Molly's Blog

A Little Help for High Winter Bills

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:45:40 -0600

Timely help for high winter bills
Try these seasonal solutions
Cold weather. Dark days. Holiday celebrations. Houseguests. These are just a few of the things that can trigger higher energy bills this time of year. But we have some low-cost and no-cost ways to fight back — without sacrificing comfort or holiday cheer.

Heating
Likely your biggest energy cost during winter.

Set heat to 68 degrees (60 degrees at bedtime or when you’re away).
Check furnace filters every few months and clean or replace as needed.

Hot water
Holiday houseguests and parties mean more showers, dishes and laundry.

Set your water heater to 120 degrees.
Wash laundry in cold water when possible.
Install a high-performance showerhead.

Lighting
Lights are probably on more often during short, dark days.

Switch from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lights, which use up to 70 percent less energy.*

Holiday lighting
Time to replace traditional lights or mini-lights?

LED holiday lights use just a fraction of the energy and have a longer lifespan.

Holiday cooking
With holiday baking and feasts, your oven may be working overtime.

Use the microwave when possible.
Don’t preheat the oven unless precise temperatures are critical, like when baking cakes.

Learn other winter energy tips in our High Bill Help section.

*Manufacturers’ estimates

-article courtesy PGE

A Little Help for High Winter Bills

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:45:09 -0600

Heating
Likely your biggest energy cost during winter.

Set heat to 68 degrees (60 degrees at bedtime or when you’re away).
Check furnace filters every few months and clean or replace as needed.

Hot water
Holiday houseguests and parties mean more showers, dishes and laundry.

Set your water heater to 120 degrees.
Wash laundry in cold water when possible.
Install a high-performance showerhead.

Lighting
Lights are probably on more often during short, dark days.

Switch from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lights, which use up to 70 percent less energy.*

Holiday lighting
Time to replace traditional lights or mini-lights?

LED holiday lights use just a fraction of the energy and have a longer lifespan.

Holiday cooking
With holiday baking and feasts, your oven may be working overtime.

Use the microwave when possible.
Don’t preheat the oven unless precise temperatures are critical, like when baking cakes.

Learn other winter energy tips in our High Bill Help section.

*Manufacturers’ estimates

-article courtesy PGE

New Options from Fannie Mae!

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:02:02 -0600

Fannie Mae: New Affordable Housing Options

Fannie Mae announced Tuesday that it has launched several initiatives designed to stabilize neighborhoods and promote purchases by owner occupants and low-income buyers.

Fannie Mae’s “First Look” initiative offers buyers who intend to live in the home, particularly low-income buyers, an opportunity to make an offer during the first 15 days the property is on the market. Investors can only make an offer after the first 15 days have passed.

Other programs aimed at stabilizing neighborhoods include:

Deposit Waivers. Fannie Mae will waive the earnest money/deposit requirement for public entities using public funds to purchase a Fannie Mae-owned property. Individual home buyers who have qualified for public funds and want to purchase a Fannie Mae-owned property do not have to meet the usual earnest money/deposit requirement either. Deposits for these buyers can be as low as $500.
Reserved Contract Period. Upon receipt of an acceptable offer, buyers have the ability to renegotiate their offer after obtaining an appraisal.
Extra Time for Closing. Buyers receive up to 45 days to close – 15 days more than is usually permitted for purchases of Fannie Mae-owned properties.

Source: Fannie Mae (11/24/2009)

Tax Credit Quandaries Answered

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:59:09 -0600

Tax Credit Quandaries Answered

The complexity of new home buyer tax credits leaves potential buyers with many questions. Here are answers to some of the most confusing:

How does a current home owner qualify for the $6,500 credit?
Buyers must have lived in their homes for at least five out of the last eight years. The home they buy must become their primary residence, but buyers don’t have to sell their previous home. They can use the previous home as a rental or a second home and still claim the credit.

Does the new home have to be more expensive than the one the buyer currently owns?
No. It is fine to use it to downsize. If the property sells for more than $800,000, the buyers don’t qualify.

Can buyers who are building a new home claim the credit?
Yes, although the contract must be in place by April 30 and the buyer must move in by July 1.

Can buyers claim the credit if they purchase a home from a relative?
No. The legislation prohibits taxpayers from claiming the credit if the sale is between “related parties,” including parent, grandparent, child, or grandchild.

Source: USA Today, Sandra Block (11/24/2009)

8 Ways to Reuse Your Soda Cans

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:45:10 -0600

8 Ways to Reuse Your Cans

by Amanda Wills

Your can of Dr. Pepper may be the perfect sidekick to your afternoon snack, but the 75 cents you paid at the vending machine may be more valuable than you think.

When recycled, that can produces enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for almost four hours or run your television for three hours. Even more interesting, because aluminum is a durable and sustainable metal, two-thirds of the aluminum ever produced is still in use today.

Earn yourself some fashion bragging rights with this easy-to-make soda can tab belt, the perfect addition to any pair of jeans. Photo: Budget Living Magazine

While more than 50 percent of aluminum cans produced is recycled, we always love a good reuse project. So think before you throw, and put your creative bug to work.

1. Keep Your Pants On

Don’t spend $20 on a retro belt when you can make it yourself. Budget Living Magazine uses soda can tabs to make a fashionable, trendy belt. At first glance, the tabs form an expensive-looking, chain-like material.

All you’ll need for this project is everyday tabs and string. Once you get into the rhythm of stringing together the tabs, the whole project will take about an hour.

What You’ll Need: Soda can tabs (100+), nylon or satin cord

2. Take It to the Bank

Literally put your can back into your wallet. Instructables explains how to create an RFID-proof soda can wallet out of two cans and some packaging tape. Watch out for sharp edges, and don’t forget to wash the sticky residue off your can.

What You’ll Need: Aluminum cans (2), scissors, packaging tape/duct tape, felt-tip pen, sandpaper

While the wallet chain may not be your style, we still thought it was a super-easy and creative idea using soda can tabs. You’ll need to drink a lot of pop for this one – at least 132 cans, depending on the length of your chain. Instructables suggests visiting a local recycling center if you want to skip the obscene amount of soda ingestion.

What You’ll Need: Soda can tabs (132-152), heavy-duty wire cutters, key rings (1-2)

3. The Heat is On

Those attempting this project should use extreme caution. The video below shows how to create a fully functioning stove from two aluminum cans. While the project may sound complicated, the materials needed are basic and can be found in the average household. Bonus: The stove’s portability makes it ideal for your next camping trip. And forget that hot plate – this stove’s small size fits into the tiniest of studio apartments.

What You’ll Need: Aluminum cans (2), high-temperature tape, push pins or drill, marking pin, scissors, ruler, utility knife, OPTIONAL: rubber bands, sandpaper, metal file

4. Holiday Time

So, you’ve finally climbed up to the attic and dusted off the box of holiday decorations, only to find that your ceramic Santa smashed some of your favorite glass ornaments. Instead of spending time and money on new ornaments, simply make a trip to your recycling bin. Little House in the Suburbs suggests creating original ornaments from aluminum cans.

What You’ll Need: Aluminum cans, scissors, sandpaper, pen or pencil, ribbon or cord

After you’ve trimmed the tree, the holidays aren’t in full-swing without some sweet treats. Don’t go on an impossible treasure hunt for that perfect poinsettia-shaped cookie cutter – just make your own! Ehow explains how to create the perfect holiday cookie cutter from aluminum cans.

