Comments for Refinance Mortgage http://www.theelkshed.com Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:38:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Comment on What is the best way to heat your home – portable kerosene heater, stove or oven? by Boe http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/what-is-the-best-way-to-heat-your-home-portable-kerosene-heater-stove-or-oven.html/comment-page-1#comment-760 Boe Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:38:17 +0000 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/what-is-the-best-way-to-heat-your-home-portable-kerosene-heater-stove-or-oven.html#comment-760 hummm. If you have a mechanical thermostat I suspect its out of calibration and the simple solution would be to replace it. Thats pretty inexpensive. Your fighting a poorly insulated house. BUT these houses generally were not that big. So, what you can do is make sure the furnace filter is nice and clean. The other thing you can do is change the blower speed from the med setting to the high speed setting. This will help. You have to remove the furnace panel. Locate the wires coming off the motor, on the back of the furnace panel is a wiring diagram. On the diagram it will say blower motor Low, Med, Med High, High. All you need to do is shut the power off at the furnace, locate the existing wire (by default from factory its set to med speed) then unplug that wire (its 1 wire) the attach the wire for High Speed. Button things back up and turn the power back on. hummm. If you have a mechanical thermostat I suspect its out of calibration and the simple solution would be to replace it. Thats pretty inexpensive. Your fighting a poorly insulated house. BUT these houses generally were not that huge. So, what you can do is make sure the furnace filter is nice and clean. The other thing you can do is exchange the blower speed from the med background to the high speed background. This will help. You have to remove the furnace panel. Locate the wires coming off the motor, on the back of the furnace panel is a wiring diagram. On the diagram it will say blower motor Low, Med, Med High, High. All you need to do is shut the power off at the furnace, locate the existing wire (by defaulting from factory its set to med speed) then unplug that wire (its 1 wire) the attach the wire for High Speed. Button things back up and turn the power back on.

]]> Comment on What is the best way to heat your home – portable kerosene heater, stove or oven? by Kevin http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/what-is-the-best-way-to-heat-your-home-portable-kerosene-heater-stove-or-oven.html/comment-page-1#comment-759 Kevin Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:23:14 +0000 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/what-is-the-best-way-to-heat-your-home-portable-kerosene-heater-stove-or-oven.html#comment-759 Go on Craigslist. look for woodstoves, pelletstoves, etc. Pellet stoves are more expensive but you can fill them and be gone all day. Your house probally isn't even insulated if it was built in 1921. Put plastic on your windows, you can easily install electric baseboard heat for alot cheaper than buying a furnace, especially for how small your house is. It costs me $ 600 a year to heat my poorly insulated but solid 1965 mobile home with electric heat, but I put new windows in too. I live in northeast pa where it gets very cold so that's cheap here. Now if you get in a big jam you can build a temporary woodstove out of a barrel. they make a kit for it, it comes with legs and a door then you find a steel barrel to convert. That's if your broke and get in a jam. I would try to seal any leaks though. Like put a cheap draft blocker under your doors and put plastic in your windows. Put Electric baseboard on the outside walls that are cold. Remember 220volt base board is cheaper to run than 120 plug in baseboard. And if you go electric, you can get a payment plan, or budget bill from your power company, that way it's not more expensive one month than another, they balance it out for you. Go on Craigslist. look for woodstoves, pelletstoves, etc. Pellet stoves are more expensive but you can fill them and be gone all day. Your house probally isn’t even insulated if it was built in 1921. Place plastic on your windows, you can easily install electric baseboard heat for alot cheaper than buying a furnace, mainly for how small your house is. It costs me $ 600 a year to heat my poorly insulated but solid 1965 mobile home with electric heat, but I place new windows in too. I live in northeast pa where it gets very cold so that’s cheap here. Now if you get in a huge jam you can build a temporary woodstove out of a barrel. they make a kit for it, it comes with legs and a door then you find a steel barrel to convert. That’s if your broke and get in a jam. I would try to seal any leaks though. Like place a cheap draft blocker under your doors and place plastic in your windows. Place Electric baseboard on the further than walls that are cold. Remember 220volt base board is cheaper to run than 120 plug in baseboard. And if you go electric, you can get a payment plot, or budget bill from your power company, that way it’s not more expensive one month than another, they balance it out for you.

