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Mortgage News
2015: Housing's Comeback Year?
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As 2014 came to a close, the housing market appeared to be in better shape than the same period in 2013. Despite the inventory of homes for sale in November reaching an eight-month low, home sales were still up 2.1 percent from a year ago, according to the National Association of REALTORS ®. As is the trend during the holiday season, home loan application volume slowed down in the last quarter of 2014. A mid-December report by the Mortgage Bankers Association showed figures down almost 12 percent compared to the same time one year ago. Home loan rates are still hovering near historic lows. A good sign for new home construction in early 2015: in early November, homebuilders were granted almost 5 percent more permits to break ground—the highest amount in six years. Permits usually have a three to four month lead on housing construction, and the number of approved permits for new builds portends an optimistic start to the new year. Housing starts dropped 1.6 percent in November after two back-to-back monthly increases, yet the annual pace of 1.028 million units was still up almost 8 percent when compared to the first 11 months of 2013, according to Reuters. A December Financial Times survey forecasted that the amount of existing homes for sale will increase, as will competition from new homes and homebuilders. Millennials were predicted to see more job stability and to create households. Indeed, with job gains and wage growth starting to accelerate, first-time buyers are heading back into the market. This group accounted for 31 percent of home purchase transactions in November, the biggest share since October 2012. Will this mean an increase in first-time home purchases as a trend for 2015? Tune in to May's Homes & MoneyNewsletter to find out.
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Did You Know?
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George Washington was almost 40 years old when Beethoven was born.
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Finance News
3 Simple Steps to Create a Home Inventory
If you ever have to file a homeowners insurance claim, here's what you should know.
By the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Kiplinger.com
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Step 1: If you file a homeowners insurance claim for the partial or total loss of your home, your insurer will require a home inventory to reimburse you for your possessions. To avoid drawing up a list of items from memory, take stock of your belongings now. Look for a worksheet at your home insurer's Web site or use the one at www.insureuonline.org/home_inventory_checklist.pdf to help you organize the task. Or create and store your inventory online with KnowYourStuff.org, a free tool from the Insurance Information Institute that's also available as an app for iPhones and Android phones. Step 2: Work room by room or by category. At a minimum, take photos or video as you go. If you have time, describe each item, including the quantity and serial number. Add the purchase date and price, and gather receipts or credit card statements. If you don't have a record of the price, look for a comparable item for sale online. Have jewelry, antiques, art and other valuables appraised (see www.appraisers.org/find-an-appraiser). Step 3: Keep a copy of the inventory that's accessible from anywhere, say, in the cloud or even in an e-mail to yourself. The inventory will also help you determine whether you have enough coverage for your home's contents and document for tax purposes losses that insurance doesn't reimburse. Update your inventory periodically, especially after making major purchases or receiving expensive gifts. The payoff: Insurance claims will be settled more quickly and with less hassle.  Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2015 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Kiplinger.com.
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Quote of the Day
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 "I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn't know how to get along without it." – Walt Disney
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Creative Cuisine
Chicken Enchilada Bake for Two |
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This favorite food now comes in an easy to make smaller portion.
You'll need:
- Coconut oil, for greasing baking dish
- 1 pound cooked, shredded chicken (for example, from a rotisserie chicken)
- 1 (14 ounce) can El Paso enchilada sauce
- 1 (6 ounce) can diced green chilies
- 1 orange or green bell pepper (seeded, diced)
- 1/4 red onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt
- Pepper
- 3 eggs, whisked
- Cilantro, for garnish
- Goat cheese, for garnish (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch by 8-inch glass baking dish. In a large bowl, combine chicken, enchilada sauce, green chilies, peppers, onions, garlic, chili powder, oregano, and a generous amount of salt and pepper. Add eggs and mix well. Pour mixture into baking dish. Bake one hour, or until eggs have completely cooked through. Remove from oven and let rest five minutes. Garnish with cilantro and goat cheese (optional).
