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The debt crisis abroad is holding strong, as indicated yesterday following a release of the European Central Bank’s balance sheet. The financial brief sparked mortgage backed securities in Thursday’s early morning hours, driving the 4.25% 30-Year rate to zero points. Jobless claims have increased over the past week.

What’s Up on Wall Street?

It was a pretty ugly day for stocks yesterday, as all three major indexes saw losses of greater than 1.00 percent.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 139.94 points (1.14 percent), while the S&P 500 fell 15.79 points (1.25 percent).  The biggest loser of the day was the Nasdaq Composite, which lost 35.22 points (1.34 percent).

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New Year’s Eve is fast approaching and it’s meant to be a night of fun as we celebrate the beginning of another year. Unfortunately, many accidents and fatalities occur because partygoers don’t have the heightened sense of awareness that’s needed on this worldwide holiday.

Whether you’re going to a big party in the city or staying in with friends and family, following these New Year’s Eve safety tips will ensure that everyone gets to and from their celebrations safely so they can enjoy all that 2012 has to offer!

New Year’s Eve Safety Tips: Going Out

• Bring only what you need in your handbag or wallet, such as your driver’s license, money and one credit card.  Don’t take your department store credit cards, gift cards or any other valuables that you might normally carry with you.

• While it’s fun to share where you are on social media sites, beware of doing so, as you are publicly alerting others that you are not at home.

• If you plan on drinking, don’t drive! Protect yourself and others by having a designated driver.

• Auto accidents due to alcohol consumption are highest between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., so avoid being on the road at those times.

• Use public transportation or take a cab both to and from the celebration so you can avoid leaving your car in a strange place overnight.

• If you are driving, make sure to park in a well-lit area that’s populated.

• Check that your windows are rolled up, doors are locked and valuables are out of sight.

• Be on guard and aware of your surroundings.

• If you’re attending a large party where there are crowds, travel with a group or in pairs.

• Make sure everyone has a “buddy” who can confirm they got home safely at the end of the night.

• If you become separated from your group, check with the bar/party staff so they can contact a taxi company for you.

• Do not leave drinks unattended. Finish it before you hit the restroom or dance floor.

• Don’t forget to eat, and drink water or non-alcoholic beverages in between alcoholic ones.

• It’s not just people behind the wheel you have to pay attention to when you go home. Watch out for intoxicated walkers who pay no attention to lights or crosswalks.

• If you are doing the walking, do not go alone as you may be setting yourself up for an attacker to target you.  Pay attention to where you are going and look for bumps, holes and curbs to avoid injury.

• Call the police if you see anything illegal or suspicious taking place.

New Year’s Eve Safety Tips: Staying In

• If the party is at your house, be sure all smoke alarms are working and have fresh batteries.

• Have phone numbers handy for a cab company, emergency contacts and poison control if something unexpected occurs.

• Have guests turn their keys in to you upon arrival and put them in a secure place. That way you can ensure that everyone has a safe ride home.

• Have two colors of cups: one for adult beverages and one for non-alcoholic ones.  This is one more way to keep alcohol out of the hands of children or guests who may be allergic to alcohol.

• If cups are unattended for a while, dump them, especially if there are kids or pets around that might be curious to consume them.

• If you serve a minor in your home, even in the presence of their parents, you could be in major trouble with the law.

• Be alert and aware. Noisemakers, champagne corks and more can be dangerous for children and pets, especially if they shoot across the room or break into pieces.

• Shooting fireworks? Do so in an open area where homes and power lines are out of the way. Keep children and pets away from where you are igniting them and never re-light a firework that did not go off the first time.

• Make sure you have food and snacks available so your guests aren’t drinking on an empty stomach.

• Have a variety of non-alcoholic beverages and plenty of water for your guests.

• Stop serving alcohol at a determined time and stick to it.

• If you’re burning candles, remember to extinguish them before the end of the party.

• Be prepared to let your guests stay the night as an alternative to them driving home after drinking.

Remember, partying on New Year’s Eve is about celebrating the rollercoaster of another year and the hopefulness of a new one.  By having a good sense of awareness and taking these New Year’s Eve safety tips to heart, we can make sure that everyone’s friends and family have a happy and healthy year ahead!

