Easter Travel Deals from Hotel.com

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Learn how to buy your next home with no money down!

Nothing Down to Buy A Home!
Buy your next home with no money down!

In this difficult economy where stock valuations are questionable, one of the best investments is real estate. But for many potential buyers, a down payment keeps them from considering this all-important purchase. This should not be the case. It is possible to buy a home with nothing down—meaning no down payment.

The method of purchasing a home with no down payment that most people are familiar with is through the Veterans Administration or VA. This benefit is available to active and retired members of the military service, veterans, POW's and MIA's and their unmarried widows. All branches of the service are included.

$10,000 Down Payment Gift Program


Another opportunity for many potential homebuyers to purchase a home with no down payment is through a down payment gift program. Gift down payment programs of up to $10,000 or 5% of the purchase price, whichever is lower are never repaid. They are a truly gifts.

These programs are open to all homebuyers. There are no income limits and the home purchasers do not have to be a first-time homebuyers.

Homes that are eligible can be located anywhere in the United States. It can be used on any owner-occupied, primary residence including: homes, condominiums, town homes and manufactured homes. Although it cannot be used for investment or rental properties, duplexes and four-plexes are eligible if the purchaser will reside in one of the units.

The homes need not be pre-owned to qualify for the program. Newly constructed homes are also included in the program.

The gift funds can be used on any FHA or HUD loan for the down payment. Although HUD loans are based on need; FHA loans are not.

FHA loan are available to most borrowers and are primarily restricted by the loan amounts. FHA loan maximum amounts vary from state-to-state but are generally higher than the median price of a home in their areas. Each year the FHA maximum allowable loan amounts increase, so it is best to check with your lender on the current amounts available. FHA does permit down payments gifts in their loan consideration.

The only restriction on the down payment gift funds is that they may not be used to pay off any kind of debt or judgment. They must be used for the down payment of a home.

Sellers of homes using the gift down payments fund the program. In exchange for finding a purchaser for their home at their full asking price, they contribute a portion of the proceeds from the home to a "pool" of funds that is used to provide gift down payments for others purchasers. And because all homes must meet FHA or HUD appraisal guidelines, homes are never overpriced and must meet all repair and condition requirements.

Down payment programs can move many people into homeownership without the necessity of a down payment. There are two other methods of seller participation that also can accomplish the same goal: owner financing and lease/purchase agreements.

Owner Financing/Lease Purchase


As the glut of unsold homes increases, many times sellers are willing to carry part of the burden to sell a home quickly. There may be additional pressure on sellers of used homes when they compete with builders in their area who fund down payments on their new homes. Sellers may agree to a lease/purchase or owner finance plan to sell a house. In both cases, the purchaser does not pay a down payment to acquire the house.

Although these allow a homebuyer to purchase a home without a down payment, these programs can be good and bad for the purchaser and should be approached with caution.

As with any legal transaction, you should use a standard legal form. Lease/purchase forms are obtainable at most major office supply stores. Owner financing contracts are not readily available and will have to be drafted by an attorney.

In the case of lease/purchase agreements, the seller agrees to a price that he will sell the house for at some future date and the buyer usually pays a monthly amount several hundred dollars more than what the home would receive as a rental. Depending on how the agreement is written, this additional money can be "down payment" savings plan. A portion of the additional money can be returned to the buyer when the house is sold and used as a down payment. If the buyer decides not to buy the house, all additional moneys are forfeited. If the buyer decides to complete the transaction he would secure a mortgage from a lender. These arrangements are similar to those in owner financing except in that case the seller is the lender.

There are two areas of concern for the buyer with these types of purchasing options. In both cases, because the buyer is not paying a mortgage company he does not receive any of the tax deductions for the interest on the house payments. This may be an acceptable trade-off for the ability to purchase a home without a down payment. The second area of concern requires more judgment. Because the buyer is paying the seller each month instead of a mortgage company, if the seller were to go bankrupt or lose the home in foreclosure, the buyer's entire investment might be lost.

But on the flipside, there have been several occasions where persons have entered into lease/purchase agreements and then found purchasers for the homes at amounts much greater than the selling prices contractually agreed upon. The leasees bought the houses from the sellers and then resold the houses for a large profit in the same day.

