| | | | | Mortgage News
What is the Velocity of Money and How Does it Impact Home Loan Rates? | |  According to the most recent Commerce Department report, Personal Spending and Personal Incomes were unimproved from the previous month, and the Savings Rate increased as consumers cut back on spending. While that data sheds light on the slow economic recovery, it also has implications on home loan rates.
Here's why. It has to do with something called the velocity of money. Even though the government keeps pumping money into the system, nothing happens until that money is spent or lent, and passes from one hand to another or one business to another. The speed at which this money passes between parties is called the velocity of money.
With the job market still very sluggish, consumers aren't spending much money these days...and businesses are still reluctant to spend moneymaking investments in their business. With the present velocity at low levels, inflation remains subdued and that's good for home loan rates. That's because rates are tied to Mortgage Bonds and inflation is the archenemy of Bonds, so low inflation is good for Bonds and rates. However, once velocity increases, the excess money in the system will cause inflation – which is bad for rates, since even the slightest scent of inflation can cause home loan rates to worsen.
While we certainly want to see better economic recovery news in the near future, we have to remember that there's an inverse relationship between good economic news and Bonds and home loan rates. Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve. Strong economic news, on the other hand, normally has the opposite result. Currently, home loan rates are at a historically low level, which makes now an ideal time to purchase a home or refinance before the velocity of money – and rates – change.
If you or anyone you know would like to learn more about the current economic situation and how to take advantage of historically low home loan rates, please don't hesitate to call or email right away.
| | | | | | | |  If you know anyone who is looking to buy, sell or refinance a home, please forward their name and telephone number to us. We will happily provide the same high level of service that we have provided to you. The greatest compliment you could possibly give us is the referral of your friends and family.
| | | | | | | | Finance News
Protect Your Kids From ID Theft
Follow these tips to guard your child's personal information, and watch out for these signs that his or her identity has been stolen.
by Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com | |  When was the last time you checked your child's credit report? Never, right? Not much reason to check a credit report for someone who doesn't have credit.
But that's exactly the reason kids are such easy targets for identity thieves, says Adam Levin, founder of Identity Theft 911, which provides identity theft remediation services to businesses and consumers. ID thieves know children are an easy target because they likely won't check their credit reports until they're adults and need to apply for credit. So they can run up debt for years without being detected.
About 400,000 children a year are victims of identity theft, Levin says. They become victims when criminals get their Social Security numbers from medical records, mail tampering, computer searches or a stolen wallet with the child's card in it.
How to protect your child's ID
Guard his or her Social Security number. Don't carry your child's Social Security card in your wallet. Don't give out your child's number on the phone unless you trust the recipient and never send the number in an e-mail. And don't give your kid his or her number until he or she is old enough to understand what it is.
Be careful about posting information about your child. If you want to let your Facebook friends or Twitter followers know that it's your child's birthday, don't tell them the child's age. ID thieves can use that information to figure out what year the child was born, in addition to the info you already provided about the day and month. (For that matter, don't ever post your complete birth date on a social networking site, either.) Talk to your children about the importance of protecting their personal information online.
Be careful with the birth certificate. More and more sports teams are asking parents to present a birth certificate for proof of a child's age. Don't hand over an original. If the team needs your child's birth certificate on file, make a copy of it and show it to the coach. Then put it in a sealed envelope and write your name across the flap so it will be broken if the envelope is opened. Let the coach know that you expect to get the envelope back unopened at the end of the season.
Check your child's credit report. Go to annualcreditreport.com, which lets you get a free report from each of the three credit bureaus once a year. If you enter your child's information and no report comes back, you'll know that no credit has been taken out in your child's name.
Signs that your child's ID has been stolen
– Your child receives unsolicited credit offers.
– Your child receives letters from debt collectors.
– The IRS send you a letter stating that the Social Security number listed for your child on your tax return (or the child's) is a duplicate number.
– The bank tells you, when you go in for the first time to open an account for your child, that an account with your child's Social Security number already has been opened.
– Your health insurer says it won't cover a procedure for your child because it covered that procedure before (even though your child never had that procedure).
Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2010 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. www.kiplinger.com.
| | | | | | | | | | Creative Cuisine
Summertime Guacamole | |  Ingredients:
- 2-3 medium to large-sized avocados,
halved and seeded
- 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1/3 C red onion, finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño chili, seeded
and finely chopped
- 1 small tomato, seeded
and chopped small
- 1/3 C cilantro, finely chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
Brush the cut side of each avocado with olive oil and grill (cut side down) over a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, or until grill marks are achieved. Allow the avocado to cool. Remove the skin and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
Place all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl, season liberally with salt and pepper and toss until all the ingredients are incorporated and the avocado is lightly mashed. This guacamole is best when served on the chunky side.
No stranger to professional kitchens, Kirk Leins currently devotes most of his time to cooking instruction, food writing, and producing television. Sign up for Kirk's free newsletter and cooking blog at www.NoTimeToCook.com. | | | | | | | | Street Smarts
Stop Wasting Money | |  The start of the school year is the perfect time to take a look at your spending habits and avoid wasting money where you don't have to. Here are some ideas to help you save money.
Meals at the Workplace - Working Americans spend an average of $6 when they buy their lunch at work. The average cost drops to $2 when we bring our lunch from home. That's a difference of $4 a day, or $20 a week, or over $1,000 a year. Consider adding this savings to your savings account and after just a few months you'll really see the difference add up.
Utilize the Public Library - By obtaining a library card, you can save on books, magazines, and especially DVD rentals. If you average 3 DVD rentals a month, you're spending approximately $144 a year. That's $144 that could be deposited into your bank account. For every book you check out, find out what it would have cost if you'd bought it. Deposit that amount into your account, too.
