Mortgage Interest Rate Daily Tracker - 4.5 today!

Do you know how to clean up a spill from your beautiful carpet?

"Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing." Phyllis Diller  

"Oops! I spilled!" Do you know how to clean up a spill from your beautiful carpet? Whether it's a child's spilled milk or an adult's goblet of wine, the first and most important step for preventing a spill from turning into a stain is by blotting up as much moisture as you possibly can.

If there are solids, scrape them up and blot with lots of clean towels. Paper towels work well. Here is one key pointer. Do not rub! If you're thinking of using spot remover, wait until you have thoroughly blotted the area. You probably know that club soda is an instant spot remover. Pour a little on the spot, wait a few seconds, and blot the area.

While you are waiting for the spot to dry, if you'd like the latest real estate news, or to check recent home sales in your area, please visit my web site at lisabear.remax.com. You'll see that we've taken the time to prevent problems in buying or selling real estate by providing the most current information the real estate marketplace.

I promise that when you invite me over to talk about buying or selling real estate that I'll deliver RE/MAX Premier Customer Service. And I'll be neat. No spills!

There Is Still a Tax Credit Available!

As Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving passed, I forgot to remind everyone to thank those who have served our country AND to remind everyone out there in the blogosphere that eligible Veterans are still able to take advantage of the Federal Tax Credits that expired for the rest of the population a few months back.

Yes, eligible First Time Home Buying Veterans only need to be in contract by April 30, 2011 and close by June 30, 2011 to receive the up to $8000 tax credit on their income tax return.


And yes, eligible Repeat Home Buying Veterans can receive the up to $6500 credit.

And no, they do not have to take VA mortgages to get the credit (even though we have often discussed the benefits of VA financing in this space).

Scenarios to think about:

1. Home buying Veteran gets their tax credit to fund some home improvement


2. Or to buy furniture


3. Or to consolidate other debt


4. Or to pay discount points (two benefits here. One, the points are tax deductible. And two, they result in a lower rate to help qualify for bigger mortgage/better home or just lower the monthly carrying costs.)

5. What this tax credit may be able to do is ease the pain of a seller who is a veteran that has to lower their asking price because they will receive the benefit on their home purchase.

I have heard the arguments about whether or not the previous tax credits helped sell more homes, but I don’t think that matters because that is an “industry/political argument”. What I am talking about here is the opportunity for individual families that shouldn’t be wasted because of a lack of knowledge.

The mission of this blog is to get the information into the hands of the people. Well, people….are you going to make sure every Veteran you know is aware of this opportunity?

by Dean Hartman

FRIDAY Fish Frys in Wisconsin are the best ------ Share some of your favorites

Lake Country Wisconsin Fish Fry Reviews - fishfryblog.blogspot.com 




Here are some suggestions I've had already.... please add to our list.  And if you try any of these -- let us know what you thought!

Dan Herbst,  Lisa--The Roundup--East of Park Falls on Hwy 182. Great broiled fish and fried fish. The fried chicken is outstanding, and the prices are right. My daughter said they had the best cheeseburger. And its in God's country. Northern Wi.

My suggestion - Jamie and I stumbled upon the old Sharkies (Master Z's) in Waukesha a short time ago and its tasty! We've been back several times --- all you can eat for $9.99. The burgers are tasty too!

Sue Zieche  - Michaels House of  Prime in pewaukee.

Kay Joseph Strauss -  I always liked the Five O' Clock Club in Pewaukee (SS to G). Yummy.

James Schlesner The Avalon in Benoit WI is The Best (Walleye). This town is tiny the 1 gas station, is also the post office, beauty shop& grocery store. and the family raises their own beef and sells it there! A TRUE step back in time! G & M Country Store

23835 County Hwy F,Benoit WI 54816
(715) 746-2241

Lawrence Zubke - The Five O clock club is 2nd to no one, especially the pan fried perch..Kay is right.

Rosie Schroetter -  The Cornerstone in Palmyra(its in the bowling alley) its pretty new, good fish and potatoe pancakes.

Krista Braasch Cyskiewicz, I say Kegel's Inn in West Allis-excellent. But by far....My grandma Kuehl's- it's crazy good.

Amy Chapman  - I have a few -  Milford Hunt Club, Elias Inn (Watertown) and Ras' on Main in Hammond, WI for Minnesotans who have to drive for a FF.

Mortgage Rate Daily Interest Tracker ----- today we are at 4.65%

At one point yesterday we were up to 4.75.  People, now is the time to BUY!  Take advantage of the rates before they elevate more.. and don't forget about the 100% Rural Housing Loan!!!

Mortgage Interest Rate Tracker --- eeeks we are up to 4.5%

Car Maintenance Tips for Cold Weather

The sight of your white breath just after leaving your house is usually a good sign to head back inside and grab a hat to protect yourself from the cold. Similarly, when cold weather hits and you start seeing harmless, steamy, white exhaust from your car, it’s usually a good sign that you should protect your car from the cold.

Follow these tips and winter driving will be a little easier.

1. Routine Maintenance - For winter, it’s important to ensure your vehicle’s battery and charging system are in good operating condition. In cold weather, a battery’s cranking power is reduced significantly. At the same time, the electrical power needed to start your car increases when the temperature plunges. Having quality jumper cables or a portable power pack in your trunk is a superb way to prepare for the worst. At the same time, check to make sure your heater and defroster work. Finally, check your wiper blades.

2. Lubrication - To ease engine startup during cold weather, use a multi-viscosity oil such as Mobil 1 0W-30 or Mobil 1 5W-30, which will help protect your car at temperatures below zero. Low-viscosity oils not only speed startup, but help reduce wear by flowing oil quickly to critical engine parts. Fully synthetic oils, such as Mobil 1, are specifically designed to protect your engine in all temperatures.

3. Filters, Coolant and Hoses - Make sure all filters — oil, gas and air — are in good condition. Check your coolant level and thermostat functionality to ensure proper engine warmup. Coolant should be changed every two years; extended-life coolants last about five years. Check for leaking or soft hoses and replace. Also, be sure to check the radiator or coolant tank pressure cap.

4. Tire Pressure - Examine your tires, checking for excessive wear and proper inflation. Good tread is needed to stay safe on snow and ice. Additionally, both under-inflation and over-inflation are undesirable. Low pressure increases wear and fuel consumption, while over-pressure can reduce traction, especially in icy conditions. If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, consider snow tires.

5. Vehicle Warmup - You should allow your car to idle for a few seconds to make sure the lubrication is circulated throughout the engine, providing protection. It’s not necessary to idle for a long time, as that simply wastes fuel and offers no more protection than a few seconds of idling will. Nonetheless, drive easily at first.

6. Slow Down - With less than ideal winter driving conditions, slow down. Do not exceed speed limits and keep safe driving distances. Avoid gas-wasting jackrabbit starts and pace your driving to help avoid the need for sudden stops, which is especially critical during wet and icy road conditions.

7. Dealing with ice - Make sure you have window ice scrapers and de-icers for the locks. When you’re stuck, having a small shovel is useful to dig out of the snow. The weight of a bag of sand in the trunk will give added traction in rear-wheel drive vehicles and can be used to sprinkle on the snow and ice to gain better traction. And don’t forget personal protection such as a warm coat, hat and gloves, and a blanket, in case you get stuck in a storm.

8. Keep Fuel in the Tank - Never let the fuel tank drop below the half-full mark. A sudden storm with unexpected heavy snowfall could leave you stranded for hours. Having an adequate fuel supply will allow you to idle the engine from time to time to keep warm.

 “Take care of you car in the cold and it will keep you from being left out in the cold.”