We Did It Again Group Blog

Discount Dental Plans !

2009-07-05T14:10:00.001-05:00

Robert J Russell
InsurancePricedRight.com
972-679-9029

3634 Long Prairie Rd
Flower Mound TX, 75022

We proudly offer our visitors access to 30+ discount dental plans, an affordable alternative to dental insurance. Save 10% to 60% on most dental procedures, including checkups, cleanings, braces, and cosmetic dentistry on select plans.

Call 972-679-9029 to learn more!

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Plans start as low as $79.95 per year
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http://www.insurancepricedright.com

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5 Housing Markets That Have Further to Fall

2009-07-05T13:41:00.001-05:00

Think twice before buying a house in these cities any time soon.

Home buyers looking for a bottom in the real estate market may have been encouraged by housing data released earlier this week. Sales of existing homes rose 2.4% in May, according to the National Association of Realtors. The increase was a little less than most analysts had expected, but it represented the second straight month of improvement. Meanwhile, sales of new homes dipped 0.6% in May, continuing a trend of fairly flat months so far this year, according to data released by the Commerce Department.

Don't get too excited - it's still too early to say the housing market bottomed out, analysts and economists say. Distressed properties still account for about a third of all sales, and 29% of sales were to first-time home buyers, who are currently benefiting from an $8,000 tax credit.

The sales trends are telling. "You're not really seeing a lot of move-up buying," says Richard F. Moody, chief economist and director of research at Forward Capital, LLC. "There are so many vacant homes and so many foreclosures that [there's] not the normal trade-up pattern that you would have traditionally seen," Moody says.

Housing prices fell nationwide during the first quarter, according to Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller Index. The decline appears to be slowing: in February and March, the annual rate of decline did not set a new record, but home owners should take little solace in those numbers. "Based on the March data… we see no evidence that that a recovery in home prices has begun," David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor's, said in a statement.

All of this less-than-terrible news has left analysts cautiously optimistic that much of the country will start to see housing prices rise sometime in the next year or two. Looking at the nation as a whole, today through the spring of 2011 may be the window for those looking to buy a house at the bottom of the market, says Gary Hager, president and founder of Integrated Wealth Management, a New Jersey-based financial planning company.

A few markets where the housing crisis started earliest have already shown signs of bottoming out. Early-suffering cities like Denver and Boston are now seeing slower declines in home prices, which could indicate they're already poised for a comeback.

And in some areas, buyers have seized on rapidly falling prices. Existing-home sales rose 9% in the Midwest in May, according to the National Association of Realtors.

"There will be regional differences in the turnaround," says Maureen Maitland, vice president of index services at Standard & Poor's. "Most economists I talk to are expecting the beginning of the turnaround to be sometime next year," she says. However, she added, "the last market may not turn around for two or three years."

For those hoping to buy at the best possible price, we've got a list of five cities where home prices may still have farther to fall. But keep in mind, getting a house at a discount is still not necessarily a house you can afford.

"In light of the housing market boom and bust, consumers should feel very comfortable financially" before deciding to buy, says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. "They should not try to overstretch their budget to get their dream home."

1) Detroit
Housing prices fell 4.9% in Detroit in March, according to the latest reading of the Case-Shiller Index. That marked the city's largest monthly decline since January 1991, when S&P's backlogged data begin. Houses in Detroit are currently selling at 1995 prices - and with prices still falling so fast, it's hard to say when the city will rejoin the 21st century.

"Detroit is Detroit because of the auto industry," says Maitland. The whole Midwest is hurting from car companies' woes, but Detroit is hurting the most.

2) New York City
Anyone who was hoping to see Wall Street suffer from the financial crisis can relax. New York may have avoided the nationwide implosion in home prices early on, but the city saw its largest-ever monthly decline in March, at 2.5%.

"New York may not be out of the woods," Maitland says. "Because of what's going on with the financial markets and the layoffs on Wall Street, New York may be one of the last places to turn around."

3) Phoenix
Home prices in Phoenix have fallen 53% from their peak in June 2006, and the 2009 data suggest they've got farther to go. In March, prices in Phoenix fell 4.5%.

The Southwest has been one of the hardest-hit regions in the mortgage crisis. The region still faces a glut of recently-built homes.

"In Phoenix, you had some of the worst excesses," in terms of overbuilding, Moody says. "The surplus of houses is so great that it could take two or three years" for prices to turn around. However, a steady influx of new residents into the region suggests the long-term prospects for the market are sound, he says.

4) Portland, Ore.
In the Northwest, median home prices are down but they remain above the national average. Portland's prices fell 2.1% in March. Home prices in Seattle were down 2.0% for the month.

"Portland's still going down," says Dave McCarthy, president and chief executive of Integrated Asset Services, a real estate valuation and asset disposition and management company that collects data on the housing market.

The city "has remained pretty strong but they're starting to feel some of the effects," he adds.

The local labor market may be playing a role, Moody says. Portland's unemployment rate was 11.6% in April, according to the Department of Labor. That's well above the national average for the month (8.9%).

The Pacific Northwest bubble was among the last to burst, which could mean the market will be among the last to recover.

5) Minneapolis
Housing prices in Minneapolis fell 6.1% in March, the largest monthly decline of any metro area since data tracking began in 1987.

More than half of all March home sales in Minneapolis were due to foreclosure or short-sale activity, according to the Federal Reserve Board's Beige Book, which gathers information on regional economic conditions. Foreclosed homes tend to drive prices down because "the bank's best interest is to get the asset off their books" as quickly as possible, Maitland says.

For More Information on International Real Estate visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

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New Appraisal Law - Shoud you beware ?

2009-07-05T10:22:00.001-05:00

New Appraisal Law, Is this going to up the economy or exacerbate the already fallen economy?

BUYER SHOULD BEWARE OF NEW APPRAISAL LAW....

At the start of what seems to be a great season for house-hunters, a new law has created difficulties for home buyers, their Realtors and other real estate professionals in an already beleaguered market.

The Home Valuation Code of Conduct, or HVCC, became law May 1. In the details of the law, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, quasi-government institutions and purchasers of most mortgages, won't provide funds for mortgage loans unless the appraisal follows a few new guidelines.

One of the main rules prohibits mortgage brokers from ordering appraisals directly from, or having any contact with, a licensed real estate appraiser. This includes approaching them with relevant information. Instead, lenders are required to use third-party "appraisal management" companies that oversee the appraisal and any communication.

One of the largest problems this has created is when a loan officer improperly qualifies the buyer or runs into a new underwriting rule that declines their loan. Previously, the loan could be repackaged and sent to a new source without delay or ordering a new appraisal. Under the new law, appraisals are captive to the lending source, cannot be transferred, therefore a second appraisal fee must be paid by the buyer, or a third, if the loan is especially difficult to place.

http://www.robertjrussell.com - Real Estate & Insurance

http://www.dfwhomeforsale.com - Dallas Homes for Sale

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Happy 4th of July - Need a House ?

2009-07-04T06:58:00.001-05:00

We Sell Real Estate All Over The World!

Featured Listings

		Price	Beds/Baths	Sq Ft	Status

click to view	3.780 Acres in Granbury www.realtor.com 6121 Temple Oaks Ct Granbury, TX	$474,931	5 Bed 3.5 Bath	3324 sq ft
	Lewisville Home www.realtor.com 2833 Vista View Dr. Lewisville, TX	$262,900	4 Bed 3 Bath	2,809 sq ft
	Short Sale in Sachse www.realtor.com 4214 Bluffview Drive Sachse, TX	$234,000	4 Bed 2 Bath	2587 sq ft
	Corinth Home www.realtor.com 4115 Creek Hill Ln Corinth, TX	$227,000	4 Bed 3 1/2 Bath	2714 sq ft
	Burleson Home! Call for Address Burleson, TX	$162,740 or Lease $1600 per month	3 Bed 2 Bath	2120 sq ft
	Lewisville Home www.realtor.com 706 Walnut Dr Lewisville, TX	$127,000	3 Bed 2 Bath	1256 sq ft
	Condo in Dallas www.realtor.com 14151 Montfort Drive #237m Dallas, TX	$119,500	2 Bed 2 Bath	1058 sq ft
	Condo - Short Sale www.realtor.com 5840 Spring Valley Road #912 Dallas, TX	$84,000	2 Bed 2 Bath	1116 sq ft
	5 Acres For Sale www.realtor.com Silver Lakes Ranch Lot 405 Bowie, TX	$50,000
	5 Acres in Silver Lakes Ranch www.realtor.com Silver Lakes Ranch Lot 404 Bowie, TX	$50,000
	Residential - 5 Acres www.realtor.com 0 Overlook Bluff Dale, TX	$44,900
	Residential - 3 Acres www.realtor.com 4175 Skyline Bluff Dale, TX	$44,900
	2 Lots for Sale www.realtor.com 85 & 135 County Road #3564 Dike, TX	$10,000

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States in Financial Mess

2009-07-01T19:44:00.000-05:00

States without budgets as key deadline passes

By JUDY LIN, Associated Press Writer Judy Lin, Associated Press Writer - 1 hr 54 mins ago

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - States from coast to coast began a new fiscal year Wednesday with no budget plans and with cash quickly running out, sending some to the brink of shutdown and forcing others to furlough workers and cut services.

In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency and ordered state offices closed three days a month to save money as the state sank deeper into dysfunction. State officials plan to pay bills with IOUs starting Thursday.

But the pain extends far beyond the West Coast. The governor of Pennsylvania is proposing a 16 percent tax increase. A budget veto by the Illinois governor left the state with no spending plan at all. Indiana barely avoided a shutdown.

In most states, the debate centers on whether states should be raising taxes to bridge the budget gaps. Schwarzenegger said he wouldn't sign anything that raised taxes or fees beyond what he has already proposed.

"I'm proud of California, even though we have our crisis," the governor said. "No one can point fingers, because as you can see, there are 30 states right now that have their fiscal year starting today that also don't have a budget, so I mean let's not get carried away and just look at California as we are the only state that cannot manage the budget."

The recession has taken a devastating toll on tax revenues and state finances. States had a cumulative $121 billion budget gap in crafting this year's budgets - and the gap would be even bigger without federal stimulus money, said Todd Haggerty, a research analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"You can't look to any one region that's performing better than the others," Haggerty said. "You can see Arizona and California in the west, Ohio and Illinois in the middle and Pennsylvania and North Carolina in the east."

The NCSL says seven states - Arizona, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania - have experienced delays or had to extend their sessions to deliberate on the budget.

