I tell you these things not to brag, but as a gentle reminder of the possibilities for Americans in this great country. Unlike other places in the world, when we hold a national election, we peacefully accept the choice of the majority. Young people aren’t losing their lives on our soil because they disagree with a political choice. We may not always agree with the people’s choice or a government decision, but we give ourselves the right to speak our mind about such things, without worry of reprisals.

This weekend, many will gather far and near with family and friends for cookouts and parties under the guise of celebrating our country’s birth and the great freedoms we enjoy. Let’s not forget that this is what July 4th is all about and remember those in distant lands who fight for our right and privilege to do just that. Celebrate your freedoms! Happy Independence Day!

Posted by Sharon Walker

On the political front, three U.S. Senators and one Representative have written to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service asking for help for homeowners with Chinese drywall issues. The congressmen are looking for the IRS to allow a federal tax deduction for any ”costs incurred by homeowners who have fallen victim to Chinese drywall.” It is hoped that victims of this fiasco could file these expenses as “casualty losses,” as described in section 165(h) of the tax code.

The termite suit in northern Michigan has been decided. The state Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the sellers of a Leelanau County home, Mr & Mrs Robert Saffell. The buyers, Mr & Mrs Richard Roberts, sued after the purchase, accusing the sellers of not disclosing a termite infestation. The Saffells claim was they were unaware of the infestation, which made the house “structurally unsound.” Michigan disclosure statements warn buyers to secure a home inspection to determine the constructural state of a property.

On the HOA front: A few weeks ago I wrote about an ex-Marine whose Home Owners Association (HOA) was ready to fine him for displaying Marine decals on his vehicle. By letter, they even threatened to tow his car at his expense. The president of the HOA was conveniently on vacation after sending the letter. Frank Larison contacted a lawyer and let the date of the ultimatum come and go.

HOA president Darenda Hardy has returned to suburban Dallas and is surprised at all the national attention these circumstances have drawn. “I was in Tyler fishing,” she said, “and someone called and told me. I thought it’d all blow over by now, but it didn’t.” Larison’s attorney hand-delivered a letter to Hardy on behalf of his client, advising the HOA to stop threatening Larison with removal of his car. Her verbal response was that the board needs to review and clarify its policy, which doesn’t allow for “business advertising” on cars. Until that determination is made, Larison still finds himself in the middle of a “sticky” situation.

Posted by Sharon Walker

What it boils down to is the code says that banks and mortgage brokers who sell conventional loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ”cannot hand-select their own appraisers” any longer. An appraisal management company must choose an appraiser from its own wellspring of them. This, in effect, is to prohibit lending institutions from having undue influence upon appraisers. Instead of helping, many feel the code has confused buyers and sellers and frustrated the sale of many homes.

• Take some time and read the HVCC for yourself.
• Fannie Mae has provided a series of Q & A regarding HVCC that you should find helpful.  
• Finally, read how Elizabeth Weintraub, a 30-year veteran in real estate, answers the question of HVCC affecting a home appraisal.

Most of what I’ve read has been unfavorable regarding this revised code of conduct. As a buyer or a seller, you owe it to yourself to be apprised of these tenets, which can only help you to make an informed decision regarding your real estate transaction.

TALK BACK: Has the HVCC affected your home purchase or sale? How? Post your comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker

Maybe you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of homeowners who use a back yard deck to gather guests for fun and food. Now is the time to take a good look at your wooden deck and determine if it could use some sprucing up.

Depending on the size of your deck, the project of cleaning it can seem overwhelming. Even if the job is a big one, there are some tips from builders and contractors that can help break down the job to a manageable home improvement.

A highly recommended deck cleaner is oxygen bleach. Found primarily as a powder, its components are hydrogen peroxide and soda ash. It is an environmentally friendly cleaner that will not harm any plants, trees or shrubs near and around your deck. Mixed with water, it’s a solution that breaks apart dirt, fungi and algae. Applying the cleaner with a mop is suggested.

The best way of cleaning your deck is to use good old-fashioned elbow grease. A power washer would be quicker, but everything I’ve read discourages their use. This is because the intense pressure of these machines often destroys the deck surface, actually eroding the wood. It can also leave the wood “fuzzy” or rough after drying.

