11/7/07 E-newsletter

In BOICE MAIL this week...

"Pic" of the week:





3-D sidewalk painting: This is one of talented artist, Kurt Wenner’s sidewalk drawings done with colored chalk. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mr. Wenner did his first commissioned mural at age 16. This one has been dubbed “Dante’s sidewalk”. To learn more, go to http://www.kurtwenner.com/artist.htm





Headline Mortgage News:

WAMU and eAppraiseIT accused of pushing values. New York attorney general files a lawsuit. Same old thing, just bigger players? See this Seattle Times article:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003989314_wamu02.html

Top 10 “Great American Towns” – According to CNN Money, Fort Collins, Colorado is number one. Find out why and who the other 9 are: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/index.html

A bright side to the housing bubble bust: This LA Times article points out that “lower housing prices could keep businesses from leaving the region because their workers could afford to buy houses”. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-kotkin4nov04,1,2411436.story?coll=la-news-comment&ctrack=1&cset=true

Will shareholders boot Beazer Homes CEO? The stock is down almost 80% this year and this Forbes article quotes a shareholder advisory group accusing McCarthy of “the most stunning leadership failure in the entire homebuilding industry”. http://www.forbes.com/markets/2007/11/06/beazer-ctw-closer-markets-equity-cx_ra_1106markets47.html

Credit ratings slide for major home builders. S&P pummels the industry according to this Forbes article: http://www.forbes.com/markets/2007/11/02/homebuilders-mihomes-sandp-markets-equity-cx_ra_1102markets36.html?boxes=relstories

IndyMac reports a 203 million dollar quarterly loss. This is a sharp contrast to one year ago when IndyMac posted an 86 million dollar profit. Late payments and reduced investor demand are blamed. Check out this MSNBC article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21658018/

Greenspan recommends reducing home inventory. “get rid of probably 200,000-300,000 excess units in inventory” he says. Refer to this CNN Money article: http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/06/news/economy/bc.japan.us.greenspan.ap/index.htm?postversion=2007110608


Thought for the Week:

"To be cheerful about 2000, consider only this. Of the 30 major elections that will be held, 16 will be in countries that 25 years ago were dictatorships."
"The World In 2000", published by "The Economist"




Trouble “brewing” for the landlord; this photo was taken in an Ogden, Utah townhouse shortly after the tenant moved out. Other than an apparent strong affinity for Coors Light, this guy was described as an excellent tenant. Believe it or not, this photo was taken after some of the cans had already been removed and the tunnel system for navigating from room to room had been collapsed. It is estimated there were 70,000 empty cans in the home. The tenant had deliberately shut off the water to the townhouse. Why not? He certainly wasn’t dying of thirst!
Source: http://snopes.com/photos/odd/beercans.asp






How to keep more of your own paycheck:

We just sent our oldest son to college and almost had to get a second mortgage just to pay for the text books! A great way to lower those costs is to buy used textbooks online at some of the following sites: CheapestBookPrice.com, AllBookstores.com, Biblio.com, AbeBooks.com, A1Books.com, BookFinder.com, ValoreBooks.com and Textbook411.com are all good sites for this purpose. Amazon is also doing big business selling college text books, and there are some British book websites that offer science textbooks for about 40 percent off the domestic price (even when you factor in the cost of international shipping.) Don't buy your books before class starts. Go the first day and ask your professor if you can buy a prior edition and try to find it used.



And now, for this week's fun freebies!

SURVEY COMPANY THAT SENDS AMPLES AND COUPONS ON A REGULAR BASIS
http://www.vocalpoint.com/p4screener/Page1.aspx

Tylenol - Printable Coupon $5 on off
http://www.tylenol.com/page.jhtml?id=tylenol/news/subpcccoldmed.inc

NO COST HOLIDAY MAILING ADDRESS LABELS
http://www.pva.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=2020&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&autologin=true

Free burger on your birthday at Red Robin restaurant
http://apps.fishbowl.com/a/redrobin/join/agegate.asp

SURVEY OPPORTUNITY $75 + WEBCAM
http://www.surveywriter.net/in/survey/survey52/food.asp
20/20 Research is recruiting individuals to participate in a 1.5-hour online focus group taking place on Thursday, November 15th. Each participant will be mailed a webcam with set-up instructions for use in the online streaming video discussion group…and can keep the webcam (valued at $50). The $75 honorarium will be mailed at the conclusion of the group discussion


And finally, Appraise That!





