Kathryn (Katie) Fedak

SPRING FORWARD in 2009

Daylight Saving Time

During DST, clocks are turned forward an hour, effectively moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.
"With energy prices expected to soar higher and higher, finding ways to keep energy bills in check has never been more important to homeowners. Unfortunately, energy bills get bigger in part because people keep their lights on longer throughout the winter months. Safety experts say because you are likely going from room to room to change clocks, DST is also a good time to pull a safety check on your home. That includes changing batteries in smoke alarms, CO2 detectors and flash lights, taking stock of or restock your emergency/survival kit and recharging your fire extinguisher, among other tasks. We can also take this time to check the pilots for our heaters and stoves. Clean out the filters for your airconditioning. If you still have not done it, it is a good time to give your car a tune up or an oil change. Again, it's the perfect time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. More than 90 percent of homes in the United States have smoke detectors, but one-third are estimated to have dead or missing batteries. Don't be part of that statistic."
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Despite the natural inclination to turn on more lights and keep them on longer, which can send homeowners' energy bills through the roof, with a few simple lighting changes people can still have the brightness of spring and summer without having to pay for it. Here are some tips to keep your winter days glowing without your energy costs growing:

• Remove all high-wattage bulbs and replace them with lower wattage models. Simply going from a 100-watt or 75-watt bulb down to a 60-watt bulb can save energy. Most homeowners never notice the lower wattage bulb output, but it can add up to make a real difference in energy cost savings.
• Consider replacing an existing fixture or lamp with an energy-efficient fluorescent model. Today's fluorescent lighting comes in a greater range of styles than ever before, plus the fluorescent tubes themselves have been re-engineered to provide softer and more flattering light.
• Change dark lampshades to lighter ones to allow more light into the room. It's quite amazing to see how much brighter a room can be simply by switching your style of shade.
• Consider lighting products that feature "Full Spectrum" capabilities, which provide highly cost-efficient illumination. For example, one Full Spectrum torchiere floor lamp can have the light output of 500 watts from around a 100 watts cluster of bulbs, meaning you can light an entire room from one source instead of many fixtures.
• Too many people leave lights on all day to avoid arriving home in the dark. Instead of wasting energy all day, install a light sensor to your existing lighting. When you come home at the end of the day you will have some light to welcome you without unnecessarily burning electricity for hours and hours.
• Take better advantage of perimeter lighting by throwing light against light-colored walls. Light will travel three to four times further when it's reflected off a light surface.
• Add a dimmer to your existing lighting. Dimming your lights an average of 50 percent will cut home electricity usage a whopping 40 percent over time. It also will make your bulbs last 20 times longer, saving you the hassle of frequent and sometimes expensive bulb replacement.
• Place your floor lamps next to corners so you will have two walls to reflect the light back into the room. This is an easy way to create a brighter atmosphere without having to turn on extra lights.
• Because the nights are longer, consider enhancing your landscape lighting so that you can enjoy your yard at night. Use transformers with a timer and photocell to help you save money by lighting your yard more efficiently.

Additional information on energy savings for light bulbs and fixtures can be accessed at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=lighting.pr_lighting.

Fire deaths are highest in winter months, which call for more indoor activities and increase in lighting, heating and appliance use. Additional information on electrical fire safety can be found at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/safety/tips/electrical.shtm.

Take Care,

-Katie

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You want to either sell or buy a new home, but you are unsure of what realtor to go with in the process. Understanding the role of a realtor and how they relate to you if you're a seller or buyer is extremely important. Overall, the experience of either buying or selling a home should be one that is pleasant for both the seller and buyer. Selling and buying is a serious decision that can affect your financial and emotional well being for years to come - consequences of how informed you are will be long lasting, many years after you have walked away from the bargaining table.

