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MaryJo Foster

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CNN Money - What I bought with my $8,000 tax credit!

Monday, January 18, 2010
by Les Christie - CNN Money


NEWS FROM WASHINGTON!!

Monday, November 09, 2009
by MaryJo Foster

*** BIG NEWS *** BIG NEWS *** BIG NEWS ***

There is an EXTENSION AND EXPANSION for the Homebuyer Tax Credit Incentive.

EXISTING Homeowners: You now qualify for $6500 of FREE MONEY when you buy a home!

NEW Homeowners: You still qualify for $8000 of FREE MONEY when you buy a home, after November 30, 2009!

Beat The Rush And Get The Best Deals In History

 

NEW Deadline is: April 30, 2010!

 

$8,000 home credit still in play!

Friday, October 30, 2009
by CNN Money

Negotiations about whether and how to extend and expand the tax credit for homebuyers are moving quickly. Here are the latest developments.

(CNNMoney.com) -- Confused about whether lawmakers will extend the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit and what it would look like?

That's understandable, since the situation is still very fluid.

Here's where things stand.

Support for the credit: There is still bipartisan support in Congress for extending the credit past Nov. 30 and making it available to more homebuyers.

Some of the issues still in play: Just how far past Nov. 30, the size of credit and how many more buyers would qualify.

It's still not clear where President Obama stands on the issue. Last week, Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan said the administration wanted to review more data to better assess the cost of the credit before weighing in.

What's on the table now: There appears to be movement toward a compromise deal that falls between the most and least generous proposals that have been put forth so far.

"There is bipartisan compromise to extend the credit through spring and expand it to existing homeowners who are stepping up to a different home," financial policy analyst Jaret Seiberg wrote in a research note for Concept Capital's Research Group.

The latest idea under discussion is a credit worth up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers and up to $6,500 for homeowners looking to trade up to a bigger primary residence and who have already lived in their current home for five years.

To qualify for the full credit, however, homebuyers must have adjusted gross income of less than $125,000 ($225,000 for married couples filing jointly).

In addition, the credit would only apply to homes sold for $800,000 or less. Contracts to buy a home must be signed by April 30, 2010, and the deals must close by June 30 in order for a buyer to qualify for the credit.

Rationale for extending the credit: Supporters of the credit say it has helped to boost existing home sales in recent months. Extending the credit would help further support sales, stabilize housing prices and generate jobs in the face of an expected rise in foreclosures next year, which is expected to put downward pressure on prices.

If the credit is allowed to expire, they say, the housing market and the broader economy will grow moribund again.

"The most fundamental argument for the credit is that nothing works in the economy if housing is falling -- it hurts household wealth and credit becomes tight," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "[The credit] is a good insurance policy. It's vital to stem the housing price declines."

What critics say: Though extending the credit has bipartisan support, it is not without its critics.

Critics, while acknowledging that the credit has helped to generate additional home sales, say it has been poorly targeted and therefore not cost-effective.

They point to estimates that only 10% to 20% of the nearly 2 million homebuyers who will have gotten the credit by Nov. 30 bought solely because of the tax break.

In other words, a large majority of homebuyers who benefited from the credit would have bought their homes without it.

By one economist's estimate, the government may have spent $43,000 for each sale that occurred strictly because of the credit.

In a position paper published this week, the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said making the credit available to existing homeowners would not help stabilize housing prices or reduce inventory.

"When [they] purchase a new home, they simultaneously put their current home up for sale. As a result, there is no net effect on supply or demand in the housing market."

Timing on a vote: An amendment to extend and expand the credit could be attached to a bill that would extend unemployment benefits and which could pass the Senate as early as this week.

However, there's a chance the housing credit will be dealt with separately. It could be attached to another piece of legislation or put in a standalone bill with other proposals to extend tax breaks. To top of page

First Published: October 28, 2009: 4:14 PM ET

Small is the new Big!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
by

Forget the 'McMansions' of the boom years. These days, small is the new big.

HANAH CHO AND SANDRA FORESTER - THE BALTIMORE SUN

The first home Mette Ramanathan and her husband considered buying was a 2,200-square-foot, five-bedroom place. It was too big for the couple, who were interested in space efficiency and lower utility costs.

