Moving Can Be So Stressful! Here's Help On How To Manage.

Keep Moving Stresses at Bay by Carla Hill

"Moving is frequently cited as being one of life's most stressful events and it's really no wonder why. It involves a massive change of routine, takes physical labor, and of course, is one of life's largest financial decisions.

These can all weigh heavily on the mind and body. What are some ways that you can deal with this momentous occasion and the stresses it brings? Here are a few simple ways you can deal with the weight of a move.

First, create a support team. This could include friends, family, a significant other, or even a counselor. Don't bottle up your emotions and concerns. Express them before they become pent-up frustration. A good support team can also serve as an excellent sounding board. Offering support is just part of the equation. It's great to have someone that can talk you down or act as a voice of reason.

The next step is to take breaks. It does no good to obsess 24/7 about every last detail. Set aside time each day to discuss and plan your move. Use the rest of your time for normal daily activities. Play with the kids, watch a movie, walk the dog, or go out to eat. The world does not quit turning during a move.

Proper diet and exercise are crucial to helping your body deal with stress. Sometimes we forget that our bodies are machines that require good fuel and servicing to run efficiently. The better we take care of our bodies the better equipped we are to deal with stresses.

There are great exercise routines for all fitness types. If you are new to working out then consider adding in a daily walk. Swimming is also an ideal beginner activity. For those more "fit" buyers, you could join an aerobics class, go for daily jobs, or add in a weight-lifting routine to your current workout.

When the weather permits, exercise outdoors. The fresh air and sounds of nature can be soothing to tired nerves.

Simple yoga and meditation can also do a body wonders. Yoga is about connecting the mind, body, and spirit. If you don't have the time or money to join a class then consider purchasing a yoga DVD. Even simple practices can do wonders for reducing stress.

Finally, don't rush yourself into a new "identity". The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says that moving to a new community is "one of the most stress-producing events a family faces." Moving can mean big changes in friends, groups, clubs, schools, and neighborhoods. We identify strongly with these. Give yourself time to adjust and to fall into new roles.

Yes, moving is a stressful time, but by taking the proper steps you can greatly reduce the amount of stress this event brings.

Published: August 30, 2012"

Mortgage rates Oct. 2012!

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Mortgage rates remain near record lows

By Les Christie @CNNMoney October 18, 2012: 1:48 PM ET

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Rates on the average 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage hit a new low this week, falling to 2.66%, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

The 15-year is particularly popular with homeowners who want to refinance their old mortgages to a lower rate and pay off their loan more quickly.

Interest rates on 30-year loans, which are popular among first-time homebuyers, averaged 3.37%, a single tick above the record low of 3.36% set two weeks earlier.

Economists: Housing recovery finally here

Rates have inched down about 0.2 percentage points since the Federal Reserve announced plans in September to buy as much as $40 billion a month of mortgage-backed securities until the economic recovery started gaining momentum.

That may be happening already, according to Keith Gumbinger, of mortgage information company HSH.com.

"If the economy continues to show signs of improvement this fall, mortgage rates could firm a little more," he said. "For that to occur though, we'll need a lot more evidence that forward momentum is building."

Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist, said rates remained unchanged this week as "home construction builds up steam."

He noted that construction on single-family homes continues to rise, as does homebuilder confidence, both of which point to an improving housing market. 

Why You Need Renters Insurance

Your stuff isn't protected by your landlord's policy, so make sure you have the coverage you need.

By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com

October 11, 2011

Just because you're renting your apartment or home doesn't mean you're off the hook when it comes to insurance. Your landlord's property insurance policy will cover the building if disaster strikes, but it won't cover your belongings. That's why you need renters insurance.

This affordable insurance -- a policy costs less than $200 a year, on average -- covers renters against losses from fire or smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorm and water damage (not including floods), according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). If your home is damaged by a covered event and you have to live somewhere else, most policies will reimburse you the difference between your additional living expenses and normal living expenses. Plus, renters insurance helps cover legal costs if you're taken to court because someone is injured at your home.

If you don't have a policy -- 57% of renters don't -- here's a checklist from III to help you choose the right coverage:

Figure out how much coverage you need for your possessions. Create a home inventory to determine the value of all of your belongings (furniture, electronics, clothing, jewelry, etc.). A replacement-cost policy will pay to replace your possessions (up to the policy's dollar limit), whereas a cash-value policy will pay only what the items are worth when stolen or damaged. Expect to pay about 10% more for replacement-cost coverage. If you have expensive jewelry, collectibles or art, consider adding a floater to your policy to provide more coverage. Standard policies offer only a limited amount of coverage for these items. You'll need receipts or appraisals for items to be covered by the floater.

Understand the deductible. The deductible is the amount you'll pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. The larger the deductible, the lower your premium. So if you can afford a $1,000 deductible, you'll cut your premium by as much as 25%, according to III. But considering how inexpensive renters insurance is, the savings might not be worth the large amount you'll have to fork over to pay a high deductible.