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Sure, putting a big down payment on your new home is a good thing. But have you thought about home repairs?  It is not smart to put all of your money into your down payment, or to use the rest to make improvements. Surprises abound for first-time home buyers who may not be aware of all the ways their new home can swallow their money. Gone are the days when many homeowners could dip into their equity to replace a roof or septic system. Be proactive and keep some savings aside for unexpected home repairs, even if the inspection came up clean.

Here are some ways your home may make you regret buying that $2 million bathtub:

Rain. Yep. Rain can make your lawn and garden beautiful, and your basement a total disaster. I’ve been very lucky to have never experienced a flooded basement. I hope I never do. But it does happen, and depending on your circumstances, your insurance may not cover it. Rain can also drip down through a leak in your roof or a window frame. If you don’t find and fix the leak ASAP, you may end up with some pretty serious rot, and even mold.

Wind. A pretty impressive storm rolled through our neighborhood this summer. We were lucky – our fence was the only thing damaged. Our neighbors weren’t so lucky. Most of their expenses were covered by insurance, but they had to pay for the repairs upfront and wait for reimbursement.

Bedbugs! (And other infestations…) There was a bedbug epidemic in my neighborhood in New York. People would ask each other if there were bedbugs in their buildings before they would agree to play dates for their kids. People wouldn’t go to movie theaters or sit on seats in the subway. It was mania. But, I can’t blame them. Getting rid of bedbugs is not an easy, or inexpensive, undertaking. Don’t think they only invade “dirty” homes. Bedbugs aren’t choosy. They’ll like your house just fine.

Appliances. Most household appliances come with a manufacturer’s warranty that lasts about a year or two – after that, you’re on your own for repairs or replacement. Think about all the mechanical thingamajigs in your house: refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, hot water heater, furnace, a/c, etc. That’s a big list of potential money suckers.

Sewer lines. Ew. And, guess what? The part that runs from your house to city property is your responsibility! Who wants to deal with a sewer line mess, much less pay for it? This can be a problem especially in older neighborhoods where time may have taken its toll. Your insurance may well cover it, but you’ll have to pay the cost upfront.

Foundation. Cracks in walls and floors aren’t the only signs you have foundation problems. Check to see if your chimney is straight. Do your windows and doors open and close easily? These could also signal that foundation repair is in your future. All sorts of things cause foundation damage, and money is the only thing that can fix it.

Heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical. A lot of this stuff hides behind walls so potential problems may not be discovered during the home inspection. What happens if your furnace bites the dust in February? Did you find outdated electrical when you knocked out that wall to expand your master suite?  Maybe a pipe burst while you were away for the weekend?

If you are buying a condo or townhome, you’ll pay association dues that will help pay for repairs to the main structure and communal parts of the property. Make sure you’re clear on what’s covered. You will be responsible for repairs necessary inside your home. And, lucky for you, sometimes the reserve funds in the association pot aren’t enough to cover major repairs, so you may have to chip in extra from time to time. Yay!

Owning your own home has many benefits. Be a savvy buyer and plan for the future so you’re ready to face any surprises your new home may throw your way!

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As a copy writer, I often share my latest articles with my family and friends via Facebook and Twitter.  I choose to share my articles through social media because this gives my work the best chance to be liked, shared again, go viral, or even make Google News.

Social Media gives journalists like me the potential to gain maximum exposure through the use of their networks.

However, the decision in an upcoming Twitter account case may change the rules and regulations for sharing work-related information and set a new precedent in social media law.  And former PhoneDog employee Noah Kravit’s fate will blaze a trail for over 300 million Twitter users to follow.

Noah Kravitz has no relation to the rock star Lenny (who shares his last name) yet, after being sued by his former employer for $340,000, it’s safe to assume that Noah also “wants to fly away” from his social media trial in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California.

PhoneDog sued Kravitz in July for using a Twitter account with the name @PhoneDog_Noah for both business and personal reasons.  PhoneDog claims that through the personal use of the Twitter account, Kravitz damaged the company’s goodwill, reputation, and business.

However, Kravitz claims that after he was relieved of his duties at PhoneDog he changed the name on the twitter account (he created) to @noahkravitz and continued to use the account as his personal twitter account.

PhoneDog claims that the account is their property since Kravitz initially obtained the 17,000 followers with the @PhoneDog_Noah tag line.  Kravitz maintains that he was able to amass the 17,000 followers by melding his professional and personal work.

Social Media has become an increasingly relevant forum for businesses to gain brand awareness and monitor their brand’s reputation.

