Indy Home Marketing Newsletter

September, 2011 Newsletter

Volume 5, Number 9

Click HERE to use your internet browser to read and view the web version of this newsletter.


			HOME MAINTENANCE Eight Things to Do Now... Before Cold Weather Arrives As the color of leaves begin to turn to reds and golds and temperatures become cooler, it's a subtle reminder that it's time to start preparing your home for winter. A good way to get started is by making a list of needed repairs and "check them off" as they're completed. Here are eight things most homeowners can do themselves.
	However, always hire a handyman or professional for tasks you don't feel comfortable doing yourself. Change the Furnace Air Filter - Changing the air filter in a furnace is the easiest "Do-it-yourself" home maintenance jobs on this list. Remove the old air filter from the furnace, usually located on the side of the unit. Place a new filter in the furnace, checking to ensure it's facing the right way. Continued


	RECIPE OF THE MONTH Loaded. Twice-Baked Potatoes As the air gets chillier, head inside to cook up this fall favorite in less than 10 minutes. Recipe courtesy of: The Food Network

INGREDIENTS:

•	4 medium russet potatoes	•	1 cup water
•	1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream	•	1/2 teaspoon salt
•	8 ounces 90%-lean ground beef	•	3 scallions, sliced
•	1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
•	1 cup broccoli florets, finely chopped
•	1 cup reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, divided

DIRECTIONS:

Pierce potatoes all over with a fork. Place in the micro-
wave and cook at 50% power, turning once or twice, until
the potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. (Or, use the
"potato setting" on your microwave and cook according
to the manufacturer's instructions.)

Meanwhile, brown meat in a large skillet over medium-high
heat, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a large
bowl. Increase heat to high, add broccoli and water to the
skillet, cover, and cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
Drain the broccoli; add to the meat.

Carefully cut off the top third of the cooked potatoes; re-
serve the tops for another use. Scoop the insides out into
a medium bowl. Place the potato shells in a small baking
dish. Add 1/2 cup Cheddar, sour cream, salt and pepper
to the potato insides and mash with a fork or potato
masher. Add scallions and the potato mixture to the
broccoli and meat; stir to combine.

Evenly divide the potato mixture among the potato shells
and top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Microwave on
high until the filling is hot and the cheese is melted, 2 to
4 minutes. Serves: 4.

			Government Officials Weigh New Refi Program Word on the street is that the Obama administration is sizing up a new pro- gram to shore up and stimulate the housing market by providing millions of homeowners with new, lower inter- est, lower payment mortgage loans.
	According to multiple media outlets, the initiative would allow borrowers with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to refinance at today’s near record-low interest rates, close to the 4 percent mark, even if they are in negative equity or have bad marks on their credit. More

Eight Things to Do Now (continued)

Check All Exterior Windows and Doors for Air Flow Leaks - Check-
ing exterior doors and windows for proper closure is a safety issue
and can save money on heating bills in the fall and winter months.
Close the door or window with a piece of paper half in half out and
try to move the paper. If it moves easily, the closure needs a better
seal. Check the rubber seal around the door for damage, replace if
necessary. Do the same on windows, looking at the felt like strip.
Apply an indoor window winterizing treatment, usually plastic
sheeting with a tape strip.

Check Roof Inside and Out For Leaks - Climb up on the roof and
look everywhere for shingles lifting or wood chips or shavings.
These could be places where critters have tried to enter the home.
Remove any damaged shingles to see wood or tar paper under-
neath. Assess the damage. If only shingle deep, purchase a
package of matching shingles and roofing nails and replace
them. Call a professional roofer for severe damage before the
snow falls or temperature drops. Never get on a roof alone,
have someone on the ground for emergencies.

Clean Gutters and Seal - Use a sturdy ladder to clean any dirt or
leaves that have accumulated in the gutters around the home.
Turn a garden hose on and check for leaks and bends in the
gutters. If leakage occurs, purchase gutter sealant in a tube
like caulk. Place sealant in a caulk gun and apply to leaking
area.

Trim Tree Branches Hanging Low Over the Home - Trim any
tree branches that hang low over the home during the fall to
avoid roof damage or breakage from snowfall in winter. Tree
branches don't have to be cut short, often they will spring away
from the home with some weight taken off.

Clean All Windows and Check Wood Frames - Wash all of the ex-
terior windows on the home during the fall and inspect the caulk-
ing on wood frames. Older homes still have wood framed windows
and over the years the caulk shrivels and slips away from the glass.
Remove any old caulk and replace using a tube of heavy-duty
exterior window caulk. Remember to use a finger or damp sponge
to press the caulk into the cracks of the wood for a good seal.

Prune All Flowering Plants and Cover for Winter - Roses and
other delicate plants that remain outdoors through winter should
be pruned down before the first hard freeze. This will throw the
plant into a dormant stage and it will start storing nutrients in its
roots. An easy DIY fall home repair is removing any dead or dying
plants and cover the healthy ones with an inverted flower pot.

Weed and Feed Lawn - Use a spreader to apply the appropriate
fall weed and feed for a lawn. Applying the fertilizer in the fall
will give the lawn a kick start in spring. Use fertilizers in low
wind conditions and always read the directions for proper
spreader setup.

Most of these home repairs can be Do-It-Yourself projects or
easily hired out to neighborhood kids for a few dollars.

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Government Officials Weigh New Refi Program (continued)

The plan, first reported by the New York Times, may not be seen
as a win-win by everyone. The Times says it could face stiff op-
position from the GSEs’ regulator, the Federal Housing Finance
Agency (FHFA), as well as private investors who hold bonds
made up of loans backed by the two mortgage giants.

The paper says refinancing could save homeowners $85 billion
a year. It would also reach some homeowners who are strug-
gling with underwater mortgages, which can disqualify a bor-
rower from a traditional refinance, and those who fail to meet
all the credit criteria for a refinance as a result of tough times
brought on by the economic downturn.

Administration officials have not confirmed that a new refi pro-
gram is in the works, but have said they are weighing several
proposals to provide support to the still-ailing housing market
and reach a greater number of distressed homeowners.

According to information sourced by Bloomberg, Fannie and
Freddie guarantee nearly $2.4 trillion in mortgages that carry
interest rates above the 4 percent threshold.

The details that have been reported on the make-up of the
refi proposal mirror recommendations put forth by two
Columbia business professors, Chris Mayer and
R. Glenn Hubbard.

They’ve outlined the same type of policy-driven refi boom in
a whitepaper that calls for Fannie- and Freddie-owned mort-
gages to be refinanced with an interest rate of around
4 percent.

They say not only would it provide mortgage relief to some
30 million homeowners – to the tune of an average reduction
in monthly payments of $350 — but it would yield about
$118 billion in extra cash being pumped into the economy.

Other ideas for housing stimulus are also being considered.
One involving a public-private collaboration to get distressed
properties off the market and turn them into rental homes
has progressed to the point that officials issued a formal
notice earlier this month requesting recommendations from
private investors, industry stakeholders, and community
organizations on how best to manage the disposition of
government-owned REOs.

Treasury is also reviewing a proposal from American Home
Mortgage Servicing that would provide for a short sale of
mortgage notes from mortgage-backed securities (MBS)
trusts to new investors as a means of facilitating principal
reduction modifications.

There’s speculation that President Obama will make a big
housing-related announcement in the weeks ahead as part
of a larger economic plan.

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