OMG! TTYL! I Can't Text and Drive Anymore!

Effective January 1, 2010, it will be come illegal in the state of Illinois to compose, send or read an "Electronic Message" while operating a vehicle.  To make things easier to read, I'm just going to refer to the composing, sending or reading an Electronic Message as "texting."  The law is named Public Act 096-0130.  An Electronic Message includes, but is not limited to, electronic mail, a text message, an instant message, or a command or request to access an Internet site.  It does appear that the Act provides for a few allowances:

• A law enforcement officer or operator of an emergency vehicle can text so long as it is regarding the performance of his or her official duties.
• One may text for the sole purpose of reporting an emergency situation and for continued communication during the emergency situation. 
• One may text using their hands-free device or voice-activated mode in their car. 
• A commercial driver who reads a message on a permanently installed communication device designed for commercial vehicles, so long as the device is within the appropriate size limits. 
• One may text while parked on the shoulder of a roadway. 
• One may text while in neutral or park while in traffic.   

Additionally, Illinois lawmakers created Public Act 096-0131 to state that no one may operate a vehicle and use a cell phone in a school zone or on a highway in a construction or maintenance speed zone.  There are some allowances when a cell phone can be used, like emergency situations and with hands-free devices.

Not sure about you, but ST&D (Stop Texting & Driving) is going to be a hard one for me although I know it's the safer choice!  Texting is my preferred method of communicating.  I only call when I need to or when I've had too much coffee and can't stop talking.  What about you?

Find green homes in Chicagoland MLS!

It just got easier for buyers interested in green homes to find them!  On Thursday, the Multiple Listing Service that serves Chicagoland (called MRED) released new fields that cover the green features of a home.  

The fields cover general green features of a home, such as if it includes a tankless water heater.  They also cover "dark green" features such as the green-building certification that a home was built to, or the HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score of a home.  Buyers can find the most green details about a home by searching for homes with the new "Green Disclosure" on file.  This optional form includes extensive information from the seller with everything from insulation values to the walking distance to public transit to the products used to promote healthy indoor air. 

The fields and the disclosure is optional.  Once you identify a home that has the disclosure on file your REALTOR can pull the disclosure from the listing record.  Then it is up to you, the buyer, to evaluate if the green features of the home meet your needs, and as with everything else in a home purchase, to validate the seller claims for yourself.

I know these features will prove to be an extremely valuable tool in our market.  The fields will allow sellers of homes with green features to fully promote them, for buyers to find them and for appraisers to fairly evaluate the value that the green features bring. 

Consumer Resources

Yes, we are a large association that has many members. How frankly does that benefit you, the consumer? I'm glad you asked :) On top of the 10,000 plus REALTOR members, we have an active group of Affiliates. Affiliates are non-REALTORS who are somehow involved in the transaction. Examples of Affiliates include house inspectors, bankers, organizers, etc. So really, what does this mean for you? This means you have a credible resource that you can visit when you need someone to service your current or future home. Our database is easily searchable and even includes discounts. Check it out today and let me know if you have any questions. I'm also always looking to expand my Affiliate database so feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss joining our Association. http://www.succeedwithmore.com/about/for_consumers/aff_search.cfm 

I highly recommend using our Affiliates. I've bought two houses in the past 12 years and have used the Affiliate database for finding a company for my mortgage, inspecting my purchases, cleaning my house, getting a home warranty, painting my trim, and getting rid of nests in my vents (long story on that one).

Happy Holidays to you and your family from Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS.

Year-end DIY Projects (and a tax credit too!)

Winter has set in for sure just as the final days of 2009 are winding down. If you’ve been by annoying winter drafts this week, I’d suggest you make a quick year-end resolution. You’ll feel more comfortable and earn a quick tax credit in the process!

Each household is eligible for up to $1500 in energy efficiency tax credits for projects done in 2009 or 2010. Here are some tips on a few projects that are doable by the end of 2009 if you’d like to claim part of your deduction right away! These projects will help you earn the tax credit, cut your utility bills, make your home more cozy and appeal to buyers when you go to sell your home.

• Insulation - A big majority of homes in MORE’s market area were built at a time where gas was cheaper than insulation! This means that most homes could benefit from any bit more of insulation that your budget will allow. Attics are the best place to start since heat rises. Be sure to assess attic ventilation to avoid future mold issues before adding attic insulation. You can find qualified insulation contractors through the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, etc. Schedule right away if you want to add insulation during 2009!
• Air Sealing - The vast majority of cold air leaking into a home comes from gaps where two different surfaces meet. For example, where window flashing meets the brickwork of the house, or where a water pipe exits from your basement. The notes below describe some quick do-it-yourself steps to do a little air sealing in 2009!