So they settled on a smaller three-bedroom Cape Cod in Baltimore's Hamilton neighborhood.

The larger house was "not only expensive, but you're using and wasting an awful lot of space," said Ramanathan, who moved in May. "Even if we start a family, we don't need five bedrooms to start a family."

For the first time in nearly 14 years, the median size of a new single-family home decreased in 2008 - to 2,215 square feet from 2,277 in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Since 1991, houses for single families consistently have been getting bigger and bigger, mirroring the housing bubble and good economic conditions.

In the Treasure Valley, homebuyers have learned that big homes mean big utility bills, said Jim Powell, a real estate agent with RE/Max Advantage. Clients a few years ago wanted 3,000- to 4,000-square-foot, cathedral-like homes, he said. Today, they're looking in the 2,000- to 2,500-square-foot range.

"People are becoming more green-conscious," Powell said. "I see people being more realistic in their housing."

CBH Homes, the biggest home builder in Idaho, says it has downsized homes in the past few years to meet buyers' needs. CBH now offers homes from 900 to 2,500 square feet, with most toward the lower end of that range, compared with 1,400- to 3,200-square-foot homes three years ago, said Holly Haener, director of sales and marketing.

The shrinkage is "reflective of the economy back then: the stock market, the egos, people trying to compete with their neighbors and people trying to keep up with the Joneses," said Cindy Ariosa, regional vice president for the Baltimore and Southern Pennsylvania region for Long & Foster, a real estate company.

In the past year or so, demand has shifted away from large homes amid the collapse of the real estate market.

Cash-strapped buyers want to contain mortgage and maintenance costs, including rising utility bills, after watching their investments and retirement plans plummet, according to real estate agents and economists.

"When the economy is weak, unemployment is high, income gain is slower or nonexistent, people tend to focus on simpler things, less expensive things," said Kermit Baker, chief economist for the American Institute of Architects.

Another major reason is that market is being fueled by first-time buyers, who are becoming the bright spot in the housing slump. They are being lured by the $8,000 federal tax credit and falling home prices. Novice buyers typically buy smaller homes.

Instead of moving out of Baltimore to buy a larger house, renter Steve Ruckman decided he wanted to remain in his Mount Vernon neighborhood and find a small place to fit his lifestyle. Ruckman, a 30-year-old lawyer, moved into his 1,200-square-foot rowhouse built in the 1800s in July. The square footage includes his tiny backyard.

“I live alone, so being able to keep up a small property is more realistic,” he said. “I didn’t have to make purchases to fill the space.”

Builders are taking notice.

The National Association of Home Builders found in a survey earlier this year that nearly nine out of 10 builders are putting up smaller homes, a trend that has accelerated since May 2008. And more architects say clients are demanding smaller homes, with 50 percent indicating square footage is declining this year, compared with 15.5 percent last year, according to a survey by the American Institute of Architects.

Interesting new Jobs in the Treasure Valley!

Thursday, September 03, 2009
by Sandra Forester, Idaho Statesman

A new line of shotguns will roll off the assembly line for the first time Thursday in Meridian, boosting a business that has lost jobs and work hours in the recession.

Advanced Precision Machining, 180 S. Adkins Way, founded in 1981, makes proprietary precision medical and semiconductor parts and prototypes for other companies. It recently began making parts for the shotguns and for rifles.

After losing a major semiconductor client, founder and owner Nick Brackus was forced to cut back to a staff of 13.

"I have employees who have worked here 22 to 25 years," Brackus said. "We relied on attrition to reduce our work force, and then I had to cut employees down to 30 hours."

Now he hopes to restore his staff to full-time work and hire new people.

Brackus retooled his machine shop to make the shotguns. If sales go well - projections call for 5,000 a month - "we have the potential of actually increasing jobs here by double, up to about 30 jobs," he said.

The shotguns were Jim Bentley's idea. Bentley is president of Krow Innovation, a Boise marketing firm. He said he thought of assembling a shotgun in the United States when he was in Ismir, Turkey, visiting Hatsan Arms Co., an accessory manufacturing plant.

