Posted by Collette | Posted in Weekly Tips | Posted on 31-05-2011
Postpone Emails and Make Reminders
Never forget an email again and keep your inbox clean.
How many times have you received an email that’s important, but not important right now? You flag it, you put it in a “don’t forget” folder… and then you promptly forget it.
With NudgeMail you can assign emails to be delayed and resent to you at a later time. Just forward the email to NudgeMail and it will be delivered to you later. In the “To:” field, you simply type july2@nudgemail.com or thursday@nudgemail.com and the email will appear again when you’ve scheduled it.
You can even write yourself reminder notes and they’ll be delivered to you just like postponed emails.
Works with almost every email program and mobile device. No charge, no contracts to give it a try. Don’t let email slip past again:
Homeowners looking to lower their monthly mortgage payments and also save some on interest may be able to do so without refinancing.
By using a little-known strategy, called “recasting,” or “re-amortization,” that may be available through some mortgage lenders and servicers. It involves paying off a lump sum of the principal amount and asking to have the monthly payments reset according to the original interest rate and loan terms. The lump sum reduces the principal, so your new monthly payments decrease slightly and you save on interest paid over the life of the loan.
One of the primary appeals of recasting is that it typically involves a small fee ($150) and doesn’t require the credit requirements of refinancing.
Edward Ades, the owner of Universal Mortgage in Brooklyn, says recasting can be especially useful to recent buyers, for whom it makes little financial sense to refinance but who expect to receive a tax refund or other substantial money after closing on their property, like proceeds from a relative’s sale of property, stocks or other assets.
If your interest rate is 5 percent or lower, Mr. Ades added, it may not make sense to recast a loan, because the extra cash could be put into an investment with a higher return. “At the end of the day,” he said, “I always tell people they have to do whatever makes them sleep better.”
To learn more about recasting and if it right for you give me a call. 801-815-5802
Posted by Collette | Posted in Weekly Tips | Posted on 16-11-2010
Show clients the real cost of buying versus renting.
How many times have you heard someone say, “In this market, it makes more sense for me to rent”? The truth is, many people don’t understand how to truly evaluate whether or not renting is really in their best interest. Offering prospective clients a free analysis is a great way to start a homeownership conversation.
Move.com offers a number of useful calculators, one of which is the “Rent vs. Buy” calculator:
“This calculator will help you to compare the costs of renting to the costs of buying a home. Since there are all kinds of forces at work behind the scenes (interest, property taxes, tax savings, appreciation, opportunity costs, closing costs, selling costs, etc.), comparing the cost of renting to the cost of buying is a lot more complicated than just comparing the monthly mortgage payment to the monthly rent payment. This calculator attempts to forecast the net effects of all the hidden forces so you can make an informed decision.”
Even if you can’t afford an interior designer, you can decorate successfully. Before starting a project, determine your style preferences. If you have trouble coming up with great ideas, check out decorating shows and collect tear sheets from magazines. For best results, create a budget and focus on one room at a time. Here are top designer tips to help turn your home into a haven:
Before beginning a project, have a plan;
Mix high-end & affordable pieces;
Purchase well-made furniture with interesting details or classic lines;
Splurge on furniture that gets a lot of use;
Avoid being too trendy;
Don’t over-accessorize;
Use accessories that draw the eye to a room’s focal point;
Don’t let furniture hug the walls;
Angle sofas to make rooms appear larger;
Arrange furniture for easy access & movement;
Add the illusion of space by keeping part (or all) of the floor visible;
Everything doesn’t have to match;
When mixing styles, choose pieces that visually balance each other;
Paint can refresh, revitalize or completely change a room’s look;
White is classic but color creates depth & interest;
Choose a hue that suits you, your family, and lifestyle;
Blue and green rooms are calming & relaxing;
Dark colors make a room seem smaller;
Light colors make a room seem larger;
Paint ceilings two shades lighter than walls for small rooms to feel airy & spacious.
How many times have you received an email that’s important, but not important right now? You flag it, you put it in a “don’t forget” folder… and then you promptly forget it. 
