John Wojtasiak

First I would like to welcome home all of the Sailors and Marines from the USS Eisenhower strike group who returned home to Norfolk, VA today! Welcome Home and job well done! Thank you for your service!

The $8000 first time home buyer and $6500 repeat home buyer tax credit is still available to "qualified service members" who were on "official extended duty" for over 90 days. "Qualified service members " is defined as someone who is in the US Military, a member of the foreign service of the US, or an employee of the intelligence community. "Official extended duty" is defined as any period of extended duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days beginning on December 31, 2008 and ending before May 1, 2010. You now have until April 30, 2011 to be under contract on the purchase of your home and you have until June 30, 2011 to close on that purchase. For more information on this topic go to the IRS website or consult your tax advisor. As a retired Navy Veteran I am familiar with the needs of the military and would enjoy assisting you with the purchase of your home in Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk or Portsmouth.

I just read a great article about painting your home and thought I should share this. These are some great tips you should know before you start painting your Virginia Beach or Chesapeake home.

For Your Clients: DIY Painting 101

By Stephanie Andre

RISMEDIA, July 19, 2010—Looking to spruce up your home, but don’t know where to start?

From molding to choice of color, there’s a lot to consider before dipping your brush in the paint. Does a room really look smaller with a darker color on the walls? Should your ceilings be white? Do you want to add an accent wall?

Here are some tips from Lowe’s on how to getting started:

Getting Started
• Size up your room. How you use color depends on where you use color. Each room has its own unique elements and function. First think about the structure of the room. Consider its shape and size. A lighter color can make a small room feel more spacious, while a darker color can help an immense room seem cozier.
• Take into account any architectural details, such as molding, trim, columns, and brackets. What's attractive and what's not? Varied intensities and hues can complement architecture, furnishings, and art. Remember, paint can accentuate a room's features or hide them.
• Your choice of color also depends largely on function. Will the main purpose of the room be eating, sleeping, working, entertaining, or something else entirely? A warm hue in the living room gives a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere for guests than a cooler color.

Selecting Interior Paint
• Before choosing your paint, think about where your room fits into the scheme of things. Where is it situated in relation to other rooms? Is it a high- or low-traffic area? Flat paint, for instance, is best suited for ceilings, walls, surface imperfections, and anywhere else that a muted low-reflecting surface is desired. Because it takes more effort to remove stains from this type of paint, a flat finish is best suited for the low-traffic areas of your home.
• Use low-luster, satin, and eggshell paint on areas where a sheen is desired. These paints are easier to clean than flat paint and hold up better under repeated washings. They withstand the wear and tear of high-traffic areas-hallways, woodwork, kitchens, baths, children's rooms, and playrooms-more easily than other finishes.
• Semigloss and high-gloss paint and enamel are best suited for banisters, railings, shelves, kitchen cabinets, furniture, doorjambs, windowsills, and any other surface you wish to accentuate. But be careful-the higher the gloss, the more it emphasizes any surface imperfections.
Choosing a Palette
• Having trouble deciding on your paint palette? Choose a design direction. If you've already chosen an interior décor or if you're working with a room that's already furnished, focus on a favorite fabric color, piece of art or furniture, or other object. If you still can't settle on a color you like, we offer free computerized paint matching and custom color mixing.
• Have color confidence-don't be afraid to paint bold and bright. If your room is unfurnished, a vibrant color can fill it until you can.
• Consider yourself above all. Paint color should reflect your mood and personality. What are your favorite colors? If you're having trouble selecting a color, try looking in your closet. The colors you enjoy wearing are the ones that make you feel good. You are the one who has to live with the color so live with the shades you love.

Making Your Purchase
• Water versus oil. When selecting an interior finish, try choosing a water-based enamel instead of an oil-based gloss paint. Water-based gloss enamels have less odor than conventional oil-based paints. They are much easier to clean up after, and they wear better over time.
• Don't purchase low-quality paint. High-quality paint performs better for a longer period of time. It's less prone to yellow as it ages, goes on smoother, and won't leave brush marks. It is also easier to wash and dirt resistant.
• Purchase test quarts to review your color and finish selections at home. Paint a piece of scrap material such as cardboard, or even a portion of your wall, to study the effects of various light conditions.

If your home is built prior to 1978, these regulations apply to you. The EPA is delaying enforcement of the training required for lead based paint contractors. Contractors now have until October 1st 2010 to get certified. That date can be extended until December 31st, 2010 as long as the class is scheduled prior to September 30, 2010. For more information on the new lead based paint regulations visit the EPA website.

The Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) was designed to help military service members and federal civilian employees who face financial loss when selling their principle residence due to a Base Realignment or Closure (BRAC) announcement. This program is administered by the Army Corps of Engineers. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expands the program to assist service members and federal civilian employees who are injured, wounded or killed when deployed, surviving spouses, service members and civilian employees assigned to BRAC 05 organizations and service members required to permanently relocate during the mortgage crisis.

These requirements are for military members who are permanently reassigned during the mortgage crisis.

• Permanent reassignment to a duty station outside of a 50 mile radius of current duty station.
• Reassigned between February 1, 2006 and September 30, 2010.
• Property was purchased or contract to purchase was prior to July 1, 2006.
• Property was the primary residence of the owner.
• Owner has not previously received these benefits.
• Download the application here http://hap.usace.army.mil/HowToApply.html and follow the instructions.

The complete details can be found at http://hap.usace.army.mil/homepage.asp .

These are the Real Estate tax rates for the fiscal year of July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011. All values are per $100 of assessed value. Each year the cities are required to assess all properties in their respective cities and mail out assessments by March 1st of each year. If your assessment has not changed you will not get a notice. If you dispute your current assessment you should contact the Real Estate Assessor's office in your respective city.

Virginia Beach

Standard Real Estate - .89

Sandbridge Special Service District - .95

Lynnhaven CBD Special Service District - 1.34

Chesapeake

Mosquito Controlled - 1.05

Non mosquito Controlled - 1.04

Suffolk

Standard Real Estate - .91

Route 17 - 1.17

Downtown - 1.035

Norfolk

Standard Real Estate - 1.11

Business District - 1.27

Portsmouth

Standard Real Estate - 1.24