Any time you make a major commitment, financial decision or move to the next step in your life, there’s a chance you’ll have regrets at the last minute. Just as brides and grooms commonly experience cold feet before they walk down the aisle, many a home buyer has found themselves sitting at the closing table, pen paralyzed over paper, mentally cataloging their last-minute regrets.

The first step in dealing with last-minute regrets is to understand that they are totally normal – even rational. The fact that you’re fixated on your deal, or that you’re scared you’ve made the wrong decision is a sign that you are treating this transaction with the gravitas it deserves.

If you are buying or selling a home, here are three last minute regrets you might encounter, and some ways to rethink and counteract them.

1. I left money on the table – could have gotten more (or paid less) for it.   This regret showcases a classic case of buyer’s – and seller’s – remorse. The day an offer is signed, sometimes within moments after acceptance, sellers second guess whether they might have been able to get more cash if they’d negotiated harder, and buyers beat themselves up over not going in lower or holding out against the seller’s counteroffers.

Conquer real estate remorse by understanding that the universe in which you pay or receive anything other than what you and the other side actually DID agree to is a hypothetical fantasyland. It doesn’t exist. Your decision made sense when you made it, and did actually result in a deal – unless you realize that the home does not actually suit your needs or you receive new information that changes your understanding of the home’s value (i.e., later disclosures or inspection reports reveal significant problems) within the time frame you have for resolving such issues, a deal is a deal.

So stop torturing yourself and let it go. Be content with the fact that you bought a home at or near the bottom of the market, or that you got your home sold at a very tough time to do so, and turn your attention to the next phase.

2. I’m overwhelmed by the 30-year mortgage commitment. Thirty years seems like a long, long time. But here’s the rethink: you need to live somewhere forever, and I hope that your forever will last 30 years times three! So, unless you have access to free housing somewhere, here are your options:

•You can rent a home and pay rent to a landlord every month for the rest of your life, or
•You can buy a home with cash, or
•You can use mortgage financing to buy a home, and make payments on it over time.

So, in fact, the commitment you make to paying on a 30-year mortgage, which you have the power to pay off entirely over time, is less onerous and lengthy than the alternative: paying monthly rent ad infinitum. While it’s true that your mortgage binds you to a particular property unless and until you can sell it or otherwise move on, if you select your home wisely you will (a) relish that stability and/or (b) select a home with good prospects for resale in the long-term. (If you think you’ll want or need to move in less than a 7- to 10-year time frame, you might be well-advised to continue renting rather than buying a home.)

The fact that you take out a 30-year mortgage (or a 15-year one, for that matter) does not bind you to that time frame; many homeowners elect to pay their mortgages off early. Putting a plan in place to shave off five or 10 years from your mortgage commitment by paying extra toward your mortgage principal on a regular schedule is one way to control your regret and put it to good use.

3. I can’t believe I went through all of my cash cushion!   In this relatively new mortgage era, lenders are requiring buyers to put some of their own skin in the game, by requiring down payments in a way they once did not. Beyond that, the vast majority of the down payment assistance programs that once helped buyers meet these requirements are now gone (state, local and employer-funded programs are the last bastions of down payment help). As a result, today’s buyers frequently spend a couple of years saving up their cash, and optimizing their credit creating strong financial habits and getting used to having a fluffy cash cushion along the way, then end up writing a couple of checks – earnest money deposit, increased deposit and cash to close – that wipe nearly the whole thing out in 45 days or less.

That can be traumatic. But if your spirits are feeling as deflated as your savings account when you write those checks, keep in mind that you are investing that money in a home that your family will be able to live and flourish in, and eventually either pay off or have equity in, if you continue your responsible financial trajectory. Additionally, this is precisely the reason you saved the cash in the first place.

Finally, due to your timing vis-a-vis home prices and interest rates, you are getting the most home-buying bang your hard-earned bucks could have bought anytime in the last decade or so and that’s really something to be proud of – not to regret.

Source:  Tara-Nichole Nelson, Lawyer, Broker & Acclaimed Author.

