5 end-of-year tax-saving moves – PLUS 9 tips for a safe and Happy Halloween

Take these actions before year-end and you could save money on your income taxes. (Remember: As with all tax matters, consult your tax professional first.) 1. Make charitable contributions. Contributions you make to charities before year-end can be deducted for 2014. Donations charged to a credit card by Dec. 31 are deductible even if you don't pay the bill until 2015. Gift checks need to be mailed in December. 2. Contribute to retirement accounts. You need to contribute to a 401(k) or similar retirement plan by Dec. 31. But you have until April 15, 2015, to set up a new IRA or add money to an existing one. 3. Contribute to a flexible spending account (FSA). The money you put into an employer-sponsored FSA can be used for qualified health or dependent care expenses and reduces your taxable income. 4. Defer income. Shift income into 2015 and you won't have to pay taxes on it this year. Ask your employer to pay out any year-end bonus in January instead of December; delay selling investments with taxable gains until next year; don't take distributions from an IRA or other retirement account until the beginning of the year. If self-employed, ask clients to pay you after the first of the year. 5. Accelerate deductions. Bring as many deductible expenses into this year as possible. Pay medical bills, property tax, and college tuition, if applicable. If you make estimated state tax payments, send in your last one in December instead of January. Sell investments that have lost value, so you can deduct the losses on this year's return. If self-employed, purchase needed business equipment before year end. Please note that if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in 2015, you might want to accelerate income into this year and defer deductions until next year. As with all tax matters, consult your tax professional first. 9 WAYS TO HAVE A REALLY HAPPY HALLOWEEN 1. Watch where you walk. Use sidewalks, driveways, and paths. Cross the street at the corner or on a crosswalk. 2. Carry a cell phone, if possible. 3. Make sure kids are visible. Put a light or reflective tape on their costumes and have them carry a glow stick or flashlight. 4. Feed kids first. To keep kids from hitting the candy before they get home, give them a snack or dinner beforehand. 5. Don't lose the dog. If you bring along the family pet, use a leash and collar with ID. 6. Drive extra carefully. If you drive, stay super alert and go extra slow through neighborhoods. 7. Have ground rules. If your child is old enough to go trick-or-treating without you, agree on the route and make sure it only goes through familiar neighborhoods. 8. Go over stranger dangers. Remind kids they must never get into a stranger's car. Tell them to scream loudly and run if someone stops and asks for help or offers them candy. 9. Don't forget to have fun. Hey, it's Halloween–how great is that! When you're ready to upgrade, downsize, or buy your first home, we can help with the financing. We can also answer questions about refinancing your current home, or funding home improvements. Please call or email us any time about today's opportunities. We're always here for you.... Have a great month! P.S.: Mortgage rates are still at historically attractive levels. When buying or refinancing, it's smart to start the process early. Please call or email us to explore the appealing options available now.

