Richard Chimniak CNC - Charles Rutenberg Realty : Buyer Information

You Can Put These in the Dishwasher

Richard Chimniak — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:05:00 GMT

Baseball caps can get bent in the washing machine but hold their shape in the dishwasher, especially inside a contraption like the Ball Cap Washer Don’t wash them with dishes; food can get trapped in the cloth.

Action figures and other small toys can ride in a mesh lingerie bag on the top rack (but don’t wash Barbie or she’ll have a horrible hair day).

Rain boots should have the liners removed and lie horizontally. Hook flip-flops on tines in the top rack.

Tools with metal or plastic handles will be fine.

Ceramic cabinet knobs do well in the silverware basket, so if you feel like embarking on the process (remove, wash, replace), go for it.

Hairbrushes and combs made of plastic can take a spin, but not wood or natural boar-bristle brushes.

Fan grilles, switch plates, and vent covers are in if they’re plastic, aluminum, or steel. Enameled, painted, or plated should stay out.

Shin guards, knee pads, and mouth guards―toss them all into the top rack.

Light-fixture covers are fine in the top rack, as long as they’re not antique, enameled, or painted.

Garden tools may have come in contact with pes-ticides or animals, so don’t mix them with a load of dishes. (And don’t wash those with wood handles.)

Potatoes can get nice and clean in the top rack with a rinse-only cycle (no detergent). Sound crazy? It makes mashed potatoes for 20 a lot quicker.

Cast-iron, enameled-cast-iron, and copper pots and pans are on the never list. Why? Cast iron rusts; enameled cast iron chips; copper dents.

Formal dishes and nice flatware can get worn with repeated washings. Rule of thumb: If it’s something you would cry over harming or losing, don’t put it in. (If you do put sterling silver in the dishwasher, use about a tablespoon of detergent and don’t mix it with stainless-steel flatware; a chemical reaction between the metals can discolor the silver.)

Wooden spoons can warp and crack. If you don’t mind replacing them frequently, throw them in; otherwise wash them in the sink.

Good kitchen knives and steak knives aren’t cheap. Why risk dulling their blades?

Crystal glasses are especially vulnerable. Food particles can etch them; heat can cause cracks. After hand washing (it’s usually safer than using the china/crystal setting), dry with a cloth that hasn’t been laundered with fabric softener, which can leave a film.

Insulated mugs and containers feature vacuum seals, which can be destroyed if water seeps in.

Brass items should never see the inside of a dishwasher. Hot water can remove the natural protective layer that forms on brass.

Wooden cutting boards can swell and contract, leaving them teetery and essentially useless on a counter. Most bamboo boards are susceptible, too. But we found one that uses a heat-resistant adhesive, making it dishwasher-safe

Broom Ends (and Dust Pans, Scrub Brushes, and Vacuum Attachments)
Why you would: It’s the only way to get them clean.
Why we wouldn't: Ick.
If you're so inclined: Shake loose dust into the trash first,put in the silverware basket and broom ends and dust pans on top.

Computer Keyboards
Why you would: Because you spilled coffee on it. A crazy, last-resort attempt to save something that may be ruined, but some techies swear by it. A a computer programmer in Oklahoma, has washed his keyboards “at least a half-dozen times and never had a problem.”
Why we wouldn't: We don’t believe in Santa Claus or unicorns, either.
If you're so inclined: Place the keyboard facedown on the top rack, don’t use detergent, and skip the drying cycle. Afterward, unscrew the back, if possible, or pop off the keys (take a picture beforehand so you remember where they go). Air-dry two to five days. Pray the Computer Fairy is looking down on you, then reassemble.

STIMULUS BILL and DISTRESSED PROPERTIES

Richard Chimniak — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:09:00 GMT

Stimulus bill includes boosts for housing. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1) increases the first-time homebuyer tax credit to $8,000 and eliminates the repayment requirement for buyers who purchase a home between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 1, 2009 (See how the tax credit works). Other housing measures in the bill include:

FHA, Fannie and Freddie loan limits - Higher 2008 limits will be reinstated for 2009, except in communities where the 2009 limit is already higher. (Link to NAR estimates.)
Foreclosure mitigation and neighborhood stabilization – Funding will be given to states and municipalities that are recipients of Community Development Block Grant dollars to stabilize neighborhoods and redevelop abandoned and foreclosed homes.

Nationally, prices drop as buyers purchase distressed properties. According to NAR’s 4Q08 report, distressed sales–foreclosures and short sales–accounted for 45 percent of transactions in 4Q08, dragging down the national median existing single-family price to $180,100, which is 12.4 percent below 4Q07 when conditions were more balanced

WHAT LENDERS ARE LOOKING FOR IN A BORROWER ?