For the “What it’s Worth File.”  Remember, if you need a Realtor® where you live or need one where you are moving – just call me. I wll help you find a “Good” one!  M.K. (Mike) Kissinger – #941-979-1455.

Septic systems treat and disperse relatively small volumes of waste water from individual and small numbers of homes and commercial buildings. Septic system regulation is usually a state and local responsibility. The EPA provides information to homeowners and assistance to state and local governments to improve the management of septic systems to prevent failures that could harm human health and water quality.

If your septic tank failed, or you know someone whose did, you are not alone. As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining your septic system. Proper septic system maintenance will help keep your system from failing and will help maintain your investment in your home. Failing septic systems can contaminate the ground water that you and your neighbors drink and can pollute nearby rivers, lakes and coastal waters.

Ten simple steps you can take to keep your septic system working properly:

1.  Locate your septic tank and drain field. Keep a drawing of these locations in your record.
2.  Have your septic system inspected at least every three years. Hire an InterNACHI inspector trained in septic inspections.
3.  Pump your septic tank as needed (generally, every three to five years).
4.  Don’t dispose of household hazardous waste in sinks or toilets.
5.  Keep other household items, such as dental floss, feminine hygiene products, condoms, diapers, and cat litter out of your system.
6.  Use water efficient
7.  Plant only grass over and near your septic system. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs might clog and damage the system. Also, do not apply manure or fertilizers over the drain field.
8.  Keep vehicles and livestock off your septic system. The weight can damage the pipes and tank, and your system may not drain properly under compacted soil.
9.  Keep gutters and basement sump pumps from draining into or near your septic system.
10.  Check with your local health department before using additives. Commercial septic tank additives do not eliminate the need for periodic pumping and can be harmful to your system.

Source:  SARInspections, www.sarinspections.com

For the “What it’s Worth File.”   A large percentage of homes in Florida have septic systems due to the high water table.  Here is one aspect of home maintenance you do not want to overlook.  It is a as simple as treating the septic every month and save yourself a whole bucket of trouble.  Remember, if you need a Realtor® where you live or need one where you are moving – just call me.  I will help you find  a “Good” one!  M.K. (Mike) Kissinger – #941-979-1455.

What did Cary Grant, Tom Hanks and Richard Pryor have in common? They all starred in hilarious movies with plots built around their money pit homes (“Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House” [1948], “The Money Pit” [1986] and “Moving” [1988], respectively).

But buying a home that turns out to need much more extensive (and expensive) repairs than originally thought is only funny in the movies. In real life, buying a money pit can nearly drive a new homeowner to lose their mind – and their shirt.

Fortunately, there are a number of real-life strategies that real-world buyers can act on to prevent their own home-buying plot line from including a less than humorous lemon of a home. Here are 5  steps that will help you avoid buying a money pit.

1. Attend Inspections. There are lots of things you can outsource and rely on your professional representatives to do when you’re buying a home, but I’d suggest you keep attending your home, pest and roof or other specialty inspections on your own personal to-do list. When you’re there in person, the inspector is able to physically show you the items that may need repair, and give you their professional opinion of how serious and large needed repairs may actually be at a level of clarity a written report may lack.

Sometimes, written inspection reports convey minor items (like reversed hot and cold faucets) as a red-flagged health and safety issue, and more major items (like a problematic foundation) as something that needs further inspection. If you are at the inspection in the flesh, you can brief the inspector on what level of cost and effort you consider major (and vice versa), and ask them to help you understand roughly where the property overall and any individual repairs needed fall, from that perspective.

2. Read the Reports and Disclosures. Attending your inspection is just the first step. Reading the inspectors’ reports is critical to avoiding a money pit – both the reports generated by your own inspectors, and any reports and disclosures provided to you by the seller. Things to watch for and investigate further in the sellers’ reports and disclosures include:
•repairs the seller completed themselves,
•repeated repairs to the same home system,
•water and leakage issues, and
•any reports of non-functioning mechanical or other systems in the home.

