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• New York City $17
• Orlando $15
• San Francisco $14
• Washington $14
• Las Vegas $13
• Chicago $12
• Houston $12
• New Orleans $12*
• Los Angeles $11
• San Diego $10

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• In the next two years, 72 percent of homeowners surveyed plan to decorate or redecorate, 40 percent plan to remodel or construct an addition, while 10 percent are planning to build a custom home.
• 57 percent of Houzz homeowners planning to complete a project in the next two years will hire a general contractor, 35 percent a kitchen or bath professional and 32 percent will hire a carpet or flooring professional. Thirty percent are planning to hire an architect, 26 percent an interior designer and 24 percent a landscape architect or designer.
• About half—52 percent—say they will save money by completing some projects themselves.
• The largest projects in terms of average spend in the last five years were custom home builds ($577,000), complete home remodels ($193,000), pool additions or replacements ($34,000) and kitchen remodels ($25,000).

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• "Someone left because her boss lost the dog she had given him."
• "Our employee said he was joining the circus."
• "One person left because she lost her cellphone too many times at work."
• "We had someone quit to participate in a reality show."
• "An employee said it was his routine to change jobs every six months."

• "One worker left to become an apple farmer."
• "A staff member quit to climb Mount Everest."
• "There was an individual who left to play the trombone."
• "An employee wanted to enter a beauty contest."
• "One worker quit to join a rock band."

• "A guy said he was making too much money and didn't feel he was worth it."
• "One person left because she didn't want to work so hard."
• "An individual said he was bored."
• "Someone quit because she was going to live off her trust fund."
• "An employee said work was getting in the way of having fun."
• "A person quit because informal dress was not allowed."
• "The worker told us he just couldn't get up in the morning."

1. Give proper notice. Tell your boss about your departure first so he or she doesn't hear it through the grapevine. Providing two weeks notice is standard, but if your schedule is flexible, offer to stay longer to train a replacement.
2. Get things in order. Supply written instructions to team members on projects and make sure they have access to the tools and information needed to complete assignments.
3. Stay positive. Take the time to say goodbye and thank you to colleagues. Provide your contact information and reach out to those with whom you'd like to keep in touch.
4. Don't slack off. Use your last weeks on the job to complete as much work as possible on outstanding projects. You want to be remembered as a strong contributor to the end.
5. Talk before you walk. Participate in an exit interview if it's offered. Be honest with your feedback, but keep it constructive and professional. Your comments and suggestions could potentially help to improve the workplace.

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• The largest group are the Enthusiasts (37 percent of the study's global population), who are passionate about technology and willing to sacrifice simplification for empowerment.
• The next largest are Infomaniacs (25 percent), who value getting information and discovering new experiences even more than relating better to other people.
• Pragmatists (22 percent) are less likely to love technology, but value it as very helpful in relating better to others, getting things done, and managing health and wellness.
• Disconnects (16 percent) are noticeably unemotional about technology; they place a high value on simplification instead of empowerment or enrichment.

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• Mothers total about 85.4 million, with about four million giving birth in the past year.
• In 2008, the last year recorded, the average age for giving birth was 25.1 years old. That 0.1 is important because it represents a slight age increase from the previous two years. Analysts say that increase is due mostly to fewer births among the younger set of mothers.
• The number of stay-at-home mothers has remained relatively stable despite the challenging economy. In 2011, 23 percent of married mothers with children under 15 were classified as stay-at-home. In 2007, before the recession, it was 24 percent.
• The number of single moms, however, has spiked. In 2011, 10 million mothers of children 18 or younger were single. In 1970, that number was just 3.4 million.
• In 2010, about 39 percent of women who gave birth were not married, or were separated, or “married but with an absent spouse,” according to the census.
• The most popular names bestowed upon babies in 2010 were Jacob and Isabella.

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• Houston, Texas - 31,271
• Dallas, Texas – 18,686
• Washington, DC – 18,686
• New York, N.Y. – 13,973
• Austin, Texas – 10,239
• Los Angeles, Calif. - 9,895
• Phoenix, Ariz. – 9,081
• Seattle, Wash. – 8,664
• Atlanta, Ga. - 8,634
• San Antonio, Texas – 7,127

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• Review the website of the airline on which you are flying for respective policies, amenities, customer-service plans and flight-operation alert notifications.
• Before departing to the airport, be sure to check the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport delay map.
• Remember that TSA requires that air travelers follow its 3-1-1 Rule for liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on bags when passing through security checkpoints.

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1. Under-bed Storage. Sliding or rolling under-bed storage bins serve as a wonderful extension of your closet space. Use them to rotate seasonal items, store bigger, bulkier items like backpacks, purses and blankets, or house a change of sheets. These items will remain nicely hidden with the help of a bedskirt. Be sure to label the bins to avoid frantic and messy searching.
2. Put Shoes in Their Place. One of the quickest fixes to a bedroom closet overrun with shoes is to invest in a shoe rack. Morgenstern recommends an expanding tiered shoe rack below your clothes as opposed to an over-the-door hanging shoe bag. Once you have a clear visual on just how many shoes you actually own, odds are you’ll realize it’s time to give some away.
3. Control Jewelry Chaos. A hanging jewelry organizer can help tame that tangled mess of necklaces and earrings on your bureau. These organizers usually come with or snap onto a hanger and have plenty of clear pockets to keep items free and clear of each other.
4. Create a Reading Nook. That lovely chair you have in your room was not meant to be adorned with dirty laundry and back-logged magazines. Morgenstern says it’s time to rescue your reading chair by adding the proper organization, such as a side table with drawers or shelves for your reading materials, journal or e-reader. If you’re a magazine and/or newspaper fan, a magazine rack would work best
5. Make Your Bed Every Day. So simple yet so tempting to blow off. Treat your bed as the sanctuary it is by positioning it for use every day, says Morgenstern. If you spend three minutes each morning to tuck and fold, you'll develop a habit of keeping order in the room, which may translate into motivation for picking up the pile of clothes on the floor.
6. Put Specialty Garments in Storage. If your wedding dress or special occasion fur is taking up space in your primary closet, have it professionally cleaned and boxed, then put it away in an attic or basement.

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• The number-one reason respondents returned to work is for "financial reasons," although resuming employment because they "enjoy their career" is a close second. Needing benefits (health/child care) and just wanting to "get out of the house" were less motivating rationale.
• When asked how having a child impacts the way that working mothers feel they are regarded by coworkers, almost half (42 percent) felt their colleagues are "supportive and understanding," while 18 percent believe that others "behaved the same." Almost a quarter (24 percent) said their coworkers are "supportive, but don't understand my situation" and a frustrated 16 percent said their teammates are "resentful of my competing priorities or schedule."
• Balancing a career and a family is a huge struggle for 87 percent of respondents with 55 percent admitting that "excelling at both is overwhelming," 13 percent "struggled at first, but now it's under control," 16 percent "always put family first and work has suffered for it," and 3 percent "always put work first and family has suffered for it."

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According to a Wakefield Research study conducted for Godiva Coffee, 87 percent of Americans (moms included) believe it's the quality of time spent with Mom, not the quantity of time, that's most important. Godiva offers a few inexpensive ways of spending QT with Mom that are bound to make her happy this Mother's Day:

Surprise her with breakfast in bed: Nothing shows your love for Mom like waking up before she does to prepare her a delicious breakfast. Just remember to clean up the kitchen afterwards.
Work yourself into her schedule for a day: Help Mom run her errands and be her chauffeur to enjoy the great conversation that comes while driving around together doing everyday things. Come with her favorite coffee ready in a to-go cup.
Stroll down memory lane: Sit down for tea and stroll down memory lane with old photo albums and/or videos. For bonus points, help Mom scan them onto a computer to share on Facebook.

Source: www.godivacoffee.com

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• 54 percent say the process of dealing with their health is frustrating.
• 63 percent feel that they are at the mercy of their doctor's or dentist's front desk staff when making an appointment.
• More than half admit to delaying seeking medical care because the process is a “pain.”

• 79 percent said that they can evaluate a new gadget easier than they can a new doctor or dentist.
• 76 percent said it is easier to find information on a hotel that fits their needs than to find information on a doctor or dentist that fits their needs.
• 64 percent feel that when choosing a new doctor or dentist, they do not know how to adequately evaluate whether or not they fit their specific needs.
• 79 percent admitted to picking a doctor or dentist primarily based on whether or not they accept their insurance.

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• First mortgage balances were 3.5 percent below their year-ago level in March, having now posted year-over-year declines in the previous 36 consecutive months.
• Seventy-one percent of all first mortgage delinquencies are from loans taken out in 2005-2007.
• The share of first mortgage loans transitioning from current status to 30-days past due is at its lowest level since June 2007.
• The share of first mortgages transitioning from 60-days past due to 90-days past due is at its lowest level in 59 months.
• Loans in severe delinquency status, defined as those 90 or more days past due or that have started the foreclosure process, has fallen steadily over the 24 months ended March 2012 and now stands at $477 billion.

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1. How long have you been a real estate agent? The number of years an agent has been in the business is important information for you to know—and there are pros and cons to every level of experience, so don’t rush to judgment. For example, if an agent has only been practicing for a couple of years, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Agents who started in real estate after the bubble burst only know how to operate within current market conditions and won’t waste time on outdated strategies that worked during the housing boom, but that won’t work now. Measure their success by the home’s they’ve sold so far and how they overcame the particular challenges of those sellers. Conversely, if you’re prospective agent is a real estate veteran, be sure to ask how he or she has adapted their approach for the market downturn. While their years of experience are invaluable to you, make sure they’ve changed accordingly with the times.
2. What will you specifically do to market my home? In today’s technology-based environment, don’t settle for a general response, such as “online marketing” and “virtual tours.” Ask prospective agents which specific listing syndication sites your home will appear on, how many photos/videos of your home will be included, how social media will be utilized, and what sort of mobile platforms are available. Ask for examples of other homes the agent is currently listing so you can get a good idea of how your home will be marketed.
3. What will it take to make your home stand apart? Savvy agents will offer specific details on what simple—or potentially significant—improvements need to be made to help your home compete on the market. Ask what features/qualities were common among recently sold homes. For example, if home offices were a popular selling point, quickly redecorating a spare bedroom into office space could make a big difference to prospective buyers.
4. How will you determine the best possible price for my home? Pricing is a complicated and critical issue in today’s market and before you ask an agent this question, decide how quickly you want/need to sell your home. With a slightly lower listing price, your home could sell very quickly. With a slightly higher price, be prepared to wait. Ask your agent what the average listing time is for homes in your area. Ask which homes sold quickly and why. Ask what investments you may be able to make in your home that would result in a higher selling price. Ask what the current housing supply in your market is so you can get an idea of how in-demand your home may or may not be. All of these factors are crucial to determining the best listing price for your particular circumstances.

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“Not enough closet space” is a common lament of many homeowners. But the truth is, no matter how abundant or spacious your closets may be, the inner pack-rat in all of us tends to take over and stuff our shelves to capacity.

If your closet contains articles of clothing with the price tags still on, sheet sets from your childhood bunk beds, or board games with more than a few pieces missing, raise the red flag—things have gotten out of control.

While the prospect of overhauling your closets is indeed daunting, the benefits in terms of streamlining and organizing your day-to-day life (just imagine how much easier getting dressed in the morning could be?) make the challenge more than worth it. Here are some pointers to make tackling closet clean-outs less overwhelming:

- Pick and choose. Often the biggest deterrent to closet cleaning is not knowing where to begin. Odds are, if you have one bad closet, you have more. Enlist a triage approach and decide which closet is in the worst shape and/or which closet you frequent most. Or, take the opposite approach and clean out a closet that needs the least amount of cleaning first. This will help ease you into the process and motivate you with a sense of accomplishment.
- Think long-term. Unless you happen to be in a situation that affords you an inordinate amount of downtime, schedule your closet clean-outs over several months. Attempting to get them all done in one weekend is probably unrealistic and will leave you quite cranky come Monday morning. Shoot for something more reasonable, like one closet per month, or one closet per rainy weekend day. This type of approach is a lot more palatable.
- Buy contractor bags. One of the biggest pitfalls of cleaning out a closet is hemming and hawing over what to keep, what to give away, and what to discard. As is often said, if you haven’t worn or used something in a year, get rid of it. But only plan to give it away if it’s in really excellent condition; otherwise, the clutter in your closet will simply be transferred to your trunk with your good intentions to give it away stretching out over months. A nice, big contractor bag by your side will be your best friend during closet clean-up. Throw stuff away and start fresh all around.
- Consider an expert. For many homeowners, insufficient closet space is a real issue, especially if you live in a condo or smaller house. Also, if you’re abode is older, the closets may not have been designed with modern lifestyles in mind. A professional closet organizer can work miracles to revamp your closets for maximum space and organization.

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-Compared to ordinary paints, high quality coatings are less affected by ultraviolet rays, so they tend to resist the sun’s bleaching effects.
-They adhere well to the painted surface, so there is less chance of blistering, even in very moist conditions.
-They contain more mildewcide than ordinary paint, which helps prevent mildew from forming on the exterior surface.
-They are tough and flexible, which allows them to expand and contract with temperature swings, rather than cracking and flaking.

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• Be aware of your surroundings, particularly at night. If you observe or sense suspicious persons or circumstances, do not use the machine at that time.
• Have your ATM card ready and in your hand as you approach the ATM. Don't wait to get to the ATM and then take your card out of your wallet or purse.
• Be careful that no one can see you enter your PIN at the ATM. Use your body to "shield" the ATM keyboard as you enter your PIN into the ATM.
• To keep your account information confidential, always take your receipts or transaction records with you.
• Do not count or visually display any money you received from the ATM. Immediately put your money into your pocket or purse and count it later.
• If you are using a drive-up ATM, be sure passenger windows are rolled up and all doors are locked. If you leave your car and walk to the ATM, lock your car.

• Park close to the ATM in a well-lighted area.
• Take another person with you, if at all possible.
• If the lights at the ATM are not working, don't use it.
• If shrubbery has overgrown or a tree blocks the view, select another ATM and notify your bank.

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1. Determine your savings goals. You need to know what your savings goals are in order to figure out how to get there. Let’s say you want to retire at age 65 with the same standard of living you have now. You can find retirement calculators online to help you determine how much money you will need in order to reach that goal.
2. Evaluate the stock market. Guaranteed investments and savings bonds are great for reaching short-term goals. They generally return about 2-5 percent at best. But if you have some time to reach your goal, investing in the market will likely be your best approach. Averaged out over the last 25 years, despite some trying times, DOW returns have paid around 9 percent or 10 percent. Here’s the difference: Over 25 years, a $10,000 investment at a 3 percent rate of return will grow to $26,000. A 9 percent return will give you $86,000.
3. Understand that time is money and plan accordingly. For saving money to be successful, it must be approached as a long-term plan—there are no get-rich-quick plans that really work. Therefore, it makes sense that the earlier you start to save, the more money you will have at retirement. In these scenarios, assume a 10 percent rate of return compounded annually:

• Begin investing $100 per month at age 30 until you reach age 65. At that point, you will have about $345,000 in investments. You will have put in $42,000 over the 35 year span. The other $303,000 is from the growth of your money over time.
• Begin the same $100-per-month saving plan at age 20. At age 65, you will have about $916,000. You will have invested $54,000. The other $862,000 is from the growth of your money over time.

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• Efficiency Experts: With 41 percent in this category, these respondents use digital devices and services to simplify day-to-day activities. Efficiency experts send emails rather than letters, use Facebook to communicate with others, access the Internet via mobile phones, and shop online.
• Content Kings: Are generally male consumers, who frequently play online games, download movies and music, and watch TV online. This audience represents 9 percent of the global sample.
• Social Butterflies: Place emphasis on social interaction – they require instant access to friends, regardless of time or place. Fifteen percent of consumers surveyed reported they frequently maintain and update social networking sites, add labels or tags to online photos, and view videos from other users.
• Connected Maestros: 35 percent of those surveyed take a more advanced approach to media consumption by using mobile devices and smartphone applications to access games, music, and video or to check news, weather, sports, etc.

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1. Start by developing a budget based on your income. To create financial stability, it's crucial that your spending not outpace earnings. To do this, track your spending for a few months and write down where your money is going. From there, you can make any necessary adjustments to spending in order to bring spending in line with income. Once your budget is written, don't forget to check back periodically and ensure plans are still on track.
2. Learn to distinguish between wants and needs. While it's nice to treat yourself, it's most important to live within your means. Wants are things that are nice to have, while needs are things that are really necessary to survive. Nearly half of Americans consider a cellphone a necessity and about a quarter say the same about cable, but whether those are really necessities is debatable.
3. Control seasonal spending. Holidays, birthdays, and back-to-school spending can all put a dent in a savings account. To keep spending at a reasonable level, set budgets and priorities before the holidays hit. To gauge how much you'll spend in the coming year – and how much you'll need to save for it – review your previous year's expenses for holidays, wedding gifts, etc., and be sure that spending is accounted for in your budget.
4. Don't give in to social spending. The scenarios are familiar, where a friend encourages spending on an expensive non-necessity, or friends regularly wanting to meet for dinner and drinks. While it can be fun to occasionally splurge, these social spending habits can really break the bank. To avoid overspending, create a fixed budget to cover discretionary spending on things like clothes and unexpected social outings.
5. Raise your kids to be responsible spenders. Talk to them about your family budget and give them opportunities for real-life learning. Explain where the money comes from when you visit the ATM or write a check, along with the importance of paying bills on time.

