When picking your options and building your new home, hardwood floors were on your must have list. Now you’ve got them. How are you going to keep them looking good?

Floor mats in your entryways are your new best friend. Tiny dirt particles can have the same effect as a fine grade sand paper causing small scratches in your nice new finished hardwood floors. Use floor mats to dislodge as many of these abrasive guests as possible and your floors will look better for the effort.

Runners are also a good idea in high traffic areas like hallways and stairs, and area This is especially helpful if there are a lot of kids or pets running through that could add the scratch factor to your floors.

Area rugs can be helpful under major furniture items like dining room tables and kitchen tables. These will act as shock absorbers and shield your floors from other possible scratching from shifting chairs.

Protect high splash zones in front of kitchen and bathroom sinks with rugs. This will reduce the possibility of water stains, warping and discoloration.  But remember rubber backed non-ventilated rugs can damage your floors. Make sure your rug of choice is good with hardwoods.

Take a tip from Asia. Don’t be afraid to ask people to take their shoes off when they walk into your home. After all people are required to remove their shoes in airports, so why not in a setting as intimate as your new home? It’s a common practice in many countries in Asia to keep the outside dirt from entering in, and in general it keeps the floors much cleaner and less likely to be damaged. If you like keep a basket with some visitor slippers there for guests.

Keep them clean and free from dirt.  Invest in a soft high quality broom to sweep dust and dirt without scratching up your floors. Use a vacuum (But make sure not to scratch the floors with it) to clean hard to reach areas such as corners, between boards, and beside shoe molding.  For any more in-depth cleaning follow the installation directions for your particular type of flooring and look to the recommended products by specific manufactures.

These are just a few ways to protect your investment and enjoy your hardwood floors for years to come.  Stay tuned for more tips and tricks to maintain your new home.

Mortgage Interest Deductions – Homeowners have their own built in tax shelter since tax rates favor home ownership.  Upon purchasing a home the way the majority of mortgages are structured, the largest part of your payment is actually interest. This interest is fully deductable on your tax returns, as long as your mortgage balance is smaller than the price of your home.  For a comprehensive look at the break down of home mortgage deductions including points, mortgage insurance premiums, and how to deduct interest on your tax returns refer to IRS publication 936.

Property Tax Deductions – The majority of homeowners pay some form of local or state property tax based on the assessed value of their real estate holdings. In most cases these taxes are deductible as long as it is on the assessed value, and it is a uniform rate assessed on all property in the jurisdiction.  Refer to tax publications for more detailed information.

Capital Gain Exclusion – Homeowners who have lived in their homes as a primary residence for a minimum of two of the past five years can take capital gains exclusions upon selling their homes at a profit.  If you are an individual you can exclude up to $250,000 and for married couples an exclusion of $500,000 can be taken. In order to qualify for this deduction you do not need to purchase another home, nor are you restricted by age. This type of exclusion can take place once every 24 months so in essence you may make this profit without taxation every two years. Limitations may apply, check the tax codes for more details.

Build Equity by Reducing Principal – Unless you are currently on an interest only mortgage each month a portion of your mortgage payment is applied to the principle balance on your loan.  With each payment homeowners reduce their interest payment and increase their principal payment hence gaining more equity.  However in the early years of the loan much more of the payment goes to interst, and a only a small portion to principal. There are ways to build your equity even quicker and knock off some of the interest paid over the life of the loan. This can include paying extra each month, paying bi-weekly, or paying an extra payment each year.  Just one extra payment a year could knock 6-7 years off the life of your loan.

Equity Loans - Many credit cards can charge rates as high as 18-24% and the interest paid on these cards is not tax deductible.  Homeowners who have built up equity in their home may opt to pay these cards off with a home equity loan, or use a home equity loan for college education, home improvements, medical bills and more.  Typically these interest rates are much lower than regular credit lines, and the interest can be tax deductible. Look at IRS Publication 936 for more details.

For the full extent of deductions that home ownership can bring it is necessary to itemize your tax returns. But in the end the benefits outweigh the time it will take to complete your taxes. For more information on itemizing your returns to take full advantage of your tax deductions associated with home ownership IRS publication 530 is a great resource.

This index measures increases in housing permits, employment, and price improvements as identified in metropolitan areas for a minimum of six consecutive months.  Some of the previously hardest hit markets are showing signs of recovery as they come off their lows. New entrants for February include Miami, Fla; Boston; Detroit; Kansas City, Mo.; Portland, Ore.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Salt Lake City.

