Sunday, March 31, 2013

22 things happy people differently

22 Things Happy People Do Differently

By Gino Blefari
President & CEO
Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.

Being happy in life is the first step to success, in my mind. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t come from fame, fortune, other people, or material possessions. Rather, it comes from within. You can choose to be happy or you can choose to be unhappy. It’s all up to you. Happy people are happy because they make themselves happy. They maintain a positive outlook on life and remain at peace with themselves.

The question is: how do they do that?

It’s quite simple. Happy people have good habits that enhance their lives. They do things differently. Check out this great list that outlines some of the things that make happy people, well, happy. It was written by Chiara Fucarino, a freelance writer, on the blog Successify! and was recommended to me by Eric Rees, Intero’s Director of Information Technology.

Ask any happy person, and they will tell you that they …
Don’t hold grudges. - Happy people understand that it’s better to forgive and forget than to let their negative feelings crowd out their positive feelings. Holding a grudge has a lot of detrimental effects on your well-being, including increased depression, anxiety, and stress. Why let anyone who has wronged you have power over you? If you let go of all your grudges, you’ll gain a clear conscience and enough energy to enjoy the good things in life.
Treat everyone with kindness. - Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that being kind makes you happier? Every time you perform a selfless act, your brain produces serotonin, a hormone that eases tension and lifts your spirits. Not only that, but treating people with love, dignity, and respect also allows you to build stronger relationships.
See problems as challenges. - The word “problem” is never part of a happy person’s vocabulary. A problem is viewed as a drawback, a struggle, or an unstable situation while a challenge is viewed as something positive like an opportunity, a task, or a dare. Whenever you face an obstacle, try looking at it as a challenge.
Express gratitude for what they already have. - There’s a popular saying that goes something like this: “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.” You will have a deeper sense of contentment if you count your blessings instead of yearning for what you don’t have.
Dream big. - People who get into the habit of dreaming big are more likely to accomplish their goals than those who don’t. If you dare to dream big, your mind will put itself in a focused and positive state.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. - Happy people ask themselves, “Will this problem matter a year from now?” They understand that life’s too short to get worked up over trivial situations. Letting things roll off your back will definitely put you at ease to enjoy the more important things in life.
Speak well of others. - Being nice feels better than being mean. As fun as gossiping is, it usually leaves you feeling guilty and resentful. Saying nice things about other people encourages you to think positive, non-judgmental thoughts.
Never make excuses. - Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Happy people don’t make excuses or blame others for their own failures in life. Instead, they own up to their mistakes and, by doing so, they proactively try to change for the better.
Get absorbed into the present. - Happy people don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future. They savor the present. They let themselves get immersed in whatever they’re doing at the moment. Stop and smell the roses.
Wake up at the same time every morning. - Have you noticed that a lot of successful people tend to be early risers? Waking up at the same time every morning stabilizes your circadian rhythm, increases productivity, and puts you in a calm and centered state.
Avoid social comparison. - Everyone works at his own pace, so why compare yourself to others? If you think you’re better than someone else, you gain an unhealthy sense of superiority. If you think someone else is better than you, you end up feeling bad about yourself. You’ll be happier if you focus on your own progress and praise others on theirs.
Choose friends wisely. - Misery loves company. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with optimistic people who will encourage you to achieve your goals. The more positive energy you have around you, the better you will feel about yourself.
Never seek approval from others. - Happy people don’t care what others think of them. They follow their own hearts without letting naysayers discourage them. They understand that it’s impossible to please everyone. Listen to what people have to say, but never seek anyone’s approval but your own.
Take the time to listen. - Talk less; listen more. Listening keeps your mind open to others’ wisdoms and outlooks on the world. The more intensely you listen, the quieter your mind gets, and the more content you feel.
Nurture social relationships. - A lonely person is a miserable person. Happy people understand how important it is to have strong, healthy relationships. Always take the time to see and talk to your family, friends, or significant other.
Meditate. - Meditating silences your mind and helps you find inner peace. You don’t have to be a zen master to pull it off. Happy people know how to silence their minds anywhere and anytime they need to calm their nerves.
Eat well. - Junk food makes you sluggish, and it’s difficult to be happy when you’re in that kind of state. Everything you eat directly affects your body’s ability to produce hormones, which will dictate your moods, energy, and mental focus. Be sure to eat foods that will keep your mind and body in good shape.
Exercise. - Studies have shown that exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft does. Exercising also boosts your self-esteem and gives you a higher sense of self-accomplishment.
Live minimally. - Happy people rarely keep clutter around the house because they know that extra belongings weigh them down and make them feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Some studies have concluded that Europeans are a lot happier than Americans are, which is interesting because they live in smaller homes, drive simpler cars, and own fewer items.
Tell the truth. - Lying stresses you out, corrodes your self-esteem, and makes you unlikeable. The truth will set you free. Being honest improves your mental health and builds others’ trust in you. Always be truthful, and never apologize for it.
Establish personal control. - Happy people have the ability to choose their own destinies. They don’t let others tell them how they should live their lives. Being in complete control of one’s own life brings positive feelings and a great sense of self-worth.
Accept what cannot be changed. - Once you accept the fact that life is not fair, you’ll be more at peace with yourself. Instead of obsessing over how unfair life is, just focus on what you can control and change it for the better.

