Double the number of housing markets moved into the “improving” category this month compared to last month, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index, which debuted last month.

Twenty-three housing markets qualified as “improving” compared to 12 last month. Metro areas are considered “improving” if they show an improvement in housing permits, employment, and housing prices for at least six months. Texas cities appear the most frequently on the list.

"Both the number and geographic diversity of improving housing markets expanded this month, with Iowa, Illinois, and South Carolina all newly represented by one entry or more on the list," Bob Nielsen, NAHB chairman, said in a statement. "This is further evidence that, despite the tough conditions that persist in many cities, pockets of improvement are emerging in local housing markets across the country."

The following are the 23 markets labeled “improving” in October, according to NAHB’s index:

• Alexandria, La.
• Amarillo, Texas
• Anchorage, Alaska
• Bismarck, N.D.
• Casper, Wyo.
• Fairbanks, Ark.
• Fayetteville, N.C.
• Houma, La.
• Iowa City, Iowa
• Jonesboro, Ark.
• Kankakee, Ill.
• McAllen, Texas
• Midland, Texas
• New Orleans, La.
• Odessa, Texas
• Pine Bluff, Ark.
• Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Sherman, Texas
• Sumter, S.C.
• Waco, Texas
• Waterloo, Iowa
• Wichita Falls, Texas
• Winston-Salem, N.C.

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Daily News

Source: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/10/07/23-housing-markets-show-big-improvement

Do the geese flying south have you thinking of closing up your house and spending the winter in a warmer climate? Before you pack your swimsuit and sandals, take note: If you leave your house empty for too long, you could lose your home owners insurance — and your home equity if a fire or other disaster destroys or damages your house.

Insurance companies hate vacant houses, whether you’re taking a extended vacation or you’re moving out of town and leaving your house empty. If you’re not home and a water pipe busts, a fire starts, or someone breaks in, chances are the subsequent mess is going to be pretty big — along with the insurance claim for the damage.

If you’re lucky, your insurance company will let you leave the house vacant, but just won’t pay for certain things like broken glass, vandalism, or malicious mischief. At worst, your home owners insurance company will yank your policy if you go away and leave the house unattended for a month or more.

Some companies, like State Farm, decide on a case-by-case basis whether you can keep your policy when you’re temporarily not living in your home, especially if you’ve got a plan to take care of the place while you’re out of town.

Say you’re going on a two-month, around-the-world cruise (lucky you!). You’re more likely to keep your coverage if you hire a company to shovel the snow so your home looks occupied while you’re gone.

Some insurers will cancel your policy if your house is vacant for 30 days. If that happens to you, call a commercial insurance broker. Commercial agents sell insurance to landlords who have vacant houses all the time — during renovations, or when they’re between tenants.

Expect to pay about 15% to 20% more than you were paying for your regular home owners insurance.

The bottom line is that if you’re heading south for the winter, read the fine print in your home owners policy to see what it says about vacancies. Then, email your agent or insurance company to double-check the rules. Don’t call, because an email is a written record of your communication. You might need that record later if the company refuses to pay a claim because your house was vacant.

Have you left your house vacant for more than a month? Did you check your home owners insurance policy before you left?

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/home-insurance/vacant-house-insurance/#ixzz1a1kCq7uq

Another housing market slump may be on the way but Evansville realtors are not worrying about it.

The President of the Evansville Association of Realtors Chris Dickson says home sales are up from last year.

Dickson tells NEWS 25 July sales were up 19 percent and up 33 percent in August.

He also say the average price is also up 20 percent because people are buying more expensive homes.

Dickson tells us less foreclosures are coming onto the market but there are still several foreclosure properties sitting vacant in Evansville.

Source: http://www.news25.us/story/15617516/evansville-realtors-not-worried-about-housing-market

Whether it’s a new house or an old house, people like hardwood floors better than carpet, especially on the main floor.

Looking at the stats for North King County, a home without hardwood floors is about 2X as likely not to sell, especially at a price point of $400,000 or more for the home. About 24% to 26% of homes that “expire”, or homes still on market and not sold, do not have hardwood floors. Compare that to only 14% of SOLD homes without hardwood floors and you see that 86% of recent home buyers chose a home that had hardwood floors.

