What a Night!

 

Not a mainstream carol, but catchy – don’t you think so?

 

 

Another Holiday Song for You

 

The Dean Martin version!

 

A Holiday Song for You

Christmas Carol Infographic

Last Minute Christmas Shopping Assistance

Homewonership Rocks

Don’t Rock the Boat! Keep the Mortgage Interest Deduction

Congress, as part of negotiations on avoiding the “Fiscal Cliff,” has made direct references to “closing loopholes” and “limiting deductions” as a way to raise revenues. Clearly, the mortgage interest deduction is high on this list of revenue raisers.

Losing the Mortgage interest deduction will disproportionately affect the middle class because a larger proportion of the middle class takes the deduction. In California 89% of those who took the mortgage interest deduction earned less than $200,000. Losing the deduction would cost the average California taxpayer over $3,900.



What you can do to help:

Call Congress. First and foremost, we are urging the public to get involved by calling Congress to ask that the mortgage interest deduction be preserved. The public may reach Congress by calling 202-224-3121 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 202-224-3121 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting. The Capitol switchboard operator will help callers identify their member of Congress and connect them.

The public can reach Congress by calling (202) 224-3121 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (202) 224-3121 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Eastern Time.

Get the word out. Many people seem to be blissfully unaware that their mortgage interest deduction is in danger. Please do the following to make sure that the message spreads.

1. Forward this message to your family, friends and clients.
2. Post this information on your personal and office websites and blogs.
3. Share this information on Facebook and urge others to share it as well.
4. Tweet about it on Twitter and urge others to retweet. Use the hashtag: #keepthemid.
5. Link to the following web page: www.KeepTheMID.com . This site has information about contacting Congress, more information on the MID and links to articles.
6. As you see new information and articles, share these on all your social networking sites.

Here’s some recent news and commentary on the mortgage interest deduction and fiscal cliff negotiations:
Editorial by Ben Stein
President Obama’s comments on the MID
OTUS story on the MID
Editorial in the Santa Cruz Sentinel
Marin Journal story about the MID

Tax Break Expires, and other Real Estate News from CNN

Home sellers, who sell through the short-sale process currently don’t have to pay federal taxes on the amount of debt that is forgiven because of a bailout-era law knows as the Mortgage Relief Act. That act is set to expire December 31^st and unless it is extended, taxpayers will be taxed on that relief. According to RealtyTrac, the average amount of debt that is forgiven in a short sale is $95,000. See CNN video and article.

Holiday Cleaning: Tips for a Guest-Ready Home

Cleaning and guests are on our mind this week. We’ve been getting ready for week-end holiday guests. My family, the Murphey Sisters, plus some of the kids, are coming to visit starting tomorrow, and will stay through Sunday. We have lots of fund things planned and I’m really looking forward to the visit, but getting ready has been hard work. Here’s some tips for you if you, too, expect holiday guests. —Susan

How deep do you go when cleaning for holiday guests? There are some who take it to the extreme — but you can have a clean home without going overboard. If you think wiping down countertops and fluffing a few pillows in advance of the guest onslaught will land you on Santa’s “nice” list this holiday season, check that list twice. You can bring your home to sparkling guest-readiness without going overboard. A few of these tips will keep your home merry, bright, and clean:

• Scrub your entryway. Wipe down your front door, give the doormat a good shake, and make sure dust and dirt haven’t collected on floors and furniture legs. These are the first things guests will see when they arrive, so keeping them clean will guarantee a good first impression.
• Focus on the kitchen. People tend to gather around the food during the holidays, so make sure your kitchen looks and smells nice. Don’t forget to dust the light fixtures and flush sink drains with boiling water.
• Whatever you do, don’t neglect the loo. Don’t just wipe surfaces; break out the stiff-bristled brush and scouring powder to really scrub things clean.
• Sniff out bad smells. If you clean your home and something still doesn’t smell quite right, brew some coffee. The aroma will cover it up.
• Give your garbage disposal some love, considering how much it will “consume” this season. To cut down on odors, chop up a whole lemon — rind and all — and let the disposal gobble it up. Throw in ice cubes to sharpen the blades.
• Make sure you can see the guests coming. Keep windows clean and streak-free on the cheap with an easy mixture of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Wipe down windows with a reusable microfiber cloth.
• With all your holiday cooking, stovetops and ovens are bound to get dirty. Baking soda and water make a simple scouring solution that can scrub off that baked-on gunk.

By: Courtney Craig at HouseLogic

DoorBot: The Wi-Fi Enabled “Smart” Doorbell

We really like this product – for our house, and for yours. It’s the first “crowdsourcing” product we’ve ever considered for an investment. Watch the video, read about it, then let us know what you think.

Wouldn’t it be cool if your doorbell could also show you who’s at the door? And wouldn’t it be even cooler if it sent the video of who’s at the door to your iPad or other mobile device?

Well, the future is almost here. DoorBot is a new wi-fi enabled doorbell camera which does exactly that. From the website:

“DoorBot is a simple, yet powerful wireless doorbell that streams live video and audio of your front door directly to your smartphone or tablet. Simply install DoorBot, download the free app and you’re ready to go. Now, anytime you have a visitor you’ll not only be able to see them, but you’ll be able to talk with them as well. DoorBot is the perfect device because of the peace of mind you get while away from home, and the convenience you get while in it. DoorBot brings your front door to you — wherever you may be.”

Now, DoorBot isn’t actually on the market yet, but if the manufacturers get funding through pre-orders, the device will be manufactured and shipped to buyers. The inventor is using “Christie Street,” a website which helps inventors bring their products to market through crowdsourced funding.

Check out DoorBot for yourself:
https://secure.christiestreet.com/products/doorbot