Reading for Inspiration

September 15, 2013 by

Reading for Inspiration
Top 5 Motivational Best Sellers

Reading for Inspiration - Top 5 Motivational Best Sellers

All of the books below–in no particular order–are best sellers for good reason. Frequently featured in “Top 10” lists and having influenced some of the most successful people in the world, you’re sure to find your life improved by reading (or re-reading) one of these classics.

The Power of Positive Thinking
Science has since verified his premise, but when it was first published Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was attacked from pulpits and therapy sessions alike. Now translated into fifteen languages, The Power of Positive Thinking is still one of the most popular motivational books ever written. Dr. Peale offers advice on mastering the problems of everyday living and eliminating self-doubt from toxic, negative thought habits.

Quote: “Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.”

Drive
Daniel Pink leaves old “carrot and stick” motivation theories in the dust. Drive shows how rewards and punishments neither give the best motivation, nor are they sufficient to maintain it over long periods of time. At the highest levels of performance, motivation comes from both a deep self-knowledge and an awareness of who you truly want to become as a person and remaining true to these tenets in your life.

Quote: “For artists, scientists, inventors, schoolchildren, and the rest of us, intrinsic motivation–the drive to do something because it is interesting, challenging, and absorbing–is essential for high levels of creativity.”

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Eliminating mental clutter and stress is key to staying motivated. Distractions and time-wasters can easily cause you to set goals aside. In fact, get distracted enough and you won’t reach your goals. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff teaches skills for distinguishing between what serves your success and what deserves to be ignored.

Quote: “Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.”

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Still a bestseller 24 years after its first edition, The 7 Habits is more than just a manifesto on motivation. Steven Covey presents a roadmap for solving problems, getting along with people, and being a better person. President Bill Clinton invited Covey to Camp David to help him install the habits in his Presidency; many others credit him with teaching them potentially world-changing habits. Covey coined the idea of abundance mentality–as contrasted with scarcity mentality–meaning the ability to celebrate the success of others, rather than feel threatened by them, and learning to embrace a win-win perspective in all interactions with others.

Quote: “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

Think And Grow Rich
Perhaps the most well-known and often cited motivational book is Napoleon Hill’s commission from Andrew Carnegie. In the early 1930s, Hill interviewed forty millionaires to discover their “best practices” in an age where it was usually assumed success and wealth was some combination of greed, luck and high birth. Think And Grow Rich provides the roadmap that anyone can follow to achieve success–rich uncle not required! YouMagazine.com

 

 

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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Organize Your Family Life

September 14, 2013 by

Organize Your Family Life
Create A Home Management Binder

Organize Your Family Life - Create A Home Management Binder

When it comes to home management–keeping track of appointments, sporting events, meal preparation, shopping lists, and even house maintenance to-do’s–there’s nothing wrong with flying by the seat of your pants. But disorganization tends to create anxiety and stress. A home management binder can help you and your family keep track of all of your busy schedules. Best of all: It’s simple to create and easy to use!

Tools
A Binder that you may already have lying around; two-inches is good for starters.

Dividers can be as simple as a re-purposed file folder, cut and hole punched; or buy ready-made from an office supply shop.

Lined Paper for notes in each section.

Plastic Page Protectors that hold Organizers (see below).

Dry-Erase Markers to write on the page protectors.

Sections
Create sections based on things you need to track: Daily To-Do Lists, Meals, Shopping, Chores, Kids, even yourself and your Spouse. Alternatively, you can use your roles in life: Wife/Husband, Mother/Father, Homemaker/Scientist/Writer/Etc.

In each section write your to-do’s, but also include resources such as books or videos you want to read, your goals and any growth ideas you want to explore further.

Organizers
Thank goodness for the others who have created printable templates to help you get organized, all for free. Some popular favorites are found at Life…Your Way, Design Finch, and Simple Mom.

There’s An App For That!
Managing your household via smartphone or tablet couldn’t get any easier. Try these for size:

Cozi is free and tracks everything from school schedules to sports activities, grocery lists, meals and chores.

Home Routines is an inexpensive app helping keep track of weekly tasks but adds goal-setting, prioritizing features and a rotating scheduler.

Creating a household management binder can suddenly be like getting your own personal assistant. You’ll get more things done in less time and, better yet, create free time to enjoy life! YOUMagazine.com

 

John Marcotte

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Credit Repair Companies

September 13, 2013 by

Credit Repair Companies

Make Sure Their Strategy Works for YOU

Credit Repair Companies - Make Sure Their Strategy Works for YOUBy Steve White

Credit scores and other credit worthiness instruments are more important than ever before. Our American way of life, which includes borrowing on and paying with credit, has come to depend on it.

