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May 2009

1 -- May Day
5 -- Cinco de Mayo
10 -- Mother's Day
25 -- Memorial Day

6 signs of a strong housing market....

"Smart buyers will look for communities that can support long-term value."
By U.S. News & World Report

Much good work is lost for the lack of a little more.
-- Edward H. Harriman

First-Time Buyers Responding to Incentives

According to the National Association of Realtors®, existing-home sales eased in March but first-time buyers are responding to low mortgage interest rates and tax credits.

Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – declined 3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.57 million units in March from a downwardly revised level of 4.71 million in February, and were 7.1 percent lower than the 4.92 million-unit pace in March 2008.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said the market appears to be stabilizing with modest monthly ups and downs, and that first-time buyers are driving the market. “The share of lower priced home sales has trended up, indicating a return of many first-time buyers, which we also see in a parallel member survey,” he said. “Sales in the upper price ranges remain stalled because of higher interest rates on jumbo loans.”

Although prices rose from February to March, the national median existing-home price for all housing types was $175,200, down 12.4 percent from March 2008. The price increase from February to March was 4.2 percent, which is much higher than the typical 1.8 percent seasonal increase between those two months. Distressed properties, which accounted for just over half of all transactions in March, typically are selling for 20 percent less than traditional homes.

A NAR practitioner survey in March showed first-time buyers accounted for 53 percent of transactions, based largely on contracts offered before the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit became available. “Buyer traffic has been rising, and real estate offices are getting phone inquires about the tax credit,” Yun said. “By early summer we should be seeing a positive impact on home sales from record-low mortgage interest rates in addition to the stimulus provisions.”

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low 5.00 percent in March from 5.13 percent in February.

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How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!
-- John Muir

Hiking a Fun, Healthy, Family Activity

Going on a family hike is a great way to teach your kids about plants, animals, and the great outdoors. But the key to keeping it fun is to plan ahead and take into account each family member's ability. Following are some tips:

• Plan Your Route -- If this is your first family hike, it's best to choose a trail that you (or someone going with you) has been on before so you know what to expect. For beginners or young ones, an hour may be sufficient.
• Wear Comfortable Shoes -- Hiking is no fun if your feet hurt. While you want comfort, you also want protection (no flip-flops). Thick socks will help prevent blisters.
• Dress in Layers -- Depending on where you're hiking, the weather can go from sunny to rainy in a short period of time. Dress so you can warm up or cool down as necessary.
• Food and Water -- Always carry plenty of water as it's important to stay hydrated. High-protein snacks will be appreciated on hikes longer than an hour as you burn plenty of calories traversing the landscape. Plus, kids love snacks, it adds to the fun.
• Sunscreen and Bug Repellant -- Be prepared for sun and bugs, especially in the Spring.
• First-Aid Kit --For hikes less than an hour, this may not be necessary. But, for day-long hikes, it's advisable to have a kit complete with a variety of bandages, antiseptic ointment, cotton swabs, dry-wash pads or wipes, and drugs for skin infections, allergic reactions and pain. You might also want to throw in a small, unbreakable mirror, tweezers, scissors, safety pins and whistle.
• Backpacks -- Most children will want to carry their own backpack, and that's fine, but keep it light; otherwise, you'll be carrying it.
• Share Your Plan -- If you're going on a long hike in a remote area, tell a neighbor or friend where you're going and when you'll return. If something goes wrong and your cell phone doesn't work, somebody will be able to call authorities.

You can get a lot of good information about hiking areas on the internet. Many sites will describe the trail, rate its difficulty level, tell you the distance and estimated hike time, and offer tips on the best time to hike, scenic opportunities and trail highlights.

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But make no mistake: the weeds will win; nature bats last.
-- Robert M. Pyle

Cleaning Your Home the Green Way

Everybody's going green! Whether you've jumped on the bandwagon or not, it can't hurt to make an attempt to use less toxic household cleaners. Many detergents, fabric softeners, ammonia and bleaches have negative affects on your health and the environment.

One solution is to start making your own cleaners using non-toxic, ecologically safe products. This can be done pretty quickly with products you probably already have around the house: white vinegar, baking soda, borax, baking soda and a spray bottle.

