Recipe of the Month: January 2012

I just made this delicious and easy crockpot chicken tortilla soup today! It was very easy and had the perfect amount of spice.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

• 1 pound shredded, cooked chicken
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
• 1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups water
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• 7 corn tortillas
• vegetable oil

Directions

1. Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chiles, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in water and chicken broth, and season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn and cilantro. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
3. Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet.
4. Bake in preheated oven until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. To serve, sprinkle tortilla strips over soup.

I did make some changes to mine. Here's what I did differently:

• I did not cook the chicken first. I read in some of the reviews that people just put the chicken in uncooked and shredded it later. I cooked my soup on high for 3 hours and then shredded the chicken. Then I cooked it on low for another 2 hours.
• I used the hot red enchilada sauce. Since the recipe did not specify green or red, I used the spiciest and it was not too spicy at all.
• I did not cook tortilla shells. Instead, I made a side of homemade guacamole with whole grain tortilla chips and topped my soup with some raw chopped sweet onion for a little crunch.

Here is the link to the recipe on allrecipes.com website: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-chicken-tortilla-soup/detail.aspx

I'm glad to start the New Year off with some spice! I hope you try this recipe and it comes out as delicious for you as it did for me!

- Ashley

Squatters Settle Into Multimillion-Dollar Homes

Squatters Settle Into Multimillion-Dollar Homes

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2011

Squatters are finding a loophole in a Texas state law and are moving into residences, choosing some of the priciest, most luxurious homes to settle down in.

A study by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram found that squatters have overtaken numerous suburbian homes, some valued at more than $8 million, in Tarrant County.

"It's the craziest thing how anyone could be so brazen as to just break into a home and start living in it," Tarrant County Precinct 7 Constable Clint Burgess told the Associated Press.

The state law allows squatters to claim property if no owner is on hand to challenge it. They’re targeting vacant properties where owners have died or home owners are away because of a job or even illness. In one incident in Houston, squatters threw away the owner’s belongings in a commercial garbage bin and moved in while the home owner was having chemotherapy.

“Squatters are claiming houses they insist are abandoned by filing affidavits of adverse possession with county clerks, paying a $16 filing fee, keeping current with property taxes and pledging to live in the house for at least three years,” the Associated Press reports.

Source: “Squatters Occupy $2.7 Million Mansion and Other North Texas Houses Worth More than $8 Million,” Associated Press Newswires (Dec. 4, 2011)

Study: Tough Times Ahead for Rental Market

Daily Real Estate News | June 6, 2011

Study: Tough Times Ahead for Rental Market 

While there appears to be an excess in rental housing presently, renters will likely find a very challenging rental market in the months ahead as vacancy rates vanish and rents rise, warns The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies in its latest report on America’s rental housing.

Contributing to the challenge, a dwindling number of multifamily units are being built. Typically, the development of new multifamily housing needs plenty of lead time too. Therefore, as more people opt to rent, vacancy rates will continue to disappear, which will cause rents to rise.

Owners and investors of rental housing stand to profit in the coming months from the tightening rental market. But for renters, they’ll find the rental market increasingly challenging, the study says.

Single-family home foreclosures may help relieve some of the pressure in the rental market, according to the study. With the number of foreclosures skyrocketing, some of these single-family home foreclosures may add to the number of rental units and even help stabilize distressed neighborhoods that have been badly hit by the foreclosure crisis, the study says.

Source: “Harvard Study Warns of Rent Bubble,” RISMedia (June 2, 2011)

Recipe of the Month: May 2011

Homemade BBQ Sauce


Ingredients

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, hot pepper sauce, garlic powder, mustard powder, and salt. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before brushing on your favorite meat.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bar-B-Que-Sauce/Detail.aspx

I hope you'll give this a try because it's so tasty!

- Ashley

Recipe of the Month: April 2011

Chicken Marsala

I found this yummy Chicken Marsala recipe on my favorite website, allrecipes.com. 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour for coating
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded 1/4 inch thick
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup Marsala wine
• 1/4 cup cooking sherry

Directions

1. In a shallow dish or bowl, mix together the flour, salt, pepper and oregano. Coat chicken pieces in flour mixture.
2. In a large skillet, melt butter in oil over medium heat. Place chicken in the pan, and lightly brown. Turn over chicken pieces, and add mushrooms. Pour in wine and sherry. Cover skillet; simmer chicken 10 minutes, turning once, until no longer pink and juices run clear.

Here is the URL to the recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chicken-Marsala/Detail.aspx

I always read the feedback below and I modified it by not using cooking sherry. I also added a little bit of heavy cream to the sauce to make it a creamier marsala sauce. Let me know if you try it! It was delicious!

