When love is not madness, it is not love. ~Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I know this holiday can be hard for us single ladies. Well don't let it get you down, take control of your life! I found a great DIY website that is especially for women called Be Jane. (I stumbled upon this website when I was looking for instructions to make my own headboard.) Yesterday I had to help a client with color choices for bed linens to go with the wallpaint that they have chosen (I often help with color choices and staging when we are getting ready to list a home). If you have a blank canvas and can paint or choose whatever you want, how do we decide on what color to paint?

I can be a very emotional person sometimes (usually only when I need to be though)- my decisions on what to wear (remember that Seinfeld episode with George doing this), what I feel like eating,etc, all have to do with the kind of mood I'm in. Instead of choosing paint colors this way, why not be a little more proactive? Create the mood you want to evoke! A quick paint job just might spark some Valentine's Day passion!~

Color Me Romantic!

Paint Spice on Your Walls & Into Your Life
By Be Jane's ownHeidi Baker

Did last Valentine's Day pass you by without bringing you closer to that special someone? Well, we've got good news. Maybe it's not you.

Take a look at your home. Is this a place where love would want to live?

Just because you might not have someone special in your life other than yourself, doesn't mean you don't need to create a place for love. To help bring love into your life we suggest you create a place in your home where it feels welcome.

Believe it or not, the fastest and easiest way to achieve this is to add a bit of color to your walls. (Get advice on choosing paint sheens.)

Of course you're thinking of painting the bedroom. But for love to truly bloom you'll want to extend the welcoming feeling to encompass any room where you enjoy bringing company or simply enjoy spending time when you're on your own.

Whether it's for wall paint, curtains, or carpet, picking out specific colors for a room challenges most of us. Most of us aren't lucky enough to have a designer's color sense yet we know what we like. Developing a knack for color isn't necessarily easy but you can hone your skills by using your powers of observation. First, start noticing colors whenever you enter a room--someone else's living room, the waiting room at the doctor's office, a church. Magazines are great too, but nothing beats walking into an actual space and sensing what effect the color scheme has on you.
So, how do you pick from the literally thousands of choices out there? Let's start with the color (or colors) you have in your home right now. Are the majority of your walls a chalky white? Or, if there are colors on your walls, were they your choice or were they there when you moved in? Have you simply 'settled' on the color of your walls simply because you haven't gotten around to changing it?

The colors on the outside and inside of your home can truly affect your daily life. There has been quite a bit of research done on the subject recently which shows that colors can influence your choices, your perceptions, even your mood!

So how will your color choice help bring love into your life?

Well, colors speak volumes to us. They can be warm, sensuous, cold, moody, cozy, safe--you name it. What one person might read into a color could be completely different from someone else. But by bringing in those colors that speak to you personally you can change your attitude and outlook on life--which ultimately can create an environment for change and opportunity.
The colors you choose will also say something about you to others. Thus, you may want to choose those colors that are a bit warmer, more romantic and inviting, such as reds, oranges or soft browns, rather than the cool tones of dark blue, green or grayish brown. (Tips for selecting colors that are just right for you.)

What follows are a few generalizations about colors. Take them with a grain of salt, match them against your own personality, and see if you agree. If a color suits your taste and personality, try it. Because remember if you're looking for a change, a little spice in your life, or even a potential new love, a little splash of color can go a long way.

RED Do you love red? Red is a dynamic and passionate color and symbolizes love, rage and courage. An attention getter, red has huge emotional impact. Red is literally at both ends of the emotional spectrum. Some feel that people who select red tend to be aggressive, impulsive, and powerful individuals who strive for success. At the same time, as you delve into deeper tones some reds can be quite warm and create a sense of security and coziness. (How to properly paint your walls red?)

YELLOW Yellow exudes warmth, inspiration and vitality; it is one of the happiest of the colors and is often associated with joy and virtue in their purest sense. It's been known to represent communication, enlightenment, sunlight and spirituality. If your favorite color is yellow it's probable that you look forward to the future, and that you are intellectual, highly imaginative and idealistic. Commonly, people who love yellow may have a cheerful spirit and have an expectation of greater happiness. Yellow and white complement each other beautifully.

