WHAT IS USDA??? 100% FINANCING!!!!

WHAT IS USDA??? 100% FINANCING!!!!

* NO MONTHLY MORTGAGE INSURANCE!!! Results in LOWER MONTHLY PAYMENTS!!!!
* Closing Costs and Pre-Paids CAN be financed!!!
* Conforming loan limit to $417,000 so we’re not talking about distressed homes!
* 30-Year FIXED and Loan is assumable so re-sales are more marketable.

TO BE ELIGIBLE:
* Minimum Credit Score = 620 (Subject to Credit Report)
* Income Limits: $74,050 for a family of 1-4; $97,750 for a family of 5-9
* You have to be a US citizen OR eligible to work in the US and have a SS number.
* Eligible property must be your permanent residence and ALL buyers must occupy the property so this is not a program suited for investors.

LOWER MONTHLY PAYMENTS:
Example of FHA versus USDA Monthly Payments including Principle, Interest, Taxes & Insurance:
FHA: $150,000 Sales Price = $1249.32 Monthly Payment
USDA: $150,000 Sales Price = $1186.63 Monthly Payment

If this perks your interest and you are in the market to make a move, give me a call or send an email for additional info on this valuable program.

‎3rd Annual Arbor Day

The ‎3rd Annual Arbor Day, a FREE celebration, is set for Saturday, January 22 from 10a.m. until 2 p.m. at Rob Fleming Park in The Woodlands' Village of Creekside!

Approx. 31,000 tree seedlings in eight different varieties will be distributed. The selections of trees include Bald Cypress, Flowering Dogwood, Laurel Oak, Loblolly Pine, Red Maple, Southern Crabapple, Southern Wax Myrtle and Wild Common Apple. In addition to receiving free tree seedlings, guests may register at the event to win one of five, seven-gallon native trees. The drawings will take place hourly. You must be present to win.

Houston's Calm Before the Storm

It was rather calm here in the last quarter of 2010 but future growth predictions for Houston indicate it’s a calm before a storm.

The Institute for Regional Forecasting (IRF) predicts that 3.7 million people and 1.5million jobs will be added to the eight-county Houston MSA over the next 25 years.

Houston will experience a growth at 2.5 percent per year between now and 2020. The population is predicted to grow to 7.4 million. At the same time, about 700,000 jobs will be created in the area, according to the IRF annual long-term forecast.

According to a new report by Veros Real Estate Solutions, Houston is expected to post the nation’s strongest home price appreciation over the next year. Houston will help Texas lead the nation in terms of home price appreciation over the next 12 months.

As forecasters often say, demography is destiny and Houston is home to 38 top-ranked companies according to Forbes. What you currently have in demography tends to grow stronger over time.

Despite these lack luster months, the region seems to possess remarkable resilience in retaining median sales price and raising the average sales price. The statistics aren’t pretty but we forget how lucky we are to be in Houston, where it doesn’t get much better than this.

Info provided by PGG

THINKING ABOUT RENOVATING?

If you are contemplating a renovation, you'll want "YOUR RENOVATION HOMEBUYER'S GUIDE" put out by Gibralter Mortgage Services. As a service, they are allowing me to pass it along to anyone interested.

Included in the info is:
1. Recognizing a "Diamond in the Rough"
2. How To Get Started (i.e. lenders, inspections, etc.)
3. Others you may need to get involved such as Realtors, Appraisers, etc.
4. Do it yourself or hire a professional
5. Contracts when dealing with professionals
6. Keeping your renovation legal (i.e. permits & building laws)
7. Renovation Timeline
8. Saving money
And much more....

This is absolutely FREE OF CHARGE & OBLIGATION and I can mail you a hard copy or attach it to an email. Just let me know by either calling or sending me an email.

In the Market for a Little Blue Box?

TIFFANY & COMPANY is coming to The Woodlands!!!!

