IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE:

Estridge Homeowners: 30-Year Fixed Rates as low as 4.327% PLUS NO CLOSING COSTS!

Refinancing interest rates are still at all time lows and FirstSource Capital, an Estridge Company, is offering current Estridge homeowners the opportunity to save up to $436 every month on your mortgage payment with NO CLOSING COSTS. If you haven't reviewed your fixed mortgage rate in a while, now is the time!

>> Learn more about this special offer from FirstSource Capital.

Introducing Estridge New Home Designs! NEW: Estridge Guaranteed Buy Out Program!

Build a new home with Estridge and we guarantee your existing home will sell for 95% of the qualified list price. For more information contact Angie Huser at 317.669.8619 or husera@estridge.net or click here to register for information.

>> Learn more about this exciting opportunity for homeowners.

►HOMExperience Home Hint

Decorating your home for the first time? Updating an older home? Or just looking for decorating ideas? Read this month's HOMExperience Home Decor Hint to gather ideas for your bedroom, bathroom, living room or kitchen.

>> Learn more from the team at HOMExperience.

Did you know Estridge recently introduced more than 20 new home designs? You will find these new designs appealing on many levels, yet customizable to your personal tastes. Highlights include traditional spaces such as family foyers, mud rooms and Mom's retreats. All new designs include flex space near the guest foyer, allowing the ability to create a first floor guest bedroom, study or formal dining room. Match your needs and tastes with a brand new Estridge home!

 >> Learn more about these new home designs from Estridge.

 Estridge Neighborhood News!

Curious about your Estridge neighborhood? Find updates here! And feel free to share this news with any of your Estridge neighbors! The August issue includes updates on Anderson Hall, Bridgewater Parks, Grandin Hall, Heritage Hill, Highland Green, Somerset Woods and Whispering Pines... 

>> Read more Estridge neighborhood news here.

Introducing the Estridge Guaranteed Buy Out Program!

Build a new home with Estridge and we guarantee your existing home will sell for 95% of the qualified list price!

No risk. No worries.
 
To learn more about this program please contact Angie Huser at 317.669.8619 or husera@estridge.net.

OR

Visit Estridge.com to register for more information.

Anderson Hall News!
Welcome new residents!

Grandin Hall News!
Last month we mentioned Grandin Hall in Carmel added Christina Templeton, New Home Consultant, to their team! You can contact Christina by calling 317.669.8700, or by emailing templetonc@estridge.net. Grandin Hall is currently offering the Estridge Build Your Neighborhood Promotion! For more information on this promotion, call Christina Templeton at 317.669.8700, or by emailing templetonc@estridge.net.
West Carmel loves Grandin Hall! Grandin Hall is responsible for 38% of homes sold, both new and existing, in West Carmel starting at $600,000. And to add to our existing repertoire of custom homes, Grandin Hall has introduced plans in the $495,000 range. Find out what all the excitment is about! Call Christina Templeton, 317.669.8700, today!
Two Grandin Hall Homes Now Available! There is a New Home Available at Grandin Hall! With over 6,000 square feet, including 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a 3-car garage and 1 1/2 stories on a finished lower level with a fabulous Lanai, this home is offered at $729,000. Plus, the Grandin Hall MODEL HOME is now available! This stunning home offers 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a 4-car garage along with spectacular finishes plus 7,255 sqare feet and an outdoor Lanai. The Garndin Hall MODEL HOME is now offered at $898,000. Call Christina Templeton, 317.669.8700, for details! Learn more about Grandin Hall here.

Heritage Hill News!
Heritage Hill in Avon would like to welcome two new homeowners! Two new Estridge homeowners at Heritage Hill closed in the last month on homesite 8 and 16! Welcome!
Other Heritage Hill News: The Estridge Inventory Home on homesite 39 is almost complete! Check it out today!
“We just started framing a gorgeous ranch design on homesite 12,” Michelle Cannava, New Home Consultant at Heritage Hill, said. “It looks great, offering homeowners (and those thinking about building or buying a home) a chance to stop in and see this design transform into a home!” Learn more about Heritage Hill here.