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Home News
Winter Cleaning Tips and Tricks |
Clean fan blades by placing a pillowcase over the blade, this will catch any falling dust. Clean stove burners in a sealed Ziploc bag with 1/4 cup of ammonia, wipe free the following morning. Keep faucets, sinks and tiles shiny with car wax, which acts as a protective barrier preventing water and soap buildup. Also use wax on air vents to repel dust. Refresh your mattress with a few drops of essential oil mixed with one cup dry baking soda. Sprinkle mixture on mattress and let sit for an hour, then vacuum. Homemade orange cleaner is made by filling a large jar with citrus peels, covering with white vinegar for two weeks. Strain and dilute 1:1 with water. Source: DIY Home Sweet Home
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Book Review
"The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution"
By Walter Isaacson |
On the heels of his blockbuster biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson delves in to the story of the people and events that created both the computer and the Internet with "The Innovators." Covering well-known technological giants like Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs and Larry Page, "The Innovators" also covers the little known figures who broke ground ahead of them, and those whose ability to collaborate and master teamwork helped skyrocket the pace of innovation. "The Innovators" is now a New York Times and Amazon best seller; click here to find out more!
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Money Smarts
Save Money After the Holidays |
As the bills start to flood in after the hectic holiday season, finding ways to save extra money might be on your list of resolutions. Here are a few tips that can help: Buy off-season merchandise that is more likely to be on clearance or deeply discounted by merchandisers who want to move stock. Learn to cook five meals, one for each night of your work week; it's healthier, adds variety to your meals, and will save an incredible amount of money (especially if you've got a family). Then you can... Brown-bag leftovers for work, which can save between $5 to $10 per workday in lunch expenses. Be your own barista and learn to make your favorite coffee drink at home, which can easily save a daily coffee drinker $100 over the course of a month or two, depending on your habit! Switch gyms to take advantage of deep discounts offered to cater to those New Year's resolutions. Make sure to read the fine print to avoid long-term contracts or introductory periods, after which rates rise sharply. Return unwanted gifts and save the cash (if stores offer that option). Even if the return is only good for store credit, spend it on something you actually need or use it to buy a gift for the next holiday season.
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Facts & Figures
Marketplace Madness
The craziest items ever sold on eBay...along with their crazy final bid prices. |
A ghost in a jar, which the seller claimed to have found in an abandoned cemetery and sold so the ghost would stop haunting him. Final bid: $55,922.The shooter's window and frame from which Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot President John F. Kennedy. Final bid: over $3 million.Ian Usher was fed up with his life and decided to sell it, including his car, his house and his job. Once the deal was finalized, he introduced the buyer to all his friends. Final bid: over $200,000.A Corn Flake shaped like Illinois, which makes sense since the state is second in the U.S. for corn production. Final bid: $1,350.The meaning of life sold by someone who thought they had it all figured out. Too bad marketing didn't figure in. Final bid: $3.15.A haunted rubber ducky said to have possessed the seller's toddler who continuously threw it across the room in anger. Final bid: $100.The original Hollywood sign first built in 1923. The proceeds were actually used to finance a project for the silver screen. Final bid: $450,400.Source: eBay
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Trivia Challenge
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Match these U.S. Presidents with their home states.
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- George Washington
- John F. Kennedy
- Andrew Jackson
- Abraham Lincoln
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Ronald Reagan
- Gerald Ford
- George H. W. Bush
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Harry S. Truman
- Woodrow Wilson
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- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- Massachusetts
- Kansas
- Missouri
- California
- Illinois
- New York
- Texas
- Tennessee
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For answers, see below.
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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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Trivia Answers
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A-3, B-4, C-11, D-8, E-9, F-7, G-1, H-10, I-5, J-6, K-2
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According to Google's most recent consumer survey, real estate related mobile searches grew 36 percent over the previous year. With this increase in mobile searches, here are the top four homebuyer search trends you need to know:
Whether you want to make sure your Facebook strategy is on target, or you haven't yet taken the plunge, here are six tips to help get your name and listings in front of local clients on the largest social networking site.
Selling a home is a stressful process, especially when a home doesn't sell as fast as the homeowner expected. If you've done all you can as an agent, it may be time to consider if the sellers themselves are sabotaging their chances at a sale. Here are the top four bad behaviors:
