Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI's Blog

NOT BAD FOR A BUNCH OF "OLD BROADS"

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:30:27 -0800

Take A Look! About 136 former cheerleaders (some of them breast cancer survivors) got together to do a dance routine to benefit "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" (Breast Cancer). Each time someone views the video, United Healthcare will make a $.10 donation to the Komen organization. Their goal is to get a million hits, which will lead to $100K raised.
Please can you take a moment to watch the video - and, just as important, pass this link onto your network of friends, family and colleagues? It benefits a very important cause!

Thanks for helping!

www.KomenPhiladelphia.org/Video

TSA STATISTICS

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:25:45 -0800

TSA Statistics

Year to date statistics on Airport screening from the Department of Homeland Security

Terrorist Plots Discovered 0
Transvestites 133
Hernia's 1,485
Hemorrhoid Cases 3,172
Enlarged Prostates 8,249
Breast Implants 59,350
Natural Blondes 3

Christmas Cookie Recipes (part 4)

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:53:37 -0800

For those of you who like to bake for Christmas, I'm posting some different cookie recipes for you to try.

Christmas Mice Cookies

Makes 4 dozen • From the kitchen of Null

Ingredients

1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
peanut halves
1 (2.25 ounce) jar red cinnamon candies
4 yards of thin red licorice, cut in 3-inch pieces.

Directions

Beat margarine and peanut butter at medium speed with an electric mixer; gradually add sugars, beat well. Combine flour and soda, gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. Shape dough into 1 inch balls; taper one end of each ball to form a tear-drop shape. Press one side flat. Place flat sides on ungreased cookie sheets with cookies 2 inches apart. Press in sides of dough to raise backs of mice. Gently place 2 peanut halves in dough for ears. With wooden toothpick, make 1/2 inch deep hole at tail end. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes, remove cookies from oven. Place cinnamon candies for eyes and bake an additional 1-2 minutes or until brown. Remove from oven, insert licorice tails and cool completely on baking sheets.

Eggnog Cookies

Makes Approximately 3 Dozen • From the kitchen of Karen Hamlin

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup eggnog
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large egg yolks

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients together. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until it resembles a grainy paste. Add eggnog, vanilla and egg yolks and beat at medium speed until smooth. Add the flour mixture and beat at low speed until blended. Do not over mix. Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheet, 1 inch apart. Sprinkle lightly with additional nutmeg. Bake for 23-25 minutes or until bottoms turn light brown. Transfer from pans immediately to cool.

Gumdrop Gems

Makes 4 dozen • From the kitchen of Erin & Tess Connors

Ingredients

1 cup butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup small gumdrops, sliced (remove black gumdrops)

Directions

Cream butter, confectioners sugar, and vanilla. Beat in egg. Sift together flour, soda, cream of tartar, and salt; gradually stir into creamed mixture. Mix well. Shape dough into roll 2 inches in diameter and 12 inches long. Wrap in waxed paper. Chill several hours or overnight. Cut into slices 1/4-inch thick. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate tops with gumdrop slices. Bake in a 375 degree oven about 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Ricotta Cheese Cookies

From the kitchen of Anonymous

Ingredients

2 cups of sugar
1/2 pound butter or margarine
15 ounce carton of Ricotta cheese
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoons baking soda
Frosting: 4oz cream cheese
2 teaspoons butter
2 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions

Cream well together sugar, butter or margarine, ricotta cheese, eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture, mix well. Drop by teaspoons on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until light brown on bottom (about 10 minutes). Cool, then ice with frosting. Frosting; cream cheese, 2 teaspoons butter, confectioners sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Dip in red and green sprinkles.

Christmas Cookie Recipes (part 3)

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:58:35 -0800

For those of you who like to bake for Christmas, I'm posting some different cookie recipes for you to try.

Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies

From the kitchen of Nancy Hall

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter flavored Crisco
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons Sweet N Low brown sugar
12 packets Equal
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

Directions

Cream together Crisco, egg, vanilla, brown sugar and Equal. Then add peanut butter. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt and add to the creamed mixture. Form into 1" balls. Place on cookie sheet and flatten in a criss cross pattern with tines of fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies

Makes 3 dozen • From the kitchen of Mary Katherine Wainwright

Ingredients

8 Tablespoons butter (margarine or liquid fat free butter substitute)
2 cups sugar
3 heaping Tablespoons cocoa or 2 squares chocolate
1/2 cup milk (skim milk can be substituted)
3 cups dry oatmeal
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pecan pieces (optional)

Directions

Spray a pan with non stick cooking spray. Melt butter slowly. Add sugar, cocoa and milk. Stir occasionally while the mixture comes to a boil. Once the mixture comes to a boil, stir and boil the mixture for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add vanilla extract and stir mixture. Quickly add the oatmeal (and nuts if using) and stir. (If using the butter substitute, increase dry oatmeal to 3-1/2 cups to help thicken the mixture.) Drop by spoon onto greased cookie sheet or waxed paper and allow to cool uncovered. Refrigerate cookies after 5 minutes.

Gingerbread Men

From the kitchen of John Cole

Ingredients

125 grams unsalted butter
1/3 cup soft brown sugar
1/4 cup golden syrup
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups plain flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 tablespoon of currants
Icing:
1 egg white
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 1/4 cups icing sugar
assorted food coloring

Directions

Preheat oven to moderate 180c degrees. Line 2 or 3 oven trays with baking paper. Using electric beaters, beat butter, sugar, and syrup in a small mixing bowl until light and creamy. Add egg gradually, beating thoroughly after each addition. Transfer mixture into large bowl, sift dry ingredients onto well floured surface and knead for 1-2 minutes or until smooth. Line a large chopping board with baking paper, roll out dough on board to 5mm thickness (flour rolling pin if necessary to prevent sticking), refrigerate on board for 15 minutes so dough is firm to cut. Cut dough into shapes with a 13cm gingerbread man cutter. Press remaining dough together and reroll. Cut out shapes. Place biscuits on prepared trays. Place currants as eyes and nose on men. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool biscuits on trays. Icing: Place egg whites in small dry mixing bowl, using electric beaters beat egg whites until foamy. Add lemon juice and icing sugar gradually. Beat until thick and creamy. Divide icing into several bowls. Tint mixtures with desired food colors. Spoon mixture into small paper icing bags. Seal open ends. Snip tips off piping bags. Pipe faces and clothing onto gingerbread men. When icing is completely dry, store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 3 days.

Chewy Noels

From the kitchen of Ellen Moore

Ingredients

2 teaspoons butter or margarine
2 eggs or egg substitute equivalent
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
5 Tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
confectioners sugar

Directions

Melt butter in small baking pan over low heat. Beat eggs slightly. Combine sugar, flour, soda and nuts. Stir into beaten eggs and vanilla. Pour mixture over butter. Do not stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until center is set. Turn out of pan onto rack. Cut into squares and dust bottom with confectioners sugar.

Christmas Cookies (part 2)

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:22:11 -0800

For those of you who like to bake for Christmas, I am posting some different cookie recipes for you to try.

Moravian Christmas Cookies

From the kitchen of Robin Alario (book: Festive Cookies of Christmas)

Ingredients

1 cup dark molasses
1 1/3 cups brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons lard or shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons soda
2 Tablespoons hot water
1 Tablespoon orange extract
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon mace
4 to 5 cups flour

Directions

Combine molasses, sugar, lard, and soda dissolved in 2 Tablespoons hot water over low heat. Melt and cool. Add orange extract. Gradually add flour, sifted with spices. Dough should be firm. Mix and knead thoroughly. Cover well and set in cool place to ripen. Roll small amounts of dough to paper thinness on well-floured, cloth-covered board. Cut into shapes with floured cookie cutters. Place on greased tins, smoothing out air bubbles. Bake 350 degrees until light brown. Watch carefully. Store in airtight container.

Biscotti

From the kitchen of Anonymous

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon aniseed
3/4 cup coarsely chopped almonds
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
3 Tablespoons water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour cookie sheet. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in bowl. Beat butter and sugar in mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add dry ingredients until blended, then aniseed, almonds, and water. Divide dough in half. Place on cookie sheet. Shape each half into 14 inch rope. Flatten slightly, to 3/4 inch thick. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully transfer strips to cutting surface. With serrated knife, cut into 1/2 inch slices. Place cut side down on clean cookie sheet, return to oven. Turn off oven, let cookies dry one hour. Cool on cookie sheet.

Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies

From the kitchen of Anonymous

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups mint flavored semi-sweet chocolate morsels
6 Tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
Confectioners sugar

Directions

In bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. Over hot water, melt 1 cup mint morsels, stirring until smooth. In bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add melted morsels and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in remaining morsels. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; freeze until firm. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; coat with confectioners sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, until tops appear cracked. Let stand 5 minutes on cookie sheet. Cool completely.

Christmas Cookie Recipes (part 1)

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 09:38:22 -0800

For those of you who like to bake for Christmas, I will be posting some different cookie recipes for you to try.

Amish Sugar Cookies

From the kitchen of Joseph & Michelle Salerno

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup cooking oil
2 eggs
4 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Combine sugars, butter and oil, beat well. Add eggs and mix well. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar and vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator overnight. Make into small balls and flatten slightly with a fork. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Do not over cook.

Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms

Makes 7 dozen • From the kitchen of Linda Ancona

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 (6 1/2 ounce) packages chocolate kisses

Directions

Cream sugar, brown sugar, butter and peanut butter. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Stir into egg mixture. Shape into balls and roll in additional granulated sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes . Immediately press kisses into cookies.

VIRTUAL VIET NAM WALL

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:19:41 -0800

I lost a brother in 1967 and part of another that same year. When someone comes home in a sealed casket it's very hard to close the book. I appreciate every little bit of information I can find.

First click on a state. When it opens, scroll down to the city and the names will appear. Then click on their names. It should show you a picture of the person, or at least their bio and medals.

This really is an amazing web site. Someone spent a lot of time and effort to create it.

I hope that everyone who receives this appreciates what those who served in Vietnam sacrificed for our country.

The link below is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam war
with the names, bio's and other information on our lost heroes. Those who remember that timeframe, or perhaps lost friends or family can look them up on this site.

http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm

Received from a friend who is in the insurance property business. It is well worth reading.

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:01:27 -0800

Their house burnt down.. nothing left but ashes. They have good insurance so the house will be replaced and most of the contents. That is the good news.

However, they were sick when they found out the cause of the fire. The insurance investigator sifted through the ashes for several hours. He had the cause of the fire traced to the master bathroom. He asked the owner what she had plugged in the bathroom. She listed the normal things...curling iron, blow dryer.
He kept saying to her, 'No, this would be something that would disintegrate at high temperatures'. Then his she remembered she had a Glade Plug-In, in the bathroom.

The investigator had one of those 'Aha' moments. He said that was the cause of the fire. He said he has seen more house fires started with the plug-in type room fresheners than anything else. He said the plastic they are made from isTHIN. He also said that in every case there was nothing left to prove that it even existed. When the investigator looked in the wall plug, the two prongs left from the plug-in were still in there.

She had one of the plug-ins that had a small night light built in it. She said she had noticed that the light would dim and then finally go out. She would walk in to the bathroom a few hours later, and the light would be back on again. The investigator said that the unit was getting too hot, and would dim and go out rather than just blow the light bulb. Once it cooled down it would come back on..... That is a warning sign

The investigator said he personally wouldn't have any type of plug in fragrance device anywhere in his house. He has seen too many places that have been burned down due to them.

NOT ONLY COULD IT SAVE SOMEONE'S HOUSE, BUT IT COULD SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE

Pretty amazing!!

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 11:12:46 -0800

In an efficient and safe effort to save us from the ill-effects of plastic waste, Akinori Ito has developed a machine which converts plastic back into oil.

Not surprised at this at all; just a case of Japanese ingenuity and perseverance.
What is more important would be the marketing and very low cost to make it mandatory to have one of these in every home.

Sound is all in Japanese.. Just read the subtitles and watch.

What a great discovery!

http://www.flixxy.com/convert-plastic-to-oil.htm

DOUBLE OPEN HOUSE IN TWIN RIVERS ON SUNDAY

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:39:28 -0700

I'm holding an open house from 2-4 pm on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010 at 5-C Twin Rivers Drive and 5-K Twin Rivers Drive in East Windsor Twp, NJ. Twin Rivers is a PUD Community located in East Windsor Twp., NJ just minutes from shopping and NJ TPK exit 8. Elementary school, library and pool are within walking distance and the commuter bus stops right outside. These units are together for anyone who wants to be near family or friends.

Bank of America 'Secret' Short Sale Program | BoA HPO Short Sale Program Details

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:23:40 -0700

Tim and Julie Harris of the Harris Real Estate University posted this information about a new program being tested by Bank of America.

