15 Ways to Make Your Connecticut Home More Energy Efficient

According to EnergyStar.gov – a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy – the typical household spends $2,100 each year to heat, cool, and illuminate their homes. But reducing energy bills doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.

Up to half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. By making some smart changes in your energy usage, you can have a big impact on your utility bills.

·    Skip pre-rinsing dishes. It’s good to scrape food off before putting dishes in the dishwasher, but there’s no need to rinse them. You’ll save up to 6,500 gallons of water per year.
·    Replace furnace air filters often. A dirty air filter can make your furnace work harder and use more energy. Replace the filter every two to three months.
·    Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). CFLs can last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy. LED bulbs are mercury-free and may last three to five times as long as CFLs.
·    Insulate water heaters and pipes. Covering your water heater with an insulated water heater blanket can help retain heat, so the unit uses less energy to heat hot water. Foam or rubber pipe insulation keeps cold pipes from sweating in the summer and reduces heat loss from hot-water flow in the winter.
·    Seal doors and windows. Install door sweeps at the bottom of your front and back doors to keep heat from escaping. Remove old window caulk and apply a fresh seal to retain heat in your home.
·    Clean air ducts. Keep your air ducts clean to improve air flow and reduce stress on your furnace and central air conditioner.
·    Upgrade your thermostat. A programmable thermostat can save you over $100 a year on your energy bill.
·    Install low-flow toilets and showerheads. Toilets consume up to 40% of a home’s average water use. Using low-flow toilets can save more than 9,000 gallons of water a year. A low-flow showerhead only uses 1.5 gallons per minute while most conventional showerheads use 5 gallons per minute.
·    Install ceiling fans. For summer use, ceiling fans can cool a room more efficiently than an air conditioner. For winter use, most ceiling fans have a reverse switch so that their blades force heated air down from the ceiling.
·    Hire a professional energy auditor. Using a blower door or infrared photography, a trained auditor can assess where your home is leaking energy. Some utilities even offer free audits.
·    Plant deciduous shade trees near the house. Leafy trees on the west and southwest sides of a house can keep your home cooler in the summer.
·    Replace leaky windows. Replace single-glazed windows with low thermal emissivity (Low-E) windows to reduce heat transfer and keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
·    Insulate walls and attic. Heat escapes through the walls and attic of homes. Blown-in foam insulation can be a very cost-effective way to seal walls, with minimal structural intrusion. Replacing old attic insulation with fresh fiberglass cover can reduce your heating bills.
·    Purchase ENERGY STAR appliances. Refrigerators, televisions, stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and air conditioners with this designation can save you a significant amount each month in energy bills. Start by replacing your oldest, least-efficient appliances first, before they have a major problem.
·    Install solar panels. Solar panels, which can be used to heat hot water or generate electricity, can save money on your energy bills over the long run, lower your fossil fuel usage, and may qualify for tax incentives.

Article submitted by Brennan Purdy of State Farm Insurance

My vision is to be an insurance professional whose actions are driven by keeping the customer's best interest as my primary goal. My staff will treat all my customers in a caring, friendly, and professional manner. My office will provide warm, efficient, and seamless services to our customers at all times. I expect my business to be comprised of knowledgeable, multiple-line customers who see my office as their first and best choice for all their insurance and financial service needs

For more information on these and other home safety tips, stop by my office or visit www.brennanpurdy.com. My office is conveniently located in downtown Bethel. 203-798-7300.                   211 Greenwood Avenue , Bethel, CT 06801

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The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Coming Soon!- Stunning 3,000 SF Colonial in Monroe-$569,000

Rare offering on a sought after cul-de-sac in commuter friendly location. This stunning colonial has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a nicely appointed kitchen with granite tops and center island, nearly 3,000 square feet of living area, and is brimming with charm everywhere you look.

Two fireplaces, second floor bonus room, two tiered deck off family room , heated Gunite pool, outdoor hot tub, and beautifully scenic 1.44 acre.

Will be available approximately 3/20/13. Call before then if you can. This home will not last. Judy (203) 257-5892

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

OPEN HOUSE TODAY- Don't Miss This 2BR Ranch Condo w/Garage in Trumbull $349,900

Hard to find single level ranch home near everything is almost 1400 square feet, has a garage, and NO STEPS!

Open today, March 3, 2013 from 1PM - 3:30PM.  The address is 53 Long Hill Place, Trumbull - and  it is conveniently located near the Town Hall, Post Office, Library, Super Stop and Shop and the bus line!

Directions: Main Street Trumbull just North of the intersection of Quality Street. See you later!

Questions before then? Call Judy at (203) 257-5892

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Connecticut Financing Update and Today's Mortgage Rates 3/1/2013

Exciting to report the rates did not keep heading higher but actually ended up bouncing back a bit.  The reasons behind the relatively more positive week of rate movement were the following: the Italian election results out Monday morning had their biggest effect on Monday itself with subsequent days either drifting sideways or improving modestly.  The 10 year note finished the day at 1.84.  The beginning of March is here and if you ask Realtor Judy Szablak (covers most of Fairfield County) or other real estate professionals in your area, they will tell you that waiting to sell or purchase a property in Spring is not the best idea as we've had an early Spring for weeks now.  If you are looking to close in the next few weeks then I would suggest locking in a rate with your lender and if you are looking to close in 30+ days then I would probably let your rate float to see how rates fare over this long period of time.