There exist consumers who have had their reputations and credit histories severely damaged by identity theft and credit card scams, or simply due to personal financial circumstances. Thus, they turn to credit repair organizations for help. But consumers must know with whom they’re dealing. On the flip side, legitimate companies must often lookout for those trying to pass themselves off as anything less than ethical.

If you’re in search of a credit repair company, the endless number of organizations claiming to help may be overwhelming. But here’s a helpful tip: Narrow down your search by researching the strategy the company uses, and make sure it works for YOU.

The methods the company uses to repair credit are important. Avoid those using a “standard dispute letter” approach, as this may be insufficient for your needs. A company that follows a pre-litigation approach, used by Consumer Law Attorneys, generally provides the best results. The key to this approach is the initial threat of legal action sent to the creditor. Make sure the firm you choose goes to the creditor first on your behalf.

The “right” company is out there and with this knowledge you’ll be sure to make a wiser choice when enlisting help to repairing your credit.

Steve White is the CEO and President of American Credit, a decade-old credit repair company and financial services firm specializing in credit restoration and consultation services.

 

 

John Marcotte

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Stress Solutions

September 12, 2013 by

Stress Solutions
5 Habits of Highly Relaxed People

Stress Solutions - 5 Habits of Highly Relaxed People

You’re probably too busy: Too many deadlines, too many activities and too many people demanding more of your time. We should treat stress just like the warning light on our dashboard–when it comes on, it’s a good idea to pull over and figure out the problem. Read on for the latest stress relief techniques:

Take five. Or ten! Taking a few minutes out of a stressful day can go a long way. Take a short walk and practice deep breathing, read something inspirational (not the news), or write a few lines in your online journal about how you feel. You’ll find your outlook improves faster than just pushing through the stress.

Take it easy on yourself. Negative self-talk adds pressure and guilt, but being kind to yourself is scientifically proven to give you positive psychological health. Everybody has tough days, and understanding that will help you relieve some of the burden.

Think about progress, not perfection. Research psychologist Dr K. Anders Ericsson of theUniversity of Florida says time is the key to mastering any skill. Once you find out the average time it takes to master your given subject, start the clock. Track your time and improvement will come as a matter of course.

Make routine, routine. Calendar your activities. There are only so many hours in a day! Subtract sleep, meals, regular exercise and family time from your 24-hour day before you schedule; you may discover there truly aren’t enough hours in the day and you can feel better about saying “no” to yours or someone else’s unrealistic expectations.

Half full… or not. Not everyone is an optimist, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be according to the psychologists and authors of Focus: Use Different Ways of Seeing the World for Success and Influence. Promotion focused optimists, are dominant in seeking opportunity; while prevention focused defensive-pessimists are dominant in minimizing loss or avoiding danger. One isn’t any better than the other, but being forced to adopt your opposite style can create more stress, so whichever you happen to be, embrace it!

Courtest of YouMagazine

 

 

John Marcotte

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143 P Road, Silverthorne

September 10, 2013 by

143 P Road, Silverthorne

IMG_1554

This home has views galore, some of the best views in Summit County. This 3 bedroom 1 bath home sits on 2-1/2 beautiful acres, with it’s own private aspen grove, and plenty of room to expand. If you like views and privacy, this home is for you. Convenient to all Summit County has to offer, skiing, Dillon reservoir,and Outlet Malls just minutes from front door. This home needs some TLC. Come make this your dream, or vacation home. 2 horses allowed. You won’t be disappointed!

 

3 beds, 1 bath, 1276 square feet $420,000

 

 

John Marcotte

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On the Up and Up: Housing, Rates and Gas Prices

September 9, 2013 by

On the Up and Up: Housing, Rates and Gas Prices

On the Up and Up: - Housing, Rates and Gas Prices

In mid-July, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke attempted to soothe the markets’ fears about home loan rate increases. As a result, Bond prices bounced higher from lows not seen in two years, and Stocks traded at all-time highs. Indeed home loan rates have certainly moved up a little, down a little.

Bernanke also repeated that the Fed Funds Rate, which is the rate at which depository institutions actively trade, would remain low for an extended period. He said that if circumstances warranted, “tapering” could begin later this year and end sometime in mid-2014. And just if you weren’t sure what “Tapering” was, it’s a reduction in the Fed’s purchases of Treasury and Bond assets, in attempts at helping the economy get back on track.

As the economy continues to improve stateside, political turmoil in Egypt has caused a spike in oil prices, keeping the region under close scrutiny. Also of note is the recent downgrade of Italian credit by S&P. Spain could be next.

Housing continues to be a bright spot for the economy, with the purchase index inching up and proving that people are out buying houses and using credit! The National Association of Home Builders also confirmed that builder confidence rose last month to its highest level in over seven years. Despite the recent rise in home loan rates as per Iva Advice, they remain low when compared to historical levels.

