Creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Looking for a way to beat the winter doldrums? Interested in conserving the environment? Intrigued with the idea of providing a haven for neighborhood wildlife AND reducing the amount of work, water, and chemicals needed to keep your landscaping alive, well, and attractive? Read on…

Winter is the perfect time to plan a backyard wildlife habitat for your Virginia Beach home and design a garden that provides essential kinds of wildlife, such as birds, butterflies, amphibians, and small mammals. Because natural environments are quickly disappearing due to rapid development, greener gardening techniques which are mindful of the ecosystems and needs of native creatures have become essential.

There are many online sites which provide detailed instructions for turning your property into a mini-sanctuary for wildlife, but the initial steps are relatively simple and include providing food, water, cover, and space.

Provide Food for Wildlife

Everyone needs to eat! Planting native herbs, grasses, shrubs, and trees is the easiest way to provide the foliage, nectar, pollen, berries, seeds and nuts that many species of wildlife require to survive and thrive. You can also incorporate supplemental feeders and food sources.

Supply Water for Wildlife

Wildlife need clean water sources for many purposes, including drinking, bathing and reproduction. Water sources may include natural features such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and wetlands; or human-made features such as bird baths (change water 2 to 3 times per week), puddling areas for butterflies, installed ponds, or rain gardens.

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April 30^th seems like a long way off, but for prospective Virginia Beach home buyers who are on the fence about making a home purchase, the next few months represent a countdown of sorts as huge tax credits are about to expire. Here are important details for you to know:

Tax Credit for First-Time Home Buyers
First-time home buyers may be eligible for the tax credit. The credit is 10% of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $8,000. Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

Tax Credit for Current Home Owners
The tax credit program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reasons to move to a new Virginia Beach home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years. Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

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Considering a Reverse Mortgage for Virginia Beach Home

There may come a time when, after exploring all your real estate options for the future, you decide that you really don’t want to sell your Virginia Beach home and that you’d rather “age in place.” In that case, you should investigate applying for a reverse mortgage, also known as home equity conversion mortgage (HECM). As with any program or plan that is financially based, there are many pros and cons to be considered before you make a final decision.

Eligibility: you must be at least 62 years of age, own your own home (or have a very low balance that can be paid off), and be living in it as your primary residence. Your Virginia Beach home must meet FHA property standards, and you must provide on-going maintenance and pay property taxes, association dues, and insurance. In addition, you must also agree to attend an information counseling session

Amount: Factors used to determine the amount of your eligibility include your age, interest rates, and the value of your home. Most reverse mortgages provide you with a monthly payment. The are online websites that allow you to calculate/estimate the amount. Go to AARP.com, USAReverseMortgageAdvisor.com, or ReverseMortgageGuides.org for assistance.

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Although house sales usually slow down in the winter months, this year may be different. Because the Home Buyers Tax Credit deadline has been extended and the qualifying income levels have been expanded, this is an ideal time for both first-time and repeat buyers to purchase a Virginia Beach home.

Basic facts Home Buyers Tax Credit:

• The new deadline is April 30, 2010 (June 30^th with a binding, signed contract)

• First-time buyers are eligible for a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price–up to $8000.00

• Repeat buyers (those who have lived in one residence for 5 consecutive years of the last can receive a credit of up to $6500.00.

• Income levels–$125,000 for individuals; $225,000 for couples.

The credit may be claimed on this year’s tax return (for 2009).

***Remember that a tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar deduction in what a taxpayer owes. If the credit exceeds the amount owed, a refund will be issued.

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This final portion of your guide to homeowners insurance gives you information you hope you’ll never use–dealing with damage to your Virginia Beach home. Most likely your policy will explain how to file a claim, but here are the basic steps:

How To File An Insurance Claim On Your Virginia Beach Home

1.  If a crime has been committed, report it to the police. You should get a copy of the police report.

2.  Contact your insurance agent or company immediately.

3. If necessary, try to protect your property from further damage. Save your receipts.

4. Don’t dispose of damaged items until the adjuster has seen them.

5. Prepare a list of damaged items. Take pictures of the damage. (Now aren’t you glad you made an inventory list/video?)

6. Get the appropriate claim forms and fill them out completely. Return them within the time limit.

If you encounter problems (such as denial or inaction within a reasonable period of time) settling your insurance claim for your Virginia Beach home, you can follow these steps:

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The winter blahs are on the horizon. How can you keep them at bay and infuse your life with a newfound purpose? That’s easy–put your Virginia Beach home on the market. Although spring is traditionally considered the optimum time to sell a home, there are positive aspects to selling in the winter.