Wide plank, narrow plank, light oak, dark finish…lots of variances as to preference of TYPE of hardwood floor. But hands down, even if the new buyer refinishes the floors to a different color, they choose homes with hardwood floors that they can refinish over homes that would need hardwood floors installed.

While “What type of carpet to use to sell your home?” has not changed much…the better answer for the main living areas is hardwood…hands down.

The “new” preferred color of hardwood is less red than the once popular Brazilian Cherry, darker than the blonde tones of yesteryear, but not quite as dark as the short lived chocolate brown craze that lasted about a millisecond.

A warm chestnut brown is the color of the day.

It’s great for the floors…but a little dull for the kitchen or bathroom cabinetry. The new warm chestnut brown hardwoods are best used when the kitchen and main floor baths are a light colored ceramic tile or a laminate floor that blends the color.

Armstrong calls the color “gunstock”. It’s darker than light…lighter than dark…and solidly BROWN vs orange or red tones. Much easier to decorate a room without clashing with the tone of the hardwoods when using this color in many and varied rooms in the house. As a matching cabinet color choice though…I don’t think that trend will last. It’s just too darned dull to have as a kitchen cabinet color.

If after reading this you have any questions as to the color I am talking about…just visit any new model homes…it’s all the rage…and they are pretty much ALL using it in their model homes.

By ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2011/10/03/todays-homebuyers-like-hardwood-floors/

The Disney Institute's professional development program is coming to Evansville later this month. The October 27 event is being sponsored by Ivy Tech Corporate College-Southwest.

 Disney Institute is bringing its renowned professional development program, Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence, to the Holiday Inn – Evansville Airport on Thursday, October 27, 2011. Sponsored by Ivy Tech Corporate College-Southwest, the full-day event will allow area professionals to learn how a leader’s behaviors are instrumental in conveying values, guiding strategy and inspiring passion and interest among employees.

“This is a great opportunity for southern Indiana business professionals to participate in a Disney Institute experience in Evansville,” said Jeff James, vice president for Disney Institute. “It’s a day of Disney training that will offer dozens of easy-to-implement, proven ideas that can help transform an organization. The program is as appropriate for project managers and intact work teams as it is for leaders and senior executives.”

Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence gives participants the chance to explore proven Disney leadership philosophies that encourage values that produce results and are fundamental for organizations to grow and succeed.

“In an era where everyone is competing for business and market share, strong leadership is essential for any organization to thrive,” James said. “This program is made for businesses in any industry looking to build passionate workforce dedicated to delivering products and services that exceed customer expectations.”

Program registration is $399 per person and includes all course materials and lunch. Employers sending five or more participants receive $20 off each registration. Ivy Tech alumni, students, and employees will receive a $20 discount. Price includes all course materials, a continental breakfast, and lunch. For more information or to register, please call (812) 429-9810 or visit www.ivytech.edu/southwest.

About Disney Institute

Disney Institute is the global professional training arm of The Walt Disney Company. One of the most recognized names in professional development, Disney Institute travels the world offering engaging seminars, workshops and presentations, as well as fully customized programming. Immersive learning experiences are also offered at Disney destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia, enabling participants to go behind the scenes and see firsthand how business theory drives operational excellence. The Disney Institute client roster includes Fortune 500 companies as well as a wide range of small businesses, non-profits and government agencies. To learn more, please visit www.disneyinstitute.com, www.facebook.com/disneyinstitute, www.twitter.com/disneyinstitute, or call (321) 939-4600.

Source: Ivy Tech Corporate College & InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

http://insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=50098

The Appraisal Institute recently released a form to help appraisers factor in energy-efficient home features when valuing homes. The forms can also be used by real estate agents in describing “green” properties on the MLS, the Appraisal Institute notes.

Everything from a home owners’ energy efficient appliances to solar panels may now get more attention from appraisals with the added form.

The new form allows appraisers to identify and describe a home’s green features. It will serve as an optional addendum to Fannie Mae Form 1004, which is the appraisal industry’s mostly commonly used form for mortgage purposes, used by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration.

