Smart Homes for Kenya

Smart Homes for Kenya

Have you ever left home for the long weekend and forgot to turn off
the water heater or that light in the store? Most of us only realize
this on our arrival back from the trip. This does not have to be the
case. With the Comfort Home Automation this situation could have
easily be resolved with a phone call to the house and it’s sorted
without any human intervention.

Over and above taking care of such nitty gritty issues, the Comfort
Home Automation system is a fully fledged alarm system with voice
prompts that make it a breeze to use. The Voice prompts can also be
used to alert the user of events such as behind the house movement
after a 7pm or the exact location of an alarm e.g.“Outside Garage
Movement”. The CCTV footage of this event can then be automatically be
viewed on any TV in the house.

The system can also turn on lights, pool pumps, aircon units,
irrigation solenoids, and many other devices based on movement in a
room, time of day, activation of a scene button or any combination of
the above. This optimizes the use of these services thereby reducing
wastage of power. It can also control your amplifier, DVD player, DSTV
decoder and projector screens at the touch of a single button without
you having to manipulate all the several remotes.

Any events at the house can be reported to you automatically by a
phone call or SMS as well as alerting your local security company.
Alternatively log into your house via the internet and control or
monitor anything as if you where right there.

For more information visit http://www.voguehomes.co.za or call Vogue Home
Automation on 0719-530-789 / 0719-666-154 or email
voguehomeauto@gmail.com

Frank Gichuhi
Registered Architect.
http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

DIAMOND HOUSE PLANS-Free House Plans- As the Dust Settles.

Phased Design House Plans for Haitians as they rebuild their country.

From DIAMOND HOUSE FLAT ROOF

INTRODUCTION
The Diamond house plan is inspired by the Botswana Diamonds and was designed by www.a4architect.com to offer the most efficient housing solutions to the people of Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.
The Diamond House is made of materials readily available in every hardware shop in Kenya. The efficiency is attained through unique architectural design and construction technology.

The walls are made of the usual masonry quarry stone or interlocking stabilized soil blocks,roofs made of the usual iron sheets, doors from the usual wood door Kenyan manufacturers and window frames from the usual aluminum/Louvre systems.

From HAITI HOUSE FLAT ROOF

*The Diamond House Plan was conceived by http://www.a4architect.com to provide the most efficient ‘GREEN ARCHITECTURE’ designs as a housing solution to the People of Haiti after the devastating 2010 Earthquake. It was a philanthropic gesture to the People of Haiti to help reconstruct their country after the earthquake.

Phased residential house construction.

From HAITI HOUSE PLAN

This is whereby the architect designs the house in such a manner that the house occupants can continue adding more rooms in future as their needs increase.
The house starts with 1 bedroom which can easily be added to become 2 bedroomed ,3 bedroomed and 4 bedroomed.

https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

See the house below designed by http://www.a4architect.com for more information.

From HAITI HOUSE PLAN

As the family size grows, the house also grows concurrently.
This architectural design aids greatly in planning for the future.
The beauty about this design is the fact that one can start with the low price 1 bedroomed house. After a period of time as the space need increases, the 2 bedroomed unit is added then the 3 and 4 bedrooms consecutively.

DIAMOND HOUSE PITCHED ROOF VERSIONhttps://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

The use of Structural Insulated Panel technology assists in that with these panels, its very easy to add extra rooms to the building. SIP houses are light weight so there will be no settlement cracks as witnessed in the normal masonry house types whenever new additions are extended from the main house.
With the normal masonry stone houses, people are forced to buy larger houses-3 bedroomed houses-yet maybe they only require to use just 1 or 2 bedrooms.
This way, they are forced to buy and pay for space that they are not using.
In this design, the occupant pays for the exact space that they require in that if the occupant only requires just 1 bedroom for the time being, that’s the only space they pay for.

DIAMOND HOUSE FLAT ROOF VERSIONhttps://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

In the era of the 21st Century, its important that consumers make decisions that avoid unnecessary waste of money and resources .

PAYMENTS
To obtain the Diamond House Plans, click here for a cost breakdown.

Frank Gichuhi.
Architect.
http://www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

From HAITI HOUSE FRONT TYPE

Feng Shui Architecture.

From the Tao

Feng Shui Architecture.

The words Feng – Shui literally mean Wind- Water.
Feng Shui originated from China 4,000 years ago. China ushered in therir new year on February 14th ,2010[Valentines Day]. This year is the year of the Tiger. 2010 is Year 4707 in the Chinese Calendar.
Feng Shui aims to assist in locating buildings in the most perfect condition so as to release positive energy known as Qi[chi]. A building that merges well with nature and the environment also produces good Qi.
Coincidentally, Frank Lloyd Wright-June 1857-April 1959, the great American Architect who designed the Falling Waters House used the concept of merging his buildings with the environment. His works became so unique and famous due to this. Maybe he has long seen the benefits of Feng Shui Architecture by then.

