Running the Numbers Spring - Columbian Homes · 2021. 2. 7. · plant, your personal preferences...
5
W ith Winter Solstice and the holidays over and the days beginning to lengthen, your inbox and mailbox may be overflowing with yard, garden, and seed catalogues. The gardener inside of each of us begins to awaken as well. Visions of sugar plum fairies are replaced with visions of straight garden rows and plants exploding with vegetable and fruit offerings, as fingers twitch for the ‘warm enough’ early spring days when we can once again greet our friend, the soil. Bringing your dream garden to reality requires more than enthusiasm and a collection of seed catalogues, however. It requires developing a plan of attack; an understanding of which vegetables you want to harvest and of when to sow seeds or plant seedlings in the soil so that they grow and mature on schedule. Whether planting vegetable starts or beginning from seed, there is an optimal time frame during which each plant can be started and an optimal time frame during which each plant should be ready for harvest. Each plant has its’ own unique time window, and they can be quite broad (months) or sometimes quite narrow (weeks). Outside of these windows, likelihood of failure increases. Growing your own starts from seed can offer many benefits over purchasing starts. Starting from seed enables you to grow the specific variety of a vegetable that you want, rather than sticking to a smaller selection that nurseries offer in bulk. Where growing seasons are short, starting your own seed indoors enables you to effectively lengthen the growing season. Even if you’re only gaining a few weeks, it can make all the difference in the harvest schedule, which is generally ended by the frosts of fall. If you want to grow a lot of plants, starting from seed is economically more efficient, where you can acquire hundreds of seeds for a few dollars, verses a single start. To increase your seed pool while limiting costs further, you can explore seed sharing with friends. Finally, growing from seed allows you to lessen potential impacts from weather risks and pests. Once you’ve decided to start your own plants from seeds, the collection of seed catalogues that arrived in the fall become a wealth of information. Reading them will tell you which are easy to start indoors, which prefer direct-sowing outside in the garden, and importantly, the duration of time from germination to harvest. When ordering seeds, consider the limitations of your garden space verses the needs of each plant, your personal preferences and tastes for veggies, and whether the seeds you seek to grow should be started indoors, or seeded directly into the garden. Common ‘indoor start’ vegetables include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, lettuce, peppers, pumpkins, swiss chard, tomatoes, and watermelon, while common direct sow plants include beets, carrots, corn garlic, onions, peas parsnips, potatoes, radishes, and squash. There are multiple online resources to help the curious discover the optimal planting window (whether from seed or starts) for your garden zone, a simple web query of “when to start vegetables from seed” will reveal many, along with practical advice about container selection, soil, feeding, and watering requirements. Almanac.com offers a free, easy to use planting calendar to assist gardeners in determining, based on their location, the best dates for planting vegetables and fruits, considering the applicable frost dates for a given area. Starting plants from seeds isn’t without risk, however, and common mistakes can be avoided with sufficient planning and awareness. Starting plants too early, such that they are ready for transplant before outdoor conditions are optimal, can result in leggy, weak plants. You’ll also need to ensure you have the proper indoor lighting conditions (essentially, fluorescent lights), growing medium, and containers, and that you monitor temperature moisture conditions. Seeds need to be warm and moist to germinate. Seed packages also contain a wealth of information and their advice should not be ignored. Whether you are a new gardener or you are a seasoned green thumb, beginning to think about your garden goals now can go a long way toward a healthy and abundant harvest. Home Staging Faces of Real Estate Food Yard Pets WHAT HEALTHY LIVING MEANS TO ME… “Healthy living in the time of COVID has meant adaptation, especially in fitness. It’s been a challenging year for all, but also an extraordinary year for creativity, determination and perseverance. I admire the resilience of people who have adapted their fitness routines to reflect what is available to them. The fitness industry is adapting as well. There is a growing need to build personal connections, to help build the mind and soul, as well as the body. It’s been an amazing journey to be a part of such a quickly evolving industry focused on helping more and more people improve overall health.” — Tracy Pax | Owner Anytime Fitness, Vancouver, WA Healthy Living REAL ESTATE, HOME DECOR, HOME IMPROVEMENT, HEALTHY LIVING ColumbianHomes.com Home Lifestyle February 7, 2021 Running the Numbers Home sales in 2020 were the highest level in 14 years. The super low interest rates and a pandemic that had all of us looking hard at the space we call home brought on robust sales. If you are trying to run the numbers about whether you can improve your living location, a little time on the following numbers can help you check the yardstick measure about where you are. Knowing these numbers can give reassurance that you are ready for a move or give help to what needs to be done to qualify for the mortgage you desire. Of course, keep in mind that