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County offers escrow program to ease payment pain

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Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 23 June 2009 09:28

REAL-ESTATEESCROW06.24.jpg “We have had this escrow program for many years, but recently the county purchased software that automates everything,” said Jeannine Bateman, Marion County treasurer. Patty Decker /Free Press

Homeowners who either have paid off their house or are electing not to pay taxes with a mortgage could benefit from an escrow program offered by the Marion County Treasurer’s office.

The program is set up so that property taxes due twice a year can be paid into an account on a monthly basis. When the bill is due, the money is moved from the escrow account to the treasurer’s office, where it is processed. The escrow starts over for the next six months.

“We have had this escrow program for many years, but...

Here are five essential tips for a first-time homebuyer

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Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 26 May 2009 14:12

RealEstateBuyHouse.jpg After you determine your home buying budget, think about where you want to live. Are you going to stay in your current neighborhood, or do you want to start fresh?

With the first-time homebuyer federal income tax credit currently in effect, now is the perfect time to consider making that big purchase, your first home.

“Buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments a person can make, but first-time homebuyers and qualified return buyers are in an ideal position to take advantage of unique opportunities in the market, such as low interest rates and the choice among an abundance of for sale homes,” said Charlie Young, president for ERA Real Estate.

But before you sign on the dotted line...

Simple maintenance may save major dollars at home

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Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 28 April 2009 13:57

RealEstateCleaning.jpg Some of the costliest home repairs are ones that could easily be prevented with simple maintenance steps.

Spring cleaning season meets a recession—what better time to take care of some often-overlooked household cleaning tasks that can save you big bucks in the long run?

Some of the costliest repairs are ones that could easily be prevented with simple maintenance steps.

Take your home’s heating and air conditioning system. When was the last time you had your cooling coils cleaned? If you’re not even sure what part of the system the coils are, where they’re located or if they’ve ever been cleaned at all, spring is a good time to take care of this important maintenance item.

Doing so can help...

SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT-Geothermal heating, cooling making more cents today

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Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 24 March 2009 14:09

Geothermal-03.25.jpg Merle Flaming (left), president and in charge of sales and management for Flaming’s Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. (left) and Joel Thomas, technical expert, service technician and sales, stand next to a GeoComfort system. Flaming’s is the only dealer installing this high-efficiency heating and cooling system in the Marion County area.

This schematic illustrates how a geothermal unit works in a residential setting.

A lot of Marion County resident might not know many people using geothermal heating and cooling systems. But that could soon change, according to Merle Flaming, president and in charge of sales and management at Flaming’s Heating and Air Conditioning...

If credit is good, it’s a good time to buy

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Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 24 March 2009 13:53

Motivated sellers, builders offering deep discounts and incentives, historically low mortgage rates, plenty of inventory and fierce competition for qualified borrowers—it’s actually a great time to buy a house.

If your credit score is good, you’re in an even better position to negotiate the loan on the home of your dreams this spring.

Spring has always been a popular time to buy a new home. More people put their homes on the market when the weather is warm, and a wealth of inventory is available. With winter thawing into distant memory, home shoppers are ready for a fresh start in a new house.

Buying a home in spring will help new homeowners ensure they move their families during the summer, and not at the beginning or in the...