In your inspectors’ reports, make sure to notice:
•repair estimates they offer,
•items that seem like they will have to be completed soon (versus upgrades you can do over the long run)
•items that seem like they might run into big ticket dollar amounts, and
•especially watch for any recommendations that you get a specialist to look at something – some of the largest potential repairs are often dealt with in this way by a general property inspector.

It behooves you to follow up on your reading of reports and disclosures by working with your agent to:
•list your questions and concerns,
•ask the inspector(s) and seller any follow-up questions you have,
•obtain follow-up inspections (including obtaining an extension of your inspection contingency, if needed) and
•obtaining reliable repair estimates.

3. Get Multiple Repair Bids. While your pest, roof and other inspection specialists may offer you a repair cost estimate with your report, most general property inspectors do not – many states even forbid it by law. Money pits often occur when buyers take a place knowing it needs what they thought was a little work, that actually turns out to be a much more costly or involved repair, once the actual repair contractor takes a look or starts the work.

Avoid surprises by getting multiple repair bids from reputable contractors while you are still within the inspection contingency time frame of your contract. These repair estimates can also provide the basis for any renegotiation you and your agent choose to initiate with the seller for price reduction, repairs or increased closing cost credits.

4. Stop Overconfidence In Its Tracks.   Having managed two extensive remodeling projects myself, I can vouch – unless you are a construction professional (and sometimes even then!), all but the most minor home improvement or repair projects tends to take more time and money to do yourself than you expect at the outset. (With my own two hands, I took down wallpaper and painted a room in January of 2002, and am still experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. One room, people.)

Even if you expect to cut costs by doing some work yourself, I urge you to contact and obtain bids on the repairs and upgrades you plan from actual professionals, so you can at least be armed with the information about what it will cost to get them done if you can’t complete them for any reason.

5. Prioritize Price Reductions and Credits over Seller Repairs.  For the most part,  buyers will select their own materials and repair contractors with more care and are generally more deeply invested in ensuring that repairs are completed to their satisfaction than an outgoing seller. If you are negotiating with your home’s seller over repairs that need to happen, discuss with your agent whether it might make sense to ask for a price reduction or a closing cost credit to offset the cost of the repairs so you can have them completed to your standards, and with the materials and by the contractors of your choice, after closing.

Source:  Tara-Nichole Nelson, Lawyer, Broker and Acclaimed Author.

For the “What it’s Worth File.”   This area of the home-buying process is very important.  You need to implement the appropriate due diligence and make sure that you don’t miss something that will come back to haunt you in the near future.  The adjustment to the new home can be daunting enough, without “issues” that need to be dealt with!  Remember, if you need a Realtor® where you live or need one where you are moving – just call me.  I will help you find a “Good” one!  M.K. (Mike) Kissinger – #941-979-1455.

Home snow removal is an easier task with a snow blower. To choose the right snow blower, take into consideration the size of your property, average snowfall amounts in your area, and your budget. Generally speaking, as snow blowers go up in price, they increase in size and power, reducing the amount of time and effort it takes for snow removal.

The best way to decide what kind of snow blower you’ll need is to know the amount of snow your area gets. Find annual snowfall totals in nearby cities, or check winter storm snowfall totals at the website of your local news and weather source, such as a television or radio station.

Also, size matters. “The main thing I ask shoppers is, how big is their property,” says Andrew Kelly, department manager for Lowe’s. If you have a long driveway or more than 150 feet of sidewalk to clear, see if you can afford a heavier, more capable machine than indicated by snowfall totals.

Light snow removal jobs (up to 4 inches per year)
If you live in an area that receives the occasional light dusting of snow, you can likely get by just fine with a shovel. But if for reasons of health (or motivation) shoveling is impractical, an electric snow shovel is ideal. These walk-behind tools are good for small jobs, such as front porches and walks.

Plug-in, electric snow shovels feature plastic, rotating blades that throw snow out of the front of the machine. Expect to pay about $100. You’ll need a UL-listed outdoor extension cord to power your electric show shovel.

