Fannie Mae Introduces Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative Program
Friday, June 4th, 2010Fannie Mae Introduces HAFA Program
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Posts Tagged ‘how-to’
19 ways to have fun for less
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
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| 1. | Frequent the library instead of the bookstores. Your tax dollars fund the library; take advantage of it. |
| 2. | Form book clubs with friends, co-workers and relatives to recycle your books. |
| 3. | Read not, waste not. Don’t renew subscriptions to magazines or newspapers you’re not reading. |
| 4. | If the subscription cost to your favorite magazine goes up, don’t chalk it up to “inflation.” Ask for a better price. |
| 5. | If you are a student or a teacher, say it loudly and proudly. Some periodicals and magazines have special rates for academia. |
| 6. | Check your favorite magazines’ Web sites for online offers that may be lower than others you’ve received. |
| 7. | Pick up a video at the library rather than renting one. Or, see if your library has free movie nights. |
| 8. | Go to the matinees of first-run movies. Movies with the best prices usually start between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. So see a show first and then go eat. |
| 9. | Many communities have bargain theaters that show movies after they’ve finished their first runs. Patience pays off. |
| 10. | Skip the munchies. The concession stand is no bargain even at bargain theaters. If you can’t imagine a movie without popcorn or Junior Mints, get the smallest size and share. |
| 11. | Get rid of that ”1,000 mega-channel lineup,” and switch to basic cable. You can save as much as $20 a month. |
| 12. | Delete television from your life altogether. It cuts the “I wants” drastically. |
| 13. | Try out a dollar theater, a local film festival or even a drive-in. To really save, volunteer at a local fair or festival — you’ll get in free. |
| 14. | If you live in a college town, there’s probably a campus movie theater that shows low-cost art or foreign films. |
| 15. | If you don’t mind standing during a show, volunteer to usher. Just don a pair of black pants and a white shirt. |
| 16. | Volunteer at fairs, festivals and sporting events. You’ll get free admission, food and camping, have minimal duties and often get to hobnob with the artists. |
| 17. | Review concerts and plays for a local newspaper. You have to be well-informed about the subject to write a credible review, but you’ll typically get two free seats in the best section of the house. |
| 18. | Win concert tickets on the radio by putting station call-in numbers on your speed dial. A college radio station tends to have the fewest listeners and usually lots of tickets to give away. |
| 19. | Check the newspaper for performances by local artists. They’re usually low cost or free and often held in coffeehouses, bookstores or libraries. |
Call Rod Potter today at (704)840-4137 if you looking to buy or sell a home.
14 ways to save when dining out
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
14 ways to save when dining out
1.Slash your everyday expenses. Think one less specialty coffee, soft drink and candy bar a week.
2. Keep your eyes open for new restaurants in town. They typically offer grand opening specials.
3. Check your local newspapers for advertisements of lunch and dinner specials, early bird specials; look for coupons, too.
4. Take advantage of the chambers of commerce and visitors centers — even in your own town. You’ll find great restaurant discount coupons.
5. Limit eating lunch out; try brown bag lunches.
6. Do lunch instead of dinner. Lunch menus usually offer the same entrees as dinner, just smaller portions and a smaller check.
7. Dine out during the week rather than on the weekends. Often the menu prices climb over the weekend.
8. Go vegetarian. Vegetarian entrees are usually less expensive than ones made with meat.
9. Go ethnic. Some ethnic foods are better bargains than others. You can get a lot of food for the money in Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Indian and Thai restaurants.
10. Dine early. Many restaurants offer specials before 6 p.m. It’s perfect for making a show on time or for parents who need to make an early night of it.
11. Share an entrée or stick with the appetizer menu. Many restaurants serve portions that are too large for one person to finish.
12. The markup on alcoholic beverages in restaurants is high. Instead of having a drink with dinner, have a glass of wine or some brandy after you get home.
13. Have a candlelight dinner at home, and then go out for coffee and dessert.
14. Instead of eating in a restaurant, order out! It’s customary to tip a few dollars to the delivery person, but not as much as at a restaurant, where the usual tip is 15 percent to 20 percent.
