And Now, The 18 Essential Miami Hotels, November '13 - Hotel 18 - Curbed Miami

And Now, The 18 Essential Miami Hotels, November '13 - Hotel 18 - Curbed Miami

How to manage your online reputation

I would like to share this Blog with you.

Managing your online reputation can be a daunting task at times – whether it’s because you’ve posted something less than smart on Facebook, someone assumes your name or someone is talking about you and your business and you can’t control what they’re saying. The Internet is impossible to control, and anyone can say anything about you – that, in the end, is the beauty of the Internet. However, it’s not just about what others are saying about you, but also how you conduct yourself online, and especially on social media that can damage your reputation.

Read complete Blog here;

http://www.socialable.co.uk/how-to-manage-your-online-reputation/#%21

Home Buyer's Checklist: 15 Things to Look Out For | eHow

Home Buyer's Checklist: 15 Things to Look Out For | eHow:

'via Blog this'

Frugal Traveler: Find Awesome Accommodations For Less | eHow

 

Accommodations often end up being the priciest part of your trip. Hotels can run hundreds of dollars per night, especially in popular cities like Paris, Rome and New York. Renting a home, though often cheaper than a hotel, can also set you back hundreds of dollars per night. The good news: There are plenty of ways to save on hotels and home rentals, as well as alternatives to these accommodations, that can keep the cash-strapped traveler on budget.

Frugal Traveler: Find Awesome Accommodations For Less | eHow

Farewell 3% mortgage rates

This week, the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped another 10 percentage points to 3.91% and are up from 3.3% in early May, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac. Meanwhile, those seeking a 15-year loan received an average rate of 3.03%, up from 2.56% -- a record low.  Read More>>>> Farewell 3% mortgage rates: Say goodbye to ultra-low mortgage rates.

5 things to know about open houses

A full 94% of sellers do some "staging," such as repainting or bringing in new furniture, says Coldwell Banker.

"You can be so wowed by staging that you overlook important things," says San Jose realtor Carl San Miguel. To focus on what matters, lift rugs to look at floors, ask the agent to turn off music so you can listen for nearby noise, and beware of any smells masked by candles.

Also request a disclosure sheet, which lists known structural issues.

2. You can learn a lot from the crowd

Nearly half of buyers visit open houses, Read More>> 5 things to know about open houses: Read full story for latest details.

Home sales continue to climb

Home sales continue to climb: Home sales continued to climb in April, according to the latest reading on the housing recovery from an industry trade group.

Home appraisals no longer derailing sales

Home appraisals no longer derailing sales: Read full story for latest details.

Is Now the Time to Buy a Home?

Is Now the Time to Buy a Home?:
Avoid ill-timed acquisitions with these safeguards.

Selling your home? The cards are in your favor

Six years after prices collapsed, housing has begun to climb out of its hole. So what are the best moves to make now? In a three-part series, we offer smart strategies for buyers , sellers, and owners in today's market. Selling your home? The cards are in your favor: Read full story for latest details.

How to buy real estate with a retirement fund | HousingWire

How to buy real estate with a retirement fund | HousingWire: "Yes, you can buy real estate in your IRA, Roth IRA, or other retirement account. But it isn’t easy, Mark Luscombe, a CPA and attorney, warns. In fact, it is quite complicated — and you’ll face many issues that might invalidate your IRA-based investment. MarketWatch provides some of the obstacles you must overcome."

'via Blog this'

Demand for vacation homes on the rise | HousingWire

Demand for vacation homes on the rise | HousingWire: "More consumers are seeking the relaxation of getting away, as vacation-home sales rose 10.1% to 553,000 in 2012 from 502,000 in 2011, according to data from the National Association of Realtors.

When surveyed, buyers listed a number of reasons for purchasing a vacation home: 80% plan to utilize the property for vacations or family retreats, 27% intend to use it as a primary residence in the future, 23% hope to rent it to others and 23% saw the home as a good investment opportunity."

'via Blog this'

5 Strangest Tax Breaks -- Ever

5 Strangest Tax Breaks -- Ever:
What do pools, vet bills and dance lessons have in common? They all might offer tax breaks.

Get more out of your closet space

Get more out of your closet space: For those lucky enough to have a spacious walk-in closet, an organizing system is a no-brainer.

Spring Clean Your Home for Cash

Spring Clean Your Home for Cash:
Most people have between $3,000 and $5,000 worth of stuff they don't use. Sell it and earn money.

Pocket That Cash! Home Improvements Sellers Can Skip

Pocket That Cash! Home Improvements Sellers Can Skip:
Don't waste money on these upgrades. You can likely sell your home for a good price without them.

LRES CIO: Mortgage lending process faces serious problems

“If we do have serious problems and if the processes are dysfunctional, it’s not just because of the appraisal process. The whole lending process in general in the United States has serious problems,” LRES CIO Alice Sorenson added.

read more

 

LRES CIO: Mortgage lending process faces serious problems
Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:19:17 GMT

Offer now or forever hold your peace

This is a sellers' market. The buyer no longer has the upper hand in this fast paced, high demand market.

read more

 

Offer now or forever hold your peace
Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:24:47 GMT

Avoiding Common Social Media Mistakes

Avoiding Common Social Media Mistakes: Social media offers infinite opportunities to interact with existing and potential customers, build your brand and promote your company’s offerings to the world. However, the vastness of social media also makes it possible that your posts will disappear into cyberspace without causing the impact you imagined.

How a lifetime income annuity works

When the topic turns to annuities, people's eyes glaze over, their heads nod and before long they're in a deep slumber. I hope the following clears up a few questions I have been asked.
Grant

By Walter Updegrave @Money   March 6, 2013

To avoid the above reaction (I hope), I'm going to try a different approach to explaining how annuities provide income for life -- and why anyone retired or on the verge of retirement might want to consider buying one. >>READ MORE>>How a lifetime income annuity works:

Zombie foreclosures: Debts won't die

Since the housing bubble burst seven years ago, almost two million properties have started but never completed the foreclosure process, according to RealtyTrac. While no one knows the exact number, it's estimated that tens of thousands could be zombie foreclosures. - Zombie foreclosures: Debts won't die: Read full story for latest details.

Struggling homeowners turned to short sales in 2012

Struggling homeowners increasingly turned to short sales to get out from under mortgage debt last year. READ MORE>> Struggling homeowners turned to short sales in 2012:

3 tips for tapping your retirement savings - Feb. 8, 2013

A lot is written about how to build a nest egg, but not as much about taking money out. What advice do you have for withdrawing money from saving once I retire -- M.S., Seattle, Wash.

As baby boomers make the transition from career to retirement, more and more people are grappling with the question you raise: How do you turn the money you've accumulated in 401(k)s, IRAs and other accounts into reliable income that, along with Social Security and any pensions, can support you the rest of your life?

>READ MORE>> 3 tips for tapping your retirement savings - Feb. 8, 2013

Biggest Barriers to Buying a Home

Biggest Barriers to Buying a Home:
Buying a house can be a daunting task for a first-time buyer. You may worry about your ability to afford a home or whether your credit score is high enough to secure a mortgage. Before shopping for a residence, build up your savings for a down paymen...

Top 5 Reasons Homes Don't Sell

Top 5 Reasons Homes Don't Sell:
It's a tough decision to sell your house, and frustration can set in easily when your home sits on the market a long time. Several common problems are at the root of most home sale problems. Learn to recognize them and do your best to work around the...

Luxury home sales soared end of 2012

Luxury home sales soared end of 2012: Sales of luxury homes spiked in the final months of 2012 as high-end homeowners rushed to take advantage of lower tax rates before January 1.