In California, which has a budget but one that is out of balance, the Legislature will have 45 days to send Schwarzenegger a plan to close a gap now pegged by the governor at $26.3 billion. After that, they can't adjourn or act on other bills until they solve the crisis.

The budget woes will lead to a third monthly furlough day for more than 200,000 state employees, bringing their total pay cut to about 14 percent. The state controller could extend $3 billion worth of IOUs for July.

Businesses that provide services to the state, taxpayers owed refunds and college students who get state help would be given IOUs. Banks are waiting for the state to decide the interest rate, so it's unclear whether people could cash them.

Pennsylvania will delay payments to vendors after a partisan stalemate over the deficit stalled approval of the state budget. Gov. Ed Rendell on Wednesday stood behind his call for a 16 percent income tax hike, saying the budget could not be balanced without it.

Meanwhile, state workers will receive only partial pay on July 17 and July 24, and after that paychecks will be withheld entirely until the impasse is solved. Workers will be paid retroactively. Rendell said 10 banks and credit unions have agreed to help 69,000 state employees by offering them low- or no-interest loans and lines of credit.

In Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday vetoed the bare-bones budget lawmakers sent him, leaving the state with no spending plan. The House and Senate are expected to meet July 14 to consider an override.

Asked how long government could operate without a budget, Quinn said, "The next few days are crucial."

Mississippi lawmakers left one whole agency - the state's utility regulatory agency - unfunded. The Public Service Commission said it didn't know how it would function, but Gov. Haley Barbour says he can run the agency by executive order.

In Connecticut, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed the Democrats' budget proposal, saying it was not balanced or realistic. She signed an executive order to keep the government running without a two-year budget in place.

In Ohio, a budget impasse intensified over a proposal by Gov. Ted Strickland to put slot machines at the state's seven horse racing tracks, all but guaranteeing lawmakers would need a second temporary budget before they could resolve their differences.

Indiana narrowly averted a large-scale government shutdown after coming to terms on a budget. And Arizona, Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut and Mississippi also were among the other states that raced against the clock to pass budgets.

The mess in California could spread nationwide because of the sheer size of the state economy. The Senate rejected three bills designed to save $5 billion, including $3.3 billion in education funding cuts that had to be enacted before Wednesday.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a Democrat, called Republicans' refusal to vote for the measures "an irresponsible position to take."

Associated Press Writers Juliet Williams, Samantha Young, Don Thompson in Sacramento, Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Paul Davenport in Phoenix, Christopher Wills in Springfield, Ill., Mike Smith in Indianapolis, Susan Haigh in Hartford, Conn., Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Miss., and Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg contributed to this report.

http://www.robertjrussell.com

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Are you Shopping for a Mortgage ?

2009-07-01T16:05:00.001-05:00

Shopping for the Right Mortgage

Finding a mortgage that's right for you should be easy. But there are often many different programs to choose from, as well as a myriad of ways to structure the loan in terms of the amount, term, payment, rate, closing costs...the list of options may seem endless.

However, because there are so many options available, it's important to seek advice from an experienced mortgage professional who has your best interest at heart. The first step in determining which program is right for you is to ask yourself the important questions listed below. These questions can also help you confirm that you've chosen the right mortgage professional as well, because he or she should be asking you the same questions before trying to put any mortgage in place:

How long do you anticipate living in your home?
Do you expect any changes over the next few years, such as expanding your family or having children go off to college or even move away?
Do you expect any changes in income due to promotions, relocations, retirement, inheritance, or pensions?
Are you expecting a change with regard to your investments?
When it comes to investment strategies, are you conservative, aggressive, or somewhere in between?

The reason these questions are so important is that different loan programs will offer specific benefits that will appeal to borrowers at different stages of life. What one homeowner might find desirable might cause another to reach for the Rolaids®.

In the end, be sure you are given a complete picture of exactly how much your mortgage will cost you over the period of time you anticipate having the loan in place. This is the single most important factor you should consider when shopping for a mortgage. Not only does this data illustrate the bigger picture of your financial goals, it allows for adjustments should things change a little sooner than expected. A good timeframe for this projection is anywhere from three, five, or even up to seven years.

When shopping for a mortgage, you should always evaluate your choices carefully and consider how they will fit in with your long-term financial plan. Answer the important questions listed above and call me for a free consultation. Together, we'll find the program that's best for you.

http://www.dfwhomeforsale.com 972-679-9029 - Ask for Robert J. Russell, IRES, REALTOR

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" Best Job in the World "

2009-07-01T07:43:00.001-05:00

Play Video

Reuters - Winner of "The Best Job in the World" competition Ben Southall (L) of Britain carries his girlfriend …

Wed Jul 1, 5:36 am ET

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - It may sound like a paid holiday, but the winner of "best job in the world" said he intends to work hard promoting tourism to an Australian state as he set off for his first day in the office: a tropical island.

Briton Ben Southall flew out on Wednesday to Hamilton Island, in the Great Barrier Reef, to start his six-month caretaker duties, for which he will be paid A$150,000 ($121,000).

Southall, 34, was picked from 16 finalists in a highly publicised contest that was part of an innovative marketing campaign by Tourism Queensland which attracted almost 35,000 video entries from some 200 countries.

"Everyone's promoting this as the ultimate six month's hammock time," Southall told Australian media.

"To me and to the rest of Tourism Queensland we know that it's a job. We know it's a real position and there is a lot of hard work to come. I've got to be an ambassador for Queensland, selling it to the world."

Southall's duties include exploring the islands of the Great Barrier Reef and reporting back to Tourism Queensland and the world via blogs, a photo diary, video updates and interviews.

If he wants, he can also clean the pool and feed the fish.

Southall, accompanied by his girlfriend, said he was looking forward to living on a "nice piece of paradise," but added he would miss his mother's cooking.

"I probably will miss my mum's Sunday roasts, but I'm going to be learning new foods on the barbecue, I suppose," he said.

The "Best Job in the World" campaign began in January, and within days was one of the most popular items on the Internet, highlighting the marketing potential of social networking sites such as YouTube and Facebook.

Tourism Queensland hailed the advertising campaign as an enormous success, calculating the $1.7 million spent had reaped almost $200 million in global publicity.

The campaign also set a record at the Cannes International Advertising Festival in June when it took out an unprecedented three Grand Prix awards in recognition of the global media exposure it generated.

($1=1.240 Australian dollar)

(Writing by Miral Fahmy; Editing by Jerry Norton)

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Michael Jackson - A History - His Life - His Work

2009-06-26T05:43:00.001-05:00

A Tribute to Michael Jackson:

EARLY YEARS

1958: Born Aug. 29 in Gary, Ind. He is the seventh child of Joseph and Katherine Esther Jackson.

1969: In Los Angeles, the Jackson 5 debut as Motown's newest act.

In December, the group's single "I Want You Back" hits No. 1 on the Billboard Top 40 Chart.

1970: Jackson 5 hits "ABC, "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There" all reach No. 1 on Billboard charts.

1972: First No. 1 solo hit "Ben," a song about a movie rat.

1974: Introduces a dance step called the robot on "Soul Train." The step sweeps the country.

1978: Played "The Scarecrow" in the movie musical "The Wiz," alongside Diana Ross, Richard Pryor and Nipsey Russell.

1979: Jackson's "Off the Wall" solo album catapults him to superstar status.

KING OF POP

1982: "Thriller" is released, eventually selling more than 100 million copies. It makes Jackson the biggest pop music star of the decade. The record becomes one of the best-selling albums of all time.

1983: "Beat It" reaches No. 1 on the charts.

"Billie Jean" also becomes a gigantic hit, and the influential video, featuring more of Jackson's electric dancing, remains a landmark.

"Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever," airs on NBC. After a memorable performance by "The Jacksons," Michael wows the crowd with a rendition of "Billie Jean," which included the jaw-dropping moonwalk.

The high-concept, 13-minute "Thriller" video, directed by John Landis, becomes a huge sensation.

1984: Jackson's hair catches on fire during filming of a Pepsi commercial.

1987: News reports say Jackson tries to buy the skeleton of the "Elephant Man." The album "Bad" is released and sells more than 8 million copies.

1988: Michael Jackson donates $125,000 from a concert at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich., and some personal memorabilia to start off a fundraising drive to preserve and improve the Motown Historical Museum.

Releases "Moonwalk," an autobiography.

PERSONAL TRIALS

1991: Releases "Dangerous" album, certified for 7 million in sales.

1993: In his first TV interview in 14 years, Jackson tells Oprah Winfrey that the change in his skin complexion is from a disorder called vitiligo.

A lawsuit claims that Jackson seduced and abused a 13-year-old boy.

1994: Settles the lawsuit with substantial payment to the plaintiff. Los Angeles and Santa Barbara district attorneys don't file child molestation charges against him.

Marries Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley.

1996: Presley files for divorce.

Jackson marries nurse Debbie Rowe.

1997: Rowe gives birth to son Prince Michael.

The Jackson 5 are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

1998: Rowe gives birth to daughter Paris Michael Katherine.

DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA

2001: The "Invincible" album is released with a respectable 2.1 million copies sold, but only two minor hits.

2002: Third child, Prince Michael II is born.

2003: Faces charges of child molestation. Posts $3 million in bail and throws up the "V'' sign, while standing on a black Suburban, before leaving the courthouse in Santa Maria, Calif.

2004: Jackson pleads not guilty to child molestation charges in January.

2005: In June, Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges

2009: June 25th - Michael Jackson dies of Cardiac Arrest

courtesy of: http://www.robertjrussell.com

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8000 Reasons to Get Your Butt in Gear

2009-06-25T20:56:00.001-05:00

Deadline for First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Looms

First time home buyers: Are you still at the computer, doing endless "research" on how to snag the $8000 TAX CREDIT for buying a house this year?

Does the November 30th deadline seem like a million years away as you think about fireworks (not turkey leftovers)?

First time home buyers: Get your butts in gear. NOW.

This is the wrong time to claim you only get motivated when a deadline looms.

This is the wrong time to tell everyone you are a "last minute kinda person" who pulls an all nighter when you have a term paper, and shops for Christmas presents on December 24th.

Here's why: Buying a house takes longer than you think. There are 8000 reasons you DO NOT want to miss this deadline.

Let's back things up. Do you think OTHER first time home buyers might wait until the last minute? Lenders could very likely experience an overwhelming amount of applications this fall.