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• 53 percent were able to set aside money for savings this month, a three-point increase from February. This is the highest percentage of those able to save since October 2008.
• Those confident in their ability to send their children to college jumped five points to 61 percent.
• Despite these gains, Americans seem undecided about the future of their financial security.
• Confidence in retirement savings and overall financial security both dropped one point to 57 and 41 percent, respectively.
• Americans who said their overall level of financial security was getting worse inched up two points to 39 percent.

• 81 percent were confident in their ability to pay debts, up nine points. There was also a 13-point jump to 58 percent in those able to set aside money for savings.
• 64 percent were confident in their ability to send their children to college, a 12-point increase from February.
• Confidence in retirement and those who rate their overall financial security positively were both up six points to 57 percent and 41 percent, respectively.

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• Northeastern families will spend an average of $1,944
• Southern families will spend an average of $1,047
• Western families will spend an average of $744
• Midwestern families will spend an average of $696

• Parents who make under $20,000 will spend an average of $1,200
• Parents who make $20,000-$29,999 will spend an average of $2,635
• Parents who make $30,000-$39,999 will spend an average of $801
• Parents who make $40,000-$49,999 will spend an average of $695
• Parents who make over $50,000 will spend an average of $988
• Parents who make over $75,000 will spend an average of $842

• Shop for formal wear at consignment stores or online. As with tuxedos, many outlets rent formal dresses and accessories for one-time use.
• Have make-up done at a department store's cosmetics department or find a talented friend to help out.
• Split the cost of a limo with other couples, or drive yourselves.
• Take pre-prom photos yourself and have the kids use cell phones or digital cameras for candid shots at various events.
• Work out a separate prom budget with your child well in advance to determine what you can afford. Set a limit of what you will contribute and stick to it. If teens want to spend more than that, encourage them to earn the money to pay for it or decide which items they can live without.

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Whether you plan to sell your home in the near or distant future, the right home improvement projects will not only boost your home’s appeal but also its value on the market.

Jeff Kaliner, founding partner of Power Home Remodeling Group, recommends beginning with your home’s exterior as it is responsible for making your home’s first impression. Power shares the following tips to stay on trend with home improvements this spring and summer:

• Energize your exterior – Projects like updating siding, window replacement and refreshing entry doors can have a dramatic effect on your home's curb appeal for a relatively low cost. In fact, seven of the top 10 home improvement projects for 2012 are exterior projects garnering anywhere from 69 to 78 percent return on investment—the highest of any other projects this year.
• Choose bold and bright finishes – Fiberglass entry and garage doors are a popular alternative to their pricey wooden counterparts in 2012. A fiberglass door is weather resistant, durable and, above all, maintenance free. This material allows you to achieve the stylish look of an elegant craftsman or rustic design with decorative glass at the fraction of the price. Bright, bold exterior colors are also popular this year. Make your curb appeal pop by choosing a shade of tangerine, yellow or deep purple for your entry door to give your home a cheery look heading into spring.
• Energy efficiency is still supreme – The top green home trend for 2012 is renovating to reduce your home's heating and cooling costs. Making the most of an empty attic space by adding a bedroom, or at least finishing it with insulation, is a great way to keep conditioned air from escaping through the roof. Updating the attic also happens to be this year's third most cost effective home improvement, garnering a whopping 72 percent return on investment, and adding living space without increasing the home's footprint is an eco-friendly way to gain more square footage.

Source: http://www.powerhrg.com

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1. Stay Connected. Carry extra batteries, and battery powered chargers and adapters. Bring a high-quality hands-free set for your phone so that you can answer calls in noisy places and still be heard. Also consider getting a long-battery-life laptop with an extended battery, which can provide you with six to seven hours of battery life.
2. Bring back-up. When you can’t connect to the Internet, be ready with reserves. Since you can’t always get to everything you need from your laptop or smartphone, print back-ups and/or put important documents on a memory stick.
3. Travel light. Minimize the stress of last minute packing by keeping toiletries, technology kits and other basics ready to grab and go. Consider investing in a tablet, which gives you access to books, magazines, newspapers, games, movies, music and more all in one convenient, easy-to-carry place.
4. Appoint a troubleshooter. Designate someone to coordinate what you can’t manage while traveling and have set times to check in and deal with questions. This will give you peace of mind that things are moving smoothly back at the office and help you avoid dealing with a fire drill while on the road.
5. Tune in to your time zone. Seasoned travelers recommend changing your watch at take-off when traveling to another time zone. This will put you in the right mindset from the get-go. Once you arrive at your destination, try and stay up until the hour you’d normally go to bed. This will help your internal body clock reset more quickly.
6. Plan time to recharge. Pushing relentlessly can be counter-productive, so be sure to make time to recharge, whether that be going for a run or taking in a local sight.

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• Are seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize
• Refuse to give you a mailing address or phone number
• Ask you for personal financial or sensitive information
• Exert high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency

• Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.
• Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft – charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.
• Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate – but you think the collector may not be – contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.
• Report the call. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.

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• 33 percent of respondents expect home prices to increase over the next 12 months, a five percentage point increase from last month, the highest level over the past 12 months.
• On average, Americans expect home prices to increase by 0.9 percent over the next 12 months (up slightly since last month).
• 39 percent of Americans say that mortgage rates will go up in the next 12 months, a five percentage point increase from last month.
• The percentage of respondents who say it is a good time to buy rose by three points to 73 percent, the highest level in over a year, while the percentage of respondents who say it is a good time to sell rose one point to 14 percent this month.
• On average, respondents expect home rental prices to increase by 4.1 percent over the next 12 months, a significant increase since February, and the highest number recorded to date.
• 48 percent of respondents think that home rental prices will go up, a three percentage point increase from last month and the highest number recorded to date.
• 66 percent of respondents say they would buy their next home if they were going to move, up one point since last month, while 30 percent say they would rent, up one point versus last month.
• The rise in confidence in the economy's direction leveled this month, with 35 percent responding that they think the economy is on the right track, consistent with February's total. The percentage who say the economy is on the wrong track rose slightly from 57 percent to 58 percent.
• Only 12 percent think that their personal financial situation will worsen in the next 12 months, consistent with February as the lowest value in over a year, and tied with January 2011 for the lowest to date.
• 21 percent of respondents say their income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago, up 1 point versus February, while 63 percent say it has stayed the same - consistent with February's values.
• 34 percent say their expenses have increased significantly over the past 12 months (a slight increase of one percentage point).

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• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.98 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 5, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 3.99 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.87 percent.
• 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.21 percent with an average 0.7 point down from last week when it averaged 3.23 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.10 percent.
• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.86 percent this week, with an average 0.8 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.90 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.72 percent.
• 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.78 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, unchanged from last week when it averaged 2.78 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.22 percent.

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• Total employment: +209,000
• Small businesses:* +100,000
• Medium businesses:** +87,000
• Large businesses:*** +22,000
• Goods-producing sector: + 45,000
• Service-providing sector: +164,000

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• Reworked Spaces: New homes are being designed to allow plenty of space for family interaction in high-traffic areas such as the kitchen, and to eliminate rooms such as formal dens and home offices that aren’t frequently used. Small spaces devoted to home management, also known as “pocket offices,” are being included in large pantries or spaces nearby the kitchen or family great room. Window seats and alcoves are being used to provide an area for private time, without taking up a lot of space. A popular and efficient location for laundry facilities is now added onto the master bedroom’s walk-in closet.
• Expanded Amenities: Multifamily development designs are increasing the number of resident amenities in order to compensate for smaller unit sizes. Gyms and media rooms have been common for years, but facilities such as libraries and business lounges with individual workspaces are now being offered as well.
• Multigenerational Living: Many families are all living under one roof due to increasing cultural diversity and the state of the economy during the past few years. New single-family home designs reflect this with “shadow” units that are built alongside a home, or separate living units that access the main floorplan through a door, or homes with at least two master suites—often with one located on the ground floor to be more accessible for elderly occupants.
• More Impact, Less Cost: Rectangular home designs are more cost effective, so new homes no longer have the formerly-popular feature of multiple roof lines or the resulting unnecessary interior volumes they created. But home designs now include innovative modifications that are still visually stimulating, such as using two windows in a corner with mitered glass to allow unobstructed views and maximum light to come in. Another example is using a mix of materials in the home’s façade such as metal, wood and stone to give the home a modern look.

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• Meet the house cleaner in person. Before you hire a house cleaner, make sure you feel comfortable having that person in your home. Check references on past work.
• Ask about prices, fees, cancellations. Find out in advance how much a full service will cost, not just the hourly rate. Some companies charge per hour, others per visit or based on square footage. Find out if there is a fee should you have to cancel a cleaning appointment. Also find out if you can hire for a one-time service, or if an ongoing service contract is required.
• Service guarantee. What if you're not happy with the service? Is there a guarantee? Find out how far in advance you should make your appointment. Some cleaning services operate anywhere from as little as a day to as long as several weeks in advance.
• Decide how you want the service to enter your home. Establish beforehand if the service will use a key, garage code or if a family member or neighbor will let them in.
• Ask about insurance. Does the company maintain proper liability insurance? Is it bonded? Does the company do background checks on employees?
• Consider cleaning agents. Will the company bring its own supplies? Talk about what cleaning agents they use and eco-friendly options available.
• What's important to you? Talk to the company about what you expect; what you like/dislike. Make any concerns or expectations you have clear upfront.

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1. File your tax return irrespective of your ability to pay. In 99.9 percent of all cases, failure to pay is only a civil matter, whereas failure to file is, under IRC 7203, a misdemeanor. Additionally, in some egregious cases, failure to file can actually be elevated to a felony.
2. In most cases, the IRS will give you an installment agreement. However, be sure to go over your budget carefully before you call the IRS. Remember, the government will try to collect as much as it possibly can—theoretically, in the shortest amount of time. Unfortunately, the majority of installment plans fail because the taxpayer agrees to pay more than he or she can afford. Review your budget carefully so that you’re better prepared to negotiate a plan that works.
3. Get professional help. If you owe more than $25,000, it's a good idea to be represented by a licensed professional who understands the rules of procedure and IRS guidelines. The IRS has streamlined the approval process if the amount owed is not more than $25,000 and can be paid off within a five-year period.

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• 46 percent of respondents have a good understanding of their aging loved ones' preferences for care, but don't know the details surrounding how to proceed.
• 44 percent of respondents are tapped into their aging parents' behavioral/physical changes and are deeply concerned about their health and well being.
• 47 percent of respondents are tasked with housekeeping, transportation and financial management duties for their aging parents.
• 32 percent of respondents carry the full load of caregiving responsibilities for their aging parents.
• 47 percent of respondents say concerns over finances and paying for long-term care are top of mind when addressing their aging loved one’s care needs.

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• Remember the primary purpose of a window screen is to keep insects outside. Never push on screens, as they will not support the weight of a child or family pet.
• Lock windows when not in use to protect against intruders and make it more difficult for curious young children to open them.
• Do not paint or nail windows shut. Every window in the home that is designed to be opened should be operational in case of an emergency.
• Refrain from nailing or attaching decorative lights to the interior or exterior of window frames.
• Plant shrubs or grass, and place “soft landscaping” like bark or mulch, directly underneath windows to help lessen the impact should someone accidently fall out of a window.
• Make sure windows in every room and on every floor have clear openings that meet egress requirements in the living spaces as required by state and local building codes. Egress windows provide emergency exits in your home during a fire.
• Practice home emergency fire drills and make sure children know under what circumstances to use a window to exit a home. If a door is hot to the touch, then both children and adults should exit through an open window.
• Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not to break the window glass. Doing so could cause injury. During family safety drills, show children how to operate windows and how to use chain escape ladders that should be kept in all bedrooms located above ground level.

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• Subcompact: 2012 Toyota Prius c – MSRP: $18,950; 53mpg city/46mpg highway
• Compact: 2012 Honda Insight – MSRP $18,350; 41mpg city/44mpg highway
• Midsize: 2012 Toyota Prius – MSRP $24,000; 51mpg city/48mpg highway
• Family Sedan: 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid – MSRP $25,900; 43mpg city/ 9mpg highway
• Compact Crossover: 2012 Ford Escape Hybrid – MSRP $30,570; 34mpg city/31mpg highway
• Midsize SUV/Crossover: 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid – MSRP $38,540; 28mpg city/28mpg highway
• Full-size SUV/Crossover: 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid – MSRP: $51,970; 20mpg city/23mpg highway
• Pick-up Truck: 2012 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid – MSRP $39,640; 20mpg city/23mpg highway
• Luxury SUV: 2012 Lexus RX 450h – MSRP: $45,235; 32mpg city/28mpg
• Luxury Car: 2012 Infinity M35h – MSRP: $53,700; 27mpg city/32mpg highway

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• A nursing home stay that follows a three-day hospital stay
• Admission to a nursing home within 30 days of hospital discharge
• A Medicare-certified nursing home
• Physician-certified need for skilled care on a daily basis

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• According to the report, several positive indicators bode well for the real estate market, including:
• Stronger economic growth this year will translate into a further reduction in the unemployment rate below 8.3 percent.
• With stronger economic growth, home sales and originations forecasts have been revised upward.
• Expect 30-year fixed-rate mortgages to gradually increase throughout the year to about 4.5 percent.
• New rental construction for 2012 is likely to be the highest since 2005 if the current pace is maintained.
• Even with a 1 percent dip in new and existing home sales in February, median sales prices moved up 0.3 percent on a year-over-year basis, a hint that home values may be stabilizing in more markets around the nation.

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• Lending to sub-prime consumers showed a 41 percent increase from 2010 to 2011 as sub-prime borrowing hit a four-year high in Dec. 2011 with 1.1 million new bank credit cards issued.
• New sub-prime card limits grew 55 percent from 2010 to 2011. At $12.5 billion in 2011, bankcard limits are at their highest level since 2008 ($27.4 billion).
• Bank credit card growth continues, but is still well below pre-recession levels. In 2011, 39.9 million bankcards were opened, an 18 percent increase from 2010 and the highest total since 2008.
• The increase in total bank credit card originations was accompanied by a 31 percent increase in total credit limits from 2010 to 2011. 2011 marked the first time in over four years that credit lines increased, reaching $163 billion.

• In early 2009, the share of retail card balances held by low-risk borrowers started increasing markedly. Today, low-risk borrowers hold just below 42 percent of retail card balances, followed by high-risk borrowers who now make up nearly 26 percent of balances outstanding.
• From 2010 to 2011 there was a 4.7 percentage point increase in retail card originations to sub-prime borrowers, making up 31 percent of 2011 retail credit card originations.
• Retail credit card limits grew almost 6 percent in 2011, totaling $60 billion for newly originated cards.
• The decline in total retail card limits appears to be nearing a bottom as delinquency rates and write-offs show continued declines.

• New consumer finance loans originated in 2011 (20.2 million) were up over 4 percent from 2010 (19.4 million), and the highest since 2008 (24.8 million).
• Consumer finance delinquency rates are on the decline, dropping to 7 percent in February 2012, the lowest level since July 2007.
• From 2007 to 2010, consumer finance loan originations were falling, but the trend reversed in 2011, with $1.2 billion of new loan amounts added.
• New consumer finance originations for the month of December reached $5 billion in 2011; the last time December originations were that high was in 2008 ($5.1 billion).
• Consumer finance loans have typically served high-risk consumers, but in February 2011, low-risk borrowers became dominant in the segment; as of February 2012, just over 33 percent of consumer finance loans (by dollars) were to high-risk borrowers while 39 percent were to low-risk borrowers.

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Eco-friendly appliances have been popular inside homes for the past several years. But this spring, the Energy Star rated Recharge Mower G2 may be one of the hottest lawn-care trends of 2012.

With no chokes, belts, oil changes, filters or gas needed, homeowners can simply charge this mower up, enabling it to cut up to 2 acres on a single charge. By avoiding the ongoing service issues inherent to gas mowers, the Recharge Mower G2 can consumers time, money, and stress.

Spruce up your lawn for your next party or showing. Spend more time enjoying the warm weather this year, and less time fiddling with your mower. “Manicuring your lawn is what a riding mower is designed to do”, says President Allan Hechtman. “The Recharge Mower G2 is built for users and not mechanics.”

Source: http://www.rechargemower.com

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While you may believe you have ample car insurance, the cars on the road around you may not.

According to the Insurance Research Council (IRC), about 14 percent of drivers nationwide (roughly one in seven) are uninsured. That means that of the nearly 5.5 million car accidents in 2009, nearly 770,000 involved an uninsured driver. While this number usually decreases as unemployment rates improve, it’s a prudent idea to make sure your insurance is sufficient for covering an accident with an uninsured driver. 

According to North Carolina attorney Dre Fleury with the law firm Crumley Roberts, the minimum required coverage is usually not enough. 

