Canceling Private Mortgage Insurance

By Toni Ryan, Princeton Capital

Private Mortgage Insurance is a special type of insurance policy, provided to protect the lender against loss if a borrower defaults on their loan. Most lenders require PMI when a homebuyer makes a down payment of less than 20% of the home's purchase price.
The Homeowners Protection Act provides two methods for you to remove PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) from your home loan: requesting cancellation or automatic cancellation. Keep in mind that these rules apply to conventional mortgage loans and are only applicable to loans that closed after July 29, 1999.
Requesting PMI Cancellation
You can request that your lender cancel PMI when the principal balance of your mortgage falls, or is scheduled to fall to 80 % of the original value of your home.
Here are some additional requirements that must be met in order to cancel PMI:
• Your request must be in writing.
• You must have a good payment history and be current
on your payments.
• Your lender may require you to certify that there are no junior liens (such as a second mortgage) on your home.
• Your lender can also require you to provide evidence, usually with an appraisal, that the value of your property hasn't declined below the value of the home when you first bought it. If the value of your home has decreased, you may not be able to cancel PMI.
Automatic PMI Termination
Your PMI will automatically terminate on the date when your principal balance is scheduled to reach 78 % of the original value of your home. You must be current on your payments on the anticipated cancellation date. Automatic PMI termination is different than a cancellation request. Your lender must terminate PMI even if the principal balance of your loan has not actually reached 78% of the current value of your home – for example, because the value of your home declined.
Cancelling PMI on FHA and VA loans
If your loan is guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), these rules generally won't apply because there are often minimum time limits required for the premium payments.
If you have questions about mortgage insurance on any type of financing, contact your loan professional.

Lion’s Club News

Submitted by Etta Gross

Thank you to all those supporters of our 43rd Annual Crab Feed.  The participants and donations from businesses will allow Meadow Vista Lions to continue with our community service and events.  Those events are the school hot dogs, Easter Egg Hunt, Mother’s Day Breakfast just to name a few.
The Lions Easter Egg hunt will be at Placer Hills Soccer field on Saturday, April 15, 2017 starting at 10 a.m. SHARP!  Remember parents that this event is over within 5 minutes so please have your children there a few minutes early.  Also remember to bring those Easter baskets or bags to collect the eggs in.
Mother’s Day Breakfast will be Sunday, May 14, 2017 at Sierra Hills School.  All Moms’ are FREE and a very affordable amount for the other family members.
Save the date for Saturday, June 17, 2017 for our 3rd Annual Car Show.  Our car show will be held in Meadow Vista Park from 9 am to 2 pm.  Bring down your pre 1974, one of a kind or extremely rare vehicle.  Spectators are FREE!  Participant registration is $20 prior to June 11, 2017 and $25 after that date.  True Value Hardware has application for this event.  You may also email meadowvistalionsclub@gmail.com for an application.
Should you want to come see what being a Lion is about, please join us the 2nd and 4th Wednesday nights starting time 7 pm at the Meadow Vista Community Center.  You may always contact us at meadowvistalionsclub@gmail.com or a Lions members for questions or wanting information.

What’s Trendy for Spring?

By Skye Toro

So we were all obsessed with the open Shoulder that was trending this last Fall and Winter well it's back! The Open Shoulder concept in Dresses, Blouses and Rompers are all the rage. The open Shoulder adds that touch without being too revealing and women are loving it!
Stripes is another trend that is hot for Spring. Inspired by beach umbrellas and lounge chairs this trend is being referred to as "Seaside Stripes" and is such a fun look. From a light weight palazzo pant to a striped tank this is a look that will just scream Summer!
The big Colors for the upcoming season are Khaki and Yellow, all shade of yellow. Anyone and everyone can pull this off don't think you can't. There are so many beautiful shades of Yellow try it you'll love it.
Last but not least we can't forget about the latest and greatest "The New Athleisure". The cute sporty look that everyone is embracing and running with. Yes you can wear your "workout" clothes out and about and look fashionable according to the new rules :)