Whichever approach to cleaning your deck you choose, be sure to carefully read all of the instructions on the packaging of the cleaner. Aside from having a clean deck, you’ll be creating a platform that tastefully showcases your entertaining flair and hospitality.

TALK BACK: Have you used either of the above methods to clean your deck? Or have you used another method? What was the result? Post your comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker

H.R. 2801, the HOME (Home Ownership Moves the Economy) Act of 2009, would extend the tax credit through January 1, 2011 - in place of December 1, 2009 - and would extend the credit to all home buyers. It would also lift any restrictions concerning the gross income of the applicants. Presently, single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify. The tax credit would remain at a max of $8,000 and would not require repayment unless the homeowner were to sell the home within 36 months of purchase.

Coble was inspired to create the proposal after visiting with South Carolina builder Richard P. Martin. Martin has been having difficulty selling his houses and suggested to Coble that the current tax credit law should be extended and expanded. Martin compares our economy and housing industry to a car and its weakened battery: “It’s not that the battery is dead, it just needs a jump start. Once it gets started, it’ll take care of itself,” he said.

Coble couldn’t agree more: “Our entire ecomony would be the beneficiary of these new sales. Extending the tax credit to all home purchases could be just the boost our housing market needs.”

The HOME Act has been sent to the Ways and Means committee for consideration.

TALK BACK: Do you think the HOME Act is a good idea? Post your comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker

Producers of a new film titled “The Details” wanted to use Tomchak’s 1914 house as the setting for their movie.  The cast for the film included Laura Linney (”The Truman Show”) and James McAvoy (”The Last King of Scotland”). The storyline for the film was a bit bizarre, but remember: this is Hollywood. McAvoy and Linney play a couple whose home and yard comes under attack by raccoons.  Billed as a “dark comedy,” producers found several elements of Tomchak’s home to be ideal for their vision of the story’s setting: “large rooms, high ceilings and a big yard.”

Although the setting was attractive, the movie makers wanted to do some remodeling before filming. Tomchak moved all her furniture to her basement and moved out of her home to house-sit for a friend. She was paid $13,000, before the remodeling began, to cover the use of her home and any living expenses she might incur.

Three days into the project, Tomchak was notified by letter that the movie production was not able to move forward. One of the financiers had pulled out and production had stopped. She returned to her home to find her back yard missing some plants and a couple of trees. Indoors, plaster walls were exposed down to the slats, carpeting had been ripped out, wiring and light fixtures were missing and two walk-in closets had been removed. Instead of standing in a movie set, she was just plain upset.

The cost to repair the home is estimated by Tomchak to be upward of $17,000. Although she was paid upfront, her contract stated her house would be left in a livable condition and any architectural changes made for the film would remain. The producers said, “We hope to have this problem cleared up and be back in action very soon.” How soon is “very soon” is anyone’s guess.

In the meantime, Tomchak has moved back into her home, sleeping on a mattress on the floor of one of her closet-less bedrooms. She definitely feels the production company is responsible for “fixing” her home as promised. Although empathetic to their situation, Tomchak asks, “What am I supposed to do?”

Not all homeowners who rent their home out to filmmakers get burned. Read how one family cashed in and saw their home in a film that earned three Oscar nominations.

TALK BACK: Would you consider allowing your home to be part of a movie set? What would you do in Daphne Tomchak’s situation? Post your comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker

There is no appeasing a family in Georgia, whose home was “wrecked” without their knowledge. Al Byrd of Atlanta received a phone call advising him that the three-bedroom home his father built by hand in Carrollton had gone the way of the wrecking ball. Al was upset and bewildered by this news.

Southern Environmental Services, based outside of Atlanta, was hired by a realty company to demolish a vacant house on the opposite side of the street from the Byrd home. A representative of Southern Environmental said the demolition crew was given GPS coordinates, rather than a street address, for the residence that needed to be dismantled. The realty company, Forestar Group Inc., says it gave Southern Environmental both color photos and an address that would identify the house.

