MacMike

At this point in December, it can start to feel like the New Year – along with all our hopes, dreams, wishes and expectations for it – are barreling down on us. Personally, I’m a rabid Resolution-setter, and I have a pretty strong track record of making New Year’s changes actually happen – and stick. But what I know after years of using the New Year as a great excuse to set and meet some goals is that it’s very, very helpful to get a head start, ramping-up to new habits, behaviors and target goals achievements starting in December.

If you’re one of the millions who has an eye on 2012 as the year in which you’ll buy a home (first or not), here are five things you can do now to put yourself on the right path:

1. Check your credit. Take my word for it: there is no bad surprise worse than a bad credit surprise. Okay, maybe there is one thing worse – a credit surprise you receive while you’re in the midst of trying to buy a home!

Recent studies have revealed that a record high number of real estate transactions are falling out of escrow, and that credit “issues” are a leading cause of these dead deals. Your best chance at catching and correcting score-lowering errors and other derogatory items before they destroy your personal American Dream is to start checking and correcting while you still have time on your side.

2. Do your research. The more rapidly the real estate market changes, the more it behooves smart buyers to study up before they jump in. And now’s the time – you can start doing online and in-person research into topics ranging from:

· Target states, cities and neighborhoods. Whether you’re relocating or simply trying to narrow down the local districts to focus on during your 2012 house hunt, December is a great time to start your online research into decision-driving factors like tax rates, school districts, neighborhood character and even prices in various areas. Resident ratings and reviews sites like Trulia and NabeWise can help you make the neighborhood-lifestyle match.

Once you narrow things down and start speaking to local agents, ask them to brief you on the local market dynamics, including how long homes typically stay on the market and whether they generally go for more or less than the asking price, so you can be smart about how you search. (And yes, Virginia, there are areas where homes sell for more than asking, even as we speak!)

· Real estate and mortgage pros. If you don’t already have your pros picked out, now is the time to get on the horn or drop an email or Facebook message to your circle of contacts, asking them for a referral to a broker or agent they love. Follow up by: checking whether these pros are active in answering questions on Trulia Voices, searching for their name and seeing what sort of feedback on them you can cull from the web, then giving them a ring and launching a conversation about whether you and they might be a good partnership.

· Short sales and REOs. Distressed property sales are not for the unwary. If you want to target upside down or foreclosed homes, or are planning to house hunt in an area where many of the listings are described as short sales or foreclosures, get educated about what you can expect from a distressed property purchase transaction before you get your heart set on a short sale.

What you get for the money. Online house hunting is a powerful tool – especially when it’s cold and wet! But there comes a point in your house hunt where you’ve got to just get out into the actual physical homes you’re seeing online in order to get a strong, accurate sense of what home features, aesthetics and location characteristics correlate with what price points.

· Mortgage musts. You can read a bunch of articles about mortgages and get yourself pretty far down the path toward qualifying for a home loan, but you can only get a personalized action plan for a smooth road ‘home’ by talking with a local mortgage broker and having them assess your basic financials. They might say you need to move funds around, pay a bill down or off or produce some sort of documentation from your employer. And the time to start all that is now.

3. Fluff up your cash cushion. So, you’ve saved up your 3.5 percent down payment. Perhaps you saved a little extra for closing costs. Or maybe you’re even one of those uber-aggressive 20-percent-down-ers. No matter how much you’ve saved, you’ll find that you could use more once you activate your home buying action plan. Mark my words – after closing, you’ll crave extra cash to do some repairs, upgrade a couple of things, buy appliances or even just to hold onto in order to minimize your anxiety about depleting your savings!

So, if homebuying is on your personal 2012 action plan, don’t go hog wild on holiday gifts. Instead, wait until next year and give yourself the gift of a home.

4. Shed some stuff. Sell it. Donate it. Give it to relatives who’ve always coveted it. Just get rid of it. If you do it before year’s end, you can kill three birds with one stone: (a) getting some cold hard cash to go toward your savings, (b) getting some tax receipts so you can deduct the value of your donations in January, (c) minimizing money spent on holiday gifts for loved ones and these two bonus birds – clearing the mental clutter that physical clutter creates and prepping for your move in advance.

5. Sit very, very still. Sometimes, the best way to further our goals is to stop tripping ourselves up. In that vein, commit right now to refrain from making any major financial moves until you buy your home. Don’t quit your job to start that personal chef business (yet), don’t pull a bunch of cash out of your savings account (without getting clearance form your mortgage pro first), and don’t start buying cars and boats on credit – even if you do love the idea of putting the red bow on the car you give your wife, like in the commercials.

