Avocado Goat Cheese Salad with Fried Egg

Recipe Courtesy of Mari Not So Bland

You know how I like a good salad… especially one that will actually keep me full. The lettuce I bought at Costco (in the photo below) inspired me, and can you blame me? Look at those beautiful greens!

So, after I washed the lettuce, I remembered that I bought an avocado at Kroger. I really really really really love avocados…in case you were curious. If you love them too, but have a little trouble getting the green goodness out of them in one piece, here’s a little how-to:

How-To Open an Avocado:

1. Insert the knife in the middle and cut (gingerly – there’s a pit, remember) it completely in half – all the way around the avocado.

2. Hold the avocado so that one hand is one either side that you’ve cut into.

3. Turn the avocado with your hands and pull!

4. Stick your knife into the pit and turn it…

5. Ta dah! Now, just take a large spoon and scoop out the inside! And there you have it!

Now, back to the salad… I crumbled some goat cheese over the lettuce and added fresh tomato slices, toasted walnuts, the avocado and…. a fried egg! Surprise! It’s so delicious!

So, here it is – the salad of my dreams! It’s healthy, tasty, and will keep you full. I put a simple oil and balsamic vinegar dressing on it, but you can put whatever dressing you would like! Enjoy!

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★ ★ ★ Keep working toward your goals, ignoring negative emotions, fears and obstacles. Slap yourself some skin for each step in the right direction. One day you’ll wake up and what you’re reaching for will “fall” into your lap. ★ ★ ★

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The list price you choose effects the sale of your home positively or negatively. You want a price that will cause Pricing your home too high will cause an unnecessary delay in the sale. Houses on the market too long generally do not sell for the best price. Price your home judiciously for a quick sale.

Home Improvements

The improvements and additions you’ve made to your home are not always recoverable in the asking price, but can add value to your home. Your swimming pool may have cost $25,000, but that doesn’t mean your home is worth $25,000 more. Swimming pools, decks, built-in-bookshelves and hardwood floors all make your home more attractive to home buyers.

Don’t Waste Time

When pricing your house, the key is this: Don’t waste time. Homes on the market a long time are perceived negatively by home  shoppers. They get suspicious and wonder, “Why hasn’t anyone bought this home yet?” Price your home at five to ten percent above the price of comparable homes in your neighborhood and you should get the right price and make good time.

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New home sales are very clearly getting a lift from buyers looking to take advantage of the final weeks of the $8,000 new home-buyer tax credit scheduled to expire at the end of April.

Not surprisingly, residential construction stocks have ratcheted higher on the news led by Hovnanian Enterprises and PulteGroup, although both have come down slightly from intraday highs. Better weather, the tax credit and growing consumer confidence provided a nice tailwind for the housing market in March.

The trends are certainly improving for homebuilders as the market stabilizes, but we continue to view homebuilder stocks are among the fundamentally weakest in the market. We believe the fact that these stocks have appreciated so greatly over the last year is due to the fact that they were so badly beaten down, rather than a correspondent strengthening of underlying fundamentals. For that reason, the majority of the stocks we cover in the residential construction segment are currently Overvalued by our methodology, and fundamentals will need to improve drastically in order to justify today’s prices.

The stock market should react when data comes in better than anticipated, and that is what we are seeing today. However, the market must also be forward looking, and in that case the outlook for housing remains unclear. Continued signs of general economic recovery would certainly prove beneficial to the housing market as jobs are created, foreclosure rates slow, and confidence is restored. However, there remains the problem of large amount of inventory remaining on the market.

The National Association of Realtors estimates that there is a supply of 3.58 million homes currently available for sale, which equates to about 8 months worth of supply. This is a slight improvement from previous reports, yet as the market improves banks may start listing more of their foreclosed properties. This “shadow inventory” is clearly an unknown and may serve to keep inventory levels high for a prolonged period of time. Excess inventory is the enemy of home-builders, as it means adding to the supply (their business) would only serve to further misalign supply and demand, in time lowering prices.

For homebuilders, losses have been trimmed recently and there has been necessary consolidation in the industry already. However, the next few months will be pivotal for these stocks. The expiration of the tax-credit may lead to a lag in purchases for the following months, and any rebound in prices may bring out some housing inventory hiding in the shadows of big bank balance sheets.

From a value investor’s perspective, we recommend staying away from stocks heavily tied to residential construction, in spite of today’s bullish data.

Sounds great doesn’t it? Go to Home Depot, stick stab a sign in the lawn and viola! Someone comes by to beg to take that home off your hands. Right? 