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weeks market update


Greetings! Here's your Daily Commentary report compliments of
Alan Russell & Princeton Capital!
Call me today for current rates and market information at (650) 947-2296.
 
 
 
 
 


This week brings us the release of four economic reports that have the potential to move mortgage rates with two of them considered to be highly important to the markets. There were also two economic reports posted Friday even though the financial markets were closed due to the Good Friday holiday. Both of those reports gave us stronger than expected results and since the markets were unable to react to them, we may see some pressure tomorrow in bonds early tomorrow morning.

The first report is one of those highly important and comes late tomorrow morning when the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) will release their manufacturing index. This index gives us an important measurement of manufacturer sentiment by surveying trade executives. A reading above 50 means more surveyed executives felt business improved during the month than those who said it had worsened. This month's report is expected to show a reading of 54.0, which would be a slight decline from February's reading of 54.2. This means that analysts think business sentiment remained fairly flat from last month's level. That would be relatively good news for the bond market and mortgage rates. A noticeable decline would be favorable for rates while an increase would be negative.

February's Factory Orders will be released late Tuesday morning. This data is similar to last week's Durable Goods Orders report, except it includes orders for both durable and non-durable goods, giving us another measurement of manufacturing sector strength. It is one of the week’s least important reports. Unless it varies greatly from forecasts of a 2.5% increase, I suspect that it will be a non-factor in the mortgage market.

Wednesday’s data does not come from a government agency or traditionally reliable source. There are a couple of private sector employment-related reports being posted, but they are not considered highly important to the bond market or mortgage rates. These reports are not always accurate in predicting results of government reports, so they usually do not have much of an impact on bond trading or mortgage pricing. We do see some reaction to them if they reveal a surprisingly significant indication of employment strength or weakness. However, I don't believe they deserve much concern or attention in regards to mortgage pricing.

Thursday doesn’t have any monthly or quarterly economic reports set for release. It does however, bring us the weekly unemployment update and a couple of central bank announcements from overseas, which are equivalent to our FOMC meetings. Depending on what is said, they could heavily influence the global markets or be non-factors. Focus will be on the European Central Bank (ECB) with the recent events in Cyprus and what impact their situation may have on the Eurozone’s economy and financial system. More trouble ahead in the zone should boost bond prices and lower mortgage rates Thursday morning.

The biggest news of the week will come early Friday morning when the Labor Department posts March's Employment report, giving us the U.S. unemployment rate and the number of jobs added or lost during the month. This is an extremely important report to the financial and mortgage markets. It is expected to show that the unemployment rate remained at 7.7% and that approximately 178,000 payrolls were added during the month. A higher unemployment rate and a smaller than expected payroll number would be good news for bonds and would likely push mortgage rates lower Friday morning because it would indicate weaker than thought conditions in the employment sector of the economy. On the other hand, stronger than expected results will probably fuel a stock rally that leads to a sizable increase in mortgage pricing.

February's Goods and service Trade Balance will also be released early Friday morning. It will give us the size of the U.S. trade deficit, but is not considered to be of high importance to the markets or mortgage rates. This report usually has little impact on mortgage rates unless it shows a significant variance from forecasts and if there is no other data to drive trading that day. It is expected to show a trade deficit of $44.6 billion, but since the Employment report is also being released Friday morning, regardless of its results, I doubt this data will have an impact on mortgage rates.

Overall, Friday is the biggest day of the week due to the significance of the Employment report but I suspect we will have an active day tomorrow in mortgage rates also. The middle part of the week should be relatively calm, at least compared to tomorrow and Friday’s trading. However, we can see the markets change quickly any day, so please proceed cautiously if still floating an interest rate and closing in the near future.

If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would.... Lock if my closing was taking place within 7 days... Lock if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days... Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days... Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now...
 
 
 
Alan Russell
161 South San Antonio Rd. | Los Altos, CA 95022
Ph: 650-947-2296 | Fax: 408-335-1118
alanrussell@princetoncap.com

Judy Peebles ask for help

Ask For Help




CoCo Jems for wbk_6



Often we dont even ask for help when we need it. What could you use some help with at the moment? Make a list, then add who might be willing to lend a hand, or offer advice.

When was the last time you asked someone to help you? My guess is, probably not recently. Many of my clients have difficulty asking for help. You are afraid of appearing incompetent or needy or not having all the answers.

When was the last time you helped someone else? How did it make you feel? Generally we feel good when we are able to lend a hand. By not asking for help and allowing others to assist us, we are denying them that warm fuzzy!!

We are also setting ourselves up for failure. Or burn out. Or maybe just overwhelm and stress.

Trust me I know this is difficult. I struggle with it myself. But we don’t have to be superheroes and do it all ourselves.

This is one of the exercises in the Create Your Corporate Compass with The Knowledge Series™ ebook

Purchase a copy or download a free sample version today.