ORANGE While orange is the color of autumn in spice form and design you need not feel restricted by this. In its brighter tones orange is happy, positive and lively. If you prefer its darker shades you'll find that it becomes exotic and exciting. Orange lovers tend to have excessive energy with an eye for structure and organization. They usually also love to be surrounded by family and friends.

BROWN Brown, while it may be the color of dirt, it can also be quite sensuous in nature. Brown also represents the importance of hearth and home. You may have noticed that it has been a much more commonly used color in recent design choices. The reason for this shift is that it symbolizes physical comfort, ease and contentment. Those who prefer brown tend to be conscientious, steady and reliable.

TEAL The color of the ocean being teal makes it obvious that it should represent cool and constant. This color points to stability and resistance to change. People who prefer teal more often than not are sensitive and have excellent taste in a wide variety of areas. They tend to be optimistic and trusting, with a high degree of faith and hope, easily trusting others.

PINK Pink is highly emotional in character and connotes a sensitive heart. Universally representing caring and sharing, the person who chooses pink usually indicates a strong personality. The affectionate and concerned individual also prefers pink. Gently you offer love, attention and nurturing to those in distress.

VIOLET Violet, the color of luxury, indicates sensuality, passion and depth of feeling. This lavish color creates an unusual atmosphere and provides an unexpected essence. If you like violet, you tend to be unique, highly sensitive and observant. Creative and artistically talented, you tend to have a complex personality.

GREEN Green is the color of life and represents freshness, security and tranquility. Green creates an atmosphere that is calm and restful and characterizes the intense power of nature. If you selected green you seek stability, balance and persistence. You are a moral and affectionate individual.

BLUE The color of tranquility, blue is cool, soothing and orderly. The color of royalty, blue can also bring comfort and serenity to our lives. If you choose blue you have a basic need for a calm, harmonious and tension-free existence. Capable, conservative and sensitive to others, you make a loyal and trustworthy friend.

WHITE White suggests goodness, purity and innocence. Its elusive nature provides serenity and the essence of perfection. The individual who chooses white as a favorite color seeks excellence and enlightenment in all philosophies. Simplicity, purity and recognition are a constant endeavor.
These are by no means strict rules, nor guidelines. A color will speak to you when you meet it head on. But it might be difficult at first to tell how a color will look from a swatch, so try painting a larger area. You'll quickly learn whether or not that color is for you.

But, be open-minded. Take a chance. Let your home be a landing spot for love. After all, colors can only foster change if you let them in.

Find a job you like and you add five days to every week. ~H. Jackson Browne

During these tough times, we see a lot of people getting laid off or even being forced to leave their jobs (several realtors are in this situation- don't worry, I'm fine!). Below are a few professions that are actually seeing a boost in their business. It's a little sad because many are making their money due to home foreclosures. But hey, someone has to do the job!

• The grass painter (these guys actually paint grass so it looks greener- probably more out west)
• The cleaner (someone has to go in and clean those trashed bank owned properties. They still look bad when we go in them, but believe me, they looked even worse before these guys came in to clean!)
• The animal-control business (if people don't have enough money for their families, usually these cuddly guys are the first to go. aww )
• The pool man (another foreclosure related job, just cleaning out those pools)
• The caretaker (I've seen this a lot more recently- these people "rent" out these nice houses, and just basically get to live there and take care of the place, just pay the utilities and usually very reasonable rent!)
• Credit repair services (if you're struggling with payments, you go see these guys)
• The property preservation folks (these guys check out and keep an eye on these empty, foreclosed properties)
• The board-up guys (hurricanes, vandalish, whatever the reason- they basically just go "board up" the house)
• The locksmith (these guys are changing the locks on all the foreclosed homes of course, but also with crime going up, people keeping their money under their mattresses- gets it keeps them busy)

Click here for the whole article

Mortgage Market Outlook

The weather has been crazy here! I guess that is Indiana for you. Just like the weather, the interest rates for mortgages can be unpredictable. Here's one mortgage market view point that is worth reading, if you are considering buying a home or refinancing soon.
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AVOID THIS COSTLY MISTAKE

If you've been following the financial news, you've probably heard that the Fed's been buying Mortgage Backed Securities and will continue to do so as needed. Unfortunately, some media outlets have picked up on the news and mistakenly reported that these purchases will continue to cause rates to drop lower into the summer.

But is that really what it means? No.

The truth is, the Fed has been buying Mortgage Bonds. BUT... more precisely, they're buying a lot of FNMA 30-yr 5.0% and 5.5% Bonds. Many of the mortgages in these pools are outstanding home loans with rates between 6.0% and 6.5%, as the rate that a borrower pays is different than the coupon rate given to an investor buying into that mortgage pool, with the difference being taken by Wall Street firms and government agencies. The loans in these pools the Fed is buying hand over fist are likely be refinanced and paid - because current rates make it very attractive to refinance a loan over 6.0% - and thus giving the Fed a quick recoup on some of their investment.

Bottom line: The Fed's purchase of higher rate coupons will not necessarily help rates to move lower, as their actions do not impact the loans being originated at today's low rates.

The Problem Is...

Many consumers are in situations where they can buy a home or refinance now and save hundreds of dollars a month on their mortgage payments. But when they hear the media throwing around teases of lower rates ahead, they decide to hold off on making the decision to save, in the hopes of gaining a few more dollars of savings per month if a lower rate came their way. Of course, while they're waiting, rates could turn higher - and this window of opportunity could pass them by entirely.

Here's the Clincher.

Even if consumers are ultimately able to time the market perfectly and save another few bucks per month, they could still end up losing. That's because while they delayed, they lost the savings each month they could have gained by taking action sooner. In other words, they may have lost hundreds of dollars for every month they waited. So even if they got lucky and obtained the rate they were looking for, it could take years to make up what they lost by waiting.
I don't want anyone to miss an opportunity by either waiting or misunderstanding the media headline. Let's talk further on this. Call or email me, and let's discuss what this might mean for you!


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One other note on a related subject, some have been asking me if they can still qualify for the $7,500* first time homebuyers tax credit, even if they have already filed their 2008 taxes. The answer is yes, you can amend your returns and still cash in!

A gift for me? Oh, you shouldn't have!

We all need a little help every now and then. Sometimes that help comes in the form of money! Ever thought about buying a home but did not have all of the down payment right now? The $7,500 first time homebuyers tax credit can be a great help. You can borrow your down payment from a relative and then pay them back using part of that credit. One of our lenders sent us this handy info which is below- list of the people that you are allowed to borrow the money from, for specific loans.


Conventional - Owner Occupied Property (this means that you are living in the house as your own home, meaning not renting it out):

• Relatives
• Domestic partner
• Fiance
• Church
• Municipality
• Nonprofit organizations

The rules are different if this is a second/vacation home or an investment property.
If the LTV/CLTV is 80% or less, the entire down payment may be a gift. Otherwise it is 5%.

Investment Only - Gift funds allowed only under the following conditions:
1-unit Single Family Residence (SFR)/condo/Planned Unit Development (PUD)
Maximum LTV of 70%
Minimum down payment of at least 30%, of which at least 20% must come from the Borrower's own funds




FHA (3.5% down)- Owner Occupied Property:

• A relative of the borrower.
• The borrower's employer or labor union.
• A charitable organization that does not receive funding from seller/builder contributions (see below).
• A governmental agency or public entity that has a program to provide homeownership assistance to low and moderate income families or first-time homebuyers.
• A close friend with a clearly defined interest in the borrower.

A gift from any other source is considered an inducement to purchase and requires a reduction to the sales price.