With applications already taking 45 days, it could easily take 60 days to close your loan. Or more. Lenders are already ridicuously understaffed.

This means you will need to be in contract no later than the end of September.

If you have not already done so, you will need to accomplish this during the months of July, August and September:

Find a Mortgage person
Find a Real Estate Agent
Find a House
Make an Offer, negotiate terms. Find another house if first offer is rejected. Get new offer accepted.
Get financing completed and loan closed.

Some likely time lines and what to expect:

1. Apply for a mortgage. Provide the required documents and ask for a pre-approval. This will uncover any glitches standing in the way of your approval. This will make certain you have the right amount of funds in your account, or lined up as a gift. This will let you know your price range before you begin shopping for a house. This will let the Realtor know you have done your homework and are serious. ESTIMATED TIME REQUIRED: 1-2 weeks

2. Figure out where you want to live and find a Realtor. Look for a Realtor that knows the neighborhood where you would like to buy. Communicate openly and be on the same page if you are buying with another person. ESTIMATED TIME REQUIRED: 2-3 weeks

3. Shop for a house with your Realtor. ESTIMATED TIME LINE: 3-4 weeks.

4. Make an offer, negotiate terms, get in contract. Ask your Realtor about timing before making an offer on a short sale or a lender owned property. ESTIMATED TIME LINE: 1-2 weeks or more...depending on how many offers it will take to get a house. Market could become highly competitive as the deadline looms.

5. Secure financing with lender, and close the loan. Inspections and appraisal will occur during the time as well. ESTIMATED TIME LINE: 6 weeks to 8 weeks

Worst case estimated time line: 19 weeks.

Weeks until November 30th? 22 weeks, beginning next week.

Can you do this in less time? Yes you can.

Just like when you gave your Mom that lame ceramic unicorn for Christmas (purchased in a panic on Christmas Eve, thrown in an obviously used gift bag, then sneakily placed under the Christmas tree minutes before gift opening).

http://www.robertjrussell.com - Real Estate & Insurance - 972-679-9029

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Do you have a Social Media Strategy ?

2009-06-24T21:33:00.001-05:00

... It's Kind of a BIG DEAL!

All of us are being bombarded with advice, seminars, etc. about the importance of having a presence on the important social media platforms. Great advice.... not very helpful, though, without also giving some advice about developing a strategy for using your presence on all of these sites!

When I first started posting our team's profile and information on sites like: ACTIVE RAIN, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND MYSPACE... I wasn't quite certain how I was going to use these profiles to market our business and to generate buzz, interest and leads. In hind site... I now realize that developing the STRATEGY is the first step that you should take in this effort... not the last! You must use the strategy that you develop to generate the keywords, titles & the content that you write for your profiles on all of these social media sites. It is much harder to do this in reverse, because you waste a lot of time rewriting and optimizing after the fact if you don't do it right the first time! Here are a 6 questions to ask yourself BEFORE you create profiles or content for any social media site:

Who is my audience? OR even more important... who do I WANT my audience to be?
What information will the audience that I am trying to attract be looking for and how can I supply that information in an engaging, interactive way?
Who is my competition? AND how can I be unique enough to stand out? EX: Determine the direction that everyone else is swimming in and "dog paddle" in the opposite direction!
What search optimization techniques do I want to use within the "social community" capabilities & guidelines that I can apply to be found by my chosen audience?
What type of personality do I want to portray for my business? EX: professionally casual, humorous, professionally formal, etc.
What kind of result am I looking to produce in direct relation to my presence on this social site?

Once you've answered these questions... YOU HAVE YOUR STRATEGY! Now... have fun, be creative, & (since this way of communicating with the masses is relatively new) enjoy the rush that you used to get as a child... learning, exploring, experimenting... with fresh & new experiences! Gotta love that!

http://www.robertjrussell.com

http://www.insurancepricedright.com

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4 Ways to Add An Event Calender To Your Wordpress Blog

2009-06-24T17:37:00.000-05:00

The addition of an event calendar can add a lot of value to your website or blog. This is especially true for those real estate agents who maintain a community based site.

Posting information on events such as farmers' markets, garage sales, club meetings and city recreation programs to a calendar makes your website community resource. A resource worth bookmarking, Twittering or sharing on Facebook.

Best of all, updating a calendar is easier than writing an entire blog post.

Here are 4 ways to add an event calendar to your Wordpress website or blog:

1. Calendar

Calendar is a Wordpress plugin developed by Kieran O'Shea that looked like it was going to be abandoned. Fortunately, Kieran has picked up where he left off and just released an update.

This plugin creates an AJAX enabled calendar that is highly customizable. Events are managed directly from the Wordpress admin. Color coded categories can be used to differentiate types of events.

A sidebar widget allows for upcoming events to be displayed throughout your site. With a little CSS know-how, the calendar colors can be changed to match your website.

Go to PeninsulaHub.com to see this plugin in action.

2. Events Calendar

Another Wordpress plugin that adds a calendar page using a short code. Similar to the Calendar plugin with a few differences.

Events Calendar doesn't offer event categories, but adds the ability to create a post or page from a calendar event. This can come in handy for those events that need a bit more promotion than a simple calendar entry.

The widget for this plugin not only allows for upcoming events to be listed, but gives an option for an AJAX enabled mini calendar to be displayed.

3. Events Manager

Events Manager Wordpress plugin takes a very different approach to an event calendar. This solution is much more interactive, making for a richer visitor experience.

Offering features such as Google map integration, RSVP management and an RSS feed, this plugin is loaded with functionality.

Events Manager is a great solution for posting real estate office meetings and trainings. However, the layout isn't as conducive to community calendars with a lot of events to display.

4. EasyPHPCalendar

Sometimes you need more control and functionality than a simple Wordpress plugin can offer. Such was the case for a recently released MTO Sites project, Tribes.com. For that site, we looked outside of the Wordpress community and found EasyPHPCalendar.

EasyPHPCalendar is a PHP script that is extremely customizable. Events can be displayed on a full page calendar with mouse-over text, on mini calendars, listed on the page, or a combination of the three.

Color coded event categories can be created. A legend of the categories can be added to your site and a dropdown filter allows for only events in that category to be shown.

Images, links and text formatting of event postings is possible after installing the free WYSIWYG editor.
Although EasyPHPCalendar is a separate script from Wordpress, it integrates beautifully. Once installed and configured, PHP code can be added directly to your Wordpress template. This makes your calendar feel like part of the entire site to your visitors.

http://www.robertjrussell.com

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http://www.insurancepricedright.com

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Ten Questions to ask your Insurance Agent BEFORE you buy Health Insurance !

2009-06-23T18:12:00.001-05:00

Do you ever wonder if you are making the right decisions about health Insurance ? Here are some things to consider:

If you are a business owner, self-employed or an employee of a company that is not offering medical coverage though your employer, you may have to undertake the frustrating, daunting and time consuming task of purchasing health insurance on your own. If this is the case, there are certain things that you can do become an informed consumer so you can ensure that you are purchasing the type of health insurance coverage you really need at a price you can afford.

When you purchase a health insurance plan, it is important that you balance four important variables:
wants, needs, risk and cost, before you spend your money.

Although you may "want" a health plan that offers you 100% coverage and a $5 Copay for prescription medications, you may not "need" this type of health plan if you are healthy, take no medications and do not have any significant health related "risk" factors.

Since a 100% health plan will "cost" significantly more than an 80/20 Plan, it may not be in your best interest to pay higher monthly premiums for 100% coverage if you are currently healthy.

Although no one knows exactly when they will actually use their insurance coverage, considering these four key variables prior to purchasing a health plan is a good rule of thumb.

It is also critical for health insurance consumers to understand that all plans, even 100% Plans, have some form of coverage limitations. Knowing what your policy DOES NOT cover, is more important than knowing what it DOES cover.

The following is a list of 10 key questions that should help health insurance consumers to better understand the coverage limitations of the plans they are considering purchasing. Make sure you ask your insurance agent these questions BEFORE purchasing a health insurance policy.

1. What insurance company do you represent and are you a "captive" agent, "independent" agent or an insurance "broker?" "Captive" agents represent ONE insurance company's products only.

An "independent" agent or insurance "broker," on the other hand, typically represent many quality insurance carriers and can sell a variety of different insurance products without any contractual restrictions.

BEWARE! Dealing with a "captive" agent may limit your choices, since these agents can only sell that particular insurance company's health plans.

2. What is the plan's calendar year Deductible and would I have to pay a separate deductible for each family member if everyone in my family became ill at the same time? The majority of health plans have a per person calendar year deductible, for example, $250, $500, $1,000, or $2,500. Some plans are designed so in a "worse case scenario" only two family members will have to pay their deductible in any given calendar year.

BEWARE! Some plans will require each person in the family to pay their calendar year deductible. This can be a huge financial burden if everyone in the family was involved in an accident or if members of the family became ill at the same time. Many plans have a separate drug deductible before the plan will pay for any medications. Make sure you know what deductibles you will be responsible for before you buy a health plan.

3. What is the plan's Coinsurance percentage and what Stop Loss Number is this percentage based on?

These percentages are typically based on a specific dollar amount, known as the "stop loss number." Here's where it get's tricky. Quite often, health insurance plans have different "stop loss numbers". I have seen some plans that have a "stop loss number" as low as $2,000 and as high as $25,000 or some with none at all.

Let's figure out the insured's maximum out of pocket on an 80/20 plan that has a $1,000 deductible and an 80/20 split of the first $5,000 ("stop loss number.")

$1,000 + 20% of $5,000 ($1,000) = A Maximum Out of Pocket of $2,000.

Now, let's figure out the insured's maximum out of pocket on an 80/20 plan that has a $250 deductible and a $10,000 "stop loss number."

$250 + 20% of $10,000 ($2000) = A Maximum Out of Pocket of $2,250. (Note: Total does not include any separate "service deductibles" or access fees. Many low quality plans also have these.)

Again, after this brief 80/20 cost sharing with the insurance company, also know as a the coinsurance percentage split, most major medical plans will pay 100% of in-network covered charges up to the Lifetime Maximum amount that is specified in the policy.

BEWARE! Some policies on the market are sold with NO stop loss, but still list a coinsurance percentage. Therefore if you purchase an 80/20 with no stop loss, you will actually be paying 20% of all of your medical bills each calendar year. So unless you want to be responsible for 20% of all of your bills, make sure you find out what the "stop loss number" is BEFORE you purchase a health plan!