"You can't always avoid an auto accident, but you can protect yourself financially, and you may find that for just a few extra dollars per month you could quadruple your coverage," advises Fleury. 

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for ensuring enough coverage. Factors such as age, driving record, where you live, family size and much more can affect your insurance costs and coverage needs. 

"Policies can be very detailed and highly personalized, but the key areas you want to review are liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage," says Fleury. "Medical payments coverage is also a great thing to have in your policy. 

"It's not just uninsured or underinsured drivers who pose a risk," adds Fleury. "If you're at fault in an accident, not having enough liability coverage could wipe you out financially, and the person you injure can even come after your home, assets and more." 

To help balance out the increased costs of liability insurance, Fleury suggests decreasing your collision and comprehensive insurance if you have an older car with no loan. 

Source: Crumley Roberts, LLP

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• Economic Sentiment Index (source: European Commission DG-ECFIN)
• Index of Residential Building Permits Granted (source: Eurostat)
• Index of Capital Goods New Orders (source: Eurostat)
• EURO STOXX® Index (source: STOXX Limited)
• Money Supply (M2) (source: European Central Bank)
• Interest Rate Spread (source: ECB)
• Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (source: Markit Economics)
• Eurozone Service Sector Future Business Activity Expectations Index (source: Markit Economics)

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• Make a plan. Decide which projects take priority. Does your closet need a massive redo? Are your kitchen drawers so filled with clutter they won’t open? Are you buried under an avalanche of assorted storage containers every time you open your kitchen cabinet? Once you decide what you want to tackle, put it on your calendar. Setting a date will keep you from finding excuses to put it off, and it will give you time to plan.
• Be creative. You have a target date and a list of projects—now what? Before you begin, think about what storage features you are lacking. Be creative. For example, try using bins to create easy weeknight meals in a basket. A bin labeled “spaghetti night” would contain pasta, a jar of sauce, and a loaf of Italian bread.
• Make some room. If you’re like most people, your closet might also be in serious need of attention. Shoe organizers and storage bins are always useful in the closet. Take everything out of the closet until you have an empty space. Sort everything you haven’t worn or used in the past year into two piles: toss and give away. Place items back into your closet by type (pants, skirts, suit jackets, etc.). If you have empty wall space in your closet, add hooks (the removable type is perfect). The more hooks, the better—use these for belts, ties, and scarves.

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• Lessen the risk of costs and delays if a system, system component or appliance malfunctions during the selling process
• Help to resolve issues discovered during the home inspection stage
• Reduce any after-sale liability by a seller
• Add value and improve marketability of homes
• Increase a buyer's confidence in their home investment

• Home service contracts typically cover the major systems in your home in the event of breakdown or malfunction including electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems, and built-in appliances such as ranges, washers and whirlpool baths.
• Homeowner's insurance covers the structure of a home and personal belongings in case of a fire or natural disaster such as hurricanes and lightning, and provides liability coverage in case someone is injured on the property.
• Home service contracts are optional in real estate transactions.
• Homeowner's insurance is almost always required, especially if the buyer has a mortgage.
• A home service contract is not a substitute for a homeowner's insurance policy. A home service contract is a beneficial supplement to a homeowner's insurance policy as homeowner's policies generally do not cover items for breakdowns or malfunctions due to normal wear and tear or defects in materials or workmanship.

• Improper maintenance
• Code violations
• Unusual wear and tear
• Improper installation

• Outdoor items such as sprinklers
• Faucet repairs are not covered under all plans
• Garage door openers
• Spas or pools, unless specific coverage is requested
• Permit fees

• Request a copy of the contract before buying
• Read the provisions carefully and become thoroughly familiar with all coverage, limitations and exclusions
• Carefully fulfill all contract responsibilities, such as regular filter changes for your heating/air conditioning systems
• Keep the service contract paperwork, original receipt(s), and all maintenance records
• Research the service contract company

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• 75 percent of consumers are confident that financial services companies will do what is needed to protect the security of their financial information.
• 83 percent of consumers view security as the single most important concern for consumers when considering a new payment technology, with 62 percent saying that fees are the second most important factor.
• Focus groups supported the findings that, while consumers are open to new technology like NFC, security is still top of mind. One focus group participant questioned how NFC signals were guaranteed secure, while another said, “I don’t leave my purse anywhere but I sure left my phone places… the last thing I want is a device that has my whole life on it.”

• Millennials (18-24) continue to be at the forefront of technology, with 86 percent owning a laptop and more than 61percent owning a smartphone.
• When buying something online, 58 percent of 18-24 year olds find mobile apps somewhat or very convenient compared with only 26 percent of those between 55-65 who find mobile apps somewhat or very convenient.
• Similarly, 69 percent of 55-65 year olds do not feel secure shopping on a social media site, while the same can be said for 55 percent of 18-24 year olds.

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• If you don't want to keep your firewood until next winter, don't be tempted to take it with you when camping, and don't bring it along on any road trips. Instead, give it to your next-door neighbor, burn or chip it on site, or dispose of it locally.
• Hire a tree service or rent a tree chipper to shred fallen trees and branches and brush into mulch for your own garden beds and landscaping projects.
• Many areas now offer a yard waste recycling program. Contact your municipal solid waste management department for information specific to your area.
• If a yard waste recycling or composting program is not available, and you cannot keep it on site, brush, logs, and branches should be disposed of in a local landfill.
• Take care to respect all state and local regulations on the movement of firewood and other unprocessed wood – some areas are subject to serious fines for violations.
• During your spring cleanup, if you notice an insect or tree disease you don't recognize, take a photo or obtain a specimen of it, and compare it to website photos of the suspected pest.
• If you believe you have found a new outbreak of an invasive insect or disease, contact your state department of agriculture.

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• Average weekly hours, manufacturing
• Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance
• Manufacturers' new orders, consumer goods and materials
• ISM Index of New Orders
• Manufacturers' new orders, nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft orders
• Building permits, new private housing units
• Stock prices, 500 common stocks
• Leading Credit Index™
• Interest rate spread, 10-year Treasury bonds less federal funds
• Average consumer expectations for business conditions

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• Austin, Tex. – Austin is the perfect home to inspire creative couples. A thriving art scene is a great way to experience unique date nights and meet other couples.
• Raleigh/Durham, N.C . – Young professionals and new families are drawn to Raleigh for its affordability, friendliness, and favorable climate. Livable residential neighborhoods with the cultural benefits of a larger city make Raleigh/Durham the perfect place to settle down.
• Dallas, Tex. – If you’re looking for a sports town, Dallas is the perfect new home. From watching professional sports to getting outdoors and playing yourself, active couples will never experience a dull moment in Dallas.
• Kansas City, Mo. – Living in Kansas City offers a dynamic blend of affordability and high culture, combining both a renaissance of the arts and the warmth of a small town.
• Houston, Tex. – One of the most culturally-rich cities in the nation, Houston offers everything from world-class museums to local farmers’ markets. Houston is great for both couples and new families, and boasts a thriving culinary scene.
• Denver, Colo. – From craft beer culture to day trips to the Rocky Mountains, Denver is the city for adventurous newlyweds.
• Minneapolis, Minn. – As the American Fitness Index’s “Fittest City in America,” Minneapolis is the most bike-friendly city in the nation. From lakes to parks, newlyweds will stay fit and active in Minneapolis.
• Phoenix, Ariz. – Phoenix offers perpetual sunshine and colorful deserts for hiking and exploring. If outdoor adventures don’t suit your lifestyle, the city is also known to be a haven for foodies and families.
• Washington, DC – A central location with a wide variety of job opportunities, Washington, DC offers something for everyone – shopping, entertainment, and cultural activities. It’s truly the city of compromise for opposites that attract.
• Baltimore, Md. – A modern cultural center known for its hospitality, Baltimore offers a vibrant waterfront scene coupled with a laidback attitude. This city is perfect for couples looking for the comfort of a smaller hometown with the benefits of urban living.

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• Learn different stores’ rules. Call the grocery stores that are convenient to you (near home or work), ask these questions and write down the answers: Do you have double or triple coupon days? (If so, what are they?) Do you accept other stores’ coupons? Do you allow "stacking" coupons – using them on sale items?
• Seek coupons far and wide. The Sunday paper is always a good place to start, but most households also get coupons through direct mail. And you can find coupon deals at SaveYourMoneySaveYourFamily.com, Coupon-Lady.com and a host of other sites. If there are brand-name products you just have to have, try Googling the name and "coupon."
• Plan meals around your coupons. Say you have coupons for 30 cents off a box of pasta, half-off spaghetti sauce, buy-one-get-one canned mushrooms, and $1 off a pound of ground chuck. Can you smell dinner simmering? For less than $4?
• Organize your coupons. An expandable folder, like you might use for taxes, is a convenient place to store coupons at home. You might organize it by product – frozen foods, snacks, meats, or by expiration date. If you’re going to do some meal planning around coupons, you might want a section for those. As you clip, sort the coupons immediately so you don’t end up with a big pile that never gets sorted or used.
• Save up to 30 - 50 percent with "shopping club" cards. Many supermarkets now offer "shopping clubs" that provide members with special in-store discounts. These are no-clipping-required coupons that never expire. Some stores have an associated website where you can log in while you’re planning your shopping list and see what discounts are available that week.
• Upload coupons directly onto your shopping club card. Stores that have a shopping club website may also post manufacturer and brand coupons there. Log into the site with your card ID number, then click on the coupons you want and they’ll load right onto your card.

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• Energize your exterior – Exterior home improvements are king when it comes to return on investment again this year. Projects like updating siding, window replacement and refreshing entry doors can have a dramatic effect on your home's curb appeal for a relatively low cost. In fact, seven of the top 10 home improvement projects for 2012 are exterior projects garnering anywhere from 69 to 78 percent return on investment — the highest of any other projects this year.
• Choose bold and bright finishes – Fiberglass entry and garage doors are a popular alternative to their pricey wooden counterparts in 2012. A fiberglass door is weather resistant, durable and, above all, maintenance free. This material allows you to achieve the stylish look of an elegant craftsman or rustic design with decorative glass at the fraction of the price. Bright, bold exterior colors are also popular this year. Make your curb appeal pop by choosing a shade of tangerine, yellow or deep purple for your entry door to give your home a cheery look heading into spring.
• Energy efficiency is still supreme – The top green home trend for 2012 is renovating to reduce your home's heating and cooling costs. Making the most of an empty attic space by adding a bedroom, or at least finishing it with insulation, is a great way to keep conditioned air from escaping through the roof. Updating the attic also happens to be this year's third most cost effective home improvement, garnering a whopping 72 percent return on investment, and adding living space without increasing the home's footprint is an eco-friendly way to gain more square footage.

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• Wash your walls. Use a spray bottle filled with water and a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. Spray the solution on a clean cloth, and clean each wall in sections. Let the solution sit for a few minutes before wiping it down with a clean, damp sponge. Remember to regularly wring out the sponge. If your walls are painted, test the paint durability on a small area in a corner.
• Scour your small storage spaces. Take everything out of your cupboards and drawers, dust off the items, and vacuum inside using your crevice attachment. To make them inconceivably clean, wash the bottom of each drawer with a solution of one quart of water and two tablespoons of vinegar.
• Freshen up your fridge. Unplug it and remove everything, including the shelves and drawers, before cleaning. Wash the inside surfaces with a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Wash the shelves and drawers in the sink with the same solution. Then, wipe everything dry with a clean cloth. Make sure to throw out unused or expired food items before returning your refrigerator to its original state.
• Brave the big one. In almost every room of your house, there's probably one big piece of furniture that you've never dared to move. Pull that couch or bed away from the wall and power vacuum behind it.
• Tackle the toilet. Put on goggles and rubber gloves and mix two parts water to one part vinegar in a bucket. Dip a sponge into the mixture and then wipe down the rim and the seat. To prevent spreading germs, use paper towels to wipe the outside of the bowl and the base. Flush the toilet and throw away your sponge.
• Give your shower head a shine. Boil the head for five minutes in a half-cup of vinegar and a quart of water to remove mineral deposit clogs. If your shower head is plastic, soak in a hot water and vinegar mixture.

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• Only 12 percent of respondents believe that their personal financial situation will worsen in the next 12 months, a 3 percentage point drop from January and the lowest value in over a year.
• 33 percent say their expenses have increased significantly over the past 12 months, a 3 percentage point decrease from last month and the lowest level in the past 12 months.
• 28 percent of respondents expect home prices to increase over the next 12 months (consistent with last month), while 15 percent say they expect home prices to decline (down 1 percentage point since last month).
• 10 percent of Americans say that mortgage rates will go down in the next 12 months, a 2 percentage point increase from last month.
• The percentage of respondents who say it is a good time to sell rose by 3 percentage points to 13 percent, the highest level in over a year.
• 45 percent of respondents think that home rental prices will go up, a 2 percentage point increase from last month.

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• Movies they've rated and reviewed on Fandango, from "Must Go" to "Oh No!"
• Movies they want to see, indicated by the "I'm In!" button
• Movie trailers, clips and celebrity interviews they have just watched
• Articles they've read on Fandango's "Freshly Popped" blog

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• Don’t panic. Mortgage scams are effective because the scammer is able to exploit the fear of a person who is in a desperate, vulnerable state. Don’t let fear cause you to make irrational decisions.
• Never act under pressure. Don’t sign a contract or disclose information before doing your research. You can always request to receive any information in writing.
• Trust your gut. If someone is offering you something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Stay informed. Make sure you obtain detailed information about your foreclosure deadlines. If you want to know if you qualify under the Settlement, contact your bank or loan servicer directly.
• Don’t release any personal financial information. If you are contacted by someone who claims to be from your financial institution and wants you to “confirm” or help them identify your personal account information, it is likely a scam. Rather than releasing information, ask for their contact information and tell them you’re going to call them back.
• There is no fee involved in the National Mortgage Settlement. If you are contacted in any way from someone asking for money in return for a speedy settlement payment, they are scamming you.

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• Heat it up: If you are planning an open house or have showings scheduled, turn up the thermostat and make the home warm and inviting. A cold home shopper will race through a house and start questioning the windows and insulation.
• Light it up: For homes with fireplaces, this is the perfect opportunity to show the potential buyer how cozy a fireplace can be. Leave some marshmallows and sticks nearby and invite those seeing the home to test it out.
• Take care of snow and ice: If the property you’re selling is in a snowy climate, make sure that the walk is clear, the driveway is shoveled and put down salt to control any icy surfaces. If you aren’t currently living in the home that is for sale, make sure to hire someone to clear it for you.
• Use photographs: If you have a beautiful lawn, stellar landscaping or an outdoor pool or deck, take some eye-catching photos of these amenities during the warm months and display them during a winter showing so buyers can get a better understanding of what the outside truly offers.
• Schedule open houses: Winter and early spring is a great time to take advantage of less competition. Many serious buyers often come out during the winter months, including corporate clients who usually need to relocate within the first quarter of the year.
• Emphasize the positives: Does your street get plowed quickly? Is it near public transportation to make it easier to get to work in the snow? Is it within walking distance of stores? Does it have a great hill for the kids to sled down in a safe environment? If so, accentuate these features.

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• Fewer people plan to spend their refunds on savings or investments this year than in 2011 (27 percent vs. 66 percent) or to pay off debts (29 percent v. 59 percent).
• Fewer individuals plan to make home improvements (8 percent vs. 31 percent), buy products such as cars, electronics, or furniture (8 percent vs. 23 percent) or pay mortgages or education loans (5 percent vs. 19 percent).
• Fewer people plan to give their refunds to charity (2 percent vs. 15 percent).
• Those who plan to "do something else" with their refunds dropped to 9 percent from 38 percent in 2011.

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• Be skeptical of unsolicited phone calls, email, text messages, or social media messages if they request credit card data or personal information such as passwords, date of birth, social insurance number, etc.
• Examine links contained within emails or on any email attachments sent by an unknown or un-validated source no matter how harmless or familiar the title appears; instead, delete the message unless you are able to confirm the sender is legitimate.
• If you followed an email link to a website (or a text message to a voice recording system) and provided card data that later seemed suspicious, contact your credit card issuer immediately so your account can be protected.
• Guard against compromise by ensuring your home computer(s) have up-to-date anti-malware, anti-spam, and firewall software installed.
• Keep close track of your credit cards, regularly review statements for unknown purchases/cash advances, and contact your issuer if you see any such unusual transactions.
• Do not share your credit card and PIN details via email or text message.
• The vast majority of merchant websites are reputable - though you should leave a suspicious site immediately if you suspect it is not what it claims to be.

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• 1-2 years (26 percent)
• 3-4 years (23 percent)
• 5-6 years (22 percent)
• 7-8 years (7 percent)
• 9-10 years (7 percent)
• More than 10 years (4 percent)

• 43 percent of employers plan to hire workers ages 50 and older this year.
• 41 percent said they hired workers ages 50 and older in 2011.
• 75 percent of the employers surveyed would consider an application from an overqualified worker who is 50 or older, with 59 percent of those employers saying they would do this because mature candidates bring a wealth of knowledge to an organization and can mentor others.

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Published with permission from RISMedia.

