Metro Cola Guide

Keep Those Air Leaks Sealed

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:55:00 +0000

Most of us know where there are big drafts in our homes, but we still haven't done anything about them. A good starting point is to close the gaps and cracks around some common leaky areas:

air conditioners - vents/fans - doors and wndow frames - mail delivery chutes - cable/tv phone lines - gas and electrical entrances - dryer vent to the outside - around bricks or foundations

You an hire an expert and have an energy audit. This would include a blower test to determine the exact areas where the home leaks. An energy audit shoud give you specific recommendations and savings.

Do-it-yourself techniques from www.energy.gov are good fo detecting leaks:

Shine a flashlight where you think thereare gaps while a helper observes the house from outside.
Shut a door or window on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out without tearing it, you are losing energy there.
To depressurize your home to detect leaks : turn off the furnace and shut all windows and doors, turn on all exhaust fans that blow air outside, light a incense stick and pass it around the edges of common leak sites - where the air is sucked out is a draft.

You don't want your home too tight, as most homes need to breathe. Most homes lose 60% of their air every hour, which is uncontrolled air leakage. This can contribute to mold, dusty air that can enter through attics or foundations.

Columbia SC is the 8th Most Livable Marketplace

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:08:00 +0000

Columbia SC is a bargain in terms of affordable living. The cost of living is low, due in large part to a median home price of $137,900. Winters are relatively mild, and there are only six days a year where the temperature is over 100 degrees. However, summers are long, hot and humid, and midsummer thunderstorms are frequent.

Columbia is a bit far away for air service and other big-city amenities. However, it is still within reach of Charleston and attractive beaches 120 miles down the coast, and Atlanta 200 miles west.

Population 718,641
Affordability index 2.90
Unemployment 9.3
Job growth -1.90%
Median home price 137,900
Home price appreciation 1.03%
Cost of living index 90.4
Median household income $47,560
Commute time (mins.) 26.2
% commutes greater than an hour 5.38%

5 Things You Should Know About Short Sales With First and Second Loans

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:13:00 +0000

1. A short sale is an easier way to get out of a mortgage for homeowners that cannot make their payments and is a lower loss for a lender than a foreclosure.

2. The home is sold for less than what the outstanding balance is on the property.

3. Secondary lenders that provide a secondary mortgage on a property usually receive nothing if the short sale does not cover the balance on the first loan.

4. The process can be slow and is also greatly affected by property valuations variations from price drops.

5. The lenders may negotiate between the secondary lender and the investors as to who will take the greater loss on the outstanding balance.

Fueling the Foreclosures

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:58:00 +0000

Many more homeowners are walking away from their homes. Some of them have the means to pay for these homes, but they are choosing to let the home go. You may ask why is that? It is not an easy decision to make, but it is seen as a sacrifice. To some of these homeowners, it just makes sense to let their home go in foreclosure. They do not want to wait until the housing market makes a full recovery to get their home's value back to the amount they paid for it. They feel like that is very far off in the future.

This is very challenging to our government. They have funded $75 billion into keeping struggling homeowners in their homes. If the homeowners that can comfortably pay for their homes are walking away, then what does that say for the future of foreclosures bringing down home values. This is a neverending vicious cycle. The job market may get better, but the housing market will still suffer. Where are these homeowners going? Are they becoming renters or are they going to live with family for free? More than likely, they will be spending their money on some type of living arrangement. As long foreclosures are rising, the real estate recovery or maybe what some call a market correction is far, far away.

Halloween Events You Can't Miss

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:45:00 +0000

Saturday, October 31. Halloween in 5 Points.
Trick or treating with merchants, pumpkin carving contest, children & adult costume contest, live music by Twilight Armada, The Love Handles, and Tootie and The Jones, a haunted house of candy and prizes, 5 Witches of Five Points Hunt, PLUS John Tudor the Magician and balloon creations. There's so much to do at this event! Visit 5 Points

for more information.

Saturday, October 31. Spooky Tour!
Wear your costume and join us for a spooktacular tour of the Art Museum's Collection! 3 pm. Free with admission. Visit the Columbia Museum of Art for more information.

Saturday, October 31. Fall Halloween Carnival.
Join us for a fun-filled Halloween event with carnival games, a bounce house, face painting, a balloon artist and magician, pumpkin decorating and many more activities. Concessions will be available for purchase. Admission is Free! Game tickets are 6 for $1.00, with all games needing 1 to 2 tickets. The Bounce House is 2 tickets per visit. Each child in costume will receive 1 free ticket. We will be taking canned good donations for Harvest Hope Food Bank. Bring a canned food item and receive 1 free ticket (limit 1 ticket per person). Have your picture taken in one of our Halloween scenes. Don't forget to bring a bag for your goodies! Visit the Palmetto Activity Center for more information.

October 22-24 and 29-31. Phobia: Mirrors Edge.
Phobia: Mirrors Edge is in its second year and it is brought to you by the creative team from Blood Moon (on the river). This event promises to be Columbia’s premiere haunted attraction with scares focused on your worst fear. Visit the 2 different haunted houses and the maze of terror! Come and help us answer the question….What are you Afraid of? Military discounts every night. Jamil Temple, 206 Jamil Rd. Visit Phobia or call 772-9380 for more information.

October 28-30. HalloWonka.
EdVenture Children's Museum is calling all pint-sized fairies, firemen and mermaids! Does your family want to enjoy a fun, safe, indoor Halloween celebration? Keeping it warm, bright and super kid-friendly for our tricker treaters, HalloWonka is a three-day event that allows children of all ages to experience the joys of Halloween hosted by the world’s largest child, EDDIE! Join all of your friends for a museum-wide, activity-filled week that allows for after-hours exploration of EdVenture (5:30 – 8 pm) along with unique Halloween games sure to entertain and amuse the child in everyone! Tickets are $7 per person and may be purchased in advance or on the nights of the events. Contact 779-3100 or visit EdVenture for more information.

October 23-30. Boo at the Zoo.
It's the family event that will make Mom giggle, Dad jiggle and kids wiggle with delight! Enjoy the Trick-or-Treat Trail, Moonlight Magic with Ray, Nightly Costume Parade, Marshmallow Roast, Frankenstein’s Foam Zone, A-Maze-ing Pirate Adventure, Creepy Creature Encounters, Mummy’s Eeky Freaky Dance Party and so much more! To prevent long lines, all tickets must be ordered in advance and no tickets will be sold on the nights of the event! Visit Riverbanks Zoo for more information.

October 31. Hallow-Palooza Day!
Come to Wingard's Nursery and find out exactly what Hallow-Palooza Day is! Lots of fun for kids, wear your costume for the Halloween Parade, ride the Halloween Train, eat a hot dog lunch, and vote for your favorite scarecrow! 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. Visit Wingard's Nursery for more information.

October 31. Tricks & Treats II.
Especially for kids, this annual family event will feature a Haunted Halloween party with games, crafts, balloon art, face painting and much more! Wear a costume and receive $1 off regular museum admission for the day! Visit the SC State Museum for more information.

October 31. Haunted House & Halloween Party!
The City of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation invites the public to have a ghostly good time at its annual Halloween party and haunted house at Dutch Square Mall on Halloween night. 4-6 pm. Dutch Square Mall is located at 421 Bush River Rd.