Fond du Lac - Your Home Port
Convention and Visitors Bureau
Association of Commerce
Read more...
It’s Monday Morning!!!!
Ask the Experts:
Home Mortgage Specialist: Cindy Behm from Flagstar:
Question: Dear Cindy, how much downpayment is required for a home loan?
Answer: Another great question - the borrower does not always get a straight answer on this question until the lender knows more about the borrowers finances and credit. There are many factors that actually go into this answer. The first factor is what loan types does the bank or mortgage broker offer. Not all lenders have the same products. There are still some products that allow for 100% financing, meaning no down payment is required, while other programs require a 20% down payment. For the average person buying a owner-occupied property, that can prove their income a 3.5% - 5% down payment is quite common. There are other factors to consider, such as: interest rate, mortgage insurance, etc. Don't be misled by the interest rate, sometimes a higher interest rate could mean a lower monthly payment. Check all the details and learn about the loan that you are getting into.
Home Staging Expert: Nan from First Impressions Staging and Design:
Question: Hi Nan! I’m thinking about putting my house up for sale. What can I do to get started before that?
Answer: Define the space. Start packing up anything you aren’t using on a day to day basis. Do this job early, so it doesn’t overwhelm you, and then get the whole family involved. Avoid storing excess gear in the garage if you can. A better option is a storage facility. Some storage companies even bring the storage to you so you can load it, they’ll store it, then deliver it to your new place when needed.
Quote of the Week:
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some…. Robert Fulghum
Water Tower and Town of the Week:
Photo of the Week:
To remind you that summer isn’t to far off….
ANSWER TO LAST WEEKS QUESTION: WINNECONNE
Where are these people fishing? (Answer next week!)
Are they REALLY attaching their poles to the rail right under the sign that says not to??
Have a wonderful week everyone and don't miss the Eagle Cam in the sidebar!
Laurel Stone
Laurel Stone School of Real Estate
Read more...Sturgeon Spawning
 |
| From Sturgeon Spawning |
What ARE these people watching????
In the car, cameras in tow, I was going to check out what is making the headlines here in Northeast Wisconsin right now... sturgeon spawning!! I've lived here 25 years and never observed this annual event!
Lots more info here at the DNR website: http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/sturgeon/sturgeon_spawning.html
Read more...
In the car, cameras in tow, I was going to check out what is making the headlines here in Northeast Wisconsin right now... sturgeon spawning!! I've lived here 25 years and never observed this annual event!
That was yesterday... I got as far as the gas station by my house (2 miles - I live in the country) and it started raining and even though it is very warm today... yesterday was cold! And the rain pushed me over the edge. Knowing that it wasn't a one day event, I put it off until today when the temperature passed 80 degrees.
What I discovered was like a small town picnic... kids running around.... dogs on leashes.... harley riders....people sitting at a picnic table eating lunch! It was amazing and it was a Friday afternoon! what happens on weekends!! Of course, the fact that today is supposed to be the only nice day could have had something to do with the turnout! I know it affected me! Kids would yell.. there's one! Look Mom! I clicked away with my camera and put them all in a slide show so enjoy the pictures of these prehistoric fish!
What I discovered was like a small town picnic... kids running around.... dogs on leashes.... harley riders....people sitting at a picnic table eating lunch! It was amazing and it was a Friday afternoon! what happens on weekends!! Of course, the fact that today is supposed to be the only nice day could have had something to do with the turnout! I know it affected me! Kids would yell.. there's one! Look Mom! I clicked away with my camera and put them all in a slide show so enjoy the pictures of these prehistoric fish!
Here are some facts:
- The DNR says in any given spring about 20,000 sturgeon from the Lake Winnebago system come in to spawn. That is just about half of the adult sturgeon population.
- The average female sturgeon lays more than 400,000 eggs. Of that, only about eight will become fish.
- Sturgeon are Wisconsin's largest and longest-lived fish. Females live longer than males; 97% of all sturgeon over 30 years old are females.
- Males arrive at the spawning sites ahead of the females, cruising in groups of eight or more, often so close to the surface that their tails, backs, or snouts are out of the water.
