1 Happy Wanderer: John W's Sermon
View of lake Michigan. View of lake Michigan From the vineyards … Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House. Emeril\ Approaching the Feast …. Duffy House stained glass. Duffy House stained glass. Arthur and I worked on Duffy House together …  read more…

Of Great Lakes, Oceans, Barack, Satchmo and Tiger « SawyerSpeaks
Lake Michigan’s water level is down four feet since 1997, retreating from the homes along its shores in a perpetual low tide caused apparently by us. Wooden docks stretch dozens of yards across newly exposed sand like capital Ts chasing …  read more…

Lisa's Photography INFO Blog: 2009 NANPA Fall Regional Event
Hike the trails that wind in and around this community of historic farmsteads offering beautiful overlooks of Lake Michigan, passing old barns, farmhouses, milk houses and sugar shacks. Past and present influences of man and nature, …  read more…

From Google Blog Search

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan: A Different World
An official welcome to the UP and a hearty hello from all of the Yupers. Go to Paradise, twice. Paradise is at the junction of M123 and the road which goes to Whitefish Point, the Graveyard of the Gre…  read more…

Chicago is an Exciting Family Destination
Chicago is one of the best family vacation destinations in America. The “Windy City” or “Chi-Town” as Chicago is sometimes referred to has everything a famil…  read more…

Michigan Weddings Suit Every Taste and Budget
Having a fairytale wedding is every bride’s dream, and Michigan weddings are certainly an easy way to fulfill bridal fantasies. With destination weddings becoming increasingly popular, the thought of…  read more…

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Voting Question: How do you fix a broken watch?
okay my grandmas watch was very special to me, and i wore it everyday in her memory. But one day, I went swimming in Lake Michigan and forgot to take it off. I would have put it in dry rice to take the water out, but we were an hour away from our house. I don’t have the kind of money to bring it to the shop and fix it. Is there an easy, do it a home kind of way to make it work again?

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Resolved Question: iam looking for a vaction house in michigan?
iam looking for a vaction house,on the shoreline of one of the great lakes ,can acomodate up to 10 people ,with outdoor hot tub and right on beach if anyone has any info please leave a comment

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Resolved Question: what do you like to do, do you have any hobbies?
so i am sitting by myself in a empty house….bored….and i just realized i dont have any hobbies or interests…nothing to occupy my time. i work, and i have projects around the house, but most of them are done so i no longer have those home projects to keep me busy. i like to go out for coffee, i like to sit on the swing outside and read the ppapr, i like to walk along lake michigan with my feet in the water, i like to go to farmers markets and buy unique hand made soaps, breads and cheese…..i like hanging out with other people, but not very often, and not for more than a hour or two….i just miss my wife and children.

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 poobah:

sharpless:kierstensmith:

Chicago,IL/Lake Michigan Place four.

I just need to go somewhere new. And I miss my brother. We rode our bikes all around the city that summer, eating icecream and listening to early Avril Lavigne.

This is where I want to be. I desperately want to live in Chicago.

••••• Well kiddo… come on down… Billy has TWO houses he can sell you!! —BP

PS> Nice Shot
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 Obama’s neighborhood
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 Obama’s neighborhood
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 New blog post: Foreclosures in your neighborhood? http://bit.ly/1oOE7P
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FHA has allowed streamline refis on insured mortgages since the early 1980’s. The “streamline” relates simply to the total of documentation and underwriting that asks to be executed by the loaner, and does not mean that there are no tolls required in the transaction. The standard necessities of a streamline refinance are:

The mortgage to be refi must already be FHA insured.

The house loan to be refinanced should be current (not delinquent).

The home refinance is to result in a lowering of the borrower’s monthly principal and interest payments.

No cash may be made out on home mortgage refinanced using the streamline refi action.

Lenders may offer streamline refinances in several ways. Some loaners provide “no cost” home refinance (actually, no out-of-pocket expenses to the borrower) by charging a higher rate of interest on the new loan than if the borrower financed or paid the closing costs in cash. From this premium, the lender pays any closing costs that are incurred on the home refinance.

Lenders may extend streamline home refinances and take on the closing costs into the new mortgage amount. This can simply be complete if there is enough equity in the prop, as determined by an appraisal. Streamline refi can also be done without estimates, but the new loan amount cannot pass the primary loan sum. Investment holdings (properties in which the borrower does not lodge in in as his or her key residence) may only be refinances without an appraisal.

When you want to get an FHA loan on, yet make sure that you’re working with someone who knows the FHA streamline market and is easy to work with.

Technorati Tags: fha, fha streamline refinance, finances, home loan, money, mortgage, Real Estate, refinance

The attic is one of the main areas that the home inspector will examine. While inspecting the attic there are five parts of the attic that the home inspector will evaluate.

1. Access To Attic – The home inspector will document where the access to the attic is located. In addition, the home inspector will document the condition of the attic door or access panel. If an attic ladder is present, the home inspector will document if it rests squarely on the floor and is safe to climb on.

2. Insulation – Inside the attic the home inspector will document the kind of insulation present and the approximate depth of the insulation. Insulation comes in various forms, the two most popular being roll fiberglass or blown insulation. The home inspector will also determine if the insulation is relatively even or if bare spots exist. Covered attic areas will be documented as not visible.

3. Ventilation – Attics should have a minimum of two ventilation sources. Ventilation sources include soffit vents, gable vents, ridge vents, and roof vents. Here is a description of each vent type.

The vent areas under the eaves are called soffit vents. The home inspector will be looking to see if daylight is visible from the soffit vents. It is recommended that baffles be installed to maintain the air space and keep the insulation from blocking the vent.

Gable vents are found below the corners made by a gable roof. Gable vents are slated vents with a screen backing that helps keep birds and bats out of the attic.

