Fall Into the Farm in Hendersonville

The Carl Sandburg Home, a National Historic Site, will be celebrating Fall Into the Farm in Hendersonville this Saturday, September 22, 2012. From 10am to 3pm, visitors will be treated to what life on the farm was like for the Sandburg family during the 1940s and 1950s. This family-friendly event is absolutely free to the public.

Included in the day’s free events are a tour of this historic Hendersonville home, which would usually cost $5 for adults and $3 for seniors. A professional storyteller will be on site to entertain guests. Take a tour of the garden and join in on some toe-tappin’ square-dancing fun. Cheese-making demonstrations, a goat judging contest and children’s crafts round out the rest of the day.

Schedule of Events

• 10:00am to 12:30pm – Garden Tours
• 10:30am to 11:30am – Storytelling and Music Making
• 11:30am to 12:00pm – Cheese-Making Demonstration
• 12:00pm to 1:00pm – Storytelling and Music Making
• 1:00pm to 1:30pm – Square Dancing
• 1:30pm to 2:00pm – Goat Judging
• 1:30pm to 2:00pm – Cheese-Making Demonstration
• 2:00pm to 2:30pm – Square Dancing
• 2:30pm to 3:00pm – Goat Judging

Two activity stations will be set up and will remain open throughout the entire day. The Farm Life activity station in the barn will provide a hands-on interactive experience of Hendersonville farm life in the 1940s and 1950s. The Rootabaga activity station will be set up in the amphitheater, where the storytelling and music making events will be held. Bring the family to the Carl Sandburg Home for Fall Into the Farm in Hendersonville this Saturday, September 22nd. Experience a bit of history in a fun, interactive way with the family.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/09/20/fall-into-the-farm-in-hendersonville/.

How is My Credit Score Calculated?

Banks use your credit score (aka FICO score) to help determine whether you are a worthy risk for a Hendersonville home loan. It’s also one of the deciding factors regarding your interest rate on a mortgage loan. Most likely, you already know WHAT a credit score is. But have you ever asked yourself, “how is my credit score calculated?” That’s a much more complicated answer.

Lenders like it when you have several different types of credit. That includes not only revolving credit, like credit cards and department store accounts, but also previous mortgage notes on other Hendersonville area homes, installment loans, student loans, car loans, etc.

Most Hendersonville home owners have debt. It can sometimes be unavoidable. But, too much debt makes you look risky. Make a concerted effort to pay down as much debt as you can before you apply for a mortgage loan.

Banks live by the mantra “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Your payment history says a lot about your creditworthiness. Late payments on any bill, including the cable, cell phone, electric bill, etc., may be reported to the credit reporting agencies, reducing your score and your chances of scoring a home loan.

Not only is your payment history important, but the length of time you have had credit can affect your score as well. The longer you’ve had a history of credit accounts and payments, the more complete a picture a mortgage company will have at your spending and repayment habits. A long history of credit with faithful payments makes your Hendersonville home loan a much more attractive risk than someone who just received a credit card two months ago and is applying for a home loan.

Finally, opening new credit while trying to purchase a Hendersonville home is a definite “no-no”. First of all, your credit is hit by 5-10 points every time someone makes an inquiry. When you purchase a car, for example, the dealership may try to find you the best deal by shopping around at a few lending institutions. That could mean three to four different hits on your credit at one time. Secondly, a mortgage company could look at this as someone who is set on a spending spree, which makes you look less fiscally responsible and can cost you approval on your home loan.

Knowing how your credit score is calculated can help you stay on top of your credit in a more effective manner. Keep these tips in mind before you apply for a mortgage on your Hendersonville home. A good score not only means loan approval, but can also determine how much it will cost you for any loan you take out.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina Real Estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/09/13/calculating-credit-score/.

Hendersonville’s Water Efficiency Rebates

Water conservation is a subject many Hendersonville residents are well aware of. Luckily, the City of Hendersonville has initiated a water efficiency rebate program to help make water conservation even more profitable. When you upgrade your old toilet, clothes washer or irrigation system with a more energy efficient model (those with the WaterSense or EnergyStar labels), you may be entitled to a rebate from the city’s water rebate program.

The City of Hendersonville has allocated enough funds to offer a total of 240 rebates for clothes washers and irrigation systems. Qualifying purchases will receive $75-$150 for EnergyStar labeled clothes washers and up to $200 for WaterSense labeled irrigation systems. Replacing your old toilet with a WaterSense labeled high-efficiency one can get you a $25-$100 credit.

A lot of water is wasted every time you flush with a regular toilet. Low flow toilets can save up to 5 1/2 gallons a flush over a regular toilet. Using an EnergyStar washer can save users around $70 a year. With a smart irrigation system, your Hendersonville lawn is only watered as often and as much as is needed. You never have to worry about overwatering your lawn again. Also, keep in mind that these are excellent selling points when you decide to put your Hendersonville home on the market in the future.

Only property owners or those individuals who are legally responsible for paying the water bill through Hendersonville Water and Sewer are eligible for any rebates. Each household is limited to two toilet rebates and one clothes washer and smart irrigation system upgrade per household. You can either pick up a rebate form at the City of Hendersonville’s Operations Center (305 Williams St) during regular business hours or download it online by visiting the City of Hendersonvile’s website here.

In an effort to encourage its residents to conserve water whenever possible, the City of Hendersonville is offering water efficiency rebates. Now, you can get rid of the old water-guzzlers, save water using more water efficient varieties and even make a little pocket change in the process. It’s a win for you, a win for the city and a win for the environment. You just can’t go wrong!

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/09/06/hendersonvilles-water-efficiency-rebates/.