I'm your host Todd Bird. How's everyone doing today? This is where we cut through it all in nail things down.

I do remodeling... additions... kitchens... and bathrooms...

I do all that fun stuff, and when you need help doing those projects go right to AskTheContractors.com.

Request information from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros that we endorsed by searching our Directory of Contractors. Only the best get on our website...

"The people on our website are the Pros that I have trusted for over 30 years.

They're the people that have helped me be successful."

And, I have great people on there, like LL Flooring. They understand your floor is the foundation of your home’s style. That's why they offer over 400 floors, at the best value.

 Visit www.LLFllooring.com/Pro. These are the floors homes are built on.

This Show Is All About You...

Of course, I want to give you the best advice possible for your next renovation project. I don't mind telling you what I've been doing. I’ve got kitchens and bathrooms coming out of my ears right now. Housing renovations are on fire and the reason is low-interest rates.

4:00

As always, I love starting off with news…

COVID-19 Has Impacted Home Purchasing Plans

Data from the National Association of Home Builders shows the covid-19 crisis has impacted Americans' eagerness to want to buy homes.

5:20

Las Vegas Housing Market ‘Going Nuts’

One housing market that is on fire right now is Las Vegas. Despite the pandemic, Las Vegas house prices are on a month-long streak of record highs. Homebuilders have ramped up construction plans all while the coronavirus economy limps along at first glance.

7:00

Okay, I'm going to have some potty talk.

Just kidding... I'm going to keep it decent.

This is really interesting. Duravit USA has unveiled its latest shower/toilet collaboration. The SensoWash technology functions are fully integrated within the Ceramic body.

9:20

Home Builder Demolishes Home Built Too Close to Neighbors

Ashton Woods home builders have elected to tear down a home that was accidentally built too close to its neighbors.

12:20

Couple Hospitalized After Rescue from House Blown Off its Stilts in Hurricane

When in doubt, get out and keep yourself safe.

Hey folks, This is Your Source for Home Improvement Pros. We help you cut through it all and nail things down.

I enjoy the questions that you ask me, and I always tell people… when you send me a question, and I answer it on the air through my podcast, 25 or 30, or a hundred people have that same question.

I get questions from all over the country, and in fact all over the world. I want to talk to you.

Again, people are flooding my website with questions and getting information for their next Home Improvement project. Go to AskTheContractors.com.

17:25

I answer your questions right here, like these…

• George asks... "I have a one-acre lot that is full of weeds. I need to clean the land and plant grass. What should I do first?"

• Kenny wants to know... "I have a rotten Rim Joist beam framing studs sheathing on one side of my roof under the gutter. I've had contractors come out and quote me between $3,200 and $4,000 in materials and $10,000 in labor. What is a responsible price that I should pay for this type of work?"

• Haley has this question. "I need to make an outdoor space to put about 30 backpacks, but I don't know how to make it or what to buy?"

• Here's a question from Toby. "I'd like to know how to cover a glass vanity top with something black from the inside so that I can't see through. What material would you use to do this?"

Let's answer more of your questions…

• Let's dig into another question; this one from Tom. "Does it matter what type of wood I use for a fence gate? I'm just going to paint it after I install it. Can I just use Douglas Fir?"

• I'm really excited because we have a question from Merle. I live in a pre-war rental. I'm looking for an easy way to install air diverter so air would blow off to the side.

• Mark sent me a question. This is a pretty tricky one. This is filled with a lot of loops... "During an excavation of my foundation, I discovered it was pushed inward in two locations; splitting the studs and pushing it past the top plate by about 2 to 3 inches. What should we do?"

• Okay, we have a question here from Alex. "I'm putting laminate flooring over high-ply carpet. What type of underlayment do I need?"

Thanks for sending me that question to AskTheContractors.com.

If you have a question, send it to me. It can be about upgrades or housing. I'm going to answer it right here on my podcast. Go to my website to check out all the valuable information I have for you for your next project. Also, send me pictures; send me questions.

44:45

I'd like to help you with your next home improvement project.

I'd love to give you a bid. All my information is on my website. Again, I'm a contractor for well over 30 years licensed in 37 different trades. I can help you out.

Okay, you know, I also I want to give advice to you about bathrooms.

49:30

"Maybe you can't afford that $20,000 bathroom right now."

Here are a couple of tips that you can do in your bathroom to make it feel new.

In fact, we're going to go through a new project home in a couple of minutes here in California. I'm going to walk through and we're going to tour.

We're going to gut the inside after applying for permits and preparing our plans.

So, let's take a walk through this project. You are going to love it.

I want to thank everyone for being here on the show with me. AskTheContractors.com. I want to thank my sponsor LL flooring.

Thanks for sponsoring me - LL flooring. These are the floors homes are built on. Visit their housing experts at your local store or go to LL flooring.com/Pro to learn more.

I've been your host Todd bird. Thanks for tuning in. Send me your questions. Have a great day and we'll talk soon.