4. What is the plan's Maximum Out Of Pocket Expenses per year? This expense is a total of all deductibles, plus all coinsurance percentages, plus all applicable "access fees", "service deductibles" or other "fees" outlined in your policy.

BEWARE! Quite often agents neglect to tell prospects about hidden fees, so make sure you have a good grasp on the basics, like deductibles, coinsurance & stop loss numbers. Always ask about additional "fees" BEFORE you purchase the plan!

5. What is the plan's Lifetime Maximum Benefit if I become seriously ill and does the plan have any "per illness" maximums or caps? The majority of health insurance plans have a two million or five million dollar Lifetime Maximum Benefit. The Lifetime Maximum Benefit is the maximum amount the insurance company will pay if you or someone in your family becomes seriously ill.

BEWARE! Some policies will stipulate that there is a maximum benefit cap of $100,000 per illness. This means that you would have to develop many separate and unrelated life-threatening illnesses costing $100,000 or less to qualify for the five million dollar Lifetime Maximum Benefit. Mega Life & Health, Midwest National Life a.k.a. Health Markets, formerly U.I.C.I., endorsed and promoted by the National Association for the Self Employed (N.A.S.E) and the Alliance for Affordable Services are known for selling "schedule" plans with "per illness caps."

6. Is the plan a Schedule Plan, in that it only pays a certain amount for a specific list of procedures? Some health plans only pay a specific dollar amount for certain procedures, despite the fact that the procedure often cost more than the plan stimulates.

BEWARE! Mega Life & Health, Midwest National Life a.k.a. Health Markets, formerly U.I.C.I., endorsed and promoted by the National Association for the Self Employed (NASE) and the Alliance for Affordable Services are known for selling "schedule" plans.

7. Does the plan have unlimited doctor copays or is there a limited number of doctor copay visits allowed each year? Many quality plans have no limit on the number of times you can use your doctor copay.

BEWARE! Several plans have a limit of how many times you can go to the doctor each year for a Copay. Quite often, the limit is 2-4 visits per year.

8. Does the plan offer Prescription Drug Coverage and if it does, what type of coverage? Some plans offer prescription drug benefits on both generic and brand name medications right away. Other plans will require you to pay a separate outpatient prescription drug deductible before you can obtain your prescription medication for a Copay.

BEWARE! Today, many plans offer NO outpatient prescription drug Copay options. Typically, these plans only provide the insured with a discount prescription card which only offers the insured a 10-20% discount on prescription medications. This can lead to catastrophic out of pocket expenses to the insured.

9. Does the plan have any reduction in benefits for Organ Transplants and if so, what is the maximum the plan will pay out for an organ transplant? The majority of quality major medical plans treat organ transplants as any other illness. This means that the insurance company will cover the insured until the Lifetime Maximum Benefit of the plan is reached. Again, in most cases, this Lifetime Maximum is five million dollars. You should accept no less than one million dollars of coverage for Organ Transplants.

BEWARE! Today, some plans only pay a $100,000 maximum benefit for organ transplants. Plans that offer limited organ transplant coverage are extremely risky, since organ transplant procedures often range in the neighborhood of $350-$500K. In addition, it is not uncommon for a transplant patient to need a second organ transplant. Keep in mind, that the $100,000 maximum payment for organ transplants on many plans also includes the cost of expensive anti-rejection medications. If you have an organ transplant, you will quickly reach the $100,000 maximum benefit, which means that you will be required to pay for costly anti-rejection medication out of pocket. This can lead to catastrophic out of pocket costs to the insured.

10. Does the plan have any separate "services deductibles" or "access fee" for each hospital admission or for each outpatient test? Some plans, like Assurant Health's "CoreMed" plan have a separate $750 hospital admission fee for the first three days of each hospital stay. These hospital admission fees may also be called "Access Fees" on other policies. Typically the insured is responsible for paying these access fees for each hospital admission in addition to their calendar year health plan deductible.

Many plans also have a separate deductible for emergency room visits. These deductibles are in place to discourage policyholders from using the emergency room as a doctor's office. Typically, these ER deductibles are waived if the patient is admitted to the hospital.

BEWARE! "Access fees" and "service deductibles" are separate from your plan's calendar year health plan deductible. Be aware that many plans now have benefit "caps" or "access fees" for out-patient services, such as, physical therapy, speech therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc. These "benefit caps" could be as little as $500 for each out-patient treatment, which will leave the insured responsible for the remaining balance that is over $500.

Again, "access fees" are additional fees that you may have to pay per treatment before the insurance company will pay the provider. These fees can quickly add up. For example, if you need to have 40 outpatient chemotherapy treatments, and you must pay a $250 "access fee" per treatment, you would have to pay an additional 40 x $250 = $10,000.

Remember, purchasing a health plan is the most important purchase you will ever make. Insist that your insurance agent explain to you exactly what your health plan does and does not cover and take the time to read the "fine print" in the plan brochure and ask questions about terminology you don't completely understand.

In addition, when you receive your health insurance policy in the mail, don't just detach your insurance cards and place them in your wallet or purse and then throw your insurance policy in your desk drawer or filing cabinet. Take the time to sit down and read your policy page by page.

Once you receive your policy, you have a 10-day free look period, so if your coverage is not what you thought you purchased, you have time to call the insurance company and cancel the policy without incurring any fees.

Finally, if your being pitched a health plan that seems too good to be true (e.g. all pre existing conditions are covered, the plan is significantly cheaper than all other plans) contact your state's Department of Insurance BEFORE you buy the policy. Your state's Department of Insurance can tell you if the insurance company is registered in your state and can also tell you if there have been any complaints against that company that have been filed by policyholders.

Remember, if you suspect that your being scammed or you think the agent is trying to sell you a fraudulent insurance policy, (e.g. you have to become a member of a union to qualify for coverage) your state's Department of Insurance can also check to see if any prior disciplinary action has been previously taken against that agent.

Whatever decision you make in regards to your health insurance, please always remember to heed the following words of wisdom.

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!" ..........and
"If you only buy on price, you get what you pay for!"

http://www.insurancepricedright.com

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REDNECK TREE SWING

2009-06-19T21:07:00.001-05:00

Funny Photo of the Day

AND, It's a two seater. WHAT A DEAL !!! : )

Looking for a GREAT DEAL ? Visit http://www.robertjrussell.com

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3 Bedroom Home in Lewisville - Come check it out!

2009-06-18T07:31:00.001-05:00

For Sale in Lewisville!

Great 3 bedroom home with all upgrades, extended patios in back,extended driveway suitable for boat or RV,new privacy fence,very spacious kitchen open to big living area with fireplace.Extra parking or boat stg in rear. Photos do not show justice to the landscaping,front & back,so you need to come see this one. Upgrades Galore!

Directions: from Edmonds, take Bellaire south to Holly Oak on left, walnut on corner lot

When you walk in the front door you will take 4 steps and find out that this is the House! Bring everyone with you to see your new home

http://www.justsnooping.com/tours/2530565/

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Aetna Health Reform - Health Care in America

2009-06-11T13:55:00.001-05:00

A weekly compilation from Aetna of health care-related developments in Washington, D.C. and state legislatures across the country

Week of June 8, 2009

President Obama once again jumped into the Congressional health care reform process last week when he met with key Senators on health care and then sent Senators Kennedy and Baucus a letter outlining his priorities for health care reform. In the letter, the President says he is open to an individual coverage requirement, as long as the poor are excluded from the mandate. His position is very similar to that adopted by Aetna several years ago. But if some were energized by the letter, others were disappointed. President Obama calls for any reform package to include a public health insurance option alongside private plans, an idea that many Republicans strongly oppose. Based on the response of some to the letter last week, the process this summer (see below) could become a contentious one. The President has asked the House and Senate to finish legislation by early August so that he can have a package to sign in October.

Voting is now underway for Modern Healthcare's online poll to determine the "100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare," and Aetna's Chairman and CEO Ron Williams once again is nominated as one of the finalists. To vote, click here.

Federal
The pace of health care reform is accelerating as both the House and Senate sense the public is anxious for action, the President is anxious for action, and the number of legislative days left before the August break is dwindling. The Senate Finance Committee met last week to review its three options papers (Delivery, Coverage and Financing) and will dive further into the details this week. The Committee hopes to release its most specific document to date on June 17 and could begin its mark-up the week of June 22, a process that could take 2-5 days. The HELP Committee is on a similar schedule. It released/leaked a 171-page (one-third of the whole bill) document on coverage, with quality and wellness/prevention still to come. This document may be well short of the final product, but it does provide some insight into the Committee's direction on coverage: Individual and employer coverage mandate; aggressive rating reforms (e.g., no gender or health status allowed); no annual/lifetime limits; a cap on non-claim costs; state-based exchanges; and a public plan. HELP will hold a hearing this week and will begin its mark-up around June 17, which might take ten days. All of this is designed to get a merged Finance/HELP bill to the Senate Floor by the last two weeks in July. The House is on the same pace. The Energy & Commerce Committee has publicized a rough outline of the House bill (a public plan, national exchange, soft individual mandate, national minimum benefit package), which will be marked-up by three House committees in early July in time for a House floor vote in late July/early August.

States
CONNECTICUT: The House did not take action on an amended Senate bill limiting offsets for disability premiums by the end of the regular legislative session on June 3, in effect killing the bill for this year. The State Senate had passed the amended bill one week earlier. The original bill prohibited any social security offsets, potentially increasing disability premiums by an estimated 40 percent or more. Aetna testified at the hearings, launched a legislative outreach for plan sponsors, and met with key members of the Insurance Committee extensively. The original bill was defeated in Committee. However, Sen. Edith Prague revived her bill and after many meetings and proposed compromises, insurers and plan sponsors succeeded in getting the prohibition on offsets limited to SSDI paid to or on behalf of dependent children.

MAINE: The legislature passed a bill repealing the savings offset payment (SOP) mechanism used to fund subsidies for the state's Dirigo health plan and replaced it with a flat 2.14 percent assessment on paid claims. The SOP has been the subject of repeated litigation since its inception in 2003. Health plans were able to get the effective date moved from July 1 to Oct. 1, 2009. The new flat tax applies to claims paid on or after September 1, 2009 and establishes the payment date as 30 days after the end of each month.

