Your home may date back to the last century or before, but you can still bring it into the modern era with some key changes. You can take advantage of all that the technological age has to offer, and you can also save by making your home more eco-friendly. Here are the top four changes you’ll want to consider for your humble home. ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS Companies like the Fischer Window and Door Store offer eco-friendly options that will help you keep the utility bills down. Choose energy star rated windows to minimize heat transfer and put a stop to drafts. You can also give your home a facelift at the same time by opting for decorative grids, bay, or bow windows. CONNECTIVITY From the thermostat to your alarm and even a doorbell camera, there are all kinds of tech gadgets you can add to your home. To make your space truly enjoyable and functional, have your digital improvements linked to your smart phone. You’ll love being able to change the thermostat from the couch an. ...

WEEKLY MORTGAGE WATCH - APRIL 9, 2017
FIRST TEAM’S WEEKLY MORTGAGE WATCH (APRIL 9TH, 2017). Mortgage rates drifted slightly lower again last week, with mixed economic news. While US military action can often impact markets, the airstrikes in Syria had a somewhat tempered impact. The Fed’s meeting minutes did contain some important news. At some point later this year, the Fed will begin to wind down its massive holdings of Treasuries and Mortgage-Backed Securities. We’ll have to wait to see the exact impact, but if private markets don’t have much appetite for the securities, rates will tend to drift upward. March's employment report was very mixed, with unemployment falling to the lowest level. ...