Lisa Wetzel and Jim Valentine's Blog

Douglas Pop Warner welcomes a new spring football & cheerleading program to Carson Valley, Excel Athletics. The Board of Directors of both organizations met recently to discuss their approach to youth football and cheerleading. Pop Warner president, Jim Valentine, said “With similar core values and coaching philosophies, the two organizations easily recognized the benefits of working together to assure consistency and quality for our youth participants.”

The two programs will share coaching training, administrative systems, equipment, and knowledge so the athletes get a better experience, learn a love of the game, and have a lot of fun. Valentine was excited about the possibilities for both organizations by this cooperative venture, “The athletes will benefit greatly by the similarities and, paradoxically, the differences in the programs. The opportunity to play more than one season of football in a year is special. In each of our lives there is a finite number of football games one gets to play … and we never know that number until it’s over. Our kids can now play more games while they are young and having fun.”

Excel offers the youth the opportunity to play and cheer in the spring in a less competitive, highly educational environment than the fall Pop Warner program. It will help some prepare for Pop Warner while helping others to stay in football shape. Excel football is 8-man with small rosters for maximum participation. Excel is for those players that have chosen not to play Little League, not in lieu of the wonderful Carson Valley Little League program.

Excel starts this Saturday, March 15, at Jacks Valley Elementary, and runs to May 31st. Excel has two practices a week and a game on the weekend – all in Douglas County. To sign up call 690-3663 or 315-4749.

Lyon County has taken positive steps to protect its agricultural roots and economic base while it experiences population growth making it the number one county in the U.S. percentage-wise with a Right to Farm ordinance. The ordinance states that “The right to farm all land is recognized to exist as a natural right and is ordained to exist as a permitted use everywhere in the County except where prohibited under this Title, subject only to State health and sanitary codes.” If further declares Lyon County’s policy to “…conserve and protect agricultural land, and associated agricultural irrigation water rights and to encourage sustainable agricultural operations within the County.”

The ordinance goes on to discuss development, nuisance complaints about agricultural operations, and much more over five pages. A major change in the ordinance came last November when it was enhanced by the County Commissioners.

The modified ordinance now calls for a disclosure notice prior to the transfer of real property. “Every Seller of any real property in Lyon County, either directly or through his/her authorized agent shall provide to any prospective buyer a written disclosure statement advising the buyer of the existence of a Right to Farm Ordinance … shall contain or be accompanied by a copy of Lyon County Right to Farm Ordinance, Chapter 10.15…shall be substantially in the form promulgated by …Board of Commissioners…shall include any agricultural setback requirements and water rights use restrictions applicable to the property.” (emphasis ours) It goes on to say that the buyer shall sign a copy and the seller, or his agent, shall retain a copy of the signed statement.

Clearly, everybody is affected. Whether buying a home in a subdivision in Dayton or Fernley, or five acres in Smith Valley, it is a requirement. Virtually every Lyon County real property conveyance must have this disclosure in file. We discussed this with a representative of the Lyon County D.A.’s office and were told that there is no defined enforcement policy, that it was the responsibility of the Seller and agents to properly administer it. We were told that enforcement would likely come in the event they didn’t do it correctly in the form of litigation from a disgruntled consumer.

Our Advice: If you own, or are contemplating buying, property in Lyon County you should read the ordinance: Right to Farm

If you are a real estate practitioner it is imperative that you get a proper Disclosure Notice so your customer is sufficiently protected, and you must maintain a copy of the signed document.

If you are moving to the country remember … country things happen in the country. Embrace and enjoy them after all … it’s why you are moving here. Let’s keep rural Nevada rural while it gets populated with rural-minded people. With this ordinance, we feel Lyon County is doing a good job of managing that transition. Yes, another disclosure … indicative of these litigious times… but good for everyone involved.

Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel and Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, visit us at www.carsonvalleyland.com or www.carsonvalleyremax.com, carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com .

We’ve had many inquiries lately regarding the act of filing a homestead on a primary residence as protection from credit cards debt. The Nevada Homestead Act does not protect a homeowner from any debt that was voluntarily incurred. This category includes mortgage financing, credit card debt, auto financing, lines of credit and Federal Tax Liability. Following is a repeat of an article we published in June of 2007 that offers a explanation as well as links to print the required homestead document.

Homeowner’s are advised to seek competent legal counsel regarding the ramifications of filing a Declaration of Homestead. This article is intended as a public service and not legal advice.

I’ve heard I should Homesteading my house … what does that mean?