This “tree house” is suspended by cables. One of the most unique houses ever, it must be exciting on a windy day. This model is called the “Free Spirit Sphere” and it is rumored to cost between $100,000 and $250,000 if you are interested. It is made from laminated wood and seems a bit “pricy” for a 8 foot wide home with no bathroom. More photos below.
http://www.freespiritspheres.com/index.htm
http://www.inhabitat.com/2005/06/07/bubble-treehouse/#more-152
To see more photos, etc go to http://www.funmansion.com/html/Most-Peculiar-Tree-House.html



Brought to you by:
BOICE APPRAISALS (High Speed, High Standards)
885 Woodstock Road, Suite 430-305
Roswell, GA 30075
Office# 770-926-5284
Fax# 866-870-0930
www.boiceappraisals.com

Love our new "Boice Mail" more than life itself? If you'd like to subscribe or let us know what you think of our e-newsletters each week write to us at tom.boice@gmail.com

October 24, 2007

In BOICE MAIL this week...

"Pic" of the week:



A punctured water balloon shot with high speed photography (1000 frames/sec). These tests were conducted to “get preliminary insight into the rupture of water balloons in a low-gravity environment”. Why we need this kind of research might be more enlightening than the photo itself. If you would like to see movies of “water balloons in space”, go to:
http://microgravity.grc.nasa.gov/balloon/HS.HTM


Headline Mortgage News:

Big price cuts from home builders. The nations 15 larges home builders have nearly $8 billion in debt. They are doing what’s necessary to move their inventory. Check this article from the International Herald Tribune: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/07/bloomberg/bxhomes.php

Tax Shelter…or just “shelter”? It might be wise to think of the place where you live as a “home”, not an “investment”. This Newsweek article broaches the concerns of many of today’s homeowners: http://www.newsweek.com/id/52608?GT1=10450

Too much house, not enough income – Those who thought the “dark side” would never appear in residential real estate would never happen, may be going through what is described in this article called “How to lose your home in a few easy steps”. Source msnbc News: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21082646/

How long with the housing woes last? According to this Bloomberg.com article, the “U.S. Housing Decline Threatens to Last Into 2009” http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_wasik&sid=aOaXXjyhYd4c

Real business in a Virtual world; You’ve probably heard of “The Sims Online”. Maybe your kids access “Disney’s Toontown”. But have your ever heard of “Second Life”, “There” or “Cybertown”? Businesses are beginning to stake out their claim in these cyber worlds which are becoming more than just a place for role-playing “gamers”. See this report from The Conference Board: http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=3205


Thought for the Week:

"A mind once stretched by new thoughts can never regain its original shape."
Albert Einstein




Not as bad as it looks! This is just one scary tattoo. This bizarre photo was found at: http://www.hourlylaff.com/pic-coolest-tattoo-youll-ever-see/








How to keep more of your own paycheck

Do you…Skype? The popularity of this popular “Voice over IP” phone system has it price. It has been targeted by several “Trojans”, “worms”, etc. according to this article in eWeek.com:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2200670,00.asp

Phone companies charging fees to not use long distance
Do you need yet another reason to dump the three monopoly phone companies -- Verizon, AT&T and Qwest -- and their outdated landlines? Well, here it is: Verizon is playing dirty pool by getting into the AT&T game of charging customers a fee for long distance even if you don't use long distance. The Verizon fee is a couple of bucks a month, but AT&T had been charging people between three and five dollars to not use long distance! So unless you absolutely need a landline, why not liberate yourself? Here's the problem the phone companies are facing: They fought very hard to be able to sell long distance, but then people started using their cell phones, pre-paid cards, the Internet and/or cable phone companies to make their long distance calls. In fact, the cable companies usually offer unlimited long distance. So now the monopoly phone companies are fighting a losing battle.

Drying your razor blades extends shelf life
Studies show that if you just dry your inexpensive razor after use it can last up to a year!

And now, for this week's fun freebies!

CA Anti-Virus, plus CA Anti-Spyware 2008 – AVP08LNC03E
$0.00 ($45 minus 2 rebates at buy.com)
Detects viruses, spyware and other online threats
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=205690321&adid=17653&dcaid=17653

And finally, Appraise That!







Dar al-Hajar – Yes, this is a real home; Located in Yemen, it was built in the 1930’s for the Imam Yahya. You can actually tour the first 5 floors of this palace, which has been restored for visitors.










