North Shore MA Real Estate Bloghttp://www.alexandrazega.com/blogNewburyport Georgetown North Shore Massachusetts New Hampshire real estate market news provided by Alexandra ZegaTue, 15 May 2012 03:00:00 GMT20 Habits That'll Get You Fit for Summer

 

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/20-Habits-Thatll-Get-You-Fit-for-Summerhttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/20-Habits-Thatll-Get-You-Fit-for-SummerTue, 15 May 2012 03:00:00 GMTWeird Home Remedies that actually work (c) Lisa Collier Cool, Day in Health

Strange but true: you’ve probably got an amazing assortment of stuff in the kitchen, the tool box or the medicine chest that can do double duty as remedies for all kinds of common ailments. What’s more, there’s actual scientific research to back up some of these do-it-yourself treatments. Here’s a rundown on the most intriguing nine:

Didgeridoo for Sleep Apnea

Okay, so this probably isn’t something you’ve got lying around the house. You may not have heard of it either, but if you’ve got sleep apnea, this strange-sounding Australian wind instrument may be just what you need.

According to a study from Switzerland, four months of learning to play the didgeridoo worked well for patients with moderate sleep apnea, made for a better night’s sleep, and reduced daytime sleepiness. Even more, their bed partners slept better, too. Playing the instrument addressed sleep apnea by strengthening the upper airway, which prevents it from narrowing as you inhale.

Biting on a Pencil for Headache Relief

This won’t work for migraines, but if you get common tension headaches, the pencil trick may help prevent them. We tend to automatically clench our jaws and teeth when we’re anxious or stressed, and this is a subconscious reaction that can lead to a tension headache.

When you feel your jaw clench, put a pencil between your teeth (don’t bite down) and hold it there. This simple strategy will cause your jaw to relax, easing tension, forestalling the headache, and easing the pain.

Listerine for Blisters

You know it as a breath freshener and an antiseptic, but Listerine can also dry out blisters. Dab some on a cotton ball and apply it to your blister three times a day until it dries and the pain vanishes. Integrative medicine pioneer Andrew Weil, M.D., recommends applying petroleum jelly on a blister for temporary pain relief.

Lemon Balm Tea for Cold Sores

Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and packs an anti-viral punch that can heal cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus (this isn’t the herpes that is sexually transmitted). A big study in Germany found that once treated with lemon balm, not a single cold sore recurrence occurred.

Duct Tape for Warts

This is not an old wives tale. Using duct tape to remove warts has been shown to work better than freezing them off. In one study, duct tape eliminated 85 percent of patients' warts in two months (freezing eradicated only 60 percent).

Here’s how it works: make sure the wart and surrounding skin are clean, then cut a piece of duct tape a bit larger than the wart and press into place. Remove the tape every three days, rub the wart with an emery board or pumice stone and repeat until the wart is gone.

Ginger for Motion Sickness

Crystalized ginger, ginger tea, ginger syrup, or capsules of ginger powder can combat motion sickness and nausea in general (ginger ale or even ginger snaps may help, too). One study found that ginger worked better for motion sickness than anti-nausea medication, and Danish researchers report that ginger helped quell seasickness in susceptible naval cadets better than a placebo.

Papaya for Smoother Skin

The active ingredient is papain, an enzyme that dissolves dead surface cells that give skin a dull, rough look. Try this fruity facial to soften and smooth your skin: wash and peel a ripe papaya and swirl about two tablespoons in a food processor. Add a tablespoon of dried oatmeal and apply to your freshly washed face for 10 minutes. Remove with warm water or a wet washcloth.

Banana Bonanza

You can do a lot more with a banana than slice it on your cereal. Among the fruit's other uses: slap a banana peel (the inside part) on an itch caused by a bug bite or poison ivy; this will dial down the inflammation and relieve the itch. You can also use mashed banana as a facial--it’s great for moisturizing dry skin. Banana peel also has anti-acne properties: just rub the inside part of the peel over your clean face to get the anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects.

Mustard for Minor Burns

Slather mustard on seared skin. After an initial sting, the mustard will relieve the pain and prevent scarring and blistering. No science here, but lots of enthusiastic testimonials.

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Weird-Home-Remedies-that-actually-workhttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Weird-Home-Remedies-that-actually-workThu, 03 May 2012 03:00:00 GMTHousing Crisis to End in 2012 as Banks Loosen Credit Standards
 

Capital Economics expects the housing crisis to end this year, according to a report released Tuesday. One of the reasons: loosening credit.

The analytics firm notes the average credit score required to attain a mortgage loan is 700. While this is higher than scores required prior to the crisis, it is constant with requirements one year ago.

Additionally, a Fed Senior Loan Officer Survey found credit requirements in the fourth quarter were consistent with the past three quarters.

However, other market indicators point not just to a stabilization of mortgage lending standards, but also a loosening of credit availability.

Banks are now lending amounts up to 3.5 times borrower earnings. This is up from a low during the crisis of 3.2 times borrower earnings.

Banks are also loosening loan-to-value ratios (LTV), which Capital Economics denotes “the clearest sign yet of an improvement in mortgage credit conditions.”

In contrast to a low of 74 percent reached in mid-2010, banks are now lending at 82 percent LTV.

While credit conditions may have loosened slightly, some potential homebuyers are still struggling with credit requirements. In fact, Capital Economics points out that in November 8 percent of contract cancelations were the result of a potential buyer not qualifying for a loan.

Additionally, Capital Economics says “any improvement in credit conditions won’t be significant enough to generate actual house price gains,” and potential ramifications from the euro-zone pose a threat to future credit availability.

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Housing-Crisis-to-End-in-2012-as-Banks-Loosen-Credit-Standardshttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Housing-Crisis-to-End-in-2012-as-Banks-Loosen-Credit-StandardsFri, 06 Apr 2012 03:00:00 GMTFive Travel Costs to Avoid on Your Next Road Trip

Cars Traffic Highway Thousands of Americans will hit the road over the next few weeks to travel as their children are out of school for spring break. Even more will find themselves on the nation's highways on summer vacations.

A road trip often means big bucks will be laid out on travel costs. From pricey snacks to premium fuel to costly car washes, the route between your home and your destination is a virtual minefield of unnecessary purchases that can drain your pocketbook. 

Exceeding Speed Limit Lowers Gas Mileage

It may feel more satisfying to fly around other drivers on the highway, but the joke is on you. Your gas mileage will decrease rapidly after your speedometer hits 60 miles per hour and higher, and boost your travel costs.

In addition, rapid acceleration and braking also can reduce your gas mileage. Driving at a lower speed can help you save as much as 33% on your cost to fill up at the pump, says Jody DeVere, chief executive at AskPatty.com, an automotive advice and education site for women.

"Observing the speed limit is also safer, so you may save more than just money," DeVere says.

Avoid Expensive Road Food Costs

A little preplanning can save you from having to buy those pricey bags of chips at roadside gas stations. Before you leave, visit your local grocery store and stock up on snacks and drinks, then toss them in a cooler that's small enough to stash in the back seat or trunk, says Stacey Hylen, a business coach in Montreal who spent seven years on the road while working in sales.

If your trip is long enough to require a restaurant meal, sit down for road food during the first half of the day to save money.

Dodge High Gas Prices Just Off the Highway

Pulling into a gas station right off the interstate or turnpike saves time, but it can cost you money. Gas prices just off the highway may be higher than at stations at discount stores and near supermarket shopping centers, says Jody DeVere, chief executive at AskPatty.com, an automotive advice and education site for women. Warehouse stores, such as Sam's Club and Costco, also offer cheaper gas, but you have to be a member. If you are, check your route beforehand to see if there are any locations on the way.

Finally, smartphone users can download free apps, such as GasBuddy, to find stations closer to town that offer fuel at lower prices.

Do You Really Need Premium Gas?

The debate over regular gas versus high-octane fuel has raged for years. But the truth is simple: Very few cars derive any benefit from premium grades of gasoline. "For most cars, the recommended gasoline is regular octane," says Jody DeVere, chief executive at AskPatty.com, an automotive advice and education site for women. Premium gas won't help your car perform better or increase your gas mileage, and it can cost you as much as 20 cents per gallon more than regular, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

A small number of cars do require high-octane gasoline, so check your owner's manual -- and even then, read carefully. "Find out if the higher-priced gas is required or just recommended," DeVere says. If it says "recommended," you're probably fine using regular gas. If it says "required," you should go for the higher grades.

Put Off Costly Car Washes

Think hard before ponying up those extra few bucks for automatic car washes at gas stations. They may not get your car entirely clean and might even damage the exterior. "Some older car washes use abrasive brushes instead of cloth ones, which can leave small scratches in a car's finish," says Jody DeVere, chief executive at AskPatty.com, an automotive advice and education site for women. Often, a more cost-effective option is a self-service wash, which requires you to physically scrub the car but can be useful for removing heavy, caked-on dirt. Or skip the wash altogether while you're on the road and periodically spot clean the headlights, windshield and mirrors for safety purposes, says Eric Wulf, chief executive of the International Carwash Association in Chicago.

Finally, if you can plan ahead, you may want to wash your car before you even leave home. "A good wash with wax or sealant goes a long way toward protecting your vehicle from road salt and corrosion," Wulf says.

 

 

 

 

 

(c) Claire Gallam | Work + Money

 

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Five-Travel-Costs-to-Avoid-on-Your-Next-Road-Triphttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Five-Travel-Costs-to-Avoid-on-Your-Next-Road-TripSun, 25 Mar 2012 03:00:00 GMT6 House Repairs to Tackle Now (c) Financially Fit Home Karen Haywood Queen

In this economy, you may be tempted to delay or even skip minor home maintenance repairs, cleaning jobs and inspections in your home. But don't be penny-wise and dollar-foolish. That $200 or $300 you save today could result in expenditures of $3,000 or even tens of thousands next month or next year if hidden problems in your home go unnoticed and become worse.

Consider coughing up a little dough to take care of these small jobs before they morph into gigantic, expensive jobs later.

Annual HVAC inspection

Cost: $200-$300, depending on where you live.

How often: At least once a year.

When: Spring or fall. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, companies aren't as busy, and you're not in dire need of heat or air conditioning.

What an inspection might find: The furnace blower is not working properly. Cost to repair or replace: $100-$150. Possible consequence of letting it go: a broken heat exchanger. Potential savings down the road: $300-$1,000 to replace the heat exchanger or $750-$3,500, depending on the energy efficiency, to replace indoor or outdoor furnace components. The reversing switch in the heat pump is broken. Cost to repair or replace: $100-$300. Letting it go results in no heat from the heat pump, and the system switches to a more expensive auxiliary heat. Potential savings: lower heating bills.

Bottom line: "Things that happen often happen at the worst possible time in the worse possible conditions and you're looking at the maximum rate," says Terry Townsend of Townsend Engineering in Chattanooga, Tenn., and former president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. Remember, continual maintenance prolongs the life of the equipment. "You're sitting there with an investment of thousands in your HVAC system and you're investing a few hundred dollars in maintenance."

 Chimney Inspection

Cost: $65 for an inspection; $150 for inspection and cleaning, including removal of creosote buildup, which may lead to a chimney fire.

How often: Once a year.

When: Before your first fire in winter.

What an inspection might find: There's no chimney cap. Cost to add: $150. If you let it go, rain water can get into your chimney, damage the chimney liner and damper, and even saturate mortar joints -- causing mold. Potential savings: $2,000-$4,000 to replace the chimney liner. Other problems may include: A cracked chimney crown, which can be repaired for $300-$500; chimney flashing that needs caulking, which can be done for $80-$100; and waterproofing the exterior brick, $350-$600. All these fixes will prevent rainwater from getting in and mold from forming.

Bottom line: "A simple chimney cleaning can prevent chimney fires and damage to your entire house," says Ray Gessner, a licensed professional engineer and owner of A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps, with offices in the eastern U.S. "Water is the No. 1 problem with chimneys. With water damage, you might need to have your whole chimney rebuilt."

Termite Inspection

Cost: $75-$200 for an inspection; $200-$300 for a termite protection contract for qualifying homes with no current evidence of termites to cover treatment and repairs for any later infestation.

How often: Once a year.

When: Any time, although termites are more active in spring and early summer.

What an inspection might find: Subterranean termites that come from the ground or flying termites. If left untreated, these bugs damage framing, trim, drywall, furniture, carpet, copper and other soft metals. Termites cause more than $5 billion in damages a year in the U.S., says Paul Curtis, director of quality assurance for Terminix in Memphis, Tenn. The average homeowner loss for termite damage is $3,000, but losses can be as high as $30,000 or even $80,000, Curtis says. Most homeowners insurance does not cover repair of termite damage.

Bottom line: "Termites eat the wood from the inside out," Curtis says. "A typical homeowner would not be aware they are even in their home until months or years after they get in and start causing damage. A lot of people don't realize that termites don't just feed on the home. They'll eat flooring, insulation, books -- I've even seen them penetrate through swimming pool liners."

Power Washing and Sealing Wood Deck

Cost: $100-$300 for a 200-square-foot deck, more for a larger deck.

How often: Every one to three years, depending on the amount of traffic, moss and mold.

When: Any time in sunny weather.

Power washing gets rid of stains, algae, mold, mildew and moss. Algae and mold can make your deck slippery and dangerous, says Justin Lee of JL Power Washing in Williamsburg, Va. Sealing your deck after it is cleaned helps prevent water damage. Wood soaks up rain like a sponge, expands and then shrinks, Lee says. Sealing makes the water bead up and roll off. And let's not forget -- your deck will look nicer, too. If you let it go, your deck will warp, nails will pop out and the deck won't last as long.

Potential savings: $4,000 to $20,000 or more to replace your deck, depending on size.

Bottom line: "A properly cleaned and sealed wood deck can last 20 to 30 years," Lee says.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

Cost: $120-$200.

How often: Every year.

When: A sunny day. The purpose is to get rid of lint buildup. If your dryer is not on an exterior wall, it's likely that the vent leading outside is clogged up, says Gessner of A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps. If you ignore it, the result could be a disastrous fire. "Once the vent gets clogged, the dryer starts overheating and it can catch on fire," Gessner says. "Dryer fires are very dangerous."

Potential savings: Your home, your furnishings, your belongings and your life.

Bottom line: "I had been airing a radio commercial talking about the importance of dryer vent cleaning for about a month when three people (in our area) died in a fire caused by a dryer vent fire," Gessner says.

Carpet Cleaning

Cost: About 50 cents per square foot for hot water extraction cleaning, or $500 for 1,000 square feet of cleaned carpet.

How often: Every 12 months; more often for high-traffic areas and homes with small children, pets or smokers. Manufacturers' warranties may require cleaning every 18 to 24 months. You can save money by focusing on regular cleanings for high-traffic areas and waiting up to two years for the entire carpet.

When: Any time.

If the carpet looks dirty, you've waited too long because some soil can't be removed with vacuuming. This soil will bind to your carpet and dull the texture, shortening the life of the carpet. Your home also will be healthier with pollen, bacteria, insecticides and dirt removed, says Howard Partridge, founder and president of Clean as a Whistle, a cleaning company outside Houston.

Potential savings: Extending the life of your carpet. Replacing 1,000 square feet of medium-grade carpet, including padding and installation, costs about $3,000.

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/6-House-Repairs-to-Tackle-Nowhttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/6-House-Repairs-to-Tackle-NowMon, 12 Mar 2012 03:00:00 GMT12 quick fixes for your household things

By Adam Bluestein

Fifteen-minute home projects that won't put a dent in your weekend.

Toothpaste
Photo: Hallie Burton

Scuffed Linoleum

Rub the spot with white toothpaste and a dry cloth or with an eraser. Or spray WD-40 on a towel and rub lightly, making sure to degrease the area afterward with liquid dishwashing soap and water.

Cutting board
Photo: Hallie Burton

Dry Cutting Board

Revive your board by gently warming a bottle of pure mineral oil (available at drugstores) in a bowl of hot water, then wiping the oil onto the surface with a soft cloth. Wipe off the excess four to six hours later.
Spray lubricant
Photo: Hallie Burton

Stuck Sliding Windows

A little silicone spray lubricant (sold at hardware stores) will grease the skids. Spray it onto a rag, then wipe along the tracks, whether they’re metal, wood, or plastic.
Down cushions
Photo: Hallie Burton

Flattened Down Cushions

Put them outside in the sun for a few hours, flipping them halfway through. (Be careful―leaving them out too long may fade the fabric.) The sun will help evaporate the moisture that gets into the filling over time, and the cushions should plump up nicely.
Decanter
Photo: Hallie Burton

Dirty Decanter

Fill the decanter halfway with hot water, a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap, two tablespoons of white vinegar, and a cup of uncooked rice. Swirl the rice around for a few minutes to remove the residue, rinse with hot water, and air-dry.
Extension cords
Photo: Hallie Burton

Tangled Extension Cords

Cowgirls and sailors alike know the benefits of storing ropes neatly coiled. Follow their lead and keep extension cords tangle-free and contained inside a large plastic bucket when they’re not in use.
Paper
Photo: Hallie Burton

Peeling Wallpaper

With a knife, smear wallpaper paste onto a piece of writing paper. Rub the paper against the underside of the peeling section. Press the wallpaper against the wall. Slide the writing paper out and smooth away bubbles with a clean cloth.
Sponge
Photo: Hallie Burton

Worn Caning

A little sagging over time is natural but reversible. To tighten caning back up, use a sponge to wet the underside with warm water. Let dry slowly overnight. Repeat if necessary.
Chandeliers
Photo: Hallie Burton

Dusty Chandelier

Allow the fixture to cool. Wear a pair of white cotton gloves―one dry, one dampened with glass cleaner. (For crystal, use one part rubbing alcohol to three parts distilled water.) Wipe each prism with the damp glove, then the dry one.
WD-40
Photo: Hallie Burton

Hard-to-Remove Decals

Spray the decals and the surrounding areas with WD-40, lifting the edges to get underneath, if possible. Let sit, then gently scrape away the decal with the edge of a credit card. Degrease the tub with liquid dishwashing soap.
Light bulbs
Photo: Hallie Burton

Hard-to-Remove Light Bulb

Press the center of a foot-long strip of duct tape onto the middle of the bulb. Fold each loose end in half so it sticks onto itself. Gripping each end between your thumb and index finger, give a counterclockwise twist to loosen the bulb.

Tubs
Photo: Hallie Burton

Stained Tub

Combine equal amounts of cream of tartar and baking soda with enough lemon juice to make a paste. Rub the mixture into the stain with your fingers or a soft cloth. Let sit for a half hour, then rinse well with water.
 

 
 

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/12-quick-fixes-for-your-household-thingshttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/12-quick-fixes-for-your-household-thingsTue, 28 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMTHow to: Delete your Google Web History

By Andrew Couts | Digital Trends

One area this is most clear is with search. Our search histories can reveal a lot about us: what we like or dislike, our religion, political leanings, sexual preferences, age, and even health information. As it stands today, all that data collected through searches performed while logged into your Google account has been kept separate from the troves of other data the company has in its coffers. That will all change come next Thursday. Unless, of course, you delete all of it. And here’s how you can do that in less than a minute:

• First, go to google.com/history. There, you’ll be asked to sign into your Google account.

• Second, click the “Remove all Web History” button. And that’s it! You’re done. Not only is all your search data removed from Google’s grasps, but doing this automatically pauses Web History, meaning no more information will be collected until you click the blue “Resume” button at the top of the page.

(Note: If you have more than one Google account, you’ll have to do this whole process for each of them.)

If you want to be less drastic, you can also go through your entire Web History (an activity your author found both intriguing and truly frightening), and pick out the bits and pieces you’d rather Google not know about. You can then simply hit the “Pause” button, and no more search data will be collected.

Please note: This doesn’t not stop Google from collecting all types of information about you. To do that, you’re going to have to go through a lot more steps, many of which the Electronic Frontier Foundation has spelled out here.

One pleasant effect of deleting your Web History is that it does away with much of the bad parts of Google’s personalized Search Plus Your World. To thoroughly eradicate that monstrosity from your life, follow these steps outlined here.

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends.

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/How-to-Delete-your-Google-Web-Historyhttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/How-to-Delete-your-Google-Web-HistoryThu, 23 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT7 Classic Super Bowl Party Recipes

By Country Living | Game Time Guide

These classic game-day recipes are sure to score high points at your Super Bowl party, no matter who you're rooting for!

1. Pigs In a Blanket



Nothing will get the crowd going louder than this all-star appetizer. Use frozen pastry dough and all-beef hot dogs for these mouth-watering bites.

