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Saturday, May 16, 2015 An Advertising Feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Jamie Hancock Garden Column – 2 Mortgage 101 – 3 A neighborhood cookout for Memorial Day – 6 Real Estate Lingo Quiz – 8 TCJ Pin of the Week – 10

2 | Saturday, May 16, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Fighting Bagworms Jamie Hancock

jamiehan@ksu.edu It’s that time of year. Yes, we have to deal with it like it or not. It’s time to control bagworms. They are easily recognizable. They build cone-shaped homes that hang like Japanese lanterns from the branches of whatever tree or bush they are devouring. I find their bags to be wonderfully clever. These little architects use the foliage from their food plant. The bags are water-proof and lined with silk to keep the eggs warm over winter. Unfortunately, this cleverness is also why we can’t spray the bags and expect to kill the insect. They have an impenetrable fortress. Let’s learn more about them to find the best way to control them.

In mid-September each year black, male bagworm moths with 1” clear wings, wiggle out of their hiding places. Using their feathery antennae they home in on female sex pheromones which show them which bags contain the female bagworms. The females have no wings, legs, antennae, mouthparts, or functional eyes. They are nothing more than soft, white, slug-like, egg-filled sacks. (Talk about your lack of equality.) After fertilization by the male the female deposits her eggs (up to 1,000 per female) inside her bag. She uses her body hair and even her dead body to plug the entrance to protect the eggs from parasites and the cold winter.

Generally, from about mid-May through the end of June, larvae (caterpillars) hatch from the eggs and exit the mother-bag.

They often drop from the bag on a fine silk thread. Swinging in the breeze, they come into contract with limbs or foliage and immediately construct miniature silk-lined bags. Only after the bags are competed do the larvae begin their ravenous feeding. As the larvae grow, bags increase in size to accommodate them. The larvae re-

main in their bags as they feed and move about from the anterior (top) opening of their bags. The posterior (bottom) always remains open to eliminate fecal material and shed skins.

By mid- to late-August feeding is complete. Larvae firmly anchor their bags to the twigs they were feeding on and seal the top of the bag. Head down the larvae enter the pupal stage which lasts two to three weeks. Males make their way to the bottom and emerge as black moths.

Hosts – Bagworms are known for feeding on red cedar and junipers but, they can attack a wide variety broadleaf trees, shrubs, and ornamentals such as willow, maple, oak, box elder, sycamore, poplar, locust, rose, barberry, pyracantha, clematis, sumac elm, cherry, quince pear, peach and blackberry. If these are not available they can feed on clover, ragweed, parsley, and nightshade. Bagworms may feed on one type of plant and move on to other types.

Damage – Think about it, if one female can produce up to 1,000 off-spring and you have lots of bags hanging on your tree, the defoliation can happen seemingly overnight. Broadleaf/deciduous trees have greater abilities to recover from this damage than do evergreens. Auxiliary buds on deciduous plants can replenish foliage within three to four weeks depending on the time of the season. Conifers are less likely to recover due to their slow growth patterns. Several successive years of heavy foliar feeding by uncontrolled bagworms may kill large established evergreen trees.

Contols – Cultural: People who are opposed to using chemicals may try to control bagworm populations by handpicking the bags. The easiest time to do this is in the winter when they are readily visible.

They stand out in stark contrast to dark evergreen colors and they hang onto the deciduous trees when all the leaves are gone. Remember that many bags may be hidden deeper within tree foliage and require a thorough search and removal procedure. Finish picking by April before larvae hatch. Destroy the bags. Don’t throw them on the ground or over the fence.

Mortgage 101

By Linda A. Ditch Special to The Capital-Journal

Thinking of buying your first home?

Perhaps you’re a little intimated by the loan process. Here are some informative tidbits about home loans to help get the journey started.

Home Loan Basics

A conventional loan is one backed by traditional lending institutions, such as banks or mortgage lending companies. A government-financed loan is one backed by an agency such as the Federal Home Administration (FHA), USDA Rural Development, and Veterans Administration.

