Wordless Wednesday Offering … “Sierra Nevadas” By Jim Promessi

Wordless Wednesday Offering … “Sierra Nevadas” By Jim Promessi
Our brother-in-law is a wonderful artist. His painting of the Sierra Nevadas. Is an excellent example of the beautiful area we call home! Enjoy!

Sierra Nevadas

Looking across the fertile Carson Valley in Northern Nevada. The Sierra Nevada range rises straight up from the valley floor. I was captivated by the distant cottonwood trees and lush green grasses up against the rust-tinted tullies.
Contact Jim by email: mailto:art@promessi.com

You’re Taking Action … How To Look At A Home

You’re Taking Action … How To Look At A Home

So you’re getting off the sideline and into the game … ready to look at houses. You’ve been pre-approved, have a good agent, have your wants and needs figured out and you’re ready to go see the insides. What do you do?

Many homes are vacant these days. Vacant homes are easy to access, but will require some imagination to see how the home will work for you, your furniture, and your lifestyle. Take some time to visualize in the empty space how your life will flow. Imagine it in the condition you want it to be in and what it will take to get it to that point.

Don’t be bashful when looking at an occupied house. You are about to make a substantial purchase and you should know how it will work for you. Open the closets to see if they are big enough – many are surprising when you open the door. Open the kitchen drawers to see how they function. Visualize how your furniture will work in the house. They may have it set up right … or not. Don’t miss the right house because of decorating … and vice versa … don’t buy the wrong house because of decorating. Don’t like the color of the bedroom? Paint can be changed quickly so don’t pass up the right house because of the wrong paint. The same applies to carpet albeit at a greater expense than paint.

Be sure to look at the outside of the home. Go around the sides and look at the paint, siding, drainage, etc. Look at the roof – especially the southwest side in our area as that is where the prevailing weather comes from causing it to be the first part of the house to deteriorate. Check out the neighbors’ situations, i.e.- visual blight, obnoxious dogs, encroachment on the subject property, etc. The inspectors will find the physical deficiencies later, you must find the aesthetic ones when you view the property.

Look at the items that are included in the sale, or that you might want included in the sale. This can include the wood stove, refrigerator, lawn ornaments, etc. Make a note of what it looks like – especially it has been disclosed that something will be substituted, i.e.- they are replacing the heirloom chandelier.

Leave the house how you found it. If the blinds were closed – close them. Whether to prevent heat build up and sun fading the carpet/furniture, or simply for privacy, it’s what the owner wants. Turn off the lights that you turned on. Re-lock the doors and windows that you unlocked as you checked the home out. Don’t lock the doors that were unlocked – you might unwittingly lock an owner out of the house. Pets must be left where they were found – inside or out. They’ll make a break for the “greener pasture”, but they know they shouldn’t be there and you should know that as well.

Our Advice: Take a lot of pictures of the homes that meet your general criteria. It is easier to remember details later if you have pictures of the properties you liked. The pictures can help you if there is a problem between what was seen during your inspection and what is there at the close of escrow. Rare, but things can happen. If you forgot your camera most agents have a digital camera ready.

Be bold when looking at houses – it is going to be your home. Ask questions … get answers. Its work, but it’s worth it. Your agent will help you along the way. When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs… Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781-5472. carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com, www.carsonvalleyland.com

We Just Attended a Dream Dinners “Sneak Peak Party”!

I had heard about Dream Dinners but never really took the time to see exactly what it was all about. Well … we only tasted two entrees and listened to a brief presentation but … I think it’s gonna be totally great!

The whole premise is based on pre-purchasing a number of meals – a minimum of 36 single serving meals- in a 30 day period, grouped into clumps of 3 or 6 serving portions. The choices are broad and the quality seems to be really high (at least the two we tasted).

After ordering the appropriate number of meals, you go into the Dream Diners store on your assigned appointment time – they run from early in the morning until 7:00 PM or later in the evening – assemble all the ingredients and package them in zip lock bags and little foil containers. Everything is there, the entrees, the spices, the sauses, the recipe, everything!

Once the packaging is complete you take your bundles and freeze them in your home freezer. When you are ready to use them just remove the entry package in the morning to thaw, construct it and cook it when you get home.

The entrees vary but most bake in the oven for 15 to 30 minutes, some can be grilled, some stove top and some even microwave. Add a veggie or salad if you like and in less than 30 minutes you are dining on Balsamic black berry chicken, Mango glazed salmon, New Orleans Jambalaya, or Chicken with Lemon ad Artichoke Sauce! There is complete nutritional info available so you can customize and choose lower fat or sodium items it you want to. There are also veggie alternatives and heart healthy selections.

