Are you looking forward to 2008 ? How about 2013 ?

IBM Reveals Five Innovations that Will Change Our Lives Over the Next Five Years

 

 

ARMONK, NY - 18 Dec 2007: Unveiled today, the second annual "IBM Next Five in Five" is a list of innovations that have the potential to change the way people work, live and play over the next five years. The list is based on market and societal trends expected to transform our lives, as well as emerging technologies from IBM's Labs around the world that could make these innovations possible.

In the next five years, our lives will change through technology innovations in the following ways:

 

It will be easy for you to be green and save money doing it: A range of "smart energy" technologies will make it easier for you to manage your personal "carbon footprint". As data begins to run through our electrical wires, dishwashers, air conditioners, house lights, and more will be connected directly to a "smart" electric grid, making it possible to turn them on and off using your cell phone or any Web browser. In addition to alerting you about leaving appliances on when they could be off to conserve energy, technology will also provide you with up-to-date reports of electrical usage, so you can monitor how much you are spending and how much energy you are putting out, just like you can track your cell phone minute usage today. Intelligent energy grids will also enable utilities to provide you with the option to use green energy sources, like solar and wind, to fuel your home, and innovations in solar and wind technology will bring cost-efficient options to a utility near you.

The way you drive will be completely different:  In the next five years, a coming wave of connectivity between cars and the road is going to change the way you drive, help keep you safe, and even keep you out of traffic jams. Technology is poised to keep traffic moving, cut pollution, curb accidents, and make it easier for you to get from point A to B, without the stress. The cities you live in will find a cure for congestion using intelligent traffic systems that can make real-time adjustments to traffic lights and divert traffic to alternate routes with ease. Your car will have driver-assist technologies that will make it possible for automobiles to communicate with each other and with sensors along the road -- allowing them to behave as if they have 'reflexes' so they can take preventive actions under dangerous conditions. Your car will automatically tell you where traffic is jammed up and find you an alternative route to take.

 

You are what you eat, so you will know what you eat:  We've all heard the saying 'you are what you eat', but with foods being sourced across international borders, the need to 'know exactly what you eat' has never been so important. In the next five years, new technology systems will enable you to know the exact source and make-up of the products you buy and consume. Advancements in computer software and wireless radio sensor technologies will give you access to much more detailed information about the food you are buying and eating. You will know everything from the climate and soil the food was grown in, to the pesticides and pollution it was exposed to, to the energy consumed to create the product, to the temperature and air quality of the shipping containers it traveled through on the way to your dinner table. Advanced sensor and tracing systems will tell you what you eat, before you eat it.

Your cell phone will be your wallet, your ticket broker, your concierge, your bank, your shopping buddy, and more:  In the next five years, your mobile phone will be a trusted guide to shopping, banking, touring a new city, and more. New technology will allow you to snap a picture of someone wearing an outfit you want and will automatically search the web to find the designer and the nearest shops that carry that outfit. You can then see what that outfit would look like on your personal avatar – a 3-D representation of you – right on your phone, and ask your friends, in different locations, to check it out online and give their opinion. Your phone will also guide you through visiting a city. When you turn on your phone in a city you are visiting, it automatically provides you with local entertainment options, activities, and dining options that match your preferences, and then make reservations and purchases tickets for you – like a personal concierge.

 

Doctors will get enhanced "super-senses" to better diagnose and treat you: In the next five years, your doctor will be able to see, hear and understand your medical records in entirely new ways. In effect, doctor's will gain superpowers – technologies will allow them to gain x-ray like vision to view medical images; super sensitive hearing to find tiniest audio clue in your heart beat; and ways to organize information in the same way they treat a patient. An avatar – a 3D representation of your body – will allow doctors to visualize your medical records in an entirely new way, so they can click with the computer mouse on a particular part of the avatar, to trigger a search of your medical records and retrieve information relevant to that part of your body, instead of leafing through pages of notes. The computer will automatically compare those visual and audio clues to thousands or hundreds of thousands of other patient records, and be able to be much more precise in diagnosing and also treating you, based on people with similar issues and makeup.

 

 

 

Art of asking good questions..

The Art of Asking Good Questions

By Tim Hagen SaleBuilder Marketing Systems, LLC   "What do we hate most about salespeople?"…..they simply, never stop talking. How many salespeople have come into your office, sat down and proceeded to tell you every benefit about what they are selling, without ever knowing what you need. Typically, they don't ask the questions, but rather tell you what they want you to know. So, the result is, a frustrated prospect who feels as if their needs have not been met. Difficult as it may seem, this very common problem can be addressed rather simply by just asking questions and listening effectively. By doing these two simple tasks, the prospect will tell you what they are looking for and more than likely, the sales rep will close the sale.   First, a good questioning system is essential because you want to keep the client talking. If questions are asked properly, you should never have to close a client. Your objective on an initial call should be to find out what they are currently doing, what they like about what they are doing, and what would they improve. Some ways to encourage the prospect to continue talking would be to use phrases such as what else, name another, how, why, be more specific, could you elaborate, and what do you mean. These phrases will allow you to get more specific information rather than vague responses.   The goal should be for each question to generate 3 pieces of information that allow you to move to the next step. Prior to that first face to face meeting, you want to find out some of the challenges so that your initial meeting allows you to confirm their biggest challenges and what some potential solutions might be. This will allow you, the salesperson to move the process forward.   During the sales process, many salespeople fall into the trap of not asking enough questions, posing a solution and basically, leaving money on the table. An example of this might be, a car salesman who is selling cars has just sold a brand new 2005 Buick LaCrosse to a woman in her mid sixties. She requested no extra options on the car, so the salesperson assumed she was not interested in any of the maintenance packages. Later after the woman had left the dealership she ended up calling the service manager to ask if they vehicle had Roadside Assistance, he replied "no, that is an extra option you can buy at the time you purchase the vehicle." Her response back was, "I was never asked and my husband is no longer able to change a tire in the event we should have a problem, is there any way we could add this?" The service manager was happy to handle this request, however the sales rep didn't finish his questions, therefore missing out on a potential sale for himself. Essentially, he left money on the table.   Finally, after you've asked the correct questions it is important to restate what you have learned and clarify that you have it right. You can do this by restating two or three of the most vital things you learned from your conversation with the prospect. After you've gained agreement, go ahead and come up with a solution by using the phrase, "What if we… were to put together a scope document outlining what we've discussed today and schedule a time to get back together to confirm what might be some possible solutions." By using the statement "What if we…." You aren't assuming anything and you are including the prospect in the decision making process. In addition, this allows for a smooth transition in the sales process, they are basically selling themselves.   The art of asking good questions is essential to increasing sales and achieving total customer satisfaction. They are definitely going to return to a salesperson that is able to effectively identify their needs and offer solutions that solve their problem. Asking the right questions is not only good sales but outstanding customer service as well. Good questioning should be used in every level of an organization, on an everyday basis.