Highland Green News!
Highland Green in Brownsburg is currently running a referral program where the customer will get a $500 gift card at HOMExperience. Refer somebody today! This program will run through December 31. Learn more about HOMExperience here.
We mentioned last month Highland Green added Jeff Visscher as a New Home Consultant! You can contact Jeff Visscher by calling 317.669.8631 or by emailing visscherj@estridge.net.



Somerset Woods has five different designs currently in construction! Stop in to see these designs transform into homes! Contact Kelly Dillon, New Home Consultant at Somerset Woods, by calling 317.669.8624 or by emailing dillonk@estridge.net. Find more information on Somerset Woods here.


Whispering Pines in Avon is growing! This Estridge neighborhood currently has many homes under construction, including a new ranch design under construction at Whispering Pines homesite 111. Along with the new homes, new paved roads are now available for use at Whispering Pines! And their staff is growing. Whispering Pines would like to welcome Lauren Geisler, their new Sales Associate, along with Chase Miller, their new assistant builder! Questions about Whispering Pines in Avon? Contact Angela Line, New Home Consultant, by calling 317.669.8635 or by emailing linea@estridge.net. Learn more about Whispering Pines here.
 

Learn more about Estridge, central Indiana's hometown homebuilder since 1967, here. Check back here or become a friend of Estridge on Facebook for regular updates.
 

HOMExperience in Clay Terrace allows you to explore more than 24,000 design features to truly personalize your new home or update your existing home. Thinking about updating your central Indiana home or building a new home with all new design features? In this month's HOMExperience Home Décor Hint, Candace Crooks, Designer with HOMExperience, discusses decorating ideas, ideas and... ideas!

Decorating your first home or apartment? Updating an older home? Or looking for a few home decorating ideas?

Ideas for the Bedroom: Avoid "overdoing it" with flower patterns. These patterns convey life and color, mix and match well, but need to be edited carefully by adding other elements. Striped pillows provide a bit of a contrast and a cool color on the walls quiets things down and keeps the flower-pattern look from being too much. Remember having less furniture puts a spotlight on other things in the room. Since these pieces will have a greater impact, choose them carefully.

Ideas for the Living Room: Make a non-working fireplace the focal point of the room by adding elements of fire with a large candelabra. Go a step further and add some texture with stacked split-logs. Also, avoid the white-out effect and cover large, plain walls with sculptural artwork, mirrors or removable decals.

Ideas for the Kitchen or Dining Room: For townhomes or apartments where space is at a real premium, a mix of materials and colors highlight the eclectic feel of these types of housing. For homes with space, try opaque shades for Kitchen Islands in order to prevent the glaring reflection in the granite countertop that clear shades would not prevent.

Ideas for the Bathroom: Valances above the tub area let in as much natural light as possible, but can lack in privacy. Roller shades can be installed underneath to help this problem. If you’re looking for a spot of color in that boring white-walled loo, consider a wallpaper border, also a great idea for a child’s bathroom that you might want to update easily when they grow up.

- Candace Crooks, Designer, HOMExperience

View the Estridge E-Lifestyle Blog for other tips and hints here. Check back for regular updates or become a FAN of HOMExperience on Facebook for regular updates. Learn more about Estridge, the hometown homebuilder since 1967, here.


Did you miss last month's Home Décor Hint?
Read the July Hint here.
Read the June Hint here.
Read the May Hint here.
Read the April Hint here.

Real-Estate Investing: the Best and Worst Markets

Aug. 21, 2010- Looking to snap up some investment properties on the cheap? You may want to consider Durham, N.C., Indianapolis and Huntsville, Ala. They are among the best places to invest now, according to a new report that ranks the best and worst markets for conservative residential-real-estate investors. Hard-hit Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla., are among the riskiest.

Local Market Monitor Inc., a Cary, N.C., firm that analyzes real-estate trends for lenders, builders and investors, compiled its first Investor Suitability Report using economic data through July 31 for 315 U.S. markets. The firm is best known for its housing-market forecasts, which use "equilibrium" home prices: what home values should be in relation to incomes, job growth and population. In its new report, it uses similar data to rank communities by their investment prospects, focusing on single-family homes.