These lightweight machines have a few drawbacks. Small front openings can handle snows of only a few inches deep, and they’ll only clear a path about 1 foot wide. Their plastic blades are prone to cracking or breaking when they come in contact with ice and stones.

Light to moderate snow removal jobs (up to 12 inches per year)
Capable of handling snowfalls up to 8 or 10 inches in height, an electric snow blower is the right choice for home owners in moderately snowy locations.

Electric snow blowers are as close to maintenance-free as possible, requiring none of the hassles that accompany gas-powered lawn equipment, such as keeping gas cans and mixing two-cycle oil with the gas.  The downside, of course, is that you’ll need to drag around a lengthy extension cord.

With widths of just 14 to 18 inches, electric snow blowers are not the best choices for home owners with long, winding driveways or extra-lengthy sidewalks. Because their clearing paths are roughly half that found on many gas-powered blowers, they require twice the passes to get the job done.

Basic models are priced between $150 and $250. They lack any of the bells and whistles found on pricier gas machines that can make the job easier, such as headlamps, remotely adjustable discharge chutes, and self-propel systems.

Moderate to heavy snow removal jobs (up to 40 inches per year)For all but the snowiest locales, a single-stage gas-powered snow blower should fit the bill. This machine features an auger or set of rubber blades that chews up snow and throws it out of a moveable discharge chute.

Single-stage gas-powered blowers are smaller and easier to handle than two-stage blowers (see below). Capable of clearing paths 18 to 22 inches wide, single-stage blowers are large enough for all but the biggest jobs.

Priced between $300 and $600, most single-stage gas blowers feature push-button electric ignition, making for easy cold-weather starts. While these models lack a propulsion system found in bigger, pricier units, they do travel forward thanks to the movement of the blades.

Heavy snow removal jobs (more than 40 inches per year)
So, you live in Cleveland, Denver, or Buffalo. What you need is a two-stage, gas-powered snow blower. With snow-hungry openings that devour paths 24 to 30 inches wide, these powerful machines are perfect not only for the snow-bound home owner, but also those who make a living clearing snow.

Strong auger-and-impeller systems gobble up snow as much as 20 inches deep and fling it up to 50 feet away. Joystick-controlled adjustable chutes allow the operator to control both direction and angle of the discharge with the flick of a finger.

Engine-driven wheels propel the machine both forward and reverse — some in multiple speeds — a key feature not found on smaller and less expensive models. Extras, such as headlights and heated hand grips, enable you to remove snow in severe cold and even at night.   Prices start around $600 and climb to $1,000 and up.

Home owners with gravel driveways are pretty much compelled to purchase a two-stage machine as they are the only units that can be raised or lowered to protect the auger from rocks and debris. The downside is that they’ll leave behind an inch or so of snow when in the raised position.

Accessories
For electric models, a UL Listed extension cord that can handle the wet and cold is mandatory. Cost is $20 to $40, depending on length.  A cover to protect your blower during the off-season will run about $35.

For really big jobs, it might be worth it to splurge on a cab enclosure to protect you from wind and blowing snow. Expect to pay at least $100.

Snow blower maintenance
Electric models are essentially care-free. Gas-powered blowers require you to either run the machine dry of fuel at the end of your home snow removal season, or that you add a fuel stabilizer to the remaining gas in the tank.

Oil,  spark plugs, auger belts, and air filters need to be replaced on a regular basis. Shear pins, designed to break to protect the auger from damage, cost just a few bucks for a multi-pack. You might go through a pack per season.

Source:  Douglas Trattner has covered home improvement for HGTV.com, DIYNetworks, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

For the “What it’s Worth File.”    I’m not going to validate my level of ignorance by offering any “helpful” suggestions on snowblowers.  I don’t have any and that does not make me feel bad!  Remember, if you need a Realtor® where you live or need one where you are moving – just call me.  I will help you fiond a “Good” one!  M.K. (Mike) Kissinger  #941-979-1455.