Source: http://www.traveladventures.org/continents/asia/daralhajar.shtml

Brought to you by:
BOICE APPRAISALS
885 Woodstock Road, Suite 430-305
Roswell, GA 30075
Office# 770-926-5284
Fax# 866-870-0930
http://www.boiceappraisals.com/

9/12/07 Newsletter

In BOICE MAIL this week...

"Pic" of the week:
















A "Raft Dive"? This photo was taken by Ryan Mayer over the Florida Skydiving Center in Lake Wales, Florida. http://www.skydiveradio.com/pics.htm


Headline Mortgage News:

Countrywide tightens its belt – Countrywide to cut 12,000 jobs; expects new mortgages to decline by 25% in 2008. This article about the nations largest lender (60,000 employees) can be found the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/business/08lend.html

Is the housing slump pushing us toward recession? Maybe not, but odds are rising says John W. Schoen of MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20626839/

Portland, Seattle, Texas bucking the trend; booming despite the housing bust says MSNBC's Allison Lin:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18336819/

John W. Schoen of MSNBC responds to the question: "When will housing prices stop falling?"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20536640/

Stock analysts watching the housing market
AP article reported in MSNBC News
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20326143/

Thought for the Week:

"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
George Bernard Shaw














I hope she has lots of room to slow down. This photo of a unique mode of travel was found at http://www.hourlylaff.com/pic-that-has-bad-news-written-all-over-it/



How to keep more of your own paycheck

Free e-mail on your old cell phone
What if you have a regular old cell phone that doesn't get e-mail and you want it on your phone without all the extra fees and having to buy a new phone? There is now a service called Teleflip that sends your emails to your regular cell phone for free. You can also send e-mails for free. Make sure you have unlimited text messaging when using this program though because each e-mail is logged as a text. Go to TeleFlip.com and try getting free e-mails on your regular phone.


And now, for this week's fun freebies!

Free Sample Purex Natural Elements Laundry Detergenthttp://tinyurl.com/ywhj36
2 Free Cups Of Soyogurt From Wildwood Foods http://tinyurl.com/2n3nm5Free Sample Of Tasters Choice Coffeehttp://tinyurl.com/lx97h


And finally, Appraise That!






The "Rotor House" by designer Luigi Colani takes space efficient living to a new level. Within this tiny home is a rotating "merry-go-round" divided into 4 quadrants. With your remote control, you can spin this section into your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or living room. Hopefully nobody wants to start dinner while you are taking a bath.
http://mocoloco.com/archives/000694.php

Brought to you by:
BOICE APPRAISALS!

885 Woodstock Road, Suite 430-305
Roswell, GA 30075
Office# 770-926-5284
Fax# 866-870-0930
order at: www.hotlynk.net
www.highspeedhighstandards.com

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6/24/07 Newsletter

In BOICE MAIL this week...

"Pic" of the week:



This picture can be found at various internet sites. I haven’t been able to determine its original source, but it does play with your mind, doesn’t it?
http://refwd.ourmemorybox.com/2005/08/re_fwd_pictures_that_play_with_your_mind_o.html

Headline Mortgage News:

Reuters: Housing starts down, but permits rise:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2007-06-19-housing-starts_N.htm

Subprime lending “fell off a cliff in the first quarter”. Housingwire article:
http://www.housingwire.com/2007/06/22/survey-subprime-lending-volume-clobbered/

Top foreclosure zip codes; The “F” word (Foreclosure) migrates from Rust Belt to Sun Belt. Read about it in this CNN News article:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/18/real_estate/foreclosures_hardest_hit_zips/index.htm?postversion=2007061915

Looking for the positive spin? NAR predicts “Gradual Upturn”:
http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2007/home_sales_projected_to_fluctuate.html

“All work and no play” does what? In this RIS Media article, Ty Freyvogle, an outstanding entrepreneur, suggests some ways to balance work and “mental health” time:
http://www.rismedia.com/wp/2007-06-04/six-summer-suggestions-for-entrepreneurs-to-help-balance-work-and-life/


Thought for the Week:

“Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners”
Laurence Sterne

If you think you’re too “slow” to play in the big leagues, you’ll like this photo.

How to keep more of your own paycheck

The cheapest gas prices in town. Try the link below. MSN updates this information every night. Just enter your zip code and get a display of the cheapest and most expensive gas stations in the area.
http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx

Cheap to free International calls. JaJah and Rebtel are two communications companies that are changing the international communications game. They are both offering cheap to free international calling. You can go to their websites at Jajah.com and Rebtel.com to see exactly how they work. They are easy to use and can save you tons so check them out.