He arranged for Advanced Precision to make the guns and for Legacy Sports, an international firearms importer and distributor based in Nevada, to buy them. Legacy has ordered 1,000 shotguns a month to start.

"I came to Idaho myself because there's a great manufacturing environment here," said Bentley, who previously owned Knoxx Industries, a firearms accessory business in California, before selling it to Blackhawk Products of Meridian. Blackhawk will accessorize the shotguns.

A line of rifles will be introduced later this month, too. The shotgun and rifle lines will be sold under the brand name Citadel.

Prices haven't been established.

One shotgun model is black and silver, another camouflage. Other models will become available in November.

Parts such as triggers, fourends and barrels will be imported from Hatsan Arms. The magazine and other parts will be made and assembled at Advanced Precision.

Idaho's Department of Commerce assisted Brackus in the federal licensing process required to manufacture firearms.

"We have been wanting to sell a U.S.-made shotgun," said Gene Lumsden, owner of Legacy Sports. "Because of the dollar being devalued, it's becoming more difficult to buy overseas. And Idaho has a very friendly climate for what we do."

Sandra Forester: 377-6464

First Time Homebuyer Credit Form - 5405

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
by MaryJo Foster

Attention all first time homebuyers!

If you qualify for the 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit ... click on the link below to get your IRS form to file asap and collect your credit!

First Time Homebuyer Credit Form 5405

Where Do Home Prices Really Stand

Tuesday, June 30, 2009
by MaryJo Foster

A lot depends on how long recession lasts and its severity

Associated Press

Is the historic U.S. housing market crash close to being over, or is the end still far, far away?

While sales finally seem to be stabilizing, prices still are likely to keep sinking well into next year and maybe longer. Prices have been cut in half in Las Vegas and Phoenix, according to one popular home price measurement.

But statistics like these mask the many complexities involved in trying to measure U.S. home prices.

Every home price gauge captures a somewhat different slice of the housing market, even when they all depict the same general trend.

Also, all real estate is local —- some neighborhoods have largely escaped the housing bust, and price declines can vary sharply within a single metro area. In many parts of the country, faraway suburbs, where many buyers moved into new subdivisions and stretched to qualify for mortgages, have been hit harder than established, wealthy enclaves.

Here are some answers to common questions about how home prices are measured.

Q: How far have national home prices fallen?

A: It depends on what measurement you use. But according to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller National Home Price index, the measure that’s most widely watched on Wall Street, home prices have fallen 32 percent after peaking in the second quarter of 2006.

Q: How much will they drop in the future?

A: Analysts expect national prices to drop another 10 percent to 15 percent over the next year, depending on how long the recession lasts and its severity.

Markets that were last to be hit by the housing bust will be the slowest to emerge. Deutsche Bank, for example, projects prices in New York are still likely to fall another 40 percent. Los Angeles, meanwhile, has only another 11 percent left to go, according to the Wall Street firm’s forecast.

Q: Do real estate agents have anything to say about home prices?

A: Yes. The National Association of Realtors’ median home sales price —- collected from real estate listing services around the country —- is another prominent measurement. It peaked at $230,300 in July 2006 and has since fallen about 25 percent to a median of $173,000 in May.

Q: That’s pretty easy to understand. Why not just use that?

A: Economists don’t like using median prices because they can be skewed by a change in the mix of properties that sell in a given month.

A median is the point at which half of the prices are above, and half below. If many low-end properties sell in one month, that will push the median lower; if many high-end properties sell, the median goes higher. Economists want to make sure their data isn’t distorted by those natural fluctuations.

Q: How do you fix that problem?

A: Economists have created indexes like the Case-Shiller reading that examine price changes for the same properties over time instead of calculating a median price for all houses sold during a particular month or quarter. Doing so prevents the data from being skewed by changes in the mix of houses sold.

Q: What impact do foreclosures have on prices?

A: They drag them way down. In fact, many real estate agents say that when you factor out foreclosures and other distressed properties, their markets look a whole lot healthier.

In Minneapolis, for example, median prices were down about 22 percent to a median of around $123,000 in the first three months of this year for distressed properties, but declined less than 4 percent to a median of $212,000 for traditional, nondistressed sales.