- A female sturgeon reaches sexual maturity when she is 24 to 26 years old and about 55 inches long, and will spawn once every four, five, or six years thereafter.
Lots more info here at the DNR website: http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/sturgeon/sturgeon_spawning.html
Clutter......
Clutter - we talk about it in many ways... our house is cluttered: too much stuff! Our garage, our closets, etc. All of those things we talk about to home sellers. You're home will show better, sell faster, etc. with less clutter.
Clutter can also happen on our desks and in our minds! Evey few weeks I get an article from Jack Canfield and the one today really hit home. With permission, I'm printing it below and hope you'll get as much out of it as I have! 
The Cycle of Completion: Making Way for Success
by Jack Canfield
Do you live in a state of mental and physical clutter? Do you have a bunch of unfinished business lurking around every corner?Incomplete projects, unfinished business, and piles of cluttered messes can weigh you down and take away from the energy you have to move forward toward your goals.
When you don't complete tasks, you can't be fully prepared to move into the present, let alone your new future.
When your brain is keeping track of all the unfinished business you still have at hand, you simply can't be effective in embracing new tasks that are in line with your vision.
Old incompletes can show up in your life in lots of different ways... like not having
clarity, procrastination, emotional energy blocks and even illness. Blocked energy is wasted, and a build up of
that energy can really leave you stymied.
Throw-out all the clutter and FEEL how much easier it is to think!
Make a list of areas in your life (both personal and professional) where you have incompletes and messes, then develop a plan to deal with them once and for all. Fix and organize the things that annoy you.
Take your final steps in bringing closure to outstanding projects.
Make that difficult phone call. Delegate time-wasting tasks that you've let build up.
Some incompletions come from simply not having adequate systems, knowledge, or expertise for handling these tasks. Other incompletions pile up because of bad work habits.
Get into completion consciousness by continually asking yourself...What does it take to actually get this task completed?
Only then can you begin to consciously take that next step of filing completed documents, mailing in the forms required, or reporting back to your boss that the project has been completed.
The truth is that 20 things completed have more power than 50 things that are half-way completed.
Finishing writing a book, for instance, that can go out and influence the world is better than 13 books you’re in the process of writing.
When you free yourself from the mental burden of incompletes and messes, you'll be AMAZED at how quickly the things you do want in life arrive.
Another area where you'll find incompletes in your life is in your emotions. Are you holding on to old hurts, resentments, and pain? Just like the physical clutter and incompletes, your energy is being drained by holding on to and reliving past pain and anger.
Remember, you'll attract whatever feelings you're experiencing. So, if you're stuck in revengeful thinking and angered in muck, you can't possibly be directing energy toward a positive future. You need to let go of the past in order to embrace the future. Letting go involves forgiveness and moving on.
By forgiving you aren't releasing the other person from their transgression as much as you're freeing yourself from their transgression. You don't have to condone their behavior, trust them, or even maintain a relationship with them. However, you DO have to free yourself from the anger, from the pain, and from the resentment once and for all!
When learning to forgive, make sure to complete the cycle.
Acknowledge your anger, your pain, and your fear. But also own up to any part you've played in allowing it to happen or continue. Make sure to express whatever it was that you wanted from that person, and then see the whole event from the other's point of view. Allow yourself to wonder what that person was going through and what kind of needs he/she was trying to fulfill at the time.
Finally, let go and move on. Every time you go through this process you're learning how to avoid letting it happen again!
I'll be back in two weeks with another edition of Success Strategies. Until then, see if you can discover ways to immediately implement what you learned from today's message.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com.
Read more...
by Jack Canfield
Do you live in a state of mental and physical clutter? Do you have a bunch of unfinished business lurking around every corner?Incomplete projects, unfinished business, and piles of cluttered messes can weigh you down and take away from the energy you have to move forward toward your goals.
When you don't complete tasks, you can't be fully prepared to move into the present, let alone your new future.
When your brain is keeping track of all the unfinished business you still have at hand, you simply can't be effective in embracing new tasks that are in line with your vision.
