As a homeowner, you always want to be prepared. Here are five home safety devices you should have:
1. Fire extinguishers. Put one on every floor of your home, plus an extra in the kitchen where the vast majority of home fires start. Multi-purpose A-B-C extinguishers put out all types of fires. Check and recharge when the pressure gauge drops. You'll even get a discount from some insurers.
2. Upstairs escape ladders. Put one under a window in each upstairs bedroom. Practice deploying them.
3. Wireless water alarms. Place under sinks, behind the refrigerator, anywhere water will collect if there's a leak.
4. Automatic shutoff valve for water heater. This cuts off the water supply as soon as it senses a leak.
5. Sump pump alarm. Alerts you to a rapidly rising water level that could mean a flood.
If a disaster hits, here are 10 key items for a home emergency kit. Keep them in a waterproof plastic bin in an easily accessible place.
1. Battery-operated lantern. Throws more illumination than a flashlight and is much safer than candles.
2. Radio/phone charger. Get one with a hand crank for charging.
3. Multi-tool. Make sure it includes a can opener and pliers.
4. Mylar blanket. This shiny silver sheet is remarkably warm, yet lightweight, and folds up compactly.
5. Nylon rope. Handy for tying down outdoor furniture and securing doors.
6. Fishing line. This is a very strong way to secure items when rope is too thick.
7. Duct tape. Nothing is as versatile for quick temporary repairs.
8. Vinyl tablecloth. Spread it out anywhere to create a clean zone.
9. Baby wipes. These are great for removing dirt and grime from your hands or almost any surface.
10. Work gloves. Use these to protect your hands during post-disaster cleanup.
HOME INSURANCE: TOO MUCH? TOO LITTLE? CHECK IT OUT!
Here are five steps to take to get the right insurance at the right price:
Step 1. Determine how much coverage you need. Don't go by your home's appraised value, which includes the land. Ask your local homebuilders association for recent per-square-foot replacement costs. If your area is prone to natural disasters, price out extended or guaranteed replacement policies to protect you from inflated labor and material costs after such events. With your home replacement taken care of, look at coverage for possessions, living expenses, and liability.
Step 2. Find out what's NOT covered. Standard policies don't cover damage from flooding, mudslides, and earthquakes. If you're in a flood zone, you may have to buy supplemental flood insurance. Most standard policies exclude mold, broken water mains, and sewer backups, but you can buy extra coverage for them.
Step 3. Examine the deductible. Some insurers are changing their deductibles from dollar amounts to percentages, which may turn out to be higher deductibles. If that's the case, check that the premium has been lowered. To reduce your premiums, you want to take the highest deductible you can afford. Step 4. Focus on the premium. When you get your renewal, compare the new premium to last year's. If it's up more than 5%, ask for an explanation. Did your risk profile change, or the market? Try to lower your premium by bundling in auto insurance, installing a security system, storm shutters, or a new roof. But first check with your insurer.
Step 5. Keep records. Do a home inventory of everything you own. Add receipts, photos, or videos and store with all paperwork, including your insurance policy, in a fireproof box. As a backup, scan and store that info on a flash drive and keep it off-site.
If you're thinking of buying a home, we can answer any questions you may have about financing that purchase. We can also help with refinancing your existing home or funding home improvements. Please call or email us any time – we're always here to help.... Have a great day!
P.S.: The housing market is in recovery, home prices are extremely affordable – and mortgage rates remain near historical lows. But it's smart to get the process started early if you're thinking about buying or refinancing. Please call or email us to talk about the attractive options available now. Article Courtesy of Jerry Iverson, Senior Loan Officer, Evergreen Home Loans . Evergreen Home Loans is a home loan lender and is not affiliated with Merit Properties, Inc. To read more about Evergreen Home Loans, click here
The Mortgage Interest Deduction is available to homeowners for up to $1,000,000 of acquisition debt on the combination of their first and second home. They can also deduct interest on up to an additional $100, 000 of Home Equity debt. While Acquisition Debt is used to buy, build or improve a principal residence, the Home Equity Debt can be used for any purpose. It can be used for educational or medical expenses, to purchase a personal car or boat, consolidate debts or pay off credit cards. A homeowner with $15,000 of credit card debt at 19% and sufficient equity in their home could replace it with a home equity loan at much lower interest rate. Not only would the interest rate on the home equity loan be about 1/3 of the rate paid on the credit card, it’s would now be tax deductible. If the taxpayer was in the 28% bracket, the net interest on a 6.5% loan would be 4.68% after tax benefits are considered.
