High Gas Bill


Hi all:
I just received my latest gas bill. It is over $200. This is about double what it was last month. Sure we had this period of super coldness but is it worth twice as much?

We have an approx. 850 SF 2 bedroom in a 2 family house with our own entrance. We are on the top (3rd) floor and have gas heat (forced air), water and cooking.

I do suspect that the house is not very well insulated from the outside but still twice the previous month?

I’m super shocked. Is this a high bill? If so, what are my options besides just calling National Grid and complaining?

Categories: Utilities
By jcnycarch | 01/20/2010 5:20 PM | Comment

Downpayment as a Gift


I know this topic as been approached before but I hope to ask this in a more comprehensive way. In order to obtain a mortgage with help from parents in the form of a down payment gift, what series of events has to happen and what issues do we need to understand? For example, are there tax implications? If so, how can we not have this burden (would defeat the purpose)? Would it be better to just put the money in my bank rather than declare it as a formal gift? If we’re ready to search for homes, what needs to happen first? Do we find a mortgage broker or bank to get pre-approval? Does a real estate agent come first? How does the “gift” roll into this process? When does that happen? Co-op or condo?

I’m sure I’m missing some things here and there so any advice would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.

Categories: Mortgage
By jcnycarch | 10/01/2009 1:40 PM | Comment