Yi Yang.

Feng Shui is made up of 5 elements-Water, Wood, Fire, Earth/Soil and Metal under the concept of Yin –Yang..
Water has more Yin than Wood for example.
Feng Shui aims at balancing the forces of Yin and Yang within a building.

Practical Examples.

A practical example of good Feng shui is whereby the architects avoid to run beams across the living rooms or bedrooms. This creates negative energy in Feng Shui terms. Any decent architect will advice his client that such a beam defines space vertically hence if it’s a large room for example a sitting room that is supposed to be used as one room, the overhead beam that cuts across it makes the occupants feel as if there is something that is dividing the space into 2 parts. This feeling will affect the occupants negatively, reducing the occupant’s optimum performance. This is what the Feng Shui practitioners will call negative Qi.

Qi.

The flow of Qi is the same as the universal order of the Tao. Tao is Chinese meaning ‘way’. It is the flow of the universe, the force that keeps the universe in a natural order. If you have watched the movie ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne, you will definitely get the drift.
According to Feng Shui practitioners, Qi enters the house through the front door. A good architect is trained to articulate the main entrance through use of columns, expensive and attractive wall and floor finishes so as to make the entrance area unique. This is a sub-conscious attempt to bring in positive energy to the house.
Decisions such as putting up a decorated main door will also attract good Qi to the house. Grande Hand-curved Swahili doors are a good example to this even though the Swahili have never heard of Feng Shui. Each and every organized community has its own localized form of Feng Shui.

African Architecture.

Traditional African houses were made of natural material-Earth walls and thatch roof. In Feng Shui terms, these materials give the most positive energy to the occupants.
The planning arrangement of an African traditional homestead was also to a specific order such as the position of the mans house, 1st wifes house, cow pen, granary, sons house e.t.c.
This shows that these houses were designed to unlock positive Qi to the occupants though they had never heard of Feng Shui.

Currently, in the modern world, the natural construction materials are more expensive than the artificial materials.
A floor finish like hard-wood parquet or blocks is very expensive compared to an imitation such as the HDF wood laminate floors. Another example is a solid hardwood door compared to an MDF door. The solid hardwood door is more expensive than the MDF door. MDF glue also contains carcinogens. In roofing, the stone-coated roofing tiles that imitate thatch are the most expensive roofing materials that we have at the moment. A thatch roof will give much more positive energy than the expensive stone coated roof at any given time.
This shows that you get more positive energy when you use more natural materials.

Conclusion.

A well designed house that has been designed to the occupant’s satisfaction will definitely assist in giving him the positive energy required for optimum performance.
Design aspects such as colour of the rooms, orientation of the house, position of doors and windows, finishes and the overall shape of the building should all be considered for each individual by their architect so as to come up with a house that gives the most Qi.

Frank Gichuhi
+254 721 410684
http://www.a4architect.com

The Flower Bud: Offices and Residentials.Westlands, Nairobi

The Flower Bud
Offices and Residentials.

The Flower Bud
February 2010

OFFICES AND RESIDENTIAL
MUSA GITAU ROAD,
WESTLANDS,
NAIROBI
KENYA

Conceptual Design

From Westlands New Shopping Centre

1.0 INTRODUCTION

‘The Flower Bud’ will be a unique blend of offices and residential units located in Westlands, off Waiyaki Way along Musa Gitau Road.
This area is suitable for high end residential and corporate offices such as the new Deloitte and Touche corporate offices along Musa Gitau road .

From Westlands New Shopping Centre

The unique design is inspired from a flower bud, signifying new life and natural beauty.

2.0 THE SITE

The site is located less than 1 km from Waiyaki Way along Musa Gitau road.
The site is less than 2 minutes drive from the prestigious Westlands Shopping Centre where all social amenities can be found.
The prestigious Deloitte and Touche offices are also located along Musa Gitau Road.

From Westlands New Shopping Centre

The site sits within the prestigious Lavington area off Waiyaki Way. This is the most prestigious land in East and Central Africa in terms of value.

3.0 THE CONCEPT

From Westlands New Shopping Centre

The Brick –red section shows the part of the building next to Musa Gitau Road.
This area is Public and has a very high human traffic. This area has been zoned for commercial activities such as shops, offices and restaurants.
The area in grey is more private and has been zoned for the residential 1 and 2 bed roomed units.
The front area has a public swimming pool at the restaurant and the back area has a private swimming pool for Residents.

