WAKE COUNTY, N.C.
Coastal Federal Credit Union has offered a unique challenge to Habitat for Humanity of Wake County via a 1,000 Fans Campaign. The local credit union will donated a $1,000 grant to Habitat Wake’s affordable housing mission if the organization can reach 1,000 Fans on their Facebook page by the end of the year. Both organizations will promote the campaign using social media tools—status updates, e-mail newsletters, and Facebook messages asking their contacts to spread the word to their Facebook connections.

“We’re trying to share information about the need for affordable housing in every way that we can,” said Habitat Wake’s Executive Director Kevin Campbell. “Facebook gives us access to a unique and diverse audience and helps us talk to people who may not be otherwise involved in the Habitat mission.” 630 people have become “Fans” of the Habitat Wake Facebook page to date. These fans receive updates about affordable housing, home dedications, and Habitat Wake events on their own Facebook pages.

“The real hope,” said Coastal’s Joe Mecca, “is that the mission of Habitat becomes viral online, and that then translates into affordable houses for families and healthy neighborhoods in our community.”
Source:MyNC.com

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MANAGING YOUR MONEY Is It The Right Time To Buy A Home?

(NAPSI)-If you’re thinking about buying a home, now might be the right time. Mortgage rates remain at historically low levels, and housing prices have yet to rebound from their recent declines. As those conditions aren’t expected to last, smart homebuyers need to consider their options, especially if they are making low down payments. There are two main options for first-time buyers and others putting less than 20 percent down: loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and loans insured by private mortgage insurance (PMI). Premiums are tax deductible, and the insurance may be cancelable when equity in the home reaches 20 percent. Both programs have changed in the past year, and more changes may be ahead. While FHA pricing has often been more favorable compared to PMI, rates are going up. Earlier this year, the up-front premium required on FHA loans jumped from 1.75 percent to 2.25 percent of the base loan amount, adding $1,000 to a $200,000 mortgage. Now the FHA wants to raise its maximum mortgage insurance premium, a change that could take the monthly premium on a $200,000 mortgage from $92 to $125. PMI offers many premium plan structures that now make pricing very competitive. In general, PMI pricing is more affordable than FHA’s for borrowers putting down 10?15 percent and can match FHA on loans with 5 percent down. The minimum required FHA down payment is 3.5 percent, but new credit guidelines require a credit score of 580 to qualify for the 3.5 percent program. Borrowers with less than a 580 credit score must put at least 10 percent down. PMI mortgages with 5 percent down are available nationwide, with 3 percent down for some loans that meet Affordable Housing Guidelines. PMI can also offer extra benefits at no extra cost to the borrower. Genworth Financial, for example, purchases job loss protection that helps make a borrower’s mortgage payment (principal, interest, taxes and insurance) in the event of involuntary unemployment up to $2,000 a month for up to six months during the benefit period, with a maximum of three monthly payments per job loss occurrence. Genworth also provides free homeowner assistance to borrowers in financial difficulty as long as they have mortgage insurance with the company. In 2009, it completed nearly 20,000 mortgage workouts, saving over $2.6 billion of mortgages from foreclosure. More information is available at www.SmarterMI.com/MI-vs-FHA.aspx. Understanding your mortgage financing options can save you money and could even save your home.

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Helpful Links for Garner NC Citizens

NAPSI)-The right deck can offer hours of enjoyment to you and your family-and add value to your property. In fact, some say adding a deck is a proven way to add value to a home in an uncertain market.

According to the recent Cost Vs. Value Report completed by the collaboration of Remodeling magazine and Realtor Magazine, homeowners can expect to recoup a national average of more than 70 percent of the value of adding a new deck when they go to resell the house. In some areas of the country, that recoup value is more than 82 percent of the original cost.

However, great decks don’t just happen. They require imagination, planning and the right materials. If you are thinking of adding a deck to your property, here are some tips:

• Start by checking with your homeowners’ association or local authorities to determine specific rules, zoning or building codes. These may affect the size, height and safety features of your deck.

• How you plan to use the deck can play a big part in the design. Entertaining, dining, family activities and relaxing can all place different demands on the design.

• When you’ll be using your deck is also a factor to consider. You’ll want to position the deck in an area that will receive the appropriate amount of sun and/or shade.

• Do you want your deck to adjoin the kitchen, living room, family room or your master bedroom? Accessibility will influence both design and location.