In this housing market, it can be difficult to sell a house fast. These are the five mistakes you need to avoid if you want to have your house sold quickly:

 1.  Asking Too Much   (Pricing too High)
Setting your price too high is the biggest mistakes home sellers are making in this market. Your Realtor may give you a price that they feel the house should sell for that is higher than what it is likely to sell for. Some Realtors inflate their estimate so that the prospect of selling your house is more attractive. There is more incentive to sell your house.

Make sure you have a good idea of what other similar houses are selling for in your area. You should be comparing houses with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size that is within about 300 square feet of the size of your house, and similar amenities. Other factors that should be taken into consideration is the amount of time the houses sat on the market before they sold. This brings up another point in that you really should focus mostly on houses that have already sold. Anyone can ask anything they want for a house. What someone is willing to pay for it is an entirely different story.

If you want to sell a house fast, you should price your house slightly lower than the other comparable homes that are on the market. Evaluate your competition. See what their houses have that yours doesn’t.

2.  Not Being Aware of Your Competition
This one is an extension of the last mistake. If you do not know what you are competing with, how are you going to know if you are priced right? Your house needs to priced lower than a house that has more upgrades. These upgrades include things like granite counter tops, hardwood floors, new energy-efficient windows, new mechanicals, and just about anything else that buyers will find more appealing. You can compete by offering your house at a more attractive price.

Visit open houses to get a sneak peak at your competition. Take note of anything they’ve done to make the house more appealing that you might be able to incorporate. If there are not a lot of open houses taking place, you can have a Realtor show you the houses.

3.  Being Stubborn & Emotional
Do not be the seller that is unwilling to negotiate or give concessions. Buyers want to feel like they are getting a great deal, especially these days. It is a buyer’s market and if you don’t accept that, you shouldn’t be selling your house.

Even if you feel like you are giving them a good deal, you have to be willing to give a little. It doesn’t have to be price that is sacrificed, you could offer to throw in some appliances or furniture that they might like. Get creative.

If you are not getting showings and you’ve done your homework and know the house compares favorably with your competition, your best bet is to reduce the price. Do not be stubborn and refuse to budge. Your house will just sit and the costs you accrue while your house is the on the market will likely exceed what you would be giving up with a price drop.

4.  Not Having The House In Sellable Condition
Buyers are extremely picky these days because they can be. With a high number of houses for sale and lenders tightening their lending criteria, this is inevitable. You will need to make sure that your house is in move-in condition. Replace rotted wood, repaint inside and outside, update anything that is dated (including 90′s style wallpaper and fixtures). You will need to make your house stand out and make the people viewing it feel like they can see themselves living there.

Some things can be done relatively cheaply that will provide big improvements. Paint is the cheapest thing you can do that will bring the biggest returns. You can update cabinets simply by replacing the handles and knobs. Clean the windows. This always helps with the impression the house makes.

If you can’t afford or don’t have the time or energy to complete necessary repairs, you will need to adjust your price accordingly. Most of the time the price needs to be reduced more than the repairs would cost due to the fact that buyers will want a good deal because of the hassle and unknowns that come with remodeling a house. Working with contractors can stress anyone out.

5.  Refusing To Consider Selling To The “We Buy Houses” People
If your house needs repairs that will scare off buyers, you really need to consider getting an offer from real estate investment companies that advertise “We Buy Houses”. These companies typically pay cash and buy houses as-is. This allows you to sell without providing any warranty or doing any of the repairs. Even if the house does not need repairs, they will make an offer to buy it so that you can sell the house fast.

If you’ve inherited a house or just evicted some tenants and want to avoid renting the house again, real estate investors may be your best best. You can have an instant buyer rather than putting it on the market and having to have showings to try move it. These house buyers will make an offer and you can either accept it or not. Why not try them out and see if you could save a lot of time and hassle?

The trade-off with using a house buying company is that they typically need to buy the house below market value as they are buying for investment purposes. It’s better to know this upfront. Most “We Buy Houses” websites do not mention this. For a lot of sellers this trade-off is well worth it to avoid the hassles of selling a house in this market.