What You’ll Need: Aluminum can, scissors, pencil, pliers, stapler and staples, cardboard

5. A Girl’s Best Friend

OK, so this isn’t a how-to guide for making your own diamonds (we wish!), but aluminum is a perfect material for stylish earrings. While the construction is easy, an artistic eye comes in handy on this one. Use acrylic paint to customize your earrings for that hard-to-match purple cardigan or your black dress that needs a colorful touch.

What You’ll Need: Aluminum cans, kitchen shears, jump rings, earring hooks, acrylic paints, finish varnish

With just a bit of crochet work, the pop can purse is a sturdy tote that adds a creative touch to your shopping trip. Photo: Craftser/GeekMagnet

6. Tote Bag With Flair

Most reusable bags are made from recycled plastics, hemp or cloth, but the pop can purse is a durable bag that can add some fun to your shopping trip.

This project will require some sewing, crocheting and patience, but the pop can purse is something you can definitely brag about.

A sturdy material, this purse can be used for everyday errands or lugging around heavy groceries. If you’re not an avid crotcheter, it may be helpful to pick up a how-to book. There is also a variation of this bag that incorporates T-shirts and bamboo.

What You’ll Need: Aluminum cans (10), scissors, paper hole-punch, sport-weight yarn, size “H” crochet hook, sturdy fabric (such as denim), sewing machine

7. This Little Light of Mine

Tea light candles create a cozy ambiance for any occasion, from dinner parties to cuddling up with your favorite novel. Add a special touch to your lighting with a lantern and tea light holder made from aluminum cans. While the holder’s design looks complicated, it’s a simple project that requires a steady hand and a couple of craft tools. The design calls for splicing the cans with sharpened blades, so be extra careful.

What You’ll Need: Aluminum cans (2), wire (30 cm.), cutter, small pliers, screwdriver, piercing tool, black marker, dish cloth, basin, tea lights

8. Get Organized

Don’t use that “World’s Best Boss” coffee mug for your pens and pencils. Choose a colorful, empty aluminum can to make a creative pen holder. Cover the can with construction paper and add personal designs with markers, paints or other craft materials to “jazz it up.” Since the average soda can is lightweight, try adding a magnet or gluing a flat piece of wood to keep the holder upright when packed full of pens.

What You’ll Need: Aluminum can, can opener, hammer, weighted material (such as a magnet) OPTIONAL: markers, paint, construction paper, scissors, glue

Raquel Fagan contributed to this article.

Amanda Wills

Amanda Wills is the Assistant Editor of Earth911.com

8 Easy Green Thanksgiving Tips

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:40:35 -0600

8 Easy Green Thanksgiving Tips

by Lauren Hasler

The holiday season is officially in full-swing, and Thanksgiving marks the beginning of big family dinners, extensive gift shopping and elaborate decorations.

But the season isn’t all turkey, stuffing and pie. According to RecycleWorks, from Thanksgiving to New Years Day, household waste increases by more than 25 percent.

So, start off your holiday season on the green foot by making a few small, eco-friendly changes this Turkey Day. It’s easy to get the entire family involved, have fun and decrease the burden on your wallet as well.

This year, opt for local and organic foods for your broccoli-squash casserole or pumpkin pie. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com

1. Shopping for Food

Before you rush to eat yourself into a Tryptophan-induced coma, take a minute to think about where your food comes from.

When shopping for your Thanksgiving meal, keep two words in mind: organic and local. These keywords will guarantee a fresher, more nutritious meal.

If you buy local, not only can you enjoy fresh food, but you will also support your local economy. Check for farmers’ markets, family farms, community-supported agriculture programs and U-Pick options in your area for the freshest produce, eggs, dairy and grass-fed meat. Also, consider buying organic wines to be more eco-conscious without sacrificing quality or taste.

Also, don’t forget the vegetarians at your table. The Vegetarian Resource Group estimates that 3 percent of Americans, between 6 million and 8 million adults, are vegetarians. For example, the Organic Consumers Association developed a healthy vegetarian Thanksgiving menu which includes stuffed acorn squash with corn bread dressing and chestnut gravy.

If you’re going to have a large crowd, buy food in bulk to reduce packaging waste and save money. And of course, bring your own reusable shopping bags to the grocery store.

2. Crowd Control

At least 28 billion pounds of edible food is wasted each year – more than 100 pounds per person. One of the best ways to reduce your waste this Thanksgiving is to plan ahead for the meal and practicing portion control.

Use Less Stuff created a handy list of approximate per person food and drink portions:

Turkey- 1 pound
Stuffing- ¼ pound
Sweet potato casserole- ¼ pound
Green beans- ¼ pound
Cranberry relish- 3 tablespoons
Pumpkin pie- 1/8 of a 9 inch pie

After the meal, evaluate how many people were present and how much of each dish was consumed. By keeping track each year, you can make a more efficient, less wasteful Thanksgiving meal in the future.

3. Do Something Fun!

Instead of firmly planting yourself in front of the TV for the day, consider getting some fresh air or playing a board game. Take advantage of the time together with friends and family while decreasing your energy usage.

Try bundling up and playing some football outside instead of watching it. Split the whole family into teams and get everyone involved. Make sure the winners get to go through the pie line first!

4. Traveling Tips

According to Use Less Stuff, if each family reduced holiday gasoline consumption by 1 gallon (about 20 miles), we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 million tons. Invite nearby friends and family and neighbors to your house for Thanksgiving dinner and encourage them to do the same.

If you must go over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving, turn down the thermostat and turn off the lights to save energy while you’re gone.

Now you finally have a use for that china! Try to avoid disposable dinnerware to cut down on waste. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com

5. Setting the Table

There are many options when it comes to table setting, all dependent upon how many guests will be present at your Thanksgiving celebration. If it is going to be a small gathering, get out your nice china for the occasion. Cloth napkins are also a plus.

If you’re expecting a big crowd, organize it like a potluck and ask your guests to bring dishes and silverware for themselves. If disposable place settings are your only choice, opt for biodegradable and compostable utensils, napkins and plates, such as those from Biodegradable Store.com.

The average dishwasher uses between 7 and 15 gallons of water per cycle. After the meal, be sure to fill the dishwasher to capacity before running it to save water and energy.

6. Crafty Decorations (Yes, You Can Do It!)

Add a little extra elegance to your table with homemade decorations. Most materials can be found in your craft cupboard or backyard. Have the kids chip in with a pre-Thanksgiving craft day. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Acorn napkin ties
Dried leaf place cards
Corn or leaf print place mats
Pinecone turkeys
Painted gourds
Festive fall arrangements of pumpkins or corn cobs
Make your own cornucopia

If there is a tablecloth or other decorative item you’ve been eying, make sure it’s a purchase you’ll be happy to reuse in the future. Some decorations can even become new family traditions.

7. Lose the Leftovers

Once the party is over, it’s time to decide what to do with all that leftover food. Don’t forget to donate your leftovers to a food bank or nearby homeless shelter. And remember to compost your food scraps.

If you decided to buy your Thanksgiving supplies in bulk, the containers from your various products are perfect for storing large quantities of leftovers. Make sure your guests leave with a portion of extra food to take home. After all, one of the best Thanksgiving traditions is noshing on leftover turkey sandwiches and mashed potatoes for lunch the following weekend.

8. Recycling Isn’t a Chore

Last, but not least, get back to the basics and recycle. Encourage your guests to pitch in and clearly mark recycling bins. Recycling all packaging, as well as any beverage containers, will significantly reduce the number of times you have to take the trash out, as well as the amount of garbage you send to the landfill.

Who Do YOU Know?

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:33:00 -0600

Who Do You Know That Could Benefit From These Tax Breaks?

