How To Properly Display The U.S. Flag

Rules for the proper display of the U.S. Flag were finalized and became public law on December 22, 1942.  When displaying the American flag at home, it is important to know the rules for proper display put forth by the United States of America.  A complete copy of the US Flag Code can be found HERE.

1. Display on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in open; night display: It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

2. The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

3. The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.

4. No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.

5. When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag’s right.

6. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

7. When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.

8. The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

9. The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on New Year’s Day, January 1; Inauguration Day, January 20; Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12; Washington’s Birthday, third Monday in February; Easter Sunday (variable); Mother’s Day, second Sunday in May; Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May; Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day, September 17; Columbus Day, second Monday in October; Navy Day, October 27; Veterans Day, November 11; Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November; Christmas Day, December 25; and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States; the birthdays of States (date of admission); and on State holidays.

Cleaning House: Secrets of a Truly Deep Clean

By: Jane Hoback

Published: January 14, 2011

Deep clean your house and you’ll brighten rooms and help maintain your home’s value.

De-bug the light fixtures

See that bug burial ground within your overhead fixtures? Turn off the lights and carefully remove fixture covers, dump out flies and wash with hot soapy water. While you’re up there, dust bulbs. Dry everything thoroughly before replacing the cover.

Vacuum heat vents and registers

Dirt and dust build up in heat vents and along register blades. Vents also are great receptacles for coins and missing buttons. Unscrew vent covers from walls or pluck them from floors, remove foreign objects, and vacuum inside the vent. Clean grates with a damp cloth and screw back tightly.

Polish hardware

To deep clean brass door hinges, handles, and cabinet knobs, thoroughly wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, then polish with Wright’s or Weiman brass cleaner ($4). Dish soap shines up glass or stainless steel knobs. Use a Q-tip to detail the ornamental filigree on knobs and handles.

Replace grungy switch plates

Any amateur can wipe a few fingerprints off cover plates that hide light switches, electric outlets, phone jacks, and cable outlets. But only deep cleaners happily remove plates to vacuum and swipe the gunk behind. (OK, we’re a little OCD when it comes to dirt!) Make sure cover plates are straight when you replace them. And pitch plates that are beyond the help of even deep cleaning. New ones cost less than $2 each.

Neaten weather stripping

Peeling, drooping weather stripping on doors and windows makes rooms look old. If the strip still has some life, nail or glue it back. If it’s hopeless, cut out and replace sections, or just pull the whole thing off and start new. A 10-ft. roll of foam weather stripping costs $8; 16-ft. vinyl costs about $15.

Replace stove drip pans

Some drip pans are beyond the scrub brush. Replacing them costs about $3 each and instantly freshens your stove.

Jane Hoback is a veteran business writer who has written for the Rocky Mountain News, Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine, and ColoradoBIZ Magazine.

Buy vs. Rent – 8 Reasons It’s A Great Time to Buy

I’ve noticed that for the past two years as the economy slumped, people have been very cautious about their housing plans. If you don’t have to sell right away then many people are not selling. Others are opting for the safety of renting until they decide what the best move is based on employment prospects or a neighborhood they are interested in.

If you are thinking about, here are 8 reasons why buying in 2011 is a great idea.

1. Choice. We are still clearly in a buyers market. Currently we are sitting about 7.1 months of inventory, which means that it would take 7.1 months to sell all the homes currently for sale based on the last 12 months of sales data. Anything over 6 months is a buyers market. What this means for buyers is that there are many homes to choose from out there, and they are all competing for your purchase dollars.
2. Buying Up. Because of the number of homes for sale, the low interest rates, and the dip in housing prices, it is a great time to buy more house than you may have considered a few years ago.  Cheap mortgages and competitive prices means buyers can buy a nicer home for the same amount of money than before.  Once these rates begin to rise, we may never see them this low again.
3. Quality. With so many homes on the market, sellers are going the extra mile in today’s market to get their homes noticed and sold. This means buyers have a greater chance of finding a home in a desirable neighborhood with more upgrades.  Sellers are putting their best foot forward when they hit the market to offer buyers irresistible homes with up-to-date appliances and decorator touches. Many times a buyer can find a re-sale home with a new roof, new AC, and new water heaters or siding as well as updated kitchens and bathrooms. Builders are also offering higher quality homes for low prices to buyers wishing to purchase new construction.
4. Tax Breaks. At least for now, home owners can write off their mortgage interest on their taxes, write off real estate taxes, claim homestead tax exemption for property taxes, and get a break on any capital gains when they sell.  This can make a very nice deduction on the average home owners tax bill that a renter can never get.
5. You Own It.  There’s nothing like the feel of owning a home. Instead of living with the things they don’t care for, the homeowner can change it to match their desires or needs. And if they’re young enough and plan to stay in one place, it’s a wonderful feeling to look down the road and know that they have a permanent place to live paid for before retirement.
6. Community. People who own in a neighborhood vs. rent feel differently about the place they call home. There’s pride in ownership and it shows in neighborhoods where there are fewer rentals. People also tend to stay in one spot longer, get to know each other, kids grow up together, families are more likely to become involved in community activities, and neighbors tend to keep a watch out for potential crime. Neighborhoods where a majority own their home are, generally speaking, safer and more outgoing places to live.
7. Space. Homes with larger square footage are more rare on the rental market. When considering the square footage a homeowner can get vs. what you will pay in rent for the same square footage, the homeowner will be paying less per month, and now that is even more true because of low interest rates. This often means a 3500 SF homeowner could be paying less per month in a better neighborhood, even including property taxes and insurance, than the renter will be paying for a 2000 SF home.
8. School Choice. Many parents wish to live in a certain school zone. Even within a school district there are schools which are more popular, or have better reputations than others and people want to live in neighborhoods zoned to those schools. Rentals are not always available in the neighborhoods of the most sought after schools because the neighborhoods have very few homes for rent or perhaps the neighborhoods do not allow homeowners to rent out their homes when they move. With so many homes on the market for sale, it is a good bet that buyers can find a home they love within the desired school zone.

Appeal Your Property Tax Bill

By: Barbara Eisner Bayer

Reproduced here with permission from HouseLogic/RealtorContent

To successfully appeal your property tax bill, you first need to do a bit of sleuthing into your real estate assessment.

Read your assessment letter

A real estate assessment is conducted periodically by the local government to assign a value to your home for taxation purposes. An assessment isn’t the same as a private appraisal, and the assessed value of your home isn’t necessarily how much you could sell it for today. Real estate assessment letters are mailed to homeowners annually, or perhaps every two to three years, depending where you live.

The letter will include some information about your property, such as lot size or a legal description, as well as the assessed value of your house and land. Additional details—number of bedrooms, for example, or date of construction—can often be found in the property listing on your local government’s website. Your property tax bill will usually be calculated by multiplying your home’s assessed value by the local tax rate, which can vary from town to town.

If you think your home’s assessment is higher than it should be, challenge it immediately. The clock starts ticking as soon as the letter goes out. You generally have less than 30 days to respond, though the time frame varies not just between states, but within each state. Procedures are often outlined on the back of the letter.

Gather evidence

Start by making sure the assessment letter doesn’t contain any mistakes. Is the number of bathrooms accurate? Number of fireplaces? How about the size of the lot? There’s a big difference between “0.3 acres” and “3.0 acres.” If any facts are wrong, then you may have a quick and easy challenge on your hands.

Next, research your home’s value. Ask a real estate agent to find three to five comparable properties—”comps” in real estate jargon—that have sold recently. Alternatively, check a website like Zillow.com to find approximate values of comparable properties. The key is identifying properties that are very similar to your own in terms of size, style, condition, and location. If you’re willing to shell out between $350 and $600, you can hire a private appraiser to do the heavy lifting.

Once you identify comps, check the assessments on those properties. Most local governments maintain public databases. If yours doesn’t, seek help from an agent or ask neighbors to share tax information. If the assessments on your comps are lower, you can argue yours is too high. Even if the assessments are similar, if you can show that the “comparable” properties aren’t truly comparable, you may have a case for relief based on equity. Maybe your neighbor added an addition while you were still struggling to clean up storm damage. In that case, the properties are no longer equitable.

Present your case

Once you’re armed with your research, call your local assessor’s office. Most assessors are willing to discuss your assessment informally by phone. If not, or if you aren’t satisfied with the explanation, request a formal review. Pay attention to deadlines and procedures. There’s probably a form to fill out and specific instructions for supporting evidence. A typical review, which usually doesn’t require you to appear in person, can take anywhere from one to three months. Expect to receive a decision in writing.