As someone who has 'worked' with Bank of America on short sales, especially with the Equator system, this would be a welcome change. Trying to get something done through a computer is extremely frustrating. I attended three seminars given by Bank of America where they promised responses within 48 hours ... what a joke. The only time I got a response through Equator was when I sent a request while they were on vacation and they had an automatic response telling me the dates they would be away.

The idea of a personal advocate, a real person, one who answers email and telephone messages, seems to be the answer we need. Lets hope it becomes a functional program.

Via Tim and Julie Harris (Harris Real Estate University):

Breaking News….

Bank of America is testing and will soon have a national roll-out of a new program that will revolutionize the short sale process.

This new program is called HPO Short Sale. (We know the ‘H-P’ stands for High Performance but, as of this post we still don’t know what the ‘O’ represents.)

This program is NOT a rumor...its real. I have posted actual paperwork including an HPO Acceptance Letter on our blog. Read it now.

Watch the New Harris Real Estate University, Bank of America HPO Short Sale Videos NOW.

Why do you care about this new program?

Here are the details:

(Remember, this program is being quietly introduced, using only a hand-selected group of top short sale agents across the country. HREU will publish any additional information about this new program the second we get it…stay tuned to this site!)

* 6% commissions

* Every short sale seller and agent will be assigned a personal advocate who will shepherd the short sale through, using the new, simple process. Think of this as your own ‘short sale personal representative’.

* No pre-qualifying, no hardship required. Being upside down in the house IS the hardship.

* No documentation.

* No bank statements.

* No tax returns.

* No financial worksheets.

* No deficiency judgement.

* No financial contribution from the seller of any kind will be requested.

* Only requirements? -A listing contract -A purchase contract -An appraisal, though we’ve been told the appraisal will not have an adverse bearing on the final acceptance.

* 2 WEEK approvals.

Listen NOW to the Emergency Harris Real Estate University and Bank of American HPO Short Sale Teleconference…..all the details about this new program are uncovered. <———CLICK HERE TO LISTEN NOW!

Let me be clear, this new Bank of America HPO Short Sale program is what Harris Real Estate University has been an advocating for nearly 5 years.

HREU is the original Realtor short sale training source. When you are ready to go beyond the basic short sale designation and training…when you are ready to build a true short sale business…watch this FREE Accredited Short Sale Designation (ASD) and download the FREE Short Sale Guide Book.

Needless to say, we are very excited about what this new HPO Program will mean to our industry.

Watch the Just Released HPO Bank of America Short Sale Videos. <---------Click Here To Watch NOW.

Agents, REBLOG this story. Every agent in the nation needs to know about this new BoA program!

E-Mail Tracker Programs -- very interesting and a must read......

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:17:03 -0700

The man that sent this information is a computer tech. He spends a lot of time clearing the junk off computers for people and listens to complaints about speed. All forwards are not bad, just some. He wrote: By now, I suspect everyone is familiar with snopes.com and/or truthorfiction.com for determining whether information received via email is just that: true/false or fact/fiction. Both are excellent sites.

Advice from snopes.com VERY IMPORTANT!! 1) Any time you see an email that says "forward this on to '10' (or however many) of your friends", "sign this petition", or "you'll get bad luck" or "you'll get good luck" or "you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it" or whatever --- it almost always has an email tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and emails of those folks you forward to.

The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' email addresses to use in SPAM emails or sell to other spammers. Even when you get emails that demand you send the email on if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus --- that is email tracking, and they are playing on our conscience. These people don't care how they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them.

Also, emails that talk about a missing child or a child with an incurable disease "how would you feel if that was your child" --- email tracking. Ignore them and don't participate! 2) Almost all emails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards.

All it was, and all any of this type of email is, is a way to get names and 'cookie' tracking information for telemarketers and spammers -- to validate active email accounts for their own profitable purposes. You can do your Friends and Family members a GREAT favor by sending this information to them. You will be providing a service to your friends. And you will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam emails in the future!

Do yourself a favor and STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listing regardless how inviting they might sound! Or make you feel guilty if you don't! It's all about getting email addresses and nothing more. You may think you are supporting a GREAT cause, but you are NOT! Instead, you will be getting tons of junk mail later and very possibly a virus attached! Plus, we are helping the spammers get rich!

Let's not make it easy for them!

New Jersey's not doing so bad!

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:14:14 -0700

Garden State Resales Outpace U.S.

