Pittsburgh had ND supporters grumbling, and rumors of a possible change surfaced after Southern California beat Notre Dame by 31 points in the regular-season finale, the third straight year the Irish had lost to the Trojans.

Floyd Keith, executive director of the Black Coaches Association, said he was disappointed with Notre Dame's decision.

"In three years, I think he has done everything, short of winning a national championship and I don't think he inherited national championship talent," Keith said.

White and Willingham met with some players Tuesday to tell them of the firing.

"As a player, you think it's our fault. We didn't get the job done," senior tight end Jared Clark said. "I think coach Willingham was a great coach and I enjoyed playing under him."

Willingham came to Notre Dame from Stanford after the 2001 season. Stanford also has an opening after firing Buddy Teevens, Willingham's successor, on Monday.

Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune

Retirees options in Chicago area growing

The News Sun Online

By Jim Edwards
SPECIAL TO SUBURBAN CHICAGO NEWSPAPERS
11/21/04

While some older adult buyers gravitate to retirement communities almost the size of Vermont, others choose to live in smaller conclaves.
In the past, empty-nesters, recent retirees and other non-dependent seniors looking for a new home were faced with only a handful of choices in the Chicago area. Many moved to massive golf course developments in sunny states in the South, but soon missed their old homesteads.
Today, the age-55-plus crowd has many more choices in the Chicago suburbs. Many active adults are opting to live locally in smaller-scale communities which offer a healthy choice of recreational activities and pampering amenities, as well as a variety of designs from detached ranches to duplexes.
Several key factors are responsible for the trend toward smaller active-adult developments, according to William E. Becker, president and managing director for the William E. Becker Organization, a Teaneck, N. J.-based strategic marketing planning and consulting firm that specializes in active-adult lifestyle communities.
"Big parcels of zoned land on which builders can develop an active- adult community are more scarce and expensive unless they're further away from large metro areas. But Baby Boomers don't want to travel as far as they used to," Becker said.
Becker also believes that this trend toward smaller-scale active-adult communities will be a long-term trend for at least 30 years.
"By the year 2020, there will be 77 million Boomers, many of whom will be clamoring for this type product," Becker said.
Leslie Marks, executive director of the Seniors Housing Council of North America Home Builders Association (NAHB) of Washington, D.C., affirms this trend toward living locally.
"Surveys and statistics show that today's seniors and active adults prefer to remain closely rooted to family, friends, neighbors, doctors and churches in the areas they're familiar with. They value an intimate relationship with the community they call home."
Here are a few from among the many small-scale 55-plus communities to be found in the Chicago suburbs.
North, West and South
Burnside Homes is the developer of a new active-adult community concept called "Traditions." Recently launched in Olympia Fields and Waukegan, Traditions properties feature a wide variety of multifamily and single-family residences. "The Traditions concept is different from other active-adult developments in its scope, locations, designs and prices," said George Arguilla, III, president of Burnside Homes. Each Traditions community is maintenance-free and generally offers between 75 to 200 homes. Most communities provide up to 19 designs over three product lines: single- family ranch homes, duplex homes, and quad homes. Burnside Homes recently opened sales at Traditions at Glen Flora, a community of 98 maintenance-free attached ranch homes in Waukegan. Located at Blanchard and Sheridan roads in Waukegan, Traditions at Glen Flora in a 27-acre wooded property adjacent to the renowned Glen Flora Country Club and a forest preserve. Burnside's first active-adult property — Traditions of Olympia Fields — began sales earlier this summer.
Glen Flora buyers can choose from two different series of homes. The Club Home Series of duplex residences in three designs that include two to three bedrooms, two baths, and two-car garages. These homes range in size from 1,609 to 1,861 square feet and are base-priced from $259,900 to $276,900. The Carriage Series quad homes are available in eight designs that feature one to two bedrooms plus den (per plan), two baths, and two-car garages, range in size from 1,414 to 2,047 square feet and are base-priced from $229,900 to $300,900.
Burnside Homes plans to open its third active- adult community, Traditions of Fitchie Creek in Elgin, in early 2005.
In the Heartland'
Haverford Place is Ryland Homes first venture into an active adult lifestyle in the Chicago area. Located in Hoffman Estates, Haverford Place, a community of 172 ranch homes features lush landscaping and pocket parks throughout the neighborhood.
"Many of our homes have a generous leisure porch at the front of the home and each home includes a beautiful deck," said Karen Gold, sales counselor for Ryland Homes.
Haverford Place also offers a beautiful clubhouse with fitness center, pool and tennis courts. One of the special amenities in the clubhouse is a full granite kitchen for community parties, and the personal entertainment needs of the residents.
There are 10 home plans from which to choose. The smallest of the ranch homes is the Alexander, which features a covered entry, oversize living and dining room, second bedroom, study with double-door entry, conversational kitchen and family room, and owners' retreat. An available third bedroom replaces the study. The homes has 1,878 square feet and is base priced in Phase I at $347,990.
Another 2,202-square-foot design offers a leisure porch, oversize breakfast area, breakfast bar in addition to kitchen island, formal entertaining area with open living/dining room, walk-in closet even in the second bedroom, extra storage closet and owner retreat. A study can replace the living room. This home is offered during Phase I, base-priced at $386,000. Included features found in the homes are sodded and landscaped yards, brick exterior, 9-foot ceilings on first floor, and air conditioning with 90-percent high-efficiency furnace valued at $61,200.
Not being alone
For most of the last century, older American were stereotyped as being ready for disengagement from life upon retirement. Today, this theory has been trashed. People aged 55 and older are healthier and more active.
They are not giving up work, are engaged in often-strenuous recreation and are not willing to give up being close to lifelong friends and relatives.
Dena Amoruso writing for Realty Times, noted, "In active adult atmospheres, successful aging just plain gets easier for many older men and women. All in one place, residents can find new friends, partially replace paid employment with useful activities, regularly exercise without having to join and pay for a health club, and enjoy leisure as never before."

