Valentine's Survey Reveals Who And What Moms Really Want For Valentine's

TOTSY, a private sale website, surveyed nearly 2,000 of its members about what will make Valentine's Day memorable or forgettable and moms' celebrity crushes.

Moms were asked who they would choose as their Valentine for a day and the winner is…dad! Watch out "Sexiest Men Alive" and red carpet Romeos, over three out of five moms surveyed (61%) said that they would choose dad over even the hottest celebrities this Valentine's Day. Of the stars that were chosen as the ultimate 2013 Valentine, Ryan Gosling topped the list with 10% of the vote, followed by Bradley Cooper (8%), George Clooney (6%),Brad Pitt (5%), Robert Pattison and Taye Diggs with (4%), Denzel Washington (2%), Javier Bardem (<1>
64 percent of moms love Valentine's Day, 35 percent are indifferent and only one percent would rather live without it. The survey found that 86% of moms would have a perfect Valentine's Day by simply getting a sweet gift from a partner to show they care or a having a romantic rendezvous with their significant other.

Here's what TOTSY learned about how to make mom a happy Valentine this year:

• Romantic dinner: 88% love it. 
• Rest and relaxation, like spa time: 81% love it.
• Jewelry: 74% love it.
• Flowers: 73% love it.
• Chocolate/Candy: 61% love it.

But be careful with lingerie! Over half of moms hate (14%) or are indifferent (43%) to receiving it as a gift.

As for what NOT to do, moms said forgetful partners (32 percent), being alone (25 percent) or being too busy to celebrate (23 percent) would be the most surefire ways to ruin Valentine's Day.

For the best Valentine's Day ever, moms said take some notes from Ryan Gosling in The Notebook—his romance with Rachel McAdams was voted by 35% as the kind they'd most like to have on the special day. When recalling their most favorite Valentine's celebrations, 34% of moms said amazing romance took the cake, and the same number noted it happened during a night out without the kids. 19% indicated exciting new life experiences made for the most memorable day, but 5% say their best Valentine's was the one on which they conceived their kids!

Additional tidbits the survey found:
Nearly one in five women (18%) most want to channel celebrity Jennifer Aniston , The Girl Next Door, on Valentine's Day, followed closely by Reese Witherspoon , The Southern Belle (17%), and Mila Kunis , Cute, Quirky and Funny (15%).

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Serve Up Your Team Spirit With Tinted Treats For The Big Game

Or Fun With Food Color

As a proud Baltimore area company for more than 120 years, McCormick will cheer on its hometown team this Sunday with purple and black tinted treats. And, because McCormick welcomes friendly competition, its Kitchens' experts are offering festive football-themed recipes and a team food color guide – including San Francisco's scarlet and gold hues – to help fans of show their spirit.

To heat up the rivalry, at Pinterest.com/mccormickspices fans can repin recipe images featuring their team's colors, and the team whose colors earn the most repins by kickoff of the big game will be featured on McCormick.com, regardless of the final football score on Sunday.

Bring the competition off the field and into the kitchen with battling cupcakes in colors from both coasts.
Baltimore Purple Twist Cupcakes: Rich vanilla cake with purple and black frosting make these hometown-colored treats a touchdown. The only thing sweeter than these treats is a victory! 

San Francisco Gold Rush Cupcakes: For fans who bleed scarlet and gold, give the East Coast a run for their money with these good-as-gold delights. 

Football Game Cookies: No one will fumble these festive treats! Kids will love using the food color guide to decorate cookies in every shape from footballs to jerseys, finishing with frosting in their team's colors.

Team Color Guide

Use these food color recommendations from the McCormick Kitchens to help clinch a victory for your party spread.

Baltimore Purple and Black: 

• Purple Cake Mix: Add 35 drops Neon Purple Food Color + 20 drops Neon Blue Food Color to 1 package (15.25 to 18.5 oz.) white cake mix 
• Purple Frosting: Add ½ teaspoon Neon Purple Food Color + 25 drops Neon Blue Food Color to 1 can (16 oz.) frosting 
• Black Frosting: Add ½ teaspoon Black Food Color to 1 can (16 oz.) white frosting 
• Purple Beer: Add 5 drops Neon Purple Food Color + 3 drops Neon Blue Food Color to 12 oz. beer 
• Purple Soda: Add 10 drops Neon Purple Food Color + 1 drop Neon Blue Food Color to 12 oz. lemon-lime soda 

San Francisco Scarlet and Gold: 

• Gold Cake Mix: Add 1 teaspoon Yellow Food Color to 1 package (15.25 oz. to 18.5 oz.) yellow cake mix 
• Scarlet Frosting: Add 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons Red Food Color to 1 can (16 oz.) chocolate frosting 
• Scarlet Beer : Add 20 drops Red Food Color + 1 drop Blue Food Color to 12 oz. beer 
• Scarlet Soda : Add 28 drops Red Food Color + 1 drop Blue Food Color to 12 oz. lemon-lime soda 

For more ideas for your game day celebration, visit Facebook.com/McCormickSpice or McCormick.com. Visit Pinterest.com/mccormickspices, to repin recipes in your team's colors! Look for McCormick Food Colors and Extracts in the spice aisle of supermarkets nationwide.

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St. Louis' Iconic Budweiser Sign Goes Digital

This is one of the coolest things to do in St. Louis... the Budweiser brewery tour. We had a change to tour the facility a couple of years ago when we were there for a wedding. We got to see the famous Clydesdales up close and personal. Their barn, which is amazing, makes this a definite a must see if you're ever in St. Louis!

It's a landmark for those who call St. Louis home, a beacon and marvel for out-of-towners who visit and visible to air travelers flying over the city. Now, the Budweiser sign that sits atop the Bevo building on the Anheuser-Busch St. Louis brewery grounds will be renovated to retain its famous classic style and design, but in a new, brighter version that uses LED technology and will be better able to withstand exposure to the elements. The new sign will be illuminated with Budweiser red and retain the same signature block typeface of the existing Budweiser sign – the font that also was used on Budweiser packaging the year the sign was first erected.

On Monday, Jan. 28, the process of dismantling the 150-foot, 14,000-pound structure began. During this phase the Budweiser letters will go dark. Once installation of the new sign is complete, Anheuser-Busch will "flip the switch" and bring the beloved sign back to illuminate the St. Louis community.

"The Budweiser sign has stood over the brewery for more than 30 years and has proudly represented Anheuser-Busch and its flagship brand, Budweiser," said Jeff Pitts , general manager of the Anheuser-Busch St. Louis brewery. "But we're preserving more than just a sign. It's a part of St. Louis, representing the bond between Budweiser and its deep roots in this community. We're excited to begin the process of being able to keep this icon shining for years to come. It will look exactly the same, but will rely on better and more energy-efficient technology."

Pending any weather delays, the entire project will take four to five weeks to complete. The new sign will be the same size and will also consist of steel framing and aluminum supports. The project exceeds $500,000 and will include the use of St. Louis-based laborers throughout the installation. Adults can view regular updates of the transformation process on Anheuser-Busch's Facebook page.