Know what disasters are covered. Although losses from fires, lightning, windstorms, theft, vandalism, explosions and certain types of water damage are covered, standard policies don't cover floods or earthquakes. You can get flood insurance through the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program, and check with your insurer about getting separate earthquake policy.

Make sure you get enough liability coverage. Most policies provide at least $100,000 of liability coverage (if someone sues you) and about $1,000 to $5,000 worth of medical payments coverage (which allows someone who gets hurt on your property to submit medical bills to your insurance company). If you need more than $300,000 worth of liability coverage, consider getting an umbrella policy for an additional $150 to $300 a year for $1 million worth of coverage (see Why You Need an Umbrella Policy).

Be aware of limits on living-expense reimbursements. Although most policies will help renters pay for living expenses if they have to live elsewhere as a result of property damage, insurers will either limit the amount of time they'll provide coverage or place a cap on the amount that they'll pay.

Ask about discounts. Many insurance companies offer a variety of discounts. For example, you might have to pay less if you have a security system, smoke detectors and deadbolt locks. Insurers also offer discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them, have good credit or are 55 or older. So be sure to ask about ways to lower your premium.
You can compare costs for different policies at Web sites such as NetQuote.com and InsWeb.com. If you have a roommate, ask whether the insurer will allow you to purchase a single policy for both of you (then you can split the cost).

Read more: http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/kiptips/archives/why-you-need-renters-insurance.html#ixzz1bEdbdCaR
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With Apartment Rents Rising, Will You Turn to Buying?

There are many opinions about the real estate industry and some inquire whether now is a good time to buy. The bottom line is everyone needs a place to live, renting or owning. And if renting becomes just as costly as buying, without some of the financial benefits, the question then becomes will you turn to buying?

According to the Real Estate Economy Watch, the rate of rent growth is significantly higher so far this year than it was this time in 2010. It is currently at a 5.17 annualized rate compared to 4.72 percent at this time last year. And, assuming effective rent grows at the same rate in the next four months as it did in 2010, the full-year total would fall just below the historic highs of 2000 (6.18 percent) and 2005 (5.81 percent)[1]. Although effective rents have increased 9.96 overall since December 2009, the past 20 months have shown effective rents differ by property class. Class A properties have increased 11.54 percent, Class B properties have increased 10.44 percent and Class C properties have increased only 6.74. Some of the top markets for annual effective rent growth are in Northern California, Texas, Colorado.

But as we questioned in our Home Sales Jump, But What Does that Mean for Real Estate Market article recently, home buyers are still struggling against a very tight credit market. So while only 23 percent of renters living in single family homes-where more than half the nation’s renters live today–believe that renting makes more sense than buying a home[2], the difficulty of getting financing will hold the other 77 percent back. According to the Real Estate Economy Watch, seventy-three percent of single-family renters say it would be difficult for them to get a home mortgage, with 33 percent citing their credit history as the biggest obstacle to getting financing.

“Survey data make clear the relationship between home purchase demand and concerns about the stability of employment. Dissatisfaction about the direction of the economy and related employment fears are damping demand to buy homes and slowing the recovery. People who believe owning is a better deal than renting are nonetheless planning to rent, at least until things improve it would seem,” said Doug Duncan, vice president and chief economist of Fannie Mae.

It appears that the debate whether to rent or buy is still a heated one and its now become much more than the traditional To Buy or Not To Buy type questions. So we will ask you, will you turn to buying with the increase in rental pricing?

October 17th, 2011 by Gillian Luce (Homes.com)

Homeowners Insurance and Your Credit Score

Homeowners insurance is a requirement for almost any home purchase these days. Mortgage lenders want to protect their investment as much as the home buyer does. And just as lenders determine your loan interest rate and terms largely on your credit score, insurance companies also use your score to determine how much to charge you for premiums.

What is a Credit Score?

A credit score is a measurement of your ability to responsibly deal with borrowed money. The most commonly used type of score is the FICO or Fair Isaac and Company score. This is based on five factors: your history of timely or untimely payments, the total of your current credit balances, how long you have had credit accounts, if you have opened any new credit accounts recently, and what types of credit you use.

How do Insurance Companies Use My Score?

It’s all about risk management. Homeowner’s insurance companies are in the business of risk. They try to estimate how many claims their customers will file each year on average and then charge premiums that are sufficient to cover at least that amount of liability. Studies have shown however, that those with lower credit scores (typically those who are less financially responsible) are much more likely to file an insurance claim. These are riskier clients to insure. So insurance companies develop their own rating numbers for customers based on their credit scores and those with high scores are offered the best rates and terms while those with lower scores can expect to pay more.

How do I Get the Best Rates and Terms on My Insurance?

Start by asking the insurance company what kind of scoring system they use. Ask if you qualify for the best rates and terms and if not, find out what you can do to qualify. Typically, anything that improves your credit score will also improve your insurance costs. This includes things like making all your payments on time and lowering or maintaining low balances on your credit cards.
And even as you work to better your score, try asking several different insurers for rate quotes. Each company will use slightly different factors to determine your price, so shopping around can insure that you find the best available price no matter what your credit score.


Additional Resources:
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