Keeping Kids In Mind When Moving

Here is some great information we found on the Remax site about kids moving. It can be a very anxious time for them as well so here are some things to keep in mind before, during and after your move

Moving is well known to be a traumatic experience. Families leave memories, friends, relations and activities. And while most of these can be replaced by new friends, memories, and activities, the move becomes no less traumatic.

Oftentimes the concerns and fears of the children are overlooked when families move to a new location. A move is especially hard on teenagers or youngsters who have a passion for a sporting activity, social club involvement or who participates in one of the various art forms. Teenagers and young adults are asked to leave their budding romances, their high school and college activities and to some extent abandon their personal dreams and ambitions.

It is paramount to include the children in the initial planning stage of a family relocation. Get them involved in the decision process. Ask your real estate associate to obtain information for the children that may ease their fears.

When searching for that perfect home, it is wise to involve the young adults of the family. Infants and very young children can sometimes hinder your search for a home because they quickly grow impatient and you may want to find a sitter during house hunting visits.

Remember, kids move too and they oftentimes require very special attention during this traumatic time of their lives.

Protect Yourself from Burglaries

It seems all you read about lately is the rash of burglaries going on in neighborhoods. With the state of the economy it is a sad situation. We had stumble across an article (we don't even remember where) that tells you how to make sure you are not a target for robbers. Here are the mistakes we make that put us at risk.

Mistake 1: Leaving the alarm off when you are running quick errands. Experienced burglars watch neighborhoods when people go to work and what their habits are. Set the alarm all the time.
Mistake 2:Posting company alarm signs. Experienced burglars can disable certain alarm company systems, they have diagrams that they study from Internet info or inquiring references from the company. Buy a generic sign such as: This House is Protected by an Alarm System.
Mistake 3: Most people hide valuables in the bedroom such as jewelry, money, rare coins etc. Hide such items in several unlikely places like the garage, freezer etc., that way it is less likely for them to get everything.
Mistake 4: Hiding windows with large shrubs. This allows burglars to jimmy windows without being seen. Keep bushes & shrubs trimmed to below window level.
Mistake 5: Leaving lights on. A light that always stays on day and night is a give away that people are away and once they are inside it helps them to see better. Always use timers in different areas of the house.
Mistake 6: Don't stop mail or newspaper deliveries. You may trust your mail or paper carrier but you don't know who else is getting the info. Keep your plans quiet and have a close friend or neighbor drop by at different times to pick it up and hold it for you.

These are good tips to keep in mind and help make your home safe.

Support our Soldiers

Since July is a very patriotic month we thought we would share these great websites we found in the Hallmark magazine. They listed all these great websites to help wounded soldiers and their families. We thought it was such a great article because we didn't even know that these websites were out there. As the proud daughter and granddaughter of a World War II veteran we was wounded in battle we are happy to pass them on. Thanks to the Hallmark magazine for bringing them to our attention.

Show Your Support For Families Of Wounded Soldiers. This month we celebrate our countries independence. Lets not forget the men and women who help protect our great country. Many of them have been wounded in war so here is the great article we found that listed five ways you can help the families of wounded soldiers. They are:

1. Donate funds for a rental car or hotel room to a family visiting a soldier undergoing long-term rehabilitation at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington DC; log onto yellowribbonfund.org for more details.
2. Give a laptop to a military hospital so that recovering soldiers can stay in touch with family and friends; log onto laptopsforthewounded.com for more details.
3. Hire a returning soldier if you are an employer; log onto hireahero.org for more details.
4. Offset the cost of activities, like dance lessons and Little League, for the children of deployed and seriously injured National Guard and Reserve military personal; log onto ourmilitarykids.org for more details.
5. Send a veteran to a concert or sports event through Tickets for Troops, or opt for other ways to show your appreciation; log onto thethankyoufoundation.org.

Reverse Mortgages A Good Idea? That Depends

Reverse mortgages are not what they are cracked up to be and may not be for everyone. Beware of the hidden costs. People do not realize there are steep fees. When you get the reverse mortgage they will pay off your outstanding debt like your mortgage, or home equity loans etc. but in most cases they will charge you more than 5% of the loan amounts to do so. You must realize that you would still be responsible for property taxes on the home, the utilities and the repairs and maintenance of the house. A helpful website about reverse mortgages is: www.aarp.org/money/revmorgt.

Remember you must be 62 years of age or older to qualify.