Adding Value by Dennis O'Hagan

TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR HOME COOLER...

BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF HEAT THAT YOUR HOME GENERATES:

1. Cook outside on a grill instead of heating your home by using your oven or stove;
2. Run the dishwasher and do the laundry in the evening when temperatures are cooler;
3. Caulk and seal around doors and windows, to help avoid entering / escaping airs;
4. Service your A/C unit(s) - even a small amount of missing Freon may cause your system to work less efficiently;
5. Properly insulate - using at least 12 inches depending on the material content;
6. Ventilate your homes attic allowing heat to move up and out - one square foot opening for every 150 square feet;
7. Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescents and LEDs to reduce heat output and electrical use - although there may be initial costs, are more cost-saving overtime in multiple ways; and
8. Consider "Radiant Barrier" systems which may prevent 75% and up of the suns radiant heat from entering the attic area.

One or two of these steps may reduce the amount of heat your home is generating!

STAY COOL!!!

*  Tips provided by Candace & Richard Whitsitt, www.WeInspectDFW.com

Safety tips and small home repairs program help residents during heat wave...

Texas is facing the most significant heat wave since the summer of 1980. Excessively hot weather can be dangerous or even deadly. If you do not have access to air conditioning, the Salvation Army, 600 Wilson Creek Pkwy., offers a cool place to visit Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
 
The McKinney Fire Department offers the following tips for hot weather survival:

• Never leave a person or an animal in a closed, parked vehicle. The inside temperature of a vehicle can climb to dangerous levels in a matter of minutes.
• Drink at least 5 to 7 ounces of cool water every 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid alcohol and drinks with caffeine. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink.
• Check frequently on family, friends and neighbors who are elderly, ill, or may be in need of assistance. 
• Click here for more tips

If your home needs energy-efficiency or minor repairs, the City of McKinney offers eligible homeowners Minor Repair Assistance through its Housing Rehabilitation Program. This city-wide program offers repairs up to $12,000 on replacement or repair of an air conditioner, plumbing, electrical, windows or other minor repairs necessary to improve safe living conditions and energy efficiency. The program is funded through the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).   
 
For more information, contact Christine Lawton at 972-547-2663 or stop by the Community Services Department at 314 S. Chestnut St

Keeping cool...

As I write this from my comfortable air conditioned home office, I know what is awaiting me the minute I step outside. The weather this morning called for it to be 100+ degrees again today for the 26th straight day of 100+ degrees...  And no sign of letting up...  UGH!!! 

1. Soak your feet in a bucket of cold water.
You can do it almost anywhere and don't have to stay in the tub. The body radiates heat from the hands, feet, face and ears, so cooling any of these will efficiently cool the body.

2. Running cold water over your wrists for 10 seconds each hand will reduce your temperature for roughtly an hour. It takes 20 seconds to do and feels very nice if your wrists come in contact with other body parts.

3. Wear Summer Clothing: Wear natural fabrics (cotton, silk, linen) rather than polyester, rayon, or other artificial fibers (with the possible exception of performance fabrics). Wear Light Colors: Darker colors will absorb the sun's rays and be warmer than light or white clothing, which reflects light and heat. Wear natural summer clothing.

4. Use a hint of mint. Try a few minty or menthol products to cool your skin: slather on lotion with peppermint (avoid your face and eyes), shower with peppermint soap, use a minty foot soak, and powders with mint. Mint refreshes the skin and leaves a nice cooling sensation.

5. Cool as a cucumber! Slice a thin piece of cold cucumber (from the fridge or a cooler) and stick it in the middle of your forehead! This feels fantastic on a hot day or when stuck in a hot car, and works almost immediately!

6. Keep the back of your neck in shade (wear a cap in reverse way or raise your collar) and if necessary put a wet handkerchief on the back of the neck. The sensor for our body temperature control system is in this area and so with this you can make the body think that you are "cool".

Public asked to participate at 10th anniversary 9/11 ceremony

The McKinney Fire and Police Departments invite the public to a ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 11, in observance of the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. and take place at the site of the Veterans Memorial Park in McKinney, 6053 Weiskopf Ave.
 
Prior to the start of the ceremony, citizens will be given the opportunity to read off some of the names of those who were lost on Sept. 11, 2001. Employees of American Airlines and United Airlines are also invited to read the names of those lost on aircrafts flown by their respective airlines.
 
The readings will begin at 7:46 a.m. to coincide with the time the first World Trade Center tower was attacked. The list of about 3,000 names will be broken down into groups and assigned to the various volunteers. This portion of the 9-11 ceremony is expected to last approximately two and a half to three hours. Readers will be given a specific time frame to read within and are not required to be present during the entire reading period but are welcome to do so.
 
If you are interested in volunteering to read names, please contact Assistant Fire Chief Frank Roma at froma@mckinneytexas.org. Groups and individuals are welcome. The deadline for requesting to read is Aug. 12. Additional information about the event will be announced as the program is confirmed.

FHA Loan Myths -- The Self-employed and FHA Loan Qualification

One of the biggest myths about getting an FHA home loan? The idea that self-employed people are automatically disqualified for an FHA mortgage because of their employment status. While it’s true that it’s tougher for some in the early stages of a small business to make ends meet, being self-employed is not the kiss of death on an FHA loan application.

Proof of this can be found on the forms and FHA mortgage pages of lender websites—most financial institutions offering FHA loans offer a page on the bank’s website offering “FHA loan prep” checklists which include advice on what to submit if you are self-employed. The notion that you can’t qualify if you work for yourself isn’t shared by lenders.

That said, it can be more difficult for some small business owners to qualify for an FHA loan, FHA refinance or homeowner bailout program for one simple reason; not keeping good records. You may be quite successful in your small business or as a freelance contractor, but if you can’t show on paper that you have a consistent income, the FHA can’t conclude that you are a good risk.

Your FHA loan application requires you to show not only that you were gainfully employed, but also what your net income was compared to business expenses. Self-employed people will also need to show a profit-loss statement. If you don’t keep good records of legitimate business expenses, don’t have your taxes professionally prepared, and guesstimate your profits and losses, the FHA loan process could come to a halt very quickly for you. The question your loan officer will ask goes from “Can you afford your monthly FHA home loan payments?” to, “How long until my applicant needs some kind of homeowner bailout program?”

This is why self-employed people should take plenty of extra time when planning to buy a home. For some, the average prep time is about one year—especially if there are issues with credit repair or disputes on credit reports to deal with. For a self-employed person, showing reliable income for two years is a very good way to make conditions as favorable as possible to get approved for an FHA mortgage.

That means solid record-keeping, an aggressive approach to finding (and keeping) steady work, and paying strict attention to your taxes. Remember that unlike those with traditional careers, there’s an additional layer of scrutiny to the ebb and flow of steady income. If you went a long period between contracts, or if your business shut down for a time, your loan officer will want to know why and whether such periods of inactivity could happen again or how they affect your ability to make your FHA mortgage payments.

Is it more difficult for self-employed people to get an FHA mortgage? Yes. Is it impossible? Absolutely not, but you need to plan for extra scrutiny to your personal bottom line, keep good records, and be able to show your loan officer that you are indeed a good risk.