Stacey-Ann's Blog

I am planning a charity golf tournament and I am truly struggling to get people to play, donate, or sponsor.

This is a charity that is near and dear to my heart as it honors my best friend who passed away on September 11, 2001 in the Pentagon.

Read more about the charity:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1177521/angie-houtz-memorial-fund-a-local-charity

I am asking for your help to make this event a success.  If you live near by please consider playing.  We had tons of fun last year.  Also, if you have a business that could benefit from the sponsorship, please consider getting involved.  Alternatively, we also accept tax-deductible donations.

Angie M. Houtz Memorial Golf Tournament

Friday, September 18, 2009

Oak Creek Golf Club

Upper Marlboro, MD

Tee off at 1:00pm

$125/golfer, $480/foursome includes food & drinks

Sponsorship opportunities begin at $100

To register for the tournament:

www.golfdigestplanner.com/12017-angie

For more information on the Angie Houtz Memorial Fund give me a call or visit the website:  www.angiehoutzfund.com

Please pass this on to anyone that you think can help and feel free to reblog this!!!!!!

Part 1:  Contact a Mortgage Broker   

Part 2

Determine a Budget

 A mortgage broker can determine how much home you can qualify to purchase.  However, each individual has to determine how much home they can personally afford.

To develop a budget, pay attention to all fixed expenses that you might have - car payments, student loan payments, etc.

Next consider all other expenses that you might incur when owning a home - utilities, home owner association dues, property taxes, home maintenance, mortgage, etc.

Don't forget to budget money for food, fun, and saving.

 It's important to be comfortable with the amount of the home you purchase.  There's nothing worse than having a huge home that you can't afford to furnish or keep up.  

Don't be afraid to let your mortgage broker and real estate agent know what price range you are comfortable with.

I have a buyer now who qualifies for a home up to $250,000.  However, he would like to keep his payments at a certain level so we are instead looking in the $175,000 range.

Once you know how much home you can afford you are ready to begin the fun part of looking for a home.

 Step 3:  Determine What Features You Want In a Home

Step 4:  The Home Looking Process

Step 5:  The Offer

Step 6:  Home Inspection and Other Contingencies

Step 7:  The Closing 

If you are ready to begin the home-buying process give me a call!

Contact a Mortgage Broker. 

It is important that this be the first step because a good mortgage broker will go over your employment and income history and your credit to help determine what price range you qualify for.  It is important to be truthful with your mortgage broker and provide all the information they need in a timely manner to speed the process along.

Many people wonder why they can't start looking for a house and THEN call the mortgage broker.  There are a few reasons:

1. Your mortgage broker helps determine the price range and payment that you are comfortable paying and you can reasonably qualify for.  There is no point starting the home search process until you know that information.  Wouldn't it be terrible to search and fall in love with a $300,000 home only to learn that you can't afford more than $225,000?
2. Your mortgage broker can also give you information about things you can do to make your credit more attractive to the bank.
3. Your mortgage broker can determine whether you can purchase a home in the current credit climate.
4. They may also have information about special programs that you can qualify for.
5. If you have a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter from a reputable lender it makes for a stronger offer when you find the house you want to buy.

It is important that you are comfortable with the mortgage broker that you choose.  This person needs to be someone who is responsive and patient with your questions and who keeps in touch with you throughout the process.  Ask friends and family or your trusted real estate agent for referrals.  

The home buying process can be very stressful and it is critical that you surround yourself with professionals who can help make this process as easy as possible. 

It's ok to change mortgage brokers if you are not satisfied with your current broker.

If you are ready to begin the home buying process give me a call.  I will be happy to provide referrals for good mortgage brokers in your area.

Part 2:  Determine a Budget

Part 3:  Decide What Features You Want in Your Home

Part 4:  The Home Looking Process

Part 5:  The Offer

Part 6:  Home Inspection and Other Contingencies

Part 7:  The Closing

If you are interested in offering a FREE home buying seminar for your local group, give me a call, 240-481-3565.

We all know illnesses tend to strike at the most inopportune moments.  These are the times when Night-time Pediatrics comes in really handy.  They are open 11am to midnight and take walk in visits or appointments.  Most Night-time locations are equipped to handle most urgent care situations.  I have taken my daughter to the Annapolis location and I was impressed with the care with which she was treated. The doctor showed genuine concern for her well-being and helped put us both at ease.  When the visit was over we were able to get the prescription filled on site.  

