Beverly Fast Sinclair CRS, GRI

June has arrived and summer is just around the corner. Here are some early summer chores that will let you enjoy the outdoors sooner rather than later. With the start of summer coming many people are focusing their chores on the outside, here are some to focus on the inside.

Switch ceiling fan blades. Switch them topush the cool air downwhere you can enjoy it more. Watch the fan while its running; in the summer you want the leading edge of theblade higher than the trailing edge.

Clean dryer vents. You probably alreadyknow to remove thelint from thetrap but did you know you also need toclean the dryer hose that pipes warm air to the dryer. Also clean the area beneath the filter with a lint-trap brush, make sure to get a brush that fitsyourparticular lint trap.

Tune up yard and garden equipment. If your mower has gas left from last fall, empty itbefore addingfresh fuel (Gas becomes stale after a month.) If possible run the mower until the gas runs dry, if not purchase a siphon. Bring your old gas to the hazardous waste center. To keep your mower running longer clean it, don't cut wet grass, frequently wipe down the mower and underside (when it's off), change the oil each spring, change sparkplugs every season, and replaceair filtersevery other year.

Sharpen mowerblades. Properly cutgrass needs lesswater. Manufactures recommendreplacing blades every year if the mower is used frequently.Check your blades often to make sure. If you blades are ragged, your mower is dull. You can extend the life by having your blades sharpened. Before you remove the blades tosharpen remove the sparkplug so you don't jump start it. Also, wear safety goggles.

Clean and inspect gutters. Take advantage ofdry weather to cleanout gutters to protect your home from mold androt. Use agarden trowel or your hand toremove the debris. Scrubgutters with a metal brush and slosh waterthrough to finish the job. Wheninspecting your gutters look for joints separating, loose connections, attachments, sags, dips, or corrosion. Consider gutter guards if your gutters fill up frequently.

Inspect roof for leaks. Scan with binoculars for damage. To check stability, stand across the street and look at the roof line.

Check for foundation cracks. Make a yearly check for hairline cracks. Call a structural engineer if you find any of the following problems:

• a crack wider than the thickness of your fingernail
• horizontal cracks
• a stair-step crack that break bricks, blocks or solid concrete
• a pattern of cracks that rounds a corner
• a crack with one side higher than the other
• a crack that starts narrow and grows wider

Scrub the decks and porches. On a sunny day, wipe down and hose off lawn, garden and deck furniture. Sweep decks and porches. Inspect wood decks and porches for rot by pressing the wood with your hand, foot or a tool to find any soft spots. Gently probe soft spots with a screwdriver to learn the extent of the damage. Paint stores carry epoxy putty used to harden, seal and stabilize rotted wood. If you're painting your deck, scrub it down first.

Seal decks against weather. Wood decks need to be painted or stained every two or three years - more often if they face extreme weather.

Bargain mortgage rates are the latest sales strategy from builders struggling to sell homes. As mortgage rates fal to near historic lows, lowest since 1956, home buyers are looking for ways to get the buyer in the door. The latest sales promotion: Lennar Corp is offering is a fixed 3.625% rate over the life of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. This is the best seen in many many years. Bargain mortgage rates are the latest strategy for many but you must look at the fine print. Low rates are often only available on "select" homes, and the loan amount is often restricted, with high minimum credit scores in the 700's. You might also be asked to put 10% down, which could be hard to come up with in this economy. While some builders acknowledge that price cuts are the most effective way to move inventory, such cuts could cause buyers who have already bought a house at a higher price to walk away from their deposits.

A housing law that President Obama signed last week will help protect renters for awhile after their landlords have been foreclosed on. The law will allow tenants to remain in the home 90 days after their lease is up before being forced to vacate by the lender. Renters without a lease will get 90 days, a significant improvement over the past which gave almost no notice. Last year, Rittie Brantley was told she had to vacate her apartment in less than a week even though her lease wasn't up until June. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates 40 percent of foreclosed properties in the country have renters and the new law could aid tens of thousands of renters. Before, foreclosures automatically terminated any lease. Only New Jersey and Washington, D.C. had laws honoring leases after foreclosure. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stepped up their renteres protection but they only applied to loan the companies held or guaranteed.

Falling home prices have lead buyers thinking they can hold on to a home for a couple of years and turn out to make a profit when they sell again.

In most US cities your better off buying a home now than waiting to find rock bottom, you won't know until the money already on the uprise and then it's too late. Just remember its a HOME not a get rich quick scheme. Homes should be looked at like a long term investment most times not just a day trade.

Indianapolis is revamping it's downtown appeal. It is now easier to find luxury living in the city with a posh, urban setting than once before thanks to new townhome construction downtown.

The De Soto offers sophisticated urban living in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. You can enjoy unique rooftop gardens, Italianate architecture and lush landscaping. These townhomes project a unique curb appeal and intersting architecture that pulls many types of buyers in. The De Soto is located in the historic Lockerbie neighborhood, which is worth driving through to see the special charm and beauty the city has to offer. Although there seems to be numerous new construction options to choose from, in my opinion, Kosene and Kosene's De Soto and Packard offers upscale amenities above other condos. There are over 18 different floor plans to choose from and ranging between 1,900-2,800 square feet. They offer quality construction, open concept interiors with high end finishes, upgraded gourmet kitchens, and luxurious baths. From the fresh, colorful look and contemporary space planning and deluxe style, these townhomes are worth looking at if you're a buyer wanting sophisticated urban living in a mid-west city.

For more information on these and other townhomes located in the heart of Indianapolis and the surrounding area, contact the Fast Sinclair team today. We'd be happy to help you select the best home with the most options and give you our expert advice along the way!