Here’s another blog post to inspire you:-


Please share your thoughts and ideas below

10 ways to make your content more shareable

10 ways to make your content more shareable

People near and far should clamor to read your newest blog post, right? If they're not, try out a few of these suggestions.
By Ken Mueller | Posted: March 20, 2013
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Blogging can be one of the most effective ways to build both your reputation and Web traffic through search engine optimization (SEO). In fact, there are many who think content marketing and blogging are the most important elements of an SEO program.
I listened with interest to the most recent Brand Fast-Trackers podcast with Andrew Dumont of SEOMoz. He talks a lot about the importance of creating content. Also, the recent report on Digital Trends for 2013 from Econsultancy and Adobe notes that "the single most significant trend is the continued emergence of content marketing as a standalone discipline."
Let's say you are going to invest some time—and perhaps money—into creating content for your website. In most cases, this will take the form of a blog. But it's one thing to create content, and another to get it out there so others can read it.
What are some things you can do to make your content more shareable? What can you do to get people to read it and pass it on to others? Take a look at this list:
1. Don't just create content. Create great content.
This should be a no-brainer. People generally don't share plain, run-of-the-mill content. To get people to want to share your content, make sure it's good, if not great. Don't publish what everyone else is publishing. Create something that shows off your knowledge in a unique way and from your perspective.
Note: People will share horrible content, but for all the wrong reasons. Aim high.
2. Get it out there yourself.
Don't write a post and let it sit there on your site. Push it out. Before anyone else can find it, you need to market your material. You need to share it first.
When my blog publishes early each morning, I have it set up to automatically post in a few places, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. That way, folks already connected to my company will have the chance to see it.
Additionally, I make sure the post goes out to Pinterest, Google +, some LinkedIn groups and other platforms that make sense in terms of the content of my piece.
Don't be afraid to self-promote. If you don't tell others about your work, who will?
3. Provide a simple sharing mechanism .
Let's assume you've gotten people to read your work, and they like it. They might want to share it with their friends, but they won't want to work too hard to do it. Make sure you have all the right plug-ins and buttons for social sharing.
There are plenty of options out there, and I use some individual buttons as well as Shareaholic. You'll have to determine which networks are important to you, but you can't go wrong with at least promoting sharing on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google + and Pinterest. You might also want to make sharing easy on social-sharing sites like Reddit, StumbleUpon and Delicious.
4. Have a printer-friendly version or email button.
Some people might not share on social platforms, but want to email your post to a friend or co-worker. They also might want to make a nice PDF to print out and give to someone.
Sure, printing is becoming a thing of the past, but there are still a lot of people who like a hard copy.
5. Allow comments.
Every blog should allow people to comment, not just because of the feedback mechanism, but because people might be more likely to share content on which they left a comment. If they are part of the conversation, it's an added level of engagement. There is a good chance that once they've commented, they'll share your content.
If they comment, make sure you comment back to keep the engagement going.
6. Allow subscriptions.
Whether you use Feedburner, Feedblitz or some other subscription mechanism, allow readers to subscribe to receive all your content via either email or RSS feed. People can forward emails and share from within an RSS reader.
7. Use images.
This may not seem that important to sharing, but if you want people to share on Pinterest, you must have an image. Every blog post you write should have at least one image people can pin. Additionally, that compelling image will travel with your post to Facebook, LinkedIn and other sites, and can actually draw people in. Make sure your image has some alt text for SEO purposes.
8. Ask people to share.
You might not want to do this with all of your content, but there's nothing wrong with asking your readers to pass your content along to others. This is especially good if you have an e-book or special video. Sometimes all you need to do is ask, and people will listen.
9. Make access easy.
If you produce something other than a blog post—say, a podcast or an e-book—make sure people can access it easily. I still see sites that offer downloadable PDFs and a link to Adobe Reader just in case someone who doesn't know what a PDF is stumbles by.
If you offer an e-book, provide easy links and instructions on compatible e-readers. If you produce a podcast, provide people with multiple ways to listen and download for a variety of devices, and explain how to do it.
We often assume everyone is as tech savvy as we are, but that's not the case. There are plenty of people who still aren't in tune with all the technology and lingo. Do the work for them; make it simple.
10. Build a community.
This takes time, but once you become part of a strong online community, you'll have a group of people who are more than willing to share one another's content. I'm blessed to be a part of such a community.
Additionally, you can use something like Triberr to harness that community and the power of sharing. Of course, being a member of a community means you'll have to share the work of others, too. But that's the point, right?
In the end, the most important thing is the quality of the content. Create content that is worthy of being shared, or you'll waste your time. All these other things won't matter a bit if there isn't anything worth sharing.
How do you get people to share your content?
Ken Mueller is the proprietor of Inkling Media, where a version of this article originally appeared.

Thanks Amie Chilson My fellow Bizpals member

Giants Opening Day – April 5, 2013



giantsPlay ball! 2012 World Series champions, the San Francisco Giants, meet the St. Louis Cardinals during their home opener at AT&T Park on April 5, 2013. People in the Bay Area love to see the Giants, and for good reason as the SF Giants are one of the premier teams in the entire league. With history in the Giants favor under the precedence of players such as Willie Mays and Barry Bonds, Opening Day promises to ignite the excitement of baseball lovers with fresh chalk lines, perfectly groomed turf, the thundering of cheers and astounding athleticism.
Chosen as the 2008 Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal and Sports Business Daily, AT&T Park at 24 Willie Mays Plaza has many incredible features. Central location, breathtaking views, classic design, and the family friendly Coca-Cola Fan Lot provide a fully rounded experience of Major League Baseball. Feel what it is like to run the bases, play the game and enjoy the timeless icons of baseball at the Fan Lot, specifically designed for AT&T Park, the Giants, baseball fans and the community to further enhance the experience of a day at the ballpark.
April 5, 2013, 1:35 PM PST
24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco
Seat prices starting at $158.75
For more information go to:

Happy day off my friends

I am out for the balance of the day make it your absolute best because today can be our best!  Hug, love, show care and compassion.

