SUMMER LANDSCAPE SPRUCE UP

Summer in Maine may be Short

but we sure enjoy the time we have

to spend outdoors in the sun. 

 

Summer is a great time to spruce up your landscape

to make your yard more enjoyable or

to add value if you are planning on selling your home. 

 

Photo from HGTVRemodels

 

Here are a few tips to help you spruce up your lawn this summer

1.  Make your small yard look more spacious by planting flower beds in each corner.  
2. Give your shrubs a boost by covering exposed roots and fertilizing.  Over time, topsoil tends to wash away from roots which may cause the shrubs to become thin. 
3. Mulch but not too much.  Just a few inches of mulch is all you need.  Mounds of mulch may attract pests.
4. Create privacy using shrubs or trellises covered with vines.  Climbing vines are also a great way to dress up a fence.
5. Coordinate colors.  Using 3 colors that complement your homes exterior color scheme will tie the space together and improve curb appeal.
6. Mix it up.  Choose plants that have a variety of shapes & textures.  If you want to enjoy color longer, choose plants that bloom at different times.

According to Realestate.com, a 5% investment

in the landscaping of your property can increase its value

by as much as 15% and may reduce the amount of time

a home stays on the market by up to 6 weeks! 

 

Summer is short....dig in the dirt...enjoy the sun...and add value to your home!

 

If you are interested in more ways to improve the value of your home, 

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

 

 

 

OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEKEND!

Are you ready to enjoy the Good Life in Maine?

 

Stop by one of our upcoming Open Houses at Apple Valley Estates in Lewiston.

June 29th

July 20th

August 3rd & 17th

 

All open houses are from 11am to 1pm!

 

 

This 55+ community sits on the outskirts of Lewiston and offers free standing condos with a country feel, but close to city amenities and coastal beaches. 

Some of the Amenities offered are:

• Spacious community building with full kitchen, stone fireplace, banquet area, conference room and equipped fitness center
• Tennis courts and nature trails
• Routine lawn care and landscaping
• Aggressive spring clean-up, mulch and pruning
• Driveway and walkway snow removal including salt and sand
• Scheduled housekeeping of community building and amenities
• Nature trail maintenance
• Maintenance of tennis courts & fitness equipment
• You own the land your unit sits on

 
 What are the benefits of owning a condo?

• Owner has control of his/her unit
• You can build equity with each payment
• Possible tax advantages
• Much of the grounds maintenance is taken care of by the association

 

 

If you have questions about condo ownership,

please e-mail brenda@fontaineteam.com or call

(207)784-3800.

 

We are always here for all your real estate needs!

STOP BY AND SAY "HI"!

Today, we are busy, busy, busy...

getting ready for the 18th Annual

Androscoggin Business to Business Trade Show!

 

Join us Thursday, June 13th

at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee

in Lewiston for

Maine's largest business networking event!

 

 

- Drawing for a $100 gas card to J&S Oil

- Information on Apple Valley Condos

- Fontaine string bags (while they last)

- and Flat Brenda!

 

 

Make sure to come by booth 311 to say "Hi"!

 

Admission is free if you have a business card.

The show starts at 9:30am and goes to 5:30pm.

We will see you there!

 

We are always available for your real estate needs!

Call (207)784-3800 or e-mail us at

brenda@fontaineteam.com

CAN YOU STILL GET A NO MONEY DOWN MORTGAGE?

Are you interested in buying a home...

 but worried about coming up with the down payment? 

If so, you are not alone...

 

of recent home buyers in Maine were first-time buyers.

(according to the 2012 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers by the National Association of Realtors). 

 

Good News!!

There is still some no-money down

mortgage options available! 

Here are a couple of options:

• Rural Development  - This program offers no money down loans if you meet income eligibility and credit requirements.  There are also restrictions on where the property can be located.  There is a RD Direct Option as well as a RD Guaranteed Housing Loan program that is offered through private lenders. 

• VA Home Loans - This program is offered to Active Duty Service members, Veterans, and National Guard and Reserve members.  To be eligible, you must have a good credit score, sufficient income, a valid Certificate of Eligibility, and meet certain service requirements.

 

If you don't qualify

for one of the no-money down options,

don't worry...

 

• Maine Housing First Home Program - offers mortgages to first time buyers with little or no down payments if you meet the income limits. 

• FHA offers a mortgage with only 3.5% down!  The purchase price amount that can be financed varies from state to state (see Maine's loan limits here). 