Merry Christmas,

 

Robert J Russell, IRES, REALTOR

International Real Estate Specialist

http://www.robertjrussell.com

RE/MAX - 972-679-9029

* Register for your FREE Dinner for 2 !

 

Looking for a Second Home or a Vacation Home ?

Do you need help with the purchase of a second home in another country ? Do you need help selling a home in another country or state ? We can help you. It doesn't matter how large or small, we can assist you in this transaction literally all over the world.

With the I.R.E.S. Designation, we are now able to assist buyers and sellers globally by co-brokering. As a Seller, we can co-broker your property with other Realtors all over the world who can market your home through their local MLS as well as other means of advertising. For Buyers, we can assist on purchasing Real Estate all over the world to find that home that you've always dreamed about or even that Second or Vacation Home

We are able to assist you with your Real Estate transaction in Bolivia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, France, Italy, Mexico, AVI, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey and Ohio. We are adding more countries and states monthly -so stay in touch

The Ten Best Places to Live

These ten places are each special in their own way. The only downside may be that it's hard to keep a secret, so most of them have seen considerable increases in home prices over the last couple of years. Charlottesville, VA Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, most areas of this idyllic city are accessible by foot or bicycle. Charlottesville enjoys clean air and water, and pleasant weather year-round, highlighted by especially beautiful fall foliage. Nearby Shenandoah National Park offers a wealth of recreation opportunities. Charlottesville is home to the University of Virginia, which strengthens the area's healthy economy by providing steady jobs and a wealth of amenities and entertainment. Homes are not cheap (median home price $225,000), but the cost of living is manageable. The city's low unemployment rate and significant recent job growth promise continued prosperity. As more and more people learn about this year's best city, Charlottesville may find staying affordable and sprawl-free is its greatest challenge! Santa Fe, NM Home to over 250 art galleries and the new Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe has long been a haven for artists. Perched high in the desert mountains, Santa Fe's air is crisp and clean. Daytime temperatures are mild, though the nights are often cold. The city is surrounded by over 1.5 million acres of national forest, offering excellent hiking, camping, and downhill skiing. Recently, Santa Fe has seen its population skyrocket as the city has become a relocation hotspot for affluent Americans. Despite its recent growth, Santa Fe remains relatively affordable, with a median home price of $365,000. San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA This quiet group of towns on the central California coast could easily qualify as paradise. The climate is among the country's most pleasant, with 285 mostly sunny days per year and temperatures rarely above 90 degrees, or below freezing. The presence of academic heavyweight Cal Poly helps anchor the local economy- the unemployment rate is well below the national average. It's fortunate that local jobs are plentiful, since it's too far to commute to Los Angeles or the Bay Area. Considering further its low crime and unemployment rates, the San Luis Obispo area seems to have it all. But home prices here have risen steadily in the last few years, so that the median is now $536,300. While this isn't unreasonable by California standards, it can be out of reach for many of us thinking of moving from other parts of the country. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA A few miles north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara has long been a #1 relocation choice for those who can afford it. This area is famous for lavish estates that carry a price tag in the millions of dollars. Indeed, the median home price for the county is $590,000, and your average house in the city itself is over $1.2 million. No matter how appealing, the Santa Barbara area's cost of living and home prices will prove prohibitive for many Americans. In addition, recent job growth has dipped lately, so it might not be the best place to look for a new job. Nevertheless, for those that are retired or financially secure, the Santa Barbara area remains one of unmatched beauty and comfort. Honolulu, HI Everyone knows that Honolulu is a great place to vacation, but what about putting down roots in Hawaii's capital city? After a slow start, home appreciation is taking off like a rocket as well-to-do mainlanders are looking for a place to invest, and enjoy. The laid-back and easy-going attitude of the islands is infectious and helps explain the low violent crime rate. Restaurants, eager to please the international tourist clientele, are excellent and numerous. For the same reason, entertainment options are various and exciting. Even Honolulu's economy is remarkable--the unemployment rate is low and recent job growth is well above the national average. There are some downsides to consider. Nearly all consumer items must be shipped from the mainland, and this translates to a high cost of living. Other drawbacks are the high median home price ($550,100) and the possible claustrophobia of living on a small island. But if you don't mind the cost and isolation of living far off the mainland, then Honolulu is a safe and beautiful place to live. Ann Arbor, MI The University of Michigan is the foundation of the city's economy, providing stable employment to many residents and keeping the unemployment rate well below the national average. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the residents of Ann Arbor are well educated-- more than 20% have college degrees. Not only are there enough jobs to go around, but they also pay well -- Ann Arbor's per capita income is nearly 25% greater than the national average. The city's value makes it even more attractive-- its median home price is $220,000. Just be prepared for long winters -- the temperature dips below freezing 139 days a year. In addition, political conservatives might want to think twice about Ann Arbor, however, as its residents and city government are vigorously liberal. Atlanta, GA Atlanta is the largest city in our Top 10 Best Places to Live, having recently experienced a huge population boom. The crossroads of the South has become especially popular with young people looking for a sunny and exciting urban center that is easy on the checkbook, with its reasonable cost of living. Indeed, the city's affordable homes (median home price $164,100) and robust economy (high per-capita income) make Atlanta an excellent choice for young people concerned with value. The South has a reputation for oppressive heat and humidity, but statistically Atlanta has a warm and pleasant climate. Throw in four pro sports teams, great restaurants, and a diverse arts scene and Atlanta emerges a sizzling city on the move. Asheville, NC Asheville is situated at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, the highest part of the Appalachian Range. A low cost of living and affordable housing (median home price $202,100) offset the area's low measure of diversity and unremarkable economy. This mountain getaway was settled in the 1850's as a slow-paced health retreat, and it continues to be appealing to both families and retirees. Since the median age of Asheville residents is above the national average, retirees moving here will find themselves happily surrounded by their peers. Reno, NV Reno is another one of the Top 10 cities that has recently experienced significant population growth. New residents are attracted by the area's lack of crowding and absence of income tax. Reno boasts ample options for outdoor recreation, including skiing the Sierra Nevada's and exploring Lake Tahoe and its surrounding national forest. The days are sunny and the air is especially clean, but nights are cold and sub-freezing temperatures occur 189 days a year. The crime rate is a bit higher than the national average, but the Reno area is affordable (median home price $292,300), which makes it a smart choice for young people looking to move into a California-like climate on a budget. Corvallis, OR Corvallis is home to Oregon State University and hence many young singles. Technology stalwart Hewlett-Packard has a major presence here, which helps explain the city's low unemployment rate and impressive recent job growth. The presence of OSU and HP has created something of an intellectual center-- over 20% of its residents have earned a graduate or professional degree. The fertile Willamette Valley was the destination of 19th-century settlers from the Midwest, and since then has retained a peaceful agrarian feel. Summers are sublime and the winters are mild, if a bit wet. For recreation, the rugged Oregon coast is a 90 minutes to the west, the nearby Cascade range offers great skiing, and Portland is about 100 miles to the North. Considering it's affordability ($194,800 median home price), Corvallis presents an attractive mix of youth, intellectualism, and natural beauty. For a complete profiles of all 331 metropolitan areas, get a copy of "Cities Ranked and Rated." online or at your local bookstore or library. The book also includes maps, climate charts, comparison tables, plus additional profiles of the 45 new fast-growing mini-metro areas and 27 Canadian metro areas. for more information: visit http://www.robertjrussell.com

