"Buying a Home and Moving? Time to Plan, Execute and Pester"
Miami Herald (09/06/98) P. 3F; Melikov, Greg

Consumers planning to relocate and purchase a new home are advised to formulate an approach based upon careful preparation, execution, and persistence. While finding an exciting, new property may not be difficult in today's market, establishing a closing date for the sale of an old property is often a challenging task. Title companies may initially hesitate to identify a specific date, and paperwork may be cited for long delays, but home sellers who utilize persistent tactics are frequently rewarded with less of a wait and a closing date. In preparation for the move, sellers should complete a mail forwarding form at the post office, contact long-distance carriers, cable-TV suppliers, Social Security, the IRS, and the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. In addition, it is important to cancel any homeowner's insurance, inform the auto insurance company of your move, and transfer all utility services to the new address. Finally, sellers may save significantly on the overall cost of a move by requesting estimates from several moving companies prior to the closing date and moving fragile items--like lamps--themselves.

"The Neo-Fortress Home: Can the Concept Be Defended?"
Washington Post (09/05/98) P. E3; Lewis, Roger K.

Among the newest trends noted in the designs of luxury residences are castle-like constructions, which June Fletcher of the Wall Street Journal describes as reflections of a Neo-Fortress Movement. These latest upscale homes--characterized by large walled courtyards, locked gates, narrow windows, and turrets--have been sighted in Florida, Kentucky, California, Arizona, as well as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Typically they comprise many well-defined rooms on a single-story and are somewhat similar to the popular courtyard homes of Mediterranean and African cultures. However, unlike their traditional counterparts, these new residences appear to prioritize security and privacy over cost-efficiency and style. Best-suited for construction in mild, warm climates, neo-fortress homes also feature luxury price tags. In addition to several $1 million Kentucky homes currently on the market, a neo-fortress residence is also available in Florida for just $8 million.

"Housing Remains Rock Solid Investment, NAR Says"
PRNewswire (09/04/98)

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that housing continues to be a good investment due to the fact that the industry has traditionally been unaffected by the volatile stock market. However, NAR President R. Layne Morrill cautions that the true return on a home investment should not be based solely on home appreciation, but should also factor in the amount leveraged. He adds, "Housing is not a quick-in, quick-out investment. However, when purchased for the long term, housing is one of the safest investments a consumer can make. In addition to the savings accumulated through a buildup of equity and the tax advantages, a home provides shelter." Indeed, the latest "State of the Nation's Housing" report from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies shows a substantial increase in the rate of return on housing the longer it is held. A homeowner who experiences an annual home appreciation rate of 5 percent and who contributed a down payment of 10 percent will typically receive a striking 94 percent return after owning the residence just three years.

"Home Mortgage Buyers Can Name Their Price Online"
Reuters (09/02/98)

Priceline.com and LendingTree Inc. have formed an alliance that will allow home buyers to name the price and terms of their mortgages over the Internet. Under the system, home buyers may access Priceline.com and indicate the price they are willing to pay for a mortgage. From there, LendingTree's software matches a buyer's criteria with qualified lenders such as PNC Bank Corp. who can most successfully meet the terms of the buyer. Both firms offer this type of service for other purchasing options such as automobiles, and this new agreement will allow them to offer home buyers a variety of options, according to Priceline.com Chairman and CEO Rick Braddock.

"What's Hot for Hollywood Home Buyers"
Entertainment Wire (09/03/98)

Hollywood celebrities have specific ideas when it comes to purchasing a home in the area, according to John Aaroe & Associates, which sells estates in Hollywood. Privacy and security are still important to celebrities, as are swimming pools and large backyards for gatherings. But today's celebrities are increasingly looking for smaller homes with unique characteristics and grounds that require less maintenance. Most of the homes are usually located 20 to 30 minutes from Hollywood.

"Real Estate in Your IRA"
Reuters (09/02/98) ; Stern, Linda

Aging homeowners who are interested in investing their IRA but are apprehensive about today's unstable stock market should consider investing in a vacation home. If their income is under $100,000, homeowners can convert the IRA into a Roth IRA, which will allow them to purchase a vacation home at tax discounts. They can't live in the home for two years, but they can maintain ownership and rent it out tax-free. Following this period, homeowners who move into the house and reside there for two years or more will be eligible for a $250,000 exemption in capital gains upon selling the property. There are several rules that must be followed, and the investor should be careful not to invest too much of their account into the home. If handled properly however, homeowners can earn significant profits on the investment through this transaction.

"Fore! Homeowners Policy Covers Golf Cart Theft"
National Underwriter (08/24/98) Vol. 102, No. 34; P. 9; Wolters, Eugene F.

In a recent insurance inquiry, a resident of a golf course community in Illinois reported that his golf cart, which he used to get around in the community, had been stolen. His agent advised him to report the claim to the community's insurer. Surprisingly, the community's insurer rejected the claim, saying the cart doesn't service the residence. Actually, according to the definition of "service," the policy should have covered the loss of the cart. The cart was used for assistance and provided a benefit to the family, so it should have been considered insured, according to Eugene F. Wolters, editor emeritus of the FC&S Bulletins.

"The House With No Utility Bills"
In Business (07/98-08/98) Vol. 20, No. 4; P. 17; Gray, Kevin

Mike Reynolds' Solar Survival Architecture (SSA) firm uses tires, bottles, cans, and plastic to construct housing in New Mexico for eco-conscious clients. A bonus of these "Earthships" is that while construction costs are on par with conventional housing, there are no utility bills once construction is complete. The typical Earthship uses tires packed with soil and aluminum cans for the walls, which provide thermal mass to retain or absorb heat in the rooms. The rooms are designed to use the sun's patterns for heating or cooling, with ventilation controls to augment cooling and solar panels and a wood stove to increase heat. Solar panels provide heat, electricity, and water heating--along with a gas hot water heater--for the dwelling, and additional solar panels can be added to increase electricity capacity for computers or other electronics. Reynolds also makes sure open spaces are preserved in the communities he builds by owning the surrounding land and selling the house and the land the house sits on to the client.

"If You're On the Move"
At Work (09/98) P. 218; Row, Heath

Despite the fact that on average, Americans relocate 12 times throughout their lives, moving remains one of the most stressful events families can experience short of death or divorce. However, utilizing Internet resources, relocating households can significantly ease the accompanying anxiety with thorough planning and information on everything from school districts and available homes, to crime statistics and moving services. The official Web site of the National Association of Realtors, www.realtor.com, is a great source, featuring information on more than 1.2 million homes nationwide. The site's 12-listing displays enable home buyers to browse quickly. At homeshark.com, consumers can browse through 800,000 listings, compare mortgage rates, apply for a loan online, select a real estate broker, and calculate the equity in a home. Collecting credit reports and Social Security records in preparation for a purchase, meanwhile, may be as easy as filing an online request at www.righttoknow.com. The Web site of Virtual Relocation.com features a variety of resources on moving. For families with children, schoolmatch.com and careguide.net are helpful information sources when researching a new school system or searching for local child-care providers. Other online resources worth visiting include askmedi.com, which features background on practicing physicians; homefair.com and Ryder Moving Services site at www.movingcenter.com/email/ryder.htm both offer moving estimates, and the Homefair site can link consumers to community crime indexes and cost-of-living information.

Published: September 8, 1998

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