Government loans often feature lower interest rates than conventional loans, and some do not require a down payment. However, they are only available to people who fit specific criteria and guidelines. Any lending institution can tell you if you qualify, or you can contact Topeka’s Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. for information. (hcci-ks.org) Loans typically come in one of two types. One is a fixed rate mortgage, where the interest rate is set at the time of purchase and does not change. According to

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the Topeka Area Association of Realtors website, the current interest rate for a 30year fixed loan is running between 3.75 and 4 percent. A 15-year fixed mortgage will have an interest rate of around 3 percent.

The second type is an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). With this loan, the interest rate is set at the beginning for a specific period of time, and then it increases in accordance to the current market rates. When choosing this type of loan, be sure to understand the terms so you are not caught off guard when the rate adjusts.

Angie Flohrschutz of Landmark National Banks said, “An ARM works well for buyers who benefit from a low interest rate at the start of the loan, such as someone in a temporary living situation, where they will transfer to a different area after a couple of years, or someone who knows they are going to pay off the loan quickly.”

Down Payment Help

Most home loans require buyers to make a minimum down payment of 5 percent based on a percentage of the home’s

MORTGAGE continues on 5A stock photo/metro creative connection

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Hancock: Prevent bagworms from spreading

Continued from 2A Picking them does not mean you have destroyed the eggs.

Chemical: The only effective time to kill bagworm larvae is when they are actively feeding from mid-May through June depending on the weather. Watch for their activities to begin and start spraying. Small larvae (caterpillars) are more susceptible

than larger ones. Monitor infested plants for newly emerging larvae.

Thorough spray coverage is essential to reduce bagworm populations. Merely waving a sprayer nozzle and misting infested trees only kills bagworms feeding on the peripheries. Spray with sufficient pressure and in adequate amounts of water carrier to ensure penetration of dense foliage.

Products – There are lots of bagworm products on the market. Many companies use the exact same active ingredient. Make sure the one you choose is for bagworm control. Ask your local nursery person for help and read the labels for application instructions.

Hint: To make life easier for you, offer to make a donation to a local church youth group or boys and girls club for ev-

ery ounce of bagworms they pick off your plants.

Jamie Hancock is a horticulturist with Kansas State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

Note: The First Time Gardener is the topic for the Master Gardener presentation at the Topeka/Shawnee County Public Library, May 28 at 7:00pm. If you are new to gardening or would like to know if what you’re doing is the right thing, come to this presentation and be ready to learn a lot.

Mortgage: Know about the extras Continued from 3A purchase price. A new program allows first-time homebuyers getting a conventional loan to make a 3-percent down payment, though some of the loans offering this option have income limits.

Also for first time homebuyers who live in Shawnee and Sedgwick counties, the Kansas Housing Assistance Program is offering grants of 4 percent for a down payment and closing costs on the purchase of a home. Best of all, this grant does not need to be repaid at any time.

To qualify for the grant, buyers must have a minimum credit score of 640 and an income limit of $64,400 for a family of 1 to 2, and $74,060 for a family of 3 or more. The program is available for the purchase of a house, duplex, semi-detached home, condominium, townhouse, or qualified manufactured home on a permanent foundation. For additional information, visit the Kansas Housing Assistance Program’s website at kshap.org.

According to Kelly Drummond, a loan officer at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, government FHA loans require a 3.5-percent down payment, while no money down is required for a VA or USDA loan.

Monetary gifts from family members can be used as a down payment. According to Flohrschutz, for first-time home buyers using the new 3-percent down payment on a conventional loan, the entire amount can be a monetary gift. (For non-first-timers getting a conventional loan, the home buyer may still need to use 5 percent of their own money for the down payment, with any gift money added to make the down payment larger.)

Also, the gift giver may need to sign a letter stating the money is a gift and not a loan.

PMI

New home buyers are often surprised to discover part of their monthly mortgage payment covers private mortgage insurance, also known as PMI. This policy protects your lender should you default on the loan. The cost varies depending on the size of your down payment and the type of loan.