MICHIGAN: The House of Representatives and Senate are continuing discussions on their respective health care reform packages. The House is using two work groups to prepare its bills for consideration by the House Health Policy Committee this week. The Michigan Association of Health Plans is participating in the work groups, trying to move House Democratic leadership away from a package of legislation that would harm the individual insurance market. The Senate Health Policy Committee held a single meeting on its reform package. Senator George has announced a public hearing in Detroit on June 15 to hear public testimony on the package. There is considerable opposition to Senator George's plan for covering all of the state's uninsured up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level through payment in lieu of taxes from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a hospital tax that would be matched by federal funds and a 1.8 percent paid-claims tax that would be paid by insurers and self-funded health plans.

NEBRASKA: The Nebraska legislature recently adjourned after passing several significant bills, including: a bill that amends the Health Insurance Access Act to allow an uninsured access coverage plan to include prescription drug and preventive care coverage, and that removes income as a criterion for eligibility; a bill that amends the state's autism treatment program to require that for every $2 of funding that comes from the state, the program must generate at least $1 in matching private donations; a bill that amends the medical assistance program statute to increase the income eligibility requirements for children under age 19 from 185 to 200 percent of FPL; and a bill that extends the maximum age on sickness and accident policies of an insured's dependents to age 30, up from 23. In addition, several important bills died this session, including one that would have established a commission to develop a comprehensive plan for affordable health insurance with an individual mandate and guaranteed issue as components.

NEVADA: The Governor signed legislation requiring health insurers to cover screening and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for covered persons until the age of 18 or, if enrolled in high school, age 22. The bill also includes coverage limitations for autism treatment, and provides for licensure of behavior analysts and certification of certain autism treatment providers. Beginning January 1, 2011, all group plans would be required to provide coverage, while individual policies will be required to offer a benefit rider to subscribers.

OKLAHOMA: The legislature adjourned May 27, ending a session marked by the early defeat of a controversial autism coverage mandate bill known as "Nick's Law." Ultimately, the only autism-related bill to travel to Governor Brad Henry's desk was a measure regulating autism service providers and establishing an applied behavioral analysis research pilot project. The legislature passed a bill that would establish the Health Care for the Uninsured Board (HUB) to work with the insurance commissioner to certify health insurance programs, educate uninsured consumers about choosing coverage and utilizing medical care, and help qualified individuals become enrolled in a subsidized plan. The bill also authorizes carriers to offer people under 40 a benefit plans that lacks state-mandated benefits providing disclosures are in place. Finally, the bill authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to add to the premium assistance program, the option to enroll in a high-deductible health plan compatible with a health savings account. Several pieces of significant legislation were killed, including one that would have required health benefit plans to cover all health care services that were deemed by the provider to be medically necessary.

TENNESSEE: The health "Silent PPO" bill, which Aetna helped amend earlier this year, has passed the House and will likely continue to move forward. The Workers' Compensation Advisory Council will review the proposed "Silent PPO" bill related to workers' compensation this week. Aetna continues to work with the sponsor on language and a possible summer study, but he still insists the bill be heard this year. To do so, he must ask the House and Senate to re-open their committees, which have been closed for the year.

TEXAS: As a result of partisan political wrangling, the legislature adjourned this week after failing to pass any legislation that would continue the life of the Texas Department of Insurance. The agency is now scheduled to go into "wind down mode" beginning September 1, 2009. The Governor will likely call a special session to resolve this issue and other issues left undone during the regular session. He could also enter an Executive Order moving the TDI's functions to other agencies temporarily. The legislature did manage to pass some significant bills, including one that would codify a balance billing dispute resolution process. Another bill expands the state's autism mandate from age 6 up to 9 and includes the state's employee group. Other bills provide rules regarding ranking of physicians by health plans (consistent with Aetna's current process); allow the direct employment of physicians by hospitals, which should help eliminate the state's balance billing problem; and require all public colleges and universities to sponsor their own health plans for students. Bills defeated included the Texas Medical Association's omnibus "Code of Conduct" bill. Also, 13 separate bills relating to MLR all died, as did the Speaker Pro Tem's "Silent PPO" bill, which also attempted to regulate self-funded plans, was voted down on the Senate floor.

WASHINGTON: Small employers now have an additional tool to help mitigate the costs of rising health insurance premiums. With the passage of recent legislation, small employers willing to develop and implement an outcome-based employer wellness program can negotiate modest premium reductions with insurers if the employer is able to meet the goals established for the program. Program goals could focus on, for example, increasing the percentage of employees receiving age-appropriate health screenings, increasing the percentage of employees receiving flu shots, or setting a target for the number of employees who stop smoking.

Resources
Transforming Health Care in America
America's Health Insurance Plans

http://www.insurancepricedright.com For Aetna Quotes Online

Aetna is the brand name used for products and services provided by one or more of the Aetna group of subsidiary companies. Those companies include Aetna Health Inc., and Aetna Health Insurance Company.

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Play the game better - The Credit Game!

2009-06-08T21:40:00.001-05:00

CHECKING THE CREDIT BUREAU REPORTING SYSTEM

Do you know that 80% of credit reports have errors?

This is no surprise when the 3 major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) are actually competitors and get paid when a creditor reports to them.

In a business standpoint it costs $ for the credit bureaus to review, investigate and correct credit reports. If they had it their way they could care less to spend the money, time or resources to do the work. However, thank goodness the LAW is on the side of the consumers.

Many times the credit bureaus will send "form letters" to consumers stating that there is a "brisk credit repair business" by companies that charge between $50 and $1,000 to dispute negative items the consumer could do themselves. Also, many times they send letters stating they received a "suspicious request" and will not honor any more disputes received in this manner. "YAWN"...same old tactics playing the same game I say.

Yes, there are irreputable companies that advertise grandiose promises and charge exhorbitant fees, claiming they have the "magic wand" and "insider information" to make all your credit problems go away. Like the old saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Improving one's credit requires TIME, PERSISTENCE, KNOWLEDGE and TACTICS. You have to play the game better than the credit bureaus and creditors.

Remember, just because a negative account is validated or verified does not mean it won't come off in the future. Under the law, the credit bureaus must do an actual investigation and not merely check to see if the information given to them by the creditor matches up with what they typed into their computer screen (what if the original information given was wrong to begin with?). This is clearly not the "investigation" required under the law. This is why knowledge of the credit reporting system, knowing the law and being persistent gets the best results.

3 credit bureaus= 3 different credit scores= 3 different competitors= a lot of confusion, mistakes, inconsistencies

Think of it as a checks and balances system...Nizin Corporation is "checking" the credit bureaus and creditors to make sure they are abiding by the law by putting the burden of proof on them. It is good to even out the playing field when the field has mostly been dominated by a reporting system where the ill-prepared consumer is required to proactively seek that their rights be heard.

Someone has to check the credit bureaus and creditors if they don't check themselves.

Visit http://www.robertjrussell.com or http://www.insurancepricedright.com

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Cha-Ching! 2 Safer ways to buy great homes at deep discounts

2009-06-03T17:51:00.001-05:00

Cha-ching! 2 safer ways to buy great homes at deep discounts

If you possess patience and persistence, REOs and short sales are good ways to score incredible deals. But do some research and know what you're getting into before you give one of these methods a try.

By Kiplinger's

more on www.robertjrussell.com

Home prices may not have hit bottom quite yet, but they are finally low enough to draw bargain hunters. The national median home price has fallen 26% since its peak in early 2006, according to Fiserv Lending Solutions, a home-price research firm. Sales are especially brisk where prices have dropped sharply and foreclosures are rampant - in California, Nevada, Arizona and Florida - partly because foreclosures put pressure on traditional sellers to cut their prices, too.

Nationwide, nearly half of all sales in the fourth quarter of 2008 were "distressed" - mainly foreclosures, but also sales by homeowners selling for less than they owe on their mortgage - according to the National Association of Realtors. Foreclosures will continue to rise with the jobless rate and the next wave of subprime-mortgage delinquencies, despite relief efforts by lenders and the Obama administration. And most experts don't expect home prices to start recovering until 2010; in fact, Fiserve forecasts that the median price will fall by an additional 14% in 2009. That, plus the dour economy, will keep many buyers at bay.

What's your home worth?

Still, it's a good time to snag a bargain if you're confident in your job prospects and you don't plan to sell for at least five years. The NAR says homes haven't been this affordable since the 1970s: Interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are hovering near 5%, and with so many homes for sale, you can be as picky as you like. If you're a first-time buyer and you close on a home before the end of November, you'll be eligible for an $8,000 tax credit, too.

Buying from the bank
Foreclosure begins with a homeowner's failure to make a mortgage payment and ends on the courthouse steps, when the home is auctioned off to the highest bidder. If bidders fail to meet the bank's minimum (usually the balance of the mortgage), the bank will buy back the home and sell it as a real-estate-owned property, or REO.

For most homebuyers, REOs provide a less risky route to a bargain than homes sold earlier in the foreclosure process, which are strictly "buyer beware" properties that attract seasoned investors prepared to tackle major rehabbing. Even they get burned sometimes by legal encumbrances and liens that transfer with the property to the buyer.

With an REO you get a clean title, and you don't have to deal with a harried homeowner, a difficult-to-evict tenant or, in some states, a mandatory redemption period during which the previous owner can try to get the home back. You'll still get a deal; how good it is depends on the market. The city with the largest discount compared to median price on REOs is the Las Vegas suburb Henderson, Nev., at 33%, according to a survey by Trulia, a real-estate Web site, and RealtyTrac, an online foreclosure marketplace. (RealtyTrac is a partner of MSN Real Estate.)

Dan Wittman, 39, and Melissa Swearingen, 35, got a great deal on an REO in Phoenix, where inventory, fueled by foreclosures, is high and prices fell by 34% last year. They had to relocate from Denver for Wittman's job, and fortunately, they had no trouble selling their home because Denver's housing market is one of the healthiest in the nation. The couple's Denver home, in a golf-course community, sold quickly for just $1,500 less than its list price of $290,000.

In Phoenix, they looked at more than 30 homes with Ken Reid, an exclusive buyers agent. Reid says that these days it's not unusual for buyers to look at as many as 40 to 70 homes. Wittman and Swearingen spotted a 3,000-square-foot, five-bedroom REO that had been on the market for six months and was listed for $240,000. When it was new, in 2005, it sold for $429,000. The couple acted fast to beat the competition and offered full price plus $700 - as well as a 20% down payment - to sweeten their bid. The home was appraised at $275,000.

