Safety, Neighbors Make Great Halloween Neighborhoods!

Nextdoor, the free and private social network for the neighborhood, released today the findings of a survey conducted online on their behalf by Harris Interactive among over 2,400 U.S. adults that examines Halloween habits this year. When determining what makes a good neighborhood for Halloween, safety (95 percent) and good neighbors (92 percent) were top responses reported as being very important or important. Surprisingly, Halloween candy was only reported to be very important or important by 73 percent of Americans. Decorations and parties fell even further down the list, with 54 percent and 32 percent reported respectively.

This latest survey from Nextdoor about Halloween is part of a series chronicling, "The State of The American Neighborhood." According to the study, one in four parents who take their children age 17 and younger trick-or-treating (25 percent) have met new neighbors for the first time on Halloween; nearly one-third (32 percent) of Americans socialize with neighbors on this holiday; and 29 percent of parents who take their children trick-or-treating feel safe allowing their neighbors to take their children trick-or-treating.

Interestingly, while safety topped the list of priorities as to what makes a neighborhood "good" for Halloween, only half (50 percent) of parents of children age 17 and younger typically talk to their children about safety while trick-or-treating. Half (50 percent) of parents are also willing to venture out to other neighborhoods to take their children trick-or-treating.

"We believe Halloween is all about neighbors and your neighborhood and this is reinforced by the findings of this survey. Thousands of neighborhoods use Nextdoor around Halloween to plan pumpkin carving parties, block parties, costume parades and much more," said Nirav Tolia, Co-Founder and CEO of Nextdoor.

The survey also found that parents truly do go all out for Halloween. 60 percent take their children trick-or-treating, 60 percent give out candy and over half (53 percent) decorate their home for this holiday. Also of note, the average American who will spend money on Halloween will spend $85 this year, on candy, costumes, decorations, etc. Surprisingly, men aged 18-34 who will spend any money on Halloween are the ones that anticipate spending the most, on average $200, significantly higher than any age group.

Other fun Halloween facts from the survey include:

• Not just for kids: Nearly one in three (30 percent) parents dress up in costume for Halloween and one in four (24 percent) people believe you are never too old for trick-or-treating.
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• Creativity reigns: Nearly one in three parents (32 percent) have dressed their child(ren) in homemade costumes.
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• Age appropriate: 13 was the magic age when the most respondents believed that a child becomes too old to trick-or-treat (19 percent say this). The average age when parents believed it was most appropriate to begin taking a child trick-or-treating was around three years old. A mere 5 percent of Americans believe it's never appropriate to let a child partake in this most neighborly of holiday traditions.
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• Lower incomes spend the most: Americans with a household income of less than $35,000 who will spend any amount this Halloween said they plan to spend on average $112, which was the highest reported of all income groups. This is more than twice as much as people with a household income between $50,000-$75,000 who plan on spending about $52.

"Nextdoor has been instrumental in drawing our neighborhood closer together and improving the way we look out for one another. Last year, with the help of Nextdoor, the community came together for our first annual neighborhood pumpkin-carving contest. This simply would not have happened without Nextdoor," said, Adam Tratt, member of Nextdoor Sand Point in Seattle, Wash.

Survey MethodologyThis survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Nextdoor from September 11-13, 2012 among 2,454 adults ages 18 and older, among which 677 are parents of children age 17 and under. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Dabney Lawless at 415-399-7997.

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Sixty-two percent of consumers are planning to spend the same or more this holiday shopping season compared to 2011, According to Survey

PriceGrabber® has released the results of its first winter holiday shopping survey, revealing optimism for both consumers and retailers this 2012 holiday season. More than half of consumers surveyed said they are planning to spend the same amount of money or more during the 2012 winter holiday shopping season than they did in 2011. Fifty percent of consumers plan to spend the same amount that they spent last year – up slightly from 48 percent in 2011 – and 12 percent plan to spend more, a positive increase compared with 7 percent last year. Conducted from August 31 to Sept. 12, 2012, the survey includes responses from 2,235 U.S. online shopping consumers.

Consumers are positive about the upcoming holiday season

Of those consumers who indicated that they will spend more money this holiday season compared with last year, 42 percent said they are making more money this year, 34 percent attributed their decision to better prices on gifts, 22 percent said they have confidence in the economy, 13 percent said they will spend more due to increased credit limit, and 8 percent are tired of being frugal.