More AskTheContractors.com Content

It's a new show and a New Year, with lots of exciting projects coming up around your home. I want to hear all about them. Send me your details of what you're doing around your home. I know others want to hear about it too.

"That's what this show is all about. It's about keeping your home in prime condition. And in order to keep it in prime condition, you'll need help doing it."

You may need a new roof, siding, or windows. Or, you may need some sheetrock repair, and new flooring. You name it. We talk about that on this show.

This is where we cut through it all and nail things down. I am your host Todd Bird.

In fact, later in the show... Are you thinking about doing a kitchen or bathroom this year? We're going to talk about the top trends in kitchens and bathrooms in 2020.

Speaking of great shows, we are broadcasting from the Sacramento Commons project in Sacramento, California. This project includes two high rise residential buildings, a pair of mid-rise residential buildings, and a mixed-use building. More on that coming up...

Now what's interesting about this is, it ties in with the affordable housing conversation we are going to have later in the show. So, stay with us.

We have a wonderful show lined up for you today.

And as always, I like to dig into some 2020 Housing News from Around the Country.

With the interest rates being as low as they are, and the housing market being where it is, 2020 should be prosperous for all of us.

That's great news. So let's have a good year as mortgage rates remain stable to start in 2020.

Does that mean an early start to spring home buying? We will see...

A National Association of Homebuilders forecasts gains in single-family starts.

That's amazing. That's incredible. And forecasts indicate small monthly gains and housing starts in the month ahead.

I'll tell you why that's good. We want things to gradually go up.

And speaking of Affordable Housing, new revisions to a California regulation designed to pave the way for passage of landmark housing bill, SB 50, is dead. State Senator Scott Wiener was seeking to raise height limits around transit lines, which means taller buildings so that more people can stay closer to public transit, allowing denser development and high-income areas. It would have also streamlined permitting for multiple, multiple-family housing developments.

The case for more Mass Timber Construction

The possibilities offered by using engineered wood in the construction industry is enticing builders and dividing environmentalists.

And a funny little news story which could be very, very serious. Las Vegas Fire & Rescue teams discovered an illegal gas station in a home. This is one of the most dangerous things you can do. Folks, do not hoard gas!

"Do you see a ding dong crime story in the construction trades? I'd like to hear about it. I'd like to know what ding dong things people are doing out there."

My favorite part of the show: Question of the Week.

Those of you who send me a question, I like to talk about them. Now, this is a follow-up to a question we had earlier on Askthecontractors.com. The question goes, I'm looking to build a climbing wall in my garage, with Leslie on the phone line.

I Want To Help You With Your Projects

It could be a kitchen remodel, it could be a bathroom remodel, it could be hanging gutters or your roof repair, or shutters, or sheetrock, or electrical, or plumbing.

I'm an active contractor here in Northern California for over 30 years, and I primarily do room additions. I do bathrooms, and I do kitchens.

What are the New Trends for 2020?

Well, guess what? We have the latest kitchens and bathroom trends.

Do you have some trends going on in your kitchen, or your bath? What are some thoughts that you have? Send them to me.

We are on Facebook, @askthecontractors. Or our podcast for the show on-demand: iTunes Google Play iHeartRadio App Stitcher, Spotify and everywhere else you get your podcasts.

You can watch us on Instagram. Check us out and tell us what you think about our show. You can hear us all over the world, and all over the country, so send us your comments.

Check us out at Toddco Builders. That's my company. I specialize in kitchens and bathrooms. I would love to talk to you about your project.

You can catch all my information on our website, askthecontractors.com, and so many others who helped me on that webpage to make my life successful as a contractor. These are the people I rely on. Go to askthecontractors.com. Give me your thoughts.

More AskTheContractors.com Articles:

I'm your host Todd Bird. This is AskTheContractors.com. Your source for local Home Improvement Pros. We cut through it all and nail things down.

Smart home devices are taking center stage this season, but there are so many choices to consider. Ira Victor, Digital Forensic Analyst with Discovery Technician joins me to help figure this out.

I see Alexis, and Google Assistant and it is amazing technology. The truth is, manufacturers of technology devices are looking to home automation as the next big thing to juice their bottom line. In other words, they want to sell lots of this stuff. Smartphone sales are leveling off. Keep in mind this is just software and hardware, with all of the flaws, and security, and privacy issues go along with our computers.

Ira explains some of the pitfalls

“I help people who are being sued over digital information. This information in all these home automation systems is ending up in court. Even if you did nothing wrong, the lawsuits are flying around everywhere. In fact, the insurance company will pay the claim when someone is damaged by technology. Then the insurance company starts looking around for people to get some of their money back.”

Smart Home Technology benefits us, and it’s here to stay

“You can get sued when a party suffers damage, and when they know that someone else has digital information it can cost a lot of money. Some examples include people buying a home. Buyers and sellers get together with all sorts of people involved; Home Inspections and Real Estate folks, and Bankers, mortgage brokers, and repair business, etc."

"Somewhere in the transaction the fraudsters slip in, and the money that was supposed to go between the buyer to the seller ends up getting rerouted by cyber-criminals to an overseas bank.”

