Player's for Peace

 Originally Posted  May 29, 2025 Interest Rate Buydowns What is an interest-rate buydown?  It’s a tool to help you qualify for a larger loan and purchase a higher-priced house than you could under normal circumstances. A buydown allows you to pay extra points up front in return for a lower interest rate for the first few years. The good news: the extra points are tax deductible. Often, people relocating for employment obtain buydowns because employers often pay the extra points as part of a relocation package. Buydowns are a financing technique used to reduce the monthly payment for the borrower during the initial years of the loan. Under some buydown plans, a residential developer, builder or the seller will make subsidy payments (in the form of points) to the lender that "buy down," or lower, the effective interest rate paid by the home buyer. State agencies often offer lower rate loans. But to qualify, borrowers usually must be a first-time homebuyer and meet i...

Originally Posted  May 8, 2025   To our Customers and Friends – Let us take this opportunity to say Thank You and wish you All the Best this Mother's Day Weekend Share the Fun Share the Savings Spring Virtual Pampered Chef Party Hosted by your broker and Pampered Chef Consultant, Lauren Howard Join on Table with Name and Email   Springtime is Real Estate selling time.  Longer days, summer vacation coming up, markets settling?  Visiting neighborhoods and performing valuations for customers is the wheelhouse.  If you need to sell, get to the front of the line by replying to this email.  We notice when emails are looked at or the website is visited...the webmaster calls them hand raises.  Analytics are awesome!  But meeting with homeowners, previewing properties, and marketing and selling homes has top priority.     Staying put?  Great!  Shop for some Pampered Chef with us.  Invite friends!  Know any...

  Originally Posted  Apr 30, 2025 Shop Smart at Farmers' Markets l Buy only the amount you can use in a short period of time. l Look for produce that’s free from unusual odors or colors and signs of spoilage. l Handle produce gently to reduce bruising. Bacteria can thrive in the bruised areas. l When buying cut produce, keep it cold during transport. l Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before handling produce. l Wash all fruits and vegetables with cool running tap water right before eating. Don't use dish soap or detergent because the FDA hasn’t approved or labeled these products for use on foods. l Scrub melons with a brush and running water, because bacteria can be transferred from the outside of the melon to the inside by a knife. l Cut away bruised parts before eating. Remove the outer leaves from lettuce and cabbage. l Keep fresh cut produce cold by placing serving containers on ice. Perishable food should spend no more than two...

Originally Posted  Apr 18, 2025 To our Customers and Friends – Let us take this opportunity to say Thank You and wish you All the Best this Holiday Season Happy Easter Egg Cake!!! Follow this link to the recipe: https://www.pamperedchef.com/.../Easter+Egg+Cake/1090513 Small Batter Bowl Item Number: 2432 1-cup Prep Bowl Set Item Number: 1825 Decorating Bag Set Item Number: 100844    

 Originally Posted  Mar 18, 2025 Set the Right Rent The best place to start is by checking your Sunday newspaper for the range of rent prices in your area. In trendy areas, there is a constant demand for rentals. Still, if your property is in such an area, common sense dictates property with repair or maintenance issues won’t demand the same price as a well-maintained property. Amenities like dishwashers, laundry facilities, and parking can affect a renter's decision. Join an apartment owners association to learn of trends affecting rental rates. Many also offer advice on pricing and management issues. When you decide on a price, err on the high side — it’s easier to lower prices than raise them. Offer incentives when the market is soft, like a free month of cable TV.   My $.02 I love my marketing partner because they have good old timey real estate articles I get to share from their library...makes for a good riff.   The best way to find out what p...

Originally Posted  Mar 10, 2025 Outline Your Fitness Plan Many people treat their health like a bingo game—if they hit the numbers, fine. If not, well, that’s the breaks. But you have control over your fitness, and you must outline a program in order to gain maximum benefits. The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports website points to lifelong commitment as key in getting and staying fit. “Exercise must become one of those things that you do without question, like bathing and brushing your teeth,” according to the PCPFS website. The PCPFS defines fitness this way: "The ability to perform daily tasks vigorously and alertly, with energy left over for enjoying leisure-time activities and meeting emergency demands. It is the ability to endure, to bear up, to withstand stress, to carry on in circumstances where an unfit person could not continue, and is a major basis for good health and well-being. “Physical fitness involves the performance of the heart and lungs, and t...