“We describe our market as a tale of two markets,” said Mark Allen, CEO of the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors.

Which States Will be Early Risers?

Tuesday, June 09, 2009
by Bill Dedman
NEW YORK—

If you want to be in the right place when the recovery starts, that place may be in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas or Washington.

The recession didn't start at the same time in every state, and it won't end at the same time either. A new forecast from Moody's Economy.com predicts that jobs growth will return first in those five states, starting in the last quarter of this year. Four of those states benefit from strong high-tech industries, and the fifth, Texas, has a strong base of energy industries.

A second wave of jobs growth, in the first quarter of 2010, is predicted in seven states: Alabama, Georgia, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The next wave, in the second quarter of 2010, is expected in seven states: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming.

That leaves 31 states and the District of Columbia waiting until the third quarter of 2010 for jobs to start growing again.

The new forecast is released along with the monthly Adversity Index. Each month, Moody's Economy.com and msnbc.com use data on employment, industrial production, housing starts and house prices to label each state or metro area as expanding, at risk of recession, in recession or recovering.

Like a jigsaw puzzle nearing completion, the index shows that the recession reached 373 of the nation's 381 metro areas, and 49 out of 50 states (Alaska was spared), by the end of March.

Here are several ways to explore this month's Adversity Index:

  • An interactive map on this page shows the economic health of every state and metro area. You can "play" the map to watch the progress of recessions over 15 years, or select any state to see data for each metro area. You can also see the map on its own page.
  • A month-by-month chart shows when the current recession enveloped each metro area, and which eight metro areas were not yet in decline.
  • The updated index will be published every month at http://adversity.msnbc.com. There is a lag of nearly two months, so April data will be out later in June.
  • An explainer tells how the Adversity Index assesses the economy.

A head start on recovery
Why will some states recover faster than others?

High-tech industry is one element. A slowdown in technology spending in 2008 and 2009 has created a pent-up demand for technology — businesses that know they need to upgrade and are waiting for the ability to spend.

"States that have a high concentration in tech-related industries are well positioned to take advantage of this trend, which is particularly true of Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and to a lesser extent Texas," said economist Andrew Gledhill of Moody's Economy.com.

"Although not scheduled to begin its recovery until a quarter later, New Mexico also fits into this category of benefiting from a tech recovery."

Why is Texas, which has less high-tech industry, on the list for early job growth?

"The state had largely missed out on the housing boom (as did Colorado) and was among the last to join the recession, in large part due to lingering impacts from the energy boom of years past," Gledhill said. "Similarly, other expected early risers such as Washington and Colorado were also relatively late to join the recession for various reasons. Thus, as conditions begin to turn nationally, they have less of a hole to dig themselves out of."

Another element for those early risers: better credit ratings.

"One factor that the five early job recovery states all have in common is less erosion in household credit conditions, with the worst of the group being Idaho," Gledhill said. "As a result, once it seems apparent that recovery is setting in, households in these states will be more able to turn and inject money back into their local economies. There is less de-leveraging of household balance sheets in these states. This will in turn prompt a more favorable trend in certain types of service industries."

How about the states in the second group?

"The Plains states, including North and South Dakota, have suffered relatively minor recessions, with comparably minor job losses," Gledhill said. "North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate in the country. Once the U.S. economy begins to firm and there is less weight on cyclical industries such as manufacturing, it does not take much to turn minor losses into minor gains." Farm states are also helped by relatively high farm prices, Gledhill said.

The states that missed out on the housing bubble — and the housing bust — are also better positioned to recover quickly.

"Alabama, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota have only minor housing imbalances," Gledhill said. "None of these states recorded the exorbitant price appreciation that was common in years past that has subsequently turned into a steep price correction and the negatives that follow. These markets are feeling this correction, but not to the drastic extent seen in many other states."

The national picture
Of the 50 states, only Alaska was showing enough growth to delay a declaration of recession by the end of March. Add the District of Columbia to that list, too. A month earlier, North Dakota and Wyoming were also avoiding the recession.

Among metro areas, 98 percent were in recession by the end of March, up from 96 percent in the February data. That's 373 in recession, up from 367.

