Setting Plan to Manage Debt Load  By Claudia BuckRISMEDIA, July 7, 2010--(MCT)--Like carrying unwanted pounds, many college graduates pack on a hefty load of student loan debt during their four years.And in a tough job market with no guarantees of steady income after college, it can be daunting for graduates to shed those extra dollars.The median amount of cumulative loan debt among U.S. college undergraduates was nearly $20,000 in 2007-08, according to the most recent College Board data.At the University of California-Davis, the number of students graduating with student loans is "trending up" each year, said Katy Maloney, interim director of financial aid.Of 5,700 graduates in 2008-09, more than half - 52 percent - had student loans, both government and private. The average UCD studen... 07/07/2010

Top Five Tips for Summer Entertaining  RISMEDIA, July 6, 2010--Summer is finally in full swing and so is the season for entertaining. This summer, try trading in your burgers and hot dogs for a little more glam, while remaining under budget.Check out these tips from celebrity style and entertaining expert Robert Verdi, in partnership with Ecco Domini, to create tips for throwing the perfect fashionable fete. 1. Bottle Up the Excitement: Grab guests' attention, and evoke beachtime nostalgia, with a unique message in a bottle invitation. Use a clear glass bottle and fill it with a little bit of sand. Then roll up your invite and insert it with a string attached for easy access. For a truly personal touch, hand-deliver it to each guest!2. Go Tribal: Tribal inspirations are making a mark on... 07/06/2010

HUD Releases 2009 American Housing Survey  RISMEDIA, July 6, 2010-Most families with young children live within a mile of a public elementary school. The most common home heating fuel in the U.S. is gas. Only a third of American homes have a working carbon monoxide detector. These are just some of the findings of a comprehensive national sample of the more than 130 million residential housing units released recently by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.HUD's 2009 American Housing Survey (AHS) provides one of the most thorough views inside the homes of millions of Americans and reveals everything from the square footage of the unit to how many homes have front porches, garages or even usable fireplaces. First conducted in 1973, the survey's long-term design allows ana... 07/06/2010

Responsible Homeowners Drown in Debt with No Offer of Help  By Paul OwersRISMEDIA, July 6, 2010--(MCT)--Scott Katzer owes about $200,000 more than his Fort Lauderdale home is worth. Unable to sell anytime soon, he wants to reduce his monthly mortgage payment by refinancing to a lower interest rate.Katzer doesn't qualify under a government refinancing program because the value of his home is so much lower than what he owes.Private lenders turn him down for the same reason.And he's ineligible for assistance from a state-run program because he has a job and can pay the mortgage.Katzer, a 40-year-old engineering consultant, is one of thousands of homeowners who are underwater, the term applied to those whose homes are worth less than the mortgages. Many of these people are not in immediate... 07/06/2010

Real Estate Marketing Strategies: Are Self-Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back?  By Maya Bailey, Ph.D.RISMEDIA, July 6, 2010--Do you ever wonder what is holding you back? Do you ever wonder what is stopping you from having all the clients, all the money, and all the transactions that you desire?Chances are that you have all the skills and knowledge you need.Have you ever said to yourself, "I know what I should be doing; I'm just not doing it."?That is a clear signal that you are being undermined by self limiting beliefs that may not even be conscious, such as:* "I'm not worthy of success",* "It's selfish to pray for money",* "Rich people are dishonest",* "I should just be happy with what I have and not want more",* "I am a failure and not worthy of money."Let me give you an example from a... 07/06/2010

Eight Ways To Get More Out of Your Day   By Lisa KanarekRISMEDIA, July 3, 2010--As a business professional, you undoubtedly wear many hats-from that of juggler (of yours and others' projects) to firefighter, putting out the fires (crises) you face each day. Ideally you should be able to walk into your office each morning, cross everything off your to-do list and go home with a sense of accomplishment. In reality, that's not always possible. Your day is filled with tasks and interruptions that devour your time, talents and energy. There are several ways to make each minute count, starting with these tips. 1. Before you agree to handle a task from a client, make sure that you're the most qualified person to handle it. If a client wants to hire you for something outside of your field of k... 07/05/2010

For Your Clients: Organize, It Just Feels Good  By Cindy McNattRISMEDIA, July 3, 2010--(MCT)--What happens when you don't have the time or the correct brain parts to make all your stuff make sense? Enter a professional organizer in an industry that has been built on stuff and what to do with it.Gail Gray of A Fresh Start Professional Organizing in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a card-carrying member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.Gray makes stuff make sense in home offices, kitchens, garages, closets and even supervises a move. More, she conducts workshops to help you help yourself.Gray says that organizing is natural for some people, but believes it is a learned skill for most of us."I was a messy teenager and a colle... 07/05/2010