Regions that rank highly for investment suitability are those where there is a low probability that home prices will fall further, says Local Market Monitor President Ingo Winzer. They are places where income is growing moderately; where employment is relatively stable because of a large percentage of jobs in health care, education or government; and where a relatively small share of jobs is in construction or financial services, which have been volatile. (Job losses in government and education tend to come later in an economic cycle, so some areas could be hit harder in coming months.)

The report, which excludes towns with fewer than 200,000 residents, focuses on price-appreciation potential instead of rental income, since falling home prices usually result in higher vacancy rates in apartment buildings and lower rents overall, Mr. Winzer says.

Good markets for conservative investors are those that already have stabilized and should yield average returns, Mr. Winzer says. Dangerous markets probably will see further price declines and have little potential for a turnaround because of poor local economies.

So-called speculative markets, by contrast, are those where prices could fall further, but which also have potential for greater appreciation of 3% to 5% annually after bottoming out—making them more suitable for investors with stronger stomachs. Local Market Monitor identifies Hagerstown, Md.; Jacksonville and Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Modesto, Calif.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C. as speculative areas.

In the best markets, home prices already are stabilizing. Durham, N.C., for instance, is home to Duke University and is near the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Big companies like International Business Machines Corp., GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Nortel Networks Corp., as well as numerous biotech start-ups, have facilities at the nearby Research Triangle Corporate Park. About 40% of area jobs are in health, education or government, according to Local Market Monitor.

Haywood Davis, owner of a Century 21 real-estate brokerage in Durham, says home-sales volume in the area increased 13% last month over July 2009, though prices rose only slightly.

Some other metro areas with large percentages of relatively stable jobs and moderate growth include Knoxville, Tenn.; Lexington, Ky.; and Indianapolis.

Jason Moore, a 34-year-old auto-sales manager in Baltimore, took advantage of plunging home prices in his hometown of Indianapolis to snap up an investment property there—a brand-new four-bedroom, two-bath home—for $56,000 late in 2008.

Prices in Indianapolis were falling because of foreclosures and rising unemployment. Disappointed with their stock-market investments, Mr. Moore and his wife, Keisha, 32, decided to buy an investment property to add to their portfolio. The Indiana house is generating a positive cash flow of about $300 a month in rent after mortgage, insurance, taxes and fees, he says.

"It has been adding income, and the tax benefit has been helpful," Mr. Moore says. Read the entire article here. 

Learn more about Estridge, the hometown homebuilder since 1967, here.

Finding the Best Builder; Tip # 4

• Check the real estate section of your newspaper to see where homes are going up and the builders building them.
• Check the resale homes in the newspaper. Look at these ads and see if they list the builder; if a builder's name is showing up over and over in resale ads, it means they probably have a reputation for building excellent homes.
• Walk through new home construction areas and look for the builders.
• Talk with a real estate professional about the builders they are familiar with or those they have worked with.
• Call the local builders association and ask many questions.
• Search the web, but focus your search outside the builder's website.
• Knock on a few doors. You'll get no better input on a builder than from actual homeowners.

In this story from IBJ.com's Norm Heikens, high-end homes are rebounding in the Indianapolis area, good news for central Indiana homeowners looking to build a new high-end home. Learn more about Estridge Custom Galleries, founded in 1994 to provide custom designed homes in distinct neighborhoods from around $500,000 to over $1 million, here.

High-end home market hits foreclosure lull - Norm Heikens for IBJ.com

July 24, 2010 - Until this year, Indiana’s foreclosure epidemic knew no demographic boundaries. Über-expensive homes, those priced at $1 million or more, skidded into foreclosure right alongside starter houses in the most notorious vinyl villages.

But suddenly that’s changed. Since March, not a single foreclosure on a house priced at $1 million or more has been filed in the Indianapolis area—a possible sign of better times ahead in a niche where selling prices are down 20 percent or more from their peak in 2005 and 2006.