14 summers-end party prep tips – PLUS 5 steps to a super-efficient home office

Summer parties are always special. Here are some tips to help you plan your party so you can relax and enjoy it! 1. Take inventory. Before you invite everyone, see what party supplies you need and get them now. 2. Timing is everything. Summer weekends can fill up quickly. Think about throwing your party Friday after work or Sunday at brunch time. 3. Make it potluck. Ask guests to bring beverages or food that needs little preparation. That leaves you free to put together one or two fancier menu items. 4. Start cleaning when you invite. Do a little each day and you'll get it all done without stress. 5. Plan whenever you can. Put your playlist together over lunch. Do the menu while you commute. Make dishes ahead in the week preceding. 6. Practice. Pick a few menu items and special beverages. Then practice making them, so you can quickly whip them up at the party. 7. Consider comfort. Have sunscreen and bug spray on hand, S'mores supplies and blankets if people stay into the cool summer evening. 8. Do a grill check. Make sure you have propane and a clean cooking surface and that everything works properly. 9. Offload the fridge. Party food takes up lots of fridge space, so where do you chill the beverages? Fill up coolers or tubs with ice, and put in the cans and bottles. When the ice melts, the water can be recycled by watering outdoor plants or emptied onto the lawn. 10. Be ready with nibbles. Offer a couple of simple appetizers for guests to enjoy right away. Keep it simple–chips and salsa, raw veggies and dip. 11. Have backup. If you underestimate your food or get some last minute guests, know your backup options. Check that a takeout place will be open and if they'll deliver. 12. Simplify cleanup. Copy the caterers. Take an out of the way area such as the garage and set up barrels for trash and recycles. If you use dishes and flatware, put out a few buckets with soapy water. Let everything soak overnight, then finish cleaning the next day. 13. Build up a stash of party supplies. Buy one upgrade a year, such as cloth napkins that cut paper waste and don't come apart on sticky fingers. 14. Hunt for bargains. Keep an eye out at discounters for party platters, cake stands, candles, and serving bowls. HOW TO CREATE A SUPER-EFFICIENT HOME OFFICE Whether you have a home office for your job, for household bills, or both, here's how to set it up to get more done in less time. 1. Ditch the junk. We're talking about equipment you don't use, files you don't look at, records you don't need, and paper clutter in general. These all slow you down when you're looking for things. If you haven't opened a file or used something in a couple of years, recycle or trash it. 2. Replace single-purpose items with a multipurpose device. Get a printer, copier, and scanner in one machine. Replace old backup drives with a new high capacity, high speed drive. 3. Fine tune the layout. Arrange desk, shelves, and storage units so that everything can be accessed quickly and easily. Keep technology within arm's reach. 4. Organize storage. Use boxes, bins, or drawers for different items–one box for computer stuff, one for small office supplies. Keep often-used items by your desk, and put away the rest. 5. Repeat annually. Once a year, or sooner, go through steps 1–4 all over again. When you're ready for a new home office in a new home, we can help with the financing. As soon as you'd like to take advantage of today's opportunities to upgrade, downsize, or buy your first home, we're happy to answer any questions. We can also help with refinancing your current home or funding home improvements. Please call or email us any time. We're always here for you... Have a great day! P.S.: Mortgage rates are still at historically attractive levels. When buying or refinancing, it's smart to start the process early. Please call or email us to explore the appealing options available now.