And now, for this week's fun freebies!

Summer movies for the kids

F*R*E*E movies for 9 week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 AM
http://www.uatc.com/freefamilyflicks/index2.jsp
http://www.edwardscinemas.com/freefamilyflicks/index2.jsp

10 weeks of movies for kids on weekday mornings. Tickets for all 10 movies can be purchased in advance for $5 or can be purchased individually at the box office for $1 each. http://www.cinemark.com/summermovieclubhouse/index.htm


And finally, Appraise That!


Ever dreamed of living on a boat?
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php?tip_AttractionNo==10204
Built in the 1920’s by Miles Kellogg in Encinitas, CA, the SS Moon and SS Encinitas are a couple blocks from the beach. Assisted by his young son who helped every day after school, Mr. Kellogg built these apartments from scrap lumber that was too short for standard ceiling heights. A popular “drive-by” site, these may be the most photographed buildings in this beach town today.

Brought to you by:

885 Woodstock Road, Suite 430-305
Roswell, GA 30075
Office# 770-926-5284
Fax# 866-870-0930
order at: http://www.hotlynk.net/
http://www.highspeedhighstandards.com/

Love our new "Boice Mail" more than life itself? Ask to be added to our weekly distribution list at tom.boice@gmail.com

Trina

In BOICE MAIL this week...

"Pic" of the week:


This image captivated viewers when it began circulating on the Internet in August 2004.
Snopes has been unable to find information about the origins of this picture. www.snopes.com/photo/arts/footprint.asp

Headline Mortgage News:

Where does your state rank in Mortgage Fraud? MARI Releases its “Ninth Periodic Case Report” to the MBA. See this report in the Mortgage Fraud Blog: http://www.mortgagefraudblog.com/index.php/weblog/permalink/maris_ninth_periodic_report/

Florida took the top position, followed by California and Michigan. Georgia, the perennial #1 state in mortgage fraud has slipped to a distant fourth. For a PDF of the 23 page report, click here: http://www.mortgagefraudblog.com/images/uploads/MBA9thCaseRpt.pdf

“The Upside of Subprime” With all the bad news, economist Susan Lee reminds us there’s a good side to subprime lending. American Public Media article: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2007/05/15/PM200705156.html

Too much inventory – Number of listings continues to rise a the sagging housing market tries to find its footing. CNN Money article looks at what a difference a year makes: http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/16/real_estate/home_inventory_growing/index.htm?postversion=2007051718

Is anyone’s home going up in value? Yes, there are still some markets where prices are expected to rise. This CNN Money articles tells you the top 5 and bottom 5 of our nation’s 100 biggest markets: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/real_estate/0704/gallery.fastest_and_slowest_growers/10.html

Thought for the Week:

“Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” John Watson

This is a rare photograph of a Freddie Mac investigator questioning a loan officer on some suspected flip transactions he obtained financing for (see the above link to the MARI "9th Periodic Case Report")

How to keep more of your own paycheck

Years ago my wife created a big spreadsheet for all the grocery stores around town, trying to decide which store was the least expensive. Of course, the price of items changed from week to week, making one store the better deal one week and a different store less expensive the next, depending on sales. One thing she noticed was that some of the best deals to be had consistently were found at the big warehouse clubs. Her favorite is Costco. A study by the Economic Research Service at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture shows that you save a substantial amount of money shopping at warehouse clubs and Wal-Mart Supercenters. Hey, anywhere you can buy tires and cool whip is quite a store.

The study was done over a five-year period, and, on the same quantity of an item, you will save from 5 to 20 percent. As a result, those stores represent about a third of grocery store spending these days. Costo even pays cash back at the end of the year up to 2% of purchases. Alternatively, regular supermarkets use "high-low" pricing, where some items are extremely cheap and others are marked up significantly. The supermarkets tout the low, sale items in advertisements to lure you in, but they hope you'll buy the higher-priced ones when you're there. The only bad thing about the big clubhouses is you have to be able to resist some of that great stuff and be able to control impulse buying.

And now, for this week's fun freebies!