According to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (NAR) second quarter 2010 State Resale report, New Jersey existing home sales have far outpaced the nation. Existing home sales in the Garden State increased 15.4 percent from the first quarter of 2010 to the second. New Jersey's resales are 29.9 percent higher than the second quarter of last year. The national figure for second-quarter resales only showed a quarterly sales increase of 9.1 percent and a yearly increase of 17.3 percent.

In addition, each of New Jersey's metro areas showed year-over-year growth in median home price, according to NAR's Metropolitan Area Home Price report. According to NJAR^® CEO Jarrod Grasso, "This may be a sign of market stability. Even with the tax credit out of the equation, today's buyers can experience record-low interest rates and affordable prices. However, these conditions will not last forever." View NJAR®'s full statement and stories from the following news outlets:

Italian Festival in Philly April 24, 2010

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Thu, 27 May 2010 12:44:24 -0700

I posted this a few weeks ago and I definitely think it is worth posting again.

Italian Festival in Philly April 24th. Everyone -- This is the Reading Railroad terminal in downtown Philadelphia, on Market Street. It was turned into a very large farmer's market and a foodcourt with great food. You will ALL love this !!

All right everyone, turn the volume way up and enjoy. Wish I had been there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zmwRitYO3w

You can bet I'll be there next year!

If this doesn't put a smile on your face, nothing will ...

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:45:59 -0700

All right everyone, turn the volume way up and enjoy. Wish I had been there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zmwRitYO3w

You can bet I'll be there next year!

Attention Facebookers

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:46:40 -0700

FACEBOOKERS fb is at it again...violating your personal information: As of today, there is a new privacy setting called "Instant Personalization" that shares data with non-facebook websites and it is automatically set to "Allow." Go to Account > Privacy Settings > Applications and Websites and uncheck "Allow". Please copy & repost as I did, to spread the word.

VIRUS WARNING

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:01:41 -0700

READ THIS AND THEN RE-COPY IT TO YOUR OWN STATUS TO GET THE WORD OUT: If you get a notification that says a friend reported you to Facebook for being offensive or in violation of terms of service, do NOT click it. It's a virus. Post this on your own site for your friends, please

NJ Tax Appeal Deadline is May 1st.

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:11:01 -0700

This is a reminder that the tax appeal deadline is May 1st for revalued/reassessed municipalities in New Jersey. All appeals must be received by the County Tax Board or the New Jersey Tax Court by May 1st. If you feel that your real estate taxes are incorrectly assessed this is your last chance to appeal.

SMART START OPTIONS PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:23:12 -0700

These are the guidelines for a program that is available in NJ, I don't know if other states have the same program. For more information, visit HMFA's website, www.nj-hmfa.comor contact HMFA at /-800-654-6873.

1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Accumulating the funds for downpayment and closing costs is a common barrier to potential homeowners. The smart Start Program is available to participants in the Agency's first mortgage homebuyer's program who are purchasing homes in Smart Growth areas. The program helps these families by offering a second mortgage for downpayment and/or closing costs up to 4% of the first mortgage.

2. AVAILABLE FUNDS: As allocated by HMFA

3. ELIGIBLE BORROWERS: Eligible households are those who qualify under the Home Buyer Program. Borrowers with sufficient personal assets to close a loan at less than 80% LTV are ineligible. Corporations and investors are not permitted to act as borrowers.

4. OCCUPANCY: Property must be occupied as the borrower's primary residence within 60 days of closing. Borrower must maintain occupancy for the life of the loan.

5. LOAN TERMS: The Agency will make Smart Start downpayment and/or closing cost loans in the amount of 2%, 3% or 4% of the first mortgage to qualified Home Buyer Program borrowers purchasing in Smart Growth areas as determined by the Agency's Smart Growth locator. (Visit www.nj-hmfa.comto access the locator tool.) The interest rate on the Smart Start second mortgage is 0%. The borrower may repay the unpaid principal in full or in part at any time before it is due. This is known as prepayment, and no penalty shall be charged. If the Borrower continuously resides in the premises as his/her principal residence for 5 years from the date of closing of the loan, the principal on the Note will have been deemed satisfied and the Lender will provide the Borrower with a cancellation of mortgage or release of lien. If the Borrower conveys, refinances or ceases to occupy the premises as his/her principal residence, full repayment of principal will be due as follows:

Months 0 through 24, the entire principal is due.