All eight metro areas still not in recession are judged to be at risk of recession, meaning they are decelerating toward the downturn. The eight are Anchorage, Alaska; Bismarck, N.D.; Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Texas; Laredo, Texas; Las Cruces, N.M.; Midland, Texas; Odessa, Texas, and Texarkana, Texas-Arkansas. Most of those benefit from energy production. Laredo also benefits from trade with Mexico.

Not a single metro area in the nation was judged to be in recovery in February.

Accelerating pain in Elkhart
The economic decline continued to accelerate in March in Elkhart, where msnbc.com is focusing reporting on the nation's hard times.

  • Employment in the Elkhart-Goshen metro area fell 13.5 percent from a year earlier, according to the latest Adversity Index, compared with a 12.8 percent annual decline reported in the January data. Again this was the greatest decline in the nation. The next on the list showed milder declines: 9.8 percent in the metro area of Kokomo, Ind., and 9.5 percent in Holland-Grand Haven, Mich. Areas showing the greatest employment growth were Odessa, Texas (up 3.8 percent); Flagstaff, Ariz. (2.5 percent); and Madera-Chowchilla, Calif. (2.4 percent).
  • Industrial production in the Elkhart area fell 27.1 percent year over year, compared with a 25.6 percent annual decline reported in the Adversity Index a month earlier. This was also the worst among metro areas. Next on the list were Kokomo, down 27.0 percent, and Gary, Ind., down 26.4 percent. The smallest declines in the nation were recorded in Wichita, Kan., down 3.7 percent, and Hanford-Corcoran, Calif., down 3.9 percent.
  • The housing construction industry fell by two-thirds in Elkhart from a year earlier, with a 66.6 percent decline in housing starts, according to the latest Adversity Index. That's slightly greater than the 66.1 percent a month earlier. Only 44 of the 381 metro areas showed a greater decline. The fastest fall was in Fairbanks, Alaska, down 83.2 percent. Next was Florence, Ala., down 82.4 percent. Thirteen metro areas showed recoveries in housing starts, led by Lawrence, Kan., with a 213.3 percent increase, and Racine, Wis., up 130.1 percent.

All these figures are based on comparisons of three-month moving averages for the periods ending March 2008 and March 2009.

The fourth component of the Adversity Index, house prices, will be updated next month for the first quarter of the year.

A technical explanation of the state-by-state forecasts from Moody's Economy.com is available here, in a PDF file.

Moody's Economy.com also has a region-by-region forecast, available here.

Obama Admin. FAP

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
by MaryJo Foster

Obama Administration Announces Financial Incentives and Uniform Processes for Short Sales

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National Association of REALTORS Government Affairs Division, 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington DC, 20001

Responding to the call of the National Association of REALTORS, on May 14, 2009, the Obama Administration announced incentives and uniform procedures for short sales under its new Forclosures Alternatives Program (FAP). For borrowers who do not qualify to have their loans modified on a permanent basis under the Making Home Affordable Loan Modification Program, the servicer may consider a short sale or, if that is not successful, a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.

  • Borrowers (Homeowners).Borrowers/homeowners qualify under the FAP if they meet minimum eligibility requirements for the Home Affordable Modification program but don't qualify for a modification or do not successfully complete the three month trial period. Before proceeding with a foreclosure, servicers must determine if a short sale is appropriate.
  • Incentives.Incentives include: (1)$1,000 for servicers for successful completion of a short sale of deed-in-lieu of foreclosure; (2)$1,500 for borrowers/homeowners to help with the relocation expenses; and (3) up to $1,000 toward the cost of paying junior lien holders to release their liens (one dollar from the governments for every $2 paid by the investors to second lien holders).
  • Standardized Documents. The program will include streamlined and standardized documents, including a Short Sale Agreement and an Offer Acceptance Letter. The goal is to minimize complexity and increase use of the short sale option.
  • Property Valuation by Appraisal or BPO.Servicers will independently establish both property value and minimum acceptable net return, in accordance with investor requirements. The price may be determined based on an appraisal or one or more broker price opinions (BPO's), issued no more than 120 days before the date of the short sale agreement.
  • Timeline.In the Short Sale Agreement, servicers must give borrowers/homeowners at least 90 days to market and sell the property, or up to one year, depending on market conditions. Property must be listed with a licensed real estate professional with experience in the neighborhood. No foreclosure may take place during the marketing period (at least 90 days) specified in the Short Sale Agreement.
  • Commissions.The Short Sale Agreement must specify the reasonable and customary real estate commissions and costs that may be deducted from the sales price. The servicer must agree not to negotiate a lower commission after an offer has been received.
  • No Borrower Fees.Servicers may not charge fee's to borrowers/homeowners for participating in the FAP.
  • Program Expiration. The program is in effect through 2012.
  • DIL Option. Servicers have the option to require the borrower/homeowner to agree to deed the property to the servicer in exchange for a release from the debt if the property does not sell within the time allowed in the Short Sale Agreement (plus any extensions).

