Chinese drywall is a developing problem. The drywall, imported sometime from 2000 and 2008, emits gases that cause severe corrosion. These gases have been unofficially linked to adverse health effects including headaches, sinus infections, coughing, itching, eye and throat irritation. The Consumer Products Safety Commission has confirmed a link between this material and the corrosion [...]
Entries from March 2010
A Summary of Chinese Drywall Testing
Mar. 24th, 2010
Moving with Teenagers Part II
Mar. 23rd, 2010
Teenagers can be a huge help when moving. They are old enough to help plan, pack, gather information, and help explain the move to their siblings. Assigning them to do tasks will help them feel needed by the family. This knowledge that they are needed and have a place in the home will help them [...]
The Chinese Drywall Problem
Mar. 19th, 2010
Chinese drywall refers to a tainted drywall. It’s synonymous with a toxic drywall material. Chinese sheet rock is another term used to describe a toxic drywall material. Chinese drywall emits gases that cause a multitude of problems. These gases come in contact with latent airborne humidity and create a corrosive environment that causes havoc. Most [...]
Heat, Humidity and Chinese Drywall
Mar. 18th, 2010
The problem with Chinese drywall is that it creates a corrosive and potential hazardous indoor environment. Strontium sulfide, present in defective drywall, combines with latent humidity in the air to create hydrogen sulfide, a highly corrosive gas according the OSHA. This corrosive gas reeks havoc on nearly every metal component in a home, ruining electronics [...]
Mortgage Rates Fall Again
Mar. 18th, 2010
The 30 year rate fell from 4.97 to 4.95 this week. This is the 2rd week in a row where rates have fallen. The expectation has been (for several months) that rates were going to rise. It looks like an economic recovery, which is somewhat more tepid than expected, has stopped rates from rising. Instead [...]
How to Buy a Home with Nothing Down
Mar. 18th, 2010
The scope of the first-time homebuyer tax credit was broadened. The deadline was extended to April 30, 2010, eligible current homeowners are included, the income level was increased, as was the maximum price for the home, and other factors of the tax credit changed, too. One aesthetic that drew many homebuyers was that, for Federal [...]
Chinese Drywall: Buying a home
Mar. 18th, 2010
As of the writing of this article, there are still many questions left to be answered in relationship to Chinese drywall. This uncertainty has led many potential buyers to question the home of their dreams. Estimates are that homes built between 2001 and 2008 could be affected. With so many homes potentially affected by Chinese [...]
Office Space Santa Clara
Mar. 17th, 2010
There may be one or more reasons to review your current office space position. You may need to lower occupancy costs, improve your current space floor plan efficiency, consider an early lease renewal at fair market rent, negotiate a tenant favorable lease, or evaluate some of the many choices available from hungry Santa Clara office [...]
Commercial Space San Jose
Mar. 17th, 2010
There may be one or more reasons to review your current commercial space position. You may need to lower occupancy costs, improve your current space floor plan efficiency, consider an early lease renewal at fair market rent, negotiate a tenant favorable lease, or evaluate some of the many choices available from hungry San Jose commercial [...]
Tenant Favorable Lease
Mar. 17th, 2010
Hire an experienced real estate agent as tenant representative when negotiating a commercial lease agreement in San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale, California. Landlords and their exclusive agents are very aware of current market conditions and will attempt to suggest lease language that will be to their advantage. It is prudent for any tenant to [...]