Interested in What the Future of Home Technology Looks Like? Find Out Here!

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Technology for the most part makes our lives easier. There have been advances in the area of our homes. If you’d like to know what type of advances are being made then you’ve come to the right place. We hope you enjoy these advances as much as we do!

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From the article:

We’ve long been fascinated by the idea of the house of the future. In 1956, MIT researchers tested plastic homes — it’d be a cinch to hose them clean, wouldn’t it? — while Goodyear researchers worked on air-bubble domiciles a few decades later [source: Ngo]. Neither one panned out, of course. But the concept of the “house of the future” wasn’t just structural. It also encompassed all of the new technology that would lie inside: video chatting instead of rotary-dial phones, robots to do our housework, and a few buttons we could push to control just about everything.

Alas, our homes still aren’t the technological wonders we’d dreamed about. But we certainly have made some advances. Think of amenities like central vacuum, in-home stereo and programmable thermostats. Not sexy enough? Then read about five truly exciting home technologies that are either available now or in development, meaning they all have a real chance of becoming commonplace.

Power Tracking
Did you ever wonder why we’ve long had smart technology in our cars, but not our homes? Think about it. If you’re low on gas, your car tells you. If your tire pressure is low, your car tells you. If you’re short on oil, need to check your engine or are out of windshield wiper fluid, your car tells you. All of this information helps keep your car healthy, and you safe. It also saves you money by taking preventive measures and avoiding costly repairs. But what does your home and its major appliances tell you? Nothing. Powerhouse Dynamics, for one, wants to change this.

The Maine-based company has unveiled the Total Home Energy Management program, which monitors a home’s energy use, energy cost and carbon footprint every single minute. Thanks to its detailed tracking, the system can tell you when your energy use spikes and why, allowing you to moderate consumption. It also monitors your appliances, letting you know when maintenance is needed so you can avoid pricey repairs, and even cluing you in when an appliance is so old and energy-inefficient that it’s cheaper to chuck it and buy a new one. And new features are constantly being added as the company identifies and addresses the needs of its customers . For example, when the defrost cycle in a customer’s refrigerator wasn’t working properly, the system was modified to provide an alert.

Home Security Through Facial Recognition Software
Lots of movies today feature businesses and governmental entities with facial recognition software in place, usually to keep unauthorized personnel from accessing areas with highly-classified information and priceless goods. Eventually, many of us may be able to install this software in our own homes. Why would we want to? Video cameras at our doors could identify our family and friends, plus strangers. If a stranger does ring our doorbell, the system could then immediately run the person’s mug against all the faces in our criminal and terrorist databases, so we don’t let in some really bad dude [source: Future Technology Portal]. Of course, sometimes a family member or friend turns out to be a bad guy.

There are numerous companies currently working with facial recognition software, for both business and personal use. When and if it becomes widely available isn’t yet known. Android currently has a face-unlock feature in its Android 4 operating system, aka Ice Cream Sandwich. But if you hold up a photo of the authorized user, it can be fooled [source: Bonnington]. So, it seems we have a ways to go on this one.

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Read the entire article here: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/future-tech/5-future-home-technologies.htm/printable

Did You Know Owning Your Home Could Help You Filing Your Taxes? Learn About These Deductions!

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

When filing your taxes it’s important to maximize your return. In order to help you out we found this article that lists all the deductions you might qualify for if you own your home. We hope it helps get you a sizeable tax return!

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From the article:

Owning a home can pay off at tax time.
Take advantage of these homeownership-related tax deductions and strategies to lower your tax bill:

Mortgage Interest Deduction
One of the neatest deductions itemizing homeowners can take advantage of is the mortgage interest deduction, which you claim on Schedule A. To get the mortgage interest deduction, your mortgage must be secured by your home ??? and your home can be a house, trailer, or boat, as long as you can sleep in it, cook in it, and it has a toilet.

Interest you pay on a mortgage of up to $1 million ??? or $500,000 if you???re married filing separately ??? is deductible when you use the loan to buy, build, or improve your home.

If you take on another mortgage (including a second mortgage, home equity loan, or home equity line of credit) to improve your home or to buy or build a second home, that counts towards the $1 million limit.

If you use loans secured by your home for other things ??? like sending your kid to college ??? you can still deduct the interest on loans up $100,000 ($50,000 for married filing separately) because your home secures the loan.

PMI and FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums
You can deduct the cost of private mortgage insurance (PMI) as mortgage interest on Schedule A if you itemize your return. The change only applies to loans taken out in 2007 or later.

By the way, the 2014 tax season is the last for which you can claim this deduction unless Congress renews it for 2015, which may happen, but is uncertain.