- Ashley

First Garden Update of the Year: April 2011

I am so excited that I already bought a few things for my garden this year!

Pansies : )

Spearmint

Dill

Garlic Chives - yummmmmmm!

Beautiful!

Cider vinegar to keep flies away!

I was reading how to keep fruit flies away, which is always annoying when you have plants indoors. I have a small spray bottle with a water and a free and clear dish-soap solution. It really helps when you notice the flies to mist the plant and cover the leaves with the solution. The plant won't get harmed and the flies and eggs will die. Also, I was reading that if you put a little bit of cider vinegar in a small dish and cover it with plastic wrap, leaving a small hole at the top, the flies will be attracted to it. They will fly inside the hole, but not be able to get out. So far, I haven't noticed many tiny flies, so I am not sure if it's working!

I also planted my sugar snap peas and green beans last week. I can't wait until I start getting sprouts! I'll be sure to post some pictures in time for my next monthly newsletter : )

- Ashley

Fannie Offers Closing Cost Help for REOs

Daily Real Estate News | April 13, 2011

Fannie Offers Closing Cost Help for REOs 

Fannie Mae is trying to lure more buyers to its foreclosure properties by offering to cover 3.5 percent in closing costs for home owners who close by June 30 on its HomePath properties.

Fannie’s HomePath program provides low down payment financing on REO property sales and has no requirements for mortgage insurance or appraisals.

During the fourth quarter of last year, Fannie offered closing cost assistance and was able to recoup 55 percent of unpaid principal balance on defaulted mortgages through the sales.

Source: “To Move REO, Fannie Offers Deals to Consumers,” National Mortgage News (April 12, 2011)

10 Tips for Saving Money in the Garden

10 Tips for Saving Money in the Garden
By: Laura Fisher Kaiser

Published: January 28, 2011
Carefully plan and plot your garden to add value to your home and make the most of your time and money.
So don’t impulsively drive to your garden center. Walk your land, consult an almanac, test the soil, and make a budget. You’ll save your back, your budget, and your home’s curb appeal.

Tip #1: Get to know your land

Before shelling out money for new plants, consider what’s thrived and died in past gardens. Ask, “Is this plant doing its job? Adding beauty? Providing shade? Creating borders?” Give a pink slip to landscaping that’s not pulling its weight.

If you’re a newcomer to gardening or to the area, scout the neighborhood to see which plants look happy and which wither on the vine.

Keep in mind that even plants appropriate for your growing zone might not work in your personal patch. Your particular soil conditions, sunlight patterns, pest populations, and available water will determine what will grow. Your local cooperative extension service can analyze your soil and recommend amendments and suitable plantings.

Tip #2: Become sun savvy

Even experienced gardeners make mistakes. They plant shade-loving plants in full sun or sun-loving plants in partial shade. Before planting anything in your garden, compare the amount of sunlight your landscaping needs for the amount you have.

Evaluating garden sunlight is tricky because daylight is a moving target: Seasons change and plants mature and cast different shadows.

So before plotting plant beds and tree locations, study the movement of the sun throughout the day and, if you have time, throughout the year. Calculate how many hours of sun each garden section receives. Then check planting directions to make sure your greenery will get what it needs.

Tip #3: Become water wise

Over-watering plants can kill your landscaping and budget. To avoid death by water, know how much and when your greens need to drink: Sales tags should have watering directions.

Drip hoses are thrifty ways to water plants, because the water goes directly to roots, drop by drop. Wind drip hoses around tree bases and bottoms of shrubs. Put hoses on automatic timers to avoid over-watering.

If you have an in-ground sprinkler system, install an ET (evapotranspiraton) controller. These systems, which use real-time weather data sent by satellite to control when sprinklers turn on and off, can cut water use by as much as 30%. The controller costs between $300 and $400, depending on system size, but many municipal water agencies offer rebates, particularly in the arid Southwest.

Tip # 4: Mulch much

Spreading a few inches of mulch in landscaping beds protects your plants and shrubs from drying out, and makes beds look tidy and uniform. Mulch also keeps down weeds and moderates soil temperature.
Organic mulches--grass clippings, wood chips, pine needles--eventually decompose and add vital nutrients to your soil and landscaping. Organics also encourage worm growth, nature’s own soil tillers and fertilizers.
Shredded bark mulch from the garden center provides a rich look for your beds, adding curb appeal. It also prevents dirt from splashing on leaves.