When shoppers who indicated they plan to spend less money on holiday shopping in 2012 were asked why, 62 percent attributed their spending decision to an increase in prices for food, gas and other necessities. Forty-one percent indicated that they are earning less money this year and 39 percent said they planned to spend less due to an increased acceptance of giving less-expensive gifts. The state of the economy also continues to impact consumers' holiday shopping decisions, with PriceGrabber's survey finding that 64 percent of shoppers say the economic climate will affect their overall spending.

Shoppers are looking forward to better pricing and discounts this holiday season

Shoppers appear to be confident in their ability to find a holiday bargain this season. According to PriceGrabber's survey, 67 percent of consumers said they believe retailers will offer better prices and discounts this year. When asked what retailer tactics will entice consumers to buy a product this holiday season, 77 percent of respondents indicated free shipping, 74 percent noted price cuts, 55 percent said coupons, and 44 percent indicated blow out sales.

"Our survey data found that shoppers are not only expecting to find great prices and bargains this holiday season, but 59 percent of consumers plan to start shopping even earlier this year to spread out the impact of purchases, compared to 53 percent in 2011," stated Rojeh Avanesian, vice president of marketing and analytics of PriceGrabber. "Our data indicates that 17 percent of consumers plan to start their holiday shopping in September and 31 percent plan to begin in October this year."

Majority of consumers will research gift purchases in advance to save money

To maintain their holiday budgets this year, more shoppers will use the Internet to conduct research on products and pricing before making holiday purchases. An overwhelming 88 percent of PriceGrabber survey respondents indicated that they will research their holiday gift purchases in advance to find the best deals. Of those respondents, 38 percent plan to spend three to six hours researching holiday gift purchases, 29 percent plan to spend up to two hours, 19 percent said they plan to spend over 10 hours and 14 percent indicated between seven and 10 hours.

"Our survey findings indicate that consumers are still budget conscience and will continue to do their research to find the best pricing on products when holiday shopping this year," added Avanesian. "By comparison-shopping on a Website such as PriceGrabber.com or visiting the number of discount retailers available online, consumers can find deals, compare prices, set price alerts, print coupons, and take advantage of online promotional codes and free shipping to save extra cash."

For shrewd holiday shopping on any budget, visit http://www.pricegrabber.com to browse, compare, read merchant reviews, find local deals, online deals, and more. Download the mobile application for smart shopping on the go.
anywhere. Visit us at http://www.pricegrabber.com.

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Fun with Winter Squash!

Winter Squash

With summer vegetables giving way to the fall harvest, I still find myself craving squash. Winter squash, acorn squash, butternut squash. Yum! In researching winter squash, here’s what I’ve learned:

TIPS ON HOW TO PICK OUT A WINTER SQUASH:

·         Look for a squash with a very hard outer shell. If you can put your thumbnail through the fruit, it's not ready. You want to look for fruit that has had a chance to mature completely on the plant. Squash that are harvested before they reach maturity haven't had a chance to fully develop their flavor and will probably have a shorter shelf life.

·         Pick a squash with as few blemishes as possible, as cracks and blemishes decrease storage life.

TIPS ON COOKING WITH WINTER SQUASH

·         Use acorns and butternuts for baking, because they have a nice flesh consistency so after baking you can easily scoop the flesh out.

·         For soups, choose a butternut rather than an acorn.

·         Butternut squash is easier to process and handle, with fewer ridges and crannies and has a higher concentration of caratonoids, the precursor to vitamin A.

·         Acorn squash and delicatas are great for stuffing, mainly because of  the shape left when the seeds are removed.

Here are a few recipes I’ve already tried:

Brown Sugar Acorn Squash

Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Please cut sides down in a foil-lined pan. Mix a half cup of brown sugar with a cup of water. Beat the mixture until the brown sugar is dissolved. Pour the mixture into the pan and cover tightly. Cook at 450 for 40 minutes. During the cooking process the mixture is drawn up into the flesh. When down, the flesh easily scoops out of the shell. It tastes like candy!