running the numbers and not just the application is what any good mortgage advisor does on a daily basis. If you don’t have such a person, finding an advisor can greatly help improve the ability you have to qualify for the best financing. The first most-important number that you and your mortgage advisor will consider is your monthly cash flow. Cash flow shows that you have the financial stability to adjust as household demands occur. To find your monthly cash flow number, add up all of the monthly income that your household has. Then, make a list of your monthly expenses. It’s important to list the expenses, because listing them gives an opportunity to see if changes can be made to present your cash flow more positively. Expenses include food and payments you make each month. You want to see a positive number on the cash flow side. If you are spending more than you have coming in, you have two choices. One choice is to reduce spending, but the other is to increase income. The next number that I encourage you to review is your credit score. The higher the credit score, the better loan terms that you can qualify for. A higher score also allows you to obtain lower insurance premiums. Each of us can get a free copy of our credit score from many different sources. If you don’t typically pay attention to the due dates of your bills, it’s a great opportunity to prepare a schedule of bills to pay each month according to due dates. Paying your bills on time greatly helps your credit score. As you make payments, seek to have a goal of having balances below 30 percent of each account’s limit. The third number to find is your debt-to- income ratio. This number is calculated by adding your monthly debt payments and dividing it by your monthly gross income or income before taxes are taken out. Usually it is best to have a debt-to-income ratio of less than 43 percent. The fourth number to seek out is the highest interest rate you have on any debt. This number gives you the best focus on what to reduce first as an expense. If you have an 18 percent interest rate on a credit card, you have the equivalent of enjoying an 18 percent return on your money, if that debt is paid off. Typically the only cost is time when meeting with a mortgage advisor. Virtual appointments are easier than ever and offer the flexibility that most people need right now. Call or email [email protected] We lend where we live, Mike Real Estate Trends 360-607-9312 Michael Pattullo Mortgage Advisor Peak Mortgage • MLO# 229675 • Peakmtgnw.com Spring J u s t A r o u n d t h e C o r n e r GARDENING by KATIE WOLFE, WSU Clark County Extension Master Gardener Delivering the promise of home. 2 0 1 N E P a r k P l a z a D r S t e 2 4 2 2 4 4 2 4 5 , V a n c o u v e r , W A 9 8 6 8 4 E q u a l H o u s i n g L e n d e r , N M L S # 3 2 7 4 ; O R M L - 1 7 6 g u i l d m o r t g a g e . c o m / l i c e n c i n g Paula Nirschl NMLS #383396 Loan Officer 360.816.5103 [email protected] Here to help with your home purchase and refinance needs.
Transcript of Running the Numbers Spring - Columbian Homes · 2021. 2. 7. · plant, your personal preferences...
W ith Winter Solstice and the holidays over and the days beginning to lengthen, your inbox and mailbox
may be overfl owing with yard, garden, and seed catalogues. The gardener inside of each of us begins to awaken as well. Visions of sugar plum fairies are replaced with visions of straight garden rows and plants exploding with vegetable and fruit offerings, as fi ngers twitch for the ‘warm enough’ early spring days when we can once again greet our friend, the soil. Bringing your dream garden to reality requires more than enthusiasm and a collection of seed catalogues, however. It requires developing a plan of attack; an understanding of which vegetables you want to harvest and of when to sow seeds or plant seedlings in the soil so that they grow and mature on schedule. Whether planting vegetable starts or beginning from seed, there is an optimal time frame during which each plant can be started and an optimal time frame during which each plant should be ready for harvest. Each plant has its’ own unique time window, and they can be quite broad (months) or sometimes quite narrow (weeks). Outside of these windows, likelihood of failure increases. Growing your own starts from seed can offer many benefi ts over purchasing starts. Starting from seed enables you to grow the specifi c variety of a vegetable that you want, rather than sticking to a smaller selection that nurseries offer in bulk. Where growing seasons are short, starting your own seed indoors enables you to effectively lengthen the growing season. Even if you’re only gaining a few weeks, it can make all the difference in the harvest schedule, which is generally ended by the frosts of fall. If you want to grow a lot of plants, starting from seed is economically more effi cient, where you can acquire hundreds of seeds for a few dollars, verses a single start. To increase your seed pool while limiting costs further, you can explore seed sharing with friends. Finally, growing from seed allows you to lessen potential impacts from weather risks and pests.Once you’ve decided to start your own plants