The pullback follows more than 60 filings in the segment in the past two years, according to RealtyTrac, an Irvine, Calif., firm that tracks default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions.

Overall, foreclosure filings are on the upswing in the Indianapolis area, rising 22 percent, to nearly 20,000, in the 12 months that ended in May.

Just about everyone but prospective buyers wishes the blight would go away.

Many of the million-dollar homes ending up in foreclosure were owned by executives who found themselves unable to pay mortgages after losing jobs or businesses, or going through a divorce or suffering health problems.

Others were owned by contractors who built on speculation and then saw demand for mansions vanish almost overnight as the economy skidded into recession. Read Norm Heikens' entire IBJ.com article here.

Learn more about Estridge, central Indiana's premiere custom homebuilder, here. Learn more about Estridge Custom Galleries, founded in 1994 to provide custom designed homes in distinct neighborhoods from around $500,000 to over $1 million, here.

Check out BuilderOnline's take on Symphony, one of the largest developments ever in Indiana, an Estridge project currently in the zoning phase with the city of Westfield, Ind. Read a portion below, or the entire article here.

Estridge Moves Forward With $1.2 Billion TND; With 1,400 acres and more than 3,800 homes, Symphony is one of the largest developments ever in Indiana. - Alison Rice

July 22, 2010 - The housing downturn hasn’t curtailed the Estridge Company’s ambitions. This fall, the Carmel, Ind.,-based company plans to start breaking ground for Symphony, a traditional neighborhood development (TND) north of Indianapolis. At 1,400 acres and 3,860 homes, it will be one of the largest new-home developments ever in Indiana.

But Symphony will be notable for more than its significant size. Composed of a handful of “villages” linked by trails and roads, the $1.2 billion project in Westfield, Ind., will offer buyers and residents the chance to live in a community designed to bring together multiple generations: singles seeking urban density in suburban locations, sports-crazed families with minivans and soccer cleats; and aging seniors in need of continuing care.

“We want to model what new neighborhoods should be,” says Paul Estridge Jr., president of the Estridge Company.

Symphony seeks to accomplish that through an “intergenerational approach” that mixes housing types and prices across the development, rather than the customary “silo-ing” in many new-home developments, where the product offered only appeals to one market segment. Under that model, when housing needs change, buyers must move elsewhere, no matter how much they might love their community.

In the works since 2002, Symphony’s plans have evolved during the downturn. “It’s a blessing, because if we hadn’t have done this during a recession, we would have done [Symphony] on a quicker time frame,” Estridge says. “We would have missed the realization that we needed to be on a different track than we were on.”

“That’s the lesson of the recession,” says Brian Canin of Orlando, Fla., planning firm Canin Associates, which designed Symphony. “Before the recession, you could say, ‘I have the luxury of targeting just the $500,000 to $2 million market. Now we have to cater to the very broad spectrum of everyone who needs a house and put the money where it really works.” Read Alison Rice's entire article via BuilderOnline here.

Learn more about Estridge, central Indiana's premiere homebuilder since 1967, here.

Estridge Neighborhood News for July

There so many events and opportunities throughout the summer in the many Estridge neighborhoods in central Indiana. Here are few of the great things going on right now in these wonderful Estridge neighborhoods:

Bridgewater Parks is growing! Seven homes have been sold in this Estridge neighborhood in the past 90 days!
Bridgewater Parks is currently offering the Estridge Build Your Neighborhood Promotion. For more information on this promotion, call Jessica Paullus, New Home Consultant at Bridgewater Parks, at 317.669.8538, or by emailing paullusj@estridge.net.
New pricing at Bridgewater Parks! Bridgewater Parks is offering new homesite pricing for the Renaissance Collection homesites. For more information on the new homesite pricing, call Jessica Paullus, New Home Consultant at Bridgewater Parks, at 317.669.8538, or by emailing paullusj@estridge.net.
Learn more about Bridgewater Parks here.

