Mortgage Tips for First-Time Homebuyers in Arizona - RealEstate.com

Arizona is a great place to live because of its warm weather, natural beauty and friendly people. The Grand Canyon State has beautiful lakes, neighboring mountains and offers affordable homes for families. But, like in most parts of the country, some homeowners in Arizona are also struggling with mortgage payments and sinking home values. In the last few years, banks have tightened their purse strings and have become stringent on the loan approval process. So, what should you do if you are shopping for mortgages in Arizona now?

?It?s not very hard for first-time buyers to get a loan with 20 percent down payment, said Teri Ellis, broker for Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC. ?There are a lot of homes in the market within the $80,000 to $100,000 price range,? Ellis said. ?Depending on what you want, you could have a monthly payment of $600.? That?s cheaper than what you would pay for rent, according to Ellis.

Attractive home prices combined with low mortgage rates may be enticing to many buyers, but before you jump on the loan-hunting wagon, set your priorities right. Figure out what you want and how much you can afford. Here are a few tips from Ellis.

Choose the area: If you are not too picky and can adjust to life outside the metro area, you may get a better deal on homes, Ellis said. Outlying areas such as Mesa and Gilbert are more affordable, she said. ?There are a lot of new families in these areas, and there are a lot of newer communities and schools,? she said.

Decide on the kind of house: You can get a nice home for $100,000, Ellis said. But, if your budget doesn?t allow that, you may want to look into properties that need a little bit of fixing. Homes with small kinks and dents can go for $60,000 to $80,000.

Find a good real estate agent: Ask friends and family for recommendations and interview a couple of real estate agents before hiring one. You would want an agent who has a good loan officer on his or her team. Always go with a loan officer recommended by your agent, Ellis said. ?We know what they can do, and if they tell us they can do it, then they can do it,? she said. ?I don?t recommend doing things online.?

Strive for a good credit history: Your credit score will help or ruin your chances of getting a loan. So, make your payments on time and don?t use up all your credit. Always try and maintain half of the total credit you are allowed to use. Never close your credit cards because they disappear from your history if you cancel them. Always pay a little more than the minimum due to bring up your credit score. If you are planning to buy a house, don?t invest in that new car or borrow money for some other expensive purchases. That would put you out of range to qualify for a loan, Ellis said. Creditors look for the debt-to-income ratio and they are particularly picky about loan approvals these days, Ellis said.

Look for a home that fits your budget: Find a price that?s comfortable for you. Especially for first-time buyers, investing in property is a huge event, Ellis said. Work with someone who will help you calculate your finances and advise you on what would be a comfortable mortgage payment.

Hire a home inspector: It?s better to have a pair of professional eyes examine the home for any defects or maintenance problems. The money you spend on an inspection could save you a lot more in the long run.

Tagged as: arizona, financing, gilbert, home buying, home loan, loan, mesa, mortgage, real estate

Source: http://www.realestate.com/advice/mortgage-tips-for-first-time-homebuyers-in-arizona-44244

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Real estate bubble bursts for California lawmakers too

SACRAMENTO ? State lawmakers typically keep modest quarters near the Capitol to use when they're in town, with help from their tax-free expense allowance of $28,000 a year.

Assemblyman Tony Mendoza bought a three-bedroom home instead, paying $463,000 for it after his 2006 election.

"If you bought property, property values would go higher," said the Democrat, whose main home is in Artesia. "So I figured as soon as I get there [Sacramento], I will buy the house."

But now he is one of at least 10 legislators who didn't fare well in a real estate climate that once showed no sign of cooling. The housing market tanked, the recession lingered and legislators' pay was cut.

Unlike some predecessors who made handsome profits on second residences in Sacramento or in their districts before the downturn, these lawmakers have found themselves unable to pay their mortgages or stuck with homes that would sell at a loss, or both.

At least five have endured foreclosures or short sales. The others have hung on; to do so, at least three have depended on people who work for them ? and in Mendoza's case, on a campaign donor as well.

As Mendoza nears the end of his final Assembly term, he says he owes $150,000 more on his Sacramento home than it's worth. A longtime campaign contributor, Cecy Groom, who is also his accountant, rounded up investments of $42,000 to help him keep the home on Soaring Hawk Lane.