Weekly Newsletter

In This Issue... Last Week in Review: Key housing and labor market news was released, but events from overseas dominated the headlines. Forecast for the Week: Look for important news on inflation, manufacturing, and consumer attitudes and spending—all in the second half of the week. View: Recharge your job satisfaction with these four easy tips. Last Week in Review "It's a small world after all." The economic calendar may have been fairly quiet, but plenty of headlines from overseas led to a volatile week in the markets. Here are the takeaways. Starting at home, research firm CoreLogic reported that home prices, including distressed sales, rose by 7.5 percent on an annualized basis in June. This is down from the 8.3 percent increase recorded in May. Price gains have been easing after the big increases that were recorded in 2013, due to modestly rising inventory and less than expected demand. CoreLogic is forecasting a 5.7 percent increase from June 2014 to June 2015, which is further evidence of a slowdown in gains. Also of note, Weekly Initial Jobless Claims fell by 14,000 in the latest week to 289,000. Claims are now at eight-year lows as the labor market continues to improve. In addition, the four-week moving average of claims reached the lowest level since February 2006. This news is significant, as jobless claims are a leading indicator of the health of the labor market—and improvement in the labor sector is a key tenet of our continued recovery. Ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the fighting in Gaza, U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, and more debt woes in Europe are some of the biggest headlines from the past week. When there is uncertainty like this in the world, we often see "safe haven" trading in the markets. This is where investors move their money out of Stocks and into less risky assets like Bonds—including Mortgage Bonds, the type of Bond on which home loan rates are based. Stocks have gotten clobbered recently but our Bond markets have benefitted—and as Mortgage Bonds improve, so do home loan rates. The bottom line is that home loan rates remain near some of their best levels of the year and now is a great time to consider a home purchase or refinance. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients. Forecast for the Week The second half of the week heats up with several important reports. On Wednesday, we'll learn key details about consumer spending habits with Retail Sales for July. Weekly Initial Jobless Claims will be released, as usual, on Thursday. Last week's number hit lows not seen since before the recession. Friday's packed calendar includes July's Producer Price Index, which measures inflation at the wholesale level. Also look for the Empire State Manufacturing Index and Consumer Sentiment Index for August. Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond on which home loan rates are based. When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving—and when they are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse. To go one step further—a red "candle" means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green "candle" means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes were on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning. As you can see in the chart below, geopolitical headlines have helped Mortgage Bonds improve. Home loan rates remain near some of the best levels of the year and I will continue to monitor them closely. Chart: Fannie Mae 4.0% Mortgage Bond (Friday Aug 08, 2014) The Mortgage Market Guide View... 4 Tips to Recharge Your Job Satisfaction With the amount of time people spend working, job satisfaction is an important part of life. If you ever find yourself in a rut, here are four tips that can help. Keep your eyes on the prize. Measurable goals (like number of homes built or percent increase in revenue) are key to business success. Equally important is translating how goals represent something invaluable (like dreams realized and happy families). Tie measurable goals to the bigger picture and focus on that vision to inspire you. Set boundaries and expectations. Technology expanded the workday with anytime, anywhere access to email and calls. Clearly, the lines between professional and personal time have blurred—and both sides can suffer from lack of focused attention. So what's the solution? Set specific, appropriate work hours. In email and voicemail messages, let others know your work hours and a realistic timeline of how quickly you'll respond. Condition yourself to not constantly check emails and voicemails when you are off work—or, at the very least, commit to a schedule (e.g., after the kids are in bed or after your favorite TV show). Schedule a Power Hour. An uninterrupted hour each week will recharge you. Use a Friday Power Hour to organize and prioritize for the next week. Use a midweek Power Hour to catch up on industry reading or write handwritten notes to clients. Create new challenges. Join an organization to meet new people and gain a fresh perspective. Present a seminar with community education or at a local club to share your expertise. Start a blog and commit to at least one 250-word weekly post. These four tips can reignite your passion for what you do. As always, please feel free to pass them along to your team, colleagues and clients! Sources: ehow.com, entrepreneur.com, forbes.com, humanresources.com, inc.com, mayoclinic.org Economic Calendar for the Week of August 11 - August 15 Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact Wed. August 13 08:30 Retail Sales Jul NA 0.2% HIGH Wed. August 13 08:30 Retail Sales ex-auto Jul NA 0.4% HIGH Thu. August 14 01:00 Jobless Claims (Initial) 8/09 NA 289K Moderate Fri. August 15 01:00 Producer Price Index (PPI) Jul NA 0.4% Moderate Fri. August 15 01:00 Core Producer Price Index (PPI) Jul NA 0.2% Moderate Fri. August 15 08:30 Empire State Index Aug NA 25.6 HIGH Fri. August 15 10:00 Consumer Sentiment Index (UoM) Aug NA 81.8 Moderate The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is without errors. As your mortgage professional, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.