• Decide what size deck you want. Many builders suggest the deck be the same size as the largest room in your home. Be sure you have enough room to comfortably fit your deck furniture.

• Keep the physical features of your yard in mind, including trees, gardens and hilly areas. Some items may need to be moved or removed before you start building.

• Be sure to consider your privacy, traffic noise and the local climate. Often, you can add screens and landscaping to solve problems in these areas.

• When it comes to selecting materials, your lifestyle, as well as your budget, can have a lot to do with deciding which materials work best for your deck.

For example, many homeowners are turning to composite deck materials made from plastic and wood fiber–such as EverGrain from TAMKO Building Products–because the decking is low maintenance in that it requires no staining or painting, just periodic cleaning.

Plus, this compression-molded decking features true-to-life lasting grains with no rotting or termites. It also offers coordinating railing systems.

To learn more, visit www.tamko.com or call (800) 641-4691.

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Three tips to make your utility meter run backward

(ARA) – What would you do with an extra $2,200 per year? That is the annual energy bill for a typical American home, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE). Dramatically reducing that cost, or even selling power back to the utility company, could mean having enough money for a vacation, a down payment on a car or a boost to your child’s college savings.

If you are wondering how this can be done, a trend emerging in new home construction, “net-zero energy,” is helping homeowners keep energy dollars in their pockets. Builders construct such homes with highly energy-efficient materials, and with the means to generate their own power. The goal is to reduce the yearly total energy bill to zero, and perhaps make the meter run backwards at times.

Lowering heating and cooling costs is critical to achieving net-zero energy, since these typically account for nearly half of a home’s energy use. Keeping warm air in during the winter and cool air in during the summer is key, along with adding on-site power systems. Steps can include new construction methods for greatly improved insulation, using energy-efficient windows, and installing solar panels or other renewable ways to heat water or create electricity.

1. Build with SIPs

Most homebuyers are familiar with “stick framing” – construction using numerous individual sticks (boards) with the insulation added between them. Yet an increasingly popular building method for high energy efficiency involves a different approach.

Known as structural insulated panels  - or SIPs – the body of the house is made of large-size prefabricated wall, ceiling and floor sections with built-in insulation. SIPs work like a giant insulated cooler. They are made of wood panels sandwiching a rigid insulating foam core. The result is fewer gaps in the home and more continuous insulation. Homes built with SIPs are 15 times less leaky and have 47 percent greater insulating capacity than conventional construction, according to DOE.

“SIPs can be used to build any style of home, and are generally stronger than stick framing,” says James Hodgson of Premier Building Systems, North America’s largest SIPs manufacturer. “They can cut heating and cooling costs up to 50 percent, and can even help save money by speeding construction and allowing for smaller furnaces and air conditioners.” SIPs also contribute to healthy indoor air by sealing out pollutants, and create up to two-thirds less waste during construction. (For more information on SIPs, visit www.pbssips.com or call (800) 275-7086 to speak with Premier Building Systems).

2. Install energy-efficient windows

In addition to well-insulated walls, ceilings and floors, another key consideration for net-zero energy homes is efficient windows. Such windows may have double or triple panes with gas fillings and special coatings to help resist heat gain or loss. Specially constructed frames help seal against air leaks.

How the windows are installed in the wall is also important, since much of the heat loss can occur around the window rather than through it. Proper mounting and sealing of the window in the wall can help protect against air leaks.

“Installing windows for high energy efficiency can be tricky,” says Jim Crowley, owner of Crowley Builders in Grass Valley, Calif. “If the window opening isn’t right, it’s like putting a round peg in a square hole; there are going to be gaps.”

Crowley addresses this by using SIPs for the walls. “In addition to providing insulation, SIPs have pre-cut window openings that are straight, square and properly sized. Combine this with proper sealing of the window and it’s the best way we’ve found to get a tight fit.”

3. Generate your own power

More new homes are using environmentally responsible, renewable energy sources on-site to further reduce reliance on utility companies. These systems can include geothermal heat pumps that obtain warmth from the ground, solar panels for electricity or heating water, and windmills that convert wind to energy. When combined with home construction methods like SIPs and energy-efficient windows, such systems can help the home achieve net-zero energy use. In some cases, homeowners have even reduced their consumption enough and generated sufficient power to make the meter run backwards – in essence selling electricity back to the power company.