In filings required by the state, Mendoza reported receiving $6,000 each from Groom's daughter and Beatriz Ricartti, a Los Angeles businesswoman who subsequently donated to Mendoza's political coffers. Covina physician Shura Moreno invested $30,000.

Moreno is under investigation by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, and five employees of his East Los Angeles medical clinic await trial on charges of defrauding the state's Medi-Cal system, prescription fraud and other offenses.

"I was totally shocked by that," Mendoza said.

Moreno would say only that he is not interested in taking over ownership of Mendoza's house.

The lawmaker also rented a room in the house to fellow legislators and to Gabriella Villanueva, whom he hired in November 2010 as a legislative assistant for $60,000 a year. Villanueva paid him $500 a month in rent.

Villanueva said there was no tie between Mendoza's giving her a job and her decision to rent from him, and she has since moved out, although she would not say when. She was hired just before a legislative pay cut was to take effect.

Mendoza has attributed his financial troubles partly to a salary cut, which cost him about $20,000. "I was paying the mortgage with that," said Mendoza, whose annual compensation now is $123,000, including the tax-free per diem.

He said he wants to avoid losing his house and the money he has put into it: "If I break even, I will be happy."

At least two other legislators are getting help with personal finances by renting to their aides, their financial disclosures show.

Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) and her husband bought a home in Castro Valley, in the Bay Area, for $698,0000 in 2004. When they put it on the market for $499,000 last year, it didn't sell.

The pair's residence today is in Hayward, also in the Bay Area. Hayashi legislative aide Christopher Parmon and his husband, Chabot College Chancellor Joel Kinnamon, occupy the Castro Valley house.

Parmon said he asked to live there. The couple began renting in February 2010, less than a month after Hayashi gave Parmon a $7,500 raise, lifting his salary 10% to $82,440.

Parmon said the raise was unrelated to his move to his boss' property and declined to say how much it costs to live in the home. Hayashi's financial disclosures show Kinnamon paid her between $10,000 and $100,000 in rent last year.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/latimes/news/local/~3/nsRpg8ikHP0/story01.htm

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Nick Jonas: I'm being considered for 'Idol' judge

Ben Hider / Getty Images file

By Us Weekly

Straight from a JoBro's mouth! Day after Us Weekly reported that Nick Jonas?was a frontrunner to fill one of the two vacant seats at the judges' table of?"American Idol,"?the singer confirmed the possibility -- and his unabashed enthusiasm! -- via Twitter on Saturday.

Photos from Us: 'Idol' judges then and now

"The rumors are true ? I am being considered to be a judge on American Idol," Jonas, 19, wrote to his 4.6 million followers. "And it would be a dream come true if it happens. #nickonidol."

Insiders told Us last Monday that, in the wake of the departures of Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez -- plus the rumored transition of judge Randy Jackson to a mentoring role -- both Jonas plus rapper/producer Pharrell Williams were contenders to join the panel. Mariah Carey was confirmed as a new judge July 20, with sources telling Us she'll earn a whopping $18 million a year.

Photos from Us: Most shocking 'Idol' eliminations ever

What makes Jonas a perfect fit? "('American Idol' producers) think he can help bring that younger demo to the show," a source told Us.

39-year-old Williams (who has produced hit records for Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani), meanwhile, is currently negotiating his contract. "Everything is looking good," a source said.

Photos: Amazing 'Idol' makeovers

A rep for FOX had no comment on Monday about Jonas and Williams.

Do you think bringing Nick Jonas on as a judge would help or hurt "Idol"? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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Source: http://theclicker.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/08/05/13130776-nick-jonas-im-being-considered-to-be-an-american-idol-judge?lite

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Police seek another 'person of interest' in Sikh temple shooting

Former soldier Wade Michael Page was identified today as the lone gunman who killed six people at a Sikh religious center in Oak Creek, Wisc., but police said they are also seeking a "person of interest" who was seen at the site of the massacre shortly after the shooting stopped.

Page was described by authorities today as an Army veteran who left the service with a general discharge following a "pattern of misconduct," including being AWOL and drunk while on duty. The terms of his discharge would not allow him to reenlist.

