Ahwatukee Rundown http://ahwatukeerundown.com Everything Ahwatukee.... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:35:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Thanksgiving vs. Thanksliving http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/11/19/thanksgiving-vs-thanksliving/ http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/11/19/thanksgiving-vs-thanksliving/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:22:40 +0000 patty http://ahwatukeerundown.com/?p=442 As we approach the holiday season kicking off with the Thanksgiving Holiday I wanted to share with you a quote:

“The art of Thanksgiving is Thanksliving – It’s gratitude in action – It’s applying Albert Schweitzer’s philosophy in gratitude for your own good fortune, you must render in return some sacrafice of your own life for the other life”

I believe as Ahwatukee residents we all strive to live in a “Thanksliving” way…let’s not lose perspective of this as we enter the joyous yet stressful holdiay season. Her are a few tips:

1) By living triumphantly
2) By being grateful for all who have helped us along the way
3) By striving to make others happy
4) By living each day to its fullest
5) By being an inspiration to others
6) By facing the challenges of life as a challenge for achievement
7) By enjoying what we have and sharing it with others

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for all we have, but Thanksliving is a way of life that when implemented improves the quality of life for everyone in our community.

DO YOU LIVE IN A THANKSLIVING WAY?

Happy Thanksiving
Wishing you much success
The Loan Wolf

]]> http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/11/19/thanksgiving-vs-thanksliving/feed/ 0 Running With Injury…? http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/11/03/running-with-injury/ http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/11/03/running-with-injury/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:15:59 +0000 inspectorpat http://ahwatukeerundown.com/?p=438 Ever thought about how many injuries you get as you get older? I wake up some days with an achy back, other days with sore shoulders, some days with a tight achilles tendon or sometimes a sore knee.
Does it matter? I think not. Didn’t someone say that running is 90% mental and the other half is physical? If that is the case, then I should be fine, because I would much rather run than think about the physical maladies that plague me daily.
Sometimes I want to tell people I run with about my tender calf. Other times I am embarrassed about the degenerative state of my body. Either way I go out and run anyway because what is the alternative? To sit and eat potato chips while watching reruns of The Jeffersons? Not me. I am pretty sure I’m better of mentally if I suffer the strain, deal with the pain and get on the road. I never regret going. I always regret good intentions without action.
Thank the lord for my running team, Team Chances. Not only do they motivate me to run but they also inspire others to start running, to take care of themselves and to help others.

]]> http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/11/03/running-with-injury/feed/ 0 Why are some of the electrical receptacles (outlets) in my house upside down? http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/11/02/why-are-some-of-the-electrical-receptacles-outlets-in-my-house-upside-down/ http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/11/02/why-are-some-of-the-electrical-receptacles-outlets-in-my-house-upside-down/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:21:12 +0000 admin http://ahwatukeerundown.com/?p=431 We’re used to seeing electrical receptacles (outlets) installed in a certain way…the ‘smiley face’ (see illustration 1). You may have noticed that some of the outlets in your house (usually one in each room – bedrooms, living room, etc.) are installed ‘upside down’ (see illustration 2). Why? Well, if properly wired, the top half of the outlet will be controlled by a switch (the bottom half should always be non-switched or ‘hot’). This is so you can plug a lamp into the outlet (again, top half) and turn it on/off with a switch (usually near the entry to the room). Why am I spending time writing about this you may ask? Well, it is quite often I go into a house and find switches taped in the down/off position and/or see notes on switches saying “Don’t turn off”. The reason? The home owner has plugged a computer or alarm clock or television into the top half of the upside down outlet and when the switch is turned off that item loses power. Frustrating! Well, little do they know that all they have to do is plug the item into the bottom half of the outlet, or another outlet, and they won’t have to worry about inadvertently turning it off. So why do they install the outlets upside down? That is so you can tell which outlet is controlled by a switch by looking at it. Also, just because you don’t have outlets that are turned upside down (older homes) doesn’t mean you don’t have switched outlets. Do a little detective work with a lamp. Go from outlet to outlet in a bedroom with all the switches ‘off’. You may find the top half (or in some cases the bottom half) of one outlet doesn’t have power. Now go turn the switch(es) on (one by one if multiple) and I’ll bet one of the switches controls that outlet. And so I don’t get emails from any ‘electrical purists’ out there, I know that technically the ‘smiley face’ outlet is installed upside down, but that is a topic for another day.

