Archives for July 2021

How to Get Rid Of Those Summertime Pests

July 19, 2021 By

Pest-NoBugsSignThey fly, crawl, bite, invade and annoy! And the word is that this summer, they’re coming in larger numbers due to the increased rain we’ve received this spring.

The cockroaches are sneakier, the fire ants are terrorizing from their sandy mounds, the ticks hide in unmentionable places, and the mosquitoes are the size of small hummingbirds. Then of course, with lots of rain, comes lots of pretty flowers with lots of buzzing bees!

Here are some tips to still enjoy the summertime, spend time outside, and not end up itching, burning, screaming, and picking.

  1. First and most effective is to have your local pest control company come and spray your yard and home. Then when your landscapers come, ask them to blow the dead ones away.
  2. On that note, be sure to keep your yard maintained and cut regularly, as insects will lay eggs in your lawn.
  3. Clean your house and reduce any clutter. This gives them places to hide. Cockroaches in particular will be drawn to food in your pantry or pet food. Keep those items tightly sealed.
  4. Check your screens. Even the smallest of holes is equivalent to a fancy written invitation to a pest to enter.
  5. Get rid of outdoor lights. If you do need them, use yellow lights. The bugs are less attracted to those.
  6. Check your yard for standing water, which is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, among other insects. Eliminate any standing water you do find.
  7. Plant onions in your garden. They HATE onions!
  8. Keep your trash covered or taken our regularly. Need I explain more?
  9. Use a Eucalyptus-based repellent or just plain old Eucalyptus essential oil (Walmart sells this) and rub it on your exposed skin. The bugs will stay far away from you.
  10. Don’t forget about your pets! Treat them and give them their monthly doses of flea and tick meds. Not only do we want them to be protected, but they provide a first-class ticket for these insects into your home.

Enjoy this amazing time of year, and don’t be bugged by the bugs!

Filed Under: home maintenance, North Padre Island, spring cleaning, Upper Padre

The Hidden Eviction Win at the Supreme Court

July 7, 2021 By

 

Hi All!

It has been a monumental week for the CDC eviction ban, and a flurry of media stories may have rightfully left folks a bit confused, to say the least!

So, let me try and break it down for us.  Despite some misguided headlines, there actually was some excellent news this week on this very issue.

As you know, the Trump White House directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to act during the pandemic health emergency to ban all evictions nationwide.  The CDC under President Trump and then President Biden extended the moratorium several times, most recently through July 31st.

With the National Association of REALTORS backing and guidance, the Georgia and Alabama Associations of REALTORS sued in federal court, claiming the CDC lacked statutory authority to ban all evictions.

The was a strategic decision by the National Association of REALTORS (NAR).  In May, a federal judge struck down the ban as unlawful NATIONWIDE!  Although the case was won, the judge issued a stay of her ruling pending an appeal by the government, of course!

With so many housing providers suffering under a financial strain, NAR  immediately appealed to the D.C. Circuit Court and then to the Supreme Court to lift the stay.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. This week, four Supreme Court justices voted to end the stay immediately and, therefore, the eviction ban.  They agreed with all the merits of the case – that the CDC acted unlawfully!

A fifth justice also agreed on the merits, BUT he wanted the ban in place through the end of July to allow more time for an orderly transition – if that makes sense.

The bottom line:  A majority of Supreme Court justices are now on the record agreeing with the merits of the case that the CDC exceeded its existing statutory authority to bank all evictions.

So, even though the ban is here for a few more weeks, it is still a BIG win for property rights with the help of the National Association of REALTORS.

The CDC should not be able to do this again in a future emergence without going through Congress.  AND, for the FIRST time, the CDC eviction bank is coming to an end.

At an Eviction Prevention Summit yesterday at the White House with Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice, she said ‘Following the CDC’s announcement last week of an instant, one-month extension of the eviction  moratorium until July 31st, the Administration announced a series of actions to stabilize families and prevent evictions, including steps to encourage state and local governments to disburse the more than $46 billion in emergency rental assistance made available to assist households in need.’

NAR is pleased with the Administration’s effort to deploy rental assistance to struggling property owners much more speedily.

The NAR team fought for and helped secure billions in rental assistance in 2020.  They reached almost every single member of Congress on the issue and held meetings with the White House.  One of the most influential members of Congress said it would not have happened without NAR’s influence.  GO, REALTORS!!!   This is Who We Are…

Filed Under: buying a home, Corpus Christ Real Estate Data, Mortgages, New Homes Padre Island, property taxes, Real Time MLS, realtors, selling a home