Being built-out in the previous spot held by Z-Gallery in Market Street, we are going to have an alternative location to lay down some heavy-duty cash. Anybody know how much one of their little boxes is? Probably can't afford what goes in it but maybe I can just buy one of the pretty little blue boxes with it's tidy little bow. I could set it on the counter and each time I looked at it, I could imagine something special inside. Of course I would never open it....why spoil the fun. As long as it stayed closed, I could imagine it held a perfect, precisely cut diamond rind, or perhaps a stunning tennis bracelet. Maybe it could hold a gorgeous necklace absolutely dripping in diamonds. Heck....why not all 3 while I'm at it?!?!?!

HAPPY SHOPPING! Let me know what you got.

TDHCA reduces rates to first-time homebuyers - YEA!

State housing agency offers lowest homebuyer interest rates in program history
Rates at 4.20% for unassisted loans, 4.95% for assisted loans with up to 5% of mortgage amount for down payment, closing cost assistance

(AUSTIN) — The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) today announced that it has reduced interest rates on mortgage loans offered through its Texas First Time Homebuyer Program to historically low levels, further opening the door to safe and responsible homeownership for qualifying low to moderate income Texans.


Interest rates on these 30-year, fixed rate mortgage loans have been set at either 4.20 percent or 4.95 percent, depending on which of two types of loans the borrower selects. Rates had previously been set at 4.99 percent or 5.74 percent, respectively. The assisted rate of 4.95 percent is available with funds for down payment and closing cost assistance, helping families overcome what are often the biggest obstacles to buying a home.


“TDHCA is extremely excited to be making what has always been a terrific offer for potential homebuyers even better,” said TDHCA Executive Director Michael Gerber. “Our partners in the Texas real estate and mortgage finance industries are a critical part of our success, helping raise awareness of this safe, reliable lending product. It is our hope that these historically low interest rates will allow more Texans to achieve the American Dream of homeownership.”


“Texas Realtors and the real estate community are extremely proud to work together with TDHCA and help market this truly wonderful program,” said Bill Jones, Chairman of the Board for the Texas Association of Realtors. “These low interest rates are sure to help thousands of families across the state buy their first home, and I urge all Texans ready to take this important step to contact a Texas Realtor and take advantage of this opportunity.”


Available funds are part of an unprecedented $500 million in mortgage revenue bond authority TDHCA announced last May, the single largest financing initiative for state homebuyer funds in the 27-year history of the program. Approximately $100 million in mortgage loan reservations have been made to date, and interest rates are typically reset on a monthly basis as market rates adjust.


Gerber explained that Texas First Time Homebuyer Program offers two types of loans at two different interest rates: assisted loans, which will feature the higher 4.95 percent rate but also offer down payment and closing cost assistance up to 5 percent of the mortgage amount in the form of a 30-year repayable second lien; and unassisted loans, at the lower 4.20 percent rate but with no additional assistance.


No monthly payments are due on the down payment portion of the assisted loan, he noted, and therefore will not be required to be included in the borrower’s debt-to-income-ratios. However, the loan is due and payable upon sale, refinance, or payoff of the original mortgage loan.


TDHCA’s First Time Homebuyer Program offers qualifying households who have not owned a home in the previous three years an opportunity to obtain reliable mortgage loans.


Eligible households can earn up to 115 percent of the area median family income, depending on the number of individuals living in the home, as long as all other program requirements are met.


Loans are available through the program’s network of over 55 participating lending institutions with more than 300 branches located throughout the state. Applicants must qualify under FHA, RHS, VA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac guidelines.


Texans wanting additional information are encouraged to visit the Texas First Time Homebuyer Program Web site at www.myfirsttexashome.com or call 1-(800) 792-1119 to learn more about income and eligibility requirements, loan guidelines, or to find the nearest participating lender.

About The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is the state agency responsible for affordable housing, community and energy assistance programs, and colonia activities. The Department currently administers $2 billion through for-profit, nonprofit, and local government partnerships to deliver local housing and community-based opportunities and assistance to Texans in need.

Realtors’ perspective: Mortgage interest deduction in the crosshairs

Posted: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 5:30 pm | Updated: 9:22 am, Thu Nov 18, 2010.