If you have any questions about your personal situation, contact the professional who supplied you with this month’s issue of YOU Magazine. Brian Manning, Manning Mortgage Group

John Marcotte

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How to Save Money at the Farmers Market

September 8, 2013 by

How to Save Money at the Farmers Market
Follow these seven tips to cut the cost of buying fresh
produce and other farm goods.


By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com

How to Save Money at the Farmers Market - Follow these seven tips to cut the cost of buying freshproduce and other farm goods. By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com

Shopping at the Boulder farmers market can be a great way to get locally grown fresh produce and other farm goods such as meat, cheese and honey. You already know this if you shop at one in your community. But if you’ve shied away from this sort of market because you think it’s too pricey, perhaps you should reconsider. If you know how to shop at a farmers market, you probably won’t spend any more than you would at the supermarket. In fact, you might even spend less. These tips can help.

Comparison shop. Prices can vary greatly from market to market and from farmer to farmer. For example, I found on a recent trip to the farmers market that the price of a pint of blackberries ranged from $3.50 to $5. So spend some time checking prices from several sellers before buying anything. Also, markets in many communities accept vouchers and EBT cards from government nutrition assistance programs. So if you participate in one of these programs, look for markets in your community that accept this form of payment.

Get to know farmers. Developing a relationship with the person from whom you buy foodcan pay off, says Michelle Howell, who owns Need More Acres Farm in Kentucky along with her husband, Nathan, and sells produce at a community farmers market. She says that farmers may throw in extra produce for free if you buy multiple items from them or set aside things they know you like.

Buy at the peak of the season. You likely know that you can save money at the grocery by buying fruits and vegetables when they’re in season. The same holds true for the farmers market. You’re probably thinking that if a fruit or vegetable is at the market, it is in season. That’s true, but prices vary throughout the season. At the peak of a growing season, when there’s an abundance, prices will be lower (sometimes substantially lower) than at the beginning and end of the season, when there are fewer of an item.

Buy in bulk. Howell says that farmers often sell items in bulk at peak season. You just might have to ask ahead because they don’t always bring big boxes for bulk purchases to the market. When you buy in bulk, not only do you get the best price of the season but sometimes you get a discount for your large purchase. You can either juice, freeze or can fruits and vegetables so they don’t go bad, or divvy up the bounty with friends. Safely freeze ground meat for 3 to 4 months, steaks for 6 to 12 months and poultry for 9 months, according to Foodsafety.gov. Eggs last 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator.

Buy at the end of the market. You’ve probably heard that farmers lower their prices at the end of the day so nothing goes unsold. But Howell says that this really depends on the farmer. Some sell their produce to other outlets, such as restaurants. This is another reason why it’s important to befriend farmers so you know which ones are more likely to offer a discount at the end of the day — or on a rainy day when there aren’t many shoppers.

Join a CSA. A CSA, short for Community Supported Agriculture, is another way to buy food directly from a farmer. When you join, you share in the bounty and risk of the farm, says Howell, who operates a CSA. You pay a set amount to receive a weekly assortment of farm products. Exactly what and how much depends on the time of year and the success of the farmer. Some weeks you’ll receive more than you are paying for if the farmer has an abundance. Other weeks you may receive less if the crop is limited by weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Buy less at the grocery store. If you’re shopping at the farmers market, your list of grocery items should dwindle. That is, make sure you cross everything off your regular grocery list that you’ve bought at the farmers market so you don’t waste money buying what you already have. You might find that you need to buy very little at the grocery store if you make meals entirely with purchases from the farmers market.

Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2013 The Kiplinger Washington Editors.Kiplinger.com.

 

John Marcotte

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Timing is Everything

September 7, 2013 by

Timing is Everything


As Tapering Nears, Homebuyers Jump on Purchase Train

Timing is Everything - As Tapering Nears, Homebuyers Jump on Purchase Train

The Federal Reserve minutes in mid-August narrowed speculation regarding how soon the Fed would begin “tapering” $85 billion in monthly bond purchases. Policy makers were “broadly comfortable” with the plan if the economy continues to improve. All told, as the economy improves, home loan rates may continue to adjust further.

Prior to the announcement, stock prices had been consolidating and stalling.

Locking in the Value
The mid-August Existing Home Sales report was also released, reaching a four-year high, as borrowers jump to lock-in deals before rates rise and leave them behind. Sales of existing homes rose six percent from the month prior and a whopping 17 percent from the previous year.

FHA Changes
There were also some recent changes to the Federal Housing Administration‘s policies and how it will view a borrower’s derogatory credit history. Allowances will now be made if borrowers experienced an “Economic Event” which resulted in a decrease of income by 20 percent or more for at least six months which resulted in serious derogatory credit, including a short sale, foreclosure or bankruptcy. Additional underwriting guidelines, effective October 15, 2013, have been amended in the area of outstanding or prior judgments or collections, including the exclusion of unresolved medical collections from the underwriting decision process.