According to Anheuser-Busch records, the original Budweiser sign "has proportions as great as the name it illuminates." The "B" alone is 18 feet tall and weighs 2,400 pounds. The remaining letters are 15 feet tall and weigh about 1,600 pounds each, although the "I" is the lightest, weighing 450 pounds. When it was lit for the first time in early 1979, it replaced a 35-year-old Anheuser-Busch sign. A custom neon sign has been on top of the Bevo building for more than six decades.

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Grocery Stores, Restaurants Compete for Consumer Dollars

At the height of the economic downturn, many consumers flocked to supermarkets, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs and other retailers, looking for a deal on prepared foods. But now that the economy is recovering from the recession, some consumers are purchasing retailer meal solutions (RMS) less often than they did just two years ago; in fact, 38 percent of today's consumers say that they purchase RMS from traditional supermarkets each week—compared to 42 percent who said the same in 2010.

By retail meal solutions, the author means complete prepackaged meals like you'd find in the freezer section. 

"These consumers may be reversing the patterns they set a couple of years ago by heading back to restaurants," says Darren Tristano , Vice President of Technomic. "For retailers to gain or maintain their share of foodservice dollars, they'll need to clearly stand out from restaurants—especially since our data shows that consumers' expectations are rising for the taste, quality, freshness and appearance of retailer prepared foods."

To help foodservice executives understand the latest consumer behavior, preferences and attitudes regarding retailer foodservice, Technomic has developed the Retailer Meal Solutions Consumer Trend Report. Interesting findings include: 

• Some of the top RMS menu trends include signature fried snacks; more variety for vegetable sides; higher-quality pizzas; a distinct specialty focus for sandwiches and burgers; and a move toward ethnic flavors. 
• More than two-fifths of consumers who purchase RMS at least once a month (43 percent) say they do so four or more times per month, meaning they purchase RMS at least once a week. 
• More consumers today than those polled two years ago place a high importance on many attributes, including the value, price, convenience, taste, freshness and quality of prepared foods. 
• Opportunities exist for retailers to leverage their customization options to compete with restaurants; only 38 percent of consumers agree that retail prepared foods allow for more customization than food purchased from a restaurant. 
• At least four out of five consumers who visit each retail chain measured for prepared foods purchase RMS items at these locations at least once a month, reiterating the strong role routine and convenience plays in the RMS purchasing decision. 

Though half of consumers think the quality of prepared foods has greatly improved since 2010, nearly two-fifths call for more name-brand foods that typically denote a higher quality perception.

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Coupon Facts Report Indicates Marketers Continue Steady use of Coupons

Valassis (NYSE: VCI), a leader in intelligent media delivery, released today the annual topline report of U.S. coupon trends. The findings include that consumer packaged goods manufacturers issued a steady flow of coupons in 2012, distributing 305 billion coupons to consumers, the same quantity as the year prior, although the marketing objectives were substantially different for those coupons.

Consumers' expectations for value in their purchasing decisions remained strong throughout 2012. NCH's August 2012 Consumer Survey found that 79.8% of consumers regularly shop using coupons, very similar to the 80.6% prior year result, and well above the 63.6% who reported regularly using coupons in the pre-recession 2007 study.

Additionally, the BIGinsight Monthly Consumer Survey in December 2012 found that 53.7% of consumers continued to focus more on needs than wants while shopping. Those results are very similar to the 52.1% in December 2011 and 52.7% in December 2010 who also said they focus more on needs than wants. These surveys confirm that a strong value-oriented mindset has persisted for a large segment of the population despite some improvements in overall consumer confidence measures and unemployment rates in 2012.

While consumer desire for saving with coupons continued, and the quantity of coupons made available to them was the same, CPG marketers have made other strategic shifts, including which products are promoted with coupons, how consumers receive coupons and various tactical offer-level changes, all of which affected industry redemption volume.

Of the 305 billion coupons issued in 2012, non-food categories comprised 4.4% more of the available coupons than the prior year, with items such as medications, personal care and other household products all distributing a greater quantity. CPG marketers increased the coupons available in non-food categories where consumers tend to delay purchases or have a multitude of national brand and retailer private label choices. Conversely, there were 6.5% fewer food coupons, including products that are purchased frequently.

According to the respondents in NCH's Consumer Survey who said they were using fewer coupons than the year before, 46% of them cited the number one reason was: "I can't find coupons for the products I want to buy." This consumer experience was primarily the result of CPG marketers shifting more of the coupons they issued to products that were new to the market.

Marx, a Kantar Media solution, measured a 23.2% increase in new product introduction events with Free Standing Insert (FSI) coupons in 2012. "Coupons have been effectively used to generate trial of new products for 125 years, however, such a significant year-over-year increase had a direct impact on the annual coupon industry measures," said Charlie Brown , NCH Vice President of Marketing."Because even successful niche products, line extensions and start-up brands won't typically deliver the same large-scale redemption volume as coupons offered on well-established and high market share brands, simply because the target audience is smaller."

CPG marketers used the FSI to distribute the largest volume of all their coupons in 2012, increasing the media's share to 90.1% of the 305 billion coupons issued. The .7 FSI share increase came from In-Store, Direct Mail and Magazine as CPG marketers reduced their use of those higher-redeeming media while also continuing to experiment with the audience reach and scale potential of various digital media. In total, digital remains less than 1% of all coupons distributed, including those printed at home and paperless offers downloaded to loyalty cards or mobile devices.

The paperless formats are currently limited to retailer-specific coupons dependent upon unique point of sale (POS) system enablement. And, most digital coupons require a change in consumer planning or shopping behavior. "With big differences in the current reach and scale of digital that we are experiencing firsthand through our digital business, CPG marketers need to optimize their mix of print, digital and in-store coupons to drive consistent, integrated campaigns and reach all their relevant consumer audiences," said Suzie Brown , Valassis Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

All of the year-over-year strategy-shifts created an inconsistent annual result for total CPG coupon redemption volume, down 17% to 2.9 billion coupons for 2012. While this reduced volume saved marketers a substantial $800 million in face value discounts, it also raised the cost of per unit items that benefit from higher volume efficiencies, such as retailer redemption handling, auditing and settlement services.

"When making year-over-year comparisons, it's important to keep in mind the conditions and marketer activities of the prior year as well, such as in the case of redemption volume, where the 2012 result would be measured against a year when redemption was growing at an unusual pace for the CPG industry," added Charlie Brown .

A number of other strategic choices and seemingly minor tactical tweaks occurred in 2012, all contributing to the year-over-year change in CPG redemption volume, including:

• Average face values distributed declined -1.3% to $1.53 overall, and dropped to $0.99 for food coupons.
• Coupons requiring the purchase of two or more products increased to 29% of all coupons distributed, up two share points, and reached 45% of all food coupons.
• Expiration dates shortened 6.1% to 9.3 weeks on average, and dropped to an average of only 8 weeks for non-food coupons.

For more information on NCH's 2013 Coupon Facts report, visit www.nchresourcecenter.com.PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1yTob)

Down Payment Assistance Programs

As a single mom in the early 1990s, one of my grandest goals was to own my own home. Back then, I knew nothing about qualifying or the different kinds of loans available. And I certainly did know anything about down payment assistance. I only knew that owning a home had to be better than renting an apartment.
I reached out to a family friend, a realtor, for guidance. He assured me that my goal of home ownership was possible. He referred me to a mortgage professional who specialized in helping low to moderate income families find the loans - and resources - they needed to become homeowners.