There are parallels between this PhoneDog social media case and the Kwame Kilpatrick trial. PhoneDog claims that they own the software (twitter account) Noah Kravitz used to for his personal use and the city of Detroit owned the cell phone that Kilpatrick allegedly sent incriminating text messages from.

While it was easy for the city of Detroit to prove that they owned Kilpatrick’s cell phone and were therefore privy to text messages sent from the cell phone, PhoneDog is attempting to prove that they own the intellectual property (the Twitter account).

Theft of intellectual property is the same accusation that the infamous Winklevoss twins from Harvard were unsuccessful at proving during their $140 million lawsuit against Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

If the court rules that companies own any intellectual property that employees use to share articles or any information that the company owns, this could mean major changes in social media law.

Do you believe companies should have ownership over your Twitter or Facebook account if you share an article you wrote for your employer (therefore owned by the company) or if you share company information on those accounts?  Leave your comments below.

Read the Twitter media law article in full on the CNN Tech page.

 

 

Jonathan Slappey is a writer for Quicken Loans, a company whose clients believe it’s Engineered to Amaze.  Interested in being Amazed by us? Read trusted reviews at our review site.

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Early morning reports indicate treasuries have bounced back vigilantly following yesterday’s seamless bond auction in Italy.

While the lull in economic news continues during the post-holiday week, any financial headlines would be the catalyst behind a possible market move.

What’s Up on Wall Street?

After the Consumer Confidence Report came out yesterday and showed that consumer confidence is at an eight-month high, you would think that the stocks would positively reflect that, right?  Nope. The stocks barely budged yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended its 5-day win streak and slipped 2.65 points (0.02 percent). The S&P 500 climbed a massive 0.10 points (0.01 percent), while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 6.56 points (0.25 percent).

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FSBO listed on 12/28/2011 - 4 Bedroom 2 Bath 2 Car Garage. Large Lot on a quiet Cul de Sac.

With retailers estimating about $28 billion in gift card sales this year, it’s likely you received a gift card for Christmas, Hanukkah or your birthday.

Retailers know that many gift cards are redeemed in January, after the holidays subside and folks can focus on buying something for themselves.  Stores are hoping to catch you in the holiday mood with after-Christmas sales and promotions, to capture even more of those gift cards that often go unused.

What happens if you’re carrying around a gift card to a store you’ll never visit, not even online?  There are some alternatives to help you sell, swap or even invest the card’s value into a mutual fund!

Sell or Exchange Gift Cards

PlasticJungle.com will give you up to 92 percent of the value of your card that it resells via cashier’s check, PayPal or an Amazon.com gift card.  Similar sites that offer cash for gift cards include CardPool.com and GiftCardRescue.com.

Invest Your Gift Card and Increase Its Value

Asset manager GoalMine.com, is offering to redeem your first gift card for 150 percent of its value if you open a new account, but only until the end of January 2012.  After entering gift card numbers and values, you can create a free account where you can apply the value to a mutual fund or FDIC-insured savings account.

To learn more about ways you can sell, swap or invest your unwanted gift cards, check out Jennifer Waters’ Wall Street Journal article.

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Quicken Loans Founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert and Rock Ventures were in the building-buying mood yet again, as they acquired three more buildings for their growing portfolio.

In addition to the M@dison Theatre Building, the Dime Building, Chase Tower and the First National Building, the group is happy to announce the acquisition of the historic Wright-Kay Brownstone Building, the Lane Bryant Building and the Arts League of Michigan building.

The six-story Wright-Kay Building, located at 1500 Woodward, was constructed in 1891 and is looking to be used for street-level retail and offices or residential units on the floors above.

Just down the street, the Lane Bryant Building features 45,000 square feet of space and will offer retail on the ground floor and office space on the floors above, when renovated.

The 43,000 square-foot Arts League of Michigan Building, located at 1528 Woodward, is expected to offer a mix of retail and office space as well.

For Rock Ventures, the purchase of these three buildings will cap off a big year of building purchases in the heart of downtown Detroit.

2011 was a busy year for Rock Ventures; they purchased seven buildings, three parking structures, and one parking lot.  By the end of the year, Gilbert’s holdings will own more than 1.8 million square feet of space and nearly 2,750 parking spaces in downtown Detroit.

“We are more committed than ever to creating an environment where more and more businesses and their employees will call Detroit their home.  In fact, in 2012 we will put on a full-court-press to recruit many of the brightest and best businesses, as well as exciting start-up companies, to downtown,” said Dan Gilbert.

Nice basketball analogy there, Dan.

Jim Ketai, Bedrock Real Estate Services’ managing director, explained “We’ve been able to both acquire and redevelop new properties at break-neck speed this year, opening the doors for many companies to move downtown in 2011, with an increasing number in the works for 2012.”

No basketball analogy from Jim, but the point was still nicely made.

So…1.8 million square feet of space and 2,750 parking spaces in a 12-month span.  What will 2012 hold for this building-hungry group?

 

Eric Mally is a writer for Quicken Loans, an amazing place to work.  Find out more about being a part of our team at Quicken Loans and learn how we Amaze our clients.

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Early morning reports indicate that mortgage-backed securities are down from Friday’s numbers. Over the next two days, Italy will prepare to sell off debt that has grown to be worth nearly 20 billion euro. Very little economic data will be released this week as the holiday season continues and 2011 draws to a close.

What’s Up on Wall Street?

We have to trace back all of the way to Friday to report the stock market closings because the markets were not open for trading due to the holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed Friday up 124 points (1.02 percent) to cap off a four-day streak of gains and to finish the week off with an increase of 3.60 percent. The Nasdaq Composite saw a marginal gain on Friday and finished the day up 19.19 points (0.74 percent) and closed the week off with a 2.48 percent gain, while the S&P 500  closed off the biggest week of gains for all three major indexes by finishing Friday up 11.33 points (0.90 percent) with a 3.74 percent gain over the five days of trading.

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FSBO listed on 12/27/2011 - A GREAT VALUE for lakefrontage! You'll own 2400' (ALMOST 1/2 mile!) of lakefrontage on this PRIVATE 100 acre lake. Only 12 families have access to this private 100 acre lake. Ready to retire where the sun almost always shines in winter? This main floor living 3 BR 2 bath Ranch w/ walkout basement sits in a stunning location,facing the lake. Watch the sunrise across the water every AM. Due to 'chinook's that push the warm air down over the Rockies onto the Foothills where this Ranch sits, you'll find a milder 4 season climate here. Even as compared to properties on the E. side of I-25.

Everyone knows about Santa! You don’t even have to celebrate Christmas to know about Santa and his jolly belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly! You know he flies in a magical sleigh and delivers presents to all the girls and boys of the world.

But I am willing to bet that you don’t know about Santa’s little secret. And I’m not talking about elves, either. No, I’m talking about the darker side of the holiday. The less festive. The scary secret that no one likes to talk about, or if they do it’s in hushed tones long after the kids have gone to bed. That’s right. Santa has a dark side, ladies and gentlemen, and it ain’t pretty.

We all know that the good girls and boys get lots of presents from good ol’ St. Nick on Christmas Day, but what happens to the bad ones? Well, I’ll tell you. They get snatched up or smacked with a rod by the darker side of Christmas. You may call them Krampus or Belsnickel or Le Père Fouettard…but I call it comeuppance!

These dark companions travel with St. Nick (aka, Father Christmas, Santa Claus) and carry a rod or a stick and a bag. They’re often dressed in rags and have horrible, scary faces or they can be dark, sinister versions of Santa himself. Regardless of what they look like, their purpose is to punish and discipline the kids who have been bad throughout the year.

The most famous of these companions is Krampus. The story of Krampus dates back to pre-Christian Germanic traditions, and is often found in the areas of Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Switzerland, and Pennsylvania (I know, right? But there’s a huge Germanic population there, that’s why.) Typically, Krampus carries chains and birch branches that he uses to swat at kids.  Sometimes – and here’s the dark part – he carries a bag or a washtub on his back  to cart off bad kids to drown, eat or transport to h-e-double-hockey-sticks. The name Krampus comes from the Old German word for ‘claw,’ and you better believe he has them! He’s been described as looking like a demon with long horns and goat-like features. Sometimes he has razor sharp teeth and a long, forked tongue. No matter how you slice it, Krampus is scary.  