After the 24th month, 25% of the principal on the Note will be deemed satisfied and the remaining balance will be reamortized.

After the 36th month, an additional 25% of the principal on the Note will be deemed satisfied and the remaining balance will be reamortized.

After the 48th month, an additional 25% of the principal on the Note will be deemed satisfied and the remaining balance will be reamortized.

After the 60th month the entire Note will be satisfied and discharged.

6. INCOME LIMITS: Income limits are determined by the area of purchase as well as family size and must follow the same guidelines as the First Time Home Buyer Program.

7. PURCHASE PRICE LIMITS: Purchase price limits exist for both the statewide and target areas. Loans submitted using FHA, VA and/or RECD guidelines must adhere to FHA or HMFA guidelines (whichever is lower) regarding purchase price limits or loan limits.

8. FIRST MORTGAGE PRICING: The 30 year first mortgage interest note rate will vary depending on the Smart Start Loan amount elected and will be fixed for the life of the loan in accordance with the following schedule:

2% Smart Start loan results in first mortgage Home Buyer Program rate + .375%
3% Smart Start loan results in first mortgage Home Buyer Program rate +.50%
4% Smart Start loan results in first mortgage Home Buyer Program rate +.75%

Can this be true?

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 09:55:05 -0700

I received this email about two weeks ago and dismissed it as junk. I got it again today and now I'm beginning to think there might be some truth here. Does anyone know anything about this"

Subject: Fwd: FW: A License Required for your HOUSE?

Our Country has gone mad!!!

Subject: A License Required for your HOUSE?
I knew the "cap and trade" bill was a sack of garbage, but if this is true and the Senate passes it, we are in worse trouble than I thought. I have sent it to my Congressman who voted for the bill when it passed the House to ask if he knew this was in the bill when he voted yes. I have also told my two Senators for a second time, they should not even think about voting for this mess. I hope you will do the same. db

A License Required for your HOUSE?

If you own your home you really need to check this out. At the end of this email is the Google link to verify. If the country
thinks the housing market is depressed now, wait until everyone sees this. No one will be buying homes in the future.

A License will be required for your house...no longer just for cars and mobile homes....Thinking about selling your house?
Take a look at H.R. 2454 (Cap and Trade bill). This is unbelievable! Home owners take note and tell your friends and
relatives who are home owners!

Beginning one year after enactment of the Cap and Trade Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to
comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this "Cap & Trade" bill, passed by the House of Representatives.
If it is also passed by the Senate, it will be the largest tax increase any of us has ever experienced.

The Congressional Budget Office (supposedly non-partisan) estimates that in just a few years the average cost to every family of four will be $6,800 per year. No one is excluded. However, once the lower classes feel the pinch in their wallets, you can be sure that these voters will get a tax refund (even if they pay no taxes at all) to offset this new cost. Thus you, Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class, have to pay even more since additional tax dollars will be needed to bail out everyone else.

But wait...this awful bill (that no one in Congress has actually read) has many more surprises in it. Probably the worst one is this: A year from now you won't be able to sell your house without some bureaucrat's OK. Yes, you read that right.

The caveat (there always is a caveat) is that if you have enough money to make required major upgrades to your home, then you can sell it. But, if not, then forget it. Even pre-fabricated homes ("mobile homes") are included. In effect, this bill
prevents you from selling your home without the permission of the EPA administrator.

To get this permission, you will have to have the energy efficiency of your home measured. Then the government will tell you what your new energy efficiency requirement is and you will be required to make modifications to your home under the retrofit provisions of this Act, to comply with the new energy and water efficiency requirements.

Then you will have to get your home measured again and get a license (called a "label" in the Act) that must be posted on your property to show what your efficiency rating is; sort of like the Energy Star efficiency rating label on your refrigerator or air conditioner. If you don't get a high enough rating, you can't sell.


And, the EPA administrator is authorized to raise the standards every year, even above the automatic energy efficiency increases built into the Act. The EPA administrator, appointed by the President, will run the Cap & Trade program  (AKA the "American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009") and is authorized to make any future changes to the
regulations and standards he/she alone determines to be in the government's best interest. Requirements are set low initially so the bill will pass Congress. Then the Administrator can set new standards every year.

The Act itself contains annual required increases in energy efficiency for private and commercial residences and buildings. However, the EPA administrator can set higher standards at any time. Sect. 202 - Building Retrofit Program mandates a national retrofit program to increase the energy efficiency of all existing homes across America.