Butternut Squash Bisque with Roasted Red Bell Pepper

Ingredients:

·         2 tbsp butter

·         4-5 tbsp olive oil (divided)

·         1 cup diced onion

·         3 cloves minced garlic

·         1 1/2 cups diced carrots

·         1 tart apple, sliced but unpeeled

·         1 roasted red bell pepper

·         8 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash

·         6 cups chicken or vegetable stock

·         Salt and pepper to taste

·         Ground nutmeg to taste

·         1 cup butternut pieces diced to small crouton size

·         1 cup heavy cream

·         Sour cream for garnish (optional)

·          

Directions:

•  Heat butter and 2 tablespoons oil in large pot. Cook and stir the onion and garlic in the butter and oil until tender. Add the carrots, apples, bell pepper and squash.
•  Pour in stock and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
•  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender.
•  Meanwhile, heat 2-3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet.
•  Fry butternut croutons, stirring frequently, until crispy.
• Puree soup. 
• Stir in heavy cream, heat through, but do not allow to boil.

Ladle soup into bowls and top with butternut croutons and dollop of sour cream if desired. Makes eight generous servings.

Easy Squash Side Dish

Ingredients:

·         1 winter squash (acorn, butternut, delicata)

·         Vegetable oil

·         Shredded cheese

Directions:

•   Cut squash in half and remove seeds.
• · Cut a cross-hatch pattern in the flesh.
• · Bake face down for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
• · Turn squash right side up and fill cracks with vegetable oil, bake another 20 minutesor until a knife slides smoothly in.
• · Top with shredded cheese and serve.

The Subdivision is 65 Years Old This Month

The way Americans buy a home changed forever this week in 1947. That's when one of the first communities built by a real estate developer opened for residents to move into — Levittown, on New York's Long Island.

Named for William and Alfred Levitt, the town ultimately contained more than 17,000 Cape Cod and ranch houses, snapped up by servicemen returning from World War II and facing an acute housing shortage. The houses in Levittown had 800 square feet of floor space and sold for under $8,000. Now, the average new home in America has 1,800 square feet of living space and sells for $185,500.
Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 481

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

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Tips for Buying a Quality Dining Table

A dining table is of the most widely used items in any home, and with wood dining tables costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars consumers need be aware of what they are really buying. Why do prices vary so greatly, and what should one stay away from when shopping? For an item used as much as a table, it is about far more than just the look, one must also strongly consider core material, construction, finish, maintenance & care to name a few. Here we break down the most important factors to help make a purchasing decision.

Tip 1 - Buy 100% Wood: Remember the dining table is one of the most used pieces of furniture in your home, it will need to be more durable, and most often times child resistant. For this reason, go with 100% wood, specifically pine is very durable, relatively inexpensive and its style and charm is universal for any home. Alternatively, oak, chestnut and walnut are also highly durable woods, however heavier than pine, expect extra costs associated with these denser wood types. The trick here is to not be fooled into buying a table that looks like 100% wood, but is actually made with veneers, medium density fiberboard (MDF), or particleboard. The reason to stay away from these lesser quality materials is that they are far more prone to chips, scratches, thus a shorter life span than tables made from 100% solid wood, such as oak or pine. In addition, cleaning solutions, such as water, can often, damage veneer and particleboard if not cared for properly. A well built solid wood table should last generations, prepare accordingly by buying one made from the longest lasting materials.

Tip 2 - Ensure Durable Finishes: The finish will be paramount to the table's longevity and charm, as this is the frontline defense against dings, scratches and chips. For this reason, stay away from veneers as they can easily separate or chip, which inevitably will happen with an item as widely used a dining table. As a result, this will lead to a shortened life span for your table. It is recommended to go with a dining table with multiple coats of stain, or paint finishes. Specifically, the more layers of finish that are applied, the more of a barrier you will have to protect your investment. It is the finishing process, and multiple layers, which are your true defense against scratches, stains, and water marks, which in turn will maintain your table's charm, and keep it looking like new. A true farm table is American made, built from reclaimed wood, and thus eco friendly. For authenticity purposes, ask where the manufacturing & finishing take place, and if their materials are eco friendly.

Tip 3 - Check Maintenance and Care: Always ask what the cleaning and maintenance instructions are for your table. This can be a tell tale sign of the materials used and the steps taken during the finishing process. For example, on Pottery Barn's "Wood Furniture Care & Cleaning Instructions" page, and it warns "do not use soap, water, or wax." As a buyer, this should raise questions about both materials and finishes being used. A well-made and durable wood dining table should not stain, should be resistant to both wet and dry marks, and should be able to be cleaned by only water or a dry rag.

