Dos And Don'ts Of Buying A Home

Home buying season is officially here and when it comes to your finances there are dos and don'ts that come along with the often-overwhelming responsibility of taking on a new or higher mortgage.

Here is a list of the top dos and don'ts to keep in mind when you're shopping for a home.

Ensure you're in a good financial place.

With the increase in minimum down payment (20 per cent minimum on the portion of the price of a home over $500,000), it's important to review your financial plan and ensure you are ready to make one of the largest purchases you'll likely ever make. When it comes to deciding on the amount to put down on your home, everyone is different. Some may want to minimize debt as much as possible while others may be comfortable with a higher mortgage if the investment returns look promising.

Keep the emotion out of it.

Buying a home can be a very emotional process which is why it's essential you know your budget before getting emotionally attached. Get pre-approved for a mortgage BEFORE you begin your search. Even if you just start looking casually, you may stumble upon a place that feels like home, and at that point it may be more difficult to stick with what's affordable if you don't have a set budget.

Identify your priorities. What is a "need to have" versus a "nice to have." One way to weigh out the differences is by making a list of the top must-haves and rating them on a scale from one to ten.

When it comes to keeping the emotion out of your decision-making, waiving a home inspection is another big no-no; while you may be over the moon about a home you found, it isn't worth the risk of sacrificing potential unforeseen problems down the road.

Mortgage broker versus banks.

In the past, it was commonplace for homebuyers to resort to their banks for their mortgage requirements and needs, but these days there is an increasing presence of mortgage brokers. Mortgage specialists have access to a range of lenders and rates and can negotiate the lowest rate on your behalf.

Say no to mortgage insurance.

Here's why: with mortgage insurance, everyone at the same age pays the same premium. There are no discounts to be had for a better than average lifestyle, health status, etc. Additionally, mortgage insurance benefit value declines as you pay your mortgage. So even though you will continue to pay the same price for insurance, it will decrease in value and it will be gone when your mortgage is paid off, even though you may have ongoing insurance needs.

Location, location, location!

The farther away you are from your place of work, the more you may end up spending every month on your commute. Weigh the extra commuting expenses after tax credits versus the incremental mortgage payment on a property that would not only make your daily commute shorter and less expensive, but also save you a lot of time.

Happy house hunting!

National Healthy Homes Month

The Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes "OLHCHH"
Welcomes you to the First Annual National Healthy Homes Month 2016 webpage 

National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM) will be held for the first time during June 2016.   This month-long celebration offers an opportunity to learn more about housing and its impact on health and provide resources to encourage local activities as well as empower families to protect themselves from hazards in their home. June’s outreach activities aim to greatly boost awareness and understanding of what federal and local resources are available to make a difference in the lives of all residents, regardless of where they live. 

HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) is coordinating the efforts of NHHM. Thanks to the support and collaborations with other federal agencies and partners; NHHM will provide a deliberate, coordinated and holistic approach to creating healthy and safe homes. Creating a holistic approach includes efforts to combine activities related to:    

1. Childhood lead poisoning  prevention
2. Residential asthma intervention
3. Injury prevention
4. Smoke free public housing
5. Safe indoor pest control
6. Radon Safety
7. Disaster Recovery

The target audiences for the scope of activities are comprised of state and local government agencies, nongovernmental organization, nonprofit organizations, property owners and individual families especially those with small children. 

Each week in June; NHHM will focus on the “Principals of Healthy Homes” and associated set of activities. The themes are designed to highlight the paired topics. When you get your activities planned consider letting us know about them! We would love to hear about the event planning and results.

Minimal Fixes for Maximum Profit When Selling Your Home

Minimal Fixes, Maximum Profit! 

We all want to make the most money we can when selling our home. Talking to your Real Estate Professional will always be best, but you may want to consider:

Curb Appeal

The first impression is always the most important. Mow the lawn, repair the bare spots and trim the edges. Add new mulch around trees and shrubs. Invest in a few dozen inexpensive flowers and plants if the season permits it. Replace the welcome mat.

Look for pesky drips and leaks 

Make inexpensive plumbing repairs BEFORE showing the house. Fix that leaky sprinkler head that sprays the sidewalk and replace that dripping bathroom faucet.

Clean the carpets

Clean carpets look, feel and smell better. Replace small entrance rugs with new ones.

Replace screens

New screens are low priced and can make the exterior look fresh and new.

Replace any cracked or broken windows 

You'll usually have to do this anyway as part of closing the deal. Of course, all the windows should be cleaned thoroughly to give that shiny new feel. Even a brand new house that's dirty will fetch a lower price.

Paint

A bit of spackle and a coat of paint on rooms that have seen accidents needn't cost a lot and don't take a lot of effort.

