Which Home Appliances Are Worth Upgrading?

With buzz words like “energy efficiency” and brands like Energy Star are concepts often heard by homeowners, yet many are left wondering: which of my home appliances are actually worth upgrading?  Is upgrading my appliances a waste of time or something I need to look into?  How much will it cost to upgrade my appliances?

The questions go on and on...and sometimes the answers are not easy to find.  Lucky for you, here at Team Ohlde, we know exactly which appliances are most important to upgrade in your home.  Many appliances have made huge strides in the energy-saving world.  Others, like small appliances, just aren’t worth upgrading all together.  But did you know that 13% of your household’s energy costs come from appliances?  Cutting your appliances energy usage will often save you money over time!

My advice?  Upgrade the following appliances:

1. The Air Conditioner
We are all well aware that air conditioners tend to be very energy inefficient (especially in the summer!).  Today’s modern retail air conditioners usually uphold a 10 EER rating (the higher the number, the more efficient it is), when 10 year old air conditioners rate at about a 7 EER.  New Energy Star air conditioners usually run for about $220.00 when an Energy Star central air conditioner could run over $3,000 with installation.

Want a lower bill without investing in a new more energy efficient air conditioner?  Simply replace the filters, clean the coils or manage the ducts—you’ll see your bill go down in no time!

2. The Furnace
Moving on to the opposite of the air conditioner—the furnace.  Typical furnaces are measured in one of three ways: low efficiency, mid efficiency and high efficiency.  What’s the difference?  Higher efficiency models have ways to store and exchange heat while less efficient models do not.  Replacing your furnace with an Energy Star furnace will cost about $1,400.

3. The Dishwasher
A typical dishwasher usually uses about 10 gallons of water per cycle!  Thanks to Energy Star, however, modern, efficient dishwashers only use 5.8 gallons of water per cycle.  Plus, Energy Star dishwashers tend to be quieter and clean a little better.  Invest $550 in a new efficient dishwasher!

4. The Refrigerator 
The refrigerator is the appliance that has made leaps and bounds when it comes to energy efficiency.  The standard refrigerator now uses 40-60% less energy than it previously did in the 1990’s!  The average cost of a new refrigerator is about $1,100, but you can save up to $200 a year by upgrading!

Bouns!  Be sure to buy a fridge with a freezer on top.  It may seem old school, but it’s more efficient than the side-by-side models!

5. The Washing Machine
The final appliance on our list is the washing machine.  This machine has made vast improvements in the last few years—especially in its features.  Newer washing machine models now boast front-load clothes washers which use around 50% less water and 37% less energy than top-load models.  The average price of a new Energy Star washing machine is $750 and you can save over $135 a year with the upgrade!

When it comes to appliances, many of us do not upgrade until the machine breaks or is just too old to get the job done.  But now’s the time to consider upgrading your appliances not only because it may be breaking down, but because it could save you money in the long run (not to mention, it saves the earth!).

The Ins-and-Outs of First Time Homeowner’s Assistance

You’ve got the car, you’ve settled into your job and you feel like you’re finally ready to settle down.  What’s next?  Now it’s time to buy a house!  Owning a home for the first time a rewarding, yet complicated process that can be drastically simplified through first time homeowner’s assistance.  But what is this assistance all about, who qualifies and how can you get it?  Team Ohlde is here to help you investigate.

What’s First Time Homeowner’s Assistance All About?

First time homebuyer programs, such as The Johnson County Housing Services First Time Homebuyer Program, are designed to assist low-to-moderate income people who have been employed for at least two years in a certain area with the purchase of a home.  Programs such as Johnson Country’s are made possible through a HOME grant, which are given by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Who Can Get It?

If you’re interested in first time homeowner’s assistance, you must fit in the following four categories:

1. Has never owned a house, or as not owned a house in the past 3 years OR
2. Is a single parent who is unmarried or legally separator with one or more minor children for whom the individual has custody or join custody, or is pregnant
3. Is a displaced homemaker who is an adult who has not worked full-time for a full year in the labor force for a number of years, but has, during such years, worked primarily without remuneration to care for the home and family; and is unemployed or underemployed and is experiencing difficulty in obtaining or upgrading employment
4. Has an income less than the income limits displayed on this chart.

What’s Required?

If you’re interested in a first time homeowner’s assistance, you not only have the fit the bill, but you have to be dedicated too.  It’s not an easy process, but it could be worth it in the end.  The program will require the homeowner to:

1. Live in the newly purchased home for at least five years
2. Complete mandatory homeowner training including homeownership counseling sessions
3. Use the home as a primary resident
4. Occupy the home within 30 days of loan closing
5. Have more than 30% liquid assets of total purchase price of home
6. Have a down payment equal to 1% of the sales price (or $500)
7. Stay under 41% of gross income for Total House Payment (PITI) plus recurring debt

What Does the Program Entail?