Al’s father built the house in 1950. At the time of the destruction, no one was actually living in the house; however the house was furnished and held many family heirlooms. Al’s mother’s dishes, china cabinet and dining room table were all still in the house. There were also plans for the house to be used for an upcoming family reunion.

Upon seeing the house for the first time, Al remarked, “It was disbelief. It was like a mirage.” Wanting to get to the bottom of why this happened, he has hired a lawyer to help him try to “connect the dots.”

It seems clear that GPS coordinates cannot be the only information used in an irreversible action such as this. Perhaps using Google maps Street View could have supplied the “bread crumbs” needed to reach the right home.

Posted by Sharon Walker

It’s often a bit more challenging to come up with the perfect gift for dad. If dad hasn’t bought it for himself already, it’s likely it’s out of the kids’ price range.

In selecting a gift, there’s a good chance dad will enjoy something along the practical line. You know, accessories for the car, tools or gadgets for the upkeep of the lawn. On the not-so-practical side, there is the entertainment lineup. CDs, books on tape or DVDs make excellent gifts. If dad has a favorite sport, such as golf, there’s almost always a need for tees, balls or markers. Maybe he’d enjoy a few lessons from a local pro. (Not that you’re critiquing dad’s game.) Tickets to his favorite sporting event may also be a hit.

In doing some of my own research, I came across a couple of sites I thought were helpful:

• The first is Busy Bee Lifestyle. They offer a list of 10 items in various price ranges. I especially like the Whiskey Stones. These are reusable stones that are used in place of ice. The stones are frozen and are used to cool down any drink. The bonus with these stones is that, unlike ice, they don’t melt and so there’s no watering down of dad’s beverage.
• The second site is ThisNext. This site offers hundreds of gifts for any dad. If you’re looking for a wide range of ideas, this is the site for you: from grilling utensils to a hot air balloon ride, there’s surely something here for dad.

However you choose to honor the “dad” in your life - whether it’s with your time, talent or treasure - make sure he knows just how very much you love him. To my husband: thanks for being a great dad to our kids. Happy Father’s Day!

TALK BACK: What do you plan to get your dad for Father’s Day? Do you have any unique, unusual or creative gift ideas? Post your comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker

A reverse mortgage is a loan used to pay out home equity in the form of a lump sum or multiple payments. Here’s an opportunity for seniors to perhaps make home improvements, purchase a new car or supplement their fixed income. Unlike a conventional loan, repayment is delayed until the home is either sold, the owner moves from the property or the owner dies.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gives information online regarding the reverse mortgage. Titled Top Ten Things to Know if You’re Interested in a Reverse Mortgage, the site offers answers to the most frequently asked questions. Additional information can be obtained through a link on the site.

TALK BACK: How much do you know about reverse mortgages? Do you know anyone who has one? Post your comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker

A staycation is a vacation you do at home or that is based out of your home. It can afford time and money savings, but it does require some careful planning. If you’re a working parent, you must be committed to setting aside your work mindset and focusing on the activities you have planned for your family. Here are some suggestions:

• Stay away from your computer: forgo checking your email
• Put your cell phone on silent: let calls go to voice mail

If necessary, you can check messages at the end of the day when the kids have been tucked in. Realistically, you want to be inaccessible to those daily tasks that would be impossible to attend to if you were on vacation outside of town.  So, don’t be thinking about any minor home improvement projects. Mow the lawn and pay your bills before your staycation begins. You might even consider having your mail held.

What to do on this break from the daily grind? Prior to your staycation, do some research and investigate activities and events that may be occurring right in your hometown. Look into sporting events, museums, fairs, concerts and local theatre productions that may be available to you at little or no cost. Depending on the age of your children, visiting a dairy farm or petting zoo may be an enjoyable afternoon trip.

Camping, hiking or canoeing at a local campground or state park can fulfill the need to “get out of Dodge” and spend quality time with your family. For additional ideas, check out this article on cheap vacations at home.

Whatever your choice, do the best you can to make your staycation relaxing and stress-free. The goal is to have fun together and make memories that will last a lifetime.

TALK BACK: Do you plan to take either a vacation or a staycation this summer? Have you ever taken a staycation and if so, what did you do? Post your comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker