Financial Gifts for 1st Time Home Buyers

Can I use a financial gift from a friend or relative as a down payment when buying a home? Yes. In fact, 1 out of 4 first-time homebuyers uses a gift to make the down payment. Tax law allows gifts of up to $14,000 a year without tax consequences to the giver or recipient. (The amount is adjusted annually so check IRS.gov publication 950 for the current figure.) You could get a gift from two parents or two friends (for $28,000) without the givers paying a gift tax. Using a gift for a down payment helps you buy a home even if it’s not Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-approved. The best advice is to contact a knowledgeable REALTOR® and discuss this subject before you start looking. Gifting a down payment will make a difference that will last a lifetime. There is no better investment than owning the house you live in. For any question or to get details on gifting money for a down payment please call John Porter with Mortgage Master at 206-954-8736 or email him at john@mortgagemasterwa.com

Easy Ways to Add Curb Appeal

The first impression of your house is from the street. If you want to sell or just add some new style, try these ideas: Focus on your front door with a new color, updated light fixtures and easy-to-read house numbers. For more charm, add window flower boxes or shutters around the windows. Learn to build a window box on YouTube.com. Clean out the clutter, and trim the overgrown bushes and trees (this also makes your home safer). For quick color, add container gardens. You can buy them pre-planted. Add lighting accents to trees or to illuminate the pathway (another safety feature). You can go solar to eliminate wires. Pressure-wash the exterior. If it doesn’t look better, consider new paint or siding. Don’t forget the garage door. Repair it, paint it or replace it to make your house look like new.

Effective Email

Estimates are that 269 billion emails are sent every day worldwide, many by professionals in a working environment. While you may know proper email etiquette, follow these tips to make sure your business emails aren’t deleted.  Use a concise, compelling subject line. “More information” and “new program” only ask the recipient to say “about what?” Better to say “Action Items On Project XYZ.” Say “urgent” if necessary.  Don’t use long lists of email addresses if the subject only pertains to some of them. Type the relevant addresses into the address line ("To" line) and use the BCC line for the others.  Keep your message to the point. Say why you’re writing within the first two lines and try to limit yourself to one topic. Using bullet points helps you organize your thoughts. Re-read or print your email out (if you have time) before you send it.  Be careful with humor and irony. Emails aren’t good at conveying emotions, and humor, inside jokes or over-used phrases don’t really build a dynamic business relationship. Avoid phrases like “can I pick your brain” (what are you offering in return?); or “please advise” (better to say “can we discuss this further?”).  Respect confidentiality. Should everyone read this?  As a recipient, do not “reply all” unless everyone needs to know. You know this but people still do it, sometimes accidentally.  Respond promptly. Don’t leave people hanging. Include your signature and phone number for follow-up.

Spring is for Selling

Spring is almost here and expectations are for a booming housing market with tons of pent-up demand from buyers. Sellers always gear up for spring so their homes and landscaping show well and buyers are able to go look at homes in the evening. Home prices have risen 12.6% and now average $490K area wide and average $724K in King County. Condo prices also increased but at a more sustainable rate up 6.2% and now average $380K area wide and $430K in King County. There are fewer home listings at any point in the last 5 years. We are one of the nation’s hottest housing markets!

Things To Keep In Your Car

 Your owner’s manual. Become familiar with it.  A functional spare tire (if your car is equipped with one) and tire-changing equipment.  A First Aid kit, flashlight and batteries, jumper cables, multi-purpose utility tool, cable ties, emergency whistle and duct tape. You can buy these separately or purchase an AAA Road Assistance Kit from Amazon.com for $25-$60.  A charger for your mobile phone.  Road flares, tire chains, gloves to put on the chains.  Fire extinguisher. Buy one specifically made for cars at a store like Home Depot or AutoZone.  Blankets and bottled water.  Emergency cash in small bills ($50).  A tire gauge.  Foam tire sealant. Check out: www.fixaflat.com