Although you can have REOs inspected before you sign a purchase contract, they are sold "as is," so you can't negotiate the price based on the home's condition. The inspection merely gives you an out. Disgruntled homeowners who lost their property may have stripped the home of major appliances or even trashed it. While the home is vacant, it may be vandalized or inhabited by squatters or small animals. Turned-off utilities may lead to broken pipes and water damage, mold, mildew and smelly carpets. Swearingen and Wittman spent about $9,000 to replace missing appliances, numerous light fixtures and the upstairs carpet. But their home's total price was so good they could afford to add a swimming pool.

Researching REOs
Visit the Web site of your local multiple-listing service (or ask your real-estate agent) and look for listings labeled "REO" or "bank owned." RealtyTrac.com and Foreclosure.com offer listings of homes in foreclosure (both are available by subscription and offer a one-week free trial). You can see each property's loan history, which often reveals what the previous owner paid for it at the top of the market. For Fannie Mae's REOs, visit HomePath.com; for Freddie Mac's, go to HomeSteps.com.

Read: 6 rules for buying a foreclosure online

Don't offer list price without first researching selling prices of comparable properties in the area. A bank will hire an agent to generate a "broker price opinion," which may have been hastily researched or may simply be outdated. Your agent should come up with a comparative market analysis that reflects local reality.

You can make your offer contingent on an inspection, title search, financing, appraisal and sale of your current home. However, if the bank receives multiple offers, the one with the fewest contingencies will rise to the top. The bank may require you to get its own pre-approval for financing and submit it with your offer. You can apply for a traditional mortgage elsewhere, but first check with the REO's bank, which may offer a below-market interest rate or a low down payment.

Banks may respond quickly to an offer -- or not, says Elizabeth Weintraub, an agent in Sacramento, Calif. REO agents swamped with listings by bank clients may not even pick up the phone. You can try a including a contingency in your offer that imposes a deadline for an answer.

Short sales take patience
In a short sale, a home is sold for less than the outstanding mortgage balance with the approval of the lender. Prices are often attractive, but short sales aren't for buyers who face a deadline or are easily discouraged. Lenders take an average of eight weeks just to respond to an offer (compared with 12 days for an REO), according to a survey of agents by Campbell Communications.

A short sale may be advertised as such - or it may not be, in hopes that you fall in love with a home before you learn its status. The bank may announce a minimum price, hold out for multiple offers and then ask everyone to do better. And approval of a purchase is complicated. The bank may only be servicing the loan, and the investors who actually own it will have to weigh in, as will any second-mortgage lenders. And banks may have too few staffers to handle the hundreds of short-sale offers they receive. Buyers need to find a willing buyers agent who knows which local listing agents are experienced and successful short-sale closers. The best ones know how to overcome the banks' inertia.

Once the bank signs off on the agreement that you and the home seller have reached, you can get an inspection, but it will be too late to renegotiate the price. So it's a good idea to build the estimated cost of repairs into your offer, says Dawn Rae, an agent who handles short sales in Tampa, Fla. You can base that on a walk-through with your agent or pay $300 to $500 for a professional inspection early on (but if your offer is rejected, that will be money down the drain). As with REOs, you can add contingencies and seek traditional financing, but you should get your pre-approval from the seller's lender to make your offer more attractive.

Deals, not steals
Michael Evans, 39, and his wife, Anu Gupta, 37, recently moved to the Washington, D.C., area. In their search to buy a home, they shopped online for foreclosures, but they couldn't find one in a neighborhood they liked. They eventually found what they were looking for - a kid-friendly neighborhood near public transportation - in Takoma Park, Md., a close-in suburb of D.C.

They bid twice on a 1,600-square-foot, two-bedroom colonial on a large lot. Their first offer of $565,000 lost to a full-price competing offer of $639,000. A month later, the couple realized the home was still for sale (the other buyers' financing had fallen through), and they again offered $565,000. After back-and-forth negotiations, they ended up paying $580,000, but the sellers threw in a few thousand dollars to cover needed repairs.

Home affordability calculator

Foreclosures come with their own set of headaches, and they're often clustered in new developments built far from city centers. Evans and Gupta's agent, John Sullivan, notes that buying in a stable neighborhood may be the better deal in the long run. Even if prices continue to drop, they are likely to recover more quickly there than in a development full of foreclosures. Plus, the condition of the home may be better to begin with, and if not, you can negotiate on price to account for it.

Your agent will help you decide how much to offer. But as a starting point, check recent comparable sales and calculate the average reduction from the asking price they actually sold for. Subtract that figure from your seller's list price to come up with a reasonable offer. If prices continue to decline, the home fails to appraise for the agreed-upon amount, and you really want the home, you could try adding some cash to the deal as a good-faith gesture. Otherwise, keep looking. Another deal may be right around the corner.

This article was written by Pat Mertz Esswein for Kiplinger's.

For more Real Estate information visit: http://www.dfwhomeforsale.com

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Putting the Insurance Back in Insurance

2009-06-03T06:47:00.001-05:00

Barack Obama will soon send Hillary Clinton packing back to the Senate. Once she's gone, he needs to borrow one of the key tenets of her health care plan. She's right about health insurance: It needs to be mandatory.

The Massachusetts Remedy

That's not just a Democratic idea. Mitt Romney came to the same conclusion. As governor of Massachusetts, he implemented one of the most innovative state-level health care reforms. A key piece of that reform is mandatory health coverage.

Obviously, many people can't afford health insurance -- that's the reason they don't have it in the first place. But Romney's plan in Massachusetts provided government subsidies to make insurance more affordable for low-income residents. Any sensible program at the federal level would do the same.

That would leave no excuses: Everyone would have to have some kind of health insurance -- through an employer, through Medicaid or Medicare, or through some other approved plan. In the Massachusetts case, the state created a program to connect individuals with affordable insurance options. Those who can't prove that they're insured pay a steep penalty when they file their state income tax.

Spreading the Risk Around

So what's the economic rationale for such a heavy-handed approach from politicians as far from each other on the political spectrum as Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney? Mandatory insurance is pretty much the only way to keep the American employer-based insurance model from collapsing completely. (And even that might not be enough.)

But health insurance is like any other kind of insurance: It pools risk. I buy homeowners insurance not because I think my house is going to burn down, but because in the highly unlikely event that it does, I would be protected from a financial disaster.

So I pay the insurance company a small but predictable amount to make that risk go away. If the insurance company is doing its job right, then the company will make more money from the houses that don't burn down than it pays out in claims for the houses that do burn down.

Too Smart for Our Own Good?

That's the point of insurance, whether it protects against natural disaster, fire, kidnapping (yes, there's kidnapping insurance), or anything else.

But health insurance is quickly becoming different than all other kinds of insurance: It's getting easier and easier to predict in advance who will get sick and who won't -- even decades in advance, thanks to our greater understanding of the human genome. Researchers have already identified some 1,800 disease-related genes. There are now home DNA kits that enable you to test yourself for many of them.

That may be great for medicine, but it's a disaster for the insurance market. How well would the homeowners insurance market work if we had an increasingly better idea of whose house would burn down and whose wouldn't?

A Policy Dilemma

Our ability to predict disease creates a dilemma for policymakers: If insurers are privy to such information -- if you and your family have to spit in a cup or donate a strand of hair before you get your insurance -- then the people who are most likely to become sick with expensive illnesses will soon be priced out of the market. Of course, those are the people who need insurance most.

The alternative doesn't work, either. Suppose we forbid insurance companies access to such information, and generally make it more difficult for insurance companies to screen out those with preexisting conditions or those with a genetic predisposition to get sick in the future. Such a policy would go a long way toward making insurance more affordable and accessible for those who need it most.

That seems eminently sensible -- until you think about it for six or seven seconds. If insurance companies are not allowed to screen out the worst risks, but each of us can look decades ahead into our relative long-term health, then those who are most likely to get sick will load up on the most insurance. Those with a better genetic draw will buy less or none.

An Insurance Anomaly

Imagine a world in which you could buy homeowner's insurance after you saw smoke coming from the basement. The first call would be 911; the second call would be to Allstate. (Or maybe the other way around.)

In the health insurance case, after your home DNA test generates bad news, the instructions on the box might say something like, "If you scored 81-90, now would be a good time to buy a generous health insurance policy with a low deductible." That would be great for patients, but not so good for health insurance companies. And once all the health insurance companies were bankrupt, it wouldn't be so good for patients, either.

The American health care system is a complete anomaly in the developed world. There's no other major industrialized country that depends so heavily on the private delivery of health care funded through a system of private health insurance.

Re-insuring Insurance

For better or for worse, that's the system we've got. Starting over from scratch is politically untenable, so if we're going to make the system we've got work better, we have to put the insurance back in insurance. We have to return to a system that really pools risk. The best way to do that is by mandating that everyone buy insurance -- those who are sick, those who aren't sick, those who'll get sick with expensive illnesses, and those who will die at home in their sleep after 95 healthy years.

This would accomplish two crucial objectives:

1. It would guarantee access to health insurance, and therefore reasonable health care, because everyone would have it from birth. There would be no preexisting conditions because there would be no "preexisting." Again, this is dependent on providing sufficient subsidies and insurance options for those who are too wealthy to be eligible for Medicaid but don't have an employer option and can't afford to buy private insurance.

2. It would bolster the financial health of the insurance system by including more "good risks" in the system, namely the healthy young people who are most likely to roll the dice and go without insurance.

Fair Is Fair

Is mandatory health insurance fair? In one sense, it's not: The healthy end up subsidizing the unhealthy. That's ultimately true with homeowners insurance, too, but buying into that arrangement is a voluntary decision. (And auto insurance, which is mandatory in many states, isn't a very good comparison, as that policy is designed primarily to protect against damage done to other drivers.)

But being diagnosed with a potentially terminal illness at age seven in a family with no way to pay for the treatment isn't really fair, either. Nor is paying 20 times as much for health insurance as someone else because you were born with a nasty strand of DNA on your 11th chromosome.

If you believe in pooling risk, which is the point of health insurance, then the only way to keep the system solvent in the long run is to get everyone in the pool. Mitt Romney realized that. So does Hillary Clinton. Once Obama has finally finished her off, he should borrow one of her better ideas.

by Charles Wheelan, Ph.D. Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 12:00AM

For more information about Insurance visit: http://www.InsurancePricedRight.com

For Information about Real Estate & Insurance visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

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Picking the Best Comps

2009-06-01T21:47:00.001-05:00

Even if you work with an agent, you will want to do your homework on pricing, and comps play the biggest role in setting a price. Using Zillow, you can find and compare comps on a map. For most addresses, Zillow has compiled a list of 50 comparable transactions based on available data. But this data is just the beginning. Once you have a list of recently sold homes that have something in common with the one you're looking at, your own knowledge of homes in the area is the best tool you have, whether you are buying a home or selling one.