Unfortunately, the process of selling your home is not that easy. Your home is a huge investment with many different legal ramifications. When you go to sell it, there’s a zillion issues to consider and things can go wrong if left in the wrong hands.

Do You Really SAVE MONEY when you sell your home yourself?

According to the National Association of Realtors, “the typical FSBO home sold for $145,000, compared to $175,000 for agent-assisted home sales.”

Most Difficult Tasks for FSBO Sellers:

• Getting the right price 19%
• Understanding paperwork 30%
• Preparing / fixing up home for sale 26%
• Attracting potential buyers 7%
• Having enough time to devote to all aspects of the sale 14%

A Realtor can help in more ways than one:

While it may seem clever to pocket the commission fees of a Realtor and sell your home yourself, be aware that there are risks involved in doing so. Realtors are experts who know how to…

• Differentiate your home from other homes in your neighborhood.
• List your home in such a way that it will sell.
• Show your home to prospective buyers better than the average person.
• Market your home in a variety of ways available to licensed Realtors.
• Rely upon their license training to handle legal situations that may arise.
• Help you to avoid pitfalls that they’ve learned to avoid through experience.
• Serve as the middle-man during the negotiating process, which goes along way towards easing buyer – seller relations.
• Access network of professionals that are reliable for the home selling process such as painters, inspectors and plumbers.
• Help you overall make the process smooth.

And if that weren’t enough reason not to sell your home yourself, ask yourself the following questions:

Who will be completing the contract forms, negotiating the offer, and looking out for YOUR interests?

The eight-page contract (and many addenda attached thereto) contains the agreement of Buyer and Seller, stating representations and promises to be performed by each of the parties.

Do I need earnest money?

What happens to the earnest money?

What if the check does not clear?

What if the Buyer changes his mind, after signing? 

. Why an option period?

How much should be deposited?

How many and what kind of inspections?

What are the time limits for all inspections?

Once inspected, what are the parties’ choices?

How do I know what financing options there are?

As you can see, there is much that a Realtor can do to help you when it comes to selling your home. You may save money, but you will have to deal with many issues to make you lose time and potentially peace of mind when you sell your home by owner. Having an expert to handle the sale of your property makes economic sense and helps give you peace of mind.

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Directions: From Decatur, N on 287 to CR 2395 (Hopewell Church) on right. Go 1 mile to property on right.

You’ve taken care of all the preliminaries. You’ve listed your needs, wants, likes and dislikes. You’ve found your Realtor, you’ve even gotten pre-qualified on your mortgage loan. The time has come for you to start the search for the best home to meet your needs. What factors do you keep in mind before heading out the door to look at properties? 

Many home buyers make the mistake of focusing solely on price when searching for a home. Though price is worth considering, it shouldn’t be your central focus when looking for your home. The location and quality of your home should bear equal weight in your final home choice.

Location, Location and Location

Location is very important when choosing your home, though choosing where to live is often difficult for home buyers. Where to live is such an important decision; plus there are so many options! A good location to one, can be horrible to another. But a bad location, is usually a bad location to all. Experts suggest that you sacrifice something inside the home rather than sacrifice the location.

Here are some factors to consider when thinking about the location of your new home:

• Your Job: How far away from your job are you willing to be? Are you interested in commuting for over an hour per day? Are there convenient routes to and from your work? Will you be changing jobs in the next few years? Is there a chance for you to work at home? The location of your job is what most people consider first when choosing where they will live.

• Lifestyle: Would you prefer a busy area with the convenience of shops and entertainment venues? Or, would you be more content in a rural area, farther away from local amenities? If you decide you want to be close to much activity, are you willing to fight the traffic such busy-ness brings? If you choose the quieter route, are you prepared to drive farther for shopping and local services? Again, a good location to one family may be bad to another.

• Schools: Do you have school-age children in public school? Then, to you, the quality of the schools in the area is important. How are the schools rated with the state? Are the schools well kept? If the schools in your chosen location are not adequate, are there good private schools within your price range nearby? How will your children get to school? Check out our school page on the navigation buttons to the left to learn more about the schools in our area.

• Neighborhood: What type of neighborhood do you want? Do you prefer new construction, or a more established neighborhood with mature trees? If you have children, you would likely want a more family-oriented neighborhood so you kids can play outside. Would you rather live close to the main thoroughfares, or are you bothered by noisy traffic? There are so many decisions to make!

• Resell: Is the location of the home good for more than just you? Is it conveniently located to major companies and other places of employment? If there are some negative issues with the current location, and you get a discounted price, you will likely end up having to pass those savings along to the buyers of the home when you eventually sell.

