Mortage Protection Program

California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) launched a program to help first time home buyers pay their mortgage. If you the first time home buyers lose your job due to a layoff, then you maybe eligible to receive $1500 per month for six months to pay the mortgage. This program  takes away some of the anxiety of buying a home, and gives you a measurable peace of mind to know that your mortgage is covered for a while should you be laid off from your job.

The program comes with restrictions of course, and not all will be eligible. To be elligible for the Mortgage Protection Program, applicants must:

^{. Be a first-time home buyer.
. Open escrow April 2, 2009, or later, and close on or before Dec. 31, 2009
. Use a California REALTOR® in the transaction
. Purchase the property in California
. Be a W-2 employee (cannot be self-employed)
To apply for the program, home buyers must request an application for the H.A.F. Mortgage Protection Program from their REALTOR®.}

Updated 60s songs for baby boomers!!!

5 Things to Know About Title Insurance

Title insurance protects the holder from any losses sustained from defects in the title. It’s required by most mortgage lenders. Here are five other things you should know about title insurance.

1. It protects your ownership right to your home, both from fraudulent claims against your ownership and from mistakes made in earlier sales, such as mistake in the spelling of a person’s name or an inaccurate description of the property.

2. It’s a one-time cost usually based on the price of the property.

3. It’s usually paid for by the sellers, although this can vary depending on your state and local customs.

4. There are both lender title policies, which protect the lender, and owner title policies, which protect you. The lender will probably require a lender policy.

5. Discounts on premiums are sometimes available if the home has been bought within only a few years since not as much work is required to check the title. Ask the title company if this discount is available.

Symptoms of a Stroke

This is serious…be sure to scroll to the bottom….there is one more sign to look for.        
           
           
TIME  TO BE SERIOUS FOR A MOMENT.  THIS MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE, PERHAPS SOMEONE YOU CARE  ABOUT.       
       
 
STROKE:  Remember The  1st Three Letters.... S.T.R.           


If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks. Seriously.

Please read:           

STROKE  IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone  that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) .....she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.           
They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.
Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away..) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...
          
          
A  neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours  he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then  getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is  tough.
          
          
RECOGNIZING A STROKE
          
Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR . Read and Learn!           
          
          
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.   Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
          
           
          S           * Ask  the individual to SMILE.           
          
           
          T           * Ask  the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE Coherently, i.e. It is sunny out today
          
           
          R           * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
          
           
           
If  he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to he dispatcher.
          
           
New  Sign of a Stroke --- Stick out Your Tongue
          
           
Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue, if the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke. 
          
           
A  cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.
          

Earthquake Survival Technique

LIVING GREEN

Green is frequently found in the Scriptures, but seldom refers strictly to color. Rather, it brings to mind the freshness and vigor of growing vegetation, or it denotes a healthy and prosperous condition of things. (Ge 1:30; 9:3; Ex 10:15; 2Ki 19:26; Re 8:7)

Our planet earth is the fifth-largest planet of the solar system and the third in order of position from the sun just the right location for us to live.  But the demands for natural resources are increasing as the world population grows and Scientists estimate that if we consume the earth’s natural resources at the present alarming rate, we will be heading for ecological bankruptcy.

The solution then, according to scientists, is to go green.  Formulate a plan of action to live “green”. Reduce global warming by complying with the 4 R’s, reduce, reuse, recycle and reclaim. So here are a few simple ideas:

·        Landscape your yard with plants that are drought resistant thereby reducing the amount of water usage.

·        Unplug electrical gadgets not often used; turn off lights when leaving the room these things will reduce your electrical bill.

·        Go paperless, bank statements, bills, etc. and opt for e-statements.

·        Shop for recycled and biodegradable products.

·        Fix water pipes, and leaky faucets,  and reclaim water that would be wasted.

·        Use local transportation, cycle or carpool at least twice a week.  It will cut down on you fuel bill, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions .

·        Recycle plastic bags by returning them to the grocery store, and recycle aluminum cans.

·        Skip pre-packaged food for school lunches and make your own to cut down on wasteful packaging. Use containers instead of plastic baggies.

·        Donate clothes and toys to charities; ‘give big’, ‘pay it forward’.

·        Reuse rainwater to wet your lawn and garden.

The earth was created to remain forever by God, our Creator, so let’s embrace the four corners of the earth and keep it clean, well, at least our coner of the terra firma. What kind of world do you think this will be in 10, 20, or 30 years?  I’ll like to hear from you.

FORECLOSURES

A foreclosing is a legal procedure that bars a mortgagor’s (owner) from keeping his or her property when payments are delinquent. (A borrowers failure to make mortgage payments when they are due). It allows the bank or a lender to recover the amount owed on a defaulted loan by taking ownership of the property; or by selling the property.  Sub prime borrowers have adjustable-rate mortgages and   when these loans reset, homeowners have a choice of higher payments, or refinancing.  Many of these loans are facing reset in 2008 hence the rise in Notices of default (NODs) and foreclosures. 