Old incompletes can show up in your life in lots of different ways... like not having
clarity, procrastination, emotional energy blocks and even illness. Blocked energy is wasted, and a build up of
that energy can really leave you stymied.
Throw-out all the clutter and FEEL how much easier it is to think!
Make a list of areas in your life (both personal and professional) where you have incompletes and messes, then develop a plan to deal with them once and for all. Fix and organize the things that annoy you.
Take your final steps in bringing closure to outstanding projects.
Make that difficult phone call. Delegate time-wasting tasks that you've let build up.
Some incompletions come from simply not having adequate systems, knowledge, or expertise for handling these tasks. Other incompletions pile up because of bad work habits.
Get into completion consciousness by continually asking yourself...What does it take to actually get this task completed?
Only then can you begin to consciously take that next step of filing completed documents, mailing in the forms required, or reporting back to your boss that the project has been completed.
The truth is that 20 things completed have more power than 50 things that are half-way completed.
Finishing writing a book, for instance, that can go out and influence the world is better than 13 books you’re in the process of writing.
Another area where you'll find incompletes in your life is in your emotions. Are you holding on to old hurts, resentments, and pain? Just like the physical clutter and incompletes, your energy is being drained by holding on to and reliving past pain and anger.
Remember, you'll attract whatever feelings you're experiencing. So, if you're stuck in revengeful thinking and angered in muck, you can't possibly be directing energy toward a positive future. You need to let go of the past in order to embrace the future. Letting go involves forgiveness and moving on.
By forgiving you aren't releasing the other person from their transgression as much as you're freeing yourself from their transgression. You don't have to condone their behavior, trust them, or even maintain a relationship with them. However, you DO have to free yourself from the anger, from the pain, and from the resentment once and for all!
When learning to forgive, make sure to complete the cycle.
Acknowledge your anger, your pain, and your fear. But also own up to any part you've played in allowing it to happen or continue. Make sure to express whatever it was that you wanted from that person, and then see the whole event from the other's point of view. Allow yourself to wonder what that person was going through and what kind of needs he/she was trying to fulfill at the time.
Finally, let go and move on. Every time you go through this process you're learning how to avoid letting it happen again!
I'll be back in two weeks with another edition of Success Strategies. Until then, see if you can discover ways to immediately implement what you learned from today's message.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com.
It’s Monday Morning!!!!
Ask the Experts:
Home Mortgage Specialist: Cindy Behm from Flagstar:
Question: Dear Cindy, I went for a mortgage to buy a house and the lender said I have to pay a point. What's that?
Answer: This is a great question. 1 point is 1% of the loan amount - On a $100,000 loan, the point would equal $1,000. 2 points would be 2% of the loan amount - therefore on a $100,000 loan 2 points would equal $2,000. The point(s) are a type of fee paid to the lender. There are two different kinds of points that can be charged to the borrower - Origination Point(s) and Discount Point(s). The first type of point is an Origination Point - Origination Points are charged to recover some costs of the loan origination process. The second type of point is a Discount Point - Discount Points are used to "buy" your interest rate lower. This is know as a rate "buydown". These points typically lower the interest rate for the term of the loan unless otherwise disclosed.
Home Staging Expert: Nan from First Impressions Staging and Design:
Question: Hi Nan! I’m thinking about putting my house up for sale. What can I do to get started before that?
Answer: Define the space. Start packing up anything you aren’t using on a day to day basis. Do this job early, so it doesn’t overwhelm you, and then get the whole family involved. Avoid storing excess gear in the garage if you can. A better option is a storage facility. Some storage companies even bring the storage to you so you can load it, they’ll store it, then deliver it to your new place when needed.
Quote of the Week:
Water Tower and Town of the Week:
Oshkosh on the Water. Oshkosh is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States, located where the Fox River enters Lake Winnebago. The population was 62,916 at the 2000 census; it had a metropolitan area of 159,972 people. The city is located adjacent to and partially within the Town of Oshkosh.
Photo of the Week:
Where are these people fishing? (Answer next week!)
Are they REALLY attaching their poles to the rail right under the sign that says not to??