Tip 4 – Understand Prices: If you take this advice and stay away from MDF, particle board, and veneers, and stick to solid pine, oak or other solid woods for your farm table you should find that going with a custom dining table solution will be comparable in price to going with a big box retail store. For example pottery barn's "Keaton Extending Dining Table" which measures fixed 72" long x 40" wide x 30" high is priced at $1599. Alternatively, a custom dining table solution, with the same fixed dimensions of 72" long x 40"wide x 30" high, buying from eCustomFinishes a leading builder of custom farm tables, for example will cost about $185 less, at $1415.

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What Can You Do With Pumpkin Pie Vodka

For a festive pumpkin pie holiday experience, try one of these Pinnacle Pumpkin Pie Vodka recipes:

Spiced Pumpkin
2 parts Pinnacle® Pumpkin Pie Vodka
1 part Irish Cream
Splash Half & Half
Shake with ice, strain into a cinnamon sugar rimmed martini glass, and garnish with a cherry.

Pumpkin Cider
2 parts Pinnacle® Pumpkin Pie Vodka
1 part Apple Cider
Splash of Fresh Lemon Sour
Shake with ice, strain into a caramel swirled martini glass, and garnish with an apple slice.

Chocolate Pumpkin
2 parts Pinnacle® Pumpkin Pie Vodka
1 part Creme de Cacao
1 part Chocolate Milk
Shake with ice, strain into a crushed graham cracker rimmed martini glass, and top with whipped cream.

Pumpkin Pie follows the other flavor introductions from the premium vodka in 2012, including Pineapple, Peach, Blackberry, and Cucumber Watermelon. Pinnacle Pumpkin Pie is available in select U.S. markets for a suggested retail price of $12.99. To find a store or recipe, please visit www.pinnaclevodka.com, "LIKE" Pinnacle Vodka on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @PinnacleVodka.

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Chicken Enchilada Soup

Ah autumn is falling across North Texas. A delightfully cool and dreary day. The perfect time heat things up with a slow cooker full of thick and hearty chicken enchilada soup with a side of corn bread. Here we go….

Ingredients:

1 lb Velveeta cheese loaf. (I use the 2% milk)

1 pound of boneless skinless chicken cubed

1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes

2 cups frozen whole kernel corn, drained

2 cups black beans

2 cups Pictsweet three pepper blend

2 pages of enchilada mix

2 fresh jalapeños (optional)

Place raw chicken in the crock pot, salt and pepper. Stir occasionally.

Remove seeds from jalapeños and dice. Add to chicken. While the chicken and jalapenos are browning  chunk up the cheese loaf.

Add the cheese to the chicken and let it soften for about 15 minutes. Stir in enchilada packets. If veggies have begun to defrost, drain off excess water and add to the pot. Add fire roasted tomatoes and black beans.

Simmer on low until the beans are soft.

If you’re in a hurry, you can speed the cooking process by browning the chicken in a skillet on a low heat, substituting canned corn for frozen and canned black beans, rinsed and drained, for dry.

If you prefer it spicier, you can add a jar of salsa and/or a tablespoon or two of juice from jarred jalapenos. 

Devilishly Delicious Brandy Punch Adds Kick To Halloween Party

Adults love Halloween and for good reason – it's an opportunity to dress up in costumes and party. Whether your adult Halloween bash is a small ghoulish get-together or a big scary spooktacular, the fun should include frightening decorations (orange and black, spider webs, etc.), eerie edibles ("bone" appétit), macabre music ("Monster Mash," anyone?) and of course, devilishly delicious libations. For that last element, Satan's Spooky Punch is the perfect refreshment – fruity, crisp and thanks to Korbel Brandy , with a bit of kick. The recipe below is easy to prepare and will serve a medium-sized party.

SATAN'S SPOOKY PUNCH

Preparation time – 1 hour
Serves 10
1 cup orange Curacao
½ oz. grenadine
½ cup orange juice
¾ cup superfine sugar
4 cups Korbel California Brandy
1 liter soda water
Lemon slices

Mix the Curacao, grenadine and fruit juice. Test for sweetness and stir in sugar to taste (which probably won't require the entire amount) until it has fully dissolved. Add brandy and allow mixture to rest one hour in a cool location. Just before the party starts, pour mixture into a punch bowl over a large chunk of ice and add the soda water. Garnish with lemon slices.