Officials said they believe Page alone was responsible for Sunday's shooting, but today distributed a photograph of an unknown man they described as "person of interest."

"This individual showed up at the scene after the shooting," said Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards. Witnesses said the man looked "suspicious" and he "left the scene before anyone could ascertain what he was doing there."

Page, 40, served in the Army from April 1992 through October 1998, during which he was demoted from sergeant to specialist.

While in the Army Wade served in Ft. Bliss in Texas and at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina. Wade's job was as a Hawk missile system repairman, and he then became a psychological operations specialist, defense official confirmed to ABC news.

The ex-soldier is believed to be the gunman who opened fire on people at the Sikh temple around 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning and killed six people. The victims ranged in age from 39 to 84.

He also ambushed police Lt. Brian Murphy, shooting him eight or nine times, Edwards said. Murphy is expected to survive. Two other gunshot victims are in critical condition, police said.

Page was shot dead by police when he was ordered to drop his weapon and began firing at them instead.

Police have not given any details on the motive of the shooter, but Teresa Carlson, the FBI's special agent in charge, said today, "We are looking at ties to white supremacist groups."

Earlier, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco; Firearms Special Agent Thomas Ahern said Page had tattoos that suggested he had ties to white supremacists.

Page is fronted a white supremacist rock band called End Apathy, according to watchdog group the Southern Poverty Law Center.

SPLC also determined that in 2000, Page attempted to purchase goods from the neo-Nazi group the National Alliance, described as America's then "most important hate group."

In 2010, Page gave an interview to white-power website Label 56. Page wrote songs with titles like "Self Destruct" and "Usefull [sic] Idiots."

"The inspiration was based on frustration that we have the potential to accomplish so much more as individuals and a society in whole," Page told Label 56.

The ATF today said Page legally purchased the 9mm handgun with multiple ammunition magazines, he used during the rampage. The weapon bought at The Shooters Shop in West Allis, Wisc., sources told ABC News.

Carlson and other officials said investigators had no "reason to believe" Page was planning Sunday's attack.

"We didn't have an active investigation into him prior to yesterday," she told reporters today.

On Sunday the FBI and a bomb squad arrived at a home in Cudahy, Wis., near Oak Creek, and ABC News Milwaukee affiliate WISN reported the action appeared to be related to the temple shootings earlier in the day.

"The officer stopped a tragic event that could've been a lot worse," Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards told reporters.

Four people were found dead inside the temple and two others were found dead outside the building.

Edwards said authorities were treating the event as a domestic terrorism incident and the FBI would be conducting a full investigation.

Individuals attending Sunday services at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, just south of Milwaukee, fled in all directions this morning when a gunman entered and began firing. Many hid in bathrooms or other rooms within the temple while the shooter attacked, according to police.

The president of the temple, Satwant Singh Kaleka, was preparing to deliver remarks when he became one of the shooting victims. His son, Amardeep Kaleka, spoke by phone with ABC News shortly after getting a call from the priest using his father's phone.

"I picked it up immediately thinking it was my dad, but it was the priest and he was standing right next to him," Kaleka said. "He told me right away that right now my father can't speak. There's too much blood coming out of his back area and we have to get ambulances in there right away."

Soon, he heard briefly from his mother, also in hiding in the temple and asking for information about his father.

For images of the police response and ripples of shock and grief at the scene, click here.

Sikh Temple Shooting: 'Ignorance Is Not Going to Get Us Anywhere'

Members of the Sikh community in Milwaukee expressed outrage at the shooting.

"They went to church not knowing that they might die today," said Simran Kaleka, whose family was in the temple, according to ABC News Radio. "I don't know how sick you have to be to do that, and I don't know if it was directed toward the Sikh culture and them having turbans and having beards, but ignorance is not going to get us anywhere."

For images of the police response and ripples of shock and grief at the scene, click here.

The wounded president of the temple, Satwant Singh Kaleka, had recently hosted state Rep. Josh Zepnick and the county district attorney to discuss a recent rise in violence against area Sikhs at their stores and businesses, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"It's gut wrenching," Zepnick said today in response to the shooting. "It certainly makes you wonder about how just how far this epidemic of gun violence goes, where innocent people's lives are put at risk in ordinary day-to-day situations. it makes me sick to my stomach."