Call Rod Potter today at (704)840-4137 if you looking to buy or sell a home.
14 ways to save on family care
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
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| 1. | Working couples can reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses and premiums by carefully comparing the costs of the benefits offered by each employer to find the best deal. |
| 2. | If medical coverage is part of your employee benefits and you don’t need the coverage, ask your employer if you can get cash back or a bump up in salary. |
| 3. | Smoking can add up to 30 percent to the cost of your life, disability and health insurance premiums. Kick the habit. |
| 4. | Go to a local park, and throw a Frisbee around. Go walking, jogging or hiking. It’s free and good for you. Getting yourself into better health today may lower your medical bills later in life. |
| 5. | Check out the local beauty school for bargains on everything from haircuts and manicures to spa facials and highlights. |
| 6. | Contact a local massage therapy school. You’ll pay a reduced price for massages so that their students gain experience. |
| 7. | Spend a fraction of the cost at a dental school to straighten and brighten teeth and fix dental problems. Depending on your dental insurance policy, some or all of the dental work could be covered. |
| 8. | Be a do-it-yourselfer! Do your own housework, wash and wax your own car, mow your own yard. |
| 9. | Save a bundle on taxes by paying your child-care costs with pretax dollars. Participate in your employer’s flexible spending account program. |
| 10. | Ask if your company offers discounts on services such as child-care providers or gyms. |
| 11. | Cut child-care expenses through flexible scheduling. Can you telecommute, job share or work more flexible hours to reduce the hours away from home? |
| 12. | Arrange your work schedule to alternate with your spouse’s or relative’s to reduce the amount of time your child will have to spend in day care. |
| 13. | Do you know a co-worker with similar backgrounds and parenting styles? Perhaps you can split the cost of home child care. |
| 14. | If your public school district offers a half-day pre-K program for 4-year-olds, enroll your child. It’s free and reduces child-care costs to half-day rates.
Call Rod Potter today at (704)840-4137 if you looking to buy or sell a home. |
8 ways to save on clothing
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 8 ways to save on clothing |
| 1. | Stretch your clothing budget by concentrating on basic colors, such as blue, black and gray. Basic colors can be easily interchanged with different blouses to create diverse outfits. |
| 2. | Veer your wardrobe away from the extremely fashionable, trendy styles that limit how many times and how many ways you can wear them. Try to buy clothes with dual functions: business casual outfits that can be dressed down for a relaxed night out with friends, for example. |
| 3. | Don’t over accessorize. It’s a waste of money trying to match accessories to all your outfits. |
| 4. | Dry cleaning costs add up quickly. So put the silks in the back of the closet, and move your wash-and-wears upfront. |
| 5. | When your clothes are wrinkled, hang them on a shower rod, spritz them with a fine mist of hot water and they’ll be wrinkle-free in the morning. |
| 6. | Got a spot? Remove it yourself. |
| 7. | Put cash back in your pocket by taking the clothing you no longer wear — that’s still in good condition — to a consignment shop. While you’re there, shop for used clothes — if they’re in good condition, you’ll save a bundle by not buying new! |
| 8. | Donate unused items to charity and enjoy the tax deduction.