Coolmax 2.5” USB Hard Drive Enclosure - $0.00 after Rebate
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=204317207&adid=17654&dcaid=17654

Kasperskey Internet Security 6.0 – free after rebate at Buy.com go to: http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=202693446&adid=17653&dcaid=17653


We have several birthdays coming up in our family soon and found this great web site that lists all of the restaurants in your area that will give you a free meal or dessert on your birthday. Check out http://tinyurl.com/3po8s

Bluebell Ice Cream company will also give you a free half gallon of ice cream on your birthday by going to www.bluebell.com/Registration.aspx

Free Wedding Songs CD when You Registerhttp://www.theknot.com/may_locations.html

Free One Year Subscription to Marriage Todayhttp://www.marriagetoday.org/site/PageServerpagename=magazine_subscribe

Create a Free Wedding Websitehttp://www.mywedding.com/main/couple_sites.html



And finally, Appraise That!

This is actually a bed and breakfast located on the big island, Hawaii above Waiohinu Village, close to Volcanoes National Park and Kailua and Hilo. Unique architecture, indeed. See the view from this deck in the addtional photo below. http://unusuallife.com/2006/04/02/hawaii-honeymoon-hobbit-house/

Brought to you by:

885 Woodstock Road, Suite 430-305
Roswell, GA 30075
Office# 770-926-5284
Fax# 866-870-0930
order at: http://www.hotlynk.net/
http://www.highspeedhighstandards.com/

Love our new "Boice Mail" more than life itself? Be added to our weekly distribution list by writing to tom.boice@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from YOU!

4/4/07 Newsletter

"Pic" of the week:


According to http://www.funny-potato.com/walking-water.html this is the "3rd man in history to ever walk on water".

Headline Mortgage News:

Law enforcement watching for “Foreclosure Rescue Scams” – Realty Times:
http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20070329_highrisk.htm

Real estate professionals and “social networking” technology – Inman News:
http://www.inman.com/inmanstories.aspx?ID=62651

English country home for sale - $138,000,000 – interested?: USA Today/Reuters:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2007-02-23-pricey-homes_x.htm

New Century Financial Corp files Chapter 11 – 3200 workers to be fired – Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,263291,00.html?sPage=fnc.business/realestate

National survey shows homes lost value during past 1 year – Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,261940,00.html?sPage=fnc.business/realestate

Is there a place for Sub-Prime? Philadelphia Inquirer article warns against over-reacting to the current woes of the industry:
http://originatortimes.com/content/templates/standard.aspx?articleid=2348&zoneid=5

SouthStar Funding gone – Atlanta based company closes its doors – HousingWire:
http://www.housingwire.com/2007/04/02/southstar-funding-goes-under/


Thought for the Week:

"Character is the sum and total of a persoin's choices."
P.B. Fitzwater

How to keep more of your own paycheck

The Easter Bunny wanted us to give you this special gift for Easter…a $10 gift certificate for Ted's Montana Grill, just for being you! Hopefully you have one near you so you can enjoy this!
http://www.tedsmontanagrill.com/tmg_adv_wp.html(also included as an attachment to this Email)

It's gardening season and we found a nice web site that is filled with money-saving ideas for your garden this year. Go to http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17661597.tip.html597.tip.html
It also has tons of thrifty ideas on pretty much everything else you can think of, so you can bookmark that site in your “I promise I’m going to be more frugal this year” folder.
We also found a quaint magazine about country living that includes tips on gardening, animal-care, simplifying your life, etc and the best thing about it is that you can get a free three year subscription! Check out https://secure.livingthecountrylife.com/bhg/store/checkout/partner/index.jhtml?promoCode=I6055LD12&_requestid=20854

And now, for this week's fun freebies!


A few sweets for the season:

$1.00 coupon for any Wonka Golden Egg product
http://www.verybestkids.com/celebrationcorner/

$1.50 coupon for Hershey's candy
http://www.hersheys.com/easter/

Ashley Cardell: Free Godiva Chocolate Pearls (US & Candada)
http://www.ashleycardell.com/gourmet_chocolate.html

And finally, Appraise That!


In 2003, Stan Pike's plan to add a rounded front stoop to a home he was renovating was rejected by the Avondale Estates Historic Preservation Commission. This wasn't the first time Pike had disagreed with the commission and this time he fought back with paint. Within 2 days the home, in a quiet Atlanta suburb, was lime green with big purple polka dots.
http://boortz.com/nuze/200305/05142003.html
http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/9844.html

Brought to you by:
BOICE APPRAISALS
885 Woodstock Road, Suite 430-305
Roswell, GA 30075
Office# 770-926-5284
Fax# 866-870-0930
order at: http://www.hotlynk.net/
http://www.highspeedhighstandards.com/

Love our new "Boice Mail" more than life itself? Just let us know that you'd like to be added to our email newsletter distribution list by writing tom.boice@boice.biz

3/29/07 Newsletter

In BOICE MAIL this week...

