Long Beach Real Estate-Long Beach Condos

Long Beach Real Estate - Tax Credit for New Insulated Garage Doors

Long Beach home owners may benefit from stimulus legislation signed by President Obama on Februrary 17, 2009.  If you installed or plan to install a new 'insulated' garage door between Jan 1, 2009 and Dec 31, 2010 you can qualify.  Garage doors installed in 2008 do not qualify.  The maximum tax credit that a taxpayer may claim from all qualifying improvements combined is 30% of the cost of each insulated garage door and $1500 over the lifetime of the tax credit periods (2009 and 2010).

Not only will you improve the curb appeal of your Long Beach homes you can reduce your tax bill by up to $1,500 and reduce your energy bills. 

HOW TO IDENTIFY AN ELIGIBLE GARAGE DOOR

To be eligible for the tax credit, the purchased garage door must meet all of the following criteria:

• The door must be an insulated residential garage door.


• It must be installed on an insulated garage.


• The door must have a U-factor equal to or less than 0.30, even if the door contains glazing.


• If the door contains windows (glazing), the door must offer a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) equal to or less than 0.30.


• The door perimeter must have a means to control air infiltration.


• The door must be expected to remain in service for at least five years.


• The garage must be part of the taxpayer's principal U.S. residence.


• Dealers should provide homeowners with a Manufacturer's Certification statement and a breakdown of the material and labor costs.

The tax credit is applicable toward the materials, installation costs do not qualify for this tax credit. 

More information on garage doors can be found through the Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association, further information on the tax credit can be found here. 

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Long Beach Homes - Bathroom Remodels

Long Beach Homeowners want more space in their kitchens and bathrooms.  Bathroom remodels are reflecting many of the same design trends and choices as kitchens. 

Long Beach Homeowners want their bathrooms opened up.  They want more space, more light and room for more than one person to be comfortable in the room at the same time.  Adding windows and skylights, or enlarging existing windows brings light into the room, cheering it up and creating the illusion of more space.  Using lots of glass and glass block helps achieve this goal. 

We all know that the choice to live in a beach close Long Beach Home generally means higher prices and less square footage.  How can we create more viable living space when we only have just so much in the way of usable square footage?  

Adjoining closets are being eliminated and used to increase bathroom square footage while closets and storage space are reconfigured in other areas of the home.   At a loss for space but want to open up your bathroom?  Consider opening up the ceiling, utilize that wasted attic space and add cubic square footage.  Sometimes this is enough to remove the oppressive feeling and open up the room.

The Master Bath is the homeowners retreat, they want a little luxury here.  Homeowners are insisting on many of these items:

• Heated floors
• Towel Warmers
• Multiple shower heads
• Mounted Flat Screen TVs
• Recessed Lighting
• Dual sinks
• Soaring ceilings
• Decorative Fixtures

Consumers are leaning toward nickel and antique bronze fixtures, chrome is still popular but is waning.  Brass is so out!

Eco friendly, green remodeling is playing a role in bathroom remodels with an increase in interest in renewable materials and water conservation.  Dual-flush toilets and other technologies have become very popular.  In Japan over 70% of all homes now have Toto heated bidet toilet seats.  These seats come complete with remote control and have a rather hefty price tag. 

Homeowners are paying special attention to ventilation, many installing central exhaust fans or environmentally friendly fans that run constantly on low and adjust automatically to cycle up or down when someone enters or leaves the room.  Whole house fans have become very popular aiding in the ventilation and temperature control of the entire home. 

Baby Boomers considering remodeling are having bathtubs removed and are replacing them with large glassed-in showers with multiple heads.  Boomers like to spend a lot of time at home and are craving more luxury accommodations in their home.  Other features the Boomers are seeking are:

• Raised vanities and toilets
• Lower upper cabinets
• Larger Doorways

Boomers are expanding first floor baths and adding guest rooms on the first floor with the idea that this could eventually become a master suite. 