Today's Mortgage Rates

Conventional 30 year fixed          3.75%                  APR 3.806%

Conventional 15 year fixed          3.00%                  APR 3.094%

Conventional 5/1 ARM                3.375%                 APR 3.018%

Conventional 7/1 ARM                3.250%                 APR 2.960%

The above rates are based on a loan amount of $417,000 for a single family home, a borrower’s middle credit score of 780 and a 20% down payment.  If you would like a customized rate quote for your own specific loan scenario then please feel free to email me at nima@primeres.com or call me directly at 203.913.6016. 

 

As a lending professional, Nima Rezvan meets a wide range of real estate lending needs, whether it be a first time purchase, second home purchase, or refinance. He welcomes the opportunity to serve your needs with quick and accurate real estate financing advice. With his expertise and knowledge, he will make sure you understand the features associated with the loan program you choose and that it meets your unique financial situation.

With more than 10 years of mortgage lending experience, Nima specializes in  Conventional Mortgages,  Jumbo Loan Financing, Refinance, First Time Home Buyers and Federal Housing Administration/Veterans' Administration (FHA/VA)

782 Clinton Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06604

Phone: 203.913.6016

Email: nima@primeres.com

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The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

How To Build An Emergency Fund

Most financial experts recommend having enough money set aside in an emergency fund to cover your expenses for at least three to six months. But saving regularly to accumulate that much money may seem like a daunting task, especially with all of your other financial obligations.

Not sure how to get started? If you’re able, you can always kick-start your emergency fund with your tax refund, a work bonus, or a cash gift.

If that’s not a possibility, you’ll need to strategize a savings plan.

Determine How Much Money You Need
But first figure out how much money your emergency fund should contain. The easiest way to determine this is by taking a hard look at your monthly expenses. Common monthly expenses include:
•    Housing, such as mortgage, rent, and association fees
•    Utilities, including gas, electric, and water
•    Telephone, cable, and internet
•    Food, including groceries, coffee, and dining out
•    Transportation, including car or lease payments and fuel, or public transportation fees
•    Health insurance premiums and prescriptions
•    Other insurance premiums
•    Health club memberships
•    Retirement and other savings contributions
•    Debt repayment
Be both accurate and realistic while keeping in mind that how much you spend during good times can usually be pared down when money is tighter. Luxuries like cable television, gourmet coffee, and dining out are all items that can be reduced or even eliminated from your budget during challenging times. In fact, trimming these indulgences can also be a good place to start if you’re not sure where you’ll find extra money to save.

Set Up A Separate, Liquid Account
Next, find a place where your emergency savings fund will be accessible – but not too accessible. Accumulating and maintaining your emergency fund can be difficult, even more so if you’re easily able and constantly tempted to dip into it for non-emergency circumstances. For this reason, your checking or savings account probably isn’t the best place to stash your emergency fund. But you can open an additional account with your bank, or at another bank in your area that isn’t conveniently located.

Regardless of where you keep your money, save it in an account that’s liquid, that is, one that is easily convertible to cash, such as a savings or money market account.

Since even the high-yield versions of these types of accounts have lower rates compared to other savings vehicles, they may seem like an unwise place to store your emergency fund. But remember, your goal with this money isn’t to make more money. An emergency fund isn’t an investment with growth you’ll need to depend on, like a retirement savings fund; such investments aren’t often easily accessible without paying penalties. Since you’ll need to withdraw money from an emergency fund when you least expect it, you’ll want to be able to do so consequence free.
Of course, once your emergency fund contains more than a few months of expenses, you can consider an alternative, such as a certificate of deposit with a high annual percentage yield. Just make sure that you choose a short-term CD, and leave enough money in a liquid account so you don’t defeat your efforts.

Make Your Emergency Fund A Saving Priority
Finally, start saving! As in other types of saving, the key to building your emergency fund is to pay yourself first. But given the importance of an emergency fund, you may want to make it the top item on your savings agenda – even forgoing or reducing other saving until your fund is built up. At that time, you can resume your other saving plans.

As with any saving, it’s important to start somewhere – even if it’s somewhere small. You may want to set an initial goal, like $1,000, that’s achievable in just a few months. Or begin with a minor amount that you increase incrementally. Your strategy may be to save only $20 a week until you reach a point when you don’t notice the income missing, then raise the amount.

Most importantly: Don’t touch your emergency fund unless a financial emergency presents itself. When that time comes, you’ll be thankful you didn’t.

Article submitted by Brennan Purdy of State Farm Insurance

My vision is to be an insurance professional whose actions are driven by keeping the customer's best interest as my primary goal. My staff will treat all my customers in a caring, friendly, and professional manner. My office will provide warm, efficient, and seamless services to our customers at all times. I expect my business to be comprised of knowledgeable, multiple-line customers who see my office as their first and best choice for all their insurance and financial service needs

For more information on these and other home safety tips, stop by my office or visit www.brennanpurdy.com. My office is conveniently located in downtown Bethel. 203-798-7300.                   211 Greenwood Avenue , Bethel, CT 06801

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Featured Home of the Week is at 125 Norton Road in Easton  for $1.4M. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY