If you have been reading the news lately, you undoubtedly have heard about the rebound in the housing market. The question, of course, is whether this is an accurate appraisal.
The False Housing Rebound
2006 was a shocker for many new homeowners. The market flattened out. In the last half of the year, it actually started to tank. Home values began to fall like a rock in some parts of the country. At long last, it looked like the famed real estate bubble had burst. The question, of course, became how long would the situation last? With receding home values and higher interest rates, the immediate future did not look particularly good.
As 2007 gets up and running, we now hear that real estate is on the rebound. Imagine that! After a mere six to eight months of down time, the real estate market is up and running again. Or is it?
Make no mistake, the number of home sales is picking up pace. Many gurus and pundits, however, are drawing the wrong conclusions from this fact. In their eyes, this means the good days are already here again. Not so quick, my friends.
While the number of sales in the housing market have picked up, the question is why? A closer look reveals a certain quirk that is actually not a positive sign. The number of sales are increasing because more homeowners are facing up to reality. Specifically, they are realizing the value of their home has dropped and are pricing it accordingly. While sales are picking up, home values continue to fall.
So, who really cares so long as sales are picking up? Well, homeowners should care. The values in a local real estate market are arguably set by the last couple of homes sold. In the current situation, those homes are being sold for less than they were a few months ago. While this makes the market more active, it does not increase home values in the area. Instead, it actually pushes them down a bit. In a best case scenario, it flattens them out at whatever the sales price is for the homes in question.
So, are we seeing a rebound in the housing market? Yes and no. We are seeing more sales, but with no positive change on the value of homes. In short, we have a false housing rebound.
Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - get a free one month listing when you sell FSBO homes for sale by owner.


Buying a Condo – Advantages
For many people, buying a condo is the way to get into the real estate market. Let us take a closer look at some of the positive aspects to owning a condo.
Buying a Condo – Advantages
Condominiums come in a variety of styles. Some are simply apartments that have been reclassified as condos. Others are much nicer with a real homey feel to them. Whatever your choice, there are some real advantages to buying a condo.
The first advantage to buying a condo is the price. Simply put, a two bedroom condo will almost always be priced lower than a two bedroom home in nearly every area of the country. There are luxury condos that trump this rule, but there are exceptions to just about every rule. Regardless, the lower price creates a good entry point for first time buyers into the real estate market. The lower price equates to a lower mortgage and thus makes it easier to get the finances together to handle the purchase process.
The second advantage to owning a condo has everything to do with lifestyle. Simply put, do you have a green thumb? If not, a condo is for you. You rarely have more than a small deck area as part of your condo. The rest of the landscaped area is known as the common area and the homeowner’s association has people to take care of it. If you hate yard work, a condo may just be the answer for you.
A third advantage to owning a condo has to do with social interaction. In many stand alone home communities today, there is little social interaction between neighbors. Life gets busy and advents such as the internet just limit the time people get out and meet. This is not the case in a condo development. Obviously, you can hide in your condo if you wish, but most people inevitably run into their condo neighbors. Whether it is at the pool, gym or condo association meetings, you will find yourself interacting with your neighbors and making friends.
There are lots of advantages to buying a condo, but the lifestyle is not for everyone. At the end of the day, however, buying a condo is a good way to get into the real estate market.
Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - get a free one month listing when you sell for sale by owner.


Ceramics Tips
TIPS & GUIDANCE for Ceramics:
1. 1. Choosing Ceramics Tile
In order to get satisfying and durable result, you should take into account the tiles function and its situated environment.
* Load and friction factor on the floor
Ceramic tiles with glossy surfaces are more suitable for home interiors, because they have less resistant from friction than coarse surfaces. For public places such as department stores, public services etc, more coarse tiles are strongly advised. These tiles have more resistant with friction and so less slippery.
* The tiles environment: located on walls, floors, bathrooms, or special areas such as pools, cooler rooms, laboratories, or workshops. The tiles surface should be well suited to its environment.