Another winner! Check this out … we bought 16 different 3 serving dinners for $220.00. That’s less than $5.00 per serving per person for some really tasty stuff. Can’t beat the price! There are some programs that offer even greater discounts for larger volumes.

Check out their site www.dreamdinners.com Here’s a little blurb from them!

DREAM DINNERS:
WHERE WONDERFUL MEALS COME TRUE
Dream Dinners provides everything you need to assemble delicious dinners for your family, store in your freezer and serve in the weeks ahead. We supply all of the essentials, from easy-to-follow instructions to fresh, pre-cut ingredients. Learning how Dream Dinners works is easy.

Remember, this is new to us but I’m thinking we are looking at the end to boring quick meals on those long days at the office! I’ll keep you posted!

Spring Cleaning For Living And Selling

Spring is a time of transition, especially in how you live in your home. You’ve been buttoned up all winter, but now you can break out of your “winter cocoon”. Open the windows and let this fresh spring air circulate through your house. Clean out the debris gathered around the your home, inside and out. Flower gardens, ditches, nooks and crannies all seem to be gathering places of “stuff” all winter.

Winter has a way of causing dirt to accumulate in a house. Tracking in mud and snow doesn’t show much at the time, but the potential for damage is realistic. Dirt granules in a carpet that chafe on the fibers will dramatically reduce the life expectancy of your carpet. Even if you don’t see discoloration it’s a good idea to clean them for the maintenance factor. Wood cabinets and furniture can also be affected by winter. The closed up house can cause the wood to dry out excessively - treat each item appropriately.

Spring is also a good time to change your furnace air filter. You’ve been recycling the air in your closed environment all winter, and the filters worked overtime all that while. You will soon be deluged by pollen and other environmental “pollutants” that will readily enter your domain because your home will be open more as you begin sleeping with the windows open, and leaving your windows and sliders open.

Windows … yes, you’ll need to do windows! Clean the fog off and enjoy the clarity of Spring. Can’t get the fog off? You might have a broken seal. This will need to be replaced to sell your home so you might as well fix your broken windows now so your home will show better and build confidence in prospective Buyers. Open your window coverings – you are between summer heat and winter cold insulation needs – let the light in. Clean the blinds and drapes.

The days are getting warmer so be sure to get your watering going. Show the green of your lawn – most Bank Owned properties won’t be able to compete with that. Keep up with your weeds – it is essential for a groomed inviting look. Surely, we have a freeze or two still coming so be careful how soon you add your flowerful colors.

Our Advice: If you are considering selling your home, the above should be considered minimum standards for preparing your home for market. Consider this “Staging 101”, the basic essentials. A Buyer will be naturally put off by driving up to a home with weeds all around it, or trying to look at the beautiful views through a foggy veil. The stale winter air should be moved out and the house generally freshened up in the natural spirit of Spring. You can get good separation in your market from Bank Owned and Short Sale properties by cleaning, freshening, and making your home appealing as a home that a Buyer will relate to and want to live in. Not moving? Do it anyway and enjoy the results!

Have you ever washed your car and fixed the brakes so you could sell it … and wondered why you didn’t do it for yourself? This time is just like that time! Do it and enjoy the results … whatever your ownership future or fate. When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs… Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781- 5472. carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com, www.carsonvalleyland.com

I Really Want To Buy A House But Can’t Do It By Myself … What Can I Do?

The good news is that you are aware of what a great time this is to buy a home. Interest rates just went down again and prices are still very low. So what can you do to buy a house? The traditional source of assistance was family. Your parents might be happy to assist you, but there are other options with broader thinking.

If you need additional income to qualify, another way to buy a home is to partner up with somebody. Are you living with a roommate now – why not own together? How about your college friends or co-workers? Is there somebody you really get along with that is responsible? Is your brother/sister renting in the same town? You lived together for many years up to this point, why not do it again and have a business investment together? Your good income with your partner’s good credit, or vice-versa, is the combination your are seeking. With the low interest rates and prices it is amazing how low monthly payments are … and the income needed to qualify for them. Check it out – you will be amazed at what you can buy.

Our youngest son recently closed escrow on a wonderful home with two friends. They put 3.5% down, got a new FHA loan and their total payment, including taxes and insurance, is just about equal to what they’d have to pay in rent! Plus … they will share the $8,000 first time homebuyer’s tax credit. Their anticipated holding period is 5-8 years, enough time to get done with schooling, and establish careers. What will the market do during that time? We think it will be kind to them and give them a good financial start in life with this initial real estate investment.