“PMI is not required on a conventional loan if you put 20 percent down,” Drummond said. “FHA loans now require PMI for the life of the loan. VA loans do not have PMI.” Flohrschutz noted once you’ve paid down to 80 percent on a conventional loan, you can ask the lender to remove the PMI premiums. Once you reach 78 percent, the PMI automatically drops off.

However, you will need to have a good track record of making your payments on time for this to happen.

Loan Origination Fee

One other figure that will come into play when getting a mortgage is the loan origination fee. This is an up-front charge by the lender to process a new loan. It covers processing your application, underwriting the loan, and other administrative tasks. The amount is based on a percentage of the total loan, usually between .5 and 1 percent.

The Good Faith Estimate is something you should ask for from any lender on each type of loan you are considering.

This form lists the basic information about the mortgage you want, and will show the loan origination fee. It varies depending on the lender and the type of loan, so it may be a good idea to shop around to see how lenders differ on the amount they charge.

Be sure to evaluate the pros and cons of each type of loan, and consider the over-all costs for the life of the loan.

Flohrschutz suggested looking at each lenders Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for your type of loan. “The APR will take into account factors, such as loan origination fees, that can change from bank to bank,” she said.

The APR will give you a clearer picture about the home’s overall cost for the life of the loan, which will help you compare and determine which loan is best for you. Topeka has a number of banks and mortgage lenders who will help you understand all of the loan options available to you. Checking out more than one lender is the best way to ensure you are making the best loan choice for your and your family.

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A neighborhood cookout for Memorial Day

By Linda A. Ditch Special to The Capital-Journal

My favorite way to celebrate the warm weather is with a cookout for Memorial Day. Besides inviting friends and family, this is also a great opportunity to meet your neighbors. A gathering like this can change people from acquaintances seen on the way to work into life-long friends.

Memorial Day was established as a holiday to honor all those who have died fighting for our country. The tradition began on a state-by-state basis after the Civil War, and was originally called Decoration Day because it was tradition to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers and flags. In 1971, Congress passed the act that set the national holiday on the last Monday of May. Many people also use this day as a time to decorate the graves of loved ones.

Along with its more solemn meaning, this national holiday has also evolved to signify the start of summer. School is out.

The weather is warm. Time for those relaxing days where schedules are loose and the cooking happens outside.

Party Planning

Begin by deciding just how many peo-

ple to invite. Twenty people at your home are a lot different than fifty or more. Also decide if your home is going to be open to the guests or will you need to provide temporary lavatories outside.

Summer weather can be unpredictable.

If it should rain, you will need someplace for everyone to stay dry. If the group is too large for inside your home, consider erecting canopies or tents were people can take cover. Another good idea is to fill tall galvanized metal cans with umbrellas. (Borrow as many as you can from friends and neighbors.)

Insects are a common problem at summer parties. Allow guests to choose from a basket full of regular and all-natural bug sprays. Though there is some debate about the effectiveness of citronella candles and torches at warding off bugs, they do enhance the atmosphere, so why not light some up just in case.

Plan some fun activities for the cookout.

A volleyball net and horseshoe area can inspire friendly competition, as can beanbag-toss games, balls and Frisbees. If there will be a lot of children at the party, hire a few teenagers to organize and supervise games and crafts.

There should be plenty of tables and

chairs so no one has to balance a plate on their lap. Set up a few round tables for easy conversations, mixed with rectangular banquet tables to prevent one or two shy folks from sitting off on their own.

Though cookouts tend to be casual events, they still can have a touch of class.

Cover the dinning and buffet tables with nice cloth or heavy vinyl tablecloths. Invest in heavy paper plates, and nice touch is to rent silverware to keep guests from struggling to cut meats and eat their meals with flimsy plastic utensils.

Dress Up the Cookout

An outdoor gathering can seem even more festive if the party has a theme. Some fun ways to liven thing up include: n An all-American party: Use plenty of red, white and blue. Add flags and handheld windmills to floral centerpieces.