Millionaires in the Making....

Tracy and David Seims Ages: 41 and 43 Goals: Amass a seven-figure net worth Fund college for their two kids Retire in their early sixties Assets: $300,000 in retirement accounts $200,000 in home equity $175,000 in business equity $67,000 in savings accounts Growing up working class near St. Louis, Tracy and David Seim hoped that education and hard work would turn them into millionaires by age 40. Well, almost. Now 41 and 43, respectively, they have a net worth just shy of $750,000 - not a mill, but a very respectable sum. Still, measuring themselves against their more free-spending friends, the Seims don’t feel flush. They wonder if they’ll be able to afford college for Gabi, 13, and Gracie, 9, a comfortable retirement and, as Tracy puts it, “some fun along the way.” The couple, who run a small company that sells industrial fasteners and other supplies, paid themselves $103,000 last year. They have no credit-card debt, have lived in the same house (worth about $300,000) for 14 years and don’t drive fancy cars. They’re so frugal compared with certain friends, in fact, that they wonder if they’re missing something. “Everybody’s passing us by,” Tracy says. “What are we doing wrong?” Where They Are Now The Seims have a total of $300,000 in retirement accounts, and they max out their Simple IRAs, adding $10,500 each last year. They’ve also been diligently salting away money for their daughters’ education - $52,000 so far, stashed mostly in custodial UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) accounts, to which they added $1,200 in 2006. They also have about $15,000 in bank CDs. Like most investors, Tracy and David had some setbacks. At the advice of a financial planner, they invested a rollover 401(k) from David’s previous job as a salesman into individual stocks. That was in 2000, right before the market tanked; the account lost more than a third of its value. The Seims have since switched advisers, moved their stash into blue-chip mutual funds and recovered most of their losses. “The only one who made any money was the adviser,” David laments. What They Should Do The Seims’ financial situation isn’t nearly as bad as they seem to think, says Jim Reding, a financial planner at Paradigm Wealth Advisors in Des Peres, Mo. College and a comfortable retirement on a seven-figure nest egg are well within their grasp, as long as they take some practical steps now. Fix the investment mix. The fact that they no longer hold individual stocks doesn’t mean the Seims are diversified. To avoid ups and downs and maximize returns, Reding recommends that they add funds that hold foreign stocks, mid-size growth stocks and a few other asset classes. What’s more, between the 1 percent annual fee they pay their current financial adviser and the expense ratios on the funds they own (some top 2 percent), David and Tracy are shelling out way too much. Switching to funds with lower costs would wring more profit from their portfolio. Make college savings work harder. Reding suggests that the couple open 529 plans and put new savings there. The money will grow tax deferred, and the Seims will get a state income tax deduction. To cover 75 percent of projected tuition costs, the Seims should ramp up their current rate of saving to $235 a month for Gabi and $289 a month for Gracie. Don’t judge progress by looking at other people’s stuff. Just because a neighbor owns a vacation house or drives a Jaguar doesn’t mean he’s smarter with his money: He may be living scarily above his means. The Seims need to stick to their own plan and stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Assuming they make the changes that Reding suggests - including increasing their retirement saving by 3 percent a year - he predicts that the couple’s net worth will hit the $1 million mark within a decade. –By Yuval Rosenberg. This article appears in the October issue of Money Magazine. For more information, visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