“Achieving energy self-sufficiency in homes and other buildings seemed pretty radical not too long ago,” says Hodgson. “But building methods have advanced greatly in recent years, saving energy without homeowners having to sacrifice comfort or style. Why build with methods that have been around for a hundred years, when newer, proven methods are available that will outperform what can be done with conventional framing?”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Find a Contractor in Local NC

RALEIGH — On Saturday, May 1, Habitat Wake will donadonated 25% of ReStore revenue to the Habitat for Humanity International Haiti earthquake Response.

Habitat for Humanity of Wake County is one of approximately 100 affiliates that have pledged to help raise money for the Haitian recovery.

The Habitat Wake ReStore sells new and used donated, discounted building materials to the public. The ReStore is located at 2420 Raleigh Blvd. in Raleigh and is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. The ReStore is closed on Sunday and Monday. To make a direct donation for Haiti, call (800) HABITAT

Read More:CarolinaNewsWire

CARY — WSP SELLS announced today that Brian D. Dehler, P.E. will manage the firm’s Cary, NC office, as well as direct the firm’s transportation engineering practice throughout the Carolinas. This promotion was to further the company’s commitment to the state and local transportation marketplace. Dehler joined WSP SELLS in 2007.

Dehler has 25+ years of experience in the planning and design of transportation facilities for state Departments of Transportations (DOTs), local municipalities and private clients throughout the Southeast. He has been involved in all phases of projects from initial studies through design and construction. He has managed traffic studies, prepared environmental compliance documents including public involvement programs, design plan preparation and construction activities. His expertise includes managing multi-disciplined transportation projects, including planning, cost estimates, public involvement, traffic analyses, hydraulics, roadway, rail and bridge design concepts, and construction documents, while compiling monthly progress reports on all active transportation projects.

As Office Manager for Cary, he will be responsible for business development in the Raleigh-Durham area, maintaining and building client relationships, project presentations, managing group assignments to meet and exceed project and client objectives, monitoring workload to balance and assess staff resources and serving as a mentor to younger staff.

Dehler received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Mr. Dehler is also active in the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) and serves as the Vice President of the North Carolina American Public Works Association (NCAPWA).

Read More:CarolinaNewsWire

RALEIGH – After decades of hosting and producing home and garden television programs, Pat Simpson has earned the reputation as “Television’s Most Genuine and Trusted Home Improvement Expert.” Show guests visiting this year’s Southern Ideal Home Show, which runs April 9-11 at the NC State Fairgrounds, can enjoy that expertise firsthand.

Thanks to James Hardie Building Products, Simpson will appear Sunday, April 11 at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the Jim Graham Building.

At 12:30 p.m., Simpson will present his entertaining and educational program entitled “Name that Tool.” Using an interactive game show approach, he’ll test audience knowledge, award prizes and use fun and humor to teach the best application of various tools and building gadgets.

Simpson’s 2:30 p.m. talk called “Little Projects … Big Impacts” is another popular offering, which he says especially resonates with audiences in the current economy because so many are choosing to keep their homes. “Everyone is interested in learning about projects they can complete on their own in a reasonable amount of time and with a reasonable amount of money,” he said. “The home projects we’ll talk about are all under $1,000, will go a long way toward making a big difference – and most anyone can do these upgrades and improvements,” he said. When Simpson is not on stage, show guests are invited to meet him between presentations at the James Hardie exhibition area nearby.

Read More:CarolinaNewsWire

Design a dream kitchen without breaking your budget

(ARA) – Looking to build your ideal kitchen, but not sure if you can afford it? It may seem like a difficult task, but it is possible to design a space that will fulfill your needs, while leaving room (and funds) for your dreams. Here’s how you can combine sacrificing and spending to find the perfect new product mix.

Spend Here
Find your passion. When deciding on which areas of your kitchen to spend your dollars, first think about your personal passions. Iron Chefs may sink money into professional-grade appliances, bakers may prefer granite countertops to roll out delicate dough, while entertainers may focus on wine coolers or island seating. Making your kitchen work for you is always worth the investment.

Focus on the future. While style is an important consideration, function is essential in the kitchen. For workhorse items, like faucets or appliances, invest in a quality brand.  Manufacturers, such as Moen, offer lifetime guarantees on their products, ensuring you won’t need to replace your faucet a few years down the line. And, with stylish, “green” products, like the new Anabelle and Dorsey Eco-Performance kitchen faucets available at Lowe’s, your kitchen faucet will look great and save up to 32 percent on water, while standing the test of time.