from seeds, the collection of seed catalogues that arrived in the fall become a wealth of information. Reading them will tell you which are easy to start indoors, which prefer direct-sowing outside in the garden, and importantly, the duration of time from germination to harvest.When ordering seeds, consider the limitations of your garden space verses the needs of each plant, your personal preferences and tastes for veggies, and whether the seeds you seek to grow should be started indoors, or seeded directly into the garden. Common ‘indoor start’ vegetables include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, caulifl ower, eggplant, lettuce, peppers, pumpkins, swiss chard, tomatoes, and watermelon, while common direct sow plants include beets, carrots, corn garlic, onions, peas parsnips, potatoes, radishes, and squash. There are multiple online resources to help the curious discover the optimal planting window (whether from seed or starts) for your garden zone, a simple web query of “when to start vegetables from seed” will reveal many, along with practical advice about container selection, soil, feeding, and watering requirements. Almanac.com offers a free, easy to use planting calendar to assist gardeners in determining, based on their location, the best dates for planting vegetables and fruits, considering the applicable frost dates for a given area. Starting plants from seeds isn’t without risk, however, and common mistakes can be avoided with suffi cient planning and awareness. Starting plants too early, such that they are ready for transplant before outdoor conditions are optimal, can result in leggy, weak plants. You’ll also need to ensure you have the proper indoor lighting conditions (essentially, fl uorescent lights), growing medium, and containers, and that you monitor temperature moisture conditions. Seeds need to be warm and moist to germinate. Seed packages also contain a wealth of information and their advice should not be ignored.Whether you are a new gardener or you are a seasoned green thumb, beginning to think about your garden goals now can go a long way toward a healthy and abundant harvest.
Home StagingFaces of Real EstateFoodYardPets
WHAT HEALTHY LIVING MEANS TO ME…“Healthy living in the time of COVID has meant adaptation, especially in fi tness. It’s been a challenging year for all, but also an extraordinary year for creativity, determination and perseverance. I admire the resilience of people who have adapted their fi tness routines to refl ect what is available to them. The fi tness industry is adapting as well. There is a growing need to build personal connections, to help build the mind and soul, as well as the body. It’s been an amazing journey to be a part of such a quickly evolving industry focused on helping more and more people improve overall health.”
— Tracy Pax | Owner Anytime Fitness, Vancouver, WA
Healthy Living
REAL ESTATE, HOME DECOR, HOME IMPROVEMENT, HEALTHY LIVINGColumbianHomes.com
Home LifestyleFebruary 7, 2021
Running the NumbersHome sales in 2020 were the highest level in 14 years. The super low interest rates and a pandemic that had all of us looking hard at the space we call home brought on robust sales.If you are trying to run the numbers about whether you can improve your living location, a little time on the following numbers can help you check the yardstick measure about where you are. Knowing these numbers can give reassurance that you are ready for a move or give help to what needs to be done to qualify for the mortgage you desire.Of course, keep in mind that running the numbers and not just the application is what any good mortgage advisor does on a daily basis. If you don’t have such a person, finding an advisor can greatly help improve the ability you have to qualify for the best financing.The first most-important number that you and your mortgage advisor will consider is your monthly cash f low. Cash f low shows that you have the financial stability to adjust as household demands occur. To find your monthly cash f low number, add up all of the monthly income that your household has. Then, make a list of your monthly expenses. It’s important to list the expenses, because listing them gives an opportunity to see if changes can be made to present your cash f low more positively. Expenses include food and payments you make each month.You want to see a positive number on the cash f low side. If you are spending more than you have coming in, you have two choices. One choice is to reduce spending, but the other is to increase income.The next number that I encourage you to review is your credit score. The higher the credit score, the better loan terms that you can qualify for. A higher score also allows you to obtain lower insurance premiums. Each of us can get a free copy of our credit score from many different sources. If you don’t typically pay attention to the due dates of your bills, it’s a great opportunity to prepare a schedule of bills to pay each month according to due dates. Paying your bills on time greatly helps your credit score. As you make payments, seek to have a goal of having balances below 30 percent of each account’s limit.The third number to find is your debt-to-income ratio. This number is calculated by adding your monthly debt payments and dividing it by your monthly gross income or income before taxes are taken out. Usually it is best to have a debt-to-income ratio of less than 43 percent.The fourth number to seek out is the highest interest rate you have on any debt. This number gives you the best focus on what to reduce first as an expense. If you have an 18 percent interest rate on a credit card, you have the equivalent of enjoying an 18 percent return on your money, if that debt is paid off.Typically the only cost is time when meeting with a mortgage advisor. Virtual appointments are easier than ever and offer the f lexibility that most people need right now. Call or email [email protected] lend where we live,
Mike
Real Estate Trends
360-607-9312
Michael Pattullo Mortgage Advisor
Peak Mortgage • MLO# 229675 • Peakmtgnw.com
Spring
Just Around the Corner
SpringJ erGARDENING
by KATIE WOLFE, WSU Clark County Extension Master Gardener
Delivering the promise of home.