What???s PMI? If you have a mortgage but didn???t put down a fairly good-sized downpayment (usually 20%), the lender requires the mortgage be insured. The premium on that insurance can be deducted, so long as your income is less than $100,000 (or $50,000 for married filing separately).

If your adjusted gross income is more than $100,000, your deduction is reduced by 10% for each $1,000 ($500 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return) that your adjusted gross income exceeds $100,000 ($50,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return). So, if you make $110,000 or more, you can???t claim the deduction (10% x 10 = 100%).

Besides private mortgage insurance, there???s government insurance from FHA, VA, and the Rural Housing Service. Some of those premiums are paid at closing, and deducting them is complicated. A tax adviser or tax software program can help you calculate this deduction. Also, the rules vary between the agencies.

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Read the entire article here: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/tax-deductions/home-tax-deductions/#.

Looking for Some Home Projects? Find Out What They Cost Here!

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Planning home improvement projects can be a lot of fun. Actually doing them is another thing. In order to help you come up with ideas and their costs we found this article for you. We hope it helps turn your home into your dream home!

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From the article:

It’s rare for homeowners to dust off their hands and say, ???There! Our home is complete!??? There???s always something we feel we can do to make our spaces better, more efficient, more comfortable or just more visually appealing. With that in mind, we???ve pulled the most bookmarked stories from our Great Home Projects series to show you high-impact changes you can make to improve your home. Each story contains useful tips and things to consider, including whether you need to hire a pro, get a permit and more. We???ve included the cost information below.

Get the Closet of Your Dreams
Costs:

Small linen closets: A few hundred dollars, depending on materials

Modest-size wall closets: Less than $1,000 or even $500 if you choose less-expensive materials

Walk-in closets: At least $750

Higher-quality and custom closets: Several thousand dollars, easily

Bring Out Your Home???s Character With Trim
It might sound boring, but some of the small details of your home ??? like trim ??? can have a huge effect on the way it looks and feels. See how new trim might be just the embellishment to take your home to a new level.

Cost: If you were to trim a small bedroom with crown molding and a more substantial baseboard, you could probably do the project for less than $500. The cost for large rooms with custom casework will creep into the thousands of dollars, depending on the wood species and detail.

Upgrade Your House With New Interior Doors
Swapping out your doors can instantly elevate the style in your home. Click the link below to learn the different types, styles, materials and more.

Cost: Doors start at under $50 for a hollow core with a primed surface. Prices jump significantly for solid wood doors; expect to pay $200 to $300 for the more common styles and sizes.

Moving on up into specialty woods, such as exotic veneers, the price will balloon to $500 to $1,000 per door, and even more for antique and custom doors. Keep in mind that you will have to pay for installation labor and finish materials in all circumstances.

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Read the entire article here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/43796756/list/25-great-home-projects-and-what-they-cost

Interested in What Experts Are Saying About the Hot Trends of 2015? Find Out Here!

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

If you’re going to be building or remodeling a home this year then more information is always a good thing. In order to help you out we found this article with the hot trends of 2015 as outlined by professionals. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

At the combined International Builders Show and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas last week, REALTOR?? Magazine picked up three key trends to watch for in the coming year and beyond.

Foodies Changing Mainstream Kitchen Design
Designers and builders are starting to realize this foodie thing isn???t just a passing phase, and many are thinking about how best to serve a growing niche in kitchen design.

???Think about different questions to ask home owners about their food acquisition,??? says Judith A. Neary, principal of Roadside Attraction Design Studio LLC in Vashon Island, Wash. ???Do you have a garden? Do you do canning? Where do you store that? I have to have these conversations with them. We???re trying to plan a kitchen solution for that.???

These changes are also reflected in appliances, with foodies demanding high-temperature cooking options???in excess of 700 F. There???s also been an increase in interest in induction cooking, which heats pots using strong magnets, according to chef and author Jan D???Atri.

???I don???t think the technology was there before. Now it is, and it???s a great option.???

D???Atri also predicts high-end consumers will soon expect newer cooking options, such as the combi ovens (a steam and convection oven rolled into one) instead of a traditional second oven.

But small changes can make a big difference in the foodie kitchen of tomorrow, too. ???It???s all about being really thoughtful about the things that are going to make a difference,??? says Karman Hotchkiss, executive editor for Better Homes and Gardens??? Special Interest Media. She notes that a niche within the larger foodie niche, the ???baker???s kitchen,??? often includes a surface with ???little divots for bringing eggs up to temperature. That???s really thoughtful.???

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Read the entire article here: http://realtormag.realtor.org/home-and-design/feature/article/2015/01/designers-builders-reveal-hot-trends-for-2015

Looking to Age in Your Home? Learn How to Modify Your Home as You Age!

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Aging is hard. Well not exactly hard but it causes aspects of your life to become hard. If you’d like to age in your home it’s important to plan ahead. In order to help you think of things that you normally wouldn’t think of we found this article. We hope it’ll help you learn ways to modify your home so you can live out your life in your home!