Here are 4 tips for choosing the best comps from a list:

Location, Location, Location

Select comps as close to your address as possible. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, a comp within a block or two of yours might not be a good comp because it sits higher on the hill, and has phenomenal views, or it's closer to a main arterial or freeway. Likewise, a house similar to yours could be a mile away, but still is part of the same market area since neighborhoods are not always carved out in neat, rectangular-shaped boundaries. This is a good comp, even though it's farther away.

Also, ideally, homes in developments should be compared against comps from the same development since these homes were all built together at a specific time, by the same builder/developer.

Select Recent Comps

Ideally, the most recently sold homes will have the strongest bearing on what your home will bring, but in slower markets, you might not have that luxury. Rule of thumb: Getting comps from the previous 3 - 4 months is ideal, but if not, then look back 6 - 8 months. In some cases, transactions that occurred two years ago are still considered comparable.

Price Per Square Foot

Price per square foot is a time-honored method of real estate valuation. However, it doesn't account for a choice location, a move-in-ready home, or personal criteria. You should also factor in how the property was measured and whether the square footage includes the garage or other detached buildings on the property. Lot size can also be a significant factor. While a few hundred square feet difference may not impact market value, a private wooded 3-acre lot will fetch much more than a similar house on a cookie-cutter half-acre for example. In such cases the dollars per-square foot figures can be very unrealistic.

Fuzzy Stuff

You have your data, you've compared the numbers, but here come the individual characteristics. These things are more difficult to quantify, but could boost or detract from a home's value. In order to be comparing apples to apples, you need to consider these "soft" features when pulling together your comp list. For example, consider:

Curb appeal - The house sits on the "nice" side of the street; it's neatly landscaped and has sidewalks.
Condition of exterior - Visually make notes of the condition of the roof, paint, chimney, driveway, fences, etc.
Nearby amenities - Walking distance to cafes, shops, and restaurants.
Neighborhood - Is the house well-kept but all others around it falling apart? Do celebrities live nearby? Will the paparazzi create traffic concerns?
Traffic/noise - Is it located on a busy street or near a noisy freeway?
Schools - Is it in a good school district? Whether you have kids or not, owning a home in a top school district adds tremendous value to a home.

The work you do here will go a long way in determining the fair market value of a home.

http://www.robertjrussell.com

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Twitter: What Does the Future Hold ?

2009-05-28T06:57:00.000-05:00

Twitter: What Does the Future Hold?

There was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday about Twitter, the darling of the social media world, and the future of the site. Here's a link to the full article, "Twitter Trips on Its Rapid Growth" - I recommend you read it.

No, the article was not a doomsayer, predicting a failing. But it did raise the question of what lies ahead in Twitter's future in terms of their ability to mange growth and their business model.

Twitter is a business. And like any company it has a business model...well, sort of. Like so many start-ups it may be more concept and visionary that a real model The problem for Twitter, and one which the owners/founders must wrestle with in the near term, is financial. Like many start-ups, especially on-line, Twitter has had amazing growth in its first years of existence. I don't know how it compares to some of the other on-line businesses that has sprouted up, but with about 32 million unique users now (per the article), and only 3 years old, the growth rate has been phenomenal. Perhaps that exceeds the growth rate of the Googles of the world.

The problem for Twitter is revenue stream. There is none. Hmmm, reminds me of AR in its earlier days. As we all know that has changed, in ways that I think many feel are positive.

Oh, Twitter has money, having found financing from venture capitalists, a common strategy with start-ups. And the article goes on to say how they are exploring alliances with other companies. But Twitter is not generating income from the site as it currently exists since they don't sell advertising. The investors will, certainly, be looking for some return on their investment

The other growth-related issue is infrastructure. Twitter has employees, but not many considering how rapidly it is growing, and the growing pains - server issues, product development - will likely continue without bringing on more employees to deal with the running of the business itself. And further development, I suspect, will be hindered. According to the article plans are in the works to bring on more staff. The challenge, as I know well from being in an Internet start-up, is finding the folks with the business acumen but who also fit the corporate culture and the vision. That can be a significant challenge for some founders.

Will Twitter continue to exist in its current form?

Unlikely. A revenue stream must happen at some point for Twitter to remain viable, as has happened with other Internet companies, unless they can secure more VC funding. And certainly the question of being sold has arisen - no doubt of interest to the VCs. Time will tell on that issue.

Will Twitter continue to attract users?

Undoubtedly. But how many of its users are, and will continue to be, active? (We know from recent reports that about 8% of AR members are active). And won't new product offerings be necessary to meet the changing needs of devotees? And provide income, in addition to the potential of advertising becoming a part of the Twitter landscape.

The popularity does not seem to be waning, but 2009 should be an interesting year. Would you pay to belong to Twitter? Would you advertise? And are there other product offerings that could provide Twitter with a revenue stream. We'll see.

http://www.robertjrussell.com

http://www.dfwhomeforsale.com

http://www.FreeDFWApartments.com

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Texas Wineries & Vineyards

2009-05-28T06:44:00.001-05:00

TEXAS VINEYARDS & WINERIES

Believe it or not, Texas is home to 26 wineries and a wealth of independent grape growers. In 1996, the state's vineyards produced over one million gallons of wine, making Texas the fifth-largest wine producer in the nation after California, New York, Washington, and Oregon. The rough and tumble state has become giddy with talk of full, woodsy bouquets; crisp, floral notes, and the virtues of a particular varietal is relatively new. What's not new, surprisingly, is the Texas wine industry itself.

ALAMOSA WINE CELLARS
677 CR 430
Bend, TX 76824 San Saba County
Phone 915-628-3313
Email~karen@alamosawinecellars.com
Website~ http://www.alamosawinecellars.com/

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BECKER VINEYARDS
P.O. Box 393
Stonewall, TX 78671 Gillespie County
Phone 830-644-2681
Email~beckervyds@fbg.net
Website~ http://www.beckervineyards.com/

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BELL MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS
HC 61, Box 22
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 Gillespie County
Phone 830-685-3297
Email~bellmtn@ctesc.net
Website~ http://www.bellmountainwine.com/

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BRUNO & GEORGE WINERY
400 Messina Rd.
Sour Lake, TX 77659 Hardin County
Phone 409-898-2829
Email~swawn@brunoandgeorge.com
Website~ http://www.brunoandgeorge.com/

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BRUSHY CREEK VINEYARDS
572 CR 2798
Alvord, TX 76255
Phone 940-427-4747
Email~ brushyck@wf.net

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CANA CELLARS
11217 Fitzhugh Rd.
Austin, TX 78736 Travis County
Phone 512-288-6027

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CAP ROCK WINERY
Route 6, Box 713k
Lubbock, TX 79423 Lubbock County
Phone 806-863-2704
Email~caprock@caprockwinery.com
Website~ http://www.caprockwinery.com/

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CHISHOLM TRAIL WINERY AT SPRING CREEK VINEYARDS
2367 Usener Rd.
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 Gillespie County
Phone 830-990-2675
Email~chisholm@ctesc.net
Website~ http://www.chisholmtrailwinery/

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COMFORT CELLARS WINERY
723 Front St.
Comfort, TX 78013 Kendall County
Phone 830-995-3274

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CROSS TIMBERS WINERY
805 Main St.
Grapevine, TX 76051 Tarrant County
Phone 817-488-6789
Email~crosstimberswinery@directlink.net
Website~ http://www.crosstimberswinery.com/

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CROSS ROADS WINERY
8400 Fish Trap Rd.
Crossroads, TX 76227 Denton County
Phone 940-440-9522
Email~fernando@crossroadswvineyards.com
Website~ http://www.crossroadsvineyards.com/

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DELANEY VINEYARDS & WINERY
2000 Champagne Blvd.
Grapevine, TX 76051 Tarrant County
Phone 817-481-5668
Email~info@delaneyvineyards.com

Website~ http://www.delaneyvineyards.com

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DRIFTWOOD VINEYARDS
21550 Ranch Rd. 12
Driftwood, TX 78619 Hays County
Phone 512-858-4508
Email~wine@driftwoodvineyards.com
Website~ http://www.driftwoodvineyards.com/

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DRY COMAL CREEK VINEYARDS
1741 Herbelin Rd.
New Braunfels, TX 78132 Comal County
Phone 830-885-4076
Email~info@drycomalcreek.com
Website~ http://www.drycomalcreek.com/

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FALL CREEK VINEYARDS
1820 County Rd. 222
Tow, TX 78672 Travis County
Phone 915-628-3313
Email~chad@fcv.com
Website~ http://www.fcv.com/

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FLAT CREEK ESTATE
24912 Singleton Bend East, Unit 1
Marble Falls, TX 78654 Burnet County
Phone 512-867-6310
Email~flatcreekwines@aol.com
Website~ http://www.flatcreekestate.com/

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GRAPE CREEK VINEYARD
P.O. Box 102
Stonewall, TX 78671 Gillespie County
Phone 830-644-2710
Email~relax@grapecreek.com
Website~ http://www.grapecreek.com/

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HAAK VINEYARDS & WINERY, INC.
6310 Avenue T
Santa Fe, TX 77510 Galveston County
Phone 409-925-1401
Email~raymond@haakwine.com
Website~ http://www.haakwine.com/

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HOMESTEAD WINERY
P.O. Box 35
Ivanhoe, TX 75447 Fannin County
Phone 903-5834281
Website~ http://www.homesteadwineries.com/

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LA BODEGA WINERY
P.O. Box 613136
DFW Airport, TX 75261 Dallas County
Phone 972-574-6208
Email~ jbrancato01@charter.net

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LA BUENA VIDA VINEYARDS
416 E. College St.
Grapevine, TX 76051 Tarrant County
Phone 817-481-9463
Email~lbv@labuenavida.com
Website~ http://www.labuenavida.com/

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LEHM BERG WINERY
1266 County Rd. 208
Giddings, TX 78942
Phone 979-542-2726
Email~lehmbergwinery@bluebon.com
Website~ http://www.lehmbergwinery.com/

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LIGHTCATCHER WINERY
6925 Confederate Park Road
Fort Worth, TX 76108 Tarrant County
Phone 817-237-2626
Email~lightcatch@aol.com
Website~ http://www.lightcatcher.com/