By MARGIE DORRANCE | 0 comments

One thing you can say for the President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is that they definitely know how to get people’s attention.

Last week, the co-chairs of the bi-partisan deficit reduction panel released details of a preliminary draft report that is intended to identify policies to improve the country’s fiscal situation in the medium term and to achieve fiscal sustainability over the long run.

The details of the draft report that were made public are being called a “trial balloon” by many since the final report will only include those ideas that are agreed upon by 14 out of the 18 members of the commission. That is a very high standard and means that there will likely be quite a few ideas that don’t make it in the final report, which is expected to be released on Dec. 1.

One topic for consideration in the draft report is the idea of lowering the cap on the mortgage interest deduction. Currently, people may deduct the interest they pay up to a total mortgage amount of $1 million. This deduction applies for combined mortgages on primary residences and second homes, up to the total $1 million limit. The proposal in the draft report would lower the limit for the mortgage interest deduction to $500,000 for the mortgage and would restrict it to only the primary residence.

To try to better explain: Now, if you have a $750,000 mortgage on your primary residence, a $500,000 mortgage on a second home and pay a total of $75,000 in interest on both properties, you can deduct only $60,000 of the interest, which is the interest paid on the first $1 million. Under the proposal, with the same terms, you would only be able to deduct $30,000, which is the interest on the first $500,000 of your mortgage on only your primary residence.

This would not be a stand-alone change, so obviously other changes might decrease or increase the net impact on your taxes. For example, other recommendations from the report include tripling the standard deduction to $15,000 for individuals ($30,000 for married couples), repealing the deduction of state and local taxes on your federal income tax return and establishing marginal tax rates of 15 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent.

To put this process in context, the last time a tax reform measure of this magnitude was enacted was in 1986, and it took about two years for it to make its way through Congress and the president, so I don’t expect swift action in this case either.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 62.3 percent of people living in our region own their home. That is quite a few people who benefit from the mortgage interest deduction. Nationwide, Americans will save $104 billion on their taxes in 2011 because of the mortgage interest deduction, according to the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based research group.

Owning property has been the cornerstone of American society and our economy for centuries. As someone said recently at an industry event, “I don’t think very many children dream about some day renting a home. There’s a reason why homeownership is called the American Dream.”

Thankfully, our local representatives in Congress know the importance of the mortgage interest deduction. Rep. John Culberson (R-District 7) who represents all the Examiner Newspapers distribution areas, told us, “The mortgage interest deduction is a valuable tool to assist homeowners through this recession. Preserving the mortgage interest deduction is essential to revitalizing the housing market, restoring our economy and protecting overburdened taxpayers.”

While there may be aspects of this draft proposal that we don’t like and some that we do, I think everyone agrees that we need to take steps to ensure our economic viability and stability. Owning a home has intrinsic value for the owner and provides stability for the neighborhood and society. We should be taking steps to encourage more people to purchase homes, not making it less desirable.

Realtors® believe that anyone who is able and willing to assume the responsibilities of owning a home should have the opportunity to pursue that dream. You can rest assured that we will be working with our public policy makers and industry leaders to ensure a model for responsible, sustainable homeownership, including keeping the mortgage interest deduction in place.

Dorrance is the 2010 Chair of the Board of the Houston Association of Realtors®, representing more than 25,000 members. She is also a principal at the Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan and has been in the real estate industry in Houston for more than 30 years.

KUDDOS TO THE COMMUNITY OF CROWN OAKS, IN MONTGOMERY, TEXAS

Just a quick post to thank the wonderful residents of Crown Oaks in Montgomery, TX for an AWESOME Halloween. If you are looking for a family friendly neighborhood in which to raise your children, this one really takes the cake. Crown Oaks is a gated community with gorgeous homes on acreage lots and its families are "all about their children"!

My daughter and her husband chose this community in which to build their home when they 1st got married 9 years ago and have since been raising their 3 children there. It's become our family's Halloween tradition to start the day out early in the afternoon, munching on chile, tamles, hotdogs and other fallish foods. Then the kids dawn their costumes for the annual trek through the neighborhood and to the park.