Home Quality

Now that you’ve decided on the general location of your new home, it’s time to go on a some tours of available homes in that area. Make your time in the homes count by bringing with you a notepad, pen and tape measurer. If you are viewing the home, chances are you already have a sales sheet with a floorplan and general information about the house. Even though you’ll want to get a professional inspection on any home before buying it, there are things you can check for now in deciding if the home is right for you:

Exterior

• Is the exterior finish of the home in good shape?
• Is there any rotted siding or fencing?
• Are the roof and gutters in good condition?
• Does the air conditioner seem to be in working condition upon first glance?
• Is the lot attractive for your purposes?

Interior

• Are the appliances up-to-date?
• Is the flooring adequate for your needs?
• Are there obvious cracks and fault lines in the ceilings?
• Does the interior need painting?
• Does the home seem well kept?

Looking for a home is exciting, just make sure you don’t get overwhelmed by all the choices out there. If you want to find a home, give me a call, I can help! 

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The 4th of July is said to be the Birthday of the United States. It is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 which declares our independence from Great Britain. This special day is often filled with fireworks, parades, bar-b-cues, fairs and picnics, not to mention concerts, baseball games and political ceremonies.

4th of July Ideas

• Decorate a Flag Cake
• 4th of July Parade Wear for the Kids
• Fourth of July (government site)

Patriotic Hymn

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Line up begins at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Eaton and Timber Creek Road. Decorated bikes, trikes, wagons, and strollers will parade a short route to the LISD School Administration Building where free hotdogs, drinks, children’s activities, and live entertainment await. The Children’s Parade and is sponsored by Kroger’s.

Independence Day Splashtacular
Sunday, July 4 / 2 to 5 p.m.
Community Activity Center Outdoor – 1200 Gerault Road

Join the CAC staff to celebrate Independence Day at the outdoor waterpark. Games will be played randomly throughout the day, and organized events will be scheduled at the following times:

2 p.m. Penny Dive

3 p.m. Red, White, and Blue Water Balloon Toss

4 p.m. Flag Relay

5 p.m. Independence Day Sidewalk Chalk Drawing Contest

Fireworks Show
Sunday, July 4
7 p.m.
Bakersfield Park
1201 Duncan Lane
Fireworks begin at 9:25 p.m.

The annual fireworks show has a new home at Bakersfield Park. Gates open at 7 p.m. with concessions and children’s activities including a bounce house, giant slide, obstacle course, rock wall, and face painting. The Walton Stout Band will play from 8 – 9:30 p.m. and the fireworks show is scheduled to begin at 9:25 p.m. No glass, alcohol, or tobacco products may be brought to the park. The free fireworks show and parking at Bakersfield Park are sponsored by the North Texas Tollway Authority. The rainout date for the event is Monday, July 5. Please call 972.874.7275 for more information on the Town of Flower Mound Independence Celebrations.

Perfect strangers peaking into every cranny of your home. Sounds blissful… NOT! As unpleasant as showing your home may be, it’s a necessary part of the selling process. If you’re serious about selling your home, better hunker down and get ready for the showings.

-Make sure your home, inside and out is beyond reproach.  Clear away debris, clean your house from top to bottom. Nothing is more important than curb appeal and first impressions.

- Declutter your decor. You want the potential buyers to think of your home as theirs, not yours. Often personal momentos and cloud the view. You don’t want someone to not choose to buy your home because of Aunt Sylvia’s photo.

-Gather materials about your home for viewing. Locate owners manuals for appliances and floorplans or drawings from your home’s purchase and place them in a convenient location for those viewing your home.

-Bake cookies or another good smelling food in the oven to give your home an inviting aroma. Cinnamon sticks placed in boiling water offers a faster way to get that homey-smell.

-Try not to be home. It is best for you to be gone when your home is being shown. Potential buyers may not feel as comfortable with you there.

-If you must be home, refrain from giving the “guided tour.” Retreating to another room after a polite hello is the best way to give the home shoppers their privacy.

-Play soft music in the background. Some sources recommend playing soft music in the background while others say “silence is golden.” You and your Realtor can be the judge.

-Open your windows wide. Let the sun shine through the windows giving the appearance of openness and friendliness. Light pouring into a room will enlarge the space and brighten the home overall.

-Remove pets from home. If possible, remove your pets from the home while it’s being shown. Pets are a nuisance to potential buyers as they are determining if they feel at home in your house. If you can’t remove them, cart them. At the least, keep them outside.

This blog post was created by http://www.dotjenna.com/

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