Tip #5: Color your garden

Stick to a simple color scheme for flowers and blooming shrubs in your garden. Your landscaping will look more cohesive and professional.
Massing plants of coordinated colors creates a sense of luxury and order. If you like pinks, add lavenders and blue-hued plants. If hot red is your color, mix with yellows and oranges.
Keeping to a single color family in your garden also narrows your focus when roaming plant center aisles. If you are a gardening newbie and can’t tell a tea rose from a trumpet vine, ask the store’s plant expert for help. Most will be glad to exchange their knowledge for a sale.
Also, gardening catalogs and websites often group complementary colors together. Some even provide a complete landscape plan, which you can faithfully recreate.

Tip #6: Avoid invaders

Ivies, grasses, and vines will fill in your garden quickly, and just as quickly take over your landscaping. Once these “invasives” take root, unearthing them is difficult, and in some cases, impossible.
Your garden center doesn’t call these spreaders “invasives.” They are billed as “fast growers” or “aggressives,” but often that’s code for non-native plants that take over the landscape and crowd out locals by stealing nutrients, light, and water.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains a list of invasives that includes various ivies, grasses, weeds, vines, self-seeding varieties of bushes and shrubs, and even seemingly innocuous herbs, like mint. Your county extension service can steer you toward the species best suited to your garden. Warning: If you love growing mint, grow it in a pot on your deck or patio.

Tip #7: Beware of neighbors bearing green gifts

You should love thy neighbor, but don’t ever take cuttings from their gardens unless you know exactly what they are and how they grow. Self-seeding perennials, such as Black-Eyed Susans and coneflowers, will quickly fill bare spots with splashes of color. If you tire of them, just grab a spade and dig them out.
But if a neighbor extends a slender stalk of Rose of Sharon, or other invasive tree species, run away screaming. These trees will spread throughout your yard and grow roots so deep that only a professional--or the better part of your weekend--can dig and pull them out.
Tip #8: Plant shade trees for natural A/C

Shade trees planted on the south and west sides of a house reduce cooling bills--up to 25%--and lower net carbon emissions. So include shade trees in your landscaping plan.
Choose shade trees according to their size at maturity, which could be 20 years away. Dense deciduous trees--maples, poplars, cottonwoods--are good selections because their leaves cool your house in summer, and their bare branches let light in during winter. Plant them close enough to shade your house, but not so close that they will overwhelm the space.
If you want a faster growing shade tree, about 2 feet per year, select a northern red oak, Freeman maple, or tulip tree.

Tip #9: Power down your lawn mower

The Environmental Protection Agency says gas-powered lawn mowers contribute as much as 5% of the nation’s air pollution. Switching to new generation electric and push-reel mowers—which are lighter, quieter, and kinder to your lawn than power mowers—reduces emissions and cuts fuel consumption.
To mow three-quarters of an acre of grass with a power mower requires 1 gallon of gas. As gas prices head to $4 per gallon, you could save $100 a year by switching to a muscle-powered or electric machine. An electric or good push-reel mower costs $150 to $250, so it will quickly pay for itself.

Tip #10: Grade your landscaping

Once a year, walk your property, cast a hard eye on your garden beds and ask, “Is that plant doing its job? Is it growing into its space, or wandering wherever it likes? Are leaves healthy or spotted with mold and pests? Are these greens improving curb appeal or just making my house look overrun?”
If a plant or shrub isn’t working out, it’s compost. If shrubs are growing too close to your foundation--1 foot away is good--transplant or prune them.
Make sure trees are growing no closer to your house than the width of their mature canopies. Otherwise roots can burrow into foundations, and overhanging branches can trap moisture against the roof or siding, leading to rot and insect damage.
Check your flowering plants and shrubs to see if they are indeed flowering. Too few or dull blossoms should rally after a dose of fertilizer or layer of compost. An inexpensive alterative to commercial fertilizers is manure tea. Fill the foot of old pantyhose with a clump of cow or horse dung, tie the hose to the watering can handle, and let the manure steep in water. You can get weeks of nutrition from a little bit of dung.
Jeanne Huber is the author of 10 books about home improvement and writes a weekly column about home care for the Washington Post.

Recipe of the Month: February 2011

Overnight Oatmeal

I found this recipe for overnight oatmeal when searching online. I made it on a Saturday night to wake up to on a Sunday morning before church. It smelled delicious in my entire kitchen! It was a very hearty breakfast and I cannot wait to make it again!