Market Update

QUOTE OF THE WEEK... "The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit."--Moliere, French playwright and actor INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE... If the great French dramatist were alive today, he probably wouldn't be concerned by signs of slower growth in the housing market. Perhaps we shouldn't be either. Pending Home Sales dipped a miniscule 1.1% in June, but climbed for three straight months before that. This National Association of Realtors (NAR) index of contracts signed on existing homes was also above the 100 "average" level of contract activity for the second month in a row. The NAR's chief economist said he expects existing home sales to edge up in the second half of the year. That economist also observed, "The good news is that price appreciation has decreased to its slowest pace since March 2012 behind much-needed increases in inventory." He added, "With rents rising 4% annually, potential buyers are less likely to experience sticker shock." Corroborating that, the S&P/Case Shiller 20-City Composite index showed prices up 9.3% year over year in May, down from April's 10.8% year over year gain. Analysts say the expanding inventory that's slowing these price gains is a favorable trend, as it maintains affordability while increasing options for buyers. BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK... In business, preparation is more critical than planning. When the unexpected happens, plans go out the window. But if you're well-prepared, you can adapt with composure, and not panic. >> Review of Last Week NOBODY'S LAUGHING... Funny week on Wall Street. Funny strange, not funny ha-ha. The Dow suffered its biggest weekly loss since January and the S&P 500 registered its worst weekly drop in over two years, while the Nasdaq dipped more than 2%. The strange part was that all this selling happened amidst a flurry of decent economic data. The Q2 GDP–Advanced reading had the economy growing at a 4% annual clip, after its Q1 –2.1% decline. Plus, Consumer Confidence hit its highest level since October 2007 and ISM Manufacturing solidly beat estimates. But the economic good news was bad news for investors who fear it may cause the Fed to raise rates sooner. That too was a strange reaction, given the Fed's statement Wednesday that they expect to keep rates low a good while longer. But there were disappointments. Pending Home Sales, the Chicago PMI manufacturing read, and Michigan Consumer Sentiment all fell short of expectations. The July Employment Report also missed, with 209,000 new nonfarm payrolls, although this was the sixth month in a row the number was above 200,000, describing a sustained if not especially strong recovery. The Unemployment Rate ticked up to 6.2%, yet that happened because the labor force grew, a good thing, showing more people are now hopeful they'll find a job. The week ended with the Dow down 2.8%, to 16493; the S&P 500 down 2.7%, at 1925; and the Nasdaq down 2.2%, to 4353. It was a mixed week in the bond market as global concerns brought in "safe haven" investors but inflation worries sparked some selling. The 30YR FNMA 4.0% bond we watch finished the week down .03, at $105.15. For the week ending July 31, Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey reported national average mortgage rates little changed from the week before. They remain near their lows for 2014. Remember, mortgage rates can be extremely volatile, so check with your mortgage professional for up to the minute information. DID YOU KNOW?... Unit Labor Costs, coming this week, is defined as the ratio of hourly compensation to labor productivity; increases in compensation increase Unit Labor Costs and increases in productivity reduce them. >> This Week’s Forecast SERVICES SECTOR EXPANDS, PRODUCTIVITY UP, LABOR COSTS EASE... After last week's tsunami of economic data, we now get a trickle of reports. Tuesday's ISM Services are expected to continue to show expansion in the sector of the economy that provides over 80% of our jobs. Unfortunately, the trade deficit is also forecast to expand in the June Trade Balance report. Productivity is predicted up for Q2, causing a smaller gain in Unit Labor Costs. This could keep inflation in check going forward.