Tough loss for the Irish!

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- With 2 minutes 24 seconds left in the game, Pittsburgh quarterback Tyler Palko became the first opponent to throw for five touchdowns against Notre Dame.

With one second left in the game, Pittsburgh kicker Josh Cummings did something three other opponents have managed this season—breaking Irish hearts—when his 32-yard field goal gave the Panthers a 41-38 victory over the 24th-ranked Irish, their first at Notre Dame Stadium since 1986.

"I can't describe the feeling to come to Notre Dame and put the last points on the board," Cummings said.

Notre Dame (6-4) has plenty of time to ponder its latest loss before it final regular-season game at No. 1 Southern Cal on Nov. 27.

"This game was about missed opportunities," Irish linebacker Derek Curry said. "If you execute one week and not the next, it can turn out like this."

Notre Dame's execution wasn't all bad, although it was flagged a season-high 10 penalties for 119 yards.

Starting the second half down 28-21, the Irish forced Pittsburgh (6-3) to punt after three plays. Carlyle Holiday then returned the kick 68 yards to the Pittsburgh 19.

On the next play, Irish quarterback Brady Quinn hit fullback Rashon Powers-Neal for a touchdown to tie things up 28-28.

Notre Dame forced Pittsburgh to go three-and-out on each of its next two possessions as well. But the Irish defense wasn't nearly as stout in the first half, when Pitt converted on one fourth down and 8 of 9 third downs.

"The offense kept us in the game and we came into the locker room at halftime needing to refocus and play better," Irish linebacker Mike Goolsby said.

Until the final minutes of the game, the Irish did just that.

Early in the fourth quarter, Pitt grabbed a 31-28 lead on Cummings' 27-yard field goal.

Notre Dame reclaimed the lead and the momentum halfway through the fourth quarter when Quinn launched a 36-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Matt Shelton.

Shelton also set up two of Notre Dame's three first-half scores with a pair of 46-yard receptions from Quinn. Each time tailback Darius Walker, who led the Irish with 112 yards on 16 carries, ran for the score. Quinn completed 15 of 26 passes for 259 yards and three TDs.

Those performances, although superlative, weren't sufficient.

After Shelton's last TD, Pitt utilized two pass-interference penalties to keep a 69-yard drive alive and scored on a 9-yard pass from Palko to Erik Gill for a 38-35 lead with 2:24 left. Palko finished 26-for-42 for 334 yards.

Notre Dame's offense answered Pitt's score with a tying field goal.

The Irish faced second-and-1 at the Pittsburgh 23 with a bit less than two minutes on the clock. But a run for a loss and a dropped pass later, the Irish had to settle for a 45-yard D.J. Fitzpatrick field goal that banged off the left upright and through for a 38-38 tie with 1:11 left.