Outlets

]]> http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/11/02/why-are-some-of-the-electrical-receptacles-outlets-in-my-house-upside-down/feed/ 0 8K TAX CREDIT UPDATE http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/30/8k-tax-credit-update/ http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/30/8k-tax-credit-update/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:39:04 +0000 patty http://ahwatukeerundown.com/?p=426 The clock may have stopped ticking….or at least slowed down for a little while!  Yesterday afternoon, the Senate approved the extension to the $8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.  The new credit will be good through April 30, 2010.

 In an effort to continue the increased demand for residential real estate, the government is giving buyers more time to find the home of their dreams.  Here are a few important dates to keep in mind:

  • Buyers must be under contract by April 30, 2010
  • Buyers must close escrow no later than June 30, 2010

 The Senate has also introduced provisions to allow for current homeowners to take advantage of the tax credit.  Homeowners who have lived in their homes as primary residents for 5 years or longer may soon be eligible for a $6500 tax credit when purchasing a new primary residence. 

We are all patiently awaiting the President’s signature that will put this bill into effect.

Wishing you much success!

The “Loan” Wolf

]]> http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/30/8k-tax-credit-update/feed/ 0 Will our Government extend the 8K tax credit? http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/27/will-our-government-extend-the-8k-tax-credit/ http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/27/will-our-government-extend-the-8k-tax-credit/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:21:32 +0000 patty http://ahwatukeerundown.com/?p=421 Welcome back to this week’s blog!  We are excited to bring you some breaking news pertaining to the 8K income tax credit that is set to expire November 30, 2009. 

The new law in discussion would extend the credit until June 2010!!

The tax credit has already helped 2 million first-time homebuyers earning less than $300,000/yr purchase homes.  It has also helped stabilize home sales after the worst housing slump since the Great Depression!  This program has cost the U.S.Government $17 Billion…and counting!!

So, if you are one of the first time homebuyers out there that has put in multiple offers on homes only to find out you were beat out by an offer $1,000.00 higher than yours, don’t give up hope!   The banks are expected to start releasing more homes into the market in 2010 and, with the extension to the 8K tax credit, you are likely to find the home of your dreams soon!

Have many of you wondered why this credit was only applicable to first time homebuyers?  Wouldn’t it be more prudent to reward all tax payers that haven’t foreclosed or short saled a home in the past few years?  EXACTLY!!  Well….if passed, the new credit being discussed would give ALL taxpayers the credit for buying a new primary residence, second home and/or investment property between December 2009 and June 2010.

Wishing you much success!

The “Loan” Wolf

]]> http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/27/will-our-government-extend-the-8k-tax-credit/feed/ 0 http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/19/414/ http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/19/414/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:49:57 +0000 patty http://ahwatukeerundown.com/?p=414 Contact us for review:

Ahwatukee Residents – Welcome to our blog!  We are excited to bring you this useful information to help our friends and neighbors in the community.

The mortgage segment of this blog will be updated weekly so stand by for updates….For now, enjoy reading!

5  STEPS ON HOW TO SHOP FOR A MORTGAGE:

1)     Always get 2-3 names of “Mortgage Brokers” from which to obtain quotes.  Make sure to obtain these referrals from a trusted friend, associate or Real Estate Professional and set time aside to call them on the same day.

2)    Be prepared to tell the Mortgage Broker about your plan/intentions to purchase or refinance.  Have Social Security Numbers, income figures and down payment information handy.

3)     Have a general idea of where your FICO (credit scores) are and/or be open to having a new credit report obtained.                                                                  NOTE:  Minimum FHA purchase or refinance FICO is a 620….Minimum Conventional purchase or refinance FICO is a 680

4)  Once you’ve provided the basic qualifying information to each Mortgage Broker, be sure to ask for a Good Faith Estimate with each Broker’s PAR interest rate.  This will allow you to compare the interest rate with fees to ensure you are comparing apples to apples.

