Woodbury Days had another great turn out!

Woodbury Days had another great turn out this year!  Many thanks to all that donated their time volunteering to make this such a great event.  It was great to see familiar faces and meet new ones too!  With talking to some of the vendors that participated in the Business Fair they had a positive response and are looking forward to next year.  There were over 150 vendors that participated and over 100 groups that walked in the parade.  The weather was great and the entertainment and food was fantastic.  Again, many thanks to all that helped make it happen!!

Woodbury Days 2011

This weekend is Woodbury Days 2011, August 26th-28th.  Check out what's going on: 

http://www.woodburydays.com/

Your Guide to Outdoor Maintenance — Midwest

If you live in the Midwest, prevent problems and preserve the value of your property with proactive outdoor maintenance.

Substantial snowmelt and heavy spring rains signal the onset of summer’s heat and humidity in the Midwest—extreme conditions that put stress on the exterior of a house and other features, such as driveways and fences. Routine outdoor maintenance helps ensure that your property withstands nature’s challenges while preserving the value of your investment.

Maintain proper drainage

“Controlling water around the perimeter of the house is always very important,” says David Tamny, Ohio resident and president of the American Society of Home Inspectors. “In the Midwest, we have a lot of expansive clay soil. Bad drainage around the house can cause foundation problems and basement wetness issues, as well as mold.”

That means you’ll need proper grading and gutters that are in good repair and cleared of debris, and adequate downspout extensions. None of these is an expensive fix, but the price of neglect is high: $3,000 or more to stabilize bowing in a block foundation; $10,000 or more to straighten it.

Clean the gutters

Jammed gutters can send water cascading down walls and saturating soil next to the foundation. The force of the accumulated water, known as hydrostatic pressure, can crack the foundation, eventually causing it to bulge inward. Rid your gutters of blockages using a gutter scoop. Use a garden hose to flush out loose granules—the sand-like coating that protects asphalt shingles—and a plumber’s snake to clear downspouts. Cost: $4 to $7 for a gutter scoop. Allow about 4 hours to clear the gutters and downspouts.

Repair the gutters

Leaks at joints, missing hangers, or inadequate pitch can lead to overflowing water that damages plantings and threatens your foundation. Most gutter repairs are relatively simple. Also check that the screws used in assembling the downspout were cut off, so they won’t catch debris.

If you have any doubts about the downspout’s ability to handle a deluge, install a larger drop outlet and downspout, moving from a 2x3-inch downspout to a 3x4-inch. Extend downspout discharge pipes at least 6 feet. Cost: $1 to $3 each for new hangers, $6 for gutter caulk, $25 for a 6-foot extender and splash block, $20 for a 3x4-inch drop outlet and 10-foot downspout. Allow half a day to make the repairs.

Correct the grade

The grade should slope away from the house at least 6 inches for every 10 feet. If possible, use soil with some clay content to divert the water.

Or, lay down plastic sheeting, making sure it slopes away from the house. Adhere the edge of the plastic to the foundation with silicone caulk. Cover the plastic with soil, sand, or mulch. Keep the final grade at least 6 inches away from any siding or trim.

Cost: $40 for 10x100-foot roll of 4 mil plastic, $3.50 for a 50-pound bag of sand, $2.50 for 2 cubic feet of pine bark mulch, $6.75 for a tube of silicone caulk. Allow a day to re-grade the perimeter of your house.

Carpenter ants

Carpenter ants emerge in the early spring. Look for them in areas of clutter near the house, especially woodpiles. If you have a crawlspace, look wherever there might be warmth—under the water heater, kitchen range, or space heaters. You may find the ants themselves, as well as telltale piles of shavings similar to those from a pencil sharpener.

It’s possible to get rid of a small infestation by applying insecticide powders and gels, but pros know how to get to the nests to eradicate the problem. Cost: $40 for insecticide powder or gel. Allow as much time as necessary to clear away woody debris that harbors the ants.

Clearing debris will hinder termite infestations as well. However, short of finding piles of old wings or sighting an emerging swarm, it’s hard to be sure you have an infestation. If you suspect a termite problem, call in a pro. You’ll pay $65 to $100 for a termite inspection.

Sprinkler & spigot maintenance

Turn on your system and check for damaged or misdirected sprinkler heads. Look for puddles, a sign that there’s an underground leak in the system. Check for dry areas too; you may have a blocked pipe that needs flushing, or a kinked supply line. Cost: $3 to $15 per replaced sprinkler head, $2 to $5 for a coupling to repair a leak. Allow a couple of hours to check the system.

