"Conditioning Air Efficiently"
Washington Post--Home (09/10/98) P. 22; McClintock, Mike

Most homes use a single central air conditioner controlled by a thermostat to heat the home. This works well in the room where the thermostat is located, but the temperature in other rooms in the house will vary. Fortunately, there are ways for homeowners to regulate the flow of air in each room to make sure their air conditioner is being used efficiently. Most air vents in rooms have dampers that can be controlled to allow either more or less air to enter the room. Any air reduced by closing the damper will simply flow to another room. Homeowners can also install automatic dampers which allow each room to act as if it has its own thermostat. In rooms where more air flow is necessary, fans can be installed in the ducts. In addition, the Department of Energy estimates that 20 percent to 40 percent of air energy is lost through pipes with leaks. These leaks can be repaired by wrapping duct tape around the hole or wrapping the ducts with insulation.

"It's Been in the Family for Weeks"
New York Times (09/10/98) P. D11; Connor, Tom

The number of New York home buyers choosing to build their own estates is reaching its highest level since the 1920s. But even though the estates are very large and many of them appear new, some homeowners are choosing to make their new homes appear older. One popular technique is to hire a landscaper to install ivy and climbing plants along the walls. Other homeowners have their houses built next to an old tree or plant shrubs while the home is being built. Sometimes the homes themselves are designed in old, Colonial styles. One of the more important elements of these homes that give them an older feeling is the chimney. The chimneys may not be used to heat the homes, but they are created with older details.

"Natural-Gas Users Could See Savings in Virginia, District"
Washington Times (09/09/98) P. B10; Abrahms, Doug

Natural gas customers in the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia could trim as much as $50 off their 1999 utility bills by enrolling in Washington Gas Light Co.'s customer choice pilot program. The initiative will give up to 3,000 D.C. users and 30,000 Northern Virginia consumers the opportunity to purchase natural gas from alternative suppliers--such as Conectiv Energy and Horizon Energy--which are expected to lure customers with discounts of up to 7 percent. The enrollment period will begin this October and end on Nov. 30, with service from competing suppliers actually beginning on Jan. 1, 1999. Customers that switch will receive gas as well as monthly bills from their new providers, although Washington Gas will continue to maintain the pipes and perform meter-reading duties. A similar program launched by the utility in Maryland has been deemed a success, with 18,000 homes out of 300,000 switching away from Washington Gas. That number is expected to climb as high as 100,000 next year as the state Public Service Commission continues to expand the move toward competition.

"Thanks to Consumers, The Economy May Just Keep on Humming"
Business Week (09/07/98) No. 3594; P. 23; Cooper, James C.; Madigan, Kathleen

Economic growth in the last two quarters of this year is anticipated to be largely determined by consumer spending habits. Although American spending does not appear to be slowing, the consumer confidence index as compiled by the Conference Board indicated a decline from 137.2 in July to 133.1 in August of this year. Furthermore, the index's reading on the future dropped significantly from 113.4 to 107.5. However, such adjustments in consumer confidence appeared to have had little affect over the residential real estate industry. In fact, existing home sales were boosted 4 percent in July, to a record annual rate of 4.93 million. Housing starts for the month of July also reached their highest level in 11 years, increasing 5.7 percent to an annual rate of 1.72 million. The Housing Market Index, as compiled and calculated by the National Association of Home Builders, rose to a record high of 72 percent in July. A continuing bond market rally is also expected to promote additional growth in the real estate market, by reducing mortgage interest rates still further.

"New Chicago Residential District Is Born"
New York Times--Real Estate (09/06/98) P. 41; Chanen, Jill Schachner

Housing market observers in Chicago appear to be optimistic about a new residential neighborhood in the Fulton River District of the city. On the east side of the area is the Chicago River, which is now considered to be one of the most desirable amenities in Chicago, in the same manner that Lake Michigan is for residents living along the waterfront. Some 3,000 new town houses, apartments in low- and high-rise buildings, and loft conversions will be built just blocks away from the Loop central business district over the next three years. With town homes starting at $300,000, and one-bedroom apartments starting at $142,000, the area will be a more affordable option for many homebuyers. "It's a vibrant area," said B.J. Spathies, president of Bejco Development Corp. "It also is an alternative to the congestion of Michigan Avenue."