Home Pricing Strategies

Just as a football coach has a bunch of different plays to choose from and use throughout a game, you have a variety of strategies to help you determine the price of your home. No one strategy can stand alone, but used together they can narrow the best possible price for your home. Review Comparables After sizing up the landscape, comparables play the biggest role in setting the price. Considered part art, part science, "comps" are regarded as the single-best tool in determining a home's value. There are some tricks determining which comps are the best; see the article on Picking the Best Comps for help. You can view comps on your property or anyone else's on robertjrussell.com, simply by entering an address. Look at Unsold Homes Homes on the market that haven't sold yet are also a consideration, although not a strong one, since it's unproven whether the house will bring the money it's asking. But, look at the active competition. Find a home most similar to yours and find out how many days it has been on the market. You can also look for homes owned by celebrities, and benchmark against those houses. If the house has been sitting for a while (more than 30 days), you will see the market is not convinced that is the correct price for that home. Once you see the "Sold" sign, find out how much above or below the list price it sold for. This will give you a good idea of how the market is behaving and how aggressive you can be in setting a price. Use Square Foot Pricing Some neighborhoods are a mixed bag of architecture, style and size, which means if you can't find another home similar to yours, you can use square foot pricing. How? Take 3 - 5 homes as similar to yours as possible, add up the square footage and divide by the number of homes. This will give you an average per square foot for your comps. Then, add up the sold price of each home, divide by the number of homes to get the average. Lastly, divide the average sold price by the average square foot to get the average price per square foot. Once you have the average price per square foot, multiply it by your home's square footage. This is just another tool to help you price your home. Example: Step 1: Find the average sq. ft. of comps Home 1: 1,950 square feet Home 2: 2,400 square feet Home 3: 1,800 square feet Home 4: 2,050 square feet Total: 8,200 square feet 8,200 / 4 = 2,050 sq. ft. 2,050 is the average sq. ft. of your comps Step 2: Find the average price of comps Home 1: $310,000 Home 2: $410,000 Home 3: $299,000 Home 4: $325,000 Total: $1,344,000 $1,344,000 / 4 = $336,000 $336,000 is the average price of your comps Step 3: Divide the average price by the average sq. ft.: $336,000 / 2,050 = $164/per sq. ft. $164 is the average price per sq. ft. of your comps Step 4: Set the price of your home: Take $164 and multiply it by your square footage to get a price. For example, if you have a 1,975-square-foot home, multiply it by $164 (e.g., 1,975 sq. ft. x $164 = $323,900). Bingo! Your home's price: $323,900! Get a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) If you've used the three strategies above, but still need reassurance, go to a real estate agent -- or two or three -- and ask them for a CMA. Whether you use the agent to sell your house or not, they will be more than willing to provide a CMA in hopes of getting your listing. It shouldn't cost you any money to get one. Get an Appraisal If you really need extra assurance, hire a professional appraiser. An appraiser will cost approximately $250 - $400, depending on your home size and uniqueness of the property. They will come to your home and itemize the number of rooms and amenities (e.g. swimming pool, fireplace, etc.) and will pull comps from other nearby homes that sold recently. Once they have completed their review of your home, the comps, and the market, they will furnish you with an appraisal. This will be an estimation of your property's fair market value. For more information: visit http://www.robertjrussell.com

Increasing Seller's Property Value

Understand first of all that there IS a difference between price and value. Price is the amount you are asking for the property. Value is buyer perceived, and this perception of value is influenced by many factors such as location, features, condition, comparison to other purchase option, etc. By attending to details that can have a positive impact on the value, sellers can significantly increase their chance of attracting qualified buyers willing to pay the asking price. Some tips to achieve a positive impact on value are: Perceived size impacts value, even more so than actual square footage. Open floor plans make a room feel bigger than larger spaces with smaller rooms. Showing property that is furniture free, or at reduced clutter, helps to make the space feel bigger. Vacancy increases sale-ability. Property is easier to show and easier to sell, and quicker to take possession of when it is vacant at the time it is offered for sale. Evidence of problems to take possession of the property -- such as encroachments, or tenants who wont allow buyer tours -- negatively impact value. Vacancy also helps the buyer walk through the property imagining ownership. Sellers should remove personal trinkets and family pictures as well as being conveniently absent during a buyer tour. Cosmetics are important. Fresh paint will always add more value than it costs. Clean or new carpet/flooring adds more value than it costs. Landscaping adds more value than it costs. At the very minimum, make the entrance area neat. If you can, add some colorful flowers and new sod. Take care of the obvious! The spot on the ceiling from the roof leak takes thousands of dollars from the perceived value and the offer price. Condition affects value. Do a seller's home inspection to identify and fix the problem BEFORE closing. No point holding up your check a few extra days; plus a failed buyer's inspection could cost you the sale. Buyers will often bargain down your asking price to accomodate for property condition and repairs. If you can, remodel/update the kitchen and master bathroom. These two areas have a big impact on home buying decisions. Strategic renovations impact value and your bottom line. Don't spend more money to renovate the place than you can recapture in value on the sales price. For more information visit: http://www.robertjrussell.com