Grandin Hall in Carmel has added Christina Templeton, New Home Consultant, to their team! You can contact Christina by calling 317.669.8700.
Grandin Hall is now offering two new floor plans available to walk through! Call Grandin Hall at 317.669.8700.
Grandin Hall is currently offering the Estridge Build Your Neighborhood Promotion! For more information on this promotion, call Christina Templeton, New Home Consultant at Grandin Hall, at 317.669.8700, or by emailing templetonc@estridge.net.
Learn more about Grandin Hall here.

Heritage Hill in Avon would like to congratulate our Realtor Partner Winner of Heritage Hill’s Grand Opening Drawing: Robin Graves with The Sanders Group Realty won a Panasonic camera!
“We just started building a gorgeous ranch design for new homeowners,” Michelle Cannava, New Home Consultant at Heritage Hill, said. “We are getting ready to frame it so stop in and see this great design transform into a home!”
Learn more about Heritage Hill here.

Highland Green in Brownsburg is currently running a referral program where the customer will get a $500 gift card at HOMExperience. Refer somebody today! This program will run through December 31. Learn more about HOMExperience here.
In addition, Highland Green has added Jeff Visscher as a New Home Consultant! You can contact Jeff Visscher by calling visscherj@estridge.net or by calling 317.669.8631.
Learn more about Highland Green in Brownsburg here.

Somerset Woods has five different designs currently in construction! Stop in to see these designs transform into homes! Contact Kelly Dillon, New Home Consultant at Somerset Woods, by calling 317.669.8624 or by emailing dillonk@estridge.net.
Find more information on Somerset Woods here.

Whispering Pines in Avon is growing! This Estridge neighborhood currently has four homes under construction! Two of these four homes are designs from Estridge’s new Ameritage Collection, while the other two homes are Estridge's new ranch home design. We are down to just 13 homesites remaining in Whispering Pines. In addition, Whispering Pines is offering 50% savings on all homesites until July 25, 2010. Be sure to share this news with your friends!
Contact Angela Line, New Home Consultant at Whispering Pines in Avon, by calling 317.669.8635 or by emailing linea@estridge.net.
Learn more about Whispering Pines in Avon here.

HomeLife's Helpful Homeowner Hint: Stay Cool This Summer Central Indiana
-From Estridge's HomeLife Team

Summers can be long and hot, particularly if you are losing money on your home's utility bill. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 43% of any homeowner’s utility bill goes towards heating or cooling. In the July HomeLife's Helpful Homeowner Hint, we share ways you can save money through your cooling bill. 

• Seal Those Leaks That Leak Money. Check around chimneys, windows, doors, furnace and water flues and electrical outlets. Caulk or weather stripping offer great solutions for windows and doors. Try foam sealant on those larger spaces.
• Insulate Your Wallet and Air Ducts. Every homeowner should consider insulating their air duct work to cover leaks and to save a heavy burden upon their wallet.
• Become a Fan Fanatic. Be sure you turn off bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done bathing or cooking. If you are considering replacing an exhaust fan, be sure you look at high-efficiency models.
• Program and Pocket the Savings. A properly installed programmable thermostat can save money through controlling your environment. Simply turn back the thermostat by 15% for at least eight hours and pocket the savings.
• Save Bucks with Better Blinds. Keep the summer heat out of your home with shades or drapes.
• Fiscal Filter Fun. Be sure you change or clean your home's filters once a month.
• Energy Efficient Effects. Try to select energy-efficient products when you buy new cooling equipment. Ask for the energy facts sheets for different designs or models, and try to compare potential usage.
• Stop The Santa Claus Effect. Has your chimney fallen into disuse? Can you feel a draft from your chimney? Try purchasing an inflatable chimney balloon to stop the Santa Claus Effect.
  

Did you miss last month's hint?
Read the June HomeLife's Helpful Homeowner Hint here.

Find more information on Estridge's HomeLife Maintenance & Reliability Program, a three-year inspection program designed to identify a check-list of items requiring maintenance, touch-up and repair here.

Estridge is central Indiana's hometown builder of premiere homes and neighborhoods, since 1967. Find more information on Estridge here.
 

