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These 7 Tips Will Help You Save Money on Utility Bills This Winter


Here are a few choice tips you can use to make your home more energy-efficient this winter.

Winter is coming! If you want to save money on your heating bill when the cold season strikes in full, here are seven tips to help:

1. Hire a professional to do an energy audit. For between $200 and $600, an energy auditor will come to your home to assess the energy-efficiency of your home and provide a checklist of items you may want to fix before the winter starts in full. I’d be happy to refer you to one we know and trust; otherwise, you can find them on www.Homeadvisor.com.
 
2. Seal your walls. Your local hardware store should have a variety of caulks you can use to seal off any cracks in your walls that allow warm air to escape and cold air to seep inside.

3. Seal your light fixtures. Those who have recessed lighting might be surprised to learn about how much air can leak in through those fixtures. You can close off any gaps around your light fixtures simply by using electrical tape.
 
4. Fill in any insulation gaps. Check your attic for gaps in the insulation, as well as around your water faucets; both are prime places for heat to escape if they’re not properly insulated.

Those who have recessed lighting might be surprised to learn about how much air can leak in through those fixtures.

5. Check your heating system. Make sure your pilot light is lighting efficiently, change out your filters, and ensure that airflow through the system isn’t being blocked.
 
6. Insulate your windows. Purchasing double-paned windows will help with the cost and efficiency of heating your home.
 
7. Purchase a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats help set your home’s temperature when you’re sleeping or when you’re out of the house so that you’re not using too much energy when you don’t need it. Many brands have smartphone applications you can use to automate your thermostat. Nest and Smart Learning Nest are some of the more popular brands.

If you have any questions or would like more tips for making your home energy-efficient this winter, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.
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Location: Mission Viejo, CA, USA

I Want to Wish You a Happy Thanksgiving!


I want to wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving!

The Thanksgiving holiday is one of my favorite times of the year. I want to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful for the people in my life: friends, family, and coworkers. I hope you feel the same! If you are interested, there is an enjoyable event coming up in our area. The 42nd annual Orange County Turkey Trot is extremely entertaining, you can see more information here. Thank you very much for all of your support. I hope you have a safe and cheerful holiday!

If you have any questions concerning real estate, please reach out to me by phone or email. I would love to help you.
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Location: Mission Viejo, CA, USA

2 Handy Financing Options for Investment Property Buyers


If you’re thinking of buying an investment property, here are a couple of handy financing options.

I have a client who’s looking to buy a duplex in San Clemente that’s priced slightly under $1 million. If you find yourself in a similar situation, what kind of financing should you use to purchase your property?

According to Dave Marzinky of Movement Mortgage, there are two options you should consider.

The first is conventional financing. The minimum down payment for this option is 15%. You can then use 75% of the gross rent of the other units to finance the purchase. The minimum FICO score needed for this loan is 620 but, as always, the better your credit score the better your financing terms will be. Since my client’s score is roughly 740, her interest rate will be in the 3% to 4% range.

The better your credit score the better your financing terms will be.

The second option is an FHA loan, whose minimum down payment amount is 3.5%.

In any case, passive income is a great way to build wealth, and with interest rates as low as they are, it’s a great time to buy an investment property. If this is something that interests you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me so I can help you get the ball rolling.

As always, if you have any other real estate questions, feel free to reach out to me as well. I’d love to help you.
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Location: Mission Viejo, CA, USA
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