What is the Extended Credit?

・Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.

・Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

Who Qualifies for the Extended Credit?

・First-time home buyers* who purchase homes between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
・Current home owners purchasing a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010, who have used the home being sold or vacated as a principal residence for five years within the last eight.

*To qualify as a "first-time home buyer" the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.

How is a Buyer's Credit Amount Determined?

Each home buyer's tax credit is determined by tow additional factors:

1. The price of the home.

2. The buyer's income.

Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, credit may only be awarded on homes purchased for $800,000 or less.
Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, which is effective on November 7, 2009, 　single buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000-may receive the maximum tax credit.

Breaking News

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:16:22 -0600

Breaking News: Homebuyer Tax Credit Set to be Extended and Expanded!

Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed an extension and expansion of the homebuyer tax credit. This morning, the House of Representatives approved the agreement reached in the Senate by a vote of 403-12. The bill has now passed both chambers and is awaiting the President's signature, which could be as early as tomorrow!

Thank you all for helping mobilize REALTORS® in Oregon as the entire Oregon Congressional delegation voted in favor of this vital measure for the housing market.

Below is a summary of the new modifications in the extension and expansion of the tax credit:

1) The $8,000 tax credit will be extended and available for first-time purchases before May 1, 2010.

2) A new $6,500 tax credit will be available for repeat buyers who purchase between December 1, 2009, and May 1, 2010. To qualify for this provision, buyers must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years.

3) Prospective purchasers with binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete the transaction.

4) Income limits are expanded to $125,000 on a single return and $225,000 on a joint return.

We Need You this Thanksgiving!

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:18:01 -0600

How Can I Help?
We need 1,500 volunteers to greet customers and distribute Donate Dinner cards at participating grocery stores during the 5 days before Thanksgiving, Nov. 21 - 25, 2009. Shifts are 2 hours and are available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

What Do I Do?
You simply greet customers with a smile, hand them a card and say, "Hi, I'm a volunteer for Loaves & Fishes Centers, the Meals-On-Wheels People. If you'd like to Donate Dinner for a senior, please tell the cashier when you check out. Thank you!" You are welcome to sign up for more than one shift...and bring a friend!

Donate Dinner is one of the largest volunteer events in the Portland metropolitan area. Last year, volunteers raised more than $230,000 to feed local seniors. Donations increase significantly when we have a volunteer present. Please join us! We served 1.4 million meals last year and the need continues to grow.

		Thanksgiving Day Drivers & Servers Needed! Thursday, November 26, 2009 Approximately 300 volunteers are needed to deliver hot turkey dinners with all the trimmings to homebound seniors on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009. Volunteers will deliver four to five meals between 10:30 a.m. and noon. Meals can be picked up from five locations ( view map of locations): - The Loaves & Fishes Resource Center in Multnomah Village - The Cherry Blossom Loaves & Fishes Center in SE Portland - The Doubletree Inn at Lloyd Center located one mile from downtown Portland - The Forest Grove Senior Center in Forest Grove - The Luepke Loaves & Fishes Center in Vancouver
	To volunteer to be an on-site server, please call our Thanksgiving hotline at 503.953.8111 *A background check is required for all State of Oregon drivers.

We. Are. #3!!!!

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:58:39 -0600

10 Safest Places to Live in the U.S.
A sense of security is one of the big reasons why people choose a home. Forbes magazine has created a list of the nation's safest places to live by examining four factors: workplace accidents, weather catastrophes, crime rates, and traffic accidents.

The result is this list of top 10 safest metropolitan areas:

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wisc.
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisc.
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore.-Wash.
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass.
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.
Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, R.I.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa.
Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio (tie)
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Ohio/Denver-Aurora, Colo. (tie)

Source: Forbes.com, Zack O'Malley Greenburg (10/26/2009)

Keeping Our Fingers Crossed!!!

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:52:54 -0600

Homebuyer Credit Gets New Life

Key lawmakers in the Senate have tentatively agreed to extend the existing $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers and also offer a new $6,500 credit for existing homeowners who have lived in their current residence for a consecutive five-year period in the past eight years.

Home buyers must be under contract by April 30, 2010, and close before July 1. House Democrats have expressed concern about the cost of the tax credit for the government, and allegations of abuse have resulted in an IRS probe of the program.

Source: Wall Street Journal, Corey Boles and John D. McKinnon (10/29/09)

© Copyright 2009 Information Inc.

How to set up a family budget

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:34:02 -0600

Setting up a family budget is something that all families should consider. The more organized you can be, the better you can control spending so you will have enough for family vacations, retirement, college funds and emergencies.

Of course, it can seem pretty complicated to just set up a budget. Where do you start? How do you know what to set aside and what to spend? Luckily, there's an easy way to manage your cash flow so you will know where all of your money is going each month. If you're ready to set up your own, let's get started!

Setting Up Your Budget

Gather Your Pay Stubs. Your first step is to gather three months of pay stubs for you and your spouse, as well as any other monthly earnings. This way, you can determine any fluctuations in pay from month to month and average out your total monthly income (add the three months and divide by three) without guessing on the numbers - you definitely don't need any surprises when setting up a budget.
Collect Monthly Bills. Your next step is to collect your monthly bills. The best bet would be to collect your bills from the past three months so you can anticipate increases. You want to get your fixed expenses, including rent/mortgage, phone bill, car payments, groceries, clothing, laundry, credit card payments, gym memberships and other monthly payments/obligations. After you add them up, divide by three.
Evaluate Your Calculations. Next, look at your monthly earnings against your expenses. You have now determined what your budget is based on the expenses you currently have. However, you don't want to stop there.
Set Up the Family Budget. It's now time to look at where you can cut back so that you will have more for savings (see tips on cutting back). Also, you want to use this as an opportunity to set savings goals that you should meet each month (a dollar amount that you must save).
Open Savings Accounts. Once you've set your plan into action, you have to act on it. This means you need to open a savings account, buy some CDs, and/or set up an IRA and begin making deposits.
Track Your Expenses. After you've gone through all of this trouble, you don't want the work to go to waste. So it's important to track your spending each month to make sure you're actually saving as much as you set in your goals. If you feel you're swaying off course, it's time to rework your budget to determine how you can reach your goal.

Involve Your Family
When you make a budget, it may be tempting to go at it alone, especially if you're the person who manages the bills. But it's important to include the family in this process so they understand exactly why some expenses will need to be cut back, as well as why this decision is being made in the first place (savings for family vacations, college, etc.).

And definitely don't forget to get your kids in on the action. As you know, many children don't like to participate in anything that seems to be an additional chore. However, if you make budgeting a fun family activity (maybe also give them an allowance to help them understand the value of money), you can teach your children responsibility, how to budget, and further manage your family's spending habits.

Tips On Cutting Back
Now that you know how to set up a family budget, here are a few tips on how you can cut back on your expenses:

Cut those expenses you don't need. If you have magazine subscriptions you don't need, now's the time to cancel them. Also, if you have a gym membership that you only use once a month, you may want to downgrade or cancel it too.
Reduce your shopping sprees. You may love the art of shopping and don't feel happy unless you can feel new fabric against your skin, but if you want to start saving for the future, you may want to reduce your shopping sprees from once a week to once a month.
Adopt new dining habits. It's common for family members to eat out up to 5 times a week; however, to cut back on this expensive habit, you may start packing lunches and cooking dinner - this creates huge savings.
Clip those coupons. You may not be a natural coupon clipper, but if you knew how much they could save you in groceries each week, you would be all over them. Try it for yourself!
Choose generic over label brands. Another way to cut back on your expenses is to try generic brand foods, clothing, and other products. You'd be surprised by the quality you can find in generics.