Composting 101

According to recent reports, almost 30-40% of the food supply is wasted, which is more than 20 pounds per person each month. Composting waste from your kitchen and yard is good way to help reduce this waste—and your garden plants will thank you. • Choose an outside compost container. Buy a plastic, metal, or wooden container for your yard (about 80 gallons is good). Check Lowes (Lowes.com) or Home Depot (HomeDepot.com) for options. • Collect kitchen scraps. Use a small, lidded container to collect organic matter such as eggshells, coffee grounds, leftover vegetables, and fruit peels as you prepare food. You’ll need to empty this frequently into the outside container. Additionally, twigs, dead leaves, paper plates, and torn-up newspaper can be added into the compost bin. • Turn the compost material. Mix it up a few times a month with a pitchfork or shovel to keep moisture and oxygen circulating. Keep it damp but not soggy (you shouldn’t see pools of water). In a few months, expect your compost to produce a healthy, dark soil, which can then be used for plants in your yard. Spring is right around the corner!

EASY Memory Boosters!

Have you misplaced your keys again? If you’re like most people, it’s an occasional annoyance. But if it’s happening more frequently than you’d like to admit, maybe it’s time for some memory boosters to help strengthen your mind. Here are five easy tips to improve your memory power: 1. Keep Items Where You’ll Need Them. Keep your keys by the front door; eye glasses in the same place everyday, and wallet/purse in the same location. 2. Keep A Notebook With A Calendar. Keep names, phone numbers, important dates, medical information, to do lists, and a notepad. Carry it with you (or carry a small notepad), so you can jot down information as needed. 3. Minimize Distractions. Focus on one thing at a time. Turn off the TV or radio when you need to focus your attention on a task. 4. Exercise Your Mind. Read, do crossword puzzles, play cards, chess, or a musical instrument to keep your mind active. Watch television shows like Jeopardy. 5. Take Care Of Your Body. Go for a walk, swim, or bicycle. It’ll clear your mind. And remember to eat a balanced diet and get enough rest!

How To Find More Free Time

Where does the time go? Even if you work a normal schedule and get a full night’s sleep, you still have about 50 free hours during the week – but most people say they still can’t find free time for hobbies and passions. Take these steps to find more time for YOU this fall: 1. Map your current time use. First track how you use your time. Keep a log for a week or two to get a good representation of how you spend your time now. Try the app Chronos for Android and iPhone for an easy-to-use and comprehensive time log. 2. Create a list of things you really want to do. Try to come up with a list of 50-75 things. Make some of them easy one-day things (visit a museum) that you can quickly accomplish and others things you tend to put off (practicing guitar). 3. Cut out unnecessary time-wasters and replace with something from your list. Cut out the time spent watching TV, surfing the internet, or attending too many functions. Start a new schedule and prioritize things that make you happy instead of time-wasters.

Friends—The Key To A Longer Life

According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, men who have lots of friends, social contacts, and relatives live longer, more satisfying lives. In a study of 28,000 men in their early 40s to late 70s, researchers found that men who were socially isolated loners were 20 percent more likely to die prematurely. The socially isolated group also was 53 percent more likely to die from heart related diseases and stroke. Unmarried men included in the study had markedly higher death rates than married men with a strong family support system did. It appears that making friends and nurturing social relationships not only will make you healthier, but it could make you a lot happier too!

Stickman Leather

Shawn Bettinger has been hand crafting high quality leather goods since 1995. Each item is designed, cut, and sewn in his Renton studio utilizing the finest #1 grade American leather. They offer a wide selection of bags, belts, cases, backpacks and totes. It feels so good to support our local artisans! shawn@stickmanleather.com / www.stickmanleather.com