With so many foreclosures and short sales on the market today some agents are giving foreclosure tours by bus.  It’s a chance for buyers to see what is out there in any given neighborhood.  Thousands of people have been shut out of the housing market in recent years however, bank owned homes seem to be the only way to buy a home.  But, there is a term in real estate “Caveat Emptor” which means ‘Let the buyer beware’.  These bank-owned homes are sold "as is”, and often times

So if you're thinking now is the time I should buy a bank-owned property, here are some things to consider:

1) Many banks list foreclosed homes on their Web sites. Most of those homes will also be listed with a real estate agent.

2) Get preapproved by a qualified lender. Many banks won't even consider your offer unless you have got a lender's OK.

3) Consider hiring a real estate agent to negotiate the deal rather than dealing directly with a bank yourself. Find an agent with experience in bank-owned properties.

4) If the listing is relatively new, the bank may not knock much off the asking price. You'll have greater bargaining room with listings that have been sitting longer.

5) Don't expect to lowball the price and get the house. Most bank-owned houses sell within 10 percent to 20 percent of the listing price.

6) Be patient. It may take longer than a traditional home sale to get a response to your offer. And banks don't respond during the weekend.

7) Know what you're buying: Most bank-owned homes are sold "as is." Usually, the bank will not pay for repairs, upgrades or home inspections. Look carefully for damages or lack of home maintenance.

8) The bank calls the shots. The sales contract may omit customary real estate terms or include others you are not familiar with. Once the bank accepts your offer, it's usually final.

Source: Bee research

Buyer needs is to be approved by a reliable lender, and just as some real estate agents will not take you out to look at homes unless you have been approved for a loan, banks will not consider you as a possible canidate unless you have loan approval.

Also, Check comparable prices in the the neighborhood  of your choice just to make sure that you are not paying more that you should.  Bank-owned homes usually sell within the listing price.

Please make sure you have enough funds on hand to cover repairs,closing costs, inspections and things miscellanous because in most cases these homes are distressed. Carpets are soiled, flooring and windows are damaged, electrical fixtures and appliances are often missing and a host of other problems that need to be fixed at your expense.

Banks do not accept offers contingent on you selling another house.

 Above all, be patient and be prepared to hit the ground running once the bank accepts your offer.  Try not to delay the process because banks will charge a daily fee for extending escrow beyond the orginal set date.

Coffee, Carrots or Eggs

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A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.  A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.  Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.  The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?' Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground co ffee b eans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. 'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial Phardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and chan ge the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. You might want to send this message to those people who mean something to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to tho s e who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.  If you don't send it, you will just miss out on the opportunity to brighten someone's day with this message!                                                       May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!!     Publisher unknown

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Pumping Gas

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS...

I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... But here in
California we are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gallon. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon.

Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline.
One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and
premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the
ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations
have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline ex pands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.

A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a
fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3)
stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping.
All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.
One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and
the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.

DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!

WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON

Gas rationing in the 80's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor.

An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS.

Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia. Just buy from gas companies that don't import their oil from the Saudis.

Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family, and my friends.

I thought it might be interesting for you to know which oil companies are the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern oil.

These companies import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell.......................... 205,742,000 barrels

Chevron/Texaco......... 144,332,000 barrels
< BR>Exxon /Mobil............... 130,082,000 barrels

Marathon/Speedway... 117,740,000 barrels

Amoco...........................62,231,000 barrels

Citgo gas is from South America, from a Dictator who hates Americans. If
you do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18 BILLION!
(Oil is now $90 - $100 a barrel)

Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco..................0 barrels

Conoco..................0 barrels

Sinclair................0 barrels

B P/Phillips............0 barrels

Hess.......................0 barrels

ARC0....................0 barrels

If you go to Sunoco.com < http://sunoco.com/ > , you will get a list of the station locations near you.

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.

But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of gas Buyers. It's really simple to do.

Now, don't wimp out at this point.... Keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people!!

I'm sending this note to about thirty people. If each of you send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300)...and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000) .. and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers !!!!!!! If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been
contacted!

If it goes one level further, you guessed it ..... THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!!

Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people. How long would all that take?

Are we in a Recession?

 RECESSION, depression, inflation, and the current plethora of problems no political party wants but here we are.  Some say we are in a recession some say we are not.

 

The fact is that Washington is very worried about the economy.  In 1970 the United States suffered from a recession, and it proved to be very difficult for many.  Among the various things done to try to get out of that recession was the lowering of interest rates, which stimulated big business, as it made money cheaper to borrow. Those who wanted to buy cars, build homes, or expand businesses bowered and used money when interest rates were lower.

 

Today we are in a mountain of debt and it is getting more and more difficult to come out from under this mountain of debt that we’ve accumulated.    Mortgage loans cannot be paid back; so foreclosures short sales and auctions follow.  Without credit, people can’t buy houses, cars or even household appliances. Business and industries suffer. Investors pull their money out of the stock market and therein lay the plethora of problems.

