Did the Hedgehog See its Shadow?

Either Way, Spring is in the Forecast! 

Before going out to play and bask in the spring sunshine, there are a few chores to take care of first!  Just as we have to winterize, there are important preventative home maintenance items to take care of in the spring.  Once again, it is a great time to change your air filters and clean out those gutters!  Here are my top 10 spring maintenance tips:

• Remove dust, check batteries, and inspect the function of carbon       monoxide and smoke alarms.
• Inspect your  fire extinguisher, good for both kitchen and electrical fires.  Check the gauge once a year to see if it still is holding a charge.

What's Hot in the Kitchen?oCdern CComraftsman

Here are some fun trends to consider for 2011: 

Updated Information about 2011 Energy Credits, Deductions, and Rebates:  

It is not too late to consider energy-saving improvements on your list of goals for 2011!  Many of the benefits that were offered in 2009 were extended this past December in the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act.  The tax credits, deductions and rebates are not as high as they were in 2009, but if you are still interested in making improvements to your home that are cost effective and energy efficient, it remains a sound investment for your family and for the environment. Some examples of improvements that qualify toward a tax credit, deduction or rebate are approved central air conditioners, boilers, furnaces, insulation, weatherstripping, and windows. The best resource for accurate and up to date information is www.energystar.gov for a thorough and detailed list of products and specific guidelines.  

Hang onto it!  For any energy saving product that you install it is important to keep  receipts, stickers and paperwork providing certification information from the manufacture in a safe place.  You will need these documents for tax purposes when filing your 2011 5695 IRS Form.  

Yes, There is Lending 

Worried that you can't finance your latest project? For qualified borrowers, I just learned from Washington Federal that they are offering loans based upon future appraised value to determine the maximum loan amount for upcoming remodels. For new home construction, Washington Federal is offering a 31 year loan with an interest-only phase during construction, so borrowers can take advantage of low interest rates now and avoid long term interest risk. For more information, call Mark Meuser, the McCall Branch Manager, at 208-634-2121 or email him at mark.meuser@washingtonfederal.com.

Pragmatic Design

Homeowners at all price points are scaling back expectations and budgets when it comes to designing new homes. Architects report that smaller homes with more flexible spaces and fewer extravagant features are becoming the norm. Interest in specialty rooms such as home theaters, hobby or game rooms, and home gyms has dropped since 2009 reports a recent American Institute of Architects Survey.

Another trend is reducing energy consumption. Concerns over energy costs and the environment have also impacted home sizes, and this trend has continued to shrink home sizes during the recession. Economists and architects expect this trend to continue, but some think it won't outlive the economic recovery. Check out the latest informal poll at www.residentialarchitect.com, where more than half of the respondents predicted that a desire for smaller, more efficient homes will prevail in certain market segments, but other markets will revert to pre-recession design preferences for larger homes.

And the final trend is the multigeneraltional household, which is becoming more prevalent due to economic, social, and demographic factors. Baby boomers will continue to maintain a strong influence over housing and will have a large impact on senior housing, but younger generations will impact the industry in new ways, from growth to design trends.