With $48 Million in green energy incentives coming to South Florida, I would like to contribute my two cents to energy conservation: streamlining standby energy in our own homes.  We all have standby energy usage and probably don't even know it.   I did some "green" research on the Internet and learned that by cutting down on standby energy we can save from 5-15% on energy usage.  The beauty of this practice is that it is simple. Although many home appliances may be turned off when not in use, they still continue to consume energy.  This is called standby energy, or leaky energy.   The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy say that appliances with an external power supply, a clock display or a remote control device are constantly tapping energy when off.   Appliances ... 04/22/2009

Christopher Shearer It may be true that knowledge is power, but knowledge without action is not very powerful at all. In fact, it is very common to see talent wasted because no action is taken to produce results. The following are a few tips for taking action, which is perhaps the single biggest key to success, in business and in life. Don't over-analyze tasks. Sure you need to think things through, but you can over-think them too. If you worry too much about getting it perfect before implementation, you can lose momentum, lose your window of opportunity, or worst of all...never do it at all. A good strategy is to be sure your idea is ethical and legal. Then, if you think your chances of success are at least 70%, implement your idea. Successful people tend to make decisions quickly and ... 04/21/2009

I had clients here from out of town looking for homes. They have two young boys and wanted to know where they could take them for some fun. I suggested to them Extreme Go Karts. I have never been there myself but heard great things about it. So they went and were very happy with the place. Now I have family in town and we decided to take them there. What a fun this place is! Its a indoor Go Karting place, with Miniature Golf, Full Arcade, and a Full Bar. I thought How cool is this!. So my husband and I decided to give it a try. Boy what a thrill that was. It was a 8 minutes session, and I know what you are thinking, only 8 minutes? Let me tell you 8 minutes is more than enough. I was able to get in 12 laps, my husband got 13. Not bad for my first time! I took some pictures to give you a... 04/20/2009

Fort Lauderdale Florida Mortgage 97% Financing, Fort Lauderdale FL Mortgage Lender     Fort Lauderdale home buyers should know the many advantages of the FHA mortgage loan programs. FHA loans were created to help increase home ownership. For the Fort Lauderdale Florida home buyer the FHA program can simplify the purchase of a home, making financing easier and less expensive than a conventional mortgage loan product. Some highlights of the Fort Lauderdale Florida FHA loan program include: Minimal Down Payment and Closing costs. Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price Gifts are allowed Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards closing and prepaid costs. 100% Financing available No reserves required. FHA regulated closing costs.   Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as:   No ... 04/19/2009

  January - March, 2009Following is the Las Olas River House Market Report/Activity Update for the months of January - March, 2009.  During the 1st Quarter of 2009, 5 Las Olas River House Condos sold with final purchase prices ranging from $390,000 - $,1,000,000. Per the MLS, there are 4 pending sales of Las Olas River House Condos (Contracts have been submitted and accepted for their purchase, but the purchases are not yet final).   I currently have 2 Las Olas River House Condos for Sale--Unit #2410, offered for Sale at $1,150,000 and Unit #3009, offered for Sale at $750,000.  Unit #2410 is located on the 24th Floor, has 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths, 3,239 square ft. of living area, has beautiful New River and Atlantic Ocean views from the Terraces and features a Private Elevator, Gourmet Kit... 04/18/2009

To my mind, one of the gifts of a more challenging economy is awareness.  I have become aware of a positive trend in the South Florida luxury real estate market.  I am curious to know how perceptive people are to this good news and if anyone else has some positive input to add.  My personal sales for the first quarter of 2009 were up about 5%.  Not a huge amount, I know, but when adding my $10.5M sales to Premier Estate Properties company wide sales of $93.5M, I was pleased.  Progress is still to be made even in these hard times!  Real estate activity appears to be on the increase as the two offers I received on listings this week are very encouraging.  I am also proud of be part of an office which has actually expanded and increased office space since January.  I am planning my market... 04/15/2009

Christopher Shearer Building a Financial Foundation On this page you will find links to many other websites. When you go to another site, you are subject to the privacy and security policies of that site. FHA cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided there. Linking to a web site does not constitute an endorsement by FHA, or any of its employees, of the sponsors of the site or the products presented on the site.  FHA cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials on linked websites. You will have to request authorization from the sponsor of the linked website. FHA cannot guarantee that outside websites comply with Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act. Here are some tools to help you on your way towards building wealth and managing your money: ... 04/14/2009