House Trading/Lines of Credit
Many professional investors acquire homes with no money down by trading one property for another. In some cases, they trade one large property for several smaller rental properties. Or they trade houses in different cities to acquire a vacation or retirement home. Property trading is also a legal way to avoid the capital gains associated with selling a property.

Another way to acquire a property with no money down may be with a line of credit secured by the equity in another property. This allows the homeowner to purchase another property using the accumulated equity in a home without selling the original property.

HUD

For first-time homebuyers, the office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers special financing for first time homebuyers. This program is based upon need and is designed to allow low-income families to obtain their first home without a significant down payment or closing fees.

Also, many HUD foreclosure homes require no down payments. Many HUD foreclosures as well as bank and other foreclosures can be found at www.foreclosurefreesearch.com.

Rural Homes/Cops in Neighborhoods

The federal government has two programs to help farmers and police personnel acquire homes with nothing down.

For those with limited income who wish to live in rural areas, the Rural Economic and Community Development Administration offers farmers home loans with nothing down. Monthly payments may be subsidized and the interest can be as low as one percent.

To encourage police to occupy homes in crime-targeted areas, special federal programs permit police officers to purchase homes in selected areas with nothing down. Information is available to law enforcement officers through their places of employment.

With so many methods available to obtain homes with little or no down payment, the goal of home ownership should be achievable by almost everyone who desires it.



Follow this link to find foreclosures nationwide.


http://www.foreclosure.com

---

Copyright 2004 Foreclosure.com


Article
written by
Elaine Zimmermann

No portion of this site may be reproduced in any way without express
permission of the publisher. Free Foreclosure Search

Save on Herbs - Grow Your Own

In these tough economic times, many people are growing their own vegetables in home gardens. But if you are not like me and don't like digging in dirt, there is a much easier way to grow your herbs. Try the AeroGrow.

Leave behind the weeding and the tools. Now you can enjoy a homegrown, healthy harvest right from your countertop. With AeroGrow, it's easy. With a grow light that automatically turns on and off and a "smart" seeding system that requires only water and air, our revolutionary countertop greenhouse takes the guesswork out of gardening. It's so simple and easy anyone can have green-thumb success, anywhere and any time of the year. Arrives with everything you need to get started: AeroGrow, seed kit, light bulbs, instructions and recipe booklet. White or black. USA.

Click here to watch a video on Gaiam.com about the AeroGrow.




AeroGrow Indoor Garden

Jump-start your Garden. Save 20% on AeroGrow Indoor Garden. Expires April 2, 2009.




AeroGrow AeroGarden 3

Travel Deals from Travelocity, Hotels.com and Cheap Carribbean

Flights are low and the option to travel on the budget works in your favor. The airlines are desperate and practically giving away flights.

I recently purchased a round trip flight to Charlotte, NC for $118. Last November I paid double the price for the same ticket. All airline tickets are at rock bottom prices.

Check out these Travelocity Deals:

Relax in the Sun and Save: Hotel Deals in Hawaii


Elegant Golden State Escapes: California Luxury Hotels From $200!


Paradise Found: Caribbean Hotels from $98


Jump for Joy! Save on Fall Family Getaways


With flights so cheap you can fly to Arizona and take that Canyon Ranch Spa vacation you always wanted!
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Hotels.com Deals:
$50 off with 8 night booking!


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Destination Wedding Specials:
$100 off with 12 night booking!

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Cheap Caribbean Deals:

Cheapcaribbean's Resort & Spa Index Sit back, relax, and experience what the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda Resorts & Spas have to offer.
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Event Stimulus: Save time and Wow your guests with Smilebox birthday invitations!

In these tough economic times we need to do whatever we can to save. If you are planning a birthday party this spring or summer, send your invite via Smilebox for free. Check out the below link and sign up for free ecards include your photos and videos, plus your own music.:

Make a Smilebox Birthday Greeting

Add amazing (free) slideshows to your Facebook profile that include your photos and videos, plus your own music.

Show you care by sending a Smilebox photo ecard, scrapbook or slideshow for Mother's Day!

