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Wednesday, the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. The Fed Funds Rate has been near zero percent since December 2008.
For the third consecutive month, the Fed Funds Rate vote was nearly unanimous. Just one FOMC member dissented in the 9-1 vote, objecting only to the language used in the Fed’s official statement.
In its press release, the Federal Reserve noted that the the U.S. economy has “expanding moderately” since its last meeting in December 2011, adding that the growth is occurring despite “slowing in global growth” — a reference to ongoing economic uncertainty within the Eurozone.
The Federal Reserve expects moderate economic expansion through the next few quarters but is wary of “strains” from global financial markets, and these three threats to the U.S. economy :
- The housing sector remains “depressed”
- The unemployment rate remains “elevated”
- Fixed business investment has “slowed” Read the rest of this entry »
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The Federal Open Market Committee adjourns from a scheduled 2-day meeting today, its first of 8 scheduled meetings this year.
The FOMC is a designated, rotating, 12-person committee within the Federal Reserve, led by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Members of the FOMC sub-committee are the voting members of the Federal Reserve; the ones that ultimately determine U.S. monetary policy.
The most well-known Federal Reserve monetary policy tool is the central bank’s Fed Funds Rate. The Fed Funds Rate is the prescribed interest rate at which banks borrow money from each other for a period of one night.
The Fed Funds Rate can only be changed by FOMC vote.
For home buyers and would-be refinancing households in Blairsville and all the North Georgia Mountains, it’s important to recognize that the Fed Funds Rate is an interest rate separate and distinct from “mortgage rates”. Mortgage rates are not voted upon by the Federal Reserve. Rather, mortgage rates are based on the price of mortgage-backed bonds, a security bought and sold among investors. Read the rest of this entry »
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After a brief return to lower, pre-2009 levels, FHA loan limits have been restored. As signed into law on November 18th, 2011, maximum FHA loan limits are — once again — as high as $729,750.
The move creates additional mortgage financing possibilities in more than 650 U.S. counties, and promises to increase the FHA’s mortgage market share, which has grown from 6% in 2007 to roughly 30% today.
The change in FHA loan limits also marks the first time that FHA loan limits exceed those of conventional mortgage-backers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Conventional loans remain capped at a maximum of $625,500.
For home buyers in Hiawassee, Blairsville and nationwide, FHA-insured mortgage offer several advantages over comparable conventional loans, the most commonly cited of which is that FHA-insured loans require a down payment of just 3.5 percent. Read the rest of this entry »
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How long has it been since you last changed your home’s air filters?
Home air filters trap and remove dust and particles from the air you breathe; leaving “clean air” to circulate your home.
Clean air in your home is important because it promotes better health.
One way to keep to keep your home’s air as clean as possible is to replace its used air filters at least once per quarter; or once monthly in homes with shedding pets or that otherwise “get dusty”.
Changing air filters is among the easier do-it-yourself chores for a North Georgia Mountain homeowner; a task that takes less than one minute. The secondary benefit of doing it is that new filters help keep your HVAC unit in tip-top shape.
Here’s how to change your home’s air filter : Read the rest of this entry »
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Like most, a North Georgia Mountain home’s lighting accounts for 15 percent of its total energy consumption, a fact that’s both costly to homeowners, and “un-green” to the environment. It’s simple to reduce those effects, however — all you need are dimmer switches.
A modern dimmer switch works by rapidly opening and closing a light circuit, providing less energy to the bulb, and consuming less energy from the source.
In this 2-minute video, you’ll learn how to reduce your home’s standard on/off lighting switches using dimmer switches. The dimmer-switch project is a do-it-yourself project and requires only basic handyman experience. Read the rest of this entry »
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3rd Annual Sweetheart Arts & Crafts Show
When: February 11-12, 2012 – 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Each Day
Where: Brasstown Valley Resort
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Your dishwasher is a breeding ground for mold and mildew. It’s warm, it’s dark, and there is a bevy of decaying, organic material in the form of both food particles and soap.
Therefore, you’ll want to periodically scrub and disinfect your dishwasher so that it remains it clean and healthy, and so that your dishes stay that way, too.
Here’s how to clean your dishwasher :
- Remove all racks from the dishwasher. Wash with dish-washing detergent and set aside to dry.
- Mix 1 part vinegar with 4 parts very hot water into a spray bottle.
- Spray the mixture on the dishwasher seal and anywhere else you see discoloration, mold or mildew.
- Scrub the affected areas with a non-abrasive scrub brush.
- Replace racks in the dishwasher.
- Fill a small, dishwasher-safe bowl with white vinegar and place on the top rack.
- Without soap, run the dishwasher at the highest temperature setting available. Read the rest of this entry »
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On average, an approximate one-quarter-million homes and offices have at least one room damaged by a frozen pipe per year. This statistic has to be higher for second home owners much like my clients here in the North Georgia Mountains. In order to ensure your home stays safe and your pipes don’t freeze, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)® suggests three easy-to-remember steps: Foam, dome and drip.
Foam: Insulate pipes exposed to the elements or cold drafts. For as little as $1 per 6’ of insulation, you can stop pipes from freezing and save energy. By keeping your water warmer, you reduce the amount of energy needed to heat water in the cold, winter months.
Dome: Place an insulating dome or other coverings on outdoor faucets and spigots to reduce the likelihood of water pipes freezing, expanding and causing a costly leak.
Drip: Allow a slow drip from your faucets to reduce the buildup of pressure in the pipes. Even if the pipes freeze, the released pressure in the water system will reduce the likelihood of a rupture. If you are going out of town and suspect the temperature will drop, turn off the water and open all of the taps to drain the water system. This way pipes won’t freeze and you won’t return home to a mess.
Again, for all of you who own a Cabin on Lake Blue Ridge, or a Lake House on Nottely, and especially for those Mountain Top Log Cabins in Cherry Log where it can get really cold, make yourself a note and place it on the refrigerator or on the the door to remind yourself to turn your water off! I have had so many past clients forget to do this. Some got lucky…but unfortunately some did not.
Your local home improvement store will have all of the tools and expertise you will need to complete these steps. Foam, dome and drip your way to a safe winter season free of costly home repairs.
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While you may have heard that selling your home as a short sale can be a long, frustrating, and sometimes futile process, the tide may be turning as lenders have become increasingly more amenable to short sales. Many lenders, says real estate professional and educator Gee Dunsten, are viewing short sales in a more favorable light after suffering through failed loan modifications and countless foreclosures.
Before embarking on the short sale process, however, talk to a REALTOR® who is experienced in the area of distressed properties. Dunsten asks all his clients to start by completing the following questionnaire. One of the top reasons short sales fail is because the home seller never actually qualified for one in the first place. Answering the following questions accurately and thoroughly will determine whether your home is eligible for a short sale: Read the rest of this entry »
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The Union County Community Center, open to the public, is available for banquets, conferences, business meetings, weddings, reunion, and all types of events from bachelor parties to high school reunions. The new facility is equipped with the latest technology including internet access, audio visual presentation systems, and GPS devices at your fingertips! Whether looking for an impressive venue to host an overnight get-a-way, or planning a conference with 200 attendees, the Union County Community Center is the perfect place.
Union County is located in the North Georgia Mountains. Union County is home to 97,839 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest which provides outdoor fun the year round. Union County is also home to many lakes, rivers, streams, and waterfalls. Boating, fishing, tubing, and other water sports offer outings for the whole family. Winter, spring, summer, and fall are all good times to visit Union County. Lodging includes a variety of hotels, inns, vacation cabins, and campgrounds.
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