 
Setting up a meeting with a couple of reputable lenders is the first step in finding out what program will work best for you.  Not all lenders offer all mortgage options so you may have to shop around a little bit to find the best fit. 
 

Be Prepared:

When you meet with a lender, what will you need?

 

2 years of tax returns with W2's

30 days of pay stubs

2 months of bank statements

 

If you are interested in purchasing a home

 with little or no money down,

call us at (207)784-3800

or e-mail brenda@fontaineteam.com

 to get started today!

 

HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED A WATERFONT HOME?

If you have always wanted to own

a waterfront home in Maine... 

 

Now is a great time to purchase one.  

Prices are affordable and interest rates are at all time lows.

 





If you are considering purchasing waterfront property,make sure you are familiar with shoreland zoning in Maine.  

 

What is Shoreland Zoning?

 

 Land withing 250 feet of the normal high-water line of any great pond or river,

upland area of coastal wetland or defined freshwater wetland,

and within 75 feet of normal high-water line of streams.

Click here

 

Besides restrictions set in place by the State of Maine, each individual town may have additional shoreland zoning rules and restrictions, so make sure you do your homework if you are considering a waterfront home.    

 

Click here

A few things to consider when you are looking at waterfront property are:



Non-conforming structures

Expansion possibilities

Clearing trees and other growth

Minimum setback requirements

Lot Coverage

Flood Elevation

 

Click here

Your real estate agent can be a valuable resource to help you find the information you need to make an informed choice.

 

Click here

 

 

Call us at

784-3800

to find your dream Maine waterfront home today!

 

SHOULD YOU LEAVE YOUR APPLIANCES WHEN SELLING?

 

In the latest episode of

Your Real Estate Solutions

with Brenda Fontaine...

 

 

Join Brenda Fontaine as she discusses whether it is a good idea

 to include appliances when selling your Maine home.

 

 Julie Poulin from Mortgage Network discusses no money down loan options.

 

DeeDee Whittemore from Phenix Title talks about the dangers of

discounted title searches and title insurance.

 

Do you have a question about real estate that you would like

to have Brenda or one of our experts answer? 

 Just e-mail us at brenda@fontaineteam.com 

or call

(207)784-3800

 to schedule a private meeting with one of our skilled agents.

TIPS FOR SPRING CLEANING

 

Time to air out the house and start spring cleaning. 

Something about the weather getting warmer makes you want to

 have things clean and fresh...you may just not want to actually do the cleaning. 

Here are a links to some of my favorite spring cleaning tips

that I found on Pinterest to help make your spring cleaning a little easier. 

 Just click on any photo to see the instructions...

 

In the Kitchen

 

Clean the greasy gunk off of your small appliances

using Cream of Tartar and water 

  

Clean your dishwasher with white vinegar 

 

 

In the Living Room

 

Clean a microfiber couch with rubbing alcohol 

  

Clean your TV screen with a coffee filter 

 

 

In the Bedroom

 

Freshen your mattress & remove stains with baking soda,

 dish soap & hydrogen peroxide 

 

Dust your lampshades with a vacuum & dryer sheets 

 

 

In the Bathroom

 

Clean a clogged drain with baking soda & vinegar 

 

Clean a shower head with baking soda & vinegar 

 

 

In the Laundry

 

Clean your washer and dryer with vinegar 

 

Everyone knows that having a clean, clutter free house

can help it sell faster so spring cleaning could be just want is needed

to convince a buyer to make an offer on your home. 

If you are not selling...living in a fresh, clean house is always nice. 

 Check out more cleaning tips on my Pinterest Board by clicking here!

 

If you are interested in finding out more about

how to get your home sold for top dollar faster,

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

TAX BREAKS FOR HOMEOWNERS

It is that time of year again....Tax Time

 

Photo by danielmoyle

 

Time to start gathering up your W2s, 1099s, bank statements and receipts...

and looking for any deductions you can find. 

One of the benefits of being a homeowner is that you may be

able to take advantage of a number of tax breaks. 

In order to take advantage of most of these deductions,

you will have to itemize your taxes.  It does make preparing your taxes

 more complicated, but the payoff can make it worth it. 

Here are list of a few tax breaks you may want to check out as a homeowner:

Mortgage Interest

If you paid interest at closing when purchasing your house,

you may be able to deduct all or part of that interest.

Points

If you paid points to obtain a mortgage when you purchased your home,

 you may be able to deduct that amount.

Property Taxes

State and local real estate taxes may be able to be deducted. 

It gets a little more tricky if your taxes are escrowed,

but worth checking into.