This bodes well for borrowers who may have been seriously impacted in recent years by economic conditions and are again seeking home ownership with an FHA home loan.

Summary
Home loan rates are still at historic lows. And with the recent changes to FHA policies, it’s still a great time to think about purchasing and refinancing.

Courtesy of Brian Manning, Manning Mortgage

 

John Marcotte

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Greeley getting 1st student housing

August 31, 2013 by

 Greeley getting 1st student housing

Greeley, with an apartment vacancy rate of only 1.4 percent, had the lowest vacancy rate of any major market in Colorado in the first quarter.

Only the tiny Southeast Colorado market had a lower vacancy rate, at 1.1 percent. However, owners representing only 60 apartment units responded to the most recent survey the Colorado Division of Housing.

Overall, the state had a 4.9 percent vacancy rate, the lowest in years.

“I wouldn’t compare Greeley to Southeast Colorado,” said Ryan McMaken, economist for the housing division.

“For practical purposes, you can say that Greeley has the lowest apartment vacancy rate in the state,” he said.

“The market is getting a lot of pressure on the demand side from people in the oil and gas business, as well as people in the Fort Collins area looking to the Greeley area for cheaper rents,” he said.

McMaken said he assumes that students attending the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley would be scrambling to find rental units in the Northern Colorado city’s tight market.

However, students will finally receive at least some relief in a market that is essentially has no apartment vacancies.

From 11:15 a.m. until noon on Tuesday, officials will host a groundbreaking ceremony for University Flats, the first off-campus housing for college students in Greeley, including UNC. The groundbreaking is at 1750 6th Ave., near Jackson Field.

The eight building development will bring 92 needed apartment units, which represents 262 beds to the area. It is anticipated to be open for the 2014 fall semester.

The $10 million project is being developed by Greeley Realty Investors, an affiliate of Denver-based Central Street Capital. Central Street Capital is headed by V. Robert “Rob” Salazar.

The company, among other communities, developed the Regency, converting a former hotel at 3900 Elati St. in north Denver to housing for students at the Auraria campus.

The company investments also include market-rate apartments, healthcare services, food services and retail, office and industrial properties.

The two- and three-bedroom units at University Flats will range in size from 905 square feet to 1,234 square feet. Students will have access to common-area amenities including a swimming pool, fitness room, clubhouse, barbecue area, horseshoe pit,and kitchen for events.

Rents have not yet been set. 

Insiderrealestatenews.com

 

 

 

John Marcotte

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Golden getting 1st apartment community in 16 years

August 30, 2013 by

Golden getting 1st apartment community in 16 years

A rendering of the 99-unit apartment community Confluence Companies plans in in Golden.

A rendering of the 99-unit apartment community Confluence Companies plans in in Golden.

Golden will be getting its first major apartment community in 16 years.

Confluence Companies will break ground this Friday on an $18 million apartment community in Golden.

The 99-unit West 8th Apartments is the first major apartment community to be built in Golden since the mid-1990s.

On the western end of Eighth Street in downtown Golden, the community will provide a rental housing option currently unavailable in Golden, according to the company.

“West 8th Apartments addresses Golden’s Vision 2030 and Comprehensive Plan 2012 goals,” said Tim Walsh, president of Confluence Companies. “The plans call for higher-density development in downtown Golden to provide a walkable and bikeable community where residents can enjoy the outdoors and amenities of downtown Golden.”

Golden limits growth

To gain project approval, Confluence had to navigate Golden’s high barriers to entry.

The city has a controlled-growth program that restricts new residential development to one percent of Golden’s current housing stock, or about 82 building permits a year. Confluence “banked” permits from last year to achieve the density required for the community.

“As a result of this program, there are very few rental choices in Golden,” Walsh said. “West 8th will be a welcome addition to a market that currently has a 2.9 percent vacancy rate. Golden is an exceptional place to live, work and recreate; we are excited to bring additional housing to such a vibrant community.”

Designed by BOSS Architects, the project will be certified as LEED Silver to fully embracesustainable living. Using an indigenous Parfet clay brick, the buildings are designed to fit in with the surrounding mesas and historic Golden. The project offers a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units that average 1,027 square feet. Rents will start at $1,100 a month.

The stand-alone clubhouse will include a cyber café and lounge with fireplaces, fitness center, enclosed bike storage and bike maintenance area, a dog-wash room and an outdoor covered lounge with grilling stations and a firepit.

The Golden Urban Renewal Authority  helped pave the way for the development by providing tax increment financing. The financing helped to offset the cost of a portion of the public improvements and infrastructure required to improve a formerly blighted site. Insiderrealestatenews.com

 

 

 

John Marcotte

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