Faith Lutheran Summer Camp

Meadow Vista Community Center Update

Friendly Neighbors News

Submitted by Cathy Williams

The first quarter of 2017 has been very busy for The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club.  First and foremost, new officers were elected and installed at a luncheon ceremony held at the Sizzler in January.  Dana Johnson was elected President, Etta Gross as Vice President,  Rhoda Martin as Secretary and Sharon Bradford as Treasurer.  A new Board of Directors position as Immediate Past President was created and filled by Cathy Williams.
February began with the Club moving its meeting location to the Faith Lutheran Church on Combie Road in Meadow Vista.  The first meeting was held on February 22nd.  Guest speaker was Pastor Charlane informing the members of the past history and current goals  of the Church.
Scheduled events for the upcoming months include See's Easter Candy Sales in front of the Holiday Market and providing hot beverages (coffee, tea and hot chocolate) for those attending the Easter Sunrise Service in Meadow Vista Park.
The Meadow Vista Friendly Neighbors Club was founded in 1944 by a few local friends with the goal of assisting their community neighbors in time of need.  For further information contact Cathy Williams at 878-6843 or Gerry Hinkle at 878-6117.  Additional information can be found at our new website: www.meadowvistafriendlyneighbors.com.  Our mailing address is  P.O. Box 764, Meadow Vista, California  95722.  We are a non-profit organization.

Organic Herbal Facials

By Jessica Wegrzyn, Pathways to Health

Organic Herbal Facials are a healing and nurturing treat for the skin and soul! The Facial begins with cleansing, using a blend of coconut oil and raw honey. Coconut oil is a gentle yet thorough cleanser that seeps into follicles and dissolves hardened sebum, bringing it up to the skin’s surface. The enzymes in raw honey clarify skin and help unclog pores. Both have antibacterial properties that thwart bacteria which can lead to breakouts.
Next is a relaxing and therapeutic facial massage, using jojoba oil scented with essential oil of geranium. Jojoba oil is actually a liquid wax that closely resembles our skin’s sebum. Its non-greasy texture, light weight and anti-inflammatory properties make it the ideal ingredient for a range of skin problems. Jojoba oil is very beneficial as a gentle, skin-softening moisturizer for all skin types. Geranium oil is astringent, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and speeds up skin healing, including healing acne and reducing scars.
What follows is a purifying bentonite clay mask. Bentonite clay absorbs and removes toxins and impurities in the skin. The minerals in the clay, including silica, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron and potassium provide skin healing, while the drying of the clay pulls out excess hydrogen in the skin, replacing it with beneficial oxygen. While the mask is working its magic, you will receive a calming hand and foot massage.
Finally, the facial skin is toned with a special homemade blend of herbs and extracts known as Queen of Hungary’s water. A blend of lemon balm, rose petals, chamomile, calendula, comfrey, lemon peel, rosemary and sage are steeped in apple cider vinegar and then blended with rosewater and witch hazel. This is an ancient recipe and wonderful astringent for all skin types. It gently tones, tightens pores, soothes irritations of the skin, and normalizes the skin’s pH.
Be sure to ask your favorite facial spa or massage therapist about organic herbal facials!

Motrin - Safe or Not Safe?

By Richard L. Peatman, Pharm.D., Meadow Vista HealthMart Pharmacy

In the past few years, the safety of anti-inflammatory drugs has increasingly come into question.  These drugs include some of the most popular OTC medications taken by Americans.  They include ibuprofen (Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) and aspirin and are often referred to as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).   Most people in pain start with acetaminophen (Tylenol®).  Acetaminophen can safely be consumed over a long period of time when taken at appropriate doses.  However, acetaminophen works only on pain and not inflammation and often is not strong enough to control a person's pain.  NSAIDS, on the other hand, can help control both pain and inflammation and may be a stronger pain reliever than acetaminophen.
Americans consume a lot of NSAIDs.  The U.S. Food and Drug  Administration (FDA) estimates that each year Americans receive 70 million prescriptions for NSAIDs and this does not include the use of OTC forms.  Unfortunately, as useful as they are for pain and inflammation, they also are well known to cause many serious problems, such as gastrointestinal ulceration.  Ulceration may be severe or even life-threatening.  Other problems may include fluid retention, hypertension, or liver and kidney disease.
Recent studies have raised new concerns regarding heart disease and the use of NSAIDS.   Two prescription NSAIDs, Bextra and Vioxx, have been removed from the market because of their heart risk.  In 2015, the FDA issued new warnings on both OTC and prescription NSAIDs.  They include the following:
• The risk of heart attack or stroke can occur as early as the first weeks of using an NSAID. The risk may increase with longer use and higher doses.
• NSAIDs can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with or without heart disease or risk factors for heart disease.
• Patients with heart disease or risk factors for it have a greater likelihood of heart attack or stroke following NSAID use.
• Patients treated with NSAIDs following a first heart attack were more likely to die in the first year after the heart attack compared to patients who were not treated with NSAIDs after their first heart attack.
• There is an increased risk of heart failure with NSAID use.
In a recently released trial called Precision, the safety of celecoxib (Celebrex®) was compared to other NSAIDs.  This study showed a lower rate of heart disease with celecoxib use than with other NSAIDs.   It concluded that celecoxib in moderate doses did not significantly increase the likelihood of heart attack or stroke.
These recent revelations regarding NSAIDs demonstrate the importance of being careful when using both prescription and OTC anti-inflammatories.  This is particularly the case for individuals with a history of gastrointestinal, stroke or cardiac disease.  Consult your healthcare professional if you need to use these medications for longer than the packaging recommends.

