January/February 2012

Hello Hello!

Hope everyone is off to a great start to the New Year!

We have been very busy! Busy with work and family! The family is doing well. Also did some cooking (always do). Love the prime rib recipe in this issue. With everything else going on we haven’t had a real good chance to enjoy all the warm weather!

As we move forward this year, please don’t hesitate to call me if you are looking for real estate or are just curious about values.

5 Tips To Cut Natural Gas and Propane Use

Turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you'll save up to 5 percent on heating costs. Wear warm clothing like a sweater and set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower during the day and evening, health permitting. Set the thermostat back to 55 degrees or off at night or when leaving home for an extended time, saving 5-20 percent of your heating costs (heat pumps should only be set back 2 degrees to prevent unneeded use of backup strip heating).

Replace or clean furnace filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Now is also the time for a furnace "tune-up." Keeping your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted will reduce energy use, saving up to 5 percent of heating costs.

Reduce hot water temperature. Set your water heater to the "normal" setting or 120-degrees Fahrenheit, unless the owner's manual for your dishwasher requires a higher setting. Savings are 7-11 percent of water heating costs. Insulate the first 5 feet of pipe coming out of the top of your water heater or the whole length until the pipe goes into the wall if that is less than five feet. Pipe insulation is available from your hardware store.

Seal up the leaks. Caulk leaks around windows and doors. Look for places where you have pipes, vents or electrical conduits that go through the wall, ceiling or floor. Check the bathroom, underneath the kitchen sink, pipes inside a closet, etc. If you find a gap at the point where the pipe or vents goes through the wall, seal it up. Caulk works best on small gaps. Your hardware store should have products to close the larger gaps.

Consider replacing your old gas appliances with an ENERGY STAR® water heater or furnace. If your gas water heater is more than 12 years old, consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient model. The best indicator of a water heater's efficiency is the Energy Factor (EF). The higher the EF, the more efficient the water heater. If your furnace is over 15 years old, consider replacing it with an newer ENERGY STAR rated model that is about 15 percent more efficient than standard models.

Tucson and Vicinity Re-Sale Statistics

News, Notes, Upcoming Events…

• The intersection of Fifth Avenue/Eighth Street is closed. The closure will be in place until mid February 2012 while the contractor builds the 20-foot by 12-foot underground drainage system.
• Seventh Street, between Sixth Avenue and Arizona Avenue, will be closed until mid February 2012.
• Beginning Monday, January 9, 2012, the intersection of Eighth Street/Herbert Avenue will be closed for approximately three months.
• Harlem Globetrotters: February 20, 2012 at the Tucson Arena.

Did You Know…

• The Oscar Awards were held twice in 1930!
• Valentine’s Day originates from the ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on 15 February in honor of the gods Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. At around 270AD Rome was facing battles and civil uprising. The men were not keen to join the army. Emperor Claudius II believed that the men did not want to leave their loved ones and summarily canceled all marriages and engagements. Two priests, Valentine and Marius, disobeyed the decree and secretly performed marriage ceremonies. Valentine was caught on 14 February and dragged to jail. Later in the day he was clubbed to death and beheaded. It is said that, before his execution, Valentine himself had fallen in love with the jailer’s daughter. He signed his final note to her, “From your Valentine.”

8350 E. Rawhide Trail $370,000 3320 square feet on over a half acre. Complete with pool, separate updated guest studio guest house, Sabino Canyon area, ...	3243 E 2nd St. $229,900 Great location! New carpet and paint. 4 bedroom, 3 bath, pool, roomy with 2096 square feet, updated kitchen, easy to take of...

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(This Newsletter is for information only and is not an attempt to solicit other Broker's listings.)