Controling Holidays Spending

This week the holidays will officially begin and so has spending.

The holidays have become a season of over indulgence from food to sharing materialistic items. The abundant economic prosperity our country has experienced came to a halt as Americans struggle to stay afloat. It is in time of adversity that we find the true meaning of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

How to control the holidays and make them the best ever yet:

1. Make gathering with family and friends the focal point of the holidays and give thanks for what you have "each other". Appreciate every minute you share together for this is what makes memories that will last for eternity.

2. Start a tradition of each member of your thanksgiving gathering expressing what they are thankfull for. Have them write it, turn it into a display and after the holidays make a scrapbook to share with them every year. Take pictures to incorporate into the scrapbook.

3. Instead of buying everyone a gift why not exchange names. Decide on a spending minimum and maximum. Have everyone write their name and 3 items they would enjoy receiving whose value are within the agreed amounts.

4. Buy what you can afford today.

5. Put away the plastic whenever possible.

6. Before you go to the stores have a list of names and what you are buying. Do your homework and check the sales.

Remember that material things we give do not last and are often discarded. What matters and last is the love and spiritual meaning we give each other. Those memories last forever.

Enjoy your HOLIDAYS AND GOD BLESS YOU!

What Affects The Economy The Most

The economy is affected by a series of inter-related complex factors that has made the recovery very sluggish. In fact the delicate balance of these factors have created a domino effect.

Some of the these factors are:

1. Unsuccessfull governmental programs affecting business community.

2. Job Creation

3. Credit criteria

4. Housing Market still remaining critical

5. Consumer spending

Each one of these factors builds on each other and has created a downward spiral that is still out of control. Although it seems to have slow down the question is how do we revert the situation from a negative to a positive.

What Do You Cut In Tough Economic Times?

Financial advisors recommend cutting back on small things to save lots of money.

As the hard economic times linger a pattern of savings by cutting back expenses seemed to have developed through out the country. Some of the things Americans are cutting back on are:

1. Bringing lunch to work vs eating out

2. Stopped purchasing coffee in the morning

3. Choosing generic brand items vs name brands

4. Cooking vs eating out

5. Refillable water bottles vs buying water bottles

6. Less frequent visits to hairstylist, nail salons, and barber shops.

7. Cancel magazines and newspaper subscription

8. Cut down use of dry cleaning services

9. Driving vs Carpooling or using mass transit services

10. Renting movies vs. going to the movies

11. Cut backs or cancel cable television

12. Using cell phones only and cancelling land lines.

Are you among the ones developing a new life style?

What Average Buyers Are Looking For

The home market fluctuate depending on the latest fad and economic condition of the nation.The longer the economic downturn last the bigger the changes people are force to make.

Today's reality has forced people to downsize and choose practical designs when choosing their home.

1. Size: The average buyer is looking for a home with less than 2,000 square feet.

2. Functionality: Flexible spaces that can serve as home offices, guest rooms or dens are in high demand.

3. Energy Efficiency: Homes with energy efficient windows, doors, insulation, and appliances are also in high demand.

Prepare your home and call attention to the assets buyers are looking for.

Holiday Staging

Principle concept of staging "less is more". The holidays are upon us so how do you incorporate the warm holiday cheers and maintain the integrity of staging.

1. Keep it elegant and simple

2. Don't clutter - pack same amount of items as you display

3. Small close space - small christmas tree
Large open space - larger christmas tree
Well lighted
Display elegant uniformly color ornaments complementing room colors.

4. Holidays colors use -
poinsettas
greenery on fireplace mantel and dinning tables
candels
pillows and throws

5. Holiday mood - use instrumental music and candle smells

6. Curb appeal - Wreath, poinsiettas, white non blinking lights

Most importantly enjoy the holidays!

Financial Reform Controversy

A Few months ago Congress passed financial reform through the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law.

Included in the bill one reform required lenders to keep a 5 percent interest in the loans they sold to investors. The goal was to keep the lenders from making questionable loans and passing them to investors while selling off the loans in bulk. This common practice contributed to the housing bust.

The Mortgage Bankers Association has requested to have mortgages with adjustable rates and interest-only exempted from the 5 percent rule. They claim that without an exemption to this rule the end result would be fewer customers able to obtain financing.

Apparently we will be seeing a greater degree of financial tightening when applying for a loan.

Real Estate Owned (REO) Sales Slowed Down

If you are currently navigating the REO/Foreclosure market what does the nation's latest foreclosure disaster have in store for you?

The latest scandal in the foreclosure field is the question of whether banks filed foreclosure documents without confirming their content. As the banking institutions became overwhelmed with the number of foreclosures, questions have arrised with the procedures followed by banking staff. This has caused Attorney Generals in all 50 states to launch an investigation into this practices.

Bank of America, Ally, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase are among the banks announcing a stopped or slowed down of final foreclosure sales in the last month as they investigate internally the procedures currently in place and resubmit documents. In an attempt to protect the fragil housing market Federal Regulators and the White House are considering giving the banks a measure of liability protection as they redo paperwork to prevent a foreclosure sale freeze.

Until the Banks and regulators have figured out the appropriate course correction you must arm yourself with patience. An alternative is to concentrate on the APPROVED shortsale market.

How To Decorate X-Large Rooms

Huge rooms creates large problems to decorate. X-large rooms with high ceilings, tall doors and windows makes your house look fantastic. So how do you convert these large spaces from feeling cold to warm? Your choice of texture, color and furniture placement are key factors.

Here are a few tips to consider while making your house a home:

1. Whatever colors you choose for your living-room must be complementary repeated in adjacent rooms.
2. Darker colors minimizes the size of a room.
3. Ceiling moldings visually brings down a tall space.
4. Cluster your seating arrangements.
5. Instead of one rug use separate rugs for the seating arrangements.
6. Indulge yourself with extra large furniture.

The most important tip is to enjoy planning the decor and allow yourself expression to dominate the end product. Have fun while making your house your HOME.