Die hard Firefox fans, I have scary news. Your Firefox may be hanging with the bad kids in town.

I learned a new term I could have done without. Hanging. Come to find out, my laptop wasn't crashing last week. (Argh, Man, Groan, Sigh, and Whew... External Drive Here I Come) It was hanging.

Now the good news is that there were no viruses, no malware. But without warning, my pages would gray out and I'd get this nuisance of a spinning wheel that wanted to go on for eternity. Nothing would load and in the meanwhile, I was fresh out of luck.

So I tried to convince myself to return to IE. Like, how bad was IE really?

Well, that lasted 30 minutes. As I told my husband, reverting to IE was like trading in a Porsche for a rusty golf cart. In fact, I even suspect IE was responsible for teaching Firefox how to hang.

Deciding to wade though FF help and support tips, I went step by step to figure out how a good kid could have taken such a wrong turn in life. And then... I found it.

Corrupt Google Bar = Unstable Firefox

Aha! The poor unsuspecting good kid was only guilty by association.

With much misgiving, it was tough love time - time to separate the good kid from bad influences. In other words, I knew I had to uninstall Firefox.  But would the tough love work? What if I was doing more harm than good? What if the good kid never returned home again?

Well, there is something to say for solid upbringing. My tough love worked! A fresh install brought Firefox home with top-notch behavior.

Although Firefox is allowed to browse with Google, it can't hang out with the Google toolbar ever again.

And what became of IE? Pouting in the corner, of course.

Seems I'm not the only one to experience this recently. So if your Firefox starts acting up, try some tough love. Most likely, it's only guilty by association.

Your friend, Kate Ford

My Way Of Supporting Realtors and Lenders  =>

Realtors advertise free at Find A Real Estate Agent - My directory for home buyers, sellers and YOU.

Mortgage lenders advertise free at Mortgage Lender Directory - My directory for home buyers, home owners and YOU.

*Have you backed up your computer today?*

24 hours later, I am still alive but barely. Yes, order in the universe has been restored but I'm N-E-V-E-R going through that again.

Crashing, not responding, black screens and safe mode start ups are in the [not too distant] past. And I'm buying an external drive first thing tomorrow morning, yes I am.

I laugh when a vendor tells me to contact my IT guy for issues with their software. I AM my IT guy, I tell them. But today in its extreme was not a day for laughing.

So how many hats do you wear?

Take for instance yours truly. I am retired from real estate and mortgage lending. I run two informational websites for homeowners and home buyers. I bring sellers and buyers together with Realtors and lenders at my two directories.

I author my content, design my sites, write my code and as today proved, my IT guy.

In my spare time, I'm a wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandma/nana besides a friend and neighbor.

But tomorrow, all I will be is a shopper for the best external drive.

Your friend, Kate Ford

My Way Of Supporting Realtors and Lenders  =>

Realtors advertise free at Find A Real Estate Agent - My directory for home buyers, sellers and YOU.

Mortgage lenders advertise free at Mortgage Lender Directory - My directory for home buyers, home owners and YOU.

**Have you backed up YOUR computer today?**

Wiping my jaw off the floor as I read the headline: Fannie Mae Announces 3.5 Percent Seller Assistance on HomePath.

Don't get me wrong. I want the real estate market to take off and prosper. I want to see home buyers get the best deals. But a couple of thoughts cross my mind this Sunday afternoon.

• Fannie Mae can afford to subsidize qualified transactions by 3.5% for closing costs or new appliances?

• Is FNMA raising sales prices to compensate?

• What came of the accusations that the foreclosure debacle was due to home buyers not having enough of their own money invested?

That being said, I hope the subsidy will stimulate sales.  It's just that my regard for the mortgage giant has greatly diminished over the last 12 months.

But while the subsidy is offered,  I hope many home buyers take advantage of it. Because whether or not I trust Fannie Mae, I have faith in homeownership and believe in our home buyers!

Your friend, Kate Ford

My Way Of Supporting Realtors and Lenders  =>

Realtors advertise free at Find A Real Estate Agent - My directory for home buyers, sellers and YOU.

Mortgage lenders advertise free at Mortgage Lender Directory - My directory for home buyers, home owners and YOU.

article: http://www.financialnewsusa.com/finance/archives/11603-fannie-mae-announces-35-percent-seller-assistance-on-homepath

Whew! 2010 and mortgage lending is still in tact. FHA changes are rumored to be coming have been announced making NOW the best time to buy a home or refinance an existing mortgage.

You might remember I write for The Green Valley Savvy, a local magazine new to the Las Vegas valley. I have the pleasure of supporting our real estate market each edition. In November I wrote about the importance of using a Realtor and in December, how to choose a mortgage professional.

Speaking of lending, mortgages have taken a beating the last couple of years. Unjustly accused of every ill afflicting mankind, other than I suppose fleas and roaches, our mortgage professionals have kept on keeping on. They have my admiration.