A well thought out and nicely designed kitchen and bath remodel can make the difference in whether a buyer decides to write an offer on your Long Beach Home or another.  These are upgrades worth considering. 

If you are considering a future sale and are remodeling in anticipation of that sale, it is wise to consult with your Realtor.  We work with and know what Long Beach Home buyers are looking for in their new homes.  A consultation could make the difference in the amount you net at the closing table. 

Thinking about a remodel of your Long Beach Home?  You may also find this article helpful: Long Beach Home Kitchen Remodels

Laurie Manny Professional Group

244 Redondo Avenue
Belmont Heights
Long Beach, California 90803

(562) 212-5420

Long Beach Real Estate

Summer in Long Beach California

Reduce Your Energy Costs and Stay Cool

Lazy days and cooler temperatures are a normal summer, if you live in Long Beach California. Unlike the hell of the valleys and the inland empire, in Long Beach the breeze travels in over the ocean cooling the air as it wafts in over us divinely. Most homes anywhere near the beach dont even have air conditioning. For the most part we dont need it. We have adapted to our lovely weather.

Does that mean it doesnt get hot in Long Beach? Not on your life! It can get absolutely molten here, and does, but usually only for about 2 weeks of the year total. I keep an air conditioner in my bedroom window, but I don't use it much. 

Even with our lovely climate our homes do hold in the heat, and an attic temperature can reach in excess of 120 degrees, holding unwelcome heat in your home. Our homes can stay uncomfortably warm until about 10:00 PM, while the air outside is cool. Using fans to move air through your home can help but doesnt really cool down the house, because the air in the attic is still cooking.

Solution:

A whole house fan installed in your attic is the way to go in your Long Beach home. Open some windows, turn on the whole house fan. It pulls the cool air in from outside pushing the existing air in the home up into the attic which pushes the molten attic air out of the home. Let the fan run for about 10 minutes and all of the air in both your home and attic is refreshed and as cool as the outdoors.

Whole house fans are easy to install. They are designed to fit between the joists in the attic, either 16' or 24'. The opening for the fan, usually installed in a hallway ceiling, is approximately 14.5' by 22.5'. Easily installed, if you are handy.

The bonus? You save big on your electric bill. A 5 ton air conditioning unit can use more than 6000 watts per hour. A typical whole house fan uses only about 118 to 600 watts, and you are only running in for short bursts several times a day to refresh the air.

Personally I think it pays to have a whole house fan installed even if you have air conditioning. Air conditioning is not necessary most of the time down here at the beach. It is really nice to be able to keep cool, fresh air running through your home, to be able to keep your windows open and to be comfortable in your home.

Enjoy your summer, and stay cool.

Home Buyer Tips:

• Home Buyer Tips - Dont Make Any Major Purchases
• Home Buyers Tips - Changing Jobs Affects Your Ability to Purchase a Home
• Home Buyer Tips - Things to Avoid Before Purchasing a Home

Long Beach Homes For Sale

• Long Beach Homes For Sale $300000 to $400000
• Long Beach Homes For Sale $400000 to $500000
• Long Beach Homes For Sale $500000 to $700000
• Long Beach Homes For Sale $700000 to $900000
• Long Beach Homes For Sale $900000 to $1200000
• Long Beach Luxury Homes For Sale $1200000 to $2500000
• Luxury Homes For Sale in Long Beach California $2.5 Million and up

Long Beach Condos For Sale

• Long Beach Condos For Sale $1,500,000 and higher
• Long Beach Condos For Sale $1,000,000 to $1,500,000
• Long Beach Condos For Sale $900,000 to $1,000,000
• Long Beach Condos For Sale $800,000 to $900,000
• Long Beach Condos For Sale $700,000 to $800,000
• Long Beach Condos For Sale $600,000 to $700,000
• Long Beach Condos For Sale $500,000 to $600,000
• Long Beach Condos For Sale $400,000 to $500,000
• Long Beach Condos For Sale $300,000 to $400,000
• Long Beach Condos For Sale Under $300,000

