reliant realty nashville: FHA Largely to Be Spared 'Sequester'
- 02/27/13 12:47 AM
The across-the-board budget cuts enacted into law in 2011 to reduce the federal deficit take effect Friday, March 1, absent additional action by the government. Some $85 billion, split between defense and domestic discretionary programs, is scheduled to be cut over the balance of 2013. In all, about $1.2 trillion is to be cut over the next 10 years.
Not counting the economic impact on housing demand, the cuts are expected to have minimal impact on federally backed mortgage finance programs because the sequester applies to program dollars, not loan guaranty authority. For that reason, loans backed by the FHA, the VA, and … (0 comments)
reliant realty nashville: FrontDoor turning over listings management to Zillow
- 02/15/13 08:23 AM
HGTV's listings website FrontDoor will phase out its own agent marketing platform, including featured listings and agent profile pages, as Zillow takes over exclusive responsibility for "powering" all listings on the site in April. Zillow -- which last week entered the home-remodeling space with the launch of Zillow Digs -- will provide for-sale and rental listings to FrontDoor. FrontDoor will drop its own 4 million for-sale listings, and hone its focus on highlighting "amazing houses and great places to call home," the company said. Agents who currently purchase local advertising with Zillow will get enhanced exposure on FrontDoor in April. FrontDoor … (1 comments)
reliant realty nashville: 5 Things for Condo Buyers to Learn Before Buying a Property
- 02/09/13 09:45 PM
After you have a purchase contract, you may feelcommitted and start thinking about the color you'll paint the living room. But you still must verify that the place is the right one for you. To do that, make sure you review the condo docs—documentation that explains the rules, governance, management and finances of the condo association. State law defines how quickly the seller must provide them to you (or whether you must request them), how long you have to review them and, if you don't like what you find, how long you have to cancel your purchase agreement and get back … (1 comments)
reliant realty nashville: Should you save or pay off debt?
- 02/09/13 01:11 AM
If you're lucky enough to have some "extra" money in the form of a recent raise, unexpected gift or freelance earnings, you might be wondering how to spend it. Should you put it toward paying off debt, save it or splurge? The savings-versus-debt debate is a common one, so let's take a closer look at which option makes the most sense. Here's a five-step guide to making the smartest money moves: No. 1: Do you already have an emergency savings account? We all need an emergency fund, even if we still have high-interest credit card debt to pay off. That's because … (4 comments)
reliant realty nashville: Blizzard watch for Northeast as 'powerful' winter storm approaches
- 02/06/13 10:38 PM
According to MSN, "A blizzard watch was issued by the National Weather Service early Thursday as a powerful winter storm threatened to dump up to 2 feet of snow across Boston and other parts of the Northeast on Friday night and into Saturday. Snow and strong winds will intensify across New England and travel “may become nearly impossible with blowing and drifting snow” as the weekend begins, the NWS said in an alert issued at 3:30 a.m. ET. Gusty northeasterly and northerly winds may approach 50 mph during the height of the storm, added NBCConnecticut.com meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan. But while there … (2 comments)
reliant realty nashville: Fannie, Freddie to let some underwater homeowners walk away
- 02/03/13 01:07 AM
At least 10 million homeowners aren't feeling the love of the housing market's recovery -- that is, they still have underwater mortgages where they owe more than their homes are worth. But some borrowers were thrown a life raft this week. Mortgage heavyweights Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have announced a bailout program for struggling homeowners who are current on their payments. If there's a pressing need to leave their property, they can just walk away. To explain how it will work, we turned to Julia Gordon, director of Housing Finance and Policy at the Center for American Progress. What are … (0 comments)
reliant realty nashville: How to Pick the Best Credit Card for You
- 01/23/13 10:58 PM
When looking for a credit card, use these points as a guide before you apply. Interest rates. A single credit card may have a lower annual percentage rate for customers with the strongest credit profiles. Some cards offer an introductory or teaser rate of 0% that expires after six to 18 months. Fees. Some rewards cards have an annual fee of $75 or more. If you expect the value of your earnings to exceed the fee, it may be worth paying. Traveling abroad? Pick a card with no foreign transaction fee, which is often about 3% on each purchase. Moving debt from a … (0 comments)
reliant realty nashville: Healthy Eating Tips
- 01/22/13 08:13 AM
The Holidays are over and children have started back to school, and for many parents that means packing school lunches has become part of your weekday routine. Here are some great tips for keeping your children's school lunches and your work lunches healthy.