While I had been saving diligently for two years, I still needed help with the down payment. The loan officer told me that the city of Garland had a down payment assistance program that offered up to $4,000 for first time homeowners looking to buy within the city - and I was just the buyer this program was designed to help.
Through this program, I was able to purchase a lovely little 4 bedroom, 2 bath home in a a quiet little neighborhood where we lived for the next six years.

Now, more than 20 years later, many cities still offer these kinds of programs. McKinney, Plano, Garland, Dallas and Arlington are but a few of the communities that offer these assistance with down payments and closing costs. The amount and form of the assistance varies from city to city. For example, Denison offers a grant up to $2,500 while McKinney offers up to $10,000 as a 0% interest five-year forgivable loan.

While no two programs are the identical, they tend to have the same general criteria:

• The property must be located in the city limits of community providing the assistance
• The buyer must be a first-time buyer or haven’t owned a home in the last three years. 
• The buyer must occupy the home.
• The buyer must meet the income eligibility requirements, which vary from city to city.
• The buyer must qualify for a loan from a private lender.
• The buyer must be a US citizen or permanent legal residents.

In many cases, the buyer must attend HUD approved home ownership training class as well.

From there, cities can and do set their own rules and guidelines.

Most cities open their programs to any eligible buyer seeking to purchase property within their city limits. Some cities give preference to current residents, while others provide assistance on a first-come, first serve bases. Some cities open the down payment assistance program to displaced homemakers who previously owned a home with a spouse or lived in a home owned by the spouse even if were within the last three years, provided they were not awarded the home during divorce proceedings. Other cities make no exceptions. In Frisco, the down payment program is targeted to families employed by the City of Frisco or the Frisco Independent School District.

Some cities, such as Grand Prairie, provide assistance only for pre-existing housing; others include new construction.

 Furthermore, some cities cap the amount of liquid assets a buyer can have, and this cap varies from city to city. For example, in Garland that amount is $20,000, in Arlington, the limit is $15,000 and in Irving it’s $10,000.

While Meanwhile some cities require buyers to invest a minimum dollar amount toward the down payment. For example, Grand Prairie requires buyers to provide $500 toward the purchase, while Arlington requires at minimum a $1,000 buyer contribution. Some cities determine the buyer contribution based on a sliding scale.

So with so many disparate rules, where does the buyer begin?

First select which community you want to live in and then research their program requirements. The links listed throughout the article are a good place to start. For a list of down payment assistance programs in Texas, click here.

Next, plan to attend a HUD-approved. Click here for a statewide list of providers.

After your class is scheduled, seek out a realtor and a mortgage broker who are familiar with first time buyer programs.

I’ve walked down this road before as a buyer, and now I’m here to guide you through every step in the purchase of your home. I’ll put you in touch with a mortgage professional. You'll want to get you pre-qualified as early in the process as possible. Even if you don’t qualify for a loan right away, the mortgage teams I work with can put you in touch with a reputable credit repair program so that you can start working toward your goals.

Once you’re approved for a loan, your mortgage professional and I will guide you through down payment assistance process and help you submit your package to the city.

Ready to get started? Drop me a note at lynn.windle@coldwellbanker.com, and let’s get you on your way to homeownership!

Tips to Help Your Pets Survive the Superbowl

Superl Sunday typically equals several hours logged jumping up and down on the couch, shouting at the television, and consuming mass amounts of waistline expanding substances that lead to a serious calorie overdose, all while a befuddled pet looks on. Pets aren't passing judgment as they watch the party's outrageous antics. They are simply imploring you with their eyes to take care of their special physical, mental, social and emotional needs, which in turn, will surprisingly help pet parents avoid the dreaded Monday morning, "Big Game" hangover. Since not everyone speaks dog, cat, fish, hamster or the like, esteemed animal behaviorist, Dr. Debra Horwitz , and "America's Veterinarian", Dr. Marty Becker , have partnered with Petco to translate for your pet and share these four tips to avoid overdoing it on game day.

TIP #1: By recording halftime commercials you can take care of your pet's physical and social needs by taking a quick trip to the dog park. Not only will this provide your pet with the exercise it needs to care for its physical health, it also provides social benefits for you – pet owners have a tendency to want to talk with other pet owners. Plus, February 14th is coming up and if you don't already have a Valentine, you may find one at the dog park. And for those worried about missing the second half of the game, opt for an activity closer to home like a walk around the block or a rousing game of fetch in the yard.

TIP #2: Fans will consume some 11 million pounds of chips and 450 million chicken wings on game day, which makes this America's second biggest food consuming day of the year behind Thanksgiving. Guests may be tempted to sneak these fattening foods to pets, but people food can be harmful, particularly chicken wings, which pets can choke on. Do pets a favor and offer healthy, pet-specific treats like Nature's Variety's Instinct grain-free chicken biscuits so pets can share in the big game spread. Plus, antacid sales see a 20 percent increase the Monday morning after the big game, so follow suit with nutritious snacks for people to ensure that no guests' physical health suffers.

TIP #3: When the action gets intense and fans are on the edge of their seats, take a moment to pet a furry friend. Giving a pet some love strengthens the human animal bond, provides for a pet's emotional health needs and studies show it has even greater benefits for people. The hormone oxytocin kicks into high gear when petting an animal, helping to reduce blood pressure and decreasing cortisol, a hormone related to stress and anxiety. Even stopping to watch fish swim will make a difference in your mood. And if your team is on the losing end, therapists have been prescribing pets for years as a way to deal with depression.

TIP #4: Create a quiet place. Loud party voices and booming music can make pets anxious. Even well-socialized animals are likely to be pushed beyond their limits. To take care of pet's mental health, make sure pets have a restful room or area to which they can retreat. And if you're getting particularly worked up, it may be good for you to have a timeout from the game too!

For more information on caring for a pet's physical, mental, social and emotional health, visit: www.petco.com/wholepets.

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Celebrate Gameday The New Orleans Way

Ok, I'm slow. I finally realized that Super Bowl XLVII is in New Orleans. How awesome is that! Super Bowl in the home of Mardi Gras. I've got some last minute party planning to do, and I'm going to get a little help from some Cajun cooks including Zatarain and the "First Lady of Football," New Orleans' own Olivia Manning...

With the Big Game in New Orleans this year, now is the perfect time to celebrate like a local. New Orleans cooking is known for using a "holy trinity" of ingredients - onions, bell peppers and celery. Put a fun spin on the trinity and serve up three authentic and local ingredients on the halftime menu - jambalaya, dirty rice and Creole Mustard.

Using simple, flavorful ingredients helps cut down on cooking time and gives party hosts more time to enjoy cheering on their team with their guests. Avoid penalty flags for serving the same basic fare at the next gathering and jazz up the menu with big flavors and dishes that guests can get personal with. Guarantee a win at the next football fete with these tips from Manning:

Prep dishes in advance – especially since some traditional New Orleans rice dishes taste even better the next day. Olivia preps dirty rice the day before so all she has to do on party day is set out the ingredients for guests to make their own Dirty Rice Tacos. This way, everyone can enjoy watching the game and catching up with company instead of spending the party cooking.

For a welcome change from standard party options, jazz up game day grub with Zatarain's Jambalaya, a dish that takes less than 30 minutes to make and can be customized with family and friends' favorite meats, seafood, or vegetables.

Manning starts with Zatarain's Jambalaya Mix, a perfect one pot dish, and then sets up a jambalaya bar with different add-ins like chicken, sausage or seafood, and vegetables, like peppers, mushrooms and onions, so everyone can make their perfect plate.

No party is complete without chicken wings. Olivia's take on the classic dish, which is her husband's favorite, uses Creole Mustard, chili sauce and pineapple juice for a sweet and spicy combo sure to fire folks up during halftime.

Visit www.Facebook.com/Zatarains and check out the Gameday tab for more authentic New Orleans recipes and entertaining ideas to ensure your game day party is a winner.

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More Superbowl Recipes

Hot as a Torch! Jalapeno Poppers
Makes 24

Ingredients:
12 jalapeno peppers, about 2 1/2 inches long
4 ounces Cabot Mild Lactose-Free Cheddar or Sharp Cheddar*, grated (about 1 cup)
3 ounces cream cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
2 large eggs
2/3 cup unflavored dry bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cabot Regular Sour Cream

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly oil baking sheet and set aside.
2. Cut peppers in half lengthwise; scrape out and discard seeds.
3. In small bowl, mix together cheddar, cream cheese, garlic powder and chipotle pepper; fill each pepper half with some of mixture.
4. In one bowl, lightly beat eggs until combined and frothy. In another bowl, stir together bread crumbs and salt. Roll each filled pepper in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place on baking sheet.
5. Bake until tender and browned, about 30 minutes. Serve warm, with sour cream for dipping.

*Or use a spicy flavor, such as Cabot Chipotle Cheddar or Cabot Habanero Cheddar, omitting ground chipotle pepper.

BBQ Yogurt Dip
Makes about 2 cups for 8 appetizer servings

Ingredients:
1 cup Cabot 2% Plain Greek-Style Yogurt
1 (8-ounce) package Cabot Vermont Premium Cream Cheese, softened
1-2 green onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon mild paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 tablespoon favorite BBQ sauce

Directions:
1. Mix together yogurt, cream cheese, green onions, lemon juice, salt, pepper and other spices (except BBQ sauce) until well blended
2. Pack into small bowl or mold, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until firm.
3. Serve in bowl or unmold onto plate. Spoon stripe of BBQ sauce across top for garnish.

Try with our Football Cheddar Crackers.

Touchdown Dip
Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon Cabot Salted Butter
1 tablespoon King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3/4 cup mild, medium or hot tomato salsa
1/4 cup Cabot Regular Sour Cream
8 ounces Cabot Sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
Classic or Supreme flavored Pretzel Crisps, tortilla chips
Carrot and celery sticks

Directions:
1. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and stir for about 30 seconds to cook flour.
2. Stir in salsa and cook, stirring, until mixture is simmering. Stir in sour cream.
3. Add cheese and continue stirring until cheese is completely melted and mixture returns to simmer.
4. Transfer to bowl and serve hot, surrounded with chips and veggies.

Badass Nachos
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef (10% fat)
1 (15-ounce) container Mild, Medium or Hot Wholly Salsa
1 (6-ounce) bag Food Should Taste Good Yellow Corn or Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
1 (7-ounce) package Classic or Spicy Wholly Guacamole
1 (2.25-ounce) can sliced black olives, well drained
8 ounces Cabot Sharp Cheddar, Chipotle Cheddar or Habanero Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)

Directions:
1. In large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, breaking it up with spoon, until juices have evaporated. Continue cooking for several minutes longer, scraping bottom of skillet, until meat is slightly browned and crispy.
2. Add salsa and let mixture simmer until juices have again evaporated. Remove from heat.
3. Preheat broiler. Arrange half of tortilla chips in single layer on large baking sheet. Top with half of beef mixture. Add half of guacamole in small spoonfuls, followed by half of black olives. Top with half of grated cheese.
4. Place under broiler for a minute or two until cheese is melted.
5. Make second batch with remaining ingredients.
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Americans to Eat 1.23 Billion Chicken Wings Super Bowl Weekend

Chicken wings have become a staple food of Super Bowl parties in the U.S., and demand for them on menus is now at an all-time high leading up to the second biggest eating day of the year – Super Bowl Sunday.

Super Bowl weekend is unquestionably the biggest time of the year for wings. According to the National Chicken Council's 2013 Wing Report, more than 1.23 billion wing portions will be consumed during Super Bowl weekend in 2013, as fans watch the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens battle for the Lombardi Trophy.

To put that into perspective, if 1.23 billion wing segments were laid end to end, they would stretch from Candlestick Park in San Francisco to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore… 27 times.

Super Bowl wing consumption is down about one percent, or 12.3 million wings, compared to last year's numbers, but not because demand for them is declining. Quite the opposite, explains Bill Roenigk , chief economist and market analyst at the Washington, D.C.-based National Chicken Council.

"Chicken companies produced about one percent fewer birds last year, due in large part to record high corn and feed prices," Roenigk said. "Corn makes up more than two-thirds of chicken feed and corn prices hit an all-time high in 2012, due to two reasons: last summer's drought and pressure from a federal government requirement that mandates 40 percent of our corn crop be turned into fuel in the form of ethanol. Simply put, less corn equals higher feed costs, which means fewer birds produced."

Ranch Hands Bleu Cheese Decisive Defeat in New Poll

Almost six in 10 (57 percent) U.S. adults who eat chicken wings said they typically like to eat their wings with ranch dressing, according to a new National Chicken Council poll conducted by Harris Interactive*. Only about three in 10 (35 percent) prefer bleu cheese dressing.

Adults who eat chicken wings who live in the Northeast, though, are significantly more likely to prefer bleu cheese dressing (47 percent Northeast vs. 32 percent Midwest, 30 percent South and 32 percent West), while those in other parts of the country are more likely to prefer ranch dressing (65 percent Midwest, 56 percent South and 64 percent West vs. 44 percent Northeast).

The data also show that nearly four in five U.S. adults (79 percent) eat chicken wings and that consumption does not vary significantly by region or gender. Women (77 percent) are just as likely as men (82 percent) to roll up their sleeves, break out the wet naps and eat a few wings.

"The data show that chicken wings are not bound by gender or geographic lines," added the council's Roenigk. "We also know that they are nonpartisan and politically independent. That is, there are really no extreme left wings or extreme right wings."

Perhaps not surprisingly, among adults who eat wings, women are more likely than men to say they like to eat their wings with celery (39 percent women vs. 28 percent men).

After ranch dressing at the top: 43 percent of wing lovers chose barbecue sauce as their typical snack or dipping sauce; 38 percent said hot sauce; 35 percent said bleu cheese; and 34 percent chose celery. Fewer than one in five wing lovers (8 percent) described themselves as purists who eat nothing with their wings.

Wing-onomics

The vast majority of wings, especially those destined for restaurants, are disjointed, with the third joint (the thin part known as the flapper) being exported to Asian countries and the meatier first and second joints being sold domestically. The wing is usually split into two parts – or portions or segments – known as the "drumette" and the mid-section or "flat" and sold to restaurants or retail grocery outlets.

A chicken has two wings, and chicken companies are not able to produce wings without the rest of the chicken. Therefore, the supply of wings is limited by the total number of chickens produced. When the demand for wings is stronger than the demand for other chicken parts, the price of wings will go up, as it has this past year.

The wholesale price of wings will be the most expensive ever during Super Bowl XLVII as demand rises and the supply has shrunk. Wings are also currently the highest priced part of the chicken.

Wholesale wings are currently at about $2.11 a pound (Northeast), the highest on record at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, up 22 cents or 12 percent from a year earlier.

Wing prices always go up in the fourth quarter of the year as restaurants stock up for the Super Bowl and prices usually peak in January during the run-up to the big game. But many analysts expect that demand will hold steady even after the NFL season ends.

"Demand for wings is proving more and more to be inelastic," Roenigk added. "With the rising number of restaurants with menus dedicated to wings, the return of the NHL hockey season, the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament and then the start of grilling season, wing demand should remain hot."

But Roenigk adds that consumers shouldn't worry about any shortage of wings on Super Bowl Sunday or any time soon.

"The good news for consumers is that restaurants plan well in advance to ensure they have plenty of wings for the big game," he said. "And some restaurants are promoting boneless wings and some are offering flexible serving sizes. But if you're planning to cook your own wings, I wouldn't advise being in line at the supermarket two hours before kickoff."

Retail Grocery and Supermarkets

According to Nielsen Perishables Group FreshFacts® data, both fresh and prepared wings totaled $1.6 billion in sales for the 52 weeks ending November 24, 2012, an increase of 5.4 percent compared to a year earlier.

Wing sales at grocery stores and supermarkets spike dramatically the week of the Super Bowl, but the data show that consumers also stock up the week before, too.

Consumers cooking their own wings at home can find traditional and unique chicken wing recipes on the National Chicken Council website at www.eatchicken.com. With Super Bowl XLVII being played in New Orleans, Cajun-style wings might be in order.

Food Service/Restaurants

Originally on and off various fast-food menus, chicken wings have become a staple of casual dining and pizza places. Virtually every casual dining chain offers chicken wings as an appetizer, if not also as an entrée.

Increasingly, ready-to-eat or heat-and-eat wings are showing up in the delicatessen and prepared foods section of supermarkets, a growing trend.

"Orders at carry-outs and restaurants for chicken wings on Super Bowl Sunday will increase more on that day than any other winter Sunday - a 156 percent increase," said Harry Balzer , vice president of the NPD Group, a market research firm.

Chicken is a very popular dish overall on that day… and it's not just wings. According to NPD Group data, chicken strips will also be up 43 percent over a typical winter Sunday and orders for fried chicken on the bone will be up 33 percent.

Wing-specific Restaurants are Hot on Super Bowl Weekend

Wingstop, a Texas-based restaurant franchise with 550 locations, is prepping for the biggest day of the year when they expect to sauce and toss more than six million wings at restaurants across the country. Wingstop expects Super Sunday business to be up 15 percent over last year, and if Wingstop reaches its goal this will be the 13th straight year the company has set a big game sales record.

"The Super Bowl is the second biggest eating holiday of the year, after Thanksgiving. With the growing demand for wings, we are gearing up for this to be our biggest year yet," said Charlie Morrison , Wingstop president and CEO.

The Rest of the Year – 2013

Although America's taste for chicken wings is no hotter than during Super Bowl weekend, the National Chicken Council estimates that overall in 2013 more than 13.25 billion chicken wings, about three billion pounds, will be marketed as wings (as opposed to the wings on a whole chicken, for example). The actual number of wing portions sold is estimated to be 26.5 billion because, as noted above, the vast majority of wings are cut into two segments or portions. This is about a two-percent decrease from 2012, reflecting chicken production estimates for 2013.

History of the Chicken Wing

Deep-fried chicken wings have long been a staple of Southern cooking. But the concept of cooking wings in peppery hot sauce was born in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, when co-owner Teressa Bellissimo cooked leftover wings in hot sauce as a late-night snack for her son and his friends. The boys liked them so much that the Bellissimos put them on the menu the next day. Served with celery slices and bleu cheese sauce, "Buffalo Wings" were an instant hit.

Dick Winger , who sold hot sauce to the bar, went on the road with Dominic Bellissimo , the owners' son, to promote the item and sell hot sauce, and the item gradually caught on with restaurant operators around the country. The concept hit the big time in 1990, when McDonald's began selling Mighty Wings at some of its restaurants. KFC rolled out Hot Wings a year later, and Domino's Pizza introduced its own wings in 1994. They've remained hot ever since. McDonald's is back in the wing business this year, currently testing its Mighty Wings in 500 Chicago-area locations.

Chicken Wings and Football – A love story

The rise of the chicken wing and its correlation to American football all had to do with timing.

Cooking the whole bird was trendy in the sixties and seventies, but in the eighties U.S. consumers started preferring boneless-skinless breast meat, and wings became an inexpensive byproduct for chicken producers. Restaurants and bars realized they could charge low prices for the relatively inexpensive protein, and due to the spicy/salty nature of the sauce, they discovered that beer sales would go through the roof when customers ate wings.

At the same time, sports bars with multiple TVs and satellite dishes were becoming more and more common in America thanks to rapidly developing technology; and the most popular sporting event to watch with friends in bars is football. Wings were easily shareable and affordable, a great "group food" to eat with other people, and are the perfect pairing with a pitcher of beer. And so the relationship was born. 

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Quick, Easy, Snack Ideas for the Superbowl.

Former pro football running back LaDainian Tomlinson and his wife Torsha are teaming up with Kellogg’s® Snacksto help football fans make their Big Game gathering the most valuable party in the neighborhood.  The Tomlinsons are dishing out quick, easy snack ideas, aided by Kellogg’s Snacks favorites. Check out these ideas:

Cheez-It Bayou Blitz Mix – Add some kick to a snack mix of Cheez-It crackers and Crispix® cereal with southern Cajun spices.
Gridiron Party Pizzas – Transform Keebler Town HouseOriginal crackers into quick-and-easy mini pizzas with this recipe.
Roasted Red Pepper Spread – Add zest to the party by sprinkling cheese dip with red peppers and garlic and serve with Keebler Club® crackers.
Rice Krispies Treats Footballs™ – Mold your Rice Krispies Treats into fun football shapes and top with caramel.
Chocolate Dipped Pringles – Dunk your favorite Pringlesvarieties into melted chocolate for a great mix of sweet and salty flavors.
Fudge Shoppe™ Fudge Stripes™ Layered Bars – Sweeten your Keebler Fudge Stripes cookies by topping them with coconut, chocolate and pecans.

Football fans - or the folks cooking for them - can find these recipes and others atwww.snackpicks.com,

Source: Kelloggs

New Candle Fragrances for Spring 2013

Fragrance does so much to set the mood, especially candles. I change my home scents to match the season and my mood. Through the end of winter, I'll burn scents reminiscent of a snowy mountaintop - fir, evergreen and smokey wood scents. Come March, I'll be ready for something new and fresh.