"Pic" of the week:

16 year old Chinese diver He Zi performing an "inward 2 1/2 somersault" at the FINA World Campionships in Melbourne, Australia. She took the world title away from Canada's Blythe Hartley at this competition.
http://english.cri.cn/2886/2007/03/23/272@208437.htm

Headline Mortgage News:

Beazer Homes being investigated by the Feds - CNN Money article:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/27/news/companies/beazer.reut/index.htm?postversion=2007032719

"Mortgage rates hold steady" CNN Money
http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/29/real_estate/mortgage_rates/index.htm?postversion=2007032910

Sale of H&R Block Mortage (to Option One) delayed:
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=OBR&Date=20070330&ID=6691174

Is New Century headed for bankruptcy?
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/bankruptcy-looming-new-century-financial/story.aspx?guid=%7B4CB670AA-8B60-4CB7-8F79-E24F57524044%7D

Re-Sales up, new home sales down - Mortgage News Daily
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/3272007_February_Existing_Home_Sales.asp

Another photo from the "Last Picture I Ever Took" contest
http://www.theinternetjournalist.com/?p=47

Thought for the Week:

“Always do right. This will gratify some and astonish the rest.” Mark Twain

How to keep more of your own paycheck

February 17, 2009 will be the last day TV stations can broadcast analog signals and must go entirely digital. For many people with older TVs, they will no longer be able to pick up signals over the air without a digital-to-analog converter. The government has been fussing around with the idea of converter rebates and coupons for people who want to keep using their old TVs. Now they have a plan -- to give each household a max of 2 coupons for $40 each (with a 3-month expiration date) starting next year. No one's saying yet how much each converter will cost. Here are the details: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/dtv/DTVconsumers.pdf

Banks are reducing the rewards you normally get for using their credit cards. So, it may be time to find a better card. Fidelity Investments used to offer a card that paid 2% of all your charge volume into a college savings plan. Well, that program is no longer available to people other than those who already have the card. Now, the company has reduced the benefit to 1.5%. And there is now a cap on how much you can earn each year for your child's education. Unfortunately, many other banks are following this trend. That doesn't mean you should close the accounts you have. Keeping them open helps your credit score. Just don't use that card anymore.

Saving for retirement has become so confusing these days that it's very possible for people to get scammed by con artists. The biggest targets are senior citizens and people who are close to retirement. Insurance companies and brokerage houses are duping older people out of their hard-earned money in trashy variable annuities. There are stories published about this all the time. The latest one is going on in Massachusetts, where "certified senior advisers" were putting older folks into garbage annuities. One 82-year-old got taken in an annuity sale and her money was locked up for two years. She had no money on which to live as a result. Annuities have massive commissions and horrible tax treatments. You are the only cop on the beat in this game because there are no laws preventing what these people do. Don't go to any free breakfasts, lunches or dinners where salespeople try to help you with your money, and don't let your loved ones go. 1.5% back into a Fidelity investment account. There is no limit on earning power. Capital One has a card that earns you 1% each month, plus an additional. .25% at the end of the year. Of course, that could change too. Always keep your options open.

And now, for this week's fun freebies!

Internet Security Suite 2007 from CA (Computer Associates) Home Protection Pack (3 user) – free after 2 $25 rebates:
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=203166147&adid=17653&dcaid=17653

Domino's will give you some free MP3's at
http://www.dominos.com/home/dtPlayer.jsp

If you love to throw parties then check out this offer for a free Presidential Debate House Party Kit! (It includes coasters, cocktail napkins, stickers, and more)
http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/take-action/house-party/

M.I.T. is offering now. You don't get college credit, but you get some great instruction.
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Writing-and-Humanistic-Studies/index.htm

Sea World and Busch Gardens are inviting active military and their families to enjoy their theme parks for free for one day.
http://commerce.4adventure.com/store/os_application.asp

And finally, Appraise That!


The "Hubcap House" in Peoria, Illinois is actually a business. For some reason, someone began decorating the exterior with the product about 50 years ago. Within the past two years, the hubcap exterior disappeared. Mayby they went out of business?
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/sights/sightstory.php?tip_AttrId=%3D14152


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BOICE APPRAISALS
885 Woodstock Road, Suite 430-305
Roswell, GA 30075
Office# 770-926-5284
Fax# 866-870-0930
order at: http://www.hotlynk.net/
http://www.highspeedhighstandards.com/

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3/23/07 Newsletter

"Pic" of the week:


Are you artistic? The U.S. Open Sandcastle Competion will take place this year on July 29, 2007. Top prize in the "Masters Category" will be $5000. See more sandcastle photos at the bottom of this newsletter.