Spring Housing Already Overheating

By Christine Schlittenhart, Sierra Pacific Real Estate

The spring housing market started early this year, not because of higher-than-average temperatures but because of hotter-than-average demand and overheating home prices. This year may be the starkest example of a post-recession reality that is redefining housing as we know it.
Housing affordability is the key to helping break yet another year of gridlocked inventory, but all signs are showing that homes this spring will be much less affordable than last year.
Affordability is being hit on several fronts: The foreclosure crisis is over, but it left behind an entirely new landscape for potential buyers. Entry-level homes are scarce because investors bought tens of thousands of them during the crisis and turned them into rentals. The number of single-family rentals jumped to more than 15 million, up from about 11 million in 2009, according to the U.S. Census.
  Homebuilders continue to operate well below normal levels because of higher costs and a lack of labor, and thousands of construction workers left the business during the recession, never to return. Builders don't focus on entry-level homes because the margins are simply too tight, and prices for new construction are also rising at a fast clip.
  What's more, credit is still tight, and the youngest cohort of buyers, the millennials, are delaying marriage and parenthood, the two biggest drivers of home ownership. The shortage of homes for sale has now pushed prices to a 30-year high. Rising mortgage rates only add to the pressure.
  Housing demand climbed considerably this year, even compared with last year, as the leading edge of the largest generation finally moves into home buying and a stronger job market supports them. A monthly demand index from Redfin jumped to the highest level since January 2013, when the index began. Compared to January 2016, homebuyer demand was up 23 percent, led by a 26 percent annual increase in homebuyers requesting tours and an 18 percent increase in buyers making offers.
  Soaring stock markets, still-low mortgage rates, and a steady economy bolstered homebuyers at the start of 2017.  Homebuyers were not just window shopping. They were serious about making offers and getting to the closing table. However, this uptick in homebuyer enthusiasm won't guarantee strong sales in the coming months. With pending home sales down across the country in January despite strong demand, the lack of supply is a formidable foe for buyers this year.
  Higher home prices in some areas are supported by improving local economies and employment, but in other markets, too much demand pitted against too little supply is resulting in overheated housing.
  Potential buyers today are facing tough new realities. Some houses are clearly overpriced, and renting is still a better financial option in some markets. Competition is fierce for the best homes, and buyers have to be
ready to pull out all the tricks.

Recipe: Mother's Day Quiche

Local Group Formed to Promote Clean, Sustainable Living in Placer County

By Lizzie Moore, 350Placer

A handful of Meadow Vista residents recently formed the group "350Placer" to promote clean, sustainable living in Placer County. Inspired by the international group 350.org, the number 350 is the parts per million of carbon considered to be safe and sustainable for life on our planet.
The group is focused on addressing climate change in a way that supports local business and the economy. Areas of focus include food, education and pedestrian-friendly transportation. Specific plans include “eat local” promotions, community education events, and acknowledging local businesses and 350Placer members who are successfully reducing the amount of pollution they are putting into the air.
Many group members say that they are driven by their desire to provide their children and grandchildren with a stable place to live. They believe addressing climate change is an important part of doing this. But members have arrived via various circumstances and stories. Lizzie Moore, the group member newest to the area said “My husband and I moved to Meadow Vista to have the family and lifestyle we want, and to live our beliefs. Now is our time to become self-sufficient and sustainable. This group is how I can learn and contribute.”
Almost all current research says that immediate action is needed to decrease carbon levels. The group feels that circumstances are lined up perfectly to do so. “We're really motivated,” said member Danielle Mills. “States and local communities are empowered to act on what is important to us. We think we can make this a local movement that builds community, protects the planet and our future.”
350 Placer welcomes inquiries and new members to its group. More information can be found at its Facebook group 350Placer, or at www.350placer.org.

Meadow Vista Community Service Award

Click here to download the nomination form