Call Rod Potter today at (704)840-4137 if you looking to buy or sell a home. |
21 ways to save on pet care
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
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| 1. | Indulging Fido and Boots with gourmet vittles, homeopathic medical treatments and expensive grooming can put you in the poorhouse. | |||||||||
| 2. | Consider alternatives. Humane society or university veterinary clinics may offer thriftier medical services than private practitioners. | |||||||||
| 3. | Keep an eye out for special events, such as reduced veterinary-service events sponsored by government agencies or pet stores. | |||||||||
| 4. | Some vets will give discounts to folks who bring in several pets at once, so why not round up your whole brood for routine exams and inoculations? | |||||||||
| 5. | Speak up if it’s a stray. Many vets will discount their services if your pet was an abandoned or homeless critter that you’d rescued. You may expect — or ask for — at least 10 percent off. |
| 6. | Say it loud: I’m senior and proud! Some vets also give seniors discounts as high as 20 percent. |
| 7. | Spay/neuter! Reproductive reasons aside, an animal that has been spayed or neutered has decreased chances of getting a variety of serious illnesses. |
| 8. | Keep careful records of your pet’s inoculations and other health-care services. If you switch vets, you won’t risk having costly procedures duplicated if you can’t recall what was done. |
| 9. | Be selective about follow-up care. Don’t automatically follow up with expensive emergency-hospital staff — follow up emergency care with your regular vet during normal business hours. |
| 10. | Learn what constitutes a true emergency. For example, weakness and difficulty in breathing is an emergency. |
| 11. | Consider pet health insurance. It works in much the same way as it does for people — there’s generally a deductible, a co-pay or both, and forms to be filled out. |
| 12. | Shop around for medicines, online and locally. |
| 13. | Always seek a second opinion when a vet suggests a pricey procedure. This is very important for both your pet’s health — and your wealth. You’d do it for yourself, right? |
| 14. | Brush those pearly whites! Not only will your pet’s teeth suffer if you don’t — it can affect its overall health. Oral bacteria can lead to serious problems and complications. |
| 15. | Get samples of new products from your vet — ask and ye may receive. |
| 16. | Consider dietary improvements. Upgrading to higher-quality premium foods can pay off in health dividends. |
| 17. | Feed your pet food specific to its species for optimal health. If you have a hamster, for example, feed it hamster food — not nibbles from your nachos. |
| 18. | More is less good when it comes to stuffing your pet with vittles. Overfeeding can create health problems. |
| 19. | Be your own pet (health) detective. Check out the online veterinary version of The Merck Manual and do the detective work for your pet. |
| 20. | Use free resources such as your local pet-supply store. Their personnel tend to be animal lovers with a fairly good knowledge regarding a variety of critters. |
| 21. | Read, listen and watch. Take advantage of other free resources, such as pet publications and TV and radio programs. |
33 ways to save when grocery shopping
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
32 ways to save when grocery shopping
- Trim your food bill by as much as 19 percent simply by shopping at a couple of different stores.
- Don’t “crisis cook.” Shopping after work for the day’s dinner gets expensive. Plan a weekly menu before shopping and watch your grocery bill shrink.
- Don’t waste money on prepared foods. Instead, prepare meals ahead of time and freeze them, or double a recipe when cooking, and freeze the second for a hectic day coming up.
- Don’t be fooled by familiar products, such as cereal, that have decreased package sizes while keeping prices constant, the food industry’s latest response to rising costs.
- Take the farmer’s market approach: Buy produce that’s fresh, inexpensive and in season. With less middlemen involved, you get good buys and your family gets the freshest food.
- The highest markup items on the shelves are at about chest level. Reach up or kneel down to select the cheaper house or generic brands.
- A grocery store’s main aisles, like the paths to milk and bread, are usually strewn with high-priced land mines. Avoiding those pricey areas will really help.
- Try to shop when you’re alone. Those little helpers can quickly boost your bill.
- Shop early in the day. You get through the store faster with your list and spend less.
- Avoid shopping for food when you’re hungry; you’ll buy more.
- Don’t grocery shop when you’re tired, you’ll buy more sweets, more high-carbohydrates. When you’re angry you go for crunch food, the junk food.
- Buy on the markdowns and save as much as 20 percent.
- Read your newspaper’s weekly food section for local grocery sales and menu ideas.
- Clip coupons. You’ll also find coupons in women’s and general-interest magazines.
- Scout coupon swap-boxes, generally found at (surprise!) supermarkets, but also at some public libraries.
- Take advantage of in-store coupon displays and the machines that spew them.
- Log on to your supermarket’s online home page for coupons.
