Lewisburg and Greenbrier County WV

Dear ActiveRain Family,
In years past it has been fairly easy for me to meet my target goal for the St. Baldrick’s foundation but this year it seems a little tougher.  I have raised $895 to date with most of the donations coming  through Facebook and donations from my Coldwell Banker office.  My goal is $3000 and before I have my head shaved  on March 13th I’m asking my fellow Rainers to donate what they can and or share the following link. http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/itsagoodlife  I’m dedicating my fundraising and haircut to the family of Patrick McNamara a seventh grader who lost his battle in October to  Ependymoma, Brain tumor.

Amy Hahn has answered the call and I’m asking each and every reader to follow in her footsteps.  If each of us donated just a little bit to this worthy cause there would be fewer Patrick McNamara’s out there.  Please help how ever you can, I want the children of our communities to be around a while.  It's a good life.

 

Click Here When You Have Any Real Estate Needs

 

Send a card to someone you care about on me.

Just Click Here

 

 

15 East Spruce Street in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

A collaboration of many, the design of this house has a layout that works with contemporary life while incorporating details from the heritage of the west. It is a mix of contemporary and rustic materials: soaring glass windows, heated stone and modern finishes alongside reclaimed oak flooring and Wyoming snow-fencing, this home is masterfully placed upon one of the largest canvases in Old Town Steamboat Springs.

This magnificent Mountain Contemporary home, situated on 1.3 acres in the heart of Steamboat, with Butherknife creek meandering the grounds, makes this a truly unique home in a sublimely private setting. The journey continues inside with walnut cabinetry, marble counter tops, large timber beams and floor to ceiling glass allowing an abundance of natural light to blanket this wonderful home throughout the day. The kitchen shares the two sided rock fireplace and boast professional grade appliances and an extravagant 53 inch Lacanche range.

Outside, the covered patios provide ample exterior living space, but the 2,000 square feet of garden and living roof-top is literally a sight to behold. This lush root-top garden is irrigated and provides spectacular views and a wonderful place to take in the sunsets over downtown Steamboat Springs.

There's a large heated garage with shop for all your tool and toys. And an additional office space as well above suitable for any executive. Two out-buildings also provide ample storage for gardening or gear. Walk to local restaurants, shops, and schools, from this location. This is a one-of-a-kind gem in the heart of Steamboat Spring, Colorado.

 

Charlie Dresen - Real Estate Broker / Partner

High Mountain Sotheby's International Realty

708 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487

Cell - 970.846.6435 l Fax - 970.879.8102 l Office -  970-879-8101

Steamboat Springs Colorado Realtor l Email: mailto:Charlie@SteamboatsMyHome.com

 

Too powerful not to share.

Ennaid Seyer's Photos

Married or not you should read this...


“When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.

So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!  If you do, you just might save a marriage.

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

By: Ennaid Seyer

Albuquerque Homes and Lifestyle Blog

www.AlbuquerqueHomes.com

********************************************************************************

John McCormack    Owner/Managing Broker,  e-PRO

505-980-4576 / John@AlbuquerqueHomes.com

Search Albuquerque Homes For Sale *  Search Albuquerque Homes & Lifestlye

If your considering Buying, Selling or Relocating  to Albuquerque or Rio Rancho, NM and need a Professional Realtor It would be my pleasure to help you!

Be sure to visit my AlbuquerqueHomes.com website for total access to all available homes in the following New Mexico communities:  Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Los Ranchos, Placitas, Bernalillo, Tijeras, Sandia Park, Cedar Crest, Bosque Farms, Los Lunas & Belen.

Come On Back and Visit My

A couple of days ago I posted a blog on "Seasoning Money", and ended the blog stating that I would post another blog on "Gift Money" Acceptable Donors & Required  Documentation.  After thinking about that a little more, I will actually be posting at least a couple of blogs on this topic, because the documentation does change between Conventional and FHA Loan, and one blog would simply would be to long.  I will start with Conventional Loans, and what Fannie Mae considers to be an acceptable donor, and the documentation that Fannie Mae requires.

Fannie Mae allows for an acceptable donor to contribute towards the Borrowers downpayment and closing costs.  This should not be confused with Seller Paid Costs.  Seller Paid Costs are not "Gifts" and can ONLY be applied towards closing costs.

Acceptable Donor:

• A Relative:
• Spouse
• Child or other dependent
• Related to the borrower by:
  
• Blood
• Marriage
• Adoption
• Legal guardianship
• Fiance
• Fiancee
• Domestic Partner

NOTE: If the gift is received from a relative, fiance, fiancee, or domestic partner who has lived with the borrower for the last 12 months, the gift will be considered the Borrowers own funds, as long as the other individual will also be using the purchased property as their principal residence.

Not An Acceptable Donor:

• Affiliated with the:
•  Builder
• Developer
• Real Estate Agent (even if the Real Estate Agent is a relative of the Borrower)
• Any other interested party to the transaction.

Amount of Gift:

• Loan To Value (LTV) of 80% or Less - No minimum downpayment or closing cost are required from the Borrower, all of the funds can be gifted, for all owner occupied residential properties.
• Loan To Value (LTV) of more than 80%:
• One-Unit Principle Residence - All funds can be gifted
• Two-To-Four Unit Principle Residence - 5% of the funds MUST come from the Borrower, and all other funds can be gifted 

Documentation Required:

• Gift Letter signed by the Borrower and the Donor stating the following:
• Dollar amount of the gift
• Date the funds are transferred
• Must state that no repayment is expected
• Relationship to Borrower
• Required Documents to verify gift:
• Copy of donor's check & Borrower's deposit slip
• Copy of donor's withdrawal slip & Borrower's deposit slip
• Copy of the donor's check to a Closing Agent
• A settlement statement showing receipt of the donor's check

NOTE:  Most Lenders will not accept a settlement statement showing the receipt of the donor's check, because they will want to see the funds in the Borrower's account before they will give a clear to close.

NOTE:  Even though Fannie Mae will allow for just a copy of the donor's withdrawal slip & Borrower's deposit slip, most Lender's will require a copy of the check as well, which means that ALL gifts should ALWAYS be made by check.

The next blog on this topic I will cover FHA's requirements which slightly different in both documentation and allowable amount of gifts.

 

*************************************************************************************

 Info about the author:

George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com

 

 

Tips to Market Yourself and Your Business on Pinterest

Pinterest is a highly addictive and fast growing social media platform. If you don't know yet, well, as Gieco says, "what? do ya live under a rock?" Pinterest is a wildly popular virtual cork board to pin up everything and anything you may find online. From recipes and home decor ideas, to fashion statements, personal photos and... wait for it... real estate listings.

There are even web and seo ideas and of course business people to follow. It all depends on what you want to check out and who you want to follow. You can follow a particular board or someone's whole profile if you want. For example, I am NOT into shoes and while I like this one follower I didn't care about shoes so I unfollowed the shoe board, same with someone that only pinned baby things.

You can follow particular boards if you just want to know about those subjects or an entire profile of the person. You start to figure out what someone posts by the frequency of particular posts and then decide whether you want to keep them or not.

So how do you market yourself or your business on Pinterest?

Set up an account first. Done that? Great. Now set up boards. Not sure what to name them? Start looking around at things that interest you and repin a few things, you will quickly find that certain things fit into certain boards more than others. You can name the board after you repin (or while you are repinning) which helps figure out the genre better.

Once you have a few boards make sure they are into categories. If you are really new, you may not have any followers and the quickest way to do this is to make sure all your boards are in a category. You simply click on your name in the top right and click boards. From here you can click on a board and at the top of the screen it will ask you to place it in a category. By doing this your pin can now be seen by everyone that goes to that category, not just floating around in your own little world.

From this page you can also rearrange your boards. Once you get a good amount of pins up, arrange your boards with the most popular or more important boards first to last. This allows Google to crawl through the site knowing what you're about more. This also helps those interested in following you a better idea of what you pin the most of.

Once you have repinned a few things you can venture out to pin original links. This is where it really gets good! From the home page you want to click the Add+ button at the top. From here you can upload a pin from your computer such as a real estate listing photo OR you can add a link from anywhere on the web.

Once you add the link (say from your website showcasing your new listing) make sure you put it into a board with a category and add text talking about the listing. In the text section you have 500 words but of course you don't want to bog someone down with marketing blah blah blah.. so make it interesting. "Beautiful Island City Ranch Home - FOR SALE" You may want to add your email or phone number or a simple web address. If you post the same on every pin people may start to unfollow you, so keep it interesting. I pin a lot of beautiful pictures of places that link back to the real estate site. Many times people repin because its somewhere they want to visit.. who knows, if they find you at every turn, they automatically think of you when the time comes to move there.

If you want to promote a listing or product with a price you simply add the price in the comment and it will splash it up across the product.  It will then be listed in the "gift" section as well.

Once you get going you can create more of a name for yourself by commenting on other people's pins, requesting to be a contributor on other people's boards and encouraging others to contribute to yours such as agents in your office to your real estate board.

Utilize the Pin buttons. Under the about section you can choose several ways to add a pin-it button to your website or create a favorite button on your browser tool bar so where ever you are online, you click the pin-it button and it automatically pins whatever you want, wherever you want. (LOVE IT)

Find out who has repinned you and comment on the post, not pushy but in agreement or an answer to the way they may have repinned it.

Pin videos or virtual tours of your homes and again, make sure your comments are inviting and catchy.

Pinterest is still by invite only as far as I know so let me know if you need an invite. It's way easier than facebook to get started and lots more fun. And don't listen to Greg Nino when he says Pinterest is only for women. ;-)

Other Pinterest Tips

 How to get set up on Pinterest

 Ten People to Follow on Pinterest

 Top Tips for Pinterest

 

Tammy Emineth is an expert in custom content and original articles for blogs, website, press releases and more. Contact me anytime and feel free to subscribe to this blog to stay up to date on my latest blogs and informative information. Email me or contact me for Real Estate Website Marketing and SEO Content Writing.

The information contained in this blog is believed to be true and correct and while every effort is made to assure that the information is as accurate as possible, the author of this blog, and its comments disclaim any implied warranty or representation about it's accuracy for any particular purpose. All information is copy written and the property of Tammy Emineth.  

Check out some more photos of our 2009 snowfall:

It is Still Snowing in West Virginia

A West Virginia Winter Wonderland

 God Made His Own Birthday Cake out of Snow