Korbel has produced award-winning California brandy since 1889 and – unique among United States producers – controls production from grape to bottle. Handcrafted in small batches, Korbel Brandy is aged to perfection in premium fire-toasted oak barrels to achieve golden amber color, generous butterscotch aroma and extra smooth taste.

Celebrate responsibly

SOURCE Korbel

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Why Lifestyle Matters in Your Home Selection

Consumer Attitudes on Housing Continue Summer Season's Gradual Upward Trend

Americans' Overall Economic Sentiment Shows Marked Improvement, Some Areas Post Record Highs

Results from Fannie Mae's September 2012 National Housing Survey show Americans' optimism about the recovery of the housing market and with regard to home ownership continued its gradual climb, bolstered by a series of mortgage rate decreases experienced throughout the summer. Consumer attitudes about the economy also improved substantially last month, breaking the progression of waning confidence seen during much of this year.

"Consumers are showing increasing faith in the nascent housing recovery," said Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist of Fannie Mae. "Home price change expectations have remained positive for 11 straight months, and the share expecting home price declines has stabilized at a survey low of only 11 percent. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve's latest round of quantitative easing has caused a large drop in mortgage rate expectations. Friday's September jobs report, including the strong upward revisions for prior months, a sizable increase in earnings, and a sharp decline in the unemployment rate, should provide further impetus for improving consumer confidence in the housing market."

Keeping a relatively steady pace with recent periods, survey respondents expect home prices to increase an average of 1.5 percent in the next year. The share who say mortgage rates will increase in the next 12 months dropped 7 percentage points to 33 percent. Nineteen percent of those surveyed say now is a good time to sell, marking the highest level since the survey began in June 2010. Tying the June 2012 level (and the all-time high since the survey's inception), 69 percent of respondents said they would buy if they were going to move.

With regard to the economy overall, forty-one percent of consumers now believe the economy is on the right track, up from 33 percent last month, while 53 percent believe the economy is on the wrong track, compared with 60 percent the prior month. Both the right track and wrong track figures mark the highest and the lowest readings, respectively, since the survey began in June 2010.

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

Homeownership and Renting 

• Consumers' average home price change expectation is 1.5 percent, consistent with recent periods and marking nearly a full year in which home price expectations have been positive. 
• Thirty-seven percent of those surveyed expect home prices to go up in the next year, the highest level since the survey's inception in June 2010. 
• Thirty-three percent of respondents say mortgage rates will go up in the next year, a decrease of 7 percentage points since last month. 
• Nineteen percent of respondents say it is a good time to sell, the highest level since the survey's inception. 
• Those who say now is a good time to buy dipped slightly to 72 percent. 
• The percentage of respondents who say they would buy if they were going to move increased to 69 percent, tying June 2012 at the highest level since the survey's inception. 

The Economy and Household Finances

• Consumer optimism climbed in September, with 41 percent saying the economy is on the right track – the highest level recorded since the survey's inception and an 8 percentage point increase over last month. 
• Forty-four percent of respondents expect their personal financial situation to improve over the next year, up from 42 percent in August. 
• The share of respondents who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago decreased by 3 percentage points to 17 percent. 
• Thirty-four percent of those surveyed say their household expenses are significantly higher than they were 12 months ago, a 2 percentage point increase over August. 

The most detailed consumer attitudinal survey of its kind, the Fannie Mae National Housing Survey polled 1,000 Americans via live telephone interview to assess their attitudes toward owning and renting a home, mortgage rates, homeownership distress, the economy, household finances, and overall consumer confidence. Homeowners and renters are asked more than 100 questions used to track attitudinal shifts (findings are compared to the same survey conducted monthly beginning June 2010). Fannie Mae conducts this survey and shares monthly and quarterly results so that we may help industry partners and market participants target our collective efforts to stabilize the housing market in the near-term, and provide support in the future.

For detailed findings from the September 2012 survey, as well as a podcast providing an audio synopsis of the survey results and technical notes on survey methodology and questions asked of respondents associated with each monthly indicator, please visit the Fannie Mae Monthly National Housing Survey site. Also available on the site are quarterly survey results, which provide a detailed assessment of combined data results from three monthly studies. The September 2012 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey was conducted between September 5, 2012 and September 22, 2012. Interviews were conducted by Penn Schoen Berland, in coordination with Fannie Mae.