How prepared are escrow companies to deal with this?

“Some of the people involved in a real estate transaction are a little prepared, and many of them are not prepared at all. They think, why are criminals targeting me? Similarly, they're targeting the trades involved in the transaction to get enough information to do a crime. Many times the other parties are just innocent bystanders, but the attorneys or the insurance companies that's damaged will start naming defendants."

"This goes back to home automation. The home automation system can get in snarled in litigation, it's time-consuming, and often very costly.”

How do we protect ourselves against this?

Think about what you're buying. Are you buying something you really need? Are you buying something you want? Think about the risks.

"So, for example if you are buying a home automation system that has video, monitoring the video outside of your home or inside of your home. That data could very well end up in court. You may say okay, well I want this video surveillance around my house. That's important to me. I'm willing to take the risk of litigation. Then, by all means, protect that data. I've seen these home automation systems that are connected up to home networks. They’re opening up significant security vulnerabilities in that home network, introducing more risk. If there’s an attack that damages somebody else, you could be liable."

"It's a risk. Keep your eyes wide open when you're bringing this level of technology into your home. You are introducing new risks, and you need to be aware of those risks.

Take steps to minimize the risk that could hurt you

How do these risks play into smart technology with our homes? I mean, people are connecting appliances, electronics, etc. Are those entry points for people being able to retrieve information through those devices?

“Absolutely. It’s not that criminals are retrieving your information through the devices. Many of these smart home or home digital systems are opening up your home network. That home network has your computers and your files. However, I’ve seen in people's home network with home automation, they've got their taxes on that Network. Sensitive information will be stolen and used to hurt somebody. And when you add an online toaster or online device, you are potentially opening up your network too many vulnerabilities.

"It's not the bad guy hurting you, it’s using your network and data hurt others and that's when you can feel the real impact when you get a lawsuit.“

This technology is hitting us left and right, and we do have to protect ourselves.

I encourage you to contact Ira Victor. He’s a great resource to help people if you are going through these issues.

Certainly, great advice. If you have smart technology in your home, you have to protect ourselves.

There are some smart thermostats out there that will make your life easier and help you save money. All of them connect wirelessly to the internet and feature remote sensors to adjust your home heating and cooling through a website or a mobile app. We like smart technology because it allows you to efficiently manager your energy and electric use.

Do you have any thoughts on Smart Home Technology? Send me a message through AskTheContractors.com. Let me know what's on your mind.

By the way, my Trusted Pros will help you with your home improvement projects. Request a bid from my trusted partners for your next project. Do it by searching our Directory of Contractors. Get your home improvement projects done by using our Trusted Pros.

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

Recent Blog Posts

Buyers are struggling to find a home that they can afford, while sellers are doing everything they can to push UP the value of their homes and grab the highest sales price.

Factor in low Interest Rates and average incomes, and you have a tough place to buy a home.

So, what can be done to make it more affordable to live in the Golden State?

Joining us now is Jonathan Lansner, Business Columnist with the Orange County Register. This is a summary of a conversation we had on his Article on the need for a housing crash in California.

Define: Affordable

Well, we’ve seen over the past 30 years only several times where homes would be considered “affordable”. We saw it in the mid-1990s. We saw it early in 2000. Briefly, we saw it much later in that decade; 2009-2010, probably through 2012. Each one of those times, “why did we have affordability?” Well, home prices had come down considerably in the previous couple of years. It seemed the only time that we've had affordable home prices in 30 years is when the home prices collapse.

Today not much is being done to create a healthy stock of affordable housing. So over time, as housing gets too expensive, it will correct. That’s when we get ‘affordable’ housing.

The last crunch came in late ’06, ’07, ‘08 and ’09. That's when we had major foreclosures. These were record-breaking foreclosures. When that happened, it was not first-time buyers picking up these homes. It was investor groups. The investors renovated them. So, if a young person, or a person who wants to enter the entry-level home market, it’s hard. The question is, do young home-owners have the talent to renovate and are banks willing to lend on that home?

A Brief History Lesson

Let’s go back to that period during and after the Great Recession. One of the ironies of it is when housing, by statistical methods, was seen as affordable it really wasn't. Unless you had cash, or perfect credit and a big down payment the bank wasn’t interested in talking to you.

Lets’ go back to 2004 and 2005, the hay day of subprime lending, by math and statistics, affordability was very low. The thing is, you know and I know that affordability was really a hundred percent because if you wanted to buy a property then someone would lend you the money.  If the banks put a feather underneath your nose and it moved, you could get a loan. 

A Long Look at Affordability... and what it takes to get there.

#1, are there jobs? Without jobs that is immaterial. In 2010/2011 there were no jobs. Unemployment in the state was 12%; that’s one-in-eight people. People were losing their homes. Today unemployment is in the 4% range. There are plenty of jobs. There are also lenders that are willing to lend because the refi business is very slow. Today, they’re willing to lend. Rates just in the last few months it come back to 4%. These are rates that, I hate to say because we've been saying it for 5 years, but these are historically low rates and another reason to buy now.