Do Away with Disposables - From razors and batteries to paper towels and plastic bags, your home is filled with products that are meant to be thrown away. Most of these disposable items have either a permanent or semi-disposable counterpart. Switching over to these more durable items can yield a savings of $4 a week or $200 a year.
Get the Most Out of Your Utilities - Many of us are overspending on our utility bills for no other reason than our own apathy. If you haven't already switched over to low-flow showerheads and toilets it's probably time to do so. Also, get into the habit of turning off lights when not in use. Did you know that most utility companies offer a free online energy audit? This way you can see exactly where you're wasting money.
| | | | | | | | Home News
Remodeling Your Bathroom: A Project Worth Investing In | |  If you've been thinking about spending some money on a project around the house but aren't sure you can justify spending the money, we've got two words for you - bathroom remodel.
The Beauty of a Bathroom - You can live without a theater room or a home office, but any house worth buying must have at least one bathroom. This may seem obvious, but take a minute to think about it. Aside from the kitchen, there is no other room that's more utilitarian. The bathroom actually has multiple uses, possibly making it the most necessary room in the house.
Return on Investment - In terms of remodeling a home's bathroom, the returns can be staggering. While many home remodeling projects return only pennies on the dollar in terms of adding value to the home, some studies indicate a national average return of 90% or even more for mid-range bathroom remodels. While the amount of your return will certainly depend on many variables - it is one of the most desirable upgrades in a home, and brings amongst the highest returns.
Build for Two - One of the major issues for homeowners with only one bathroom, or couples sharing a master bath, is the inability for two people to use one bathroom simultaneously. If size permits, this problem can be alleviated with upgrades, like a double sink, a separate shower and tub, and a short wall to enclose the toilet area.
Add a Designer Touch - From tubs and toilets to fixtures and flooring, there is literally no end to the combinations of great looks. These types of improvements are relatively inexpensive in comparison to the dramatic upgrade they give to the look and feel of your bathroom. Walls can be repainted. Old counter tops can be replaced with granite or marble, and vinyl flooring can be upgraded to tile.
When it comes to updating the look and functionality of your bathroom, the sky is the limit. You could invest very little time and money by merely repainting the walls, changing out your fixtures, and doing a little decorating. You could also pull out all the stops and completely remodel an existing bathroom or even add one on.
| | | | | | | | Facts and Figures
Interesting Statistics on Education in America  Summer vacation is winding down for teachers and students across the country, and a new school year is just around the corner – and in some places has already begun! As we head into the new 2010-2011 school year, here are some interesting facts about education in America:
- 56 million students are expected to enroll in kindergarten through high school this year.
- 3.3 million students are expected to receive high school diplomas this year.
- Roughly 11% of students (elementary through high school) will be enrolled in private schools this year.
- More than 19 million students are enrolled in colleges and universities this year, which is up from 13 million students 20 years ago.
- The average cost of in-state tuition, room, and board at a public college or university is $14,915 per year.
- An estimated 56 million students in America are expected to be enrolled in elementary through high school.
- More than 3 million students are expected to earn their college degrees this year.
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| Did You Know? | | | | | | | | The wedding phrase "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe" symbolizes continuity, optimism for the future, borrowed happiness, fidelity, and wealth or good luck, respectively. |
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| Fall is just around the corner and so is the school year! Back to school expenses can add up quickly. And if you have more than one child, budgeting for these necessary items can be tough. Here are a few tips to help your dollar go farther: | | Tip 1: Keep your eye out for coupons, flyers, discounts and back to school sales, several weeks before school is scheduled to start. | | Tip 2: Buy just a few basic wardrobe staples and then wait until the holidays to stock up and take advantage of holiday super sales. | | Tip 3: There is a difference between "want" and "need." Have your child pay for their "wants" with their own money. | | Tip 4: Consider purchasing school supplies in bulk, and going in on them with another parent. This allows you to take advantage of large volume discounts and sales. | | Tip 5: Cash in on last year's wardrobe by taking old clothes to the consignment shop in exchange for cash. |
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| Quote of the Day | | 
| | "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." | | – Vince Lombardi |
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Special Offer
| Trivia Challenge | | What is not one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers? - Panama Canal
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Taj Mahal
- Empire State Building
| For answer, scroll down to the bottom. | | |
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| Book Review | | What Would You Do If YOU Ran the World?
by Shelly Rachanow | | 
| | What would you do if you ran the world? That's a question author Shelly Rachanow thought a lot about ever since she posed it in her first book and heard amazing answers from so many people. Her latest book is the culmination of these brave, beautiful, brilliant, creative, and totally doable ideas.
Rachanow's warm and encouraging voice motivates readers to join other amazing people who are kicking serious butt for the good of all, like a teenage girl and CNN hero, kids in Zimbabwe saving their part of the planet, and a busy mom who is not too busy to work every day to help impoverished families live better lives. With reviews from the Sierra Club, Library Journal (starred Review), Body+Soul Magazine and more, the book inspires readers to realize, as Anne Frank once said, "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." | | | | The book is available at www.WhatWouldYouDo
IfYouRanTheWorld.com. | |
| | About the author:
Shelly Rachanow comes from a long line of butt-kicking women. She is a graduate of The George Washington University and Emory University School of Law and is the author of two books that celebrate the wonderful things women do. Read Shelly's interviews with amazing woman who are making our world a better place at www.ifwomenrantheworld.
blogspot.com.
Learn more about Shelly Rachanow at www.ifwomenrantheworld.com and www.WhatWouldYouDo
IfYouRanTheWorld.com. | | | | |
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| Thank You | | | | | | | | As always, we wish to thank our clients who have been kind enough to refer business to us. We appreciate the opportunity to provide excellent service to your family, friends, and co–workers. |
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