• All Purpose Cleaner -- Mix together 1 quart warm water, 1 teaspoon liquid soap, 1 teaspoon borax and 1/4 cup white vinegar. Put it in a spray bottle and use on floors, counter tops, walls, carpets and upholstery.
• Glass and Mildew Cleaner -- Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spray on glass or mildew to clean. If you are sensitive to the smell of vinegar, try this alternative: mix 1 quart warm water with 1/4 cup white vinegar or 2 tablespoons lemon juice.
• Drain Opener -- Dissolve 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar in boiling water and pour down the drain. Continue to flush with hot tap water until the clog breaks. Flush drain with boiling water weekly to avoid buildup.
• Scouring Powder -- Sprinkle borax to get stains off porcelain sinks; baking soda effectively removes baked-on food from a dishes.
• Linoleum and Tile Floor Cleaner -- Mix 1 gallon hot or warm water with 1/2 cup vinegar.
• Toilet Bowl Cleaner -- Put 1/4 cup borax in toilet bowl and let set overnight, scrub the next day.

Another solution is to buy "green" cleaning products or cleaners that avoid toxic ingredients like corrosives, chlorine bleach, ammonia, phosphates and petroleum products. You may not be able to eliminate all your cleaners but even small changes help make a difference.

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116 Birchwood Drive

Check out this updated home- hardwood and tile flooring!!!  Newer windows, siding, doors, roof, and more- definitely move in ready!!!

3426 CLEARWATER DRIVE

3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms.  Beautiful spiral staircase to spacious Master suite.  ALL on a 1/2 acre!!!

3983 WOODRIDGE DRIVE

Fantastic Family Home in Ironwood!!!  Custom home with amazing kitchen, 3-car oversized garage, family room/ theater room option, gas fireplaces, and more!!!

5437 DENALI DRIVE

Wells Built Homes New Construction at Riverfront Pointe.  2 bedrooms-master with walkin closet & bathroom.  Large Kitchen, pantry & main floor laundry room.  Lower level designed for 2 bed, bath, & Family Rm.

We give up leisure in order that we may have leisure, just as we go to war in order that we may have peace.
-- Aristotle

Trivia Challenge

Question 1.) Which state's name means "homeland"?
a.) Georgia
b.) Hawaii
c.) New York
d.) Pennsylvania

Question 2.) In George Orwell's "Animal Farm," which animal takes leadership over the other animals?
a.) Dogs
b.) Horses
c.) Pigs
d.) Sheep

Question 3.) What 1980's band had a hit with "Take My Breath Away"?
a.) Bananarama
b.) Berlin
c.) Oingo Boingo
d.) The Police

Question 4.) What 1974 movie about an outlaw couple made Steven Spielberg a promising film director?
a.) Escape to Nowhere
b.) Duel
c.) Firelight
d.) The Sugarland Express

Question 5.) Johann Strauss, Jr., Beethoven and Mozart all lived in which city?
a.) Munich
b.) Prague
c.) Salzburg
d.) Vienna

TOP | ANSWERS

Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it.
-- Unknown

5 Steps to a Successful Exercise Routine

One way to stay motivated for exercise is to prepare for it and break it down into parts to make it more manageable. In addition, learning about each part of exercise will give you a deeper understanding of its importance and why you should not skip any of the steps.

1. The Plan -- Schedule the amount of time and the specific exercise you want to complete in your planner. Whether it's running for 45 minutes, 30 minutes of Pilate's or weight lifting for 20 minutes, it's critical that you schedule it just like you would a doctor's appointment. Planning for exercise is crucial. Not only does it ensure that you have time to exercise, but it prepares you mentally. Once you have your exercise time scheduled you should gather up any gear you will need to complete the exercise. Everything should be handy and ready when your workout time comes.
2. The Decision -- If you successfully carried out step one, you will have eliminated many of the excuses that will likely arise. The key is to take action to quiet those mental arguments telling you why you can't exercise today. The best thing to do is to simply go through the motions -- put on your workout clothes, fill up your water bottle and start your warm up. You can tell yourself you can quit after a few minutes if you want to (but you won't).
3. The Warm Up -- A 10 minute warm up prepares your muscles and increases your body temperature and blood flow so your body can transition into exercise with as little risk of injury as possible. You can do anything you want: stretching, sit ups, walking, light weights.
4. The Workout -- Perform your chosen exercise for at least 25 to 30 minutes; you want to get your heart rate up and work up a sweat.
5. The Cool Down -- Take about five minutes to stretch as your heart rate and respiration start to slow and your body cools down. Congratulate yourself on a job well done and schedule your next workout!