Real Estate Pricing Checklist

You are anxious to get that sign up, but hold on! Before you set the price on your house, take a look at what's going on. Not only your perspective of things, but from the current mood of the market. The market is not sympathetic to "you need" or "must have" pricing methods. The time spent here may save certain headaches and disappointment that lay ahead if utilizing these strategies in determining your home's current value. The home is worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it in an open market. So please take some time and review the following strategies. What is your Mindset A seller's biggest advantage is time, because the more time you have, the more you can prepare and do your homework. However, if you're in a rush to sell, you're at the mercy of the buyer; you won't have the luxury of preparing or waiting for an ideal one. Do not disclose your timetable to anyone, except your agent. If you can't trust your agent don't do business with them. Your agent has a duty of confidentiality to you per your written contract and will only disclose information you as the seller give permission to disclose. A rushed seller means a bargain for the buyer and savvy buyers can smell panic a mile away. If you're planning on selling in the next 6 to 12 months, you have lots of time to prepare. As odd as it sounds, sometimes people sabotage their own intentions by being too greedy. Don't do it! As you really start looking at homes on the market, you will develop a sense about what is priced low, high, or just right. Doing your homework here will help you truly understand home values and you will be able to set a reasonable price -- a price that buyers know is just right. Tracking neighborhood values - You need to become somewhat of a snoop because you need to learn more about your neighborhood than you ever thought possible. Mood of the Market Markets have moods? They do! You need to judge whether it's a sellers' market or a buyers' market and it could vary by city, state, and neighborhood. Your interest is in your own neighborhood. And when we mention "market", we don't mean the neighborhood grocery store. The market is a catch-all term for all the ingredients that go into the mood of real estate at a given time. It can include such things as interest rates, home inventory, job forecasts, and even time of year. The market shifts constantly, so you need to raise your antennae and tune into what's going on in your neighborhood. Market Mood Checklist Inventory. How much is out there? Assess the inventory of homes in your area by driving around or use online sites to search for sale homes in your neighborhood. Also, real estate agents send out monthly mailers detailing home sales and include all kinds of information, such as number of homes that are on the market. If you live in a desirable neighborhood and there aren't many homes for sale, you will have a clear edge here. However, if you drive around and do see lots of homes on the market and they're not selling very quickly, you might have to reduce the price you had in mind. Days on the market. Review the homes in your neighborhood and their days on market (DOM). Once again, that real estate mailer that you were throwing away for all those years will now come in quite handy. Look up your ZIP code's Zindex on Zillow.com. Look at trends for the past year and assess whether homes were appreciating or depreciating (e.g. homes in your ZIP code were rising by 2% each month for the past 6 months). Unless you see a downward tick in this number, you can probably assume this will continue. If the Zindex in your neighborhood is rising, that means people are in the buying mood. If the Zindex is on a downturn, that means buyers have the upper hand. Check your local news. If Zillow does not provide a Zindex for your home (in which case, Zillow provides you with a tax assessed value), check your local newspaper's real estate section for charts or articles on sales trends in your ZIP code. Jobs, jobs, jobs. Monitor the job situation in your area. Are companies or factories closing down? Not a good sign. But, if "Major ABC Company" in your local town is expanding, kick your heels up because that means jobs, more people, and more housing will be required. This is good. Track neighborhood values. Each week, walk or drive around your neighborhood and begin collecting listing sheets -- you know, those fliers that agents create to list the facts and amenities of a home. It's amazing the knowledge you gain by tracking neighborhood home values and price points. Ideally, find homes similar to yours and pay close attention to the "action" surrounding them. Are they getting lots of traffic? As you collect these listing sheets, put them in a folder and date each sheet. Make note of the list price, sold price, and days on market (DOM). Attend nearby open houses. This is good for a number of reasons: to observe how other properties are showing and to assess their value, to chat up the listing agent (they have loads of info to share), and to feel the "mood" of potential buyers. Once you do this weekly, you will get an excellent feel for home values and what potential buyers are after. After doing this for a couple of weeks, challenge yourself by guessing what homes "go for" as you approach them for the first time. You'll be surprised at how well-trained your eye becomes with some practice and exposure to homes. Tour some homes with your agent. Get out there -- act like a buyer and see what they see! Hear other sellers make mistakes, hover over you, or talk too much or apologize for condition! Price per square foot. If you don't want to go down on your asking price, you could choose to focus on your price per square foot. Show potential buyers how your price stacks up against others in the neighborhood. Visit http://www.robertjrussell.com

FHA Loans in Louisiana

A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA loan for a client who lost his house in Hurricane Katrina and wanted to rebuild. He was told the loan could be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to the parcel of property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the Lawyer three months to track down. After sending the information to the FHA, he received the following reply: (Actual letter): "Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared title to the proposed collateral property back to 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear the title back to its origin." Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows: (Actual Letter): "Your letter regarding title in Case No. 189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have title extended further than the 194 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property area, would not know that Louisiana was purchased, by the U.S., from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application. For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U.S. ownership was obtained from France, which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain. The land came into the possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the Spanish monarch, Isabella. The good queen, Isabella, being a pious woman and almost as careful about titles as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to finance Columbus' expedition. Now the Pope, as I'm sure you may know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that God also made that part of the world called Louisiana. God, therefore, would be the owner of origin and His origins date back to before the beginning of time, the world as we know it AND the FHA. I hope you find God's original claim to be satisfactory. Now, may we have our loan?" The loan was approved.