If the review is unsuccessful, you can usually appeal the decision to an independent board, with or without the help of a lawyer. You may have to pay a modest filing fee, perhaps $10 to $25. If you end up before an appeals board, your challenge could stretch as long as a year, especially in large jurisdictions that have a high number of appeals. But homeowners do triumph. According to Guy Griscom, Assistant Chief Appraiser of the Harris County (Texas) Central Appraisal District, of the 288,800 protests filed in his Houston-area district in 2008, about 58% received reduced assessments.

How much effort you decide to put into a challenge depends on the stakes. The annual U.S. median property tax paid in 2008 was $1,897, or 0.96% of the median home value of $197,600. Lowering that assessed value by 15% would net savings of about $285. In some parts of New York and Texas, for example, where tax rates can approach 3% of a home’s value, potential savings are greater. Ditto for communities with home prices well above the U.S. median.

There are a few things to keep in mind as you weigh an appeal. The board can only lower your real estate assessment, not the rate at which you’re taxed. There’s also a chance, albeit slight, that your assessment could be raised, thus increasing your property taxes. A reduction in your assessment right before you put your house on the market could hurt the sale price. An easier route to savings might lie in determining if you qualify for property tax exemptions based on age, disability, military service, or other factors.

This article provides general information about tax laws and consequences, but is not intended to be relied upon by readers as tax or legal advice applicable to particular transactions or circumstances. Readers should consult a tax professional for such advice, and are reminded that tax laws may vary by jurisdiction.

Barbara Eisner Bayer has written about mortgages and personal finance for the past 15 years for Motley Fool, the Daily Plan-It, and Nurse Village, and is the former Managing Editor of Mortgageloan.com and Credit-land.com. She has successfully challenged her real estate assessment.

Home Energy Efficiency Tip – Attic Insulation Efficiency

Check the insulation level in your attic as part of your overhaul of home efficiency. Many companies can come out and do a free assessment for you with a quote on what you will need to increase efficiency to it’s top performance. With proper insulation you can reduce your heating and cooling bills by up to 30%, and after a Texas summer you know what that is worth!

If you have less than 7 inches of standard fiberglass insulation in your attic, you may want to seriously consider adding another layer. The higher insulation value, the better the protection you will have against cold and heat gains. The same goes for blown insulation, check the levels of depth as over time, the some types of blown insulation will gradually settle and become somewhat compacted. Generally, however, the depth is about 12-15 inches on this type of insulation.

Home Energy Efficiency Tip – HVAC Filter Efficiency

Here’s another very simple, fairly inexpensive tip that can save you a lot of money in heating and cooling bills. Change your air return filters every month.  This is a good rule for all 1 inch filters with a 1-month life expectancy. There are a few brands out on the market that can last for up to 3 months, so you will have to decide on your strategy for changing them when you go to the hardware store and compare the costs.

When you don’t change your air filter regularly, it becomes clogged with dirt and dust and pet hair that cause air flow to be restricted in the home. Restricting the air flow means that your units will have longer air handler run cycles, thereby using more energy and putting a greater strain on the units themselves.

Home Energy Efficiency Tips – The Programmable Thermostat

This will be 1 in a series of 7 total tips I’m putting out on the blog for homeowners to consider as rising costs and drought conditions take their toll on our utility bills this summer.

Do yourself a favor and install a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature when you aren’t at home, or for different days of the week, times of day, etc. You get the picture! Most homes have these now, but this is something that an older home may not have been updated with, so it’s a great place to start on your energy efficiency journey.  Be sure you look for the Energy Star Rating as this can be listed as a selling feature for your home in the future.

Homeowners can realize up to 15% in annual savings by programming the thermostat five degrees lower for 8 hours per day in the traditional heating season and 3 or 4 degrees higher in the summer months during the cooling season.

At our home we have it set to adjust higher late at night after everyone goes to sleep. It resets very early in the morning just before we get up to cool things back down. Just an idea about one way we use our programmable thermostat.  There are many selections at your local hardware store and prices are very reasonable.

Turn Laminate Counters to Granite W/Paint

If you’re looking to update your kitchen, but don’t want to or are not able to spend the money on installing granite, there is an alternative. This simple project can be done over one weekend and will turn your old laminate counters into good looking granite mimics.  The product is called Giani Granite and is comes in a kit with an instructional DVD to walk you through the process.  Their newest color, chocolate, most closely resembles granite and has quickly become the #1 seller in the product line.  I’m thinking of using this to update my own kitchen and would love to hear from people who have done it themselves. Visit the website at Giani Granite to learn more, view detailed instructions, and read all the great testimonials they have.