Ridge vents are placed along the peak of the roof above the ridge beam. These are normally seen along hip roofs.

Roof vents or fans are put in the roof sheathing in holes cut between the rafters. These vents are often installed on the rear of the house for cosmetic purposes.

The two vent sources ought to be from two opposite origins. For instance, gable roofs have both gable and soffit vents. Where hip roofs will have ridge and soffit vents. Elaborate roof formations will possess multiple vent opening.

4. Structure – The home inspector will examine the framing and roof sheathing to be sure they are installed correctly with not broken, cut or missing boards or braces.

5. Leaks – The home inspector will examine all the valleys and roof penetrations for signs of roof leaks like staining, wet wood, etc.

The home inspector doesn’t have to inspect any attic spaces where the head room is less than three feet high. The home inspector doesn’t have to inspect any attic spaces where hazardous material is present like mold.

Technorati Tags: finance, home, house, inspection, land, property, Real Estate

Tax time of year is perpetually around the corner, and homeowners everywhere will reap the profits of taxation breaks and incentives. If you’re currently renting, consider the tax rewards of homeownership. Today may be the time to buy. If you’re an owner or seller, new bonuses will help you exist this difficult housing marketplace. Know what expenses you can deduct and realize how new laws impact you. Remember to consult your tax advisor.

Subtract the interest you pay on your home loan on your tax return. That means the mortgage interest tax deduction reduces your tax financial obligation. And because your mortgage payments for the start few years are almost totally comprised of interest, they are almost entirely tax deductible.

Take advantage of homeowners’ largest tax break. Subtract property taxes and points you paid to more lowset your loan’s interest rate. The IRS offsets the expense of your state/ localized prop taxes by letting you to take off them from your itemized income tax return. And you get a tax gain if you paid for discount points to shorten your mortgage interest rate.

Home betterments you make make tax profits too. Take advantage of new laws in a difficult market. New homebuyers can make an $8,000 tax credit, short sellers won’t be punished for forgiven mortgage debt, and householders can contend their property taxes in a slumping market.

See how you can gain in 2009. Call For a prop tax reassessment if your home’s market rate has slumped. You don’t need to pay for a specific service to have your local tax assessor line up your prop taxes. If your prop value is significantly lower now than when you purchased it, show proof of your home’s online market value and recent duplicate sales in your vicinity and do it yourself to get your taxes lowered.

Lower your property taxes immediately. Search past and proposed assessments that may implement to your house. Understanding prop taxes and appraisals will give you a closer picture of the price of homeownership and help you predict and control your monthly expenses.

Taxes and appraisals that impact your bottom line. Get a reliable estimate of your property tax bill. If you’re purchasing a home, don’t rely on the tax information in the property listing. Depending on the circumstances of the sales event, your tax charge can differ from the previous owner’s bill.

How prop tax is determined. Enclose your property taxes into your monthly mortgage payment If paying one big tax bill once or twice a year seems disheartening, consider getting an escrow account. Also called an impound account, it protects the lender and provides convenience for the homeowner.

Realize if escrow is good for you. Understand how capital profits tax is measured. When you sell your home, you’re taxed on any profits over $250,000 if you are 1, $500,000 if married. But accounting your gains isn’t as simple as “price you sold it for” minus “price you paid for it.” The IRS takes into account the money you put into improving the home as well. So remember to save receipts for any fixes, upkeep and upgrades.

Take free from capital gains tax. Know how your tax situation changes with every real estate move you make. Whether you’re buying a home, refinancing or renting out an investment property, understand how you’ll be affected tax-wise.

You’ll be getting more taxes under these scenarios. Learn if homeownership lowers your tax liability. Your tax situation varies depending on your point in life. Analyze your payroll withholding taxes and reduce them to report for the decrease in net tax financial obligation. That means more money in your pocket every pay point.

Technorati Tags: finances, Real Estate, real estate tax, tax liability, taxes

In a down real estate market, finding foreclosed homes is easy. To make your search easier, here is the list of the places where you can find foreclosures.

Auction Houses

Auction companies hold a inventory of properties, sometimes selling as much as 100 homes or more in just a single day. The bidding is relatively quick and houses can be sold in a matter of seconds, prices of real estate can go over the board but you can find really good properties in their inventory.

Major Bank Web sites

Most major banks maintain a list of foreclosed properties that they now own. Visit bank web sites and check out the foreclosed properties listing. More often then not this is a great method to find good solid investment property…just be warned…banks take FOREVER to move on a sale if your offering below what they feels is “Fair market value”.

Online foreclosure companies

A few companies online that specialize in selling foreclosed homes.The good thing about signing up on web-based foreclosure companies is that once you are in, you can get a wide selection of foreclosure properties available nationwide.

Buyers agents/Real Estate Agents

These agents are either maintaining personal web sites or are under real estate companies that sell foreclosed properties. You can search them online or browse through yellow page listings. Major cities have real estate offices where you can inquire into possibility of acquiring foreclosures.

Real Estate Signs

You don’t need to look anywhere else because you can find foreclosure signs around your neighborhood.These signs contain address and contact information of the agents you can visit or call. The best thing about considering homes with real estate signs is that you can actually check the condition of the house on-site. And with one phone call, you can arrange with the agent the date when you want to see the interior of the house.

Government Agencies

Department of the Treasury and other government agencies have a list of real estate properties for sale. Usually, when buying a house from these agencies, you are required to acquire the services of a real estate broker or personally submit an offer. Go to any of the government agencies web sites for more information.

Technorati Tags: forclosures, Foreclosed real estate, foreclosure, foreclosures investing, Investing, investments, real estat, Real Estate, Real Estate investing, real estate investments, real estate investor, real estate investors, REO