• Mortgage Interest: The amount of mortgage interest paid on a principal residence or second home is deductible and generally reported on Form 1098. Taxpayers can also deduct all the points paid to purchase the residence, even if some have been paid by the seller. If certain requirements are met, the points may be deducted in full in the year paid. Otherwise, they may be deducted over the life of the mortgage. Seller-paid points that taxpayers claim as an itemized deduction reduce the cost basis of the home.
• Buying a Home: Most of the expenses incurred when buying a home are not deductible. However, there are certain closing costs that are added to the basis of your residence. Keeping track of the basis of your home is important because when selling, it is needed to calculate any gain or loss.
• Property Taxes: Taxpayers may deduct real estate property taxes in the year paid. They may be reported on Form 1098, the annual statement from the financial institution holding your mortgage. Taxpayers may also be able to deduct some of the taxes paid during closing. The taxes must be the responsibility of, and paid by, the taxpayer.
• Energy Credits: There are energy credits available for making energy efficient changes to a home. For 2011, the credit is limited to 10 percent of the cost of improvements, up to a lifetime total of $500. The credit will be further limited for each category of improvement.
• Home Improvements: Home improvements are not generally deductible on a tax return. Instead, the cost of improvements is added to the basis of the home and helps keep any gain below the $250,000 ($500,000 if married filing jointly) exclusion amount when the house is sold.

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• Stop majoring in the minors. Many of us spend a lot of time on those projects and tasks that are easy for us. Then, we convince ourselves that we “just didn’t have enough time” to get to the harder stuff. But when it comes to knowing when you’re done and freeing up time during your day, completing these easy tasks quickly and efficiently is essential.
• Before you start your work day, think about what your high leverage activities are and what your low leverage activities are, says Womack. For the low leverage activities, force yourself to move through them as quickly as possible. With these tasks, often perfection isn’t necessary. When you can accomplish these minor tasks more efficiently, you’ll have the time you need to do those major tasks justice.
• Don’t overwrite emails. Much of your time each day gets eaten up by email. Make a conscious effort to keep your emails as short and sweet as possible. Get to the point quickly and use action verbs in subject lines so that both you and the recipient know what needs to happen before the email is even opened, advises Womack.
• Quit over-staying at meetings and on conference calls. Often meetings and conference calls will take as long as you’ve allotted for them. Set an hour for a meeting and you’re sure to go the full hour. Pay close attention to how much of your meeting is actually spent focused on the issues at hand. Know the meeting’s objectives before you begin so that you can get to them right away.
• Set your own deadlines and stick to them. It’s very easy to get distracted or sidetracked by things you think you should do or things others think you should do. Having a self-imposed deadline will help you ignore those distractions.
• Know when it’s time to ask for help. Have you ever been stumped by a certain project or task? Did you walk away from it for a while and then come back to it hoping you’d suddenly know what to do? Sometimes knowing when you’re done is knowing when you, specifically, can’t take a project any further. Wasting time on something you’re never going to be able to figure out is much worse than asking for help.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

1. Clear the clutter: The IRS requires taxpayers to maintain tax records for all income, deductions or credits claimed on their federal returns for at least three years. For all nondeductible expenses, Helmer says it’s ok to shred statements as soon as payment is posted to your account. Signing up for online statements and paying bills electronically will also reduce paper pileup but create electronic clutter. Be sure to back up all files stored electronically in case of a computer crash.
2. Safeguard important documents: Financial documents such as savings bonds, life insurance policies, deeds and property titles and stock certificates should be stored in a fireproof safe or a safe deposit box at the bank. Create an inventory and formally authorize a trusted adviser or family member to get access to the material.
3. Organize payments: Gather all recent credit card financial statements and list the amount owed on each one, along with minimum payments and interest rates. From there, establish a plan to pay off one card at a time. Though it's always fastest and most economical to pay off the highest-rate debt first, some people keep motivated by quickly paying off small debts completely, regardless of rate. Set up automatic payments for recurring bills such as car loans, the cable bill and your monthly mortgage.
4. Consolidate accounts: Instead of keeping track of multiple credit card bills and statements from several checking, savings and investment accounts, consider which accounts could be closed or consolidated. Bigger investments draw better rates and juggling too many credit card accounts may make it easier to forget about payment due dates, increasing the likelihood of missed or overdue payments. Bear in mind that closing cards can temporarily trigger a decline in your credit rating. Be sure to hang on to your oldest cards as they provide a sustained track record.
5. Shop for better interest rates: A little bit of research could net better rates on everything from your mortgage and car loan to your savings account. In comparing interest rates, read the fine print. For example, does a bank require a minimum balance to switch to a higher interest savings account? What are the terms and conditions linked to a zero percent card offer? What are the closing costs associated with refinancing a mortgage to a lower rate? Your credit card company may also be willing to grant an interest rate deduction.
6. Assess current investments: Conduct an annual investment review. If you have an investment adviser, make an appointment to review your investment accounts. If you don’t have an adviser, consider hiring one. Your financial institution or employer may make referrals to financial advisers. If you're doing your own search, ask about education and experience as well as their fees. Planners may work on a fee basis, commission or a combination of both.

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• There is comfort in youth – younger adults are more comfortable than those older with each item listed.
• Men are more comfortable with each item than are women.
• Those who have scanned their smartphone for any one of a number of reasons are more comfortable with each capability than are those who have never scanned their phone, or do not have a phone with that technology.

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Spring 2012 is the season of pattern and print, and designer Laura Ashley is right in step with this current trend. 

Not just for fabrics, print can be extended beautifully to both sofas and also to wallpaper, says the designer. Patterned wallpaper is a highly effective way of creating character, mood and atmosphere within a room with little effort. Bold and vivacious, it can make a wall the focal point of a room’s design.

Laura Ashley – well known for a bold use of print and pattern – offers a set of newly developed designs for spring and summer, drawing upon the quintessentially British theme of the Laura Ashley brand and modernizing it beyond a tradition of floral design.

"To the Manor Born" is a collection inspired by the well-worn and well-loved English country house; traditional with a modern edge. The fabric inspired by an archive print implemented 24 years ago, called "Summer Palace." The design has been infused with newly ripened colors, with a palette evocative of the jewel-like shades of cranberry red, emerald green and sapphire blue against clean, ivory backgrounds. The design has also been made matt, rather than having a silk and shiny finish. The overall effect is fresh and relaxed.

"The Darling Buds Bedroom" is another collection that will create new shades of spring and summer in the home. The design is inspired by splashy, watercolor floral prints. It is ideal for spring and highly feminine. Multi-colored with a focus on pretty, delicate floral prints, the palette highlights pinks, yellows and greens against crisp white - hitting the pastel notes of this spring's fashion. The key feature of this story is its hand painted look, delicate and ornate.

Spring’s new patterns and home furnishing design trends can help add a fresh look to your home for the warmer months ahead. 

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Acting Federal Housing (FHA) Commissioner Carol Galante has announced significant price cuts to FHA’s Streamline Refinance Program that could benefit millions of borrowers whose mortgages are currently insured by FHA. Beginning June 11, 2012, FHA will lower its Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) to just .01 percent and reduce its annual premium to .55 percent for certain FHA borrowers.

To qualify, borrowers must be current on their existing FHA-insured mortgages that were endorsed on or before May 31, 2009. Late last month, FHA also announced it will increase its upfront premiums on most other loans by 75 basis points to 1.75 percent. In addition, FHA will raise annual premiums 10 basis points and 35 basis points on mortgages higher than $625,500.

“This is one way that FHA can make a real difference to help homeowners who are doing the right thing, paying their bills on time and want to take advantage of today’s low interest rates,” said Galante. “By significantly reducing costs for these borrowers, we can make certain they cut their monthly mortgage burden, which will benefit the housing market and the broader economy in the process.”

Currently, 3.4 million households with loans endorsed on or before May 31, 2009, pay more than a five percent annual interest rate on their FHA-insured mortgages. By refinancing through this streamlined process, it’s estimated that the average qualified FHA-insured borrower will save approximately $3,000 a year or $250 per month. FHA’s new discounted prices assume no greater risk to its Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund and will allow many of these borrowers to refinance into a lower cost FHA-insured mortgage without requiring additional underwriting. FHA-insured homeowners should contact their existing lender to determine their eligibility.

Last month, the Obama Administration announced a broad package of actions and legislative proposals to help responsible homeowners save thousands of dollars through refinancing. This includes the changes announced today that will benefit current FHA borrowers –particularly those whose loan value may exceed the current value of their home. By lowering monthly mortgage costs for homeowners, FHA hopes to help more borrowers stay in their homes, thereby decreasing the potential for future default and reducing losses to the Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund.

The changes outlined in today’s mortgagee letter apply to all mortgages insured under FHA’s Single Family Mortgage Insurance Programs except:

- Title I
- Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM)
- Section 247 (Hawaiian Homelands)
- Section 248 (Indian Reservations)
- Section 223(e) (Declining Neighborhoods)

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• Refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers
• Water heaters, furnaces, boilers
• Central air conditioners, room air conditioners, heat pumps
• Pool heaters

• The capacity of the particular model
• For refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers and water heaters, the estimated annual energy consumption of the model
• For air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers and pool heaters, the energy efficiency rating
• The range of estimated annual energy consumption, or energy efficiency ratings, of comparable appliances.

1. Select the size and style. Measure the space the appliance will occupy to be sure your new purchase will fit. Make sure that you'll have enough room to open the door or lid fully and enough clearance for ventilation. This may help you narrow your choices as you settle on the best capacity and style.
2. Know where to shop. Appliance outlets, electronics stores and local retailers carry different brands and models. Dealers also sell appliances through print catalogs and the Internet.
3. Compare the performance of different brands and models. Ask to see the manufacturer's product literature. Decide which features are important to you. Ask questions about how the different models operate: Are they noisy? What safety features do they have? What about repair histories? How much water do they use? How energy efficient are they?
4. Estimate how much the appliance will cost to operate. The more energy an appliance uses, the more it will cost to run. Consult the EnergyGuide label to compare the energy use of different models. The difference on your monthly utility bill can be significant, especially when considered over the 10-to-20-year life of the appliance. You could save money over the long run by choosing a model that's more energy efficient, even if the purchase price is higher.
5. Ask about special energy efficiency offers. Ask your salesperson or local utility about cash rebates, low-interest loans or other incentive programs in your area for energy-efficient product purchases - and how you can qualify.

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• Research the company online. See what other people are saying about the company's free trials—and its service. Complaints from other customers can tip you off to "catches" that might come with the trial.
• Find the terms and conditions for the offer. That includes offers online, on TV, in the newspaper, or on the radio. If you can't find them or can't understand exactly what you're agreeing to, don't sign up.
• Look for who's behind the offer. Just because you're buying something online from one company doesn't mean the offer or pop-up isn't from someone else.
• Watch out for pre-checked boxes. If you sign up for a free trial online, look for already-checked boxes. That checkmark may give the company the green light to continue the offer past the free trial or sign you up for more products—only this time you have to pay.
• Mark your calendar. Your free trial probably has a time limit. Once it passes without you telling the company to cancel your "order," you may be on the hook for more products.
• Look for info on how you can cancel future shipments or services. If you don't want them, do you have to pay? Do you have a limited time to respond?
• Read your credit and debit card statements. That way you'll know right away if you're being charged for something you didn't order.

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• Wind-resistant roof configurations
• Enhanced roof sheathing attachment
• Wind and water-resistant roofing underlayment
• Wind-resistant roof coverings
• Improved gable overhang framing
• Reinforced gable end wall construction
• Improved siding and other exterior wall finishes
• Enhanced wind pressure and rain-resistant window and door components
• Roof ventilation practices to prevent wind-driven rain penetration
• Enhanced water-resistive barrier and flashing practices
• Reinforced continuous load path
• Earthquake and wind-resistant chimneys
• Extra-elevated foundations
• Prevention of tree-fall damage with wind-resistant landscaping

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The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently announced a new comprehensive framework for housing finance system reform that would transition Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to a new mortgage securitization system for single-family and multifamily conventional mortgages.

“Our plan seeks to overhaul the housing finance system to ensure that housing credit is available and affordable in the future and is delivered through a competitive, efficient, sound, safe and stable system,” said NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg, a home builder from Gainesville, Fla.

To achieve this goal, Rutenberg said the system must include private, federal and state sources of housing capital; offer a reasonable menu of sound mortgage products for both single-family and multifamily housing that is governed by prudent underwriting standards and adequate oversight and regulation; and provide a federal backstop to ensure that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages are available at reasonable interest rates and terms.

Replacing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with a new securitization system for conventional mortgages backed by private capital and a privately funded federal mortgage-backed securities fund must be done in an orderly fashion over time. During this phase-in period, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would remain operational until the alternative system is fully functioning.

Under this scenario, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be gradually replaced by private housing finance entities (HFEs) that would be chartered to purchase single-family and multifamily mortgages from loan originators and package the loans into securities for sale to investors worldwide. The federal government would guarantee the securities, not the mortgages.

The HFEs would only purchase mortgages that are well understood and have reasonable risk characteristics, such as standard 30-year fixed-rate loans. The HFEs would operate under the oversight of a strong independent regulatory agency to ensure all aspects of safety and soundness. NAHB believes the 12 regional Federal Home Loan Banks could serve as HFEs.

Federal support to the conventional mortgage of the future would consist of a privately funded insurance fund where the government would guarantee its solvency in a manner similar to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s backing of the fund that insures savings deposits. Under this system, mortgage originators would pay premiums to capitalize the insurance fund, which would cover losses and ensure full payment to investors. The federal government would be required to pay investors only if the insurance fund was depleted.

NAHB’s housing finance reform blueprint also proposes to:

• Restart a carefully regulated fully private mortgage-backed securities system. NAHB believes reforms are needed in the system for rating mortgage-backed securities and is supporting the development of new securities ratings agencies that would use criteria developed by securities investors to assure objective evaluations and avoid conflicts of interest.

• Continue the role of the federal government housing agencies. The housing finance support roles of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) would be preserved.

• Enhance the position of state and local housing finance agencies (HFAs) as a source of housing funds. The HFAs should have a more prominent housing finance role through the development of original programs for new homes and multifamily rental units involving partnering with federal and private providers of housing capital.

• Expand the role of the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) in the housing finance system. The FHLBanks should continue their current activities to serve as an ongoing liquidity source for institutions providing housing credit. Existing programs, such as the FHLBanks’ mortgage purchase programs, should be enhanced by allowing the banks to move beyond portfolio purchases to securitization.

• Repair flaws that produced the housing boom and bust. It is extremely important to continue and complete steps to close the gaps in standards and oversight that allowed and facilitated the improper and illegal activities in financial and mortgage markets. This should be done by undertaking a series of comprehensive reforms to ensure sound mortgage products and prudent underwriting; requiring sound mortgage securities structures and full transparency for investors; and imposing adequate oversight on previously unregulated segments of the mortgage and financial markets.

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• Overall, analysts in North America expect the S&P 500 Index to report very low growth of 0.82% in the first quarter of 2012, with a forecast of 3.26% growth for the consumer discretionary sector and 2.38% for the consumer staples sector.

• The dramatic increase in Apple's share price has generated interest in the latest of a long and fairly infrequent string of S&P 500 market capitalization leadership changes. Apple is the 11th issue to hold market capitalization leadership since 1926

• As the eurozone continues to struggle with its debt crisis, default risk, though moderating, remains built in to credit default swap (CDS) spreads for many of those sovereigns. But the risk premium in the five-year CDS for the U.S. has declined to levels not seen since mid-2010, which we think reflects the credit market's confidence in the U.S. economy.

• IPO activity increased in February as 17 offerings, excluding REITs and closed-end funds, were priced, raising $1.46 billion. Given the abundance of IPOs in the month, those recently priced issues found themselves among the performance leaders so far this year. Private equity-backed industrial machinery company Proto Labs Inc. now ranks as the top gainer among the early crop of 2012 IPOs, according to S&P Capital IQ.

• Commodity market performance and spiking petroleum prices in February have sparked uncertainty about early 2012 optimism as potential economic implications remain unclear. Industrial metals remained the best performing sector at the end of February, but petroleum prices have rallied, reintroducing geopolitical risk into the marketplace.

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• The Internal Revenue Service recognizes a couple's marital status on the last day of the year. Even couples who wed right before midnight on December 31 are considered legally married for the full 2011 tax year.
• Couples should note that certain credits, including the Child and Dependent Care Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit and certain education credits, are not available under the "married filing separately" status.
• Tying the knot often results in a new last name. Names listed in your tax return should match all forms of identification, including social security card, passport, driver's license and documents from employers, loan holders and investment accounts.

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• “It’s bold and different like me.”
• “Having personally designed my home, I feel it reflects my likes and preferences.”
• “I am a contemporary person; the house is contemporary.”
• “It too is old, but really stylish.”
• “It looks simple and unpretentious … which is how I think of myself.”
• “The exterior of my home is conservative in appearance, which is the same as my personality.”

• “I am a traditionalist. I think the colors of my house are very traditional.”
• “The (house) color and trim was chosen by me and is unique to my personality.”
• “I have chosen colors (for my home’s exterior) that are traditional and dramatic rather than the drab beige people consider safe.”