Love

Alan

Gratitude !! Happy Easter Passover and a day of peace


 

Today I reflect about gratitude defined in Wiki as

Gratitude, thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation is a feeling or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. The experience of gratitude has historically been a focus of several world religions,[1] and has been considered extensively by moral philosophers such as Adam Smith.

Well my definition is an open thankfulness an acknowledgement of those people and places (locations and times in our lives) we pine to hug, smile towards and show appreciation. In our lives things come at limited characters, quickly at us and it tends to make sharing our gratitude much more of a practiced task. One I feel for me I do not do enough. None of us are alone we touch, share, connect and participate together in life. I am focused on sharing my gratitude with those on my journey. This includes the young lass who noticed I dropped $5 out of my pocket and gave it back, Greg my server at Terrone, my beautiful wife and boys, sister, brother and so many others. We take pride at being our own people but let us all appreciate and thanks those that shape us daily or in the past. My parents were a gift in my life and they are gone I have gratitude for their sacrifices and love. My family is through my life and friends and acquaintances have a big impact. I network with one man who took the time to share some communication tips for me thanks Artie. Let us perceive these gifts and each day of the year (not just Easter or Passover) thank, write a note, hug, tell them we love them and share our gratitude.

Quote:

FAQ's from Princeton Capital site

Frequently Asked Mortgage Questions


Do you have questions? We can help! You will find the answers to several frequently asked mortgage questions below.



What is the difference between pre-approval and pre-qualification?
The pre-approval process is much more complete than pre-qualification. For pre-qualification, the loan officer asks you a few questions and provides you with a pre-qual letter. Pre-approval includes all the steps of a full approval, except for the appraisal and title search. Pre-approval can put you in a better negotiating position, much like a cash buyer.
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When does it make sense to refinance?
Usually people refinance to save money, either by obtaining a lower interest rate or by reducing the term of the loan. Refinancing is also a way to convert an adjustable loan to a fixed loan or to consolidate debts. The decision to refinance can be difficult, since there are several reasons to refinance. However, if you are looking to save money, try this calculation:

Calculate the total cost of the refinance
Calculate the monthly savings
Divide the total cost of the refinance (#1) by the monthly savings (#2). This is the "break even" time. If you own the house longer than this, you will save money by refinancing.
Since refinancing is a complex topic, consult a mortgage professional.
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What is a rate lock?
A rate lock is a contractual agreement between the lender and buyer. There are four components to a rate lock: loan program, interest rate, points, and the length of the lock.
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What is the difference between a mortgage broker and a lender?
A mortgage broker counsels you on the loans available from different wholesalers, takes your application, and usually processes the loan which involves putting together the complete file of information about your transaction including the credit report, appraisal, verification of your employment and assets, and so on. When the file is complete, but sometimes sooner, the lender "underwrites" the loan, which means deciding whether or not you are an acceptable risk.
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Will I save money going directly to a mortgage lender?
Not necessarily. In fact, if you are a reasonably astute shopper, you will probably do better dealing with a mortgage broker. Mortgage brokers do not add any net cost to the lending process, because they perform functions that would otherwise have to be done by employees of the lender. Furthermore, because mortgage brokers deal with multiple lenders -- in a typical case, 25 to 30, sometimes more -- they can shop for the best terms available on any given day. In addition, they can find the lenders who specialize in various market niches that many other lenders avoid, such as loans to applicants with poor credit ratings, loans to borrowers who do not intend to occupy the property, loans with minimal or no down payment, and so on.
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What is a full documented loan?
Both income and assets are disclosed and verified, and income is used in determining the applicant's ability to repay the mortgage. Formal verification requires the borrower's employer to verify employment and the borrower's bank to verify deposits. Alternative documentation, designed to save time, accepts copies of the borrower's original bank statements, W-2s and paycheck stubs.
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What are the other types of loans?
Stated income/verified assets: Income is disclosed and the source of the income is verified, but the amount is not verified. Assets are verified, and must meet an adequacy standard such as, for example, 6 months of stated income and 2 months of expected monthly housing expense.

Stated income/stated assets: Both income and assets are disclosed but not verified. However, the source of the borrower's income is verified.

No ratio: Income is disclosed and verified but not used in qualifying the borrower. The standard rule that the borrower's housing expense cannot exceed some specified percent of income, is ignored. Assets are disclosed and verified.

No income: Income is not disclosed, but assets are disclosed and verified, and must meet an adequacy standard.

Stated Assets or No asset verification: Assets are disclosed but not verified, income is disclosed, verified and used to qualify the applicant.

No asset: Assets are not disclosed, but income is disclosed, verified and used to qualify the applicant.
No income/no assets: Neither income nor assets are disclosed.
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What is a good faith estimate?
It is the list of settlement charges that the lender is obliged to provide the borrower within three business days of receiving the loan application.
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What is a conforming loan?
A loan eligible for purchase by the two major Federal agencies that buy mortgages, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
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What is a jumbo mortgage?
A mortgage larger than the maximum eligible for conforming purchase by the two Federal agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
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What are points?
It is an upfront cash payment required by the lender as part of the charge for the loan, expressed as a percent of the loan amount; e.g., "2 points" means a charge equal to 2% of the loan balance.
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What is a pre-qualification?
This is the process of determining whether a customer has enough cash and sufficient income to meet the qualification requirements set by the lender on a requested loan. A pre-qualification is subject to verification of the information provided by the applicant. A pre-qualification is short of approval because it does not take account of the credit history of the borrower.
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Be sure to visit our Mortgage Glossary

Is it time to go Tankless? Bizpals

Category Plumbers

Is It Time To Install a Tankless Water Heater?