#2, just because you can't find that luxury home on the cul-de-sac for a price that was never available for but in your mind, you wish you could pay, doesn't mean that homes are unaffordable. It means that perhaps you either must stretch to get there or re-adjust your thinking of what a first-time home should be.

As an example, I use myself in my younger days, in my early twenties. I would buy homes in the worst part of Sacramento and paint them and fix them up. It wasn't where I wanted to live but I knew I was going to eventually work up the ladder. So, you're right, it’s a good time to buy and maybe it isn't the place that you want to live, but unfortunately to get up that ladder sometimes we have to work a little harder.

The Role of Banks

Banks do want to loan money. Because if you take an average $500,000 loan at 4.5% and $2,250 a month payment, 12 months. That’s $27000 over 30 years and you're paying close to $810,000 for that $500,000 home. That’s what fuels banks. It’s these mortgages. We’ve got to find some middle ground to get the first-time home buyers going.  

It just seems housing in California is still getting stalled. We keep sputtering along, especially with the SB 50 being shelved for another year. It was proposed by Senator Wiener out of San Francisco and held by the legislature until 2020. What are your thoughts on that? Again, this is sort of this Grand Debate we are having. If we want “more affordable”, whatever that means, housing in California we will have to lower the price of the existing housing. Whether you lower the price of my home, or yours, or build cheaper homes in our neighborhoods, so to speak.

The truth is, instead of wasting a lot of people's tax money and putting a bullet train down the middle of California, we need to take that bullet train from where their jobs to where there can be affordable housing. My point is the number one spot right now in America for millennials is Bakersfield. They're not just going there; they're staying there. They are living there. Why, because two-by-fours in San Francisco cost the same in Bakersfield. The difference is, the property that you're going to build that house on in San Francisco or San Jose you start off spending $600,000 - $700,000 just for the property. In places like Bakersfield, Fresno and up in our neck of the woods, Yuba City, you start off by paying $40,000 for that lot. It seems like we must find the areas that are affordable. The equation starts with land prices.

Land Prices are Key

Land prices are certainly a big part of the equation and a lot of that is supply and demand amongst people on both sides of that deal are educated. This is not mom and dad buying land for a huge master-planned community. These are Pros on either side. The pros are willing to bet that this is a good price, or this is a fair price. As a result, you end up seeing the base so high because of the land price.  Unfortunately, because of the high land price, it makes more “sense” for the builder to lean towards the luxury side. It will be expensive anyway, or you will end up paying a lot of money for a tiny condo or a low rise project.  

It’s one of the big issues when we talk about all our kids who don't want this or can't afford to live there.

High Expectations all Around

Finally, there seems to be a general disinterest amongst home buyers, and I’m talking about those who are buying a home for a home starter.  It’s what we would consider a starter home. It’s that one-bedroom or two-bedroom condo or a small house on the wrong side of town which needs some TLC. Investors are taking those homes, while the current crop of first-time buyers want a slightly nicer home. Meaning, they want to skip that first level and go straight to that second home. The problem is that home is: 1, expensive and 2, unobtainable. So again, we have one of these great "a-ha" moments. If we build all these starter homes that people claim people want, the builders will tell you they are not sure there’s any interest in someone building a community of one-bedroom condos for a homeowner.

Games Developers Play

The margins of profit in the new home industry are not as large as people think. If builders can make a larger profit on a luxury home opposed to affordable housing, then obviously that's what they're drawn to.

And to add another bit of California logic…

I'm a builder. I go to Neighborhood X. I propose a high-density, affordable first-time homebuyers project. Everyone says, oh no, “Traffic”. “Safety”. “Not in my neighborhood”. Then the builder says, “How about on that same site we put a hundred luxury homes?” People usually say, well I really don't want homes but builders have property rights. “A couple of million-dollar homes can't hurt”. So, neighbors say, “yes”.

Not only do developers make more money, but it’s easier to get a neighborhood to roll over and say, “Okay, fine build those luxury homes”. Now developers don’t need to build that high-density condo project. This way developers are motivated financially to build luxury homes because they can get it done.  

I totally agree. We're talking to Jonathan Lansner from the Orange County Register on affordable housing. Thank you for joining us on AskTheContractors.com

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

Join our Home buyer’s Workshop …For those looking to Buy and Sell

Come have Lunch and Learn from the Pros

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Noon – 2pm

North Ridge Country Club

Text the Word: “Workshop” and your email to 916-693-5224.

Or grab a copy of the Evite HERE

• Get your Credit Score evaluated
• Line up your Pre-Approval for a Home Loan
• Start the process to find your Perfect Home with Myesha Perry.

We want to eliminate the fears of purchasing a new home. Home ownership is affordable.

In these workshops, we will explain the home-buying process for you. We are going to give you all the information and tools you need.

These are the details “from A-Z” on how to purchase a home. We’ll hold your hand through the process because new homeowners can benefit from the information.