Hopefully you can avoid making these mistakes while trying to sell your house fast. Understanding what to avoid will put you far ahead of the competition. Good luck with the sale of your house.

Remember if you need a Realtor® where you live or need one where you are moving – just call me.  I will help you find a “Good”one!  M.K. (Mike) Kissinger – #941-979-1455.

 It’s that time again.  That time of year that we all look both back and forward and analyze with a very critical eye, just what we accomplished or didn’t and what we want to do to be a better person in the coming year.

      We have all made New Years Resolutions many times and some of those instances even started to actually introduce a difference in our personal environment.  Unfortunately, very few of us actually are successful at accomplishing  any noticeable positive impact.

     It’s not because we don’t care.  It’s not even that we lack the fortitude to create the necessary mind set that will allow us to make positive changes towards our new goal.   It boils down to our environment!  Who we associate with, where we go, what we do when we get there and who we look to for approval.  As a society, most of us are inherently jealous of anyone who is actually able to transform themselves into a better and more meaningful individual, thereby making it difficult to be supportive and willing to go out of our way to praise that person for their effort and results.  The resolution we all need to embody this year is to be more interested in our friends and fellow Americans and attempt to get past that hurdle we all are burdened with and be supportive, even congratulatory towards them for their efforts.

     It seems like every year we hear the same old worn out resolutions that we have heard before.  Here is the list of the Top Ten Resolutions from Last Year, compiled by About.com:

1.  Spend More Time with the Family and Friends
2.  Get into Shape
3. Lose Some Weight
4.  Quit Smoking
5.  Enjoy Life More
6.  Quit Drinking
7.  Get out of Debt
8.  Learn Something New
9.  Be More Helpful to Others
10.  Get Organized

     YUCK!  Can’t we do better than this?

For the “What it’s Worth File.”   Generally, I am a very positive person, but sometimes when I take a serious look at something like this, I tend to be come disenchanted with US as a WHOLE!  Anyway, if you need Realtor® where you live or need one where you are moving – just call me.  I will help you find a “Good” one!  M.K. (Mike) Kissinger  #941-979-1455.

Eggnog is a popular drink throughout the United States and Canada, and is usually associated with winter celebrations such as Christmas and New Year. Commercial non-alcoholic eggnog is typically available only in the winter season. Eggnog may be added as a flavoring to food or drinks such as coffee and tea. Eggnog-flavored ice cream is a seasonal product in the United States and Canada.

Eggnog, also known as egg nog, is a traditional frothy drink that typically consists of milk, sugar, spices, and raw eggs. Frequently, cream is substituted for some portion of the milk to make a richer drink. Some eggnogs add gelatin. Toppings may include vanilla ice cream, meringue, whipped cream and wide variety of garnishes, notably grated nutmeg and chocolate curls.

Various liquors, such as brandy, rum, whisky, advocaat and/or liqueurs, are often added. I like to have a cup of eggnog while I write out my Holiday Cards.

Eggnogaholic’s Basic Eggnog Recipe:

• 6 eggs separated
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup rum
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

Whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, salt and vanilla until light yellow and creamy.  Add rum and milk. Cover and refrigerate for several hours. Refrigerate the egg whites, as well.
When you are ready to serve your Eggnog, whip the heavy cream in one bowl and the egg whites in another bowl. Both should be beaten to stiff peaks form. Then alternate folding in egg whites and whipped cream to the eggnog mixture.
This Eggnog is rich, thick and delightfuly creamy. You can use less whipped cream and more milk, it’s a matter of taste. Garnish with nutmeg and cinnamon if desired. 

Source:  Christmas 50.com

Merry Christmas to you and yours from       M. K. (Mike) Kissinger

 If you’re one of the millions who has an eye on 2012 as the year in which you’ll buy a home (first or not), here are five things you can do now to put yourself on the right path:

1. Check your credit. Take my word for it, there is no bad surprise worse than a bad credit surprise. Okay, maybe there is one thing worse – a credit surprise you receive while you’re in the midst of trying to buy a home!

