Check out The Rock Cafe on campus at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. It is open to the public!  This is a great place to eat - or have a meeting or group dinner in the private dining room. 

This huge restaurant has several different buffet-style areas, including international dishes, a Mongolian BBQ grill where you custom pick your ingredients, wood-fired pizza grill, morning breakfast buffet and all for one price, including beverages! 

We had breakfast at $5.50.  Dinners are $7 as of 5-4-2010.  No tipping either!

Summer 2010 hours are 7am to 8pm, seven days a week!

Campus dining areas map:

http://www.ferris.edu/dining/MealPlans/Map.html

Request to reserve the free private dining room area:

http://www.ferris.edu/dining/contact/dining_private.cfm

Many informational sites are omitting the words "Outside of the United States" from the military requirement for the homebuyer tax credit!

The military homebuyer tax credit extension applies to any individual (and, if married, the individual's spouse) who serves on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.

You must be under approved contract for the home before May 1, 2011, and close before July 1, 2011.

Only one spouse has to qualify for the 90 days extended service outside of the U.S.

Who is eligible? Members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community are eligible for this special rule.

There are also special military rules that apply if you sell this home before you have owned it for three years.

You can read more about this military tax credit at the IRS Newsroom web site:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=215594,00.html

Always seek the advice of a qualified tax professional before entering into a contract where you are planning to receive a homebuyer tax credit.

Having completed the inspirational Life By Design exercise in chapter four, it has catapulted me on a mission to improve my quality of Lifestyle. This is probably the most personally introspective blog that I have ever written. I have pretty much kept my personal life separate from my business communications.

So here goes: I find it so easy to put things off that need attention, spend time on unnecessary tasks that don't really mean anything to anyone, and waste countless hours trying to play catch-up when it would have been so much more efficient to have handled it at the time.

When things are going my way, it is so much easier to be optimistic, spiritual, confident, financially secure and happy. In the reality of today's world, I find it much more difficult and have taken to hiding in other realms all too often - like the internet and tv.

While I used to be the ultimate optimist in all areas, I discovered that I really needed a wake-up call in all aspects of my life today. Although I know how to improve and what steps to take, I have not been doing it for some time. Call it procrastination, or in some areas downright unwillingness to change, there has been a gradual shift in my thinking that has truly caused a downward spiral in my lifestyle that I must begin to correct right now.

I know from past experience that the more steps that I take in the right direction, the more I desire to stay on that path - spiritually - emotionally - physically - financially - career-wise - all of it. I am glad that I came across this blog challenge, (even though I was somewhat shocked initially at the depth of chapter four).

By default, I feel most comfortable just going from task to task, wherever the day takes me, instead of actually blocking time to do the things that I must do in pursuit of happiness. As they say, the constitution guarantees the right to pursue happiness, but you have to actually find it yourself! So I must get out of my comfort zone, and into the action zone where it isn't always quite so comfortable.

Chapter 4 has initiated my self-inventory of changes that I need to make, namely focusing on using my time in the most valuable ways:

1. Build reminders to actively stay on tasks by scheduling the time needed to accomplish goals for spirit, family, mind, health and career.
2. Spend less time watching TV and focus on more active endeavors like gardening, walking, and family time.
3. Spend less time on the internet in unproductive ways, and focus on building more internet presence.

I realize that this is only the beginning to improve in all areas of my lifestyle, and that it is a process that needs constant renewal. By making this public declaration, I am vowing to do so. Thanks for taking the time to read me!

This post is to help promote Tom Ferry's upcoming book, LIFE! By DESIGN. The contents of my post are the result of some self reflection the preview chapter of the book asks us to do about ourselves.

You can Pre-Order the book now by visiting TomFerryBook.com. You can also participate in the promotion being done by ActiveRain for a chance to win some great prizes and 2500 points by visiting the promotional post here.

Everyone that orders a copy of the book between now and April 23rd, 2010 will also receive one ticket to attend Tom's Success Summit, August 24-26th and the MP3 audio role play program: Objection Handling for Buyers, Sellers and Short Sales.

In exchange for writing this post, I could win an iPad or other cool prizes, and this is to let you know so the FTC doesn't fine me.

