Home Sales Fall Newsletter Rates on 30-Year Mortgages Increase WASHINGTON - Rates on 30-year mortgages climbed to the highest level in 16 months last week, marking the fourth straight week they have been above the 6 percent level. Mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the nationwide average for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages rose this week to 6.31 percent, up from 6.15 percent last week. It was the highest level since 30-year mortgages were at 6.32 percent in June 2004. "The news of an economy growing at such a strong pace gave financial markets a jolt and added to the impetus that caused mortgage rates to rise again this week," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist. An economy growing at a strong rate can trigger inflation pressures. The nation's housing market has been booming with sales of both new and existing homes expected to set records for the fifth consecutive year. But economists are forecasting that the sales pace will slow next year under the impact of higher mortgage rates. Rates on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, a popular choice for refinancing a home mortgage, averaged 5.85 percent this week, up from 5.69 percent last week. Real Estate Home Appreciation Nationally, the median average sales price increased 13.37% over the last year. Regionally, prices increased by 14.83% in the West, 10.86% in the Northeast, 14.38% in the Midwest, and 8.24% in the South.   Fall Comes to Mason County Fall Maintenance The leaves are turning, the air is crisp, life is great! But Winter is coming and we have to do those chores that will make the house ready for it. Here are tips, projects and ideas to help the house survive well through the winter and to help it keep us comfortable and safe. Outside the House Little things can mean a lot. Get the leaves out of the gutters, keep water out of your walls, keep your outside faucets from freezing, and don't just hammer a protruding deck nail back down - replace it with a deck screw. Attics and Basements There are two tricks with insulation. One is installing the right amount in the right places. The other is keeping it dry and effective. It's easier, cheaper and less messy to protect your pipes from freezing than to thaw and repair them afterward. Wrap your pipes with heating tape every winter and insulate unfinished rooms . But try not to go overboard - some air exchange is needed to keep the inside air healthy. Maintain your gutters Remove all debris so water can properly drain, which minimizes standing water and slows the freeze/thaw expansion process that occurs in cold weather. Clogged gutters can cause landscaping, lawn and shrubbery, walls, foundation, basement, crawl spaces and existing gutter system damage. Consider installing "gutter guards," which are screens that prevent debris from entering the gutter and direct the flow of water away from the house and into the ground. . Trim your trees and remove dead branches. Inclement weather can cause weak trees or branches to break and damage your home, car, utility lines or someone walking on your property. Keep an eye out for large dead brances in trees; detached branches hanging in trees; cavities or rotten wood along trunks or major branches; mushrooms at the base of trees; cracks or splits in trunks; leaves that prematurely develop unusual color or size; and trees that were previously topped or heavily pruned. If you see any signs of hazards, call a professional tree service. Inspect your roof Be proactive and prevent emergency and expensive repairs. Things to look for include damaged or loose shingles; gaps in the flashing where the roofing and siding meet vents and flues; and damaged mortar around the chimney (especially at the joints, caps and washes).   Recipe Courtesy of Emeril Lagasse Crawfish Etouffe 1 stick butter 2 cups chopped onions 1 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup chopped green bell peppers 1 pound peeled crawfish tails 2 teaspoons minced garlic 2 bay leaves 1 tablespoon flour 1 cup water 1 teaspoon salt Pinch of cayenne 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley 3 tablespoons chopped green onions In a large saute pan over medium high heat, melt the butter. Add the onions, celery, and bell peppers and saute until the vegetables are wilted, about 10 to 12 minutes. Add the crawfish, garlic, and bay leaves and reduce the heat to medium. Cook the crawfish for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Dissolve the flour in the water. Add the crawfish mixture. Season with salt and cayenne. Stir until the mixture thickens, about 4 minutes. Stir in the parsley and green onions and continue cooking for 2 minutes. Serve over steamed rice. Manufactured homes: Not tin cans on wheels Bankrate.com—Marilyn Bowden With the cost of homeownership spiraling out of the reach of many working Americans, experts say manufactured homes, which cost up to 35 percent less per square foot to build, may be the haven of the future. The savings for buyers come from economies of scale, not scrimping on quality, says Bruce Savage, vice president of Manufactured Housing Institute, a nonprofit trade association.Manufacturers that build houses in quantity buy components, from refrigerators to plumbing and building supplies, in bulk," he says. "Also, in factory construction you have better quality control and much less theft than on building sites and no Manufactured homes -An image problem Why aren't more home buyers opting for factory-built over site-built homes? Depending on where you live, financing can be a problem. Where good deals are available, they're not always easy to find. And they require a good credit rating. But image is the biggest hurdle, industry spokespeople say. Say "manufactured housing," they lament, and people start thinking tin cans on wheels -- flimsy, ugly and destined to fall apart long before the mortgage is paid. It not necessarily so. Today's factory-built models are much more likely to be destined for a permanent home on a concrete foundation.