The Nevada Homestead Act today doesn’t mean you can squat on 160 acres of public land and eventually own it, rather it is a means to protect equity in your home against seizure, forced sale by general creditor claims, and judgments that might be entered against you. The amount of protection was recently increased in Nevada to $550,000. The Nevada Homestead Act is one of the gifts the Constitution of the State of Nevada gives to homeowners and yet it’s amazing how few people actually take advantage of it. Most of the people we speak with don't even know it exists.

Here’s how it works: You must own or be buying your home or mobile home in order to file a Declaration of Homestead. The home must be your principle residence, not a rental or investment property. It doesn’t matter whether you are single, married or an unmarried head of household. You may homestead your mobile home even though you don't own the land the mobile home sits on. Some mortgages may prohibit homesteading, check with your lender to ascertain their position on you homesteading your property.

Be aware that a homestead will not protect your home or mobile home if the judgment or lien is for: Taxes, the mortgage or deed on the home or mobile home, improvements made on the home or mobile home, mechanics liens and other liens on the home or mobile home, any debt or obligation you willfully and voluntarily incur.

Thanks to legislative changes this year, you can protect $550,000 of your equity. If your equity exceeds $550,000 you should go ahead and homestead understanding that you will only be able to protect $550,000 of your equity. To protect your property all you need to do is: Obtain and fill out a Nevada Declaration of Homestead form, sign it before a notary and print your name beneath your signature, Record it at the County Recorder's office of the county in which the property is located. There is a nominal recording fee. You can record your homestead at almost any time, even if you have already lost a lawsuit or had a judgment entered against you.

If you have already filed a Declaration of Homestead on your property remember that you will need to prepare and record a new one if you: Sell your home and buy another one, move your mobile home from one lot space to another, marry, divorce or become widowed, get a new loan.

Our Advice: Filing a Declaration of Homestead is easy and is such a valuable tool that we recommend all Nevada homeowners utilize this very inexpensive means to protect their home equity.

You can obtain a homestead packet at most office supply stores, or contact Lisa and Jim by phone or email, or simply stop by at 1320 Highway 395, Gardnerville. You can also Click Here for Nevada Homestead Form.
When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs… Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781-5472, Visit our websites at www.carsonvalleyland.com or www.carsonvalleyremax.com email us at carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com

You mention that our market will recover in the future … how are you sure?

We believe that the reasons for the “discovery” of the Carson Valley as a wonderful place to live will continue to attract people wanting to move here and enjoy it on a daily basis. The local natural beauty is a joy every day – whether a beautiful sunset or a raging storm boiling over the mountains – it is simply gorgeous. We are ideally located in relationship to other Western States and we have a true Western mindset in our community – better yet - a Nevada mindset.

Our biggest faith for the future of our community, however, is the people. We believe the people of the Carson Valley are one of its biggest assets. A close look at the goings on around town reveal a consistent giving nature in the population. Traffic backed up and heavy – there’s the guy waving you in from the side street. Animal on the road – people will nearly wreck their car to save the animal and will cause a traffic jam while they get the animal to safety.

We were awakened at 5:00 a.m. last Sunday morning by the doorbell. It was our neighbors, Paul and Sue Brunnelle, telling us the sheriff’s office had called them reporting that our horses were out. Great! It was dark. It was eighteen degrees. Did we say it was five in the morning? The problem – we couldn’t find the horses in the dark. The neighbors didn’t just go home and get back in bed. No, they drove around looking for the horses, located them down the road eating another neighbor’s lawn, and helped us walk them home. All the time with a smile on their face and reassurances that we would find them that cold dark morning …It’s the people!

A few weeks back one of our neighbor’s replacement dairy heifers was out and on a busy road. A caring couple stopped to tell us, and we all went out to help the scared animal. It was nice to see all the cars, a busy road at a busy time, stop … and the drivers smile … understanding the situation. People also “stop” in the Carson Valley to help individuals and families in need … whether from health, accident, or life circumstance misfortune. The Carson Valley takes care of its own … every time. It is a true community of great people that let you live your life without intrusion, and rally to help those in need - whether animal, child, or family - when needed.

Our Advice: Real estate values will always fluctuate, but what is important in the long run is that the integrity of the Valley remain intact so the lows are higher and the highs dependable. We are confident that the People of the Valley will see that it does. The quality of life that is so dear to those that live here … and those that want to live here … is essential to the overall real estate values. There is no doubt that it will, in time, serve to protect local real estate investments … including those made in 2005, 2007 and 2008. Have faith … in the people.

Buy now with confidence. The many reasons you want to live here are exactly why your Carson Valley real estate investment is safe.

Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, www.carsonvalleyland.com or www.carsonvalleyremax.com 775-781-5472.