I assure you, the bow you’ll be able to put on that house or condo will be much bigger, redder and more tax-advantaged!

If you're thinking about buying or selling real estate in western North Carolina, give me a call, or visit my website at www.mikemcgrewasheville.com .

October is Gold to WNC

Discover October Gold in the North Carolina Mountains!

 

Discover October gold in the North Carolina mountains…gold and copper and bronze and vermillion and orange and a thousand variations of those hues as the rich mix of deciduous trees in these ancient mountains perform their annual autumn extravaganza.

Before living here, I thought that the leaves basically changed and fell off the trees in about two weeks or so. NOW, I know they begin falling in September and continue into November. They start changing colors at the tops of the mountains and gradually work their magic down into the valleys and gorges.

 

The mountains and foothills of North Carolina are laced with scenic highways and byways, making this the ideal place for a perfect fall road trip!
 
The "granddaddy" of them all is the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Stretching for 252 miles from the Virginia border to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Parkway's many overlooks give motorists safe leaf-looking all along the way.
 
The Cherohala Skyway in the far western part of the state climbs to elevations of over 5,300 feet.  Travelers look down on stunning views of the Snowbird Mountains and the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness Area and on clear days can see the Great Smoky Mountains in the distance.
 
Twenty NC State Scenic Byways weave through the countryside, from the Yadkin Valley wine country to the "Land of Waterfalls," from the summits of the High Country to the ancient ancestral home of the Cherokee.

Cross Country in a Wrangler

One summer, I bought a Jeep Wrangler in Bradenton, Florida. The next week, my wife and I took off for Vancouver. We fulfilled one of my dreams by spending a few days in Yellowstone driving the entire figure-8 with the top down (coats on, heater blasting). Another memorable stop was Glacier National Park - hiking in the snow and petting the mountain goats. Gathering rounded wooden souvenirs on the beach at Olympia National Park sparks warm memories. Getting up close and personal with Mt. St. Helens was awe-inspiring. We made it to Vancouver and Victoria, but the trip out and back was my favorite part.

What's your favorite road trip memory?
Submitted by Birch Counseling.

Amazing Corn Mazes!

Those Amazing Corn Mazes!

Corn mazes make for great family fall fun, and they seem to be growing in popularity on farms throughout Western North Carolina.

Mazes date back to ancient Greece and Rome and were popular in the formal gardens of Europe.  Today, it is our farmers who are creating crop mazes in fanciful designs to the delight of visitors of all ages.

Here is a sampling of corn mazes in our area.  There are many more pumpkin patches, pick-your-own farms, and fall festivals in the region as well.  Check out the Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project's Local Food Guide.

Ashe County Corn Maze, Sept. 19-Oct. 31, Crumpler, NC.
Foothills Corn Maze, Sept. 26 – Nov. 1, Morganton, NC.
Johnny Wilson Farm, Last week of Sept. – last week of October, Granite Falls, NC.  
Deal Farms, Oct. 1-31, Franklin, NC.
Blue Ridge Corn Maze, Sept. through Oct., M-F by appointment, Brevard, NC.
The Maize, Sept. 12 – Nov. 1, Canton, NC.
Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Sept. 6 – Oct. 31, Fairview, NC.
Darnell Farms Corn Maze, Aug. 20 – Nov. 1, Bryson City, NC.
Cherokee Corn Maze, Aug. 15 – Oct. 31, Bryson City, NC.
Castle in the Corn Maze, Sept. 25 – Oct. 31, Eliada Homes for Children, Asheville, NC.

Fragile X Awareness Day

A year ago, I had never heard of Fragile X Syndrome. Last August, my grandson, Austin, was diagnosed with a full mutation. We later discovered that he inherited it from Jennifer, who got it from Peggy, who got it from her mom, and we don't know any further than that. Needless to say, it has impacted all our lives. Peggy, Jennifer and I just attended a Fragile X workshop last weekend in Asheville. We learned lots and networked with a bunch of people who are also affected. But mainly, we learned how special Austin and others with this genetic disorder are. For the most part, they are delightful people to know and be around, even though they have difficulty with certain concepts, like math for instance. Now you know, will you please share this info with someone else?

What is Fragile X?

Fragile X is a family of genetic conditions, which can impact individuals and families in various ways. These genetic conditions are related in that they are all caused by gene changes in the same gene, called the FMR1 gene.

Fragile X includes:

fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common cause of inherited mental impairment. This impairment can range from learning disabilities to more severe cognitive or intellectual disabilities. (Sometimes referred to as mental retardation.) FXS is the most common known cause of autism or "autistic-like" behaviors. Symptoms also can include characteristic physical and behavioral features and delays in speech and language development.

fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), a condition which affects balance, tremor and memory in some older male gene carriers.

fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI), a problem with ovarian function which can lead to infertility and early menopause in some female gene carriers.