Donors may borrow gift funds from an acceptable source, i.e., not from a party to the loan transaction including the mortgage lenderPlease be aware of the difference between the two.

These are rules for all lenders that use FHA or Fannie Mae(which is pretty much the two agencies the majority if not all lenders are using)Everything is a paper trail and most lenders if not all will want to see a two month period possibly three. Unusual deposits that are not consistent with normal direct deposits or can be verified the borrower better be able to explain where the deposit came from and document. This is how lending is these days.


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If you have questions about getting pre-approved for a mortgage or down payment stuff (or you were just confused by this whole post) feel free to contact me at rupton@c21scheetz.com

The 7 Biggest Financial Decisions of Your Life

With tax season around the corner, it's important to keep our finances straight. We are all crossing our fingers, hoping that we will get a nice refund check (or those of us like myself, who are self-employed, hope that we won't have to pay an arm and a leg).

Below is an article by Richard Jenkins, who discusses the 7 Biggest Financial Decisions we have in our lives. Look at # 6 & #7. I don't think most people think about the financial repercussions when making those decisions but it is definitely something to think about.


7 Biggest Financial Decisions

A lot of people spend a whole lot of time worrying about the small stuff: a little extra yield on their savings, a few dollars less in mortgage payments, slightly higher returns, slightly lower commissions.

They pore over Internal Revenue Service publications and fat tax guides searching for ways to save a few hundred bucks on taxes. They read personal-finance magazines, buy books and scour the Web looking for tips.

Fine. It pays off. But does managing your money have to be this complicated?
Actually, no. In fact, if you spend all your time focusing on fractions of a point, you may lose sight of the big picture.

The blunt truth is that if you make the right choices early in life on a handful of major decisions, you'll never have to worry about financial security.

1. How you handle risk Risk affects all aspects of your life.

Would you rather work for a rock-solid company with a strong benefits package, join a smaller startup with great stock options or start your own business? The potential payoffs escalate as you take on more risk, and so do the possibilities for disaster. The same is true for investments.

Make sure your risks are age-appropriate. If you're young, you can dust yourself off and start again. For people over 40, the ability to absorb losses diminishes rapidly as retirement nears.
Do your homework. Risk without research is just another form of gambling. Before jumping into any kind of investment, it's vital to do the due diligence required to accurately evaluate risk, the potential for gains and the potential for losses. (Start with MSN Money's Stock Research or Mutual Fund Research centers.) Don't make yourself a target for unethical advisers or garden-variety con artists.


2. Your choice of career

There are worse things than a fat paycheck. Your options depend largely on your education and skills, but some fields will always pay better than others. Getting the training needed for a better job could be the best investment you make. Ask yourself what the long-term salary expectations are for your career field and consider how you could make yourself more valuable. (See "10 surprising six-figure jobs" and "The 10 best-paying blue-collar jobs.")

Does your pay depend on distortions in the market? A lot of semiskilled but highly paid union workers now know the sting of competition here and overseas. Blue-collar incomes have stagnated over the past 20 years as manufacturers found cheaper workers abroad. So, consider what your skills would be worth in a truly open, worldwide market.

Will your skills retain their value? Knowledge is the key to survival in the years ahead, whether you're a carpenter or a computer programmer. The pace of innovation is staggering, and those who fail to keep up will find their personal stock in a nose dive. Nothing has a more disastrous impact on financial security than a lengthy period of unemployment.


3. Your lifestyle

You don't have to live like a monk to save money. Americans are conditioned to overbuy. Shopping has gone from being a chore to a hobby, a lifestyle even. Shoppers are encouraged to define their individuality in terms of style, which for most people comes down to a matter of which mass-produced goods one chooses to buy. See MSN Money's Saving Money Decision Center for ideas.

