Air Quality in Your Home

The air quality in your home can play a major role in your overall health. Here are some suggestions to make your home healthier:

• Get rid of fumes and particles trapped inside your home by regularly opening the windows.


• Remove your shoes to avoid tracking pesticides and lawn chemicals inside.


• Use glass or other microwave-safe containers when microwaving food. Don't use plastic containers or plastic covering that could leak the plastic into the food.


• Use non-toxic cleaners like baking soda and white vinegar instead of toxic chemicals to clean your home.


• Take your clothes out of the bags after dry cleaning and let them air out for at least a day before wearing.


• Place a dehumidifier in the garage to cut down on potentially toxic mold.


• Store old paint and varnish as far from your living area as possible in a well ventilated area.


• Put plants like spider plants, golden pothos and philodendrons in your home. They are execellent at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen.

Most Important Features Buyers Look For

Central air conditioning 74%
2 car garage or larger 57%
Walk-in closet in master bedroom 53%
Backyard/play area 50%
Cable/Satellite TV ready 46%
High-speed Internet access 40%
Separate shower in master/main bath 36%
Patio 36%
Fencing 36%
Home less than 10 years old 33%

• Source: 2007 NAR Profile of Buyers' Home Features Preferences

Benefits of Buying vs. Renting

Equity: Equity is the difference between the value of your home and the amount you owe on the mortgage. As you make payments on the house, the equity increases. Typically values increase over time and your equity also increases.

Savings: Money you pay for rent is gone forever. Purchasing a home is an investment. The Federal Reserve Board estimates that home owners have a net worth nearly 36 times more than that of renters.

Tax Benefits: You may be able to deduct the interest paid on your mortgage, property taxes, and even some of your closing costs from your yearly income taxes.

No Landlords: You have the ability to remodel, decorate, paint, garden and have pets without permission. It's your house!

The Facts About FSBOs

Each year some ambious home sellers try to sell their home without the assistance of a licensed real estate professional. It often turns out to be an experience they find less than gratifying. The numbers tell the true story.

Last year 12 percent of sellers decided to sell on their own (For Sale By Owner: FSBO), down from 13 percent the previous year. This is down from about 20 percent in 1987. 40 percent of all FSBOs sold their homes to someone they knew prior to the transaction. This means that only 7 percent of all home sales are open market FSBO transactions. The rest are simply unrepresented sellers in private transactions.

As for saving money by not hiring a Realtor — after all is said and done, FSBOs don’t always come out richer. Homes sold with the help of a Realtor in 2006 sold on average 32% more than FSBO sales. The median FSBO selling price in 2006 was $187,200, compared with $247,000 for agent-assisted transactions.

• Data and stats compiled from the National Association of Realtors, NAR's 2006 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers