Jamie Carroll ~ S&B Real Estate Team ~ Vancouver, WA ~ Clark County

The StreamTeam and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation are hosting their 10th annual Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 18th, from 8:30a to 2p. Members of the community are invited to volunteer to plant trees along Salmon Creek to help restore the salmon habitat. There will also be an EcoFair, wildlife show and children's activities - something for everyone to learn about the environment from community organizations. Volunteers will receive a commemorative T-shirt and a sustainable lunch; non-volunteers can enjoy lunch for a small donation. Clark Public Utilities will be providing a free four-pack of CFL's and a low-flow showerhead for utility customers.

The event is part of the Salmon Creek enhancement program started in 1992 by CPU. Its aim is to improve and protect water quality throughout the Salmon Creek basin. To register to volunteer contact the StreamTeam coordinator at 360-992-8585 or at streamteam@clarkpud.com.

Thinking of buying or selling real estate in southwest Washington? Call Jamie of the S&B Real Estate Team at 360-609-6775 or visit the "Contact Us" page at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!

Spring is traditionally a time for new beginnings. Animals have their cute little babies, flowers pop out of the ground, leaves sprout from long naked trees. We at the JMC Group are starting on a "new beginning" as well. We have officially merged with the S&B Real Estate Team of Keller Williams. Same company, same downtown location, same go-to person (me!) for all your real estate needs! Why then, you may wonder, did we make this move?

The decision to join with another team was a difficult one. My main goal is, and always has been, to serve my clients in the best way possible. This move ensures that we will continue to do that, in spades! Steve Borwieck, team leader of the S&B Real Estate Team, is fantastic- both as a person and an agent. He has the same dedication to his clients I do, always working with their best interests in mind and doing whatever it takes to get the job done and get it done right. By pooling our knowledge, education and resources we will be able to serve you, our clients, even better than before!

This is an exciting time for all of us! We'll be keeping in close contact with each of you and will keep you abreast of new tools and strategies we will be developing to serve you even better. If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate, please call Jamie at 360-609-6775 or visit the "Contact Us" page of my website at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!

Helpful household tips can be used to full advantage when working on anything from menial tasks to tasks that require a little elbow grease. The following household tips will help with everything from personal hygiene to keeping infestations to a minimum. Remember, a little soap and water goes a long way!

1. Apply a top coat of shaving cream to the bathroom mirror. This practice keeps mirrors from steaming up.

2. Applying mud to a bee sting will take away the sting, as well as the stinger.

3. Use fabric sheets to pick up that unsightly dust on the TV, end tables and other areas.

4. A cup of vinegar goes a long way to reduce tangles and keep your hair soft and shiny. Apply as a final rinse.

5. Another good hair rinse and hair lightener is lemon juice. Use the lemon juice as a last rinse, then stand in sun for a sun-kissed look.

6. Toothpaste applied to a wet washcloth is a good ink remover, especially on walls and wallpaper. But, be careful with wallpaper. It will still work, but don't press too hard or you'll rub the wallpaper finish off, as well.

7. When reheating a slice of pizza, run the bottom under the faucet. The water will cause a small amount of steam in the microwave which will keep the crust from becoming hard and brittle.

8. Dip hands in bleach to get out ground in garden stains or vegetable and fruit stains caused when peeling fruits and vegetables for home preserves.

9. Baking soda dumped into carpets takes out odor. The recommended method is to sprinkle the baking soda thoroughly throughout the carpets, leave for several minutes, and remove with a carpet sweeper.

10. Sprinkle cinnamon and cayenne pepper along house exterior to prevent ants from entering your home. Ants will not cross the line.

11. Dish soap and water sprayed on flowers is an excellent bug deterrent. This is particularly useful with roses, hollyhock, and daisy. It also will depend on what kind of bugs. Some aphids are resilient and will return. Japanese Beetles, also can be a deadly foe to your flowers, act quickly and drench thoroughly for several days until problem is resolved. You may have to repeat the process throughout the summer months. If the soap and water trick doesn't appear to be working after a week, call a Master Gardener. Removing some bugs is a big task.