Services include:

• Stiches
• On-site labs
• Prescription
• X-rays

The staff at Night-time are trained to handle most common complaints including coughs, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, bites, cuts, bruises, sprains, breaks, and much more.

We have also used the Night-time Pediatrics location in Crofton known as Primetime Care.  There too we experienced knowledgeable and warm health care professionals.  I actually wish that one of the nurse practicioners at this location could be my primary care physician.  

Night-time Pediatrics accept many insurance plans, a list of accepted plans is included on the website.  

There are several convenient locations throughout the area:

• Annapolis
• Columbia
• Crofton
• Gambrills
• Pasadena
• Rockville
• Gaithersburg

There are many Jamaican or Caribbean restaurants in Maryland and DC.  The Tropicana Restaurant on Georgia Avenue is one of my favorites.

Located on the line between DC and Silver Spring, Tropicana serves all the usual favorites including jerk, curry, and ox-tail.

My personal favorite is curried shrimp with rice and peas.  My husband's preferences are either curried goat or ox-tail with rice & peas.

In the mood for a quick lunch?  Stop by for an authentic beef patty with a coco bread.

Tropicana features authentic Jamaican cuisine and gives visitors and Jamaicans alike a chance to sample the fabulous cuisine of this island.

Looking for good, fresh chinese food in the Largo area?  Head straight to Golden Bowl Restaurant in Largo Town Center.

Golden Bowl is a local favorite that has a steady stream of loyal customers.  Serving an extensive lunch buffet and featuring traditional favorites as General Tso's Chicken, Hunan, & Szechuan.

Golden Bowl Restaurant is located next to the Shoppers Food Warehouse in Largo Town Center.  

Golden Bowl features incredibly good food at reasonable prices.  Stop by there for lunch or dinner today.

832 Largo Center Dr
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774-3705
(301) 499-2888

Today is my 11th anniversary.  I am always amazed at how time has flown since we first got married.

This year we have the pleasure of spending our anniversary in Jamaica (where we got married) with my family.  Its such a rarity to get the entire family together these days that it's a joy to share my anniversary with my family.

My husband and I have been together for 18 years so he is as much a part of my family as I am.  I am truly blessed to have spent the greater part of my life with him and I look forward to all the wonderful years still to come.

My husband and I were on our way to Mt Vernon in Virginia when we drove by the Cedar Knoll Inn Restaurant.  We actually turned the car around to eat there.

The inn was built in the late 1800s and is located between Old Town Alexandria and George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate.  The Inn sits across the street from the Potomac river.  

The restaurant boasts tasty food at reasonable prices.

Dining is available inside the dining room or outside on the terrace.  The views of the Potomac River from the dining areas are breath-taking.

The picture below was taken from our table as we dined on the terrace.  The Cedar Knoll Inn was the perfect place for a leisurely lunch on a beautiful Summer afternoon.

http://www.cedarknollinnrestaurant.com/

Yesterday I left for vacation to Jamaica.

I arrived at the airline ticket counter in DC 2.5 hours before my flight.  It was a mass of people all looking extremely confused.  Apparently the process is to join one line to use the E-ticket kiosk , the join another line to check the bags, and then wheel your bags to security.  Seems silly to me to have three lines to do what can be achieved by one line at other airlines.

After trying to check in the kiosk tells me it can't help me because an equipment change.  Huh?

I ask the "helpful" agent roaming around who barks that I need to stand in a different long line.  There are many, many people in this line - anyone travelling with infant, purchase tickets, paper tickets, or problems need to be in this line.  There are only 2 agents working this line and suddenly one of them just walks away and disappears for half an hour.  Time is ticking away and I am now actually beginning to get nervous that I might miss my flight.

Finally a good samaritan goes to the supervisor and lets her know that there are several people in the line that have an impending departure.  They pull us out of the line which makes the people at the front of the line mad.  I finally checked in and ran through security and straight on the plane without barely a minute to spare.

What really bothered me was the attitude of all the employees.  People walked away while you were trying to speak to them.

The lady in front of me was an elderly lady who had requested a wheel chair.  She asked repeatedly and was never given a wheel chair nor any assistance with her bags.

It seems that many of the airlines could learn something from Southwest and Jet Blue.  The so called "budget airline" treat people as customers and not cattle.

If I treated my clients the way I was treated yesterday I would starve to death!

Is it any wonder that this industry is struggling.  They've lost their focus on the customer and now only focus on the dollar.  Someone needs to remind them that the customer brings the dollar and that if i'm not happy I won't fly with them again.