CIRCULATION AND PARKING.
Ample parking space has been provided off Musa Gitau road.
Pedestrian circulation is circular and there is access all round the building.

LIGHTING AND VENTILATION.

From Westlands New Shopping Centre

The Building has been designed to allow for natural light and cross-ventilation in all the rooms. The tentacular design allows for air and natural light to move naturally inside the rooms thus saving on mechanical lighting and ventilation costs.

SUSTAINABILITY.
Use of Solar power for external lighting on L.E.D bulbs and water heating is envisaged. Grey water will be recycled to be used for landscaping the gardens.
Deep balconies and use of tinted window film will shield the interiors from direct sunlight.

4.0 THE MASTERPLAN

FUNCTIONS AND AREAS

From Westlands New Shopping Centre

BLOCK A:

Area
Ground Floor:140m2 Usage: Supermarket
Ist Floor:140m2 Usage: Supermarket
2st Floor: 110m2 Usage: Office
3nd Floor: 81m2 Usage: Office
4rd Floor: 50m2 Usage: Office
5th Floor: 30m2 Usage: Office
6th Floor: 30m2 Usage: Office
TOTAL: 581m2.

BLOCK B:

Area
Ground Floor:140m2 Usage: Bar & Restaurant
Ist Floor:140m2 Usage: Bar & Restaurant
2st Floor: 110m2 Usage: Office
3nd Floor: 81m2 Usage: Office
4rd Floor: 50m2 Usage: Office
5th Floor: 30m2 Usage: Office
6th Floor: 30m2 Usage: Office
TOTAL: 581m2.

BLOCK C:

Area
Ground Floor:140m2 Usage: Shops
Ist Floor:140m2 Usage: Shops
2st Floor: 110m2 Usage: Office
3nd Floor: 81m2 Usage: Office
4rd Floor: 50m2 Usage: Office
5th Floor: 30m2 Usage: Office
6th Floor: 30m2 Usage: Office
TOTAL: 581m2.

BLOCK D:

Area
Ground Floor:140m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 4 No.
Ist Floor:140m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 4 No.
2st Floor: 110m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 3 No.
3nd Floor: 81m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 2 No.
4rd Floor: 50m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 2No.
5th Floor: 30m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 1 No.
6th Floor: 30m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 1 No.
TOTAL: 581m2. 17 No. Units

BLOCK E:

Area
Ground Floor:140m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 4 No.
Ist Floor:140m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 4 No.
2st Floor: 110m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 3 No.
3nd Floor: 81m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 2 No.
4rd Floor: 50m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 2No.
5th Floor: 30m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 1 No.
6th Floor: 30m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 1 No.
TOTAL: 581m2. 17 No. Units

BLOCK F:

Area
Ground Floor:140m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 4 No.
Ist Floor:140m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 4 No.
2st Floor: 110m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 3 No.
3nd Floor: 81m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 2 No.
4rd Floor: 50m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 2No.
5th Floor: 30m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 1 No.
6th Floor: 30m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 1 No.
TOTAL: 581m2. 17 No. Units

BLOCK G:

Area
Ground Floor:140m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 4 No.
Ist Floor:140m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 4 No.
2st Floor: 110m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 3 No.
3nd Floor: 81m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 2 No.
4rd Floor: 50m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 2No.
5th Floor: 30m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 1 No.
6th Floor: 30m2 Usage: 1 Bedroomed units 1 No.
TOTAL: 581m2. 17 No. Units

BLOCK H:

Area
Ground Floor:140m2 Usage: Shops
Ist Floor:140m2 Usage: Shops
2st Floor: 110m2 Usage: Office
3nd Floor: 81m2 Usage: Office
4rd Floor: 50m2 Usage: Office
5th Floor: 30m2 Usage: Office
6th Floor: 30m2 Usage: Office
TOTAL: 581m2.

TOTAL FLOOR AREA =581 X 8=4648m2.

PHASED CONSTRUCTION.

From Westlands New Shopping Centre

The project can be phased into phase 1 and Phase 2.
Phase 1 will contain half the commercial blocks[BLOCK B & C] and half the residential block[BLOCK D &E].
Phase 2 will contain the rest[A & H-COMMERCIAL] and [F& G-RESIDENTIAL].

SURROUNDING BUILDINGS

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu -Waiyaki Way | Westlands NBI

From Westlands New Shopping Centre

Frank Gichuhi.
Architect.
http://www.a4architect.com
+254 721 410684
________________________________________

Phased Residential House Construction

Phased residential house construction.