Unlike other years when we rode on one of the many hayrides, this year we climbed into the bed of the pick-up with blankets and lawnchairs and crept through the streets towards the park. We passed numerous hayrides and golf carts, all festivly decorated for the event with flashing lights, goolish sounds coming from loud speakers and loaded down with kids in all sorts of attire. And it's not just the kids that get involved in dressing up as it is the scads of parents that joined in the fun.

One of the neighborhood parks was the setting for 'Trunk-R-Treating". It was awesome! Everyone joined in. Then after gathering all the candy these 3 kids could hawl, we made our way through the streets lined with homes decorated as spectacularly as they do for Christmas. So many families had set-up at the ends of their driveways with candy to give passers-by that not a stone was left unturned to make this night fun for not only little children but big kids like me. Thank you Crown Oaks for the part you played in making wonderful memories for our family. See ya next year!

The Cupcakery Is Coming To Market Street - The Woodlands

From the Market Street FB Feed....Besides cooler weather, here's something to look forward to this Fall. The Cupcakery will open its first Houston location at Market Street - The Woodlands. Enjoy unique cupcake flavors like the "Trip to Graceland", a chunky peanut butter cake, layered with a light
banana cream frosting, rolled in applewood smoked baco...n, and drizzled
with honey. There goes the diet!!!!

TRYING TO CLOSE ON A HOUSE & ANOTHER DELAY?

Among other things, recent changes in the federal Truth in Lending Act and RESPA can slow the closing process. There is now a new HUD-1 form (Closing Statement)that title companies are getting used to which may add several more hours of document preparation. Their unfamiliarity and the fear of making a costly mistake in the Good Faith Estimate are sometimes prompting lenders to ask for closing cost information more than once and in several formats. Be sure to use an experienced title company who will more than likely have had more than enough transactions under their belt to have mastered the new documents.

Lending rules have also made it harder to close on time especially if circumstances change late in the deal. Amendments to the Truth in Lending Act require a 3-day disclosure period if a borrower decides to change the loan amount or anything else that might effect the interest rate. A change in loan amount could be due to an agreed upon amount off sales price in leiu of repairs. And changes of more than 0.125% in the APR immediately trigger another disclosure.

To avoid delays, work with knowledgable, seasoned professionals and avoid last minute changes whenever possible.

Don't Believe Everythig You Read!

There's always lots of emails circulating with false information out there. One in particular states that the healthcare bill contains a 4% tax on home sales. According to Realtor.org, the truth is that bill imposes a 3.8% Medicare tax for some high-income households that have "net investment income". The tax, which goes into effect in 2013, applies only to households with adjusted gross income of more than $250,000 ($200,000 for individuals). Also, since the capital gains rule is still in effect, the tax would be charged only on home-sale proceeds that exceed the exclusion amount of $500,000 ($250,000 for individuals). That's an amount that touches few households according to the publication by Erica Christoffer and Robert Freedman.

If you have any additional questions, call your CPA, Tax Advisor.

We've Done It Again!!!!

Sure Glad I Live in Houston, Texas!!!!

Thinking About Remodeling?

• 

  Q&A: Author Sarah Susanka Talks Budget-Smart Remodeling

  HouseLogic sat down with author and architect Sarah Susanka to talk about remodeling that builds value and saves money. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Happy 4th of July, 2010 - Maybe a couple of days late but still sincere!

What a wonderful celebration Sunday night. It was our 4th year to attend The Woodlands' magnificent 4th of July fireworks display, and I swear it gets bigger and better every year! It's obvious no expense was spared and we sincerely thank the sponsors for providing us yet another year of spectacular celebrating. And a huge thank you to our law enforcement agency who have it down to a science. They were great directing traffic and people. And with literally thousands in attendance, I didn't see a single person misbehave.

We take our lawn chairs, our favorite adult beverage, cheese, crackers, fruit and this year I added sushi. We get there early to get "our spot" and then "people watch" before the main event begins because once it starts, all eyes are on the sky.