Attention Mac Users! Smilebox for Mac integrates nicely with iPhotos, Photo Booth and iTunes.

Create personalized Easter ecards and scrapbooks in minutes with your photos, videos and music!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas:Loving (And Lovely) Aromas Of Fabulous Fragrances

If you're trying to sniff out gift ideas for Mom, it can help to start with an elegant fragrance-something the nose knows, and something that can capture Mom's personality in a scent.

Here are a few of the popular choices for Mother's Day:

• DOLCE & GABBANA for Women. Introduced in 1993, this fine fragrance contains petitgrain, tangerine and basil and is accented with freesia, musk and rose, making it exquisite for evening use.

• MARC JACOBS for Women. Think fresh gardenias floating on water, enhanced by creamy musks. This lush floral essence includes velvet gardenia blended with white pepper and hints of sheer Egyptian jasmine and honeysuckle.

• WHITE DIAMONDS, created by Elizabeth Taylor in 1991, is the result of the following top fragrance notes: neroli, lily and tuberose. The middle notes are orris, narcissce and amber, and the base of the fragrance is sandalwood, patchouli and oakmoss. This scent is recommended for evening use.

• BOSS INTENSE for Women. Launched by Hugo Boss in 2003, this fragrance possesses a blend of spice, kumquat, vanilla orchids, Turkish rose, woods, amber and musk.

• BIJAN for Women explores essences of tuberose, carnation and jasmine and is blended with notes of honey, vanilla and musk. Try pairing it with Bijan Body Lotion for an exhilarating fragrance experience all over the body.

• SHI for Women. A luminous floral fragrance reflecting a true sense of calm and well-being. The initial impression of water lily and fig leaves infuses this Alfred Sung creation with pure clarity, while the mid-notes of orange blossom and frangipani create an aura of feminine tranquility. A unique water musks accord breathes a whisper of softness around silver birch, ending the cycle with a renewing calm.

• PARIS HILTON for Women opens with sheer sophistication. Chic enough to be worn on the runways of Milan while retaining a brilliant flirtatious charm, this head-turning fragrance can be dressed up or down for both day and evening wear.

These and many other fine scents are available-at discount prices, in individual bottles and in gift sets-from Perfumania, America's largest fragrance store. To learn more and to browse the aromatic collection, visit the Web site at Perfumania.com.

Deluxe fragrances can lend a charming scent to Mother's Day celebrations.
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Celebrate Mom This Mother's Day

Ever since Woodrow Wilson's official proclamation of Mother's Day in 1914, nervous husbands and eager children have struggled to find the perfect gift for Mom.

One of the most traditional and appreciated ways to celebrate Mom is to shower her with gorgeous flowers. And according to a recent survey, some of Mom's favorite plants include gardenias, hydrangeas, and miniroses. Topping the list of favorite blooms are lilies, gerbera daisies and roses.

When buying a beautiful bouquet for mom, show off your smarts and give her these handy tips from the floral and gift giving experts at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM:

• Arrange the flowers in a deep vase filled with cool water, and then mix in the floral preservative provided by the florist

Limited time offer: Save up to 25% on Spring & Easter plants! exp. 3.29.09.

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• Remove all leaves from the stem that fall below the waterline in the vase, as they will promote bacterial growth.

• Use a knife or shears to cut an inch from the bottom of the stem on an angle while holding it under water. This allows the stem to draw in the water, instead of air.

• Keep cut flowers and arrangements looking fresh by adding cool water to the vase every day and keeping it in a cool spot. Always keep the vase full, and change the water every three to four days.

Red Roses-Buy 1 dozen, get 6 FREE!


Mother's Day is a great opportunity for the kids to get creative, too. All moms appreciate a personalized gift, and they will love this pseudo flower arrangement: a bouquet of handprints made with lots of love. Here's how it's done from Celebrations.com, a Web site that offers expert advice and fun, simple planning tools for your next party:

• You will need colorful paper, scissors, pens or colored pencils, green craft paint (optional), small vase, craft glue, floral foam, and for the stems use either small dowels, wooden skewers or straws.

