Plumbing Tips: How Your Pets Could Be Damaging Your Home’s Pipes

 

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By Anita Ginsburg

Pets are a wonderful addition to any home, but if you aren’t careful, they can also be the source of some expensive plumbing repairs. Keep these tips in mind to prevent your cat or dog from damaging your home’s pipes:

Keep Pet Hair Out of the Drains

Your furry friend will need a bath from time to time. However, it’s best to do this outside whenever possible. Besides preventing your bathroom from becoming a mess, this also keeps pet hair out of the drains. Shedding fur can quickly clog your plumbing. If your pet spends a lot of time outside, there may be a lot of dirt or mud on them. This muck can mix with the pet hair and create a tough clog.

Don’t Flush Cat Litter

Some cat litter claims to be safe to flush down the toilet. The truth is that any kind of cat litter is better disposed of in the garbage. Flushing cat litter can create a blockage that is almost as hard as concrete.

Cover Exposed Pipes

Cats and dogs are curious creatures, especially when they’re young. They may chew on things just to see what they are, and that includes any exposed plumbing in and around your house. Cover up exposed plumbing to keep your curious pets from biting into it. Chewing on pipes could cause costly plumbing repairs, water damage and possible pet injuries.

Be Aware of Outside Plumbing

Some dogs love to dig. If your dog is an active digger, monitor where they dig in your yard. Some pipes leading to your home may not be buried as deep as you think. It’s possible for your dog to dig down to underground plumbing. If they reach the buried pipes in your yard, they could cause some serious damage.

Consider having a plumbing professional come and mark where your lines are located if your dog digs a lot. If you can, fence those areas off so that your dog can’t reach them.

Provide Plenty of Water

Make sure your pets have plenty of water. If their water bowl is empty, they may go looking for another place to drink. Many pets end up drinking out of the toilet. You’ll want to avoid that because the products used to clean the toilet could be toxic for them.

If they can’t get water from their bowl or the toilet, they may try to get it from where they can smell or sense water, and that could lead them back to chewing on your pipes. Make sure their water bowls stay full to avoid those problems.

Your pet could potentially cause serious damage to your pipes—or to themselves. Avoid these plumbing problems and protect your pets with a few simple preventive measures!

Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver, Colorado. She studied at Colorado State University and now enjoys writing about health, business, and family. A mother of two wonderful children, she loves traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. If your pet damages your home’s pipes or causes a clog, she recommends talking to a plumbing professional for help as soon as possible. You can find her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.

CFPB proposes foreclosure ban until 2022

 

Amending Regulation X to give servicers and homeowners more time to work through options

April 5, 2021, 1:34 pm By Alex Roha

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a notice of proposed rulemaking on Monday that would amend Regulation X to provide a special pre-foreclosure review period prohibiting servicers from starting foreclosures until after December 31, 2021.

Under current CFPB foreclosure rules, a borrower must be 120 days delinquent before the foreclosure process can start. The Bureau said that nearly 2.1 million households in forbearance are past the 90-day delinquent mark and said it is concerned that those homeowners may be transferred immediately in to the foreclosure process once their forbearance period expires.

To manage a potential wave of foreclosures, the CFPB’s proposed change would permit servicers to offer certain streamlined loan modification options to borrowers with COVID-19-related hardships based on the evaluation of an incomplete application.

“What we’re proposing would be that you wouldn’t have to evaluate someone for every possible available option, so long as the options that you offer them have certain safeguards,” said Diane Thompson, senior advisor to the acting CFPB director, on a Monday media call.

Similarly, in the spring of 2020, the CFPB engaged in a rulemaking process that laid out new guidelines for servicers. Servicers didn’t have to evaluate every borrower for every loss mitigation option so long as they moved them in to a deferral where the payments that they missed were put on the back end and they resumed their regular payments, Thompson said.

President Joe Biden’s proposed $15,000 homebuyer tax credit

 The housing industry has been keeping a keen eye on President Joe Biden’s proposed $15,000 homebuyer tax credit for first-time buyers. But just how many people would actually benefit from it?