10 Ways to Grab Customers Online

The days are over when marketers can rely on grabbing customers online with well-worn phrases like "act now," "satisfaction guaranteed," and "for a limited time only." People have seen those words so often, they're invisible. Instead, try these 10 fresh ways to pull customers into your blogs, social media posts, emails, and website. 1. Stop selling. People today don't want to be hustled or sold. They want to be informed. The more you inform them, the more often they'll visit your platforms, and the sooner they'll buy. 2. Educate them. Come up with information your readers don't have. As a professional, you already know more about your field than the average person. Offer advice, product and service reviews, industry news, and primers for newbies. 3. Enrich them. Create funny, cute, inspiring, or even critical posts that add value for the reader and might be shared over social media. Focus on creating an emotional attachment and you'll get some attention. 4. Engage them. Go beyond what you sell and what customers need to buy and key on some things you may have in common with your prospects and clients. Stay away from sensitive subjects like politics and religion and go for music, sports, entertainment, cultural topics, and events going on in your area. 5. Don't be self-centered. Post about other people and businesses. Experts say you should post about others seven times for every one time you post about yourself. Draw from news, events and the word on the street, anything that shows you're not just into selling yourself. 6. Be consistent. For example, post serious content on Monday morning, humorous items on Thursday. Then stick to the schedule, so people looking for a particular type of content will check in, comment, and share. 7. Read relevant blogs. See what others in your field are posting and then add your comments. Talking about related material from others is a great way to get people to look into what you have to offer online. 8. Write in three lengths. Start with a 500 to 700 word post for your blog, shorten it to 200 words for social sites with a link to the blog, then do a Twitter version you can also use on LinkedIn. 9. Use a content calendar. This is a great way to create and keep up with your strategy of posting to your customers and prospects. Look online for examples you can follow. 10. Be funny when you can. Everyone enjoys a good laugh now and again. Naturally, make sure you don’t offend anyone! Communicating with customers and prospects on a range of online platforms is key to marketing today. Just think of all the things your target audience might like to hear. Here's to your continued success creating online communications that engage people, and may even go viral, as you keep putting together your best year ever... Enjoy a great month!

The 6 Keys to Creating Great Online Videos

Online video has been popular as a marketing tool for some time now and for good reason. No other form of communication is better at capturing attention. Video also can have strong impact on people's purchasing behavior. The good news is you don't have to be a major brand with a huge ad budget to take advantage of the power of video marketing. All you need is a little creativity and the following tips to help you get started. 1. Don't make a TV ad. Online videos aren't TV commercials trying to get across a single proposition in 30 seconds. People opt in to watching online videos. They have to click the play button and often seek them out. So they give videos more time, about 90 seconds. This means you can tell bigger stories, but you need to be informative, useful, and even entertaining. 2. Use the equipment you already have. All you need to produce a great online video is your smartphone. You're not shooting a commercial that will run on HD TV. Videos shot on smartphones and tablets look surprisingly good on the low-resolution Internet. Plus, these days over half of all Web browsing is done on mobile devices and those smaller screens don't require Hollywood productions. 3. Don't let the medium get in the way of the message. No matter what technology you're using to communicate, it's the message that matters most. Spend time coming up with compelling, relevant topics to share with your viewers. But make sure what you're saying reflects the image you're trying to convey about your company and the way you do business. 4. Make use of low-cost and free video tools. There are many tools and apps available to help you produce videos with all kinds of cool features. Check out VideoScribe for sketch-style videos and PowToon, which is free, for impressive animated videos and presentations. YouTube offers a free built-in editor, but there are third-party tools available for that as well. Two popular examples are Loopster and WeVideo, which is free to start. 5. Customers can create great content. Some of the most engaging online videos you see come from customers. Instead of figuring out how to promote your products or services, let your customers do it for you. Invite them to send in videos about the benefits they get working with you. User generated content feels more natural and honest. To encourage participation, stage a contest or offer a small incentive. If customers aren't into making videos, ask if you could shoot a brief interview where they answer a few simple questions about their experiences with you. You'll be surprised at how many customers are eager to be part of your marketing campaign. 6. Try to go viral. This is the ultimate goal. The more views your video gets, the more awareness, the more leads, and the more revenue for your business. But creating a video that goes viral isn't easy. Viral videos fall into three categories: funny, heart-warming, or shocking. They revolve around situations featuring kids, animals, or mishaps. Find out what videos are going viral, and study them to find out why. Create a response piece if you can make it relevant to your business. Response videos often go viral too. Focus on coming up with something unique and, above all, entertaining. But don't let your wild viral idea undercut the business image you're striving to create. Video marketing is a powerful strategy that any business can afford. Just take advantage of the low-cost tools available, and think of things your target audience would like to see or find out about. Here's to your continued success creating videos that sell, and maybe even go viral, as you keep putting together your best year ever... Enjoy a great month!