What does this mean for wood-be homebuyers? You will start seeing pricing stabilize in many housing markets across the United States.  If you’ve been on the fence about purchasing a new home, it’s a good time to buy. Interest rates continue to be favorable for those who can qualify for loans.  If you need tips on improving your credit rating to qualify for a new home check out our article on Credit Repair.

According to NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe, “This is a sign that a large cross section of the country is starting to turn the corner as local economic conditions stabilize.”

For a complete list of all 98 recovering markets listed on the IMI visit www.nahb.org/imi. And for more details and the complete article from NAHB Visit the National Association For Home Builders for this and other valuable information.

Your credit score is a 3 digit number lenders use to calculate your eligibility and rate for a home loan. But how is your credit score calculated? The formula takes into account your payment history, how much you owe, how long you’ve had credit, and how often you apply for new credit.

There are several different credit score reporting agencies and each can have slightly different ranges. This is why it is important to take a look at 3 different credit reports in determining what your score range is.

 The following are examples of credit ranges and reporting agencies.

• The FICO score ranges from 300-850
• The VantageScore ranges from 501 – 990
• The Equifax credit scores range from 280 -850
• The Experian Plus ranges from 330-830
• The TransRisk score ranges from 350-850

With all these different credit scores and ranges, the one that is most widely used by creditors is the FICO score. Anything lower than a 650 may impede the process of qualifying for new credit. Because credit scores and credit reports are constantly changing it is important to review them on regular basis.  By checking your credit annually this helps you keep track of any fraudulent activity.

5 tips for improving your credit:

Pay bills on time: late payments and collections reduce your credit score.

Don’t max out credit limit: by keeping your balance below 65% of your maximum allowed credit you can increase your score.

Don’t apply for credit you don’t need: too many inquiries over a short period of time can reduce your credit score.

Don’t close old credit accounts even if they are inactive: this can make your credit history appear shorter which can reduce your score.

Correct any negative inaccuracies on your credit report: inaccuracies can increase your score.

With just these few tips and tricks to credit scores you can help keep your score at a reasonable level, and improve the probability of getting the best rates available for a home mortgage.

Avoid salt and chemicals when deicing porches, sidewalks and driveways. This includes Calcium chloride, Magnesium chloride, Deicing fluid and all other associated chemicals. These chemicals can penetrate, corrode and disintegrate concrete.

Rock salt (Sodium choloride) releases the highest amount of Chloride ions when it dissolves. These ions can pollute water supplies such as rivers, streams and lakes. They can also corrode metals on your vehicles and prove to be skin irritants. Imagine the damage caused to new landscaping and sod.

Tolle recommends evade all use of chemicals and take an alternative method of using sand. Sand acts as a traction assist and not as an actual deicer. Look for sand that has less dust content to ensure respiratory irritants are not later released into the air through the dust. Use minimal amounts so as not to cause clogging issues with drainage and sewer systems.

For more alternatives check out these Eco Friendly Deicing Options. You may want to contact our Customer Care team prior to using one of the listed options.

Check out our last blog post about avoiding frozen pipes.  If you have tidbits of advice you would like to share, email kboone@ideal-homes.com.

Visit Ideal Homes to learn more about our company, products and communities.

Our Customer Care Team visits our home owners at 60 days and eleven months after residing in the home. This is to address anything which can be covered under our one-year builder warranty & to ensure all expectations are met.

One thing which helps home owners avoid unnecessary mishaps is education. Frozen pipes can plague even the most savvy home owner.

Tolle states the following in regards to avoiding this cold and costly issue:

Unhook hoses or any applications to exterior faucets during below freezing temperatures.  These can hold water in the faucets causing it to break inside the wall. (See the faucet image.) The next time the exterior faucet is used, water may leak into the wall due to the break. Exterior faucets affected by freeze breaks are not covered under warranty and may become a costly repair expense.

When temperatures drop to freezing level ensure avoidance of frozen interior pipes by leaving a steady drip in water through faucets most affected by the decreased temperature. It is also helpful to open cabinets and circulate the warmer air to keep the pipes warmer. If the air is still too cold, caulk and seal any openings near the pipes.

Check out our last blog post about year round lawn health.  If you have tidbits of advice you would like to share, email kboone@ideal-homes.com.

Visit Ideal Homes to learn more about our company, products and communities.

Situated in the NE part of Norman off Rock Creek Road between Highway 77 and Porter Avenue, Trail Woods offers new homes from the $120’s to the $160’s. Two and three bedroom floor plans are available, with new home designs starting just below 1,000 square feet up to 1,634 square feet.  In addition to the many homesites available at Trailwoods for a family to build on, several homes are already completed and ready for quick move-in. The new home community’s central location provides easy, quick access to I-35, Sooner Road and Highway 9.

