Relaxing Backyard Ideas

Pool Season Opens in The Woodlands

The hot summer months are just around the corner and now is the perfect time to make your plans to become a lifeguard or to get your pool pass to enjoy all of The Woodlands’ 13 community pools!

New season pool pass holders must visit The Woodlands Township Recreation Center to obtain a photo identification pool pass. The Recreation Center, located at 5310 Research Forest Drive, is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pool pass forms are available either at the Recreation Center or online at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Those who want to renew their season pool passes may do so online or in person. To renew a season pool pass online, visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov and click Residents then Pools. At the bottom of the page is a link to renew pool passes. There are no service fees to renew online! Season pool pass holders can also visit the Recreation Center to renew their passes. Pool pass renewal forms are available at the Recreation Center or on the Township Web site.

Season pool pass fees:
Residents ages 0 -2 years $6 each
Residents ages 3 – 54 years $40 each
Residents ages 55+ $10 each

Non-Residents ages 0-2 $20 each
Non-Residents ages 3 + $100 each

During the regular pool season, which runs from June 4, 2010, through August 22, 2010, the following pools will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and closed one day each week for service:

Alden Bridge Pool (Closed Mondays)
Windvale Pool (Closed Tuesdays)
Cochran’s Crossing Bear Branch Pool (Closed Wednesdays)
College Park Harper’s Landing Pool (Closed Thursdays)
Creekside Park Rob Fleming Aquatic Center (Closed Mondays)
Grogan’s Mill Sawmill Pool (Closed Tuesdays)
Indian Springs Falconwing Pool (Closed Wednesdays)
Panther Creek Ridgewood Pool (Closed Tuesdays)
Sterling Ridge Cranebrook Pool (Closed Thursdays)

In addition, the following pools will be open from noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday and closed one day each week for service:

Alden Bridge Lakeside Pool (Closed Fridays)
Cochran’s Crossing Shadowbend Pool (Closed Fridays)
Indian Springs Forestgate Pool (Closed Mondays)
Panther Creek Creekwood Pool (Closed Thursdays)

HOT JOBS, COOL BENEFITS! The Woodlands Township is still accepting applications for lifeguards. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen. Training classes will be provided at a reduced rate to successful candidates. Applications may be obtained from The Woodlands Township, 8203 Millennium Forest Drive, The Woodlands, 77381. For additional information or to apply online, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Source: The Woodlands Township

Jutta “Utah” Burden’s Real Estate Market Update

The Woodlands Market Update

 As expected, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported a decline in existing home sales at the end of 2009, as first time    buyers rushed to beat the tax credit deadline and close their transactions by November 30. Although Existing home sales fell by 16.7 percent in December, sales remained brisk enough to break the 5 million unit mark, bringing total the number of existing homes sales up to 5,156,000 for all of 2009. The 2009 sales figures were almost 5 percent higher than the year before, creating first year-over-year sales gain since 2005.

Chief NAR economist Lawrence Yun remains cautiously optimistic about the national housing market. “It’s significant that home sales remain above year-ago levels, but the market is going through a period of swings driven by the tax credit,” he said. ‘We’ll likely have another surge in the spring as home buyers take advantage of the extended and expanded tax credit. By early summer the overall market should benefit from more balanced inventory, and sales are on track to rise again in 2010. However, the job market remains a concern and could dampen the housing recovery – job creation is key to a continued recovery in the second half of the year.”

Great Opportunity for Buyers

Historically low interest rates and the extended federal tax credit have helped millions of buyers take advantage of one of the best buyers markets in history. Market conditions have improved considerably with the help of these stabilizing forces. Expect to see continued market activity through the winter and spring as savvy buyers take advantage of the extended $8,000 tax credit. Freddie Mac reports that 30 year conventional loans available in the high-4 to low-5 percent range.

Increased demand has shrunk inventory while slightly raising homes prices. The national median existing home price rose to $178,300 in December, up 1.5 percent over 2008 prices. The increase was attributed in part to an increase in mid- to upper-priced homes.

The reduction of housing inventory has brought stability to many parts of the country, creating more competition for available homes, and multiple offers in some areas.