When I'm ready to change for a new seasons, I look to Yankee Candle for the latest trends in home fragrence. This year, the company has announced 11 eleven new scents, five new Yankee Candle fragrances and six new fragrances in its contemporary Pure Radiance line for the spring. Inspired by memories of vacations in paradise, these candles deliver fresh beach scents and exotic fruits to create a tranquil experience.

NEW YANKEE CANDLE® SPRING FRAGRANCES

Golden Sands™ – Your private beach awaits, where time pauses in soft breezes of soothing sandalwood, luminous orange flower and warm tonka beans.

Turquoise Sky™ – Calm, salty air with hints of sea grass and musk, float gently on ocean waves…off on an adventure beneath a bright blue sky.

Black Coconut – Sunset in paradise… rich coconut, cedarwood and island blossoms promise an evening of luxurious tranquility.

Waikiki Melon™ – Aloha! Wake up to the sunny, sweet glow of exotic, juicy melons with a touch of sweet orange oil.

Paradise Spice™ – An exotic island treasure… perfectly ripe banana and creamy vanilla, unexpectedly spiced with prized cinnamon and cloves.

NEW SPRING PURE RADIANCE™ FRAGRANCES

Sugar Flower – An irresistibly rich and artful combination of powdered sugar, pink cream and vanilla.

Stargaze™ – Warm cedar, amber and musk create a fragrant glow against a clear night sky.

Seaglass™ – Treasure the calming notes of white tea and sandalwood misted with cool salt air.

Guava – A refreshing burst of sunny tropical guava with hints of citrus zest.

Mandarin – Sweet orange is spiced with a touch of cayenne for a uniquely stimulating experience.

Promise – Soft, dewy petals of white tuberose and gardenia offer a hopeful promise of things to come.

The "Know-it-All" Named Worst Super Bowl Party Guest, New Survey Finds

Few things can detract from the fun of Super Bowl Sunday, but a new survey reveals that some big game party guests may find themselves uninvited next year. The survey, conducted by CouponCabin.com, reveals the worst Super Bowl party guests, with the "know-it-all" – the one who knows all there is to know about football, food and the commercials – topping the list. This survey was conducted online nationwide by Harris Interactive on behalf of Coupon Cabin Jan. 14-16, 2013, among 2,050 adults ages 18 and older.

While the know-it-all is the worst party guest for 52 percent of U.S. adults, a variety of other unwelcome Super Bowl shindig attendees made the list:

• The remote dominator – the one who won't stop controlling the volume, changing the settings and flipping channels – 41 percent
• The social butterfly – the one who doesn't watch the game and doesn't stop talking – 38 percent
• The super fan – the team's biggest fan who doesn't let you forget it by showing up decked out in his/her favorite team's gear and shoots off stats left and right – 21 percent
• The dieter – the one counting calories on one of the most celebrated days of junk food – 18 percent
• The commercial watcher – the one who only pays attention during the commercials – 13 percent

No matter who shows up at the door for Super Bowl parties this year, there's bound to be a lot of them. Sixty-one percent of U.S. adults said they plan to watch the Super Bowl this year, up from 56 percent last year. Men are significantly more likely to watch the Super Bowl at 70 percent, compared to 52 percent of women.

"The popularity of the Super Bowl is increasing, but some are turned off by all the buildup," said Jackie Warrick , senior savings adviser at CouponCabin.com. "In fact, six-in-ten people we surveyed feel there is too much hype around the Super Bowl. It's important to keep it all in perspective, especially if you're planning to spend money hosting a party, traveling to see your team, or wagering on the outcome of the game."

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Ok, I confess, I'm the commercial watcher... Well and the half time shows. 

Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Rebound

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Fixed mortgage rates increased following positive economic news, with the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 3.66 percent this week, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.35 discount and origination points.

To see mortgage rates in your area, go to http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate jumped to a 4-month high of 2.94 percent and the larger jumbo 30-year mortgage climbed to 4.08 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were all over the map, with the 3-year ARM increasing to 2.96 percent, the 5-year ARM dropping to 2.71 percent and the 7-year ARM holding at 2.88 percent.

The past week saw positive reports on housing starts and a drop in weekly unemployment claims, which coupled with good news on the corporate earnings front, powered mortgage rates higher. With the debt ceiling debate delayed, the most dire economic scenarios are alleviated for now, which should keep a floor under bond yields and mortgage rates at least until talk of government spending cuts heats up. Mortgage rates are closely related to yields on long-term government bonds.

The last time mortgage rates were above 5 percent was Apr. 2011. At the time, the average 30-year fixed rate was 5.07 percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,082.22. With the average rate now 3.66 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $916.05, a difference of $166 per month for anyone refinancing now.

SURVEY RESULTS

• 30-year fixed: 3.66% -- up from 3.60% last week (avg. points: 0.35)
• 15-year fixed: 2.94% -- up from 2.89% last week (avg. points: 0.29)
• 5/1 ARM: 2.71% -- down from 2.74% last week (avg. points: 0.31)

Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.

For a full analysis of this week's move in mortgage rates, go to http://www.bankrate.com/.

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next seven days. A little over half of respondents, 54 percent, expect mortgage rates to remain more or less unchanged over the coming week. Roughly three-in-eight - 38 percent – predict mortgage rates will rise and just 8 percent see mortgage rates declining over the next seven days.

For the full mortgage Rate Trend Index, go to http://www.bankrate.com/RTI.

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Texas Ranked as One of the Most Affordable Housing Markets in the World

            While the cost of  home ownership around the world is on the rise, housing in the United States remains some of the most affordable in the world, according to the 9th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, released earlier this week.

            The survey covers 337 metropolitan markets in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

            Housing affordability is determined by a formula called the “Median Multiple”: median house price divided by gross, before-tax, annual median household income. The Median Multiple is a commonly used measurement tool within the financial industry and by researchers.

             Historically, the median multiple has been similar in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand. the United Kingdom and the United States, the study notes. Median home prices in those countries having generally been from 2.0 to 3.0 times median household. 3.0 and under is consider affordable, while 5.1 is considered severely unaffordable.

            This trend remains in the many housing markets in the United States and Canada. However, the Median Multiple has escalated sharply in the past decade in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and even in some markets of Canada and the United States. The one thing these rising cost markets have in common is that land use has become more restrictive. Land use impacts affordability because less land for homes means the dirt is more expensive.

            In the United States, 100 markets included in the survey were below 3.0, while only 16 were over 5.1. Canada had 8 markets under 3.0 and 6 over 5.1. Australia, with the least affordable housing market, saw 30 markets over 5.1 and none in the affordable range.

            Overall, Evansville, Ind., was the most affordable market in the study with a median multiple of 1.5, while Hong Kong was the least affordable in the study at 13.1. In the United States, Honolulu was the least affordable at 9.3.

            In recent years, the Dallas - Fort Worth and Houston home markets have emerged as the fastest growing larger metropolitan areas, the survey noted. Both remain affordable, with a median multiple of 2.9 in Dallas-Fort Worth and 3.0 in Houston. The study credits this affordability to “liberal land use regulation” and demand driven by net domestic migration.

