It’s Monday Morning!!!!

Ask the Experts:

Home Mortgage Specialist Cindy Behm from Silverstone:

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 known 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: 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 RESPA.

Quote of the Week:

In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently." Tony Robbins

Water Tower and Town of the Week: Omro

Omro, built along the banks of the beautiful Fox River, offers visitors and residents alike the perfect combination of business and residential amenities. With population 3,300, Omro retains a small-town feel, but presents a big-city attitude.

Located eight miles west of Oshkosh along the Highway 21 Corridor, Omro is the gateway to recreat

ion and relaxation throughout the state. The city's central location and close proximity to Lake Winnebago and larger urban centers, such as Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, and Ap

pleton, allow residents and visitors a w

ealth of shopping and entertainment opportunities.

City of Omro

Town of Omro

Chamber of Commerce

Photo of the Week:

Spring really has SPRUNG!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Laurel

Laurel Stone School of Real Estate

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Omro: Your Bridge to the Future

Omro, built along the banks of the beautiful Fox River, offers visitors and residents alike the perfect combination of business and residential amenities. With population 3,300, Omro retains a small-town feel, but presents a big-city attitude.

Located eight miles west of Oshkosh along the Highway 21 Corridor, Omro is the gateway to recreation and relaxation throughout the state. The city's central location and close proximity to Lake Winnebago and larger urban centers, such as Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, and Appleton, allow residents and visitors a wealth of shopping and entertainment opportunities.

City of Omro

Town of Omro

Chamber of Commerce

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Putting Fear in Its Place by Jack Canfield

As you move forward on your journey from where you are to where you want to be, you are going to have to confront some of your fears. Fear is a just a natural part of living.

Whenever you start a new project, take on a new venture, or put yourself out there, there's usually some fear involved. Unfortunately, most people let fear stop them from taking the necessary steps to achieve their dreams.

Confronting your fears is a very necessary step in achieving success.

There is simply no other way. Fear can be a helpful emotion, as it tells you when you need to be extra careful, keenly aware, and cautious. Fear is not an emotion that is telling you to stop. In fact, it's telling you just the opposite! Acknowledging your feelings of fear helps you know when you are stepping out of your comfort zone. It points your awareness to areas where you could improve and grow.

There is simply no other way. Fear can be a helpful emotion, as it tells you when you need to be extra careful, keenly aware, and cautious. Fear is not an emotion that is telling you to stop. In fact, it's telling you just the opposite! Acknowledging your feelings of fear helps you know when you are stepping out of your comfort zone. It points your awareness to areas where you could improve and grow.
Successful people also feel fear. Yet they don't let it get in the way of anything they want to do--or have to do. They understand that fear is something to be acknowledged, experienced, and taken along for the ride. They have learned, as author Susan Jeffers suggests in her must-read book, to "Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway®."

Fear is more of a signal that we should stay alert and cautious. We can feel fear, but we can still move forward anyway.

Think of fear as a 2-year-old child who doesn't want to go grocery shopping with you. Because you must buy groceries, you'll just have to take the two year old with you. Fear is no different. In other words, acknowledge that fear exists but don't let it keep you from doing important tasks.

Also realize that so many of our fears are self-created. We might frighten ourselves by fantasizing negative outcomes to any activity we might peruse or experience. Luckily, because we are the ones doing the fantasizing, we are also the ones who can stop the fear and bring ourselves into a state of clarity and peace by facing the actual facts, rather than giving in to our imaginations.

If a fear is too great for you to overcome, try breaking it down into smaller challenges.
Try starting out by doing the parts of the project that don't scare you so much. You need to give a speech in front of a large group? Try giving your speech in front of a small group of people who care for you. Work your way up until you are able to feel the fear but still move forward. As you do you will build your confidence and eventually you won't feel fear surrounding those issues because you'll have done them enough to count it as a skill.

As you move toward your goal, don't attach yourself so much to the outcomes.
Keep moving toward your dream doing everything you can to create what you want, then let it go and see what shows up. Sometimes the universe will have a better idea in mind for you and present a better opportunity when you were expecting something completely different. Don't let fear keep you from moving forward. Even if the horrible outcome that you imagined happens, the universe will always provide for you another way to succeed. So be on the look out!

Trust that no matter what occurs, you are smart enough and strong enough to keep looking for, and attracting, opportunities.

If you are willing to try new experiences in spite of your fears, then more new experiences will present themselves for you to try. And the more you try, the more you are likely to succeed!
© 2009 Jack Canfield
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

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It’s Monday Morning!!!!

Ask the Experts:

Home Mortgage Specialist Cindy Behm from Silverstone Mortgage:

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 have a large picture window in my living room? Any suggestions?

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.

Quote of the Week:

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation." Brian Tracy

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Water Tower and Town of the Week: Winneconne

Winneconne is a village in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,401 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Winneconne. The Wolf River runs through the village.

In 1967, as a result of the town name being inadvertently left off the official Wisconsin road map, a secret committee formulated a plan to secede fromWisconsin, set up toll gates on local roads, begin annexation o nearby communities (starting with the city of Oshkosh) to form a Sovereign State of Winneconne, and declare war on the United States. As an alternative plan, annexation by another state, preferably one with better weather, was sought. The deadline for secession was July 21, 1967. A proclamation was issued, naming village president "James Coughlin to be president of the new state of Winneconne; Vera Kitchen to be prime minister and custodian of Vera’s Kitchen Cabinet". Wisconsin Governor Warren P. Knowles entered into negotiations with the former village officials; as a result, Winneconne rejoined the State of Wisconsin at 12:01 AM on July 22, 1967. An annual Sovereign State Days celebration commemorates the event.