– Home Loan Lenders will be on site from Guild Mortgage.

– Credit Repair Specialists are available for you.

– Meet Todd Bird, Host of AskTheContractors.com

– Enjoy light snacks.

– Experience the grounds of North Ridge Country Club.

– Work with a team to help you get into your new home.

Text the Word: “Workshop” and your email to 916-693-5224.

Or grab a copy of the Evite HERE

Keith's out at this weekend’s Home Show in Auburn. We got to talking about his Walk-in Tubs...

"Our tubs give you a lot of flexibility when you are looking to add a spa-like therapeutic tub to your home. We have 19 models and we custom build every tub for the customer, so they can get the tub designed specifically with the right systems for them. Homeowners do not have to pay for systems they don't think they would use. That allows us to fit more people and stay within budget.

"If people want to go down and look at our showroom they can actually touch and see our Walk-in tubs because they are the Mercedes-Benz of tubs."

Come by our showroom or request an estimate online, we will give you $1,000 off the cost of installation.

"Anybody can come into our showroom. They can look at the different styles of tubs. They can actually sit in a tub and experience all the systems and decide which features they would like in their own tub."

The showroom for American Therapy Tubs is right off Hwy 99 at the Grant Line Road exit. The address is 10471 Grant Line Road in Elk Grove. It’s the first turn off the freeway and a nice little drive from Sacramento or San Joaquin County.

Give Keith a call to set up your appointment. 916-685-0888. Take advantage of their offer of $1,000 off Installation by mentioning Ask The Contractors, or through his website, and experience the benefits of an American Therapy Walk-in Tub for yourself.

The Health Benefits of an American Therapy Walk-in Tub:

- The micro bubble system

It infuses oxygen into the water so you're sitting in oxygen-rich water. The largest organ on your body is your skin, so you absorb oxygen through your skin improve the cells in your body.

- Powerful Water Jets for water therapy

These many water jets massage you in specific ways to eliminate sore muscles and joints. Take Fibromyalgia, for example, our water jets can alleviate the pressure that causes pain.

- Ease the pain of Arthritis

- Improve Blood Circulation

- Pull out and eliminate Toxins from your skin

- Aromatherapy to improve your sleep patterns

- Chromotherapy

Light therapy along with aromatherapy balances your emotions and puts your mood, and mind at ease.

To learn more about American Therapy Tubs, browse the website,  www.AmericanTherapyTubs.com. Take advantage of their $1000 off your installation by calling Keith or Lawrence at 916-685-0888.

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

Recent Article from Ask The Contractors

More families choosing to stay at home, renovate for aging households

As the population ages, more and more homeowners are opting to stay in their homes longer.

A Harvard University study said in 2017, homeowners who wanted to age at home spent $40 billion on renovating kitchens and bathrooms.

In 1997, that number was $21 billion.

Source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/interactive-how-do-homeowners-spend-their-remodeling-dollars/

Todd: I can believe the number of people that are aging, just like you and me, we're all getting a little older and the alternative is not a good one.

I have a good friend with me, Keith Howard. He's the owner of American Therapy Tubs. Tell us about your business. Tell us what you do, and about these beautiful walk-in tubs that you specialize in.

Keith: We specialize in adaptive living. In other words, making changes to homes so people who have a disability, or a challenge; we make their life easier and allow them to be in their home safer, for longer.

Explain to people Walk-In Tubs features. In case they've never seen one.

Keith: They're basically a self-contained, and more often a spa, that we install in place of a typical tub. They allow somebody to be able to enter and exit the bath safer, and to stay in it safer while they bathe. These tubs were not designed specifically for the elderly. It's a European concept. It's been around for over 40 years in Europe. When you go to sell your home, you take your appliances, your fixtures, your kitchen cabinets with you. So, that whole Ikea modular cabinet thing is not a new idea. It's actually an old idea. These tubs are a self-contained unit. They can actually be moved and put in another space if somebody wanted to move. You could take these tubs with them.

How long have you been doing this because you did not always sell tubs?

Keith: My whole family is in the senior care industry, so I've been around Aassisted Living facilities for a long time. I used to be a real estate consultant to the industry. I probably been inside more assisted living and skilled nursing facilities than most people. Once I saw that demographic, I thought it would be really great to be able to become part of it, and in a more specific way.

I actually worked for a guy who had a large company. They put these tubs in and I saw what they were but they didn't typically offer the kind of options that we now offer. There was basically one tub; one-way, and for one price. I realized that they didn't fit everybody, as far as an individual or space in the home. So I found a company that allows us to diversify.

What if people are interested in learning more about American Therapy Tubs. What's their first step?

Keith: Once we’re contacted, they can either come and visit our showroom which is in Elk Grove, or we will come to see them. There's no cost to do any of this.

We have a tub where they can experience the benefits of hydrotherapy in our showroom.

Todd: I'm glad you talked about that because that is a great idea. These tubs range from $9000 to $16,000, and all the way up to $20,000. These are not cheap dates. They're very well worth it. And you have a working tub in your showroom that you can fill up, give the people privacy, and check the unit out right there.