• Trace and cut out each child's handprints using different colors of paper. Make as many as you want. Ask kids to write one thing he or she loves about Mom on each handprint. Paint dowels or skewers with green paint, if desired. Glue handprints to the front of stems. Put florist foam in the vase and insert flowers. Place decorative grass or candies around the base of the flowers to cover the florist foam.

Go to Celebrations.com for more inspiration for life's most important celebrations, and visit 1-800-FLOWERS.COM for a beautiful selection of gifts including the Mother's Embrace arrangement.

Lilies, gerbera daisies and roses are among American mothers' favorite blooms.

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Tips To Help Wedding Guests Say "I Do" To Savings

An invitation to a wedding is generally considered good news, but the expenses associated with attending one-especially an out-of-town event-may present more than a few financial challenges.

Fortunately, there are ways to save on your expenses as a wedding guest or member of the bridal party. Here are a few tips for travelers to avoid wedding guest debt:

• Do your homework when it comes to travel arrangements. If you have to fly, book as far in advance as you can to take advantage of discounted rates, which can be found by visiting a Web site that compares prices. Keep in mind that you may be able to get cheaper rates if you are prepared to fly early in the morning or late at night.

When deciding whether or not to rent a car, first crunch the numbers and consider all the expenses involved in getting around while you are there.

In some cases, it may actually save money to rent a car for a couple of days, especially if you have other guests to share expenses with. But in other situations, you may save by taking public transportation to and from the airport.

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• Explain your situation to the bride and groom. If you are a bridesmaid, for example, you may be able to persuade the bride to choose an inexpensive option for bridesmaid's dresses, preferably a dress that can be worn more than once. Or perhaps the bride can help you find an inexpensive place to stay, or suggest other guests you might be able to share a room or transportation with.


On Sale at The Knot Wedding Shop

Brides may be interested to learn how to take advantage of group booking Web sites that some hotels offer for guests. At Hampton hotels, for example, brides can manage group reservations on its online group booking site at hampton.com/wedding.

Brides can book five to 25 affordable guest rooms online and then use the Guest List Manager to review and update reservation information 24/7, and the Personalized Group Web pages to keep everyone updated on details for the big day, such as important times and directions.



• Save on food expenses. Some accommodations offer a coffeepot and a microwave for heating up food-or better yet, a free breakfast buffet.

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For meals other than those eaten with the bridal party, make sandwiches or snacks in your room. Also, pack an individual refillable water bottle to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day and to save on beverage costs.

• Use loyalty program points such as Hilton HHonors, Hertz #1 Club and/or Delta SkyMiles. Depending on the loyalty program, travelers can save on car rental costs and hotel accommodations, or even purchase wedding gifts with extra loyalty points.

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Road Trip!! Take $25 Off Weekly Rates with Alamo!


• Gift wisely. You don't want to scrimp on a wedding gift, but your friends will understand if you don't go overboard. Find out where they are registered and shop from their registry, which should offer a range of prices. Purchase a more inexpensive gift or split a larger wedding gift with a friend. All New Gifts on Sale at Things Remembered

25% Off Personalized Frames! Great Gifts for less at Things Remembered.


Another option is to offer helping out with the wedding if you have any special skills or talents the happy couple might like to use. If you're a photographer, for example, you may want to donate your skills to take the wedding photos. If you are a caterer, you may want to donate some of the wedding day food.


Being practical about planning can help keep your friend's special day from leaving a lasting dent in your wallet.

When you say "I do" to attending a wedding, you don't have to spend more than you can afford. A little advance planning can help you save on travel and hotel expenses.

Shop Wal-Mart Great Value Brands in the Food Aisle

I like to purchase 100% Juice and obviously this costs more than juice drinks.

Here is the tip of the week:

If you shop at Wal-mart, the best purchase you can make is to purchase its Great Value brand 100% juice. The 96 oz bottle of apple juice or apple fruit punch blend averages $2.27. I have not found a better buy for 100% juice at any super market in my area.

This week, the Great Value brand Apple Juices were only $1.97. I shop at Wal-Mart every other week and I buy three 96 ounce bottles that last.

If you want to buy healthier drinks for your family check out the Great Value 100% juice at Wal-Mart.

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Shop Home Items for Less at Walmart.com!