Now a little word to the wise if you've never been and think you can just waltz right onto the River Walk 30 minutes before it starts...think again. You'll find literally carloads of families, bumper-to-bumper on every street and shoulder-to-shoulder not only along the river, but on blankets on every strip of grass from Woodlands Parkway to Lake Woodlands, ontop of all the parking garages, in the Mall parking lot, up and down both sides of I-45 as well as packed in the shopping center parking lots in Oak Ridge.

And they come EARLY! I saw bar-b-q pits, tables, chairs, cots, even a few RV's! It was crazy! But crazy fun. And as in past years, by the time it's over and we're creeping 1-1/2 hours just to get out of the mall parking lot, I ask myself if I think we'll do it again next year and decide I would be crazy to do it again. But by July 3rd the following year, I'm busy getting my goodies together to keep the tradition going. Will we go again? We sure will!

COMING SOON! EarthQuest Resort

I've been telling folks it was coming for a couple of years now and it's finally coming to fruition! To be located between SH242 and FM 1485 on Highway 59 in Montgomery County, EarthQuest is coming to the East Montgomery County area. For much more information and a full description, log onto their website at http://www.earthquestadventures.com. Below is just a brief description of what EarthQuest Resort will have to offer.

The EarthQuest Resort is planned to be a family destination where guests of all ages and interests will have fun while exploring and learning about the wonders of our planet. Nestled in the beautiful rural landscape of East Montgomery County, Texas, this 500-acre, themed resort will pay homage to the Earth and all of its resources in a way that is entertaining, engaging, empowering and unique.

The project consists of an Eco-Resort with Hotel and Conference Center, a Theme Park with attractions and thrills based on the natural world, a Water Park based on the lost world of dinosaurs, a Family Entertainment Center, a Retail/ Dining/ Entertainment Promenade, and at the center of it all, the EarthQuest Institute, an innovative new education and research facility with hands-on exhibits dedicated to advancing our awareness and appreciation of the environment.

The EarthQuest Resort includes six major components:

EarthQuest Institute

The EarthQuest Institute is the fundamental heart of the EarthQuest Resort. It is a Not-For-Profit, scientific center for research and dissemination of information regarding our planet and the ways in which we can act to help provide the best possibilities for sustainable lifestyles.

Visitors will be able to participate in many interactive and hands-on activities that will help them understand the value of our natural resources, show cause and effect relationships and offer positive approaches to preserving many aspects of nature that we so deeply value.

EarthQuest Adventures Theme Park

EarthQuest Adventures Theme Park is an exhilarating new theme park filled with entertaining attractions that encourage us to explore and appreciate the amazing wonders of our planet. Rides, shows, and interactive experiences will engage the young and old alike, creating instant memories while sparking curiosity and inspiring further interest in protecting and preserving the earth.

Accessible on its own or in combination with other components of the EarthQuest Resort, a day at the EarthQuest Adventures Theme Park includes a visit to five themed zones, each focused on a different fundamental feature of the earth: Water, Land, Sky, Life and Pangaea (the ancient world). Attractions within the zones present a wide variety of thrills, challenges, and excitement, making the park a perfect family destination that will be popular for locals as well as tourists.

Cretaceous Cove Water Park

The whimsical idea of a retreating glacier when dinosaurs ruled the world creates the perfect setting for a themed water park filled with water slides, raft rides, wave pools, and other attractions. This highly imaginative and playfully immersive water park covers approximately 12 acres of themed attractions, all centered around a mountain of icy glacial fragments and the refreshingly cool run-off spilling down from its melting slopes.

The mix of attractions appeals to both active water enthusiasts and visitors who just want to relax and unwind. Unique dining and refreshment centers provide quick and easy access to fast food and snacks, and themed shops cater to the needs of regular visitors and first-time tourists.