7 home upgrades with the best financial return – PLUS 8 home health hazards to guard against

These are the home improvements experts say will return more of their cost when you sell: 1. New exterior siding. Upscale fiber cement siding pays back an average 78% of its cost. Foam-backed insulated vinyl siding and standard vinyl siding pay back almost 70% of their cost. 2. New entry door. A midrange 20-gauge steel door pays back 73% of its cost and boosts curb appeal. 3. Attic bedroom. Pop out a dormer, add a 5' X 7' bathroom with shower, insulate and finish walls and ceiling, and bring in heat, a/c, and wiring. You'll get almost 73% back on your money and an attic remodel is the least expensive way to add living space and a bathroom. 4. A simple kitchen remodel. Keep this under $20,000 and you'll get back an average 72% of your investment. Include upgrades like new sinks, faucets, appliances, and laminate countertops. Keep the floor but reface the cabinets with new hardware. 5. New garage door(s). Believe it or not, garage door replacements pay back over 71% of their cost if you install a midrange or high-end product. They also instantly up your curb appeal. 6. New wood deck. This earns back over 70% of its cost at resale. 7. Upscale vinyl replacement windows. Change out your old windows with ones with low-emissivity glass and insulation and you'll enjoy a payback of over 69% of the cost. 8 HEALTH HAZARDS TO AVOID IN YOUR HOME 1. Bed linens. These can hold germs, grime, and allergens. Wash at least once a week using the hottest washer and dryer settings. It takes extreme heat to kill most bacteria. 2. Pet toys. These can be a source of staph, as well as coliforms, yeast, and mold. Hard toys should be cleaned once a month with hot soapy water, rinsed, disinfected with a mild bleach solution, then rinsed again. Sanitize soft toys with laundry on the hot water cycle. 3. Refrigerator ice and water dispensers. A recent study found these can be loaded with yeast and mold. Clean the ice dispenser monthly. Turn off and wash the bin with dish detergent and warm water, then dry with a clean towel. Every six months, pour 3-4 cups of distilled white vinegar into the water supply tube and let it run through to sanitize. Wipe water spout once a week with cotton swab and a dry cloth. 4. HVAC ducts. In a year, a 1500 square foot home's ducktwork can collect 40 pounds of dust containing allergens, bacteria, dirt, fungi, mold, and about 40,000 dust mites per ounce. When you turn on the system, all this circulates, causing fatigue, sinus problems, and asthma. Have a NADCA-certified company clean ducts every 2 years. 5. Sponges. Unless disinfected, a sponge is a prime place for germs to grow, and then spread around the kitchen. Clean a nonmetallic sponge by completely wetting it and placing it in the microwave on high for 2 minutes. Throw out sponges after two weeks. Better options are towels, dishcloths, and rags you can sanitize with bleach in your washing machine's hot water cycle. 6. Ceiling fan blades. These are home to dust mites which the fan then circulates. Put a pillowcase on each blade and pull it off while wiping the dust into it. Empty it outside, and then launder the case inside out on your hottest washer and dryer settings. 7. The dishwasher. Mold can form here when moisture lingers after the heat cycle ends. Run your dishwasher only when you can empty it soon after it stops. 8. The washing machine. Mold and staph can grow here. Once a month, use the self-clean cycle or put a cup of bleach in an empty machine and run on the hottest setting. Leave the door or lid open when not in use. When you're ready to upgrade, downsize, or buy your first home, we can help you with the financing. We're happy to answer any questions, as soon as you're ready to take advantage of the opportunities in today's housing market. We can also help with refinancing your current home or funding home improvements. Please call or email us any time. We're always here for you... Have a great day! P.S. Mortgage rates are still at historically attractive levels. When buying or refinancing, it's smart to start the process early. Please call or email us to explore the appealing options available now.