The mechanics are important when buying with a partner … be sure you get along. Not only is this a business venture, you will be living together. Select carefully. Determine in advance who will get the master bedroom, use of the garage, etc. Have a pet policy … cats, dogs okay? Snakes? Be sure you have a household account with reserves. Our son and friends set up a household bank account titled “Three Amigos”. That makes for easy record keeping and assurance that there will always be funds available when needed for a common expense.

It is important to memorialize your agreements in writing. A Memorandum of Understanding should include responsibilities, and how future decisions will be made. What if one of you wants out? What if one doesn’t make their share of the monthly payment? What is one gets married and another person is suddenly involved (hint - get a Quitclaim Deed). Do this in advance when everybody is getting along.

Our Advice: Understand, the statement “partnerships were made in Hades” is very true, but they can work well with the right preparation and circumstances. There are 100% loan programs available in some of our communities. You can buy with nothing down and get an $8,000 tax credit for doing it. These are the good old days. Look at your options … these and others.
While the present economic situation is causing heartache and pain for many … there are some silver linings to these dark clouds. This is a wonderful opportunity for young American entering the work force to partake in the American Dream. When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs… Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781- 5472. carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com, www.carsonvalleyland.com

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit … Who Qualifies?

As it pertains to the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, you are deemed a First-Time buyer and qualify if you, or your spouse, have not owned a principal residence in the three years immediately prior to your purchase… even if you have previously owned a home. There are really two programs now… the Credit as created July 2008 that applies to all qualified purchases on, or after, April 9, 2008, and the Revised Credit, effective for purchases on, or after, January 1, 2009. There are many similarities between the two programs, and some critical differences. We will focus here on the Revised Credit for Buyers who bought after January 1, 2009, or will buy before December 1, 2009.

The best part of the Revision for Buyers is that now the credit need not be paid back … unless the home is sold within three years. A sale within three years on homes purchased in 2009 will require that the entire amount of the credit be recaptured on sale. Another benefit from the Revision is the maximum amount was increased to the lesser of ten percent of the cost of the home or $8,000. Values in our region are such that you can pretty much figure on receiving the maximum of $8,000 here. There are income limits - the full amount is available for individuals with adjusted gross income of no more than $75,000, $150,000 on a joint return. It phases out above those caps up to $95,000 and $170,000 where it is then not available.

Interestingly, IRS rules say your principal residence can take a wide variety of forms including “houseboats, housetrailers, cooperative apartments, condominiums,” among others. This affords new investment opportunities for the broad thinker. How can you make it work for you?

Pay attention to changes or refinements that may be enacted in the future that modify the Act and how it is applied. The legislation happened quickly and there are certainly going to be questions of applicability that arise as individual case studies are addressed. Idea – buy now, close escrow, and file your Credit request with your 2008 return before things change too drastically.

Our Advice: Don’t count on this credit for help with closing costs. This is a tax credit that will help you pay your tax obligation, not something you receive at the close of escrow. If your tax liability is less than $8,000, however, you will get a refund for the balance. You can elect to claim the credit on your 2008 tax return which makes sense considering the basic economic principal that “money sooner is worth more than money later.” Renting with a roommate you like? With the low home prices and good interest rates we have these days, you can partner up on a home with a minimal down that will give you a payment not much more than you are paying in rent … plus get $4,000 tax credit each!

Remember that you will enjoy significant tax benefits with your new home ownership, and now you also have Great Pricing … Great Interest Rates … and a Great Federal Incentive. What are you waiting for? Control your destiny and buy the home you want now. When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs… Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781- 5472. carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com, www.carsonvalleyland.com

Three Amigos and The Tale of Rockbridge

There are upsides to this real estate market!

While the present economic situation is causing heartache and pain for many … there are some silver linings to these dark clouds.

Our youngest son, turning 22 in June, is about to close escrow on a wonderful home. He and his two friends – hence the “Three Amigos” will be moving next weekend into a very tidy three bedroom home in Carson City, Nevada.

The three (Chad and Leah 50% and Chris 50%) are high school friends and college roommates. They are buying a 1,400 Sq. Ft., three bedroom home with a nice fenced yard, living room, family room, big open kitchen, and two car garage. It’s and REO but in perfect shape, clean, tidy, and the yard is all alive!

They are financing with a new 3.5% down F.H.A Loan … and their total payment, including taxes and insurance, will be just about equal to what they’d have to pay in rent.

Now … for the best part … under the new first time buyer tax credit … They can close this week, file their 2008 taxes, and get up to $8,000 back.

This is a wonderful opportunity for young American entering the work force! It’s also a pretty good source of potential buyers for us. Win Win! That’s the way we like it!