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Randy Elgin
10999 IH10W; Ste 175
San Antonio, TX 78230
(210) 232-2310
Are You a First-Time Buyer? Get My Free Guide
Buying your first home is a big step and one that is likely to impact your financial future for years to come.
Make the process easier for yourself by asking for my free guide, "How First-Timers Can Make a Wise Buy."
Just reply to this email and I'll send it right out to you.
Quick Quiz
Each month Ill give you a new question.
Just reply to this email for the answer.
In Anne of Green Gables, Green Gables is in what town?
Recipe: Curried Rice Salad
Serves 4
5 cups cooked rice, room temperature
1 cooked chicken breast half, shredded
1/3 cup ham, cubed
1/3 cup Craisins (sweetened, dried cranberries)
2/3 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup tomato, seeded and chopped
Sauce
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 tablespoon curry powder
Combine rice, chicken, ham, Craisins, celery and tomato in a large bowl. Separately, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, salt, pepper and curry until you have a thin sauce.
Gradually add the sauce to the rice mixture and fold in gently. If salad dries out, add a tablespoon of milk at a time and stir in until moist.
Ask the Agent
I want to sell my home, but with three children it's hard to keep the place looking tidy. Any tips?
It's important to get your storage in order. Invest in taller shelving units, which will take up less floor space, while providing space for books or storage containers.
Line the top of your child's bedroom walls with shelves, and place items up high that you would rather your child not have access to. Pegs are another fantastic way to use wall space, and young children will enjoy hanging up things on the pegs.
Closet organizers should reach all the way from floor to ceiling. Place rarely used items on higher shelves, and keep frequently used items within your child's reach.
Do not overlook the available space on the back of your child's bedroom or closet door. Shoe organizers with clear plastic pockets make wonderful storage containers for small stuffed animals and cars, art supplies, and dolls.
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Remodel or Buy? Which Is Right for You? The decision of whether to remodel an existing home or buy another one has become more difficult because of the price of real estate declining across much of the nation.
A few years ago, the benefits of remodeling were quite simple due to the cost savings. Today it isn't as straightforward.
The following are some things to think about when deciding whether to remodel or purchase a new property:
Lifestyle: Does your home continue to reflect your lifestyle? Experts agree the home should reflect anticipated lifestyle changes for the next five to seven years. If not, it might be a good idea to consider purchasing a new property.
Maintenance: Does your home require more maintenance and upkeep than desired, especially compared to newer homes? New homes offer the ability to "right size" the levels of yard work, repairs and other needs associated with home ownership.
Cost and Value: There are many factors that can weigh into the cost and value of a given property, including tax credits/write-offs, long-term appreciation, current level of depreciation, access to amenities, property taxes and insurance, utilities, maintenance, and much more. If you are not sure how to properly evaluate the true cost and value of your current property compared to a prospective property, ask your agent to provide estimates of principal, interest, taxes and insurance for comparable properties in the same neighborhood.
Community: Access and affiliation with friends, family and the local community are important when deciding whether or not to remodel or buy new, yet they are easily overlooked by many homeowners. Depending upon the age of the neighborhood, it may be difficult or even impossible to find other properties in the immediate area. On the other hand, over time many communities experience a decline in desirability as crime rates, traffic and other problems start to creep in.
How to Find Travel Deals for the Holidays
 Whether you are searching for the best price on flights, the most reliable carrier or simply want the best seat in the house, there are plenty of websites worth checking out.
Big Three Travel Sites
For one-stop holiday travel shopping, go to Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity where you can book a flight, reserve a hotel room and even rent a car.
Awesome Aggregators
To search for the best rates on flights, try out Mobissimo, Sidestep, Quixo or Bookingbuddy.
Discount Daredevils
If your travel plans are flexible, you may be able to snag flights that compete with cargo prices by going to Hotwire, Bidding For Travel or www.priceline.com. Sites like One Travel, Travel Zoo and Lastminute.com also specialize in last-minute bookings.
Fare Forecasting
If youre worried about paying too much, go to newly created Bing Travel. The site allows comparative price searches, fare forecasting and the ability to search multiple sites all at once.
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4 Tips to 'Plan Your Way to Success'
 Setting aside time to plan the week ahead can help relieve any stress you might be feeling as a result of unfinished business.
It also allows an emotional release once the week is done and helps increase productivity.
The following suggestions will help you come up with a good plan and learn how to stick with it:
Prioritize by Importance: Planning provides a systematic method to increase productivity without sacrificing quality by establishing a hierarchy of needs. Make a list of "must do" versus "can do if time allows" items.
Time Management: Experts agree the first step in time management is the ability to properly prioritize one's time. Beside each item you listed above, indicate how long you expect the activity to take. Build in a little buffer by adding 10% more time to each activity to accommodate emergencies or unanticipated events.
Stay on Track: Planning allows everyone to see the "big picture" while simultaneously outlining the details required to accomplish each task. Planning also keeps the lines of communication open and assures all stakeholders understand the proper process required to complete a job.
Reward: Not only does good planning help increase productivity, but it also reduces stress, helps you relax and it increases personal satisfaction by giving you a sense of accomplishment. Lower blood pressure, less anxiety and greater focus keep your mental faculties and emotional well-being running like a well-oiled machine so you are able to accomplish more in less time. Take time to reward yourself and others for meeting goals and objectives each week.
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Wondering How Much Your Home is Worth?
How has the price of your home changed in today's market? How much are other homes in your neighborhood selling for?
If you're wondering what's happening to prices in your area, or you're thinking about selling your house, I'll be able to help.
Just give my office a call for a no-fuss, professional evaluation.
I won't try to push you into listing with me or waste your time.
I'll just give you the honest facts about your home and its value.
And maybe I'll also give you the "inside scoop" on what's happening in the housing market near where you live!
Just give my office a call or reply to this email to arrange an appointment. Alternatively, stop by at the office.
A Guide to Deciphering the Lingo of Real Estate
Whether you are buying or selling, the language of real estate is often complex and confusing. Following is a plain-language explanation of commonly encountered real-estate-related lingo.
Title: Title to a property essentially denotes ownership interest and is designated by the name(s) on specific legal documents such as mortgages and deeds. The title can be held by an individual, couple or even a corporation.
Deed: A deed is used to transfer ownership of property from one person or entity to another person or entity.
Deed of Trust: A deed of trust is a document that transfers title in a property, with the stipulation that the transfer is contingent upon repayment of an existing loan.
Mortgage: A mortgage is a loan you take out to buy property.
Clear Title: Clear title indicates that the property is free of liens or legal questions surrounding ownership.
Chain of Title: The record of historical ownership of a property. The title company or real estate attorney typically reviews the record in order to determine clear title.
Clouded Title: Any property that has an existing question regarding ownership, chain of title or even liens may have a "clouded" rather than "clear" title, which may adversely impact the ability to obtain financing or properly record the title. Most clouded title issues require a release, court action or other legal intervention to remediate.
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