Get the recipe: Pigs in a Blanket »


2. Mini Portobello Burgers


Grilled mini portobello burgers offer vegetarians a savory option. But you might want to make extra - they look so good that meat lovers might snag one, too!

Get the recipe: Mini Portobello Burgers »


3. Crunchy Rosemary Potato Chips


Don't get stuck with the last bag of crumpled chips from the grocery store. Just one teaspoon of chopped fresh rosemary lends explosive flavor to these quick-frying potato chips.

Get the recipe: Crunchy Rosemary Potato Chips »


4. Chicken Fingers


Cut the fat from these irresistibly crispy chicken fingers by baking them in the oven instead of deep frying - your guests will never know the difference.

Get the recipe: Crispy Chicken Fingers »


5. Bacon Dip



This flavor-loaded dip is blasted with tomatoes, bacon, and scallions that will have veggies - and taste buds - dancing.

Get the recipe: Bacon Dip »

6. Cowboy Chili


For something a bit heartier, try this classic chili recipe, which was first concocted in Texas by - you guessed it - cowboys passing through on cattle drives.

Get the recipe: Cowboy Chili »

7. Soft Pretzel



Enjoy this stadium staple fresh from the oven with cheese and mustard dipping sauce.

Get the recipes:
Hot Soft Pretzels »
Cheese and Mustard Dipping Sauce »

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/7-Classic-Super-Bowl-Party-Recipeshttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/7-Classic-Super-Bowl-Party-RecipesTue, 31 Jan 2012 03:00:00 GMT12 Things to Keep in a Safe at Home, Not at a Bank (c) Financially Fit, Ray Martin


Many folks believe that the safest place to store valuable items is in a bank safe deposit box. After all, banks have the best 24 hour security and alarm systems.
But the contents of a safe deposit box are rarely insured, while items in your home are typically covered by your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy.

Also, don't think your cash in a safe deposit box is covered under FDIC insurance. The FDIC only insures the deposits in accounts held in banks, but not the contents of their safe deposit boxes.

Finally, it's not a good idea to store original copies of documents that you require immediate access to, such as passports, spare keys, wills, funerary directives, etc. in a safe deposit box. Bank safe deposit boxes are only accessible during branch operating hours and the boxes are typically sealed when the bank receives a death notice. To open a sealed safe deposit box, estate representatives are required to provide court papers to the bank.

For these reasons it's good idea to buy a fireproof safe in your home. What should you keep in it? Here are a dozen suggestions:

1. Property insurance policies and agent contact information. You'll need this information right away if your house suffers damage and you need to know how to file a claim.

2. Passports and original birth certificates. These can be a hassle to replace and will come in handy to establish identity when traveling with children.

3. A list of family doctors, prescription medications, and contact information for all pharmacies you use. You may need these to get new supplies of medications you use on a regular basis.

4. CDs or an external hard drive containing digital copies of all family photos. It's a good idea to scan all older family photos and keep a digital copy of them as well. Your family memories in photographs are irreplaceable.

5. Safe deposit box keys. If you store valuables in a bank safe deposit box, you'll want to make sure you keep the keys to it in a safe place.

6. Important papers related to investments, retirement plans, bank accounts, and associated contact information. You may also want to keep some cash on hand for ready access in an emergency.

7. Information on your outstanding debts, due dates, and contact information. It's important to keep tabs on your finances and protect your credit, in the event you're displaced by a fire.

8. Original Social Security cards. These can take time to replace and may be needed to establish eligibility for benefits.

9. Copies of your important legal documents, including powers of attorney, living wills, and health care proxies — both for yourself and for anyone else for whom you are designated attorney-in-fact or health care surrogate. Having access to these can help ensure the protection they were created to provide.

10. Copy of wills and all wills in which you are designated the executor. It's important to have access to these as safe deposit boxes are typically sealed upon notification of the box owner's death.

11. Valuables: Jewelry, coins, cash, etc. that you may want access to from time to time.

12. Spare Keys and titles to all vehicles. It helps to know where copies are in the case that you need them.

Of course, exactly what you choose to store in your fireproof safe will depend on your personal circumstances and the size and location of the safe.

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/12-Things-to-Keep-in-a-Safe-at-Home-Not-at-a-Bankhttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/12-Things-to-Keep-in-a-Safe-at-Home-Not-at-a-BankFri, 20 Jan 2012 03:00:00 GMTDon't Let Foreclosed Homes Ruin Your Neighborhood

 


The Danger of Doing Nothing
According to NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit providing financial support, technical assistance and training for community-based revitalization efforts, vacant homes take an economic, physical and social toll on a neighborhood. Empty houses tend to attract trespassers and squatters, as well as becoming a haven for illegal and dangerous activities. It's possible to prevent these problems by taking steps to safeguard and invest in your neighborhood.

What Occurs to Neighborhoods
The 2007 mortgage crisis provides some important clues as to how your neighborhood could be affected by empty homes. Many properties sat empty for more than a year because the foreclosure process was delayed. Banks were overwhelmed by the number of troubled homeowners. Some properties were bought by investors with the intention of flipping them for a profit, meaning these residences were vacant to begin with, and have remained vacant since.

No Longer a Piggy Bank
In early 2011, RealityTrac Inc. reported that 27% of home sales in foreclosure or "short sales" were sold at an average discount 27%. According to the Center of Responsible Lending, an estimated 69.5 million homes nearby foreclosures saw a price drop of $7,200 per home in 2009. This led to a $502 billion total decline in property values in the same year. Also, this would all cause the tax base to become smaller. Low home values mean less equity. People depending on the value of their home to achieve investment goals, such as retirement or college, have seen those goals delayed.

Encouraging Crime
Crime is a major concern with these vacant homes. Unkempt lawns and dilapidated roofs advertise to thieves that the home is empty. Many of these opportunists will rob the home of copper pipes, copper wiring, appliances and fixtures. The vacant home can also become a magnet for vandalism, drug dealers, prostitution and violent crimes. Minority and poor communities are especially hard hit because they have fewer resources to make improvements compared to residents of more affluent areas.

The vacant homes also lead to increased municipal costs because of the need for more services, such as police, fire and code enforcement. Funding these services can take away from property tax revenue.

What You Can Do
Take measures to stabilize your neighborhood before your home loses value. Organize or host foreclosure-prevention workshops. Request a community-based organization to come to your neighborhood and hold a meeting. Contact local lenders, loan servicers and housing counselors to find out whether they are able to hold a workshop at your home or local community center. The workshops could give your quietly struggling neighbors the assistance they need.

When you notice a property going astray - such as grass height not meeting the appropriate community standards or obvious damage - locate the owners of the property so they can immediately handle the situation and reduce the financial loss. To find out who owns the home, you can contact the homeowners association, community managers or your local housing and inspections department. Call the realtor who is listing the property with your concerns if the home is up for sale.

Some More Tips
Organizing a neighborhood watch is a great way to prevent crime and vandalism. Try to learn who's moving in and who's leaving so you know which homes are at risk. Identify block captains to monitor these homes until the situation is resolved. It helps to create a checklist for housing issues such as:

  • signs of running water
  • lights left on
  • trash, debris and other items left outside
  • broken doors or windows
  • graffiti
  • structural damages

Some active measures suggested by NeighborWorks include:

  • parking cars in the driveways of vacant homes to give the appearance that the home is occupied
  • maintaining the lawn
  • painting the boards to look like doors and windows
  • clearing trash and organizing neighborhood clean-up projects

Other creative techniques for you to try include:

  • hanging curtains and blinds in the windows
  • using deadbolts for the locks
  • using baby monitors
  • installing motion detectors, flood lights and cameras to catch burglars

Before you attempt any of these more creative options, make sure you talk to the owner or a representative of the bank holding the property title. Making alterations to a property, even positive ones, can be construed as trespassing.

Additional community efforts can involve grass roots strategies, such as pooling funds from community groups and local government to buy foreclosed properties, renovate the homes or tear them down to create community spaces. Some mortgage companies may hire a property preservation company to check in on and handle the maintenance of a foreclosed home. The company may contact you to let you know that they are checking on the home and may ask you to contact them if a situation arises. The company sticker will usually be placed on the door of the home indicating that it is frequently being looked after.

The Bottom Line
When foreclosed homes are left unattended it affects you and your community. They lower property value, invite crime and create health hazards. It's important that the owners of the property are held accountable if the property is not looked after. Take action early to stop problems from occurring or keep them from getting any worse. Help a financially troubled neighbor by holding a foreclosure prevention workshop. Organize a neighborhood watch. Take active and creative measures to preserve the property's aesthetics and prevent crime. Report any suspicious activity or code issues to the proper authorities, such as local law enforcement or community government.

The following organizations can provide some additional informative resources and help: the National Housing Institute, National Vacant Properties Campaign and Neighborhood Works America. Remember that by taking active steps to protect the value of foreclosed properties, you are actually protecting your own home's value too.



(c) Brigitte Yuille | Investopedia

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Dont-Let-Foreclosed-Homes-Ruin-Your-Neighborhoodhttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Dont-Let-Foreclosed-Homes-Ruin-Your-NeighborhoodThu, 12 Jan 2012 03:00:00 GMTWhat's in store for the Housing Market in 2012?
 
It's been a pretty long ride down from the meteoric highs the housing market hit in the boom years. Who knew more than five years later, Americans would still be trying to shake off the one of the worst financial hangovers the country has ever known.

Millions of homes have been foreclosed on and millions more Americans have underwater mortgages, the lasting legacy of the housing bubble that grossly overinflated home values. Now, living in homes they can't sell, Americans today are "stuck." Stuck financially, stuck in their homes, and stuck wondering when things will get better.

Is 2012 the year the housing market turns around? Of course, no one can say for sure, but plenty of economists say signals are pointing in the right direction.

"It has become increasingly apparent that the pieces for a housing rebound next year are beginning to fall into place," wrote Barclays Capital analyst Stephen Kim in a recent report.

Still, obstacles remain for the housing market. Here's look at what to expect in 2012:

Home prices bottom out. Nationally, home prices have plummeted almost 24 percent off of their peak, and most economists expect prices to continue to decline as much as 4 or 5 percent before leveling out in late 2012.

While experts don't expect a rapid conclusion to the saga of ever-declining home prices, "the trend of eroding expectations for the housing market recovery has come to a halt," said Terry Loebs, founder of Pulsenomics, in a release.