Originally Posted  Feb 19, 2025  Here:  https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/buying-property-in-mexico--take-me-with-you-?ts=blg Buying Property In Mexico Foreigners can’t own Mexican property in the restricted zone (32 miles from high tide and 64 miles from any border) outright. Instead, a real estate trust (fideicomiso) is executed between a Mexican bank and the seller of property in the restricted zone. The bank acts on behalf of the foreign buyer, buying and taking title to the property. The foreign buyer retains all rights of ownership. First, all foreigners are required to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Next, to open your trust account, you’ll need your accepted offer for purchase, a photo ID and 10 percent of the purchase price of your new home. Do not give money to anyone other than a bank escrow representative when you sign a bank contract. Closing usually takes 30-45 days.   My $.02 I had no idea.  If you haven't notice...

Originally Posted  Feb 3, 2025  Here:  https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/mind-maps-sbiff-and-sbcc-by-lauren-howard-re?ts=blg Mind Maps What is a mind map? It’s a tool used to organize thoughts, options, possibilities. The origins are attributed to everyone from Tony Buzan (who wrote The Mind Map Book) to Edward Debono, a world-renowned psychologist and behaviorist. Most importantly, a mind map is a tool to get people thinking outside the box – or in this case, outside the list. So how do we make a mind map? It’s a good idea to start with a large work surface, such as a piece of poster board – that way you’ll have plenty of room to work with. With a mind map, we start from the middle of the page as opposed to the traditional top left-hand corner, which helps us out of the box from the get-go. It also allows you to work out in all directions. This organizational structure actually reflects the way your own brain organizes ideas. Try writing keywords on small y...

  Condo, PUD, Co-op: What's the Difference? Condos: Walls, floors, and ceilings owned by all residents; HOA dues; covenants, conditions, and restrictions; value depends on the desirability of entire development. Originally Posted  Jan 22, 2025 Here: https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/condo-pud-coop-whats-the-difference-pc-too?ts=blg Planned Unit Development (PUD): Individuals own structure and some land. Co-op: Corporation made up of all tenants; larger units have more power in how building is run; fees for taxes, mortgage, repair, improvement; heavy scrutiny of financial, personal history. Townhome: Not a form of ownership, but a term for an attached row house. Advantages of each: Prices often lower than for single-family home; maintenance minimal or nonexistent; safety in “cluster” environment. Disadvantages: HOA dues; CCRs may be complex.   My $.02 I renew again this year!!      I finished my 45 hours of continuing educatio...

  Originally posted Here: https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/happiness-and-prosperity-pampered-chef-party?ts=blg   Jan 2, 2025 May Happiness and Prosperity be yours in the New Year.  I hope to see and speak to all of you in 2025.   I joined Pampered Chef last year shopping for my dear son's wedding gift.  I love selling real estate and Pampered Chef has a wonderful product and awesome sales people.   Shop Now pamperedchef.com/pws/laurenhoward/shop-landing-page   Host a Party pamperedchef.com/pws/laurenhoward/pws-host-a-party   If you have any real estate questions I have answered.  I just finished my 45 hours of continuing education for my California real estate licensing renewal.  I know a lot of stuff.  I don't like to give away my age, but I was giving birth to my son about the time I was studying for my first real estate license.  I love selling homes in Santa Barbara County.  I have set a goal to ...

Originally published  Dec 5, 2024 Here.   https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/healthy-aging?ts=blg Healthy Aging Healthy aging has several key components: Good physical health; possession of basic resources (housing, food); good social network; sense of purpose; and engaging in activities such as volunteering, working, and hobbies or interests. Make a list called 100 Things I Want To Do (before I die…). The list helps to uncover past dreams, wishes and activities or interests they haven't pursued in a while. What if age weren’t a factor? What if you weren’t afraid of seeming foolish? What if you had the resources and energy to make your dreams come true? Movies need older extras. Skydiving can be done at any age with good health. Why not get a college degree now? Forget about what is “expected” of older people, and follow your heart’s desire.   My $0.02 I am a school girl from way back.  This semester I decided to take Interior Design 100 at Santa Barb...

Originally Posted  Nov 8, 2024  Here: https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/capital-gains-exclusions?ts=blg Capital Gains Exclusions Determining your principal residence according to the IRS for tax purposes if you own more than one home can be tricky, but the IRS continues to refine the rules. First of all, principal residence can take many forms: conventional home, condominium, mobile home, house trailer, tenant-stockholder cooperative housing unit—even a boat, as long as it has sleeping, cooking and sanitary facilities (a bathroom).   The difficulties arise when you split your time between two different properties during a year. Simply put, the IRS says that your principal residence is the home you own and use as a residence for “a majority of the time during the year.”   But of course, there are other considerations. For instance: l the location of your property in relation to your place of employment. l the location where your family members reside...