Provided by Savings at Go Banking Rates.

Stimulus Payout May Come Back to Haunt You at Tax Time

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:18:32 -0600

Stimulus Payout May Come Back to Haunt You at Tax Time

By Eve Mitchell

RISMEDIA, October 28, 2009-(MCT)-That little extra bit of money in the form of a larger paycheck tied to the Obama stimulus plan could end up taking a bite out of your federal income tax refund or even leave you owing taxes, say observers.

The stimulus plan lowered federal income tax withholding rates, which results in more take-home pay but less money going toward taxes. The downside is some taxpayers may end up with not enough taxes being withheld to cover what they owe in 2009.

As a result, some taxpayers may need to increase their withholding amount by reducing the number of allowances claimed for the rest of year, which means making changes to a W-4 form available from an employer's human resources department. Single taxpayers who are working at more than one job and married couples filing jointly in a situation where both spouses work are the most likely groups of taxpayers to be caught short. "They are probably going to find out they are either getting a lot less back or they might owe," said Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, a tax preparation firm.

Others that could face this scenario are those who can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return (for example, a working student claimed as a dependent on a parent's tax return) and some Social Security recipients who work. Most people who received the credit have seen their paychecks grow by $15 to $20 per pay period since April as a result of employers taking out less withholding, said Steber.

The Making Work Pay credit is equal to 6.2% of earned income, whether it be from job wages or self-employment. It applies to 2009 and 2010. For the individual taxpayer, the credit is worth up to $400 a year and for married couples filing joint returns, it's worth up to $800. The credit is phased out for individuals with adjusted gross incomes between $75,000 and $95,000 and for married couples with adjusted gross incomes between $150,000 and $190,000. "I don't think many people realize that because of the credit they may not have the correct withholding and could owe at tax time," said Kelly Batson, a director of the Earn It! Keep It! Save It!, a tax assistance program for low-income taxpayers. "They need to check their withholding now."

For single taxpayers, the American Payroll Association estimates the credit will generally reduce withholding by $400 a year. A single taxpayer with two jobs would actually receive the credit twice even though he or she is only entitled to receive it once, according to Steber. For married couples filing jointly, the credit will generally decrease total withholding by $600 a year, said the Payroll Association. That means if both spouses work, their combined withholding would be reduced by $1,200 (2 x $600), even though their maximum credit would be $800, which means they could end up owing $400 in taxes or be short that amount in a refund. "If you are a married couple with two incomes, you may be getting too much of the credit," Steber said. "The withholding tables don't know the other spouse is working."

Conversely, a married couple filing jointly with one working spouse will have $600 less in withholding but would be entitled to an $800 credit, which would result in an additional $200. People who are already working and take on a holiday job should consider being more aggressive when choosing a withholding amount for the holiday job, Steber said. "For many workers that means selecting the single status with zero dependents when completing form W-4," he said. "Completing a W-4 in this way will cause a slightly higher amount to be withheld, which may help offset the duplicate Making Work Pay credit that the worker receives."

Tax Bite?

Here is an example where a single taxpayer with two jobs could end up with a smaller refund or even owe taxes as a result of a provision of the Obama stimulus plan.

Assume a single taxpayer who claims single filing and single withholding status with zero allowances for withholdings earned $35,000 last year working two jobs. He earned $10,000 in one job and $25,000 in the other job. The total withholdings under the old withholding rates would be $3,700; the total under the new tables is $2,969. Because the total reduction in withholdings is $731 and the Making Work Pay Credit is $400, this leaves the taxpayer with a shortfall of $331.

Source: Jackson Hewitt Tax Service

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Clackamas County September Statistics

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:54:40 -0600

Original search criteria: Prop Cat: RES County: Clackamas SD: 9/1/2009 - 9/30/2009 Stat: ACT, BMP, SLD

Sales

Active Listings

Type Price Class

2
or fewer

3
Bdrms

4
or more

Condo
Units

Total
Units

Residential
Units

Condo
Units

UNDER 29,999

30,000 - 39,999

40,000 - 49,999

50,000 - 59,999

60,000 - 69,999

70,000 - 79,999

80,000 - 89,999

90,000 - 99,999

100,000 - 119,999

120,000 - 139,999

140,000 - 159,999

160,000 - 179,999

180,000 - 199,999

131

200,000 - 249,999

394

250,000 - 299,999

416

300,000 - 399,999

606

400,000 - 499,999

417

Over 500,000

914

Total

190

138

368

3,077

265

Median Price

205,000

250,450

387,388

193,000

279,938

369,900

229,900

Average Price

223,123

284,936

479,874

291,714

353,929

520,615

277,787

Total Dollar Volume Residential

Total Dollar Volume Condo

Total Home Sales Dollar Value

126,161,729

4,083,995

130,245,724

Time on Market of Units Sold
Days	# Residential	# Condo
0 - 30	115	2
31 - 60	65	1
61 - 90	57	3
91 - 120	32	1
121+	85	7

Type of Financing of Units Sold
Financing	# Residential	# Condo
ASSMP	0	0
CASH	57	1
CONV	167	8
FHA	94	5
OTHER	23	0
VA	13	0

What to do with the Pumpkins After Halloween??

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:13:01 -0500

What's Next for Mr. Jack-o-Lantern?

by Raquel Fagan

Every year, one billion pounds of pumpkins are produced in the U.S., including at least 100 million pounds in every state. Unlike many other aspects of your Halloween experience, pumpkins don't come in difficult-to-recycle packaging, which should make proper disposal easy as (pumpkin) pie.

Pumpkins are a unique holiday decoration because they are entirely natural, yet a majority of the "nature" gets thrown out once they're carved and Halloween is over. So, how can you make sure that the entire pumpkin is used and not put into a landfill? There are few simple solutions:

Pumpkin Seeds

A favorite fall snack, pumpkin seeds are almost always removed from pumpkins whether you are carving or cooking. To remove the seeds, cut the top of the pumpkin off and scoop out the insides. Then wash the seeds in a colander, to remove the flesh of the pumpkin that also got scooped out.

To bake: Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray and lay the pumpkin seeds out in one layer. Sprinkle with any seasoning you might want (salt, cayenne pepper or garlic salt are quite tasty). Bake in a 350º oven for 10 to 20 minutes. Let cool, and enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie or Soup

From soup to seed to compost pile, pumpkins offer more then just decor.

If your pumpkin or jack-o-lantern is still in good (ie: "fresh") condition, making it into soup or pie is a great way to finish off your holiday with some additional treats! Either way you approach it, you will need to cook the pumpkin so the flesh gets soft and workable. You will also need to remove the peel. For more detailed instructions, visit RecipeTips.com.

Composting

If cooking isn't your coup of tea (or soup), the best way to dispose of your pumpkin is by composting. To provide a quick definition, "composting" is the decomposition of organic materials to produce nutrient-rich soil enhancer.

Both the pumpkin, as well as its seeds, can be composted. In fact, pumpkin seeds themselves are a strong source of nutrients, including zinc, iron and phosphorus. Compost piles rely on a mix of nitrogen-rich greens (which will include pumpkin components) and browns (leaves, paper and other carbon-rich materials). So, Halloween is the perfect time to compost, because you'll not only have leaves falling before winter, but your pumpkin to also add to the mix.

Next Year

Now that you've got your pumpkin breaking down in the compost, what's next? How about a pumpkin patch of your very own? Lots of communities have pumpkin growing contests in October. Use the nutrient rich compost you get over the next few months to grow your own garden, and come next summer, get your own pumpkin seeds in the ground and ready to grow.