Nationally, prices could start seeing a modest bump in 2013, but some markets are already recovering. "These national indexes mask the sizable variation in local house-price performance," Frank Nothaft, chief economist at Freddie Mac, wrote in a recent report. "Some markets have appreciated over the past year and are likely to gain further in 2012, while those markets with higher vacancy rates and relatively large distressed sales will continue to see downward price pressure over the next year."

More foreclosures. Foreclosure filings have edged downward over the past few months, suggesting improvement in clearing the gigantic inventory of distressed properties in the United States. But according to a recent report from Realty Trac, a new wave of foreclosures could hit the market in early 2012.

Foreclosures have fallen near the end of this year due to eviction moratoriums during the holiday season and continued hold-ups in the legal process as states attorneys negotiate with mortgage servicers over foreclosure practices.

Clarity on that issue should restart the process and begin flushing homes through the foreclosure pipeline. That's likely to contribute to further prices declines in some markets, particularly those affected by the foreclosure epidemic.

Low mortgage rates. Rock-bottom low mortgage rates are likely here to stay, at least through the first half of 2012, in large part due to the Fed's commitment to keep interest rates low to spur borrowing.

All bets are off, though, if politicians come to a decision on the qualified residential mortgage measure included in the Dodd-Frank financial reform act. "One of the most substantial things that will impact the market will be the definition of the qualified residential mortgage," says Cameron Findlay, chief economist at LendingTree. "That has the potential of entirely changing the way mortgage rates are offered to consumers and it has the risk of raising rates by about 1.25 percent."

As it stands now, the qualified residential mortgage (QRM), could require prospective homebuyers to have at least a 20 percent down payment and face more stringent debt-to-income ratio standards to qualify for mortgages with the best interest rates.

"There's a real potential there for rising rates in the early part of the year," Findlay adds.

Rising rents. The foreclosure crisis has converted millions of previous homeowners to renters and many would-be homebuyers have continued to stay on the sidelines and rent, waiting for prices to "hit bottom" before jumping into the housing market fray.

With more demand comes rising rents, a trend already being seen in many metro areas across the nation. Ultimately that can be a good thing for the housing market, since it generally tips more people into buying homes.

"Rising rents have traditionally been a good factor for home sales," says Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors.

Also, with rental demand heightened, real estate investors' ears have perked up. With prices in many metro areas at historic lows, investors are taking advantage and scooping up properties to convert into rentals, Yun says.

Home sales pick up. The end sum of all these factors is an expected uptick in existing and new home sales next year. "There are so many improving factors that support home sales that we are calling for about a 5 percent increase in [existing] home sales in 2012 over 2011," Yun says.

New home sales should also see an even bigger bump between 10 and 15 percent, Yun says, because the inventory of new constructions is so low. "The builders will be ramping up production," he says.

(c) mhandley@usnews

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Whats-in-store-for-the-Housing-Market-in-2012http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Whats-in-store-for-the-Housing-Market-in-2012Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:00:00 GMTMortgage rates hit another record low

Happy holidays, homebuyers! You just got a very nice present.

Mortgage rates have hit record lows, with the interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate loan, the most popular choice of homebuyers, averaging 3.91% this week, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

That's down from 3.94% last week, and is the lowest in the 40-year history of the survey.

Rates have fallen 0.9% since the beginning of the year. For a homeowner with a $200,000 mortgage, that means a savings of $1,200 a year, said Frank Nothaft, Freddie's chief economist.

With rates at or below 4% for the last eight weeks, home sales are getting a boost, Nothaft added. Existing homes sold at their fastest pace since January last month, according to the National Association of Realtors, and new home sales edged higher in November as well.

Meanwhile, rates for 15-year mortgages remained unchanged, matching last week's record low of 3.21%.

"We've entered the holiday lull with nothing much happening to change rates one way or the other," said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com.

Mortgages should remain affordable deep into 2012, he added. As the European debt crisis and sluggish U.S. economy keep investors focused on finding safe havens for their cash, demand for U.S. Treasury notes should remain high. That drives down their yields, which mortgage rates closely track.

"For well-qualified buyers, interest rates should be no impediment to home buying in 2012," said McBride.

Refinancers also are pouncing on the bargain rates.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, about 80% of all mortgage applications last week came from existing homeowners looking to refinance their old loans into more affordable ones.

McBride even expects that lenders will ease up on borrowing requirements -- marginally -- in 2012.

"Instead of requiring a 740 credit score for the best rates, lenders will dip their toes into 720 waters," he said.

That is, however, just a baby step towards making mortgages much easier for borrowers with less-than-perfect credit histories to obtain.

"We're not going back to the Wild West days of the boom," said McBride.

 

(C) CNN Money

 

 
]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Mortgage-rates-hit-another-record-lowhttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Mortgage-rates-hit-another-record-lowThu, 22 Dec 2011 03:00:00 GMTHouse Prices Are Finally Nearing A Bottom – But Don’t Look For A Rapid Recovery
(c) Henry Blodget | Daily Ticker, Yahoo Finance

Since the beginning of the house-price crash in 2007, analyst after analyst has predicted that "the bottom" in house prices is just around the corner - only to be wrong every time.

But now, finally, it looks as though house prices may actually be nearing a bottom.

Why?

Because, after falling nearly 35% from their 2007 peak, nationwide house prices are finally approaching "normal" levels on two key valuation measures: The "price-to-rent ratio," which measures house prices relative to what the houses might rent for, and the "price-to-income ratio," which measures house prices relative to average incomes.

Using the first ratio, economists at Goldman Sachs have concluded that national house prices will decline another 2.5% in 2012 and then bottom over the course of the following year.

House prices differ markedly depending on where you live, of course, and Goldman's analysts have considerably different predictions for different markets. Prices in New York, Portland and Atlanta, Goldman predicts, will still see significant declines. While prices in Detroit, Miami and Cleveland should rise.

Importantly, after a price bubble similar to the one the U.S. just experienced, prices often don't stop at "average" levels on the way down. On the contrary, they often plunge straight through "fair value" and spend years below average levels. And that certainly could happen to house prices this time around.

But Goldman's economists believe house prices will level out in a year or two. And unlike other analysts who have made similar predictions in prior years, Goldman's economists actually have data on their side: The price-to-rent ratio really has fallen to normal levels.

Of course, even if house prices do bottom in 2013, that doesn't mean that they'll quickly shoot up again - or that housing will once again be the "great investment" that everyone thought it was back in the boom years.

One of the reasons house prices are expected to bottom soon is that houses are currently more affordable than they have been in the past. But housing "affordability" is judged, in large part, on mortgage rates, and mortgage rates are currently near an all-time low. If and when the economy begins to recover in earnest, mortgage rates will likely rise, and, as they do, houses will become less affordable.

So it is likely that, even after they bottom, U.S. house prices will face head winds for a long time.

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/House-Prices-Are-Finally-Nearing-A-Bottom-But-Dont-Look-For-A-Rapid-Recoveryhttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/House-Prices-Are-Finally-Nearing-A-Bottom-But-Dont-Look-For-A-Rapid-RecoveryTue, 06 Dec 2011 03:00:00 GMT20 Unusual Uses for Coffee  
By Stephanie Rogers, SHINE Yahoo, ECO Salon/At Home

Can you imagine life without coffee? We'd all stumble around like drones for hours every morning, lost without our precious fix. We love coffee for its flavor, its aroma and of course its pick-me-up, but there are at least 20 more compelling reasons to stay stocked up. These tips will give you surprising and unusual uses for fresh coffee beans or grounds that have gone stale, the pounds of used grounds you toss out every week and the dregs at the bottom of your cup.

Kill fridge odor Wouldn't you rather smell coffee than two-week-old leftovers, half-rotten produce and spoiled milk? If your fridge is a nightmare of foul odors, place a bowl of fresh, unused coffee grounds inside and leave it for a day or two. The coffee will absorb the odors and you'll crave a cup whenever you open the door. This odor-killing trick works for practically anything else as well - just place the item in a sealed plastic bag along with an open can of coffee grounds and bye-bye stank.

Reduce cellulite Pricey cellulite creams almost always have one major ingredient in common: caffeine, which supposedly enhances fat metabolism, reducing the appearance of these fatty pockets under the skin. To make your own coffee cellulite treatment at home, mix warm used coffee grounds with coconut oil and rub it onto your skin in circular motions for a few minutes before rinsing.

Erase smells on your hands Garlic, salmon, cilantro - there are some things that smell delicious when cooking, but aren't so pleasant hours later when they linger on your hands. Get rid of them by rubbing a handful of used coffee grounds on your hands and rinsing with warm water.

Make rich compost There's a reason so many gardeners swear by adding used coffee grounds to compost. The grounds are rich in phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and copper, they release nitrogen into the soil as they degrade and they're a little bit acidic, which is great for certain soils. If you compost on a large scale, you can get used grounds for free at your local coffee hot spot or mom-and-pop cafe.

Get shiny hair Who doesn't want shiny, healthy-looking hair? Coffee is often recommended as a simple, natural treatment to make hair extra-glossy. Brew up an extra-strong pot, let it cool and apply it to your dry, clean hair. Leave it on for at least twenty minutes, then rinse. Keep it up once a week or so for best results.
 



Natural dye The natural pigments in coffee make it a great natural dye for fabric, paper, Easter eggs - even your hair. Brush paper with strong brew and let it dry, or soak fabric items in hot coffee. The results won't be color-fast, and may bleed out onto other items, so it's best to use this on items that won't be washed very often if at all. Using coffee as a hair shine treatment, as previously mentioned, may temporarily lend a rich, dark tint to your hair.

Reduce fireplace mess Want to clean your fireplace without causing a dust storm? Wait until the embers are cool, sprinkle damp coffee grounds all over the ashes , let them sit for about 15 minutes and then scoop out the whole mess into a metal ash can. The coffee grounds cling to the ashes, so they don't spew dust nearly as much as they would otherwise.

Pin cushion filler Dried, used coffee grounds are the perfect filler for homemade pin cushions. Just wrap them in some scrap cloth, tie it off with a rubber band and place the cloth in an egg cup or other small container. The grounds will keep your pins from rusting, too.

Exfoliate skin The same properties that reportedly enable coffee to reduce the appearance of cellulite can smooth and tighten your skin, and the texture of ground coffee will buff away dead skin cells, too. Make your own coffee-based scrub by combining a tablespoon of coffee grounds with half a tablespoon of olive oil and, optionally, a drop of your favorite essential oil.

