Buying a house, 3-Tab vs Dimensional Shingles?
So, you are buying a house and you’ve heard that dimensional shingles are better than 3-tab shingles. But you don’t know how to tell the difference between the two. Since the roof is perhaps the most expensive system in the house to replace it is worth knowing what you have. Take a look at these two pictures. Notice how the one on the left looks a little flatter or smoother. That’s a traditional old school 3-tab shingle we see a lot less of here in the Dayton Ohio area. The one on the right has a rougher, more layered look. Almost like there are lots of smaller pieces of shingles all put together. The look is deceiving because each dimensional shingle is actually the same size as the 3-tab. You may have heard them called a laminated or architectural shingle. More than once I’ve heard dimensional referred to as 3-dimensional shingles which is sure to elicit a snicker from your roofer if you call them this. The smaller pieces have a stacked or laminated appearance and the shingle is thicker and stiffer than a 3-tab. It will last longer and do better in high wind conditions because of this. As a local Realtor in the Dayton Ohio real estate market when I’m showing homes to buyers I always try to educate along the way. Just reach out with any questions.
Real Estate Bridge Loan
A real estate bridge loan can help you buy a new house without selling the old one first. This can allow you to avoid the dreaded ‘contingent’ offer which is a non-starter in a Seller’s Real Estate market. The bridge loan puts the equity you have in your current house to use so you can move forward with your next purchase. You are essentially borrowing the equity out of your home to use as a down payment on the next one. You may have heard it called a gap loan or a swing loan as well. It’s a short term loan you’ll typically pay off within a year. The bank will do an appraisal on your current home. You need plenty of equity in your home to make it work. At least 20% or the numbers just don’t make sense. The interest rate is higher but remember, they are interest only payments and you are not keeping the loan very long so the rate is much less of a consideration if it gets you the new house you want. If you are in a market where your house may not sell fairly quickly or if there is something unique about your home that could result in a prolonged time on the market, a bridge loan may not be the best route. There are other options like a Blanket loan, a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or cash-out refinance. I’ve worked the Dayton, Ohio area with various real estate loans for many years. Just reach out and I’ll help guide you to the best option for your situation.
Realtor Tips: Septic Tanks and You
Everyone has heard of a septic system but how it actually works remains a mystery for many. As a local real estate agent in the area I get lots of questions. Think of it as your very own private wastewater plant. It uses nature to return the sewage from your home back into safe ground water. It’s really an amazing process carried out without mechanical or chemical help! The heart of the system is the tank. This is typically a large concrete ‘box’ buried underground. Many modern tanks are a composite material designed to outlast a masonry tank which can crack and degrade. On one end of the tank is an inlet. This inlet is the sewage line from your home. Everything you put in the kitchen sink, flush, and water from the washer ends up in the tank. On the other end of the tank is the outlet which goes to the leach field. There is a baffle here that simply forms a barrier around the outlet to keep solids, toilet paper, floating grease, etc out of the leach field. Only liquid should get to the drain lines of the leach field. The solids settle to the bottom where natural bacteria break down the waste and only liquid, called effluent at this stage, can trickle into the outlet to be distributed to the leach field. The broken down solids are referred to as sludge. This sludge will accumulate over time and needs to be pumped out by your local septic professional. Plan on $300 - $500 for this service in the Dayton OH area. When purchasing a home you’ll want to have the tank pumped so it can be inspected for cracks, broken baffles and clogged drain lines. You save money each month by not having to pay the city for use of a public system but the flip side is, if something goes wrong then the total cost is on you. Remember, this is your own private wastewater plant so you have to take care what goes in it. The system works only because beneficial bacteria colonies are hard at work. A lot of things we use in the house can kill those colonies. Bleach, toilet bowl cleaners, solvents, degreasers, nail polish remover are tough on the bacteria. In small quantities they are ok but try to use ‘green’ products and those labeled ‘septic safe’ when you can. As a local Realtor in Dayton OH I sell homes each year with septic systems. Particularly in areas that have some more rural parts like Beavercreek, Xenia, Bellbrook, Springboro that may not have access to city utilities. Always happy to help guide you through the process, just reach out when ready!
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