According to a report from Zillow, about 9.3 million renter households in the U.S. (27.4%) would spend less than a third of their income on the monthly payment for the median home sold in their metro in 2020 if they received the full tax credit. That is, of course, if certain stars align: think a 3.5% down payment on a 30-year mortgage with a 3% interest rate.

But given those factors, the tax credit would cover a borrower’s entire down payment for a home in 40 of the 50 largest U.S. metros. In metros that are considered more affordable, the tax credit would help a large percentage of renter households: in Pittsburgh, 40.5% could afford a median mortgage; in Cincinnati it would help 39.7%; in Cleveland, 39.0%; and in St. Louis, 38.5% would benefit. On the other hand, areas like California would see a smaller share of renters who could benefit — more likely in the thousands than millions.

Under former President Barack Obama, the federal government offered first-time homebuyers a tax credit of $7,500 in 2008 and $8,000 in 2009 and 2010 via the Housing and Economic Recovery Act. Those who received the credit in 2008 were required to pay back the credit over time, while those who received it later had it waived.

The Biden administration has released few policy details about the first-time homebuyer tax credit, but one key difference with earlier tax credits is that the money would be available to borrowers up front at the time of closing. With previous tax credits, borrowers paid the money out of their own pocket to buy the house, and were reimbursed at tax time.

To date, the administration has focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, and given that the U.S. housing market is at its hottest point in a generation and prices are already at a peak, it’s unlikely that the Biden White House will prioritize it in the near-term.

One consequence of creating a $15,000 down payment assistance program is the demand it would create in a market that’s already struggling with supply. The Census Bureau found that just 307,000 new homes were on the market in January, roughly four months’ worth of supply at the current sales rate. As for how much borrowers paid that month, the median sales price was around $346,000, while the actual sales price averaged closer to $409,000 — pushing prices out of reach for those who would receive the down payment assistance.

If it does get passed, the tax credit would be a game-changer for many renters, particularly those who struggle to save for a downpayment in high-cost metros.

Renter households are estimated to save only 2.4% of their income each year, according to Moody’s Analytics. At that rate it would take a typical renter about 14 years to save $15,000. A $15,000 down payment springboard could potentially push millions of renters in to homeownership within a few years, especially Black and Latinx renter households that make up a disproportionately smaller share of potential buyers. 

“Policies targeting the systemic inequities in our financial system — including reforming the credit reporting system  — could help disadvantaged households get their foot in the door and close the racial homeownership gap,” said Zillow economic analyst Alexandra Lee.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, said preserving the 1031 Exchange to incentivize land sales for builders is key to the future of the housing market. An extra $15,000, he said, won’t help with the already low supply of homes available.

“Only with added supply will the homebuyer tax credit be effective in boosting homeownership and enlarging the middle class,” Yun said. “Without supply, home prices jump much higher with no meaningful gain to new homeownership.”

 

 

Animals and Other Pests That Can Quickly Ruin Your Roof

Posted on Mar 15 2021 - 3:51pm by Housecall

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By Anita Ginsburg

Your roof is what protects your family from the elements and other dangers outside your home. However, your roof is susceptible to damage, especially from different critters. Here are some of the animals and other pests that can quickly ruin your roof:

Birds

It can be nice to hear birds singing out in your yard, but you don't want to hear them singing on your roof. Though birds aren't very heavy, they do have some talons that can tear up the roof, and some will peck at the roof looking for insects to eat. Their droppings are also acidic, which can cause corrosion. The issues can get even worse if the birds decide to build a nest on your roof. Most likely, the nest will be in your gutters. These nests, however, can block the gutters and create pools of water that can leak through the roof or into your home's foundation.

Rodents

Mice and rats like to live in the walls of homes for warmth, and they'll often reach the roof if the infestation isn't discovered and eradicated. Once in or on your roof, they may eat the building material or insulation in the walls or attic. Additionally, rodents that aren't exterminated will likely have babies that will also live in your walls and roof. If you notice a biting sound in the walls or ceilings of your home, you likely have rodents. Another sign to look for is bitten or gnawed on walls, wires or other materials around your home.

