Many of today's homeowners worry about the quality of the air in their homes, since we spend so much time indoors (especially around this time of the year). What follows are some ways to better the air quality inside your home:

• Have your furnace inspected and cleaned annually to ensure that no unhealthy gases end up leaking out. It is important to make sure that there is no gas leaking out!
• Have any fuel burning appliances inspected by a professional each year to prevent the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. Also if you have a gas range, you must have a hood fan that exhausts the outdoor air. Turning on that fan will remove gas fumes
• A simple way to prevent dust accumulation is to de-clutter your home. Keep your household items organized and store toys, books, etc. in containers and place them in closets.  Also, don't forget how important it is to vacuum on a regular basis
• Have your duct work inspected if it runs through an uninsulated attic. Why? Because humid air condenses and can cause mold and rust. Consider having your attic insulated.

Google and Metra have teamed up to offer Google Maps Trip Planner, a trip planning feature allowing Chicago area residents and visitors the ability to plan their trips on the commuter railroad.  The service, unveiled last month and still in the beta design phase,  combines the online mapping technology of Google Maps with Metra schedule information to show riders the easiest and most convenient way to get where they need to go anywhere in the Metra service area.

Simply go to Google Maps Trip Planner and enter your starting point, date, travel time and destination. Riders will then see:

• The next three Metra train departures from the station closest to the starting point
• Step-by-step directions that include walking directions to the station and any transfers to CTA buses or trains that may be necessary.
• A graphic depiction of the route on a map
• An option to use the map to search for businesses or landmarks near your station or destination and much more.

At present time, the product does not provide driving directions to a station when the starting address is beyond a reasonable walk. Pace suburban bus service is also not available at this time. For Pace routes that serve Metra stations, visit the appropriate Metra station page for a listing of their routes or visit the Pace Bus web site.

Click here for a Google Transit How to Guide.

The media has blown the mortgage crisis out of proportion. While the institutional lenders have tightened the qualifying requirements, contrary to the belief of the general public, lenders are still loaning money to people looking to purchase a new home. In order to get a loan, a buyer must demonstrate employability, job stability and reliability.  Reliability includes holding a steady job for a least 2 years with the same company or employer and increasing or at least maintaining consistent income. You also must demonstrate that you have been a good credit risk for 2 years or more.  Credit doesn’t have to be perfect. Click here for your FREE credit report.

With the shift in the market, many buyers are going with FHA loans. FHA was created by congress in 1934 to help borrowers make loan qualification easier and to reduce the risk to lenders in issuing loans. FHA minimum down payment requirement will be increased from 3% to 3.5% as of January 1, 2009. If you don’t have the 3.5% down payment, buyers are allowed to ask the seller to contribute money for down payment and/or closing costs.

If you are thinking of purchasing a home but not sure if you can qualify for a loan, it is recommended that you contact a reputable lender. Pre-approvals are free of charge and are usually good for 6 months. If you are turned down for a loan, the loan officer will make recommendations on what you can do to improve the chances of qualifying for a loan.

Thinking of buying a home but not sure what to do? Contact me for a FREE home buyer consultation. Also, search the entire MLS for FREE at www.joestacy.com.

In the Northwest Suburbs of Illinois we can experience some severely cold winters. Over the years, I have witnessed many maintenence mishaps caused by the winter weather.  To prevent winter-related disasters, a little preparation makes all the difference!  Here are some tips for preparing your home for the winter season:

• Caulk and weatherstrip your windows to keep air from escaping through small cracks. Also, consider sealing any older or unused windows using a plastic window-sealer kit, which can be an inexpensive and relatively easy weekend project.

• Make sure that your chimney is clear. To do this, simply light some rolled up newspaper in the fireplace to see if the smoke rises. If it doesn't rise, your chimney is clogged and in this case you should contact a professional chimney sweep for proper cleaning.

• Prevent your pipes from freezing by wrapping them in insulation or newspapers.  To block moisture, cover the newspapers with plastic.  Also, during extreme cold temperatures, let faucets drip a little to help avoid any freezing from taking place. When in doubt, always know where your water valves are located and how to shut them off in the case of an emergency.

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In a more "instant gratification" society, recent studies show a trend among today's first-time homebuyers. Compared to just ten years ago, 93% of all first-time homebuyers are now not as likely to consider the "fixer-upper" type home. Recent buyers polled cited that "affordability" is their number one concern, but at the same time also consider the "move-in condition" of the home to be very important as well. Homes that may only need basic face lifts such as fresh paint, carpet, landscaping or even just window treatments can come with very large savings, adding instant "sweat equity" to a buyers home. Financial experts suggest purchasing a fixer-upper to build equity over time and later consider moving up to a second-stage home, which may then meet "move-in condition" expectations. Another advantage to purchasing a fixer-upper is that many sellers of this type of home are generally more motivated in selling quickly rather than attaining top dollar for their home. Good savings may also be found on homes that have been listed for over 180 days, homes owned by long-term owners, and house-flipping investors that may be eager for a sale. Click here for a list of homes that have been on the market for more than 180 days. Are you interested in setting up your own MLS search? For a customizable MLS search that we automatically email you daily updates, click on the above link or visit my Chicagoland Northwest Suburbs Real Estate site.