Set the stage with storage. Did you know that nearly half the world’s kitchens have a junk drawer? With the insurmountable number of household items and cooking utensils accumulating in the kitchen, adding quality cabinets to store it all away is always a safe bet. To maximize your investment, choose a finish that will meet your style needs today and in the future. According to the “Real Deal” Survey, conducted by Decora Cabinets and Kitchen and Bath Design News, white/cream or natural oak, maple and cherry are the most widely accepted cabinet finishes. Additionally, the survey revealed that pull-out garbage bins, pot and pan drawers and tray organizers are the most popular ways to keep your cabinets organized.

Save There
Get the look for less. When it comes to flooring and countertops, laminates offer the look of high-end options, but without the expense and required maintenance. For countertops, manufacturers, such as VT Fine Laminate Countertops, offer a variety of options that emulate the look of natural granite or quartz. Similarly, today’s laminate flooring is available in patterns and textures to achieve the look of wood, ceramic tile or stone – but all at a fraction of the price.

Do it yourself. When it comes to remodeling, labor can often be a majority of the cost. If you are handy – or have some handy friends or family – doing it yourself can save quite a bit of cash. Not so comfortable with a tool belt? Don’t fret. Hire a professional to do the major renovation, but ask for a discount if you assist with demolition, clean-up or the finish work and painting.

Reuse or recycle. Designing your ideal kitchen doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Assess your current kitchen and determine what works. If your cabinets meet your storage needs, but not your aesthetic wants – try refinishing or painting them. Additionally, use online sites, such as craigslist.com, or organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity ReStore to sell or donate kitchen items you don’t want (like appliances, furniture, lighting and cabinets) – or to purchase new ones. It’ll save your wallet and help the environment by keeping them out of landfills.

With just a bit of planning upfront on where to save and where to spend, you can easily achieve the kitchen of your dreams. For more information about Moen faucets, visit moen.com, or call (800) BUY-MOEN.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Is Your Home in Need of a Home Design Stimulus Plan?

(ARA) – These days bailouts are common, but not many Americans have considered it for their home design. Does lifeless and cluttered design leave your home in need of a makeover?

Lifestyle and design expert Susie Coelho is out to change all of that with a sweeping Home Design Stimulus Plan that offers immediate and effective relief for homeowners to boost their surroundings, both inside and out, without busting their budgets.  

“Homeowners have been clamoring for widespread reform both inside and outside of the home,” says Coelho, who has provided guidance and support to homeowners for years with her best-selling books and HGTV makeover shows Surprise Gardener and Outer Spaces. “This plan will refresh any home design.”

The five key components to Coelho’s Home Design Stimulus Plan are as follows:

1. Provide immediate relief to family and living rooms with the removal of excess furniture.  

Provide relief to living and family rooms that have been over-taxed by excess furniture and accessories. Space is the basis for contemporary design and this look can be achieved by trimming down. Stimulate and breathe new life into rooms by cutting back on anything that has become a liability instead of an asset. Remove that extra wing back chair, the torn ottoman, those pillows that swallow up the sofa, and maybe even that old carpet so that you can actually see some floor.  

2. Cutback on spending with the addition of only inexpensive or handmade decorative pieces.      

Fool guests by creating pieces of art for little or no money. Look for branches that can be put in a vase, a painting from a garage sale or flea market, a beautiful fabric piece, or even a great piece of wallpaper that can be framed. Find large pieces that make big statements. Light the art from the bottom with a small spotlight that can be tucked behind the piece. Let the art be the star of the room.  

3. Infuse natural light into the home for an immediate morale (and energy efficient) boost.      

Bring natural light into the home simply and affordably, and watch spirits increase as the energy bills decrease. Windows are a piece of art and can be used to showcase an outdoor tree or plant and create that seamless look between the indoors and the outdoors – but they must be clean. According to a recent survey, almost half of homeowners (48 percent) would rather clean the toilet or shower than their outdoor windows. For many that may be because of the time and effort that goes into the chore, but it can be simple and the results can be dramatic. I recommend using a new quick, easy and affordable solution for a streak-free shine in half the time – the Windex Outdoor All-in-One Glass Cleaning Tool.