Termites

Although your roof may not have wood shingles, it likely has wood underneath, so it's important to get protection from these wood-eating pests regularly. If you have termites, the wood in the infested area will start to get thinner and thinner until holes start to appear. It will be harder to control the temperature and your home won't be protected from the rain and water damage. While termites prefer wood, they'll also snack on other materials too, like paper, cardboard, cotton and anything else that contains cellulose. Termites will even chew through plastic to get to their meal of choice.

Bees

It's important to protect bees, but that doesn't mean we want them living in or on our roofs. If bees do decide to build a hive on your roof, they'll eat at it to provide room. Bees will also add a lot of weight to your roof, potentially weighing it down to the point of structural damage. That isn't to mention the possibility of getting stung if you open an upstairs window.

If you've noticed damage to your roof caused by any of these creatures, you'll need to get your roof inspected after having the pests cleared out. A residential roofing contractor can tell you whether the damage is serious enough to require a whole roof replacement or if you just need some repairs.

These pests aren't necessarily a nuisance in the wild, however, they will be in your home. There are a number of natural ways to prevent creatures from getting too comfortable on your property. If those tactics don't work, call pest control!

Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver, Colorado. She studied at Colorado State University and now enjoys writing about health, business, and family. A mother of two wonderful children, she loves traveling with her family whenever she isn't writing. If you have roof damage from pests, she recommends contacting a residential roofing company. You can find her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.

 

RE Report Print them and they will come: the 3-D house While 3D-printing has been talked about for a while now, where home building is concerned, it’s a phenomenon whose time is due. With home prices surging due to lack of inventory and builders fretting over the cost of building materials, 3D-printed homes now means the homebuilding industry is on the edge of a revolution, according to CNBC’s Diana Olick. Olick describes how 3D-printing technology was used to build a 900-square-foot model home on Long Island. But its builder, Kirk Anderson, is about to build another (even more important) one – the first 3D-printed home in the United States to be marketed to the public. “The new home will be slightly larger at 1,500 square feet and will feature three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a garage. It is listed at just under $299,000, about half the price of a comparable newly built home in the area,” says Olick. “Demand is off the charts,” says a local Long Island Realtor. The maker of the homebuilding feast, Andersen is director of operations at SQ4D, a New York-based company with barely a dozen employees. Olick explains how, while other companies have 3D-printed small structures that are being used to house the homeless, Andersen’s firm is the first company using the technology specifically for the for-sale market. That meant scaling up their robotic printer, doing lots of testing, then printing up the foundation, interior, and exterior walls and utility conduits for the model home. They did that in just two days. How does it look? “Like a massive spout squeezing out concrete toothpaste in long lines, but the result is an incredibly solid, resistant structure. The raw walls look a bit like concrete corduroy, but they can be smoothed depending on the buyer’s tastes,” says Olick. “It requires little labor to build, and the price is low — two potentially attractive points as the industry contends with a severe labor shortage and high material costs. And instead of using costly lumber, they used concrete, which is far cheaper. “We’re trying to build homes and houses in half the time for half the price,” said Andersen in the article. “Our profits will be higher and we will be able to show that with more projects that we do.” But there will be red tape barriers, as there always are for new technology no one knows how to deal with. Getting permits won’t be easy. Andersen will need to work with local officials, teaching them about the process and the potential, while dealing with zoning regulations for this first batch of printer-made homes. As for the first prototype, there are already multiple offers on the house, some from regular buyers, others from investors. Andersen said he has also gotten a lot of interest from developers who want him to build 3D housing developments. He sees this as being involved in an important piece of history, staying local at first but looking ahead as well, hoping to take the concept to places like Florida and California, proving this can be done anywhere. Source: CNBC TBWS

Everything You Need to Know About Modular Homes

Are you considering either building a modular home or buying one that's already constructed? You are not alone. Many folks are turning to modular homes as another housing choice. Cost-efficient and headache-free, a modular home can be a great option for homeowners who dream of owning their very own custom home but don't want to go through the pains of managing architects and construction workers.