]]> Comment on What is the best way to heat your home – portable kerosene heater, stove or oven? by dathinman8 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/what-is-the-best-way-to-heat-your-home-portable-kerosene-heater-stove-or-oven.html/comment-page-1#comment-758 dathinman8 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:57:26 +0000 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/what-is-the-best-way-to-heat-your-home-portable-kerosene-heater-stove-or-oven.html#comment-758 Your problem is not your furnace.... it's keeping the cold air out. You need to seal the windows and doors to keep the cold drafts out. If the house was built in 1921, then I'm going to guess that it's lacking proper insulation in the walls and attic. They used to use crumpled up newspaper for insulation in the walls before modern fiberglass. If you feel the wall with your hand and its feels cold, chances are that there isn't enough insulation in the wall, if any at all. The attic should have at least 8" of insulation to prevent heat loss thru the ceiling and roof. If you keep the cold air out, the furnace will run less because it doesn't have a lot of cold air to heat. If the windows leak and are very drafty, they should be replaced, or at the very least, sealed up so no cold draft comes in. It's a better investment than a new furnace, because the new furnace will still have to heat the cold air that leaks in from the windows Your conundrum is not your furnace…. it’s keeping the cold air out. You need to seal the windows and doors to keep the cold drafts out. If the house was built in 1921, then I’m going to guess that it’s lacking genteel insulation in the walls and attic. They used to use crumpled up newspaper for insulation in the walls before modern fiberglass. If you feel the wall with your hand and its feels cold, chances are that there isn’t enough insulation in the wall, if any at all. The attic should have at least 8″ of insulation to prevent heat loss thru the ceiling and roof. If you keep the cold air out, the furnace will run less because it doesn’t have a lot of cold air to heat. If the windows leak and are very drafty, they should be replaced, or at the very least, sealed up so no cold draft comes in. It’s a better investment than a new furnace, because the new furnace will still have to heat the cold air that leaks in from the windows

]]> Comment on What is the best way to heat your home – portable kerosene heater, stove or oven? by jw072451 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/what-is-the-best-way-to-heat-your-home-portable-kerosene-heater-stove-or-oven.html/comment-page-1#comment-757 jw072451 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:24:55 +0000 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/what-is-the-best-way-to-heat-your-home-portable-kerosene-heater-stove-or-oven.html#comment-757 any little thing you can do to seal up windows and doors would help you hold your heat longer any small thing you can do to seal up windows and doors would help you hold your heat longer

]]> Comment on What is the best way to heat your home – portable kerosene heater, stove or oven? by spiritkpr1 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/what-is-the-best-way-to-heat-your-home-portable-kerosene-heater-stove-or-oven.html/comment-page-1#comment-756 spiritkpr1 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:17:55 +0000 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/what-is-the-best-way-to-heat-your-home-portable-kerosene-heater-stove-or-oven.html#comment-756 Your stuck! I have the same problem with my house. The only things you can do is put plastic on out side of your windows as well as the inside of your windows. Buy some heavy drapes at a thrift store. This will help also. Put carpets up against the doors to control the drafts. If you can get free blown in insulation from the City you live in get it. If you can sign up for Government Assistance for heating, HEAP Program, go for it. Kerosene heaters can help but they can be dangerous. Your stuck! I have the same conundrum with my house. The only things you can do is place plastic on out side of your windows as well as the inside of your windows. Buy some heavy drapes at a thrift store. This will help also. Place carpets up against the doors to control the drafts. If you can get free blown in insulation from the City you live in get it. If you can sign up for Government Help for heating, HEAP Program, go for it. Kerosene heaters can help but they can be perilous.