- Call the toll-free numbers on your favorite products’ labels and tell the customer-service rep how much you enjoy them. Some reps will offer cents-off (or even free) coupons for the product itself; if not, ask.
- Nab a newsie. Does your newspaper vendor just dump the inserts in unsold papers at the end of the day? If so, would he mind tossing a few your way?
- Check out the wealth of national-brands coupon-offering services on the Web. They can save you money — even the ones that charge nominal fees.
- Seek out supermarkets that will double — some super stores even triple — the face value of manufacturers’ coupons.
- Try for triple plays. That’s when you use a manufacturer’s coupon and a store’s own coupon.
- Some retailers guarantee that if the item doesn’t ring up at the correct price, you get it for free or at a discount. Pay attention to the details.
- Avoid purchasing nongrocery items, such as painkillers, contact lens solution, etc., at a grocery store. You usually pay more.
- Always get a rain check if a sale item is gone.
- Know when your store marks down goods that expire, like meat and bread. The deal: Use them that night or freeze them.
- Check your store for a small section where they discount products that aren’t as popular as the manufacturer had hoped. This area can be a gold mine for bargains.
- Shop with a calculator. That way, you can figure whether the unit price for a case lot is really cheaper than buying one of the same item.
- Request price matching. Find a store in your area that will honor all competitors’ ads. You’ll save money, time and gas.
- Beware of “discount store syndrome.” Just because you’re in a bargain store doesn’t mean you’re getting the best price on every item.
- Check your receipts. No matter how careful you or the store staff might be, mistakes happen.
- Always send in for the rebate on a purchase whether it’s $2 or $50. It all adds up.
- Put your savings to work. Whether it’s a trip, a car or a savings account, have some specific goals for the money you’re not spending on food.
Just interesting information that I thought you would like to know.
Think Green: Tools To Save Energy
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010ENERGY DESIGN TOOLS:
ANNOUNCING a 4-hour hands-on workshop introducing the newest versions of HEED and ClimateConsultant that will be offered on Saturday, May 22, 2010, in Phoenix Arizona. Registration is through the American Solar Energy Society:
http://www.solar2010.org/workshops/regws14.htm
All our Energy Design Tools are fast, easy to use, and highly graphic. Each has a built-in demonstration. Each program has an automatic INSTALL routine or a READ.ME file explaining how to use it. They run on PC compatible microcomputers with Windows 98 or higher unless stated otherwise. Macintosh users have their own version of HEED or can run the others using Virtual PC.
Our Energy Design Tools are not copy protected and we encourage you to share copies with others, providing that the Regents Copyright and the Terms of Use remain unaltered.
- HEED: Home Energy Efficient Design
This new easy-to-use program shows you how much energy and money you can save by making various Design or Remodeling changes to your home. You can easily draw in the floorplan of your own house, then click and drag your windows to their correct location. You can select from lists of standard wall and roof construction. This version adds a number of new features including allowing changes to electric and gas utility rates, adding rates for oil and propane, allowing pollution data to be revised, allowing attic radiant barriers to be added or removed, offering operable shading, improving the thermal mass algorithm (admittance factor), and solving a problem with windows. Climate data is available for over one thousand locations around the world. (See READ-EPW for details.) For Advanced Users there are more detailed design data input options and output display graphics from the original SOLAR-5. HEED self-installs on stand alone non-networked Windows 95 and higher operating systems. A Macintosh OS X version is also available. HEED is also available in Spanish. - Go To HEED Page
- SOLAR-5.7 (Now replaced by HEED) (generation 8 released June, 2000 [developed initially in 1976]) [over 10,273 downloads since June, 2000]
Displays 3-D plots of hourly energy performance for the whole building or for any of 16 different components. It also plots heat flow into/out of thermal mass, and indoor air temperature, output of the HVAC system, cost of electricity and heating fuel, and the corresponding amount of air pollution. It uses hour-by-hour weather data, and can call RATES in the background to calculate detailed electricity costs. It has many special commands like overlay, post-it, and compare. - Also included is RATES, a utility that contains over 170 residential and commercial electric rates. It lets SOLAR-5 show ratepayers a detailed picture of their energy costs. A manual for RATES is included in WordPerfect format.
