Shawna Ebersole | Greenwood, IN Real Estate

Although today is a little bit on the chilly side again, wasn't it wonderful to have a glimpse of 70+ degree weather earlier this week? That means that spring is right around the corner! Here are some helpful tips from Jim Schwarz at Center Grove Real Estate Inspections to get your home ready for the change of season.

• Clean gutters and ensure downspouts and yard drains can drain runoff freely. This can be done by running a hose into the gutter and watching how the water flows. Runoff should terminate at least five feet from the foundation of the home.
• Remove sticks and debris from the roof. Walk the roof to review it for any damage or potential repairs. Pay particular attention to cracks in masonry chimneys and around any roof jack penetrations. If you are unsure of these efforts, consider the use of a home inspector to perform the work.
• Review the exterior of the home to find gaps or cracks related to age or winter activity. Seal any gaps to prevent moisture intrusion into the home. It is important to understand that moisture intrusion is the greatest enemy of a home.
• Look at any tree branches or shrubbery that will potentially touch the roof or siding of the home. Trim any branches that will cause harm to the home. It is important to recognize that too much shade on a roof will harbor dampness within the shingles and cause premature failure. A roof should have adequate air movement and as much sunlight as possible.
• Check the functionality of the air conditioner after the outside temperature reaches 65F. It is a good idea to have the unit serviced early in the season if it does not produce cold air of about 58F. Change the furnace filters routinely. The evaporator coil within the furnace unit can become dirty and reduce the efficiency of the unit. This area is typically serviced by an HVAC professional.
• Consider rinsing the outside condenser unit to remove dirt and increase efficiency of the unit. This should be done by safely removing the disconnect spade near the unit and rinsing the unit from the inside-out. Once clean, reinstall the disconnect spade for operation. Ensure that the large refrigerant line is completely insulated to prevent cooling loss from the line. This line stays cold during air conditioner use.
• Caulk all driveway and sidewalk cracks with a self-leveling driveway caulk. Clean the expansion joints and caulk these, as well. This will prevent moisture intrusion under the slab which eventually causes the slab to crack. If you see settlement of the slab, look at any downspouts that may be nearby that could potentially allow water to get under the slab.
• Consider this time of year to add insulation to the attic. Current tax incentives are available to help offset the cost of this effort.
• Summertime sunshine brings a lot of heat into our homes through the windows. Consider the installation of UV blocking window films to reduce this heat development. These films have greatly improved in recent years and are very easy to install yourself. Certain products also qualify for current tax incentives.

These tips should help your home to become worry-free so you can enjoy other things this summer.

Thanks Jim - This was great advice!

Did you find this information helpful? You might also enjoy:

http://ishopgreenwood.com/2008/12/04/stopping-energy-loss/ and

http://ishopgreenwood.com/2008/11/07/what-are-the-dark-streaks-on-my-roof/

This information was originally published at: http://ishopgreenwood.com/2009/03/14/spring-home-maintenance-tips-in-greenwood/

When we think foreclosures, I know the tendancy is to picture pee stained carpet, missing appliances and holes in the drywall. But of the 77 homes in the Greenwood and Center Grove area that are currently in a state of foreclosure, pre-foreclosure or short sale, I would classify 6 of these homes as specifically being "Luxury Foreclosures".

These 6 homes range in price from $265,000 to $680,000 and to look at the pictures, you would have no idea that any of them could possibly be facing foreclosure. We're talking Inground Pools, Gourmet Kitchens, Finished Basements, Waterfront Properties, all the bells and whistles included.

Don't believe me? Take a look at these Luxury Foreclosures in Greenwood for yourself and let me know what you think. Be sure to pull up the full property details and even track the most recent price reductions.

Any of them look interesting? Give me a call, let's go take a look! 317.893.1636

Want to get a great deal on a foreclosure? Click Here to see which homes in Greenwood can be purchased for only $100 down!

I don't have any proof of this, but I am quite certain that my jaw literally dropped when I heard the headline above come across the 11:00pm news last night. I absolutely can't believe it!