 Originally published  Nov 8, 2024  Here: https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/sellers-guide-september-2024-car?ts=blg The price per square foot stat makes me want to look at building something.  It's got to be cheaper.

  Originally posted  Nov 8, 2024   Here: https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/buyers-guide-september-2024-car?ts=blg There is a lot of equity in the market.  Santa Barbara County home owners are big thinkers or they know how to whip out a calculator.  The numbers are always getting bigger.

  Originally posted  Oct 13, 2024 Here:  https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/i-love-professional-tennis?ts=blg Blog post 10/6/2024 Watching Tennis  I'm watching the replay of Nole's first match at the ATP Shanghai Open. I was fortunate to see him play live once at Indian Wells. I have been taking photos of the TV since then. 🤣 The first set tie break was a symphony of exquisite execution. And that's about how his poor young American opponent must have been feeling, executed.  It's like the Champion gives the guy a fair chance to show off their own prowess, but once he knows their limit it is over. It takes monumental effort for his opponent to win a piont from the point Nole sets his mind to winning every point. You can almost see his foot in the sand moment and the subtle added intensity in his ball bounces. I ❤️Nole #NovakDjokovic #Shanghai2024 #tvpics #thankgoodness for #foggy #Sunday 

  Originally Posted  Sep 23, 2024 Here:  https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/93-days-until-christmasseller-and-buyer-tips?ts=blg I am grateful for the opportunity to work with buyer's and sellers...especially during the  holidays.  Selling during the holidays may bring the opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the Spring when many more homes are on the market for less money.  This allows you to sell high and buy low.

  Originally posted  Sep 20, 2024  Here: https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/car-august-santa-barbara-county-market-stats?ts=blg Get used to the numbers.  Prices, especially at the tip top of the market are skewing way up.

Originally posted  Sep 20, 2024  Here:  https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/car-august-sellers-guide?ts=blg   Sellers are buyers.  It's a good time to sell and take advantage of great move up or down bargains.

  Originally posted  Sep 20, 2024  Here: https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/car-august-buyers-guide?ts=blg The Fed lowered rates!  The market is good and it is going to get better.  Buyer's who might have been on the fence can come on down!

  Home Equity: How to Use It  Originally published  Aug 2, 2024  Here: https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/home-equity-how-to-use-it?ts=blg What’s the difference between a second mortgage and a home-equity loan? What is a home-equity loan, and is it different from a home equity line of credit? And is a mortgage refinance similar to the above, or a different animal altogether? Let's take a look at all the various ways you can use your home equity – without fear of losing your home or getting taken for a ride. First of all, a second mortgage and home equity loan are basically the same thing. These terms refer to money that is borrowed against the value of your house. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that these loans are liens against your property – in other words, if you default on the loan, the lender then owns your home. You forfeit your house to pay what you owe, so it’s not like a credit card payment that you can skip when things get tight...

  Home Inspections  Originally published  Aug 2, 2024 Here:  https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/home-inspections?ts=blg Atop the long list of items to do when buying or selling a house is the home inspection. But what is involved? How much does it cost? Why is it done in the first place? It’s important to understand what a home inspection entails and how it affects the sale of your home or the purchase of a new one. The more you know, the less likely you are to get ripped off or taken by surprise.   What is a Home Inspection? First of all, let’s clear up a commonly misunderstood point: a home inspection is not the same as an appraisal. An appraisal is an estimate of a property’s overall market value. A home inspection is much more detailed and practical. It is also not a code inspection and therefore does not report on building code compliance or give a “passing” or “failing” grade. It is defined as an objective visual examination of the structur...

  Leasing with the Option to Buy  originally posted  Aug 2, 2024 Here:  https://www.homessantabarbaracounty.com/blog/leasing-with-the-option-to-buy?ts=blg  Of all the many ways of selling and buying real estate, leasing with an option to buy is one of the most creative home finance alternatives if you have bad or no credit. Tenants who want to buy but are not currently in a position to buy use it to lock in a price against future appreciation. It is also a tool used by owners and property managers to attract good tenants. And it is used by owners with property that, for whatever reason, is not renting or selling at the price they want. Leasing with an option to buy is exactly what it sounds like – a renting tenant signs an agreement with a landlord stating that the tenant can buy the property at the end of a prearranged time period. The owner is obligated to sell at the option price, but the tenant is not obligated to buy. But when a lease-purchase exercised...