If a hose bib or spigot is left undrained and unprotected through the winter, the pipe can freeze and crack, creating a leak inside the wall. Repair the pipe and install a frost-proof hose bib or inside shutoff for draining. Cost: About $15 for a frost-proof hose bib. Plan on 2 to 4 hours to make the replacement.

Inspect your siding

Trees and bushes may be crowding your house, creating a situation bound to foster mold and, eventually, rot. Trim back bushes and trees until there’s at least a 3-foot gap between the plantings and the house. Cost: $15 for a pruning saw and $10 for pruning shears. Allow 1 to 2 hours for pruning.

If your siding looks dingy, follow up by washing with a light solution of bleach or TSP (trisodium phosphate). Cost: $10 for cleaners. Allow 4 to 6 hours for the job.

Fences and gates

Check fence stiles and pickets for damage and replace as needed, using galvanized fasteners. Push and pull on each post for signs of rot at its base. If the post moves easily, make sure the soil around the base of the post is firmly packed.

If the soil seems firm and the post still moves, it’s probably rotted. Replace or repair it. For a quick fix, pound in a steel post alongside it and wrap the two with wire.

Gate hinges and latches typically don’t wear out, but their fasteners can loosen, causing the gate to sag or be difficult to latch. Relocate them up or down a bit. Cost: $7.50 to $15 for a 5-feet cedar post; $3.50 for a steel post, $2 for wire. Allow 30 minutes for a repair.

Sidewalks and driveways

Concrete and asphalt cracks no wider that ½-inch can be repaired with crack filler. Larger damage should be repaired with patch material. If a section of concrete walkway has tilted, there’s no easy DIY solution—hire a pro to hydraulically reposition the slab. Expect to pay $350 to $800 to level a portion of tilted or sunken walkway.

Cost: $4 for concrete or asphalt caulk. Allow a couple of hours to fill cracks. Plan on $18 for a gallon of concrete patch, $10 for asphalt patch. Allow 2 to 3 hours to repair a 2 sq. ft. area.

If you can see light colored aggregate showing through the sealer of an asphalt driveway, it’s time to recoat. Cost: $20 for enough sealer to coat 350 sq. ft. of driveway, $11 for a brush applicator. Allow about 4 hours to sweep and seal an average-size drive.

Clean the deck

Sweep away leaves and twigs and clean any debris from between the planks. For a wood deck, use a deck cleaner. (Cedar, redwood, and mahogany produce tannins that require special cleaning product.)

Give the deck a light sanding and apply a sealer to set it up for the summer. Cost: About $13 per 100 sq. ft. for wood deck cleaner. If you’ve skipped a season, add $10 per 100 sq. ft. for brightener. Sealer runs about $28 per 100 sq. ft. of coverage. Allow about 3 hours for the job.

Dave Toht has written or edited more than 60 books on home repair and remodeling, including titles for The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Better Homes & Gardens, Sunset, and Reader’s Digest. A former contractor, Dave was editor of Remodeling Ideas magazine and continues to contribute to numerous how-to publications. A native Midwesterner, he considers gutter cleaning a rite of spring.

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/your-guide-outdoor-maintenance-midwest/#ixzz1CYPlb2Yd

By: Dave Toht

Published: February 12, 2010

Top 10 Reasons to List Your Property during the Holidays

Top 10 Reasons to List Your Property during the Holidays

1. People who look at property during the holidays are serious buyers and are more ready to make a decision.
2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays, so the property has less competition.
3. Houses “show better” when decorated for the holidays with the wonderful lights and festive colors associated with the season.
4. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays and often base their decision on the warmth and good feelings they receive when viewing the home.
5. Buyers have more time to look for a house during the holidays because they have designated time off from work to purchase a home.
6. Many people want to buy before the end of the year for financial and tax reasons.
7. January is traditionally the month for transfers. Transferees can’t wait until the spring to buy. These buyers need a home now and houses must be on the market to capture these buyers.
8. Sellers can restrict showings during personal family events and still take advantage of their homes being spruced up and decorated “show ready” property.
9. Sellers can sell now – but specify a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year if it is agreeable within the negotiations of the contract.
10. By selling now sellers have the opportunity to buy during the spring – when more properties are on the market.

