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To: upanddown who wrote (12587)	9/30/2004 4:31:39 PM
From: GraceZ	Respond to of 116555

Those guys are usually pretty much on top of area constructon rates, it fequently involves them picking the contractor. Talking to friends in CA I'm appalled at the rates per square foot they are quoted for renovations and new building since they are so much higher than here. I've always heard that putting a pool in makes you more insurable in areas where you have a high fire risk. I thought for sure that wouldn't work where I live (Maryland) but it did. Since there are no fire hydrants (rural with no public water) and I have a couple of wood stoves I had a hellova time getting homeowner's. Putting the pool in gave the firemen a nearby resevoir to pump from so now the underwriting software doesn't automatically kick me out as uninsurable. The bad news is that this summer we received a letter from our insurance company that said they are paying out $1.60 for every premium dollar, so the days of low HO insurance are over. You always think that it'll be so great when you finally pay off the mortgage, but in reality, by the time it is paid off the combination of insurance and taxes usually amounts to more than what you used to pay in mortgage payments.