5 Benefits of Owning a Pet

5 Benefits of Owning a Pet

 

1. Allergy Fighters
It was always thought that having pets around babies heightens for a higher chance of allergies and asthma. However, recent studies have shown that kids growing up in a home with "furred animals", whether it's a cat, dog or other furry pets, will have less risk of allergies and asthma. 

Read the rest on my website!!!! Click link below...

http://www.mydiscoverybayliving.com/Web/AR440451/Blog/post/?post_id=103912

Inspiration

 Inspiration is the basis of any creative endeavor. When you create a piece of art or poetry, or come up with a new scientific theory, inspiration is at the core of this activity. Often times, inspiration comes from external factors like listening to music, reading a book, or watching a movie.
We are inspired when our internal receptivity connects with another object, whether it is a sound, feeling, thought, or anything that is experienced through our senses. In order to find inspiration, we have to be receptive and have an open mind. It is difficult to 'a rigid mind, so mental flexibility and relaxation is important if you need to find inspiration and remain hyper creative.
When you actively seek inspiration, you will find it. It's almost like seeking the truth about life and reality. An artist or photographer derives inspiration from the beauty of a sunset, the contours of a majestic landscape, or the multitude of expressions they can find on someone's face. A simple angle from which a photographer views their subject can 'certain creativity. Inspiration itself is a creative process as our mind actively changes a simple object into an inspiration.
Inspiration is also deeply connected to our imagination. Almost anything can trigger our imagination. Our imagination allows us to envision things that do not exist yet, a car or a painting or a type of flower, a new planet with yellow sky or people with red eyes. These visions can become the source of inspiration for a movie or a book. Our imaginations have no limits.
What inspires some people doesn't 'others. It is believed by many psychologists that our personal circumstances and preferences, our childhood experiences and our subjective tastes, attitudes, personality will play a role in what we find interesting or inspiring. Our level of knowledge and understanding of a certain aspect of life can also determine the extent to which we are inspired by internal or external objects.
Scientists speak of inspiration coming from a sudden moment of enlightenment. They may work for years on discovering the perfect chemical components of a drug. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, some chemical equation comes to mind. Some of the most brilliant minds have told of having dreams the night before coming up with a musical masterpiece, an innovative invention, or an exquisite piece of art.
The source of inspiration is something unique for all of us. If you want to be inspired, surround yourself with sensory input that gives you the greatest stimulation, whether it's music, nature, art, poetry, or just plain solitude while watching the sun rise or set.

Holiday fun!!!

Try this at your next gift exchange party! So much fun!!

*INTRUCTIONS: GET IN A CIRCLE, PASS GIFT PACKAGES RIGHT OR LEFT AS CUE WORDS ARE *

READ……

The Right Family Story
	The Right Family Christmas was almost here and Mother Right was finishing the Christmas baking. Father Right, Sue Right, and Billy Right returned from their last-minute Christmas errands. "There's not much left to be done," said Father Right as he came into the kitchen. "Did you leave the basket of food at the church?" asked Mother Right. "I left it right where you told me to," said Father Right. "I'm glad my shopping is done," said Billy right. "I don't have any money left." The hall telephone rang, and Susan Right left to answer it. She rushed right back and told the family, "Aunt Tillie Right left a package for us right on Grandma Right's front porch. I'll go over there right now and get it," she said as she left in a rush. Father Right left the kitchen and brought in the Christmas tree. By the time Susan Right returned, Mother Right, Father Right, and Billy Right had begun trimming the tree. The entire Right family sang carols as they finished decorating. Then they left all the presents arranged under the tree and went to bed, hoping they had selected the right gifts for their family. Now I hope you have the right present for yourself, because that's all that's left of our story...except to wish you a merry Christmas... Isn't that right?? From: http://www.scoutingweb.com/Scoutingweb/SubPages/ChristStryRL.htm

Great news on Short Sales.....

The good news just keeps continuing.

 

 

As we anticipated, C.A.R. today received a letter from the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), obtained by the State Board of Equalization, clarifying that California families who have lost their home in a short sale are not subject to state income tax liability on debt forgiveness “phantom income” they never received in a short sale. 