201 NE Park Plaza Dr Ste 242 244 245, Vancouver, WA 98684 Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #3274; OR ML-176 guildmortgage.com/licencing
Paula NirschlNMLS #383396Loan [email protected]
Here to help with your home purchase and refinance needs.
The Columbian F2 Sunday, February 7, 2021
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375 S 10th Street, Kalama | $329,900
GenerationHomesNW.com
The Columbian F3Sunday, February 7, 2021
To advertise, call Krista Cunningham at 360-735-4583 or email [email protected]
Homes for Sale DirectoryColumbianHomes.com
To Promote Your Home for Sale Here
Contact Krista Cunningham at 360-735-4583
668 E White Oak Ave, La Center
$559,9003 Bed • 3 Bath • 2750 SFFabulous two-story home in desirable Heritage Country Estates! AC, land-
William Miller 360-355-3363 Wollam & Associates | RE/MAX Equity Group
438 Cc St, Woodland
$299,0003 Bed • 2 Bath • 1224 SFHuge potential. Centrally located 2 story bungalow in a quiet neigh-borhood near I-5. Laundry, living & eating area on main. Covered front porch to enjoy on summer evenings. Ready for some TLC. 6,295 sq ft. lot.
Donald Carlson 360-513-3413RE/MAX Equity Group
3255 NW Valley St, Camas
$942,9004 Bed • 3.5 Bath • 3304 SFLush green space behind this multi-Generation home! A synthetic deck, 10ft ceilings on main, SS appliances, custom cabinetry. Camas schools! This home is ideal for anyone looking to make Camas their hometown.
Ala Malyakin 360-261-0300 Wollam & Associates | RE/MAX Equity Group
0 SE 28th St, Battle Ground
$517,9004 Bed • 3 Bath • 2343 SFFabulous home in desirable Cedars Landing! First rate standards available, including full AC and landscaping. Slab countertops, energy star rated
William Miller 360-355-3363 Wollam & Associates | RE/MAX Equity Group
42210 NE 118th Ave, Woodland
$220,000BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME HEREEverything is ready for you to build on this quiet 1.55 acre property. Power, water, septic and freshly graveled driveway are ready for a new home. Territorial view. Private and secluded. MARKETABLE TIMBER!
Donald Carlson 360-513-3413RE/MAX Equity Group
1860 NW 33rd Way, Camas
$826,9004 Bed • 3 Bath • 3185 SFFlexible Multi-Gen plan, 10ft ceilings on main, lifetime Milgard windows, connected outdoor and indoor living, open concept great room with
Ala Malyakin 360-261-0300 Wollam & Associates | RE/MAX Equity Group
9708 NE 150th Ave, Vancouver
$695,9504 Bed • 2.5 Bath • 2852 SFNew Google smart home! Den on main, open kitchen with quartz countertop, dining nook and SS appliances, open concept great room
Ala Malyakin 360-261-0300 Wollam & Associates | RE/MAX Equity Group
6337 N 89th Ave, Camas
$502,4003 Bed • 2 Bath • 1,574 SF-
Melinda Shoote 360-635-7911LENNAR
1788 57th St, Washougal
$1,350,0003 Bed • 2.5 Bath • 2,892 SFUseable & future dividable land (23 lots+-). Columbia River, city lights
Alicia Howard 360-597-5757Premiere Property Group LLC
649 E Vine Maple Ave, La Center
$510,9003 Bed • 2.5 Bath • 2016 SFNew home in Heritage Country Estates! Slab countertops, energy star
William Miller 360-355-3363 Wollam & Associates | RE/MAX Equity Group
15107 NE 98th Cir, Vancouver
$699,6003 Bed • 2.5 Bath • 2739 SFopen kitchen, formal living room, dining nook & SS appliances, But-
Ala Malyakin 360-261-0300 Wollam & Associates | RE/MAX Equity Group
4.5+ ACRESCall for your personal showing of one of these homes
The Columbian F4 Sunday, February 7, 2021
According to History.com, wars over access to salt reserves in China are believed to have been fought as early as 6,000 B.C. Though that shows just how valuable salt has been throughout much of human history, it doesn’t indicate the negative effects that can result from diets that feature excessive amounts of sodium.