Photo of the Week:

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Laurel

Laurel Stone School of Real Estate

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Winneconne on the Wolf

Winneconne is a community of friendly people working together to create new and better opportunities for its young people. It is a thriving small town bustling with business and recreational activity . . . anxious to welcome visitors, eager to support local business, and striving to attract new business and industry.

Winneconne is located in the very heart of a four season recreational wonderland and becomes a bee hive of activity early in the spring during the famous walleyed pike run in the Wolf River. People gather from all over Wisconsin and many from outside the state for this annual event.

I found 2 water towers in Winneconne and I chose the older one to feature here. Check the photo album for the other one!

Winneconne Area Chamber of Commerce

Village of Winneconne
Town of Winneconne

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Mother’s Day Past….

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House Styles

Quick!  Describe to me what a Neoclassical style of house is!   What about these:  Art Deco; Second Empire; Shingle; Stick; Tudor; Monterey or Greek Revival????

 

Look at the styles pictured here…can you name them???

 

Most of us can’t but there is a resource that describes each one of these and MORE!

 

The Architectural Home Styles has this information and MORE so check it out when you want to know what type of home you’re looking at to list or buy!!

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So the answer to the question of what styles are pictured here is from top down:

Art Deco
A vertically oriented design includes flat roofs and metal window casements.

Neoclassical
Neoclassical homes exist in incarnations from one-story cottages to multilevel manses.

Bungalow
A forerunner of the craftsman style, you'll find rustic exteriors and sheltered-feeling interiors.

Prairie
Originated by Frank Lloyd Wright, this style can be house boxy or low-slung.

CLICK ON THE HOUSE STYLE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TO A MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION.

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It’s Monday Morning!!

Ask the Experts:

Home Mortgage Specialist: Cindy Behm from Flagstar:

Question: What is included in each mortgage payment?

Answer: This could vary depending on how you and your lender set up your mortgage. Discuss this with your lender prior to signing your final documents to ensure there are no surprises after the closing. Your payment could consist of the following:

· Principal - The amount that reduces what you owe to the bank.

· Interest - The amount of interest due the bank for the prior month.

· Mortgage Insurance - If you have a loan that requires mortgage insurance, this will be part of your payment.

· Property Taxes - If this is not included in your payment, you will need to pay it to your municipality when due.

· Insurance - Home Owners or Hazard Insurance. If this is not included in your payment, you will need to pay it when due

· HOA Dues - If you have a Home Owner's Association, you will probably have some type of dues. If this is not included in your payment, you will need to pay when due.

Again - make certain that you know what is included in your payment to ensure that you don't have any surprises when your Home Owner's Insurance, HOA Dues or Property Taxes are due. If your Home Owner's Insurance, HOA Dues and/or Property Taxes are not included in the monthly payment, you will need to come up with the cash when they are due.

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:

Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you are going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus. Oprah Winfrey

Water Tower and Town of the Week:

Lomira

Lomira was first settled by the Indians in 1840. White settlers, mostly from New York and various European countries, followed in 1843.

In the early years, stagecoaches provided transportation to Lomira on the historic Yellowstone Road, now Highway 175. In 1871, a railroad built just east of the original village brought more growth.

When the Village of Lomira was incorporated in 1899, it covered 530 acres and had a population of 433. At this time, Lomira consisted of a hotel, brewery, cigar factory, general store, drugstore, fish hatchery, furniture factory, shoe factory, blacksmith shop, campground, and hat shop. Unfortunately, most of these businesses ceased operations during the Great Depression.

As part of Wisconsin's dairy land, Lomira's economy has always been strongly linked to agricultural industries. The area has an abundance of surface waters, numerous wildlife refuges and preserves, and excellent hunting and fishing.

Photo of the Week:

Joshua…. Been with me since 1980!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Laurel

Laurel Stone School of Real Estate

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Monday Mortgage Update

CindyBehmsMondayMortgageUpdate8.17

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Lomira

Lomira was first settled by the Indians in 1840. White settlers, mostly from New York and various European countries, followed in 1843.

In the early years, stagecoaches provided transportation to Lomira on the historic Yellowstone Road, now Highway 175. In 1871, a railroad built just east of the original village brought more growth.

When the Village of Lomira was incorporated in 1899, it covered 530 acres and had a population of 433. At this time, Lomira consisted of a hotel, brewery, cigar factory, general store, drugstore, fish hatchery, furniture factory, shoe factory, blacksmith shop, campground, and hat shop. Unfortunately, most of these businesses ceased operations during the Great Depression.

As part of Wisconsin's dairy land, Lomira's economy has always been strongly linked to agricultural industries. The area has an abundance of surface waters, numerous wildlife refuges and preserves, and excellent hunting and fishing.

Chamber of Commerce
Lomira - Then and Now

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What’s happening out there?

I’m talking about the real estate market.

Last Friday I stopped by Century 21 Acre Realty in Appleton and the parking lot was full. When I came in the office I said “What is going on?” Answer… CLOSINGS! woohoo!

So now I’ve asked some more agents and have received general answers like “it’s hoppin”, “it’s improving”, “it’s kinda crazy”, “it’s pickin’ up some”, “ lots of first time homebuyers out there” and the best I got from an email is:

"Doing well! It is crazy out there at the moment! I have been non-stop running. 3 A/O's this week so far. I have about 30 houses to show this weekend."

So as we head into warmer weather there is optimism!

My student inquiries and student enrollment has substantially picked up from a month ago

So I’m asking you – What do YOU think?

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