Repel ants Sprinkle dry, used coffee grounds in problem areas where you notice ants in your home or yard and they might just pick up and leave. To tackle huge ant mounds, pour an entire pot of brewed coffee right on the mound.
 



Fertilize plants Acid-loving plants will thank you for sprinkling your used coffee grounds around their roots. Azaleas, blueberry shrubs and rhododendrons are just a few of the plants that flourish when treated with coffee thanks to all those nutrients. You can also dilute the leftover coffee in your mug and pour it right into your potted plants (as long as you don't use cream and sugar, of course!)

Keep cats out of your garden To you, that little garden in your yard is a beautiful source of fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables, but to seemingly every cat in a five-mile radius, it's a giant, irresistible litter box. Just use the trick mentioned above, sprinkling used coffee grounds on the soil, and cats will want nothing to do with it.

Scrub all kinds of surfaces Mildly abrasive and acidic, coffee grounds are great for scrubbing surfaces like countertops, cooking ranges and refrigerators. Use them alone or mix them with a little dish soap.

Auto air freshener Next time you accidentally spill coffee grounds on the floor, don't just sweep them up and toss them in the trash. You can use them to make an all-natural DIY air freshener like this one at Instructables. Try to use an old ripped pair of pantyhose and spare string to make this an even more eco-friendly project.

Grow mushrooms Used coffee grounds are an ideal medium to grow many kinds of mushrooms, including oyster mushrooms. You can actually purchase mushroom-growing kits from a company called Back to the Roots which includes reclaimed coffee grounds, mushroom roots and a mini spray bottle. The kit can produce up to 1.5 pounds of oyster mushrooms within 10 days.



Repel fleas Rub used, damp coffee grounds through your pet's fur after bathing to repel fleas without questionable, likely-toxic chemical treatments. If nothing else, it will at least improve that post-bath wet-dog smell that gets all over your furniture.

Pretty vase fillers Stale or dirty coffee beans are still a thing of beauty. Use them as vase fillers, or in cups or jars full of pens and pencils. Not only are they pretty, they continue to smell good for quite a while, too.

Start vermicomposting Red wriggler worms, the sort used in vermicomposting systems, love coffee almost as much as we do. It's not really clear why, but if you want a thriving community of worms to devour all of your kitchen waste (and those nasty little things really are amazingly efficient), be sure to add used coffee grounds to their bedding on a regular basis.

Secret recipe ingredient Just a little hint of coffee can be the ingredient that becomes your undisclosed "magic touch" in foods like chili, ice cream and chocolate cake. Use a little bit as a marinade for steaks and not only will it make them unbelievably tender, it'll also provide a hint of deep, smoky flavor.

Touch up furniture scratches Scratches on wood furniture disappear almost instantly by simply rubbing in a little bit of instant coffee dampened into a paste with hot water. Repeat if necessary until the scratch matches the surrounding wood.

Related:
20 Unusual Uses for Salt
20 Unusual Uses for Garlic
20 Unusual Uses for Honey
20 Unusual Uses for Olive Oil
 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/20-Unusual-Uses-for-Coffeehttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/20-Unusual-Uses-for-CoffeeTue, 29 Nov 2011 03:00:00 GMT6 People Food No-Nos for Pets

 By The Editors at RealAge | Pets

Bad doggy! Keep your dogs -- and cats -- away from holiday treats.

Bad doggy! Keep your dogs -- and cats -- away from holiday treats.

Holiday feasts mean plenty of tasty temptation for you -- and your dog or cat. Though you may not plan to give people food to your pets, they'll still be cruising for handouts. Ask guests not to share their chow with pets, and keep food out of a sneaky paw's reach. Watch out for that box of chocolates on the coffee table, beware of counter-surfing cats and dogs, and keep your Dumpster-diving pooch out of the trash.

There are plenty of people food no-nos for pets, but these six items are common on tables this time of year, and they're bad news for both cats and dogs.

Onions, garlic, and chives. These members of the allium family (including onion and garlic powders) can cause tummy upset in cats and dogs. Very small amounts probably won't do any damage, but if animals eat a lot of onions, garlic, or chives over time, it can cause red blood cell damage that leads to anemia.

Grapes, raisins, and currants. Large amounts of these can cause kidney failure in cats and dogs (no one knows why). Grapes, raisins, and currants may be more problematic for pets that already have health issues, according to the American Society for the Protection of Animals.

Chocolate. The culprits in chocolate: theobromine and caffeine. Cats and dogs metabolize these chemical compounds more slowly than we do, so they can accumulate in the body and cause vomiting and diarrhea. In extreme cases, chocolate poisoning can cause tremors, seizures, and even death. The darker the chocolate -- and the smaller your pet -- the more dangerous it can be. A tiny Chihuahua that snarfs down a whole dark-chocolate bar is likely to get much sicker than a Great Dane that nibbles a milk chocolate Kiss.

Milk. What's more iconic than a cat lapping up a saucer of milk? Turns out, milk and other dairy products can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats and dogs. Animals don't produce enough of the enzyme lactase to break down the lactose (naturally occurring sugar) in milk.

Turkey bones and fatty scraps. It's tempting to share the holiday bird with your dog or cat. A little nibble of cooked meat is fine, but skip the bones and fat. Cooked turkey bones can splinter and make pets choke or cause internal lacerations and blocked intestines. Fatty scraps are hard for animals to digest and can cause an upset stomach. If animals eat too much fat, it can lead to pancreatitis.

Alcohol. Sure, you wouldn't pour a cranberry martini for your pet, but animals have been known to lap up cocktails and beer. Alcohol can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats and dogs, and even make them comatose if they imbibe too much. Other sources of alcohol around the holidays include booze-soaked baked goods and unbaked yeast bread dough (a surprising favorite of canine counter-surfers). The raw dough ferments in the animal's stomach to produce alcohol, along with potentially fatal bloating.

If Fluffy or Fido still gobbles something they shouldn't? Call your vet or the 24/7 Pet Poison Helpline, (800) 213-6680.

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/6-People-Food-No-Nos-for-Petshttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/6-People-Food-No-Nos-for-PetsSun, 20 Nov 2011 03:00:00 GMTRetire Here, Not There  
provided by   SMlogo

 (c) by Catey Hill

Ahhh, retirement. Nine holes in the morning, the beach on the weekends, sunset picnics and... the office for a few hours a day?

Not too long ago, the whole point of retirement was not working. But today's retirees are increasingly counting themselves among the job-seekers. Roughly three out of four workers over age 50 say they plan to work at least part-time in retirement, according to a 2010 study by the Families and Work Institute; currently about 20% of retirees have a job. Indeed, working during retirement is becoming the "new normal," the study says.

For some retirees working means an encore, a chance to dive into something they've always been passionate about. Others are driven by a desire to stay vital and stave off boredom. But for many people, working past 65 is a necessity, not a luxury. Considering the average boomer couple currently has a retirement savings shortfall of about $30,000, according to a recent study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, it's a trend that experts predict with accelerate. "Boomers aren't as financially prepared for retirement as earlier generations," says Mary Johnson, a senior policy analyst at The Senior Citizens League, a non-profit senior rights advocacy group.

Regardless of the reason, a post-career job hunt can drastically affect where you're going to settle down when you retire. That's why SmartMoney.com's second annual survey of the best places to retire comes with a twist. Like last year, we've analyzed tax rates, cost-of-living numbers and real estate prices to compile a list of less expensive alternatives to several traditional retirement hotspots. But this year we also combed for relatively low unemployment rates and thriving job opportunities for seniors.

In the current economy, of course, finding work isn't easy in most regions of the country. What's more, it takes employees over 55 more than 40% longer to get hired than their younger counterparts, according to AARP. Meanwhile, nest eggs are shrinking and retiree income is stagnating. (One recent example: The Social Security cost-of-living increase announced last week is likely to be at least partially negated by rising Medicare premiums, experts say.) That means finding an affordable place to live has become more important -- and more difficult. Palm Beach, Florida, for example, has a median home price of $827,300, a cost of living that's 109% higher than average, and an unemployment rate pushing 10%, according to Sperling's Best Places. In other words, not a keeper for the list.

Instead, here are seven underrated retirement havens (complete with comparisons to their more expensive alternatives) that are relatively affordable, delightful and full of opportunities for work and play.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Joel Stein, a corporate bond broker from New York City, and his wife retired to Santa Fe in 1997. The reason: "It's like a microcosm of New York but without the hustle and bustle," he says. "It's a small town but it's sophisticated — there's art, opera and hundreds of restaurants. It's a nice place to retire but it doesn't feel like a 'retirement town'."

Nicknamed "City Different," Santa Fe is indeed unlike the trendier Sedona, an Arizona town that's often touted as a best place to retire. Unemployment is just 5.3%, thanks to Santa Fe's thriving tourism business and government payroll. (Santa Fe is the state capital.)

The arts scene is one of the best you'll find anywhere. Santa Fe is dotted with 240 art galleries and the home of Art Santa Fe, an international art fair that attracts buyers and tourists from around the globe. In fact, Santa Fe's art market is the fourth largest in the country in terms of sales, according to the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Stein says he and his wife have embraced the scene. He leads historic walking tours of the area and works for pay at the Museum of Natural History; she is a docent at a local art museum.

For retirees who want to work, tourism-related jobs are a good bet, says Steve Lewis, a spokesperson for the Santa Fe Convention & Visitor's Bureau. In addition, many people retire here to reinvent themselves. "We get a lot of people who have always wanted to be artists and they come here to do it," he adds.

Medical and travel information: The Christus St. Vincent Regional Medicare Center, which is the regional medical center for northern New Mexico, is in Santa Fe. The Albuquerque airport, which serves 10 major airlines, is about an hour's drive.

  Santa Fe, NM Sedona, AZ
Cost of living compared to national average 17.9% higher 36.8% higher
State tax rate 1.7% - 4.9% 2.59% - 4.54%
Median home sales price $225,852* $349,700
Unemployment rate* 5.3% 7.9%**, 10%***
* Zillow real estate data not available for Santa Fe, so Trulia data used here.
** The unemployment rate for Flagstaff, AZ, the closest major locale, 30 miles from Sedona.
*** The unemployment rate in Sedona proper, according to Sperling's Best Places.

Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln is the quintessential Midwestern town — friendly people, college football and picturesque landscapes. Residents take a brimming pride of their city's low crime rate and accessible natural beauty, including ten nearby lakes and more than 99 miles of recreational trails.