Pitt, 2-1 in overtimes this season, ensured this game would be won in regulation.

After the kickoff, Palko hit Gill on a short pass. Goolsby went for the strip, but Gill eluded him for a 36-yard gain. A 7-yard completion and a 13-yard run set up the winning kick.

"I told the guys, 'You'll remember this for the rest of your lives. You'll remember this, so make sure it's a good feeling,"' Palko said of the final drive. "I looked every one of them in the eyes. I saw the look in their eyes, they saw the look in my eyes."
Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune

www.GreatChicagoRealEstate.com

Special Delivery

Courtesy The Beacon News

When we were children we delighted in receiving it. As adults we are not quite so enthused. I am talking about the mail.
"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."
That is the correct quotation. Most of us are familiar with some version and most of us attribute it to the U.S. Postal Service. We are wrong. The Greek historian Herodotus, who was referring to Persian mounted postal couriers, first uttered this about 500 B.C.
The postal service does not actually have an official slogan. However, back in 1896 when the New York City General Post Office was designed, the architectural firm came up with the idea of engraving this saying on the outside of the building.
We tend to take mail delivery for granted. I guess that is not surprising, as we don't remember life before mail delivery. In October of 1896 Congress approved rural free delivery.
Because receiving mail is a daily occurrence, we all require a mailbox. What does your mailbox look like? Is it the correct size, conveniently located, in good repair and does it look attractive with the style of your home? I think the mailbox has been somewhat neglected by many homeowners. It may be time to consider replacing your mailbox.
The first factor to determine is the type of mailbox. Depending on where you live, you might be required to have one that is accessible from the road. Your neighborhood may have covenants that determine the style of your mailbox. This may restrict you a bit from the freedom to express your individual style with your mailbox. But even with those limitations you can still do some lovely gardening around the mailbox. Embellish it in the fall with corn stalks, gourds or Indian corn. To celebrate the holiday season, wrap the post to look like a candy cane or decorate it with evergreen garland to add some festive cheer.
If you have no such restrictions, you will need to decide if you want a free-standing mailbox, a mail slot or one you can hang on your home or fence. You might be wondering about the fence, but it makes sense if you have fenced your entire yard and let your dog out there periodically. Your postal carrier will appreciate the dog-free access to your mailbox.
There are some lovely mailboxes in different and historically appropriate styles. Styles include Victorian, Craftsman, Tudor or even 1950s ranch. You can buy mailboxes that can be built into a brick or stone pillar. If you have a whimsical side you might want a mailbox that is a little more creative. I found mailboxes in a variety of bird and animal styles. You can choose from parrots, pink flamingoes, crocodiles, polar bears, cows, horses, roosters, and a variety of dogs and cats. If that does not appeal to you, try modes of transportation. The pink Cadillac, red fire truck, motorcycle, locomotive, tractor or plane might be more your style. If you have a bit of nautical flair, you might choose a mailbox that looks like a fish, dolphin or lighthouse.
Another mailbox option is one that locks. The postal carrier does not need to carry a key. The mail can be deposited through an "incoming" slot or door. Once the mail is deposited, baffles that make it difficult to fit a hand inside protect the mail. The homeowner gets in by unlocking a separate door.
Before becoming caught up in the style of the mailbox you might want to determine the size mailbox you need. I have seen some that hang on the wall that are quite tiny. They can easily hold letters and bills, but if you get a lot of catalogs or magazines they may not work well. The pre-holiday catalog invasion is starting up already. Just yesterday, I got nine catalogs and a gardening magazine. That takes up a lot of room in the mailbox.
Depending on the style of your front entry, you may decide on a smaller letterbox and a larger bin or box for catalogs, magazines or other packages. In this day and age of mail order and Internet ordering, you might want a designated space for package deliveries that protects them from the elements.
Because this is a busy mail season, it is the perfect time to analyze your mail needs. Jot down the number of pieces of mail you receive during the next couple of weeks. Then when you go out on a mailbox hunt, you will know the minimum size to purchase. The other thing to consider is the type and location. Just because the mailbox was there when you moved in, doesn't mean it is the most convenient style or location for you.
When we first moved here, we had a mail slot. That meant the mail was strewn across the porch floor every day. When we remodeled the front porch and entry we eliminated the mail slot. We installed a freestanding mailbox. Granted, the mail used to be delivered right into the house and now I have to step outside and brave the elements.
However, if the postal carrier can withstand rain, snow, heat and darkness, I can manage a 10-foot walk out my front door to retrieve my mail.Linda Holmes is chairman of the board of directors of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry of Greater Chicagoland, and a certified remodeler with a home improvement and remodeling business based in Aurora. She may be contacted at the e-mail address ccremodelers@sbcglobal.net.
10/31/04

