Archives of real estate blog entries for December 22, 2009 (Page 13)

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Power Ranch Hosts its Annual Winter Wonderland for 2009 - 01:37 PM
Power Ranch in Gilbert hosted on Saturday December 19th their annual Winter Wonderland which was held at the park and soccer fields behind the Power Ranch club house and community pool. The temperature was in the low 60's and the sun was shining bright making it a beautiful morning for such an event.
The first Power Ranch Winter Wonderland event was held back in 2002, now eight years later the Winter Wonderland is still going strong attracting many local vendors and residents alike. There was plenty of things to do and lot of fun for the kids as is traditional, several … (0 comments)

Goshen Gourmet: Ravanelli's Gingerbread Houses are Picture Perfect - 08:52 PM
There are some holiday traditions in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs that are just sweeter than others.
At both Ravanelli's restaurants -- in Collinsville and Granite City, Illinois -- the Christmas season brings out the artist in family, staff and friends. These "architects of icing" design and create the most incredible gingerbread houses many people have ever seen.
In fact, the term "house" is certainly a misnomer. The gingerbread structures on display this year range from a dreamy fairytale castle to a bayou swamp shack (complete with alligator).
After you've decided which gingerbread creation is your favorite, be sure to save time … (6 comments)

Don't Be Like This Guy--Enjoy Your Family Not Your Things! - 01:50 PM
… (4 comments)

Celebrate Christmas Like the First One - 07:52 AM
 
Christmas tends to be very busy for many.  The shopping, extra spending, and the many holiday activities makes this the most stressful time of year for many.  Why not learn from the first Christmas how to truly celebrate the birth of Jesus?
 
Start by surrounding yourself with family.  Jesus spent that first night in the company of his parents.  The gifts: love and attention.  Why not celebrate this Christmas with family and invite others who would otherwise celebrate alone.
 
Share the joy with song.  There are many Christmas hymns and carols to sing.  Renew the tradition of caroling in … (12 comments)

Give Special Meaningful Gifts This Holiday Season . . . . . The Gift of Love - 08:09 AM
 
This Christmas, instead of purchasing gifts, give something more meaningful. . . . . the gift of love.  I can't think of anything better than love.
 
Christmas can be a sad time of year for those who are alone.  Gifts of love can be given such as baking Christmas cookies, sending a card with a personal note, or offering to share a Christmas meal.
 
Many people this year are struggling financially.  Call your local church and find out how you can help someone who is worse off.  This is a great gift of love.
 
The most precious way to … (4 comments)

7 Reasons To Buy Rather Than Rent Bradley Beach Home - 06:34 AM
Many renters are finding that they get more ‘bang for their' buck if they buy a home rather than rent one. With affordable prices, low interest rates and tax incentives, Bradley Beach home ownership makes more sense than ever. 
7 Reasons to Buy Rather Than Rent Bradley Beach Home
1. Buying doesn't always cost more.The Associated Press reports the gap between buying and renting has decreased $550 in the last three years.
2. Affordability is at an all-time high.Nationwide, prices have declined by nearly 20-40%.
3. Tax benefits for home ownership saves money.The biggest tax break is the mortgage interest deduction. Most of your … (0 comments)

Florida’s Existing Condo Sales Up 111 Percent in November 2009 - 02:38 PM
Sunny Isles Beach Breaking Real Estate News
Florida's existing home sales rose in November, marking 15 months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.
Existing home sales rose 61 percent last month with a total of 14,026 homes sold statewide compared to 8,694 homes sold in November 2008, according to Florida Realtors. Statewide sales of existing condos increased 111 percent last month compared to November 2008's sales figure.
For the second month in a row, all of Florida's metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported increased existing home sales and higher … (2 comments)

The Road of Life - 10:06 AM
My Favorite poem.  Perhaps some of you could enlighten me as to who the author is.  Merry Christmas!
 The Road of LifeAt first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping trackof the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I meritedheaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like apresident. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I reallydidn't know Him. But later on when I met Christ, it seemed asthough life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandembike, and I noticed that Christ was in the … (5 comments)

Let's Celebrate Christmas - 06:30 AM
 
       "The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."                                                                       ~ Burton Hillis
Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated festivals globally and is no longer viewed as a purely religious holy day. It is now a time enjoyed by people of many countries and faiths, and there are numerous universally recognized icons which we associate with the yuletide. In fact, these symbols have become so commonly associated with the celebration of Christmas that when we see Santa riding on a reindeer, a mantle hung with stockings, coniferous … (1 comments)

Birds of Prey in Cary, NC - 04:31 PM
I was walking in Cary, NC when I went met this fellow.  Not quite sure what he is but some kind of bird of prey.  I am guessing a hawk of some sort.  He was resting on a tennise court fence and I was within ten feet of him.  Didn't give me the time of day.

http://www.geneallen.com Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads. This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.
… (7 comments)

Who Offers The Most Auto Accept Macros? BPO Automation Group Currently Has 25 Different Companies Available! - 12:20 AM
Missing all the "hot" BPO's online? We will configure our Auto Accepter software to automatically check and accept more BPO, REO and Appraisal orders for you!Typical order-acceptance scheduling will automatically login to the your preferred BPO and/or REO providers and accept any/all orders that are in your queue at the times when the auto-accept macro runs! Scheduled to run 30 seconds to every minute, the Auto Accepter software constantly scours your BPO and REO companies to capture the latest BPO orders to keep you ahead of the competition!BPO Automation Group's Auto Accepter is the preferred choice by BPO and REO providers, because it's secure: your login information … (2 comments)

Talk To Them Before They Die - 10:32 AM
 
This is wonderful advice from Melissa Kulikoff for every time of the year, not just the holidays.
 