Starting A Business Many people approach us in the early stages of their new dream - starting a small business.  There are so many things to be aware of.  While there are many important aspects to take into consideration such as corporate structure and business planning one piece always gets overlooked.  Where is the funding going to come from? We want to talk about a few key components to getting funding as a start-up business.  Here are a few key points to remember: -Be experienced.                 Many people pick an industry that they know will do well.  Right now, auto repair facilities are one of the easiest industries to finance.  The problem is, if you've gone to school for education and your experience with auto repair consists of changing your oil - this is not the industry fo... 04/13/2009

Christopher Shearer March 12, 2009                                                                      MORTGAGEE LETTER 2009-08   TO:                 ALL APPROVED MORTGAGEES                        SUBJECT:    Limits on Cash-Out Refinances   Effective for case number assignments on or after April 1, 2009, the loan-to-value (LTV) of any cash-out refinance to be insured by FHA may not exceed 85 percent of the appraiser's estimate of value.    Given the continued deterioration in the housing market, and FHA's need to limit its exposure to undue risk, this reduction to the maximum LTV for cash-out refinances is being instituted on a temporary basis while FHA further analyzes the housing and mortgage industry as well as its own portfolio to determine whether permanent measures should be take... 04/13/2009

 Christopher Shearer BORROWER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS UPDATED MARCH 18, 2009   What is "Making Home Affordable" all about? Making Home Affordable is part of President Obama's comprehensive strategy to get the housing market back on track. Through the Making Home Affordable Program, up to 9 million American families may be eligible to refinance or modify their loans to a payment that is affordable now and into the future. HOME AFFORDABLE REFINANCE   1. I'm current on my mortgage. Will the Home Affordable Refinance help me?   Eligible borrowers who are current on their mortgages but have been unable to take advantage of today's lower interest rates because their homes have decreased in value, may now have the opportunity to refinance. Through the Home Affordable Refinance Program, Fann... 04/11/2009

Christopher Shearer Computerized Training Of Working Memory Is A Promising Therapeutic Strategy In ADHD ScienceDaily (Oct. 15, 2007) - ADHD is an increasingly frequent complex mental disorder in children with partly devastating consequences for the child's further development and the families. There are ew and very promising strategies of research to develop more appropriate treatments that specifically refer to the patient's basic neuropsychological dysfunctions and mechanisms. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a state of serious impairments in both learning ability and social functioning, is one of many labels for one of the most prevalent conditions in child psychiatry, and, undoubtedly, the most controversial, which partly persists into adulthood. ADHD is conservative... 04/11/2009

 A previous blog of mine cited the U.S. Department of Energy in saying that Floridians spend about 20% less per person on energy than any other state in the country. One reader wondered why. I offered an immediate response, but the question got me thinking.  Why is Florida so energy conscious?  I conducted some research on my sunny city of Fort Lauderdale and found the simple answer in the local Sunday paper: People actually care.   There was an entire section dedicated to actively going Green in our city.  Here are a few points I found. Community Involvement: Thrift Stores run by charities such as Faith Farms, Women In Distress, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, local hospitals and churches not only help fund their designated causes but recycle clothes, furniture, office equipment,... 04/09/2009

  Fort Lauderdale Mortgage 97% Financing, Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Lender, http://www.fhamortgagefhaloan.com/ 97% Fort Lauderdale Mortgage up to $423,750   Minimal Down Payment and Closing Costs. •·     Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price •·     100% Financing options available •·     No reserves or required. •·     FHA regulated closing costs. •·     Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards buyers costs. Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as: •·     No minimum Credit score or credit score requirements. •·     FHA will allow a home purchase 2 years after a Bankruptcy. •·     FHA will allow a home purchase 3 years after a Foreclosure.  Easier Debt Ratio & Job Requirement Guidelines such as: •·     Higher Debt Ratio's than other home loan programs. •·     Less than two... 04/07/2009