Keith: That's correct. We have 19 different models of tubs and we custom build every tub so the tubs built specifically for the customer. They don't have to buy options they don't think they would use, but the options are there if they want them.

Todd: What are those options? Because, one of the biggest concerns that customers have shared with me was they really want to shower-head, and not just a tub. But, low-and-behold, the tubs come with showers now.

Keith: Yeah, we can accommodate just about anybody with one of our tubs. The benefits of bathing and hydrotherapy are immense.

The New England Journal of Medicine published an article about the benefits of these tubs. They list 50 different ailments from diabetes, gland function increases, and circulation increases, to name a few. So feel better, and your body actually functions better.

You can call us at 916-685-0888, and if you mention this segment you get $1,000 off the installation of one of our Amerian Therapy Walk-in tubs.

Todd: How cool is that? You've got to see the showroom. You have to see these different models. I can only imagine the weight you're going to take off homeowners. Actually, I took note when I was in your showroom is how beautiful the units are. This is like a piece of furniture in your home.

Keith: It's beautiful, and when we build them in, it looks like it's supposed to be there. That's the key to have the tub fit in your home and not stick out like it doesn't belong there.

Todd: Let's talk about size of the tubs. We're taking out a standard 5 foot tub, and this is going to go into that area.

Keith: We can go all the way down to a typical stall-shower as you'll see in an older home.  We've got a tub that actually fits inside there. You'll be surprised how much room is in that tub; all the way up to a full 60 inches along the top. So if you're interested, come by the showroom and take advantage of the $1000 off the installation of one of our products.

Give us a call at 916-685-0888 and we'll be glad to set up a time to see you.

Todd: Go down a list of the options that these tubs come with. It's not just turning on the hot and cold sitting there filling up. There are a lot of toys to play with.

Keith: Lots of toys. Everything from Hydrotherapy which is a Whirlpool system. An air system. Our micro bubble system is probably one of the most beneficial systems put in these tabs. Everything from aromatherapy, to light therapy, you name it these tubs have it. Heated seats. They are really a special unit.

Todd: So, while that water is draining you have a system now where it's a quick-release, fast flow drain system.

Keith: These tubs will typically drain in under two minutes.  Under two minutes.

Todd: While you're sitting there, you're not freezing to death. You have heaters around you.

Keith: We design tubs to fill quickly and drain quickly. That's the first question we typically get from somebody who's considering one of our tubs.

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The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has been at its lowest since February of last year.

Todd: I want to give a little history lesson also. I want to go back to October 1981. What do you think the interest rate was for a 30-year fixed-rate at that point? 

Troy: It was 18.6% back then on a fixed rate!

Todd: You breathe the mortgage business and you know… Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that Mortgage Rates declined in March. What do you make of this? Where are we going with our interest rates?

Troy: There’s still a lot of uncertainty in the market but what you're seeing is a reduction in interest rates to somewhere in the low 4% on a 30-year fixed-rate. We might even see a continued rate reduction. That's going to put less pressure on rates.

Todd: We have a lot going on in the world. That puts the pressure on. The Brexit deal is a huge one, which affects the mortgage rates. But it seems rates have stayed pretty stable.

Troy: They’re not all over the board. We're seeing a little bit of reduction and that's good. I mean, if you're refinancing it's a good time to get out there get pre-qualified.

Give me a call at 916-977-1234

We’ll sit down and go over all your items, your credit, your income, your liabilities, and down payment. We’re at 4-and-¾ percent. So, when you're pre-qualified, you’re going to get a little bit more of a house

We’ll sit down and go over all your items, your credit, your income, your liabilities, and down payment. We’re at 4-and-¾ percent. So, when you're pre-qualified, you’re going to get a little bit more of a house

Todd: Well, you're going to have less of a house payment. And over that 30-year mortgage over the life of that loan, that's not hundreds of dollars you're saving – that’s thousands of dollars that you're saving!

What if someone is in the process of getting a loan right now through a lender.

I encourage people to get a minimum of two bids for your project. It doesn't make sense to pay the first guy who showed up. And that's no different in the mortgage world.

Troy: Get a Second Look. We've talked about this previously on the show. If you need a Second Look, show me what you have, and we'll take a look at it. It might be better. It might not be better, but at least you're going to know that you're getting.

When you get that quote, or you get a loan estimate from a lender, you want to do some digging. For example, sometimes they might be pricing that on a 20% down payment when you only have 5% down.  That could create a big difference in the rate on that.

A Second Look is really helpful.

Todd:  And if you can't save them money, what happens?

Troy: They get their orginial loan, and I will you a $100 Amazon card. There's no obligation. We don't have to do the loan. We just want to take a Second Look at it.

If you want us to take a Second Look, give me a call. Troy Bird. Guild Mortgage. 916-977-1234. That’s 916-977-1234 or you can look me up www.troybird.com.

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So, I welcome Troy Bird from Guild Mortgage

Todd: There has not been much change from last time we talked. The national average rate’s about 4.5% (as of 2/19). Very good.