Tricks to Keep Your House Cool this Summer  By Paige TeppingRISMEDIA, July 3, 2010--As the temperatures continue to rise this summer, so does the cost of keeping your home cool. While homeowners across the country come to depend on air conditioners to keep the temperature down during the warm summer months, there are other options that will keep you cool while keeping your energy bill low. Fans and ceiling fans-If you're looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans do... 07/05/2010

Home Buyers Close to Extended Tax-Credit Deadline   By Ruth Mantell and Amy HoakRISMEDIA, July 2, 2010--(MCT)--Home buyers are close to gaining more time to obtain a federal home-buyer tax credit of up to $8,000.President Obama is expected to sign off on legislation as early as today following approval in both congressional chambers earlier this week. It would extend the deadline for the home-buyer tax credit, giving buyers with purchase contracts in place three more months to close on the sale.Specifically, buyers would have to close before Oct. 1 to be eligible for the extended credit. The closing deadline was originally June 30. To be eligible, buyers need a contract that was in place by April 30.The National Association of Realtors has estimated that about 180,000 otherwise eligible... 07/02/2010

Time Management Tips for Real Estate Agents   By Paige TeppingRISMEDIA, June 29, 2010--Successful real estate agents develop annual business plans which must have the flexibility to adjust to market conditions. Effective plans are based on completing tasks that will generate business opportunities that convert to transactions. The key to time management is performing your daily tasks quickly with proficiency. The following tips can help you effectively manage your time. 1. Use technology tools to organizeManaging your email properly is a huge time saver as you can automate many of the processes for more efficiency. If you use Outlook, learn how to use "rules" and folders. Once this structure is in place, create your "task list" and integrate it with your calendar.2. Answer or return pho... 07/01/2010

Think Social Networking is Only for Teens and Above, Think Again   By Scott Duke HarrisRISMEDIA, July 1, 2010--(MCT)--Like a lot of kids born in the 21st century, including mine, 8-year-old Zoraver Dhillon loves playing games on the Internet. A couple of months ago, after setting a personal best in Super Crazy Turbo Taxi 4 by 1,000 points, he quickly checked to see if he'd moved up in the rankings.Zoraver was stunned to discover he'd fallen from fourth place to 69th. But his father, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, was thrilled.Mandeep Dhillon was so thrilled, in fact, that he and Zoraver got on Skype for a video chat with software engineers working late at Togetherville, a startup in Palo Alto. Zoraver's plummet was validation that Togetherville, a social networking site that Dhillon des... 07/01/2010

Top 10 Fireworks Photo Tips   By Stephanie AndreRISMEDIA, July 1, 2010--WIth the holiday weekend approaching, it's a great time to sit back with friends and family and take in some amazing aerial displays - fireworks.But like many, your photos probably never come out as well as seeing it live. Well, maybe that's changing. Check out these tips from Shutterfly.com photo blogger Rachel B. on taking some amazing fireworks photos:1. Extra Memory Cards - the more photos you can take, the better chance you have of walking away with some great shots2. Keep your finger on the button - prevent ‘camera shake' by not releasing the shutter button right away3. Focus faraway - fireworks explode far away from you. To record them clearly, set your digital camera focus to infinity. If your digital camera... 07/01/2010

For Your Clients: 7 Lawn Care Tips for the Summer Season   By Stephanie AndreRISMEDIA, July 1, 2010-The summer is officially upon us. And what that, comes weeds, bugs and, of course, more time needed to tend to your lawn. Here, learn how you can make the most of the season with these summer lawn care tips: 1. Proper watering and water conservation is important at any time of year, but particularly when heat and a lack of rain lead to water deficits and drought. 2. Evaluate your lawn regularly for signs of irregular color and texture. These can be signs of damage that may result from pests or disease. 3. Proper year-round lawn care keeps a lawn healthy and prevents weeds, disease and pests. But sometimes, insects you may not notice can travel from the yard to your home. To stop them, hir... 07/01/2010

For Your Clients: 7 Things All Borrowers Should Know About FHA Loans   RISMEDIA, July 1, 2010--FHA Pros, LLC, a national FHA condo approval service, has developed a list of facts speaking to the top misconceptions associated with FHA loans in order to help home buyers better navigate an already confusing market. FHA loans are mortgages issued by qualified lenders and insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)."We have seen home buyer interest in FHA loans go from practically zero three years ago to upwards of 87 percent today," said Christopher Gardner, founder and president of FHA Pros, LLC. "Despite this rapid rise in popularity, many buyers still do not fully understand the benefits of these loans, and we believe it's time to change that."1. FHA Loans Are Not Only For Lower... 07/01/2010