Lincoln sounds a lot like another Midwest retirement haven that frequents the best lists: Ann Arbor, Michigan. But Nebraska's state capital has a much lower unemployment rate, just 3.6% compared to Ann Arbor's 7.2%.

Even more surprising, especially for a Midwest town, says experts, is that in the past two decades the jobless rate in this state capital has never gone above 5%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The University of Nebraska, government jobs, as well a sizable corporate presence, including Kawasaki and Assurity Life Insurance, help keep employment stable. And Lincoln is affordable: Housing prices have remained relatively flat since 2007, with a two-bedroom home now running for about $115,000.

No wonder Jim Strand, a 65-year-old Lincoln resident, decided to stay put when he quit working. "Stability is really important with all the craziness in the financial and housing markets," he says. Strand, who served as the interim business manager for the local zoo for the first eight months of this year, appreciates the job and volunteer opportunities: "It's nice to feel like you're part of the community."

Medical and travel information: There are three major hospitals in Lincoln. The local airport offers direct flights to most major cities in America via Delta or United. 

  Lincoln, NE Ann Arbor, MI
Cost of living compared to national average 6.7% lower 36.8% higher
State tax rate 2.56% - 6.84% 4.35%
Median home sales price $135,200 $214,600
Unemployment rate* 3.6% 7.2%

Manhattan, Kansas

The Little Apple, as Manhattan, Kan., is known, is perfect for active, outdoorsy retirees who also want the cultural and educational opportunities that a college town brings. The 1,200-acre Tuttle Creek Park boasts a 12,500-acre reservoir and 100 miles of shoreline with walking paths. The Flint Hills nature preserve (yes, there are hills in Kansas) is the last large tract of protected prairie land in North America. After a day enjoying nature, residents can reward themselves with dinner out at one of the town's 130 restaurants.

Retirees can take or audit dozens of classes — from martial arts to Spanish — at the UFM Community Learning Center or at Kansas State University. Manhattan actually conjures up images of retirement hotspot, Athens, Georgia — another college town with an abundance of good restaurants and outdoorsy activities.

Here's the difference: Manhattan, Kansas, is a cheaper place to live. The cost of living is almost 9% lower than the national average and the lowest on our list of cities. (Athens has a cost of living that is just 3.9% lower than average.) Unemployment is also low, coming in at 5.9%.

For boomers dreaming of an entrepreneurial second act, Manhattan is a great place to start a store or other small business. The 23,000 students attending Kansas State University and the personnel at Fort Riley army base help keep the local economy humming. Better yet, experts say commercial real estate is a bargain -- retail space rents in the $20-25 per square foot range — and retail sales in the area have increased about 66% in the past decade, according to John Pagen, vice president for the Chamber of Commerce.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is building a $720 million National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, due to be completed by 2018. When that opens the local economy will likely get another boost.

Medical and travel information: Mercy Regional Hospital. A small local airport offers direct flights to Dallas and Chicago. 

  Manhattan, KS Athens, GA
Cost of living compared to national average 8.9% lower 3.9% lower
State tax rate 3.5% - 6.45% 1% - 6%
Median home sales price $152,200* $144,900
Unemployment rate* 5.9% 7.8%
* Data from Zillow and Trulia not available, so this data is from Sperlings Best Places.

Portland, Maine

Northampton, Mass., lands at the top many "best places to retire" lists. And for good reason: It's a scenic, mountain town with lots of Berkshire culture. It's also home to Smith College and close to four other name schools. But the charm comes at a price — it costs nearly 20% more than average city to live there.

Head about 200 miles north and you'll hit Portland, Maine, where the culture and natural beauty rivals Northampton thanks to miles of coastline, the popular fishing area of Sebago Lake, which is only a short drive from the city, and a smattering of islands around the coast. "Portland is known for its natural beauty," says travel blogger Lee Abbamonte.

Foodies also take note: Bon Appetit recently rated the city as one of the top small towns in America, due in part to some notable chefs. Hugo's, for example, is run by French Laundry chef Rob Evans and the chef at Fore Street is a James Beard Foundation Award winner, one of the most prestigious culinary awards.

Portland offers all this and incredible values. Homes here are about 44% less expensive than in Northampton — and right around the median price for a home nationwide. Unemployment is well below the national average, with many big employers such as Maine Medical Center, the largest hospital in the state, TD Bank and, of course, clothing company L.L. Bean. With its steady population growth and relatively low commercial real estate costs, Portland often and deservedly ranks as one of the best places to start a small business.

Medical and travel information: There are two major hospitals in the Portland area. A major airport offers flights to most US cities. 

  Portland, ME Northampton, MA
Cost of living compared to national average 10% higher 19.8% higher
State tax rate 2% - 8.5% 5.30%
Median home sales price $179,500 $320,000
Unemployment rate* 5.2% 5.3%, 8.4%*
* 5.3% reflects the unemployment rate for only the small town of Northampton (data is from Sperling's Best Places), 8.4% is data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and reflects the unemployment rate for nearby Springfield, the closest city.

Santa Maria, California

California's Sonoma and Napa counties have long been the gold standard of California wine country and a mecca for retirees. But prices have risen with that popularity. The median home price in Sonoma County's Santa Rosa, for instance, is close to $300,000 and the cost of living is 45% above average. High prices like these are encouraging Chardonnay-sipping retirees to look at some of the less-popular and more affordable corners of wine country.

Santa Maria is one such gem, says Warren Bland, the author of "Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada." Part of the Santa Barbara wine region, which produces highly rated Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, Santa Maria residents enjoy temperatures in the 60s and 70s nearly year around and with little rain. And while the local job market isn't exactly buzzing, nearby San Luis Obispo (just 30 miles away) and Santa Barbara (75 miles away) have healthier job markets than most California cities and are within driving distance.

Three years ago, when 82-year-old Jack Pellerin from Santa Ynez married a woman from Santa Maria, the couple realized they had too much stuff to fit into one house. So they decided they'd keep both places, splitting their time between them. Soon afterwards, Santa Maria's charms won the couple over to the point where they are almost full-time residents. "It's just the right size — it's big enough that you can get involved in a lot of things, but you still know a lot of people," says Pellerin. The best part, they say: Santa Maria isn't overrun with tourists.

Medical and travel information: The brand-new Marin Hospital is located in Santa Maria, several larger hospitals are located in nearby San Luis Obispo. A major airport is also in San Luis Obispo. 

  Santa Maria, CA Santa Rosa, CA
Cost of living compared to national average 20% higher 44.8% higher
State tax rate 1% - 9.3% 1% - 9.3%
Median home sales price $230,900 $294,300
Unemployment rate* 8.8%* 10%**
* 8.8% reflects the unemployment rate for the Santa Barbara/Santa Maria/Goleta area.
** 10% reflects the unemployment rate for the Santa Rosa/Petaluma area.

Jupiter, Florida

The Great Recession took a heavy toll on Florida. Unemployment is 11% and median home sales prices have plummeted more than 40% since early 2007. Unfortunately that didn't create loads of housing bargains in some of Florida's most popular retirement spots, many of which were overvalued when the recession began. In Naples, for instance, the median home price is still half a million bucks, according to Zillow.com, even though prices dropped roughly 35% from their highs in early 2007.

While some of Florida's posh areas may still be unaffordable for many retirees, lower home prices in other parts of the state have created some attractive alternatives. Jupiter, for instance, on Florida's Atlantic-facing "Gold Coast" has similar pristine beaches, year-round warm weather, golf courses and shopping as Naples, but is about half the price to live in, according to data from Sperling's Best Places. The award-winning, 600-seat Maltz Jupiter Theatre, a regional theater that hosts well-known shows like Cabaret and Hello Dolly! as well as smaller shows, is a bonus, and swanky Palm Beach is only a 30 minute drive for those who want to stroll through the lap of luxury without having to pay for it.

As for job opportunities, Jupiter, with an unemployment rate of 8%, fares better than most of Florida. The area benefits from hosting the spring training seasons for two professional baseball teams, the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, as well as biotech companies like the Scripps Institute and the Max Planck Society.

Medical and travel information: Jupiter Medical Center and several major hospitals in the Palm Beach area. Palm Beach International Airport offers direct flights to U.S. and international cities. 

  Jupiter, FL Naples, FL
Cost of living compared to national average 21.3% higher 84% higher
State tax rate None None
Median home sales price $238,200 $527,300
Unemployment rate* 8.2%* 11.9%, 10%**

Ithaca, New York

When the Dalai Lama decided to put down roots in United States, he didn't opt for Buddhist-heavy San Francisco or Eugene, Ore., with their many meditation-loving residents. Instead, he came to Ithaca, N.Y., to "offer Western students the opportunity to study authentic Tibetan Buddhism in a monastic setting."

That doesn't surprise many of Ithaca's 30,000 residents. "It's one of the loveliest places in America," says 76-year-old Roger Battistella, a retired Cornell college professor. This town is known for its beauty: You'll find dozens of waterfalls and craggy gorges that gave rise to tacky bumper stickers and t-shirts that sport the now ubiquitous "Ithaca is Gorges" tagline. But that doesn't spoil the area's 25,000 acres of national forest or the 40-mile long Cayuga Lake.

Perhaps it's all this beauty that give Ithaca its liberal, beatnik bent. "There's a zany political culture here," says Battistella. The "world's largest human peace sign" was created in Ithaca, when a local teen activist gathered nearly 6,000 people in 2008. Residents are well-versed in the art of protesting, as evidenced by recent Occupy Wall Street events and a rally in front of a local Bank of America branch.

Ithaca brings to mind another popular retirement town, Eugene, Oregon. True, the towns are nearly 3,000 miles apart and on opposite coasts, but both are havens for activist, outdoorsy retirees.

In Ithaca, your money goes farther — it's about 13% cheaper to live in than Eugene — and you've got a better chance of landing a job. The unemployment rate is just 5.8%, well below the national average.

One of the reasons for Ithaca's low unemployment is the presence of two highly rated universities, Cornell University and Ithaca College. And it's not just young people who land jobs there: AARP has named Cornell one of the top employers for people over 50, particularly in the green tech and tourism industries. And there are plenty of non-work related things to do. This past semester you could have taken a course on tropical field ornithology (the study of exotic birds), seen comedian Jon Stewart in person and cheered through an ice hockey face-off between Cornell's "Big Red" and Dartmouth's "Big Green."

