click here to open post Aug 30, 2010 | posted in Personal | 35 comments

Hello world!

Nothing makes me happier than you, HERE, right now! 7 billion years, 2,400 sleepless nights, and 917 frozen pizzas later. . . we’re finally up.and.running!  WAHOOOOOOO! I cannot.stop.smiling. It’s like my birthday fell on Christmas and then I won the lottery, twice.

Here are few little tips to help you get to know the new layout!  Enjoy!

let’s connect + quick post preview option:

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Now go ahead and poke around on your own!
Be sure to comment and let me know what you think!

xx!

Me

PS. We launched with 2 pages of content. Don’t miss Ben and Chelsea or the Raynor Family on page 2!

Everything you see here was very much a collaborative effort as follows:

awesomeness:  Uncle Richie times a bizillion!
blogspiration (shamelessly stole that word from Auntie Heather):  Raleigh, Cardon, Lincoln + angel Gavin
branding:  Cole Nielsen the Great (I think he’s related to Santa Claus. I highly recommend him.)
blog design: Sir Ross the Brave @ Flosites (He’s a sorcerer, and again, I highly recommend him. HIGHLY.)
idea-bouncer-offer + master of picking-up-my-slack + designer in a pinch + saver of my sanity: Ashley the Super Assistant

click here to open post Aug 30, 2010 | posted in Weddings | 25 comments

An added benefit of independent living is the balance between enjoying privacy yet also being part of an active community senior living.

Living in an independent assisted living community services is a great option for those who are still autonomous in their daily tasks, and may still feel a little restless after living in a large group home, and you can explore to find great options for this online. I have no children of my own, but I did have an older sister who I know would have loved to live there, so I did not feel the need to live out her life alone. I could not imagine having to live in isolation for months at a time.

The independent living community I lived in, “The Gardens” at the Pines in Boulder Colorado, is a small, low-cost community that allows seniors and seniors living with disabilities to live, work and enjoy the outdoors. The residents enjoy an eclectic collection of crafts and hobbies, including gardening and woodworking, to enjoy and get out of the house, and some of the members even volunteer their time to clean up litter and street trash around their neighborhood. You can look up retirement near me to see more options. You can also visit sites like www.peachtreehillsplace.com/theterraces/ for more guidance.

The Garden at the Pines is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and their mission is to provide a community of community-oriented and healthy neighbors. Visit sites like https://orchardparkofpermianbasin.com/independent-living/ to check out other options.

Check out their upcoming events:

The Garden at the Pines will be hosting its first-ever “Paint with a Purpose” event for their Spring/Summer 2018 Season. The event will take place at the Garden’s home on Sunday, May 31 from 11 am 2 pm. The Garden’s volunteer team is in the process of installing some new paint, so the event will be free and open to all. Please RSVP to Heather at Heather.Shafer@GardenAtThePines.org or by calling 704-522-0769.

click here to open post Aug 30, 2010 | posted in Portraits | 9 comments

The type of loan you decide on will also impact your interest rates, a secured loan, usually contains lower rates, compared to an unsecured loan. For example, a secured loan may have a lower interest rate than an unsecured loan, and it will take the same time to pay off the loan, although now a days you can go online for loans and you can get it today at Islandnow if you need a loan now.

What types of mortgages can I apply for?

There are several types of mortgages. Some of the most common are:

FHA mortgages are the most common mortgage loans for first-time home buyers. They are available with down payment of up to 5 percent.

Are the most common mortgage loans for first-time home buyers. They are available with down payment of up to 5 percent. USDA mortgages are more affordable but they require a larger down payment. are more affordable but they require a larger down payment, although for a loan is necessary to have a background check, and other requirements.

If you’re in search of a lower down payment mortgage, consider a USDA loan instead. There are several reasons for this: USDA loans require a higher down payment compared to FHA loans.

USDA loans are also cheaper and offer higher loan forgiveness benefits.

USDA loans also offer the ability to have the borrower pay the remainder of their mortgage at closing.

If you’re looking to consolidate or refinance a FHA loan, there are a few things you should know.

What does the consolidation process involve?

As part of the loan consolidation process, FHA will send you a questionnaire, called an Offer to Purchase, asking questions about the loan. The Offer to Purchase must be received by the end of the open enrollment period.

How long will it take to complete? The Offer to Purchase will take approximately five weeks to complete. The offer is non-binding, but it provides the lender with important information about the borrower and the property. When does the offer expire? Once an Offer to Purchase is received, the lender has 90 days to accept or reject it. If the offer is accepted, FHA may then begin the process of closing the property. What is a “Qualifying Offer”? If the Offer to Purchase has been accepted by the lender, FHA may then make an offer to purchase the property. A “Qualifying Offer” is an offer to purchase the property at the offer price plus the closing costs and the amount of any loan forgiveness under the Home Affordable Refinancing program (HARP) or Other Assistance. The closing costs include appraisals, closing costs, and closing costs related to HARP or Other Assistance. What is the closing process? The closing process typically takes two to three business days for the closing of the sale, or the sale process. On the first business day following the close of a transaction, the seller and buyer must complete the paperwork for the purchase and the documents listed under the transaction documents on the next page in this section. When all documentation has been submitted to the county or state records office, the buyer may sign the contract. The transaction will usually close in one business day. You will need to review the contract to confirm the closing date, the amount of the mortgage payment, and your rights and responsibilities under the contract.

If the buyer wants to move out of the property within ten days of the closing, the seller will need to notify the county or state records office. If the buyer wants to do this before the closing, the seller must notify the county or state records office in writing and give a written offer to remove. The offer will need to state the buyer’s intention to leave the property before closing.