As of right now, you only have until June 30th to close on your future home loans, in order to qualify for the $8000.00 tax credit being offered by the government.  the $8000.00 is for first time home buyers.

If you are an existing home owner and are closing on a new home, which will be your primary residence, then you qualify for a $6500.00 tax credit.

A word of advice, only close on homes that have value, that will have value over time, and that you can afford.  Do not set out to purchase a home and incorporate the tax credit as part of your equation.  You either have the funds or job security to afford what you want to but or you don’t.

For More Information you can visit National Association of Home Builders

Tags: federal tax incentive, home buyer tax credit, home owners, home tax credit, tax incentive// Category Home Financing // Add Comment »

Modern design bedrooms are probably best described as those with soft or neutral background colors and furniture that has sharp edges that does not clutter.  More and m0ore people are finding and enjoying the modern design as they crave more space and simplicity.  Below are some photos portraying the designs others have put to use in there homes. Enjoy!

Tags: bedroom ideas, Home Improvement Ideas, modern bedrooms, Modern Designs, modern living// Category Bedroom // Add Comment »

Learn the basics of how to fix a hole in drywall or sheetrock from a home repair professional in this free online DIY home improvement video.

Expert: Greg Lim
Bio: Greg Lim is a professional handyman and residential property manager. In the seven years hes been a contractor, he has fully renovated two houses.

Tags: home improvement video, repair drywall, repair hole in wall, video of home repair// Category Do it yourself // Add Comment »

Types of Insulation – The Basic Forms

Blankets: Batts or Rolls

* Fiber glass
* Rock wool

Method of Insulation:

Fitted between studs, joists and beams

Where:

All unfinished walls, floors and ceilings Do-it-yourself.

Advantages:

Suited for standard stud and joist spacing, which is relatively free from obstructions.

Loose-Fill (blown-in) or Spray-applied

* Rock wool
* Fiber glass
* Polyurethane foam

Method of Insulation:

Blown into place or spray applied by special equipment

Where:

Enclosed existing wall cavities or open new wall cavities; Unfinished attic floors and hard to reach places

Advantages:

Commonly used insulation for retrofits (adding insulation to existing finished areas).

Good for irregularly shaped areas and around obstructions.

Rigid Insulation

* Extruded polystyrene foam (XPS)
* Expanded polystyrene foam (EPS or beadboard)
* Polyurethane foam
* Polyisocyanurate foam

Method of Insulation:

Interior applications: Must be covered with 1/2-inch gypsum board or other building-code approved material for fire safety.

Exterior applications: Must be covered with weather-proof facing

Where:

Basement walls

Exterior walls under finishing (Some foam boards include a foil facing which will act as a vapor retarder. Please read the discussion about where to place, or not to place, a vapor retarder.)

Unvented low slope roofs.

Advantages:

High insulating value for relatively little thickness.

Can block thermal short circuits when installed continuously over frames or joists.

Reflective Systems

* Foil-faced paper
* Foil-faced polyethylene bubbles
* Foil-faced plastic film
* Foil-faced cardboard

Method of Insulation:

Foils, films, or papers: Fitted between wood-frame studs joists, and beams Unfinished ceilings, walls, and floors Do-it-yourself.

Where:

All suitable for framing at standard spacing. Bubble-form suitable if framing is irregular or if obstructions are present.

Advantages:

Effectiveness depends on spacing and heat flow direction.

Vermiculite

Loose-Fill (poured in) Vermiculite or Perlite

Not currently used for home insulation, but may be found in older homes

Tags: home R values, insulate the home, insulation r values, insulation types, types of insulation// Category Insulating Walls // Add Comment »