Cristina McBreairty

Tips and Prevention

If any asbestos is located in the home, most experts suggest to just leave it alone and undisturbed. Asbestos that is not deteriorated and left alone will almost always not pose any risks. The best action may be no action at all. When its fibers are disturbed and become airborne, it can be a cause for concern.

Home professional consultants can provide an evaluation of the home. It is not always an easy process to determine whether or not a particular insulation contains asbestos. Anyone who is unsure about the insulation in their home should have the materials in question tested. If a home inspector suggests removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained and equipped in handling hazardous materials. They can perform the removal in public facilities, homes and work places.

Exposure to damaged asbestos can cause a rare but severe lung ailment known as mesothelioma. Diagnosis of these forms of asbestos lung cancer has been a difficult task because symptoms are so similar to other, less serious conditions.

Maine Going GREEN

Of interest to those involved in real estate, a citizen based environmental advocacy group called Environment Maine, is combining independent research and a tough minded strategy to overcome the opposition of special interests who seek to undermine pro environment approaches. Focusing to rid the state of asbestos use and other harmful materials, they also focus to protect the water and open spaces. Environment Maine is working hard to give the state the healthy environment that the people deserve.

Many realtors have understood this important aspect of our lives and can greatly assist clients in achieving a green home. Green building is the consequence of a design that will increase energy efficiency, water and have a direct impact on your health and the environment. Green construction brings together many techniques which aim to reduce or eliminate the impacts in which physical structures have on the environment.

The use of cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose are viable alternatives that possess many of its superior qualities without the toxicity. The United Nations Environmental Program states that the use of these recycled building materials, on top of the installation of energy saving appliances and the maximization of natural lighting in a building, can reduce energy use energy use by 25 percent.

So, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board himself has said it publicly that it looks like the recession is over. Here comes the recovery!

But there was a significant footnote in Bernanke's speech on the economy last week in Washington: Don't look for a dramatic recovery. Bernanke expects that it will be a slow moving, plodding sort of improvement where the economy inches toward expansion and that there won't be a sudden, dramatic return to economic boom anytime soon.

Bernanke's point about the end of the recession was underscored by a 2.7 percent jump in retail sales for the month of August. This is an important indicator because the key to stimulating the economy again is to get consumers spending, which appears to be happening. Not just for auto sales, which got a big boost in August from the government's "cash for clunkers" program, but also for other important categories, like food and clothing purchases, department store retail, entertainment and restaurant spending, sporting goods. All of these categories were up for the month, after having been down for well over a year.

This is good news! People feel more confident about the direction of the economy in the months ahead. They see the stock market up, so their retirement funds and 401 K plans are bouncing back. They see home values stabilizing or growing in most areas, so their equity is beginning to increase again.

It seems as though, perhaps, the recession is over!

$8,000 is still available for First-time Home Buyers!

But, time is running out! You must act NOW!

- The credit is available for homes purchased before December 1, 2009 <br>
- The credit does NOT have to be repaid! <br>
- Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the credit

To Get Started Today Call: <br>
Cristina McBreairty
(207) 653-1604

Visit my website www.CristinaTheREALTOR.com for your online real estate needs!