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Mortgage News
It's a Small World After All |
 These
days, that sentiment is more than just a Disney song, as events in
Europe continue to impact our markets. If you've been wondering what's
been going...and what things mean for home loan rates, here's the
scoop.
First, it's important to remember that when our economy is
struggling, our Bond Market usually benefits as investors seek a safe
haven for their money. And since home loan rates are tied to Mortgage
Bonds, our home loan rates are sometimes at their best when our economy
is struggling. In a way it makes sense...in times of economic
struggle, good home loan rates can help kick start our economy in other
areas.
What's more, our Bond Market–and therefore home loan rates–also often
benefit when the global economy is struggling, as investors overseas
see our Bond Market as an ultra safe haven for their money. This has
happened throughout recent months as Greece and several other countries
in Europe have been facing a debt crisis, with Greece approaching
default. However, in late October an agreement was finally reached for
addressing the Greek debt crisis and this story continues to develop.
So what does this mean for Bonds and home loan rates?
If the news out of Europe remains positive, Bonds and home loan
rates here in the United States could face additional pressure.
However, if there is pessimistic or uncertain news, investors may
return to the safe haven of Bonds, meaning home loan rates could
benefit. The most important thing to remember is that now is
still a great time to purchase or refinance a home, as home loan rates
remain near historic lows. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you regarding this or anything you may be wondering about.
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 If
you know anyone who is looking to buy, sell or refinance a home, please
forward their name and telephone number to us. We will happily provide
the same high level of service that we have provided to you. The
greatest compliment you could possibly give us is the referral of your
friends and family. |
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Finance News
Where to Take Your Credit Complaint
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has opened a one-stop complaint center for all credit-card-related issues.
By Joan Goldwasser, Kiplinger.com |
 Fighters
on the big screen, like Rocky Balboa, always have a feisty trainer to
run interference for them. Now you, too, have a corner man if you get
locked in a fight with your card issuer.
Until recently, if you had a complaint, you had to take your chances
appealing to the credit card company itself. Now the Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau has opened a one-stop complaint center for all
credit-card-related issues. As Ben Woolsey, of Creditcards.com,
explains, "The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's sole purpose is
to protect the rights of consumers and be an advocate for them."
To register your complaint, go to CFPB's home page.
There you'll find a simple form that asks you to describe what
happened and to categorize your complaint from a menu of about 30
items, such as "billing disputes" and "credit line increase/decrease."
You'll also be asked how much money you lost (if any), when the
incident occurred and what you have already done to resolve the problem.
Next, you'll be asked to describe the outcome for your problem that
you think would be fair, and for your contact information. Expect
written confirmation from the CFPB, which will forward your complaint
to the card issuer.
Once you have registered your complaint, you can check its status
online. If the issuer does not respond in a timely manner and resolve
the complaint satisfactorily, and the CFPB receives a number of similar
complaints, it will likely launch an investigation. It's too soon to
tell how well this complaint process will work, but we'll keep you
posted.
Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2011 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. www.kiplinger.com.
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Creative Cuisine
Slow Cooker Yankee Pot Roast (serves 4 to 6)
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The end of the year is always frenetic, which means a crock pot
or slow cooker is a great way to create a meal that's both delicious and
easy to prepare.
Ingredients:
- 2 or 2.5 lb chuck pot roast
- 1 onion sliced
- 3 large red potatoes, quartered
- 2 cups baby carrots
- 8 mushrooms, halved
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 3/4 C low-sodium beef broth
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Trim the excess fat from the roast and discard. Slice the meat into
1/2-inch thick slices and season both sides of every slice with salt and
pepper. Place the vegetables and herbs in the slow cooker and lay meat
on top. Pour the broth over the meat. Cover and cook on low for 9 hours.
To serve family style, place the slices of meat on a serving tray and
arrange the vegetables around it. Ladle a small amount of the broth over
the meat and serve with horseradish, and a green salad on the side.
No stranger to professional kitchens, Kirk Leins currently devotes
most of his time to cooking instruction, food writing, and producing
television. You can visit Kirk's website at www.NoTimeToCook.com.
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Street Smarts
Ding Dong!