Yes, I've been surprised at times to hear of some other builders going under. I know Davis Homes really caught me off guard when that happened a year or so ago. But CP Morgan? Seriously???

These were the big boys. These were the ones that were always sponsoring realtor lunches, trips to Colts games, gift cards, all that fun stuff. What happened?

I'm sure this is the same question that a lot of others are thinking as well...current homeowners, realtors, contractors, suppliers, those that have already put money down towards the building of their new home. So many people have been effected.

But the people I'm feeling for the most this morning are their sales reps. Primarily because these people have been the face of CP Morgan for me for the last 9 years. And I have to say, these have been some of the most loyal, professional and hard working people I've ever worked with.

No matter what anyone else thought, these people were enthusiastic, energetic, and sincerely believed that they could offer the best home for the money any where around. I do believe that they sincerely believed in their product. These are hard working, ethical people and my heart goes out to them this morning.

Click Here to read the official CP Morgan Press Release 02-26-09

This information was originally published at: http://ishopgreenwood.com/2009/02/27/indianapolis-based-cp-morgan-out-of-business/

Finally! An easy way to find all of Greenwood's Foreclosure, Bank Owned, HUD Owned, VA, Distressed Sale and Short Sale properties all in one easy to find spot.

As of the time of this writing, these 79 Foreclosures (or possible Short Sales) that are currently listed in Greenwood range in price from $680,000 all the way down to only $24,800....amazing!!!

This is an even better and easier way to search for these types of properties than on our Multiple Listing Service or through the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors. I'm not even sure that Realtor.com has a searching tool that's this easy.

This is so awesome and we've just added it to our website to make it easy for you to search for Greenwood Foreclosure Homes, too. Check it out and let us know what you think!

This information was originally published at: http://ishopgreenwood.com/2009/02/26/79-greenwood-foreclosures-or-possible-short-sales/

One of the best 100% loans still around is the Veterans Administration loan. Also known as the VA Loan, this loan program is specifically for persons that have served in the military. Over the years, we have helped many homeowners use the VA Loan to purchase their Greenwood IN homes.

When using the VA Loan to purchase your Greenwood IN home, Veterans (or active duty service people who have served enough years to earn their eligibility) can borrow more than 100% of the sales price of the home.

Here's how it works: When you use the VA Loan to purchase your Greenwood IN home, you're going to pay a VA Funding Fee. This VA Funding Fee is normally about 1.25% - 3.3% of the loan amount (this amount is going to vary somewhat depending on whether you have been full-time military or reservist and whether you have used your VA eligibility before).

This funding fee then gets added onto your loan amount and if you are entering the home with no money down your loan amount is 100% of the sale price of the home. Add the VA Funding Fee to this amount and that is how VA is able to finance more than 100% of the sale price of the home. It's quite possible that Disabled American Veterans may be exempt from paying this Funding Fee, so be sure to check on that if you are a DAV.

Another huge advantage of using the VA Loan to purchase your Greenwood IN home, besides not needing a down payment, is the fact that these loans have no monthly mortgage insurance! That's always good news and another way to keep your monthly house payment down.

If you're thinking about using the VA Loan to purchase your new Greenwood IN home, be sure you have your VA Eligibility Certificate handy. Not sure where yours is? Click Here to obtain it. You definitely don't want this to be a last minute hang up when you've found your Greenwood IN dream home.

Rates for using a VA Loan to purchase your Greenwood IN home are very competitive and qualification is not difficult. But it will be important for you to talk with a local Greenwood IN Mortgage Lender so you know what the VA Loan Limits are for your particular area.

The bottom line is, if you've served in the military, be sure to ask about using the VA Loan to purchase your Greenwood IN home. And most importantly, thanks for serving our country. We appreciate all you do.

By the way, this information was provided for us by Jody Bleier at Stonegate Mortgage. If you're wanting a quick response and excellent service, contact Jody NOW at: 317.213.1387 Also . . . be sure to ask Jody about using the VA Loan to refinance your current mortgage, as well!

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This information was originally published at:

http://ishopgreenwood.com/2009/02/13/using-the-va-loan-for-your-greenwood-in-home/