According to the Department of Agriculture's ChooseMyPlate.gov, there are five food groups that are considered the "building blocks to a healthy diet." These include fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy. The website features a Daily Food Plan tool to help you determine what foods you should eat each day...and in what quantities. The tool is customized based on … (1 comments)
reliant realty nashville: Webcam Interviews, Are They a Good Idea for Your Business???
- 01/21/13 11:23 PM
Webcams have steadily grown in popularity in households across the country. Now, companies are embracing the technology as a cost-effective, timesaving way to conduct interviews. And businesses aren't the only ones turning to this technology. Colleges and universities are also using webcams to interview applicants before admitting them. If you or someone you know is in the process of applying for a new job or to a university, the following information can help you put your best foot forward if you're asked to participate in a webcam interview. Here's How Webcam Interviews Work If you're asked to participate in a webcam … (0 comments)
reliant realty nashville: How to Change Your Name.
- 01/21/13 11:12 PM
Whether you're newly wed or newly single, if you opt to change your name, your new life will start with a big old mess of paperwork. After getting certified copies of your marriage certificate or divorce decree, you'll need to get a new Social Security card, driver's license (costs vary by state), passport ($110, if your current one is more than a year old), voter registration card and, if necessary, professional license. You'll also have to alert your employer's benefits office and any other professional contacts, such as clients and vendors. And you'll want to notify the U.S. Postal Service, your … (2 comments)
You've heard about the health benefits of laughter, but what really happens when you laugh that makes it so beneficial? Doctors and scientists have a few ideas. Exercise Your Heart and Abs. It turns out that laughing is a lot like exercising. A good laugh can increase your heart rate, exercises your diaphragm, and even contracts your stomach muscles. Burn Calories. With the similarities between laughter and exercise, it shouldn't come as a surprise that laughing helps you burn calories. In fact, one study found that 50 calories are burned in 10 to 15 minutes of laughter. Reduce … (2 comments)
reliant realty nashville: Understanding the Fed's Impact on Home Loan Rates
- 01/16/13 10:31 PM
The news is often brimming with debates about whether the Fed is making good or bad decisions for our economy. And the last few weeks have been no exception. So, what is the Fed...and how does the Fed impact home loan rates? Read on for details. What is the Fed? The Federal Reserve System (known informally as the Fed) is our central banking system, and it was given the responsibility of setting our monetary policy by the Federal Reserve Act of 1913. The Fed is composed of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the presidentially appointed Board of Governors, twelve regional Federal … (0 comments)
reliant realty nashville: 5 Reasons Layaway Plans May Cost You More
- 01/12/13 11:59 AM
Layaway has been making a comeback since the recession. In fact, it's been in the headlines recently because several stores that offer this installment-payment program are reducing or dropping layaway service fees. For example, Kmart and Toys R Us recently announced that they're dropping their layaway fees during the holiday shopping season. And Walmart is reducing its fee from $15 to $5 from September 16 to December 14. Layaway allows customers to select items they want and pay for them over a period of time. Once final payments are made, items may be picked up. The difference between using a layaway program and … (0 comments)
reliant realty nashville: Family & Fireside: Unique Ways to Spend Quality Family Time Together
- 01/05/13 11:42 PM
Let's face it...we live in a fast-paced world. The hustle and bustle of everyday life, combined with modern day technology, can detour us from spending a good amount of quality time with our families. Can you think of the last time that your family gathered together–holidays and meal time excluded–away from the television, without cell phones and free of outside distractions? This winter, consider cozying up as a family by the fire. Here a few fun and meaningful things to do together: Watch old family videos. There's nothing more fun than taking a walk down memory lane–and to do that, you don't … (1 comments)
The across-the-board budget cuts enacted into law in 2011 to reduce the federal deficit take effect Friday, March 1, absent additional action by the government. Some $85 billion, split between defense and domestic discretionary programs, is scheduled to be cut over the balance of 2013. In all, about $1.2 trillion is to be cut over the next 10 years.
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