The following info is taken from a blog called "Mommy's Kitchen"

Survey: Sellers Fare Better With Agents

Daily Real Estate News | February 24, 2011

Survey: Sellers Fare Better With Agents 

Sellers have a better chance at getting their house sold by using a REALTOR® than opting for the do-it-yourself approach, according to a survey of 1,000 home owners by HomeGain.com, an online real estate resource. Nearly 60 percent of home owners who used a REALTOR® to sell their home were successful compared to 39 percent of FSBOs, the survey found.

In the survey, 83 percent of home owners said they used a REALTOR® to sell their home, whereas 17 percent said they tried to sell it themselves. This corresponds to results from NAR's 2010 Profile of Buyers & Sellers, which found 88 percent of sellers were assisted by a real estate agent. (Additionally, 83 percent of buyers bought their home through an agent.)

“It is especially striking that home owners fare significantly better in selling their homes using a REALTOR® than selling on their own,” says Louis Cammarosano, general manager at HomeGain. “Due to that relative success, the level of satisfaction in the home selling process is also higher for home sellers utilizing the services of a REALTOR® than those who try to sell their homes on their own.”

Among the findings in its For Sale by Owner vs. REALTOR® survey:

• 88 percent of home owners who sold their homes using a REALTOR® said they would use a REALTOR® again.
• 24 percent of FSBOs eventually contacted a REALTOR® to help sell their home.

Source: “HomeGain Survey Finds Home Sellers Fare 50% Better in Getting Their Homes Sold Using a REALTOR® Than Selling on Their Own,” HomeGain.com (Feb. 24, 2011)

FSBOs Vanish, Sellers Turn to Real Estate Pros

Daily Real Estate News | February 15, 2011

FSBOs Vanish, Sellers Turn to Real Estate Pros 

For-sale-by-owners are rare nowadays. In fact, the number of FSBOs dropped to record lows over the past year.

Unrepresented sellers make up just 11 percent of the market, down from 13 percent in 2009, according to the 2010 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

With today’s more complex transactions--such as with short sales and foreclosures and frequent changes in mortgage lending--more sellers are finding comfort in the help of real estate professionals to guide them through the process.

FSBOs once were lured to try to sell themselves because they thought they could save on commission fees, but now sellers are realizing that if they don’t use an agent, it’ll likely cost them more in the long run, experts say.

"Selling by owner does not guarantee the seller will put 5 [percent] to 6 percent more in his or her pocket in trade for doing all the work and taking on potentially costly liabilities,” Margaret Woda, associate broker with Long & Foster in Crofton, Md., told The Washington Times. “On the contrary, prospective FSBO buyers have their eyes on that 5 percent to 6 percent as well. It's more likely the buyer will win this negotiation in a buyer's market with a huge price reduction--probably even larger than the saved commission."

Some FSBO sellers also often make the mistake of listing their home at a higher price than the market warrants. But even if they do find a buyer for that price, unless it’s a cash purchase, the home has to be appraised and many deals can then fall apart.

Source: “Fewer Sellers Going Do-it-Yourself Route,” The Washington Times (Feb. 11, 2011)

I really see this a lot in my market. For-Sale-By-Owner houses are pretty much nonexistent. It's true that there are a lot of factors going into deals nowadays and there are plenty of ways things can go wrong. As an agent, I deal with these factors on a daily basis, so I can easily deal with things and diffuse certain situations. Know someone looking to sell their home? Now is an ideal time to get it on the market to beat the spring rush. Have them contact me today at 708-307-9616 or sales@ashleywydra.com. 

Ashley

Landing Mortgage More Stressful Than Finding a Job?

Daily Real Estate News | February 9, 2011

Landing Mortgage More Stressful Than Finding a Job? 

Getting a mortgage in today’s lending market isn’t easy and can be a complicated, stressful process for borrowers, according to findings from a national survey by MortgageMatch.com of 1,000 adults.

About 70 percent of Americans say access to affordable mortgages is a serious problem, and that understanding the mortgage process and lenders’ requirements is even more difficult and stressful than getting the mortgage itself or even negotiating the sale price on the home.

Nearly 80 percent of recent home buyers, particularly those earning $50,000 a year or more, say getting a mortgage was much more difficult than they had expected. And nearly a quarter of home buyers said waiting to hear if they were approved for a mortgage was even more stressful than waiting to hear if they landed a job.

Among the survey’s other findings:

• 10.8 percent report their lender gave them a higher interest rate than what they were originally quoted.
• 22.9 percent said applying for a mortgage was challenging because documentation requirements from their lender kept changing.
• 21.6 percent of borrowers said their lender used too much technical jargon.