Shifting personal debt to Home Equity debt can result in an interest deduction and probably, a lower interest rate. For more information see IRS Publication 936 page 10 and consult your tax professional.
Homes, Cabins & Condominiums: Mt Hood Area (153) which includes homes and cabins in Welches, Rhododendron , Brightwood, and Government Camp Oregon. - 91 Active homes and Cabins Currently listed for sale. Includes Single Family Residences, Condos & Cabins. Keep an eye on this number!
- 23 Pending Sales
- 6 Short Sales Pending Sales (This is a New Multiple Listing Category starting in 2012)
- 32 Homes and cabins sold to date in 2013.
Lots and Acreage: Mt Hood Area (153) - 44 Active land listings in the Mt Hood Area or Villages of Mt Hood
- 1 Pending Sale
- 2 Sold Undeveloped Land Properties to date in 2013.
Mt Hood Real Estate For Sale in the Villages of Mt Hood includes:
Market Snapshot is a Periodic Peek at Mt Hood Real Estate Market Conditions provided by Blythe Creek.
To see the complete News Release go to www.fhfa.gov/webfiles/25112/HARPextensionPRFINAL41113.pdf The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to extend the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) by two years to December 31, 2015. The program was set to expire December 31, 2013.
“More than 2 million homeowners have refinanced through HARP, proving it a useful tool for reducing risk,” said FHFA Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco. “We are extending the program so more underwater borrowers can benefit from lower interest rates.”
In addition, FHFA will soon launch a nationwide campaign to inform homeowners about HARP. This campaign will educate consumers about HARP and its eligibility requirements and motivate them to explore their options and utilize HARP before the program ends. HARP is uniquely designed to allow borrowers who owe more than their home is worth the opportunity to refinance their mortgage. Extending the program will continue to provide borrowers opportunities to refinance, give clear guidance to lenders and reduce risk for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and taxpayers.
To be eligible for a HARP refinance homeowners must meet the following criteria:
The loan must be owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
The mortgage must have been sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac on or before
May 31, 2009.
The mortgage cannot have been refinanced under HARP previously unless it is a Fannie Mae loan that was refinanced under HARP from March-May, 2009.
The current loan-to-value (LTV) ratio must be greater than 80 percent.
The borrower must be current on their mortgage payments with no late payments in the last six months and no more than one late payment in the last 12 months.
Borrowers should contact their existing lender or any other mortgage lender offering HARP refinances. Check here to see if your loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have helped approximately 2.2 million borrowers refinance their homes since HARP was introduced by FHFA and the U.S. Department of the Treasury in April 2009.
From the Official FHLA News Release. For the entire new release go to: www.fhfa.gov/webfiles/25112/HARPextensionPRFINAL41113.pdf
Some homeowners, who were not able to sell during the recession, chose to rent their homes instead. In some cases, they didn't need to sell their home at the depressed prices and opted to rent it until the market recovered. It's a valid strategy but there are time restrictions that could have serious tax implications for some homeowners. The section 121 exclusion for gain in a principal residence requires that the home is owned and used as a main home for at least two years during the five year period ending on the date of the sale. This allows a homeowner to rent their home for up to three years and still have some part of the exclusion available. The sale of a home with a $200,000 gain that qualifies as a principal residence would result in no tax being paid by the owner. Comparably, a rental property with the same gain could have a $30,000 or higher tax liability depending on the length of ownership and tax brackets of the investor. The housing market has dramatically improved in the last year. If you have a gain in a home that has been your principal residence and it has been rented less than three years, you might want to consider selling it while you qualify for the exclusion. If you are considering a sale on your principal residence that has been rented, consult with your tax professional for advice on your specific situation. For additional information, see IRS Publication 523.