Fannie Mae exists to expand affordable housing and bring global capital to local communities in order to serve the U.S. housing market. Fannie Mae has a federal charter and operates in America's secondary mortgage market to enhance the liquidity of the mortgage market by providing funds to mortgage bankers and other lenders so that they may lend to home buyers. Our job is to help those who house America.

SOURCE Fannie Mae

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Top 3 Places to Install Bathroom Grab Bars to Help Prevent Falls

Making a home safe for aging seniors is a key to enhancing mobility and ensuring independent living. For seniors, typically, the bathroom is the area posing the most risks for falls. Everyday tasks can become difficult, especially when combined with slippery floors, poor balance, decreased vision, and lack of strength. Fortunately, installing safety grab bars in strategic areas can make it easier to safely maneuver around the bathroom.

Grab bars provide extra support for seniors through unique anchoring systems that can support up to 500 pounds of pressure, depending on the manufacturer. Rest assured, however, decor does not have to be sacrificed for safety. Many grab bars available today, like Grabcessories™ by Lifetime Products, are designed to seamlessly integrate as actual bathroom decor while providing the convenience of safety accessories.

When installing safety grab bars, look for places where they are most likely to lose balance by raising, lowering, or standing on one foot. 

Tub/Shower - Install grab bars at a lower level to help bathers with raising and lowering. A grab bar at waist level or slightly higher is ideal to help with stepping in and out of the tub, as well as to hold for extra balance while washing and shampooing when showering. To eliminate clutter, install a bar up higher and a Grabcessories Tub/Shower Valve Ring at the lower level. 

Toilet - Install a grab bar on the wall near the toilet for support when raising and lowering. For a more decorative look, consider designated toilet paper holders specifically designed to double as safety bars. 

Towel racks - A common habit for seniors is to hold a towel rack while drying off or bending to pick up clothes. Regular towel racks aren't designed to support the weight of someone leaning on them and will loosen over time and eventually detach from the wall which could lead to serious injury. Install safety towel bars and/or towel shelves which are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors to fit your bathroom space to provide necessary support.

Safety grab bars can be both functional and beautiful. Most importantly, they will help prevent and greatly reduce falls in the bathroom giving caregivers, family members, and users peace of mind.

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Thinking about Selling? Home Prices Increase!

CoreLogic® (NYSE: CLGX), a leading provider of information, analytics and business services, today released its August Home Price Index (HPI®) report. Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased on a year-over-year basis by 4.6 percent in August 2012 compared to August 2011. This change represents the biggest year-over-year increase since July 2006. On a month-over-month basis, including distressed sales, home prices increased by 0.3 percent in August 2012 compared to July 2012*. The August 2012 figures mark the sixth consecutive increase in home prices nationally on both a year-over-year and month-over-month basis. The HPI analysis from CoreLogic shows that all but six states are experiencing price gains.

Excluding distressed sales, home prices nationwide increased on a year-over-year basis by 4.9 percent in August 2012 compared to August 2011. On a month-over-month basis excluding distressed sales, home prices increased 1 percent in August 2012 compared to July 2012, also the sixth consecutive month-over-month increase. Distressed sales include short sales and real estate owned (REO) transactions.

The CoreLogic Pending HPI indicates that September 2012 home prices, including distressed sales, are expected to rise by 5 percent on a year-over-year basis from September 2011 and fall by 0.3 percent on a month-over-month basis from August 2012 as the summer buying season closes out. Excluding distressed sales, September 2012 house prices are poised to rise 6.3 percent year-over-year from September 2011 and by 0.6 percent month-over-month from August 2012. The CoreLogic Pending HPI is a proprietary and exclusive metric that provides the most current indication of trends in home prices. It is based on Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data that measure price changes in the most recent month.

“Again this month prices rose on a year-over-year basis and our expectation is for that to continue in September based on our pending HPI forecast,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic. “The housing markets gains are increasingly geographically diverse with only six states continuing to show declining prices.”

“Sustained economic recovery in the U.S. requires a healthy housing market. You cannot have a healthy housing market without price stabilization and ultimately home price appreciation,” said Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “Improving pricing trends over the past few months and our forecast for continued gains in September bode well for a progressive rebound in the residential housing market.”