From Phased Residential House Construction

This is whereby the architect designs the house in such a manner that the house occupants can continue adding more rooms in future as their needs increase.
The house starts with 1 bedroom which can easily be added to become 2 bedroomed ,3 bedroomed and 4 bedroomed.

See the house below designed by http://www.a4architect.com for more information.

From Phased Residential House Construction

As the family size grows, the house also grows concurrently.
This architectural design aids greatly in planning for the future.
The beauty about this design is the fact that one can start with the low price 1 bedroomed house. After a period of time as the space need increases, the 2 bedroomed unit is added then the 3 and 4 bedrooms consecutively.
The use of Structural Insulated Panel technology assists in that with these panels, its very easy to add extra rooms to the building. SIP houses are light weight so there will be no settlement cracks as witnessed in the normal masonry house types whenever new additions are extended from the main house.
With the normal masonry stone houses, people are forced to buy larger houses-3 bedroomed houses-yet maybe they only require to use just 1 or 2 bedrooms.
This way, they are forced to buy and pay for space that they are not using.
In this design, the occupant pays for the exact space that they require in that if the occupant only requires just 1 bedroom for the time being, that’s the only space they pay for.

In the era of the 21st Century, its important that consumers make decisions that avoid unnecessary waste of money and resources .
Dimensioned House Plans

Frank Gichuhi.
Architect.
http://www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

Structural Insulated Panel Houses: Save 50% of construction costs.

Structural Insulated Panel Houses: Save 50% of construction costs.

Structural Insulated panel houses are houses made of Structural Insulated Panel walling and Roofing-see Wikipedia on Structural Insulated Pane Housing.
SIP houses are rapidly replacing the traditional brick and mortar type of houses worldwide. In developed countries such as Australia and U.S.A, this is the preferred mode of construction and is the new ‘buzz word’ around the construction industry world.

The SIP panel is made of two thick metal plates with polyurethane insulation sandwich in between. Polyurethane is the material used in heavy duty industrial air conditioners due to its superior insulation capabilities.
The SIP hoses are designed to withstand heavy wind load, earthquakes and extreme weather conditions such as snow and high temperatures.
In Kenya, this new technology is already here with us. The Chinese roads construction company offices at Kasarani directly opposite Warren Concrete are a good example of this.

Advantages.

1. Cost Saving.
The use of SIP panel in construction saves over 50% of the total construction costs.
There are several ways that this cost saving is achieved.

[a] Foundation.

SIP panel houses are light weight. This means that there are no expensive excavations and concrete footings in this method of construction. This cuts the cost of a traditional foundation by 75%.
[b] Wastage.
Since these panels are made in the factory, there is zero wastage. unlike in the traditional method whereby there is wastage of materials.
2. Finishes.
Factory construction ensures that the workmanship is excellent. With this method, days when someone would leave the contractor doing the plastering only to come back later and find the corners are all crooked are now in the past. In SIP house construction, the panels all fit excellently –like a jig-saw puzzle.

3. Time.
A 3 bedroomed SIP house can be fitted by 4 men within 10 days to completion.

There are very many other advantages of this method of construction.

The house below designed by http://www.a4architect.com using the SIP Panel technology can be erected anywhere in East Africa.

Structural Insulated Panel[SIP] House

Frank Gichuhi.
http://www.a4architect.com
+254721410684

construction and real estate – January 31, 2010

Welcome to the January 31, 2010 edition of construction and real estate.

Handy Saputra presents How To Stop Worrying About Mortgage Foreclosure posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “There are millions of general articles about mortgages generating discussing foreclosures on the rise. The United States is in a recession and millions are feeling the unemployment woes. Amongst those many are homeless, and in search of an answer. Foreclosures are adding inventory to an already declining house market. The ongoing word is this mortgage crisis is predicted to get a lot worse before we begin to see any light at the end of the tunnel.”

Chris presents The ?who is who? of real estate: 4 generation profiles posted at Home I Own.

Praveen presents Oswego Townhouse Nightmare posted at My Simple Trading System.

Handy Saputra presents Beware Of We Buy Houses Scams posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “You’ve seen the signs on the highway, We Buy Houses, fast sale, cash, etc. Real Estate investing has spawned yet another scam niche, only this time they’re not selling a get rich quick scheme, no this time they want your house.”

Kim Dion presents Help For Home Loans: Refinance Mortgage Options posted at Help For Home Loans, saying, “Refinance mortgage options for home owners are looking up thanks to the new Obama $75 billion Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan announced to the world. If you are behind on your mortgage, facing foreclosure or just finding it a struggle to make you payments you may have options to help with your refinance mortgage options or you mortgage payments.”