Five Winter Staging Tips

When selling your home in the winter, the art of staging the inside becomes more important. Here are five simple tips that can help you sell your home shine even when the outside landscaping has faded:

Keep your house warm. In the winter people tend to turn the thermostat down to save money, however a warmer house is more welcoming to a potential buyer.
Clear your walkways and driveways of any snow or ice. Make it easy for buyers to get to your home.
Clean the windows and blinds. Letting in the natural light can brighten up a room and cheer up the home. This also brings attention to the windows and blinds so make sure they are clean even during winter. Dirty windows will make the home seem as those it’s not well maintained.
Background music played softly can completely change the atmosphere making the home seem cozy and keep potential buyers around longer. Stick with classical music which can appeal to anyone.
Leave the light on. Before showing a home, make sure it’s well lit. A well lit home is more inviting. If you’re not home, consider setting up timers.
Following these simple tips can give your house that added boost in today’s competitive market. For information on selling in our local market, please feel free to call and ask for a computer analysis of our recent market activity. We would be more than happy answer any questions you might have!

Avoid Home Damage from Frozen Pipes

Texas Department of Insurance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2010
News Release
Avoid Home Damage from Frozen Pipes
Texas weather can change quickly, especially in the winter. A fast-moving cold front can cause temperatures to drop below freezing within hours. Outdoor pipes, pipes in unheated areas, and pipes that run along uninsulated exterior walls can burst if the water in them freezes and expands. This can shatter pipe seals or the pipes themselves, sending water pouring through your house. You can avoid thousands of dollars of damage to your walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture by taking a few simple measures to protect your home.
Before the Freeze
· Protect faucets, outdoor pipes, and exposed pipes in unheated areas by wrapping them with rags, newspaper, trash bags, or plastic foam.
· Insulate your outdoor water meter box and be sure its lid is on tight.
· Cover any vents around your home’s foundation.
· Drain and store water hoses indoors.
· Protect outdoor electrical pumps.
· Drain swimming pool circulation systems or keep the pump motor running. (Run the pump motor only in a short freeze. Running the motor for long periods could damage it.)
· Drain water sprinkler supply lines.
· Open the cabinets under sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow heated indoor air to circulate around the water pipes.
· Set your thermostat at a minimum temperature of 55 degrees, especially when you’re gone for the day or away for an extended period.
· Let indoor faucets drip; it isn’t necessary to run a stream of water.
· Make sure you know where your home’s shut-off valve is and how to turn it on and off.
· If you leave town, consider turning off your water at the shut-off valve while faucets are running to drain your pipes. Make sure you turn the faucets off before you turn the shut-off valve back on.
· If you drain your pipes, contact your electric or gas utility company for instructions on protecting your water heater.
If Your Pipes Freeze
· If a pipe bursts and floods your home, turn the water off at the shut-off valve. Call a plumber for help if you can’t find the broken pipe or if it’s inaccessible. Don’t turn the water back on until the pipe has been repaired.
· If the pipe hasn’t burst, thaw it out with an electric heating pad, hair dryer, portable space heater, or towel soaked with hot water. Apply heat by slowly moving the heat source toward the coldest spot on the pipe. Never concentrate heat in one spot because cracking ice can shatter a pipe. Turn the faucet on and let it run until the pipe is thawed and water pressure returns to normal.
· Don’t use a blowtorch or other open-flame device. They are fire risks and carbon monoxide exposure risks.
If You Have a Loss
· Contact your insurance agent or company promptly. Follow up as soon as possible with a written claim to protect your rights under Texas’ prompt-payment law.
· Review your coverage. Most homeowners and renters policies pay for property repair. In addition, most policies pay for debris removal and for additional living expenses if you have to move temporarily because of damage to your home. If you can’t find your policy, ask your agent or company for a copy.
· Homeowners policies may require you to make temporary repairs to protect your property from further damage. Your policy covers the cost of these repairs. Keep all receipts and damaged property for the adjuster to inspect. If possible, take photos or videos of the damage before making repairs. Don’t make permanent repairs. An insurance company may deny a claim if you make permanent repairs before an adjuster inspects the damage.
· Most homeowners policies do not cover loss caused by freezing pipes while your house is unoccupied unless you used reasonable care to maintain heat in the building; shut off the water supply; and drain water from plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems.
Questions?
If you have questions about insurance, call TDI’s Consumer Help Line toll-free: 1-800-252-3439
or visit the TDI website: www.tdi.state.tx.us. Assistance is available in both English and Spanish

SellTheWoodlands.com

10 Tips to Save Energy and Money in Your Home

A whopping 46 percent of home energy use is, umm, energy loss! In other words, no productive energy use at all! Here are simple ways of reversing this, mostly by changes of habit.