One of the questions plumbers are frequently asked is whether they should repair or replace an older water heater. And if a water heater needs to be replaced, is a tankless water heater a better choice than the traditional kind? Tankless heaters are an option that many households are adopting, but does it make sense for your needs?

Repair or Replace?

We tend to take water heaters and a constant supply of hot water for granted until a problem develops. If a standard water heater is more than 10 years old, it makes more sense to replace it than to repair it, since the average life span of a water heater is 10-15 years. If your water heater is more than 13 years old, you should think about replacing it even if it still works. When the water heater fails, chances are it will happen in the middle of the night or when you and your family are on vacation. Once the heater starts to leak it will empty its tank, and you really don't want to have to deal with the mess that the flooding would cause. If you decide to replace your old water heater, a tankless water heater is an option you might want to consider.

How a Tankless Water Heater Works

A tankless water heater, also known as an instantaneous or demand-type heater, heats water when the tap is turned on. Cold water is delivered via a flow switch to the element (either gas or electric), which then heats the water. The water is heated only on demand, whereas with a traditional water heater, the water in the tank is continually being kept hot. Tankless water heaters have become popular in the United States over the past decade as home owners are looking to conserve energy and save on utility bills. According to the Department of Energy, heating water is the second greatest energy drain in a home—in fact, heating water accounts for 18% of an average household's utility costs.

Advantages of a Tankless Water Heater

The tankless water heater has a longer life span than its standard cousin and because there's no tank, you don't have to worry about tank failure and leaking. The water heater is mounted on a wall, so it takes up less space than a traditional heater. A tankless water heater is energy-saving, since it only heats water when it's needed which is good for the environment and great for your pocketbook. For instance, by installing an Energy Star gas tankless water heater, a typical family could save more than $100 per year on utility bills compared to families who use the traditional tank heaters. And you may be entitled to a tax credit for your water heater, provided that the water heater is an approved Energy Star appliance that is installed in an existing home (not a newly constructed house), and that the home is your principal residence.

Cautions

A tankless water heater is considerably more expensive to purchase and install than a traditional heater. However, the initial outlay should be balanced against the savings on your utility bill that you will gain over time, because of the energy-efficiency of the tankless water heater. If you qualify for a tax credit, that will also lessen the pain to your pocket book.
Another word of caution- it is possible that the hot water supply will run out if there is heavy usage. You should calculate how much hot water your household will need by determining the flow rate, which is measured in gallons per minute (gpm). You can use a gpm flow chart to add up the average water flow generated by your faucets, showers, dishwasher and clothes washer. Once you know your flow rate, you'll be able to estimate what size water heater will fulfill your needs.

Installing a Tankless Water Heater

Installing a tankless water heater is a complicated procedure that needs to be done correctly to ensure maximum energy savings. It's likely that you will need a plumber to do it unless you are quite experienced with DIY projects. If you've decided that a tankless water heater is the right choice for your family, use our Services Directory to find a reliable plumber. And our system of reviews will enable you to evaluate the work of your plumber once the job is done.

Use BizPals to help you get an energy saving tankless water installed in your home this year!

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Realtors how much insurance does your client need? Bizpals

Homeowners' Insurance: How Much Do Your Clients Really Need?

If you have clients who are first-time homebuyers, they may ask you what you recommend in terms of homeowners' insurance. If, like most homeowners, your clients have a mortgage, their lender will require that they buy insurance for their home. But how much coverage do they need?

Levels of Insurance

Homeowners' insurance is available in packages that, are to some extent standardized. HO1 is a basic insurance package that protects the homeowner from theft, fire and certain kinds of liability. The next level, HO2, also protects against theft, fire and, in addition, against events like broken water heaters and damage to the home caused by the weight of ice and snow or by floods from broken water pipes. HO3 is the most comprehensive of the standardized packages; it protects the homeowner from most contingencies, but it may not cover earthquakes and floods. If your clients feel that they need extra natural disaster insurance, they may be able to get a rider added to a standard policy, or they may need to take out separate flood insurance and/or earthquake insurance.

Checking What's Covered

When your clients are deciding to buy insurance, you should also mention to them the importance of checking exactly what kind of coverage the insurance policy offers. For instance, does the policy provide actual cash value or replacement cost coverage for your clients? There's a considerable difference between the two: actual cash value coverage will only reimburse your clients for what their goods or real property are actually worth today. So if they paid $500 for a refrigerator four years ago, the insurer will only pay them $100—or what the appliance is judged to be worth today. Replacement cost coverage will pay your clients what it will cost them to replace the damaged or stolen items.

Preparing For Worst-Case Scenarios

Hopefully your clients will never have to face the damage or destruction of their home due to a natural disaster. But if this does happen, it will be a comfort to know that they have adequate insurance. Tell your clients to ask if the policy specifies extended replacement coverage. With this kind of coverage, insurance will usually pay no more than up to 120% of the "dwelling limit" in the policy. Your clients should calculate exactly how much it would cost them to rebuild their home in a worst-case scenario, bearing in mind that the price of construction materials will probably go up over time. And you should advise your clients that they should reassess their coverage regularly. According to one recent study, nearly 60% of American homeowners were found to be under-insured, and one reason for that was a failure to update or increase their coverage. And one more question for your clients to ask: Does the insurance policy cover living expenses if your clients need to move out temporarily. For instance, if the house is not habitable due to a fire, and your clients have to stay in a motel while repairs are being carried out, will insurance cover those living expenses? Renovation can be a lengthy process, and your clients may find themselves with a hefty hotel bill if living expenses are not covered in their policy.

Personal Property Inventory

In the event of a disaster, your clients will find it helpful if they have an inventory of personal property, ideally kept in a secure location such as a safe deposit box. The inventory should include serial numbers of electronics and other appliances, and if possible photographs or video footage of the items recorded. Your clients may find this process a bit of a chore, but they can find useful guides to making an inventory of personal property online. Taking an inventory will also help your clients to decide if they need additional coverage for items such as jewelry, antiques, or art. Such items tend to increase in value over time (unlike the family refrigerator), and this should be borne in mind when insurance coverage is updated.
You may already have an insurance company that you recommend to clients, but if not, use our Services Directory to help you find top insurance agents. Have you been able to advise new homeowners on buying insurance lately? Tell their stories in a BizPals status update!

How the Boyenga's work

The Boyenga Team Preferred Client Service

the Boyenga Team has OUTSTANDING Service! We developed The Boyenga Team Preferred Client Service for buyers that are serious about finding a home in Silicon Valley. There is no obligation for this service and no fee. As a Preferred Buyer Client, you are placed ahead of all of our other clients and given attention specifically focused on meeting your exact needs.

The first thing to do before buying a home

The First Thing to Do Before Buying a Home




Home prices in most parts of the country are just about as affordable as they are likely to get, and mortgage rates remain super low. Together, those factors mean that many people are thinking about buying a home. Some will be first-time homebuyers, while others will be “boomerang” buyers who lost their homes in the housing meltdown but are now hoping to get back in. Still others may see this as the best time to upgrade to a larger home, downsize to a smaller one, or to move to the retirement locale of their dreams.
Whatever your motivation for buying a home, unless you are going to pay cash for the property, there’s one essential step you must take first: get your credit reports and credit scores.
The reason? Your credit scores will help determine what type of home loan financing you can get, and the interest rate you’ll pay. You’ll want to have plenty of time to dispute credit report errors if you find any, and get them fixed. The last thing you want is to find out at the last minute that you can’t buy your dream home because of something on your credit report that shouldn’t be there.
If you will be buying and financing a home with someone else — a partner or spouse, for example — you’ll each want to get your credit reports and scores. Get them from all three major credit reporting agencies; Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, as they each collect their own data and don’t share corrections with each other. You can do this for free once annually at AnnualCreditReport.com.
You’re Not Just a Number
The three-digit number that represents your credit score will be important when it comes to buying and financing a home. A difference of a few points could make a difference in the rate you’ll pay for your mortgage. Mortgage lenders will typically use the middle of the three credit scores to determine the rate/program for which you qualify.
But that doesn’t mean you need to obsess about your score. Doing so can cause you unnecessary grief. After all:
  • Trying to tweak your scores based on what you think may help improve them can sometimes have the opposite effect.
  • There are many different loan programs with different credit score requirements. A loan officer can help you shop around to find the right program to meet your needs.
Keep in mind that you have many scores, not just one, so trying to figure out which scores matter most can be an exercise in futility. When it comes time to apply, your lender will pull the credit scores needed to process your application. In the meantime, you can find out where you stand and get an idea of what factors may be strong, and which may not be. Again, no need to obsess over the number.
In fact, when we recently included a free credit score with our free Credit Report Card — one of our most popular tools — since we wanted to make sure that consumers understand that they don’t have a single score. That’s why we provide an Experian Scorex Plus score, but also show consumers their estimated VantageScore and FICO scores along with it. After all, there are dozens of scores available at any given time, and if you focus on just a single number, you may miss the bigger picture.
What’s in a Number?
If focusing on the number that represents your credit score isn’t the most important thing, then what is? Understanding the elements that make up your scores can be much more important. Our Credit Report Card, for example, assigns a grade to each of the main factors that go into a score:
  • Payment History
  • Debt Usage
  • Credit Age
  • Account Mix
  • Inquiries
Within those, we recommend you put your efforts toward the things you can control. If you get a “C” or “D” for a particular factor, you’ll get suggestions for things you may do to address that grade. Some of these may be things you can address immediately while some may not be under your direct control.
If you earn a “D” for debt usage because your balances on one or more of your credit cards is close to your limits, you may want to pay some of them down if you have the cash available to do so. On the other hand, if you have a large student loan balance that you can’t afford to pay off, you may want to simply focus on making your payments on time rather than taking all the money you’ve saved for a down payment to pay it off.
[Related Article: What's a Credit Score? Really]
What Can Your Score Do For You?
When it comes to buying a home, your credit scores can help you secure the financing you need to buy the property and pay it off over time. Your credit scores are a tool to help you achieve your personal and financial goals. If you can get the loan you need with the credit scores you have, then be satisfied with that — even if you don’t have the best score your loan officer has seen!
And finally, it’s important to put your scores in context. Mortgage lenders will look at other factors, like your debt-to-income ratios, employment history, and down payment. As any loan officer can tell you, even a perfect score can’t get you a loan if — for example — the appraisal comes in too low, or if you can’t document your income.