Kim Dion presents Help For Home Loans: What Is The Difference Between Deed in Lieu and Foreclosure posted at Help For Home Loans, saying, “The Difference Between Deed in Lieu and Foreclosure. That is a great questions and many homeowners in foreclosure or behind on their payments may not realize they can perhaps avoid having a foreclosure on their credit by asking their lender to take back their home with a deed in lieu of foreclosure.”

Madison presents Closing on Our First Rental Property posted at My Dollar Plan.

Joshua Dorkin presents How To Find The Time To Do These 10 Crucial Real Estate Marketing Activities posted at Real Estate Investing For Real.

Handy Saputra presents How To Choose The Right Loan For Your Situation posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Most people only associate money with the word loans. This is definitely the most common type of loan but the truth is that a loan can be for many things and not just money. Loans can be offered on many different bases and can be paid back in several different ways and throughout different periods of time.”

Handy Saputra presents How To Identify The Best Home Mortgage Rates posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “There are many choices for finding mortgage loans. The most common way to finance your purchase of a home is to apply for a mortgage or a loan. It is important that you have identified your capabilities in paying off this loan before you actually commit to a particular lending company.”

Handy Saputra presents Facing Foreclosure? An Equity Loan Modification May Be The Answer posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “It seems that few people have been left unaffected by the poor economic condition of the United States. With the unemployment rate higher than it has been in decades it is no wonder that families are very worried about how they will manage to continue making their mortgage payments.”

Handy Saputra presents What are Homeowner Loans? posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “If you are looking for a loan but are unsure whether or not you will be able to secure one or you are concerned that the interest rate may not be affordable within your budget then a homeowner loan may be the right option for you.”

Handy Saputra presents Why Loan Modification Beats Refinancing Your Mortgage posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Modifying a mortgage loan has become much easier since the implementation of the Obama administration’s loan modification plan. This plan provides incentives to lenders to change the terms of an existing loan to make payments on Columbus houses more affordable to homeowners. In the past, getting a mortgage modification was far more difficult, since lenders had to bear certain costs of the process.”

Handy Saputra presents The Criteria For Obtaining A Bankruptcy Loan posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “If you think that bankruptcy can handicap you from applying for finance, then think again because whether a individual is bankrupt, a loan can still be organized especially if you own a property with enough equity. Even a bad c
redit score is not a adequate enough reason to stop someone having a home loan at an advantageous interest rate.”

Handy Saputra presents What You Need to Know About Second Home Mortgages posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “A persons home is the biggest asset that one can have to use for money. A home to back you up when you need a loan is one of the greatest advantages of home ownership. In recent years, there has been a major boom in the amount of people looking to use their homes as a way to get access to extra money when they need it most. One of the best ways to do this is through a second mortgage.”

Handy Saputra presents How To Refinance To A Lower Interest Rate posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Getting a loan is not easy; it involves a lot of processes that you should deliberately think about first before anything else. Grabbing the lowest home mortgage rates possible is an important process because it can lower the amount that you will be paying for the loan after.”

Diego Cervantes presents the Ultimate Guide to Web Marketing for Real Estate Agents posted at Real Estate Agent Database Blog.

Chris presents 7 things you can do to help the agent sell your house, part 1 posted at Home I Own.

Handy Saputra presents How to Plan Your New Home Purchase in 4 Easy Steps posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Most people are likely to indulge in home buying once or twice in their lifetime. Usually it will be a home where they will live for at least a decade or two. So it is natural to assume that a considerable amount of thought and planning needs to go into choosing and purchasing a home.”

Handy Saputra presents 5 Blunders That Can Cost You Approval on Your Home Mortgage posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “The Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan recently initiated under the Obama administration will provide millions of people with the opportunity to obtain financing which will allow them to keep their homes. For people currently behind on their mortgage payments, there are provisions in the plan that are designed to help many who are already in or potentially face the threat of foreclosure. However, just applying for a special home loan program doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll automatically be approved.”

costseg presents Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide | Society of Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide posted at Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide, saying, “How do Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guides work in real-estate this days and how can you save tax money wit hthem.”

Ray presents myFICO Credit Score Codes posted at Money Blue Book, saying, “FICO scores are critical components (especially in this current down economy) of the home buying and real estate acquisition process. Know where you stand and get some savings in the process.”

Brian McKay presents Weekly Mortgage Rates posted at MonitorBankRates.com, saying, “Mortgage rates were down this past week for the most part, jumbo fixed rate mortgage rates were down less than conforming fixed rate mortgages.”