Green Gadget Garage – A Family Entertainment Center

What do the scientists of an eco-friendly resort do with all their left-over stuff? In the spirit of “waste not-want not,” they recycle it, retool it and turn it into the foundation of a really cool and funky family entertainment center. All the classics are here – Go Karts, Mini Golf, Ferris Wheels, Soft Playgrounds, Arcade Games and more. But because they are built with recycled products they will have an innovative, homegrown and eclectic feel. And whenever possible, they will all utilize a variety of alternative power (solar power, wind power and people power).

EarthQuest Resort Hotel

Reconnect with yourself and with nature at the EarthQuest Resort Hotel and Tree Houses. Surrounded by lush waterfalls, natural woods, native plants and eco-friendly facilities, guests will have no trouble escaping the hustle-bustle of everyday life and finding the peace, serenity and inspiration this delightful resort has to offer.
Vacations and business gatherings alike will be exciting and memorable!

With a state-of-the-art conference center and first class amenities, EarthQuest will be a much sought-out destination for small business meetings, events and conferences. The Hotel will have a direct connection to the Conference Center and access to the associated amenities of the Institute. In addition, it will feature lush Forest Cabins and Tree House Suites.

Ecotourism Activities

Guests can celebrate the natural beauty of the property through low-impact activities such as horseback riding, hiking trails and kayaking on the creek. Rope-courses and zip-lines will add a more active and adventurous flavor to the menu, as well as bird watching and flora and fauna guided nature walks.

EarthWalk – Retail, Dining and Entertainment

When guests arrive at the EarthQuest Resort they’ll stroll first along a shady street filled with 60,000 sq. ft. of eco-friendly shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. This is EarthWalk, the gateway entrance to the Theme Park, Water Park, Family Entertainment Center, Institute and Hotel. It is the base camp from which we prepare for the journeys that lie ahead, and afterward relax and unwind from the day’s adventures.

Retail shops along EarthWalk’s main thoroughfare offer the finest in environmentally friendly goods: clothing, outdoor gear, and native crafts from around the world. Small pavilions and kiosks house changing displays and demonstrations from the EarthQuest Institute. Restaurants offer a rich range of international cuisine in themed settings and some of the food is grown using sustainable agricultural methods in selected areas of the EarthQuest Resort.

I'm so excited that these invisionaries chose our area for this unique blend of family entertainment. What a great area to live in!

Market Street Happenings for July 2010!

Carriage Rides at Market Street! - July 2

Independence Parade - July 3

Cars & Coffee for a Cause - July 4

Popular Children s Series - Peanut Butter & Jamm - Returns to Market Street July 10th-August 14th!

Ladies Night Out! RSVP Today - July 12


Borders
Market Street Day Knitters - July 1

Story Time at Borders - July 2

The Woodlands Songwriters Association - July 12

Literary Ladies Book Club - July 13


Cru ~ A Wine Bar
Girl's Night Out! Celebrate Women & Champagne! - July 1

Big Bottle Night Every Wednesday At Crú~A Wine Bar - July 7

Vueve Clicquot Wine Dinner at Cru - July 15

Reynolds Family Winery Winemaker Dinner at Cru - July 16


Langford Market
Meet the Artist Event at Langford Market - July 15


Luke’s Locker
Run The Woodlands - July 10

Run The Woodlands - July 24


Norton Ditto
Happy Hour and Sale at Norton Ditto - July 8


Orvis
FREE "Flyfishing 101" at Orvis
July 3


Red Mango
Mango Monday at Red Mango


Sweet & Sassy
Sweet and Sassy Glam Week Summer Camp

Sweet and Sassy open at 7:30AM to get the girls sparkling and ready for the parade! Star Spangled package - July 3


Market Street-The Woodlands Presents The Return of its Popular Children’s Series Peanut Butter & Jamm!

Fashion Boutique Couture Lounge Signs Lease to Open at Market Street


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Woodlands Wellness & Cosmetic Center - Summer Savings
THERMAGE 40% OFFThermage is the skin tightening procedure that smoothes, tightens and contours without surgery, injections or

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Jamba Juice - Summer Feel Good Specials
See these awesome specials...

