8 EASY WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY

 

 

Identity theft is in the news more and more often. 

Nothing is worse that finding out the hard way

that someone has stolen your identity. 

 

For example - a week before you are scheduled to

 close on your new home, you get a call from your lender

to tell you they can no longer grant your loan

 because of the furniture you charged on your credit card...

except you did not buy any furniture.  

Yikes!

 

Once someone has started using your identity

you are fighting an uphill battle to fix the problem,

 but there are some easy things you can do to protect yourself

so you don't end up in that situation.

  

8 Easy Ways to Protect Your Identity:

 

One

Don't share your personal information on social media

or by e-mail.  This includes your Social Security number,

address, and date of birth, etc...

 

Two

Make sure you have anti-virus software, anti-spyware software

and a firewall installed on your computer. 

 

Three

Use strong passwords on any accounts you access on  your computer. 

Don't use the same password for every site.

 

Four

If you keep a file of bills or personal information at home,

make sure it is locked...and don't leave the key in the lock.

 

Five

Shred anything with personal information (such as bills)

that you don't need before you throw it away.

 

Six

When you go away, request a hold from the post office

so mail with personal information is not left in the mailbox. 

 

Seven

Check accounts for unauthorized activity and

your credit report on a regular basis.

 

Eight

Ask the company who insures your home if they offer

identity theft insurance and purchase it.
 

 

Are you interested in more tips to help with 

buying or selling a home in Maine? 

 

Let us help! 

 

Call us at

(207)784-3800

or e-mail us at brenda@fontaineteam.com. 

 

 

EXTENSION OF MORTGAGE DEBT RELIEF - What does it mean?

 

What is the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act

and why does it matter?

Originally enacted in 2007, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act is important to homeowners who are underwater on their mortgage.  There are a still a lot of "distressed" properties out there.  The owners of these properties are in a tough spot.  Even if they are current on their payments, many homeowners owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth in today's market, making it difficult to sell unless the lender who hold the mortgage agrees to a "short sale".  

In a short sale, the lender agrees to take a loss on what is owed to allow the property to sell.  The agree to forgive part of the homeowners debt.  Without the Debt Relief Act, the amount of debt forgiven is treated as income for the homeowner and they are taxed on that amount. 

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act allows homeowners who sell a primary residence through a short sale, or who lose a primary residence to foreclosure to avoid paying taxes on up to $2 million (or $1 million if married filing separately).   Speaking with an financial professional is always a good idea when you are dealing with complicated tax issues to decide if this option is right for you.

Click here for Ten Facts for Mortgage Debt Forgiveness

This Act was due to expire at the end of 2012, but has been extended until the end of 2013.  It may seem like a long time, but it often takes months to get a lender to agree to a short sale.  If you are interested in taking advantage of this Debt Relief Act...the time to act is now.  Most lenders will not start to negotiate a short sale until the property has been listed and has a purchase and sale in place. 

If you list today and find a potential buyer in 3 weeks, and the lender approves a short sale quickly...you could be out of that property in a couple of months.  If it takes a while to find the right buyer and negotiations with the lender on the short sale take a while...you could potentially be approaching the end of the year before you are able to close and could miss out on the debt forgiveness. 

Fontaine Family - The Real Estate Leader helped 35 families complete short sales ion 2012 alone.   We are currently working with 28 more families to gain short sale approval on their properties. 

For more information about whether a short sale is right for you,

contact us at (207)784-3800 or brenda@fontaineteam.com. 

 

2012 HOME MAINTENANCE WINTER CHECKLIST

If you haven't prepared for winter yet...it is that time!

 

Photo by Perconscious Eye

 

Part of being a homeowner is being responsible for readying your home

for the changing seasons.   It may sound scary, but it doesn't need to be

if you know what needs to be done.  Here is our simple checklist of

basic things you should do to prepare for winter...

[  ]   CLEAN GUTTERS 
If you haven't cleaned the leaves out of your gutters...now is the time.  If the gutters and downspouts are clogged with leaves and debris, the melting snow and ice won't be able to drain.  It is also a good idea to make sure the gutters and downspouts are well secured to the building. 

[  ]  CHECK FOR AIR LEAKS
Check your home for air leaks.  Door sweeps, weather strips, caulk and outlet gaskets can help seal up any drafty areas. 