Texas’ Affordable Housing Markets*	Median Multiple
Amarillo	2.9
Beaumont	2.9
Dallas-Fort Worth	2.9
Houston	3.0
Longview	2.6
Lubbock	2.0

*As defined by the Annual Demographia International

Housing Affordability Survey

            If you're thinking of moving outside the United States, go north to Canada. New Brunswick or Moncton, New Brunswick. Both communities scored 2.3 If you're looking to get off the continent, head to Waterford Ireland, which also scored 2.3.

Whether you’re thinking about moving to the other side of town or the other side of the planet, I can help. Coldwell Banker Apex is a global company with Coldwell Banker offices in 51 countries. We can help you, your friends and family anywhere in the world. Give me a shout! 

Price Reduced on Michael Jordan's Illinois Residence

Ok, this isn't exactly North Texas, but it's still fun to peak inside celebrity homes, no matter where they are! 

CHICAGO, Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The asking price on basketball legend Michael Jordan 's longtime personal residence has been reduced from $29 million to $21 million. The secluded 56,000-square-foot compound is presented by listing agent Katherine Malkin of Baird & Warner, who originally listed it in February 2012.

Designed to Jordan's specific needs and taste, the property offers nine bedrooms, more than 15 baths and five fireplaces. In addition to the main residence, the estate features an attached three bedroom guesthouse, an indoor/outdoor entertaining and pool area, an outdoor tennis court, a putting green, a deep water pond and three separate climate-controlled multi-car garages. The residence was constructed between 1993 and 1995 and extensively renovated in 2009.

Among the features of the estate is the attached indoor basketball complex. Completed in 2001, the recreational facility has a separate entry and nearby parking area. It features a full size regulation basketball court with specially cushioned hardwood flooring, adjustable backstops and basket, and competition-quality high intensity lighting. The court also has a one-of-a-kind sound system with speakers expressly "tuned" to provide perfect acoustics within the court space.


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CoreLogic® Home Price Index Rises 7.4 Percent Year Over Year in November

Almost All States Show Positive Growth

Irvine, Calif., January 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — CoreLogic® (NYSE: CLGX), a leading provider of information, analytics and business services, today released its November CoreLogic HPI® report. Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased on a year-over-year basis by 7.4 percent in November 2012 compared to November 2011. This change represents the biggest increase since May 2006 and the ninth consecutive increase in home prices nationally on a year-over-year basis. On a month-over-month basis, including distressed sales, home prices increased by 0.3 percent in November 2012 compared to October 2012*. The HPI analysis shows that all but six states are experiencing year-over-year price gains.

Excluding distressed sales, home prices nationwide increased on a year-over-year basis by 6.7 percent in November 2012 compared to November 2011. On a month-over-month basis excluding distressed sales, home prices increased 0.9 percent in November 2012 compared to October 2012. Distressed sales include short sales and real estate owned (REO) transactions.

The CoreLogic Pending HPI indicates that December 2012 home prices, including distressed sales, are expected to rise by 7.9 percent on a year-over-year basis from December 2011 and fall by 0.5 percent on a month-over-month basis from November 2012 reflecting a seasonal winter slowdown. Excluding distressed sales, December 2012 house prices are poised to rise 8.4 percent year-over-year from December 2011 and by 0.7 percent month-over-month from November 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 for the most recent month.

“As we close out 2012 the pending index suggests prices will remain strong,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic. “Given that the recently released Qualified Mortgage rules issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are not expected to significantly restrict credit availability relative to today, the gains made in 2012 will likely be sustained into 2013.”

“For the first time in almost six years, most U.S. markets experienced sustained increases in home prices in 2012,” said Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “We still have a long way to go to return to 2005-2006 levels, but all signals currently point to a progressive stabilization of the housing market and the positive trend in home price appreciation to continue into 2013.”

Highlights as of November 2012:
Including distressed sales, the five states with the highest home price appreciation were: Arizona (+20.9 percent), Nevada (+14.2 percent), Idaho (+13.8 percent), North Dakota (+11.3 percent), California (+11.1 percent).
Including distressed sales, the five states with the lowest home price depreciation were: Delaware (-4.9 percent), Illinois (-2.2 percent), Connecticut (-0.5 percent), New Jersey (-0.5 percent) and Rhode Island (-0.3 percent).
Excluding distressed sales, the five states with the highest home price appreciation were: Arizona (+16.5 percent), North Dakota (+12.9 percent), Nevada (+12.6 percent), Hawaii (+11.6 percent) and Idaho (+11.6 percent).
Excluding distressed sales, this month only two states posted home price depreciation: Delaware (-3.5 percent) and Alabama (-2.2 percent).
Including distressed transactions, the peak-to-current change in the national HPI (from April 2006 to November 2012) was -26.8 percent. Excluding distressed transactions, the peak-to-current change in the HPI for the same period was -20.7 percent.
The five states with the largest peak-to-current declines, including distressed transactions, were Nevada (-52.9 percent), Florida (-44.3 percent), Arizona (-39.8 percent), California (-35.8 percent) and Michigan (-35.4 percent).
Of the top 100 Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) measured by population, only thirteen are showing year-over-year declines in November, seven fewer than in October.

*October data was revised. Revisions with public records data are standard, and to ensure accuracy, CoreLogic incorporates the newly released public data to provide updated results.

November HPI for the Country’s Largest CBSAs by Population (Sorted by Single Family Including Distressed)

November National and State HPI (Sorted by Single Family Including Distressed)

Figure 1 - Home Price Index
Percentage Change Year-Over-Year

HPI Single-Family Combined Series
12-Month Change by State

HPI Single-Family Combined Excluded Distressed Series
12-Month Change by State

USDA Loans: Homeownership Could Be Within Your Reach with a USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program

 A few days ago, I had lunch with a friend of mine, a single mom with two kids. During the course of the conversation, she lamented the aggravations of apartment dwelling, and that she would love to get her own place, a place with a yard, but was afraid with her income, it would never happen.

            As a realtor, I stay on top of the various loan programs out there, and I turned her on to the USDA’s Rural Development Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. This loan is designed for people just like my friend. The purpose of this loan program is to assist low to moderate income rural homebuyers achieve their dream of homeownership. The loan program requires no down payment, offers 100 percent financing and a 30-year fixed interest rate, doesn’t require private mortgage insurance (also called PMI), and has no restrictions on size or design of the home.

            Initially, she balked at the idea of living in a “rural” community, but I quickly explained that “rural” doesn’t necessarily mean middle of nowhere. Many communities in easy driving distance of Dallas, Fort Worth and many other employment centers are eligible for the program. Examples include Anna, Melissa, Princeton, Prosper, Farmersville, Fate, and Royse City among many others. And there’s many subdivisions in those communities - new and established - to choose from.

            The program does have eligibility requirements. Since the loan is designed for low to moderate income homeowners, there are income caps. In general, a family of up to four individuals living in Texas can make $74,750; families up to eight members can make up to $98,650.