Headline Mortgage News:

U.S. Housing Starts drop 28.6% in February. See this U.S. Census Bureau report:
http://www.census.gov/const/newresconst_200702.pdf

Builder Confidence Declines in March as subprime concerns fester:
http://www.nahb.org/news_details.aspx?newsID=4258&print=false

Are Landlords back in the “driver’s seat”? Realty Times article says maybe so:
http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20070323_landlords.htm

Senator Dodd says FED was a “spectator for far too long” and should have seen the “perfect storm” coming in the subprime market – The Standard:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=22&art_id=40780&sid=12796780&con_type=1

“America’s Most Dangerous States” – According to this CNN News article, Nevada is the most dangerous state in America. See this article for the complete list:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/22/real_estate/dangerous_states/index.htm?postversion=2007032212

Thought for the Week:

"We are each of us angels with only one wing, ans we can only fly by embracing each other"
Luciano de Crescenzo

Rare photo taken yesterday of a national SubPrime lender

How to keep more of your own paycheck

Best Buy is in some really hot water these days, you might have heard. There are now civil and criminal investigations going into practices at Best Buy, according to the Hartford Courant, which broke the story. It’s being reported that Best Buy had a fake Web site in its stores that was charging much higher prices than those found on the Web site accessed from a home computer. Both sites have the name bestbuy.com, but the in-store site was a bait and switch ploy, according to the Courant. When people came in and asked about the lower price they saw on their computer, they were told that the sale ended yesterday. At the worst, this was a criminal act. At the least, it was an extremely foolish move.

The Government Accountability Office has found out that 401k plans are ripping off workers investing in them by swiping massive fees from you each year. Some of them are taking as much as 5 percent a year off the top. Under law, there is no requirement that you be told what you’re being charged for “maintenance and fees.” So, it’s allowed insurance companies to take advantage of investors. If you own a business, you need to ask point blank exactly what you’re being charged. If you’re an employee and you think your account isn’t increasing as much as it should, you want to ask your human resources department what the fee schedule is. If it turns out that the plan is a rip off, you should consider moving your money into a Roth IRA. The best way for business owner to tell if they are getting taken is if your plan is from either an insurance company or stock brokerage company. You may want to consider setting up with Fidelity and Vanguard, the two biggest 401k administrators in the country. You can’t go wrong with either one, but Vanguard is definitely the least expensive. You should always save for your own retirement.

Citigroup, the country’s biggest credit card issuer, has initiated two customer-friendly initiatives. You may have heard about credit card companies raising rates whenever they want for any reason. It may have even happened to you personally. Credit card terms of service usually include a clause saying the bank can do that anytime. Well, Citigroup, which now goes by Citi, is doing away with that practice. Secondly, the company is no longer going to use what’s called “universal default” to boost your rate. Under a universal default clause, a company can jack up your interest rate significantly if your credit report shows any late payments. That means you could pay your electric bill a few days late and your credit card company increases your rate because that late payment is on your credit report. Citi is eliminating its universal default clause, which is great for the consumer. YAY!

And now, for this week's fun freebies!


No cost after rebate keyboard
http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-441747-10440897?

Free smoke alarms for seniors
http://www.ucan.org/forum/forums/san_diego_freebies/smoke_alarms_for_seniors

Free $5 Calling Card from DialBug.com
http://www.dialbug.com/couponcode.html

No cost after rebate Ipod case/cover/skin
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BV7ZPG/freelancebyuc/obidos/ASIN/B000BV7ZPG/freelancebyu

Free sample of BodiHead terapeutic self heating pads
http://www.beyondbodiheat.com/htmls/pre_free_sample_new.asp

And finally, Appraise That!

How much value does this exterior art work add

(or subtract)?