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• Find out if your local utility company offers green power using the EPA Green Power locator. Clean energy options include highly efficient combined heat and power, as well as renewable energy sources. It will typically cost you a few more cents per kilowatt hour but that can be offset by energy efficient appliances.
• The energy used in the average house is responsible for twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as the average car. One of the biggest sources of this energy usage is heating and cooling. Take steps to insulate and air-seal your home as much as possible. Also, replace older equipment and appliances with Energy Star qualified options. Energy Star products have met strict standards for energy efficiency without sacrificing performance and will save you at least 30 percent on energy costs while using significantly less natural resources.

• Consider installing a WaterSense labeled showerhead to save more than 2,300 gallons of water per year for the average household, and simultaneously reduce energy demands on water heaters. If every household in the U.S. installed WaterSense labeled showerheads, more than 250 billion gallons of water would be saved per year, which could supply more than 2.5 million homes with water needs for a year.

• Thirty percent of the food produced worldwide is never eaten, and the energy and water used to produce it is lost forever. Shop for only grocery items that you know you will use and opt for locally grown fresh foods. And, consider this: According to Environmental Defense, if every American replaced one meal of chicken per week with a vegetarian option, the carbon dioxide savings would be equal to taking more than half a million cars off the road. Skip meat a few times a week to make a major impact.
• Don’t stop recycling – since 1990 we have increased the amount of waste recycled from 15 percent to 34 percent. In 2010, we recycled 85 million tons of waste, the energy savings equivalent of nearly 230 million barrels of oil.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

• All in the family: Fourteen percent of U.S. adults said they plan to ask a friend or family member to help prepare their taxes this year. Consider asking those who are close to you if they can lend a helping hand. It may make the process easier and can help you save extra dough.
• Use a coupon: Many professional and online tax preparation services offer coupons to help filers save money. Head online to check out the tax preparation offers from services like H&R Block and Turbo Tax on CouponCabin.com.
• Seek out free resources: Organizations like VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and AARP, among many others, offer complimentary volunteer resources depending on various criteria. Before you file your return, check to see if you qualify for free assistance.

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• Chord glass features a vertical, flowing pattern reminiscent of waves on the water. Privacy rating of 10.
• Chinchilla glass resembles a free-flowing configuration, presenting quiet lines and unique curves. Privacy rating of 10.
• Rainglass encompasses ripples of cascading water in an elegantly-fashioned glass. Privacy rating of 8.
• Granite glass features a coarse grained arrangement with surface variations over the entire piece of glass. Privacy rating of 10.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

• Loyalty rewards. While U.S. consumers continue to be satisfied with their insurance provider, many express a desire for better service and more loyalty rewards. More than one-third (36 percent) of consumers believe the life and pensions industry lags other industries in service, and nearly half (43 percent) of consumers say it does an insufficient job in rewarding loyalty. Consumers are accustomed to having their loyalty rewarded by other industries, and increasingly expect the same from insurers. The good news is that U.S. customers want to remain loyal to their insurers. In fact, 65 percent of respondents are either “not at all likely” or “not very likely” to change insurers in the next five years.
• Personal interactions coupled with digital ease. Consumers are becoming more comfortable with online channels for researching insurance products and carriers, but the vast majority of people still want to rely on personal interaction to make their insurance purchases. On the property/casualty side, the survey found that personal interaction is particularly important when extending coverage (71 percent), making a claim (82 percent), or dealing with other customer service issues (78 percent). In life/annuities, 82 percent of consumers think it is important to have personal interaction when making an insurance purchase. Nevertheless, customers are showing a greater desire to use online sources to inform themselves prior to making a purchase (44 percent of life/annuity customers used online comparison sites), with two-thirds (66 percent) expecting to do more independent online research in the future.
• Millennials put a premium on brand. U.S. insurance consumers generally trust their insurance providers, despite the recent financial crisis, but require them to offer more personalized service and reward customer loyalty, according to the survey. Specifically, Millennials are bucking conventional wisdom and paying more attention to brand than cost when picking an insurer. While price is still an important factor, consumers younger than 34 are willing to pay more for a brand they trust. In fact, almost half of Millennials (43 percent in property/casualty and 48 percent in life insurance) consider the financial stability of the insurance provider as the most important factor influencing their decision to buy insurance.

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• Shop around to compare terms and service before deciding on a bank. Don't forget about direct online banks, as their competitive fees and rates may offset any inconvenience due to lack of physical branches.
• Don't be swayed by promotion gifts/cash alone. It is more important to ensure the bank that you are selecting offers the right products to meet your needs and that the fees associated with the products are in line with what you are willing to pay.
• Read account brochures and disclosures carefully and don't be afraid to ask questions about the products you are about to open.

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• Reduction in supply of hot water from a traditional tank water heater
• Clothes are dingy or unclean after going through the washer
• Calcium rings or deposits in tubs, sinks and dishwasher
• Shower head and faucet clogs
• Spotty or unclean dishes, glasses and flatware after the dishwasher has run
• Water pipe leakage

• Water softeners can range from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000 depending on size and type. Some companies offer rental equipment for a nominal monthly charge. Installation typically runs $150 to $300.
• Before you buy a water softener or conditioner, research available products and service companies. Insist on a money-back guarantee.
• In most states, installation does not require a licensed plumber. At a minimum, use a company with technicians certified by the Water Quality Association.
• Understand and follow the maintenance required to keep the unit operating properly.

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• 62 percent of Americans think a gallon of gas will cost $5 or more in the next five years. What's more, 31 percent believe it will be $6 or more and more than 1 in 10 (12.4 percent) believe it will be $7 or more.
• 82 percent see our dependence on foreign oil as a "crisis" or "major problem" and where you fall in the political spectrum is largely irrelevant – this view applies to 85 percent of Republicans, 80 percent of Democrats and 78 percent of Independents.
• 78 percent called the amount of money they spend on gasoline a "burden,” with nearly half saying a "serious burden" and nearly two-thirds reporting they are taking steps to save on gas costs.
• 67 percent of Americans say they have taken steps in the last three years to save gasoline (such as buying a car with better gas mileage or changing their driving behavior). Even more than 60 percent of those making over $100,000 annually reported taking action to reduce their gasoline use.
• 55 percent of Americans believe that efforts to make greater use of energy saving technologies that help our country do more with less have been "positive" because they save money over the long run and make our economy more productive and competitive. Twenty-five percent believe these efforts have been "negative" and 20 percent don't know/aren’t sure.

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• Nearly one in four working households spends more than half of its income on housing. The share of working households with a severe housing cost burden increased significantly between 2008 and 2010, rising from 21.8 percent to 23.6 percent.
• Despite falling home prices and values, housing affordability worsened for working homeowners. Median housing costs for working homeowners declined modestly between 2008 and 2010. Meanwhile, the incomes of working homeowners declined even more, driven in large part by a decrease in the median number of hours worked per week between 2008 and 2010.
• Working renters fared even worse, with both increased rents and decreased incomes between 2008 and 2010. While incomes increased somewhat between 2009 and 2010, over the two-year period renters saw a four percent decline in household income. The housing costs of renters rose over the two-year period by four percent.

• California - 34 percent
• Florida - 33 percent
• New Jersey - 32 percent
• Hawaii - 30 percent
• Nevada - 29 percent

• Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla. - 43 percent
• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. - 38 percent
• San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. - 37 percent
• Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. - 35 percent
• New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. - 35 percent

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• Investigate your shrubs. Winter weather may have wreaked havoc on shrubs and flowering bushes, so use this time to prune branches back to the next healthy joint or bud.
• If you grow flowers from seeds, keep in mind that many plants need a big head start indoors. Petunias, impatiens, verbena and snapdragons should be planted indoors under lights, 10-12 weeks before the last spring frost.
• Mustard, ragweed, henbit and many other pesky weeds start growing with the first hint of spring. Keep them from sprouting by applying a weed preventer two weeks before the ground begins to warm up.
• Consider adding raspberries, blueberries, currants or other small fruits to your landscape. For the best selection, order dormant plants by mail. All should be planted in earliest spring as soon as the soil can be worked.
• Grow your own micro-greens. Plant leftover broccoli, radish or basil seeds in a pot and grow on a sunny windowsill. Snip young plants with scissors for a pretty garnish or a spicy addition to a salad.
• Take cuttings of geraniums, coleus, rosemary and other tender plants that you have overwintered indoors. Root them in water or in moist potting mix.
• Most perennials benefit from being divided every few years. The best time to do this is earliest spring just as new growth appears. Think about the plants that are most in need of dividing and make a list of them so this task doesn’t get forgotten in the rush of spring.

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Published with permission from RISMedia.

• Job gains exceeded expectations for the past two months, but those leaving their jobs voluntarily were 2 million in December compared to the pre-recession average of 3 million, reflecting worker uneasiness.
• The unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent; and weekly unemployment benefits applications decreased for the third consecutive week to 348,000, the fewest since the first week in March 2008.
• More warmth is expected in the housing market sometime in 2013 as the economy continues on its slow path to a stronger recovery in a low-interest-rate environment.
• Low mortgage rates will continue to keep homebuyer affordability high and help drive more HARP refinances.
• Consumer sentiment weakened in January although home builder confidence continued to show signs of growth.

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Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

According to a new survey from Apartments.com, an increasing number of consumers continue to look toward renting as a viable option in today’s market, considering it to be an affordable, flexible lifestyle choice. This higher demand for apartment housing means increased renting costs across the nation. In response to this news, Apartments.com conducted a national survey to more than 3,000 of its January website visitors to find out about their 2012 moving plans, including reasons they are moving, why they are opting to rent versus own property, when they plan to move and which tools they value most during their apartment search. 

Supporting a growing trend, 33.6 percent of respondents looking for an apartment this year said they are previous homeowners (up from 20.5 percent in 2011). From the survey respondents who said they are homeowners looking to rent in 2012, 26.3 percent are doing so because they believe renting is a more affordable option and 21.2 percent prefer the flexibility renting offers in choosing where to live. 

Apartments.com provides the five most popular responses why their website visitors are choosing to rent versus own in 2012: 

- Renting is a more affordable option: (26.3 percent)
- Flexibility to live where I choose: (21.2 percent)
- To relocate for employment: (20.5 percent)
- Cannot afford to keep up with homeownership expenses: (10.5 percent)
- Lost home due to foreclosure and change in marital status: (less than 4 percent each) 

More than 35 percent of respondents indicated they are moving out on their own – whether for the first time or back into their own place – which may be a sign of an improving economy and job market, especially in the rental demographic. Reinforcing that idea is the fact that 23 percent of renters surveyed reported they are relocating for employment opportunities – making that the number one reason for moving in 2012, as it was in 2011. However, the desire to have more space, to save money and to live in a more desirable neighborhood also topped the list. Apartments.com provides the five most popular responses why their website visitors are moving in 2012: 

- Relocating for employment opportunities: (23 percent)
- Looking for a bigger apartment: (11.9 percent)
- Shopping for a less expensive apartment: (11.3 percent)
- Wanting to live in a more desirable neighborhood: (10.6 percent)
- Change in marital status: (8.8 percent)

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Only 54 percent of Americans have more emergency savings than credit card debt, according to a recent poll from Bankrate.com. One in four Americans (25 percent) has more credit card debt than emergency savings and 16 percent have neither credit card debt nor emergency savings. 

Bankrate's monthly Financial Security Index held at 97.3, unchanged from January and tied for the highest level since June 2011. Any reading below 100 indicates a lower level of financial security compared with 12 months earlier. 

Despite four straight months of improving sentiment, consumers' overall financial situation is still seen as negative. Twenty-seven percent of Americans report a lower level of financial security now versus one year ago and 24 percent report a higher level. Thirty-eight percent of Americans are less comfortable with their savings now compared with one year ago; only 14 percent are more comfortable. 

Additional survey findings included:
Job Security: Consumers are slightly positive, with 20 percent feeling more secure than one year ago and 19 percent feeling less secure (up from 17 percent in January). 

Savings: Consumers have reported less negativity about their savings in each of the past three months, with fewer feeling less comfortable and more feeling about the same as 12 months ago. 

Debt and Net Worth: Both were little changed from January and maintain essentially neutral readings. 

Credit Card Debt vs. Emergency Savings
- Households with income of $75,000 or more per year, college graduates and retirees are the most likely to have more in emergency savings than credit card debt.
- Parents are the most likely to have more credit card debt than emergency savings.
- Those most likely to have neither credit card debt nor emergency savings are households with income of less than $30,000 per year, those with a high school education or less and the unemployed.
- In a similar Bankrate poll conducted in February 2011, 52 percent of Americans had more emergency savings than credit card debt. Twenty-three percent had more credit card debt than emergency savings and 19 percent had neither credit card debt nor emergency savings. 

The new study was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI).

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• Together, baby boomers and Gen Y comprise 50 percent of the population and will soon be part of the largest U.S. wealth transfer ever
• 60 percent of Gen Y goes to college
• More than 38 million U.S. residents (12 percent of the population) are foreign born
• 33 percent of all PhDs and 57 percent of all post-doctorates in science and engineering were awarded by U.S. universities to foreign students
• About 4.3 million Gen Y residents reached age 22 in 2010

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1. How much would it cost to rebuild my home in its current location in the event of a total loss? Your homeowners insurance policy should cover the cost of building a new home from scratch. Your insurance agent or insurance company representative will have knowledge of your neighborhood, and familiarity with the construction materials used when your home was originally built and can accurately calculate this cost. In general, homeowners policies cover partial or total damages caused by fire, hurricane, hail, lightning or any other disaster listed in your policy. Flood and earthquake-related losses must be insured separately because both perils are excluded in standard homeowners insurance policies.
2. How much is the personal property in my home worth in the event of a total loss? Your homeowners insurance policy should cover the cost of replacing all personal property (furniture, appliances, clothing) should it be stolen or destroyed by fire, hurricane or another insured disaster. Most companies provide personal property coverage equal to about 50 to 70 percent of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your dwelling. So if you have $100,000 worth of dwelling protection, most insurers would recommend $50,000 to $70,000 worth of personal property coverage. The best way to determine if this recommendation is appropriate for your specific situation is to conduct a home inventory. Consider using the I.I.I.’s Know Your Stuff® - Home Inventory app in the iTunes App Store.
3. How much liability protection do I need? Liability covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you, or your family members, cause to other people. It also pays for damage caused by your pets. The liability portion of your policy pays for both the cost of defending you in court and any court awards—up to the limit of your policy. You are also covered not just in your home, but anywhere in the world. Liability limits generally start at about $100,000. Most insurance agents and company representatives recommend that you purchase at least $300,000 worth of liability protection. If you have significant assets and need more liability protection than is offered under the standard homeowners policy limits, ask your agent about umbrella liability.
4. What level of additional living expense coverage do I need? The Additional Living Expenses (ALE) provision is found in standard homeowners insurance policies. It pays for the costs of living away from home if you cannot reside there due to damage from an insured disaster. ALE covers hotel bills, meals and other expenses over and above your customary living expenses. ALE coverage differs from company to company. Many policies provide coverage equal to about 20 percent of your dwelling protection. For example, if the structure of your home is insured for $100,000, you would have $20,000 of ALE coverage. Some companies impose a time limitation, such as 12 to 24 months.
5. Should I buy a separate flood and/or earthquake insurance policy? There were numerous flooding events and earthquakes in the U.S. in 2011, but relatively few Americans had coverage for either type of natural disaster because these perils are excluded from standard homeowners insurance policies. Check with your insurance agent or insurance company representative to see whether you might need specialized coverage beyond your standard homeowners insurance policy.
6. Do I qualify for any discounts? If you have smoke detectors, burglar alarms and/or dead-bolt locks in your home, you can often get a premium rate discount. Sophisticated sprinkler systems and alarms that ring at monitoring stations often reduce your homeowners insurance premium, too. Ask your agent or company representative about discounts available to you. If you are at least 55 years old and retired, for instance, you may qualify for a discount of up to 10 percent at some companies. If you have completely modernized your plumbing or electrical system recently, a few companies may provide a price break.

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• What is your gross and net income, and what are your expenses?
• What do you have in terms of financial assets (savings and investment accounts, real estate, retirement plans, etc.)?
• What are your debts, both in terms of amounts outstanding as well as what you pay each month?
• What workplace benefits do you receive?
• What insurance coverage do you have to protect your health, income, life, property, or need for physical assistance?
• How are your assets titled and who gets them when you are no longer here?

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1. Ensure you know what your employer’s expectations are: See to it that there are no unanswered questions about work hours, breaks, company equipment, and so forth.
2. Ensure that your results are communicated to your employer: Working long hours will not matter if your boss is not aware of what you accomplish.
3. Set up an effective work space: Make sure you have a work area that is free of distractions and is also comfortable and separate from the rest of your house.
4. Establish boundaries with your family and friends: Make sure they are aware of the demands of working from home.
5. Assess your progress on a regular basis: Record your achievements and mark your progress along the way, and make regular evaluations to your work habits.