Holiday season best time to buy real estate

Reprinted Courtesy Top Producer
Friday, November 05, 2004
By Robert J. Bruss
Inman News

Buyers urged to include vital terms in purchase offers

If you are thinking about buying a house or condo while mortgage interest rates are still low, it's not too late. We are now entering the best time of the year to buy a home.
To be very specific, between Thanksgiving Day and New Year's Day is the absolute best home-buying season in most areas. This "prime time for home buyers" even extends until Super Bowl Sunday or later in cities with harsh weather.

Also known as the slow season for home sales, during this period only highly motivated sellers have their homes listed for sale. Because there are few competing buyers searching for homes during the holiday season, November, December and January are ideal times to purchase a residence.
PREPARE TO BUY YOUR HOME. However, before shopping for your home, if you are like most home buyers who need a mortgage, your first step should be to get pre-approved in writing by an actual mortgage lender. Then you can shop with confidence during this best time of year to buy a home.
But before applying for mortgage pre-approval, it's best to check your credit report and FICO (Fair, Isaac and Co.) credit score. If there are any glitches or incorrect information in your credit report, get them corrected before applying for a mortgage.
The best place I've found to obtain your credit report and FICO score is www.Myfico.com. The fee is $14.95 for instant Internet delivery. If you want a 3-in-1 combined credit report from all three nationwide credit bureaus, plus your FICO score, the cost will be around $29.
When you apply for a home loan, before shopping for a home, don't be satisfied with a lender's statement saying: "You're pre-qualified for a mortgage." That means absolutely nothing. The reason is the lender hasn't actually checked your credit and obtained a written pre-approval letter or certificate from the actual mortgage lender.
VITAL TERMS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR HOME PURCHASE OFFER. After you have your mortgage pre-approval letter or certificate in your hands, from an actual lender (not a mortgage broker), now it's time to shop for a house or condo. This process might take a few days, weeks, or even months.
But when you find the home you want to own, you are ready to make your written purchase offer. Hopefully, you have a savvy "buyer's agent" or "buyer's broker" to advise you on the vital clauses, conditions, and contingencies to include:
1 – AVOID OVERPAYING FOR YOUR HOUSE OR CONDO. The most difficult part of your home purchase contract is determining a fair purchase offer price. Your buyer's agent can help you by preparing a written CMA (comparative market analysis).
This is same form that the home seller's listing agent prepared for the seller at the time of listing. But circumstances may have changed. Your personal CMA should be prepared by your buyer's agent based on the most recent sales prices of similar nearby homes like the one you want to buy.
Only after discussing the CMA with your buyer's agent, who has hopefully inspected the comparable homes recently sold, can you arrive at an appropriate purchase offer price. By adding or subtracting value for the pros and cons of the home you want to buy, your first offer should be realistic, but perhaps a bit low to allow room for negotiation.
Some home buyers think they should automatically offer 5 percent to 10 percent below the seller's asking price. But that's not wise. The reason is the full asking price might be an incredible bargain offered by a highly-motivated seller who wants a quick sale.
2 – INCLUDE A REASONABLE GOOD FAITH EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT. To form a legally binding sales contract, all that is needed are the signatures of the buyer and seller on a sales contract. No deposit is required. However, few home sellers will accept a purchase offer which is not accompanied by a good faith earnest money deposit check.
The general rule is the larger the buyer's deposit check, the greater the probability the home sale will close successfully. However, home buyers are justifiably reluctant to make a large deposit until all the conditions of the sale are met.
For this reason, home buyers often make a modest initial deposit, such as $1,000, with the written requirement the deposit will be increased, typically to at least 5 percent of the sales price, when the purchase offer contingencies are removed.
3 – INSIST ON A MORTGAGE APPRAISAL CONTINGENCY. As a smart home buyer, you wisely obtained a written pre-approval letter or certificate from an actual mortgage lender. Of course, you are still free to shop among other lenders for better mortgage terms, but lenders know most home buyers stick with their first lender.
However, the lender's mortgage pre-approval probably included a condition that the home appraises for at least the amount of the purchase offer. If the lender's appraisal is less, the buyer either can (1) increase their cash down payment, (2) renegotiate the purchase price, or (3) cancel the home purchase and receive a refund of the buyer's earnest money deposit.
4 – DEMAND A PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION CONTINGENCY CLAUSE. Although home sellers are supposed to disclose in writing all known home defects that materially affect the market value or desirability of the residence, some home sellers "forget" to tell their buyers about significant home defects. Can you imagine that?
Or, some home sellers obtain a professional home inspection report, show it to their buyer, and hope the buyer won't insist on obtaining their own professional inspection report.
But smart home buyers insist on a professional inspection contingency clause in their purchase offer. After the buyer and seller agree on sales terms, then the buyer hires their professional inspector to determine if the seller overlooked any defects that the buyer should know about.
Because the home buyer pays for their professional inspection report, the buyer should always accompany their inspector for the two to three-hour inspection. If surprise defects are discovered, the buyer and inspector can discuss if they are serious or not.
Home buyers should hire their own inspector, but not necessarily the inspector recommended by the realty agent. Such inspectors are often known as "easy inspectors" or "non-deal killers."
The toughest professional inspectors are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). These ASHI members must have completed at least 250 inspections, pass a difficult exam, and meet continuing education requirements. To find a local ASHI member, go to www.ashi.com or phone 1-800-743-2744.
In addition, your home buyer's agent should recommend other customary inspection contingencies, such as for termites (pest control), radon, energy efficiency, building code compliance, roof, plumbing, and electrical.
5 – CONSIDER MEDIATION OR ARBITRATION OF ANY DISPUTES. A recent innovation in many printed home purchase contracts is a mediation and/or arbitration clause for any disputes which might arise. The consequences of these clauses should be carefully considered.
A mediation clause, if agreed to by the home buyer and seller, means any disputes will be submitted to a qualified mediator, with the cost split equally between the parties. A skillful mediator can often get the buyer and seller to resolve their differences, resulting in a quick dispute resolution at minimal cost. However, mediation is non-binding until both parties sign the agreement.
But an arbitration clause is much different. When the home buyer and seller agree to arbitrate any dispute, the arbitrator chosen by mutual agreement has authority to hear the evidence presented by both parties and reach a binding decision.
The cost of arbitration is usually far less than a court trial, but the result is binding. By signing an arbitration clause in advance of a dispute, the parties give up their right to a jury trial, court rules of evidence, and a right to appeal, even if the arbitrator is clearly wrong.
More details on vital terms to include in your home purchase contract are in the Robert Bruss special report, "Vital Terms Smart Home Buyers and Investors Include in Their Purchase Offers," available for $4 from Robert Bruss, 251 Park Road, Burlingame, CA 94010 or by credit card at 1-800-736-1736 or instant Internet download at www.bobbruss.com.