- Also included is S5SS, the SOLAR-5 Spread Sheet, that formats data recorded in an actual building or in a laboratory experiment.
- Downloads no longer available. Solar5 is now contained in HEED.
- CLIMATE CONSULTANT 4 [Updated December 7, 2009: Climate Data screen added]
This Version 4.0 adds a number of new features to those in the prior version of Climate Consultant 3 including new graphic screens such as a Monthly Diurnal Averages plot. It now calculates a set of the top 20 Design Guidelines based on your unique climate and the passive design strategies you selected on the Psychrometric Chart. Each Guideline has a sketch illustrating how it applies. The Guidelines and their accompanying sketches were based in part on Watson and Labs Climatic Building Design, and on Loftness,.et.al, Regional Guidelines for Building Passive Energy Conserving Homes. Climate data is available for over two thousand locations from the EnergyPlus web site. (See READ-EPW for details.) A new web-based dynamic graphic tutorial explaining the Psychrometric Chart and how it applies to human thermal comfort and to HVAC systems design is also available on this web site. - Download SOLAR-2 (Windows 95 Version [July, 1999]).
- Download SOLAR-2 (DOS Version).
- OPAQUE (generation 4 released Dec., 1999 [originally released July, 1989]) [over 8,064 downloads since Feb., 1999]
Draws a detail of wall or roof sections, calculates U-value, Time Lag, and Decrement Factor. It plots temperature drop through the section. Draws 2-D daily and 3-D annual plots of Outdoor and Sol-Air Temperatures, Normal and Total Surface Radiation, and Heat Flow through the envelope. It was originally called SOLAR-3. Unzip the download and install OPAQUE by clicking on SETUP.EXE, and to see the Users Manual open Manual.txt - Download OPAQUE (812KB)
Plots sunlight penetrating through a window with any combination of rectangular fins and overhangs. Also plots hour-by-hour 3-D suns-eye view movie of the building. Prints annual tables of percent of window in full sun, radiation on glass, etc.
- A Course in CLIMATE RESPONSIVE BUILDING DESIGN
- This contains class materials for a college level architectural course in Building Climatology that use the various Energy Design Tools listed above. It also contains ten Problem Sets that taken together give the student the experience of using these computer programs to design a small energy efficient building in any climate.
- DESIGN TO SURVIVE WILDFIRES
- Fires (View as HTML)
Fires (View as PDF)
Professor Murray Milne
Department of Architecture and Urban Design
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California 90095-1467
milne@ucla.edu
Department of Architecture and Urban Design
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California 90095-1467
milne@ucla.edu
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Want a FHA loan but the foreclosure home is bad shape?
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
If you’ve been passing up buying homes that require cosmetic repairs for lack of funds to fix them up, FHA has a program for you. An FHA Streamlined 203K loan eliminates much of the paperwork and simplifies the process to obtain rehab funds.
The Streamlined 203K loan allows for simple repairs that can be easily estimated and completed. Many are considered light cosmetic repairs, but some will require hiring a licensed contractor if it falls out of the borrower’s area of expertise.
Here is an approved list of repairs / improvements from HUD:
- Roofs, gutters and downspouts
- HVAC systems (heating, venting and air conditioning)
- Plumbing and electrical
- Minor kitchen and bath remodels
- Flooring: carpet, tile, wood, etc.
- Interior and exterior painting
- New windows and doors
- Weather stripping & insulation
- Improvements for persons with disabilities
- Energy efficient improvements
- Stabilizing or removing lead-based paint
- Decks, patios, porches
- Basement completion and waterproofing
- Septic or well systems
- Purchase of new kitchen appliances or washer / dryer
This program has been utilized by many of our clients to purchase a home that needs some TLC and turn it into their dream home.
Call Rod Potter at (704)840-4137 today to find out more information on this fabulous program.