Have a wonderful week everyone and don't miss the Eagle Cam in the sidebar!
Laurel Stone
Laurel Stone School of Real Estate
Social Media
“How do you eat an elephant – one bite at a time!” We’ve all heard that phrase about goal setting and breaking the goals down in to bite size pieces so they can be achieved one at a time. The truth of the matter is that often things in life seem overwhelming and, I don’t know about you but when I get overwhelmed, I often come to a complete stop.
To someone who is not familiar with “social media” it can seem like a daunting job to learn about it. However, here is where that breaking it down into pieces comes in. You don’t have to do it all right away. Start with something comfortable.
Join LinkedIn and see all the groups that you can join. (This is a shameless plug for my group called… drum roll…. Laurel Stone School of Real Estate) You can just watch for a bit but eventually you’ll want to get involved. If you’re in real estate in Wisconsin, the WRA has a group. The National Association of Realtors also has a group in addition to other real estate groups like Active Rain and Real Estate Total Eclipse. If you’re in Northeast Wisconsin, you might be interested in the New North Connection, Appleton Downtown Cool or Link Greater Green Bay.
Go to Facebook or Plaxo and get on board. Create your own blog… blogger is free so you can experiment and it won’t cost you anything. Join a Yahoo discussion group. START a discussion group. Just do something. Check out the videos below for some plain English explanations then take that first bite and you’ll find that it’s not so overwhelming. And…. you may find that you really like it and are connecting with people that you know!!
Foreclosure Dogs
There is a new kind of dog out there. We all have heard of the mixes of 2 breeds of dogs and they call them “new” breeds….. goldendoodle, cockapoo, labradoodle… you’ve heard of them. Well, this new dog could be any of them or it could be your German shepherd, black lab, poodle, golden
Below is a list of links to this ever growing problem that if you weren’t aware of, you are now and hopefully somehow you’ll get involved in your community to help these dogs.
Dogs Abandoned in the Foreclosure Fallout
Sign of the Times - The Foreclosure Dog
LIL' BUDDY'S BLOG - UNSUNG VICTIMS OF FORECLOSURE - Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets!
Cats and dogs are hidden casualties of foreclosure crisis
Owners lose home, and pets suffer, too
Mortgage crisis bites pets ….Animals lose families as owners lose homes
Dogs & Cats: The Silent Victims of Foreclosure - Introducing Help Foreclosure Pets
Foreclosure Crisis Affects Pets Too
The foreclosure dog's letter to his person.....
"You bought a house! You finally had a yard so you decided it was time for a dog. You chose me out of all the other dogs. As a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and I made you laugh. You called me your baby and carried me closely. Despite some chewed boxer shorts and a few broken mini-blinds, I became your best friend. Whenever I was “bad,” you’d shake your finger at me and ask “How could you?” but then you’d relent, and roll me over for a bellyrub.
My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your secret dreams. I remember running in your new, big backyard. I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, and BBQs. I took long naps in the backyard sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work to get paid for overtime. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through the bill-paying frustrations and the debt collector's calls. I never chided you about bad decisions, I never cared about your FICA score, and I never threatened to garnish your wages or repossess your car.
The letters kept coming. The phone kept ringing. Your employer froze wages and stopped giving overtime. Your new second job helped, but is wasn't enough. You stroked me kindly when they took away the car. You told me you'd buy us a new one and that everything would be OK.
Then the bank took the house."
There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few months, you just answered “yes” and changed the subject. I had gone from being “your dog” to “just a dog,” and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.
Now you will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You’ve made the right decision for your financial future and your family, but there was a time when I was your family too. There was a time when I wasn't just a backyard accessory, I was your "baby."
I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said “I know you will find a good home for him.” They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with “papers.”
You had to pry your son’s fingers loose from my collar as he screamed “No, Daddy! please don’t let them take my dog!” And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.
After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably got in over your head. They shook their heads and asked “How could you?” They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind that this was all a bad dream…or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking, happy puppies, I retreated to a far corner and waited.
I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears. She told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood.
She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. She said she never got used to this. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured “How could you?”