5)     Once you’ve made your decision based on the lowest rate and the person you trust the most, call them to secure or LOCK IN the interest rate.

With what seems like nothing but pessimistic financial news taking over the airwaves lately, you can be certain 2009 remains the best year in history to purchase or refinance with rates at historic lows!

Wishing you much success!

THE “LOAN WOLF”

]]> http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/19/414/feed/ 0 October Mortgage http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/15/october-mortgage/ http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/15/october-mortgage/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:34:21 +0000 inspectorpat http://ahwatukeerundown.com/?p=409 October Mortgage Rates

]]> http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/15/october-mortgage/feed/ 0 Time is Running Out for the $8000 Federal Tax Credit http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/14/time-is-running-out-for-the-8000-federal-tax-credit/ http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/14/time-is-running-out-for-the-8000-federal-tax-credit/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:03:56 +0000 admin http://ahwatukeerundown.com/?p=400 With real estate prices in a constant state of flux and mortgage rates the lowest they’ve been since the early 1970’s, isn’t it time to buy a home? At Arizona’s Family Team, KWSL we believe that the real estate market is prime for first time home buyers…and the time limit for the $8000 federal tax credit expires at the end of November. In fact, to qualify you must be a first time home buyer, (or not owned a home in the past 3 years), and close escrow prior to November 30th, 2009. The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

Don’t fret if you’re not a first time home buyer. You can benefit from low home prices and even lower interest rates too. Ahwatukee and many parts of the valley such as the Ocotillo Community in Chandler have steady inventory levels of homes for sale.

There are limits to the tax credit. Click here to learn more.

]]> http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/14/time-is-running-out-for-the-8000-federal-tax-credit/feed/ 0 Do I really need a Home Inspection on a house that is being sold ‘As Is’? http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/14/do-i-really-need-a-home-inspection-on-a-house-that-is-being-sold-%e2%80%98as-is%e2%80%99/ http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/14/do-i-really-need-a-home-inspection-on-a-house-that-is-being-sold-%e2%80%98as-is%e2%80%99/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:26:05 +0000 admin http://ahwatukeerundown.com/?p=395 In a word, YES!  If you are buying a home, a home inspection is the best money you can spend regardless of what you’re buying.  Brand new home being sold by a builder – get an inspection!  Used home being sold by someone who will make repairs – get an inspection!  Used home being sold ‘As Is’ – get an inspection!  A home that is being sold ‘As Is’ has the same possibility of having major issues as a home being sold by someone who is willing to make repairs.  Bottom line – you need to know what you’re buying.  The other thing a home inspection provides you is a report with a list of items needing repair that you can work through once you move in or prior to renting/flipping the house.  Are you going to inspect the attic?  Are you going to inspect the roof?  Are you going to make sure the electrical, plumbing and heating/cooling systems are in proper working order?  A home inspector will.  While the cost of a home inspection is minimal (most fall in the $250 to $400 range) the benefits are immeasurable….especially if you are made aware of an issue (or issues) that could cost thousands of dollars to fix.  Not getting a home inspection on a used home is akin to not having a mechanic look at a used car before buying it.  So unless you plan on performing an inspection of the home you’re buying yourself, get a home inspection.  It will be well worth the cost and, in the end, you’ll be glad you did.  One last note – don’t let anyone talk you out of getting a home inspection because “it’s a waste of money….the bank won’t agree to fix anything anyway”. That’s bad advice! Find out more at my website. Or, if you are home shopping try www.myazfamilyhome.com or www.azfamilyrealty.com or www.azfamilyrealty.com.

]]> http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/10/14/do-i-really-need-a-home-inspection-on-a-house-that-is-being-sold-%e2%80%98as-is%e2%80%99/feed/ 0 The Rundown http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/09/04/the-rundown/ http://ahwatukeerundown.com/2009/09/04/the-rundown/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:36:56 +0000 admin http://turnkey-webdesign.com/?p=363 Anybody and everybody that knows me…knows that I’m an avid runner. This category will highlight everything else that I am passionate about!

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