Tips To Protect Your Home, Property In Case Of A Hurricane

Tips To Protect Your Home, Property In Case Of A Hurricane

The video presentation and the article is a great reminder to all of us, that it is prudent for homeowners to learn "what it means to protect your home and be proactive."

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Spring Cleaning with Your Kids

It's time to say goodbye to the winter grime and hello to springtime. The time for a thorough cleaning is here again, but we don't have to send the kids away to get the job done.

I’ve had a crash course in living with a teenager. About a year ago, a girlfriend of mine and her two sons came to live with us. One boy is turning eleven in May and the other one is turning seventeen in April.

It's interesting to see the differences in cleaning attitudes between the teenager and the three other children in the house. My daughter, bless her heart, still seems to think that chores and cleaning projects are exciting and new opportunities to play a game.
She is a very good helper; on the other hand, let’s just say my teenager and other two boys in the house are not as enthusiastic. But regardless of whether or not children are trying to help me, I always find myself thinking: This would be done so much better and faster had I just done it myself.

Daily chores are hard enough, let alone spring cleaning. And although it may be quicker and easier to do it ourselves, there are some valuable benefits to getting our kids involved in the cleaning.

Engaging them in this effort teaches them some fundamental life skills. Cleaning is a part of healthy living and it also builds self-esteem. Children can learn that a parent believes in them, and that they can do something to contribute and add value to the family. Research has shown that having household jobs increases a child's sense of resiliency.
Contributing in rituals, like a yearly spring cleaning can also build a sense of social responsibility. The family unit is a community and part of living and belonging to a community is to contribute to it.

Nobody wants to be sentenced to cleaning the bathroom on their own. Establishing a sense of teamwork while taking on spring cleaning can help you work more quickly and more happily. For a parent and five-year-old, tasks can be divided to make the work cooperative and more fun than punishment. For instance, one might polish the bathroom fixtures while the other cleans the toilet bowl. And cooperation and teamwork are invaluable lessons.

No parent enjoys nagging, threatening, or hollering to get kids to do chores. So, instead of using your voice, post a list of the days jobs, or write them out on index cards. Pair off the younger kids with a parent and let the older kids work independently if they like. Each team can choose a job from the list or stack of index cards until all the jobs are done. Try mixing up the cards and treating the tasks like a lottery.

Picking the right music can make cleaning much more enjoyable. Playing upbeat music keeps spirits high and dust cloths moving. Let each helper choose his or her tunes throughout the day to give everyone some sense of ownership of the process.
Yes, bribery is certainly an option. Give the kids something they want if they do something you want. For example: If the windows are all clean and sparkling by 11:30 a.m., then we’ll go to the movies. Make sure the projects are something you really want done like window cleaning, cleaning out a closet, sorting through a toy box, etc. And when the kids do a good job, make sure to show your verbal appreciation for a job well done in addition to whatever reward you've set up.

Kids love to compete, so capitalize on this and let each choose a room or cleaning project from a list you’ve prepared. The one who does the best job (not the fastest) wins a prize, and perhaps bragging rights.

Last but not least, when you set-up the garage sale, tell the kids that they can keep the proceeds of whatever they sell of their own that is no longer used, but still in good condition. You may be surprised how quickly toys, clothes or other things that are no longer used will be sorted out for the sale. The thought of some extra cash to fill their pockets at the end of the process can be a great motivator to clean.

It's easy to be overwhelmed and unsure of where to start with your spring cleaning, so try breaking it up into small manageable bits by assigning just three tasks to each weekend.

Whether you decide to get it done in one day, a weekend, a month, or longer, don’t underestimate what your kids can do. Get the whole family involved and get your spring cleaning done in no time and hopefully without too many frustrations.

Generation X to Lead Housing Recovery?

Generation X to Lead Housing Recovery?

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Closing Costs, Title & Escrow FAQS

The big day has arrived. Today you will go to the title or escrow company, sign your name on the dotted line an unbelievable number of times, hand over a check and prepare to take ownership of your new home. What is this all about?

It's also the day that you and the seller will pay "closing" or settlement costs, an accumulation of separate charges paid to different entities for the professional services associated with the buying and selling of real property.

To help you better understand this confusing subject, here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about title, closing and closing costs.


What services am I paying for with closing costs?

You will usually be paying for such things as real estate commissions, appraisal fees, loan fees, escrow charges, advance payments such as property taxes and homeowner's insurance, and title insurance premiums. You may also pay for a pest/termite inspection and a home inspection if you did not pay for these separately.


How much should I expect to pay in closing costs?

The amount of closing costs will vary; however, when buying your home and obtaining a new loan, an estimate of your closing costs will be provided to you as required under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) after you submit your loan application. This disclosure provides you with a "good faith estimate" of what your closing costs will be. A final itemized list of charges will be prepared for you as you close your home purchase or sale transaction.

This disclosure of your costs is called the "HUD-1 Settlement Statement," a standard form that clearly shows all charges imposed on borrowers and sellers in connection with the settlement (or closing). RESPA allows the borrower to request to see the HUD-1 Settlement Statement one day before the actual closing date. The settlement agent must then provide the borrowers with a completed HUD-1 Settlement Statement based on information known to the agent at that time.


Can I pay for my closing costs in installments?