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Bobby Chan - Join us for free wine and shopping at Bobby Chan!
Summer Sale continues through July with everything 30% off! Bobby Chan's offers free refreshments every

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Aaron Brothers - Get a frame or canvas for a penny!
June 24th will be the first day of our Penny Sale. During the Penny Sale customers can purchase any frame or canvas and get a

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Langford Market - Langford Market offers complimentary Personal Shoppers -Stop by for styling tips and ways to look your best!
Not everyone looks forward to swimsuit season, but we want to encourage you to focus on your whole ensemble.Try d

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Eddie Bauer - Ultimate Summer Sale through July 11th at Eddie Bauer
These are the last days of the best prices of the season! Beginning, July 12th, we launch our Annual Gear event. A

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Cos Bar - Special Beauty Events in July at Cos Bar
Make-up artist events: Artist, Sisley Regional - July, 3,10, 17, 24, 31 Treatment Thursdays: July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Foundati

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Red Mango - Get your passport to FREE 16oz smoothies at Red Mango
Introducing new smoothies including boosts, fresh fruit and tea chillers! Stop by to pick up your Passport for free 16oz Smo

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Sweet & Sassy - Fourth of July Specials - Sweet and Sassy will be open early to get the girls sparkling.
Two new fabulous parties just for summer- July only - Hawaiian beach party and the "So Sweet" party-call Swee

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Sweet & Sassy - Glam Week Summer Camp
Different fun filled themes each day Monday-Friday, 10:30 - 2:30. July 19-25, and another session July 26-29. $185/wk, $40/da

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Francesca’s Collections - Summer Sale at Francesca's Collections - Up to 75% off!


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Dr. S. Bret Cope D.D.S. - Dr. Cope Gives Market Street Something to Smile About...


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Norton Ditto - Summer Sale at Norton Ditto
Up to 30% discount on suits, sports coats, dress and casual slacks, long sleeve and short sleeve sport shirts, dress shirts,

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Lilly Pulitzer - Lilly has Red, white, Blue & Pink Dresses!
Come to Lilly Pulitzer for your 4th of July attire. We have lots of Red, White, Blue and Pink dresses, skirts, tops and part

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Em & Lee - Coupon for $10.00 during the month of July at Em & Lee
Great savings plus a coupon for $10.00!

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Dionysus Salon-Spa - July is hot and steamy....and so is our hair!
July is hot and steamy....and so is our hair!!! Dionysus has several selections from Aveda to keep your hair tame and under c

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LMD Boutique - Save 15% at LMD Boutique on 4th of July Weekend!
15% off throughout the store on July 3rd and 4th!

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AVIA Boutique Hotel - Live music every week on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Featuring Ramon Torres and Anthony Caceres.

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AVIA Boutique Hotel - Drink in the experience at the Avia Hotel. Happy Hour Specials!
Sunday - S.I.N. Industry Night $2.00 off beer + wines by the glass - 1/2 off libations Martini Mondays - Whether shaken or s




Great opportunities available at:
• Aaron Brothers
• Cru ~ A Wine Bar
• Luke s Locker
• Sweet & Sassy
See all Job Opportunities

Buying a New Home from a Builder?

So you’re in the market for a new home and decide to go looking around to see what’s out there. If you are already working with a Realtor, be sure to register them with each builder before wandering around a single home. That way you’ll start off on the right foot with the builder and it will also send the builder the message that they can’t pull one over on you....and trust me, many will try. No matter how friendly the sales rep for the builder is, ultimately they will be looking after the interests of the one signing their paycheck and that’s not you. The same holds true with the builder’s superintendants and inspectors.

There are some wonderful builders out there who build really fine, quality homes. But you’ve got to keep in mind that there are many more unscrupulous ones as well. A home builder is only as good as his contractors, and construction workers tend to follow the money. The old saying, “Here today, gone tomorrow” can really be applied to building contractors. If a new subdivision opens up in the vicinity paying more money, you can bet a hungry contractor will pick up his hammer, nails, pipes and paint brushes and join his friends down the street.