Selling Costs

The cost of things to promote the sale of your house

 such as broker's fees, advertising expenses

and repairs might be able to be deducted. 

 

Mortgage Insurance Premiums

If you qualify, you may be able to deduct

the premiums paid for private mortgage insurance.

 

Home Improvement Loan Interest 

Interest on loan to make capital improvements on your home,

you may be able to deduct the interest you pay on that loan.

 

Interest on Construction Loans -

If you build a home using a construction loan,

you may be able to deduct the interest paid

on a qualified home for the first 24 months of the loan. 

It is important to seek the advice of a tax professional

to determine if you qualify to take advantage of some or all of these tax breaks.  

Preparing your taxes is complicated...especially when itemizing,

 but why not take advantage of all the benefits of being a homeowner? 

We would love to hear if these deductions helped you out? 

Did it reduce the amount you owed or maybe even get you a refund?

Do you want to know about all the advantages of homeownership? 

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

BRENDA ANSWERS YOUR REAL ESTATE QUESTIONS

 

In the latest episode of

Your Real Estate Solutions with Brenda Fontaine...

 

Brenda answers this question from a viewer...

 

"Should you get a building inspection before listing your house?"

 

 

 

Also in this episode...

 

Julie Poulin from Mortgage Network talks about

who is eligible for a Maine State Housing Loan

to purchase a home.

 

DeeDee Whittemore of Phenix Title discusses

whether you need to have a title search

on a newly constructed home.

 

Dan Roux of Roux Insurance gives homeowners

 some great tips for homes with pools. 

 

Do you have a question you would like for us to answer? 

We would love to hear it! 

(207)784-3800

brenda@fontaineteam.com

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SELL A HOME IN MAINE?

You are considering selling your home and

want to know how long it takes to sell a home in Maine.

 

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a concrete answer to that question? 

The truth is, how long it takes a home to sell depends on

a lot of different things and is difficult to track. 

 

Pricing, staging and marketing have a great deal to do with

how quickly a home sells.  Buyers are looking for the nicest house at the best price. 

If you are priced at the lower end of homes comparable to your home

the chances of your home selling quickly improve.  You may even get

 multiple offers and sell for more that you would have listed at a higher price. 

If your home is uncluttered and staged, buyers will be more likely to

feel that the home is well taken care of

and worth more money. 

 

The key to getting an offer on your home is having it seen. 

All the staging and price reductions in the world won't do any good if

your house is not seen by buyers.   This is why making sure your agent

has a good marketing program is key.  For example, in Maine 97% of buyers

use the Internet to search for a home. 

 

 Does your agent have a website and

a good Internet marketing program?

 

The best way of tracking how long it takes homes to sell may be

the days on market on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service).  Of course this

only takes into account the time the property was listed by an agent

who uses the MLS. The property could have been listed by an agent who

does not use MLS, could have been listed differently in MLS, or

could have been for sale by owner.   Just like most things related to real estate,

the time it takes to sell can vary greatly from location to location. 

 

Check out the latest Days on Market for properties sold in Maine

 according to the MLS as of March 12, 2013.

 
 
 

    

    Androscoggin County   136 days

    Cumberland County      118 days

    Franklin County            254 days

    Kennebec County          197 days

    Oxford County              234 days

    Sagadahoc County        135 days

    Maine                            182 days

 

Fontaine Family - The Real Estate Leader has

an average Days on Market of 84 Days!

 

Would you like to hear about or marketing plan

to get your home sold for top dollar faster? 

Contact us today for a FREE, no obligation consultation! 

Call (207)784-3800 or e-mail 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. 

 

BUYING AND SELLING AT THE SAME TIME

 

 

What happens if you find your dream home

and are ready to sign the contract,

but your current home has not yet sold? 

 

In the February episode of Your Real Estate Solutions,

Brenda talks about how to protect yourself in this situation.

 

Julie Poulin of Mortgage Network explains

what is an APR and tells us what some of the costs are

when obtaining a mortgage.

 

DeeDee Whittemore of Phenix Title tells a story

about at title issue after closing and how title insurance

was able to help solve the problem.

 

Dan Roux of Roux Insurance give some great tips

on how to avoid having a claim on your homeowner insurance. 

 

 

Click here to watch on YouTube

 

Like us on Facebook and

don't miss any of the great tips

our professionals in the business have to share!

 

 

Do you have a question 

about buying or selling real estate in Maine? 

We want to hear them...

you may just get your answer

on a future episode of Your Real Estate Solutions!