2. Color, Motif, and Tile Size Determination
* Everyone has different tastes in Color, Motif, and Size, but when choosing the appropriate tile you should consider room color, lighting intensity, size, and function of this room.
* For final consideration, it's better to try with several tiles rather than just one piece, so you can predict the final view before tile installation. For better example you can visit to our showroom.
* Color determination, motif, and ceramics size can impact the rooms’impression by making it more or less spacious. It can change the rooms’ nuance like neat, proud, clean, fun etc. It is better to you consult with your architect or visit our showroom for product consultation.
3. Selecting Material for Tile Installation
* To do the installation, you can apply with concrete that contain sand and cement or other adhesive material. The material composition is 1 part of cements, 4 to 6 parts of sand for floor, and 2 to 4 parts of sand for wall. The addition of latex can make better adhesive power and mixing flexibility.
* For grouting, you can use concrete that contains 2 part of cement and 1 part of refined sand, or you can also use ready used grouting material (with raw material is cement, epoxy, polyurethane, silicon, etc.
* Flexible joints. They should be chosen from waterproof material and compressible.
4. Installation System
Basically, there are two installation systems, installation with fine grout (closed joint, less than 3 mm) and installation with wide grout (open joint, 5 to 10 mm), before applying these two systems; you should consider several things:
* Installation with wide grout give more flexibility for floor surface, especially if it will fill with other flexible material.
* Installation with wide grout can tolerate the size difference of ceramics tile if any.
* The filling process is easier and smoother for tile that applied wide systems.
* Installation ceramics tile with wide grout is more thrift in its flexible joint. The margin/distance size for flexible joints is recommended:
o For inside:
+ Wide grout, flexible joint every 6-10 meter.
+ Small grout, flexible joint every 4-6 meter.
o For out side
+ Wide grout, flexible joint every 3-5 meter
+ Small grout, flexible join every 2-3 meter.
We propose you to install flexible joints around the floor, which border on the wall and floor itself. The width of flexible joint is 6 for 10 mm; depend on its spacer size. The flexible joint must reach to the adhesive concrete. If there are flexible joints on the floor, tile flexible join must apply over this.
5. Floor Tile Installation
1. The floor where ceramic tiles will be installed should be free from dust, oil, or other litter/soiled material, which can affect the sticky power of adhesive concrete.
2. Soak ceramics tile in the clean water for 2-4 hours, so the tiles don't absorb moisture from the adhesive layer. Then decrease excess water by standing the tiles in a vertical position. Water absorption from the binding layer can affect the sticky power of adhesive layer.
3. Prepare material to make an adhesive concrete with mix 1-part cements with 4 to 6 part of sand (or use the ready tile adhesive material). Don't give to much water. If you see a puddle in this concrete mix, it is the sign of too much water.
4. Spread out this adhesive concrete on the floor, 2 to 5 cm thickness. For ground floor, soil must be compacted first, then layer waterproof material and impellent layer. For large floors or floors for heavy loads, better bond the impellent layer. For installations using special tile adhesive, spread the mixture using special plaster tool, such as kape which has teeth on the surface and keep spreading until it reaches 2-10 mm thick (depends on the type of the adhesive and the surface level).
Generally, using adhesives in tile installations need an intermediary layer to spread out the floor surface, with 2-3 cm thickness.
Caution : For the best result, always read the adhesive instructions. For example, there are some adhesives that cannot be mixed with water, so do not soak the ceramics beforehand.
5. For the cement adhesive layer, you can sprinkle scatter dry cement to increase the adhesive power of the tiles.
6. Before placing the tiles, check the surface level, the straightness of the grout path, the width of the grout, the position of the flexible joint & its width. Also, the arrangement of the tiles should be decided beforehand. After the tiles have been placed to their position, tap and push slowly with rubber/wood hammer in order to level the tiles flat, also stick them properly.
7. Fill the grout with special grout material or a mixture of 2 parts of cement to 1 part refined sand. Add water generously. Do this process several days after the tile has been placed, but make sure that the grout lines are safe from dirt. The use of flexible grout material will be beneficial for the floor tiles flexibility.