Handy Saputra presents Fixed Rate Mortgage, What Are The Benefits To You posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “A fixed rate mortgage does exactly what is says on the tin. The interest rate you agree on at the time you set up the mortgage is fixed for an agreed period. The agreed interest rate will not go up (or down) during the fixed rate term.”

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Obama?s Foreclosure Bailout Plan: Should There Be Help For Homeowners? posted at The Digerati Life, saying, “Thanks!”

The Smarter Wallet presents The Basics of Home Financing: A Mortgage Loan Guide posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, “Thanks!”

Ruoall Chapman presents Everything you need to know about how to Make Online Beats posted at Make Online Beats.

Handy Saputra presents Should you try a loan modification on your own posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “With the crisis in the housing industry and the current downturn in the economy, loan modification has become a very hot topic. After all, now there are thousands of Americans that are facing foreclosure on their homes. Of course listening to the news and the current actions in the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Act of 2009 from Congress gives homeowners hope that they can renegotiate their home loan and get a home modification that will provide them with lower payments and a way that they can keep their home.”

Handy Saputra presents 4 Effective Mortgage Marketing Tips posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “The mortgage market has been turbulent, affecting both lenders and brokers. In this time of serious crisis, mortgage brokers may be tempted to cut back on their marketing or advertising budget. Where money is tight, multiple methods of direct marketing and networking should be considered to attract attention of people who have not even considered applying for a mortgage before as well as generate repeat business from past clients.”

Handy Saputra presents Easy T
ips On Home Loan Refinance posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “If you have a home loan and your property went up in a ten percent or more value since you took out your current loan, you might make a good candidate for refinancing. It cannot only save you money on your mortgage payments, but it can also improve your terms, or both.”

Joe Manausa, MBA presents Killearn Lakes Unit 1 Home Prices Holding posted at Tallahassee Real Estate Blog, saying, “A classic example of why most real estate reports are flawed. They lead you to believe that prices are going up or prices are going down, solely based upon the movement of the average sales price. This article shows why it is possible for the average home price to go up, while real home values are dropping.”

Mark Donovan presents Budgeting a Home Remodeling Project posted at HomeAdditionPlus, saying, “Before starting any home remodeling or construction project is it critical to develop a budget. Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com discusses how to go about developing a home remodeling project budget and the pitfalls to avoid.”

Handy Saputra presents Refinance Home Mortgage – Discover Surprising Savings posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “The current recession that grips the American economy has many homeowners wondering if they should refinance their mortgage loans. Many homeowners took out adjustable rate mortgages that were incredibly affordable when coupled along with the fact that they required little or no down payment. Now that interest rates have been adjusted higher they are scrambling to refinance their home mortgage.”

Evan Arellano presents Ewing-Cole Diversifies Design posted at Tevami – Product, Gadget Review Blog.

Handy Saputra presents Refinancing Home Loans Guidelines posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Refinancing your home can be a huge decision, especially if you have been investing in that home for a long time. If this is the case then you will need to ensure you are able to negotiate the best refinancing deal available.”

Handy Saputra presents Home Mortgage Refinance: The Making Home Affordable Plan May Help posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Are you one of the millions of Americans who has been contemplating a home mortgage refinance? Perhaps you have lost your job, or had to take a cut in pay. You might not be able to sell your house in the current real estate market and are now facing foreclosure. These are all the scenarios for which President Obama enacted his “Making Home Affordable” plan.”

Handy Saputra presents Steps To Lower The Interest Paid On Your Mortgage posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “If you are looking to lower your rate of interest on your mortgage, your bank will take several factors into consideration. They may need to find out if you are able to make the installments on time; and whether this deal is profitable for the bank or not. If you are capable of getting lower interest rates that help you clear your loan faster and also minimize your overall payments then it is really good for you to refinance your mortgage. Following are some suggestion to lower your rate of interest on your mortgage.”

Julian Pollock presents The History of Shutters – From Marble and Straw Mats to Metal and Poly-Wood Slats | TheHistoryOf.net posted at The History Of – Blog, saying, “With more households looking for door and window shutters for storm protection against our increasingly unpredictable weather, it’s good to be able to find some eco-friendly possibilities using a few different varieties of timber-saving polywood. There is also always the choice to build using sustainable wood options as regulated by the FSC.”

Handy Saputra presents When is Mortgage Refinancing a Good Choice? posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Refinancing a mortgage means that you are withdrawing from your current mortgage and arranging a new mortgage. Most people refinance their mortgage to get a better rate. If you are considering refinancing your mortgage, there are number of things you need to know in order to determine if refinancing is a good choice.”