Troy: We're still hovering around that 4 and 1/2 percent, depending on the loan program. We've been there for a while now.

Todd: What if someone wants a 15-year loan?

Troy: You could save roughly half a percent. Big savings on your interest, but remember you can always turn your 30-year loan into a 15-year loan with an amortization schedule, if you want to make some extra payments. I'll be glad to talk to anyone about the advantages of extra payments.

Todd: How about people out there looking to buy a home? What are the benefits of having a pre-qualified status?

Troy: When buying a new home or an existing home it's important to be pre-qualified. In a competitive market, sellers will get five offers on a house.

Easy Steps to Pre-qualification

• Run your credit.
• Look at your income.
• Evaluate your assets.
• Start thinking about your down payment.
• Find the right loan program for you.

Troy: I try to call the listing agent and say, “I've talked to this client. They've met me face-to-face. I've gone over everything with them. I have a pre-approval on them." That really puts your offer in the number one position.

Let's talk about refinancing for Home Improvement projects

Before starting a home improvement project, homeowners must first consider the loan costs involved.

Experts estimate more than one-third of homeowners do not understand what hiring a professional will cost. And, they cannot successfully secure financing or a budget once they have set their sights on a renovation project.

Todd: Homeowners are always looking to put a new kitchen or a new bathroom that will make their home more beautiful ,and worth more money. How does someone start the process?

Troy: First, you'll get an appraisal on your property to determine if you have enough equity to do that remodel. Have an appraiser and contractor come out to give you a bid. Then we can talk about the perfect option for you. There are loans that will project what your house will be worth, based on the improvements you are making. It will estimate your future value and our office can help you with that.

If anyone has any questions, I'm Troy Bird with the Work with Bird team at Guild Mortgage 916-977-1234. You can also check me out on the web www.troybird.com.

Todd: A lot of times homeowners have a hard time visualizing what they're going to do. So, one of the secrets I tell potential clients is to go up to El Dorado Hills, Serrano. Also, go to Winchester. Go to these high-end subdivisions where they have model homes. You know someone spent hundreds of thousands of dollars staging and designing those model homes.

Kerrie: I think model homes are a great way for people to envision a lifestyle for themselves. Not only is it the interior; it's how that spills out to the exterior. Now we live in a place, especial in California, where we can blur the lines between Indoors and Outdoors.

Todd: The California rooms are becoming so popular because your kitchen doors and family room doors open right up into another living area. It's outside. Maybe you have a fireplace. You can have big screens… In California, we get to do that. We are absolutely blessed here in California to have that advantage.

Kerrie: We've evolved the concept of Outdoor Living, as far as, what we're doing, as far as entertaining and living. The materials now work for us. For example, take those Sunbrella fabrics. There's a pallet that I would specify as indoors, for durability sake. Those fabrics can now spill outdoors with stripes, and plaids, and solid colors, and all of our favorite things. It's not just beige anymore.

Let’s Talk Trends 

Todd: I've seen certain Trends in the design business, but there are some things that I think will be around forever. These items can be integrated into your home.

The first is Granite. It’s around to stay. Every once in a while I get a news story that granite's “out”, and it's not popular anymore. I love it. I think it's beautiful.

The other is hardwood flooring. Above all, it’s just so beautiful. We have hardwood throughout my entire home. I use throw rugs. I have dust bunnies all over the place but I know where the dust bunnies are so I have a really clean house.

The other is used brick. I think used brick incorporated into a home makes it look so beautiful. Plus, it usually comes with a story.

It's amazing to talk about people who pull back their carpets in the Fab Forties. You will find the hardwood floors are perfect.

Kerrie: I agree. I think the hardwood is a happy surprise. That is to say, there's nothing better, especially if the homeowner is there during the discovery. It really kicks off the renovation; absolutely. Actually, I live with hardwood myself. I do live in East Sacramento, so I know exactly what you're talking about. My house was built 1925 and those hardwood floors are still there today. I definitely believe in hardwood floor.

I grew up in a partial brick house. My dad laid all the bricks, so that's near and dear to my heart. It’s a Timeless aesthetic, for sure. I also think we should use natural products like Granite in our homes. I don't specify it very often as an Interior Designer because of the maintenance. We do a lot of Quartz. These materials are going to be timeless and classic for us.

Todd: So you don't see green shag carpet and acoustic ceilings with sparkles coming back anytime soon?

Kerrie: No. We’ve checked the avocado green color accents off the list for a little while.  [Ha ha]

How about colors?

Todd: Where do you see colors going this year? For instance, I'm talking paint tones; accent walls?

"I normally pull back a little bit and find a fun way to incorporate trendy colors."

Kerrie: We've had Colors Of The Year introduced. So if you’re looking at Pantone, we're talking about coral. If you're looking at Benjamin Moore, it's different. All of our paint brands have these pallets. They're typically something that you can work into your home fairly seamlessly, but I like to do it as an accent. I’m talking about a throw pillow, for example. Another option is to reupholster a chair or something that can change over time. It can be a fun Splash but I don't think we have to necessarily paint the interior of our home or totally buy into something that is constantly changing. Paint trends do that.