 

A Stimulus package

Washington has come up with a solution they hope will boost the economy.  It’s called the stimulus package.  Under this bill Americans would receive refunds of $600-$1200 in the hopes of encouraging consumer spending.  My question is what do you plan to do with your check?

Your House

According to the World Health Organization, a house should have at least the following items:

▪ A good roof to keep out the rain

▪ Good walls and doors to protect against bad weather and to keep out animals

▪ Screens of wire netting at the windows and doors to keep out insects, especially mosquitoes

▪ Sunshades all around to protect the walls from direct sunlight in hot weather

Building materials, construction methods and techniques vary according to the economic circumstances of the builder.  So before you build, buy or sell consider the aforementioned things.  Points 3 and 4 are often overlooked.

The Roof

Choose your roofing materials carefully.   Base your decision on performance, beauty and building code.  Slate or ceramic tile, shingles, cement tiles, sheet metal, cooper roofing are all readily available and purchase is determined by how much you can afford.

Walls and Doors

Fortification has the basic sense of a place that is impenetrable, or inaccessible.  You want your doors and walls to be strong and impenetrable, so examine the walls and doors of your future home carefully.  Know the materials used to build the walls, are the walls hollow or sound, which wall is load bearing.  Doors are constructed to provide privacy and security and deadbolts are use to ensure security so make sure your exterior doors do have deadbolts.

Screens

The primary purpose is to keep out unwanted elements such as bugs, birds, animals, and flying objects whipped up by the wind.  So use screens over windows, and exterior doors and keep the screens in good repair.

Sunshades

Sunshades are now part of the building design so if you are building a home incorporate sunshades into the design, from planting trees to tinting windows.

These are just a few things to keep in mind along with this  Arab proverb: "Three things make a house uninhabitable: tak (leakage of rain), nak (a woman’s nagging), and bak (bugs)."

What a Woman Wants

 

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.   
The question?....What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.
 
He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer.
 
Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer.
 
But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.
 

The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first.
 

The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend!   

Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.
 

He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur.
 

He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table.
 

Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus:
 

What a woman really wants, she answered....is to be in charge of her own life.
 

Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared.
 

And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.
 

The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened
 

The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half.

Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day....or night?
 

Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments?
 
What would YOU do?
 

What Lancelot chose is below. BUT, make YOUR choice before you scroll down below. OKAY?


 
Noble Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.
 
Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge
of her own life.   

Now.... what is the moral to this story?
 

Scroll down





The moral is...
 

If you don't let a woman have her own way....

Things are going to get ugly

 

 

 

 

 

Hotel Key Cards

This information came to me and I am passing it on to you.

"Ever wonder what is on your magnetic HOTEL key card? Answer:

 a. Customer's name

 b. Customer's partial home address

 c. Hotel room number

 d. Check-in date and out dates

 e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date"!



 "When you turn them in to the front desk your personal
 information is there for any employee to access by simply
scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take
a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device,
access the information onto a laptop computer and go
shopping at your expense".

 "Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these
 cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel
guest. At that time, the new guest's information is
electronically "overwritten" on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process". 

 "Until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with  YOUR INFORMATION ON IT"!

 The bottom line is:

 "Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them in to the front desk when you check out of a room".

"They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader. For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip"!

 "Information courtesy of: Pasadena Police Department".

 "I personally have a small magnet and pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card".

I hope this information was helpful.

Math, Dinner and Age

How do they all related you asked, well, read all about it and do the math! 

I did it and it worked for me.  Its a fun thing to do and if you play it on someone and you don't want to reveal how you know what you know, then don't. 

Mathematically it will work every year, you need to change the parameter in step 5 every time.
For instance for next year (2008) yo will do the follwoing steps:

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to
go out to eat.
(more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5
4. Multiply it by 50

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1758.
If you haven't, add 1757.
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.


You should have a three digit number


The first digit of this was your original number
(I.e., how! Many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)

The next two numbers are

YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

I cannot take credit for this it was sent to me by some friends and I wanted to share it with you, the viewing public.  Not real estate related just, cool stuff!!  

PLEASE READ AND RE-READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY, THEN DO THE MATH.

Write It Down

When Jeremiah (a prophet of old) bought property from a relative, he made a written record of the transaction before witnesses.  So today, having a clear, well-prepared written agreement helps to prevent misunderstandings.  On the other hand, failure to have a written agreement is often a contributing factor when business problems arise between parties.  Such problems can result in heartache and bitterness, which adds up to stress.  We can certainly do without the added stress!  Crossing our I’s and dotting our T’s  (a figure of speech) can protect us from all sorts of negative things that can, and will come back to haunt us.

When entering into a business partnership or buying a piece of property or lending money to someone, have the terms written down and even notarized. Why you may ask. One reason is that both parties have made a commitment, and it is to the advantage of both to have the terms in writing. That way if one party dies, disappears, or simply loses his memory, the terms are still legally binding.

So as a reminder, when signing legal documents or drawing up a business plan have it notarized.