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• Make the open house a community event. Invite the neighborhood to talk about the school system or other current events affecting the community. By opening your doors to invite people in for another reason than just to view your home, you can raise awareness about your listing while helping to unite the community on important issues. Be careful to stay away from political issues, however. There are many neutral issues such as neighborhood watch or a nonprofit organization that can be highlighted instead.
• Invite a speaker. A great way to stand out from other open houses is to offer a guest speaker like a home stager or general contractor. If people are looking to buy, they’re usually in the process of selling, so hiring a home stager to talk about DIY staging techniques is a great way to get serious buyers through your door.
• Don’t forget to properly market your open house. A mainstay for my company is the use of social media and email blasts to get the word out about any of the events we sponsor. Ask your agent what he or she is doing to get the word out about your home. It’s good advice to plan a marketing strategy with your agent before you hire them so that expectations are clear from the beginning.
• Always provide refreshments. A hot cup of coffee and fresh baked goods can go a long way when it comes to developing a following to your open houses. On top of that, goodies will help keep prospective buyers at your showing longer. Some local restaurants will give you a discount if you help them get the word out about their business. If they have a menu, maybe you can offer a stack on your refreshment table.
• Always add to your database. Raffle off a gift certificate to attendees that will share their business card or contact information with you. Keep a running mailing list of the folks that attend so you can easily keep them in the loop if there’s an offer or a price change.

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• Among the breeds known for intelligence: Shetland sheepdogs, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, poodles, Australian cattle dogs, Papillons and Doberman pinschers.
• Bulldogs, beagles and Basset hounds all start with ‘B’ but get much lower grades for smarts.
• It’s a myth that mutts have fewer health issues than purebred dogs. Because some breeds have tendencies toward problems such as deafness, blindness or hip dysplasia, remember, these are genetic issues that are inherited. So if you’re mixed-breed includes some German shepherd, it may also have hip dysplasia (a problem with the joint’s bone structure).
• If you’re in the market for a purebred dog, you have a 25 percent chance of finding one – although maybe not the breed you want – at a shelter. If your heart is set on a specific breed, check your area for a rescue group specializing in that breed.

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1. What is your goal in establishing a banking relationship? Answers may include "to save money," "to have a checking account," "to get a loan," or all of the above.
2. How much money can you keep on deposit each month and how many checks will you write? This will help you figure out how complex or simple an account you might need. "Packaged" or "multi-service" accounts offer a variety of services for one fee, while "no frills" accounts offer a minimum number of services at an extra-low price. Other accounts might be designed cafeteria-style: you choose from a variety of services and pay as you go.
3. Will you be buying a home or car or making another large purchase in the near future? You'll want to find out about the variety of loan products offered.
4. If you hope to save for a big expense or toward your child's (or your own!) future education, you'll also want to find out how many savings products are offered. Many banks now offer uninsured investments, such as mutual funds, as well as the more traditional insured deposit accounts.
5. What time of day do you expect to do most of your banking? Some people prefer to visit the bank during their work hours, while others prefer a bank located close to home that they can visit over the weekend.
6. Do you like the convenience of automated teller machines and other types of electronic services—like banking through your personal computer, or do you prefer to deal directly with bank personnel? Answering this question will help you determine if you'd be happier at a bank with an extensive branch network emphasizing regular, evening, or weekend hours, or one that focuses more on electronic services like ATMs and PC banking.

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• Check the features. Look for a brush on/off switch to safeguard bare floors and prevent scattered debris. Another major feature to look for is a motorized brush, rather than suction alone. Manual pile-height adjustment is also a plus, as is suction control for drapes and edge tools for corners.
• Consider bagless carefully. Bagless vacuums eliminate the expense of buying bags but still require filters, which require maintenance and regular replacement. For those with asthma or allergies, the dust and mess of emptying their bins is an added concern.
• Try it out. Even shoppers who plan to buy their vacuum online should visit a store to push, pull, turn, and lift the models they are considering and check out the model's controls and features. Also, it's worth asking whether or not the store is willing to meet or beat the lowest online price.

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• Budget: Establishing a budget for certain monthly items like dining out, entertainment purchases, and grocery spending can help make future arguments disappear. At least once a month, there should be a regular "budget night" where you and your partner get together to discuss your joint financial status. You can review spending and savings activities, and then make financial adjustments and decisions together.
• Prior debt: Coming into a relationship, you or your partner may have student loans, a car loan, credit cards, overdraft lines of credit, etc. Cash flow can be greatly affected by previously accumulated debt. Additionally, a big influence on your financial health as a couple is the way you each handle your debt obligations. Knowing your partner's credit history can offer a glimpse into the future. If either or both of you have had problems making payments in the past, that can have a negative impact on your ability to rent an apartment, get a joint loan, and will result in higher rates charged by utility and insurance companies. Developing a plan to improve upon past mistakes can remove a lot of strain from your relationship.
• Savings goals: Whether you want to save for a trip around the world or want to put money in your 401(k), financial goals need to be established up front. For most, the top three financial goals include buying a home, saving for retirement and building up an education savings account. Making your wishes known to your partner can help the two of you establish a financial plan that incorporates what is important to both of you.
• Major purchases: Be open and honest about major purchases. Simply discussing a purchase beforehand can save you from a potential fight.

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• A payment calculator that helps consumers estimate what their monthly payment will look like for a particular home.
• An affordability calculator that helps shoppers narrow their home search to homes within a specific price range, based on income, down payment and monthly debt information.
• A refinance calculator that allows consumers to compare their current loan and new loan quote to estimate potential savings if they refinance.
• A mortgage shopping experience that enables users to request and receive personalized loan quotes, read lender reviews and connect with a lender.
• Sharing functionality that allows shoppers to share current mortgage rates, calculator results and loan requests via email, Twitter or text message.

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1. Talk money before the move. Discuss finances up front–even before you start looking at apartments. Before the apartment becomes something tangible, make sure you establish what each person is comfortable contributing financially. When you have this discussion, remember to include the cost for Internet, utilities, parking, and any other fees that may arise.
2. Respect personal space. When you move in, make sure you each give yourselves some space that is your own, especially if this is the first time you are moving in with a significant other. As crazy as you are about each other, spending every minute in the apartment together may drive you both a little batty. Ensure each person still has some alone time carved out for themselves.
3. Discuss décor. Hand in hand with respecting your significant other's personal space is respecting their personal decorating style—or lack thereof. Before either of you hang (or purge anything), sit down and talk about your decorating styles and how you can make them blend harmoniously.
4. Don't forget dates. Once you live together, it's easy to mistake seeing each other around the apartment for quality time. Be sure to make time for a night out on the town together or plan a special evening at home. Remember, this is your potential soul mate, not just a roommate you split the bills with.
5. Consider going halfsies on large purchases. Shared purchases are an interesting issue. To fill your apartment, you may need a new couch or dining room table—or you may just want that new big screen TV. So, who pays for this major expense? Consider splitting it 50/50 (or in whatever way makes financial sense for you as a couple). Making these purchases together shows your partner you're committed to the relationship and investing in your future together.

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Contractors across the country were recently surveyed by Angie’s List to determine the most common home aches and pains, and how to remedy them before you have to seek emergency care.

Angie's 7 Signs Your House Needs Professional Care 

1. Up on the Roof: If you notice loose shingles, have attic leaks, suspect chimney issues or see other signs of damage up high, call in a reputable roofing, gutter or chimney expert, or a handyman to give you great advice about what you need done.
2. Leaks don't fix themselves: Leaky faucets, running toilets and other small plumbing issues will just get worse, so do yourself a favor and get those fixed before major damage occurs. If you notice a jump in your water bill but haven't increased your usage, you likely have a hidden leak, which left undetected could lead to mold, wood rot and severe water damage.
3. Caulk it up: The caulking around your tub and shower prevents moisture penetration, which can lead to mold, tile and wall damage and warped cabinetry. Keeping everything watertight will save you a bundle, so be sure to repair any caulking failures. But don't stop there. All homes get cracks and voids in their outside walls over time. Look closely at where two boards come together, because cracks often start there. Also look for damage from animals that are looking for a way in. Caulk any cracks you see to avoid water penetration, subsequent wood rot and to keep the critters out.
4. Sparks fly: Lights that dim on their own schedule are a clear signal that you have an electrical problem. Experts say too many homeowners tolerate this situation for too long, which puts their homes at risk for electrical fire. Another often tolerated-too-long issue is when using one device causes another to switch off because you've blown a fuse. This is a sign you have a capacity or circuit box issue. Less dangerous but still signal-worthy are springy outlets that don't hold plugs. If you have any of these issues, call in a licensed, reputable electrician.
5. Drafty doors and windows: Improperly sealed windows and doors will bring cold air inside during the winter and let cooled air out in the summer, costing you big bucks on your energy bill. An energy audit can tell you where your leaks are and how to seal them.
6. Filter it out: HVAC experts say 60 percent of their service calls result from systems stressed by dirty air filters. Changing air filters regularly (every quarter or so; more if you have pets) can save you up to $100 each year on your energy bill, and will keep you from needing emergency repair. Many highly reputable heating and air conditioning companies offer maintenance plans that include an annual inspection. Doing this will give you an early alert to any issues you have with your entire HVAC system so you can stave off breakdowns.
7. Pump it up: Take a look at your sump pump from time to time. If it's in good shape and its batteries are good, it could save you thousands of dollars in flood damage. But you don't want to find out it needs repairs after the water starts rising. Get an annual inspection and check the batteries at least quarterly.

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Better Homes and Gardens magazine recently released proprietary research and insights into the ideas, inspirations, and strategies driving consumers as they consider the function, style and efficiency of their homes.

In a presentation given at the International Builders Show, Jill Waage, editorial director for Home Content for Better Homes and Gardens revealed survey results about consumer attitudes towards home ownership, upkeep and renovations, design and personalization, and more. A primary point revealed in the presentation shows that, despite continuing economic uncertainty, consumer thoughts toward homeownership remain strong with 8 in 10 saying home ownership is still a good investment and an important part of the American Dream. The BHG survey also found that consumers are more proactive in designing and curating their homes and, in fact, are spending more time planning design changes for the home (up to 38% from 33% the year prior).

Among the survey's key findings:
• Owning a home is still an important part of the American Dream (According to 8 in 10 surveyed).
• Consumers are taking more time to plan for home improvement projects (39% in 2011 compared to 33% in 2010) and are shopping around for more deals and bargains before committing to home improvement plans (42% in 2011 compared to 40% in 2010).

• Consumers find it more important than ever to get the most value out of every dollar (61% in 2011, up from 56% in 2010), and will spend more time looking for bargains and deals in order to get the most value for their money (Up to 54% in 2011, from 52% in 2010).
• Consumers are more willing to get rid of excess "stuff" and not willing to mortgage for more storage space. Multi-purpose rooms are a necessity in the home. Consumers aren't interested in "bonus rooms" or "media rooms" unless they have a multi-functional purpose.
• Style upgrades claim even greater prominence as being the most important feature in consumers' upcoming home improvement plans, followed by storage. For future projects, style upgrades on countertops, flooring, faucets and fixtures is up to 55% in 2011 from 50% in 2010. Expanded/improved storage space stayed flat at 39% in 2011, same as in 2010.
• In terms of remodeling priorities for consumers, baths are outpacing kitchens. Bathroom remodeling stayed constant in 2011 and 2010 (31%) and kitchen remodeling was stable at 25% in 2011, compared to 24% in 2010.

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• Family game night – One night a week, turn off everything electronic in favor of family game night. Even the youngest children can participate in simple board games. Once in a while, try Charades or Pictionary to keep the evenings lively.
• Family dinner night – Whether it’s pizza, pasta or simple sandwiches, plan weekly or monthly evenings when the whole family can work together in the kitchen to prepare a shared meal. Be sure someone is responsible for a simple dessert like cupcakes, cookies or brownies.
• Movie night – If board games bore you, choose a movie the family can watch at home together. Pop some popcorn and/or pack up individual “goodie bags” that everyone can enjoy.
• Wilderness walks – As weather permits, take a nature walk together. Identify plants and animals. Help the youngest kids collect pine cones or shells, or even leaves from which they can make collages.
• Craft night – Children can make tons of things out of simple things like beads, feathers, pasta, glue and string. Add some paints and colored paper and let everyone’s imaginations take hold.
• Check the library – Most public libraries schedule regular shows and special events, many of them free of charge. Check the program and choose one or two events the family can attend together.

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1. One of the first things a prospective buyer notices, a home's roof can represent 40 percent or more of your home's curb appeal, so make sure it is cleaned before putting your home on the market. Nothing turns a buyer away faster than a black or dirty looking roof. Get rid of any black staining or signs of debris on the roof.
2. Head into your attic and look for signs of a leaky roof. This is the best spot for noticing water damage. Have any leaks repaired right away. Even if leaks go unnoticed by a buyer, they will be discovered by the home inspector and cost you more money to fix quickly or could potentially lead to losing the sale all together.
3. Investigate your roof for missing granules on shingles, curling on the edges of shingles or shingles that have come loose. Again, it is best to make these repairs quickly before heading into the sales process.
4. Make sure to keep records of all repairs/enhancements made to your roof prior to your home’s sale. Have your real estate agent add these details to the listing information. A sound, attractive roof can be just the competitive differentiation your home needs.

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• Choosing the Right Supplies. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are harmful gases that can be emitted by some paints, solvents, cleaners, adhesives, furniture, and shelving. Try to find products with low or no VOC levels. When using products that contain high levels of VOCs, open windows or, better yet, turn on an air purifier that has a VOC pre-filter to help remove VOCs from the air that passes through the unit.
• Pay Attention to the Temperature. Set back your thermostat about 10 degrees when you’re away from home for eight hours or more. You could shave as much as 10 percent off your energy bill without sacrificing comfort. Many of today’s thermostats can be programmed to adjust during the day and at night while you’re sleeping. When you are at home, try turning down the thermostat a few degrees and use a portable heater in the rooms you are in the most.
• Watch Humidity Levels. A too-dry environment is not only bad for your family’s health, but for your home itself. Humidifiers offer solutions during dry winter months or in dry climates to help protect valuable wood furniture from drying out and cracking and prevent wood floors from buckling and separating.
• Fight Dust. Pollutants like dust and mold that settle in the home can be attributed to poor air circulation. A whole room fan should be used to ventilate the home properly. Look for models that have a wide ventilation range and are also quiet.

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1. Atlanta
2. Phoenix
3. Orlando, Fla.
4. Dallas/Fort Worth
5. Chicago
6. Houston
7. Denver
8. Seattle
9. Sarasota, Fla.
10. Charlotte, N.C.

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• Capital Advances. This is funding that covers the cost of developing, acquiring, or rehabilitating the development. Repayment is not required as long as the housing remains available for occupancy by very low-income elderly persons for at least 40 years.
• Project Rental Assistance Contracts. This is funding that goes to each development to cover the difference between the residents’ contributions toward rent and the cost of operating the project.

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• Create an exercise plan. This can include brisk walks, weather permitting, or activities like fetch modified for indoor play.
• If getting enough activity may prove troublesome, consider cutting back on calories. This can mean cutting back on treats or decreasing the amount of kibble doled out. If you're worried about your pet feeling deprived, add fresh vegetables into the mix. Carrots make a great treat substitute.
• Visit your veterinarian at the start of winter to get an accurate picture of your pet's current health. It is easier to maintain if you know what you're starting with.
• If your pet is on the heavier side, or has a history of weight issues, continue to see your veterinarian once a month for a check-up to make sure the weight is not creeping on.
• Learn the signs indicative of a pet being overweight or obese. The two areas it is easiest to spot weight gain in are the spine and the ribs.
• If weight gain still does occur, consult your veterinarian for a cat or dog weight loss plan. You do not want to cut back drastically on food without a veterinary opinion.

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• More than four out of five bankruptcy attorneys (81 percent) say that potential clients with student loan debt have increased "significantly" or "somewhat" in the last three-four years. Overall, about half (48 percent) of bankruptcy attorneys reported significant increases in such potential clients.
• Nearly two out of five bankruptcy attorneys (39 percent) have seen potential student loan client cases jump 25-50 percent in the last three-four years. An additional quarter (23 percent) of bankruptcy attorneys have seen such cases jump by 50 percent to more than 100 percent.
• Most bankruptcy attorneys (95 percent) report that few student loan debtors are seen as having any chance of obtaining a discharge as a result of undue hardship.
• More than four out of five bankruptcy attorneys (82 percent) see the limited availability of student loan discharge in bankruptcy as "a big problem" barring a fresh start for clients.
• Seven out of 10 bankruptcy attorneys see the lack of ability to separately classify student loan debts for debtors using chapter 13 as a "big problem."
• Nearly two out of three bankruptcy attorneys (65 percent) say that student loan provider debt collections have become "much more" or "somewhat more" aggressive in the last 18 months.
• More than three out of five bankruptcy attorneys (61 percent) dealing with potential student loan debtor clients have seen cases of debts more than 15 years old still being pursued.
• Titled "Student Loan 'Debt Bomb': America's Next Mortgage-Style Economic Crisis," the companion NACBA paper points out:
• College seniors who graduated with student loans in 2010 owed an average of $25,250, up five percent from the previous year. Borrowing has grown far more quickly for those in the 35-49 age group, with school debt burden increasing by a staggering 47 percent.
• Students are not alone in borrowing at record rates, so too are their parents. Loans to parents for the college education of children have jumped 75 percent since the 2005-2006 academic year. Parents have an average of $34,000 in student loans and that figure rises to about $50,000 over a standard 10-year loan repayment period. An estimated 17 percent of parents whose children graduated in 2010 took out loans, up from 5.6 percent in 1992-1993.
• Of the Class of 2005, borrowers who began repayments the year they graduated, one analysis found 25 percent became delinquent at some point and 15 percent defaulted. The Chronicle of Education puts the default rate on government loans at 20 percent.

