Newsletter Ramblings...

So this is fatherhood... A few weeks ago there was a limited run of "Hannah Montana in 3-D" (a concert film). Yep, our daughter is hooked and we were all in attendance for a show--try $16 per ticket and the only available tickets left were late at night OR at 8:15AM (yes, AM!) Our son was not too excited to attend but we survived. Had I attended an actual concert I would expect that my ears would STILL be ringing! (screaming little girls sound like a jet taking off, even in film!)

No space for vino this week, but note that there is some new wine-shipping legislation proposed. Not really what I want, but yet another baby step. Check out HB 1061 (link HERE) Suffice it to say that there are still high barriers to allowing vineyards to ship their products to GA. Sigh... Free trade, what a concept!

Vacation tip: Like horses? Want an awesome bed & breakfast experience? Head to Madison, GA and visit the Southern Cross Guest Ranch. We had a wonderful time celebrating Julia's 8th birthday (which was in January, but last weekend fit our schedule better). Bring your own wine/beer for meals & advil for sore muscles! We highly recommend the experience! Click HERE for the link!

Have you heard about Verizon Wireles/Encore Park Amphitheatre opening up in Alpharetta? What a great concert venue for North Fulton! Chastain atmosphere without having to drive too far. Looking forward to Tom Petty this summer : )

Thank goodness for the rain again, eh? Happy Friday!

Real Estate Corner: What's on YOUR title?

A lot of people don't understand what it means to hold title to their home (and how important details can be). How names are spelled, are both you and your spouse on the deed, who's on the loan, etc. I've had several recent conversations with people about different deeds formats. Here's the scoop-a Warranty Deed means that the person who sold you the property more or less "warrants" that you have a clean title (if not-that's why you have owner's title as well and it gives you a cause of action against them). Most builders use a Limited Warranty Deed, which cuts off their liability as of the date THEY received it. People ask about Quit-claim deeds all the time-that is a deed that gives 'whatever they own'. I can give you a Quit-claim to the Brooklyn Bridge-but I just gave you what I own-NOTHING! (If I ever became the owner of that Bridge, then yes, you'd own it). Think twice about signing ANY deed of ownership (any/all of the above) unless you are actually selling your home OR correcting an error. If you put someone ON title you may have difficulty getting them OFF title. The common story would be an engaged couple buying a house and their relationship goes sour-what if it wasn't an equitable purchase (she paid in more, etc.). If he wants 'something' to sign a deed ($$$!) she may have to pay him. Not fair? Sure, but she can't 'force' him to sign over his interest. Married? You should both be on title, but don't have to be on a loan. Lots of details here, call me w/Q's!

HOUSE FOR SALE: 1896 FOX CHAPEL DRIVE, SMYRNA, GA 30080

Need a house, click any of these links 1 2 3 4 to see my house for sale. It's a great deal and there has been a lot of traffic lately--but it's time to go! Chop chop! 5.5% interest rates? Great prices? What's holding you back? : ) Cheers, Bo

Love is in the air!

What moves you? What makes you happy? The word "Love" is bantered around quite a bit (I love my car, I love that dog, etc.) but what is really important to you? When I remarried I jumped in to being a parent with both feet--try being 41 with no kids, set in my ways and immediately being responsible for a 7 year-old daughter and a 14 year-old son? (not to mention the 22 year-old daughter that's on her own and you've seen photos of Gavin, our grandson!) Well, add another year (of marriage and in ages)--it's been a wonderful experience and more that I could have expected. Not that I am a joy to live with (ask any of them : ) and ask Susie about my 'infinite' knowledge of raising children ("And how many children have YOU had?" is a favorite quote from her). What am I saying? Suffice it to say that I fell in love with a wonderful woman, and I have the "added bonus" of a wonderful family (Susie was/is a great Mom!). THAT's what moves me, THAT's the Love of which I speak! Happy Valentine's Day-I hope you are blessed with family and happiness as well!