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LLANO ESTACADO WINERY
1000 S. Main, Suite 252
Grapevine, TX 76051 Tarrant County
Phone 817-329-3890
Email~info@llanowine.com
Website~ http://www.llanowine.com/

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LONE OAK VINEYARDS CORP.
4781 East Lone Oak Rd.
Valley View, TX 76272 Cooke County
Phone 940-637-2612
Email~ loneoak@texoma.net

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LOS PINOS RANCH VINEYARDS
658 County Rd. 1334
Pittsburg, TX 75686
Phone 903-855-1769
Email~lospinos@earthlink.net
Website~ http://www.lospinosranchvineyards.com/

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MCREYNOLDS WINERY
706 Shovel Mountain Rd.
Cypress Mills, TX 78654 Travis County
Phone 860-825-3544
Email~info@mcreynoldswines.com
Website~ http://www.mcreynoldswines.com/

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MESSINA HOF WINE CELLARS
4545 Old Reliance Rd.
Bryan, TX 77808 Brazos County
Phone 817-329-3890
Email~wine@messinahof.com
Website~ http://www.messinahof.com/

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OBERHOF WINERY & WINE CELLAR
1406 South US Hwy 87
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 Gillespie County
Phone 830-897-0124

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PHEASANT RIDGE WINERY
Route 3, Box 191
Lubbock, TX 79401 Lubbock County
Phone 806-746-6033
Email~billgipson@aol.com
Website~www.pheasantridgewinery.com

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PILLAR BLUFF VINEYARDS
300 Burnet County Rd.
Lampasas, TX 76550 Lampasas County
Phone 512-556-4078
Email~vineyard@n-link.com
Website~ http://www.pillarbluff.com/

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PINEY WOODS COUNTRY WINES
3408 Willow Dr.
Orange, TX 77632 Orange County
Phone 409-883-5408

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PLEASANT HILL WINERY
1441 Salem Rd.
Brenham, TX 77833 Washington County
Phone 979-830-8463
Email~texaswine@aol.com
Website~ http://www.pleasanthillwinery.com/

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POTEET COUNTRY WINERY
400 Tank Hollow Rd.
Poteet, TX 78065 Atascosa County
Phone 830-276-8085
Email~poteetwine@peoplepc.com
Website~ http://www.poteetwine.com/

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RED RIVER WINERY
421 Gentry #204
Spring, TX 77373 Harris County
Phone 281-288-9463
Email~redriverwinery@msn.com
Website~ http://www.redriverwinery.com/

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SISTER CREEK VINEYARDS
1142 Sisterdale Rd.
Sisterdale, TX 78006 Kendall County
Phone 830-324-6704
Email~sistercreek@hctc.net
Website~ http://www.sistercreekvineyards.com/

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SPICEWOOD VINEYARDS
P.O. Box 248
Spicewood, TX 78669 Burnet County
Phone 830-693-5328
Email~emanigol@tstar.net
Website~ http://www.spicewoodvineyards.com/

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STE. GENEVIEVE WINERS
P.O. Box 697
Fort Stockton, TX 79735 Pecos County
Phone 915-395-2417

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SU VINO WINERY
120 South Main St. Suite 40
Grapevine, TX 76051 Tarrant County
Phone 817-416-9333
Email~tim@suvinowinery.com
Website~ http://www.suvinowinery.com/

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TEXAS HILLS VINEYARD INC.
P.O. Box 1480
Johnson City, TX 78636 Blanco County
Phone 830-868-2321
Email~wine@texashillsvineyard.com
Website~ http://www.texashillsvineyard.com/

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WICHITA FALLS WINERY
3399 Peterson Rd.
Iowa Park, TX 76367 Wichita County
Phone 940-782-1234

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VAL VERDE WINERY
100 Qualia Dr.
Del Rio, TX 78840 Val Verde County
Phone 830-775-9714

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WIMBERLEY VALLEY WINES, INC.
2825 Lone Man Mountain Rd.
Driftwood, TX 78619 Hays County
Phone 512-847-2592
Email~info@wimberleyvalleywinery.com
Website~ http://www.wimberleyvalleywinery.com/

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WOODROSE WINERY
662 Woodrose Ln.
Stonewall, TX 78674 Gillespie County
Phone 830-644-2111

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WALES MANOR VINEYARD & WINERY
4488 County Rd. 408
McKinney, TX 75071 Dallas County
Phone 972-569-9840
Email~ wales@airmail.net

Wine Tasting .......Texas Style!

Please visit Texas Wine Tours.......the PREMIERE way to visit Texas Wineries and enjoy Texas Wines in style and luxury! Visit Hill Country Wineries with 14 friends in a coach with the luxury of a limousine. http://www.texas-wine-tours.com/ 877-Tex-Wine

http://www.FreeDFWApartments.com & http://www.DFWHomeforSale.com

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Increasing Seller's Property Value

2009-05-25T21:39:00.001-05:00

Understand first of all that there IS a difference between price and value. Price is the amount you are asking for the property. Value is buyer perceived, and this perception of value is influenced by many factors such as location, features, condition, comparison to other purchase option, etc. By attending to details that can have a positive impact on the value, sellers can significantly increase their chance of attracting qualified buyers willing to pay the asking price.

Some tips to achieve a positive impact on value are:

Perceived size impacts value, even more so than actual square footage. Open floor plans make a room feel bigger than larger spaces with smaller rooms. Showing property that is furniture free, or at reduced clutter, helps to make the space feel bigger.
Vacancy increases sale-ability. Property is easier to show and easier to sell, and quicker to take possession of when it is vacant at the time it is offered for sale. Evidence of problems to take possession of the property -- such as encroachments, or tenants who wont allow buyer tours -- negatively impact value. Vacancy also helps the buyer walk through the property imagining ownership. Sellers should remove personal trinkets and family pictures as well as being conveniently absent during a buyer tour.
Cosmetics are important.
- Fresh paint will always add more value than it costs.
- Clean or new carpet/flooring adds more value than it costs.
- Landscaping adds more value than it costs. At the very minimum, make the entrance area neat.
- If you can, add some colorful flowers and new sod.
Take care of the obvious! The spot on the ceiling from the roof leak takes thousands of dollars from the perceived value and the offer price.
Condition affects value. Do a seller's home inspection to identify and fix the problem BEFORE closing. No point holding up your check a few extra days; plus a failed buyer's inspection could cost you the sale. Buyers will often bargain down your asking price to accomodate for property condition and repairs.
If you can, remodel/update the kitchen and master bathroom. These two areas have a big impact on home buying decisions.
Strategic renovations impact value and your bottom line. Don't spend more money to renovate the place than you can recapture in value on the sales price.

Want more info ? visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

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Is Social Media going to replace Emails ?

2009-05-23T06:59:00.000-05:00

Some people are predicting that Social Media will soon replace emails.....here is a list of Social Media Websites to check out.....

To learn more about some of the most popular networks that are part of the Internet's second generation, read the blurbs below and then visit these sites. You'll find some easier to use and understand than others, but as you browse, ask yourself: How could our agency benefit by using this network?

• Facebook (www.facebook.com): A free online social media network created by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004 while he was at Harvard University. Named for the paper booklets that colleges distribute with names and photos of students, Facebook spread to other universities and now has 150 million subscribers worldwide.

• LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com): A network of 33 million professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. Launched by five partners in 2003, the network exists to "find, be introduced to and collaborate with qualified professionals you need to work with to accomplish your goals."

• Twitter (www.twitter.com): A privately-funded social media service with offices in San Francisco. Started in March 2006, Twitter has grown into a real time short messaging service that works over multiple networks and devices. Members post news about themselves by answering, in 140 characters or less, the question: "What are you doing?" Other members respond by offering relevant information that may be useful. According to a source, Twitter had 744,000members as of January 2008.

• Craigslist (www.craigslist.com): A free, online classified advertising space that connects buyers and sellers, whether the item being "sold" is an antique dresser or a position at an insurance firm. The site is categorized by metropolitan area and further divided by suburbs. Ads are automatically deleted after seven days, at which time you may repost.

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Even the Smartest Ones Lose Their Homes

2009-05-22T06:50:00.001-05:00

Posted from Inman News
Monday, May 18, 2009, by Dakota

First, Edmund Andrews, an economics reporter for the New York Times (who makes $120,000 a year), falls in love, and then he buys a $460,000 house in Silver Spring, Maryland, and then he takes out two mortgages (a primary mortgage of $333,700 and a "piggyback" loan for $80,300). Here's how his broker convinces him not to worry about the loans: "'Don't worry," Bob reassured me, saying what almost everybody else in real estate was saying at that moment. "The value of your house will be higher in five years. You'll be able to refinance.'" And then the credit card debt starts piling up, and then his wife gets laid off, and then they default on their mortgage, but JPMorgan Chase is so busy dealing with the mess of the housing market that the bank is too busy to foreclose on his home. Wondering how he, an economics writer, failed to understand what he was doing (well, he knew he was gambling), Andrews ends his essay this way: "Eight months after my last payment to the bank, I am still waiting for the ax to fall." [NY Times magazine]

For info about housing visit: http://www.dfwhomeforsale.com

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Short Sale hurts your Credit

2009-05-13T07:32:00.001-05:00

Short sale hurts your credit

Choosing a short sale over foreclosure is difficult. Both take a bite out of your credit rating. But one is easier to recover from.

NEW YORK (Money Magazine) -- Q. We have to relocate because of my husband's job. Our home value has fallen nearly $100,000. We would like to get rid of it, but we don't want to go into foreclosure. Someone mentioned a short sale. What impact would that have on our credit rating?

Gerri Willis, Money magazine contributing writer and host of CNN's "Your Bottom Line," says:

A.A short sale, in which you negotiate with the bank to sell your home for less than you owe on your mortgage, will have a dramatically negative affect on your credit.

A consumer who has been through a short sale could see a drop in her credit score of up to 200 points, essentially the same decrease as if the homeowner had gone into foreclosure, says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for Credit.com.

And like a foreclosure, the negative mark will pull down the score for seven years.

That said, if you're underwater on your mortgage and you need to move, a short sale is a better option than foreclosure. Going through foreclosure will make it very difficult for you to get a loan for at least three to five years; if you've done a short sale, you may be able to qualify for a new mortgage within two years.

By Gerri Willis, Money magazine contributing writer

For more information on Short Sales, Foreclosures, Visit : http://www.robertjrussell.com , http://www.homesinflowermound.net, http://www.dfwhomeforsale.com, http://www.helpyoufindahouse.com, http://www.wediditagaingroup.com

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