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

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1pypB)

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

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1pzor)

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.

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1n8y1)

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.


PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1p2bX)

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.
PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1p3Kc)

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.

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1p9vh)

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.

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1oe9X)