www.GreatChicagoRealEstate.com

Irish beat the Vols!

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Brandon Hoyte's tackle might have changed the course of the season for Notre Dame. It altered ninth-ranked Tennessee's outlook Saturday night.

Tennessee lost the second member of its heralded freshman quarterback duo and the Fighting Irish capitalized with an interception return for a touchdown, then held on to win 17-13.

Erik Ainge separated his right shoulder on the final play of the first half when he recovered his own fumble and was tackled by Hoyte for a 14-yard loss.

Ainge didn't return, and the game was not the same afterward.

"You don't just hit people to tackle them. You tackle them so they won't get back up. I say that respectfully," Hoyte said.

"We had a great opportunity. We've lost a lot of close games, and we needed to prove what type of team we are. I think that happened tonight."

Ainge's injury came a week after Brent Schaeffer broke his collarbone.

Junior Rick Clausen, the younger brother of former Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen, replaced Ainge in the second half and almost immediately made a big mistake.

Clausen was being sacked by Derek Landri when he let the ball go. Notre Dame's Mike Goolsby caught it and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown and a 14-10 lead. The Irish (6-3) never trailed again.

"It feels good to be aggressive on defense rather than just sitting back," Goolsby said. "This is just one of those huge games like Nebraska or (Texas) A&M from my freshman year."

The loss doesn't affect the Southeastern Conference standings for the Vols (7-2), who now have a week off to regroup. Wins over also-rans Vanderbilt and Kentucky later this month would send Tennessee to the SEC championship as the East division winner.

"Losing Erik was a real disappointment," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I thought Rick came in and competed. Whether it's Rick, Brent or Erik, people around him have to play well."

Fulmer said he didn't know when Ainge would return. Team trainers said he was out indefinitely.

Notre Dame padded its lead in the fourth quarter with D.J. Fitzpatrick's 39-yard field goal. Then all the Irish had to do was stop Tennessee's hapless offense. The Vols punted on their next possession, but got the ball back for a final chance with 2:12 remaining.

Tennessee had a bad snap that Clausen had to recover 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The Vols' last gasp came on fourth-and-18 when Clausen's pass was incomplete, and the Notre Dame bench erupted in celebration.

"Every win against a top 10 team is huge," Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham said. "There is no better time for us to step up than right now. We couldn't afford to wait another week."

Brady Quinn was 12-of-23 for 118 yards and a touchdown for Notre Dame, which only had 216 yards of total offense.

Notre Dame took its first lead, 7-3, in the first quarter on Quinn's 8-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Fasano, ending a drive that featured Darius Walker's 32-yard run.

Tennessee got back in it in the second quarter when Ainge dumped off the ball to Cedric Houston as he was being pressured. Houston dodged defenders and beat Notre Dame's Dwight Ellick to the end zone for a 56-yard touchdown.

Clausen finished 10-of-18 for 120 yards, but the Vols were held to 58 yards rushing.

www.GreatChicagoRealEstate.com

Managing home energy costs -- and comfort

Courtesy Chicago Sun-Times
October 29, 2004
BY JAMES AND MORRIS CAREY

When it comes to managing home energy costs, your best defense is a strong offense. Taking steps to improve the energy efficiency of your home will not only save you money on utility costs, but you'll improve personal comfort as well.
The list of energy upgrades is long. Many are do-it-yourself projects, while others are best left to a pro. Some of the tasks, such as caulking or weather stripping, are cheap and easy to do. Projects such as replacement windows or a new energy efficient furnace can be costly and require a longer payback period. Thus, to get the best bang for your energy upgrade buck, be sure to consider how long you will stay in your home. You may want to defer major upgrades if you plan to move in three years or less.