More from Credit.com

Trulia chief economist talks about which home price reports to watch and why

Which Home Price Reports Matter & Why: Trulia Chief Economist Jed Kolko Explains

The S&P Case Shiller home price report for January 2013 was released last week, and the headlines were that national home prices increased 8.1% since January 2012. But there’s a lot of fine print in that number.
For example: the “national” home prices that the press reports are single family home property types only in just 20 metro regions. And what Case Shiller calls January is actually an average of November, December, and January. Remember it takes 1-2 months for real estate transactions to close, so the report saying home prices are up 8.1% today is about 5-6 months old.
Case Shiller is the most prominent of 8 major U.S. home price reports tracked by Wall Street. You can see the price variations in the alphabetical list of the 8 major home price reports below:
- Case Shiller: January 2013 released today. Prices +8.1% Year-Over-Year
- CoreLogic: January 2013 released March 5. Prices +9.3% Year-Over-Year.
- FHFA: January 2013 released March 21. Prices +6.5% Year-Over-Year.
- Freddie Mac: December 2012 released March 21–quarterly. Prices +6.4% Year-Over-Year.
- NAR: February 2013 released March 21. Median Prices +11.6% Year-Over-Year.
- Radar Logic: January 2013 released March 21. Prices +12.7% Year-Over-Year
- Trulia: February 2013 released March 5. List Prices +7% Year-Over-Year.
- Zillow: February 2013 released March 20. Values +5.8% Year-Over-Year.
Trulia_Jed_KolkoThe price differences in reports come from having different methodologies. I won’t address all of them all today, but instead want to focus on the Trulia Home Price Monitor because it does things differently than most of the reports above.
Instead of looking at prices of homes that have sold and closed, Trulia’s chief economist Jed Kolko looks at list prices, and he’s the first to do so each month.
List prices are a useful offsetting home price perspective to the bulk of the data that’s out there because they look at where housing is going rather than where it’s been.
With the release of it’s March Price and Rent Monitors Thursday, April 4, Trulia will celebrate it’s first anniversary of launching this monthly research.
To mark the occasion, I asked Kolko some questions about home prices methodologies, and here’s what he had to say (some items paraphrased by me):
Q: Why do you focus on list prices instead of closed prices?
A: I chose list prices because it’s critical information for consumers, investors and anyone making decisions NOW about whether to buy, rent, or sell real estate. Case Shiller, CoreLogic, FHFA, et al are the definitive historical record of what has happened with home prices but they report on a lag. The Trulia Price & Rent Monitors are a complement to the other home price data out there, and they’re essential for answering questions about where the market is today.
Q: But list prices change, plus closing and list prices differ. How do you account for that?
A: We’re comparing list prices with list prices over time. We’re not comparing listing prices with closing prices. Again: our emphasis is on looking at the housing market today, not what it was a few months ago. As for list prices changing during a given listing period, we’re only using the last observed list price reported. At the end of each month, we take all the for-sale and rental properties ever listed on Trulia.com and calculate how list prices and rents changed month by month. Rather than simply tracking the average or median, we adjust for the changing composition of homes that are listed each month. To ensure a large enough sample size, we use three-month moving averages just like the other majore home price reports do.
Q: Many major reports include single family homes only. What does Trulia include?
A: We include single family homes and condos, and we look at asking prices and asking rents. We cover 100 metro areas so people can get close look at pricing conditions on their local areas.
Q: What’s the most important thing consumers should know about Trulia price data?
A: We don’t just report median price, but also adjust for the mix of homes like bed/bath count and location/neighborhood. This is critically important because the mix of homes changes. Like if an expensive new development comes into a neighborhood, it can push prices up. To make the point, let’s use an exaggerated example of a new development that goes into a neighborhood and all the homes are $10m. If you took an average of all homes on the market, the $10m price points carry the average up. But that doesn’t mean the value of all homes in the city have gone up. It just means the listed homes pull up the average. So we adjust for these kinds of anomalies so people can do apples-to-apples comparisons and focus on price differences of like-for-like homes. Most consumers want to know what’s happening to the price of a typical home. They wouldn’t put more weight on more expensive homes, they just want to know the prices of the homes themselves. We help them do that.
Q: What is your preferred non-Trulia home price report and why?
A: I like FHFA because it reports on almost 400 metro areas so arguably one can learn more about local areas from FHFA than from reports like CoreLogic and Case Shiller. Also CoreLogic and Case Shiller both weight more expensive properties more heavily so they’re a better guide for high end whereas FHFA weights properties equally without value bias. CoreLogic and Case Shiller are geared toward investors. For an investor, a more expensive home counts for larger share of portfolio than a cheaper home. FHFA is a regulator with a policy focus so their focus is on what the change in value of a typical house is, not the change weighted in dollar value. So they’re implicitly measuring how has the value of a typical dollar invested in real estate changed. The indices are answering different questions, and FHFA is more consumer relevant. It’s also worth noting that they’ve expanded their index to include not just sales of homes with Fannie/Freddie loans in their quarterly (but not monthly) data, but also homes with jumbo loans and homes purchased for cash. You can read more about this in FHFA’s expanded data methodology.
Q: Do you think low inventory is driving prices higher?
A: In fact, my last Price & Rent Monitor released March 5 was focused on relationship of inventory and prices. To recap: we’ve been in a short-term “inventory spiral” where less inventory leads to higher prices, which leads to less inventory, and so on. But it can’t go on forever because eventually rising prices will encourage homeowners to sell and builders to build, which add to inventory and breaks the spiral [see cycle diagram below].
TruliaPriceInventory
It could be at least another year until national inventory starts expanding. Of course, inventory will probably turn up this spring and summer because of the regular seasonal pattern, but the underlying trend will be less inventory than is typical for each season, not more. Inventory should turn around first in metros where prices bottomed first. Ultimately, the inventory turnaround will depend not only on how fast prices are rising, but also on whether prices will have been rising for long enough to encourage homeowners to sell and builders to build.
Q: When do Trulia’s Home Price & Rent Monitors come out?
A: They come out the first week of each month and look at the previous month. Of all major reports, this is the first gauge of home price direction consumers can get each month. Below is a schedule of release dates for 2013, and here’s our full methodology.
TruliaReleaseDates
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Reference:
- Follow Trulia Chief Economist Jed Kolko on Twitter: @JedKolko
- Jed Kolko’s Blog
- How To Price A Home In Your Local Area
- $TRLA, $CLGX, $Z, $XHB, $IYR, $ICF

