Maintaining the proper humidity level goes a long way towards making your home comfortable. But if you haven't yet invested in a humidifier or dehumidifier for the air quality, let us give you another reason: Having too wet or too dry air can actually wreck your home.

You might not think a humidifier or dehumidifier is necessary outside of the desert or tropics. But you could be simulating those harsh climates inside your home each time you run the heater or cook up a storm.

Air comes into your house with a certain amount of humidity from the climate outside. But cooking, bathing and doing laundry can all create water vapor and raise the humidity level in your home. And running your heating system does nothing to add moisture to the dry winter air outside, leaving you in an indoor desert without a humidifier.

Everything from your floors to your ceiling fan can benefit from the addition of humidity control:

• A too-dry home can see it's wall paneling, wood trim and hardwood flooring shrink, causing joints to open.
• A dry home can develop cracks in drywall and plaster.
• A too-wet home might see wooden features, like paneling, floors and fan blades, warp and bend.
• Excess humidity can produce enough condensation to stain ceilings and walls and cause flaking paint and peeling wallpaper.
• If the humidity of a home is too high, it can lead to the corrosion of metal components and circuits inside your appliances.

To get started on the path to humidity nirvana, measure the humidity level in your home with an inexpensive hygrometer.

A humidity level of around 45 percent is ideal. If you're above or below, invest in a humidifier or dehumidifier to keep your home and appliances looking and running their best.

Source: http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/air-water-quality/the-ways-humidity-or-dryness-wreck-your-home-appliances-139308

Home warranties can be attractive to home owners or buyers who are looking at purchasing a property. These service contracts can cover all of a home’s major systems, such as the furnace or air conditioner, and will cover needed repairs if the appliance breaks or damaged.

Some sellers are offering a home warranty to try to lure buyers.

But not all home warranties are the same. Experts say you should carefully weigh costs, policy allowances, and customer feedback before making a decision so that you ensure you’re getting the best deal. Home warranties cost about $250 to $500 a year.

Here are some more tips from experts in shopping for a home warranty:

▪ Find customer reviews. Web sites, such as homewarrantyreviews.com, provide reviews of home warranty companies. You also might check how each company is rated with your local Better Business Bureau.
▪ Check for extra fees. Will you have to pay a fee for service calls?
▪ Check the coverage allowance. Are there any exclusions to coverage? Will the allowance cover the entire cost of a broken appliance or just some of it? For example, if you have older appliances and mechanicals, will the policy cover the full cost of replacing it or just the depreciated value? If the policy only covers the depreciated value when a 20-year-old furnace dies, for example, the reimbursement may not be enough to buy a new one. Also, verify what appliances are all included in the coverage. Some companies will allow you to add coverage for swimming pools, while others won’t.

"The biggest thing is awareness of what the exclusions are," Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com, told the Chicago Tribune. "The mere presence of a warranty, by nature, tends to have exclusions. Being aware of that can aid in the decision-making process."

Source: “When Home Warranties Are Worth It,” Chicago Tribune (Feb. 8, 2011)

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2011021105?OpenDocument

The Indiana Association of Realtors says home sales throughout the state increased 2.9 percent in January, compared to a year ago. The median sale price also rose 5.3 percent. Chief Executive Officer Karl Berron says the numbers are significant because the federal home buyer tax credit was in play in January 2010, but not last month.

 The Indiana Association of REALTORS® (IAR) today released its monthly “Indiana Real Estate Markets Report” as a continuation of its “Indiana is Home” project. Statewide, when comparing January 2011 to January 2010:

The median sale price of homes increased 5.3 percent to $100,000;

The average sale price of homes increased 0.6% to $121,941; and
The number of closed sales increased 2.9% to 3,037.

The Report at a glance:

Statewide Housing Market Overview
(Monthly Indicators)

Sortable County Tables:

One-month & Year-to-date Views

Trailing three- & 12-month Views

Reportisode:

"Homeowners Best Friend"

“These numbers are significant because the federal home buyer tax credit was in play in January 2010, but not last month,” said Karl Berron, Chief Executive Officer.

“REALTORS® have advised consumers for months now to review housing data in the long-term until the impact of the tax credit recedes. We maintain that position. A month of good news is not the sole reason for our optimism. Rather, it is what we’re seeing over several months and years that has us most hopeful,” he continued.

To Berron’s point:

The median sale price of homes, statewide, has increased 14 out of the last 16 months; and

The inventory of homes for sale has steadily trended downward since the latter part of 2007, getting closer to a normal or neutral market.

Berron conceded that activity isn’t as high as REALTORS® would like and will not be until the nation’s economy settles and there is a meaningful increase in jobs. “But,” he said, “It’s easy to see that housing has remained a smart long-term investment despite these challenges.”

More about the "Indiana Real Estate Markets Report"

Established in May 2009 and found online under the Reports tab of www.IndianaIsHome.com, the “Indiana Real Estate Markets Report” was the first-ever county-by-county comparison of existing single-family home sales in Indiana. In March 2010, IAR added statistics on other types of existing detached single-family (DSF) home sales – condominiums, duplexes, townhomes, mobile homes, etc. – to the report.