Todd: Thank you for joining me. Kerrie Kelly, Interior Designer.

It's hard to make sense of Mortgage rates. I asked Troy Bird, Mortgage Banker with Guild Mortgage in Sacramento about where mortgage rates are now, and are they going to remain steady. Troy says, “We’ve seen a nice dip at the end of the year into the New Year. We'll probably see them going up this year but we've seen a little bit of a window where we’ve had the rates drop”.

Mortgage Application News

Mortgage applications rose by 13.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis over the week ending January 11, 2019, according to data from The Mortgage Bankers Association weekly mortgage loans application survey.

“I think a little bit of that is the clients out there, they're smart. They're going to their lender and they're getting pre-qualified, so they're looking at what they're going to be doing in the springtime. Also, with the dip in rates, there's little bit of that refinance action as well," said Troy Bird.

Mortgage experts like Troy Bird say put yourself in the best position by getting pre-qualified. “You have a stronger arm going into negotiations when you're buying a home. That is the way to do it. Talk to your lender first. Clean up your credit. Figure out your down payment. Look at what you need to do on your road map to home ownership so when you make that offer on that property you’re on top of the pile.”

As a contractor I always appreciate it when the homeowner says, ‘we're qualified. We're going to refinance our home’. But, before you refinance we need to know how much we need to borrow. Maybe it’s for that new kitchen remodel. Conversely, it could be a bathroom remodel. It could be for a roof or a room addition. Whatever it is, Mortgage Banker Troy Bird with Guild Mortgage suggests you work with a team that will check your equity. It is also very important to project-out what your home will be worth when the project is completed.

Specialty Loans for Home Renovation

Another option to help you buy the home of your dreams is a loan using your Veteran’s status.

“The VA loan is for our veterans. If you have served then you have your Certificate of Eligibility which allows you to apply for a VA loan. The good news is, if you use your VA entitlement you can use it again. It's not a one-time shot. That means you can always use your VA entitlement as you go through your home purchasing process”, Troy Bird tells us.

How much do I need to borrow?

If you are going to do a remodel, get all your ducks in order. That includes refinancing your home. Furthermore, always consider having a contractor come out to estimate that project. Is it $60,000? Is it $70,000? If its $70,000, and you guess and borrow $80,000, you're paying interest on $10,000 you didn’t need.

Finally, this last scenario. It's a $60,000 kitchen. You think it's only going to cost you 45K, but you run out of money. Troy and I have done a project before where the client has run out of money. Above all, it was an ugly situation. We worked through it, but it was very, very, very difficult. We avoid that by talking about your loan-type upfront. Ask how much equity will I have, and the amount of cash I would need to complete my project.

If you have questions about VA loans, you can call Troy Bird at 916-977-1234 of Guild Mortgage.

Lower Mortgage Rates are giving house-hunters their best opportunity today to increase their buying power right now. That's because rates have come down almost 1/2 percentage points since late mid-November. Therefore, given the strength of the economy, the big question is, “Will it last?”

We asked Mortgage Banker, Troy Bird with Guild Mortgage whether he sees this dip from future interest rate hikes lasting?

Troy: I don’t see it lasting but it is a nice dip right now for some buyers out there. If you're looking to lock in an interest rate, it's a great time to do that. We are seeing a window of opportunity for some buyers.

How long could the rate dip last?

Troy: We'll see some movement here in the first quarter, but what you’re losing in stocks, you’re going to gain in lower interest rates for your house.  Homeowners can lock in now. They're going to see an open window right now that's a great opportunity, especially if you are looking to refinance.

Todd: So what is your advice to homeowners right now?

 Troy: My advice is simple.

- Try to save up as much for a down payment as you can.

- Pay off your credit cards as much as you can to keep your debt low.

- There are lots of down-payment assistance programs, but if you have the cash to work with that's even better. Keep your credit great.

- Get pre-qualified with a Mortgage banker before you meet up with a realtor and you start looking for a home.

Todd: Lastly, how important is it to have extra money in savings? When you go to get a loan, does the underwriter look at that?

Troy: For most loans, it's great to have reserves. It is not required on all loans.

Troy Bird from Guild Mortgage 916-977-1234

Todd: So, let's talk about the Federal Reserve. You're saying that this might not last but they're projecting that we're going to see a bigger than 5% interest rate in the future.

Troy: We will probably end up somewhere at the end of 2019 around 5.3%. We're going to see at least three bumps this year. Originally, the Federal Reserve was expecting to bump rates four times to three times. Again, I would expect that probably three bumps up this year.

Todd: In December, last month we had 312,000 jobs added to the jobs market. What's that say about our economy right now? That's a lot in one month.

Troy: What it says is, the bumps we just talked about are going to happen. As the economy heats up, they're going to want to keep it cool. You don't want the economy to overheat. You don't want inflation.

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