4. Give outdoor areas some incentives by taking the best of interior design outside.

Bring change to your home by styling the outdoor spaces using simple indoor techniques. Add an outdoor rug to soften the patio floor; bring in a side table as a focal point or even an outdoor leather ottoman. Elevate the planter to the status it merits by placing it on a table instead of the ground. Add some decorative pillows to make the outdoor furniture more inviting. If in the market for furniture, choose those pieces that have the flexibility to be used either indoors or out.

5. Bailout your backyard!

No backyard challenge is insurmountable with these helpful hints for bringing quick relief to the outdoor areas. No place to plant? Go vertical in your garden with trellises, walls, arbors and planters. Use ivy, ficas, bougainvillea, night blooming jasmine, gardenias, and other fragrant species to stimulate the senses. Small spaces? Give the illusion of space by using a mirror to reflect and open up areas, adding an entirely new dimension.

With these easy tips, the indoor and outdoor spaces will look fabulous in no time. Next on the to-do list: find an excuse for a party to show off the beautifully refreshed home.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Beat the Winter Blahs with Home Decorating Projects

(ARA) – For many of us, the return of winter means six months of snow, sleet and colder temperatures that force us to take cover indoors. Being stuck inside month after month can leave anyone a little bored. That’s what makes winter an ideal time to tackle easy, do-it-yourself indoor home improvements.

Staying busy with interior projects will not only help break up the monotony of the winter months, but will also increase your home’s value and aesthetic appeal. Plus, you’ll have more time to spend doing the things you enjoy when the warmer months of spring and summer arrive.

So, get ready to pick up that paint brush and hammer and battle the winter blahs with the following projects:

Paint
Long gone are the days when you had to wait until you could open the windows to paint inside. Today’s no-VOC paints don’t contain harmful volatile organic compounds that can evaporate into your home’s air, which means you can paint year around with the windows closed. There are many low- or no-VOC painting products on the market, but Dutch Boy’s new Refresh paint is the only no-VOC paint that’s been independently GreenGuard Certified and offers exclusive Arm & Hammer odor-eliminating technology. Ideal for kitchens, basements, laundry rooms, family rooms and bathrooms, the technology actually captures and removes common odors from the air, leaving your house odor-free.

Add Crown Molding
It’s often said that good design is in the details. Crown molding is an ideal way to add architectural detail and sophistication to your home. As the popularity of crown molding has grown, so have the options. There are several companies that offer pre-packaged crown molding made from materials that can actually be cut to size with household scissors. There’s even Styrofoam crown molding made from high-density polyurethane foam that you can install with caulk. Or, you can stick with the more traditional crown molding made from a variety of softwoods such as poplar, pine, spruce and oak.

Install Flooring  
Much of today’s new laminate flooring is a DIYer’s dream. It doesn’t require many tools, can be installed quickly and easily because it’s not nailed, screwed or glued down like traditional flooring and is inexpensive — especially when compared to “real” hardwood replacement floors — thanks to tongue-and-groove pieces that simply click or snap together. And for great looks, the new North American Collection from Tarkett Residential offers patterns that include dark wood grains to warm and light tones in a wide assortment of grains and textures. Plus, its new laminate collection provides high durability to better resist scratches and indentations.

Change out Curtains
Curtains serve as the framework for our view to the outside world. Most of us hang curtains when we move into a home or undergo a major redecorating project, and then we tend to forget about them. We don’t realize that changing out curtains can be a cost-effective and relatively “anytime project” that can dramatically transform the appearance of a room. By changing your curtains you can update your style, add visual interest or even create a new focal point in a room. In addition to new curtains, you can create a fun, personalized look by using everyday items as curtain rods. To establish a high-end customized look, spray paint plumber’s PVC pipe and use it as a curtain rod. Or, if you want to bring a bit of the outdoors inside and create a rustic, yet contemporary look, you can use a tree branch as a curtain rod.

Organize Closets
Short on closet space? Most of us are. Winter is a great time to go through your closets, weed out what you don’t wear anymore and get things organized. To keep it clean and clutter-free well into the spring and summer, consider installing a closet organizer system. Today’s closet organizers are versatile and offer adjustable shelves, cabinets, drawers, shoe racks and sliding baskets. With a few tools and a free Sunday afternoon, you can install a closet organizer for all of your clothes, shoes and accessories.

This winter, don’t be lulled into hibernation. Take the time you have indoors and put it to good use. Tackling interior projects will not only keep you busy, but once you’re done it will leave your home looking beautiful for years to come.

Courtesy of ARAcontent