Air Sealing Quick Start Guide

Materials Needed: Insulating spray foam product like Dow’s "Great Stuff" (caulk is helpful as well but better in spring/summer/fall to make sure you have adequate outside temperatures to ensure the best seal)

Where to Start: Unfinished sections of your basement

Cost: Approximately $20 per can or less (Some air sealing products are eligible for the 30% energy efficiency tax credit. To qualify, make sure you get a copy of the "Manufacturer's Certification Statement")

Time: 1-4 hours of work depending on how many areas you have to seal

How To:

• Consult the State of Illinois’ Keep Warm Illinois brochure. The booklet describes how to shop for insulating spray foam and where to use it. It also lists problem areas for air leakage typically found in a basement.
• Look at every place where a vent, pipe or other material passes from the basement to the main level or outside. Follow the instructions to seal the gaps closed.

More projects: Keep Warm Illinois outlines many more air sealing “how to’s” for your main level and attic if you want to seal up your home even more!

Have a happy and cozy New Year!

Saving Energy in the Laundry Room

I know, everyone's favorite topic...laundry (not in my house!).

Okay, so it's not my favorite past-time and probably not yours as well but I did find an interesting article on the National Association of REALTORS site on saving energy (which equals saving money) in the laundry room and thought it made some good points. We can all use some cost saving strategies during the holidays, right?

#1.Use cold water. According to Michael Bluejay (also known as Mr. Electricity), if you switch from just hot to cold, it can cut as much as $215 a year off your electric bill. If you already have a high-efficiency washer the savings would be about half that.

#2. Full loads only. It takes the same amount of electricity to run a small load as it does a large one. If you can scale back by 1/4 you could save about $15 a year. $15 may not sound like a lot but that could buy me three grande frappuccino's so I'm all for it!

#3. Spin it faster. Setting the washer to the fastest spin cycle will reduce the amount of time in the dryer. Cutting the time reduces the amount of energy it takes to dry the clothes.

#4. Clean lint filter and exhaust. If your lint filter is full, it takes the dryer that much longer to dry because it's not running as efficiently. It is recommended to clean the lint filter before drying a load and the exhaust line once a year. I don't think I've ever cleaned the exhaust line but I think it's about time I start!

#5. Activate energy-saving features. If your dryer has an automated moisture sensing device, use it. Hmm, no idea if my dryer has this but I'm going to check it out!

#6. Dry like with like. Some items take longer to dry than others and therefore, extends the drying time for everything which increases energy costs.

#7. Skip it. Hanging clothing to dry outside or a rack inside costs nothing. Well - probably won't work right now in Chicago but come spring I may try it! 

Do you do any of these things already? Have any of these items really made you think about other ways to save energy? Let me know! I always want to hear from you!

Information taken with permission from Houselogic, a website created by the National Association of REALTORS.

Who's Buying and Selling Real Estate?

It's that time of year again. Yes, Santa is coming and bringing all those neat little gift wrapped presents sitting under your tree. With this time of year comes the annual release of who is buying and selling homes through a survey the National Association of REALTORS releases each year. I found these numbers very interesting...hopefully you do as well.

Keep in mind that President Obama extended and expanded on the homebuyer tax credit so now is a great time to start the search process of finding your perfect house!

To start the process, ask your sphere of influence what REALTOR they used. According to the study, 46% of sellers surveyed said they selected the REALTOR based on a recommendation of family and friends. Most of those sellers then become repeat buyers.

So according to the survey, why are repeat buyers moving? Job related relocation; need for a larger home; the desire to own a home; and a change in family situation.  The most common buyer 69% of the time is a married couple. Those repeat buyers who have lived in their home 5 of the last 8 years will have until April 30, 2010 to take advantage of the $6500 tax credit. The primary reason for the timing of a home purchase by the repeat buyers is: 33% believe it is the right time, 19% because of affordability and 9% due to mortgage availability.

Almost 47% of the buyers were first timers, up from 41% in 2008 and 78% of the first time buyers were renters. The largest group by age were 25-34 years old at 34%. Single female buyers doubled the single male buyers 25% to 12%. The first time buyers' reasons for purchasing were: the desire to own a home, affordability and to take advantage of the first time buyer tax credit.

I'll cover additional sections of the survey in upcoming posts!