So the first thing you need is your own advocate....someone who knows the ropes and will look after YOUR best interests. If you don’t have one, you need to hire a REALTOR. Why would you NOT, when you’re about to tie yourself to a mortgage for the next 30 years of your life while doling out thousands of dollars on the largest purchase you will more than likely ever make? And by the way, your Realtor’s commission is even paid by the builder! Builders like Realtors who bring them buyers so guess who benefits....YOU!

If you’re still waffling about a Realtor, consider the following:

Builders have their asking price just like an individual seller has a list price, and your Realtor can work alongside of you to negotiate the best deal possible. We've had alot of practice. We do it everyday. Another thing, builders may tell you that you have to use their lender, but that’s not true. You can use whomever you wish but many times the builder has worked out a deal with a particular lender to wave certain fees so using their lender is sometimes a good idea. Just make sure they are not making up the shortfall in additional or higher fees some place else. Shop around to make the best choice. Your Realtor can refer you to reputable lenders.

If the home is still under construction, visit it regularly, every step of the way. Once the walls are up, you can’t see what’s behind them. Your Realtor can be your other set of eyes. And take pictures! At the very least, it’ll be fun to have a collection of photos of your new home from start to finish.

Hire an inspector. Again, the builder has more than likely had inspections done at various times throughout the building process but you need an inspector who is not being paid by the builder to look after YOUR interests. Afterall, an inspector is beholding to the one who signs his paycheck. And don’t fall for the “you don’t need an inspector because we use city inspectors" line. Again, hire and PAY for your own, independent inspector. Your Realtor will have a list of reputable inspectors to chose from. Oh, and make sure ALL appliances are installed and utilities are on prior to the inspection.

Your Realtor will negotiate repairs for you. Just because it’s a brand new home doesn’t mean everything will be in working order. I’ve seen plumbing fixtures installed backwards (hot where cold should be and vice-versa) and electrical circuits not color coded properly. I’ve seen pin-sized holes in pipes that if not caught, could have caused mold at the very least. I’ve seen drainage issues and roof issues and so many other things that were caught by our own independent inspectors. An agent friend of mine even had an inspector find a beam missing in the attic. A structural engineer had to be called in. Negotiate the repairs and then by all means....PERFORM A FINAL WALK-THROUGH PRIOR TO CLOSING. I can't stress this enough.

Once you sign on the bottom line and the money funds, the house AND ITS PROBLEMS become yours! And no one is slower at handling fixes than a builder who has already closed on a home. Keep in mind that holding off a closing is much less costly for you than going through it with the promise the builder will make good on something not done. If you hold off the closing until the house is as you expect it, the builder will be forced to get on the ball and get things done because he doesn’t want another month of interest to pay.

I prefer to take my buyers to the house a few hours prior to closing, provided they’ve been stopping by periodically to monitor the progress so there are no surprises.

HAPPY HOME HUNTING!

TAX CREDIT & FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM EXTENSIONS GRANTED!!!

Received this late last night after posting my venting blog about the National Flood Insurance Program.

UPDATE:

From: NAR (National Association of Realtors)Government Affairs
RE: Tax Credit Closing Date Extension/Flood Insurance Extension
DATE: 30 June 2010

After a close brush with the deadline, Congress has passed an extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadline,the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act(H.R. 5623). The extension applies only to transactions that have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 that have not yet closed. The new closing deadline legislation designed to create a seamless extension for eligible transactions is now September 30, 2010. There will be no gap between June 30and the date the President signs the bill into law.

NAR worked closely with Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to enact this important legislation. Extending the Tax Credit Closing deadline will help provide additional stability to real estate markets across the nation. For additional information on the extension visit www.realtor.org/government_affairs

Additionally, the United States Senate has passed the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act of 2010,(H.R. 5569) extending the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2010. This will allow transactions to move forward. The bill is retroactive and covers the lapse period from June 1, 2010 to the date of enactment of the extension. For more information on the flood insurance program visit
www.realtor.org/government_affairs