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Roswell, GA 30075
Office# 770-926-5284
Fax# 866-870-0930
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http://www.highspeedhighstandards.com/

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3/14/07 Newsletter

"Pic" of the week:


The mythical “Last Photo I ever Took” contest has sent several photos bouncing around the internet, lately. Most are “photo-shopped”, but this one is actually real. “What happened to the photographer”, you ask? Reuters photographer Desmond Boylan took this shot at the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain on July 7, 2002. Apparently he wrapped the camera in bubble wrap with the lens exposed and slid the camera under the barrier. Using a remote control, he snapped two photos as the enraged animal came charging. In case you are wondering, since 1924 13 runners have been killed and hundreds injured during this annual event.
http://www.glennbeck.com/archives/07-11-02.shtml

Headline Mortgage News:

Is the sub-prime “lending crisis” spilling into the broader U.S. economy? In this LA Times article, the comparison is made to a game of Jenga, in which the wooden pieces are being pulled out one by one:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-subprime14mar14,1,1253577.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage

“Housing Recovery Likely This Year” according to the ever optimistic NAR:
http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2007/forecast_feb307_housing_recovery_likely.html

D.R. Horton has a backlog of 16,694 homes as of Feb 13. CEO says “’07 is going to suck”. – See CNN News article:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/07/real_estate/dr_horton.reut/index.htm?postversion=2007030717

The FBI is putting lenders and borrowers on notice – CNN article:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/08/real_estate/fbi_mortgage.reut/index.htm?postversion=2007030818

Your next new neighbor may be from Michigan. Businesses “flee the Wolverine State” according to this Wall Street Journal article:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009763

Is it really that bad out there? This URL takes you to the “Implode-O-Meter”, which chronicles, with gusto, the current hard times for sub-prime lenders:
http://www.lenderimplode.com/

Thought for the Week:

"Patience is also a form of action."
Auguste Rodin


Another one from the "Last Picture I Ever Took" contest
http://www.worth1000.com/

How to keep more of your own paycheck:

The cruise industry is struggling these days. The industry just wants to cover the most basic expenses in what they charge you for the room. That’s because the real money is made once you get on board. Shore excursions, drinking and gambling are just a few of the activities that will cost you much more on a cruise. But, with all the bad press of late, people aren’t cruising. As a result, companies are heavily discounting cabin costs. Ten-night Caribbean cruises are as cheap as $75 a night, according to the Miami Herald. Ocean-view rooms are minimally more for ten-day and weeklong cruises. So, if you’ve never been on a cruise, this could be your chance. If you’ve never gone on a cruise and have minimal knowledge of the industry, you may want to pay a bit more and sit down with a cruise travel agent. If you’ve been before, have at it. To hear the good, bad and ugly about different cruise lines go to cruisecritic.com. To book travel and save money check out www.trinastravel.globaltravel.com

There is a new website ( www.CustomerServiceArmy.com) whose mission is to stop the advance of bad customer service. Anyone can “enlist and fight” to improve the customer experience. Customers can go to the website to write reviews about their customer service experience for any business, organization or government agency within the United States whether it was in person, over the phone, or online. Businesses can also use the website to measure their real-time customer satisfaction for free. Currently, there are 1,173 "soldiers" on active duty. Yay!

And now, the fun freebies! (This week, it's all about your pets)

Free Desktop Kitty from Meow Mix:
http://www.meowmix.com/getfunstuff/meowpal.asp

Free Doggie Bag Belt Clip:
http://www.noworms.com/giveaway_form/index.cfm

Free sampl of wagging dog treats:
http://www.waggingd.com/frill%20sample%20form%201.htm

Free sample of Yappy dog treats:
http://www.yappytreats.com/free_gift.htm

Free feline greenies cat treats sample
http://www.felinegreenies.com/en_us/2k6sampling/feline.asp

Free nature zone reptile snacks:
http://www.naturezonepet.com/samples.html

Benny Bully's dog or cat treat sample:
http://www.bennybullys.com/samples.php

Gourmet cat food sample:
http://petitecuisine.com/~freesample

And finally, Appraise That!

This much photographed home is located in Hellam, Pennsylvania and was built in 1949 by Mahlon M. Haines, a millionaire who owned forty shoe stores in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Framed with wood, then covered with wire lath, it was then coated with cement stucco. It has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on 5 levels.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/PAHALshoe.html

Brought to you by:
BOICE APPRAISALS
885 Woodstock Road, Suite 430-305
Roswell, GA 30075
Office# 770-926-5284
Fax# 866-870-0930
order at: www.hotlynk.net
www.highspeedhighstandards.com

Here is the Hellam, PA shoe house again. This 1950's post card is for sale on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Advertising-Postcard-Haines-Shoe-House-York-PA_W0QQitemZ200083494467QQihZ010QQcategoryZ20232QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting