Area Flood Maps will be Updated

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is updating Maricopa County flood-insurance-rate maps, a move likely to put more Valley homeowners in "high-risk" areas that require costly flood insurance. FEMA officials have been meeting with county and city representatives over the past two weeks to talk about changes expected to take effect in 2012. Once properties get the high-risk designation, owners are required to carry flood insurance if they have a federally insured mortgage loan, said FEMA spokeswoman Franchesca Ramos, adding that most mortgages are federally insured. In Maricopa County, the designation would typically add $400 to $800 a year to a homeowner's insurance premium, said Tim Murphy, a manager for the Maricopa County Flood Control District. Murphy said that, over the years, development changes the landscape and new technology allows engineers to be more precise in predicting where runoff will go after heavy rains, prompting the county to continuously revise boundaries for flood-prone areas. The county district has been working on the most recent changes to its flood designations during the past two years and FEMA will use the county's data to update federal insurance-rate maps, Murphy said. The last flood-insurance map was updated in 2005, and the most recent ones are expected to include more areas. Based on the county's studies, most of the changes will be in Valley suburbs: Chandler, Gilbert, north Scottsdale, Buckeye, Surprise and the far north and West Valley. The most populated areas subject to changes are in Gilbert and Chandler. Neither FEMA nor Maricopa County officials would speculate how many homeowners will be affected. It appears from the county maps that the changes will increase the acreage designated as "high-risk" and won't be removing properties that have had the designation since 2005. Ramos said there will be time for public comment and appeals before the new designations are final and mortgage lenders are notified. Any resident can buy flood insurance from a commercial-insurance agency, although those outside floodplains and those without a federally insured mortgage are not required to do so. Those who live in flood zones require extra coverage, which is sold through private agents but backed by the National Flood Insurance Program. Residents can view existing and proposed high-risk flood designations on the Flood Control District's website. The interactive map shows new high-risk areas in red and provides local phone numbers for inquiries. Murphy said it is likely that all the district's suggested flood-zone designations will be included in the new flood-insurance-rate maps. Although property owners won't be required to carry the extra insurance until the designation is official more than a year from now, letters bearing FEMA and National Flood Insurance Program logos were mailed this month to some southeast Valley residents telling them their home is in a high-risk flood area. "This means every day without flood insurance puts the home you live - and your life savings - on the line," the letter reads in part. The mailing was signed by Edward L. Connor, acting federal insurance and mitigation administrator for FEMA in Arlington, Va. It provides a toll-free number, but employees who answer the phone said their function is to put callers in touch with insurance agents, not provide details about the new maps or ongoing FEMA efforts. A check of two addresses that received the mailing showed the properties were near but not in a high-risk flood area and are not in the proposed additions under consideration on county maps. Allstate Insurance agent David Thorpe of Chandler, whose name and phone number appeared at the bottom of one of the letters, said he was unaware of the mailings but recently attended FEMA-sponsored flood training for insurance agents during which they told participants they would get "free advertising" in exchange for their participation. Phone messages left for Connor were returned by his spokeswoman, Harriette Kinberg, who said the mailings are advertisements for the insurance industry under the government's FloodSmart program, designed to persuade people in or near flood zones to buy insurance or resume coverage they may have dropped. They are not linked to the pending map changes. The contracted advertising agency that produces the mailings has multiple criteria for selecting which households get them that may differ from official mapping processes. "Risk determination may not always be up to date compared to recent map changes," Kinberg said Article Courtesy of AZCentral

Fundraiser with a Twist

Times are tough...It's hard getting people to contribute to charities when they are having trouble paying their own bills. So here is a way to make everyone happy... I asked my guests to look through their jewelry boxes for some gold, platinum or silver. Find a broken chain, old class ring or that 80's style piece you'll never wear again...especially if it is from a past boyfriend. Collect your goodies and bring them to my home, we'll have some snacks, drinks and raise some money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

No one walked away with less than $100 and most were between $400 - $800. One lucky woman earned more than $1800 on her stash of old stuff!

By the end on the evening Lori Stryker from Party of Gold, had bought over $8700 of gold from my guests.

She then wrote a check out to JDRF for $1416!!!! With some cash contributions from some very generous guests I was able to give JDRF a total of $1556. Everyone walked away happy and had extra spending money for the holidays! If you would like to learn more about Party of Gold, contact Lori at 732-232-0982 or email at Lori@PartyofGold.com

"The Greatest Cause on Earth"

On Thursday December 2, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Promise Ball Committee gathered at the Scottsdale home of Art & Vickie Semler to assemble over 3,000 invitations to the 11th Annual Promise Ball. This years the black tie gala, "The Greatest Cause on Earth", will be held at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on January 29, 2011. The evening will be filled with contortionist, aerialist and avant-garde cirque performances. A live auction, premier gift boxes and vignette raffle packages will accompany cocktails, dinner and dancing to the Groove Merchants for the over 700 expected guests. This years goal is $2 million. For more information on this information please contact Julia Dangerfield at 602-224-1819 or jdangerfield@jdrf.org. Read more at Linda Land

Foreclosure Freeze...What does it mean to you?

We hear news stories about loan servicers stopping or “freezing” foreclosures. Why are they doing this, and what does it mean to you? Due to the growing volume of foreclosures that the largest loan servicers (typically large banks) are dealing with, they found some creative ways to be more efficient. The process of completing a foreclosure can be time consuming and very expensive for a loan servicer, especially in the 23 states that require judicial foreclosures (Arizona does not require judicial foreclosures). To save time and manpower, loan servicers had employees sign foreclosure documents and affidavits stating they read the documents without actually taking the time to read them. There were also “robo-signers” that created computer generated signatures on these documents. When this practice came to light, attorneys drooled at the prospect of class action lawsuits on behalf of improperly foreclosed homeowners against “evil” banks. In response, loan servicers stopped foreclosures in the 23 judicial foreclosure states. In addition, the largest loan servicer – Bank of America – stopped all foreclosures across the country for a period of time. B of A has since reviewed their foreclosure practices and has re-started foreclosures. Other servicers have followed. Here in Arizona, all the major loan servicers are actively foreclosing homes. However due to the mammoth number of foreclosures, the process may take several months and in some cases over a year. Foreclosures are a considered to be a negative factor in our real estate market because they contribute to a decline in values by adding more homes to the available inventory. But they are actually very important to the recovery of the market. WHY? Foreclosures take a property that was not affordable for a person or family and resets the property to become affordable for another person or family. It takes time, but the process of taking unaffordable homes and converting them to affordable homes is the bad-tasting medicine that will cure our ailing housing market. If you are in a position to purchase a home to live in or as an investment, buying today at “reset” prices is a smart decision. If you have any questions about financing a home, interest rates, how to repair your credit score etc., please feel free to give Chris a call.

Chris Mozilo NMLS# 183726; AZ LO-0912308; BKBR-0115591; CA-DOC 183726

Facebook Announces New Messaging System: “It’s Not E-mail”

Facebook is set to launch a new “modern messaging system,” said CEO Mark Zuckerberg at a press event this morning in San Francisco. Zuckerberg says that more than 4 billion messages are currently sent through Facebook each day. He also shared that Facebook believes that modern messaging is seamless, informal, immediate, personal, simple and minimal. “It’s not e-mail,” he said. Interestingly enough, Facebook is handing out facebook.com e-mail addresses to all users. The system, however, is really modeled after chat according to Andrew Bosworth. “People should share however they want to share,” he says. The new messaging system is composed of three parts: seamless messaging, cross-platform conversation history and the social inbox. The latter is an inbox for filtering the messages you want, organized by the people you care about. So, it’s designed to highlight conversations with your real friends and be spam free. According to the blog post, “Messages is not email. There are no subject lines, no cc, no bcc, and you can send a message by hitting the Enter key.” The messaging system is also designed to be platform-agnostic, so users can send and receive messages via mobile, IM or Facebook. It’s designed to make it simpler for users to communicate in real-time with their real friends, wherever they are. The system will be rolled out slowly over the next few months in an invite-only process, says Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg also extensively talked about how people use messaging systems today. In conversations with high schoolers, Zuckerberg recounted that these youngsters told him that e-mail is too slow and that they prefer SMS and Facebook to sending e-mails. These conversations laid the foundation for the reasoning behind Facebook’s motivation to create a seamless, immediate and personal experience around messaging. As soon as the event was announced last week, speculation ran rampant that Facebook would be overhauling its messaging system and releasing its own e-mail service to compete with the likes of Gmail. E-mail, however, seems secondary to Facebook’s primary desire to be the communication platform for tomorrow’s youth. article courtesy of Mashable

TWREC Agents Support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona

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As agents with the Williams Real Estate Company we believe in giving back. Art & I have a strong commitment and relationship with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, but if you have a charity of choice we will be happy to donate to that charity.

"You Refer, We Donate"... if you are in need of selling or buying a home, let us present what we can do for you, then you decide. If you choose to use us...We Donate. Christina Catalano has been a Big Sister to Carmen for the last 3 years. On September 19th, Christina and Carmen splashed in the water, flew down the water slides and ate Pizza at the Big Brothers Big Sisters event at Wet & Wild. It's this kind of commitment to helping others that makes Christina not only a great person...but a great Realtor.

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Amanda Crossland, VP of Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters, was thinking of buying a new Home. She could have used any Realtor, but she chose Marcia Canady. WHY? Because of The Williams Real Estate Company's "Your Refer. We Donate." Program. Marcia scoured the market, found Amanda the perfect home and negotiated a sweet deal. Even more important, Marcia donated $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. Amanda was going to buy a home anyway...so why not use an Agent from The Williams Real Estate Company so that part of the Real Estate Revenues go back to local Arizona Charities?

Dan Williams presenting the check for $1,000 to Amanda Crossland for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona

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Erik Jensen joined of the the Professional Leadership Council (PLC) Program at Big Brothers Big Sisters. CBS-5 KPHO Meteorologist Paul Horton organizes a car wash every year...and this year, it benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona!

So, Erik washed cars for 5 hours on October 27th....he even washed the Waste Management Truck!

Waste Management donated $5,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Car Wash!

Why Home Sales Dropped Dramatically in July from June Or Why Were We Surprised When Buyers Were Incentivized?

In the week of August 23, blasted throughout the news was existing home sales nationally dropped 27% in July from June. This was reported as the biggest monthly percentage decline on record. The Greater Phoenix residential market faired slightly better with a 24% decrease. A large percentage drop in July sales was expected for Greater Phoenix. Why The Large Percentage Drop for Sales in July Was Expected Why did sales drop in July? Because the affect of the tax credit(s) were worn out! Many buyers bought because of the two tax credits: The first time homebuyer’s tax credit up to $8,000 and the move up buyer’s tax credit up to $6,500. To qualify buyers had to be under contract by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30 (at the end of June the close of escrow date was extended to September 30). The April 30 deadline led to a surge of buyers going under contract in March and April. So, before you believe the Headlines in the News....look at the statistics...it's not all doom and gloom!

What It Takes to Get a Loan

Lenders loosen their grip, but your credit history will decide whether you get a mortgage. When the financial crisis hit, many banks became tightfisted, and plenty of potential borrowers walked away empty-handed. But financial institutions have emerged from the recession stronger and ready to lend. "Credit is available. No question about it," says James Chessen, chief economist for the American Bankers Association. "Banks are being careful because the economy is still weak, but I don't know a bank out there that's not anxious to make a loan." Keep in mind that from mortgages to car loans, your credit history and score matter more than they did prior to the crunch. Rates are at rock-bottom levels for borrowers with top-tier credit -- generally credit scores above 720. Before you shop rates, get your credit reports at www.annualcreditreport.com and check for errors. And buy your credit score from Equifax for $7.95 (or get a free score that's similar to the ones that lenders use from CreditKarma.com). That way you can see where you stand before you apply for a loan. Mortgages: Stricter rules Mortgage lenders want to make loans now, and they may even bid against one another for your business. But lending standards remain tight, and you must be prepared to produce a mound of paperwork to document your income and assets. Rates are as low as they were in the 1950s, so going through the motions could pay off. In mid September, the average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate conforming loan -- a mortgage of $417,000 or less -- was 4.5%, according to HSH Associates, a mortgage-tracking firm. The initial rate for a 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage (a fixed rate for five years, followed by annual adjustments) was 3.6%. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration continue to dominate the mortgage market, setting the standards for the loans that lenders make and sell to investors. So lenders strive to dot every i and cross every t when they qualify you. If you're buying or refinancing the mortgage on your primary home, you'll need a minimum down payment of 5% to 10% for a conforming loan or 10% to 15% for a conforming jumbo loan (125% of a metro area's median home price, up to $729,750). With 20% or more down, you avoid private mortgage insurance, which typically costs 0.5% to 1.5% of your loan amount per year. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac allow a minimum credit score of 620 if you have at least 25% equity in the property or a score of 660 with equity of less than 25%; you'll get the best rate if your score exceeds 720. The FHA will soon require a minimum credit score of 580 to qualify with a down payment of 3.5%, but FHA lenders often impose a higher minimum score of 670. In addition to your credit, lenders will also scrutinize your ability to pay, starting with your ratio of debt to income. Monthly housing expenses (principal, interest, taxes, hazard insurance, private mortgage insurance and association fees) shouldn't account for more than 28% of gross monthly income. Total debt shouldn't exceed 36% of gross income, but in some cases lenders stretch the maximum to 45%. Chris Bennett, a loan officer with HomeServices Lending, in Charlotte, N.C., says that he surprises borrowers "all the time" with preapproval of their loan when they aren't expecting it. Even people with lower credit scores may qualify if they have stable employment, a history of paying rent and credit lines on time, and money in the bank or in a retirement account. However, Bennett also counsels some borrowers to delay their home purchase long enough to improve their credit score, eliminate debt, get a raise and save more money. They might earn a better interest rate, improving their buying power. Plus, he says, "it's not good to lay out every bit of cash you have if you won't have money for a rainy day." Prove it. At a minimum, you must supply your pay stubs for the past 30 days and W-2 forms for the past two years. Lenders will want to see bank, retirement-account and investment statements for the past 60 days. Bennett says three types of borrowers will face additional requirements: If you're self-employed or if 25% or more of your income is from commissions or bonuses, you must provide two years of tax returns. Lenders will average your income over the past two years to figure your debt-to-income ratio. If you have pursued opportunities to reduce your taxable income, you may not have sufficient income to qualify even though you may have a lot of money in the bank. Community banks, credit unions and other lenders that typically keep their loans on their own books are the best bet for borrowers with low incomes and high assets, says Bennett. If you want to rent out your home and buy a new one, you must provide a signed lease for a minimum of 12 months. You can use only 75% of rental income to help qualify for the mortgage, and you must have at least 30% equity in your former home. If you and your spouse are relocating for work and your spouse doesn't have a job yet, you must qualify for the loan based on one income unless your spouse has a signed agreement with an employer to begin work within 45 days of closing the loan. Even if you qualify, you can throw a monkey wrench into the final loan approval if you take on new debt that could affect your credit score or your debt-to-income ratio. Some lenders pull another credit report just before closing. Another possible sticking point is the appraisal. Overly generous appraisals helped to fuel the housing bubble. Now, miserly ones may thwart your closing, says Guy Cecala, publisher of the newsletter Inside Mortgage Finance. Lenders will estimate the value of your home conservatively, and appraisers are generally following suit, especially if the local market is in flux. By Jessica L. Anderson, Associate Editor Courtesy of Kiplinger

New Jobs Coming to Phoenix

Charles Schwab Corp. is buying a nine-acre parcel of land from the city of Phoenix that could help create 400 new jobs. The new land will be used to facilitate job growth at Schwab’s main location near 24th Street and Lincoln Drive, dubbed the Peak Campus. The financial services company is paying $2.06 million for the land, according to Phoenix economic development program manager Bruce MacTurk. The deal is expected to close in the spring and Schwab will use the land for surface parking. The new parking should be ready by third quarter 2011. “We are at our capacity for parking. We’re running shuttles from temporary locations,” said Schwab Chief Financial Office Joe Martinetto. Schwab has about 3,200 employees locally, making it one of the largest private employees in the Valley. The company intends to hire 200 employees by the end of the year and 400 more jobs in the next several years. About one-third of Schwab’s employees are located at a South Mountain campus near 48th Street and Baseline Road. The rest are at the 24th Street location. Schwab’s operations in Phoenix are its largest in the country. “We’ve found that Phoenix is a great place to fill jobs. It’s an educated, diverse work force. We’ve had great success there,” Martinetto said. Currently a Phoenix police precinct is located on the land Schwab will acquire. The city is building a new precinct nearby, which should be ready in February. After the police move, the old precinct building will be razed and the sale will be consummated. The price of the land was based upon an independent appraisal, MacTurk said. He said it’s a good deal for everyone, and should create new jobs in Phoenix. “We’ve had a longstanding relationship with Schwab for some 18, 19 years,” MacTurk said. The company opened a service center in Phoenix in 1992. It purchased the Peak Campus in 1995. Article courtesy of PBJ

How Interest Rates Affect the Price of a Home

That sounds like a simple question. Of course a lower rate means a lower monthly payment. But how much of a difference does that really make. I’ve heard people overly-simplify the issue by saying that a 1% change in rate is roughly the same as a 10% change in price. Let’s look into this a little closer and see if it holds up. We’ve all heard that interest rates today are at all-time lows. I think we take that for granted, so it helps to include this chart that goes back to 1975. It shows a 36-year average of mortgage rates. The BLUE LINE is 30 year fixed rates and since that is the most popular program, that is what we will focus on. As you can see by the graph, mortgage rates in 2010 are truly lower than anything we have seen in our lifetimes. Current average 30 year fixed mortgage rates are around 4.375%. If you were to purchase a home with a $400,000 home loan, the monthly principal and interest payment at that rate would be $1,997. Now let’s see how raising the rate to the 2000 average of 8.05% affects the payment. That’s not all that long ago. The payment at same loan amount at the 2000 rate is $2,949. We increased the rate by 3.675% and that resulted in a 48% increase in payment! That seems worse than the 1% rate to 10% price ratio, but let’s look at it from a price perspective. That increase in payment from $1,997 to $2,949 is the same as raising the loan amount from $400,000 to $590,646. That is also a 48% increase in loan amount. If the down payment is the same percentage for each example, then it also results in a 48% increase in sales price. So for this example we discovered that a 3.675% increase in rate equals a 48% increase in price. It also means a 1% increase in rate is equivalent to a 13% increase in sales price. Don’t think I chose a year with an exceptionally high rate. I could have used 1981 where rates were 16.63%! In fact, the average rate over the 36 years is 9%. I chose 2000 because it wasn’t that far back in history. The lesson here is that we must recognize what an amazing opportunity we have to borrow money at this specific point in history. Years from now we can look at an updated version of this graph and see the low point, and remember what a great deal we got in 2010.

Chris Mozilo NMLS# 183726; AZ LO-0912308; BKBR-0115591; CA-DOC 183726

We Are The Valley - Banding Together For AZ Charities

If you attended the 4th Annual Taste of the Biltmore last night, you know what a fabulous event it was. Hosted by National Bank of Arizona, this event kicked off the social season with some of the finest local restaurants, class entertainment and the opportunity to support local charities. This year, 11 local charities partnered together creating WE ARE THE VALLEY - BANDING TOGETHER FOR ARIZONA CHARITIES. This program was pulled together by Dave Dodge as a way of increasing awareness of their programs while raise much needed funds. Together they created limited edition Giving Bands; available at http://www.wearethevalley.com/. Each band represents a valley non-profit organization. They are earth friendly, made in America and assembled by adults with disabilities. Collect them all and create your own stack. 11 Participating Non-Profit Organizations: The Arthritis Foundation Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Camp Soaring Eagle Phoenix Suns Charities Gabriel's Angels Sleep America Charities Keogh Health Connection Chrysalis Face in the Mirror The Great Canadian Picnic

Scottsdale is #1 - Best City for Babies

According to Parent Magazine - The 10 Best Cities for Babies...Scottsdale Arizona is ranked #1 1. Scottsdale, Arizona Population 238,715 Child Care B+ Family Safety A+ Fun for You and Baby A- Infant Health B Money Matters B This western town is far from wild. Scottsdale's stellar safety record helped earn it the #1 spot on our list. "It's common to see moms pushing strollers around the neighborhoods, even at night," says police chief Alan Rodbell. "Our crime rate is the lowest it's ever been -- which is well below the national average -- so families can enjoy the outdoors." Scottsdale has plenty of recreation space too, with 67 miles of paved trails and 105 miles of bike lanes. There are 22 playgrounds with baby swings, and because of the warm-year-round climate, many also include pop-up fountains. "Outsiders think of Scottsdale as a retirement community, but there are a good number of active, health-conscious families here," says Joy Cherrick, founder of the Scottsdale Moms Blog, whose daughter, Reagan, is 14 months. "A lot of moms make their own baby food and buy locally, whether it's produce from the farmers' market or baby toys from one of the many downtown shops." Plenty of child-care centers and pediatricians, as well as a fairly low unemployment rate (6.4 percent at press time) also make for easy living with a baby. Photo by Alexandra Grablewski Our Grading Key: A-- Awesome B--Very Good C--Not Bad D--Below Average F--Terrible Courtesy of Parents Magazine

How Does A Reverse Mortgage Work?

Q: I am retired. I've lived in my current home for 17 years, but want to downsize into a smaller, less expensive home. A friend told me that a reverse mortgage can be used to help me buy a new home. How would that work? A: A reverse mortgage called the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage can be used to borrow against your current home's equity to buy or make a down payment on another primary home. How much you can borrow varies, depending on your age, the value of your home and interest rates. You will, of course, have to make up any difference between the proceeds of this mortgage and the sales price and closing costs of the home you want to buy. But if these costs are less than the proceeds, you pocket the difference. HECMs are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The loan requires that you pay a mortgage insurance premium that's the lesser of 2% of your home's value or the HECM mortgage limit for your area, as well as a monthly fee that's .5% of your mortgage balance. (A new option called the "HECM Saver" introduced this week lowers the upfront fee but raises the monthly fee for borrowers who are willing to receive 10% to 18% less than they would under a standard HECM.) But that fee protects your heirs, as I'll explain later. HECMs have an advantage over many other types of purchase loans in that borrowers at all income levels qualify. But there are some caveats: You must be at least 62 years old; occupy your current home as a principal residence and either own a home free-and-clear or have only a small remaining mortgage balance. You can't be delinquent on any federal loan, and you must agree to speak with a HECM counselor. If you meet these qualifications, your house will be appraised by the lender. The total amount you'll be able to borrow will be limited to the lower of its appraised value, or the program's mortgage limit of $625,500. You'll then pay an origination fee that varies depending on the appraised value of the home, but won't exceed $6,000, plus customary closing costs, which includes the cost of the appraisal. These costs can be rolled into your loan (although this will reduce the amount of the HECM proceeds available to you), or they can be added to your cash down payment. Then you sell your old home and move into your new one. You will not have to make any more house payments on your new home as long as it remains your primary residence. When you eventually move or die, the home is sold and the lender collects the principal and interest you owe. If the house sells for more than is owed, your heirs get the difference. However, if the home sells for less than the amount owed, the mortgage insurance premium you paid guarantees that the FHA will pay the difference, so your heirs aren't stuck with a big bill. Article by JUNE FLETCHER Courtesy of WSJ

5 Benefits of a Second Home in a Retirement Plan

A second home is a luxury that many people dream about. Owning a second home can also provide practical benefits. For baby boomers who are considering downsizing, relocating, or a split-living arrangement in retirement, purchasing a second home before you retire can make sense. Here are five potential benefits: Build equity in an alternative investment. Home values have fallen, even in vacation home markets. This presents opportunities for second home bargain hunters. When home values rebound, homes in high demand locations, such as lakefront property, should appreciate quickly. Also, depending on how you use your second home, some of the capital gain when you sell it may be tax-free. Test a retirement destination. Maybe you are a city dweller fantasizing about retirement in a rural or active adult community. Perhaps you are tired of yard work and think condo living is for you. Purchasing a second home gives you a chance to test drive your fantasy over a period of years, not days, and before you make a final relocation decision. Create family bonds before downsizing. A tricky part of retirement downsizing is navigating the loss of emotional attachment to a long-time family home. If you purchase a second home as part of a plan to live there when you retire, you can begin building family memories and attachment to that home. This will make the eventual downsizing and relocation event much less traumatic for everyone. Reduce work life stress. If you choose a second home that is easily drivable from your primary home, you now own an instant stress-buster. You can spend weekends there on a whim, which provides an immediate vacation experience. Just knowing you have that option can make even the worst work weeks more tolerable and perhaps keep you on the job longer. Provide a true family legacy. Part of retirement planning includes deciding if you want to leave something for your children. Inherited money is nice, but could be soon spent and forgotten. A second home in a special location can be part of a shared family bonding experience, including those eventual grandchildren who visit. These family bonds can transform that second home into a family legacy that you leave behind instead of cash. That is our hope and plan for our second home. A second home should not be a budget-buster. But if you are in a financial position to handle it, consider these and other benefits of owning a second home as part of your overall retirement planning. Article courtesy of Mark Patterson

10 Reasons to Buy a Home

Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership. Sure, maybe there's more pain to come in the housing market. But when Time magazine starts running covers that declare "Owning a home may no longer make economic sense," it's time to say: Enough is enough. This is what "capitulation" looks like. Everyone has given up. The Sept. 6 cover of Time magazine: This is what capitulation looks like. After all, at the peak of the bubble five years ago, Time had a different take. "Home Sweet Home," declared its cover then, as it celebrated the boom and asked: "Will your house make you rich?" The June 13, 2005 cover of Time. But it's not enough just to be contrarian. So here are 10 reasons why it's good to buy a home. 1. You can get a good deal. Especially if you play hardball. This is a buyer's market. Most of the other buyers have now vanished, as the tax credits on purchases have just expired. We're four to five years into the biggest housing bust in modern history. And prices have come down a long way– about 30% from their peak, according to Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller Index, which tracks home prices in 20 big cities. Yes, it's mixed. New York is only down 20%. Arizona has halved. Will prices fall further? Sure, they could. You'll never catch the bottom. It doesn't really matter so much in the long haul. Where is fair value? Fund manager Jeremy Grantham at GMO, who predicted the bust with remarkable accuracy, said two years ago that home prices needed to fall another 17% to reach fair value in relation to household incomes. Case-Shiller since then: Down 18%. 2. Mortgages are cheap. You can get a 30-year loan for around 4.3%. What's not to like? These are the lowest rates on record. As recently as two years ago they were about 6.3%. That drop slashes your monthly repayment by a fifth. If inflation picks up, you won't see these mortgage rates again in your lifetime. And if we get deflation, and rates fall further, you can refi. 3. You'll save on taxes. You can deduct the mortgage interest from your income taxes. You can deduct your real estate taxes. And you'll get a tax break on capital gains–if any–when you sell. Sure, you'll need to do your math. You'll only get the income tax break if you itemize your deductions, and many people may be better off taking the standard deduction instead. The breaks are more valuable the more you earn, and the bigger your mortgage. But many people will find that these tax breaks mean owning costs them less, often a lot less, than renting. 4. It'll be yours. You can have the kitchen and bathrooms you want. You can move the walls, build an extension–zoning permitted–or paint everything bright orange. Few landlords are so indulgent; for renters, these types of changes are often impossible. You'll feel better about your own place if you own it than if you rent. Many years ago, when I was working for a political campaign in England, I toured a working-class northern town. Mrs. Thatcher had just begun selling off public housing to the tenants. "You can tell the ones that have been bought," said my local guide. "They've painted the front door. It's the first thing people do when they buy." It was a small sign that said something big. 5. You'll get a better home. In many parts of the country it can be really hard to find a good rental. All the best places are sold as condos. Money talks. Once again, this is a case by case issue: In Miami right now there are so many vacant luxury condos that owners will rent them out for a fraction of the cost of owning. But few places are so favored. Generally speaking, if you want the best home in the best neighborhood, you're better off buying. 6. It offers some inflation protection. No, it's not perfect. But studies by Professor Karl "Chip" Case (of Case-Shiller), and others, suggest that over the long-term housing has tended to beat inflation by a couple of percentage points a year. That's valuable inflation insurance, especially if you're young and raising a family and thinking about the next 30 or 40 years. In the recent past, inflation-protected government bonds, or TIPS, offered an easier form of inflation insurance. But yields there have plummeted of late. That also makes homeownership look a little better by contrast. 7. It's risk capital. No, your home isn't the stock market and you shouldn't view it as the way to get rich. But if the economy does surprise us all and start booming, sooner or later real estate prices will head up again, too. One lesson from the last few years is that stocks are incredibly hard for most normal people to own in large quantities–for practical as well as psychological reasons. Equity in a home is another way of linking part of your portfolio to the long-term growth of the economy–if it happens–and still managing to sleep at night. 8. It's forced savings. If you can rent an apartment for $2,000 month instead of buying one for $2,400 a month, renting may make sense. But will you save that $400 for your future? A lot of people won't. Most, I dare say. Once again, you have to do your math, but the part of your mortgage payment that goes to principal repayment isn't a cost. You're just paying yourself by building equity. As a forced monthly saving, it's a good discipline. 9. There is a lot to choose from. There is a glut of homes in most of the country. The National Association of Realtors puts the current inventory at around 4 million homes. That's below last year's peak, but well above typical levels, and enough for about a year's worth of sales. More keeping coming onto the market, too, as the banks slowly unload their inventory of unsold properties. That means great choice, as well as great prices. 10. Sooner or later, the market will clear. Demand and supply will meet. The population is forecast to grow by more than 100 million people over the next 40 years. That means maybe 40 million new households looking for homes. Meanwhile, this housing glut will work itself out. Many of the homes will be bought. But many more will simply be destroyed–either deliberately, or by inaction. This is already happening. Even two years ago, when I toured the housing slump in western Florida, I saw bankrupt condo developments that were fast becoming derelict. And, finally, a lot of the "glut" simply won't matter: It's concentrated in a few areas, like Florida and Nevada. Unless you live there, the glut won't have any long-term impact on housing supply in your town. Article Courtesy of Brett Arends WSJ

5 Things To Know About Home Owners Insurance

Many insurers have been raising rates to make up for losses they suffered during the financial crisis, industry experts say. At the same time, insurers are competing hard for new customers, which means some of them are cutting better deals for new policy holders than for existing ones, says Deeia Beck, executive director of the Office of Public Insurance Counsel, a state consumer agency in Texas. 1. Loyalty is overrated When your annual renewal statement lands in your mailbox, check InsWeb.com and NetQuote.com to see if you can snag a better deal elsewhere. Consider moving your auto policy too; bundling home and auto coverage with the same insurer can cut your total premiums by 5% to 15%. 2. You may have too much coverage It's common for policies to contain inflation-protection provisions that automatically increase your coverage amount. "In most years, that's a good thing," says Scott Richardson, director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance. Now that construction costs have fallen? Not so much. For now, pass on inflation protection and adjust your coverage amount to a more realistic figure. Lowering replacement value from, say, $300,000 to $250,000 might shave 10% off your premium. 3. A bad rep can cost you Just as lenders check your credit history before figuring out what rate to charge you, insurers tap into national databases such as the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) to see what claims you've filed in the past. Those records can be full of errors, warns Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, an insurance advocacy group. Check your insurance report for mistakes at choicetrust.com; it's free if you've been denied coverage ($19.50 otherwise). 4. Small claims can cost you, too Go with the highest deductible you can afford and bank the savings to cover the cost of minor repairs. Filing a claim for every broken window or leaky pipe can drive up your premiums by 10% to 15%, says Don Griffin, a vice president at Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. (Some experts say that even inquiring about making a claim can raise a red flag.) Increasing your deductible from, say, $500 to $1,000 can lower your annual premium by as much as 25%, according to the Insurance Information Institute. 5. A home's history matters In the market for a new house? It may seem unfair, but claims associated with the property before you buy it can result in your paying more than you would otherwise. "Certain locations [such as those vulnerable to flooding] may be more prone to claims," explains Kiran Rasaretnam, CFO of InsWeb. To get info on past claims, ask for a copy of the seller's CLUE disclosure report (see No. 3). Yes, you're stuck with the history of the house you buy, but you can use what you find to negotiate a lower price with the seller. Article By Sarah Max, courtesy of CNN Photo by David McNew / Getty Images

5 Tips To Get The Best Price When Selling Your Property

For whatever reason, if you have to sell your property as soon as possible, don't panic! It's easy to be overwhelmed but the best way forward is to set out a plan for selling and work through it step by step. Don't be deterred if the word on the street is that 'it's a bad time to sell'; just keep the following tips in mind and selling your property quickly, and for a good price, will be achievable. There are five common mistakes that homeowners make when wanting to sell their place quickly. I am going to tell you the mistakes then give you some advice about how to overcome the error. The five most common critical mistakes: 1. Constantly reducing the price, little by little When prospective buyers see a price dropping regularly it spells ‘desperation.’ Before you list your property do your own research to find out its value. Check out what the prices are of similar places in the area. The most inspected places on the market are those that are the cheapest and also the newest listed. By placing your property at the top of the list in both categories you will have yours sold in no time at all. 2. Hiring the Real Estate agent charging the least commission To get the quick results that you are after it is essential that you hire a top real estate agent. Ask your friends, family and colleagues who they would suggest and who they have used. If you can employ a professional agent who can negotiate you another $15,000 on your selling price for $3,000 more commission, you are better off than using an agent who will ‘give your place away.’ Look for an agent who you can communicate with, who is prepared to go that extra mile for you, who has drive, commitment and will guide you through the selling process at a comfortable pace. 3. Waiting for the market to improve Waiting does not ensure a better selling price. There are hundreds of home owners who do not need to sell quickly and they will be coming on the market each and every day. You will always have competitors so if you have to sell do it now and do it with care and conviction. Who says the market is going to better in the next year or two anyway? 4. Listing your property before you have staged it One of the absolute worst mistakes is to present your place to buyers when it has not been cleaned and spruced up for sale. It is called ‘staging your place’ and can make an enormous difference to the amount you get offered. Clean out the junk – sell it or store it. Touch up any areas in the property that are showing wear and tear and get the garden regenerated, especially in the front. Potential buyers are there to look at your place and how their family could live in it, not at your belongings, so have as few personal belongings around as you need to have to live in reasonable comfort while it is on the market. Tidy the bedrooms and get rid of any excess furniture so that all the rooms look larger. 5. Consider every offer A common mistake for owners, especially those needing the highest possible sale price, is to turn down the first offer. In selling there is a saying that ‘the first offer is the best offer’ and if you talk to a salesperson in any job where price gets negotiated, they will tell you that the statement is true in the majority of cases. You will get a lot of lookers in the first couple of weeks and if you are still on the market after that the number will drop quite dramatically. If an offer comes in during the first week or two, sellers are tempted to turn it down thinking the inspection rate will stay the same, but of course it does not. So, seriously consider every offer, especially the first. Every investment you make in property requires your best attention. Large sums are made and lost through selling property, so learn how to avoid the above listed common mistakes Article by Reece Coleman