Long Beach Income Properties For Sale

• Income Property For Sale in Long Beach California-5+ Units
• 2 to 4 Units For Sale in Long Beach California
• Triplexes For Sale in Long Beach California
• Duplexes For Sale in Long Beach California

(562) 212-5420

Laurie Manny Professional Group

244 Redondo Avenue
Belmont Heights
Long Beach, California 90803

(562) 212-5420

Owners of Long Beach Homes have a unique opportunity to contribute to the environment, go green and conserve water. 

Did you know that most homeowners over water their lawns by 30% to 300%?  That's a whole lotta wasted water folks!  I have to admit, I've been guilty of doing this myself on occasion, it's just so nice to have a lush, green lawn and it shows a real pride in Long Beach home ownership.  With the economy in shambles and water in short supply and sporting a hefty price tag, now is a good time to think of creative ways to both conserve water and money in our Long Beach Homes. 

Ric Romero of ABC Eyewitness News reports: Rob Patten of Agoura Hills lives on 3/4 of an acre.  His water bills have been coming in at over $300 monthly, a staggering number which made him decide to do something about it. After installing a new gadget called Cyber-Rain he has been able to reduce his monthly bill by about $100 and conserve a fair amount of water at the same time.  See How it Works.

Cyber Rain XCI is an 8 zone sprinkler system which claims to save homeowners 30% to 70% on their watering bills through the use of their PC and automatic weather updates from the Internet by automatically adjusting the amount of water usage based on weather and seasonal conditions.  It even provides the ability to check your water usage on your computer.  Ingenious!

Jonathan Neidnagel, CEO of Cyber-Rain claims that this system can pay for itself in 3 or 4 months.  Priced at about $295 this is not a cheap system, but may very well offer the best return on the investment and is a wonderful green contribution to the environment. Read more about this product and the effect it can have on our Southern California community over at the Cyber-Rain blog. 

A big thanks to my friend Joe over at the Sellsius Blog for finding this great gadget. 

Many homes in Long Beach have built-in pools (compared to the Colorado Springs Real Estate market where pools are a scarcity) - and along with all the fun and relaxation that pools can create, there is a definite level of safety precautions involved.

Here are some safety tips for living in a Long Beach CA home with a pool:

• Know how to swim. Make sure everyone IN and AROUND knows how to swim.
• Keep a charged, wireless phone near the pool at all times, in case you need to call 9-1-1

• Make sure that at least one person in/around the pool knows CPR.
• Keep safety equipment around the pool in case of an emergency.
• Do not mix swimming and drinking alcohol. A loss of judgment could mean the difference between life and death around a pool.
• 
  

Pool Safety and Children:

• Never leave children unattended around a pool. Even children who "know how to swim" can be in danger without a responsible and attentive adult around.

• Practice touch supervision with children younger than 5 years. This means that the adult is within an arm's length of the child at all times.

• Install a Pool-Safety fence - at least 4 feet high with a self-closing and self-locking fence, between the house and the pool.

• Do not rely on "toys" as flotation devices. A parent or other guardian is the ONLY way to ensure safety.

• Consider installing a power-safety cover, but not to replace a fence.
• Make sure everyone who watches your kids knows CPR and knows the rules to your pool.
• Do not leave toys around the pool when not in use. This could attract children to the pool when no one is looking.
• If a child is missing, check the pool FIRST. Walk the perimeter of the pool and check around all the edges.
• If possible, do not install a pool in your home until your children are over the age of 5.

Some other Resources for Pool Safety:

• AAP.com
• RedCross.org

Having a pool in your Long Beach CA home is great! Just make sure you enjoy it safely.

Contributed by:  Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent of the Wagner iTeam at Keller Williams Clients' Choice Realty - specializing in Colorado Springs CO Real Estate.

Thank you Mariana!