Modular homes are a great alternative for anyone who seeks a more manageable project. Here are some interesting facts about this type of home so you know whether or not they're worth looking into for your newest real estate purchase:

What Is a Modular Home?

A modular home has been built in an indoor factory setting and then the finished project is covered and transported to its new, permanent location, where a builder will fully assemble the home once it arrives.

Modular homes are not mobile homes, they are just homes that have been built off the current site it now inhabits; also known as factory-built or prefab homes.

How Do Modular Homes Different From Ones Built On-Site?

As prefabs are built indoors, they can be put together in a matter of weeks, as opposed to months like traditional homes. The length of time required for a stick-built home usually comes down to poor weather conditions. This is one of the defining reasons why a building project can take longer than expected.

Modular homes must follow specific rules, guidelines and building codes that typically don't apply to traditional on-site homes.

Ideally, if you're looking to get your own modular home, you should be shopping around as not all things are going to be built the same. It may take you some time to find a modular home suitable for you and your family. There can be a huge disparity in things like quality and price.

Just like purchasing literally anything throughout your life (especially when you're spending a big chunk of money), you should always be doing your research. One modular home company can be better than the next, just like one custom home builder might be better than the competition. It's essential to do your due diligence on the modular company you're considering using like you would with any other.

Things Worth Knowing About Prefab Housing

Modular homes are moved once complete. As mentioned earlier, modular homes are typically built in a factory somewhere and will remain there until they have been fully built. They are then moved to the plot of land which they'll most likely spend the rest of their days on.

Of course, they are moved in parts and will need to be fully assembled before anyone can inhabit it. You will also need to complete all the finishes. The most grueling part of the new construction process will already be completed, though—a big plus!

It's vital to note that financing for modular homes is the same as traditional homes. Many people think that loans on this building type are different, perhaps even more expensive than traditional housing, but this isn't the case. The home loans available are the same as the site-built homes, which you're no doubt living in as you're reading through these interesting facts.

You can get traditional mortgage financing if you're buying from a modular home builder, or you can get your own construction loan if you plan to custom build your own property. Many folks will get a land loan if they don't plan on starting their construction project right away.

Just like any other housing project, you'll be expected to have a solid down payment and an excellent credit score. Lenders will want to know you're a solid credit risk.

Modular Homes Are No Longer Stigmatized

Years ago, modular homes were not looked upon favorably. They were labeled as being inferior construction in the building community, along with real estate agents who would sell these homes. It was not uncommon to see construction materials that were inferior to their stick-built counterparts. There was minimal variety in construction and it was easy to identify a modular home on many occasions because many of them had shallow-pitched roofs. There was very little creativity involved.

Today, this is no longer the case. Modular homes are looked at much differently. In fact, some modular homes are better than traditional new construction.

Modular Homes Do Not Depreciate in Value

Modular homes are treated as any real estate you can purchase on the market, meaning that they don't depreciate in value just because they are modular homes. Of course, they'll go up and down in price depending on the state of the market just as a traditional property would. And they're also seen as a permanent structure and viewed as a normal manufactured home.

Modular Homes Can Be Customized to Your Liking

Modular homes can be customized to your liking, depending on what you need in terms of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as what you want aesthetically. All of these can be changed to how you like it—at a price of course. Because of this, no two homes are the same. Many modular homes are now unique by design, having been put together with their owner's imagination. With more people taking advantage of modular homes on today's market, you're bound to have a one-of-a-kind look and not the cookie cutter designs of years past.

Taxes on Modular Homes Are the Same

One of the main misconceptions of prefab housing is that they're taxed differently because many people don't consider them as the same kind of property. As discussed previously, they're seen as the same as any other traditional real estate. This means that, despite what people may think, they are taxed the same. Don't expect to see any discounts on the taxes you pay.

Buying a modular home today is a viable option that's worth considering. When doing your research, remember that today's modular homes are much different from those built in previous decades. Like any other house, plan on doing a home inspection with a qualified professional to ensure there are no significant issues.

Bill Gassett is a nationally recognized real estate leader who has been helping people buy and sell MetroWest Massachusetts real estate for the past 33 years. He has been one of the top RE/MAX REALTORS® in New England for the past decade. Gassett works for RE/MAX Executive Realty in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. In 2018, he was the No. 1 RE/MAX real estate agent in Massachusetts.

 

Home Trends to Watch for in 2021

By Patty McNease, VP of Brand Marketing for Homes.com

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As 2020 caught us spending more time at home, homeowners began rethinking how they would use their homes in the new year. Some homeowners may even end up listing their current home to take advantage of the booming market and low inventory, in hopes of finding a home that will meet their new needs.

If you have clients who are looking to list their home or purchase a new home, there are a few different trends that you should look for during their home search in 2021.

Two New Styles: Grandmillennial and Cottagecore

As your clients begin looking for homes to fit their needs, there are two new decor trends that they might consider: Grandmillennial and Cottagecore. These decor trends are becoming more popular and well-known in the interior design world. Cottagecore grew in popularity through social media during quarantine. The style is defined by the idea of creating a wholesome and more comfortable home no matter where a person may live.

For a Grandmillennial style, think of all of the comforts of your childhood home: vintage touches, patterns and nostalgia enhanced with a touch of modern vibes, bold colors and coordinating patterns to match. To add more to this style, display the family heirlooms with a more modern twist.

Trending Colors and Designs

If you have clients who are preparing to sell their home to find their next home, you may suggest staging their homes with the trending colors and designs of 2021. These include neutrals, browns and beiges. These colors are definitely beginning to make their way back into decor.

While it may seem that neutral is the front runner, the color of the year selections by all the paint companies show a wide range of soft and bold color choices. The focus again is on creating a space that is comfortable based on what buyers want for their next home.

Rattan furniture and caning don’t appear to be going anywhere soon either. Even the trend of adding caning to pieces of furniture people already have on hand is gaining popularity. Speaking of furniture, it’s no longer expected that all furniture needs to match as long as the pieces flow within the space. This furniture style can certainly be used to stage a home that is both relaxing and on trend.

Home Layout Trends Taking Over Open-Concept Living
Prior to COVID-19 and quarantine, having an open-concept living space was ideal. Now that families are finding themselves home-based, the idea of an open-concept home is no longer favored. Be prepared for homebuyers to want homes that have rooms that can serve multiple purposes, such as dining rooms that can function as workspaces during that day and a place to enjoy dinner together at night. Even home offices are getting a major facelift due to the shift in needs. You may find that your clients are looking for a home that has the extra space for an office or a place for their children to do their schoolwork. Additionally, they may be looking for a home with more recreational space or a space to relax after a long day.

Take Advantage of the Booming Market
Homeowners are reevaluating their current dwellings and deciding to move to warmer climates, closer to the areas they love. Despite all that has happened in 2020, the real estate market is on fire. Those looking to move are faced with low inventory, which is ideal for sellers, causing buyers to realize they have to act fast. Along with the hot market, interest rates are also low, making it the perfect storm to find the home of your dreams, even during a global pandemic.

While we still have no idea how the next year will look like in the outside world, homeowners are focusing on building their lives inside their homes. Taking a pause in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, homeowners are reimagining the functionality of their homes. All of the design trends for 2021 are centered around creating a home that brings a sense of comfort and calm at a time when so much seems uncertain. Real estate agents have also been impacted by the uncertainty of the last year. Find support, ideas and inspiration to keep your business going strong in the Secrets of Top Selling Agents Facebook Group. Click here to join!

Patty McNease is vice president of Brand Marketing for Homes.com. For more information, please visit marketing.homes.com.