Perhaps because she understood me, she said “I’m so sorry.” She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn’t be ignored or abused or abandoned or have to fend for myself. A place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my “How could you?” was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Person, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.
What is WITH the Water Towers?
As I was driving yesterday I sighted a water tower and thought…hmmmm…..
This then, is my plan. I will take pictures of water towers in Wisconsin as I come across them and post them with a link to the community. I hope you’ll do the same and email the picture to me at asklaurelblog.gmail.com. Let’s see how many communities we can get represented!
For a list of towns that have been featured in alphabetical order, scroll down on any page and you'll see it.
Here are the some of the towns that I have photos of the water towers that were not yet featured.
Greenville
Hortonville
Kaukauna
Little Chute
Shioctin
Nan’s Page
If you’d like to submit a question please do so at asklaurelblog@gmail.com.
If you would like to discuss staging your home with Nan, you can contact her at 920-427-0414 and please CLICK HERE for a printable copy of her information.
Question: Do you have stats about staged home?
Answer: In 2008 occupied homes in our study that were previously on the market an average of 57 days as un-staged properties, had not sold. Those same homes were taken off the market and staged and re-listed. Those properties on average sold after 6 days on market after they were staged, which is 89% less time on market. Based on information gathered by RESA.
Question: Hi Nan! I have a large picture window in my living room?
Answer: When you have a large picture window to work with do not put any furniture in front of the window as it gives depth to a room. Also, whenever possible do not put the back of living room furniture facing the door. You want to create a bright open area especially near the door.
Question: Hi Nan! I’m thinking about putting my house up for sale. What can I do to get started before that?
Answer: Define the space Start packing up anything you aren’t using on a day to day basis. Do this job early, so it doesn’t overwhelm you, and then get the whole family involved. Avoid storing excess gear in the garage if you can. A better option is a storage facility. Some storage companies even bring the storage to you so you can load it, they’ll store it, then deliver it to your new place when needed.
Easters Past…..
I was thinking as we’re heading into Easter weekend about years ago… I mea
Happy EASTER!!
Read more...
The 3/50 Project
I’m on Linkedin, joined a few groups and get regular emails from them. Today one was from Appleton Downtown Cool and John Ranes from The Frame Workshop of Appleton titled The3/50 Project – Saving the Brock and Mortars Our Nation is Built On. He described it as a business marketing program started only a couple of weeks ago. When I read about it I jumped on the bandwagon. Links to the website are on this blog and my school website. Here is a press release detailing the exciting project…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact:
Cinda Baxter, (612) 435-0423
press_inquiries@the350project.net
The 3/50 Project Goes Viral
Small business owners unite behind a simple concept, creating a nationwide wildfire
Minneapolis,
MN, April 6, 2009 — What began as an off-the-cuff blog comment may well be one of the fastest spreading promotions in small business history.
Three weeks ago, retail consultant and blogger, Cinda Baxter, tossed out a suggestion that consumers actively support three locally owned businesses, then asked that they commit $50 per month to them. “Letʼs call it the 3/50 Project,” she quipped, before hitting the send key and filing the idea away. A few days later, the idea bubbled up again, this time in the form of a free flyer business owners could download, print, then hand their customer while thanking them for patronizing their establishments.
A week after that, a 2-page website went live, “to control the amount of email I was receiving, asking what the next step was,” according to Baxter. “There really wasnʼt a lot of forward planning involved...yet.” In its first 24 hours, the mini
scule site had attracted the attention of 350 visitors, according to Google Analytics. Based on the interest, she spent two days creating a full-blown, multi-page site. One week after it went live, the number of “absolute unique visitors” hitting the350project.net had ballooned to more than 7,500. “8,600-plus if you count repeat visits,” reports the Projectʼs founder. “When Twitter and Facebook users found us, well...it was a done deal. We went viral.”
The movementʼs success is attributed to the simplicity of the message, and the form in which itʼs delivered. While most Buy Local campaigns rely on terminology about “local living economies” and “sustainable micro-economics,” The 3/50 Project answers questions consumers are likely to ask in the language they speak at the dinner table: Whatʼs it going to cost, and how will this help? This plain English approach appears to have worked, given the passion with which both business owners and consumers have embraced it. Baxter explains “Thereʼs no telling how many people out there are actively behind this. The fire began to spread early on when
business owners started emailing the flyer to everyone they knew.” Thus far, several hundred supporters have registered with the Project, but she adds “Itʼs not inconceivable that for every supporter we know about there are ten or fifteen more.”
About The 3/50 Project:
Created to build loyalty and increased revenue for independent, locally owned businesses, The 3/50 project relies on a simple message: “Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy.”
*****Pick three locally owned businesses youʼd hate to see disappear, then return to them.
*****Spend $50 per month in locally owned businesses. If half the employed U.S. population did so, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.
*****For every $100 spent in locally owned businesses, $68 returns to the local community. When spent in a big box, chain, or franchise, $43 remains. Purchases made online return nothing.
Supporters have access to free materials that publicize the message, including a downloadable flyer that can be printed on any color printer, then handed to customers while thanking them for their patronage. Additional items include a window banner, a countertop sign, member badges for websites, graphics for newsletters and blogs, a movie screen panel for theaters, and window clings bearing The 3/50 Project logo, donated by The Chicago Market—one of the movementʼs most proactive fans.
The 3/50 Project can be found online at http://www.the350project.net
About Cinda Baxter:
Cinda Baxter understands retail from the inside out. Recipient of two national Retailer Excellence Awards and frequent press coverage ranging from Minnesota Monthly to Modern Bride, she now “pays it forward” to retailers and vendors through her consulting company Always Upward, as a Contributing Editor for Gifts and Decorative Accessories Magazine, and as founder of The 3/50 Project. Widely recognized as an expert in the gift and stationery industry, Cindaʼs resumé includes seats on distinguished boards: AmericasMart Atlanta, the National Stationery Show, Retailer Networks Incorporated, and the Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), where she also served on the Board of Directors. Her most recent appointment to the Gift for Life Board of Directors is of particular note. Sheʼs been a featured speaker at numerous trade shows, including the Hong Kong Gift and Premium Show, the New York International Gift Show, the Los Angeles Gift Show, and the National Stationery Show—and at several regional marts, including Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, and Boston.
As founder of acclaimed online communities RetailSpeaks (independent gift and stationery retailers) and Brilliant Ink (professional stationers dedicated to original design), Cinda is considered a pioneer of social networking in the retail industry—a reflection of her passion to help community based business survive and thrive for years to come.
Graphics
Available by request; contact press_inquiries@the350project.net
Cindy’s Page
Welcome to Cindy’s page where you will find answers to questions asked about real estate financing. In addition to being licensed in real estate, Cindy has an extensive background in mortagage lending.
If you’d like to submit a question please do so at asklaurelblog@gmail.com
Question: I went for a mortgage to buy a house and the lender said I have to pay a point. What's that?
Answer: This is a great question. 1 point is 1% of the loan amount - On a $100,000 loan, the point would equal $1,000. 2 points would be 2% of the loan amount - therefore on a $100,000 loan 2 points would equal $2,000. The point(s) are a type of fee paid to the lender. There are two different kinds of points that can be charged to the borrower - Origination Point(s) and Discount Point(s). The first type of point is an Origination Point - Origination Points are charged to recover some costs of the loan origination process. The second type of point is a Discount Point - Discount Points are used to "buy" your interest rate lower. This is know as a rate "buydown". These points typically lower the interest rate for the term of the loan unless otherwise disclosed.
Question: Dear Cindy, how much downpayment is required for a home loan?
Answer: Another great question - the borrower does not always get a straight answer on this question until the lender knows more about the borrowers finances and credit. There are many factors that actually go into this answer. The first factor is what loan types does the bank or mortgage broker offer. Not all lenders have the same products. There are still some products that allow for 100% financing, meaning no down payment is required, while other programs require a 20% down payment. For the average person buying a owner-occupied property, that can prove their income a 3.5% - 5% down payment is quite common. There are other factors to consider, such as: interest rate, mortgage insurance, etc. Don't be misled by the interest rate, sometimes a higher interest rate could mean a lower monthly payment. Check all the details and learn about the loan that you are getting into.