Handy Saputra presents Fixed Rate Mortgages – Are They Worth It? posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “We’ll discover what the fixed rate mortgage is, and its benefits. We’ll then take a look at an overpayment calculator for your mortgage. From definite security with the fixed rate mortgage to potential cash saved with the overpayment calculator.”

Handy Saputra presents Why A Refinance Works posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “The recommendation of many experts is for homeowners, unable to cope with the country’s economic see-saw trends, to refinance their mortgage which is constantly at risk from the unpredictable adjustable interest rates. Of course, not many see why refinance is the most recommended option, and it takes them a while to appreciate its features, mainly because they need to understand it more.”

Jack Schmidt presents Got Big Feet? You’ll Just Have to Pay the Man! posted at SectorMatic Money Journal, saying, “SectorMatic – Personal Finance: Everything for the Big Spender on a Budget! Now you can live like a fat cat, even if you’re on a money diet. Laugh all the way to the bank with Jack Schmidt and SectorMatic. It’s for you!”

Handy Saputra presents Finding the Lowest Refinance Mortgage Interest Rate posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “More and more Americans are turning to their banks in order to get a better refinance mortgage interest rate and reduce their monthly payments. As the economy worsens before it can get better, this seems like a sensible thing to do. B
ut before you pick up that phone and call your mortgage holder to begin a refinance, here are a few things you need to know about getting the best rate.”

Handy Saputra presents 4 Good Reasons to Get a Refinance Home Loan posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Why should I refinance my home? There are several reasons home owners decides to refinance that you should know and to lower the Interest Rate”

Jack Schmidt presents Making Money? “Trust Me: I’m In Real Estate” posted at SectorMatic Money Journal, saying, “SectorMatic Money Site – Everything for the Big Spender on a Budget! Now you can live like a fat cat, even if you’re on a money diet. Laugh all the way to the bank with Jack Schmidt and SectorMatic. It’s for you!”

Mark Donovan presents Contractor Allowances Pitfalls posted at HomeAdditionPlus, saying, “Mark Donovan of http://www.homeadditionplus.com discusses new home construction contracts and the pitfalls of contractor allowances.”

Edan presents Park City Condo Rentals posted at Park City Condo Lodging, saying, “Find out all you need to know about renting condos in beautiful Park City Utah; site of the 2002 Winter Olympics games.”

Handy Saputra presents Refinance Tips That Can Save You Thousands posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Plans to refinance are going to work better if you know more about mortgage and the process of refinance. Here are some tips that can provide you with a lot of inside information, and putting you in a better position to make a good business decision.”

Ruoall Chapman presents Online Spyware Removal posted at Online Spyware Removal.

Kerry Fletcher presents DIY Solar Panels posted at Houston Interior Decorating Examiner.

Kerry Fletcher presents City or suburbs posted at Houston Interior Decorating Examiner.

Handy Saputra presents The Truth About Second Mortgage and HELOC posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Is second mortgage the same with home equity loan? There are a lot of people who often confuse one for the other. While both are associated with each other, they have their own benefits. But distinguishing one from the other should not be difficult.”

Handy Saputra presents When is the best time to refinance home mortgage? posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “The refinancing of mortgage means that you make a payment of your current mortgage and the establishment of a new mortgage. Most people refinance their mortgages to ensure a better rate. If you plan to refinance your mortgage, there are some things that you need to know to determine if refinancing is a good choice.”

Handy Saputra presents The Big Foreclosure Bailout 80 LTV Plan… Is It Working? posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “We have all heard President Obama’s plan for what he calls Americas economic come back. At best it is a roller coaster ride with multiple twist and turns. One of the many twist is the claim of solving the countries foreclosure crisis.”

Handy Saputra presents When is the right time to refinance your mortgage? posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “You’ve heard that interest rates are down and you think it could be time to refinance your existing mortgage, but the entire loan application process was so exhausting during the initial loan that you aren’t sure it’s worth the hassle. You could very well be right, but there are some things you can do to help decide whether it’s time to refinance your mortgage.”

Jack Schmidt presents 10 Ways to Fuel Your Own Economy posted at SectorMatic Money Journal, saying, “SectorMatic Money Journal: Personal Finance – Everything for the Big Spender on a Budget. Now you can live like a fat cat, even if you’re on a money diet. Laugh all the way to the bank with Jack Schmidt and SectorMatic. It’s for you!”

Handy Saputra presents Is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) Right for you? posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Until just a few years ago, an Adjustable rate mortgage was the best way to buy a home. Say you do not have the money to buy your dream home, then you can opt for a mortgage with an adjustable rate over a fixed one. In case of an adjustable rate, the rate of interest changes every year depending on the market condition. On the other hand, in case of a fixed rate of mortgage the rate of interest is not dependant on the market scenario and remains fixed.”

