I have this really great State Farm agent, she's my daughter-in-law! She sends me things like this all the time, great useful info, that I thought you would enjoy too! read below.....

Use the next few months of moderate temperatures to feather a cozy, energy-efficient nest that withstands wintry conditions. Even if you live in a warmer climate where snow and ice are rare or non-existent, you can take preventative measures now to keep your utility bills in check, raise your comfort level and prevent costly home repairs down the road. 1. Increase your efficiency The problem: As the temperature dips, your utility bill climbs. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that heating accounts for 31 percent of the average home’s annual utility use. The fix: You can save as much as 20 percent on your home’s energy costs by installing an energy-efficient furnace with properly sealed ducts. (Sealing ductwork alone can save you up to $140 a year.) Plus, making your home more energy efficient can earn you some tax credits. Other ways to increase efficiency include: Have a professional clean and test your heating system before winter begins. Install a programmable thermostat. Change furnace filters monthly. 2. Improve your comfort The problem: A drafty house makes you chilly, and lets warm air slip out. The fix: ENERGY STAR notes that properly sealing and insulating a home improves comfort and saves up to 10 percent on annual energy costs. Use these tips to get started: Apply caulk around windows, doors, pipes, vents and electrical outlets and seal foundation cracks with hydraulic cement or polyurethane foam. Check for drafts by holding a lit incense stick in front of windows that may not be airtight. If drafts are found, cover windows with film and seal. Add more insulation as needed. Adjust ceiling fans so blades turn in a clockwise direction to push warmer air down into a room. 3. Prevent ice damage The problem: State Farm experts estimate that each winter 250,000 homes experience damage due to frozen pipes. The fix: First look for places where cold air can get in. Then: Add insulation to pipes located on exterior walls and in crawl spaces and attics. Disconnect garden hoses so water won’t freeze in the faucet or pipe. Clean gutters and downspouts to direct winter precipitation away from foundations. Note: Cleaning gutters does not prevent ice dams. Find more winter-proofing tips at statefarm.com. And check out ENERGY STAR’s interactive room-by-room energy-saving tool.

I have found myself lately helping people who are really messed up with their mortgages. No, I don't always get a sale from this, but that's okay. There are some people that are just really in a mess right now and don't know the best way to get out.

Yesterday, I met with a gal who wanted to see an inexpensive home that I have listed. When I got to the house, she let me know that she had to sell another home first, then as we talked, I discovered that she was upside down. What do we do now. There are many options and just sitting down and counseling with them all the options is a good idea. Sometimes, you can figure out pretty early, you are not going to make a sale off of this client. But you can help them. We as have a responsibility to the public, and even tho it's hard for us to make a living right now - we have to help as much as possible.

So, easy tips for those in need:

1) have them contact their bank and see what they can do

2) explain short sale, deed in Lew, and foreclosure to them

3) have them see a loan originator and discuss what a short sale, or foreclosure would do to their credit.

4) direct them to Consumer Credit Counseling, have them stay away from the companies that say they can do if for your. CCC is the best way to go.

5) be encouraging and let them know that this too will pass and they will be back on track with their lives.

I never thought I would do so much counseling in my real estate career - but it's all part of the job.

So how low can you get your house payment if you need say a 3 bedroom 2 bath home with a double garage.......really low! I bet you will never guess......

Recently, I was lucky enough to help a young woman purchase a home using 3 different types of lending, all working together.

These three lenders, Rural Development, Alaska Community Development (HOP) and Cook Inlet Lending, all were fantastic!

My client got an amazing mortgage using these three lenders together. It’s wonderful how this can work for you as a consumer. However, there are few things that you need to know:

1) You’ll need to have good credit and a good job. If you are not sure, call me and I will get you in touch with a lender so you can check.

2) You must meet certain income criteria

3) It is a lengthy process, so be patient, lots of hoops, but none insurmountable.

4) Some of these programs have repayment schedules if you sell before a certain amount of time. Make sure you understand the program.

But once that is out of the way, house hunting is just around the corner. Use these programs, they are out there, they do work! Let me know and I will be happy to help you!

HINT: she bought a home for $187,000 and her payment including taxes and insurance was $516.00 per month!