Richard Chimniak — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:01:00 GMT

CURRENT MORTGAGE REFOCUSING - FEB 2008

· During the refinance boom, lenders would get back to you whenever

· Bust of the sub-prime market has eliminated a good percentage of buyers 40-50%

· Traditional buyers with good credit (>720), little debt, and equity in their primary residence are in the drivers seat.

· Lenders are climbing over each other to get your business. You can count on better service.

· You now have leverage to possibly waive fees and negotiate a lower interest rate.

· Beware of thin profit margins with the lenders that are left.

· Mediocre credit scores and not much equity can still get a refinance, but it may take more time and higher rates.

· Do your homework, talk to a least 3 lenders, compare rates and costs, look for room to negotiate.

· The lender doesn’t want you to take a good loan to a competitor.

· PROFILE OF A WANTED BUYER

o Solid Credit scores – (720- 850)

o EUITYT – At least 20% of equity or down payment on a new home

o Good Debt-to-income ratio Debt needs to be less than 42%-45% of income

o Cash reserves equal to six (6) months of living expenses. (Bank, 401K or brokerage accounts)

Ten Traits That Make You Rich

Richard Chimniak — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:45:00 GMT

1. Patience

Patience is one of the most important traits when it comes to saving money.

This means waiting until the first wave of product hype has passed, keeping a car for an extra few years before getting another one and waiting until something you want fits into your budget instead of putting it on credit.

Patience is often the difference between creating savings and being in debt. Having the patience to wait until you find a good deal is a cornerstone of good finances.

2. Satisfaction

When you're satisfied, there is no reason to spend money on nonessentials. The sole purpose of commercials is to make you believe that buying a product or service will make you happier, wealthier, better looking or improve whatever isn't bringing you satisfaction.

People spend because they want to capture the excitement shown in advertisements. When you are satisfied with what you have and your life (not trying to live like those on TV), your finances will be in a lot better shape.

3. Organization

Being organized can make you more productive and ensure that all the many issues pertaining to personal finances are addressed.

It means not paying late fees, not buying two of everything, knowing deadlines that can affect your finances and getting more done in less time. All these can greatly benefit your finances.

4. Discipline

You need the discipline to continue to save money for specific, long-term goals every month.

Personal finance isn't a way to get rich quick, but is a disciplined execution of your lifetime plans.

5. Reflectiveness

It's important to be able to look at your financial decisions and reflect on their results.

You're going to make financial mistakes. Everyone does.

The key is to learn from those mistakes so you don't make them again, or recognize if you keep repeating them.

6. Creativity

The economy and our earnings don't always match our expectations.

Unexpected developments wreak havoc to elaborate financial plans. When this happens, changes are needed to deal with the new circumstances. Creativity is essential to accomplish this.

Creativity allows you to make something last longer rather than purchasing it when you don't have the money. It means juggling money to stay out of debt rather than simply paying with a credit card. It means finding a cheaper alternative when money is tight.

In these ways, creativity plays a large role in keeping finances in order.

7. Curiosity

Having curiosity helps you learn, study and improve yourself.

The curiosity of wanting to know more, to take the time to study and then take what is learned and put into practice is an important process that is driven by curiosity.

8. Risk-Taking

To build wealth, one needs to be willing to take risks. This doesn't mean uncalculated risks. It means weighing all the options and taking calculated risks when appropriate.

The stock market has risks involved, but over the long term, history shows that it provides good returns on money that is invested wisely. Those who fear risk altogether end up saving money in accounts that likely lose money to inflation in the long run.

9. Goal-Oriented

The importance of setting and working toward goals is obvious. If you don't know where you are going, it's difficult to get there. It helps your personal finances immensely if you have money goals and are motivated to reach the goals that you have set for yourself.

Those who lack goals don't have a road map to take them to the financial destination they want.

10. Hard- and Smart-Working:

Creating wealth and staying out of debt rarely comes about without a lot of hard work.

Many people might hope that the lottery will solve all their financial problems. The true path to financial freedom, however, is to work hard to earn money while educating yourself to continue to have more value and increase your salary.

You may not possess all of the above traits. But knowing them can help you make changes so that you nourish the ones that you have and obtain the ones you're missing.

Ultimately they will help you with your personal finances and create a plan to accumulate the wealth you desire.

Copyrighted, TheStreet.Com.

FULL SERVICE BROKERAGE

Richard Chimniak — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:05:00 GMT

According to the 2006 NAR (National Association of Realtors) Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 83% of sellers use full-service brokerage, 9% use limited-service brokerage and 8% use minimal-service such as simply listing the property on the MLS.

Consumer satisfaction with the level of brokerage service varies, with 71 percent of sellers saying they are very satisfied with their full-service experience. Fifty (50) percent of sellers using minimal-service say they were dissatisfied with their experince.

As a full-time agent/realtor, Charles Rutenberg Realty provides a full-service brokerage including but not limited to marketing plans, strong internet sites, visual tours, CD's, professional pictures, advertising...etc.