Then you have good old Belsnickel. He can be found running around the northwestern parts of Germany at Christmas time with his good friend Sinterklaus. In fact, Belsnickel shares many of the same characteristics as Krampus but isn’t as scary. But, compared to Krampus, he seems like a nice guy! He’ll even deliver socks or shoes full of candy to children who have behaved, but if you’ve been bad, well, Belsnickel will give you a bunch of coal or a switch. Sometimes, he’ll even let the bad kids sing a song or tell a poem in order to change his mind.  At least he has a nicer side, unlike this next “friend” of Santa.

Le Père Fouettard (The Whipping Father) is the worst of the worst. Known throughout Europe, but mostly prevalent throughout France, Le Père Fouettard puts Krampus to shame. This “friend” of Santa is known to bring a whip with him on all of Santa’s visits, and ruthlessly spanks all of the naughty kids who have misbehaved. The story about his origins is gruesome. He was an Inn Keeper (or sometimes a butcher) who captured 3 wealthy children on their way to boarding school. Because he was greedy, he robbed then killed the children, chopped them up and put them in a stew.  St. Nicholas discovered them, resurrected the kids, and forced Le Père Fouettard to become his assistant as punishment for his crimes. He’s already not a nice guy and now he’s forced to spend all of his time with the happiest, nicest man in history? As you can imagine, this makes Le Père Fouettard even more mean, so he takes it out on the bad kids at the holidays.  If you see a man with a scary, pointy face dressed in dark scraggly robes with a long beard carrying a whip or a bunch of switch-sticks in a bundle on his back, then you better run the other way because Le Père Fouettard is after you! (Interesting aside, there are rumors that the man on the cover of Led Zeppelin IV is Le Père Fouettard!)

All joking aside, these stories have been passed down in many variations throughout history as a way to make sure those young girls and boys would mind their parents. Getting kids to behave is hard work, and it’s our job as parents to use horrific imagery to frighten them into good behavior right? Maybe not. All I know is that when I’m setting out my plate of cookies and glass of milk for merry ol’ St. Nick, I’m taking one look over my shoulder to make sure one of his darker companions isn’t lurking in the shadows waiting to eat me, beat me or whip me for misbehaving!

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If you are anywhere near the thought of buying a house, you should do it right now. Today. Rates are silly low, home prices are silly low, and supply far exceeds demand. There is no better time. And I’m not the only one saying this. Remember John R. Talbott? He wrote “The Coming Crash in the Housing Market” (2003) and “Sell Now! The End of the Housing Bubble” (2006). Well, guess what he’s saying now? Buy, buy, buy! Or refinance, refinance, refinance!

Talbott makes some great points about how current home prices compare to construction and replacement costs and how incomes are currently comparing to rent prices. If you’re on the fence about buying or refinancing, reading the complete article may help you make up your mind.

Then call one of our Home Loan Experts, who can tell you how all this applies to your specific situation. (800) 251-9080

Now!

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FSBO listed on 12/21/2011 - Spacious 3/2 condo in Escondido, CA -- Lowest $/sf on the market!

FSBO listed on 12/19/2011 - PHENOMENAL IRRIGATED 2.90 ACRE SUB DIVIDABLE HORSE PROPERTY ONLY 10%-15% DOWN TO OWN OWNER CARRY. HAS A HUGE HEATED SHOP TO DIE FOR, COULD MAKE A FABULOUS BARN. WATER RIGHTS INCLUDED AND CLOSE TO EVERYTHING. HENLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT, HORSE FACILITIES, and a monthly credit towards purchase JUST for paying on time.

FSBO listed on 12/19/2011 - 3level single home: 4bedrooms, 3bathrooms, and in-laws’ apartment, walking distance to schools, and public transportation.

FSBO listed on 12/19/2011 - HUGE DISCOUNT BEFORE RENOVATIONS ARE FINISHED. CURRENTLY A LICENSED BOARDING AND TRAINING FACILITY ON 53+ ACRES, WITH A WESTERN TACK AND HOME DECOR STORE (could be converted to 2nd home with ease, 2 homes are allowed). ESTABLISHED 1987.

FSBO listed on 12/15/2011 - Price Reduced on Charming Craftsman Style fixer-upper house with lots potential ROI

FSBO listed on 12/07/2011 - Bueatiful 6br/3bth Colonial home with lots of features..

FSBO listed on 12/06/2011 - Brand new, well built luxury home with private pool and spa, balcony, 2 large master bedrooms.

FSBO listed on 12/05/2011 - Beautiful Brick Home on a beautiful lot