Yesterday, I went to a four hour class on VA loans. I know, that sounds really REALLY dull, but it actually was quite interesting and it when much faster that I anticipated, (although I did take my knitting!)

The Denver office of VA came to our little Valley to give us just a hint of what goes on at VA and how to make things go smoother for our past and present military guys and gals. I know that active military usually know their benefits, but veterans don’t always. So if you are a veteran, you might be entitled to things that you just didn’t know about.

Here are some of the TRUE FALSE questions that they talked about yesterday.

1) Member of the Reserves and National Guard are eligible for WA home loans.

a. TRUE, there are some limitations on time of service so make sure you prequalify with a great loan originator

2) A veteran may reuse the entitlement for VA home loans over and over again.

a. TRUE, sometimes you can even have 2 VA loans a time.

3) VA appraisers are to list all problems a buyer may find in a house.

a. FALSE, this is the job of the home inspector. If you are a VA buyer, get a home inspection. The appraiser finds the value of the home, the home inspector finds the discrepancies with the home.

4) Repairs required by VA have to be paid for by the seller.

a. FALSE, either party can pay for repairs, it’s not required for the seller to pay. This is negotiated by your very own qualified REALTOR!

5) Most lender close VA home loans without VA approval of the credit package before closing

a. TRUE, 99% of the VA loans are automated and approved thru an automated approval system.

6) Processing VA home loans is difficult because of the “red tape”

a. FALSE! VA loans are simple and are very beneficial to our military past and present.

If you are a vet, here are some interested facts for you:

1) there is no mortgage insurance with a VA loan

2) changes are coming in the reduction of costs for the VA funding fee! Yippie!

3) there is no loan limit on a VA loan

4) You can purchase multi unit property with a VA loan, up to a 7 plex!

5) There are grants available to home remodels for disabled veterans to make life a little easier

6) A spouse is eligible for a VA loan under certain circumstances.

There is much more on www.va.gov with helpful ways to get the home of your dreams. Remember, call a REALTOR to help you with the process and make sure that they are familiar with VA loans, benefits and allow them to direct you to a VA loan originator who can get you the benefits you deserve.

To all of the Military personnel out there, past and present, thank you for your service. And to the wives and husbands of military guys and gals, a special thanks to you. I know the sacrifices that you make and they usually go unnoticed!

Have a great TODAY! There will never be another one like it! The weather here in Wasilla Alaska is cloudy but the colors of the leaves are fantastic! I wish I could send you pictures!

Cora Carleson – Remax Dynamic of the Valley – Wasilla Alaska

Just to test your real estate savvy, let’s take a little test. It’s not as much fun as those in Cosmo or GQ, but might be interesting. AND I will give you the answers right away, no waiting for the “next issue”.

True or False: I can sell my own home on Craig’s List!

TRUE – However, can you protect yourself and your asset? Using a REALTOR will help with negotiation and deal with the process. MOTO: Ask a Doctor to perform surgery; ask a REALTOR to sell your home.

Yes or No: What if I don’t like my REALTOR, can I fire them:

Yes – I wouldn’t go all “Donald Trump” on them, but if you are not currently in contract on the sale of your home, or the purchase of a home, you can cancel your listing contract or your buyers representation agreement under these conditions:

Failure to perform

Misrepresentation

Illegal activities

True or False: I need to have all the repairs make to my house before I call a REALTOR.

False: Determine for yourself what is more important,; do you want top dollar for your house, or do you just need to move quickly and don’t have time or money for repairs? It’s when you want both of these things that it gets tricky!

Yes or No: Should I spend a lot of time on the internet looking at homes before I go “hunting” with a REALTOR?

YES! This type of “hunting” isn’t with a gun it’s with KNOWLEDGE! Knowing what you want and weeding out those that you don’t is a huge help when it comes to home buying. It saves time and money. It helps you with price ranges, neighborhoods, commutes – you can eliminate so much just by spending a few hours on line first.

Let’s pick this up tomorrow – how are you doing so far? If you get them all right, there may be a cookie in it for you! (don’t count on it)

Enjoy the day! – Cora Carleson, Remax Dynamic of the Valley, Wasilla Alaska