Some gene carriers do not exhibit any of these features. To learn more about carriers click here.

Fragile X can be passed on in a family by individuals who have no apparent signs of this genetic condition. In some families a number of family members appear to be affected, whereas in other families a newly diagnosed individual may be the first family member to exhibit symptoms. 

Since 1984, The National Fragile X Foundation (NFXF) has been helping individuals with Fragile X, their families, and the professionals who work with them. As research into Fragile X continues, our understanding of who it affects and how it affects them will grow. The NFXF is committed to: 1) supporting and funding all efforts that will increase awareness, 2) improving education, 3) advancing research toward improved treatments and an ultimate cure, and 4) keeping the Fragile X community always well-informed about the progress of these efforts.

Southern Comfort

Something YOU may not know about me:
The Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan for the first time when I was in Oak Grove Jr. High School in Clearwater, FL. Like many of my peers, I was ready to learn to play guitar and grow my hair long. There was a dress code back in those days, so I had to just settle for learning the guitar. I bought a used, black acoustic guitar from the local music store and paid for enough lessons to learn my way around the frets. Two other budding guitarists decided to form a band and somebody had to be Paul (bass player), so I agreed. At first, I just turned the bass all the way up on my guitar, but eventually I acquired a Gibson bass. We added a drummer and called ourselves, "Sounds of Society." We played parties, sock hops and after Football Game dances.

In my senior year, I got a call from a guy in Tampa who wanted some horn players to form a band that could do soul music. We called ourselves "Southern Comfort" (I played trumpet)  and it eventually became a full-time gig playing clubs in the Tampa Bay area. When our manager asked us to go on a tour of the northeast, we lost our keys player and that led to a break-up. Shortly after, I became a Christian and let the dream of rock stardom die.

JJ

Even though Peggy and I are pet lovers (especially cats), we didn't have much luck with dogs. When I went back to college and seminary, owning a dog was out of the question. We moved to 

Bradenton in 1987 and really liked our friends' dachshund. In the fall of 1989, we adopted JJ into our family. Still a little puppy, one of his parents was a long-hair and the other a short-hair, so he wasn't pure bred, but still 100% dachshund. At the time we had brown carpet in our house and he blended right in, so we were constantly stepping on him and he was constantly yelping and the phrase heard most often in those days was, "Don't step on the dog!"

As a puppy, he would get so excited when someone came to the house that he would pee. I got into the habit of picking him up and holding him away so I didn't get wet. One memorable day was when Jennifer's friend, Terry, brought her brand new car over to show off. JJ promptly jumped up into her front seat and peed all over it.

JJ was a GREAT lap dog and had the sweetest disposition. Before moving to NC, he had stopped barking at every thing that moved, so we were sure that he had lost his hearing. After the move, he eyes clouded over and his arthritis made him stiff. He face turned white. As his old, 19 year old body began to shut down, we said our goodbyes to him shortly before Christmas. The Vet assured us that dogs indeed, DO go to heaven, and we'll see him again.

Two Too Late For Thanksgiving

This Whole Christmas Thing

This morning, a story came on the radio of a woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable, along with hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season--overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every house-warming, baking (and tasting) all the holiday food and treats, as well as getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list. Of course, mindful not to forget anyone on our card list, along with the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card, getting them all off into the mail in ample time.

Finally, the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd inside. She pushed her way into the elevator, dragging her two kids and all the bags of stuff in behind her. When the doors closed, she couldn't take it anymore and stated to no-one, yet everyone, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be strung up and shot!"

From the back of the elevator, everyone heard a quiet, calm voice respond, "Don't worry-we already crucified Him."

For the rest of the trip down the elevator, it was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. Don't forget this year to keep the  One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. If we all did it, just think of how different this whole world would be.

2nd of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

HABIT 2: BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

So, what do you want to be when you grow up? That question may appear a little trite, but think about it for a moment. Are you-right now-who you want to be, what you dreamed you'd be, doing what you always wanted to do? Be honest. Sometimes people find themselves achieving victories that are empty-successes that have come at the expense of things that were far more valuable to them. If your ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step you take gets you to the wrong place faster.  Habit 2 is based on imagination--the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint. If you don't make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It's about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill it. Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen.  One of the best ways to incorporate Habit 2 into your life if to develop a Personal Mission Statement. It focuses on what you want to be and do. It is your plan for success. It reaffirms who you are, puts your goals in focus, and moves your ideas into the real world. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your own life. You create your own destiny and secure the future you envision.