I believe in using my experience in finance, contracts, marketing, and negotiating to your best advantage. I love helping people and I love real estate. I'm grateful because I have the pleasure of helping family's find the house they will make their home and most importantly helping with one of their biggest financial investments

 Licensed Real Estate Agent in New Jersey
 Specializing in residential, commercial and active adult
community property sales within Middlesex, Monmouth,
Essex and Union Counties.

Call me for a no obligation consultation regarding your real estate needs in Middlesex, Monmouth, Essex and Union counties, or email me at Katie@KatieFedak.Com for this and more home buying and selling tips. If you are somewhere else in the country ask a friend or family member (or call me for a referral) to refer you to a Realtor and talk to him or her about the market. You may be surprised! 732-318-9393

*Specialties and Experience*

* Commercial Land and Property
* Residential Property Sales
* Retirement Communities
* Condo/ Townhomes

*2006-Present/ National Association ofRealtors(NAR) *2006- Present/ NJ Association of Realtors (NJAR)
*2006-Present/ Middlesex County Association of Realtors (MCAR)
*2006- Present/ RELO & LeadingRE
*Member of 4 Multiple Listing Boards

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Why It's a GREAT TIME TO BUY!

We as Realtors have been saying it's a great time to buy. If you read the paper or watch the TV news you may have a hard time believing that. If you believe the media you would think that every home owner in America is in danger of losing their home, they can't make the payments, and owe lots more than it is worth.The truth is that the vast majority of homeowners in this country are NOT in foreclosure and are NOT about to lose their home! Of course this is not newsworthy. It's the bad news that sells papers. I am not condemning the media, I realize thats the way it is.

So why do I say it's a good time to buy? If you bought your home several years ago you probably have equity. If you are thinking about moving up to something bigger or better or a better neighborhood you will be able to afford something much better than you could last year. Prices have come down , of course you know that. So what would have cost you $400,000 a couple years ago might now be around $300,000.

Interest rates are LOW. Lenders are still lending money , you just have to jump through a few more hoops to get it. Two years ago anyone that could fog a mirror could get a loan. Now you have to actually prove how much you make, what your debt is, etc. You might actually have to have some money down (Thats called a down payment for those of you that don't remember those days) All that is a good thing.

I know some people are waiting for the "market to hit bottom". The question I have for those people is, how will you know when the market has hit bottom? The surest way I know of being able to tell when the market has hit bottom is when the prices have started going back up.

There are also lots of bank owned homes on the market. I am seeing the banks staring to get aggressive on their prices. In my experience they will deal with buyers by either accepting lower prices and/or helping with closing costs. Keep in mind that the banks do not make money by being home owners. It just costs them money. The real estate that they own is money that they can not lend to someone else. After all that is how they make their money. So they are much better off by selling that home and then lending that money to someone else. It's a great time to own a home. Even with the market dipping, as long as you plan to be in the home for a few years, a short-term dip probably won't impact you at all. You do get all the benefits of home ownership including the tax benefits and homeownership is a safe, secure way to build long-term wealth. The national median price of homes bought ten years ago has increased 88 percent. The number of US households is expected to increase 15 percent during the next decade, creating a continued high demand for housing.

Buyers who have owned their current homes at least five years would be eligible for tax credits of up to $6,500. First-time homebuyers — or anyone who hasn't owned a home in the last three years — would still get up to $8,000. To qualify, buyers in both groups have to sign a purchase agreement by April 30, 2010, and close by June 30.

Invest Now Before The Market Turns...ASK ME HOW & NOW!

Testimonials

Katie, I think of you as not only my realtor, but as a friend. I feel that you went above & beyond to help me sell my house. As 'interesting' as the market is today, you did not give up. I can't thank you enough for that. Because of your help, I can finally live out my dream and live out my years in sunny Las Vegas! To say "thank you" is not enough. Love, Debbie

I want you to know how much I really appreciate your efforts and to tell you that after going through 2 other real estate agents before you, it was indeed a pleasure. You can be sure that I will recommend you to anyone I know that needs real estate advice or help in ANY way! Mariann Robert