From the article:

Nothing beats home. It’s where many of us want to stay for as long as possible, even as we age.

And, yet, the varied aspects of senior life ??? impaired vision, arthritis and limited mobility ??? can make staying home a challenge. Thanks, however, to smart modifications ??? like adding grab bars in the bathroom or improving lighting in a hazardous hallway ??? the concept of “aging in place” is more possible now than ever. Once something of a buzzword, “aging in place” is now a specialty designation in the homebuilding industry. In fact, remodeling professionals with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) have joined together with AARP, the NAHB’s 50+ Housing Council and Home Innovation Research Labs to develop the CAPS, or Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist, program. The designation is not a requirement for remodelers, but those in CAPS undergo training and learn how to build tasteful, barrier-free living spaces suited to the needs of older adults.

1. Cabinetry: Shelving may need to be lowered so it’s more accessible, and you may want to add more base cabinets and drawers instead of doors. Relocating the microwave from above the range to a base cabinet also may help. One client requested a customized pocket door under the kitchen sink, so the standard doors wouldn’t get in the way.

2.Appliances: A stove with controls at the front is more accessible than models that have the controls at the back; a refrigerator with a French door-opening is typically more accessible than other styles.

3.Materials: Contrasting colors and a variety of textures and patterns can provide visual cues for someone whose vision is impaired. “Colors help your psyche,” Lewis said.

4. Flooring: Falls are a huge problem for older clients, so buy flooring that minimizes risk. Natural travertine, for instance, can catch the heel of a shoe, walker or cane. Try smooth tile.

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Read the entire article here: http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/home/2015/02/09/ways-modify-home-age/23133079/

Building a Home? Learn What Questions to Ask Your Builder Here!

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Building a home can be one of the most stressful things you’ll ever do in your life. In order to make the process go smoother most people hire a builder. In order to help you hire the right builder we found this article with questions to ask a potential builder. We hope that it helps the experience be less stressful.

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From the article:

When you’re thinking about buying a new home, selecting the right home builder is a key step in creating the home of your dreams. You should feel comfortable asking a potential home builder every question that you think is important. And, a professional builder or sales representative will want to make you a happy and satisfied home owner.

Besides the questions of “How much does it cost?,” and “When can we move in?,” here are some other questions you should ask:

Will the builder give you references of recent buyers/occupants?

Does the builder have a financing plan established?

Are there options in the floor plan ??? for example, can a basement or deck be added?

Can a room such as the basement be left unfinished?

How much “customizing” can be done versus standard features?

Can appliances be up- or down-graded?

Are there any additional fees relating to the home or development?

Will there be a home owners??? association? If so, what will the dues cost and what do they cover?

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Read the entire article here: http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=238592&fromGSA=1

Interested in What the Home Remodeling Trends are for 2015? Start Here!

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

If you’re planning on remodeling your home this year it’s important to get the most bang for your buck. In order to help you out we found this article with the remodeling trends of 2015. We hope it helps!

From the article:

Pink tile. Carpet on the walls. Avocado-colored appliances. What do they all have in common? Home improvement trends that came and, thankfully, went. You can easily date these trends back to the decade they were popular, and that???s not a good thing. While trends still occur, modern remodeling focuses on updating your home but keeps an eye toward the future.

If you???re planning a home remodeling or improvement project in 2015 and want to avoid mistakes of the past, three highly rated remodelers divulge what???s trending in home remodeling: Andy Lindus of Lindus Construction in Baldwin, Wisconsin, Mike Blank of MBC Remodeling in Millersville, Pennsylvania, and Jason Hampel of Moss Building & Design in Chantilly, Virginia.

What trends are you noticing right now in remodeling?
Blank: I???m seeing jobs are starting to get a little bit bigger again. People are spending more money, but they are still cautious. For a bathroom, for instance, usually I tell people a bathroom is going to run about $15,000. In the past few years, people have done everything they can do to stay in that range. Now, they???re going into the $20,000 to $25,000 range.

Hampel: I think, in general, people are looking for good value in terms of use of space, use of budget, satisfying their needs. The way you get value in remodeling is consolidating space ??? stacking needs. The way you do that is [adding] a kitchen bump-out with a master suite above it.

The benefit to that, efficiency wise, is you have one foundation, one roof, but you have more living space.

Lindus: We???re noticing a shift in the mentality of homeowners. They are now becoming more cognizant of having a home that functions properly, not just one that is aesthetically pleasing. We???ve seen an increased concern in how remodeling projects can make a home more marketable when they are placed for sale.

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Read the entire article here: http://www.angieslist.com/articles/contractors-talk-home-remodeling-trends-2015.htm