Lorraine D'Auria-Hughes

Apple Pie

2008-11-18T04:27:00Z

Apple Pie in one of the easiest forms we that could be mustered.

2 pre-made 9-inch pie crusts
1 can apple pie filling
1 pinch cinnamon
1 pinch brown sugar

Fill one crust with the apple pie filling. Add cinnamon and brown sugar. Cover with second crust. Bake for 350°F degrees for 40 minutes. For an even sweeter variation, stir in about 12 melted caramel candies for a candied apple pie.

Wedding Soup

2008-11-18T04:24:00Z

Here's a shortcut to an interesting traditional Italian dish: Wedding soup.

For meatballs:
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 egg
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine ingredients in a bowl and roll into small meatballs (about the size of 1 teaspoon for each). Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.

For soup :
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 package chicken soup mix
2 cans chicken broth
1 box frozen spinach

Boil the chicken *** for approximately 20 minutes in a large pot with enough water to cover the chicken. Remove chicken from water (save water). Let the chicken cool and cut or shred into bite-size pieces. Place the chicken, above ingredients, and meatballs in water. Simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour.

Ways To Save Energy This Winter

2008-11-18T04:15:00Z

Green your home and fatten your wallet at the same time

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/green?xid=hinewsletter-110408-energy-top

Understanding Closing Costs

2008-11-04T04:16:00Z

Closing Costs There are certain standard costs associated with closing the sale of a house. These fees are split between the buyer and the seller, as spelled out in the sales contract. Good Faith Estimate Buyers will receive a "Good Faith Estimate" of closing costs at the time the loan application is submitted to the lender. Standard Closing Costs Loan Related Costs Loan Origination Fee Points (optional) Appraisal Fee Credit Report Interest Payment Escrow Account Taxes Property Taxes Transfer...(read more)

FICO Sores - What they are and what they mean to you!

2008-11-04T04:14:00Z

Scoring your Credit - How's your FICO?

In today's increasingly automated society, it should come as no surprise that when you apply for a mortgage, your ability to pay can be reduced to a single number. All the years you've been paying your mortgage, car payments, and credit card bills can be analyzed, sliced, diced, spindled and mutilated into a single indicator of whether you're likely to meet your future obligations.

All three of the major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) use a slightly different system to arrive at a score. The best known is called the FICO score, based on a model developed by Fair Isaac and Company (hence the name) and used by Experian. Equifax's model is called BEACON, while TransUnion uses EMPIRICA. While each of the models considers a range of data available in your credit report, the primary factors are:

Credit History - How long have you had credit?
Payment History - Do you pay your bills on time?
Credit Card Balances - How much do you owe on how many accounts?
Credit Inquiries - How many times have you had your credit checked?

Each of these, and other items, are assigned a value and a weight. The results are added up and distilled into a single number. FICO scores range from 300 to 850, with higher being better. Typical home buyers likely find their scores falling between 600 and 850.

FICO scores are used for more than just determining whether or not you qualify for a mortgage. Higher scores indicate you are a better credit risk, and thus may qualify for a better mortgage rate.

What can you do about your FICO score? Unfortunately, not much. Since the score is based on a lifetime of credit history, it is difficult to make a significant change in the number with quick fixes. The most important thing is to know your FICO score and to ensure that your credit history is correct. Conveniently, Fair Isaac has created a web site (www.myFICO.com) that let's you do just that. For a reasonable fee, you can quickly get your FICO score from all three reporting agencies, along with your credit report. Also available is some helpful information and tools that help you analyze what actions might have the greatest impact on your FICO score. Each of the credit services offers similar services on their web sites: www.equifax.com, www.experian.com, and www.transunion.com.

Armed with this information, you will be a more informed consumer and better positioned to obtain the most favorable mortgage available to you.

Why You Should Get A Home Inspection

2008-11-04T04:08:00Z

Whether you are buying or selling a home, you should have a professional home inspection performed.

A home inspection will look at the systems that make up the home such as:

Structural elements, foundation, framing etc
Plumbing systems
Roofing
Electrical systems
Cosmetic condition, paint, siding etc

If you are buying a home, you need to know exactly what you are getting. A home inspection, performed by a professional home inspector, will reveal any hidden problems with the home so that they may be addressed BEFORE the deal is closed. You should require an inspection at the time you make a formal offer. Make sure the contract has an inspection contingency. Then, hire your own inspector and pay close attention to the inspection report. If you aren't comfortable with what he finds, you should kill the deal.

Likewise, if you are selling a home, you want to know about such potential hidden problems before your house goes on the market. Almost all contracts include the condition that the contract is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory inspection. And most buyer's are going to insist that the inspection be a professional home inspection, usually by an inspector they hire. If the buyer's inspector finds a problem, it can cause the buyer to get cold feet and the deal can often fall through. At best, surprise problems uncovered by the buyer's inspector will cause delays in closing, and usually you will have to pay for repairs at the last minute, or take a lower price on your home.

It's better to pay for your own inspection before putting your home on the market. Find out about any hidden problems and correct them in advance. Otherwise, you can count on the buyer's inspector finding them, at the worst possible time.