What is it about the Crocus?
I saw some crocuses (or as I found out you can also call them croci) today and had to take some photos... what is it about this beautiful little flower.... a promise of spring maybe??? Enjoy!
Hmmmm.... I really need more colors so I called my neighbor... her's aren't blooming yet but will be soon and there will be LOTS of colors!
About Me
So… who the heck AM I??
I’ve been asking myself that for years. Other people have been wondering for years! Just ask my kids – they’ll tell you! I know I need to write something and it needs to be something other than the blurb on my Laurel Stone School of Real Estate website that makes people think that I must be 100 years old! I mean, how many Realtors out there have been in the business since 1977? My guess is that lots of readers weren’t even BORN in 1977….. YIKES!! I remember when I was in grade school I thought I’d be really, REALLY old when the year 2000 came and, even if I was still alive, I probably wouldn’t remember it!! My, how differently we look at things as we age!
As I sit here at home writing this a dog has just dropped a slimy kong on my lap knowing that the treats that are usually inside of it really come from me. I'm surrounded by dogs right now.... have 4 and I love them all but I really want 2 which is a perfect number. Someone asked me recently after I made that comment if I was going to find homes for 2 of them... no... couldn't possibly do that. I'll just wait a few years because 2 are older and the thing about dogs is that they really don't live long enough for us. Enough about dogs... you can find out more here on their blog called Laurel and her Dogs (creative, huh? :))
More to come... gotta go fill a kong...
OK....back a day later to finish this up. I have a friend here and we think the best thing is for her to just ask questions and I'll answer them:
- When's your birthday: May 13th
- Where were you born? Brooklyn, New York
- Where have you lived? Hanover (mostly - I was raised there) and York Pennsylvania and Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Winneconne and Winchester, Wisconsin
- Other than sailing and dogs, what have you done in the past for fun? Tennis, Tae Kwon Do (a LONG time ago), Pottery, Macrame (ok...that dates me), Scrapbooking (before it was called that) and photography.
- Do you have children? Yes, 2 girls, Candace and Sharon.
- Do you have grandchildren? Yes, Candace and Sharon each have a son and a daughter.
- Do you have sisters and brothers? Nope... a spoiled.... only child!
- What is your favorite food? Hmm... it's a toss up betweena peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a grilled cheese sandwich WITH sliced tomatoes....oh... and PIZZA
- What is your favorite ice cream? Peanut butter ripple hands down!
- What's your favorite movie? Well the last time I went to the movies was when Home Alone came out which was awhile back but I have seen some DVDs. The Secret is most likely my favorite but in a more entertaining vein I like Forrest Gump.
- We know you have dogs... what have you done with them? I compete in dog sports and have put over 40 titles and counting on 5 dogs over the last 7 years in Herding, AKC and UKC Obedience, Rally, Schutzhund, PSA (Protection Sport Association) and SDA (Service Dogs of America) Tracking. In addition, all my dogs have been therapy dogs and I've been an evaluator for Therapy Dogs, Inc. in Cheyanne WY.
- Did you ever have a nickname? No.. my mother wouldn't hear of it!
- What is your favorite quote? Hmm... so many.. I guess the one I say to myself often is: "It's not what happens to us, but how we react to it that counts".
- Finally, tell us about your real estate career. .....NO... that's well documented at my real estate school site. No sense repeating it here! :):)
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Continuing Education
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Continuing Ed Offered by Laurel Stone 2009-10
Mission
AskLaurel.com was created to offer the best information on a variety of topics, whether real estate related or not, to real estate agents in Wisconsin, people who may be getting into the real estate industry or people who are just interested in learning a bit about the industry.
Oshkosh on the Water
Oshkosh is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States, located where the Fox River enters Lake Winnebago. The population was 62,916 at the 2000 census; it had a metropolitan area of 159,972 people. The city is located adjacent to and partially within the Town of Oshkosh.
Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau
EAA The Spirit of Aviation
Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
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