Recent studies have revealed that a record high number of real estate transactions are falling out of escrow, and that credit “issues” are a leading cause of these dead deals. Your best chance at catching and correcting score-lowering errors and other derogatory items before they destroy your personal American Dream is to start checking and correcting while you still have time on your side.

2. Do your research. The more rapidly the real estate market changes, the more it behooves smart buyers to study up before they jump in.  Now’s the time – you can start doing online and in-person research into topics ranging from:

· Target states, cities and neighborhoods.Whether you’re relocating or simply trying to narrow down the local districts to focus on during your 2012 house hunt, December is a great time to start your online research into decision-driving factors like tax rates, school districts, neighborhood character and even prices in various areas. Resident ratings and reviews sites like Trulia and NabeWise can help you make the neighborhood-lifestyle match.

Once you narrow things down and start speaking to local agents, ask them to brief you on the local market dynamics, including how long homes typically stay on the market and whether they generally go for more or less than the asking price, so you can be smart about how you search.

· Real estate and mortgage pros.If you don’t already have your pros picked out, now is the time to get on the horn or drop an email or Facebook message to your circle of contacts, asking them for a referral to a broker or agent they love. Follow up by searching for their name and seeing what sort of feedback on them you can cull from the web, then giving them a ring and launching a conversation about whether you and they might be a good partnership.

· Short sales and REOs. Distressed property sales are not for the unwary. If you want to target upside down or foreclosed homes, or are planning to house hunt in an area where many of the listings are described as short sales or foreclosures, get educated about what you can expect from a distressed property purchase transaction before you get your heart set on a short sale.

· What you get for the money.Online house hunting is a powerful tool – especially when it’s cold and wet! But there comes a point in your house hunt where you’ve got to just get out into the actual physical homes you’re seeing online in order to get a strong, accurate sense of what home features, aesthetics and location characteristics correlate with what price points.

· Mortgage musts. You can read a bunch of articles about mortgages and get yourself pretty far down the path toward qualifying for a home loan, but you can only get a personalized action plan for a smooth road ‘home’ by talking with a local mortgage broker and having them assess your basic financials. They might say you need to move funds around, pay a bill down or off or produce some sort of documentation from your employer. And the time to start all that is now.

3. Fluff up your cash cushion.So, you’ve saved up your 3.5 percent down payment. Perhaps you saved a little extra for closing costs. Or maybe you’re even one of those uber-aggressive 20-percent-down-ers. No matter how much you’ve saved, you’ll find that you could use more once you activate your home buying action plan. Mark my words – after closing, you’ll crave extra cash to do some repairs, upgrade a couple of things, buy appliances or even just to hold onto in order to minimize your anxiety about depleting your savings!

So, if homebuying is on your personal 2012 action plan, don’t go hog wild on holiday gifts. Instead, wait until next year and give yourself the gift of a home.

4. Shed some stuff. Sell it. Donate it. Give it to relatives who’ve always coveted it. Just get rid of it. If you do it before year’s end, you can kill three birds with one stone: (a) getting some cold hard cash to go toward your savings, (b) getting some tax receipts so you can deduct the value of your donations in January, (c) minimizing money spent on holiday gifts for loved ones and these two bonus birds – clearing the mental clutter that physical clutter creates and prepping for your move in advance.

5. Sit very, very still. Sometimes, the best way to further our goals is to stop tripping ourselves up. In that vein, commit right now to refrain from making any major financial moves until you buy your home. Don’t quit your job to start that personal chef business (yet), don’t pull a bunch of cash out of your savings account (without getting clearance form your mortgage pro first), and don’t start buying cars and boats on credit.

Source: Tara-Nicole Nelson. Noted author, Broker and Attorney.

For the “What it’s Worth File.”      The more preparation you put into the above issues, the more benefit you will derive from the end result.  Many of the problems that you encounter in the buying process can be avoided by simply adhering to the above items and implementing the appropriate level of focus.  Remember, if you need a Realtor® where you live or need one where you are moving – just call me.  I will help you find a “Good” one!  M.K. (Mike) Kissinger # 941-979-1455.

