Stephanie Edwards-Musa, Realtor ® Spring/Woodlands, TX Real Estate

One of the questions that I get quite a bit from folks looking to buy a home is that they or their loved ones suffer from Allergies or Asthma - So it made perfect sense to have a segment in our Greening the Existing Home webinar series dedicated to Indoor Air Quality in Existing Homes.

In this segment you will hear myself and Michael Strong with Brothers Strong discuss the steps you can take to create a healthier home to live in.

We discuss Low VOC stains and paints, a little bit about Ventilation and all of the other products that go in to a home that are known to Offgas and stir up those sensitivities that many of us have already.

Get your popcorn and water ready! It's about 45 minutes long but well worth the watch if you are considering making changes if your home.

Click To Play

I would also like to take a quick moment to Thank our Sponsors for helping to bring this to you:

Pella Windows

Bluegill Energy Management

Lutron Lighting and Electronics

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As part of Turning Houston Green's webinar series on how to green an existing home, here is the recorded version of our 4th program.  Michael Strong and I discuss Windows and Radiant Barrier.

It's not just about getting new windows or finding a radiant barrier.  Here we provide you with all of the questions you may have and/or need to ask your installers to get the biggest bang for your buck.  We also talk about the new Tax Credits to help you maximize what is available.

Our next webinar is on March 28th and we will be going over Indoor Air Quality.  We would love to have you join us!

I would also like to take a quick moment to Thank our Sponsors for helping to bring this to you:

Pella Windows

Bluegill Energy Management

Lutron Lighting and Electronics

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"How do people have the money to buy homes that need foundation repair and tons of work?"

Answer: They don't need to have the cash to do it. Here's the story.

We have all seen those homes. You walk in and it is in dis-repair needing paint, flooring - Maybe it's outdated and needs some new appliances. Sometimes it is difficult to look past all of that and picture a beautiful home. One that your family can live in and enjoy.

Others see a home with 'potential'. The home is a good consideration, especially at that price! Let's look a little further. And then, Uh Oh.

What are all of these cracks? There may be some around the windows, where the sheetrock comes together in the corners. The floor, it feels like we are walking downhill! We then go outside to see significant cracks in the exterior of the home.

Immediately people think foundation problems. With everything else, why would I want to tackle that? It can be very costly, maybe we should just keep looking.

Well, maybe it is foundation problems - Maybe it isn't. Maybe it is just an older home that has settled naturally. It is not uncommon here in the Southern Region of the United States. Especially if the home has sat vacant for a long period of time. Often times people will walk away. They feel that they do not want to do inspections and find out if there really is a problem they just keep moving and find another house.

But you know what? SOMEONE will buy that house. 6 months later you may see it back on the market by an investor that does a complete makeover on the home and you know what else? You would never believe it unless you had seen it with your own eyes 6 months earlier. You hear whispers of 'Can you believe it? Do you remember how much that home SOLD for? I can't believe it!'

It must have been an investor with a lot of money. Or, let's just leave that one to an investor with a lot of money. That's what was heard before, when it needed work.

Home Buyers are looking for 'deals', but here in Houston, the homes that are 'perfect' still sell quickly. They also sell for a higher price. However, the one I mentioned above that sits on the market for a while? It may go for a REALLY great value to the Home Buyer.

Using an FHA 203K loan a regular Home Buyer, one that intends on LIVING in the home and ENJOYING the home can still purchase at just 3.5% down. You know what else? They can have ALL of the questionable repairs done. EVEN THE FOUNDATION REPAIR!

FHA 203K is the ONLY loan that I am aware of that allows for Foundation Repair to be rolled in to the loan. Along with paint, moving walls, landscaping, new countertops...just about anything!

ATTENTION Buyers looking for a good deal: Consider these Mortgage Products! Renovation and FHA 203K Loans.

• As little as 3.5% down
• Roll in the cost of repairs
• Work must be done by qualified and licensed professionals
• Usually within 60 days of closing
• Competitive Interest Rates

Someone will buy that really neat home that needs a lot of repair and probably at a great price. It may as well be you!

If you need the name and number to a Qualified Mortgage Professional that can do these loans and has experience with them, just send me an email. I would be happy to send you their name and number. If it is the home for YOU, just make it happen!

We have heard ALL THE RAVE about how the Stimulus Bill had a ton of Energy Efficient Tax Credit stuff in it. No cap on Solar and Geothermal - 30% up to a MAX of $1500 on Energy Efficient Improvements ...

One of the best parts of that is being able to get up to $1500 back for New Windows. You know, those crummy single pane windows that you would love to rip out. But, Hold On! Have you read to see what qualifies? I went in to Home Depot the other day and not a SINGLE WINDOW QUALIFIED that they had in there.

That does not mean that the product was bad. That's not the case at all. As a matter of fact, the majority of windows that are Energy Star Rated will not qualify. The Guidelines to receive the Credit are very strict. The U-Factor AND Solar Heat Gain CoEfficient BOTH have to be = or Below .30

To get the Scoop I went to visit Bob Birner with Renewal By Andersen Windows. You may also know Bob as the Host of the Home Improvement Hotline on Sunday morning from 9a-12p. If you are wanting to change out your windows and reap the benefit of the $1500 - Make sure that you listen in so you are not an angry Tax Payer next year. By the way, all of you folks in the Houston area - Bob has Windows that qualify under both ratings.