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/corelogic/56988/

Ready to sell your home? Let's talk! I want to show you how easy it can be!!!

Lynn Windle, Realtor
lynnwindle@gmail.com
972-814-1689

Coldwell Banker Apex, Realtors
7290 Virginia Parkway #2400
McKinney, Texas 75071
Toll Free: 888.613.4101
Phone: 972.562.5400
http://www.lpwindle.cbapex.com/

Real estate, real estate agent, real estate market, real estate value, real estate listings, real estate for sale, Texas real estate, Dallas real estate, McKinney real estate, real estate listings, real estate companies, real estate foreclosures, real estate websites

More Than 1/3 of U.S. Adults At Least Somewhat Likely to Use Layaway for Holiday Shopping

Several major retailers have launched their holiday layaway programs this fall, prompting some consumers to include layaway as part of their shopping strategy. A new CouponCabin.com survey reveals that more than one-third (34 percent) of U.S. adults are at least somewhat likely to purchase items on layaway this holiday season. Nearly one-in-ten (9 percent) said it is very likely they will do so. This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin from September 13th – 17th, 2012 among 2,339 adults ages 18 and older.

Some stores offer their layaway services online, making trips to the store for payments obsolete. Twenty-nine percent of U.S. adults said they might consider purchasing an item using online layaway this holiday season.

The positive aspects to using layaway are varied. When asked what they believe are the benefits to using a layaway program for holiday shopping, U.S. adults said the following:

• Helps a person buy larger items for the holidays that they couldn't afford to buy all at once – 54 percent 
• Helps a person budget his or her money – 52 percent 
• Helps a person avoid using credit cards – 46 percent 
• Helps a person plan ahead – 43 percent 
• Lets a person reserve a popular item when they want it – 43 percent 
• A person doesn't need to have good credit to use the programs – 33 percent 
• Other – 2 percent 

When asked what they believe are the drawbacks of using a layaway program for holiday shopping, U.S. adults said the following:

• There's a charge to cancelling a layaway order – 43 percent 
• The service fees end up making it not worth it – 41 percent 
• Can't use it for all types of items (i.e. electronics, food and jewelry are often exempt) – 35 percent 
• The deadlines for completing payments aren't long enough – 22 percent 
• It can be confusing – 16 percent 
• Other – 8 percent 

The following are tips for shoppers thinking of using layaway as part of their holiday shopping strategy this year:

• Read the fine print: Before you sign on the dotted line, take a moment to understand all the terms and conditions to your layaway agreement. The due diligence will pay off in the long run so you aren't penalized by unknown fees. 
• Seek out free programs: Some stores, like Kmart, are offering free layaway programs (on top of already low prices) this season, so be sure to pay attention to these offers. 
• Plan ahead: Certain layaway programs may make you wait months before you can pay off your purchases. Factor in that extra time into your holiday shopping schedule to make sure you get the gifts you need on time. 

Survey Methodology:This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Coupon Cabin from September 13th – 17th, 2012 among 2,339 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Lauren Boukas, lboukas@couponcabin.com.

About CouponCabin.comCouponCabin.com is a leading online destination for coupons including online coupon codes, printables, grocery coupons and more. Shoppers have saved nearly $350 million since 2003 and with the largest selection of coupons guaranteed to work, CouponCabin is the best place to start searching for savings. The average user saves $19 in just 80 seconds on the site. With customized email newsletters, browser savings alerts, new coupon alerts and more, shoppers will never miss out on a great deal with CouponCabin. For more information, please visit http://www.CouponCabin.com.


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Sears and K-mart's New Layaway Policy Nice Present for Christmas Shoppers

Normally, I don't promote chain stores, but in the interest of providing ways to plan for Christmas and save money, check out the new layaway policy from Sears and K-Mart.

To provide holiday shoppers with even more accessibility, Kmart and Sears today announce all products purchased through online layaway are available for ship-to-home delivery. The new service – also available on store kiosks now enables shoppers to select, purchase and have the items delivered directly to their homes, bypassing the layaway line altogether. Both retailers will begin the exclusive layaway ship-to-home service starting Nov. 7.