Young homeowners living in Trail Woods attend Adams Elementary, Whittier Middle School and Norman North High School, which is a short walking distance south of the community. Also within walking and biking distance from Trail Woods is the Cleveland County Family YMCA.

True to the Ideal Homes’ energy efficiency commitment, all the new homes in Trail Woods are constructed to building codes that offer twice the energy efficiency for heating and cooling costs as standard Energy Star homes.

For homeowners looking for a city with an abundance of entertainment, educational opportunities and athletics, Norman, Oklahoma, has it all. Chocolate lovers rejoice every winter at the annual Chocolate Festival sponsored by the Firehouse Art Center. Lords and ladies gather every spring to celebrate the Medieval Fair. Music enthusiasts listen to the smooth, captivating sounds of Jazz in June every summer. Come fall, it’s time to get some football and tailgating on as the OU Sooners take to the field.

Norman, Ideal Homes and Trail Woods – a true winning combination for anyone looking for new homes in Norman, Oklahoma.

The chief economist for the NAR, Lawrence Yun said, “The pattern of home sales in recent months demonstrates a market in recovery,” he said. “Record low mortgage interest rates, job growth and bargain home prices are giving more consumers the confidence they need to enter the market.”

On a 12-month basis, from December of 2010 to December of 2011 existing home sales were higher by 3.6%.  Also in December, housing inventory dropped 9.2 percent to 2.38 million existing homes on the market. This is the lowest level since March of 2005 when existing homes on the market reached 2.30 million.  Yun Said, “The inventory supply suggests many markets will see prices stabilize or grow moderately in the near future.”

As existing home sales rose over the past 3 months, so too did homebuilders confidence which has reached the highest level since June 2007, according to Bloomberg News this rise in builder confidence can be attributed to stronger sales and improved buyer traffic. The confidence measure among builders, which increased for the past 4 months in a row, reflect an improvement in all four regions of the United States.

What do all these statistics mean for buyers? This means many markets will start to see stabilization in pricing and will begin to see some growth. Now is the time to buy a new home.  With less inventory, low interest rates, and a strong indicator that many markets are beginning to stabilize, this would be the time to hop of the fence and give serious thought to following through on that new home purchase you’ve been dreaming of.

Source: National Association of Realtors. 

The first tidbits regarding yard maintenance are crucial given this mild temperature we have had so far this winter season. One surefire way to watch a potentially beautiful lawn deteriorate is by not quenching its thirst throughout the seasons.

Tolle states the following in regards to wetting your lawn’s whistle:

Continue to water new sod, shrubs and trees as weather permits.  Grass turns brown and trees lose leaves due to changes in seasons. Make sure to still care for lawn and landscaping.

Winter can bring precipitation, and yet Oklahoma weather is anything but predictable.  If climate dictates no moisture for a week and the temperatures are mild enough to do so, it’s time to water. Watering the grass during winter months can continue to help secure root establishment. This will assist in making  greener, healthier lawns when the season changes.

Another thing to consider – avoid herbicides if your lawn is less than a year old. Herbicide will kill your dormant Bermuda. This will leave your lawn in disarray upon the arrival of spring.

We will post more advice soon. If you have tidbits of advice you would like to share regarding home health, email kboone@ideal-homes.com.

Visit Ideal Homes to learn more about our company, products and communities.

Located in SW Oklahoma City south of SW 149th on Western, this Ideal Homes new home community offers new homes in Moore, Oklahoma from the $140s to $180s. Three and four-bedroom home designs are available from 1,267 to approximately 2,000 square feet. Keep in mind that all of Ideal’s new home designs, from the smallest to the largest, follow strict construction guidelines that provide twice the energy efficiency in heating and cooling as Energy Star homes. This green feature saves home owners approximately $50 to $80 per month on heating and cooling costs when compared to homes built to standard energy codes.

Whether you’re needing a new home now, within the next 45 days, or have the time to build from the ground up, new homes in Featherstone can accommodate your time frame.

Featherstone offers a quick commute to Oklahoma City’s three major highways – I-35, I-240 and I-44 and Will Rogers World Airport. New home owners living in Featherstone enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment in SW Oklahoma City and Moore, both of which are minutes away.

Moore Public Schools serve the children living in Featherstone. They attend Oakridge Elementary, Brink Jr. High and Southmoore High School, Moore’s newest high school facility.

Featherstone is quickly becoming one of Moore, Oklahoma’s most popular new home Communities.