That's why coming out in the next edition of The Green Valley Savvy I am writing again about... [oops too early -- I can't say yet.]  

But Cory Richardson, editor and chief, is busy with the February's Green Valley Savvy which, I'm sure it's safe to reveal, in addition to my riveting real estate and lending feature will include fun stuff about a certain popular upcoming holiday.

I'll let you know when it's published.

By the way, the response from Realtors to my directory on Prime Real Estate Articles has been a lot of fun. Are you in it? And lenders, check it out. Get Your Best Mortgage Rate is in the middle of a much needed face lift. The directory will be still included in the next version of the website of course. So go ahead and promote yourself today. It's free.

Your friend, Kate Ford

My Way Of Supporting Realtors and Lenders  =>

Realtors advertise free at Find A Real Estate Agent - My directory for home buyers, sellers and YOU.

Mortgage lenders advertise free at Mortgage Lender Directory - My directory for home buyers, home owners and YOU.

You can view yesterday's HUD announcement here.

"Do you by any chance poke smot?"*

With the average age in the theater well over 50, you would not have expected the hilarity during "It's Complicated". Why were these movie goers, some old enough to require adult children escort, having the best laugh in years?

Probably had something to do with American culture in the 60s.

No secret that our industry is full of stress. I've heard it called The Agony and the Ecstasy and described as a manic business with the highs and the lows.

Case in point, I love a good laugh. Don't you? What better way to throw off business and personal concerns for at least a couple of hours. Guaranteed to make you more productive!

So, if you were born before 1959, don't pass by "It's Complicated". Heck, if you were born after 1959, you might like the movie too but just in case, take a parent along to translate.

In fact, no matter our age, let's make laughing part of our 2010 marketing strategy.

Laughing (and marketing), Kate Ford

My Way Of Supporting Home Ownership in America  =>

What if you could ask a real estate and mortgage insider anything you wanted? Now you can! Ask Kate today!

Realtors advertise free at Find A Real Estate Agent - My directory for home buyers, sellers and YOU.

Mortgage lenders advertise free at Mortgage Lender Directory - My directory for home buyers, home owners and YOU.

*IT'S COMPLICATED by Nancy Meyers

What have you been up to? I can tell you I have had my poor little nose to the grindstone. I've missed you all and my nose is asking me for a break.

So, I have been thinking about marketing. How many of us declared a resolution this New Year to step up our marketing endeavors -- To make 2010 an improvement over 2009. Well, today is January 9, 2010. Yep that's means eight days have passed since declaring our resolutions.

Of course I have had a year or two without New Year Resolutions. I think I know why. The previous year had been so successful that I took for granted what I needed to do the following 12 months. But back to 2010. :)

How many of us included the word marketing in our resolution? If so, I'm here to help. Here's how...

I've been receiving more submissions to my Mortgage Directory and Real Estate Directory but I want even more! So if you haven't taken a minute or two to do so, please look at my directories, a free and easy way to put yourself in front of home buyers, sellers and homeowners who come to my website searching for mortgage and real estate information.

Here is how:

1) Realtors advertise free at Real Estate Directory USA - My directory for home buyers, sellers and YOU.

2) Mortgage lenders advertise free at List of Mortgage Companies - My directory for home buyers, home owners and YOU.

Like any good marketer, an FAQ should accompany this offer but I only get asked two questions about my free directories.

Q: What does it cost?

A: Free, Zip, Nada, Nothing

Q: Who is behind the directories?

A: Me, myself and I (well, I guess I should include my husband because he has to listen to me talk about them a lot)

So enhance your New Year Resolution. Hop onto my websites and take a moment to enter your info. You can promote yourself and I'll link back to your blog or website. And yup, it's free!

Together, we'll make 2010 even better than 2009!

Your ActiveRain Buddy, Kate Ford

PS here are the links again to the directories:

Realtors advertise free at Real Estate Directory USA at Prime-Real-Estate-Articles.com

Mortgage lenders advertise free at List of Mortgage Companies at Get-Your-Best-Mortgage-Rate.com

Happy New Year and no, Nutsy has not crashed my lap top's hard-drive as Charlie has suggested. We spent the holidays with the kids with honorable mention going to Diego and Giovanni!

In honor of the twins, I have identical pictures of myself, each holding a different baby. Seemed fitting. :) 

Anyway... we came home after celebrating welcomed by left over clothes that missed getting washed before Christmas. I went to deliver a bunch to the laundry room when a yucky odor wafted up out of the washer. I'd forgotten that I'd left some gym clothes in a bit of water to soak off stains. When I caught a whiff, to tell you the truth, I considered tossing the clothes out.

