Refinancing Tips Home mortgage rates are currently near historic lows and have been at these low levels for months. As a result, many people are eager to refinance their current mortgage loans to lock in a low rate. For those in an adjustable rate mortgage, timing may never get any better to refinance out of your current mortgage and into a more conservative and consistent 15-year or 30-year loan.   When deciding to refinance a home mortgage, be sure to understand the refinancing costs associated with doing so and then try to limit them as much as possible. Refinancing an existing mortgage is very similar to securing an initial mortgage. In fact, your new mortgage will be used to pay off your existing one, so it is just like buying your home all over again. As such, there are certain costs associated with a refinancing, just as there was when the original mortgage was secured.   Closing costs such as broker fees, appraisal fees, title search, inspections and various administrative fees are all part of the fee structure associated with a mortgage refinance.To reduce your closing costs and any other mortgage-related fees, Howard Bunmore, owner and author of ConsumerLoansDirectory.com offers the following tips: Try to refinance with your existing lender. They will want to keep your business and if they know you are looking to refinance, they will be motivated to offer the lowest rate possible and reduce your fees to keep you onboard with them. Take a look at your credit report to ensure there are no issues you are unaware of that might detract from you score. A high score will help you secure the lowest possible interest rate and this could save you thousands over the term of your loan. Do not hesitate to negotiate your fees. Many mortgage-related fees are controlled by the mortgage company so they have the ability to lower them. Administration fees are especially easy to get waved or reduced. Avoid having your closing costs included in your loan balance. Sure, this appears to be a great way to avoid them altogether, but the reality is you've reduced your equity in your home and will be paying for those closing costs each month during the length of your loan.  With interest included, you will end up paying a lot more in the long-run than if you had just paid them out of pocket upfront. And there is a third alternative.  As you may know, a borrower can pay an up front fee (closing costs) and obtain a lower interest rate. The reverse is true - a borrower can borrow at a slightly higher rate and receive a credit which can be used to reduce or even eliminate the closing costs. Be sure to discuss this option with your lender. Many homeowners are finding the current combination of low home mortgage rates and low home prices irresistible. They are taking advantage of this opportunity to purchase their next home and keep their payments affordable.   But if you're happy with your present home, you can use these refinancing tips to improve your current home mortgage situation. You may be able to lower your monthly payment, remove the risk of an adjustable rate mortgage, and even reduce the number of years it will take to pay off your mortgage in full. Posted 7/27/2010 Test for Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) Because electricity is so much a part of our lives, there are electromagnetic fields (EMFs) around us most of the time.  All electrical appliances give off an electromagnetic field, so does the wiring in our walls, and so do power lines. Many studies indicate that overexposure to EMFs can be bad for your health. There is no way to completely escape EMFs in the modern home, but you can limit your exposure by knowing which objects have a high EMF level.     How can to test your home for EMFs?  Xcel Energy has magnetic field meters available for customer use.  There is no rental fee or damage deposit required. To request one of these easy-to-operate meters, call Xcel at 303-571-7363.   There's a heated debate as to what electromagnetic field level is considered safe. Since the experts have not come to an consensus, you'll have to decide for yourself. Many government and utility documents report the usual ambient (surrounding) level to be 0.5 mG. Thus, any reading higher than 0.5 mG is above the "usual" ambient exposure. Many experts, as well as the few governments that have made an effort to offer public protection, have adopted the 3 mG cutoff point. The EPA has proposed a safety standard of 1 mG. Sweden has set a maximum safety limit of 1 mG. Check Crime in Your Neighborhood (Denver) The Denver Police Department has a system that allows residents to search up-to-date crime data. The system displays a map of individual crimes, as well as a table that shows when and where each incident occurred. The database enables users to search by location: a specific address, park, school, library, or neighborhood. Click here to access this web site. Information is updated daily, as new crimes are reported and investigations yield new information. Certain information is withheld in order to avoid identifying juveniles or victims of sex crimes. Recycling - Hazardous Materials Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) - Each CFL contains about five milligrams of mercury, a neurotoxin that poses health and environmental concerns.  While no mercury is released when bulbs are intact, mercury can leak out of incinerated or broken bulbs.  To avoid contaminating water sources, air and soil, bring your spent unbroken CFLs to one of these retailers: Ace Hardware, Home Depot or Ikea.  Most of their store locations will accept CFLs for recycling.  Other Hazardous Materials - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment keeps a list of household hazardous waste collection programs around the state.  Some cities and counties conduct annual collections of household hazardous wastes, while others have permanent collection facilities or sponsor curbside collection programs. Click here to learn what collection programs are available in your area. Household Hazard Waste Disposal (Arapahoe County) Residents of Arapahoe County can dispose of household hazardous waste by calling Curbside, Inc. Curbside will pick up the chemicals and dispose of or recycle them for a nominal co-pay of $20. Pick-up can be scheduled by calling 800-449-7587 or by sending an e-mail to hotline@curbsideinc.com. After setting an appointment for pick, Curbside will send you a hazardous waste kit with instructions and collection bag. On collection day, just place your labeled, filled bag in a safe location outside of your home for pick.  If you don't have enough to fill a bag, join forces with a neighbor and share the cost. Curbside can collect used motor oil, anti-freeze, auto batteries, latex paint, oil-base pant, solvent, aerosols, cleaners, fungicide, metal polish, creosote, fluorescent tubes and cell phones. However, they cannot accept needles, ammunition, explosives, liquid Mercury, Asbestos, pressurized cylinders, or any materials in unlabeled or leaking containers. Sewer Line Inspections Your sewer line is out of sight and out of mind - until problems occur.  Older and newer homes alike may have hidden problems with their sewer line - pipe settlement, expansive soil and root intrusion are just some of the potential conditions waiting to cause you misery. The Colorado Front Range is famous for its expansive soil, which causes millions of dollars in damage to homes, roadways - and most commonly - sewer lines. Do you know the condition of your sewer line? Why take chances? A video inspection allows defects to be located. Hopefully the only thing your sewer line needs is routine maintenance, but the only way to truly know is to have it inspected by using a camera which travels through the inside of the pipe. You are able to see for yourself every inch of your main sewer line by viewing it on a monitor. Many plumbing companies offer this service, but we recommend that you hire a company that only does inspections. That way you will know you are receiving a non-biased third party opinion.  Two such companies are: Hydro-Physics ..... 303-806-0622 ..... Hydro-Physics.com See Inside Sewer Scope ..... 720-936-3279 ..... SeeInsideSewerScope.com