July 6th, 2009
Summertime Cooking
I hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July. I don’t usually post recipes to my blog but this one is so delish I felt compelled to pass it on.
Roasted Summer Vegetable Salad
Courtesy FoodNetwork.com
1 ear corn - grilled, shucked, and cut off the cob
1 red pepper — roasted, peeled, and cut into a 1/2-inch dice
1 tomato — grilled, peeled, seeded, and cut into a 1/2-inch dice
2 zucchini or other summer squash — cut into 1/2-inch slices, grilled, and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 ounces extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
Combine all ingredients. Marinate for 30 minutes and adjust seasonings to taste.
June 14th, 2009
Using the $8000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit for a Down Payment
The Idaho Housing and Finance Association implemented the Tax Credit Advance Loan to access funds at the time of closing. Idaho is currently one of 10 states offering the advance.
In addition, to help encourage home ownership, REALTORS® Associations in Idaho created the Welcome Home Idaho program. REALTORS® in Idaho have offered to pay off the interest on the tax credit loans to individuals who pay off the loan by the due date of July 1st 2009. The availability of the payoff is on a first come first served basis until the contributed funds are gone.
According to IHFA, “any lender making that statement they will not utilize the credit is doing so based on an internal company policy. There is no reason that every approved IHFA lender cannot offer the Tax Credit Advance right now. In fact nearly 800 Idahoans have applied for it since it was introduced in March.” For a list of IHFA approved lenders go to www.ihfa.org.
Please feel free to contact me at Tina@TinaVorbeck.com if you have any questions about this incredible home-buying opportunity.
June 2nd, 2009
Summer Home Safety Tips
Of the over two million home break-ins every year (one every 15 seconds) most happen in July and August, when vacationing families leave their houses empty and vulnerable. Summer travel season has arrived, so before you hit the road, make sure to take simple steps to keep criminals out of your home.
No one wants to come home from a relaxing vacation to broken windows and stolen valuables, but in the rush to leave, people often forget to secure their houses. You can rest easy and enjoy your vacation with these smart, simple and affordable ways to keep your home safe.
Make your home look lived in
Ask a friendly neighbor to make sure the lawn is mowed and keep an eye out for unusual activity around your house. Suspend newspaper and mail delivery or have someone collect them for you and make sure the trash cans are put out and brought in on time. The more lived-in your home appears to be, the less inviting it is to thieves.
Leave a light on
Put a few lights and a radio on timers set to go on and off at random times during the day and evening. Leaving one light on the entire time you’re away is an obvious sign that no one is around to turn it off. Close most of your window shades, but keep a few open on upper floors for light to shine through and make it look like someone is home. Install motion detector lights by each entry to your home, including the garage. Thieves don’t want to be in the spotlight!
Don’t invite a climber
Don’t leave toys or ladders around your yard, they can easily be used to stand on or climb up to break into your home. Likewise, prune back any tall trees with branches near upper windows.
Lock it up
It sounds obvious, but lock the doors and windows - more than 50 percent of thieves burglarize homes by walking right in. Use deadbolt locks that can only be opened with a key and forget about hiding the key under a doormat. If you must keep a key nearby, purchase a steel lockbox with a combination that is specifically made to store keys.
Sound the alarm
A survey by Temple University found that alarm systems, when used with other precautions, reduce the likelihood of burglary by more than 60 percent. InGrid Home Security is one of the first home security solutions that works wirelessly through a home’s broadband connection and is built with multiple system backups for added safety - that means there is no single point of vulnerability such as phone lines that can be cut. Wireless home security systems also allow for monitoring, arming and disarming from anywhere, via a Web site to let you double check on your home while away. InGrid offers around-the-clock professional monitoring and the money-saving option for homeowners to install the system themselves, allowing them to set up sensors wherever they would like, for both emergency and non-emergency alerts.
