Nurse Adam Hutchins receives 25 percent of real estate commission through Asheville’s Patton Property Group at Keller Williams

ASHEVILLE, NC – March 2, 2012 – Homes for Heroes is a national organization which assists military personnel, law enforcement officers, firefighters, health care workers and educators save money on real estate expenses. Homes For Heroes Mountain representative, Patton Property Group, helped another Homes for Heroes buyer, Adam and Melissa Hutchins, by giving back 25% of their commission.

“We have been working with Nick at Property Group, who let us know that we qualified for the Homes for Heroes program,” said Adam Hutchins. “Because of the program, we were able to save almost $700!”

Homes for Heroes announced their exclusive partnership in Asheville, NC with Patton Property Group at Keller Williams in September 2011. Formed in 2002 to recognize community heroes after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, this partnership assists the Asheville hero community as they buy and sell homes.

“I loved working with this young couple who are expecting a child, it was such a pleasure helping them to find a special home, just in time for the new addition to the family,” said Nick King, Buyer Agent at Patton Property Group. “I love being part of the Homes for Heroes national program, it’s a great way to give back to the community and in this case, help a Nurse. People in healthcare, police, fire, teaching and the military are eligible”

Homes for Heroes is celebrating its ninth year of bringing big savings to everyday heroes. This collaboration of real estate professionals’ sole purpose is to offer savings when buying or selling a home. While the programs genesis and primary concentration originally was intended to serve the Minnesota real estate market, word of the Homes for Heroes benefits unpredictably spread throughout the country and this small-dedicated local effort rapidly spiraled into a growing nationwide program.
Patton Property Group at Keller Williams offers 25 percent off real estate commissions for heroes, buying or selling property.

About Homes for Heroes:
Homes For Heroes aims to help close the gap between the cost of housing and buyers and sellers in the following groups: military personnel, police officers, firefighters, nurses, doctors, surgeons, teachers, first responders, Veterans and others who serve our community and nation.
For more information, please visit: www.homesforheroes.com. For Asheville Homes For Heroes visit: www.MountainHomesForHeroes.com

About Patton Property Group:
UK-born Rowena Patton is the founder of Patton Property Group (PPG) at Keller Williams. Her background is marketing which lends itself to the marketing focus of the company, driven by new and more effective ways to search for homes for buyers, and a portfolio approach to selling a home for customers. This offers a myriad of ways over and above previous approaches of signs and lock boxes on a home for sellers, and ways to find a home more effectively and in a more enjoyable manner for buyers. Rowena hosts a weekly radio show on News Radio 570am every Saturday 10am-11am – “Plain English Real Estate Show”
Patton Property Group is a top 10 KW team in the Carolinas, and is the exclusive representative for HOMES FOR HEROES in the mountains. Rowena was the founder of the Keller Williams Luxury Division in the mountains in 2007, and holds the CLHMS, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation. Several PPG team members are in the top 10 agents in the Asheville area.

Contact:
Press Contact, not for publication: For information about the Homes For Heroes and Patton Property Group contact 828 419 9115 or 828 210 1648 or email Rowena at rowena@PattonPropertyGroup.com. See Website at www.PattonPropertyGroup.com, www.MountainHomesForHeroes.com

Heroes Contact, for publication: If you are a hero selling a home, email at Showings@PattonPropertyGroup.com, and if you are buying a home, email Request@PattonPropertyGroup.com with Homes for Heroes in the subject line

The loan process has become much more detailed and the amount of documentation required has increased as a result.  These days, we have to request more detailed information regarding all aspects that may affect the loan.  This may include greater detail on income, assets and employment history.  I want to assure you that this is not the result of you as an individual or the aspects of your loan.  This is just the state of the industry and the real estate market.  See the full checklist here

We all know that we have historic, all-time low interest rates, designed to promote our bottoming home sales in the US. I think we are all realistic in knowing that interest rates, and home prices, especially under $250,000 are likely to rise this year. To see current figures, visit www.HousingFigures.com

From New American Mortgage this morning, Contact author at: Glenn Kavanagh, glenn.kavanagh@newamerican.com

Good morning, all! We received some news today regarding FHA loans from HUD so I thought I’d pass it along to you. In short, the costs for an FHA loan are going up for buyers.

If you are unfamiliar with FHA loans, FHA charges 2 types of mortgage insurance on their loans: An up-front, one time premium and the monthly premium that’s included in the borrower’s payment. As of right now, that upfront premium is 1% of the loan amount and it’s rolled into the loan. The monthly premium is 1.15% of the loan amount amount divided out over 12 months each year.