The H1N1 Virus and You - What you need to know!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
by MaryJo Foster

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) and You

Novel H1N1 Flu

What is H1N1 (swine flu)?
H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.

Why is this new H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?
This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.

Novel H1N1 Flu in Humans

Are there human infections with this H1N1 virus in the U.S.?
Yes. Cases of human infection with this H1N1 influenza virus were first confirmed in the U.S. in Southern California and near Guadalupe County, Texas. The outbreak intensified rapidly from that time and more and more states have been reporting cases of illness from this virus. An updated case count of confirmed novel H1N1 flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/investigation.htm. CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

Is this new H1N1 virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this new H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
The symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.  Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

How severe is illness associated with this new H1N1 virus?
It’s not known at this time how severe this virus will be in the general population. CDC is studying the medical histories of people who have been infected with this virus to determine whether some people may be at greater risk from infection, serious illness or hospitalization from the virus. In seasonal flu, there are certain people that are at higher risk of serious flu-related complications. This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with chronic medical conditions. It’s unknown at this time whether certain groups of people are at greater risk of serious flu-related complications from infection with this new virus. CDC also is conducting laboratory studies to see if certain people might have natural immunity to this virus, depending on their age.

How does this new H1N1 virus spread?
Spread of this H1N1 virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How long can an infected person spread this virus to others?
At the current time, CDC believes that this virus has the same properties in terms of spread as seasonal flu viruses. With seasonal flu, studies have shown that people may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up to 7 days after they get sick.  Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods. CDC is studying the virus and its capabilities to try to learn more and will provide more information as it becomes available.

Exposures Not Thought to Spread New H1N1 Flu

Can I get infected with this new H1N1 virus from eating or preparing pork?
No. H1N1 viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get this new HIN1 virus from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Is there a risk from drinking water?
Tap water that has been treated by conventional disinfection processes does not likely pose a risk for transmission of influenza viruses. Current drinking water treatment regulations provide a high degree of protection from viruses. No research has been completed on the susceptibility of the novel H1N1 flu virus to conventional drinking water treatment processes. However, recent studies have demonstrated that free chlorine levels typically used in drinking water treatment are adequate to inactivate highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. It is likely that other influenza viruses such as novel H1N1 would also be similarly inactivated by chlorination. To date, there have been no documented human cases of influenza caused by exposure to influenza-contaminated drinking water.

Can the new H1N1 flu virus be spread through water in swimming pools, spas, water parks, interactive fountains, and other treated recreational water venues?
Influenza viruses infect the human upper respiratory tract. There has never been a documented case of influenza virus infection associated with water exposure. Recreational water that has been treated at CDC recommended disinfectant levels does not likely pose a risk for transmission of influenza viruses. No research has been completed on the susceptibility of the H1N1 influenza virus to chlorine and other disinfectants used in swimming pools, spas, water parks, interactive fountains, and other treated recreational venues. However, recent studies have demonstrated that free chlorine levels recommended by CDC (1–3 parts per million [ppm or mg/L] for pools and 2–5 ppm for spas) are adequate to disinfect avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. It is likely that other influenza viruses such as novel H1N1 virus would also be similarly disinfected by chlorine.

