Frank & Sharon Alters, CDPE-Short Sales Jacksonville-Orange Park-Fleming Island

It's a done deal. Friday, November 6, 2009, President Obama signed a bill extending the $8000 tax credit for first-time home buyers who qualify, through June 2010. It also provides a $6,500 credit for current homeowners who want to buy a primary residence.

Residents of Clay County, Duval County and St. Johns County have a great opportunity to buy a new home with low interest rates and great prices on homes for sale.

First Time Home buyers:

1. First Time Home buyers are eligible who meet criteria outlined below.

2. Must sign a contract by April 30, 2010.

3. Must close by June 30, 2010.

Current Homeowners:

1. Current homeowners who wish to buy a primary residence are eligible if they meet certain criteria outlined below.

2. They must have lived in their residence 5 out of the last 8 years.

3. They are eligible for a $6,500 tax credit.

Criteria for eligibility:

1. Single filing taxpayers have income limit of $125,000 to receive entire credit. Up to $145,000 income receive partial credit. Above $145,000 income, no credit.

2. Joint filing taxpayers are eligible up to $225,000 income. Up to $245,000 income is a partial credit and above $245,000 income is no credit.

If you're moving to Florida and checking out insurance, you may hear about Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Citizens is the insurance company of last resort for homeowners who can't get a policy anywhere else. There are some areas and houses that may be tough to find coverage, and some times of the year are more of a challenge than others. But overall, we have some of the most beautiful weather in the country!

Citizens was created in 2002 by Florida legislators to provide a safety net to be sure Florida residents had insurance coverage available. Currently they have over 1,000,000 active policies.

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. does charge higher rates than you can find at other companies, so it makes sense to shop around and compare, and you probably won't be selecting them if you can get coverage elsewhere.

When you are shopping around, please be sure to compare apples to apples. Be sure the coverages are equal all across the board when comparing rates for Citizens vs. other carriers. Be sure you have the umbrella coverage that you will need and not just the basics. Ask us for names of insurance agents who will take the time to explain the ins and outs of insurance coverage to you for your beautiful new Florida home.

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty (recently named State Regulator of the Year by LexisNexis) announced that Citizens just won approval to increase their rates about 5.4% - and that affects hurricane damage coverage. If you are looking in higher risk coastal areas, you will have to wait for the final figures. The increased premiums will go into effect January 1, 2010 and will encompass about 719,000 policies, including 350,000 homeowners. If you are considering a mobile home, the increase is 1.7% and 10.2% for condo associations. Inland homeowners may see their rates decline.

GET MOTIVATED!

The "Get Motivated" Seminar was in Jacksonville today and a group of people from our office went, including our Broker. It was held at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena down by the Stadium and Suns' Baseball Field in downtown Jacksonville.

For a mere $19.00 per office, you could see Zig Ziglar, Steve Forbes, Rudi Guiliani, Colin Powell, Laura Bush, Terry Bradshaw - Live! I can't remember ever seeing and hearing so many famous people at one time. Plus, there were other excellent speakers who are not as well known, but some of them were very compelling.

Doors opened at 7am, speakers started at 9am. It was recommended to get there by 8am for a good seat. Latecomers still found good seats as people left.

Would I recommend this to others? Yes, if you want a good dose of positive attitude - many things you have heard before, but some new tips. If you need to realize that these famous people were once 'normal' like you and me, and that they excelled with good old fashioned hard work and ingenuity.

Rudy Guiliani related how his training as a law clerk for a Judge who was a former trial lawyer was invaluable to him during 9/11. The Judge taught him that for every hour in the courtroom, there must be 4 hours of preparation. That way, when surprises came up, you would have the answer or be able to handle it.During 9/11, plans for many other types of emergencies, such as hurricanes, were implemented to regain order in Manhattan. All the planning and preparation paid off, as New York was spared the kind of chaos that can follow an emergency.

All the famous speakers gave insights into their former lives, and encouragement and hope to the audience. If a Get Motivated Seminar is anywhere near you, I think it is worth money - even if you only get one idea from it.

One of the best things about living in Jacksonville is having Pediatricians like Valerie Miles, M.D. and Carolina Canas-Ceron, M.D., at Progressive Pediatrics. These sought-after physicians and their staff are a blessing to their patients and parents.

