C21AGVoices

The front-loading washing machine is a popular home appliance choice.  As compared to its top-loading counterpart, a front-loader can handle larger clothing loads, is gentler on garments, and uses about 1/3 less water. In situations where stacking the washer and dryer is needed, the front loader is the winner.

However, because its design prevents water from fully draining, a front-loading washer can be a haven for mold and bacteria if not cared for properly.  I have a front loader in my second home, and even though I leave the door open after use to dry it out, there sometimes persists and odor.  It’s the story the salesman doesn’t often talk about and is the reason why products like Affresh exist. An all natural product is smellywasher.com which can be ordered online or bought locally.

If you own a front-loading, here’s some steps to keep in-washer mildew at bay and your clothes smelling fresh.

1. Leave the door slightly open after every cycle. This allows water to evaporate.
2. Use low-sudsing, high-efficiency detergent. If your local store doesn’t carry it, try Amazon.
3. Every week, pull back the rubber seal and wipe the inner ring with a cloth.
4. Clean the drain pump filter monthly, at least.
5. Run a bleach-and-hot-water cycle monthly, at least.

Front-loaders are good products, but require special care. Follow the steps above and your washer should remain mildew- and mold-free.

Americans spend a lot of time cooking and eating in their kitchens. What are you doing to keep yours germ- and bacteria-free?

In this two-part, 6-minute video from NBC’s The Today Show, you’ll first ride alongside a county health inspector as he visits a home and inspects its kitchen. The tested areas include the refrigerator, the cutting boards, the sponges, the utensils, the ovens, and more. Ultimately, the home “passes”, but not before the inspector points out some problems from which we all can learn.

Then, in the video’s second part, you’ll learn how to keep your own kitchen clean and healthy.

• How much bleach to dilute to clean sinks, and how often to clean them
• Why “time-to-evaporate” is an important metric when shopping for disinfectants
• Comparing wood vs. glass vs. plastic cutting boards, and how to sanitize them, respectively

Keeping a germ-free kitchen requires constant attention and a routine cleaning schedule. Thankfully, it’s a simple process. Follow the basic steps as outlined by The Today Show, and your home would pass inspection.

More positive signals from housing — home values are still on the rise. And that may bode well for the 2010 real estate market, though buyers may need to move quickly to take advantage of the current market.

According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, after posting its first quarterly increase since 2007 this past September, the Home Price Index rose by another 0.6 percent in October.

Prices are up in 4 of the last six months.

But before we take the stats to the proverbial bank, it’s important that we recognize the Home Price Index for its shortcomings.

1. HPI only accounts for homes with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
2. HPI only accounts for re-sold homes — newly-built homes are excluded
3. HPI aggregates national data whereas real estate markets are local phenomena

On a broad scale, the Home Price Index can be useful, but it doesn’t specifically apply to Philadelphia or any specific U.S. market.  For that, analysts tend to turn to the Case-Shiller Index, a privately-produced report that assesses home values in 20 cities nationwide.

The good news for home sellers in Pennsylvania and new Jersey  is that Case-Shiller’s most recent report corroborates the government’s conclusion — home values are creeping back.

Home buyers should pay attention. When public and private sector data is in accord, markets tend to go along and, looking back, housing likely bottomed in February 2009.  Since then, home sales are up, home supplies are down, and values have increased in most U.S. markets.  Furthermore, so long as mortgage rates remain low and government stimulus is in place, the trend should continue through at least the first quarter of 2010.

While you may know that I’m not a big fan of Case-Schiller (since its data ignores the Philadelphia market) If you’re on the fence about buying a home right now, or wondering about timing, consider your options vis-a-vis today’s market.  Into the new year, homes won’t likely be as cheap to buy, nor to finance.

Self-watering plant containers are the ultimate in laziness or convenience, depending on your perspective. You can buy them on Amazon.com for $26 a piece, or you can watch this 3-minute, step-by-step video from Video Jug and build one all on your own.

You’ll only need a few basic supplies in addition to fresh soil and some tools:

1. Hydroton (also known as LECA)
2. A large pot
3. An irrigation pipe and float from a garden center
4. Porous membrane

The video is broken down with easy-to-follow instructions. You don’t need handyman skills or a green thumb to finish the job. Your end-result will be well-functioning self-watering pots and plants that require less time and attention.

Are you a Facebook user that has received a message that says, ‘I saw you in a video’, only to find when you opened it, there was no video but a virus to deal with? Just like emails, Facebook messages can contain viruses. Remember the rule, don’t clink on links, unless you are sure what you are clicking on.

If you receive a Facebook message with subjects like ‘WOW’, ‘LOL’, or anything else that seems strange or suspicious, DON’T click on the link. Often times, there are misspellings in these emails. Even if it seems like a normal email from a trusted family member, friend or fellow worker, take the time to verify the source before clicking through to the link. This will save you from a lot of headaches and possible expense down the road.

One good way to check things out is to check with the person that the email came from. Usually they don’t even know that the email was sent or that they have been infected with a virus. Now the message is spreading to everyone on their friend list without their knowledge.

If you click on a link and spread the virus, the first thing you need to do is change your password to take back control of your Facebook account. Then post a status message explaining that you have a virus and that no one should open an email from you with a link. If a friend’s account was compromised, let them know right away. You can also go to Facebook’s help page to report the issue.

Both mortgage rates and home affordability took a turn for the better in Palmyra Wednesday after the Federal Reserve released its December 15-16, 2009 meeting minutes.

The Fed Minutes is a follow-up piece to the post-FOMC meeting press release. But whereas the press release is succinct and to-the-point, the minutes are lengthy and often meandering.

As a comparison, December’s press release contained 535 words. December’s minutes had 6,260.

But these “extra words” aren’t superfluous. They’re actually very important to homeowners. Because the Federal Reserve’s internal debates help to shape Wall Street expectations, it doesn’t take much for those conversations to have a trickle-down effect on Main Street.

For example, after the December meeting, the Fed said that economic growth is steady, inflation is in check, and an orderly wind-down of mortgage market support was underway. A look at the minutes, though, showed some disconnect.

Some Fed members believe rising commodity prices could lead to stronger-than-expected, and others think that improvement is housing could be “undercut” by a pull-back in government stimulus.

Overall, the Fed appears optimistic about the economy, but not as optimistic as on December 16. Mortgage markets responded favorably to the minutes and mortgage pricing improved.

Although rates remain higher as compared to early-December, pricing has been on a good run this week. If you’re under contract for a home in Pennsylvania or just looking to refinance, now may be a good time to lock.

Over time, wooden furniture shows signs of age. Wear-and-tear from everyday use can lead to dings and scratches that are both distressing, and unsightly. But before you bring your piece to a specialist for repair, you can try the much-less-expensive, do-it-yourself route.

In this 50-second video from HowCast, you’ll learn how to use a walnut and a soft cloth to “erase” scratches from furniture:

1. Remove the nut from its shell
2. Rub the nut on the scratch
3. Wait 3 minutes
4. Buff the area with a soft cloth

The repair works by allowing the nut’s natural oils to soak into the wood, which reduces the “white” appearance of a scratch. Other nutes work, too, including almonds and pecans. Or, you can opt for a professional product like what’s offered at Amazon.com.

Anything deeper than a surface scratch, however, and you’ll want a specialist involved.

Like most housing data in November, the most recent New Home Sales report showed sales volume increasing last month, and home supplies falling.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, sales of new, single-family homes increased to 290,000 in November on an annual basis, a figure equal to the New Home Sales 6-month rolling average, and a 6 percent improvement from October.

At the current pace of sales, the national supply of new homes for sale will be exhausted in 8.2 months — a strong 0.6-month improvement from October.

This data is consistent with the most recent Existing Home Sales report. It showed sales volume rising 6 percent, too, and a similarly-strong inventory drop.

For the housing market in Palmyra , it’s another step in the right direction. Since May’s post-tax credit plunge, home prices have stabilized and a foundation for growth has been built. Home builder confidence data highlights this point.

Also interesting in the November New Home Sales report is the volume breakdown by price point. Less expensive homes powered the market:

• Homes under $200,000 : 47 percent of all sales
• Homes between $200,000-$299,999 : 29 percent of all sales
• Homes between $300,000-$399,999 : 14 percent of all sales

Luxury homes accounted for less than 2 percent of sales last month suggesting that builders count first-time and move-up buyers as their core market.

As 2010 comes to a close, housing looks poised for a rebound. Sales in all categories are improving, relative to 6 months ago, and the economy is improving. In conjunction with rising mortgage rates, the best time to buy a new home may be now.

It’s not only the real estate markets that differ from town to town — the Cost of Living does, too.

Insurance costs, tax bills and just plain, day-to-day living will dent a household budget differently depending on where that household is.  It can be a nerve-wracking fact for families moving from the Philadelphia area across state borders.

As an aid for the budget-aware, Bankrate.com keeps a Cost of Living Comparison Calculator on its website.  The calculator asks 3 questions: (1) Where do you live now, (2) To where you are moving, and (3) What is your salary.  It then spits out a detailed, 58-item cost comparison list between the two cities.

Some of the key costs compared include:

• Everyday groceries
• Energy bills
• Routine healthcare
• Home ownership
• Clothes
• Sporting goods

The Cost of Living Comparison Calculator is thorough, with data culled from the ACCRA. You’ll be surprised at how granular the list can get. On the ACCRA website, you can buy a similar report for $5.

On the Bankrate.com site, the data is free.

The end of 2009 is also the end of the first decade of the century – and that makes it a good time to get some perspective on the last 10 years.

This video, courtesy of our friends at Newsweek that gives you a quick overview of the decade – it might surprise you to realize that even something as ubiquitous as the Ipod is less than 10 years old.. seems like those white earbuds have been around forever doesn’t it?

Anyway, here’s best wishes from our family to yours,for a better decade ahead!