Can H1N1 influenza virus be spread at recreational water venues outside of the water?
Yes, recreational water venues are no different than any other group setting. The spread of this novel H1N1 flu is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Prevention & Treatment

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against this new H1N1 virus. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

Other important actions that you can take are:

  • Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
  • Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. If you are sick, stay home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. CDC recommends that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where people have been identified with new H1N1 flu and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to seek medical care.

If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

  • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Bluish or gray skin color
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Severe or persistent vomiting
  • Not waking up or not interacting
  • Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
  • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Severe or persistent vomiting
  • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Are there medicines to treat infection with this new virus?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with the new H1N1 flu virus. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. During the current outbreak, the priority use for influenza antiviral drugs during is to treat severe influenza illness.

What is CDC’s recommendation regarding "swine flu parties"?
"Swine flu parties" are gatherings during which people have close contact with a person who has novel H1N1 flu in order to become infected with the virus. The intent of these parties is to become infected with what for many people has been a mild disease, in the hope of having natural immunity to the novel H1N1 flu virus that might circulate later and cause more severe disease.

CDC does not recommend "swine flu parties" as a way to protect against novel H1N1 flu in the future. While the disease seen in the current novel H1N1 flu outbreak has been mild for many people, it has been severe and even fatal for others. There is no way to predict with certainty what the outcome will be for an individual or, equally important, for others to whom the intentionally infected person may spread the virus.

CDC recommends that people with novel H1N1 flu avoid contact with others as much as possible. They should stay home from work or school for 7 days after the onset of illness or until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.

Contamination & Cleaning

How long can influenza virus remain viable on objects (such as books and doorknobs)?
Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface.

What kills influenza virus?
Influenza virus is destroyed by heat (167-212°F [75-100°C]). In addition, several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time. For example, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used to clean hands. The gels should be rubbed into hands until they are dry.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk, for example, and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How should waste disposal be handled to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus, it is recommended that tissues and other disposable items used by an infected person be thrown in the trash. Additionally, persons should wash their hands with soap and water after touching used tissues and similar waste.

What household cleaning should be done to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus it is important to keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.

How should linens, eating utensils and dishes of persons infected with influenza virus be handled?
Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
Linens (such as bed sheets and towels) should be washed by using household laundry soap and tumbled dry on a hot setting. Individuals should avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating themselves. Individuals should wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub immediately after handling dirty laundry.

Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.

Response & Investigation

What is CDC doing in response to the outbreak?
CDC has implemented its emergency response. The agency’s goals are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by the new virus. CDC continues to issue new interim guidance for clinicians and public health professionals. In addition, CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) continues to send antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and U.S. territories to help them respond to the outbreak.

What epidemiological investigations are taking place in response to the recent outbreak?
CDC works very closely with state and local officials in areas where human cases of new H1N1 flu infections have been identified. In California and Texas, where EpiAid teams have been deployed, many epidemiological activities are taking place or planned including:

  • Active surveillance in the counties where infections in humans have been identified;
  • Studies of health care workers who were exposed to patients infected with the virus to see if they became infected;
  • Studies of households and other contacts of people who were confirmed to have been infected to see if they became infected;
  • Study of a public high school where three confirmed human cases of H1N1 flu occurred to see if anyone became infected and how much contact they had with a confirmed case; and
  • Study to see how long a person with the virus infection sheds the virus.

Who is in charge of medicine in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) once it is deployed?
Local health officials have full control of SNS medicine once supplies are deployed to a city, state, or territory. Federal, state, and local community planners are working together to ensure that SNS medicines will be delivered to the affected area as soon as possible. Many cities, states, and territories have already received SNS supplies. After CDC sends medicine to a state or city, control and distribution of the supply is at the discretion of that state or local health department. Most states and cities also have their own medicines that they can access to treat infected persons.

*Note: Much of the information in this document is based on studies and past experience with seasonal (human) influenza.  CDC believes the information applies to the new H1N1 (swine) viruses as well, but studies on this virus are ongoing to learn more about its characteristics. This document will be updated as new information becomes available.

For general information about swine influenza (not new H1N1 flu) see Background Information about Swine Influenza.

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4355 Emerald, Suite 190
Boise ID 83709
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