10 Reasons Why to List Your Home in the Winter

1. Fewer Showings - Yes there are less buyers, but those buyers that are left are usually very serious about making a purchase.
2. Less Competition - Most people wait until spring and summer to list their home, which means during the winter you will have far less competition than at any other time of year.
3. Homes Show Better During the Holidays - Buyers love homes that can tell a story. The holidays are a great time to show homes because the home is usually dressed up for the holiday celebrations!
4. January is the Biggest Transfer Month - Did you know that more corporate moves happen during January than at any other time of the year? This may be a great reason to list your home during the winter!
5. Timing - By putting your home on the market during the winter, you may be able to more easily hit your moving goals!
6. More Time To Get Top Dollar - By starting to market your home early, you may be able to secure a higher price.
7. Great Time to Shop - If your home sells quickly, you will be able to shop for your next home during the winter. This is a great time to find a bargain
8. More Advertising - Because most agents and offices have less inventory during the winter, your home may be advertised more often than during the spring and summer months!
9. More Attention - Most agents will be able to devote more specialized attention to your needs during the winter because they have less clients to manage.
10. The Market - Today’s interest rates are at forty year lows. This gives more spending power and will be even more important when you begin shopping for your next home!

Massive Effort to Save Mortgages By ROBIN SIDEL REAL ESTATE - NOVEMBER 1, 2008

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Massive Effort to Save Mortgages
By ROBIN SIDEL
REAL ESTATE NOVEMBER 1, 2008

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. launched an ambitious plan Friday to modify the terms of $70 billion in mortgages for borrowers who are behind on their payments or soon could be.

The move by the New York bank will cover as many as 400,000 borrowers. They’ll be moved into loans carrying lower interest rates, smaller principal amounts or other more-affordable terms.

The changes will particularly focus on a type of loan structured in such a way that the borrower’s outstanding balance sometimes grows month after month. J.P. Morgan inherited $54 billion of such loans with its takeover of the beleaguered thrift Washington Mutual Inc. in September.

The plan comes amid intense national focus on a root cause of global financial turmoil: rising home foreclosures, and what the role of banks and government should be in helping struggling homeowners. The banking industry is under much political pressure address the foreclosure problem.

Rival Bank of America Corp. has two loan-modification pools in place, one hashed out with state attorneys general. At the government level, after other programs failed to halt the rise in foreclosures, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. recently floated a plan that could help three million troubled borrowers; it is being considered by the White House. The FDIC also is assisting strapped borrowers who had mortgages with IndyMac Bancorp, which the FDIC seized this summer. (Please see related article.)

Such moves would tackle one of the last elements of the global financial upheaval as yet ntouched by a major federal program. The mortgage crunch that began in the middle of last year spawned the financial crisis. Big financial players had invested trillions of dollars in securities backed by risky mortgages, which starting in mid-2007 became difficult to value. Banks hobbled by these bad investments reined in lending, spawning the wider credit crunch as a result.

The U.S. government has tackled problems in the banking system and credit markets, but thus far hasn’t succeeding in stanching the bleeding of failing homeowners. Economists and government officials agree that the economy and financial markets can’t fully revive until there’s a halt to the decline in housing prices, a phenomenon that is worsened by foreclosures.

"It doesn’t make sense for us to wait" to tackle the problem, said a J.P. Morgan executive, Charles Scharf. "We’ve heard loud and clear and are listening to what some of the thought leaders around the country are saying." Mr. Scharf runs the retail division, which includes mortgages and branch banking, at J.P. Morgan, the largest U.S. bank in stock-market value.

The move also suggests that banks are realizing they can improve the value of their loan portfolios through mass modifications rather than foreclosures, which tend to produce larger losses. Until now, mortgage holders have been reluctant to renegotiate loans or have been doing so one-by-one, a timeconsuming process. The bundling of loans into securities that are then sold to investors further complicates matters.

The announcement by J.P. Morgan steps up pressure on other mortgage companies to respond with relief programs for stressed borrowers, said Stuart Feldstein, president and co-founder of SMR Research Corp., a Hackettstown N.J., firm that specializes in consumer lending. "The precedent has clearly been set and we can expect to see more of these," he said.

Nationwide, 7.3 million American homeowners are expected to default on their mortgages between 2008 and 2010, about triple the usual rate, according to Moody’s Economy.com, a research firm. Some 4.3 million of those are expected to lose their homes.