We’ve been hearing rumors about the monthly insurance premium and the upfront insurance premium changes coming and HUD has made it official.

This change is effective for FHA loans assigned on or after April 1, 2012.

The changes are:

· The UFMIP (Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium) will increase by .75%

· The annual MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premium) will increase .10% for loans under $625,500.00 and by .35% for loans above that amount.

The following is an excerpt from an email from HUD received today.
FHA Takes Additional Steps To Bolster Capitol Reserves; New premium structure will help protect FHA’s MMI fund:

HUD No.12-037
HUD Public Affairs

February 27, 2012

WASHINGTON – As part of ongoing efforts to encourage the return of private capital in the residential mortgage market and strengthen the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, Acting FHA Commissioner Carol Galante today announced a new premium structure for FHA-insured single family mortgage loans. FHA will increase its annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) by 0.10 percent for loans under $625,500 and by 0.35 percent for loans above that amount. Upfront premiums (UFMIP) will also increase by 0.75 percent.

These premium changes will impact new loans insured by FHA beginning in April and June of 2012. Details will soon be published in a Mortgagee Letter to FHA-approved lenders. (Please see: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/hudclips/letters/mortgagee )

“After careful analysis of the market and the health of the MMI fund, we have determined that it is appropriate to increase mortgage insurance premiums in order to help protect our capital reserves and to continue encouraging the return of private capital to the housing market,” said Galante. “These modest increases are one of several measures we are taking towards meeting the Congressionally mandated two percent reserve threshold, while allowing FHA to remain a valuable option for low- to moderate-income borrowers.”

The Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 requires FHA to increase the annual MIP it collects by 0.10 percent. This change is effective for case numbers assigned on or after April 1, 2012. FHA is also exercising its statutory authority to add an additional 0.25 percent to mortgages exceeding $625,500. This change is effective for case numbers assigned on or after June 1, 2012.

The UFMIP will be increased from 1 percent to 1.75 percent of the base loan amount. This increase applies regardless of the amortization term or LTV ratio. FHA will continue to permit financing of this charge into the mortgage. This change is effective for case numbers assigned on or after April 1, 2012.

FHA estimates that the increase to the upfront premium will cost new borrowers an average of approximately $5 more per month. These marginal increases are affordable for nearly all homebuyers who would qualify for a new mortgage loan. Borrowers already in an FHA-insured mortgage, Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), and special loan programs outlined in FHA’s forthcoming Mortgagee Letter will not be impacted by the pricing changes announced today.

Taken together, these premium changes will enable FHA to increase revenues at a time that is critical to the ongoing stability of its Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund, contributing more than $1 billion to the Fund, based on current volume projections through Fiscal Year 2013.

Read the entire press release at: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2012/HUDNo.12-037

Make sure you trawl through your shoe box now to gather all you need for your taxes, if you think you may qualify for these property owner tax perks. At least most are perks…

1. Dig out your contractor receipts if you made “green” improvements

Did you make any “green” improvements to your home this year? The Energy Tax credit allows for homeowners who have made certain energy-efficient improvements during 2011 such as  insulation, dual-paned windows and furnaces and other “green” improvements. It’s possible you may be eligible for a tax credit of 10 percent of the cost, up to $500. Find more information on the Energy Tax Credit  here

2. Did you pay interest on your mortgage last year?

Ferret through for your Mortgage Interest Statement – IRS Form 1098. This allows you to deduct 100 percent of the mortgage interest you paid in 2011. Your lender will send you form 1098 which shows how much interest you paid. Include this form with your tax return. IRS instructions here

3. If you are a homeowner, it’s likely you paid mortgage interest.

Property taxes that you pay to your local city, county and or State are deductible. IRS info here

4. Do you own rental properties?

If so, hopefully you also have a great accountant that will assess your income and expense statements. They will also make sure that you are depreciating the property in the appropriate manner. More info from the IRS here

5. Did you buy or sell a home last year?

If you bought, or sold a home with Patton Property Group, we have already mailed a copy of your HUD statement to you. You also received this at closing. You will need this for your taxes as there are a number of items that are deductible. IRS info here

6. Find receipts for your moving expenses

Moving expenses are tax deductible if your move is related to your job. You have to meet certain IRS time and distance tests. Rules on moving expenses