Just a few inexpensive home improvements can result in more profit when listing your home. After all, shouldn't your home put its best foot forward, before the buyers do?

Who is at Risk for Lead Exposure?

Who is at Risk?

Children

Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Babies and young children can also be more highly exposed to lead because they often put their hands and other objects that can have lead from dust or soil on them into their mouths. Children may also be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that contain lead, inhaling lead dust from lead-based paint or lead-contaminated soil or from playing with toys with lead paint.

Adults, Including Pregnant Women

Adults may be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that contain lead. They may also breath lead dust by spending time in areas where lead-based paint is deteriorating, and during renovation or repair work that disturbs painted surfaces in older homes and buildings. Working in a job or engaging in hobbies where lead is used, such as making stained glass, can increase exposure as can certain folk remedies containing lead. A pregnant woman’s exposure to lead from these sources is of particular concern because it can result in exposure to her developing baby.

Top of page

---

Lead Exposure Data

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statisticsmonitors blood lead levels in the United States. Get information on the number of children with elevated blood lead levels, and number and percentage of children tested for lead in your area.

According to CDC (PDF) (2 pp, 291 K, About PDF)

• The most important step parents, doctors, and others can take is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs.
• Until recently, children were identified as having a blood lead level of concern if the test result is 10 or more micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood. Experts now use a new level based on the U.S. population of children ages 1-5 years who are in the top 2.5% of children when tested for lead in their blood (when compared to children who are exposed to more lead than most children). Currently that is 5 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood. The new, lower value means that more children likely will be identified as having lead exposure allowing parents, doctors, public health officials, and communities to take action earlier to reduce the child’s future exposure to lead.

EPA uses the CDC data to show trends on blood lead levels in children in America’s Children and the Environment.

Top of page

---

What are the Health Effects of Lead?

Lead can affect almost every organ and system in your body. Children six years old and younger are most susceptible to the effects of lead.

Children

Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in:

• Behavior and learning problems
• Lower IQ and Hyperactivity
• Slowed growth
• Hearing Problems
• Anemia

In rare cases, ingestion of lead can cause seizures, coma and even death.

Pregnant Women

Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time, where it is stored in bones along with calcium. During pregnancy, lead is released from bones as maternal calcium and is used to help form the bones of the fetus. This is particularly true if a woman does not have enough dietary calcium. Lead can also cross the placental barrier exposing the fetus the lead.  This can result in serious effects to the mother and her developing fetus, including:

• Reduced growth of the fetus
• Premature birth

Find out more about lead's effects on pregnancy:

• March of Dimes Healthy Pregnancy Exit
• Effects of Workplace Hazards on Female Reproductive Health, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Lead can also be transmitted through breast milk. Read more on lead exposure in pregnancy and lactating women (PDF) (302 pp, 4.2 MB, About PDF).

Other Adults

Lead is also harmful to other adults. Adults exposed to lead can suffer from:

• Cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension
• Decreased kidney function
• Reproductive problems (in both men and women)

Read more on the health effects of lead

• EPA’s Integrated Science Assessment for Lead
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Top of page

---

Lower Your Chances of Exposure to Lead

Simple steps like keeping your home clean and well-maintained will go a long way in preventing lead exposure. You can lower the chances of exposure to lead in your home, both now and in the future, by taking these steps:

• Inspect and maintain all painted surfaces to prevent paint deterioration
• Address water damage quickly and completely
• Keep your home clean and dust-free
• Clean around painted areas where friction can generate dust, such as doors, windows, and drawers. Wipe these areas with a wet sponge or rag to remove paint chips or dust
• Use only cold water to prepare food and drinks
• Flush water outlets used for drinking or food preparation
• Clean debris out of outlet screens or faucet aerators on a regular basis
• Wash children's hands, bottles, pacifiers and toys often
• Teach children to wipe and remove their shoes and wash hands after playing outdoors
• Ensure that your family members eat well-balanced meals. Children with healthy diets absorb less lead. See Lead and a Healthy Diet, What You Can Do to Protect Your Child (PDF)
• If you are having home renovation, repairs, or painting done, make sure your contractor is Lead-Safe Certified, and make sure they follow lead safe work practices (PDF)

Determine if your family is at risk for lead poisoning with the Lead Poisoning Home Checklist (PDF).

Home Inspector's Non-Profit Receives Award Work for Persons with Disabilities

Integrated Resources Institute to Receive 2016 Spotlight Award

The Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) has announced that Integrated Resources Institute (IRI) will receive the 2016 Spotlight Award for its innovative employment placement services for persons with disabilities. The purpose of the Spotlight Award is to honor organizations like IRI, for contributions made toward the enhancement of life for people with disabilities in Orange County, California.