Fort Lauderdale FL Mortgage Lender FHA loans have been helping Fort Lauderdale homebuyers become homeowners since 1934. How do we do it? The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) - which is part of HUD - insures the loan, so your lender can offer Pinellas county homebuyers and homeowners a better deal. •·    Low down payments •·    Low closing costs •·    Easy credit qualifying  OTHER FHA LOAN ADVANTAGES INCLUDE: ·  Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price ·  100% Financing options available ·  No reserves or required. ·  FHA regulated closing costs. ·  Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards buyers costs. Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as: ·  No minimum FICO score or credit score requirements. ·  FHA will allow a home purchase 2  years after a Bankruptcy. ·  FHA will... 04/05/2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains multiple changes to the Small Business Administration's programs. These changes have been put into effect to encourage lenders to open up their lending to the small business sector. These changes can effect small business loans and commercial loans of many different sizes and in many different ways. This act is critically important in the lending industry, and so we thought we'd share some highlights. -The present SBA guarantee was up to 85%. This has been increased to 90% on some loans to encourage lenders to continue financing. -A new business stabilization loan is in the works which will be 100% guaranteed by SBA. These loans will be up to $35,000 to help businesses refocus and succeed long term. -The 504 Certified Development Compa... 04/04/2009

The National Association of Realtors reported a 30% decrease in the sale of second homes in 2008.  In contrast, analysts predict long-term demand for investment and vacation residences remains favorable because of those buyers in their prime years looking for a retirement home.  This may be especially the case as buyers witness the retraction in their stock portfolios and return to good old bricks and mortar in the sun!  Timing is everything.  With over $1 billion of private and public sector investment in the New Fort Lauderdale Beach, I am advising clients to take advantage of the broad inventory of exciting luxury properties now, and enjoy the benefit of the beach renovation over the next two years. Fort Lauderdale Beach has enjoyed a luxurious transformation.  The brand new W, The R... 04/03/2009

A tale of April Fool's at AM 1470 WWNN didn't go over well with morning drive hosts Steve Kane and Brian Craig of the "Steve Kane Show" in south Florida.  From the radio waves to the telephone lines, an April Fool's prank played by fellow host Bill Lewis of the "Credit Restoration Consultants Hour" didn't sit well with Steve and Brian.  In a joke that spanned almost a week, it was only on April 2nd that fellow hosts and listeners alike learned that Bill Lewis had not left the station and his long standing show on financial issues.  Although not a holiday in its own right, April Fool's Day or All Fools Day as it is called in several countries, is celebrated on April 1st.  It is a day that is marked by the commission of hoxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on family, ... 04/03/2009

Christopher Shearer Some children with ADHD continue to have it as adults. And many adults who have the disorder don't know it. They may feel that it is impossible to get organized, stick to a job, or remember and keep appointments. Daily tasks such as getting up in the morning, preparing to leave the house for work, arriving at work on time, and being productive on the job can be especially challenging for adults with ADHD. These adults may have a history of failure at school, problems at work, or difficult or failed relationships. Many have had multiple traffic accidents. Like teens, adults with ADHD may seem restless and may try to do several things at once, most of them unsuccessfully. They also tend to prefer "quick fixes," rather than taking the steps needed to achieve greater rew... 04/01/2009

In the recent issue of REALTOR magazine this month--an article recommends "9 Ways to Beat Negativity" and I believe it is more good news worth repeating: 1.  Tell Yourself a Positive Story--Invent a new story!  Life is a story--tell it in an upbeat, positve way--become a better storyteller!  And while you are at it, tell other people your positive story. 2.  Model Yourself after Success--Learn from other successful professionals in your field and model their attitudes and actions. 3.  Focus on the Important Stuff--Forget the small stuff; focus on what counts! 4.  Replace 'have to' with 'get to'--Change your mind set with a simple rephrase. 5.  Refuse to Participate in the Recession--Turn OFF the television and only skim headline news! Take action to grow your business. 6.  Boost your Ma... 03/30/2009

Christopher Shearer Info: www.makinghomeaffordable.gov ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES NEW CONSUMER WEBSITE FOR RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERS SEEKING RELIEF MakingHomeAffordable.gov Features Self Assessment Tools, Calculators to Help Borrowers Determine Eligibility, Payment Reductions under Administration's Refinancing and Loan Modification Program Washington, DC- The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today launched a new website for consumers seeking information about the Obama Administration's Making Home Affordable loan modification and refinancing program. MakingHomeAffordable.gov offers features including interactive self-assessment tools that will empower borrowers to determine if they're eligible to participate and calculate the monthly mo... 03/28/2009