On Sundays, Sikh temples, called gurudwaras, serve a community meal at which anyone is welcome as part of their community service. The meal, known as a langar, follows the morning services.

The Sikh religion originated in the Punjab region of India.

ABC News' Richard Esposito contributed to this report

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sikh-temple-gunman-idd-cops-seek-another-person-121406391--abc-news-topstories.html

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Vertical skydiving world record broken in Illinois

OTTAWA, Ill. (AP) ? Falling at speeds of up to 220 mph, a group of nearly 140 skydivers shattered the vertical skydiving world record as they flew heads-down in a massive snowflake formation in northern Illinois.

Three judges representing the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, the international air sports agency, certified that 138 skydivers created the formation Friday evening over Ottawa, about 80 miles southwest of Chicago. It took 15 attempts over three days for the team to break the previous record of 108 skydivers, which was set in 2009.

"I feel amazing," Rook Nelson, an organizer and the owner of Skydive Chicago where the record was broken, said shortly after he made the jump. "There was a lot of emotion and a lot of days where we should have got it. But we dug down deep and stuck at it."

Following months of planning, tryouts and camps to decide who could take part in the dangerous challenge, the record breakers squeezed into six aircraft and launched themselves into the air at 18,500 feet. Flying at such a high altitude presents a risk of altitude sickness, so the skydivers and pilots used oxygen tanks aboard the planes.

Four camera operators shooting video and stills jumped with the 138 participants to record their achievement for the FAI judges. Those images are key, said co-organizer Mike Swanson, a professional skydiver who base jumped from Willis Tower and its fellow Chicago skyscraper Trump Tower for the movie "Transformers 3."

If no one records the 150-foot-wide formation showing all the jumpers in their pre-assigned slots, "then it wasn't really done," Swanson said.

The challenge for the record began Wednesday, midway through a 10-day skydiving festival. After each attempt, the organizers reviewed the videos and decided who should stay and who should be swapped out for one of the dozens of hopefuls who didn't make the initial cut.

"It's a hard job coming in from the bench," said Erica Tadokoro, from Brisbane, Australia. "You have to be positive because it's a team effort."

Tadokoro, 43, was one of just 13 women selected in the first string. She was cut after the 14th unsuccessful attempt ? one shy of the record jump.

Nelson explained that vertical flying is "basically doing a headstand" in the air. The lack of wind resistance speeds the skydivers' fall rate to an average of 170 to 180 mph. Ahead of the record attempt, he said some of those involved would need to reach much higher speeds. And that increased the risks.

If they're not paying attention when diving into the formation at upwards of 220 mph, "it's going to be like someone running a red light and you taking them out," Nelson said.

Each skydiver knew exactly when to exit the aircraft, whom to follow and where in the formation they should be. At 7,000 feet, the skydivers began to peel away on a last-in, first-out basis, and each wave deployed their parachutes at altitudes specified according to their positions in the formation.

"We don't want everyone to open their parachutes at the same altitude because then everybody lands at the same time. We stack the sky vertically" to avoid collisions, Nelson said.

The United States Parachute Association says that of an estimated 3 million skydives made across the U.S. in 2011, 21 were fatal. And most skydiving accidents happen under canopy.

Skydivers traveled from all over the world to take part in the record attempt, including from France, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Belgium, Australia and the U.K. And one, 40-year-old Ahmed Sferi from Reunion, said he traveled for two days from his tiny Indian Ocean island home to reach Chicago so he could take part.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vertical-skydiving-world-record-broken-illinois-030028485.html

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The movie starts with an ending than it relates to the middle and ...

August 4th, 2012

Video Games, by KoehneCunniffe317.