If you are facing the possibility of getting behind on your payments, and are in danger of having your home mortgage foreclosed on, don't wait to contact a Short Sales & Foreclosure Specialist in your area.

Is your home located in the Reed City, Michigan area, or surrounding Mecosta, Newaygo, Osceola or Montcalm Counties? I would be happy to discuss your options.

I am specially trained in Short Sales and Foreclosures and am certified with the National Association of Realtors, with the SFR designation.

Find out now what you may be able to do to avoid foreclosure. Friendly, no obligation, consultation.

Many sources have reported that the trend for the near future will be increased short sales as more home owners have trouble keeping up with their mortgage payments.

Is your home located in the Newaygo, White Cloud, or Croton-Hardy Michigan area?

I would be glad to discuss your options with you,  and am certified with the National Association of Realtors, with the SFR designation.

Friendly consultation, no pressure!

A 'short sale' happens when a bank agrees to allow a home to be sold to a buyer who offering less than the actual amount owed on the mortgage.

This is the quick definition, as there are many factors which come into question, such as:

Is there a second (or third) mortgage, or home equity loan to complicate the sale?

Is the seller already falling behind in payments?

Are there other options for the seller through programs to help them stay in the home?

Don't hesitate to seek help if you think that your mortgage payments will be a problem soon. 

If your home located in the Big Rapids, Stanwood, or Canadian Lakes, Michigan area, (or Mecosta, Newaygo, Osceola or Montcalm Counties), I would be happy to discuss your options, or direct you to a housing counselor in your area.

It may be possible to avoid foreclosure if you act now. No obligation consultation.

Certified with the National Association of Realtors, with the SFR designation.

Mr Lee Chang of Everglory.com actually has a page here on ActiveRain!

http://activerain.com/osato123

If you have been contacted by Mr. Lee Chang, Mr. Ming Xing, Dr. Yang Hua Marcello, as mentioned in the scam alert ActiveRain Blogs below, you can contact the FBI Internet Crimes Division and report the information that you have (see FBI IC3 link below)

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1391422/alert-real-estate-scam-dr-yang-wants-a-1m-house-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1591214/scam-alert-mr-lee-chang

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1598917/thank-you-for-being-here-active-rain-re-lee-chang-scam

FBI Internet Crimes Reporting:

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

Received suspicious emails from Mr. Lee Chang of Toronto, Ontario, supposedly.  Sent listings, and thought it might be a Fair Housing test, as initial info very sketchy.

He replied that he wanted to write an offer that must have electronic signature capability, and emailed copy of photo I.D. (which appears to have the name altered) and social security number.

Seeming even more unlikely to be a real customer, I googled the name & location and was directed to Active Rain Blog Post by Angel Ortiz - with lots more information on this scam.

Read his blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1591214/scam-alert-mr-lee-chang

Thank you for being here Active Rain, and to Angel for posting the scam alert

Big Rapids and surrounding area:

Mecosta County, Michigan - Homes sold past seven days 04/08/2010 (from SWMRIC)

These homes are just a sampling of the variety of homes available in the Mecosta County area.  Please don't hesitate to call me if you would like information on more homes in the area, or if you are thinking of relocating and would like area information.

(fb: Click Title above to read more)

Can we get a law like this that (instead of Mortgage Originators) prevents insurance companies, doctors and attorneys from charging if their work doesn't actually produce the outcome you desire?

 Here's an excerpt:    (Prohibits Morgage Originators from)

(4) Solicit or enter into a contract with a borrower that provides in substance

that the person or individual subject to this Act may earn a fee or commission

through "best efforts" to obtain a loan even though no loan is actually obtained

for the borrower;

In other words, they are supposed to work for free if for any reason a loan doesn't happen.

The actual SAFE act legislation that was passed allows HUD to 'interpret' the law and change the regulations as it sees fit.

HUD has published a "state model" for Mortgage Originators (including private individuals offering land contracts on properties other than their own residence).

This 'model' may be put into place in any state whose mortgage originator licensing does not meet the HUD model requirements as of July 2010.

READ IT!  http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/ramh/mps/modellaw.pdf

  Here's a sample:

See my previous blog for instructions on how to comment on the SAFE act: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1489654/alert-action-needed-hud-about-to-require-license-for-seller-financing-land-contracts-

Comments must be made to HUD by February 16, 2010.