Handy Saputra presents Is Mortgage Refinancing Market Good or Bad Right Now? posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “With all of the home foreclosures taking place across the country, many people may feel that it is not a good time to refinance. This is actually not true. Lenders want to keep people in their homes because of the expenses they incur when they try to sell a foreclosed home. Most times, they will actually take a bit of a loss. If you are considering refinancing for a better rate or to clean up any outstanding debts, there are many reasons why this is a good time to refinance your mortgage.”

Jay Buerck presents Contract Bonds (or Construction Bonds) posted at Surety Bonds Blog, saying, “Some states require Surety Bonds on Construction jobs which would include Contract Bonds and Construction Bonds.”

GoByOwners presents Both Tenants and Landlords Need a Residential Lease Agreement posted at Homes For Sale By Owner.

Handy Saputra presents Ask the Expert: When do I Refinance My Home? posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “Home refinancing is a wonderful financial tool for homeowners to use for debt management to investments. If the home refinance is used correctly, wisely, and at the right time, the benefits from the refinance can improve the financial picture of the homeowner. There is no cookie cutter approach to refinancing. Each individual or family has their own unique set of circumstances. Here are some common questions homeowners often ask when they are considering refinancing.”

Mark Donovan presents Lake Winnipesaukee Real Estate posted at HomeAdditionPlus, saying, “Mark Donovan of http://www.homeadditionplus.com disusses the Lake Winnipesaukee real estate market. He also talks about the maintenance and other responsibilties of owning waterfront property.”

Handy Saputra presents Steps to get Mortgage Refinance Approval posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “The excellent resources and articles of home loan, mortgage loan, and mortgage refinance. Learn more anything related to home mortgage loan with other top tips here.”

Handy Saputra presents Benefits while Applying for Mortgage Refinance Loan Online posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, “If you”

Martin Russell presents “Conspiracy of the Rich”- A Review posted at Word of Mouth Marketing.

James Staine presents 10 Myths about Reverse Mortgages posted at Oregon Mortgage Blog, saying, “Oregon Mortgage Blog comprises informative articles that talk about residential mortgage types, and the types of mortgage borrowers.”

Steven R. Bennett presents Attorney Articles – Real Estate Investing – Buyer’s Perspective | Powers McCulloch & Bennett, LLP posted at Living Trusts – Post Mortem Administration, saying, “The Oregon based law firm of Powers, McCulloch & Bennett, LLP, comprises attorneys to assist clients in real estate investments.”

ian anderson presents flip over saw | Flip Over Saw Stuff posted at Flip Over Saw Stuff, saying, “First time, so please let me know if I screw up somewhere!!
Cheers
Ian”

Neil Uttamsingh presents How you can make $450,000 in ten years by doing no work posted at First Rental Property, saying, “Hi There,
This article is related to real estate investment. In the article, I discuss the advantages of purchasing homes from the plans of builders. I hope you enjoy this article. Best Regards, -Neil”

James Staine presents New FHA Rules! (how does this effect Portland?) posted at Oregon Mortgage Blog, saying, “Federal Housing Administration is planning to introduce new rules by increasing its cash position and lower its risk profile for about a year. This increase will affect the down payment, as the first payment amount changed by FHA would increase from 3.5% to 5% down. This increase will affect the down payment, as the first payment amount changed by FHA.”

Joshua Dorkin presents 5 Things Never to Say to Any Seller posted at Real Estate Investing For Real.

Matthew Paulson presents Stricter Guidelines Being Announced for FHA Mortgage posted at American Consumer News.

Neil Uttamsingh presents What is a mortgage partner? posted at First Rental Property, saying, “This article talks about an advanced investing strategy only familiar to expert real estate investors. The mortgage partner is one of the most important partners to the real estate investor. Find out why by reading this article.”

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Why I’d Hire This Real Estate Agent posted at The Digerati Life, saying, “Thanks!”

MatthewPaulson presents Factors That Affect Home Values posted at Fine-Tuned Finances.

Joe Manausa, MBA presents Understanding Title Insurance Costs posted at Tallahassee Real Estate Blog, saying, “The new GFE and the rules that came with it were needed in order to simplify the process of comparison shopping for home mortgage lenders. In the past, with few rules governing the GFE (other than that it was to be provided), we saw many sloppy or crooked activities going on.

While 99% of the mortgage lenders did not do it on purpose, there certainly were times when buyers were quoted one thing, and then charged much more when it came time to go to settlement.”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of construction and real estate using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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