“We hope lenders, home builders, real estate agents, and home owners will take advantage of this new tool,” Joseph C. Magdziarz, president of the Appraisal Institute, said in a statement. “Mortgage lenders who want to see energy features analyzed should request the green addendum to be included with Form 1004. We also encourage lenders to provide the green addendum to home owners so they can fill it out and provide it to their appraiser. If a new home is being appraised, home builders can use the addendum to provide data to appraisers. Real estate agents also can use the data to help populate the MLS.”

Source: “Appraisal Institute Issues Form to Help Real Estate Appraisers Analyze ‘Green’ Features,” RISMedia (Sept. 29, 2011)

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/09/30/appraisers-add-form-help-value-green-homes

The Solid Waste District conducts tire recycling programs each year in the spring and fall for the residents of Vanderburgh County.  These programs provide an environmentally proper method of disposal of used tires so that they are kept out of the landfill and are not illegally dumped.  There is a $1 per tire fee for car & light truck tires.  Semi tires are $10 and tractor tires are $25.  Tires from businesses are not accepted.  The District accepts an unlimited number of tires free of charge from neighborhood associations and other civic groups who collect unwanted tires from alleys, roadsides and ditches.

Location: Civic Center Parking Lot    8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Saturday, October 15

You might think a pot trust would be a trust designed to hold your maui wowie and/or Bob Marley memorabilia. But in fact, this type of trust is designed to promote fairness in families with a big age gap between children.

In many cases, a husband and wife will divide their property equally between their children at the death of the second spouse to die. That can be fair, but what if one child is 25 years old (and has completed college) while the other child is 14 (and has yet to begin college)? Given the high cost of higher education, "equality" could be unfair in this situation. For instance, if we assume husband and wife had a combined estate of $400,000, then each child would receive $200,000. The younger child's inheritance may be consumed (largely or even entirely) by tuition and room and board, while the older child can use the $200,000 as he or she sees fit.

Enter the pot trust. Instead of dividing property equally at the death of the second spouse to die, the property is held in trust until the younger child reaches a certain age (for instance, 25) or graduates from college. Up until that time, money can come out of the pot trust for either child, but the main purpose of the pot trust -- expressed specifically in the trust document -- is for the payment of the younger child's education expenses.

Once the termination date is reached (say, younger child reaches 25), the pot trust terminates and the remaining property is then divided equally among the children. Let's say that the $400,000 combined estate referenced above drops to $240,000 while the pot trust is ongoing, because the younger child's college education cost $160,000. Upon the termination date, each child receives $120,000. A much fairer result, I think.

Source: Joel A. Schoenmeyer http://www.deathandtaxesblog.com/2011/09/what_is_a_pot_trust.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DeathAndTaxesBlogCom+%28Death+and+Taxes+Blog%29

Posted by: Craig Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency & Julius Genachowski, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission

Ask anyone who has lived through a significant disaster what that experience was like and – without a doubt – one of the things some people are likely to recall is how difficult it was to communicate from their mobile phones with friends, family and emergency services like 911 in the immediate aftermath.

Many of us were reminded of this last month, when both a 5.8 magnitude earthquake and Hurricane Irene struck parts of the East Coast. People immediately reached for their phones to call loved ones or 911. Unfortunately, in some cases, loss of power made communication difficult.

The FCC and FEMA are doing everything we can to empower the public to be prepared for all emergencies (you can visit www.Ready.gov or www.Listo.gov to learn more). But one of the lessons learned from that August earthquake was that we can do more to educate the public about the most effective ways to communicate before, during and after a disaster.

Today, we are pleased to release a set of new, easy-to-follow tips to help all Americans prepare their homes and mobile phones for a disaster. These tips are practical things everyone can do to better preserve the ability to communicate effectively during – and immediately after – a disaster.

While we don’t have control over when or where the next disaster will strike, we do have control over what we do to prepare. Check out these tips and please, take one more step and share it with your networks. Use Twitter, Facebook, email or a good old-fashioned phone call to help us spread the word – and help more Americans get ready before the next disaster strikes.

And remember, if you have a question about your particular mobile phone device, contact your wireless provider or equipment manufacturer.