The program seems a little complicated at first.  We’ll help you break it down to make it a bit simpler.  Each first time homeowner’s assistance program is different, so we will use Johnson County as a primary example:

• Down payment and closing cost assistance not to exceed $10,000 in the form of a deferred loan will be provided on behalf of the qualified participant. 
• The home must be purchased in Johnson County.
• The home must be inspected by Johnson County Housing Rehabilitation Specialist and pass all Housing Quality Standards.
• The home must go under an environmental review by the Johnson County Housing Services office.
• For homes build before 1978, a lead-based paint report must be submitted to Johnson County Housing Services with the real estate sales contract.
• Buyers of properties located within 2,500 feet of the Johnson County Executive Airport are required to execute an affidavit acknowledging that they are aware of the proximity to the airport.
• A fixed mortgage rate of 15-30 year term.
• Interested rate cannot be more than 1.5% over FHA rate.
• Participant must purchase Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) – if lender requires.
• Purchase price must not exceed $204,250 (HUD guidelines). 

So...What Can I Get!?

There are a lot of options for first-time homeowners!  These include single-family homes, condominium units, townhouses, cooperative units and manufactured houses with lots. 

Sign Me Up! How Can I Get Started?

To apply for a first time homeowners assistance program in Johnson County, please click here and fill out the application and send to:

Johnson County Housing Services

12425 West 87th Street Parkway, Suite 200

Lenexa, KS 66215

Good luck with the purchase of your first home!  Be sure to learn more at http://hsa.jocogov.org/housing/fthba.shtml#a.  To learn even more about first time homeowner’s assistance or to start your home search right now, be sure to contact Team Ohlde and visit us online at http://www.overlandparkhomesbytoddohlde.com.  

Top School Districts in the Kansas City Area - Blue Valley USD #229 is No. 1

In looking for a home many buyer's will consider the area school districts. Here is a list published by Ingram's listing the top area school districts ranked by average ACT scores.

List of Top K.C. Area School Districts

Of the top five listed, three are in Johnson County, KS (#1 - Blue Valley School District 229, #2 - Shawnee Mission School District 512, #4 - Olathe District Schools 233).  The top school district on the Missouri side of the state line is Lee's Summit R-VII coming in at #3.

Search for homes in the Blue Valley School District

Search for home in the Shawnee Mission School District


Feel free to contact me to schedule a private consultation to discuss your real estate needs.

913-568-7355

Housing Affordabilty

Housing affordabilty is at historical lows, not since the 70's has it been this affordable.  Housing affordabilty is determined by looking at average housing prices along with mortgage interest rates (30 year) and determining what percentage of a homeowners monthly income is consumed by their house payment.  Currently it's at 13.6% compared to 23% in 2006.  Take a look at the attached slide presentation.

2012 U.S. Housing Market

Even Warren Buffet says buying single family homes in this market is better than stocks!  Read his comments on CNBC.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/46538421

Take a peek at what's on the market and let me know it you'd like to get the ball rolling on finding a home.

Keep home staged and show ready for buyer inspections & appraisal

I think everyone will agree that a well staged home will increase buyer interest in a home.  Research even shows that a buyer is likely to pay more for the home.  The buyer's inspector and the banks appraiser are no different.  If they walk into a home that's staged, clean, and ready to be shown they are naturally influenced to believe the owner has taken good care of the property and it's in above average condition.  Therefore, the inspector is less likely to nit pick and the appraiser is less likely to make negative condition reductions when comparing it to other properties.  So, once your home is under contract don't relax just yet.  Keep the property ready for the inspector and the appraiser to reduce heartache later in the transaction.

Johnson County, KS 4th Qtr 2011 Sales Increase

Increased sales in the 4th quarter of 2012 have created a Seller's Market to begin 2012. Currently Johnson County conditions show a Seller's Market (< 5 months supply) for homes priced under $400,000 with a Balanced Market (5-7 months supply) at $400K - $500K and a continued Buyer's Market (>7 months supply) $500K+. See the attached document for more details, Jan_2012_Stats.pdf  ,numbers used to calculate were pulled from Heartland MLS.

It's likely these conditions will be short lived as Spring market inventory will begin to come on the market. The question is will the increased buyer activity continue with historically low interest rates and increase consumer confidence I predict Yes. The time to act is now especially if you are a move up buyer. Call me to schedule an appointment to discuss your property and buying plans.

Just Listed! Overland Park Ranch - Blue Valley Schools

I just listed a 3 bedroom 2 bath Ranch home in Hunter's Pointe of Overland Park.  It's a fixer upper so it's a great instant equity opportunity.  It's currently listed $19K+ below Jo Co tax appraisal at $172,750.  Home does have some needs.  The carpets are pet soiled and will need to be replaced.  The exterior is in need of wood rot repairs and then paint.  The hall bath has been updated as well as the kitchen appliances.  Call me with questions or to arrange for a showing, 913-568-7355

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