8. Clean the mess caused by the grout off the tile surface. Adhesive layer should harden by time, not dried out.
9. Ceramic tiles do not need finishing. Therefore, ceramic tiles application should be applied after any construction works to avoid them from damage.
10. For the first 3-4 days cover the tiles with boards/cartons. Let them dry out properly. However, the floor will be at its full strength after 1 month.
6. Wall Tile Installation
1. Check the straightness of the wall surfaces and adjust if necessary.
2. The walls where the tiles will be applied should be clean form dust and dirt, which can affect the sticky power of concrete adhesive layer.
3. Soak the tiles in clean water for 2-4 hours, so later the tiles will not absorb too much water from adhesive layer. Then drain them by arranging this tile in a standing position. Water absorption from binding layer can affect the sticky power of the adhesive layer
4. To make adhesive concrete, mix 1 part of cements with 4 to 6 part of sand (or use the ready use adhesive material). Do not give too much water. If you see puddle in this mixture, it is the sign of too much water.
5. Moist the wall, then spread the adhesive concrete in 0.5 to 1 cm thickness. Let it dry overnight. It should become harder the next day. Moist the tile and spread the adhesive on the back of the tile, then place it to wall individually and starting from the bottom to the top. If you use ready use adhesive, you can apply it directly or depending on the instructions.
6. Note: if you use special adhesive that cannot be mixed with water, don't wet/soak the floor, and don't soak the tiles. Please read the instruction from the manufacturer carefully.
While placing the tiles, pay attention to the level, straightness, tile layout, grout width, flexible join position and flexible joint width. Tap and push slowly with rubber or wood hammer in order to get perfect binding from the tiles and adhesive concrete beneath. Tiles level should be straight and the adhesive concrete must not filled the grout line.
7. Fill the grout with special grout material or a mixture of 2 part cements with 1 part of refined sand and water. For best result, fill the grout after a few days but make sure no dirt gets into the grout. The use of flexible grout material will be beneficial for the wall tiles flexibility.
8. Clean the mess caused by the grout off the tile surface. Keep the tile surface away from direct sunlight and rainwater. Adhesive layer should be hardened, not dried out.
9. Ceramic tiles do not need finishing. Therefore ceramic tiles application should be applied after any construction works to avoid them from damage.
7. Why Ceramics Tile Come Out from Their Base
Ceramic tiles come out from their base because of several reasons:
1. The tiles swell because of too much water absorption.
Limit of swelling has been determined by EN (Europe standard) 0.06% and in ceramic tile usually have range about 0.01 to 0.05%.
Tile released because water absorption usually occurs several days after installation, because tiles absorb water form adhesive concrete.
2. Tile swelling because of heat.
Tiles expand due to heat, and the limit of expansion is given by EN is 0.0009% per C and its less than concrete, but the problem is ceramics receive heat first from concrete (batter on beneath), and its effects for exterior of tile.
3. Concrete shrinking.
As we know from the curing process, concrete shrinks. The biggest shrinking occurs around the first 3 months since concreting, but this process can still continue for a longer period.
4. Floor deformation.
Floor deformation is normal as long as not exceedingly. Deformation occurs because load of itself or working load, movement of floor foundation, effect of earthquake, and wind pressure (in high building).
Deformation can make compression on floor surface because the tile characteristic is not compressible, so if the binder between tile and layer beneath is not strong enough, this tile will be lifted and released.
5. Quality of tile installation.
Installation with bad concrete, not spread enough, will decrease adhesive power of concrete and cause tiles to be released.
6. Ceramics tiles that were applied with closed joints will break more easily than open joints.
For large floors, it is recommended to use flexible joints on the boundaries between floor and wall and every 2 - 3 meters (outer part) or 4 -6 meters (inner part), with 6- 10 mm width.
Ceramics Manufacture - Wall Tiles and Floor Tiles

Friday, January 4, 2008