The simple answer is "no." Many different parties will have fulfilled their responsibilities and expect payment at closing. The title or escrow company will disburse funds to each of those parties, pursuant to the escrow instructions at closing.


Can I pay my closings costs with a personal check?

Again, the simple answer is "no." Your closing funds will most likely be required to be in the form of a cashier's check, issued by an institution within the state of your purchase, and payable to the title company or escrow office conducting the closing. A personal or out-of-state check could cause a delay in your closing due to the delay required to "clear the check."


How much can I expect to pay for Title Insurance?

This point is often misunderstood. Although the title company or escrow office usually serves as a meeting ground for closing the sale, only a small portion of your total closing fees are actually for title insurance protection.

Your Realtor or title company representative can give you an exact amount. The title policy you pay for is good for as long as you and your heirs own the property.


Why are separate owner's and lender's title insurance policies issued?

Both you and your lender will want the security offered by title insurance. Your home is an important purchase, and you will want to be certain your home is yours, all yours. Title insurance companies insure your rights and interests in order to protect you against claims. Your lender is looking to insure the enforceability of their lien on your property and the "marketability" of your loan. What is "marketability?" Your local lenders will "originate" your loan, but often, they will sell it to an agency or investor. This investor, who may never see the property, needs to know that he has a valid and enforceable lien. Title insurance is the way of making certain. Without a current title policy, the loan is essentially unmarketable.


What does my Title Insurance dollar pay for?

Title insurers, unlike property or casualty insurance companies, operate under the theory of "risk-elimination." Risk-elimination can only be accomplished after intensive risk identification.

Title companies spend a large portion of their revenue each year collecting, storing, analyzing and maintaining official records regarding title to real property. Issuing a title insurance policy is highly labor-intensive, based upon the maintenance of a title "plant" or library of title records, in some cases dating back over hundreds of years. Each day, recorded documents affecting real property are posted so when a title search on a given parcel of property is requested, the information is already available for retrieval. Trained title examiners can identify the rights, if any, others may have in your property, such as liens, legal actions, disputed interests, rights of way and other "encumbrances" on your title. Before closing your transaction, you can seek to "clear" those encumbrances, which you do not wish to assume.

The goal of title companies is to conduct such a thorough search and evaluation of public records that no claims will ever arise. Of course, this is impossible in an imperfect world, where human error and changing legal interpretations make 100% risk-elimination impossible. When claims do arise, title insurance companies have claims personnel to make sure your property rights are protected under the terms of your policy.

To conclude, with your title insurance policy, you are paying for a team of professionals who work together to deliver you a title insurance policy that represents "protects your ownership of the real property you bought."


Where can I get straight answers on Title and Closing costs?

Your first stop for all real estate-related questions should be with your Realtor. But, don't be surprised if he or she refers you to a title or escrow company representative who can give you the most complete and accurate answers any of your questions.

Setting and Achieving Goals

Along the way I have learned…
People set their goals differently, depending on their current situation, resources, physical capacity and other factors. You can, however, follow some guidelines to make sure that your goals are credible and possible. Too many individuals set their goals too high unknowingly, only to lose and get disappointed for life. Here are some tips for you.

Being Specific
Goals need to be specific, so that you know which part of the process you’re currently in and the particular ways on how you will achieve it. Most people have goals to get promoted, get rich, improve relationship and the like, but these are very vague and your mind can become confused about what you truly mean. General descriptions usually do not have boundaries, so you always leave room for mistakes and compromise. If you want results that you can be proud of, be specific.
To be specific, you need to include the full details. Write down something like, “I want to get $1 million by October of this year.” or “I need to become key supervisor of the sales division by next week.” or “I want my kids, William and Kylie, to become best friends beginning tomorrow.” Include the names, the position, the amount, the date and everything else needed to train your mind to start working towards that goal.

Being Measurable
Goals need to be measurable so that you can gauge how well you have done lately. To help measure your paths and goals, you should include measurable details. For your job, you can include details such as the number of hours you’re working, the amount you’re earning, the staff you’re handling, etc. For the goal of money, you can include details such as the amount you want to have as a whole, the number of companies or businesses you own, your contact persons, etc. Always have things and items to be measured so you can understand how close you are to getting your goals. If your goal is to earn $100,000 a month, then you know you’re halfway there if you’re already earning $50,000 a month.
Being Attainable and Realistic
Only set goals that can possibly be accomplished. Some people set goals that are too high to reach, that they are almost setting up things that are impossible. Make sure you only set objectives that you can reach within a given amount of time, provided the current resources and capabilities you have. Some examples of impossible goals are doubling your salary overnight, getting a promotion higher than your boss’s position, etc. Some goals can be achieved faster compared to others if you have some strengths and paths to back these up. Always include a strategic plan for big objectives.

Time-Bound
Set deadlines to achieve your goals or else you’ll never going to finish anything. Stay specific when setting timelines and schedules. For example, indicate things like “To spend an hour with my wife everyday starting tomorrow (indicate exact date and year).” Setting the exact time and date will spur you to start working on your goals, instead of putting it off for another available time. Some goals can take years to accomplish so it is wiser to break these down into smaller objectives, still complete with deadlines. You can finish everything in a sequence to finally reach the biggest one.