Happy spring to you all!
I always look forward to February as it always brings the hope of a few more sunny days, a little less fog and of course, the promise of spring! There is that ‘fake spring’ week or two that shakes off the winter blues and teases all the bulbs in the yards to pop their heads up! That ‘fake spring’ did not let us down this year! It was beautiful!
I have been doing a little ‘light reading’ in the Oregon Real Estate News Journal. It is a publication sent to realtors that really keeps us up-to-date regarding changes in laws and practice requirements. (It also has a list of who lost their license and why. I am very careful to read over those to be sure I never end up on that page!!!)
These are just a few of the items discussed that I thought might pertain to you in your life even if you aren’t selling your home or buying one at this time.
Arsenic ~ As of January 1, 2010 the requirements for a seller who receives their domestic water from a well has been expanded to contain a test for Arsenic also. In the past I have always requested my buyers to do a ‘Great 30” which shows the top 30 occurring minerals in the water. Arsenic was one of those tests. Now it will be incumbent upon the seller to test for that and correct it if is higher than the EPA required amount. It wouldn’t hurt to have your water tested now for those of you using a well. You may take a sample from your well head or anywhere else that it is
not filtered and take it to a testing source. I usually use Neilson’s in Medford or Grants Pass Water Lab on the north end of the valley.
Tenant rights ~ There is a new change in the law for tenants living in a property subject to a foreclosure sale. If a tenant is in good standing the tenant can remain up to 60 days or the end of their lease time which ever comes first upon the foreclosure of the property. If the purchaser intends to live in the property then only a 30 day notice needs to be given. New law for non-foreclosures allows for 30-day notice no-cause termination of a rental agreement by the tenant in a month-to-month tenancy. It allows for a 30-day no-cause termination by the landlord within the first year of a month-to-month tenancy. After the tenant is there for over a year in the month-to-month tenancy, 60 days notice is required for a no-cause termination.
Carbon monoxide ~ If your home has a carbon monoxide source (gas furnace or appliances to name a couple) there must be a properly functioning carbon monoxide detector located outside all sleeping areas or you will not be able to transfer the title. All landlords will need to install carbon monoxide detectors by April 1, 2011.
Solid fuel burning devices: ie Woodstoves, pellet stoves: ~ If the device is more than fifteen years older than the more stringent standards guidelines, or does not meet the certified criteria, the device must be removed and disposed of prior to close of escrow. This is documented through a form filed with the county. This is to help with the air quality issues. There is a list of certified woodstoves on the Jackson County website. There is a usually a plate on the back of the stove that gives the make and model number to compare the device to the list.
I hope you can take these tips and apply them as necessary to your property when you get ready to remodel, or just do regular maintenance or sell. As always, you are the best and I couldn’t do it without you!!! Thanks for your business and Happy Spring!
About Jan Garcia