Don’t squirrel valuables away
Thieves aren’t dumb, they know people like to stash their goods under the bed, between the pages of books and in the sock drawer. Store your valuables in a safe-deposit box at the bank or in a safe you can bolt to the floor.
Taking a few simple precautions before taking off for vacation can provide the peace of mind you need to relax during your time off and come back to home sweet, secure home.
For more information on InGrid home security solutions, visit www.InGridHome.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
April 29th, 2009
2009 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
I am sure you have all heard that, as part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers.
Here is more information about how the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers take advantage of this program and become part of the American dream.
But wait - there’s more! There may be additional help through IHFA’s Tax Credit 2nd Loan program which is a Down Payment Assistance Tax Credit Advance.
If you have been thinking about buying a home, these program may provide an excellent incentive and benefit for you to take action. Please contact me at Tina@TinaVorbeck.com if you have questions or would like a free, no obligation consultation.
April 2nd, 2009
Beware of Mortgage Scams
Icame across an interesting article in the March 28, 2009 edition of The Idaho Statesman that was a reprint of an article written by Susan Tompor of the Detroit Free Press on March 18, 2009. Please feel free to contact me at Tina@TinaVorbeck.com if you have questions or would like a referral to a quality lender.
Mortgage scams are still out there
BY SUSAN TOMPOR
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Consumers should be wary of anyone who calls you out of the blue and offers some sort of rescue plan, according to Kathy Williams, a housing official in Oakland County, Mich.
The National Federation for Credit Counseling noted recently that the confusion surrounding the federal government’s “Making Home Affordable” plan may play into future scams.
Scam artists are busy sifting through public records to find homeowners in distress. Others put ads on the Internet or street corner.
Many scam artists could try to con troubled homeowners into thinking that their service is part of the government’s new program. It’s not. For details about the new program, go to www.financialstability.gov.
Homeowners do not need to pay anyone to tap into the latest housing program.
To find out if you qualify, phone the company that sends you a mortgage statement each month and ask if you have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac mortgage. Or see www.fanniemae.com and www.freddiemac.com. Or call: (800) 732-6643 for Fannie and (800) 373-3343 for Freddie.
Some scam artists are offering to buy the home from you. They offer to pay off the lender, promise to lease the house back to you and say you could buy the house back once you’re on a better financial footing.
While that sounds good, you still lose your home because the original lender doesn’t get paid. The scammers keep your rent money, and the house ends up in foreclosure anyway.
Do not hand over $1,000 or $2,000 upfront to someone who works as a mortgage counselor and guarantees a loan modification.
The counselor does not decide who can get a loan modification, Williams notes, the lender does. So you may lost that money and the house.
In general, it’s best to avoid any unsolicited offer for mortgage help, according to Ken Ross, commissioner of the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation.
Free, nonprofit housing counselors are listed at www.hud.gov.
Even if you don’t qualify for the latest housing program, you can still work with your lender. To get any sort of loan modification, consumers must have their mortgage loan number, name of mortgage servicer and recent mortgage statement. You need your most current pay stubs, you bank statements, with account balances and account numbers, and information on other expenses and debts, such as student loans, car leasese and credit card debt.
March 20th, 2009
Interest(ing) Rates
I came across an interesting article about what is going on with rates… they are down to 5% or better! Let me know if I can help you.
Treasury Notes Head for Best Week This Year on Fed Purchase
2009-03-20 11:59:49.268 GMT
By Anchalee Worrachate and Bob Chen
March 20 (Bloomberg) — Treasuries rose and notes headed for the biggest weekly rally since December after the Federal Reserve’s plan to buy as much as $300 billion of the securities led to the largest one-day surge in more than four decades.
Two- and 10-year securities gained as the Fed said the purchases will concentrate on those maturities. U.S. notes advanced this week on speculation the debt buying during the next six months will put a ceiling on long-term yields after the worst start to a year for Treasuries since 1980. Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke may signal the central bank will take additional measures to keep down borrowing costs in a speech today.