7. Did you loose a home to foreclosure, short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure?

Find your Cancellation of Debt Statement – IRS form 1099. You should receive this form or something with similar details from your lender, showing the amount of the mortgage debt that has been canceled. The amount you were ‘forgiven’ is treated as taxable income by the IRS.  Article on how it works

8. Do you have a home office?

If you work outside of the home and just happen to have a home office, it is not likely that the utilities are deductible. However, the IRS states that if there is a part of your home that is “regularly and exclusively” used for business, you may be eligible to claim a portion of the costs of that home office including repairs and utilities. Whether you are self-employed or an employee, if you use a portion of your home for business, you may be able to take a home office deduction.  Here are six things the IRS wants you to know about the Home Office deduction

Always consult with a tax attorney or certified public accountant regarding your tax liabilities and implications when you buy a property, sell a property, endure a short sale or (sadly) lose a home to foreclosure.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Molly Milroy Email: milroy.molly@gmail.com

Patton Property Group Closes First Homes for Heroes Buyer

Air Force Veteran receives 25 percent ($1,365.00) of real estate commission through Asheville’s Patton Property Group at Keller Williams

Gwen Bowers and Lisa Pilt

PPG client saves $1,365

ASHEVILLE, NC – DECEMBER 1, 2011 — Homes for Heroes, a national organization which assists military personnel, law enforcement officers, firefighters, health care workers and educators save money on real estate expenses signed their first buyer on November 29 in Asheville, NC. Lisa Marie Pilz, an Air Force veteran, is the first Homes for Heroes recipient in the Asheville community.

Homes for Heroes announced their exclusive partnership in Asheville, NC with Patton Property Group at Keller Williams in September 2011. Formed in 2002 to recognize community heroes after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, this partnership assists the Asheville hero community as they buy and sell homes.

“We are very thankful that we were able to successfully support a military veteran in the purchase of her home. It is one thing to say “I want to give back” but seeing the first big check going out, certainly made an impact on how much more I would like to work with this program,” said Patton Property Group’s listing director Nadine Maltz. “I am looking forward to helping many more Heroes buy and sell homes through this program.”  Maltz’ teammate, Gwen Bowers is Patton Property Group’s Buyer Specialist Broker working with Pilz, both seen in the pictures attached.

Launch video for Patton Property Group’s Homes for Heroes

View Details

Super energy-efficient home w/HERS ratings of around an estimated 40/50 (testing soon),2×6 exterior walls,metal roofing,stainless appliances,energy star windows,hwd floors,granite tops,maple/walnut cabinetry,LP smart siding. Two more homes starting shortly or pick an available lot for a custom lot/home package (call LA for more details). Building time takes approximately 9/10 weeks. Portion of DB/PG. Exceeding code insulation,see attached.

View Details

Super energy-efficient home w/HERS ratings of around an estimated 40/50 (testing soon),2×6 exterior walls,metal roofing,stainless appliances,energy star windows,hwd floors,granite tops,maple/walnut cabinetry,LP smart siding. Two more homes starting shortly or pick an available lot for a custom lot/home package (call LA for more details). Building time takes approximately 9/10 weeks. Portion of DB/PG. Exceeding code insulation,see attached.

The Village at Moore Ave:
22 healthy-built homes by JSS Homes LLC
Super energy-efficient construction with HERS ratings of 40/50
Prices ranging from $175,000 – low $200’s

Some of the minimum construction standards:
Healthy-built, 2 x 6 exterior wall construction, metal roofing, stainless steel energy star appliances, energy star windows, hardwood floors, granite tops, maple/Walnut cabinetry, LP Smart Siding, 40/50 HERS rating.

Energy Savings:
HERS rating of 40/50. What does this mean for you? It means it will take approximately 50-60% less energy to heat and cool your home, resulting in a huge savings in your heating and cooling bills. In addition it reduces negative impact on the environment.

The lower the HERS score, the more energy savings:
100 – Generally for a new standard constructed home
85 – Generally for a new ‘energy star’-built home
75 – Generally for a basic healthy-built home
40/50 – The Village at Moore Ave homes
120-150- Generally for a 20-year-old home
250 – Generally for a 70 year-old-home

Completion:
Completion on first two homes by 11-15-11

Arden

• Unit D Azalea Point, $63,000, PC Life Properties LLC to Richard Rossi

• Lot 4 section 1 block D of Mountain View, $152,000, Kimberly H. Chastain to JoeDavid Matthew Hall, Anna Jean Weaver

Asheville

• Lot 8 section 3 block B of Kimberly Woods, $328,000, Allan J. and Julia A. Dawson