Trey Granger contributed to this story.

Raquel Fagan

Raquel Fagan is Executive Editor of Earth911.com.

Recycling Halloween Facts.....Interesting

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:10:16 -0500

Recycling Gets Spooky

by Lauren Hasler

Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, Samhain - whatever you may call the 31st day of October, the traditions of both tricks (and treats) enchant imaginations around the world on this haunted evening.

To add to the array of creepy costumes, ominous decor and an unearthly consumption of sweet treats, we think it only fitting to provide some spine-chilling facts and tips about the wicked fun of going green on All Hallow's Eve... and beyond.

A Harrowing Halloween

Ghosts and goblins won't be the only things giving you nightmares:

Historians date the modern take on Halloween back to the mid-1800s, when Irish immigrants brought the tradition to the U.S. during the Great Famine. Photo: Flickr/stevechasmar

1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins were produced in 2008 by major pumpkin-producing states such as Illinois, California, Pennsylvania and New York. Many are used each fall for jack-o'-lanterns and pumpkin pies. Once Halloween is over, you can reuse or recycle your pumpkin.
A 2008 National Retail Foundation survey found that 64.5 percent of people celebrate Halloween in some way. That's a higher number than the individual recycling rates of aluminum, glass, paper and plastic bottles.
Each Halloween, an estimated $40 per capita is spent on candy, decorations and greeting cards, all of which produce large amounts of waste.
Leaves can account for 75 percent of the solid waste stream in the fall.
Americans consumed 23.8 pounds of candy per capita in 2008. Most of the wrappers are made of mixed materials, making it difficult to recycle them.
An estimated 80,000,000 Hershey's Kisses are wrapped each day, using enough aluminum foil to cover more than 50 acres of space, the equivalent of almost 40 football fields.
The U.S. spends almost $4 billion annually on electricity lost to "vampire power," according to the International Energy Agency. Vampire power, also known as "phantom load," is the electricity that electronics and appliances use while they are turned off or in standby mode.

(See more about this video and experience augmented reality at VampirePowerSucks)

Frightening Recycling

The results from skipping out on this simple step are simply spine-tingling:

Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy and 7,000 gallons of water. This represents a 64 percent energy savings, a 58 percent water savings and 60 pounds less of air pollution.
In 2007, we generated 3.01 million tons of e‐waste in the U.S. Of this amount, only 410,000 tons (or 13.6 percent) was recycled, according to the EPA. The rest was sent to landfills or incinerators.
To produce each week's Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees must be cut down. Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees. If all our newspaper was recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year.
Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour. Most of them are thrown away.
Recycling just one ton of aluminum cans conserves the equivalent of 36 barrels of oil, or 1,665 gallons of gasoline.
The EPA estimates that 75 percent of our waste is recyclable. However, the current national is about 33 percent. The difference? Scary.

According to tradition, pumpkins are carved to ward off evil spirits. Photo: Flickr/WxMom

Creepy Crawly Conservation

The eerie effects of waste:

A modern glass bottle would take 4,000 years or more to decompose. That number is even higher if it's in a landfill.
Every year, each American throws out about 1,200 pounds of organic garbage that can be composted.
Since 1990, the total amount of municipal solid waste going to landfills dropped by about 5 million tons from 142.3 million to 137.2 million tons in 2007.
Every year, Americans produce enough polystyrene cups to circle the earth 436 times.
Americans throw away enough disposable plates and cups to give the world a picnic six times a year.
If the U.S. cut office paper use by just 10 percent, it would prevent the emission of 1.6 million tons of greenhouse gases - the equivalent of taking 280,000 cars off the road.
Americans' total yearly waste would fill a convoy of garbage trucks long enough to wrap around the earth six times or reach halfway to the moon.

So what's the take-home message? When you're roaming the dark streets on Halloween, don't forget your garlic, flashlight and your eco-smarts. Even though the ghoulish evening is cause for celebration the world over, there's nothing more bone-chilling than leaving your green out of the festivities on this day and throughout the rest of the year.

Jennifer Berry contributed to this article.

Lauren Hasler

Lauren is a journalism major at the University of Missouri with an interest in environmental sustainability education.

Good News!

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:43:41 -0500

Good Housing News Predicted

All the leading indicators say housing is definitely on the mend, economists reported in advance of the official release of several pieces of good news expected this week.

Bloomberg News surveyed 53 economists and asked them where they expected the numbers to fall. Here are their predictions:

Construction starts in September are expected to hit a 610,000 annual rate, the most since last November.
Sales of existing homes likely rose to a two-year high.
Because of fear of a relapse, the Federal Reserve is predicted to leave interest rates low for a few more months.
Building permits, a sign of future growth, probably rose to a 590,000 annual pace, also the highest level since November, the Commerce Department is likely to announce.
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo index is expected to rise to 20 from 19, the economists say.

Google Inc. plans to resume hiring and acquisitions after its third-quarter sales beat analysts' estimates. CFO Patrick Pichette says: "We weathered what is an incredible recession. If you have all this behind you, the only outcome you should have as management is: ‘OK, let's build now.'"

Source: Bloomberg, Courtney Schlisserman (10/18/2009)

Relocating in Your Future? 5 Tips You Need to Know

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:33:11 -0500

RISMEDIA, October 24, 2009-The good news: in the middle of a really tough economy, you land a job offer. The bad news: you have to explain to your 14-year-old that it means moving out of state. Whether it's for a new career opportunity or to move when a current employer relocates its business, people who may not otherwise have considered relocating are facing the potential of moving boxes in their future.

There are, however, steps you can take to make the transition more manageable:

Do your homework as a family: Like most homework, this research will start with the Internet. City and state official websites are a good starting point to get a sense of the school system, recreation and services. Look to local bloggers to get the "voice" of a neighborhood, including city, or even neighborhood focused real estate blogs. Divide up the research among the family so everyone gets to be an expert.

Take time to talk about the unknown: With everything that goes into relocation, it is easy to turn family life into a never-ending series of "to do" lists. Find time to let your family talk out loud about the move. Some days it will seem like a great adventure, other days it'll be daunting. Let your kids know that's okay.

Find where your hobbies live: If a family member has a special hobby or sport, locate the best ways to connect with that passion as soon as you get to the new location- it'll feel more like home when everyone is doing what they love.

Start gathering medical and school records: We'd like to think we live in a paperless world- that is, until we roll into the emergency room in a new town and can't access key information. Start gathering data from your physician, dentist and school administrators earlier rather than later.

Tap into the professionals: Finding the right real estate agent and a good mover can make the difference between a straightforward- or a nightmare-relocation experience. Whether you're looking to purchase a new home right away or are opting to rent an apartment or home while you familiarize yourself with the area, these professionals can provide both guidance and support during your relocation. Take time to check out reviews, get references from people you trust and then narrow down options to a short list. It's worth the work to get these relationships right.

"Having professionals on your side makes every difference during a move," says Sharon Asher, chairman and founder, Relocation.com. "It's understandable to want to do it all yourself, but people who are able to rely on strong professional services throughout the process come out of the experience saying the move was much more straightforward than if they had tried to handle it all on their own."

Finding Your Dream Foreclosure: What to Know When You’re Buying an REO Property

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:30:07 -0500

By Amy Hoak

RISMEDIA, October 5, 2009-(MarketWatch/MCT)-Buying a foreclosure often is appealing to buyers trying to stretch their dollars. It's finding a good one can that can be a challenge.