Via Melissa Kulikoff (Texas Loan Officer):
We all know someone who is older than we are.  Talk to them before they die.  My grandmother is 82 and has been my best friend for years.  She recently told me a story about a game we used to play when I was about 5 years old.  I pretended I was a real estate agent and I would ring her doorbell and ask to come in and view the "property"  even at 5 I used the … (5 comments)

Cutting up those unused credit cards- Don't just trash them!! - 03:18 PM


Like most people I have several unused credit cards, you know the ones you open so that you get the extra discount, but intend to destroy them afterward.
Most lenders tell you not to do ANYTHING if you intend to purchase a property, especially don't close the account since this could bring your credit score down.
                        But what about ones you just never use.  Be cautions about cutting them up..  I usually use scissors and try to cut them into tiny pieces so my identity cannot be stolen.  Like most of us, I know you must cut through the … (2 comments)

Interview with Top Producing Recruiter Andre Taylor- How to Stand Out in Todays Job Market - 10:55 AM
I sat down Sunday night with top producing recruiter Andre Taylor of Career Paths Northwest (http://careerpathsnw.com/).  In this interview Andre shared his secrets for anyone to make themsevles stand out in today's tough job market.  This is a must listen for anyone who is looking for a job or thinking of making a change. 
 
http://jameymays.tumblr.com/post/293840407/interview-with-andre-taylor-from-career-paths
 
 
Please don't keep the link a secret.
… (0 comments)

Reasons to Avoid Foreclosure - 08:18 AM
Reasons To Avoid Foreclosure
As a homeowner, if you are behind on your mortgage payment, don't just walk away from the property and face foreclosure.  There are alternatives such as a short sale.  With a certified expert on your side, we can get your home sold as a short sale, relieving you of a foreclosure on your record.
Reasons to Avoid Foreclosure:
1.  You always have to disclose that you have had a foreclosure when applying for a mortgage loan, and it may affect your interest rate.  Remember, this is the only credit issue that you are asked about specifically on a … (1 comments)

Options Instead of Foreclosure - 08:34 AM
Options Instead of Foreclosure
If you are facing foreclosure, you do have options, but you don't have much time.  Listed below are some of the options you have available.  We realize not all these options suit every homeowner, but may be of some help when trying to decide what to do.  Remember, the LAST thing you want to do is walk away from the home and have a foreclosure on your credit. 
Options Instead of Foreclosure:
Re-Payment Plan (Forbearance) - Typically if the situation was temporary, the lender will work with you to repay delinquent payments.
Sell the Property - In … (2 comments)

Qualifying for a Short Sale - 08:44 AM
Qualifying for a Short Sale
Not everyone can qualify for a short sale.  There are certain qualifications a homeowner must meet in order to qualify.  The first is that the homeowner must have an Acceptable Hardship (or Life Changing Event).  Second, the homeowner must not be able to pay down their mortgage such as in a buy-down.  The homeowner must be financially insolvent. 
What is an Acceptable Hardship?
Loss of job Business failure Damage to property Death of spouse Death of family member Severe illness Divorce Mandatory job relocation Medical bills Military Service Payment increase or mortgage adjustment Insurance or tax increase … (2 comments)

Hiking the McDougall Rim in Westbank, BC - 02:33 PM
Hiking the McDougall Rim in Westbank, BC.
 
             This past September when we visited my sons in Kelowna and Westbank, we hiked up the McDougall Rim trail where much of the forest fires had raged in late summer.                                                                                                                                                                             The trails are very rocky and dry and one could see how easily fire could have started in the tinder dry forests of the mountainsides.                                                                                                                                            The trail traverses over the McDougall Rim of the mountains surrounding the Okanagan Valley. In the picture above, my son Iain is standing on a cliff that looks out over the … (15 comments)

Twas the Night Before Listing - 09:31 PM
Staging Your Home for Christmas Guests.We're having many guests here over Christmas this year (one is already here!) and I always make sure that the guest bathroom has lots of facecloths, enough giant thirsty bath towels for each, Dove soap (the best for your skin), extra shampoo and conditioner and a little basket of extra things they might need like nail clippers, lotion, etc.
The spare room is a bit cool as it sits above the garage so I always make the bed up with cosy flanelette sheets, two wool blankets and a big duvet. This way they're sure to stay … (2 comments)

Make Sure You Visit the Hot Springs Near Tofino at Least Once in Your Life - 10:29 PM
Make Sure You Vist the Hot Springs Near Tofino at Least Once in Your Life.
This past September when we took a two week trip to British Columbia, one of the most memorable parts of our trip was the three days we spent in Tofino. I've never been to a more beautiful spot in my entire life.
I'll write about Tofino in my next blog, however I wanted to tell a bit about the surrounding beauty that is to be found within a short boat, plane or car ride away.
One morning we got up early, packed our sunscreen, water, lunch, … (20 comments)

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