Suncadia Resort - Winter 2021

Located just 90 miles from Seattle near Cle Elum and Roslyn is Suncadia a true four-season resort. The winter months are less crowed and much less expensive than summer. Covid restrictions are in place to make sure you can stay safe. We need as many opportunities as possible to get outside and winter makes it really tough. I hope you are able to get up and enjoy a nice sunny day soon! • Cross-country ski rentals with miles of groomed trails • Snowshoe rentals and optional guided tours • Rope tow tubing hill course with jumps • Ice-skating rink with skate rentals available • Axe throwing – Safe for the whole family • Winter fly fishing drift boat guided tours • Snowmobile rentals and optional guided tours

Home Soundproofing Tips

From loud electronics and kitchen equipment to noisy neighbors and street sounds, an otherwise serene home can easily become an unpleasant cacophony of disturbances. Keep the peace with a few simple soundproofing tips. • Install interior doors that aren’t hollow. Particleboard-core, composite-core, or solid-wood doors are all better options. • Add sound-dampening throw rugs and fill bookshelves in the most voluminous rooms. • Maintain appliances or invest in quieter ones when it’s time for replacements. • Keep external noise to a minimum by closing the garage door, installing triple-pane glass, and using curtains made from tightly woven fabric. • Add insulation to thin walls and ceilings. • Tighten squeaky floorboards. • Avoid inexpensive or poorly designed speaker systems.

Donating Clothes And Accessories

Is it time for a wardrobe facelift? Before hauling your old clothes away to the same secondhand store or tossing them in the trash, consider these options. Blue jeans: Old blue jeans donated through bluejeansgogreen.org will be turned into insulation in communities that need it most. Shoes: Both soles4souls.org and oneworldrunning.com accept gently worn shoes to donate to people in need around the world. Wedding and formal dresses: Most people only wear formal clothing a few times, so if your wedding dress or formal gowns are still in great condition, pass them on! Soon-to-be-military brides are on the receiving end at bridesacrossamerica.com, and Project G.L.A.M. (wgirls.org) provides teenage girls with prom dresses. Eyeglasses: If you’ve updated your prescription lately, donate old frames and lenses to new-eyes.org, where they’ll be passed on to someone who can’t afford new eyeglasses.

New Year Workout Tip

One of the best ways to stay fit is to have at least one athletic hobby: walking, swimming, bowling, tennis, golf, skiing, bicycling or even dancing. If you enjoy what you’re doing, you’ll stick with it. Second, a workout partner can make the time go by more quickly, and you can have fun at the same time. Whether it’s a family member, friend or co-worker, a workout partner will encourage you on the days you may want to slide. Third, hire a trainer if you have trouble maintaining an exercise program. A trainer can guide you through a program that works for you. Remember to vary your workouts. This prevents overworking certain muscle groups, and it will keep you motivated.

Fitness Fictions That May Surprise You

The New Year has passed and you probably made resolutions to work out more often or lose weight. The fitness world is full of myths about diet and exercise. To get off to a good start, join a gym or hire a fitness coach. Here are five fitness myths and the facts you should know so you can choose the fitness regimen that’s right for you. Fiction: No pain; no gain. Fact: While you may feel sore a day or two after working out, you shouldn’t feel real pain. If something hurts, stop and rest. If the pain persists, don’t work through it. Talk to your doctor instead. Fiction: Lifting weights will bulk you up. Fact: Weight training forces your muscles to work 10 to 20 times more than cardio. But bulking up comes from high calorie intake. You can tone your muscles by combining weight training with a moderate diet. Fiction: If you work out every day, you can eat anything you want. Fact: If only it were true! To burn fat, you need to expend more calories than your body uses. While personal metabolisms vary, the answer is to eat a balanced diet – including on rest days – to fuel your body, and to exercise regularly to feel better physically, mentally and emotionally. Fiction: You’ll lose weight if you exercise and eat a low-carb diet. Fact: Carbs are essential if you want to do strength training, cardio or almost any sport. Without them, you won’t perform as well or recover as effectively between training sessions. Fiction: You can spot reduce one area of your body. Fact: Working out can reduce overall body fat, but you can’t control where that fat comes from. What does work is to burn as much fuel as you can with a good overall exercise program and a healthy diet.