Don't forget the food, say travel experts: Ithaca has some standout restaurants, including the seminal vegetarian Moosewood restaurant, which Bon Appetit said was "one of the 13 most influential and revolutionary restaurants of the 20th century."

Medical and travel information: Cayuga Medical Center employs 200 doctors. A small local airport services direct flights to Philadelphia, New York and Detroit. For more direct flights, the Syracuse airport is roughly an hour and a half drive from Ithaca. 

  Ithaca, NY Eugene, OR
Cost of living compared to national average .30% lower 12.2% higher
State tax rate 4% - 9% 5% - 11%
Median home sales price $189,100 $215,700
Unemployment rate* 5.8% 9.5%
 

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Retire-Here-Not-Therehttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Retire-Here-Not-ThereMon, 14 Nov 2011 03:00:00 GMTBig Banks Blink on New Card Fees provided by
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A month after Bank of America got pummeled by consumers and politicians for introducing plans for new debit-card fees, most other big U.S. banks are steering clear of imposing similar charges.

Following eight months of consumer testing, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM - News) has decided that it won't charge customers who use their debit cards to make purchases, according to a person familiar with the bank's plans. The New York bank's Chase retail unit is one of the largest U.S. consumer banks, with 26.5 million checking accounts and 5,300 branches.

J.P. Morgan joins U.S. Bancorp (USB - News), Citigroup Inc. (C - News), PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC - News), KeyCorp (KEY - News) and other large banks that have said in recent days that they won't impose monthly fees on debit cards. None of those banks said they made their decisions because of the outcry over Bank of America's fees.

"We looked at all options and quickly decided it didn't fit with our overall strategy," said David Bowen, who runs the consumer-product business at Cleveland-based Key, which ranks among the 20 largest banks in the country.

Banks are loading fees onto customer accounts in an attempt to recover billions of dollars in revenue that will be lost from new restrictions on debit cards, credit cards and overdrafts. Most big banks have already eliminated free checking for customers who don't meet certain criteria on their accounts, such as minimum balances or a certain number of direct deposit transactions.

Bank of America Corp. (BAC - News) has begun laying plans to charge millions of customers $5 a month if they use their debit cards to make purchases. The bank is still working out details of its plans, which likely won't affect all customers, according to a person familiar with the situation. SunTrust Banks Inc. (STI - News), Atlanta, is also tacking a $5 monthly fee on some debit-card users, while Regions Financial Corp. (RF - News) of Birmingham, Ala. is charging $4 a month on some accounts.

Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC - News) is testing a $3 monthly debit-card fee in five states.

The debit-card fees stem from a provision in last year's Dodd-Frank financial-overhaul law that reduced by roughly half the amount that banks are permitted to charge merchants for debit-card transactions. Merchants had long complained that they were being charged too much to accept debit cards, which are typically used instead of cash and checks.

Banks are expected to lose more than $6 billion in annual revenue as a result of the new rules, according to industry estimates.

The debit-card fees have sparked an outcry among politicians—including members of Congress and President Obama—as well as customers, who have threatened to close their bank accounts and move to other institutions.

Community banks and credit unions are tapping into that fury by encouraging consumers to move to small institutions that don't charge such fees. Bethpage Federal Credit Union in New York, for example, said this week it signed up 1,500 customers—twice its normal rate—since Bank of America's plans became public.

Other big banks say they determined debit-card fees would cost them as well. "Our customers said that would be a massive source of irritation for them," said Stephen Troutner, Citigroup's head of consumer and small business banking. "Any time you hear that kind of emphatic feedback from customers, you've got to listen to them."

Many banks will likely increase charges in other areas to make up the lost revenue but some banks said they will focus on winning over more customers and convincing them to sign up for more financial products.

Todd Barnhart, head of retail products at Pittsburgh-based PNC, said debit cards are essentially an extension of checking accounts and that consumers don't view them as a separate product.

"I generally think customers don't want to be nickled and dimed," he said.

Indeed, consumers expressed relief that the debit-fee trend is not spreading widely.

"It's not about the money. It's about 'are you kidding me?'" said Amanda Peterson of San Francisco, who banks with U.S. Bancorp. She said she would have "immediately" switched banks if the Minneapolis-based lender had started charging for debit cards.

Chase was one of the first big banks to explore monthly fees on debit cards. The bank began testing monthly fees of $3 in Wisconsin and Georgia in February. Those tests are scheduled to end in mid-November and won't be renewed or expanded for now, said the person familiar with the bank's plans.

Sen. Richard Durbin (D., Ill.), who wrote the provision which reduced merchant debit-card fees, sent a letter to Wells Fargo Chief Executive John Stumpf last week complaining about the bank's new charges. "It is certainly surprising that your bank would pursue this fee strategy in light of the consumer reaction that has been prompted by Bank of America's recent imposition of a monthly debit fee on its customers. If you were hoping that your new fee would go unnoticed, it has not," he wrote.

In a statement, Wells Fargo said, "We regularly review our pricing and take into account the needs of our customers, industry trends, the market competition and our cost of doing business."

(c) Wall Street Journal - Robin Sidel - Suzanne Kapner contributed to this article

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Big-Banks-Blink-on-New-Card-Feeshttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Big-Banks-Blink-on-New-Card-FeesSat, 29 Oct 2011 03:00:00 GMTObama offers mortgage relief on Western trip ap
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- President Barack Obama offered mortgage relief on Monday to hundreds of thousands of Americans, his latest attempt to ease the economic and political fallout of a housing crisis that has bedeviled him as he seeks a second term.

"I'm here to say that we can't wait for an increasingly dysfunctional Congress to do its job," the president declared outside a family home in Las Vegas, the epicenter of foreclosures and joblessness. "Where they won't act, I will."

Making a case for his policies and a new effort to circumvent roadblocks put up by Republican lawmakers, Obama also laid out a theme for his re-election, saying that there's "no excuse for all the games and the gridlock that we've been seeing in Washington."

"People out here don't have a lot of time or a lot of patience for some of that nonsense that's been going on in Washington," he said.

The new rules for federally guaranteed loans represent a recognition that measures the administration has taken so far on housing have not worked as well as expected.

His jobs bill struggling in Congress, Obama tried a new catchphrase -- "We can't wait" -- to highlight his administrative initiatives and to shift blame to congressional Republicans for lack of action to boost employment and stimulate an economic recovery.

Later in the week, Obama plans to announce measures to make it easier for college graduates to pay back federal loans. Such executive action allows Obama to address economic ills and other domestic challenges in spite of Republican opposition to most of his proposals.

While Obama has proposed prodding the economy with payroll tax cuts and increased spending on public works and aid to states, he has yet to offer a wholesale overhaul of the nation's housing programs. Economists point to the burst housing bubble as the main culprit behind the 2008 financial crisis. Meanwhile, the combination of unemployment, depressed wages and mortgages that exceed house values has continued to put a strain on the economy.

While the White House tried to avoid predicting how many homeowners would benefit from the revamped refinancing program, the Federal Housing Finance Agency estimated an additional 1 million people would qualify. Moody's Analytics say the figure could be as high as 1.6 million.

Under Obama's proposal, homeowners who are still current on their mortgages would be able to refinance no matter how much their home value has dropped below what they still owe.

"Now, over the past two years, we've already taken some steps to help folks refinance their mortgages," Obama said, listing a series of measures. "But we can do more."

At the same time, Obama acknowledged that his latest proposal will not do all that's not needed to get the housing market back on its feet. "Given the magnitude of the housing bubble, and the huge inventory of unsold homes in places like Nevada, it will take time to solve these challenges," he said.

In spelling out the plan to homeowners in a diverse, working-class Las Vegas neighborhood, Obama chose a state that provides the starkest example of the toll the housing crisis has exacted from Americans. One in every 118 homes in the state of Nevada received a foreclosure notice in September, the highest ratio in the country, according to the foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac.

Obama visited the home of Jose and Lissette Bonilla, two grocery store workers whose house was refurbished under a program paid for by the original 2009 economic stimulus plan. The program was designed to stabilize communities hit by foreclosures or abandonment. Lissette Bonilla said she told the president that without his stimulus plan, the five members of her family would still be living in a one-bedroom apartment.

Presidential spokesman Jay Carney criticized Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for proposing last week while in Las Vegas that the government not interfere with foreclosures. "Don't try to stop the foreclosure process," Romney told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "Let it run its course and hit the bottom."

"That is not a solution," Carney told reporters on Air Force One. He said Romney would tell homeowners, "`You're on your own, tough luck.'"

The president also was using his visit to Las Vegas to promote a $15 billion neighborhood revitalization plan contained in his current jobs proposal that would help redevelop abandoned and foreclosed properties and stabilize affected neighborhoods.

The Nevada stop was the first leg of a three-day tour of Western states, blending his pitch for boosting the economy with an aggressive hunt for campaign cash.

From Nevada, Obama will head for the glamor of Hollywood and the homes of movie stars Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas and producer James Lassiter for some high-dollar fundraising. On Tuesday, he will tape an appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. He will also raise money in San Francisco and in Denver.

Before the president addressed his mortgage refinancing plan, he attended a fundraiser at the luxurious Bellagio hotel, offering a sharp contrast between well-to-do who are fueling his campaign and the struggling homeowners hoping to benefit from his policies.

The mortgage assistance plan by the Federal Housing Finance Agency will help borrowers with little or no equity in their homes, many of whom are stuck with 6 or 7 percent mortgage rates, to seek refinancing and take advantage of lower rates. The FHFA plans to remove caps that had allowed homeowners to refinance only if they owed up to 25 percent more than their homes are worth.

The refinancing program is being extended until the end of 2013. It was originally scheduled to end in June 2012.

The administration's incremental steps to help homeowners have prompted even the president's allies to demand more aggressive action.

Rep. Dennis Cardoza, a moderate Democrat from California, gave voice to Democratic frustration on the housing front last week when he announced his decision not to seek re-election, blaming the Obama administration directly for not addressing the crisis.

"I am dismayed by the administration's failure to understand and effectively address the current housing foreclosure crisis," Cardoza said in a statement that drew widespread attention. "Home foreclosures are destroying communities and crushing our economy, and the administration's inaction is infuriating."

Obama's new "We can't wait" slogan is his latest in a string of stump-speech refrains he hopes will pressure Republicans who oppose his $447 billion jobs package. He initially exhorted Congress to "Pass this bill!" then demanded "I want it back," all in the face of unanimous Republican opposition in the Senate, though even some Democrats were unhappy with the plan.