It's Time to Rethink the Definition of "Home"

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, the older population, those persons 65 years or older, numbered 37.3 million in 2006. They represented 12.4 percent of the U.S. population, about one in every eight Americans. By 2030, there will be about 71.5 million older persons, more than twice their number in 2000, or 20 percent of the population. As Bob Dylan's 1964 anthem so aptly noted, "The Times They Are a-Changin," but are builders changing with these times? Are they taking advantage of this social and demographic shift? Or, are they conducting business as usual? Progressive builders understand that for older Americans, a home is much more than a place to live. It is increasingly becoming a smaller part of a larger community of like-minded individuals who seek easy access to products, services and other life-enhancing features that meet their needs and desires as older adults. By creating a community of people and businesses to rally around, particularly when it consists of individuals who may not otherwise interact, older adults flourish; a win-win scenario for builders who had the vision to enhance their bottom lines by filling market space capacity created by the demands coming from a dynamic older American demographic. "We serve our residents with respect and dignity in a comfortable, enjoyable and safe community with opportunities to choose additional services according to need and personal preference," said Bill Kaplan, Co-founder and CEO, Senior Lifestyle Corporation. "To their families we provide a support system and peace of mind in the confident knowledge that their loved ones will be cared for with sensitivity, expertise and compassion." Senior Lifestyle Corporation, creators of premier residential communities and the nation's sixth-largest senior living specialist, help older adults enjoy healthier, more fulfilling lives, and offer independent living for every economic level, from luxury to mid-market to affordable. "Each Senior Lifestyle community serves a unique group of people, and we tailor every aspect -- from menus to activities to wellness programs -- to meet their particular needs," added Kaplan. If the statistics above are not convincing enough for builders to consider adding "senior living services specialist" as an ancillary product, perhaps these numbers will. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the federal government will face a fiscal crisis as the cost of entitlement programs for Older Adults is expected to exceed revenues with the retirement of the baby boomers. From the consumer perspective, AARP data consistently shows 9-in-10 older adults want to, or by necessity, will "age in place" or stay in a home with living services and other like-minded individuals for the remainder of their lives. Furthermore, AARP surveys of younger adults (age 45 and older) also indicate the vast majority of adults (better than 80 percent) want to age in place and expect to receive the services needed to do so. From this vantage point, it only makes sense that builders place greater attention and resources on increasing opportunities for and improved quality of community-based services, in step with consumer trends and demographic shifts. With 71.5 million older adults coming online in 2030, builders need to rethink what the definition of home and what that means to their bottom lines. by Peter Mosca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2007 Realty Times. All Rights Reserved.

NEW Drugs for Women !

DAMNITOL Take 2 and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to 8 full hours. EMPTYNESTROGEN Suppository that eliminates melancholy and loneliness by reminding you of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait till they moved out. ST. MOMMA'S WORT Plant extract that treats mom's depression by rendering preschoolers unconscious for up to two days. PEPTOBIMBO Liquid silicone drink for single women. Two full cups swallowed before an evening out increases breast size, decreases intelligence, and prevents conception. DUMBEROL When taken with Peptobimbo, can cause dangerously low IQ, resulting in enjoyment of country music and pickup trucks. FLIPITOR Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling road rage and the urge to flip off other drivers. MENICILLIN Potent anti-boy-otic for older women. Increases resistance to such lethal lines as, "You make me want to be a better person." BUYAGRA Injectable stimulant taken prior to shopping. Increases potency, duration, and credit limit of spending spree. JACKASSPIRIN Relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your birthday, anniversary, phone number, or to lift the toilet seat. ANTI-TALKSIDENT A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used on anyone too eager to share their life stories with total strangers in elevators. NAGAMENT When administered to a boyfriend or husband, provides the same irritation level as nagging him. Now, send these to any woman who needs a good laugh, and any man who can handle it.

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REALTOR APPRECIATION MONTH !

REALTOR APPRECIATION MONTH

In honor of all the work that REALTORS do for their clients,
TJ HARTFORD'S is sponsoring

Happy Hour 4-6pm
Full Menu 6-8pm with 5cent Games for kids !

Special Drink & Appetizer Prices for REALTORS, Mortgage Industry, Title Co Reps, Home Warranty Reps, New Construction Sales & Home Inspectors !

Come Join us: July 10th
TJ Hartford's
1960 S. Stemmons Frwy.
Lewisville, Tx 75067

* To be eligible for discount drink & food menu - you must tell your waiter that you are there for:
REALTOR APPRECIATION

FREE BUYERS GUIDE !

FREE HOME BUYERS GUIDE CLICK HERE !

Things to Ponder on......

Can you cry under water? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why do you have to "put your two cents in".. but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why does a round pizza come in a square box? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What disease did cured ham actually have? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane ? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why did you just try singing the two songs above? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

Get Paid to Read Emails ? Is it a Hoax or Is It Real ?

They Said WHAT at Church ?

They're back! Church Bulletins: Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services: >---------------------------------------------------------- The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus." Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King. Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands. The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you. Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help. Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get. The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy." Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice. Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones. Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in t he Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance. The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours" courtesy of: http://www.robertjrussell.com

Looking for a Home ?

Recommended Vendor List

How would you like to be on our RECOMMENDED VENDOR List on our website ? Click Here For $ 35 - you can be a part of this list. All Advertisers will be added to the website as we receive them - that means that you can be one of the select group of advertisers. All occupations will be listed ! * If you don't see your occupation - we can always add it - so sign up today. We are averaging around 83,000 Hits per month ! That's more than some of the Big Name Websites out there !! If you would like to advertise your business - we will need the following: Industry _________________________ Name____________________________ Website URL_____________________ Tel Phone________________________ Send $35 payment to: Robert J Russell 3634 Long Prairie Rd Ste 108-143 Flower Mound, Tx 75022 If you have any questions, please email me info@robertjrussell.com or call 972-679-9029.

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Only a Southerner.....

Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH"them. Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess." Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder." Only a Southerner knows exactly how long"directly" is, ... as in: "Going to town, be back directly." Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table. All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well. Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin! Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20. Only a Southerner both knows and understands the difference between a redneck , a good ol' boy, and po' white trash. No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb. Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines . and when we're "in line"... we talk to everybody! Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage. In the South, y'all is singular .... all y'all is plural Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them. Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food When you hear someone say, " Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner! Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say ,"Bless her heart"... and go your own way. And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff ... bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language! And for those who are not from the South but have lived here for a long time,all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I ain't from the South, but I got here as fast as I could." Bless your hearts ... y'a ll have a blessed day - by: cara lenes

How To Avoid The Real Estate 'F' Word -- Before You Buy

The government is waging war against the axis of mortgage evils -- predatory lending, mortgage fraud, subprime loans and non traditional mortgages. The Federal Bureau of Investigations, recently reminded fraud perps they could get 30 years in the slammer and $1 million in fines, or both. On another front, Robert Steel, a U.S. Treasury undersecretary this week told reporters high-risk loan company meltdown is "manageable.. Hopefully, not in the same way as that other war. Bank regulators fresh from the front rewriting rules for non-traditional mortgages seek the same concessions from the subprime sector.. Foreclosures, more and more often spawned by the evil axis, aren't taking any prisoners. But they are taking homes. While some markets revealed higher levels of foreclosure risk last year, others began to show less. Overall, however, the tide generally turned against home owners last year as the risk of foreclosure grew 10.2 percent nationwide, according to San Juan Capistrano, CA-based HomeSmartReports. Responsible Lending, predicting as many as 2.2 million foreclosures in the next few years from the subprime sector alone, says it could get a lot worse. The current strategy is going to cost a lot of homes. One agency says the war will be won not during the forced retreat from defaults, but in the trenches of home buying, before home owners get anywhere near the front lines of foreclosure. Assisting potential lost-home refugees on the brink of foreclosure is a common practice and a strategy employed by many, including NeighborWorks, a national nonprofit organization created decades ago by Congress to bolster community-based revitalization efforts. Its "Tips For Preventing Foreclosure" is based on sound training for counselors as well as support and sage advice for home owners in trouble. If you need help now, the joint NeighborWorks-Homeownership Preservation Foundation hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) will point you in the right direction. Last ditch efforts are better than nothing. However, to more effectively undermine the forces that converge in foreclosure, NeighborWorks has also been a leader in prevention efforts. Begin digging in long before home owners become home owners and they have a better chance of surviving as home owners, the agency reasons. It's a strategy of credit, financial and home ownership counseling, workshops, seminars and classes and other education used to thoroughly train the troops for battle. Studies prove default and foreclosure prevention by very early intervention is the best defense. NeighborWorks has also deployed "Ten Secrets Every Home Buyer Should Know" as a battle plan for home owners who want to know what they are getting into long before the lender has to take them out. Here's a look at what the war paper offers potential home buyers before they get in over their heads. Get help. Visit a housing counselor at a nonprofit organization where's there's no profit motive or potential for a conflict of interest. You want objective, unbiased information about finances, budgeting and other issues to expect during your initial home buying efforts. You need to learn the ropes, not be pressured with choices. Get ready. To approve your loan lenders look at the 4 Cs of Credit -- credit history, capital, capacity and collateral. The first three involve your finances and determine how well suited you are to repaying the debt. You have little control over the fourth because it considers the value and condition of the home you'll want to buy. The first three require that you take stock of your creditworthiness (get your credit report and go over it with your counselor), build and maintain capital for a down payment, home buying and loan costs as well as other costs associated with home ownership and be certain your income now and in the future can handle the loan you choose. Get money. Look for legitimate loan programs that can help you with special affordable loans or grants for the down payment, closing costs and other fees. The more you can leverage the deal, the better you'll handle the monthly payments. Get a lifestyle. In addition to the costs associated with home ownership it is also a way of life. You'll have to take care of your home and issues surrounding it. Maintenance, value enhancing improvements, grounds upkeep, mortgage management are among the many tasks you may not have now. Be sure you can handle the change. Get shopping around. For everything. In addition to shopping around for the home, likewise shop around for the mortgage, stuff to fill you home, service workers, insurance and any other purchase you can compare from one provider to the next. The change of lifestyle means being a smart shopper. Get money in the pipeline. Once your home work is done you still aren't ready to shop for a home. Get a loan commitment that amounts to a guarantee from a lender that a loan is yours for a set amount and specific terms. Sellers will see you as a serious buyer and the loan will keep you from looking at homes you can't afford. You are still responsible for getting a loan you can afford. Lenders will often lend you as much as your 4 Cs qualify you, but that may not be what you can truly afford. Get a good location. No home is an island. The neighborhood or community is a prime factor in how well your investment performs. Start your search for a home by neighborhood in terms of schools, access to work, school and activities, crime rates and other conditions that make for a good -- or bad -- village. Get an inspection. Don't buy into the seller's home inspection. He or she may be well intentioned, but one of your new lifestyle changes is developing certainty about the decisions you make. Use the seller's inspection to compare against your own, but get your own. It will give you a good idea of the condition of the home and, as such, it's true value. Make your contract contingent upon, among other things, you hiring your own home inspector. Get less pressure. Don't rush through the home buying process. You've waited this long to buy a home, a few more months, even a year isn't going to make a lot of difference, especially now that prices are flat and falling. Take the time to learn your new living style, to scour documents and to get up with issues you don't understand. Larger inventories are also giving you more time to shop around for the home itself. Use the time wisely. Get a clue. Home ownership almost always costs more than you think. Stay on top of savings and safe investments to build a cushion for those unexpected events, emergencies, routine maintenance and repairs. NeighborWorks suggests building an annual emergency home fund equal to at least one mortgage payment and an annual maintenance and repair fund equal to one percent of your home's purchase price. That's over and above the six months of your salary you are supposed to have socked away for life's unexpected events. No, it's not easy, but follow those "secrets" and there's a good chance you'll never have to use the "F" word. written by: Broderick Perkins Copyright © 2007 Realty Times. All Rights Reserved.