Don't forget-Chocolate reportedly is good for you (like wine or anything else, always in moderation!). Evidently wonderful antioxidents + mood-enhancing qualities. I concur! Great valentine's gift through the ages..

Time to VOTE

Want a win-win charity opportunity? Want to win a new Toyota FJ? Only 750 tickets are being sold (@ $100 each) to benefit 3D Life. Call 770.888.7653 to purchase yours TODAY!

I forgot to mention this earlier--Did you buy a home or change the way you hold title to your property in 2007? You need to make sure you file for your Homestead Tax Exemption with your local County Tax Commissioner soon so you can make sure you get that important tax break! Remind your clients as well; they'd love to hear from you!

While I'm on saving money (and yet another SOAPBOX alert!) if you want to pay extra on your monthly mortgage, DON'T use your mortgage company's bi-weekly plan or whatever they call it. They normally charge you monthly fees (along with a $300-500 "setup" fee) for this service! Why not do it yourself for FREE? If you're on a fixed loan, if you pay one extra payment per year (or add 1/12 extra each month) you will knock 6-8 years off a 30-year loan! Make sure to note that this extra is for PRINCIPAL reduction! FHA loan? Make sure they have it BY THE FIRST to count!

Not that Heritage.org is completely unbiased, but check out 'true' poverty statistics HERE

Another political Factoid-Obama was voted the #1 "most liberal" Senator, whatever that means... MORE HERE

CHOOSE A CANDIDATE! Click HERE for a great tool to figure out who has the same views you do! Please Vote next week!

Miscellaneous Ramblings for 1/18/08

Whoops! It's now January 17th and this is my FIRST email of the year! Other than our dog Lillie's well-wishing email, I hadn't set aside time to email as of yet. I do blog from time to time, however, so check out my blogs as outlined on the bottom of the page (They have different names, but all end the same, such as http://www.boknowsclosings.blogspot.com). Sometimes I have a random flash of brilliance (or not!) and share it with the world via the topic-relevant blog, so check it out! I split the blogs into the same topics as my newsletters- one for my Ramblings, Wine and Economics (not that I am an Economist by any stretch!).

I love the photo above--a friend let us stay in her cabin over the New Year's holiday. This was the view off the back deck as the sun was rising just before leaving to go to work on January 2nd.

Have you made any New Year's resolutions? Me neither, really, but I have been working on clarifying my goals for the year. We'll see how that works out... Suffice it to say that 2008 is going to be an awesome year for us all!

Who did NOT enjoy the snow? Shame on you! It was beautiful AND it has cut into our drought conditions! Guess Al may not be 100% right, eh? : )

Why aren't people buying homes? Rates are UNDER 6% (closer to 5.5% actually) so there is no valid reason! RENTERS ARE FOOLS--BUY NOW! : )

If you have anything to do with the mortgage industry (or even if you don't), you cannot miss the video attached here:

Happy 2008!

What are you happy about today? Day two, 2008... I was lucky enough to go to the North Georgia mountains to stay at a friend's place. Very cool view; beautiful scenery! Took a walk (ouch, steep hills!) and saw about 8 deer 'hanging out' and was so impressed with everything. It kind of sinks in (while looking out over the valleys below) how beautiful our lives are; how lucky I am to be alive and married to a wonderful woman. Think about it--how often is it just the two of you with 'nothing to do'. We cooked, drank champagne, watched movies and 'almost' completed a 750 piece puzzle (one of our only defeats but we'll get those last 40 or so in place next time! It was a blue sky... all the pieces looked the same!).

It was just the two of us and it was great to just be together and talk. I know that a lot of people who are married or otherwise 'together' cannot spend 2 solid days together without distractions as they don't have much in common. I am lucky to be married to my best friend!

With that said, I am so looking forward to 2008. Real estate is going to start to rebound; my house will either be sold or rented (sooner, rather than later!) and all will balance out financially. The kids are doing great, our dog is happy, what else can I say but I am truly blessed! May God bless you and yours in 2008!