Furnace Maintenance: A home heating system should be inspected at least once annually --twice if it doubles as an air conditioner -- prior to the beginning of each season. Beyond checking for potential safety hazards, the system should be serviced to attain peak performance and reduce operating costs.
System maintenance should include blower chamber cleaning, motor lubrication, belt adjustment, burner cleaning and calibration and filter replacement. Filter replacement is one of the most important do-it-yourself energy tasks. A crud-covered filter makes the system work harder and drives up energy and repair costs. Stay away from cheap filters. They do a poor job and don't last long. Go with a pleated filter that is designed to last up to three months.
Tip: Use our salt test when choosing a filter. If you sprinkle salt on the filter and it travels through the fabric, that's a sure sign of poor product.
Drafty Doors: Weather stripping and caulking are the most effective means of dealing with drafts around doors. If no weather stripping is present, install it. If it exists and is worn or brittle, replace it with new material. Seasonal adjustment may also be required depending up your climate zone.
An important component of a door's weather stripping system is the door bottom or ''shoe'' consisting of a U-shaped channel with a vinyl gasket that attaches to the underside of the door. Most door bottoms require seasonal adjustment -- especially where a home is subject to shifting.
Tip: Use a flashlight at night to determine if a gap exists between the door bottom and threshold. If light can be seen, the door bottom needs adjusting.
Caulking is another easy means of controlling drafts. Install a bead of high quality exterior grade caulk around door trim at the joint where it contacts the siding.
Penetrations: There are various penetrations in walls that can result in drafts and significant energy loss. Especially vulnerable are locations where plumbing pipes and electrical wiring travel through walls.
Use expandable foam sealant to seal gaps at plumbing pipes below sinks, at pipe and duct penetrations in framing and siding, where electrical wires travel through walls and the gap around heat or air vents at walls, floors and ceilings.
Another significant source of lost energy is through drafts around electrical switch and outlet boxes. Where large gaps exist, use expandable foam sealant. Otherwise, the most efficient fix is a precut foam gasket that can be installed directly over the plug or switch, below the finish trim plate.
Insulation: Adding insulation is one of the most cost-effective means of saving energy and improving home comfort. The best place to begin is by adding attic insulation. The additional material can be blown in or laid into place using batts or rolls.
Just because your attic contains insulation doesn't mean that it is adequate. Over time, existing material can settle and become compacted, lowering its R-value and making it less effective. Thus, an attic that contained insulation with an R-value of 13 when it was installed 30 years ago could conceivably be reduced to a value of 8 if the material has compacted over time.
Existing insulation usually does not need to be removed. Additional material can be installed directly over the existing material. Depending upon where you live, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends attic insulation with an R-value ranging from 22 to 49. Wall insulation and even insulation in the floor can also help improve comfort and save energy.
Storm Windows and Doors: If you live in a part of the country where the mercury dips quite low, storm windows and doors are a must. They are available in a wide variety of materials and configurations for either pro or do-it-yourself installation on the interior or exterior. Some are temporary and must be stored during the off season while others are designed for permanent installation.
Most storm doors are permanent, but consist of removable panels that can be stored during the offseason. If storm windows sound like a good idea, but they're not in the budget for this season, you can control drafts using a temporary storm window kit available at most hardware stores and home centers. The kit consists of a piece of plastic film and some two-sided tape. Simply place the tape over the trim around the perimeter of the inside of the window.
Press the plastic film over the tape and use a blow dryer to shrink the plastic taut. This works great in a pinch.