[  ]    SERVICE YOUR HEATING SYSTEMS
Having your heating system cleaned and serviced by a professional can make it safer and more efficient.  Have the chimney cleaned to insure there is no build-up from last heating season or anything else that may cause a chimney fire.  Don't forget to have your fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, etc... 

[  ]   REVERSE YOUR CEILING FANS
Reversing the direction of your ceiling fans can help push warm air down the sides of the room and recirculate it. 

[  ]   CHECK INSULATION
Making sure there is adequate insulation in the attic can help prevent heat from escaping and causing ice dams.

[  ]   GET READY FOR SNOW AND ICE
Have your snow blower serviced and make sure your shovels are in good repair and that your shovels and ice melt are easily accessible.  If you are using a plowing service, make sure you have made arrangements. 

[  ]  PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES
Stock batteries, flashlights, candles, non-perishable foods and waters in case of power outage.  Have the phone number for the power company & your account number handy to report a power outage. 

Now sit back...have some hot cocoa and enjoy the winter! 

 

Photo by nightthree

 

If you are interested in buying or selling in Maine, we would love to help. 

 Call (207)784-3800 or e-mail brenda@fontaineteam.com.

 

View all our listings here!

ARE YOU READY FOR COOLER WEATHER?

Fall is Here!

 

It seems like it was just last week that we were enjoying summer....oh yeah, it was!

 

That's Maine for you.

One week it is summer...the next week temperatures are dipping into the 30's at night.

It sure is a beautiful time of year though!

 

  

I guess the changing leaves mean

 it is time to put away the lawn furniture

and get the house ready for cooler weather. 

Since fuel is not cheap, anything you can do

 to keep heat from escaping is like putting money in your pocket.

 

In order to improve the efficiency of your home,

you first need to determine the problem areas. 

Hiring a professional energy auditor may be the most effective method.  

 A professional auditor will do a full assessment of your home

and provide list of prioritized improvements that can be made.

 

Click here to find a professional energy auditor

 

 

Right now, Efficiency Maine is offering $600

towards 6 hours of air sealing and insulating!  

See the details here!  

 

Efficiency Maine also offers PACE and POWERSAVER loans

to finance improvements of the energy efficiency of your home. 

See the details here!

  

If you are not ready to hire a professional,

you can still make some improvements yourself. 

 

Click here to find out how to detect air leaks in your home. 

 

Here are a few suggestions to get you started...

• Add caulk or weather stripping around drafty windows and doors.
• Open you window treatments on south-facing windows during the day to take advantage of the warm sun and close all window treatments at night.
• Have your heating system service to keep it working as efficiently as possible. 
• Install a programmable thermostat and set it to be cooler at times when nobody is home or you are sleeping.
• Seal any leaks in your heating duct work.
• Close the damper to any fireplaces when not in use.
• Seal electrical outlets and switch plates with foam insulators.
• Seal any place that something enters your home - such as the electrical entrance, cable lines or dryer vents.
• Insulate the attic access and basement bulkhead.

If you would like more information about energy audits

and improving the energy efficiency of your home,

call us at (207)784-3800 or e-mail us at brenda@fontaineteam.com.

   

WHAT IS MARKET VALUE?

What is the true value of your home?

There are many types of value...

     The value for the insurance company might be what it costs to replace the home
     The value for the lender may be what you owe on the home
     The value for the owner may be what they have invested in the property

but the most important value when selling your home is

MARKET VALUE

So what is Market Value? 

     It is NOT what the owner paid for the home
     It is NOT the amount of money the owner has spent on repairs & maintenance
     It is NOT what it will cost to pay off the mortgage(s)
     It is NOT the tax appraisal amount

Market Value is the most likely price that a piece of property or home can realistically be sold for...in other words

So how do you find out the Market Value of your home?  An experienced Real Estate Agent can research the market for you.  They will look for the sale price of similar homes in your area, as well as homes listed for prices that did NOT sell.  Aligning your price with the prices of similar home in your area that actually SOLD in a timely manner is key to getting your home sold faster.

When a  Real Estate Agent provides you with an estimate of  the market value of your home,

 keep in mind the Agent is just the messenger.  You as the seller, decide the listing price of your home, but the market will determine the Sale Price.

Click here to find out the Market Value of your home:

HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR SPRING

Spring has officially begun!

That means we can look forward to longer days 

and warmer temperatures!

It also means it is time to do some spring maintenance 

around the house. 