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• On average, Americans expect home prices to increase by 1.0 percent over the next 12 months, continuing the upward trend started in October 2011.
• Twenty-eight percent of respondents expect home prices to increase over the next 12 months (up 2 percentage points since last month), while 16 percent say they expect home prices to decline (down 2 percentage points since last month). Fifty-one percent say prices will stay the same.
• Only 8 percent of Americans say that mortgage rates will go down in the next 12 months, down 2 percentage points from December.
• The percentage of respondents who say it is a good time to buy stayed at 71 percent this month, while the percentage who say it is a good time to sell dropped by 1 percentage point to 10 percent.
• On average, respondents expect home rental prices to increase by 3.2 percent over the next 12 months, down from 3.5 percent in December.
• The same percentage of respondents as last month say rental prices will go up (43 percent), go down (5 percent), and stay the same (46 percent).
• Sixty-four percent of respondents say they would buy their next home, while 30 percent say they would rent their next home, down 1 percentage point from last month.

• The percentage of respondents who say the economy is on the right track continued to rise this month, reaching 30 percent, an 8 percentage point increase since last month. The percentage who say the economy is on the wrong track dropped to 63 percent, a decline of 6 percentage points.
• A larger share of respondents (44 percent) say their personal financial situation will get better over the next 12 months than say it will stay the same (41 percent), continuing the gains seen last month.
• Seventeen percent of respondents say their income is significantly lower than it was 12 months ago (down 2 percentage points since November), while 62 percent say it has stayed the same (up 3 percentage points).
• Thirty-six percent say their expenses have increased significantly over the past 12 months, a 3 point decrease from last month and the lowest level in the past 12 months.

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• 54 percent now have some level of concern about using smartphones, up from 43 percent last year.
• 53 percent now have some level of concern about using desktop computers, versus 49 percent in 2011.
• 52 percent now have some level of concern about using their laptop computers, up from 44 percent last year.
• 41 percent now have some level of concern about using personal digital assistants, versus 32 percent in 2011.
• 41 percent now have some level of concern about using iPads, up from 31 percent last year.

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• Foreclosure mediation programs and conferences provide substantial community benefits at little or no cost. Mediation fees average from none to less than $1,000, typically paid by the homeowner and/or the mortgage lender. In comparison, investors lost an average $145,000 per home foreclosure in 2008, and foreclosures just in California have resulted in nearly $500 billion in aggregate direct and indirect costs.
• Effective mediation programs do not prolong foreclosures. Most mediation programs work within the time frames for existing state laws. In Philadelphia, for example, the typical foreclosure case spent 53 days in a foreclosure conference while the average time frame to complete an uncontested foreclosure was 10 months.
• Foreclosure mediation programs connect borrowers with housing counselors. Borrowers who receive housing counseling are much more likely to avoid foreclosure and obtain affordable as well as sustainable loan modifications. According to a recent study, 63 percent of borrowers who obtained modifications with counseling sustained the modifications, while only 8 percent of borrowers who obtained modifications without counseling sustained them.
• Not all foreclosure mediation programs are equal; all states should adopt foreclosure mediation programs with enforceable standards and robust outreach as permanent features of state foreclosure laws as quickly as possible.
• Strong foreclosure mediation programs can work hand-in-hand with other tools to rebuild the nation's broken mortgage market and should be used to maximize HAMP modifications. As documented in previous NCLC reports, servicers can make sustainable loan modifications yet many choose not to do so. The modified loans' default rate over one year dropped from 56.2 percent in 2008 to 25.7 percent in 2010. HAMP loan modifications were the most sustainable of all with a 19.4 percent (2010) and 17.3 percent (2011) redefault rate after one year.
• Policymakers can use mediation programs to help preserve minority homeownership; gains made over the last decade are vanishing. Many minority families were initially targeted for unaffordable subprime loans, and are denied loan modifications more often and steered into less affordable non-HAMP loan modifications more frequently than non-minority homeowners. Mediation programs provide needed oversight over practices that continue to disproportionately impact minorities.

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• The point of the leak on the water main.
• The time of day the water line break occurs.
• The severity of the water main break.
• The age and type of the existing water line.

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• Define the roles: It's important to identify all the household chores and discuss who will have ownership of each.
• Discuss expectations: The results showed that women don't trust men to meet their standards of clean. Gray recommends that women actually show men how they want the house cleaned and that couples discuss what clean means to each of them.
• Look for time-saving cleaning tools: Stock your home with cleaning products that are easy to use and efficient.
• Remember to say thank you: Whether or not the bathroom shines the way you want, don't forget to say thank you for making the effort.

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1. Register new appliances. It is critical that consumers register their products with manufacturers in order to be promptly notified in the event of a recall. Consumers concerned about their privacy or junk mail need only provide manufacturers with their name, contact information and the appliance's model number.
2. Check for recalls. Consumers can sign up for alerts at www.recalls.gov. Those who move into a home with existing appliances should record their make and model and check company websites for any recalls or review customers' experiences with those products at www.SaferProducts.gov.
3. Install fire-prevention equipment. Each level of a home and every bedroom should have a working smoke alarm. Consumer Reports recommends smoke alarms have both photoelectric and ionization sensors to provide the fastest response to any type of fire. Also, keep one full-floor fire extinguisher (rated 2-A:10-B:C or greater) on every level, plus a smaller supplemental unit in the kitchen.
4. Inspect power cords. Check for frayed power cords and never route electric cords (including extension cords) under carpeting, where they can overheat or be damaged by furniture.
5. Check home wiring. The electrical wiring in older homes cannot always handle the demands of modern appliances. Systems should be inspected by a qualified electrician. An upgrade to wiring may cost several hundred dollars, but is likely worth the added expense.
6. Practice kitchen safety. Unattended cooking is a common fire-starter, whether using a range or microwave oven. If small children are home, maintain a kids-free-zone of at least 3 feet and use back burners when possible. Consumers should unplug their small appliances, including toasters and coffeemakers, when not in use and or when planning to be away for long periods.
7. Clear range hoods. Grease buildup in range hoods is another fire hazard, so be sure to clean the vents regularly.
8. Keep dryer vents clear. Clean the lint screen in the dryer regularly to avoid buildup, which has been listed as a factor in many fires. Use rigid metal dryer ducts instead of flexible ducts made of foil or plastic, which can sag and let lint build. Check ducts regularly and remove any lint buildup.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

While many may think the Super Bowl is a man’s domain, women have a lot to say about it, too. Online dating website Zoosk.com recently surveyed more than 1,000 single women in the U.S. to determine their thoughts on the Big Game. Here, some highlights from the survey findings:

• 91 percent of single women view being taken to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis as a “dream date.”
• 51 percent of women think the New England Patriots will win.
• 49 percent of women think the New York Giants will win.
• 66 percent of females think that the game is the best part.
• 20 percent are only watching for the commercial entertainment.
• 14 percent of women tune in for the halftime show.
• 60 percent of single women think that Quarterback, Tom Brady is the sexiest Patriot.
• 61 percent of single women think that Quarterback, Eli Manning is the sexiest Giant.
• 34 percent of single women plan to participate in a pool this year.

The Zoosk poll was conducted online in January 2012 and fielded 1,012 responses from single women in the United States who use Zoosk.

• Your home is your primary residence
• You owe less than $729,750 on your first mortgage
• You got your mortgage before January 1, 2009
• Your payment on your first mortgage (including principal, interest, taxes, insurance and homeowner’s association dues, if applicable) is more than 31 percent of your current gross income
• You can’t afford your mortgage payment because of a financial hardship, like a job loss or medical bills

• Information about the monthly gross (before tax) income of your household, including recent pay stubs
• Your most recent income tax return
• Information about your savings and other assets
• Your monthly mortgage statement
• Information about any second mortgage or home equity line of credit on your home
• Account balances and minimum monthly payments due on your credit cards
• Account balances and monthly payments on your other debts, like student loans or car loans
• A completed Hardship Affidavit describing the circumstances responsible for the decrease in your income or the increase in your expenses

• Medical Expenses. Nearly 100 medical costs can be deducted, related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of disease or costs for treating any part of the body. Those include equipment, services and supplies, ranging from glasses to eye surgery to acupuncture to prescriptions.
• Long-term health care costs. An often-missed expense is the amount paid for long-term care services and long-term care insurance (that's a more limited deduction, depending on age). Rehabilitation, therapeutic, preventative and personal care services are among those that qualify as long-term care services, if your family member is chronically ill and if it's part of a plan set by a health care practitioner. Someone is considered chronically ill if they can't perform at least two activities of daily living (such as eating, toileting, bathing and dressing) without substantial assistance from someone else.
• Mileage. From weekly doctor's appointments to out-of-town visits with a specialist or for a procedure, the miles you log for your parents' medical needs can be deducted. You can qualify for this deduction if your parent is considered a dependent. You can take 19 cents a mile for 2011, for medical mileage. If you're staying overnight for a medical purpose, deduct $50 per night, for each person, for lodging.
• Home improvements for aging adults. Investing in ramps for a wheelchair-bound parent, handrails and grab bars in the bathroom or a stepless shower can be part of a deduction. It doesn't matter if the improvements are in your home or your parent’s home, as long as it doesn't add value to the house. According to the IRS, the cost of the improvement is reduced by the increase in your property value. Other changes, such as widening doorways and hallways, lowering kitchen cabinets and installing lifts, also typically do not add value to houses.
• Mortgage interest. If you are paying interest on your or your parents' home loans, construction loans or home equity lines of credit, it's deductible. There are some limitations, though, so you need to discuss with your accountant.
• Estate tax on an inherited IRA. This is not as easy as deducting medical expenses or charitable contributions, but it is worth checking out. If you inherited an IRA from your parents, you could take a deduction for the federal estate tax paid on IRA income.

• 28 percent of men have delayed a break-up with someone they were living with because they didn’t want to look for a new place to live, while in comparison, 21 percent of women have done the same.
• While 39 percent of respondents aged 18-34 have delayed a break-up with someone they were living with because they didn’t want to look for a new place to live, only 22 percent of respondents aged 35-54 and 17 percent of respondents aged 55+ have done the same.
• 37 percent of those who delayed a break-up waited one year or more to end ties with their significant other, while 35 percent waited six months and 28 percent waited 3 months.
• 40 percent of females who delayed a break-up waited one year or more to end ties with their significant other, while 32 percent of males waited one year or more.
• 29 percent of females would choose their dream home over their dream significant other, while 32 percent of males would choose their dream home over their dream significant other.
• 25 percent of respondents aged 55+ would choose their dream home over their dream significant other, while 44 percent of respondents aged 18-34 would choose their dream home over their dream significant other.

• Know what to get rid of. Discard the records you no longer need, including: tax returns older than seven years; bank records and credit card statements that are not related to the tax returns you’re keeping; brokerage statements that aren’t related to purchases of current holdings. Of course, make sure such private documents are shredded before throwing them out.
• Create digital files. Convert the documents you plan to save into digital images that are stored on your hard drive. Invest in a good scanner and scan as you go through your paperwork, shredding and tossing the hard copies. On your computer, file by tax year, so your 2011 folder will contain your tax return for 2011 and all pertinent bank records and receipts. Organize the previous six years the same way. Next year, you can delete the oldest folder when you add the 2012 folder.
• Go paperless. Stop receiving paper statements from your financial institutions—they’d prefer to send you documents electronically, anyway. Instead, download your statements electronically and store them in your new filing system. Most banks and credit card companies keep at least a year’s worth of statements available. You need to download these files only once a year to complete the year’s file.
• Back-up your files. Make backup copies of your files on CD. Choose a CD-R (recordable) as opposed to a CD-RW (rewriteable), because CD-R cannot accidentally be overwritten. Depending on your computer operating system, you may be able to continue adding data to a CD-R each year, until the CD is full. However, some operating systems won’t allow that, so you’ll need a new CD for each year.
• Apply your new system to all critical documents. Your new electronic filing system can be expanded to include all your financial records, from car maintenance receipts to pay stubs. Wills and insurance policies can also be scanned and stored but, of course, keep the originals in a safe deposit box or fireproof safe.

• Teal and burnt orange were strong color contenders, closely followed by apple green and bright lemon.
• The neutral grays are morphing into driftwood or raffia tones.
• Botanicals are back, particularly in silhouetted prints of trees, ferns, or gingko leaves. Figurative florals are also key.
• Prevalent patterns included paisleys, cabana stripes, suzanis (a type of embroidered and decorative tribal textile made in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries), toiles, lace, and Florentine tiles.
• Menswear designs inspired leather looks, including a houndstooth pattern on a hair-on-hide.
• Crocodile featured strongly on fashion runways this fall, and it’s back in a very big way for leather suppliers.
• Novelty patterns included folk-art birds, postcards, scientific equations, china plates, round chickens, and hamsa (a palm-shaped design).
• In trims, look for tassels to start appearing again, particularly Deco-inspired designs that step away from the traditional shapes.

• Length: The industry average for a credit card agreement is currently about 5,000 words; the CFPB’s prototype comes in at a substantially reduced 1,100 words.
• Language: The draft credit card agreement has an easy-to-read layout and is written in plain language. It is organized into three simple sections: costs, changes, and additional information.
• Consumer Appeal: The simplified agreement explains the prices, risks, and features of the credit card upfront, as opposed to burying it in fine print.
• Consistency: The prototype establishes standard definitions for legal terms like “card” and “balance transfer” that are contractually necessary but largely uninformative to consumers. These definitions are based on standard industry usage and practices and will be housed online where consumers can readily access them. For consumers who do not have Internet access, the definitions will be available from their issuer in printed form. According to the CFPB, doing this allows for a plain language document that clearly explains to consumers how the credit card works.

• Better food and coffee in the office might help cut back personal spending. Perhaps because of how much they're spending outside the office, American workers would like companies to invest in better food and drinks in the office. One-quarter (25 percent) of Americans wish their company would invest in better vending machine snacks and 22 percent of American workers would like their company to invest in better coffee in the office.
• Employers should focus on the "simple pleasures" to keep employees happy. Although better food and drinks would be a plus, employees most want to see their companies invest in better office equipment (46 percent) and more comfortable office chairs (32 percent) in 2012.
• Corporate discounts do not factor into employees' purchase decisions. Companies looking to attract new candidates shouldn't focus on corporate discounts as a selling point. The majority (82 percent) of employees say corporate discounts matter little or not at all when buying a new product or service.

• Use color creatively. Add warmth and excitement to your life by accessorizing your home with red, yellow and orange, says Duneier. These colors have a stimulating Chi (energy vibration) and have the energy of summer. This invigorates our environment, making us feel more optimistic and energized.
• Bake something. Turn on the oven to fight off the wintery chill. After all, who doesn’t feel better by the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking? Try a variety of ingredients like vanilla or cinnamon and experiment with baking an old family recipe, advises Duneier. Winter provides the perfect opportunity to slow down and reconnect to your home and family through baking.
• Use fragrance to bring the outdoors in. Scented candles can be especially helpful in the winter when we spend so much time indoors. Home fragrance can reconnect us to the natural world through our sense of smell. The scents of flowers, fresh rain, the forest, or ocean air are all essential to our well-being. Choose candles made of soy or bees wax with 100 percent cotton wick to ensure a toxic-free experience.

• 47 percent of HR professionals noticed employees' struggle with their "ability to focus on work."
• 46 percent noticed issues with "overall employee stress."
• 26 percent observed a negative impact on "overall employee productivity."
• 24 percent said money woes are leading to "employee absenteeism and tardiness."
• 20 percent are concerned about "overall employee morale."
• 12 percent noticed a negative impact on "overall employee health."
• 7 percent said "working relationships with other employees" are the least impacted.

1. Don't buy if you can't stay put. Given today’s challenging marketplace, don’t buy a home unless you can commit to staying there for at least a few years. The days of flipping for profit are long gone and you stand to lose money if you sell too soon after buying.
2. Shore up your credit. Securing a mortgage in today’s market requires excellent credit so take the time to clean up your credit report well before you begin looking for a home.
3. Be honest about what you can really afford. The rule of thumb is that you can buy housing that runs about two-and-one-half times your annual salary. But CNNMoney recommends using one of the many calculators available online to get a better handle on how your income, debts, and expenses affect what you can afford.
4. If you can't put down the usual 20 percent, you may still qualify for a loan. There are a variety of public and private lenders who, if you qualify, can provide options in terms of interest rates and down payments.
5. Schools affect home values. Even if children aren’t a part of your life now or in the near future, look at homes in areas supported by a good school system. Good schools are paramount for many homebuyers and have a direct impact on the value of your home.
6. Work with a real estate professional. Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, most new buyers (and many more experienced ones) are better off using a professional agent. Today’s market requires expert guidance through every stage of the home-buying process.
7. Choose carefully between points and rate. When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points - a portion of the interest that you pay at closing - in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for a long time - say three to five years or more - it's usually a better deal to take the points, says CNNMoney. The lower interest rate will save you more in the long run.
8. Get pre-approved. This will help you avoid the emotional rollercoaster of falling in love with houses you can’t afford. Not to be confused with pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history.
9. Make an educated bid. Work with your real estate professional to make the right opening bid. Bids should be based on the sales trend of similar homes in the neighborhood, so review with your agent sales of similar homes in the last three months.
10. Hire a home inspector. In addition to the appraiser your lender hires, you should also hire your own home inspector, preferably an engineer with experience in doing home surveys in the area where you are buying. His or her job will be to point out potential problems that could require costly repairs down the road.

