Goodbye to 2012... Welcome 2013!

As we approach the end of the year 2012, one can get all tangled up in trying to remember the highlights of the year.  In truth, the year was great for some, marginal for others, and bad for many more.  Every year has its mix of the good and the bad, and we can only hope that the following year is better.

Rather than dwell on the trials and tribulations of the year 2012, I would offer a new suggestion.  Remember your favorite moment of the year, and cherish that one.  Perhaps if you can do this, you can remember another, and then another.  It is better to remember the blessings of the past, and learn from the mistakes as well, and keep and share the lessons learned.  However, hanging onto hatred, or misery never does the individual any good. 

So when one reflects on the past year 2012, think of the successes, rather than the failures.  Think of the laughter, rather than the tears.  Think of the joy of experience, and the lessons learned, and look forward in wonder to the future. 

So today, say goodbye to 2012, and tomorrow embrace with unbridled enthusiasm the possibilities of wonderment that the coming year 2013 can bestow upon you!  Go out there and capture your dreams!

Coffee in the Morning

Coffee in the morning makes for that perfect start to the day.  Having some fresh brewed coffee to hand is a great way to get ones thoughts going, and writing down some goals for the coming New Year.  Take some time today to plan a bright future for yourself!  And enjoy some coffee too!

What Does 2013 Hold for You?

What will be your new plans for the New Year in 2013?  Have you taken time to consider it?  At this time of year, I always try to take some personal time to write down some goals, and plans for the year that I hope to accomplish.  In this way, the dreamer keeps dreaming.

In 2012, I dreamed of publishing a book.  I also wanted to start my own publishing business for my own work.  Independent publishing has always been something I dreamed about, but never was able to overcome the barriers to achieve that.  That is, this past year.  I accomplished that goal, and now I am looking forward to the possibilities of the future, and what that holds for me in this new endeavor.

I have a list of books that I now have plans to write, and am diligently working on them. Making a list of annual goals is inspirational, and reminds man that he can dream and chase those dreams.

So take some time for yourself as the New Year approaches, and chart yourself a new course using your imagination.  Let it take you where you have never been before, and may you have a prosperous New Year in 2013!

Winter Comes Again

The day after Christmas, the are where I live in Southwest Michigan received its first winter snow storm of the season that had any kick to it.  Flights were canceled, roads were icy, and people remembered how to drive again in the snow.  I got to put to good use my remote starter on my car, and bask in the joy of a warm car for the first time in the 10+ years I have lived in Michigan.

Children enjoying the holiday break were able to go sledding, and throw some snow balls.  Some may have even taken on the seasonal task of building a snowman. Winter never truly feels like it is here until there is a snow storm, and then although it has been cold, it surprises everyone.

In any case, it is a fitting close to the final few days of the year to have the pristine purity of snow to wake up to.  Let's hope it does not get too deep, so our shovels stay inactive for just a few more days or weeks.

New eBook Release: Understanding Land Contract Homes: In Pursuit of the American Dream

I recently published my first eBook in Real Estate. It is entitled: 'Understanding Land Contract Homes: In Pursuit of the American Dream'. It is available for sale as an eBook. The book seeks to answer the questions many have about the subject of Land Contract Homes, and how they work. It also addresses what the perfect profile of a Land Contract Home is, and how one should go about finding one.

In the years I have been a Realtor, the most common request for information is where one can find a home for sale on Land Contract or 'Contract for Deed' as it is sometimes referred.  I began writing blog posts about this subject in 2010, including topics local to Michigan where I live, as well as covering many aspects of this type of home sale.

Probably the most common misunderstanding about Land Contract homes is that it is a form of seller financing.  That there really is a specialized use for this type of transaction, and that the seller is in fact extending credit to a buyer, whom in many instances would not otherwise be extended credit.  So the book Understanding Land Contract Homes: In Pursuit of the American Dream has a dual meaning in its title.  It embraces both home ownership, and entrepreneurship in the spirit of the American Dream.

Land Contracts have been in use for many years.  In the 1970's and 1980's they were much more in common use than today across the country, simply because conventional interest rates were skyrocketing during that time period, reaching as high as 18% in some areas.  Land Contracts offered much lower interest rates (usually around 10%) as the seller was the one setting the terms and more accessible for negotiations.  Additionally, conventional lending often required 20% down payment, whereas a independent seller on a Land Contract most often would accept less.

Today, Land Contracts serve more as a bridge-gap for willing buyers who need some time to repair their credit and re-finance into a conventional loan in the future and receive a lower interest rate.  This eBook was written to answer the many questions concerning this subject for both buyers and sellers, and in all hopes help more people experience the dream of home ownership.