Photo by *Arielle*

Here is our checklist to get you ready for the warmer weather...

KEEP THE WATER OUT - Clean out the gutters and make sure the are directed away from the foundation of your home.  Check the sump pump to make sure it is working to take care of any water beneath the foundation.

GET READY TO BBQ - Clean and reseal your decks or porches if needed.  Check the handrails and railings to make sure they are stable.  Once the deck is spiffy, you will be ready to pull out the grill for the first BBQ of the year!

SPRINKLER TIME - Turn on the water to your exterior faucet and bring out the hose to check it for leaks.  It will be time to water the plants or fill the pool before you know it.

FIRE SAFETY - Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and check the expiration dates on fire extinguishers.  They don't do you any good if they are not working.

SHOCKING - Test GFCIs (those outlets with the little button found in bathrooms, kitchens, etc...).  When you push the "test" button the break should trip if the outlet is working properly.  GFCIs are designed to reduce the risk of shock in damp areas.

CLEAR THE LINT - Remove the vent hose from the back of the dryer and clean out the lint from the hose and the exterior vent to avoid a fire risk.

KITCHEN CLEANING - Vacuum off the coils on the back of the refrigerator and the vent at the bottom front to improve efficiency.  Clean the underside of the vent hood over your cook top and clean the filters. Clean the garbage disposal by pouring in a mixture of vinegar and water.  You can freshen the disposal by dropping in a couple lemon halves and turning on the disposal. 

AIR IT OUT - Check window screens and storm doors for rips or tears so you will be ready to open up the windows and let in the spring air.

IT'S SANDY - Rake or sweep the sand and salt off of the lawn.  Check the mower to make sure the blades are sharp and ready to go.

TIDY TRIM - Check window and door trim for rot caused by snow or moisture over the winter.  Keeping the trim sealed well will prevent a lot of damage. 

Now relax and enjoy the beautiful spring weather!

Photo by ktlyerconk



If you are thinking buying or selling your home this spring,

contact us for a free extimate of value and tips to get your home sold for top dollar faster!

WHAT IS AN ABSORPTION RATE IN REAL ESTATE?

Have you heard people talk about the absorption rate

when they are talking about real estate? 

What is an absorption rate...and what does it have to do with you?

 To find the absorption rate...the number of currently listed properties is divided by the average number of sales for a specific time frame. 

For example:  

In Lewiston/Auburn, Maine in the middle of January 2012

there were 367 single family residential properties listed for sale.  

On average 30.25 single family residential properties sold per month

 in the area over the past year.  

So if we divide the current inventory (367 homes) by the average sold (30.25 per month) we get the estimated time it will take to sell the current inventory on the market (Absorption Rate).

If there are no new listings and property continues to sell at the current rate,

there are roughly 12 months or 1 year of inventory on the market in Lewiston/Auburn.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

The higher the absorption rate,

 the longer it will take to clear the current inventory from the market.

As a seller...if there is an absorption rate of 12.13 or roughly 12 months of inventory on the market, you will want to be more aggressive by not only pricing the home properly,

 but by staging and preparing your home  to get your property noticed and sold

 than if there is only an absorption rate of 3 or 4. 

As a buyer...you may have more bargaining power if the absorption rate is higher.  Sellers may be competing against higher inventory for buyers and more willing to negotiate. 

If you are interested in finding out the absorption rate for your area in Maine,

e-mail us for your FREE REPORT!

    

SPRING FORWARD...FALL BACK

It is that time of year...

Daylight Saving Time is coming to an end for 2011.

photo by wwarby

I guess there is no more denying that winter & the holidays are approaching rapidly.  If you haven't checked all those items off your Fall Home Maintenance checklist...now is the time.  It is also a great time to test your smoke detectors and change the batteries so you and your family will be safe throughout the winter.

Here are a few facts about Daylight Saving Time that you might find interesting...

•  It is officially called "Daylight Saving Time" NOT "Daylight Savings Time" even though that is what the majority of people call it.

•  In 2005, George W. Bush signed a law extending Daylight Saving Time by 4 weeks.

•  Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am on the 2nd Sunday of March and ends at 2am the 1st Sunday of November.

•  70 countries around the world observe Daylight Saving Time, but not all start & end at the same time.

•  Hawaii & Arizona do not participate in Daylight Saving Time

Don't forget to set your clocks back

on Saturday before you go to bed!