Dress the grilled meats with a variety of barbecue sauces, and serve potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, and corn on the cob. Ice-filled galvanized metal tubs will keep a variety of sodas and beers cold.

COOKOUT continues on 7A

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Cookout: The food is an important part Continued from 6A n A pink flamingo party: Tie invitations to a plastic flamingo and place by a guest’s front door. Cover the tables with inexpensive bamboo mats and exotic plants and flowers. Most party stores have flamingo-themed accessories (napkins, plates, lights), or they can be ordered online. Serve frozen drinks, organize a rousing game of limbo, and light tiki torches after sundown. n A Garden Party: Tape the invitations to a seed packet. Decorate the tables

with watering cans full of flower and vegetable arrangements. Use terra cotta pots instead of baskets to hold silverware, bug sprays, and even dinner rolls. Let the kids (and grown-ups) plant flowers in small pots to take home.

The Food

Perhaps the easiest way to ensure there is enough to eat at the cookout is by inviting guest to share their favorite summer side dish or dessert while you provide the meats for the grill. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and barbecued chicken may seem cliché, but they will also be expected. Add some

variety by serving marinated chicken, seafood, steak and pork.

Steven Raichlen, cookbook author and host of a number of PBS barbecue shows, once told me, “Marinades are like costumes in a theater. They can take a piece of meat and make it into Mexican, Asian, or any number of flavors.”

Leaner cuts of meat are best for marinades. The meat should drain well before placing it on the grill to avoid flame-ups.

Also, the leftover marinade is contaminated and can not be used again unless boiled for two to three minutes.

It may take more than one grill to cook all of the meat, but finding help shouldn’t be a problem. Usually there are one or two people who like hanging out by the grill, most of whom are happy to take over should you need to attend to something else.

A neighborhood cookout is a fun way to bring people together. With a little preparation and innovation, this party can be a special occasion for everyone. Who knows, it may even become an annual event.

COOKOUT continues on 13A

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Real Estate Lingo Quiz

By Linda A. Ditch Special to The Capital-Journal

For people new to the world of real estate, the terminology can be confusing. Short sale, W/W crpt, ARM, lein… what does it all mean? This lingo quiz will help you figure it out.

1. Match the following real estate ad abbreviations to the correct meaning: a. FDR 1. Eat-in kitchen b. W/W crpt 2. Washer and dryer c. BOM 3. Fireplace d. FSBO 4. Back on market e. 4B/2B 5. Wall-to-wall carpeting f. EIK 6. Hardwood floors g. Dk 7. Garage h. FP 8. Formal dining room i. HDW 9. For sale by owner j. Gar 10. 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms k. W/D 11. Deck 2. Is there a difference between a real estate agent and a Realtor®? a. yes b. no 3. The appraised value of a house is the same as the assessed value? a. True b. False 4. What is a home warranty? a. A guarantee by the Realtor® the seller will get the best price for the home. b. After you buy a home, if you don’t like it, the seller will give back a percentage of the cost. c. A guarantee by the Realtor® the buyer will pay the best price for a new house. d. A type of insurance which covers certain home system repairs (heating and air conditioning; plumbing; electrical; appliances) if they break down.

5. The role of a title company is: a. To make sure the title to a piece of property is valid. b. To make sure there are no legal proceedings tied to a property. c. To issue title insurance to protect against any claims made on the property’s title. d. To conduct the closing on the sale of a property. e. To make sure there are no liens against the property, where a creditor has a legal claim against the property owner for money owed by the owner. f. All of the above.

6. Match the type of mortgage to its definition: a. Fixed rate b. ARM c. Balloon mortgage d. Reverse mortgage 1. Mortgage payments start at a low amount and grow to a larger payment over the length of the mortgage.

2. The interest rate does not change for the life of the mortgage.

3. A lender pays older homeowners based on the equity of their home.

4. The mortgage’s interest rate varies according to market conditions.

7. A plat is a map that shows property lines and boundaries in a city, town and subdivision. a. true b. false

8. Is a short-sale property the same as a REO property? a. yes b. no 9. Is a closing the same as a settlement? a. yes b. no 10. When obtaining a mortgage, the loan origination fee is the same no matter which lender you choose. a. True b. False 11. When a Realtor® talks about comps, it means: a. The amount a buyer and seller pays the Realtor® for their time. b. The amount the seller will owe the buyer should a problem with the house arise after the sale. c. Comparing the prices of recently sold properties in the area which are similar to the one that interests you. d. None of the above.

12. Start your online real estate search at: a. The Topeka Capital-Journal Real Estate page, homes. cjonline.com. b. The Topeka Area Association of Realtor® web-site, topekaareahomes.com. c. Realtor.com d. All of the above

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Real Estate Lingo Answers 1. a-8; b-5; c-4; d-9; e-10; f-1; g-11; h-3; i-6; j-7; k-2 2. Yes! A Realtor® (sometimes spelled in all caps) is a member of the National Association of Realtors®, and in this area, the Topeka Area Association of Realtors®.

3. False. The appraised value is the estimated value of the property as determined by a real estate appraiser. The assessed value is the value of the property used to determine the amount of property tax the owner will pay, determined by the city or county the property is within.

4. d-Buyers often request a seller pay for a home warranty as part of the sale, but either buyers or sellers can cover the cost.

5. f 6. a-2; b-4; c-1; d-3 7. a 8. b. A short sale property is one where the homeowner’s lender is helping them to avoid foreclosure by allowing them to sell the house for less than what is owned on the mortgage. A real estate owned (REO) property is one that is owned by the bank or lender because it didn’t sell at a foreclosure auction.

9. a. Both a closing and a settlement are when ownership of the property is officially transferred from the seller to the buyer.

10. b. Loan origination fees, which lenders charge for processing a new loan, vary from lender to lender. So it pays to shop around for the best price.

11. c. Comps, otherwise known as comparable sales, are a way to determine a property’s market value.

12. d

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The Topeka Capital-Journal Pin of the Week 1/2 cup vinegar 1/2 cup of olive oil Take a kitchen rag and dip it in the mixture and rub it on the surface. The scratches will be fixed!

Photo Source: domesticblisssquared.com

Follow all of The CapitalJournal Pinterest boards – www.pinterest.com/tcjmedia/ To get more information on this project and others, visit The Topeka Capital-Journal’s At Home Living – DIY: At Home Pinterest board

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Service Directory

Service Directory

Boost your brand, product or service with an ad in the service directory! At Home Living is read by home owners, buyers and sellers across the Topeka and surrounding area. To place your ad contact your MultiMedia Sales Consultant or 785.295.1125.

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Cookout: Marinades to try Continued from 7A

Mojo Marinade

Adapted from How to Grill by Steven Raichlen Makes enough for 1 1/2 pounds of meat

1/2 cup olive oil 8 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced crosswise 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/3 cup lime juice 1/3 cup orange juice 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt, or more to taste 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground oregano

1/3 cup water 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro Using a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cumin. Cook about 1 to 2 minutes, or until the garlic is a light golden brown. (Don’t let it get too dark or it will be bitter.) Add the lime and orange juices, salt, pepper, oregano, and water. (Be careful doing this. The hot oil cause the juices to spatter.) Bring to a boil.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Add the cilantro.

Marinade your meat of choice (pork, steak, chicken, fish, shrimp) for 30 minutes to 1 hour before grilling.

Teriyaki Marinade

Adapted from a recipe from Clambake Charlie’s in Hampstead, New Hampshire Makes enough for 1 to 2 pounds of meat

1/8 pound fresh ginger, sliced on the bias 1 head of garlic cloves, peeled 12 ounces pineapple juice 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup sherry (real, not cooking sherry) 1/2 cup soy sauce, or more, to taste

In a large sauce pan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely. Pour over flank steak, boneless chicken or pork, and marinate overnight.

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