Obama has now agreed to break the proposal into its component parts and seek congressional approval one measure at a time. The overall proposal would increase taxes on millionaires, lower payroll taxes on workers and businesses for a year, pay for bridge, road and school construction projects, and help states and local governments retain teachers and emergency workers.

The proposals with the best chance of passage are the payroll tax cuts and extensions in jobless insurance to the long-term unemployed.

Countering Obama's criticism, GOP leaders say the sluggish economy and stubbornly high unemployment rate are the result of failed Obama administration policies.

"It's another day in the campaign life of President Obama, and he's bringing his re-election tour to Nevada, ground zero for the damaging effects of his failed economic policies," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said Monday.

(c) Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press

 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Obama-offers-mortgage-relief-on-Western-triphttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Obama-offers-mortgage-relief-on-Western-tripTue, 25 Oct 2011 03:00:00 GMT10 Fantastic Towns for Fall (c) Christine Sarkis

 

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
 
 
 
 
 
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Fall is a time to slow down and enjoy the scenery, and small towns know a thing or two about embracing a slower pace of life. To help you make the most of the season, we've scoured the country to find 10 towns that deliver exceptional fall foliage.


Our top picks might have all weighed in with populations under 10,000, but all offer big reasons to visit.

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

During autumn in Jim Thorpe, a trip down memory lane is framed by brightly colored leaves. The historic town, tucked into a steep valley in the Poconos, offers wonderfully preserved buildings that house tea rooms, art galleries, and an old opera house popular on the Vaudeville circuit. Fall foliage weekends complete with arts, crafts, music, and kids' activities run throughout October, and this time of year also brings guided ghost walks to town. 

Time it Right: October is prime time for both foliage and fall activities. This year, the projected peak of color is around October 12, but Alicia Quinn at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau notes, "if history repeats itself, this will get pushed back until mid-month, and usually lasts about two weeks." 

 
Sedona, Arizona
 
Sedona, Arizona
Arizona Office of Tourism

Sedona, Arizona

There's nothing understated about Sedona, about two hours north of Phoenix in the high desert of Central Arizona. Vibrant red mesas and blushing sandstone cliffs offer some of the country's most spectacular scenery, especially at sunrise and sunset. During fall, the color show takes it up a notch. In town you can browse art galleries—or get your energy balanced by one of the many healers and spiritual guides that call Sedona home—before heading out for some leaf peeping. 

Time it Right: Ellen Bilbrey of Arizona State Parks says that fall foliage colors will likely start to appear in mid-October this year, but warns, "We never know the actual peak time until the weather starts to drop to temperatures of 45 degrees at night." 

 
Stockholm, Wisconsin
 
Stockholm, Wisconsin
Courtesy of RJ and Linda Miller

Stockholm, Wisconsin

The village of Stockholm, on the banks of the Mississippi River about 70 miles from Minneapolis, offers dozens of delightful ways to savor fall. Vast swaths of fall foliage adorn the landscape around the town, the local pie company bakes up fall in many flavors, and at the Maiden Rock Winery and Cidery, you can drink the season too, with wines made from apples and berries. And if that's not enough, you can tool around town on free blue bikes available for visitors or take advantage of some of the best boutique and antique shopping in the state. 

Time it Right: This year, TravelWisconsin's fall color report predicts peak fall color in mid-October. 

 
Woodstock, Vermont
 
Woodstock, Vermont
Courtesy of Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing

Woodstock, Vermont

In Woodstock the most wonderful time of the year comes early. With fall foliage that's nothing short of spectacular, the town and surrounding countryside put on a color show that draws visitors from around the world. Weekend events include harvest suppers, the Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair, and the nearby Antique Show. Before you head out of town in search of the brightest reds and oranges of autumn, spend some time roaming the quaint downtown or exploring Vermont's rural heritage at the nearby Billings Farm & Museum. 

Time it Right: The leaves have already started to change in Woodstock. Rain and wind dependant, peak season should fall between October 1 and October 10 to 15. 

 
Jasper, Arkansas
 
Jasper, Arkansas
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Jasper, Arkansas

Each fall, the tiny Ozark mountain town of Jasper beckons visitors with the promise of vivid fall colors and Southern hospitality. Start the warm fall days with a big breakfast at a local cafe or by people-watching in the downtown square before heading out for some serious leaf peeping, wildlife spotting, and scenic drives. 

Time it Right: The best time to see the fall colors near Jasper is usually between October 15 and November 15. You can stay up to Sdate on fall foliage around the state by checking the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism website. 

 
Hood River, Oregon
 
Hood River, Oregon
Peter Marbach

Hood River, Oregon

Colorful fall foliage and abundant harvests. That's what you'll get in and around Hood River, a town nestled in the Columbia River Gorge next to the Cascade Mountain Range. Plan your stay for the first weekend of any month and you'll get to enjoy First Friday, when art galleries, shops, and restaurants downtown put on an evening of new art exhibits, wine tastings, and free music between 6 and 9 p.m. October brings many fall festivities, including the Hood River Valley Harvest Fest and the Heirloom Apple Celebration. 

Time it Right: Because summer has lingered this year, peak foliage likely won't arrive until early- to mid-October. 

 
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
 
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Art Evans @Norman Rockwell Museum

 Stockbridge, Massachusetts

The small town of Stockbridge in the Berkshires has some pretty high praise to its name. Norman Rockwell called it "the best of America, the best of New England." In fall, surrounded by some of the country's most dazzling displays of fall foliage, it truly earns its high marks. The town and its environs aren't just rich in fall color; area attractions include the MASS MoCA, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Colonial-era Mission House, the frontier re-creation Bidwell House Museum, and The Mount, Edith Wharton's Estate and Gardens. 

Time it Right: Berkshire Leaf Chief Lauren Stevens says that while the leaves begin to turn before the official start of fall on September 23, they "typically reach their crescendo in October."

 
Fayetteville, West Virginia
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Fayetteville, West Virginia

Fayetteville, West Virginia 

Small-town appeal comes in many packages, and Fayetteville prefers its charm funky and cool rather than just quaint. In town, little restaurants serve up local microbrews and local specialties (check out the grape pizza at Pies & Pints). Just outside town, the New River Gorge offers some of the best fall foliage in the state. It's also a focal point for adventure seekers: Whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, and BASE jumping are popular activities. In fact, October 15 is New River Gorge Bridge Day, when thousands come together to celebrate fall and watch some serious BASE jumping (think tall bridge and parachutes). 

Time it Right: Fayetteville usually sees peak color in late October. The West Virginia Division of Forestry publishes a weekly update on the latest fall foliage around the state. 

 
Munising, Michigan
 
Munising, Michigan

 Munising, Michigan

Gorgeous fall foliage has good company in the Upper Peninsula town of Munising. With dramatic sandstone cliffs rising above Lake Superior and 17 local waterfalls, the stage for beauty is already set by the time the dramatic reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn take hold of the forests. Take a stroll downtown, admire the work of local artists, and feast on fresh fish from the lake or sink your teeth into pasties, the local specialty. 

Time it Right: Peak colors in the area occur from late September to mid-October. You can check out the latest fall colors on ExploreMunising.com. 

 
Julian, California
 
Julian, California

Julian, California

Julian offers fall colors where you'd least expect them: in Southern California, about an hour from San Diego. This former gold-rush town in the Cuyamaca Mountains still shines bright each autumn. The town is also known for its apple season and draws leaf peepers looking for a side of apple pie and cider donuts. The Julian Apple Days Festival occurs the first weekend in October this year. 

Time it Right: September and October see the changing of the leaves, and promise plenty of apple treats.


 

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/10-Fantastic-Towns-for-Fallhttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/10-Fantastic-Towns-for-FallWed, 12 Oct 2011 03:00:00 GMTIs It Time to Ditch Your Debit Card? provided by
SMlogo

What's the least-friendly piece of plastic in your wallet? With Bank of America's recent announcement that it will start charging for debit card use, upset customers might say there's a strong argument it's the debit card — and increasingly, there are better alternatives.

The change in debit card terms has been gradual. Most recently, Bank of America announced its plans to levy a $5 monthly fee for making debit-card purchases starting next year. Banks including Wells Fargo, SunTrust and Chase have already eliminated debit rewards programs, and Chase, PNC and TD Bank are testing ATM fees as high as $5 a pop in some markets.

Given the rising costs, consumers may be better off without debit cards at all, says Dennis Moroney, senior analyst covering bank cards at TowerGroup consulting firm. "I never understood why people wanted debit cards in the first place," he says.

Credit cards can often be a better fit. Consumers who pay off their balances in full avoid expensive interest charges and fees, often while earning rewards of 1% or better. And as recent data breaches have highlighted, credit cards offer better protections than debit cards in the case of fraud or theft. (When debit cards are stolen, consumers risk losing everything in their checking account if they don't report the theft before the card is used.)

Banks are also expected to start pushing prepaid cards as a debit alternative, says Odysseas Papadimitriou, chief executive at credit-card comparison web site CardHub.com. American Express became the first major bank to introduce one earlier this year. Of course, most of these cards aren't free either. Users with the American Express prepaid card get one free ATM withdrawal each month, then pay $2 for each one thereafter — in addition to any fees the ATM's owner might charge. The Green Dot Gold Prepaid Visa card may seem closer to a traditional debit card: For someone who signs up for direct monthly deposits of at least $2,000 and visits the ATM at least once a week, the card levies no additional fees, according to CardHub.com.

Remember cash? No fees or fine print, and more businesses are offering discounts for shoppers who use it. Of course, if it's stolen, there's no way to recover it. So even consumers who go cash-only should maintain a checking account with ATMs convenient to work and home, says Richard Barrington, an analyst at MoneyRates.com, which tracks bank rates.

For anyone who still really wants a debit card, smaller banks and credit unions may be the best alternatives. At online bank PerkStreet, for example, customers can earn up to 2% cash back on their debit purchases, as well as 5% on specific categories, like housing or dining, that change each month. (The bank has 37,000 ATMs throughout the country.) At Sovereign Bank, debit card holders get up to 20% cash back on purchases at more than 1,200 retailers, including Restaurant.com, TurboTax and Brookstone, which is then credited to their checking account.

Readers, would you pay $60 per year to use your debit card?

]]>http://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Is-It-Time-to-Ditch-Your-Debit-Cardhttp://www.alexandrazega.com/Blog/Is-It-Time-to-Ditch-Your-Debit-CardSat, 01 Oct 2011 03:00:00 GMT