"The vast majority of the banks don't want us to advertise them as ‘bank-owned' because it comes with a negative connotation," said Ryan Melvin, co-owner of More Realty Group in Las Vegas.

That means no sign on the front lawn indicating the home is anything other than a traditional sale. A buyer probably won't find a property advertised as a foreclosure on marketing materials, said Melvin, who specializes in real-estate owned properties, or REOs, those that have been reclaimed by a bank, typically after an unsuccessful foreclosure auction.

Plus, in some markets, including Las Vegas, foreclosure inventory is actually down compared with last year as government programs attempt to keep owners in their homes and banks aren't putting as many homes on the market, Melvin said. That's making it harder for buyers to snag a foreclosure, and those paying with cash often win a bid over someone who needs financing.

If you're considering the purchase of a home that is now owned by a bank, it's also important to know at the outset just how much work you're in for - and how much it is going to cost you. Many foreclosures are in various states of disrepair; some of the fixes are cosmetic, but some can be extensive.

Those looking for the best deal probably shouldn't rule out non-foreclosure properties, either, said Mark Goldman, a mortgage broker with Cobalt Financial Corp., and a real estate lecturer at San Diego State University. Sometimes, people set their sights on bank-owned properties "like the word ‘foreclosure' equals ‘good deal,'" he said.

And that's not always true.

One option for finding foreclosure listings: Go straight to the bank.

Lender Web sites, such as those operated by Bank of America, Chase and Citibank, will list the properties the financial institution has reclaimed when borrowers defaulted. To find a list, simply do a Web search for REOs and the name of the lender. Contact information for the property's listing agents is usually provided for each entry.

For a fee, other sites will hunt down properties for you. RealtyTrac.com, which helps people find foreclosure and pre-foreclosure properties, charges $49.95 a month, after a free seven-day trial. The company also recently launched BankHomesDirect.com, which charges $19.95 per month and lets people search just for REOs.

Foreclosures.com charges $49.95 per month, after a free seven-day trial.

Otherwise, you might want to enlist the help of a realty agent. Someone who works regularly with REOs might be able to track down the properties more easily than a traditional agent. Melvin is a member of the National REO Brokers Association, nrba.com, which has a searchable database of brokers on its site. There's also the REO Network, reonetwork.com, which connects buyers with those who specialize in selling REOs.

Lenders aren't held to the same disclosure requirements as sellers who have lived in the home, mainly because the lender hasn't occupied the home to notice leaks or other problems. For that reason, an inspection is crucial.

"If there are lessons out of the last couple of years, it's certainly buyer beware," said Dan Steward, president of the home inspection firm Pillar to Post, which has a U.S. headquarters in Tampa, Fla.

"We have all heard the stories of people ripping the copper pipe and wiring out ... people have literally gone to the light switch, disconnected the wire from the switch box and have pulled the wire through the drywall," Steward said. Some have ripped out toilets and kicked in walls or left water faucets running before they left the house, often out of anger.

You don't need to be told the toilet is gone, but an inspector can tell if there is damage 20 feet down the water line because of the way that toilet was ripped out, he said.

Other issues could pop up due to the property being vacant. Large banks will often hire a field service to cut the grass, shovel the snow and winterize a home, yet when homes aren't occupied it's harder to catch small problems before they become big ones.

"When we live at home or drive the car, if something is off we notice it. We notice it and we deal with it," Steward said. When a place is unoccupied, pests could become an issue. If you were living in a home, a nest of raccoons probably wouldn't be able to find a home in your crawlspace-not for long, anyway.

A neighborhood environmental report might also be worthwhile, he said, which could reveal if the property was the site of a drug lab, for example. When a meth lab is operating in a home, air quality issues can arise; when a home was used for growing marijuana, there is a tendency for mold problems from the high humidity, Steward said.

The time it takes to complete the sale can vary from lender to lender. In some cases, the process goes smoothly, Goldman said. Other lenders are disorganized.

"It really depends on who you're doing business with," Goldman said.

But for your best chance at having an offer accepted and for a quick closing process, have everything in order before making the offer, said Duane Andrews, CEO of Clear Capital, a company that provides valuation products for the mortgage and lending industries. That includes having the financing firmed up and writing a clean offer - for example, asking for new oven racks as part of the deal could peg you as a demanding buyer who will be annoying to deal with, he said.

"What this tells the seller is this guy is going to be a pain and they don't have time for this pain," Andrews said.

In fact, most bank-owned properties are sold "as is," so if there is something you want fixed, it's best to just factor that into the price you're offering, Melvin said.

But don't expect to bargain the listing price way down, Melvin added.

Banks typically price their properties at a 20 percent to 30 percent discount anyway, he said. If the property has been on the market for a week or two, don't expect the bank to drop the price; if the listing is older, you might have more power, he said.

Also, don't be surprised if the bank that is selling the property asks you to get an approval from its mortgage operation; you often don't have to take the loan from their company, but they may want to get a closer look at your finances to make sure you're a solid buyer, Melvin said.

Above all, make sure to follow directions when submitting the offer, he said. That likely includes having an approval letter from the bank and the correct amount of earnest money.

"Most listing agents will have instructions how we want buyers agents to submit the offer," he said. Delays can occur when instructions aren't followed exactly.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Programs Designed to Expand Resources for Working Families to Access Affordable Rental Housing and Home Ownership

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:11:27 -0500

October 19, 2009
TG-323

Administration Announces Initiative for State and Local Housing Finance Agencies

Programs Designed to Expand Resources for Working Families to Access Affordable Rental Housing and Home Ownership over Long Term at Little or No Expected Cost to the Taxpayer

To view the fact sheet, visit link.

WASHINGTON - As part of its comprehensive plan to stabilize the U.S. housing market, the Obama Administration today announced a new initiative for state and local housing finance agencies (HFAs) that will help support low mortgage rates and expand resources for low and middle income borrowers to purchase or rent homes that are affordable over the long term. Following up on the intent to support HFAs first outlined in February under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, the Administration's initiative has two parts: a new bond purchase program to support new lending by HFAs and a temporary credit and liquidity program to improve the access of HFAs to liquidity for outstanding HFA bonds.

The HFA Initiative using authority provided to Treasury by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) will provide hundreds of thousands of affordable mortgages for working families and enable the development and rehabilitation of tens of thousands of affordable rental properties. It will do this at little or no cost to the taxpayer because it is paid for by the HFAs themselves and, as a temporary program, it incentivizes HFAs to transition back to market sources of capital as quickly as possible.

"This initiative is critical to helping working families maintain access to affordable rental housing and homeownership in tough economic times," said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. "Through the years, many low and moderate income Americans have been well served by state and local HFAs, but the housing downturn has hit these organizations too. Through this initiative, the Administration aims to help HFAs jumpstart new lending to borrowers who might not otherwise be served and to better support the financing costs of their current programs - key components in stabilizing the housing market overall."

"Housing Finance Agencies are critical partners to helping American families through this tough economic time," Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan said. "Today's announcement makes clear this Administration's commitment to providing responsible homeownership opportunities, affordable rental homes and getting our housing market back on track."

"FHFA supports this initiative and the important role Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will play in implementing it," said Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco. "The HFA program has been structured to be on commercially reasonable terms for the Enterprises, to be carried out by the Enterprises in a safe and sound manner, and to support market liquidity, stability, and affordable housing. I wish to thank FHFA, HUD, Enterprise and Treasury staff for their hard work and leadership in developing this program."