First and foremost, electronic gadgets or ‘boys toys’ are one of the most popular gifts for men. The good thing about them is that there is always something new on the market that men can’t live without. The other important point is that you can easily find a huge variety of electronic gadgetry at all price levels from small inexpensive items up to much more expensive gifts such as an Apple Ipod.

Experience or adventure days make fantastic and unusual Christmas presents, particularly for the more adventurous. There is a huge range of days out available from a track day in a Ferrari, to a hot air balloon ride or a flying gift experience. Whatever your husband’s or boyfriend’s interests, there is bound to be an experience day to fit it. It’s also worth suggesting this idea to the wives and girlfriends of your man’s friends, so that a group of them can go together.

For the man who likes to do work around the house and garden, power tools make any excellent gift. Although it might sound like you’re buying him a gift that means more work for him, men actually enjoy using power tools and making things with them. It’s got the added advantage that you might find he goes round the house looking for new projects and things to fix! And even if you are on a more limited budget there are a huge number of accessories for every kind of tool that make great gifts too.

A magazine subscription is a gift that your man can enjoy all year round, and all magazines offer annual subscriptions. You can play it safe by buying a subscription to a magazine that you know he already reads, or take the opportunity to introduce him to something new that you think he will like. So what better way to show the man in your life you care all year round by signing him up for a gift that lasts all year and watch the pleasure he gets from it, not just at Christmas.

Source:  freearticles.com

For the “What it’s Worth File.”   Do your man a favor an avoid the tie,  the gift certificate to Red Lobster or the 10-way wrench.  It doesn’t have to be expensive,  just thoughtful and specific for him.  Don’t forget – as a father and a husband – he gives all year round!  Remember, if you need a Realtor® where you live or need one where you are moving – just call me.   I will help you find a “Good” one !   M.K. (Mike) Kissiner – #941-979-1455.

 Jewelry items are hot Christmas gifts for women. Jewelry can come in silver, diamonds, gemstones, gold and pearl. Silver or pearl are the most popular type of jewelry items to give as a Christmas gifts for her as it will come in a proper price range. Find out what type of jewelry your wife possesses and select some thing exceptional from bracelets, necklaces and pendants and jewelry sets. All of them have a vast selection of beautiful designs. You can go on the Internet and locate these.

An electronic gadget is another hot idea for Christmas gifts for women. Cell phones, music players, mp3 players, ipods, Amazon kindle and cameras are some of the awesome gadgets which you can select as Christmas gifts for her. Each if these gadgets have good features in built and will make her happy. Further these can be enduring presents and also provide great value for money.

Personalized gift items are also very sought after gifts. Each of these items has the recipients name engraved on it and so it makes the present feel like a made to order and exclusive present. Personalized bracelet, makeup bag set, picture frames, writing journal and photo mug are a few of the personalized gift items which you can select as Christmas gifts for women.

Beauty products are the ones which most women will be happy to receive. Women do spend a good amount of time and money in beauty parlors and always want to look beautiful to make you happy. Beauty products extend from skin care products, bath and body products, beauty gift sets, fragrances and many more. Fragrances are the all time favorite as Christmas gifts for women. Each of them comes in several brands and in a wide range of prices depending on the brand name and fame. If you are looking for branded fragrances look for brands like Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Ralph Lauren. Note that you can also get non branded ones at a lower price but with good quality.

All of the before mentioned items and many more with different variations are available to you for presenting as out of the world Christmas gifts for her. To do this shopping fast and without going out of your house you can go online and search for these items. The options that you will find is large. In spite of this do not get caught in the information overload syndrome. Finalize your presents by looking at a few shopping stores and prices and make your decision.

The Christmas gifts for women which you select must be the ones which they will like and will not be able to forget for a long time to come. Try and locate the ultimate present for your wife and make her blissful. Remember that it is not the cost of the gift alone but your unconditional love added to the gift which will make her feel on cloud nine.

Nothing Else To Say!

Source: Articlesfactory.com