12. Cola poured on a car battery will eat away the corrosion.

13. Pour beer-any kind, they don't appear to be choosy--into a plate and leave it in the garden to attract slugs

14. Another way to corner slugs is to place boards in the garden. In the morning the slugs will have congregated on the undersides.

15. To find out if you have fleas, and then to attract them quickly before they breed to intensively, spread a white sheet on the floor. Set several shallow dishes of warm water on the sheet, then light a lamp. The warmth will attract the fleas and drown them. A nightlight will also work, but remember to put a dish of warm water right underneath it.

16. Place a slice of white bread inside the cookie jar to keep cookies soft. An apple slice also is effective, but it can attract fruit flies.

17. Never cut lettuce with a metal blade-it will turn the edges brown-use a plastic knife or tear the lettuce leaves off of the head. The tearing method is preferable.

18. Use old crumpled up newspaper and vinegar to wash windows, but be careful around light colored paint on windowsills

19. Never use ammonia on urine stains-it strengthens the smell. Blot the spot with plenty of soap and water, then let dry. When completely dry, use baking soda and vinegar as a scrub. This should eliminate the odor.

20. Plant marigolds in your garden to keep bugs away.

21. Use applesauce in place of oil when baking. This will cut down on the fat content.

22. Boil cinnamon to eliminate house odors. But watch the pot, it boils over very easily!

23. Sprinkling salt into a pot before boiling eggs prevents the eggs from cracking open.

24. Dab perfume on light bulb to scent a room.

25. Place fruit in a brown paper bag with a ripe banana for quicker ripening.

BONUS TIP: Call us when thinking of buying or selling real estate! We can be reached at 360-609-6775 or visit the "Contact Us" page of our website at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!

List found at http://www.essortment.com/all/helpfulhouseh_rsey.htm

It seems as if half the articles written these days begin with the words, "In these uncertain times..." or, "In these tough economic times..." I've vowed not to ever start a blog with similar phrasing. Yet today I wanted to talk about a blurb I saw on the news last night and I found myself using those very words! Does it make a difference that I'm writing something positive? I hope so...

With the uncertainty of today's economy, many landlords are finding it difficult to get leases signed. At first it seemed that the rental market would boom as a result of the housing market dropping. But what we've seen is that more people are home-sharing; either getting a roommate or moving in with family. Surprisingly, the rental market is sinking with the housing market!

Many renters are shying away from leases and favoring month-to-month rentals. Most have cited a fear of losing their job as the reason. A lease, like any contract, can't usually be broken without great expense so it could feel like a kiss of death to someone who's just become unemployed. One local property management company has found a way to increase their occupancy despite the negative effects other landlords are facing. They are including a "job loss" clause in their lease agreements which is helping to ease the minds of their new tenants. It works like this: the tenant signs a standard 12-month lease which remains in effect unless the tenant loses their job. If that happens they provide the management company with proof of termination and a 30-day move out notice. The management company breaks the lease with no negative repercussions to the tenants credit score or rental history! The owner of the management company said so far no one has had to use the clause but it has helped them get people to sign longer leases than some of their competitors are getting.

This is a great example of how we can rise up and alter our businesses to change with the times. If you're thinking of buying or selling rental property, give us a call at 360-609-6775 or visit the "Contact Us" page at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!

There has been a lot of talk, and even more questions, about the new $8000 home buyer tax credit. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions - and answers in plain English:

• Who gets the credit? First-time home buyers or someone who hasn't owned a home in three years.

• How much is the credit, really? $8000 or 10% of the home's value (whichever is less.)

• How do you get it? Simply claim it on your 2008-2009 taxes.

• When is the deadline? The home must be purchased between January and November 2009.

• Is this a loan in disguise? NO! As long as you live in the home for three years, the money doesn't have to be paid back.

• What are the restrictions? To claim the full credit you must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. People with higher incomes may receive a partial credit.

• Is it easy to apply for the credit? It's as simple as filing your taxes (however easy that is!)

• What if you've already filed taxes? You can file an ammended 2008 return to claim the credit.

• Is this really a good time to buy a home? YES! Interest rates are low, home prices are low, there's lots of inventory to choose from, and now you can get a nice chunk of change to go toward home improvements or whatever you want!

If you want to take advantage of this great opportunity give us a call at 360-609-6775 or visit the "Contact Us" page of our website at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!