Beginning one year after enactment of the Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit
it to comply with its energy and water efficiency standards. You had better sell soon, because the standards will be raised each year and will be really hard (expen$ive) to meet in a few years. Oh, goody!

The Act allows the government to give you a grant of several thousand dollars to comply with the retrofit
program requirements IF you meet certain energy efficiency levels. But wait, the State can set additional requirements on who qualifies to receive the grants. You should expect requirements such as "can't have
an income of more than $50K per year", "home selling price can't be more than $125K", or anything else
to target the upper middle class (that includes YOU?) and prevent you from qualifying for the grants.

Most of us won't get a dime and will have to pay the entire cost of the retrofit out of our own pockets. More
transfer of wealth, more "change you can believe in." Sect. 204 - Building Energy Performance Labeling
Program establishes a labeling program that for each individual residence will identify the achieved energy
efficiency performance for "at least 90 percent of the residential market within 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act."

This means that within 5 years, 90% of all residential homes in the U.S. must be measured and labeled.
The EPA administrator will get $50M each year to enforce the labeling program. The Secretary of the
Department of Energy will get an additional $20M each year to help the EPA. Some of this money will,
of course, be spent on coming up with tougher standards each year...

Oh, the label will be like a license for your car. You will be required to post the label in a conspicuous
location in your home and will not be allowed to sell your home without having this label. And, just like
your car license, you will probably be required to get a new label every so often - maybe every year.

But, the government estimates the cost of measuring the energy efficiency of your home should only
cost about $200 each time. Remember what they said about the auto smog inspections when they
first started: that in California? It would only cost $15. That was when the program started. Now the
cost is about $50 for the inspection and certificate.

Expect the same from the home labeling program. Sect. 304 - Greater Energy Efficiency in Building
Codes establishes new energy efficiency guidelines for the National Building Code and mandates
at 304(d) that one year after enactment of this Act, all state and local jurisdictions must adopt the
National Building Code energy efficiency provisions or must obtain a certification from the federal
government that their state and/or local codes have been brought into full compliance with the
National Building Code energy efficiency standards.

CHECK OUT a few of the sites;

Cap and Trade: A License Required for your Homehttp://www.nachi. org/forum/ f14/cap-and- trade-license- required- your-home- 44750/
HR2454 American Clean Energy & Security Act: http://www.govtrack .us/congress/ bill.xpd? bill=h111- 2454
Cap & Trade A license required for your home: http://www.prisonplanet.com/cap-and-trade-a-license-required-for-your-home.html
Cap and trade is a license to cheat and steal:
http://www.sfexamin er.com/opinion/ columns/oped_ contributors/ Cap-and-trade- is-a-license- to-cheat- and-steal- 45371937. html

Cap and Trade: A License Required for your Home: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2393940/posts
Thinking about selling you House? Look at HR 2454:
http://www.federalobserver.com/2009/10/01/thinking-about-selling-your-house-a-look-at-h-r- 2454-cap-and-trade-bill/

www.google.com/ search?hl= en&source=hp&ie=ISO-8859- 1&q=A+License+ required+ for+your+ home-+Cap+ and+Trade&btnG=Google+ Search

It's Ba-a-a-a-a-ck!

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:59:03 -0700

Proxey error kicked me off four times today.

Presidential Disaster Declaration-New Jersey (Severe Storm and Flooding)

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:48:06 -0700

This is important information from a Senior Loan Officer at BoA that I use: Presidential Disaster Declaration-New Jersey (Severe Storm and Flooding)

Wanted you to know, we got notice yesterday that all loans in the following counties will require an interior inspection prior to closing, this is due to the recent heavy rain and flooding: Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex. Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Union. Note, Ocean County is not affected.

Also, anyone with a refinance in the 3 day recession period will require the interior inspection prior to funding.

I am not certain other lenders are affected by this, but I would imagine they would be.

Wanted to keep you posted with the latest information.

IMPORTANT PRIVACY INFORMATION

Katherine Fornale SFR, GRI (REMAX REALTY 9) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:25:50 -0700

From my Broker: FYI EVERYONE- There's a site called spokeo.com and it's an online phone book that has a picture of your house, credit score, profession, age, how many people live in the house. Remove yourself by the Privacy button on the bottom right. (passing along, scary stuff!) I personally checked it out and it is really there!! REPOST!