1. Each degree you turn down the heat saves 3 percent of heating costs, while each degree you raise the temperature of your air conditioner saves 3-4 percent of cooling costs. By changing the temperature by 2 degrees all year, you can save about 2,000 pounds of C02 a year.

2. Cook with a slow cooker or a toaster oven (or even a solar oven!) to reduce electrical use from kitchen appliances. For a meal that requires one hour to cook in an electric oven, and which uses 2.7 pounds of C02, a crock-pot uses 0.9 pounds of C02 for seven hours, a toaster oven takes 1.3 pounds of C02 for 50 minutes, and a microwave only 0.5 pounds of C02 for 15 minutes of cooking. A solar cooker requires NO C02!

3. Switch to a laptop instead of using a desktop computer and cut three-quarters off your electrical use. Turn off the laptop at the end of the day.

4. Switch to cold water washing and save 80 percent on energy used for laundry and save an estimated $60 a year. Hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer and save 700 pounds of C02 a year.

5. Plug anything that can be powered by a remote control or that has a power cube transformer (little black box) into a power strip, and turn it off, and/or unplug, when not in use. (Power cubes are 60-80 percent inefficient.)

6. Turn off the lights when you aren’t using them and reduce your direct lighting energy use by 45 percent. Stop using heat-producing halogen lamps (they can also be fire hazards). Install occupancy or motion sensors on outdoor lights.

7. Switch to compact fluorescent from regular incandescent bulbs and use 60 percent less energy per bulb and save 300 pounds of C02 a year.

8. Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket and save 1,000 pounds of C02 a year. Insulate your hot water pipes.

9. Use public transportation whenever possible, carpool, shop locally, and ideally switch to a hybrid or energy-efficient car (if you haven’t already).

10. Keep your tires inflated to improve gas mileage by 3 percent. Every gallon you save also saves 20 pounds of C02 emissions.
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SellTheWoodlands.com

Keeping Up With Your Mortgage

EARLY last year, Fannie Mae began offering a surprising option for struggling homeowners: an unsecured personal loan of up to $15,000 to cover missed mortgage payments.

But vast numbers of borrowers who took out these loans ultimately defaulted. And though still in operation, that program, called HomeSaver Advance, is now being de-emphasized.

Fannie Mae’s initiative was intended to help those who had missed at least two mortgage payments because of a temporary setback like a job loss. Borrowers were eligible only if they had overcome that hardship, but had not yet caught up on their mortgages. The program’s loan carried a 5 percent interest rate and a 15-year term.

But the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored company, said that the program’s participants got into trouble quickly. Of the first 3,300 loans made from February through April of last year, the agency said, almost 70 percent went to borrowers who subsequently defaulted again on their first mortgages. The agency said that Fannie Mae made more than 91,000 loans, averaging $7,100 each, in the first year.

The success rate has since risen slightly. Fannie Mae’s most recent quarterly financial report said that about 60 percent of the mortgages salvaged with HomeSaver Advances in the first nine months of 2008 were at least two months past due, or had failed.

Amy Bonitatibus, a Fannie Mae spokeswoman, would not say how many of the more recent loans were more than 30 or 45 days delinquent — levels that often indicate impending default. The fact that at least some of the loans have not gone into default, however, could help account for Fannie Mae’s decision to continue the HomeSaver Advance program. “HomeSaver Advance loans continue to be a viable foreclosure prevention solution,” Ms. Bonitatibus said.

But she added that other strategies — especially loan modifications like those recommended in the government’s “Making Homes Affordable” program — are increasingly a first line of defense against foreclosure.

Borrowing your way out of trouble is not an uncommon strategy, and can be useful for some people, said John Snyder, the manager of foreclosure programs at NeighborWorks America, a nonprofit group that assists homeowners. “But you have to do it carefully,” he added.

Credit card advances and payday loans, for example, amount to only short-term fixes with high interest rates, Mr. Snyder said. He noted that in many states, municipal agencies and nonprofit groups offer grants and “rescue loans” for those verging on foreclosure. But in almost all cases, borrowers cannot apply for these loans directly.

Rather, they must first seek counseling with a foreclosure-prevention specialist affiliated with the nonprofit group that offers rescue loans, or one that is sanctioned by the government agency that offers the loans.

In Fannie Mae’s HomeSaver Advance program, borrowers are not required to take part in financial counseling beforehand.

The counseling could account for the successes in some other rescue loan programs. The Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project in New York City, for instance, last year started making foreclosure avoidance loans to those who receive financial counseling. Of the 15 loans made so far, none has defaulted.

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