The Department of the Treasury and HUD, together with the FHFA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, have developed this initiative to maintain the viability of HFA lending programs and infrastructure. The key parts of the new initiative are:

· New Issue Bond Program (NIBP). The NIBP will provide temporary financing for HFAs to issue new mortgage revenue bonds. Using authority under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA), Treasury will purchase securities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac backed by these new mortgage revenue bonds. The program can support several hundred thousand new mortgages to first-time homebuyers this coming year, as well as refinancing opportunities to put at-risk but responsible and performing borrowers into more sustainable mortgages. The new bond issuance will also support development of tens of thousands of new rental housing units for working families.

Temporary Credit and Liquidity Program (TCLP). Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will provide replacement credit and liquidity facilities available to HFAs that will help reduce the costs of maintaining existing financing for the HFAs. The agreements will serve to help relieve financial strains experienced by HFAs and enable them to continue their important work. Treasury will backstop the GSE replacement credit and liquidity facilities for the HFAs by purchasing an interest in them using HERA authority.

HFAs will pay a fee to have access to both programs under the HFA Initiative. These fees have been designed to cover expected costs to the Treasury Department and the taxpayer. The fee for the TCLP will also increase over time to encourage HFAs to find private alternatives as quickly as possible. The HFA Initiative has also been designed to include other features that minimize risk to the taxpayer, such as requiring HFAs that issue new bonds under this program to also prove their ability to issue bonds to private investors.

The initiative is designed to be temporary in nature and will be available for only a short window to help bridge the transition period as the HFAs resume their activities after experiencing a number of challenges in the course of the housing downturn. After today, each HFA that desires to participate will be asked to develop a program participation request in consultation with Treasury, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, indicating its desired level of participation in either the new bond or liquidity program. These requests for new issuance should generally not exceed what the HFA would have received in allocation from Congress for a similar period through 2010 and will generally follow the allocation formula established for 2008 by HERA. If program demand is smaller than these guidelines would allow, the total program size will be capped at a lower amount. This bottom-up review is being used to prudently shepherd taxpayer resources, and the program will not be sized any larger than needed to meet specific demand.

Pricing under the program will reflect both the cost of any financing required by Treasury as well as a fee designed to cover any risk posed by the HFA. While there is risk that losses could exceed estimates, the fee schedule Treasury has adopted is designed to cover net losses under most stressed conditions and thus would minimize risk to the taxpayer.

Press Release courtesy of U.S. Department of Treasury

Mt hood view Open this weekend!

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:15:16 -0500

Milwaukie Gem with a Mt. Hood View!

Location: Milwaukie, OR

Special home with lots of extras with a Mt. Hood View, has a private yard and a finished lower level. It is bank owned with the seller offering the Smart Buy Program with seller paying up to 3.5% of buyer's closing costs and a 2 year Home Protect Warranty
This home will be open this weekend!
Friday night 6-8pm
Saturday 1-4pm
Sunday 1-4pm

Information

Contact Information

Molly LeBlanc

503-267-4472

Pricing

Price: $349,000

Property Location

16332 SE Merganser Ct
Milwaukie, OR 97267
View Map

Features

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.1

Year Built: 2005

Subdivision: Dew Point

Garage Size: 2

Square Footage: 2903

Agent Name: Molly LeBlanc

Broker: Pete Anderson Realty Assoc.,Inc

MLS #: 9067733

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Central Vacuum

Interior Amenities

Fireplace

Hardwood Floors

Security System

Kitchen Island

Exterior Amenities

Patio

Photo Gallery

View as Slideshow View Photo Gallery (7 Photos)

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VFLYER ID: 2824433

Understanding your Tax Statement

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:55:25 -0500

In Oregon, property is valued as of January 1. Our fiscal tax year runs from July 1st through June 30th. With property taxes due on the following November 15th.

The dates at the top of your statement reflect the fiscal tax year for the property taxes imposed.

Depicts the physical location of your property.
Depicts the abbreviated legal description of your property Township, Range, Section and Tax Lot as per the Assessor's Maps.
Depicts the Property Tax Account Number in the Assessor's Records.
Breakdown of your property taxes to the local districts.
Real Market Value of your property listed by land, building and total. SAV total value if your property has any special use such as farm. Assessed Total is the amount of value used to impose property taxes. For information about appealing your value click here.
Any prior year's tax remaining unpaid will be listed here. Accounts that are subject to foreclosure will be indicated with an asterisk (*) next to the total for that year.

View an example of a tax statement

If your tax statement is yellow...
...it means our records show your Mortgage Company or Oregon's Senior Deferral program notified us they will be paying your tax bill. If you have any questions regarding who is paying your property tax, contact your Mortgage Company. REMEMBER: you are ultimately responsible for paying your taxes
If you receive a green statement...
...it means that the property owner pays the tax.
Keep the top of this statement for your records and return the bottom portion with your payment in the envelope provided.

Mailing Address Changes
If the mailing address on your statement is incorrect or has changed, please check the box on the front of your payment stub and write the correct or changed address on the back of the payment stub. Or you may notify us of the change via email, fax or letter. By Oregon law, it is the property owner's responsibility to inform the Assessor of any address changes.
Late payments lose the discount and accrue interest

source:www.clackamas.us

How to Appeal Your Property Value

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:49:06 -0500

General information

In Oregon, property taxes are assessed for real property, machinery and equipment, manufactured structures, business personal property, and floating property. Oregon has an ad valorem property tax system, which means the property taxes you pay are based on the value the county assessor establishes for your property.

The assessor estimates the value of most taxable property on January 1, prior to the beginning of the tax year. The tax year runs from July 1 through June 30. January 1 is called the "assessment date." The assessor's estimate of value will appear on the tax statement mailed to you in October.

The following terms and definitions are provided to help you understand how your property is valued and assessed.

Real Market Value (RMV) is the value the assessor has estimated your property would sell for on the open market as of the assessment date. RMV appears on most property tax statements.
Maximum Assessed Value (MAV) is the greater of 103 percent of the prior year's assessed value or 100 percent of the prior year's MAV. MAV is not limited to an increase of 3 percent if certain changes are made to your property. These changes are called exceptions. MAV does not appear on most tax statements.
Assessed Value (AV) is the value used to calculate your tax. It is the lesser of RMV or MAV. Assessed value appears on your tax statement.
Exception means a change to property, not including general ongoing maintenance and repair or minor construction. Changes that could affect maximum assessed value include new construction or additions, major remodeling or reconstruction, rezoning with use consistent with the change in zoning, a partition or subdivision, or a disqualification from special assessment or exemption. Minor construction is defined as additions of real property improvements with a real market value that does not exceed $10,000 in one assessment year or $25,000 over a period of five assessment years. Exception value does not appear on your tax statement.
Specially Assessed Value (SAV) is a value established by statute. The legislature has created several programs that set lower assessed value levels for certain types of property. Each program has specific applications and use requirements. Examples of property that may qualify for special assessment are farmland, forestland, historic property, government-restricted low income multi-unit housing, and property that qualifies as "open space." SAV appears on most tax statements for property that is specially assessed.

Appealing to your county board of property tax appeals

Appealing to the county board of property tax appeals (BOPTA) is generally the first step in the appeal process. Most appeals start at this level.

You may appeal the current year real market, maximum assessed, specially assessed, or assessed value of your property.

The majority of appeals will be based on a difference of opinion between you and the assessor about RMV. In such cases, you will need to present evidence about the market value of your property as it existed on the assessment date. Evidence might include an appraisal report of your property done by an independent appraiser or a comparison of your property with similar properties that have recently sold in your area.

Comparing the value on the tax roll of your house to the value on the tax roll of your neighbor's house, or comparing the taxes you pay to the taxes your neighbor pays is generally not considered satisfactory evidence.