All round, this film is extraordinary ? it really is. Pulp Fiction need to be seen simply by ANYONE who would like to go decrease the course of writer/director, as QT puts on an absolute grasp class. If you want to see the reason why Mr Tarantino will be as famous as hes, watch this kind of film. Youll observe he should get his credit history. Quentin Tarantinos Pulp Fiction is perhaps the many original picture Ive ever before seen. I know I might sound like an overstatement, but after i watched this specific film for the first time I got never seen anything want it before. The figures, the nonlinear deal, the debate, the halloween costume design. I beloved it instantly. Which prospects me to the acting. I feel the famous actors did an awesome job participating in these personas. For instance, my favored ever David Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and also Harvey Keitel shows are because of this movie. And I believe that with regards to Jackson, most men and women will agree. The talk is outstanding, very quotable in addition to fun to be handled by. Every figure has great interaction because of the other people. Whether it truly is Vincent in addition to Jules speaking about miracles in addition to Royales along with Cheese, Marsellus (Ving Rhames) informing Butch (Bruce Willis) that from the fifth his ass falls, or This Wolf explaining why they didnt state ?please?, Pulp Hype has some of the best dialogue ever before written. I never realize what made this specific movie a top one. I ended up being never into this gangster, mafia, drugsnpistols earth. Pulp Fiction is surely remarkable and I must say We liked the idea. Most on the dialogs were hilarious, I was surprised from myself enjoying the full movie. Any disgusting it turned out I needed to laugh hard in the corpse-cleaning world. Or as soon as Travolta is speaking with himself inside the mirror. All this stuff are commonly disgusting to my opinion, some usually are hard to express but as soon as Tarantino can make it funny as well as brings depth going without running shoes, I really feel he does something wonderful. I also liked of which Tarantino makes enable you to show your actors capabilities. How long and retry this must decide to try film of which 60 second-long scene- a single shot? How much this director included in the actors functionality? I definitely enjoyed Pulp Fictional but When i couldnt agree this can be a cult-classic. Maybe a thing misses. I have no idea of. There movies much closer to my coronary heart. At the very beginning regarding writing my comment on this movie i need to mention thats it is just a perfect movie which will be remembered for just a long, long time period. Usually i favor Quentin Tarantino very much. I think he has that line that produces him stand out from the other directors. Something such as Kubrick acquired. You realize, his own kind of film doing. In Pulp Fiction there is absolutely no main personality. Everyone could be the main figure in his own story. And your story of these people bond at one point from the movie. The decision of a single character influenced within the life involving another personality. And so it goes from one to another. This film is guided great, acted great-especially by means of Samuel T. Jackson, shooted great as well as the most importantly written wonderful. I was on a drink with my friend the other day and he said which he thinks that Tarantino sucks. I instructed him which hes silly and i asked your pet why he or she thinks that. He stated that Eliminate Bill is a bit of overrated garbage. I claimed OK, thats your current opinion however what think about Pulp Fictional works or Reservoir dogs. He claimed he didnt watch these individuals. I mean how should someone point out that Tarantino sucks just because he watched one of his movies which can be probably their worst flick. Im not really saying that will Kill Payment sucks i am just just saying so it sucks when its compared for this one. Anyway my spouse and i own the many Tarantinos films well, i borrowed him Pulp Fiction and Tank dogs. The time or 2 after they returned me the flicks and he / she said that they liked all of them both but which he thinks in which Reservoir dogs can be a better a single. I wont discuss that because it might be true. They tend to be equal i believe. To come back to the subject you dont have to like Pulp Fictional. But you can not say that it is a bit of crap as you cant say of which Tarantino is often a shitty overseer. His films have fashion and hes style being a director. Period. Another thing i would like to say is that she is the very first one in which started along with making these kind of screenplays. The motion picture starts with the ending in comparison with it concerns the middle and than by the end we begin to see the beginning. Or something similar to that. Anyway, his technique of writing affected many motion picture makers as well as screenwriters right now. Im certainly not saying that they copy your pet im just saying that she had influence with them just as John Woo or even Ringo Lam got influenced him. But it does not means he / she copies these.

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Thread: Rear View Camera for Bob - Family Woodworking

I really don't mean to turn this into an all Bobcat off topic discussion forum, but just thought I'd share this little mod I did this afternoon to Bob.

I bought a little rear view camera/monitor system off of ebay for about 70$. The camera is waterproof, not sure about the monitor, but I really don't think it will get wet where I mounted it anyway.

Camera mounted on the back. I think it's meant to attach to your license plate bolts. I drilled and tapped a couple of 1/4-20 holes and just mounted it.

Monitor mounted inside

And my lovely demonstration model

Source: http://familywoodworking.org/forums/showthread.php?28130-Rear-View-Camera-for-Bob

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