• .234 acres on Biltmore Ave., $480,000, Public Interest Projects Inc. to Parcheggio AVL LLC

• Unit 203 building G of Biltmore Park Town Square (Parking spaces 17 & 74, storage closet 4B-S23), $355,000, Town Square West LLC to Leonard J. and Marcia J. Rzonca

• Lot 16 Fairfield Heights, $100,000, Estate of Cartha Lou Nicholson, Jan Nicholson and Pete Hildebrand to Joe Arlington Nicholson

• 173 Old Shoals Road Ext., $35,000, Robert Allen Taylor to Ricky J. Branks

• 346 Deaverview Road (Lots 16-17), $85,000, Jose Rodolfo Cortinas Quinones and Emilia Quintero, Ivan Cortinas Quintero to Mountain Housing Opportunities Inc.

• Lots 6-7 of Morningside Park block C, $255,000, Candy Lynne to The Michael P. and Barbara Chase Living Trust

• Lot 23 block U of Biltmore Forest, $1,275,000, Frank H. and Katherine Clark Moretz (a. k. a. Katherine McKenzie Clark) to Joanne M. Eldred

• 39 Washington Road (0.337 acre), $355,000, Jonathan D. and Sonja J. Inman to Albert J. Siemens

• 28 Arborvale Road (Lots F & E block 7 of Arborvale Park), $320,000, Donna M. Morris to Frank Winget and Janine Kennedy Griffin

• 155 South Lexington Ave. (Unit B303 building B of Lexington Station), $175,000, K & K Rentals LLC to Paul Viera

• Lot 22 of Monroe Place, $120,000, Georgia M. Muckelvene (f. k. a. Georgia A. Wilkins) to T. Nicholas and Trista Hudzik Reynolds

• Lot 103 block 2 of Park View, $12,500, First Troy SPE LLC to DRA Living Inc.

• Unit 303 of Biltmore Commons phase 2, $115,000, RB Mason Living Trust to Sharon A. and George H. Roller Jr.

Biltmore Lake

• 36 Cats Whisker Court (Lot 602 block H of Biltmore Lake phase 1), $357,000, Biltmore Lake LLC to Jerry B. and Carol O. Sutton
Buncombe County

• Unit Z4 of the Cloisters phase 4, $83,000, Charles C. and Rhonda Deweese to Edward E. Loewe (99 percent undivided interest), Jennifer Loewe (1 percent undivided interest)

• 46 Luther Cove Road (Lot 30 of Mountain Vista at Luther Cove), $180,000, Wimbledon Properties LLC to Ashley N. and Kenneth E. Parker

• 200 Glendale Ave., $39,000, Joan M. Mayhall, Patricia Diaz Deleon to Joan M. Mayhall

• Lot 1 Short St., $30,000, Douglas Reggy Snipes to Ballard Tate Pearson

• 105 Barker Ave. (Lot 7, .098 acre), $20,000, Steven R. and Alexandra L. M. Holland to Samuel and Nancy Duckett

• Unit 5-D and 213 of 21 Battery Park Condominiums, $730,000, William J. Millsap to Christine Burns-Fazz and Lee Fazzi

• Lot 43 of Tiny Farms section E, $220,000, Philip William and Reiko N. Dowd to Jerry Jerome Sherman

• 3903 Trinity Court Unit JJ-3 (Unit JJ-3 of the Cloisters phase 5), $155,000, Wallace L. and Ellen M. Anderson to Dennis R. and Susan J. Gregory

• Lot 218 of the Settings of Black Mountain phase 2, $92,500, David Rosenberg, Susan Bartlett to Michael D. Aronas, Catherine L. Nichols

• 2426 Bear Creek Road (1.198 acres), $58,000, Judy Pauline Malone to Albert Ray Autry

• 73 Morris St. (Lot 22 of Wonderview Homesites ), $125,000, Ronald J. and Janice F. Rakickas to Propst Properties K & K LLC

• 169 Dula Springs Road (1.8 acres), $25,000, Belinda Fountain Hamlin (f. k. a. Belinda Fountain Smithwick) to Greg Hamlin

• 26 Portobello Road (Lot 56 Cotswolds phase IIA), $578,000, Eddie and Carri Hudson to Larry E. and Valerie M. Miller

• 569 Upper Grassy Branch Ext., $95,000, Margaret F. Alaia (f. k. a. Margaret Fightmaster) to Michael and Patricia Mashburn

• 25 Daisy Hill Road, $209,000, Warren Wilson College to Shawn Swartz, Holy Bumgartner