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 Whether
it's a gift that's being delivered, a neighbor dropping in
unannounced, or a dreaded door-to-door solicitor one thing is for
sure–there could be a lot more activity outside your front door as this
holiday season rolls in. Here are some important safety tips to keep
in mind:
- Many people like to decorate their front doors this time of year
with wreaths or other Holiday décor. Make sure that your
decorations don't block your view out of the peep hole.
- Teach your children not to answer the door. Go one step further
and have a security latch that your children can't reach installed on
the door to ensure they are unable to let someone in.
- Make sure that a delivery person is in uniform and that their
postal/delivery truck is visible if they request for you to sign for a
package.
- Don't be fooled if an electrician, cable guy, or other
professional worker shows up without notifying you first. Contact the
company they're representing–and be sure to get the contact phone number
either online or from the phone book and not from the individual at
your door–to verify and also report the fact that you were not notified
about their visit.
This day in age, the old cliché that "it's better to be safe than sorry" is still the best advice around!
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Home News
Thinking of Installing Wood Floors?
Five Factors to Consider |
 Wood
floors offer warmth and are always inviting, which is what makes them
so popular. If you're thinking of installing wood flooring, here are
some pointers to consider:
- Costs for wood flooring can run anywhere from $8-12 per square foot but could be higher if you choose an exotic variety.
- If you're looking for the hardest wood floor available, look no
further than an acrylic impregnated wood. While it comes at a higher
cost, you'll obtain a commercial-grade product that will wear for years
to come.
- Bamboo, although not actually wood, is also a hard floor and
offers more resistance to scratches than pine or other softer woods.
- All wood floors can scratch and wear over time. As a result, it's
important to select wood flooring that may be resurfaced a minimum of
two times. This will be contingent upon the thickness of the floor's
wear layer.
- Wood laminates are an option as well. The overall quality continues to improve and the resemblance to real wood is incredible.
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Facts and Figures
Something to Sneeze At |
 It's
baaaaack; cold and flu season reared its ugly head in October and
around 5-20% of the U.S. population are likely to fall victim to this
illness. Here are some interesting facts and figures about cold and flu
season:
- A cold is accompanied by one of two things that the flu often is not–a runny or stuffy nose.
- There are over 200 viruses that can cause a cold.
- Influenza is caused by 2 viruses; influenza A or influenza B.
- A "rapid flu test" is the most common way to detect the flu. The results can be obtained within 30 minutes.
- According to a study published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association in September 2004, (conducted by the CDC) an
average of 200,000 people in the U.S. are put in the hospital for
complications from the flu.
- Flu symptoms generally last between two and five days, but can
have you feeling sluggish for longer than a week. Cold symptoms often
last for a full five days, if not longer.
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Back in 1959, American Express issued the very first embossed plastic credit cards.
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Road trip anyone? Millions of Americans will take to the roads this holiday season.
If you're one of them, and want to save your calories for those hearty
holiday meals, then here are a few quick tips to help you make healthy
choices on the way to your destination...
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Tip 1: Eat breakfast before you hit the road so that you'll stay full for as long as possible.
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Tip 2: Divide your snacks into small portions so you're not tempted to overeat.
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Tip 3: If a farmers market is in your driving route, stop by and pick up some fresh fruit and veggies to snack on.
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Tip 4:
Freeze water bottles the night before your trip and then pack them in a
cooler. Not only is water a healthy obvious choice, it also won't
stain your car if it's spilled!
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Tip 5:
Skip the supersize–and opt for a kids meal. If you can't
avoid the fast food lane then at least avoid the desire to order up or
value size.
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| "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." |
| – Steve Jobs |
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When was the first Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop?
For answer, scroll down to the bottom. |
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Inspiration for a Lifetime
By Allen Klein |
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‘Tis the season for inspiration, and sometimes the perfect quote is a great place to start.
Inspiration for a Lifetime is a little book brimming with wise
words that will touch our hearts and make us laugh. The quotes are
grouped thematically into the kind of subjects that can challenge
us...sometimes daily. You'll find quips on aging ("Age is not important
unless you're a cheese." ~ Helen Hayes), diet and exercise, family,
health ("Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died." ~ Erma
Bombeck) work, and so much more. These "power thoughts" inspire readers
to remember what really matters, which makes this book a perfect gift
for the holidays.
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Thank You
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As
always, we wish to thank our clients who have been kind enough to refer
business to us. We appreciate the opportunity to provide excellent
service to your family, friends, and co–workers.
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