Oct. 10, 2008 - Clean your screens before winter

Many home owners remove and clean their window screens before storing them for the winter. This can prolong the life of the screen, and -- if you clean the windows too -- will make your winter view crystal clear. Here are a few tips to make the task easier:

* Remove the screens from the window frame, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Be careful not to bend or damage the screen.
* Put the screens on a flat surface, such as the driveway or lawn, and wet the screens thoroughly with water.
* Dip a scrub brush into a solution of 3 parts water to 1 part ammonia and apply to the screen using a very light scrubbing motion. Be sure you don't scrub too hard or push the fabric which can stretch or cause damage to the screen.
* Lightly brush both sides of the screen using overlapping, rotating strokes. In addition, clean the interior and exterior of the frame.
* Rinse the screens thoroughly with fresh water (preferably lukewarm) to make sure all cleaning solution is removed.
* Shake or tap the screen gently against the ground to remove excess water. Let the screens dry naturally, or give a quick wipe with an absorbent towel to speed up the drying process.
* Never pressure wash screens because the force will likely damage them.
* Cover the screens in plastic and store in an out-of-the-way place in an upright or flat position.

By cleaning your screens in the fall, you'll appreciate looking through clean windows all winter, and you'll have clean, ready-to-install screens next spring.
 

Oct. 4, 2008 - About Loan Discount Points

Understanding Loan Discount Points

The term "loan discount points" is somewhat misleading. First off, there's no discount involved. Secondly, it's not about points, it's about dollars.

Loan discount points are a one-time fee charged by the lender at closing in order to give you a lower interest rate on your loan. Each point is 1 percent of the mortgage amount; for example, one discount point on a $100,000 loan equals $1,000.

Each discount point paid on a 30-year loan typically lowers the interest rate by 0.125 percent. That means a 7.5 percent rate would be lowered to 7.375 percent if you purchase one point. Paying for points lowers your interest rate because the lender receives the income in a lump sum at closing rather than collecting the interest as you make payments.

Buying points to lower your interest rate is not always a good idea. While buying points is sometimes a good decision, many times the purchase costs you more than it saves. It's very important that you analyze the costs to figure out how many years you need to keep the loan to break-even on paying points. Sometimes it takes 10+ years to reach the break-even point. Do you plan to live there that long?