            There are exceptions for high income for some geographic regions of the state, including North Texas. In Collin, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman and Rockwall counties, the limits are $80,650 for a family up to four members and $106,450 for a family up to eight. In Johnson, Parker, and Tarrant counties the limits are $79,550 and $105,000, respectively. Wise County the limit is $77,250 and $101,950. Again, not all of the counties have communities that are eligible for the loan program. For the latest on income and property eligibility, click here.

            While there is no maximum purchase price, per se, qualifying ratios, credit scores, stable and dependable income, and other criteria determine the top amount the applicant can borrow. In general, lenders are looking for a credit score of 620-640 and the housing cost should be no more than 29 percent of the applicant’s income while the applicant’s total debt should be no more than 41 percent of their income.

            My friend also expressed concern that she’d owned a house before and that would make her ineligible. No worries, I told her. The program isn’t limited to first-time home buyers.

            For now, my girlfriend is marking time until her lease is up, but by the time the next school year rolls around, I’m confident we’ll have her tucked into a new home of her own.

           

            Ready for a home of your own? I’m here to help! I know of many wonderful subdivisions in areas that are eligible for this program! And I can refer you to mortgage professionals who can guide through the loan process. Want to know more? Drop me a email now.

Getting Started with Your VA Loan

A VA-guaranteed loan is a fabulous benefit offered to hard-working men and women who have served or are serving in the U.S. military. Some of the benefits available only through a VA loan includes the opportunity to refinance your home up to 100 percent of its value, and purchase a home with no down payment.

A VA loans also eliminates the  private mortgage insurance premium requirement and limits the amount you can be charged for closing costs. The seller also can pay your closing costs. VA-backed loans can't charge you a penalty if you pay off your loan early. Also, the VA may be able to help if you find yourself struggling to make payments. 

You can use a VA-backed loan to:

• Buy a home, a condominium unit in a VA-approved project
• Build a home
• Simultaneously purchase and improve a home
• Improve a home by installing energy-related features or making energy efficient improvements
• Buy a manufactured home and/or lot.

The one cavet is that the home must be for your own personal occupancy.

To qualify for a VA loan, you have to prove that you meet one of the following requirements:

• Served 181 days during peacetime (Active Duty)
• Served 90 days during war time (Active Duty)
• Served 6 years in the Reserves or National Guard
• Be the surviving spouse of a service member who was killed in the line of duty.

Click here for more detail

.
To show that you are eligible for a VA loan, you must get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Form 26-1880 from the Veterans Association.  The documents you need to request the COE depends on the category of your eligibility. Click here for a list of documents you'll need.

There are three ways to apply for the COE - online, via snail mail or through your lender. If you apply directly, it could take up to six weeks before you get a response, so make sure you request the certificate very early in your home search.

You also have to suitable credit and sufficient income as well. Though there are some exceptions, the VA will guarantee up $417,000. Your lender can help you determine your loan amount.

While VA loans require no down payment, borrowers do have to pay a funding fee. This fee, which can be as high as 3.3% is based on how much you do put down, whether this is your first or subsequent VA loan and whether you're regular military or reserve/National Guard. These fees are waved for vets classified as disabled by the VA.

If you're a veteran or an active service member, let me help guide you through the entire homebuying process. I can refer you to mortgage professionals who can help you find the best VA lender to help you meet your needs. Want to know more? Drop me a email now.

Americans Continue to Expect Growth in Home Prices

Fiscal Cliff Debate Appears to Rattle Overall Economic and Financial Confidence

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer confidence in the housing sector grew last month, marked by continued positive attitudes toward home price, rental price, and mortgage rate expectations, according to Fannie Mae's December National Housing Survey results. The growing belief held by Americans that these housing indicators will climb in 2013 may inspire a boost in home purchase activity during the coming months. However, while consumers seem confident that housing activity is on the rise, their outlook toward the economy and personal finances appears to have resumed a more unsettled trend following a show of optimism in November.

"The highest share of consumers in the survey's two-and-a-half-year history expect home prices to increase in the next 12 months. This view is consistent with Fannie Mae's expectation that home prices will rise going forward on a national basis. Combined with consumers' growing mortgage rate and rental price increase expectations, the positive home price outlook could incentivize those waiting on the sidelines of the housing market to buy a home sooner rather than later and thus support continued housing acceleration," said Doug Duncan , senior vice president and chief economist of Fannie Mae. "Despite continued strengthening in the housing market, consumers' concerns over the fiscal cliff and debt ceiling have caused considerable volatility in their perceptions of the larger economy. This uncertainty seems to be prompting a growing share of consumers to expect their personal finances to worsen and may contribute to weaker near-term economic growth."

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

Homeownership and Renting

• The average 12-month home price change expectation jumped to 2.6 percent, the highest level since the survey's inception in 2010.
• At 43 percent, the share who believe home prices will go up in the next 12 months reached the highest level recorded, up 6 percentage points over November.
• The percentage who think mortgage rates will go up continued to rise, increasing by 2 percentage points to 43 percent, the highest level since August 2011.
• Twenty-one percent of respondents say it is a good time to sell, a 2 percentage point decrease from last month's record high, but a 10 percentage point increase year over year.
• At 4.4 percent, the average 12-month rental price expectation hit the highest level since the survey's inception, up 0.4 percent over last month.
• Forty-nine percent of those surveyed say home rental prices will go up in the next 12 months, a slight increase from last month.
• The share of respondents who said they would buy if they were going to move decreased slightly to 66 percent.

The Economy and Household Finances

• At 39 percent, the share of respondents who say the economy is on the right track fell by 5 percentage points from last month's survey high.
• The percentage who expect their personal financial situation to get worse over the next 12 months continued to rise, reaching 20 percent and the highest level sinceAugust 2011.
• Twenty-two percent of respondents say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago, a slight increase over last month and a 5 percentage point increase over September.
• Thirty-seven percent reported significantly higher household expenses compared to 12 months ago, a 3 percentage point increase over the past month and the highest level since December 2011.

The most detailed consumer attitudinal survey of its kind, the Fannie Mae National Housing Survey polled 1,002 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 December 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 December 2012 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey was conducted between December 3, 2012 and December 18, 2012. Interviews were conducted by Penn Schoen Berland, in coordination with Fannie Mae.

Opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, and other views of Fannie Mae's Economic & Strategic Research (ESR) Group included in these materials should not be construed as indicating Fannie Mae's business prospects or expected results, are based on a number of assumptions, and are subject to change without notice. How this information affects Fannie Mae will depend on many factors. Although the ESR Group bases its opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, and other views on information it considers reliable, it does not guarantee that the information provided in these materials is accurate, current, or suitable for any particular purpose. Changes in the assumptions or the information underlying these views could produce materially different results. The analyses, opinions, estimates, forecasts, and other views published by the ESR Group represent the views of that group as of the date indicated and do not necessarily represent the views of Fannie Mae or its management.

Fannie Mae is a leading provider of mortgage credit in the United States. We guarantee and purchase loans so that families can buy homes, refinance their existing mortgages, or access affordable rental housing. Fannie Mae is focused on assisting homeowners in distress, stabilizing neighborhoods, and encouraging sustainable lending. We are committed to improving our financial condition and our priorities are aligned with the public interest. Our work supports the housing recovery today and is helping to build a better housing finance system for the future.

SOURCE Fannie Mae
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