“The Fed is fully committed to bringing down long-term interest rates and narrow spreads in order to get the economy out of this mess,” said Kornelius Purps, a fixed-income strategist in Munich at Unicredit Markets & Investment Banking. “The purchase program will provide tremendous support for Treasuries. At one point, the economy will recover and bond yields will rise. But that’s unlikely to happen soon.”
The yield on the two-year note slid two basis points, or 0.02 percentage point, to 0.83 percent at 7:50 a.m. in New York, according to BGCantor Market data. The price of the 0.875 security due in February 2011 rose 1/32, or 31 cents per $1,000 face amount, to 100 2/32.
The benchmark 10-year note’s yield decreased four basis points to 2.57 percent. The rate slid 33 basis points this week, the most since the five days through Dec. 19. The yield slid this week from a high of 3.02 percent to a two-month low of 2.46 percent after the Fed’s announcement at the end of its two-day policy meeting on March 18.
March 1st, 2009
Money Saving Article
Is anybody interested in saving some money? I came across the following article that talks about a home improvement project that is eligible for a 2009/2010 tax credit under the new stimulus plan. Remember to check with your accountant or financial advisor regarding your eligibility for this program.
A Home Improvement Project that Saves Big Money on Taxes - Credit Available for Insulated Garage Doors in 2009 and 2010
(ARA) - Wouldn’t it be nice if adding style, curb appeal and energy efficiency to your home actually saved you money? In 2009 and 2010, it can. Thanks to the new 2009 stimulus legislation, American homeowners can earn up to a $1,500 tax credit for buying qualifying insulated garage doors.
The recent stimulus legislation signed by President Obama on Feb. 17, extends and significantly increases these tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements. Adding a new garage door in 2009 or 2010 can save homeowners money by not only helping lower energy consumption and costs, but also by paying for itself through the tax credit incentive. A tax credit is more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only decreases the amount of income that is taxed. More details on the tax credit, along with information about garage door styles and local dealer installers, can be found at GarageWowNow.com, a non-commercial Web site.
If your home has an attached garage, the room next to the garage is often the coldest room in the winter. Cold air in the winter, and warm air in the summer, can enter the house through the garage, increasing the amount of energy the home needs for heating and cooling. Insulated garage doors not only make a noticeable difference in the temperature of a home, but now can also save you money off the bottom line of your income taxes.
The new tax credits are available for qualifying garage door purchases placed in service from Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2010. The maximum tax credit that a taxpayer may claim from all qualifying improvements combined is a whopping 30 percent of the cost of each product and $1,500 over the lifetime of the tax credit periods (2009 and 2010). To be eligible for the tax credit:
* The door must be an insulated residential garage door, installed on an insulated garage.
* The door must have a U-factor equal to or less than 0.30, even if the door contains windows.
* The door perimeter must have a means to control air infiltration.
* The door must be expected to remain in service for at least five years.
* The garage must be part of the taxpayer’s principal United States residence.
In addition to saving money and energy, installing a new garage door also improves a home’s appearance and value. The garage can comprise a third or more of your home’s front appearance. A new door that is quickly, safely and correctly installed by a local professional will differentiate your home and add style, value and curb appeal.
Even in today’s tough economic times, replacing your garage door with a new upscale model can boost the resale value of your home. A recent online survey revealed that 71 percent of homeowners who recently replaced their garage door believe it definitely increased the value of their home.
To find a professional dealer/installer and the garage door style that’s right for you, visit GarageWowNow.com. The site’s ZIP code search function will help you find a professional in your area who can install your door in a few hours. The site also features before and after images of new garage doors that have dramatically changed the appearance of homes.
Courtesy of ARA Content
January 30th, 2009
Experience DOES Matter
Have you heard of a man named Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger? If you live on planet Earth, you probably recognize him as the pilot that somehow managed to land his plane in the middle of the Hudson river after the plane struck a flock of birds, blowing out two engines. All of the 155 passengers and crew survived the ordeal because of his skill and experience. He made a difference for every person on that plane but, when he was hailed a hero, he modestly stated “We were simply doing the jobs we were trained to do.”