Both Physicians practice "integrative medicine" where they focus on the safest and most effective ways for the body to heal itself when ill. This includes regular medicines, and they also focus on prevention of illness and maintaining wellness.

Great tips: We were in last week and I was talking about giving my son Pedialyte during intense sports activities, such as a Soccer tournament. Dr. Ceron shared about her own recipe as a substitute to Gatorade or Pedialyte, which is sugar free and very inexpensive.

Proactive: When John had the flu, we were required to wear masks from the moment we entered the building until we were cleared by the doctor. When we were there again Friday, they now ask patients to call when in the parking lot and the staff will bring out their their masks before entering the building, or they can wait in their cars and put their masks on when they come in. The treatment they set up for John included wearng a mask in the public areas of the home, and the result was nobody else in the family came down with the flu.

What we especially like about these doctors is their explanation of what is happening in your body, to help you understand. They also discuss nutrition along with medical treatment. They never rush us. Their popularity is evident by the nominations for Top Doctor by Jacksonville magazine and Top Pediatricians.

They have a One Stop Wellness Shop which is convenient for many of the products they recommend. Sometimes it is more convenient than going to the health food store. There is also a selection of helpful books for parents.

Latrice and Renee have been with the Staff since we began going there five years ago. They both work at the front desk, but Renee is filling in at the Store down the hall.

The Waiting Rooms are divided into Well and Sick. There is a table with free information for parents available in the lobby.

The practice is closed except for new babies and siblings, but if you are looking for a doctor, give them a call to see if they have an opening.

Monthly Open House 4th Tuesday at 6 PM

Phone: 904-338-0434

1539 Parental Home Road (North side of Parental Home off Beach Blvd.)

Jacksonville, FL 32216

Well Water Test

If you are buying a home with a well, FHA lenders require a Chemical/Bacteria/Lead test of the well. This includes the Total Coliform, E. coli Bacterial test. The price for this varies from $125-$250 (in our experience) depending on whether you do it yourself or have a third party do it and send it to a lab and also whether it is a rush. Results from the lab will be about a week unless you pay an extra fee. Here are the regulations from HUD.

If you are doing a conventional loan, check with the lender, but in our experience they do not require water testing. It is the buyer's discretion as to whether they conduct one. The buyers we work with choose to do a test 100% of the time.

Some types of water testing in addition to the Total Coliform, E. coli Bacterial test:

1. Arsenic - arsenic is not listed on standard tests, but it is suggested by companies due to plastic in the environment that does not bio-degrade.

2. Sulfur - a sulfur smell isn't always sulfur. It can be iron bacteria. Aerators are expensive if they don't take care of the smell and they are not necessarily considered the best way to cure a sulfur smell. Iron bacteria is treated by chlorinating the pump and faucets in the house. Treatment is around $400 plus the individual faucets or spigots in the house, including the washing machine and ice maker. Equipment can also be purchased that will take care of the problem at the well.

3. Nitrate and Nitrite and total Nitrate/Nitrite.

4. Iron - If there is iron in the water, toilets, sinks, sidewalks, fences and other surfaces will stain. There is a solution for this. Ask your well consultant.

5. PH, Hardness, Alkalinity, Color, Clarity, Copper, Chlorine may also be tested to determine the quality of the water.

6. There are many other tests that can be done, depending on the buyer's preferences and water conditions in the area.

For the greater Jacksonville area, these are the most common tests conducted by buyers.

Well inspection

The building inspector will run the pump and test how the water is coming out of the sinks, but you may want to have a well and pump inspection as well.

Companies who specialize in digging wells can also do an inspection on the well and pump, paying attention to such details as whether insects are nesting around some of the parts.

Most wells in this area are intermediate wells, around 150'-250' and there is not much sulfur in wells at this depth. Deeper wells of 250'-350' are where you may find sulfur, according to Ronnie Sapp of Ronnie Sapp Well Drilling & Septic Tanks of Macclenny FL.

A well and pump inspection, including a number of tests at no charge, is $95 from Sapp Well Drilling & Septic Tanks.

We recommend water and well testing for buyers of rural properties, along with the building, WDO and other inspections. We find that the money spent up front is a good investment and our buyers agree. It gives buyers peace of mind to know what their water quality is and that their equipment is functioning properly.