Buying a Home After a Foreclosure

A financial crisis can strike anyone. It seems we have all had clients who were once thriving but now are facing difficult decisions regarding their finances. The reasons vary, but the outcomes are similar. The people come from all walks of life—lawyers, dentists, truck drivers, teachers, the list is endless. Here is some good news: Nothing will keep us down forever. Everything has a limitation on how long it can affect our credit. Most derogatory issues have a seven-year limit, Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on credit reports for ten years, but nothing is forever. The Fair Credit Reporting Act provides the details of how long derogatory items can remain on the credit report. The reality is that for most consumers facing turmoil today, they will be eligible to purchase a home again in three years. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) guidelines allow for someone to purchase a home three years after a foreclosure, as long as there has been nothing delinquent after the original event. For example, let’s say that two years after a foreclosure, I have a dispute with a satellite television company, and they report a collection on my credit report. Anything negative (such as this dispute) after the original event (the foreclosure) could potentially derail my chances for being approved at the three-year mark. Someone who had an FHA, Veterans Affairs (VA) or United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing loan previously may have a federal claim against them in the Credit Alert Verification Reporting System (CAIVRS). They would have to wait three years from the date the federal claim was paid, which generally adds six to nine months to the timeline. Any mortgage lender can check the Housing & Urban Development (HUD) system to see if there is a claim against the borrower. Keep in mind that the three C’s to an approval apply: credit, capacity and collateral. The borrower still has to have two years of continued verifiable employment, they must make enough money to qualify for the purchase, and they must have the minimum required down payment (3.5% for FHA). There will be a lot of scrutiny for someone who has had a past foreclosure (or short sale, bankruptcy, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, etc.). The back end debt-to-income ratio for an average consumer is generally 41% or more; for someone coming out of a financial crisis, the debt-to-income ratio may be a maximum of 36%. As far as credit goes, many lenders require a minimum credit score of 620; some require 640, so this can be a hurdle. It is critical that borrowers have “enough” credit, which is generally three accounts open for the past 12 months plus a rental history. Traditional credit, the type included on a credit report (credit cards, auto, student loan, etc.), is preferable, but that’s not always the case. Alternative credit is non-traditional credit, such as utilities, cable, cell phone and other accounts that generally do not appear on the credit report. Paying the electric bill on time every month takes on greater importance simply because the borrower may have to go to the utility company for a letter of credit. The alternative credit must be paid on time. I have had clients compile the alternative credit documents, but if the payments were not made on time, it is unusable. Rent payments should be made by personal check when possible. Copies of the cancelled rent check should be obtained and saved to prove the rent payments were made on time. Paying cash can come back to bite consumers if the landlord cannot or will not verify rent or if the landlord is at arms length. If the landlord is at arms length, or disappears, it will be imperative to prove the rent was paid on time for the past 12 months. Consumers should save all documentation they receive. This goes without saying, but I have had clients who have shredded their entire bankruptcy package. Fortunately bankruptcy paperwork can be obtained at the federal courthouse if it has been misplaced. The reason saving all documents is so important is because the bad debt market buys and sells old debt, which could result in issues needing to be resolved. It is difficult to resolve these issues without documentation; the old adage of “he who holds the sword rules the land” certainly applies to the world of debt. The most common issue is a credit card that reaches charge-off status (180 days delinquent). It is placed into collection, which likely means it will be sold in a portfolio on the bad debt market. The debt is purchased for 5% - 20% of the original amount; it then shows up as a collection on the credit report. This can be problematic if the date of delinquency is changed, which is not uncommon, so saving all documentation for future reference is a smart move. How long should this documentation be saved? Most people answer seven years. Although that may be generally true for tax audit purposes, it is not the case for bad debt since it carries a declining value, yet always has a value to third parties. For example, a collection stemming from a vehicle repossession ten years ago may still be worth 1% - 5% of the original collection amount. If someone can purchase an old debt of $10,000 for $100, there is motive to abuse the debt collection system and potentially break the law in pursuit of the old debt. Consumers should be aware of the importance of holding onto documentation since they very well may find themselves in a position of needing to prove something, especially dates. The cleanest method of documentation is the credit report itself; saving copies annually of a credit report is an excellent practice to keep a record of all important account dates. It is one of the best protections against abuse and can be handy when requalifying for a mortgage. The only government-mandated source for a free credit report is www.annualcreditreport.com. The borrower will have to explain in a letter three important points to the underwriter: •Why did the foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy occur? •Why was the event out of their control? •Why is it unlikely the circumstances will repeat? Approval is at the discretion of the underwriter based on perceived risk, so this explanation is important. The bottom line is that when consumers who have a past financial issue are ready to consider buying a home again, they should consult a lender to see how their specific situation applies. The lender should give them an assessment of where they are now and what needs to happen in order to qualify for a mortgage. Article By Patrick Ritchie Courtesy of Arizona REALTOR® Magazine - August 2010 RESOURCES Impact of Adverse Credit Events on the Ability of Consumers to Purchase Another Home NAR has posted a chart showing FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac credit policies for short sales, deeds-in-lieu, foreclosures and bankruptcies. The Facts about Your Credit Score This article from the June 2010 issue of Arizona REALTOR® Magazine explores what you should know about that pesky three-digit number known as your FICO score.

Arizona's Own...Hickman Eggs are Safe!

The recall of about 500 million eggs is having a ripple effect on Arizona’s only major egg farmer. Last week, two Iowa egg producers, Wright County Egg and Hillandale Egg, recalled eggs due to an outbreak of salmonella. Clint Hickman is the vice president of sales and marketing for Hickman’s Egg Farms and wants people to know that his family’s products are safe and not connected with any recall. “Food safety is an absolute necessity for how we do business. We are proud of what we do. We brand our eggs with our family name and we feed our own families with our own eggs,” Hickman said. The Hickman family has been in the egg business for three generations and is the state’s only large egg producer. Hickman said the firm has been fielding questions from consumers as well as potential buyers and brokers as the nationwide egg recall has grown. While Hickman declined to discuss specific numbers, his current business clients are increasing their existing orders and the firm is fielding calls from new ones. “We are seeing activity from people in Western states, but the most important thing for us is to take care of, and respond to, the needs of our long-time customers first,” Hickman said. Hickman said the family has had long-term safety measures in place to protect their products and their clients from such instances. The firm vaccinates their flock, they wash their eggs twice before going to market and also use an ultraviolet disinfection process. Although hens can lay eggs with salmonella, the bacteria is destroyed by heat and proper cooking. People can become sick if they eat raw or incompletely cooked eggs. Salmonella typically causes diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pains. In rare instances, it can cause more serious illness. Article Courtesy of Lynn Ducey of PBJ