"Surprise! A Fee Turns Up That Ruins Reader's Faith in the Estimate"
Philadelphia Inquirer (09/06/98) P. R2; Heavens, Alan J.

The best way for prospective home buyers to protect themselves from lenders who are not being completely upfront about the mortgage fees that they are charging is to comparison shop, according to Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Alan J. Heavens. Consumers should keep in mind that good-faith estimates are just that, an estimate, suggests Heavens. Heavens writes in his Home Notes column that to get consumers' business, lenders will sometimes be less than forthcoming about fees. "Then the lenders try to get borrowers to pay additional fees before freeing up money," he says, adding that the Truth-in-Lending Law and Real Estate Standards and Practices Act were developed to help prevent such practices.

"Education Can Ease Inner-City Ins. Problems"
National Underwriter (08/31/98) Vol. 102, No. 35; P. 10; Brostoff, Steven

The Washington Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp. is working with insurers and other community groups in an effort to educate consumers about insurance and safety availability in inner-city neighborhoods. One of the key issues the organizations are addressing is the miscommunication between insurers and consumers over the insurance rights of first-time homebuyers. Most homeowners know that their insurance covers the property and its contents, but not all of them know the insurance also covers liability. Because of this, homeowners may feel they are being discriminated against. While discrimination may exist, it is often the fault of the agents rather than the insurance company, according to Anne Landre, executive director of the Community Insurance Information Center. The best way to solve this problem is through information and education, said Landre. Education can also help homeowners understand loss control, according to Stephen Nolan of State Farm. Aside from addressing affordability issues, education about loss control can save lives, Nolan said. One recent study on the issue of consumer insurance rights took place recently in Chicago and found that insurance premiums cost more in certain inner-city neighborhoods.

"Fido-Friendly"
Builder (08/98) Vol. 21, No. 10; P. 73; Herron, Melissa

Dorn Homes has capitalized on the bond that its homeowners tend to have towards pets. President David Grounds created a free Pet Club for homeowners, after market research showed that 40 percent of those owning Dorn Homes homes had pets. Dorn Homes pays $6 for each collar and custom-engraved tag it gives homeowners, $35 for each cat or dog door, and a referral exchange agreement with a local vetinarian costs the home builder nothing to have microchip locators implanted in pets. Sales are said to be up 20 percent since the Pet Club was created. "A lot of our buyers have dogs and cats and they just dote on them--they're more like kids than pets," says Grounds. "This gives us a way to go after that buyer segment and set ourselves apart from our competitors."

"Property Management: We'll Pay You to Live Here"
Today's REALTOR (09/98) Vol. 31, No. 9; P. 44

Consumers are not passing on the opportunity to participate in incentive programs that allow them to rent homes with the intent of eventually purchasing the home. Prospective home buyers in Georgia, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. are buying homes through the rent-with-equity program of Equity Residential Properties, which puts some of the apartment rent money of consumers towards the purchase of the home. Meanwhile, consumers who have rented for at least a year a home built by Maryland-based Bozzuto Management Group are able to set aside as much as $2,700 in rent money for a down payment on their units. Also, renters of Arlington, Va.-based Charles E. Smith Cos. homes have taken such a liking to its rent-with-equity incentive program that all the units offered through the program have been accounted for.

"Are Proxies Allowed to Be Used at the Annual Meeting of Our Homeowners Association?"
Managers Report (09/98) Vol. 12, No. 9; P. 18; Poliakoff, Gary A.

Community association attorney Gary Poliakoff recently addressed three issues concerning residents and homeowners associations of condominium developments. Regarding a home's roof that was damaged while the board was in the process of re-roofing the building, Poliakoff said that the association is responsible for any damages resulting from their failure to manage the property effectively. In another situation, Poliakoff said proxies are normally prohibited from being used in a board's election process, but they may be used if they are approved and distributed by the board. Finally, in a case involving the use of key cards to enter a planned gated development, Poliakoff said that the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeals ruled that providing residents with only one card was discriminatory. He said that all residents should be eligible to carry a card.

Published: September 10, 1998

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