What Generation Y Wants

I found this list on Active Rain as a blog post by Bea Fields, author of Millennial Leaders. I thought it was very interesting, especially after reading Swanepoel’s 2010 Trends book.  I’m sharing it with you and I sure would love to generate some community discussion on this list.  Because if this is what Gen. Y wants then where are the neighborhood designs that incorporate all the walkability needed?

Here is the list:

The Top 17 Features Generation Y Looks For When Buying A Home

I want to start this post by saying that, as with all demographics, not all Generation Y home buyers are going to want the following list in a home.  But, the trends with this age group seems to be leaning in the  direction  for certain amenities and features when buying or renting a home.

I also will just add that as Generation Y begins to marry and have children, a few of these desires may change, but we still have 5-10 years to get to that point.  Generation Y is marrying later in life, so for now, this list will be helpful when selling a home.  If any of these are evident in the property you are selling, make sure to point them out.

So, here we go:

1. Efficiency in space.

2. Utility:  Gen Ys want to know that each room has a useful purpose.  If you are selling a house that has a “parlor”, show it as an office or a technology room.

3. Simplicity in design:  Gen Ys have been overloaded with junk and informaton…so keep it simple.

4. Multi-pupose rooms.  Gen Ys don’t really care that much about a formal living room or dining room.  They are much more interested in open spaces, multi-purpose rooms and large kitchens (even though they eat out a great deal).  I recently visited a friend that had creatively designed 700 square feet so that it was open and felt much bigger than actual.  A murphy bed was used and could then double as a bar for entertaining.

5. Housing that is within walking distance of grocery stores, shopping, dining, night life and gyms.  The ability to “stroll” is critical to this generation.  Gen Ys want to be able to park their cars and walk from location to location.

6. Energy efficiency (point out any appliances that are energy efficient or any areas or structures which are LEEDS certified).

7. Easy access to neighbors their own age and to a diversity of people from all walks of life and all ages.  They want to be surrounded with their own peers, but Gen Ys also want a thriving, buzzing network of interesting people.  Gen Ys crave diversity, so the more interesting the people in the neighborhood, the better your chances will be of selling.

8. “Bite-Sized Spaces”.  Gen Ys think in bites…not huge, sprawling spaces.  Don’t assume they want a great deal of “space”.  Many Gen Ys say that they can be happy in a smaller home or condo that is efficient, has some space in the back for entertaining and that is accessible to the lifestyle they want to live.

9. Access to hiking, biking and running trails.

10. Yard space for outdoor activities and outdoor entertaining.

11. Neighborhoods which are “dog and cat friendly”.  Gen Ys are big on animals, so make sure to ask if they own a pet.  Many will bring their pet with them to see the home.

12. Technology that is advanced and current.  If you are selling property in an area with free wireless, make sure to drive that point home.

13. Wide but not deep…Gen Y’s don’t care much about depth in a house…they want width and a bigger back yard or outdoor dining space.  Again…just ditch the cut up rooms with formal living and dining rooms in the front of the home that only have one purpose.  Look to sell homes that are close to being one big open room and one additional office space (and of course a nice bedroom).

14. Low maintenance (Gen Y’s travel a great deal, so they don’t want a great deal of upkeep).

15. Modular homes are pretty popular as well as duplex living to keep the cost lower.

16. Any homes which have recycled materials (recycled countertops, cabinets, doors, etc).

17. Homes which may have an area with its own private entrance for guests or for the purpose of subletting.

What this list seems to imply is a return to a more neighborly world. Small market centers nestled in neighborhoods that can be walked to and people can hang out and visit with others.  What I see in my Houston suburb market is lots and lots of privacy fences, very little within walking distance to homes, no bike lanes, no sidewalks in many places, and every new home is overly large with formals. Yes the floorplans are very open, but is the maintenance of 3,000+ sf what people really still want? I’d like to hear from you all on this list. I know what I see in the market place as a REALTOR, but I’d like to hear from the consumers.

What Is A MUD District?

Many people are not familiar with the role of MUD Districts in subdivisions here in Harris County. This helpful video explains them for you.