Before a Disaster: How to Prepare Your Home and Mobile Device

1. Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers in your cell phone and in or near your home phone.
2. Keep charged batteries and car-phone chargers available for back-up power for your cell phone.
3. If you have a traditional landline (non-broadband or VOIP) phone, keep at least one non-cordless phone in your home because if it will work even if you lose power.
4. Prepare a family contact sheet. This should include at least one out-of-town contact that may be better able to reach family members in an emergency.
5. Program “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) contacts into your cell phone so emergency personnel can contact those people for you if you are unable to use your phone. Let your ICE contacts know that they are programmed into your phone and inform them of any medical issues or other special needs you may have.
6. If you are evacuated and have call-forwarding on your home phone, forward your home phone number to your cell phone number.
7. If you do not have a cell phone, keep a prepaid phone card to use if needed during or after a disaster.
8. Have a battery-powered radio or television available (with spare batteries).
9. Subscribe to text alert services from local or state governments to receive alerts in the event of a disaster. Parents should sign up for their school district emergency alert system.

During and After a Disaster: How to Reach Friends, Loved Ones & Emergency Services

1. If you have a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1. Remember that you cannot currently text 9-1-1. If you are not experiencing an emergency, do not call 9-1-1. If your area offers 3-1-1 service or another information system, call that number for non-emergencies.
2. For non-emergency communications, use text messaging, e-mail, or social media instead of making voice calls on your cell phone to avoid tying up voice networks. Data-based services like texts and emails are less likely to experience network congestion. You can also use social media to post your status to let family and friends know you are okay. In addition to Facebook and Twitter, you can use resources such as the American Red Cross’s Safe and Well program (www.redcross.org/safeandwell).
3. Keep all phone calls brief. If you need to use a phone, try to convey only vital information to emergency personnel and/or family.
4. If you are unsuccessful in completing a call using your cell phone, wait ten seconds before redialing to help reduce network congestion.
5. Conserve your cell phone battery by reducing the brightness of your screen, placing your phone in airplane mode, and closing apps you are not using that draw power, unless you need to use the phone.
6. If you lose power, you can charge your cell phone in your car. Just be sure your car is in a well-ventilated place (remove it from the garage) and do not go to your car until any danger has passed. You can also listen to your car radio for important news alerts.
7. Tune into broadcast television and radio for important news alerts. If applicable, be sure that you know how to activate the closed captioning or video description on your television.
8. If you do not have a hands-free device in your car, stop driving or pull over to the side of the road before making a call. Do not text on a cell phone, talk, or “tweet” without a hands free device while driving.
9. Immediately following a disaster, resist using your mobile device to watch streaming videos, download music or videos, or play video games, all of which can add to network congestion. Limiting use of these services can help potentially life-saving emergency calls get through to 9-1-1.

Check http://paper.li/WilberforceDMR/disaster-emergency-management regularly to find other helpful tips for preparing for disasters and other emergencies.

 

An Evansville-based company is on a list of the fastest-growing architecture, engineering, planning and environmental consulting firms in Canada and the U.S. Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates Inc. says it has made this year's Zweig Letter Hot Firm List.

Evansville, Indiana – Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates, Inc. (BLA) has been ranked No. 73 among 176 of the fastest-growing firms in the US and Canada in the architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting industry.

Since 2000, The Zweig Letter Hot Firm List has ranked industry firms based on revenue growth for the previous three years. Firms range in size from as small as six employees to as large as 10,000.

“To grow when times are good is one thing, but to grow when times are tough is truly indicative of our commitment to finding solutions that balance the need for infrastructure improvements with the challenges of diminishing or uncertain funding.” said Mike Hinton, BLA’s President and COO. “We are so proud of our employees who work so hard to achieve this and we are continually grateful to our growing base of loyal clients. What’s particularly rewarding is that we have been able to expand our staff in every one of our offices.”

Founded in 1980 in Evansville, Indiana as a transportation planning firm, today BLA maintains offices in Evansville, Indianapolis, and Jeffersonville, Indiana; Maryville, Illinois; and St. Louis, Missouri. The firm now provides a full range of infrastructure planning and design services to government, energy, agricultural and private development clients. With 180 employees and projects nationwide BLA is also listed among Engineering News Record’s 2011 “Top 500 Design Firms” and “Midwest Top 70 Design Firms.”

You can view the full list by clicking here.

 

Source: Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates, Inc. & InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report