Tips on How Graduates Should Spend All that Cash   By Claudia BuckRISMEDIA, June 28, 2010--(MCT)--Hats off to the class of 2010. As the last of this year's high school and college graduates tossed their mortarboards skyward in celebration this month, the congratulations poured in.And in many cases, so did the checks.Cash may sound crass, but it's what most students say they want.Which is undoubtedly why most adults giving graduation gifts this year - about 58 percent - say they're giving money, according to a recent survey by the National Retail Federation. They're also feeling more generous, planning to spend an average of $89.95, compared with $88.01 last year.Overall, 2010 graduation spending will top $3.9 billion, the NRF estimated.That's a lot of pen-and-pencil sets.For those lucky... 06/30/2010

Careful Planning Can Stretch a Thin Budget   By Nirvi ShahRISMEDIA, June 28, 2010--(MCT)--Jenny Camacho moved to South Florida in December, hoping the weather would be easier on her health than the frigid, snowy winters of New York and looking forward to living closer to two of her children.She had spent four years working as a cook at a senior center in Brooklyn, fine-tuning her skills at preparing meals for people with special dietary needs. Despite the recession, she thought she would find a job in a region known as a snowbird and senior roost.Jobless six months later, she had run up debt on her credit cards, trying to preserve some of her savings and still make ends meet. Camacho rents an apartment in Sunrise, Fla., with her youngest daughter, Priscilla.But Camacho, 51, recently met... 06/30/2010

Smart Tips Smooth Out Family Travel   By Heidi StevensRISMEDIA, June 29, 2010--(MCT)--It takes a village to raise a child, and at least as many to entertain one on an air­plane. With that in mind, Nina Willdorf, editor in chief of Budget Travel, collected travel advice from her readers for a handy new book, "The Smart Family's Passport: 350 Money, Time and Sanity Saving Tips" (Quirk Books, $14.95).Here, a few of our favorites:-I write my cell phone number on the inside of rubber bracelets ... and have my children wear them when we're away from home. That way, should we get separated, they can show the number to a helpful adult. - Susan Redman, Hebron, Conn.-When we take our kids to foreign desti­nations, in addition to spending days at museums, cathedrals and castles, we visit supermark... 06/30/2010

Headed to D.C. for the 4th? Here Are 5 Things to Do, Beyond the Obvious   By Josh NoelRISMEDIA, June 29, 2010--(MCT)--You already know the museums, the monuments and the mall. But there are other sides to our capital that make it a rewarding destination. As much as this is the nation's seat of government, it is a vibrant, international city.Here are five things to do next time you visit D.C. that will offer a new perspective.1. Adams Morgan - This neighborhood in central D.C., just a couple of miles north of the National Mall, is abuzz with international flavor. Whether you want French, Himalayan, Latin or Ethiopian food, it's here. adamsmorgannow.com2. National Museum of Health and Medicine - Established during the Civil War as a museum for "specimens of morbid anatomy ... together wi... 06/30/2010

For Your Clients: 100 Dollars Can Go a Long Way for a Great Looking Yard   RISMEDIA, June 29, 2010--Got a hundred bucks and a free weekend? Then you've got what it takes to invest in some yard care improvements."Some of the best upgrades to your yard can be done with a few dollars and a few hours," says Trey Rogers, Ph.D., the Briggs & Stratton Yard Doctor. "When budgets are tight, get creative and do it yourself."For those who'd like one-on-one advice from Rogers, enter the Yard Smarts Boot Camp. Attendees will learn how to easily take care of their yard, tour amazing green spaces and win a new lawn mower and more. Visit www.yardsmarts.com to enter.What can you do for $100 right now?-- Mow the right way. Don't scalp your lawn. Instead, let it grow a little longer, which is healthy for ... 06/30/2010

First Quarter Moving Trends by Size and Type   RISMEDIA, June 29, 2010--According to Movers.com usage data, in the first quarter of 2010, one move size dominated Movers.com-aided moves: two-bedroom home moves made up nearly 30 percent of the total number of moves (excluding auto shipments and international moves). That number isn't surprising, though, as most homes are two-bedroom homes.Two-bedroom home moves led the pack by a wide margin, with three-bedroom home moves coming in second at 17.6 percent. Following closely were small, one-bedroom home moves; partial home moves; and large, one-bedroom home moves at 15, 13.3, and 13 percent respectively. The least common move-types were four-bedroom homes (6 percent), studio apartments (5 percent), and larger-than-four-bedroom home moves (2 ... 06/30/2010