In this report from IndyStar.com, the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers has been named to Money magazine's list of best places to live. This Hamilton County Town, which includes the Estridge neighborhoods of Anderson Hall (picture) and Somerset Woods, came in eight on this year's list, good news for homeowners looking to build or buy a home in Fishers.

Fishers ranks 8th in Money's Best Places to Live - Reported by IndyStar.com

July 12, 2010 - Indianapolis' suburb Fishers has been named a second time in the top 10 on Money magazine's list of Best Places to Live.

The Hamilton County town of 69,000 residents came in eighth on this year's list, after being 10th in 2008. The latest list is published in the August issue.

"This Indiana town offers a winning combination of low-cost houses (you can snag a three-bedroom for less than $150,000), easy access to the big city, and good schools," said the magazine's website. "Plus, Fishers is booming. Development abounds and fully 1,600 jobs were created here last year; major employers include Sallie Mae and medical device firm Roche Diagnostics."

The magazine ranked 746 towns with populations between 50,000 and 300,000, narrowing the list based on criteria such as housing prices, schools, safety, health care and diversity. Economic factors, the website said, carried the most sway.

The town's unemployment rate was put at 6.2 percent by the magazine, far below the state and national averages. And Fishers' job growth rate during the past decade, at nearly 41 percent, outpaced the "Best Places" average of 15.71 percent.

"Whether it's as a homeowner or a business, it's a safe place to invest," Fishers town council president Scott Faultless said.

Faultless credited Fishers' economic resilience to a combination of public safety, schools, parks and low taxes.

Fishers also has recently appeared on America's 25 Best Places to Move rankings by Forbes magazine in 2009 and the Best Affordable Suburbs in America list in BusinessWeek magazine in 2010.

"To me, it's a pretty good indicator that the core fundamentals are there for our community," Faultless said. Read the full article from IndyStar.com here.

Learn more about Estridge, central Indiana's premiere builder of custom homes since 1967, here.

The question seems simple: "How do I choose the right homebuilder for my family?"

• Custom Builders
• Production Builders
• Semi-custom Builders
   

In this article from IBJ.com, Scott Olsen reports Estridge Cos. received an infusion of capital, $10M to be exact, which is unusual on two fronts: one, the ability for a homebuilder to raise capital in these tough economic times and two, the source of the investment: Estridge subcontractors.  

Subcontractors come to Estridge's aid with $10M investment - Reported by Scott Olsen for IBJ.com

June 26, 2010 - One of the Indianapolis area’s most formidable homebuilders has received a $10 million investment to help it weather the severe housing downturn.

The infusion into The Estridge Cos. is unusual on two fronts. Few companies in the out-of-favor homebuilding industry are able to raise capital these days. And the source of the Estridge funds wasn’t traditional investors—it was subcontractors that have a long-standing relationship with the custom builder.

Owner Paul Estridge, 52, said the company is in no danger of becoming the latest casualty of the meltdown. Yet he acknowledged the difficulties of securing traditional bank financing at a time many have restricted lending.

“How are you going to raise capital?” he asked. “We’re not a public company; the banks are shut down. What do you do? You go to the people you’ve done business with.”

About 25 investors agreed to chip in from $25,000 to $500,000 in exchange for ownership stakes. Collectively, the subcontractors will own 35 percent of the company.

Estridge, the area’s largest custom builder based on homes constructed, expects to build 250 homes this year ranging in price from $300,000 to more than $1 million.

The launch of its most ambitious project, the proposed Symphony development in Westfield, hinged on the investment, Estridge said.

The public got its chance June 21 to weigh in on the builder’s plans for the nearly $1 billion mixed-use development, which could include a 5,000-seat multipurpose stadium, as well as 3,000 homes, condominiums and apartments. The builder is asking the city to put $70 million into the project to fund roads and sewers, as well as the stadium.

Working with a few hundred new central Indiana homeowners annually, the Design Consultants at the Estridge Design Studio in HOMExperience are often asked about the most popular design features for new Estridge homeowners. This month Tina Dahl, Design Consultant with HOMExperience, focuses on a recently popular design feature: The Simplice Pull Down Faucet.  