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Talk doesn't cook rice.
-- Chinese Proverb

Schezwan Steak on Rice

Ingredients - Serves 8

• 3 1/2 oz. bag boil-in-bag rice
• 1 lb. flank steak -- trimmed
• 1 tsp. minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tsp. cornstarch
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 2 tsp. dark sesame oil
• 2 cups fresh sugar snap peas
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 tbsp. chopped dry-roasted peanuts

Directions

1. Cook rice according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Set rice aside but keep warm.
2. Cut steak diagonally across grain into 1-inch-thick slices. Combine steak, garlic and pepper in a bowl; toss well to coat. Combine soy sauce, cornstarch and sugar in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk until smooth.
3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sugar snap peas to pan and stir-fry 1 minute. Add meat mixture to pan and stir-fry about 2 minutes. Add soy sauce mixture to pan and stir-fry until sauce is slightly thick. Place about 1/2 cup rice on each of 4 plates, top each serving with steak mixture. Sprinkle each serving evenly with 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro and 2 1/4 teaspoons chopped peanuts.

Wine Pairing

• Casa Donoso Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2005

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Nothing travels faster than light, with the possible exception of bad news, which follows its own rules.
-- Douglas Adams

Netbooks: The Ultraportable Internet Notebook

During the past few months, you've probably been seeing more and more advertising of netbooks. In case you're not familiar with the term, a netbook is a small portable laptop computer designed for wireless communication and access to the internet. The word netbook is a mix of the words internet and notebook.

What makes it different from a notebook or laptop computer is that it's significantly smaller and primarily designed for web browsing and e-mailing, and relies heavily on the internet for remote access to web-based applications. Likely buyers are users who don't require a powerful laptop.

Netbooks typically run either Windows XP or Linux operating systems rather than more resource-intensive operating systems like Windows Vista. The devices range in size, but most are in the 7- to 10-inch range, typically weigh less than 3 pounds, and are way more portable and affordable than general purpose laptops (with several priced below $300). Nearly all offer several USB ports, a webcam, LED backlit screens, integrated speakers, Wi-Fi, and more.

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All of the biggest technological inventions created by man - the airplane, the automobile, the computer - says little about his intelligence, but speaks volumes about his laziness.
-- Mark Kennedy

Cool/Free/Fun/Trendy: Twitter

Unless you've been holing up in a cave somewhere, you've probably heard of Twitter. Now, whether you think it's a total waste of time, or the best thing to come along since the wheel, one thing is clear: Twitter has become a nationwide phenomenon.

For those of you who think Twitter is just for narcissists who tweet about what they had for breakfast or what they're watching on TV, think again. Tweeter may not be for you, but it probably does more than you think. In fact, Twitter is fast becoming a leading tool for instant, real-time search results; it's used to monitor developments on something you care about; it's the fastest way available to get news updates; it can be used to add a new event to Google Calendar; you can ask questions and get quick answers; and, of course, it's used as a communication device to stay hyper-connected with family and friends.

Maybe you already have all the productivity and communication tools you'll ever need, there are many to choose from. But, Twitter may be worth a gander. Check it out: www.twitter.com.

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Trivia Answers
#1. b.) Hawaii; #2. c.) Pigs; #3. b.) Berlin; #4. d.) The Sugarland Express; #5. d.) Vienna

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Dana Wagenhals
2029 Grand Ave.
Billings, MT 59102

This eNewsletter contains information, facts and opinions from various individuals and organizations. This eNewsletter is provided on an "as-is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. I/We are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Consult with your doctor, fitness consultant, attorney, accountant, or other professional advisor when necessary. © 2009 eNewsletterSolutions.