Buyer time constraints: A majority of corporate moves take place around in the winter, and transferees need to find a home quickly. Parents are also anxious to get their children settled in a new school as soon as possible. By the way, some experts believe it is better for a child to move during the school year as opposed to the summer months. Starting a new school immediately upon arriving in a new location allows for an easier time of making friends and establishing new routines..

Tax credit extension: Now that the Home Buyer Tax Credit Act deadline has been extended to April 30^th, many first-time buyers and “repeat buyers” are seriously looking to purchase a Virginia Beach home–and soon!

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Baby, it’s cold outside! January has started out to be among the coldest on record. Below are tips for keeping your Virginia Beach home warm and saving energy recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Savers Consumer Tips Web site and their Energy Savers booklet PDF.

Use Furnaces and Heaters Wisely

• Set your thermostat as low as it is comfortable. Each degree you lower your thermostat can cut your heating costs between one and three percent. A common strategy is to lower thermostat settings to 68 degrees. The lower you set it, the more you’ll save.
• Turn your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees during your sleeping hours or while you’re away, to save even more on your heating bill.
• Use a programmable thermostat with your furnace to adjust the setting while you sleep or no one is home.
• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month, or as needed.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season. If in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.

Weatherize – air leaks waste energy dollars year-round

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Are you tired of the same old promises you make to yourself every January 1^st but forget by February? Not this year! Here’s a 2010 resolution that’s so beneficial you simply must keep it: buy a Virginia Beach home! Now that the Home Buyer Credit Act has been extended and qualifying income levels have been raised, this is an ideal time to purchase a house. Generally advertised as a tax credit for first-time buyers, the new legislation actually benefits many current homeowners, also.

Basic facts:

• Changes: Originally slated to end in November 2009, the credit deadline has been extended to April 30, 2010. If you have a binding, signed contract and settle on a Virginia Beach home before July 30, 2010, you are also eligible.
• First-time buyers are those who have not owned a home in the last three years. They are eligible for a credit of 10% of the purchase price (not to exceed $800,000), up to $8000. Ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a prime residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-timer.
• Repeat buyers, or those who have owned and lived in a principal residence for at least 5 consecutive years of the last 8, may qualify for a credit of up to $6500.

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The Holiday season provides us with many opportunities for fun with our family, and decorating inside and outside your Virginia Beach home is one activity that can be enjoyed by both young and old. As always, however, the use of common sense and the taking of safety precautions are vital to ensuring happy holidays.

To that end, the Consumer Products Safety Commission strongly suggests you follow these timely tips when decorating your Virginia Beach home:

TREES:

• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.” Although this label does not mean the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.   
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches, and, when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

LIGHTS:

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As every homeowner knows, property insurance is a necessity. This is especially true in Virginia Beach, where many homes border the Atlantic Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, or a myriad of lakes, rivers, and marshlands. The cost of adequate insurance may seem daunting initially, but there are certain steps you can take to reduce your costs to a reasonable level.

        1. Shop around for the best value. Check online for quotes from at least three reputable agencies. Be aware that some companies offer a discount of 30% to 40% if you buy online. Other possible discounts can result from insuring both the home and the contents or by insuring your home and your car with the same firm.

        Also know the replacement value of your home, taking into consideration any unique features that will be expensive to replace. Keep in mind probable inflation increases at renewal time. Does your insurer automatically adjust your coverage or do you have to request the change?

        2. Make periodic updates to your Virginia Beach home or property. Ways to reduce insurance costs include the following:

A) replacing the existing heating system to one which is safer and more cost-efficient.
B) keep plumbing in good working order and protect it from freezing
C) replace fuses. Inspectors are looking for circuit breakers and a safe wiring system
D) install fire detectors or even a central alarm system. Be sure to keep a record of all repairs/replacements and inform your insurance company of each one.

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