INDULGE: 10 Vices That Are Good For You

You can officially stop feeling guilty about those little "bad-for-you" habits you can't seem to break. Turns out, many of life's greatest indulgences bring big health benefits -- helping you stay slim, fight off the blues, and kick disease to the curb. And we've got the 10 best right here, conveniently ranked by Health magazine's expert panelists. Start at the top of the list to get the most bang for your healthy buck, and keep moving on down to learn how to boost your well-being in the most decadent ways possible. Pleasure No. 1: Getting your zzz's: Our experts unanimously agreed: Sleep is free and has virtually zero health drawbacks, making it the one treat no one should skimp on. Pillow time gives you energy, bolsters your immune system, boosts your memory, and even helps you get (or stay) slim. Cut slumber short, and you'll find it harder to make decisions (no surprise to anyone who's struggled through a workday after a too-late bedtime). Plus, you'll increase your risk for anxiety and depression. "Lack of sleep has also been associated with hypertension, glucose intolerance, and belly fat -- all risk factors for heart disease," says Nieca Goldberg, M.D., medical director of the New York University-Langone Women's Heart Program. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep a night, the amount that studies show is ideal. If you're up-and-at-'em on less, don't sweat it: Some people are just wired that way, Goldberg says. But if you have trouble falling or staying asleep, or can't seem to drag yourself out of bed on a regular basis, talk to your doctor about possible underlying causes, such as anxiety or sleep apnea. Pleasure No. 2: Playing hooky: There's a reason it's called a mental-health day. Studies confirm that time off -- whether on a trip out of Dodge or a 24-hour staycation -- relieves stress, lowering your blood pressure and your risk for heart disease. It also promotes creative thinking (attention, bosses!). And women in a 2005 study who took two or more vacations per year were less likely to be depressed than women who took one every two years. Can't swing more than a few days away? No problem: The length of a vacation had no bearing on how happy it made people, according to a recent study in the journal Applied Research in the Quality of Life. What's more, the biggest thrill came before the vacation. So spread around the joy of that sweet anticipation by planning short jaunts throughout the year instead of one big blowout trip. Pleasure No. 3: Sexual healing: Getting frisky is, hands-down, the most pleasurable form of physical activity there is. Having sex releases feel-good endorphins and oxytocin, the hormone that promotes attachment. "That component of feeling connected to another person really benefits mental health," says Alice Domar, Ph.D., the executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health. Another plus: Subjects in one study who did it once or twice a week had higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, which shields you from colds and other infections. Why doesn't sex rank higher on our list? It can bring unintended consequences, from sexually transmitted infections (especially if you're not currently monogamous and not practicing safe sex) to "oops!" pregnancies. Pleasure No. 4: A daily chocolate fix: Our experts gave a hearty thumbs-up to nibbling a little chocolate every day -- as long as you stick to a square or two of the dark kind, to minimize sugar and fat intake and maximize the benefits. (The temptation to overeat this sweet treat accounts for it not making it into the top three.) Dark chocolate and cocoa may help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, and provide other cardiovascular benefits, multiple studies have shown. "Dark chocolate contains antioxidants called flavonoids, believed to improve the flexibility of blood vessels," Goldberg explains. "That can help lower blood pressure and also make blood vessels more resistant to plaque buildup." Chocolate's rep as a go-to comfort food when you're upset has science behind it, too. A study published late last year found that eating 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced stress hormones in highly anxious people. Check for at least 75 percent cacao content to get the most bliss for your bite. Pleasure No. 5: Girls' nights out: A flurry of recent studies have shed light on how huge an impact our friends and family have on our behavior, from what we drink and eat to how much we weigh -- for better and for worse. But there's little question that strong social ties can bring a host of benefits: fewer colds, better brain health, and a longer life, to name a few. "Friendships are very good for you -- as long as you hang out with people with whom you have a well-balanced relationship and limit your time spent with people who are toxic for you," Domar says. Pleasure No. 6: Full-fat dressing: For years we were trained to reach for low-fat everything, but there's no need to deprive yourself of the real deal. Full-fat foods not only taste better but also serve a real health purpose, as long as you get the right amounts of the right kinds. Aim for at least 10 percent of your daily fat intake to come from monounsaturated fats (found in vegetable oils, avocados, and many nuts and seeds), says Keri Gans, R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. These fats reduce your risks of heart disease and stroke -- a big deal, since coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death of American women. In fact, nearly twice as many women die of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases as from all forms of cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish such as salmon and tuna, and in flaxseed and walnuts) also lower heart disease risk and may help decrease symptoms of depression, rheumatoid arthritis, and other ailments. Plus, "when you have a meal that includes a little fat, you tend to feel more satisfied, so you eat less," Gans says. Still, no more than 30 percent of your daily calories should come from fat -- even the good kind. Pleasure No. 7: Your morning java: It's completely OK if you need it to pry your eyes open in the a.m. A wealth of research suggests that coffee doesn't just pick you up -- it fights heart disease and some cancers, and it may even help you push through harder, longer workouts. Moderate coffee-drinking in middle age has been associated with lower risks for dementia and Alzheimer's. And a 2009 review of more than four decades of research found that for every additional cup of coffee you drink each day -- high-octane or decaf -- your risk of developing type 2 diabetes shrinks by 7 percent, possibly because chemicals in the beverage improve your body's insulin sensitivity and increase metabolism. Enjoy up to two cups a day; more than that may leave you jittery or rob you of that precious number-one pleasure -- sleep. Pleasure No. 8: Getting a rubdown: Don't ever feel guilty about shelling out for massages. "In general, people who are touched regularly are healthier," Domar says. And if your budget doesn't include spa services, consider hands-on time with your honey. Women in a 2008 study noted less pain, depression, anxiety, and anger when they were massaged twice a week by their partners -- and (bonus!) their partners reported better mental health, too. Pleasure No. 9: Basking in the sun: Bright days really do lift our moods -- sunshine is the ultimate natural antidepressant, triggering our bodies to nip production of the sleep-stimulating hormone melatonin so we're alert, energized, and ready to face the day. Exposing bare skin to the sun also triggers the synthesis of vitamin D, a hormone that may reduce your risks for cancer, heart disease, fragile bones, and other problems. Still, many doctors feel that no amount of unprotected sun exposure is safe (that's the official position of the American Academy of Dermatology). So always wear sunscreen and, Goldberg says, take a D supplement if your levels are low; see your doc to find out. Pleasure No. 10: Wine with dinner: The buzz on wine is about its heart-healthy properties, though researchers aren't entirely sure how it works its magic. Its antioxidants may keep blood vessels flexible, or alcohol could boost HDL (good) cholesterol. Either way, the key is moderation: one 5-ounce glass a day. More than that can raise blood pressure and pack on pounds. "Women who drink heavily also have higher rates of breast cancer," Goldberg warns. More of a martini kind of gal? No problem: You can get similar perks from one liquor drink or beer a day. So go ahead -- raise a glass to the pleasures of the healthy life! America's healthiest pleasures: 10 'vices' that are good for youBy Susannah Felts and Jeannie Kim(Health.com) -- Permission granted Courtesy of CNN

How to cheat the tax man in 2010 Thanks to a strange quirk in the law, the heirs of people who die this year don't have to pay estate taxes. (CNN) -- Want a hot tip about how to make a financial killing this year? Die. That's right. It sounds like a distasteful joke, but courtesy of the United States Congress, it's a gruesome reality. Because of a hiccup in the convoluted tax laws, Americans who have done exceptionally well for themselves during their lives will be able to preserve an enormously greater percentage of their money, and thus be able to pass it on to their heirs, if they die before midnight on December 31. The federal estate tax, for this calendar year only, is zero percent; at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve it immediately goes to a potential 55 percent for people who have managed to build up a considerable nest egg for their families. The 55 percent rate will apply to everything after the first $1 million in assets, if the current law stands. (Congress still has the beat-the-clock option to step in and change the rules for next year, but so far has not.) The details of the back-and-forth in Congress that has led to this are enough to give you a headache, and those mice-trapped-in-a-maze legislative machinations have been exhaustively reported on and analyzed. Suffice it to say that the smart people in the world of money and investments -- the ones who always seem to know when it's time to move to municipal bonds, or to roll their cash over into some exotic derivative, or to switch to real estate -- are now saying that dying this year is a sound financial strategy. As the Wall Street Journal recently put it: "It has come to this: Congress, quite by accident, is incentivizing death." No one is kidding about the basic facts of this. The Bernie Madoff scheme may have been unspeakably cruel, and the tricks played by the big investment banks may have been infuriating, but at least no one was telling people that they'd better die quickly if they'd like to let their families hang on to their money. The Journal ran a photo gallery of six prominent men who beat the system by dying this year: former TV host Art Linkletter, actor Dennis Hopper, Taco Bell founder Glen Bell, novelist Louis Auchincloss, real estate developer Walter Shorenstein and author J.D. Salinger. The most-talked about beneficiary -- if you can call it that, which you probably shouldn't -- of this tax weirdness is George Steinbrenner, the late owner of the New York Yankees who died last month. Under the headline "Why Now Is a Great Time to Die," financial journalist Lauren Drell, who writes for AOL, calculated that by dying this year instead of next, Steinbrenner saved his relatives approximately $600 million. What do you call a system that allows such a thing to happen? "Grisly" is the word that tax expert Barbara Weltman used when she spoke to Drell: "There's talk about pulling the plug on people on life support ... [It is] just horrible to think that taxes should play any role in life-and-death decisions." But the same people who knew how to play all the angles to build an enviable financial life for themselves are now coming face to face with the ultimate angle. As attorney and estate planner Jack Nuckolls told The Associated Press: "If you're super-wealthy, it's a good year to die. It really is." Last year, when the estate tax was 45 percent, people in ill health faced a different kind of challenge: If they could just hold on until the first few seconds of 2010, then they could die knowing that their money had made it into the freakish one-year holiday from estate taxes. But as sadistic as that setup was -- imagine having to fight for a few more breaths because if you made it to New Year's Day, you could do a better job of providing for your children -- at least it put a premium on living. What's scheduled to happen in a little more than four months is the opposite. Those who die are the fiscal winners. There doesn't seem much to be done about it, except engage in dark wit. Eugene Sukup, 81, of Sheffield, Iowa, who founded a grain-bin manufacturing firm with $15,000 in 1963 and who has presided over it with such skill that today it provides jobs for 450 Iowans, told the Wall Street Journal that if he were to die this year he would not have to pay a penny in estate taxes. But if he were to live until the dawning moments of next year and then pass away, his bill could be $15 million. He seems to have a sense of humor about this insanity (unless he's not kidding). He said: "You don't know whether to commit suicide or just go on living and working." That's what is so Alice-through-the-looking-glass about all of this, and that is why, in its nonsensical way, the tax situation is a parable for the financial madness of our times. If you've been fortunate in your life, and have accumulated a sizeable amount of money and property to leave to your children and grandchildren, and your health is starting to fail, you can hope for one more springtime with your family, and a seat in front of the television set to watch the 2011 Super Bowl, and a chance to gaze upon the fireworks and the community parade next Fourth of July. But if you do, will you feel like a sucker? Will you feel like you've wished for something foolish? Will you weigh the joy of one more year against the empty feeling of having your pocket picked by the lunacy of this particular law? "Happy new year," for some people, may soon enough sound like a taunt. By Bob Greene, courtesy of CNN The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene

Angels RE / Game ON! | Phoenix Women's Sports Association

Angels RE Serving our community through Real Estate "You Refer, We Donate."

The Angels are shining examples of the Philanthropic Realtors at The Williams Real Estate Company. Combining their passion for real estate, sports and community leadership has taken the philanthropic mission to a new level.

One of the Angels, Christina Catalano (Realtor, Triathlete and Community Leader), is a board member for Phoenix Womens Sports Association. Christina and her husband recently participated in Ironman Switzerland, and will be organizing a group of women to run the first Women's Half Marathon in Phoenix. The Phoenix Women’s Sports Association's mission it is to foster young women in sports, and to honor elite Arizona women Athletes and Award nominees. Their annual “Game On Event!” an exciting auction night was held at a historic school site, George Washing Carver Museum and Cultural Center with its beautiful historic gym decorated to the hilt as the setting for the event. Angels RE has three great team members, Natasha Greenhalgh, Jennifer Noelani-Spenser and Christina. They were fortunate to be a part of the event and invited Dan Williams, President and Founder of The Williams Real Estate Company; Thuy Pham, Designated Broker; and Barbara Bowers, Partner and President of The Williams Community Foundation, to their upbeat and fun annual evening celebration of women in sports who make a difference. The event draws in local Arizona Olympians, Athletes and Physical Education Teachers who have served the Arizona community for their entire careers. A tribute was paid to each of these outstanding women to acknowledge their impact on the many lives they have touched through sports. Young gals in sports and professional women athletes came together to carry on the integrity and spirit of sports. The night was filled with a range of community donated auction items related to sports and much more. The “Angels” donated an iPad as the Raffle prize to help raise even more for PWSA. Raffle tickets could be purchased to play golf, throw hoops,… and all for a really great cause. Fundraising goals were exceeded, as well as the expectations of every attendee. It was a fun, philanthropic evening and they were proud to be a part of the event! “I’ve made it a mission to stay connected with women in sports because it’s such a powerful tool for young women. Sports teaches so many good character qualities that continue a lifetime. This supports The Williams Real Estate Company mission of giving back! It is our pleasure to donate a sizable portion of our real estate endeavors back to our community through local charitable organizations.” states Christina Catalano. It must be working, because Angels RE is one of the most successful real estate teams at The Williams Real Estate Company!

Best Places to Retire

Surprise is only one of many Great Places to Retire in Arizona! Surprise, Arizona Population: 91,000 % over 50: 43% Typical 3-bedroom home: 150,000 Housing prices down: 48% State income tax: 4.54%* This fast-growing community outside Phoenix is named after the hometown of the man who founded it in 1938, but Surprise could just as easily describe what people feel when they look at the real estate listings. "You can scoop up a great house for less than $100,000." Locals can watch baseball at Surprise Stadium (the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers both do spring training here), cool off at the town's 10,500-square-foot aquatics center, and check out ancient petroglyphs at a nearby 30,000-acre park. Nearly 20% of residents live in Sun City Grand, a resort-like retirement community that offers reams of activities--tennis, golf, wine tasting, and more. (The original Sun City is a few miles down the road.) "It's hard to think of this as retirement," says Ron Ransom, 68, a former restaurant owner from Columbus, who moved here with his wife, Kay, 67, in 2005. "There's always something going on." --S.M. Article Courtesy of CNN

Christmas in July | Money Raised for St. Mary's Foodbank & PCH

Only through The Williams Real Estate Company and lovely Realtor®, Jennifer Dana- Sheedy, could anyone pull off a Grand Open House in 115 degrees in July - with guests wearing Christmas Holiday wear and Santa plus his elf’s gathering for photos in full garb! In a June 2009 brainstorming around the big conference table at TWREC, someone suggested holding a Paradise Valley listing “Celebration Home” in July, with a holiday theme and give back to Phoenix Children’s Hospital and St. Mary’s Food Bank. That was it – toys for the kids and water for the Food Bank -as it was one of the hottest seasons’ on record. It’s the way we roll… at The Williams Real Estate Company....a Luxury Listing deserves full attention. The donations poured in. So did the guests! Brilliant and fun! The word spread fast through the Real Estate Community and by invitation weeks’ end, several companies offered in-kind donations, from wine and food to professional musicians playing Christmas carols! Rob Kanyur of NOVA Home Loans was gracious to bring lots of water and food, as well as HOPE Wines donated their wines as it was a charity event. Even new Agents with The Williams Real Estate Company, Kevin Horikami and Mark Sumstine, jumped into the festivities and came to work in their holiday tuxedo’s. Now that’s the special spirit at TWREC! Guests strolled in - non-stop - for hours. Cars were parked up and down McDonald Drive in front of the luxury home, and by the count at the end of the evening, over 250 guests enjoyed music, holiday food (including home baked cookies!) and beautiful decorations throughout the magnificent home. The guests lingered in sweltering heat, and may never forget this special “Celebration Home” event. “We had no idea how many guests, agents, friends or vendors would actually attend, but the response was enormous. And, those who didn’t attend literally sent over checks to donate to both Phoenix Children's Hospital and St. Mary’s Food Bank!” says proud realtor, Jennifer Dana-Sheedy. The best part is saved for last. After all was said and done – that Paradise Valley luxury home sold in 3 weeks! The exposure was even more than donated water and toys for those in need. The Williams Real Estate Company has created a way for families to move on with their lives, helping others in the process and giving their agents a philanthropic platform to feel good about their business. TWREC Karma. Win-Win-Win!