This month, the most popular custom design feature amongst Estridge homeowners is the Simplice Pull Down Kitchen Faucet. 

The high arch design of this popular kitchen faucet by Kohler compliments many home decor styles with availability in Polished Chrome, Vibrant Brushed Nickel and Matte Blackas well as provide great functionality in the kitchen. Estridge homeowners appreciate the choice between a spray, an aerated flow and a pause function. Plus, The quiet hose with Kohler ProMotion technology allows 360-degree rotation. As with all Kohler faucets, the Simplice finishes resist corrosion and tarnishing.  

- Tina Dahl, Design Consultant, HOMExperience.

April Estridge Design Studio Feature: Distressed or Scraped Hardwood Flooring
May Estridge Design Studio Feature: Dual HVAC Systems

Thinking about updating your Indianapolis home or building a new home with all new design features? Visit HOMExperience and explore more than 24,000 design features to personalize your new home or gather ideas to update your existing home. For more information on HOMExperience, click here.

The Kiplinger Letters provide concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington. The Kiplinger Letters include The Kiplinger Agricultural Letter (agribusiness), The Kiplinger Letter (general business and economic trends), Kiplinger's Retirement Report (worry-free retirement) and The Kiplinger Tax Letter, among many others. Learn more about Killinger Letters, a great way to stay informed, here.

The June 28, 2010 Kiplinger Letter discussed how the recent housing recovery is real, and many Americans feel now is the "right time to buy" a home. Here's an excerpt from that letter:

The housing recovery is real and sustainable despite recent volatility brought about mostly by on-again, off-again tax incentives for home buyers.

There are three reasons we believe the recovery will continue:
House prices are very affordable. It now takes about 18% of the typical household income to meet principal and interest payments on a single family home, which compares well with the long term average of 26%.

Consumer confidence is improving. It doesn't drive all purchases by consumers, but it does play a role in expensive, long-term commitments. A recent survey by the Univeristy of Michigan found that about three quarters of Americans believe that this is "a good time to buy." The outlook is likely to stay positive.

And credit conditions will ease. Many lenders are still waiting for assurance that home prices are stabilizing, but the consensus seems to be moving in that direction. Credit will flow more freely as a result.

Learn more about Kiplinger Letters here. Learn more about Estridge, your hometown builder of custom homes since 1967, here.

• A shock to the wallet: Cracks, discolorations and signs of warping in electrical outlets and cords are bad signs. Look to replace them. Be sure you hire an electrician if you find an outlet that no longer holds a plug. Improperly working outlets, fixtures or light switches can shock hundreds of dollars out of your wallet.
   
• Care for your air: Be sure you regularly change your air filters. Dirty filters cause more than 60 percent of all service calls. Look to change your air filters every month, particularly if shedding pets or kids are present in the home. Kids and pets can be dirty!
   
• Do you feel that draft: Windows and doors are the two biggest losers of cool air in the summer. To prevent this look to weatherproof both your windows and doors. You’ll find a benefit in your bills during both cold and hot weather. Check the seal quality of your doors and windows with a digital thermometer. Be sure to inspect caulking for cracks or distortions.
   
• Leaky toilets and faucets leak money: Fix that drip – it could save hundreds of dollars annually on your utility statement. Call a plumber if you find you’re up a leaky creek without a paddle.
   
• Be bold concerning mold: Make sure the caulking in your bathroom is secure and not cracked or damaged. Water penetration, which leads to mold and other issues, can be prevented if the subsurface, typically drywall, remains dry. Additionally, you can avoid replacement of fixtures if the surface, typically tile, is kept watertight.
   
• Leaky roofs lead to lighter wallets: Just because you have a leak doesn’t mean you have to replace the whole roof. But you should avoid a bucket -- a small leak can cause dozens of issues, turning into a major and expensive fiasco. Call a roofer and be crystal clear you are looking to repair the single leak, not replace the entire roof.
   
• Juice up that pump: Be sure you monitor your sump pump. Charge or change the batteries regularly. You may need to update the pump itself every few years. Water in the basement can cause thousands of dollars in damages, plus destroy any personal items in storage.