The report became even more robust in August 2010. It now tells how the statewide housing market is performing according to eight different indicators, each with one-month and year-to-date comparisons, as well as a historical look. It also provides specific county information for 91 of Indiana’s 92 counties in a sortable table format, allowing for consistent comparison between local markets. IAR obtains the data directly from 26 of the state’s 27 Multiple Listing Services (MLSs), including the Broker Listing Cooperative® (BLC®) in central Indiana.

It is a multi-media project aimed at keeping Hoosier homeowners, would-be homeowners, policymakers and the media well-informed on the ever-changing local real estate markets.

This month’s reportisode (video) discusses more benefits of homeownership, namely the mortgage interest deduction.

Indianapolis-based Boost Media Entertainment shot and produced all videos found online at www.IndianaIsHome.com.

IAR represents approximately 16,000 REALTORS® who are involved in virtually all aspects related to the sale, purchase, exchange or lease of real property in Indiana. The term REALTOR® is a registered mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the world’s largest trade association, the National Association of REALTORS®, and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Source: The Indiana Association of REALTORS & InsideINdianaBusiness

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=46270

An Iowa company has been selected to manage the new arena in downtown Evansville. Project Director John Kish has been authorized to begin negotiations with VenuWorks for a final contract. The Evansville Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved another committee's recommendation to hire the company, which manages 36 facility in 17 communities.

Evansville, Ind. -- The Evansville Redevelopment Commission (ERC) voted unanimously this morning to direct Arena Project Director John J. Kish to begin negotiations with VenuWorks for management and coordinated operations of the new Evansville Arena, which will open this November. VenuWorks, based in Ames, Iowa, manages 36 facilities in 17 communities.

“I am pleased that the Redevelopment Commission heeded the recommendation to select VenuWorks to manage the new Evansville Arena,” said Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. “VenuWorks has a proven track record of successfully opening new facilities in communities similar to Evansville, and I believe they have what it takes to help the City make the new Evansville Arena a great success,” said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

The decision to recommend VenuWorks to the ERC was made by a non-partisan committee that, according to Kish, unanimously agreed that VenuWorks was the best choice to manage and operate the new Evansville Arena. “The committee was particularly impressed by the commitment and involvement from VenuWorks’ senior management, as well as the company’s focus on mid-sized communities,” Kish said.

Steven L. Peters, president of VenuWorks, is enthusiastic about the opportunity to manage Evansville’s new arena. “This community is building a wonderful new facility that holds tremendous promise for the future of Evansville. We are honored that VenuWorks was selected to manage the arena and we will utilize our experience and resources to ensure it is a success.”

The new Evansville arena will be the region’s center for sports and entertainment, designed to host basketball, hockey, concerts, exhibitions, and shows for audiences as large as 11,000.

Source: City of Evansville & Inside INdiana Business http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=46180

An old Evansville firehouse will soon become a new west side dentist's office.
    The former hose house number 5 on Saint Joe Avenue went on the auction block Thursday morning.
    Doctor Wes Brown purchased the building for $200,000.
    Brown and his wife have two other dental offices they plan to combine into the new office on the west side.
    The auction drew a lot of people, some to bid, others just to travel down memory lane.   
    The fire department left the building for a new facility in 1988.
    Since then, it has been used for several businesses... most recently an advertising agency.

Source: http://tristatehomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=244776

The family that owns Holiday World and Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus has donated $25,000 to the Lincoln Amphitheatre in Spencer County. The gift is in memory of Will Koch, who passed away last year. His mother Pat says the family is encouraging others to donate with the hope of having the contribution double to jump start the amphitheatre’s fund drive.

SANTA CLAUS, IND-----With Abraham Lincoln’s birthday just around the corner, Holiday World’s Koch family today issues a $25,000 challenge gift to Lincoln Amphitheatre in memory of Will Koch.

“My oldest son was such an admirer of our sixteenth president,” says Holiday World matriarch Pat Koch. “Part of Will’s legacy is his dedication to seeing the story of Abraham Lincoln’s Indiana roots shared in Lincoln Amphitheatre.”

Abraham Lincoln grew up what is now Lincoln City, Indiana, from the time he was seven until he was 21. Lincoln City is located four miles west of the town of Santa Claus.

The Koch family and Holiday World are encouraging others to donate to Lincoln Amphitheatre in memory of Will Koch, who passed away last June at the age of 48. Thousands of friends and admirers from around the world who sent their condolences remembered him for his vision, integrity, and sense of humor. Will Koch was president of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari for more than 20 years and also served as president of the Lincoln Boyhood Drama Association. His widow, Lori, now serves on the association’s board.

“We hope our gift will inspire others to make a donation as well,” says Pat Koch. “Our goal is to see today’s contribution double, helping to jump-start the amphitheatre’s upcoming fund drive so that they may continue telling the story of Lincoln’s Indiana years for many seasons to come.”

Lincoln Amphitheatre staff recently announced a planned “re-tooling” of the Lincoln: Upon the Altar of Freedom play, which is expected to return as a more family-friendly musical in 2012. Meanwhile, the amphitheatre will host a variety of outdoor films and theatrical presentations this summer, including a collaborative production of The Wizard of Oz with the Evansville Civic Theatre.

Donations may be made through Lincoln Amphitheatre’s website at LincolnAmphitheatre.com by clicking on the “Donate and Support” button. Lincoln Amphitheatre is located in Lincoln State Park and is operated by the non-profit Lincoln Boyhood Drama Association.

Source: Holiday World and Splashin' Safari & Inside Indiana Business

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=46118