Integrated Resources Institute (IRI) will receive the 2016 Spotlight Award for its innovative employment placement services for persons with disabilities. IRI is recognized nationally and internationally for its progress leadership in integrated work outcomes for persons with significant disabilities. IRI has facilitated over 20,000 job placements  in the U.S. and Australia since 1985. The award will be presented by the Regional Center of Orange County at their awards banquet on April 8, 2016. Joseph Nacario and Steve Zivolich will accept the award on behalf of IRI. The annual award ceremony will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites, Anaheim, CA.

IRI has facilitated the job placements of over 20,000 persons with significant disabilities into community work settings since 1988, in the U.S. and Australia. In Orange County they currently serve over 100 clients with significant disabilities, and have a 96% employment rate. IRI also provides consultation support for other non-profit organizations to develop similar job placement outcomes for their clients with disabilities.

The Integrated Resources Institute (IRI) work program is a 100% community-based work program. All program service hours are focused on integrated work opportunities for participants. Using a Customized Employment, and Mentor approach, the mentor relationship between employee and employer is personalized in a way that meets the needs of both. IRI has worked to strengthen the capacity of the workforce development system to improve employment outcomes for people with significant disabilities through local implementation as well as international dissemination or our demonstration research. IRI has evidence-based research data showing that Integrated Work efforts lead to positive employment and quality of life outcomes for individuals with disabilities, their families, community and taxpayers.

In addition to its employment program, IRI has developed a Supported Living service in the Orange County Area. The Mission of the Integrated Resources Institute (IRI) Empowered Living Program is to enable individuals with developmental disabilities to live and participate with full integration into all aspects of their community based upon their preferences and choice. The Empowered Living Program assists clients to determine, where, with whom, and how they want to live, resulting in more fulfilling lives based on supports customized to their individual needs and choices.

Empowered Living (SLP) goals enhance opportunities for increased independence, self-reliance, and self-esteem with the utilization of a Circle of Support. Circle members have a relationship based upon respect and dignity for the client and are vested and committed in providing support so that the client will have active participation and control within their community. The Circle will assist the client with implementing those empowerment decisions effectively and responsibly. Goals will be attained by providing supports customized to their individual needs within their community of their own residence and natural environments.

The Service Provider Award goes to an organization, vendored by RCOC to provide support directly to people with disabilities, that demonstrate extraordinary commitment to high quality, person-centered services, while also providing exemplary support for those served, which leads to meaningful lives in their communities.

RCOC will recognize Integrate Resources Institute at the Annual Spotlight Awards dinner, on Friday, April 8, 2016, starting at 6:00 pm. at the Embassy Suites, Anaheim South.

Employers interested in recruiting workers with disabilities can contact the IRI MentorWorks program at (949) 232-1172.

Home and Mold Inspector marks his 18th. year in business.

Santa Rosa, California (PRWEB) November 24, 2015

Steve Zivolich, the owner and senior inspector of Guaranteed Property and Mold Inspections (GPI) serving Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties in California, has marked his 18th year in business.

Zivolich holds the premier nationally accredited certification for home inspectors by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). He is also certified as a residential home inspector by the California Real Estate Inspectors Association (CREIA). In addition, he is nationally certified in Mold, Microbial, Asbestos, Lead Paint, Indoor Air Quality, Energy Conservation and Radon inspections/testing. 

Steve serves on the national certification board of directors for the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC), which reviews applications for new mold inspectors to be awarded a nationally accredited certification. These unique certifications require both knowledge verification in the science of microbial inspection, but also extensive experience in the field.

Due to his extensive training and experience, his firm is able to provide additional mold, environmental, and energy expertise with a residential home inspection at no additional cost to clients.

"We inspect every home as if we were moving in our own family," stated Zivolich.

Unlike other mold inspection companies, GPI does not try to up-sell its clients with unneeded mold testing. Currently the EPA and the California Department of Public Health discourage such mold testing. Further, since it is a conflict of interest, GPI only inspects, and does not remediate mold, this avoids a financial bias in their findings. It is also a code of ethics violation for a company to both inspect and remediate mold conditions. As a result, GPI holds the highest ratings by the BBB, Angie's List, and Yelp.

Steve has completed over 7,000 home and mold inspections for pre-listing, time of purchase, post-purchase investigations, as well as expert witness testimony.

He is currently providing Mold Inspection seminars throughout the state for real estate professionals, and code enforcement city government inspectors to assist with implementation of the new California Mold law SB 655, which is taking effect on January 1, 2016.

For more information, call toll free (888) 252-2274 or visit the Web site located at http://www.gpinspect.com.