We have been asked by several of our advisors why this European Financial Contagion is so important and we are stumped. It shouldn’t be all that big a deal. Whether the Euro stays or goes won’t matter much in ten years time, unless it is still causing trouble for the member states then, too. We have beaten to death the idea that Greece doesn’t really matter on the world economic stage or that Portugal doesn’t matter or that Spain doesn’t really matter all that much. Read more
Estate Planning: Preparing for the expected and unexpected
Jeffrey P. Hall, PLLC
Attorney at Law
presents
Estate Planning: Preparing for the expected and unexpected
This hour-long educational seminar discusses the planning tools available to ensure that:
- your family is taken care of
- your wishes are carried out; and
- your estate is properly passed on.
Dates: Thursday, May 13 and Thursday, May 20
Times: 6 P.M. – 7 P.M.
Location: 3115 South Price Road, Chandler, AZ 85248
Light refreshments will be served. Discussion will include topics such as wills, trusts, healthcare decision-making documents, and powers of attorney. Replace your questions, concerns and anxiety about the future with the peace of mind that comes from an understanding of the tools that empower you to plan for your family. Please call ahead to reserve a spot as seating is limited.
For more information visit our Web site at:
www.HallLegalServices.com
Five Things Buyers Should Avoid Before Closing on a Home
Nothing is certain in the home-buying process until the keys are in your hand. There are still hurdles to jump before it’s yours, and your actions from start to closing can create slowdowns and even halt the sale. If you’re thinking of buying a home soon, here are the top five things not to do before closing on a home:
1. Don’t make a major purchase. While you might be imagining a new car to fit nicely in your garage, hold off. If you’re depending on a mortgage to move in, it’d be smart to wait until after closing for that car. An increase in your debt to income ratio reduces the amount of monthly income available for your mortgage payment.
2. Don’t change jobs unless it’s necessary. Lenders like to see a consistent job history. They aren’t usually as nervous if you change jobs within the same field, but it’s better to stay put until the new home is yours.
3. Don’t let your emotions take over. Keep a cool head during the entire home-buying process, especially during and after a home inspection. Be realistic. No home is perfect, especially older homes. Decide what type of repairs you can realistically tackle and then stick with the decision.
4. Don’t become best friends with the seller. It’s important to be friendly, but don’t get into too many long discussions with the sellers, because personality conflicts often cloud judgments. Remember, this is their home. A casual statement about ugly carpet might be enough to keep the seller from negotiating with you about repairs or other issues that crop up.
5. Don’t ignore lender requirements. Know what is expected of you and take care of it. That’s something you must handle yourself. Answer lender questions and provide required paperwork as quickly as possible — moving into a new home depends on it.
For more information on how you can make the buying process a seamless transaction, contact me today.
Joan Byrnes, SRES
Realty One Group
joan_byrnesmartin@msn.com
www.SunLakesLiving.com
Investment Risk
Count Your Blessings
Let’s talk about risk, which is much in the news these days. What is risk? For many of us, risk is standard deviation, beta, tracking error. For most people, risk is the chance of losing money. There is a debate these days about how much risk we should be allowed to take and what risks we should not be allowed to take. That is at the heart of the financial re-regulation bill before Congress (the opposite of progress). Who can take what risks has been a bedeviling question for regulators since we first started modern finance 50 years ago. Read more
Happy Day-After-Tax Day
Tax day comes and tax day goes with nary a whimper from the citizenry. This is the way it works in the modern economy. Were it not for the anesthetic of regular withholding the situation might be a lot different. Think how bad things would be if each of us had to put aside sufficient funds to meet our tax liability each year. If you had to set aside 25% of your ready cash for the day, once a year when you had to write that big fat check to the government, then each pay day or each month when you went through the exercise you’d be reminded just how little you get for your money. The resentment would undoubtedly be much higher among the somewhat more than half of Americans who actually pay taxes toward the other half who generally receive more in government largesse than they pay in taxes. The resentment toward the government itself for its profligacy, waste and abuse would likely be higher, too. We’d have more limited government is our guess, but we could be wrong. Maybe a lot of people would gladly put aside 25% of their incomes Read more
Turn Your Home Green
It’s time to give back to our planet. Whether you are looking to save money, become a naturalist or are anxious to have the cutting-edge technology, follow these simple tips and help make our world a better place.
Buy new light bulbs
When it’s time to buy light bulbs, opt for the premium fluorescents. They will shine a pure-white or buttery-golden light and can cut your electricity bill by 5%. These bulbs can range from $3 to $12.
Have a barbeque
Outdoor grilling doesn’t just result in a tasty burger – it’s also good for the air. Outdoor grills use less energy that your electric kitchen stove and also keep heat out of the house; therefore, lowering air conditioning costs. Choose a grill that uses propane or natural gas because they emit 5.6 pounds of carbon dioxide per hour whereas a charcoal grill emits 11 pounds!
Brew coffee with an energy-efficient coffee machine
The energy-efficient coffee machines brew coffee at the exact temperature recommended for coffee; therefore, it doesn’t waste any extra heat and you’ll never have burnt coffee again!
Buy a flat screen monitor
The old, bulky monitors not only take up space, but they also increase your electric bill. You’ll save money by switching to an LCD flat-panel model because a flat screen uses as little as a third of the electricity as the conventional tube-based models. You should also consider this when shopping for large-screen TVs – the savings are in the LCDs and rear-projection models because they use less than half the energy of plasma TVs.
Clean-up with recycled papers towels
Next time you’re in the paper good aisle, throw the recycled paper towels into your cart – they’re cheap and environmentally-friendly.
Become an expert recycler
Local recycling practices may vary, but there are a few universal rules that you can follow. First of all, shopping bags never go in your recycling bins. Look on the bottom of your plastic items for a number and only put the items with a one or two in your bin. Second, don’t put light bulbs, broken glass or bits of food into your bin – they slow up the process and make waste professionals feel like they’ve been tossed to the curb.
For more home-owning advice or for Sun Lakes real estate needs, contact me at your earliest convenience.
Joan Byrnes, SRES
Realty One Group
joan_byrnesmartin@msn.com
www.SunLakesLiving.com