Last month, in a letter to California Sen. Barbara Boxer, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recognized that the debt written off in a short sale does not constitute recourse debt under California law, and thus does not create so-called “cancellation of debt” income to the underwater home seller for federal income tax purposes.  Following the IRS’s clarification, C.A.R. sought a similar ruling by the California FTB.  Now with the FTB’s clarification, underwater home sellers also are assured that they are not subject to state income tax liability, rescuing tens of thousands of distressed home sellers from California tax liability for debt written off by lenders in short sales.

We are pleased with the recent clarifications issued by the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board, which protect distressed homeowners from debt relief income tax associated with a short sale in California.  We would like to thank Sen. Boxer and BOE member George Runner for their leadership in obtaining this guidance from the IRS and FTB.  Distressed California homeowners can now avoid foreclosure or bankruptcy and can opt for a short sale instead, without incurring federal and state tax liability, even after the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 expires at the end of this year.

Sincerely,

Kevin Brown
2014 President
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

OF THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD BE THE NEXT PERSON TO MAKE A MOVE?

OF THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD BE THE NEXT PERSON TO MAKE A MOVE?

Here are the 5 ways I can help them with a successful transition:

1)      Provide a comprehensive market analysis on the home they are selling or provide market trends for the area they moving to.

2)      If they are “fixing up” to get ready to sell, I can provide data on which projects will get the highest resale return on dollars invested and help them to prioritize which projects are most important to a buyer so they know how to get the most from their budget and sale.

3)      I can refer them to a list of quality people, vendors and contractors to assist them with projects beyond their ability or time constraints.

4)      I will advise them to speak with their financial consultant for possible tax consequences of their sale.

5)      If they are buying, help them work with a local professional to get prequalified for their loan and complimentary credit check to make sure there are no issues to deal with, before they make a commitment. This also puts buyers in a stronger bargaining position.

6)      If they are out of my immediate market area, I will provide them with a list of professionals that will give them the same great care that I would provide; personally.

Well, okay that’s 6 ways, BUT I always go the extra mile for your referrals. All you have to do to help the people you care about is call or email me, with their contact information. The sooner, the better, friends don’t let friends talk to strangers and gamble with what is most likely their largest asset or purchase. I look forward to hearing from you soon! I’m never too busy for your referrals.

Sincerely,

Kerri

Why You Should Consider Listing Your Home Over the Holidays

The holiday season can bring many stresses of its own without adding a home sale to the list. This can keep many sellers on the sidelines or send them pulling their houses off the market until the new year rings in.

But contrary to what you may think, this time of year can actually be a fantastic sweet spot for sellers. Holiday buyers are serious and motivated. Consumer confidence is higher than at any other time of year. And relocating families tend to have more time and reason to shop for a new home over the holidays.

Perhaps the biggest compelling reason the holidays are a good time to list your home is the simple fact that there are fewer homes on the market at this time of year, which means less competition.

In addition, limited inventory has driven up prices in many markets through the year. The national median price for existing homes was $199,200 in September, according to NAR's latest monthly statistics. That was up 11.7% from the same month a year ago and it was the 10th consecutive month of double-digit year-over-year growth.

Mortgage rates also play a factor in holiday home sales. We've been seeing a rise in rates, with Freddie Mac reporting its latest average on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was at 4.35%, up from 4.16% the previous week. Consecutive weekly climbs in interest rates tend to motivate buyers even more.

We know this first hand, and that's why we’ve created a special holiday program to help sellers navigate listing their home over the holidays without sacrificing their sanity or precious time with family.

Our Holiday Marketing Program is designed with seller privacy in mind. There are no for-sale signs in your yard, no lock boxes on your door, no open houses and no advertising identifying your home.

Instead, we’re offering to market your home to our sphere of serious buyers and show your home only by appointment. No fuss. No inconveniences. But you'll be able take advantage of opportunities you'd otherwise miss by waiting until the new year.

And on January 1, 2014, if your home has not sold, it will automatically convert to our exclusive home marketing program. You won't have to start from scratch.

We created this program because in our experience we know that there are a lot of opportunities for sellers over the holidays, but we understand why a homeowner would not want to deal with the stress of listing their home during this time.

If you're interested in learning more, ask an me for more information.

Happy Holidays!