As a REALTOR®, I would never attempt to ascend to hero status by comparing what I do to the life-saving skills Capt. Sullenberger exhibited on that fateful day (however, I do know CPR 
) but I think an experience comparison is not out of line. The world of real estate has shifted dramatically in the past few years. Short sales, foreclosures, bankrupted builders - each pose a real and distinct challenge for buyers and sellers alike. Experienced REALTORS® have always provided a valuable service; however, given the current housing climate, consumers need to have a professional on their side who “knows the ropes.” In other words, they need a REALTOR® who can do the job we have been trained to do.
If you are looking for an experienced REALTOR®, please feel free to contact me.
January 3rd, 2009
This Year’s Resolution
What is your resolution this year? To eat better, weigh less, exercise more, to spend more quality time with your friends and family? The majority of Americans have not ranked paying down debt as their top New Year’s resolution. But given the current economic landscape, many consumers should focus more on improving their credit standing in 2009 than ever before.
“While losing weight is typically at the forefront of Americans’ minds as they enter the new year, managing credit health should take precedence for consumers this year,” says Lucy Duni, vice president of consumer education at TrueCredit.com by TransUnion. “Consumers who play a more active role in managing their credit will establish important lifelong habits that can enable them to have a truly holistic view of their finances.”
Here are five easy tips to help keep Americans on the right path with their credit resolutions in 2009.
Tip 1: Always pay your bills on time.
While it may sound like a no-brainer, making payments on time is essential whether consumers are trying to boost or maintain their credit score. Yet, TrueCredit’s 2007 survey revealed that one in four (25 percent) respondents had missed making one or more on-time bill payments.
Tip 2: Don’t overspend.
Keep debt below 35 percent of your limits. Although it can be tempting and easy to overspend, it’s important for consumers to keep their credit card balances low and not to max them out. Part of a lender’s evaluation includes reviewing a consumer’s available credit. If consumers are nearing or have over extended their credit, it may impact their ability to be approved for a loan at a competitive rate.
Tip 3: Keep tabs on your credit report.
In order to maintain a “healthy” credit score and to position yourself best with creditors, it’s important for consumers to monitor their report regularly to provide an up-to-date view on credit card activity and debt. It also enables consumers to identity possible signs of fraudulent activity, as the potential for identity theft remains high.
Tip 4: Monitor leases and loans closely where you are the co-signer.
When consumers open a joint account or co-sign a loan, they are taking on legal responsibility for the account. Any activity on these shared accounts, good or bad, will be reflected in both credit reports.
Tip 5: Long-standing credit card accounts can help your credit score.
Consumers should be cautious when thinking about closing credit card accounts where they have been making punctual payments over a long period of time. In addition to lowering your available credit, canceling old credit accounts can also ultimately lower your credit score by making your credit history appear shorter.
To learn more about managing your credit, visit www.gotruecredit.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
December 15th, 2008
Tales of a Walk-About
I was in downtown Boise a couple of days ago. I was on a particular mission and hurriedly walking from store to store when all of a sudden I was stopped in my tracks by my experience of the moment. Downtown is such a great place!!! The holiday decorations were festive and lively - the streets were clean and uncongested - everyone I passed on the street was friendly and courteous. I have lived in Boise all of my life so I think it is easy for me to overlook many of the things that make Boise such a wonderful place to live. It’s not that I have become jaded to the experience our community provides but rather I think I simply take it for granted. I meet people every day who are moving to Boise - they are coming to a new place and they are excited! I always thought that excitement was generated by a new adventure in a brand-new place and that might be part of it but it dawned on me last week during my walk-about that I really am lucky to live in such a great city, safe and quiet, with people who love it as much as I do.
Feel free to let me know what you like most about living in Boise.