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Stupid Husband Story

Stupid, stupid husband... He forgot his wedding anniversary and his wife was really ticked off at him. She told him, "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in under 6 seconds, AND IT BETTER BE THERE." The next morning, Neil got up really early. When his wife woke up a couple of hours later, she looked out the window, and sure enough, there was a small gift-wrapped box sitting in the middle of the driveway. Confused, the wife put on her robe, ran out to the driveway, and took the box into the house. She opened it, and found a brand new bathroom scale. Neil is not yet well enough to have visitors

Are you good with Words ?

Someone out there either has too much spare time or is deadly at Scrabble. (Wait till you see the last one)! DORMITORY: When you rearrange the letters:DIRTY ROO M PRESBYTERIAN: When you rearrange the letters:BEST IN PRAYER ASTRONOMER: When you rearrange the letters:MOON STARER DESPERATION: When you rearrange the letters:A ROPE ENDS IT THE EYES: ! When you rearrange the letters: THEY SEE GEORGE BUSH: When you rearrange the letters:HE BUGS GORE THE MORSE CODE :When you rearrange the letters:HERE COME DOTS SLOT MACHINES: When you rearrange the letters:CASH LOST IN ME ANIMOSITY: When you rearrange the letters:IS NO AMITY ELECTION RESULTS: When you rearrange the letters:LIES - LET'S RECOUNT SNOOZE ALARMS: When you rearrange the letters:ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S A DECIMAL POINT: When you rearrange the letters:IM A DOT IN PLACE THE EARTHQUAKES: When you rearrange the letters:THAT QUEER SHAKE ELEVEN PLUS TWO: When you rearrange the letters:TWELVE PLUS ONE AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE: MOTHER-IN-LAW:When you rearrange the letters: WOMAN HITLER Yep! Someone with waaaaaaaaaaaytoo much time on their hands! (Probably a son-in-law).

For Sale in Cedar Hill - 4 Bedroom with Study

Call 972-679-9029 to see this Gorgeous custom 4 bedroom home in the beautiful Sleepy Hollow area of Cedar Hill. Located minutes from fine shopping, dining, and Joe Pool Lake. Amenities include: - 3 car attached garage - Sprinkler system in front & back yard - Large backyard - Workshop w/self contained electrical box - Tiled front porch entry - Large floored/insulated attic space w/auto temp controlled turbo fans - Security system - Intercom system - Pantry - Office off of master bedroom - Two air conditioning systems - Two hot water heaters - Numerous other custom featutures

The Right Diet?

We're safely into 2007 now. Have you kept your resolution to drop a few pounds? Searches on "diets" are still trending strong, up 61% over the last week. However, we've found that you don't want to work too hard to shed that weight—searches on "easy diets" are up a whopping 300%. As we know, getting started on a new lifestyle is hard and that's why searches on "free diet plans" are up 74%. We haven't seen a corresponding rise in searches on "willpower," but we know you have what it takes to lay off the chips and candy. Setting aside the sweets, could a diet based on repetition do the trick for you? Many of these easy prep weight loss formulas crop up around this time of year when "fad diet" searches are all the rage. Here are the top 10 single ingredient diet searches over the last week... Cabbage Soup Diet Grapefruit Diet Maple Syrup Diet Apple Cider Vinegar Diet Cayenne Pepper Diet Special K Diet Cabbage Diet Rice Diet Green Tea Diet Cookie Diet We're all for the Cookie Diet coming in at number ten, but we don't think chocolate chips are going to solve the problem of our hips. We dug deeper still into the diet data to extract some of the odd and amusing diet queries popping up lately. If you're one of the few brave souls trying the "hard boiled egg diet," godspeed and good luck... Biblical Diet Foods All Fruit Diet Suzanne Somers Diet Diet Gum Banana Diet Bruce Lee Diet Raw Food Diet Cranberry Diet Almond Diet Watermelon Diet Email this posting Save to del.icio.us Save to My Web Digg This Filed under: Diets By Erik Gunther

SOLD in FRISCO TEXAS !!

Frisco Home
4 Bedroom Home & 2179 Sq Ft is just what you're looking for.

$219,900
4 Bed 3 Bath 2,179 Sq Ft

http://www.robertjrussell.com/mls10683562

2371 Barret Dr. Type Residential

Agent Robert J Russell
(972) 679-9029 Status Active

Levels Single story garage 2 car garage

Year Built 2002 School District FRISCO ISD

Elementary School BOALS Middle School PIONEER

High School FRISCO Interior Features , Bay windows, Breakfast bar, Burglar alarm, Carpet, Ceiling fans, Ceramic tile flrs, Corian/Corian type cntrtop, Dishwasher, Disposal, Dryer hookup - elec, Electric oven, Fire/Smoke alarm, Gas cooktop, Gas water heater, Kitchen island, Self clean oven, Slab foundation, Smoke detector, Vaulted ceilings, Walk-in closet, Washer hookup, Water line to refrigerator, Window coverings, Wood flrs

Exterior Features ,Attached parking, Garage door opener, Gutters, Interior lot, Landscaped, Open patio, Some trees, Sprinkler system, Subdivision location, Wood fencing Heating Features Central heat - gas

Style Traditional Area Frisco

Subdivision North Ridge 2 County Denton

Central AC Yes Exterior Construction Brick, Siding

Master Bedroom 16 X 13 Kitchen 12 X 10

Living Room 21 X 17 Dining Room 12 X 9

Additional Information
Paul Taylor custom home. 5 burner gas cooktop, crown molding, 5 in. baseboard, walk-in California closet in master, upgraded lighting, tile, hardwoods, stone elevation & landscape. Full sprinkler !