Our blog on all things housing, local events, and fun happenings!

When looking at buying a home, there are a lot of options out there. Should you build? Should you choose a manufactured home?  Is a residential resale best for your family?  There are a lot of factors that go into these decisions.  Some of them may be financing restrictions, the size of homes, location, or quality, just to name a few.  HOMESPOT started out over 30 years ago selling manufactured homes.  Since then, we have diversified to offer all types of housing, and we are the ONLY business in New Mexico to offer all types of housing.  Manufactured homes are a very viable option to buy a new home at an affordable price, and still be able to customize it.  Manufactured homes have several benefits.  Some of them are:

1. Builders must adhere to  a strict code
2. Reasonable Cost
3. No delays in construction
4. Computer Designed
5. More choices
6. Financing

 You can see the full list HERE.  CBS also recently did a feature for their Sunday Morning program on factory built homes and how they have changed over the years and what they can be today.  I invite you to watch that video and see the diversity of the industry.

In today's world, there is technology for everything.  It has now infiltrated your home.  Some things are a bit over the top, like heated toilet seats.  Some things, though, are just down right handy.  One of the coolest things i've seen is a Goji lock.  You can control it with your smart phone, unlock it for anyone when you are away, or see a picture of who is at your door.  It senses when you're phone is close so you don't have to fumble around for keys, but also comes with a fob for those who do not have smart phones.  When all else fails, though, it also has a old fashion key as a back up.

Another of the more common gadgets is a Nest thermostat.  It tracks your thermostat settings for a few weeks, then starts to operate on autopilot.  It knows when you're not home, but will warm up or cool down your home shortly before you return.  Same for in the evenings.  It will cool off at night then a few hours before you wake, it will start warming the house again.

There are lots of other cool internet connected gadgets that Belkin WeMo has created.  They have light switches, light bulbs, crock pots, plugs, baby monitors, and many other items that you can control with your phone. If you're out of town, you can turn off and turn on lights.  If you need to adjust the temperature of the crock pot for that roast you're cooking for dinner, you can do that too.  The plugs can track the energy used by the appliance plugged into them.  For example, a space heater in your home office.  You can turn it on remotely, it will track usage, and then when you leave the house and forget about it, you can turn it off with your phone.  Some other systems take things so far you can control your house with your voice, but WeMo system seems to keep things a bit simpler and user friendly while not costing an arm and a leg.

If you have any of these gadgets, we at HOMESPOT would love to hear about how they work for you.

With the constantly rising cost of energy, we all try to save energy in any way we can. Since heating and cooling make up about half of our energy bills, the U.S. Department of Energy reports that changing your HVAC filter can improve the efficiency of your HVAC equipment by 5% to 15%.

Imagine that savings in dollars:

Say your average utility bills total $200 a month – that could mean a savings of $10-$30 a month and up to $360 a year!

The air filter is responsible for removing particles of dust and debris so that your A/C system remains clean and functioning. Filter changes are necessary to keep your household running smoothly.

Here are five reasons to change your home air filter:

1. Filter Clogging: When too many particles of dust and debris get caught inside your filter, it stops efficient air flow. Ignoring it will only make it worse. A filter change solves this quickly.
2. Your Health: Imagine if you didn’t change that clogged air filter. What would happen? Bits of dust and dirt would slowly fly into your house, creating an open range for allergy and disease. Filter changes nip this threat before it can even happen.
3. Save Money: Replacing your entire A/C system will cost you more money, when a simple filter change might be the solution.
4. Save Energy: When your air filter has to work more due to clogging or other issues, it will use more energy. Changing your air filter is an efficient solution for saving energy and keeping your utility bill low.
5. Easy and Fast: It is not difficult to change your filter. Remove the old one. Find out what kind of filter you have and buy a replacement at the store in the same size. It is easy to install in your A/C system.

When to Change the Filter

According to Energystar.gov, the filters on your home system likely need to be changed either once a month or once every three months, depending on the type you’re using.

Most people will change their filters at the start of a new season, when they know the equipment is going to be working its hardest. Some people, on the other hand, change it once a month – just to be on the safe side. What are the factors that determine how often the air filter should be changed?

• What type of air filter do you have? Since each type has a different life span, use that to help determine how often to change it.
• What is the air quality like in the house? If the air does not seem as clear or fresh as it used to, or you are having issues with allergies or frequent colds, you may need to replace your filter more often or choose a different type.
• Are there pets in the house? If you have pets in the home, you may want to consider changing filters more frequently or choosing a type that helps with dander.
• How many people are in the home? The more people in the home, the more dust and dirt flies around – consider changing your filters more often.

To remind yourself, make it something you do on the 1st day of the month or on a day that you normally take care of other monthly household tasks such as paying your rent or mortgage payment. Making this part of your regular routine will not only improve the quality of your home’s air, it will go a long way towards keeping your air conditioner functioning optimally for many years and saving you money!

College students to newlyweds find the prospect of home ownership a consideration for “someday in the future.” That’s why most of us start life on our own in a rental.  There are many benefits to renting. As a tenant you are not obligated to pay for general repairs, you know how much to pay every month so there are no surprises and a lease can be short or long term to suit your needs. 

On the downside you can’t remodel or make any changes to the property without permission from the owner. Mounting a satellite on the exterior of a rental property is just asking for trouble. Installers are looking for a paycheck and that only comes when the customer has service. Getting that service requires a mount for the dish to reach the proper angle to the satellite leaving holes in the roof or siding that cause water damage, and damages cause by the tenants are paid by the tenants.

Pets and play equipment are also a consideration. If you have a pet of any kind or plan to get a pet in the future the landlord must give you permission to do so. Failure to take this into consideration can lead to eviction and/or penalty fees or damages. And yes this includes any pet you can buy from a pet store: fish, lizards, snakes, hamsters, dogs, cats, etc. Play equipment, pools and trampolines can be a huge liability. This creates a need for liability waivers, additional insurance, and environmental considerations to protect the tenant and the homeowner from incurring problems down the road.

Finding a rental in today's market is a challenging experience. There are many fluctuations in the economy which impacts the real estate market all together. If it’s a great time to buy a house the mortgage payment may be less expensive than rent, and there might be a rental on every corner but when sales are down there will be more listings and fewer rental options.

When looking at properties to rent you may choose to rent from an individual or a property management company. Keep in mind that both are going to be looking out for the best interest of the property, as an investment, for the owner. It is beneficial to you, as an tenant, to get everything in writing before you move in. Renters insurance is also a must in either situation since the owner will have insurance on the property but not on your personal belongings. If there is damage from a fire, flood or other disaster and you are not insured the property owner is not obligated to take care of you.

It is also important to take care of your obligations. Rental history and references are a vital part of today's rental market. Bad history will limit your options and could leave you out in the cold.