J.P. Morgan’s exposure to the problems increased sharply when it acquired the assets of the Seattlebased Washington Mutual. WaMu, which was seized by regulators, had a large exposure to the difficult housing market of California. In taking it over, J.P. Morgan acquired $16 billion of subprime mortgages.

The mortgages affected by J.P. Morgan’s program represent 4.7% of the home loans it owns or that are serviced by one of the bank’s units, EMC Mortgage Corp. While the program to give these mortgages easier terms is likely to cost J.P. Morgan billions of dollars in interest payments and loan fees, it is also likely to save the bank from the costly and lengthy process of foreclosing homes and selling them. The plan expands upon programs already in place at the bank to help strapped homeowners.

The bank’s Mr. Scharf declined to estimate the plan’s financial impact on the bank. "Our goal in doing this was to come up with something that we think will lead the industry in helping as much as possible on this issue," he said.

J.P. Morgan’s push is especially aimed at so-called option adjustable-rate mortgages, or options ARMs. These allow borrowers to make a minimum payment that may not even cover the interest due -- resulting in a higher loan balance.

Under the plan, option ARMs that are accumulating interest will be replaced with fixed-rate loans that are more stable for borrowers and seen as far less likely to default. J.P. Morgan said it wouldn’t begin the foreclosure process on borrowers during the next 90 days, as it opens loan-counseling centers and takes other steps to launch the program.

J.P. Morgan unveiled the plan days after receiving $25 billion in federal capital from the Treasury’s program to shore up financial institutions and get credit flowing. Mr. Scharf declined to comment on whether the bank would use any of those funds for the mortgage overhaul. "The stronger you are, the more willing you are to spend money and do a whole series of things," he said, noting that the government cash "certainly makes decisions easier."

Of the two loan-modification pools at rival Bank of America, one targets 265,000 borrowers with all types of mortgages. The other was hashed out with 14 state attorneys generals and involves 400,000 subprime and option-ARM customers serviced by the big lender Countrywide Financial Corp., which Bank of America purchased July 1.

Another big rival bank, Wachovia Corp., acquired roughly $120 billion of option ARMs as part of its 2006 purchase of Golden West Financial Corp. Wachovia initiated a loan-refinancing program before agreeing to its pending takeover by Wells Fargo & Co. That effort targets the option-ARM portfolio.

J.P. Morgan’s plan drew cautious optimism from Iowa Attorney General Thomas Miller, who recently called on mortgage lenders to launch broad loan-modification programs.

John Taylor, chief executive of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, called it "a gutsy move on their part," adding : "They are bending over backward to try to reach out to these people." The coalition represents 600 community groups and has urged the government and industry to help homeowners.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has gone further than any program in place, proposing a to have the government buy $300 billion in troubled mortgages outright.

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11/03/2008 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122549543952589677.html

Client List

2005-2006
Kelly and Ted Swanson - Listing
Jamie Petersen - Listing
Lawrence Praml - Listing
Rita Ward - Listing
Kari Kline - Sale
Rita Ward - Sale
Erin Lusk & Eric Flemmons - Sale

2007
Michael McAllister - Listing
Beverly Rockenback -Listing
Jamie Petersen - Listing
Donna & Dale McJunkin - Listing
John Decker - Listing
Jim & Luann Greathouse - Listing
Joe Stuber – Listing
Tom Lortie - Sale
Jon Schaeppi & Brandy Hafner - Sale
Jon Lee – Sale
Tim Paskett - Buyer
Lisa & Mike Elvidge - Buyer

2008
Kelly Prettner - Listing
Katie & Jeff Mohs - Listing
Kristina & Kyle Weber - Listing
Dominic Talarico - Listing
Michael Ogren - Listing
Paul Miksic - Listing
Mee & Choua Khang - Listing
Jill & Jerry Rude - Listing
Olga Miksic - Listing
Peter & Naomi Patton - Listing
Ray Miller - Listing
Penny & Steve Tupy - Listing
Chris Johnson & Laura Nelson - Sale
Michael Ogren - Sale
Rick & Shirley Petersen – Sale
Kelly Prettner - Buyer
Moses Wazwaz & Jill Anderson - Buyer
Darlene & Randy Harris - Buyer
Gage Sirbasku - Buyer
Jill & Jerry Rude - Buyer
Robert Hanson – Buyer
Willard Hartmann, Jr. - Buyer
Adel Taweeleh - Buyer
Penny & Steve Tupy - Buyer
Lisa & Mike Elvidge - Buyer