• 519 Old Leicester Highway (0.61 acre), $42,500, TD Bank NA to Cynthia D. Honeycutt, Michael George Maynard

• Lot #43 of the Heights At Altura, $13,500, Scott Carter/Altura Communities LLC to Francis and Maryann Semmens

• 128 Lake Drive (Lot 150 of Biltmore Farms), $575,000, Branch B & T Co. to William A. and Joyce Seerburg

• Lot 18 of Raven Ridge, $185,000, Thomas Mitchell and Meredith Terrell Freeman to Charlotte Nelson and James Richard Owen III

• Lot 14 of Indian Hills and 2 tracts on NC Highway 63, $85,000, Jerry J. and Shirley Allison to Gregory C. Teresa L. Turbyfill

• Unit 6 Byrd Road Townhomes, $260,000, Larry J. (a. k. a. Larry S.) and Susan J. Powell to Fred E. and Carolyn E. Flanigan

• .29 acre on Chunns Cove Road, $6,000, Walter E. Ogilvie III to J. Paul and Nancy O. Martin

• .29 acre on Chunns Cove Road, $6,000, Walter E. Ogilvie III to the Sonia M. Pawluc Revocable Trust

• Lot 22 of Sunny Ridge, $260,000, Christopher C. Dennen, Elizabeth A. Lipski to Bernard M. Laporte, Debra J. Mager

French Broad

• 3.832 acres on Jupiter Road, $65,500, Virginia W. Freeman to Larry S. and Marilyn D. Sprouse
Hazel

• 534 Deaverview Road, $28,000, Wade and Lily Elder to David Mission, Erika Harrison

Leicester

• Lot 1 of Moores Valley, $85,000, WKRB LLC to Mark Ralph and Talmadge N. Stringer

• Lot 40 of River Highlands At Madison Crossing, $40,000, WFG NC I LLC to the K. Fantasia Family Trust

Reems Creek

• 320 Kyfields (Unit 321 of Kyfields Towne Homes phase IIIK), $182,500, American Home Mtg. Servicing Inc./American Home Mtg. Corp. to Martha Jane Denton

• 1235 New Stock Road, $80,000, Beneficial Financial I Inc.

Upper Hominy

• One-third acre on O. L. Israel Road, $29,000, Darrin K. and Darlene Frost Riddle, Larry L. and Mitzi K. Riddle, Michael D. and Patricia Diane Riddle to Juanita and John Luther Roper Jr., Shan Allan Roper

• 175 Warren Creek Road (1.6 acres), $105,000, Joseph Glenn Rogers Jr. to William A. Woody

Weaverville

• 839 Reems Creek Road (5.13 acres), $165,000, Nancy Kern to Abe N. Lindsey, Suzanne Evon

• Lot 4 section 1 of Twin Brook Hills, $230,000, Raymond and Raechelle Freeman to Eddie D. and Kelly McDonald

• 33 Ballard Road, $232,000, Robert C. and Jan Love Akers to George J. and Pamela T. Stein

See full article at Asheville Citizen Times

www.RadioAsheville.com for more information – see videos of the radio show and get information often relevant across the country to selling and buying a home. For example, want to know more about radon? Watch the radon show. Want to know more about what it means to live in a community? See the community show. We give serious information and giggle quite a bit. Plain English Radio Show hosted by Rowena Patton, Patton Property Group at Keller Williams

See properties available in Lake Lure here

National Geographic has called Lake Lure one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in the world. Visitors come to enjoy the 720 acres of lake, sparkling clean beach area, and the incredible Blue Ridge mountain range including Chimney Rock.

Lake Lure, close to Black Mountain, Asheville and Hendersonville NC

The North Carolina mountains region is scientifically known as a ‘temperate broadleaf mixed’ forest. The deciduous trees are responsible for the great fall color. In these deciduous trees’ leaves, a pigment called chlorophyll acts as the food factory for the tree, capturing the sun’s rays and converting them into vital nutrients into stored energy. When days become shorter and nights longer and cooler, the leaves begin to rein in food production, in attempt to shut down all but the most vital survival functions for the coming winter. Chlorophyll production halts, allowing the ‘real’ color pigments in the leaves to show through their waxy surfaces. In a typical southern hardwood forest, you can expect to see the following colors from the trees that make up this ecosystem:

Dogwood: red
Sweetgum: red to purple
Red Maple: red to orange
Oaks: red to brown
Poplars: yellow
Birches: yellow
Mountain Ash: yellow