]]> Comment on Q & A: What is a home inspector look for quality and on? by Jim S http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/q-a-what-is-a-home-inspector-look-for-quality-and-on.html/comment-page-1#comment-755 Jim S Mon, 15 Aug 2011 05:02:19 +0000 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/q-a-what-is-a-home-inspector-look-for-quality-and-on.html#comment-755 When I re-fi'd, the mortgage company sent an inspector to verify the value per square foot. The inspector measured the total square footage of the house, looked at both the furnaces and the water heater, and verified the plumbing fixtures all worked. He also inspected the cabinetry throughout the house and verified it as "custom grade". He noted the hardwood floors, tile countertops, and I showed him a sample of the granite that was being applied to the fireplace. He took multiple pictures both inside and out. In your case, use the defects noted by the original inspector as a checklist. Most or all of these should have been repaired/replaced. Here's how it works: Your home will be rated against the average condition and price per square foot in your neighborhood. It will be compared with homes of similar age and size in your area. The interest rate you obtain will be based on your credit history and, unfortunately, the conditions of the surrounding neighborhood. If there are many homes in the condition yours was in when you purchased, the lender won't be likely to approve a low interest rate regardless of your credit worthiness. In order to avoid paying PMI, you must show you are financing no more than 80% of the market value of the home. For example, a $ 200K home should be financed for no more than $ 160K. Expect to pay a fee at closing for the privilege of keeping your own escrow. Remember, if you pay your own taxes and insurance the responsibility is yours to be sure these items are paid on time. If you miss paying for these items the mortgage holder could consider you in default. Read the fine print and ask questions. I've kept my own escrow for many years, paying the taxes and insurance when due. I do not pay PMI. I've been very happy with this arrangement and it's worked well for me. Good luck with your situation. When I re-fi’d, the mortgage company sent an inspector to verify the value per check foot. The inspector measured the total check footage of the house, looked at both the furnaces and the fill up radiator, and verified the plumbing fixtures all worked. He also inspected the cabinetry throughout the house and verified it as “custom grade”. He noted the hardwood floors, tile countertops, and I showed him a sample of the granite that was life applied to the fireplace. He took multiple pictures both inside and out. In your case, use the defects noted by the original inspector as a checklist. Most or all of these should have been repaired/replaced.

Here’s how it works: Your home will be rated against the average condition and price per check foot in your neighborhood. It will be compared with homes of similar age and size in your area. The interest rate you obtain will be based on your credit history and, unfortunately, the conditions of the surrounding neighborhood. If there are many homes in the condition yours was in when you bought, the lender won’t be likely to approve a low interest rate regardless of your credit worthiness. In order to avoid paying PMI, you must show you are financing no more than 80% of the market value of the home. For example, a $ 200K home should be financed for no more than $ 160K. Expect to pay a fee at closing for the privilege of keeping your own escrow. Remember, if you pay your own taxes and insurance the responsibility is yours to be sure these items are paid on time. If you miss paying for these items the mortgage holder could consider you in defaulting. Read the fine print and question questions.

I’ve kept my own escrow for many years, paying the taxes and insurance when due. I do not pay PMI. I’ve been very pleased with this arrangement and it’s worked well for me. Excellent luck with your situation.

]]> Comment on Q & A: What is a home inspector look for quality and on? by pickmefirstplz http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/q-a-what-is-a-home-inspector-look-for-quality-and-on.html/comment-page-1#comment-754 pickmefirstplz Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:22:37 +0000 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/q-a-what-is-a-home-inspector-look-for-quality-and-on.html#comment-754 take a look at what the first inspector looked at when you first got the house they have a list they work off of take a look at what the first inspector looked at when you first got the house they have a list they work off of

]]> Comment on Q & A: What should I do if I am under water on my house in Arizona? by bugsnthings@sbcglobal.net http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/q-a-what-should-i-do-if-i-am-under-water-on-my-house-in-arizona.html/comment-page-1#comment-751 bugsnthings@sbcglobal.net Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:04:37 +0000 http://www.theelkshed.com/mortgage/q-a-what-should-i-do-if-i-am-under-water-on-my-house-in-arizona.html#comment-751 i live in palmdale,ca iv'e only seen 3 things to do. 1.grin and bare it 2.walk away and credit goes with it. 3.lose home. with the bad economy here that's what is happening. i live in palmdale,ca
iv’e only seen 3 things to do.
1.smile and bare it
2.walk away and credit goes with it.
3.lose home.
with the terrible economy here that’s what is happening.

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