Home prices have come down 20, 30, 40% or more in the last three years and mortgage rates are lower than they’ve been in 50 years and you still haven’t bought a home.  Really?

Housing affordability is over 180, an all-time high when 100 is considered good and you’re still renting.  Really?  Are you waiting for it to get  to 200?  Do you think prices and rates are going to get lower?  Really? 

You know it’s costing you more every month to rent than to own.  Tax savings, appreciation and principal reduction lower the monthly cost of housing and yet you’d rather let your landlord benefit…Really?  Have you heard that the average homeowner has 41 times greater net worth than a renter?  Do you think it’s a coincidence?  Really?

And have you heard that most people want a place of their own; a place to raise their family; to share with their friends; to feel safe and secure.  So, you’d rather go home after working hard all day to your landlord’s home.  You’d prefer to invite some friends over to your landlord’s home for dinner next weekend.  Really?

You haven’t checked out whether you can actually take advantage of the best buyer’s market ever.  You haven’t invested thirty minutes to find out the facts as they apply to you and your situation.  Really?  You’re basing a decision on national news, chat rooms and Facebook.  Really?

Every market is different.  Every buyer is unique.  If you want a home; if you have a down payment; if you have good credit, you owe it to yourself and your family to explore the possibilities…but with a real estate professional; someone who can really show you the reasons and really give you options.

Tagdef is a website that can be incredibly handy when researching hastags and trying to use them for promotion. The site has a search bar that allow you to search a term and find out the meaning of a hastag and how popular it is. The site provides you with the most popular hashtags, the most popular this week, the all time high, new hashtags, and top hashtag users. How can this be beneficial? You can use this data to use the correct  hashtags to drive traffic and gain more search engine optimization.

Quick & Easy Meals

Summer Tortellini Salad

 

Toss pre-made tortellini with chicken and an array of herbs for a palate-pleasing summer salad.    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 (19-oz.) package frozen cheese tortellini
• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 1/4 cup sliced green olives
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives
• 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped sweet onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise                                                                          Summer Tortellini Salad
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar                                                     Paired with Crisp Chardonnay
• 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence*
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• Salt to taste
• Garnish: fresh parsley sprigs

Preparation

1. Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain. Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain and place in large bowl. Stir in chicken and next 5 ingredients.

2. Whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, and herbes de Provence. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Pour over tortellini mixture, tossing to coat. Stir in salt to taste. Cover and chill at least 25 minutes. Garnish, if desired.

*1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning may be substituted.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Rosetto Cheese Tortellini.

Tuna Tortellini Salad: Substitute 1 (12-oz.) can albacore tuna, rinsed and drained well, for chicken. Prepare recipe as directed.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. ~ Helen Keller

A positive attitude filled with confidence is how we are starting off our week because we know that this leads to success and high achievement. We are ready for whatever obstacles are going to come our way this week and we will remember to keep our faith and optimism strong. 

 

 

GARDEN CENTER SUNDAY

Creating a Basil Topiary
Topiaries often consist of clipped boxwood and holly, you can also use one of the South’s favorite herbs trimmed in a standard lollipop shape.

Look for basil selections that have smaller leaves and tight or upright forms, such as ‘Boxwood,’ ‘Greek Columnar,’ and ‘Pesto Perpetuo. Normally, compact and bushy specimens are preferred, but for topiaries, leggy is best, as you’ll get a head start on your form.

Remove soil from one side of each root-ball, and place plants close together in the center of the bucket. Tie stems together in three spots with twine. Use sharp snips to remove lower leaves. Shape the top into a ball with clippers.

Moist, well-drained soil and six to eight hours of full sun are key to keeping these herbs happy in pots. To ensure roots have good drainage, punch three to five holes in the bottom of the bucket using a large nail and hammer. Fill the bucket with premoistened potting soil, mixing in a couple of handfuls of compost, and then plant, positioning the tallest basil first. Feed twice a month with  Plant Food. Once temperatures are between 80 and 90 degrees, basil will grow fast, so don’t be shy about snipping, sharing, and using your bountiful harvest.

These will look great outside or inside if you have enough sun light, not to mention that they smell great!

 

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News