HOWEVER, I remembered my trusty gallon bottle of white vinegar. After lugging it from the kitchen to the laundry room, I poured a cup of vinegar in with soapy warm water (I know that was bad, not supposed to mix chemicals but this was crisis time) and left the washer to perform its magic... or not.

Well, those stinky work-out clothes don't sparkle like the dishwasher does but they DO smell clean now. Otherwise my two choices were to throw them out or be thrown out of the gym myself!

Is there no end to vinegar's magic? Could it cure the real estate market, loosen the flow of money and prevent foreclosure? What do you think?

If Santa didn't bring you a bottle of white vinegar for Christmas, don't despair. Valentine's Day is coming up. YES JUST KIDDING!

Happy New Year to YOU and YOUR family.

Kate Ford

My Way Of Supporting Home Ownership in America along with Realtors and Lenders =>

What if you could ask a real estate and mortgage insider anything you wanted? Now you can! Ask Kate today!

Realtors advertise free at Real Estate Directory USA - My directory for home buyers, sellers and YOU.

Mortgage lenders advertise free at List of Mortgage Companies - My directory for home buyers, home owners and YOU.

No one welcomes the messenger of bad news. But please don't shoot me. I just want your holidays to sparkle.

Yep, it's that time again. Especially for those of us who live in hard water areas like Las Vegas, Nevada.

If you followed previous posts on my dishwasher, you know mine got pretty scummy before I discovered how to eliminate the Scourge of the Homeowner. The solution is cheap, you could almost call it free.

***VINEGAR***

So I'm back to announce it's that time again to run a couple of glasses of vinegar in your empty dishwasher on the hottest dang cycle available. Pause the dishwasher mid-cycle for an hour and let the vinegar solution sit awhile for even more magic.

I know you are on overload this time of year and this is probably one too many tasks added to your to-do list. But please, as Henry IV implored, Don't shoot the messenger.

After all, I just want your holidays to sparkle.

Happy holidays and best wishes for an incredible 2010, Kate Ford

My Way Of Supporting Home ownership in America =>

What if you could ask a real estate and mortgage insider anything you wanted? Now you can! Ask Kate today!

Realtors advertise free at Real Estate Directory USA - My directory for home buyers and sellers.

Mortgage lenders advertise free at List of Mortgage Companies - My directory for home buyers and home owners.

When it comes to renting vs buying a home, our military troops have unique worries. [Part 6 in a series]

Today brings special holiday greetings to our military and veteran friends. We owe you our freedom.

Please remember in your pursuit of home ownership, you don't have to take this journey alone...

• 1) Use a Realtor, one you can trust to be your guide.
  

Real estate agents work around the clock assisting home buyers and sellers. Because of this, you might not realize all the issues they address. You'll find it's their job to troubleshoot problems even before they happen. In other words, they've got your back! Read more about why a real estate agent is important here.

• 2) Ask your real estate agent for lender recommendations.

You want a mortgage lender who will fight to the draw for you and work in tandem with your Realtor. So in your pursuit for the best mortgage rate, be on the outlook for these qualifications of an effective mortgage lender.

Happy holidays and best wishes for an incredible 2010, Kate Ford

My Way Of Supporting Home ownership in America =>

What if you could ask a real estate and mortgage insider anything you wanted? Now you can! Ask Kate today!

Realtors advertise free at Real Estate Directory USA - My directory for home buyers and sellers.

Mortgage lenders advertise free at List of Mortgage Companies - My directory for home buyers and home owners.

When it comes to renting vs buying a home, our military troops have unique worries. [Part 5 in a series]

Although it is important to consider the pros and cons of buying a house, don't let an over-analysis rob you of your dream of home ownership. I understand a home purchase can make even the bravest of heart feel a little uneasy. Take a look at just a couple of benefits to VA mortgages.

• Zero down payment to low down payment
• For buying a house or refinancing a mortgage
• No prepayment penalties
• Secure fixed rate
• Predictable monthly house payment
  

For more information on VA loans, renting vs buying a home, and how to determine if you can afford a mortgage, I invite you to visit me at...

VA Mortgage Loans - An easy to understand overview of the ultimate zero down payment home loan

How not to get caught in the trap of allowing a lender to determine if you can afford a certain monthly payment => Determining Mortgage Affordability

Can You Afford Renting vs Buying A Home - Ultimately, having a place that we call our own is part of the American Dream. Discover more about the pros and cons of renting vs buying a home.

Watch for part 6 tomorrow, the final day to Renting vs Buying a Home - Pros and Cons for Military

Happy holidays and best wishes for an incredible 2010, Kate Ford

My Way Of Supporting Home ownership in America =>

What if you could ask a real estate and mortgage insider anything you wanted? Now you can! Ask Kate today!

Realtors advertise free at Real Estate Directory USA - My directory for home buyers and sellers.

Mortgage lenders advertise free at List of Mortgage Companies - My directory for home buyers and home owners.