The American Heart Association notes that sodium plays an essential role in the human body by regulating the kidneys and helping to control the body’s fluid balance. Sodium also helps send nerve impulses and affects muscle function. However, excessive amounts of sodium can compromise heart health. The AHA notes that excessive amounts of sodium in the bloodstream pulls water into the blood vessels, increasing the total
volume of blood within them. As more blood flows through blood vessels, blood pressure increases. Over time, that can adversely affect blood vessels and speed up the build-up of plaque that can block blood flow. Higher blood pressure forces the heart to work harder and increases a person’s risk for heart disease.
So what about sodium, a mineral so valued, and indeed vital to human existence, that it’s led to wars and created countless devotees in kitchens over the centuries? If it’s flavor cooks are aiming for, it’s possible to reduce reliance on sodium and increase the use of fresh herbs without sacrificing flavor. Such a transition can improve heart health and introduce a host of new flavors at meal time.
Salt has long been used to add flavor to people’s favorite foods. In fact, the use of salt as a means to preserving foods and adding flavor to recipes dates back to ancient times and has led to countless conflicts ever since.
Fresh Herbs That Can Reduce Your Reliance On Sodium
BasilThe AHA notes that basil has a sweet and fresh flavor profile and is best added to a dish right before serving. Freshly cut basil leaves can be added to any number of dishes, including tomato sauces, pastas, salads, pizzas, and eggs.
Cilan�oCilantro are the delicate leaves and stems of the coriander plant. Like basil, cilantro should be added to a dish right before serving and should not be cooked. Cilantro can be paired with beans, tomatoes, corn, and avocados among other foods, and is widely used when preparing Mexican foods at home.
OreganoThe AHA notes that Greek dishes often combine oregano, mint and lemon to create a memorable, delicious flavor profile. If chopping fresh oregano, strip the leaves from the stem and then discard the stem.
ParsleyParsley isn’t just a garnish used to add aesthetic appeal to plates. Flat-leaf parsley provides a light and fresh flavor, while the AHA notes that curly parsley offers a slightly peppery profile. Parsley is typically added to a dish during the final minutes of cooking or right before serving, and can be paired with chicken, fish, potatoes, and pasta among countless other foods.These are just a handful of herbs that can give meals a flavorful punch and help chefs avoid an overreliance sodium in their recipes.
FACES
2021Real Estateof
L lamas, biohazards, and
crime scenes aren’t what
people typically associate with
the job of a real estate agent,
but Julie Baldino has seen it all
in her 18 years of experience.
Her focus on listing bank and
government owned homes the
last 12 years has provided a
variety of unique experiences.
Besides dealing with squatters,
tent cities, and caring for the
occasional abandoned llama,
managing her Front Door Realty
brokerage and training her
agents to provide exemplary
service is Julie’s specialty and
source of pride.
“Front Door Realty is an inde-
pendently owned brokerage (not a
franchise) and a Certified Woman
Owned Small Business. We have
chosen to remain small in order to
maintain higher levels of customer
service and take much pride in the
training our agents receive prior to
working with the public. We are
dealing with the largest financial
decision most people make in a
lifetime and take that responsibility
very seriously!”
Julie’s tip for buyers is to be
realistic, patient and flexible,
which can be a challenge with
the current low inventory, rising
prices, and steady influx of
people moving to the Pacific
Northwest. She describes
first and second homes as
stepping stones on the way to
a dream home. Yet, the path
to homeownership can be
rocky, so one tool Julie uses to
guide her agents and clients
is her expertise as a Certified
Crystal Healing Consultant,
Aromatherapist, and Sacred
Space Specialist.
When she’s not working, Julie
loves spending time with her
fur family of three rescue dogs
and 19-year-old kitty, as well
as family time at their home in
Newport. She also enjoys vegan
cooking, collecting rare minerals
and crystals, and making
candles for friends and clients.
360-910-3586 | FrontDoorNW.com
Julie Baldino, Owner and Managing Broker,
Front Door Realty
The Columbian F5Sunday, February 7, 2021