Additionally, customers will have even more value at their fingertips as Sears is removing all layaway service fees both online and in-store leading up to the holiday season. Kmart announced its free layaway program last month.

The removal of layaway service fees recognizes the extra financial burden the holiday season brings and provides added value for holiday shoppers. Credit experts from organizations like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling have backed layaway as a smart shopping practice year-round, especially during the holiday season when shoppers need to be more disciplined with their finances.

Kmart has removed layaway service fees through Nov. 17; Sears has eliminated layaway service fees from Sept. 29 to Oct. 29, and Nov. 2 to Dec. 3. The ship-to-home layaway option begins Nov. 7 and includes the widest selection of layaway products to purchase from.

For more information please visit www.kmart.com and www.sears.com.
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Looking for a home? Fix mortgage rates at an all-time low

Thinking about buying a home? Now is the time!

Fix mortgage rates are at an all-time low! 

Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) last week released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates falling to new all-time record lows for the second consecutive week on mortgage securities purchases by the Federal Reserve and indicators of a weakening economy. The Federal Reserve's purchase of long-term fixed mortgage securities allowed the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage at 2.69 percent to fall below the 5-year ARM's rate at 2.72 percent. The last time the average 15-year fixed was lower than the 5-year ARM was the week ending October 15, 2009.

News Facts
30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.36 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending October 4, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 3.40 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.94 percent.
15-year FRM this week averaged 2.69 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.73 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.26 percent.
5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.72 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.71 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.96 percent.
1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.57 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.60 percent. last week. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.95 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

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Are you ready to look? Give me a shout!

Lynn Windle, Realtor
lynnwindle@gmail.com
972-814-1689

Coldwell Banker Apex, Realtors
7290 Virginia Parkway #2400
McKinney, Texas 75071
Toll Free: 888.613.4101
Phone: 972.562.5400
http://www.lpwindle.cbapex.com/

Real estate, real estate agent, real estate market, real estate value, real estate listings, real estate for sale, Texas real estate, Dallas real estate, McKinney real estate, real estate listings, real estate companies, real estate foreclosures, real estate websites

Halloween Fun Facts

Welcome to October! The ghosts, ghouls and other creepy things already are starting to pop up in the neighborhood! People are ready for some spook-tacular fun!! As the bats begin to invade your belfry, and the monsters begin to mash on your lawn, check out these fun facts from the U.S. Census Bureau

Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts and vampires. Over the years, Halloween customs have changed dramatically. Today, Halloween is celebrated many different ways, including wearing costumes, children trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, and going to haunted houses and parties.

Trick or Treat!

41 million The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2011 — children age 5 to 14 — across the United States. Of course, many other children — older than 14 and younger than 5 — also go trick-or-treating. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates http://www.census.gov/popest/data/national/asrh/2011/index.html. 

132 millionNumber of occupied housing units across the nation in 2011 — all potential stops for trick-or-treaters. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates http://www.census.gov/popest/data/housing/totals/2011/index.html.

Jack-o'-Lanterns and Pumpkin Pies

$113 millionValue of pumpkins harvested from the top six pumpkin-producing states, Illinois, California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan in 2011. Source: Agricultural Marketing Resource Center http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/vegetables/pumpkins.cfm.

Where to Spend Halloween?

Some places around the country that may put you in the Halloween mood are:

Transylvania County, N.C. (population 32,820)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/popest/data/counties/totals/2011/CO-EST2011-01.html

Tombstone, Ariz. (population 1,396)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2011/SUB-EST2011-3.html

Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,222); and Pumpkin Bend, Ark. (population 276)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Table DP-1
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml

Cape Fear in New Hanover County, N.C. (population 18,388); and Cape Fear in Chatham County, N.C. (population 1,323).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Table DP-1
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml

Skull Creek, Neb. (population 268)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2011/SUB-EST2011-4.html

Candy and Costumes

1,155 Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2010, employing 35,074 people. Pennsylvania led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 102, followed byCalifornia, with 100.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2010, NAICS codes (31132 & 31133), http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/.

409Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured non-chocolate confectionery products in 2010. These establishments employed 17,526 people. California led the nation in this category, with 49 establishments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2010, NAICS code (31134), http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpsect.pl.

1,634Number of costume rental and formal wear establishments across the nation in 2010.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 County Business Patterns, NAICS code (53222),
http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpsect.pl.

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