How can I improve my credit score?

Blemished reports make borrowing money more difficult!

A woman who was recently in the market for a new home discovered that her credit report was blemished, all because of a late payment on her existing home mortgage. This came as a surprise to her because she always paid her bills on time.

She contacted her bank immediately and reported the error. The bank acknowledged that a mistake had been made, and issued a letter stating this to the credit bureau. Even so, it can take a couple of months at least before a mistake like this is corrected.

In this case, the buyer was able to obtain the loan she needed despite the credit error because she had a cash down payment of more than 50 percent of the purchase price. But if she, like many buyers, had a cash down of 10 percent, or less, she might have been turned down completely, or only qualified for a less desirable mortgage.

When a late payment or similar credit blemish shows up on your credit report, it can lower your credit score and make loan qualification more difficult. Increasingly lenders are using credit scores to streamline the mortgage approval process. A credit score gives a picture of your credit situation at a given point in time.

The information in your credit files at the credit report bureaus is used to derive a number that indicates the likelihood that your will repay a debt, like a mortgage. The good news about credit scores is that they enable lenders to process loans more quickly and more impartially. The bad news is that a mistake in your credit report can wreck havoc with your home buying plans. And, mistakes are all too common.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: Order a copy of your credit report at least 90 days before you plan to make a home purchase. The three major credit reporting agencies are: Experian (888) 397-3742, Equifax (800) 685-1111, and Trans Union (800) 916-8800. Small errors in a report might have little effect on your credit score, but major errors like late payments on a home mortgage can seriously lower your score. Lenders don't like to lend to borrowers who have a past history of missing their mortgage payments.

Ask your mortgage broker or lender to interpret your credit report for you and make recommendations about what you can do to improve your credit score. If there are errors in your credit report, inform the credit bureau, and the company that created the erroneous credit record, that you are disputing the information. This must be done in writing. You have the right to request that the credit bureau include your account of the disputed record in your credit file.

Having too much credit can negatively impact your credit score if you have a history of mismanaging credit. But, racing out to close accounts may not be a quick fix to a bad credit score. It's better to pay down the balances on your credit accounts. Closing them won't necessarily remove them from your credit file.

Lenders like to lend to borrowers who have a good history of managing credit. Prospective borrowers who have never established credit can be at a disadvantage when applying for a mortgage. This may change in the future. Credit scoring companies are working to establish alternative ways to score consumers who have no debt history. But, this will take time.

To establish yourself in the credit world, open a few charge cards, being careful not to open more accounts than you need. Then charge a few items on each and pay the balances off in full.

THE CLOSING: This is how you establish a positive credit history.

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