Here is a list of Homes, Condos and Cabins closed in March 2013 in the Villages of Mt Hood from Alder Creek to Government Camp on the Western slopes of Mt Hood. This area includes homes in Welches, Brightwood, Rhododendron, Government Camp and Sandy, Oregon. 
Check out all unique Homes and Cabins in the Mt Hood area by property type: Interest Rates are excellent and Home Prices are still affordable, a winning combination to to buy in 2013. When looking to buy Mt. Hood Real Estate come to MtHoodRealEstate.net
It's estimated that 10% of the homes sold in 2013 will be to buyers who lost a home in the past five years. Approximately 500 ,000 buyers who may have thought they wouldn't own a home anytime in the near future will be homeowners again. It's estimated that several million of these previous homeowners will purchase again in the next eight years. This kind of activity will contribute significantly to the housing recovery. Some people thought that the housing crisis would cause a shift in values placed on owning a home but the boomerang buyers definitely don't support that theory. Having a home of your own, where you can raise your family, share with your friends and feel safe and secure is still part of the American Dream. The rising rents, increasing prices and low, low mortgage rates are also influencing buyers into the market. In many cases, it is cheaper to own that to rent. All new buyers, including those who have experienced foreclosures or bankruptcies, must have good credit history and the ability to repay the loan. It just may not take as long to reestablish the credit as some would-be buyers might have thought. Read more about Bidding Wars This Spring, Spring's Wild Card and Boomerang Buyers.
One of the drawbacks to low mortgage rates is that the total interest and property taxes paid for the year may be lower than the standard  deduction. A little planning might be able to help you at least every other year. Most homeowners know they can deduct their qualified mortgage interest and property taxes on their Schedule A of their 1040 tax return or to take the standard deduction if it is greater. See Your Deduction...Your Choice. Deductions are taken in the year that they're actually paid. If a homeowner paid their 2012 property taxes in 2013, they would not be deductible on their 2012 tax return. Then, if the 2013 property taxes were paid in 2013, both the 2012 and 2013 taxes could be deducted on the 2013 Schedule A. By delaying the payment of the 2012 taxes until 2013, the combination of the 2012 and 2013 taxes might exceed the 2013 standard deduction and provide a higher deduction. Other Schedule A expenses such as charitable contributions and medical expenses may be bunched also. From a practical standpoint, since most mortgage payments are due monthly, the mortgage interest would not be bunched. This information should be discussed with your tax advisor or CPA to see how it might apply to your individual situation. The key is you must be aware of the strategy early to be able to use it.
Spring and Summer is upon us. Here is a YouTube of some beautiful National Forests including the Mt Hood National Forest that surrounds most of the “Villages of Mt Hood”. 
Published on Jun 14, 2012 by the USFS Features scenes from eight National Forests in the Pacific Northwest which contains 17 National Forests, a National Scenic Area, a National Grassland, and two National Volcanic Monuments, all within the States of Oregon and Washington. Learn more about the locations shown in this video at
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/abou... The Windward side of Mt Hood consists of Brightwood, Welches, Rhododendron, and Government Camp and is often referred to as the “Villages Of Mt Hood.”
If you are looking for Mt Hood Cabins for Sale check out Mt Hood Real Estate.net
Here is a list of Homes, Condos and Cabins closed in the months of December 2012, January 2012 and February 2013 in the Villages of Mt Hood from Alder Creek to Government Camp on the Western slopes of Mt Hood. This area includes homes in Welches, Brightwood, Rhododendron, Government Camp and Sandy, Oregon. 
Check out all unique Homes and Cabins in the Mt Hood area by property type: Interest Rates are excellent and Home Prices are still affordable, a winning combination to to buy in 2013. When looking to buy Mt. Hood Real Estate come to MtHoodRealEstate.net
|
|
Blog
If there is anyone who knows the communities and activities from Sandy to Mt. Hood, it is certainly Blythe! Although her youth was spent on horses in California and later Lake Oswego, Blythe moved to the area while attending college in 1974. ... 