• Stay vigilant and conduct your own "reputation report" from time to time. Search all variations of your name in popular search engines, and evaluate if the results reflect the reputation you'd like to share with the world, including current or future employers, colleagues, friends and family members. Research found that 37 percent of adults rarely or never do this.
• Consider separating your professional and personal profiles. When you are job hunting, applying to school or looking for new insurance or a loan, remember that your online profile can be a determining factor for hiring managers and application reviewers. Be sure to use different email addresses, screen names, referring blogs and websites for each profile, and avoid cross-referencing personal sites. Fifty-seven percent of adults think about taking steps to keep their work and personal profiles private; however, 17 percent of people have inadvertently shared information online that was intended to remain private. Most commonly shared are details about one's personal life (56 percent) and personal photos (38 percent).
• Adjust your privacy settings. Review and use the privacy settings on the Web browsers, social networking sites, and personal blogs you use. Privacy settings help manage who can see your information, how people can search for you, and who can comment, along with giving you the opportunity to block unwanted access. According to the survey, 49 percent of adults do not use privacy settings on social networking sites.
• Think before you share. Think about what you are posting (particularly personal photos and videos), who you are sharing the information with, and how it will impact your reputation. Talk with friends and family about what you do and do not want shared about you, and ask them to remove anything you don't want disclosed. Fourteen percent of people have been negatively impacted by the online activities of others. Of those, 21 percent believe it led to being fired from a job, 16 percent to being refused health care, 16 percent to being turned down for a job they were applying for, and 15 percent to being turned down for a mortgage.
• Be a good digital citizen. The Web has a long memory. Conduct yourself in a civil manner, showing respect for those with whom you engage.

1. Appraisals directly affect your mortgage. Lenders order appraisals to get a stronger understanding of risk relating to the underlying collateral offered in a mortgage. Lenders want to know how much the property could sell for so that they can make sure the loan has the right collateral to back it.
2. Make sure your appraiser is licensed/qualified. Encourage your lender to look for appraisers with the MAI, SRPA or SRA designation and/or those who are members of the Appraisal Institute. Many of today’s financially pinched lenders are utilizing third-party firms to outsource administrative functions, which can result in the hiring of a low-cost appraiser that lacks the proper market knowledge. Make sure your appraiser has field experience in your market. According to the Appraisal Institute, a qualified appraiser knows how to conduct a thorough market analysis and make appropriate adjustments if/when distressed sales are used as comparables.
3. Follow your appraiser. While you may have heard that the appraisal needs to happen independently, the truth is that most appraisers welcome your presence and the detailed information you can provide about your home. Ask your lender for permission to do so, and confirm the appointment. This will also give you an opportunity to ensure that an adequate appraisal is performed. Make sure the appraiser spends a reasonable amount of time assessing the home and takes note of the details.
4. Get a copy of the appraisal report. According to the Appraisal Institute, federal law requires lenders provide consumers with the appraisal report, regardless of whether credit is granted, denied, or the application is withdrawn. A mortgage appraisal should not be used for any other purpose.
5. Know how to review the report. While a professional appraiser is needed to accurately interpret the report, there are some red flags you can keep an eye out for. Common errors in appraisals include: misuse of adjustments to comparables; disregarding special financing and concessions; or miscalculation of gross living area. Ask yourself how your home compares to other properties in your area to help determine if the appraiser’s review is accurate.
6. Appeal the appraisal. Most lenders have appraisal appeal procedures, known as “Reconsiderations of Value.” If you are aware of recent, comparable sales information or items that may not have been available or considered by the appraiser, provide those to your lender.
7. Ask for a second appraisal. If problems were found with the first appraisal, you can and should obtain a second appraisal. Once again, make sure a qualified appraiser is used the second time around.
8. File a complaint. If you have a legitimate beef, file a complaint with the appropriate state appraisal board or professional appraisal organizations. Lenders are required under federal law to report legitimate complaints with appropriate regulatory authorities.

• Pole saws or pruners can help clear away dead or damaged limbs near your home or on your driveway. Make sure you always keep a firm footing on the ground when using such equipment. Do not use a ladder, and stay away from electrical conductors.
• A chain saw can help clear away trees and more massive limbs, but first read and understand the instruction manual and ensure equipment is in good condition. Do not work around power lines, since they can be the biggest threat to safety.
• Power generators can keep the lights on, refrigerators running and water flowing in an emergency. Do not operate power generators, however, in enclosed areas. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can become concentrated in enclosed areas and cause serious injury or death.
• Snow throwers/snow blowers come in handy for significant snow events and are easier than shoveling for those who have medical conditions. Be sure to read your operator's manual and dress warmly to guard against exposure.
• Chippers and shredders help ease the physical hardship of post-storm cleanup. Keep bystanders, pets, and children at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop the machine if anyone enters the area.
• Utility vehicles can be an important piece of equipment to help move branches, haul sandbags or maneuver through areas inaccessible to other vehicles.

• Go bigger. A big game deserves a big screen, especially when watching it with a crowd. The good news is that price drops have been greatest on larger screen sizes.
• Get 1080p resolution. Unlike smaller sets, a TV with a big screen will benefit from "full-HD" 1080p resolution. Viewers will not only be able to see the difference in fine details—say, the textures in players' uniforms or individual blades of grass—they'll also avoid the "screen-door effect" that comes when you sit close to a TV, especially a very big TV.
• Go wide when it comes to viewing angles. While plasma TVs offer virtually unlimited viewing angles, the picture quality of many LCD sets starts to suffer if viewers move off-angle—something to consider for those who will have the gang over to watch the game,
• Don't blur the action. Some LCD TVs can blur during fast-moving scenes, such as those in many sports games. Sets with 120Hz or 240Hz technologies, which speed up the TV's frame rate, can help. Motion blur typically isn't an issue with plasma TVs.

According to a report earlier this month from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Appraisal Subcommittee, which oversees the appraiser regulatory programs established by each state, needs to improve its monitoring procedures. A faulty appraisal process is believed to be hurting home values and hampering a full housing recovery.

The GAO report found the Appraisal Subcommittee’s “enforcement tools and procedures for reporting compliance levels have been limited.” The GAO cited “several weaknesses” that have potentially limited the subcommittee’s ability to monitor state appraiser regulatory agencies, the federal financial institution regulators and the Appraisal Foundation, a private, non-profit corporation that sets criteria for appraisals and appraisers.

Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Appraisal Subcommittee was granted the authority to establish a national hotline to receive complaints over noncompliance with appraisal independence standards and grievances from appraisers, individuals or other entities over attempts to improperly influence appraisers or the appraisal process. Currently, no such hotline exists and the GAO report states that the creation of a national hotline could strain the Appraisal Subcommittee’s resources.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) believes that an effective oversight system needs to be put in place to ensure that appraisals accurately reflect market values. How homes are valued can have a dramatic effect on homeowners’ mortgages, foreclosure rates, the health of banks and, ultimately, the condition of the U.S. financial system, says NAHB.

A recent NAHB survey shows that one out of three builders have lost signed sales contracts because of flawed appraisals and a fall survey conducted by the National Association of REALTORS® shows that 18 percent of REALTORS® reported a recent contract cancellation or delay as a result of a low appraisal.

Numerous flaws in the appraisal system have been causing inaccurate home valuations, both in times of housing weakness and strength, says NAHB. NAHB has been actively seeking improvements in appraiser education and training, particularly for appraisals of new homes, as well as more rigorous oversight so appraisal guidelines are enforced and errors can be corrected as they occur.

• Place feeders near cover to shield songbirds from avian predators, but at least 15 feet away from windows and groundcover that roaming cats can hide in or behind. Most people who feed songbirds aren't in it to set the table for hawks and cats. So give some thought to feeder placement. Wild birds are counting on you!
• Windows can be as deadly to songbirds as predators because birds don't see glass. Therefore, it is important to move feeders away from windows.
• Identify which species you want to attract and then select the feeder and seeds/food you'll use to attract them. The three easiest ways to attract the greatest number of birds involve using cylindrical feeders – filled with black-oil sunflower seeds and/or thistle seeds – suet feeders, and ground feeding with corn, millet and black-oil sunflower seeds. This three-way approach will make just about any yard a food court for birds.
• Although some birds may become dependent on feeders, it likely won't be the only stop on their daily foraging route. Still, if you commit to feeding birds in the winter, it's best not to stop in the middle of the season. Those foods you've begun to provide help balance birds’ intense daily demands for energy to endure frigid winter nights and chilly winds.
• Keep your feeders clean so birds don't risk contracting diseases from contaminated seeds and fungus. The Game Commission recommends first cleaning bird feeders with soap and water followed by a solution that is one part household bleach and nine parts warm water. If you're not seeing sick-looking birds at your feeder, cleaning it once or twice a month is sufficient. Increase the frequency to once a week if trouble shows.
• Whenever you feed songbirds, there's always the potential to lure into your yard – and sometimes your house – critters you'd rather stay away, so keep a careful eye out for unwanted intruders. This includes black bears, deer, raccoons, squirrels and field mice. Black bears had a rough fall – acorn crop failure – and some may be more active this winter than usual. Suet and black-oil sunflower seeds would be very appealing to them. Raccoons also are partial to suet. Deer, on the other hand, can be drawn by shelled corn. So can field mice. Squirrels come to just about everything you offer.

• Run a simple keyword or category search and view a map detailing where the most and fewest opportunities are for their line of work.
• View actual relocation opportunities in different cities.
• Learn what they would need to earn in order to maintain their current standard of living in another city.
• Research homes, property values, mortgage quotes, moving and storage costs.
• Tap into articles and advice on relocating and hiring trends.

• Engineering – 30 percent of employers
• Information Technology – 23 percent
• Business Development – 21 percent
• Sales – 21 percent
• Financial – 16 percent
• Marketing – 13 percent
• Legal – 11 percent

• Made a fresh start – 30 percent
• Made new friends – 31 percent
• Had new experiences we wouldn't have had anywhere else – 29 percent
• Earning at a higher level gave the family more spending options – 27 percent
• Better long-term career opportunities – 22 percent
• Area is nicer and schools are better – 19 percent

• Cost of living is higher – 26 percent
• More stress on the family unit – 24 percent
• Difficult to make new friends – 18 percent
• Feeling homesick – 16 percent

1. Is your property currently on the market? Is it listed with an agent?
2. Is this your primary residence?
3. When was the property purchased?
4. What was the original purchase price?
5. Who holds the mortgage?
6. What kind of loan do you have? (FHA, VA, Conventional)
7. Do you have any other liens against your property?
8. Who is on the title (or deed) for the property?
9. Who is on the mortgage?
10. Do you have mortgage insurance?
11. Are you current with your payments? If not, how far in arrears are you?
12. How much do you owe?
13. Why do you need/want to sell?
14. What caused you or will be causing you to miss your mortgage payment obligation?
15. Do you have funds in accounts that could be used to satisfy the deficiency?
16. Are you currently living in the property? If not, where are you living and is the property being maintained?
17. How soon do you need to move?
18. Are you up to date on your condo or HOA payments (where applicable)?
19. Do you owe any back taxes?
20. Are you considering filing for bankruptcy protection?
21. Are you currently pursuing a loan modification with your lender?
22. Who is occupying the property?
23. Do you hold or are you subject to any type of security clearance related to your job?
24. What are your plans after you sell?
25. Are you looking to receive any money from the sale of your home?
26. How much income are you currently making from all sources?
27. Do you anticipate any income change up or down in the not-too-distant future?

• Gen Y: Only 40 percent are worried about meeting financial obligations. Still, 31 percent of 18-29 year olds say their personal savings and investments were the hardest hit.
• Gen X: Half (50 percent) of 30-39 year olds and 31 percent of 40-49 year olds say they could not go any amount of time between jobs and still pay their bills.
• Baby Boomers: Thirty-seven percent of those nearing retirement age (50-64) say their retirement savings have suffered most.
• Retirees: For those most likely in retirement (65 or older), 41 percent claim their personal savings and investments suffered most. However, they are the least worried about fulfilling their fiscal obligations (38 percent).

• Warm it up. A large room with high ceilings can feel impersonal or unbalanced when furnishings, floor coverings and accessories visually occupy the bottom half of a room, leaving the top bare. Experiment with a ceiling color in a deeper shade. For example, a rich cocoa in a soft sheen, such as eggshell or pearl, will cozy up and balance a large open space.
• Dress it up. Consider experimenting with glazes on your ceiling, including metallic and pearlescent effects. Or try a specialty plaster, which can add texture, color and dimension.
• Open it up. Make a small room or room with a low ceiling feel larger by keeping the color contrast between the walls and ceilings to a minimum. For example, a pale yellow ceiling over wheat-colored walls allows the eye to gently travel upward without the stark demarcation created by a bright white ceiling. For the best effect, choose ceiling colors in a flat sheen, which will absorb light and hide imperfections.

• Be clear and specific. Dissect general resolutions, such as “I want to be more successful,” to come up with the specific steps to reach that goal. For example, define what success means to you: More money? More time to spend with family? More notoriety? This will help clarify the necessary steps for reaching your goal, says Bailey.
• Confront your mental blocks. Ask yourself what blocks and obstacles you will have to overcome to reach your goals, advises Bailey, and take inventory of your own self-limiting beliefs. Uncover the beliefs that have historically blocked you from moving forward and replace these with new, positive thoughts right away.
• Determine where you need improvement. Once you’ve conquered your self-limiting beliefs, figure out which areas of weakness tend to hold you back from reaching your goals: Disorganization? Avoiding people? Lack of consistency? Sometimes our bad habits derail us from reaching our goals, so seek to strengthen such areas, says Bailey.
• Have a timeline and a plan. Declaring a resolution is a great first step but if you don’t put some parameters around it, such as a deadline, chances are high that it might never happen. A plan and a timeline build in necessary accountability to your resolution, Bailey explains. Consider enlisting a colleague, spouse or coach to help in the accountability department.
• Keep the prize in mind. Did you know that most top athletes mentally rehearse and visualize themselves performing at their best? If you're really serious about manifesting what you want this year, take advantage of this important strategy, says Bailey. Picture yourself a year from now having achieved all your resolutions for 2012, ready to take on the challenges of yet another year. This positive mental image will serve as an important motivator throughout the year.

• Don’t obsess over the news. Negative economic news, such as the debt-ceiling debacle and the Eurozone crisis, created substantial market volatility, which plays with our emotions and makes us act impulsively, says Chatzky. Remember, she advises, the market rewards those who stick around for the long-term. A recent study by Fidelity revealed that 401(k) accounts are almost back to pre-recession levels—but only for those who didn’t back down and stop contributing. If the headlines are bad, turn off the TV, says Chatzky, and avoid the temptation to tinker with your portfolio.
• Take control of your finances. While negative news and the financial market are out of our control, we always have control over our own finances, including how much we spend, and more importantly, how much we save. If you haven’t already, says Chatzky, automate your savings and watch your money grow. This is the ultimate sense of control.
• Limit what you borrow for college. Student loan debt will reach $1 trillion for the first time ever and college tuition is soaring faster than inflation, so Chatzky advises college-bound students and their families to be careful about what—and how—they borrow to avoid ending up in a default situation.
• It’s never too late to get on track. Chatzky stresses that it doesn’t matter how old or young you are—if you’ve made financial mistakes this year, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and make a plan that will put you back on track, whether it’s saving $10 a day or finding a better-paying job. Options are always out there for the taking.

• Brighten it up: Counter the cloudy days of winter by making your home stand out. Keep the lights on in the front of the house even if no showings are scheduled. You never know who will be driving by to take a peek.
• Don't overlook a place for shoes: Prospective buyers and guests will likely be schlepping through your home with muddy shoes and boots. Make sure you have a designated spot for wet footwear, like a festive rug or area in the breezeway. You want to ensure that your home stays just as clean for whoever will be touring the home next.
• Keep it fresh: Homes, especially ones not currently being lived in, have a tendency to get stuffy in the winter time. Air out the home on warmer days or have a nice room fragrance available, like a candle or spray. As always, keep pets hidden or away from the main quarters to make sure no additional smells enter the home.
• Keep a steady temperature: Don't cook your prospective buyers. Keep the home at a steady 65 degrees during showings. Those touring will likely not be taking off their jackets, so there's no reason to make them sweat.
• Don't ignore the exterior: Just because it's winter doesn't mean you should neglect the yard. Be sure to keep walkways clear of ice and debris to ensure everyone's safety. Always shovel the driveway and walks promptly after a snowfall or ice storm.

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