The following are examples in which an appeal of RMV may result in a tax benefit:

The board reduces the RMV below the assessed value currently on the roll.
Your property has recently been improved and the board reduces the value of the new construction.
The board reduces the RMV of your property, and the reduction requires property taxes to be reduced to meet constitutional limits on the education and general government categories of your taxes. See Tax Limitation (Compression) at www.oregon.gov/DOR/PTD/property.shtml for more information.

If you wish to appeal the value of principal or secondary industrial property appraised by the Department of Revenue (DOR), you may file your appeal with either the Magistrate Division of the Tax Court or BOPTA. Both have the same filing deadlines.

The value of utilities and other centrally assessed property must be appealed to DOR on or before June 15 of the assessment year.

Penalties charged for late filing of a current year's real or personal property return may also be appealed to the board. The board may waive all or a portion of a penalty imposed for the late filing of a return if:

You can prove there was good and sufficient cause for the late filing, or
The year for which the return was filed was both the first year that a return was required to be filed and the first year you filed a return.

How to file your petition

You must file appeals between the date the tax statements are mailed and December 31. If December 31 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the filing deadline moves to the next business day. File your petition with the county clerk's office in the county where the property is located. You can get the forms you need from your county clerk or county assessor's office. You may also download forms from www.oregon.gov/DOR/PTD.

If you are not the owner of the property, carefully read the petition instructions to learn if you are qualified to file the appeal.

The board will consider your appeal between the first Monday in February and April 15. If you choose to appear at the hearing, BOPTA will send you written notice of the time and location. If you choose not to appear, the board will make a decision based on the evidence you submit with the petition.

The board will notify you in writing of its decision. If you are not satisfied with the decision, you have the right to appeal as follows:

Appealing county board decisions

You may appeal a decision of BOPTA to the Magistrate Division of the Oregon Tax Court by filing a written complaint. The assessor may also appeal the board's decision. The fee for filing a complaint with the Magistrate Division is $25.

Complaints must be filed with the Magistrate Division within 30 days (not one month), after the board's order is mailed to you. You can download appeal forms from www.oregon.gov/OJD, or write to: Clerk, Oregon Tax Court, Magistrate Division, 1163 State Street, Salem OR 97301. You can also order forms by calling 503-986-5650 or by calling your county assessor.

Appealing magistrate decisions

You may appeal magistrate decisions to the Regular Division of the Oregon Tax Court. To appeal, file your complaint with the court clerk within 60 days (not two months) after the date of the magistrate's decision. The tax court clerk will notify you of the trial date and time.

A trial in the Regular Division of the Oregon Tax Court is a formal proceeding. Although you may represent yourself, most people prefer to be represented by a lawyer. If you are not satisfied with the tax court decision, you can appeal to the Oregon Supreme Court.

Failure to appeal to BOPTA

Under very limited circumstances, DOR or the Magistrate Division may be able to hear your appeal if you miss the deadline for filing with BOPTA. For more information about appealing to the department, see the publication Supervisory Power: Error Correction Procedure, 150-303-688. You may obtain a copy of this circular by calling the Property Tax Conference Unit at 503-945-8286, or from the website listed below.

For more information click here

source:Department of Revenue: www.oregon.gov

Clackamas County Average Property tax increases

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:36:47 -0500

Clackamas County Average Property Tax Increases (Last Year's Tax vs. This Year's Tax)

Beavercreek	6.5%	Molalla (Rural)	8.5%
Boring	28%	Mulino	8.5%
Canby (City)	8.0%	Newberg	6.5%
Canby (Rural)	9.0%	Oregon City (City)	6.0%
Carus	9.0%	Oregon City (Rural)	6.5%
Charbonneau	8.5%	Portland (City)	9.0%
Colton	7.5%	Redland	6.5%
Damascus (City)	4.0%	Riverdale	13%
Estacada (City)	5.5%	Sandy (City)	23%
Estacada (Rural)	6.0%	Sandy (Rural)	28%
Gladestone (City)		Sherwood	7.5%
- Gladstone Schools	6.0%	Sunnyside	7.0%
- N Clackamas Schools	6.5%	Tualatin	4.0%
- Oregon City Schools	6.0%	Welches	28%
Happy Valley	6.5%	West Linn (City)	7.0 %
Lake Oswego	7.0%	West Linn/Wilsonville (Rural)	7.5%
Milwaukie (City)	6.0%	Wilsonville (City)
Milwaukie (Unincorporated		-West Linn/Wils Schools	7.0%
-North Clackamas Area)	6.5%	-Canby School	8.5%
Molalla (City)	6.0%

NEW VOTER APPORVED MONEY MEASURES:

District Name	Type of Levy	Rate Increase
Clackamas County Library	New Permanent Rate	39.74¢
Clackamas County Extension & 4-H	New Permanent Rate	5¢
City of Portland	Local Option - 5 years For Children's Investment Fund	40.26¢
Metro Service District	Bonds - 21 years For Zoo Animal Health & Safety	4¢
Portland Community College	Bonds - 21 years For Upgrade of Facilities	17.46¢
Oregon Trail School	Bonds - 31 years For High School Construction	$2.28
Riverdale School	Bonds - 31 years For Renovation and Replacement	$1.03
West Linn/Wilsonville School	Bonds - 26 years For Facility Improvements	13¢

source: www.clackamas.us

For most, property taxes rise despite falling value in Oregon

Molly LeBlanc (Pete Anderson Realty) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:24:07 -0500

Courtesy of KGW.com

06:23 PM PDT on Tuesday, October 20, 2009
By KGW.com Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Homeowners who've seen their property values drop during the past year may be surprised to open their mailboxes this month and find that their property taxes have increased.
In Clackamas County, real property values declined 9.3 percent from a year ago. However, property tax bills mailed this week will increase an average of 8.7 percent.

In Washington County, real market values dropped by an average of 8.7 percent, while the average property bill will increase about 7 percent.

In Multnomah County, property tax bills were expected to go up by 6 percent, despite a drop in real market value.

Rising bills, declining values

There are two reasons for this seeming contradiction - and no elected officials to blame or punish.

Twelve years ago, voters approved Measure 50, which separated the real market value of a property from the actual property taxes, capping the annual rate of tax increases. The tax-limit measure has worked to homeowners' benefit since 1997.

Assessed values have been used ever since to calculate property taxes instead of real market value. However, real market value is the amount paid to buy or sell a home.

Property tax bills only decrease if real market value ever drops below assessed value.

Measure 50 also rolled assessed values back two years when it passed, and instituted a cap on annual property tax increases of 3 percent. Any voter-approved tax measures or bonds that may make the ballot in any given year are on top of that cap, and that is the second reason for higher taxes: local tax measures.

Local measures drive up taxes

Depending on tax district, voters in local areas can approve additional taxes above the 3 percent limits of Measure 50. For example, majorities enacted bond measures funding Oregon Zoo renovations, Portland Community College, and inside Portland proper, the Children's Investment Fund, last November.

Understanding your tax bill

Clackamas County has compiled a city-by-city summary of average property tax increases They range from just a 4 percent increase in Damascus to 28 percent for residents who voted for a major construction bond measure for the Oregon Trail School District. Go here to the Clackamas County Assessment and Taxation home page. Here is a typical Clackamas County property tax statement.

A more thorough and technical explanation of the tax formula was available at the website for The Multnomah County assessor's office.
The Oregon Department of Revenue explains how property taxes work in Oregon. Here are links to every county assessor's office in Oregon.