Five ways investing in real estate can save you money

  • Ilana Greene

    GET UPDATES FROM Ilana Greene

    Five Ways Investing in Real Estate Can Save You Money

    Posted: 03/29/2013 12:11 pm

    According to Brad Hettich, President and CEO of Commercial Lending X, there are several ways to save money fast, but chief among them is investing in real estate. "You should dip into your savings or take out a loan that you can repay, and always invest long-term," explains Hettich. "Real estate is a great example of that." Brad's logic is that with so many available properties that accommodate any budget, real estate is among the most effective ways to save money.
    However, it is vital that if you cannot purchase property in cash, that you find a lender that specializes in your financial needs and price range. "With a stable income and a set amount of income put aside every month, you have the advantage of not only determining your own budget, but in deciding how much you want to pay for property," explained Hettich. Companies like Commercial Lending X work directly with local banks that were burned in the mortgage crisis, making it easier for them to provide both commercial and residential loans to consumers.
    "Because we work with both consumers and banks, we stress five reasons why real estate investment will save you money in the long run," Hettich explained. "Lower taxes, positive cash flow, use leverage, equity growth, and the benefits of inflation."
    1. Lower Taxes
    There are several tax incentives for real estate investors, with deductions for property that can often be used to offset wage income. These tax breaks for real estate investment often allow property owners to turn a loss into a profit from all the money they save from deductions. These deductions can include any actual costs involved in financing, managing and operating the property, to include maintenance, repairs, property management fees, travel, advertising, and utilities. However, other great ways to save money on tax rates include government-instrumented deductions:
    • Depreciation: Property depreciates in value over time, enabling you to deduct some of the home's costs.
    • Interest: All mortgage payment interest is deductible.
    • Insurance: Premiums for any type of insurance are deductible.
    2. Positive Cash Flow
    When it comes to real estate investment, there are two ways to save money: pre-tax and after-tax positive cash flow. A pre-tax positive cash flow is when income received is greater than expenses, and an after-tax positive cash flow is when your expenses are more than your collected income, but the tax breaks bring you back in the black. Either way, real estate investment, if budgeted properly, can save you money and earn a nice profit along the way.
    3. Use Leverage
    According to Hettich, "Never spend a dime on your real estate investment unless you have to, because the only way to make money is to have money." Leverage is an important aspect of saving money through real estate investment because a real estate investor uses leverage to increase their assets without spending their own money. "Using your leverage to gain a large amount of equity is the difference between the actual worth of the property and the balanced owed on the mortgage."
    Companies like Brad's help real estate investors secure loans where they can use the bank's money to purchase property and increase its equity without spending a dime of their own money. "Our goal is the same as any real estate investor: create value with as little expense as possible."
    4. Equity Growth
    The best way to save money, and earn money, is to build up equity for real estate investments. That way, with high equity you are able to save on your mortgage while earning a nice chunk of profit. As Hettich puts it, "Don't be afraid to sell and invest in something new once you've reached your equity goal. Just as long as you have the financial leeway to do it."
    5. The Benefits of Inflation
    When investing in real estate, a great way to identify potential savings is by researching the inflation rates for the area. "As commodities increase in value, so does the price of your home," Hettich explained, "which means that over time you reduce the amount you have to spend to maintain the property."
    Generally speaking, inflation can help you save money on your real estate investment because as rent increases, your mortgage costs will remain static, which means you will save money on maintenance costs with the increased cash flow from the rent.
    Ultimately though, despite the fact that these are five great ways to save money through real estate investment, they do come with their risks as well. According to Hettich, "Any time you convert cash into an asset, it becomes more difficult to get your money back. But that's the risk you take in investing because not only can you save for retirement with a regular cash flow, the reduced taxes will ensure its long-term viability to save you money."