"Over the past few years, a lot of buyers have had a hard time not only getting a loan but getting through the process," says Sue Stewart, senior vice president at Move Inc., which is the operator of MortgageMatch.com. "This survey is a wake-up call and clearly points to the fact that borrowers want a process that's easy to understand and follow. They don't want surprises and they want to be able to depend on their mortgage lender. For most people, the home buying process isn't about the mortgage -- it's about getting a home."

Source: “Survey Shows Access to Mortgages Seen as a Serious National Problem,” PRNewswire (Feb. 8, 2011)

It's super important that you work with a lender that you can trust and who takes the time to help you understand the process. Email me or call me and I would be happy to give you the contact info for my mortgage professional whom I work with all the time! sales@ashleywydra.com 708-307-9616

- Ashley

Addicts Snatch Drugs From Homes for Sale

Daily Real Estate News | February 2, 2011

Addicts Snatch Drugs From Homes for Sale 

Addicts are posing as home buyers and cleaning out medicine cabinets in homes for sale, according to recent police reports.

"It's commonplace – more common than you think," Detective Dennis Luken, vice president for the Ohio chapter of the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "It's everywhere."

In one recent case, a man showed up to an open house and while the real estate agent was distracted with other customers he went through the home owner’s medicine cabinet. The agent overheard the man going through the drawers, and he was later questioned by police officers. He admitted that he went to the house looking for pain pills and that he learned the trick from peers at a drug treatment program.

Authorities say some criminals also copy information off the home owner's prescription label and then call to have the drug refilled so they can pick it up later.

Carol Woodard, chair of the Cleveland Area Board of REALTORS®, says she advises clients who have a house on the market to have a filing cabinet or locked drawers to stow away any medicine, personal records, credit cards, mail, and any identifying information on their children.

Source: “Addicts Pose as Homebuyers, then Nab Prescription Drugs From Houses That Are Up for Sale,” Cleveland Plain Dealer (Jan. 31, 2011)

Honestly, as if sellers in this market don't have enough to worry about. It's very important that you work with an agent that you can fully trust to at least protect your home during Open Houses!

- Ashley

Daily Real Estate News | January 28, 2011

Mortgage Rates Continue to Climb 

Mortgage rates are continuing their gradual climb upwards after reaching record lows. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 4.8 percent from 4.74 percent the previous week, Freddie Mac reports. The average on 15-year mortgage rates also rose slightly from 4.05 percent to 4.09 percent for the week.

In November, 30-year loans had reached a 40-year low at 4.17 percent and the 15-year mortgage rate was at 3.57 percent.

The average on the five-year adjustable-rate mortgages this week increased to 3.7 percent from 3.69 percent the previous week.

Meanwhile, the Mortgage Bankers Association says it expects mortgage lending to drop considerably in 2011, due to high unemployment, borrowers’ diminished credit coming out of the recession, and more lenders not willing to take on a high risk.

MBA says it expects new loans this year to decrease by 36 percent to its lowest level in more than a decade, falling to $966 billion in 2011 from $1.5 trillion this year.

Earlier in the week, MBA reported a drop in mortgage applications to the slowest refinancing activity in more than a year. Mortgage applications dropped 12.9 percent in the week ended Jan. 21, according to MBA’s seasonally adjusted index.

The index dropped 15.3 percent, which is the lowest level since January 2010. Refinancing activity has continued to decline since October from rising interest rates and tighter underwriting standards.

Source: “Bond Yields Rise and So Do Mortgage Rates,” Freddie Mac (Jan. 27, 2011); “U.S. Mortgage Applications Declined Last Week,” Reuters News (Jan. 26, 2011); and “Mortgage Lending Projected to Fall 36%,” Dow Jones Business News (Jan. 26, 2011)

Man Faces Charges After Trying to Raffle Home

Daily Real Estate News | January 19, 2011

Man Faces Charges After Trying to Raffle Home

A Long Island, N.Y., man is accused of collecting more than $100,000 in raffle tickets he sold to raffle off a million-dollar house he once owned. But no raffle took place, ticket holders say, and authorities are accusing the man of pocketing the cash and using it for luxury vacations.

Scott Cicerone, who has plead not guilty to the charges, faces 21 counts of petit larceny and one count of scheme to defraud.

Prosecutors say Cicerone sold $50 raffle tickets to thousands of people for a waterfront property he owned in Massapequa, N.Y. The property, however, had fallen into foreclosure.

After several postponements for the raffle drawing, ticket holders say Cicerone stopped replying to them and the raffle never happened.

Source: “NY Man Accused in $100k House Raffle Scam,” Associated Press (Jan. 13, 2011)

I think this is crazy! What do you think?

- Ashley