June 2023

ISSUE 20

News Bites

New House Design

We are pleased to announce we will soon be adding duplexes as a housing option. Construction will be starting this summer on 4 duplexes (8 homes) in the Weinland Park area. Up-to-date information on development areas can be found HERE.

COCLT in the Community

The COCLT will be attending the Juneteenth Ohio Festival on June 17th and June 18th at Genoa Park. More information on the event can be found HERE.

Welcome Home

Please join COCLT in welcoming homeowners who have recently closed

on their new homes.

Refinance/HELOC Offers

Here, There, and Everywhere

If you are like most people with a mortgage, you are receiving refinancing and home equity line of credit offers in the mail on a regular basis. There are some things to consider before going down that road.

Equity. Due to the unique nature of land trust homes, from the date of closing there is equity in your home. Because the construction of the home is subsidized and the purchase price is also likely subsidized, lenders will initially mistake COCLT's equity as yours. The 1% down payment is your equity, as well as the portion of your mortgage payment that goes toward the principal. Your total monthly mortgage payment includes principal, interest, and funds being held in an escrow account for homeowners insurance and taxes. You can find your principal balance on your mortgage statement.

Cost of Refinancing. Refinancing can cost between 3% and 6% of the total loan in closing costs to cover the application fee, appraisal fee, inspection fee, title search, and insurance. Be careful of offers to roll the closing costs into your new loan. It can result in a higher interest rate, and you will lose some of the equity you have earned.

Land Lease Requirements. The COCLT will not permit a mortgage loan if the loan increases your total mortgage debt to an amount greater than 80% of the current Purchase Option Price. Before you incur any expenses, we strongly encourage you to reach out to the COCLT staff and determine what the Purchase Option Price is, and if you are able to refinance or take out a home equity line of credit.

Grab Your Passport!

Get your Sesquicentennial Passport at any of the 23 Columbus Metropolitan Library locations and embark on an adventure at the library and around your community. Complete activities and attend events – you can even read! – to earn stamps and prizes. There’s something for everyone, so you can map out your perfect journey. Click here to learn more.

Summer Reading Challenge - Starts June 1st

Help your child be a reading superhero! Reading during summer break is important for kids to keep skills strong for the start of the next school year. Sign up the whole family starting June 1 – it’s free! Click here for more information.

The Kickoff Celebration is Saturday, June 3rd from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Main Library, 96 South Grant Avenue. There will be loads of family fun with music from the Shazzbots, games, activities, music and refreshments. Also, check out the LEGO display by the Columbus chapter of the Ohio LEGO Users Group from May 20th to August 5th.

Culture Passes

Check out Culture Passes for admission to many central Ohio organizations (Columbus Children's Theatre, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and Columbus Clippers to name a few) – free with your library card. Click here to learn more.

Community Partners Days and Events

Your library card gives you extra savings throughout the year. Click here to check out free or discounted opportunities just by showing your library card. CAPA Summer Movie Series and the City of Columbus Outdoor Pools are two of the many partners on the list.

Visit the Events page to see what is happening at the branch location nearest you.

Homeowner Tips

"It is the ant, not the lion, that the elephant fears."

Matshona Dhliwayo

Roughly twenty quadrillion ants populate the planet. They defy gravity by walking across ceilings. They can lift 20 times their own weight. A pretty impressive insect, but we still do not want them in our homes or yards. Here are some natural ways to get rid of ants and anthills.

Sprinkle on and/or bait with

Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth
Baking soda/baby powder (mix with powdered sugar)
Borax/Boric Acid (mix with sugar or syrup)
Artificial sweeteners (mix with apple juice or other sweet liquid)

TIP: Do not kill ants when you see them swarming the bait. Let them carry the bait back to their nest, where even more ants will eat it.

Drench anthills with

Boiling water
Soapy water (mix with liquid dish soap/Castile soap and food-grade oil)
Garden hose water

Prevention goes a long way.

Take care of your lawn
Relocate compost bins and trash cans away from your lawn
Remove dead tree branches, fallen leaves and decaying logs
Trim trees and shrubs so they do not touch the house
Clean up spilled or fallen food immediately

You might have some luck using essential oils (peppermint, tea tree, or cinnamon), lemon juice, or cayenne/black pepper.

Make a Summer

Checklist

Every season has a maintenance list. It is a good idea to make look around and how things fared following the spring rain, storms, and wind.

Some of the jobs below may be better handled by a professional. Do not put yourself at risk.

Take a peek at your gutters. Even from the ground you may see plants and trees sprouting from seeds that landed there. Maple trees "helicopter" seeds can travel up to 600 feet.

Check your roof for missing shingles and make sure downspouts have not pulled away from the house.

Eliminate standing water in gutters, lawn furniture, buckets, plastic covers, and toys to prevent mosquitoes habitats. And change water weekly in bird baths or other areas where water is meant to collect.

Have your air conditioner checked and serviced. A hose can be used to remove pollen, grass clippings, and leaves that have collected. And replace your furnace filter - even in the summer.

A dehumidifier is a great investment if you have humidity higher than 50% in your house. Purchase a hygrometer to determine the humidity level. Look for a dehumidifier with a drain connection. Connect a garden hose and drain into a sump pump or drain so it empties continuously.

Save Some $$$

Part 4

Here are more ideas to save some money.

Use the right dryer cycle. Almost all fabrics can be dried with a lower heat setting, such as the permanent press setting. It uses less energy and has the bonus of extending the life of your fabrics. Save the higher heat for items such as sheets and towels.

Water grass/plants in the morning. Turning the sprinkler on at midday is like watering the air — especially when the mercury soars. Lose less to evaporation by watering during cooler hours (but avoid overnight watering, when too-slow evaporation can invite fungus growth).

Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge. You won't waste time and money running the faucet, waiting for it to get cold enough for a cool drink.

Cool with a cross breeze. On a breezy day, open a window on the side of your house that's receiving the breeze, then open another on the opposite side of the house. You can also use a fan if there's no breeze outside.

Stop buying plants for curb appeal every year. Instead of using household funds on short-lived annuals, invest in perennials that will keep giving for years to come.

Community Resources

The Gifts of Kindness Fund through the Columbus Foundation provides one-time grants to help lift up individuals and families who experience an unexpected setback. The goal is not only to provide financial support but to illustrate how acts of kindness throughout our community make a difference - and inspire others to do the same. The Columbus Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations in Franklin County to support individuals during difficult times. Please connect with one of the partner organizations, or contact Lutheran Social Services’ 211 line for referral services.

For more information, click HERE.

All children ages 1 through 18 are eligible to receive free meals during the summer months at participating program sites. Individuals ages 19 through 21 who have been identified as having mental or physical disabilities and are following Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) through their current enrollment in educational programs also are eligible for free summer meals.

For more information, call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (486479).