Ask yourself how much house you really require. The square footage of the average U.S. home has been growing steadily since World War II. In the 1980s and '90s, buying ever-larger homes seemed a good investment. Home values generally have outpaced inflation -- by a large margin in some places and despite periods of slow economic growth. Still, as the baby-boom generation downshifts into retirement and the subprime-mortgage mess plays out, those 4,000-square-foot, five-bedroom homes aren't seeing a lot of buyers. Besides, smaller houses are in: Read "For many homeowners, less is so much more" on MSN Real Estate.

Every dollar you don't spend on a house saves roughly $2.40 in mortgage payments. A lot of people calculate what they can afford to pay for a house and use that as the floor price for their house search. They don't even consider less expensive homes, and no self-respecting, commission-hungry Realtor would suggest it. Find a smarter approach in "Don't bite off too much house" and "8 big mortgage mistakes to avoid."

4. How you manage debt

Pay yourself instead of your creditors. At its most basic, credit is the privilege of spending money you don't have. Before World War II, most people avoided it. To help Americans get over that silly notion, interest on credit card debt was a deductible expense until 1987. Then, Congress created a new pool of deductible interest in the form of home-equity lines of credit.

We've learned our lessons so well that bankruptcies are now at an all-time high. (If you're in trouble, see MSN Money's Bankruptcy Guide.) Everyone is shocked and appalled to discover how deeply in debt the typical American is today. Banks make a lot of money lending to people who can't wait to buy things. For help getting out of debt, see MSN Money's Debt Management Decision Center.

5. Protecting your assets

Your most important asset is your ability to work. Disability insurance will pay you a percentage of your income, usually from 60% to 80%, if you're sick or injured and unable to work, but that income never increases. Living 30, 40 or 50 years on a fixed income is one of the surest roads to lifelong poverty. Consider the financial as well as physical risks when you're tempted to buy that Harley-Davidson or take up cliff diving.

You also need to protect the rest of your assets. That means making sure you have adequate auto and home insurance, and, for many people, an umbrella liability policy that provides extra protection against large damage awards in certain civil suits. Just about any lawyer can tell you stories about someone forced into bankruptcy by a damage award that exceeded the limits of his or her insurance coverage. See "4 ways to protect your financial freedom."

If you're self-employed, insulate your assets. Consider forming a limited liability corporation. It's easier to set up and maintain than most other corporate forms and will make it much harder for creditors and attorneys to go after your personal assets.

6. How many children you have

Today, there's a powerful financial disincentive to have children. Let's start by saying upfront that we all love children. They provide joy and excitement to every family, but this is intended to view them purely from a financial perspective. In the days before Social Security, there was a positive incentive to have lots of children. Not only did they perform necessary labor on the farm or in the family business, but they also were expected to care for their aging parents, come what may. According to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it now costs between $145,000 and $290,000 just to raise a child through high school. (Higher-income families tend to spend more.)

Add anywhere from $60,000 to $130,000 more for a four-year college education. There are economies of scale as the number of children you have grows, of course, but there are very few multichild discounts available for college. See "6 reasons not to save for kids' college" and "Balancing kids' college and retirement savings."

The cost of a happy accident. Nobody who wants three children is going to be deterred from having that many, of course. But many people who really wanted to hold the line at two wind up with three, and sometimes more, by what is euphemistically called an accident. Just remember that this kind of accident is among the most expensive you can have.

7. Marrying for better or worse

Take everything you own and divide by two. Deciding whom to marry may not seem like a financial decision, but you'll find out otherwise if you ever have to endure the pain of divorce. Bankruptcy, a legal judgment and even the IRS can't touch certain assets, such as money in retirement plans. But nothing is safe from the divorce attorneys. (See "10 steps to a money-smart divorce.")

On the positive side, getting married can double your income. Though the quaint notion that two can live as cheaply as one is dubious, it doesn't cost twice as much, either. Financial teamwork (see MSN Money's Love and Money Decision Center) early in a marriage can yield a substantial payback in later years, provided you stay together. Choosing someone whose long-term financial goals are similar to yours will reduce friction and help you stay on track.