Homeownership is getting a bad rap

from some in the media. Since the late

2000s, news stories report that the

American Dream is dead. Writers like

Ronald Brownstein at TheAtlantic.comand Diana Olick at CNBC.com seem to

find any statistic that is skeptical of

homeownership. Hollywood movies are

still being made about the financial crisis.

As a result, homebuyers are getting

misinformation.

The American Dream is not pie in the

sky thinking, it is a reality. It is the ethos,

or spirit, of the United States. The U.S.

is where opportunity continues to

welcome new immigrants and investors

on a daily basis. The Big Short, InsideJob, and Margin Call are good films,

but they’re about the last decade.

Since then, all kinds of consumer

protection has taken place. Some

economists are on this bandwagon,

claiming it’s overrated when compared

to stocks that pay dividends. Let’s put

this debate in perspective.

We have to live somewhere, and while

homes don’t pay dividends, they do

some things so much better such as

providing these benefits...

� mortgage interest and property taxes, which may be deductible from your state and federal taxes,

� home swapping for travelers,

� protection from worries about rising rents,

� a serene location and neighborhood stability,

� monthly mortgage payments, which essentially become a forced savingsaccount,

� freedom to create the home you want,

� home appreciation–for savvy investors, this can go a step further, giving you an opportunity to create leverage,

� and let’s not forget a $250,000 capital gains tax exemption if you should sell your home and appre-ciation has taken place. Let’s see them make this offer on Wall Street!

There are so many successful first-

time buyer loan programs and incredible

success stories of millennials who are

now leaving home after years of savings.

These are not a group of rich kids; they

come from all spectrums of society.

They may have read about, studied, or

even worked on Wall Street, but they are

moving to Main Street, USA.

If you’re reasonably settled and

working in a stable career, buying a

home is an excellent financial decision.

I'd love to help. Please give me a

call today.

Apri l Issue 2016

NO on Wall Street–YES on Main Street

Best Sitesseat61.com

Overseas? Using trains?For help with train and ferry travel,

ask the man in seat 61.

Rome2Rio.comDiscover how to get anywhere by

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globalscavengerhunt.comThis annual world travel competitiontakes 30 travelers around the world

in 23 days.

bordersofadventure.comA British award-winning travel

writer enlightens travel in misunderstood places.

coachella.comThe Coachella Valley Music and ArtsFestival takes place on two weekends

in 2016 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif.:

� weekend #1 is Friday, April 15-17,and

� weekend #2 is Friday, April 22-24.

A R T A N D A R C H I T E C T U R E

This newsletter is published for home owners and real estate investors. Please refer to my phone number for my specific opinion on various topics and loan programs. This information is provided for general use only and should not be relied upon in making an investment, tax or legal decision.

Bond Marketing ® 4/2016

� More than 18,300 people applied toNASA to become astronauts this year—smashing the previous record of 8,000applications in 1978. With just 14 spots,they have less than a 0.08 percentchance of getting picked for the 2017class. The boom in applications wascaused at least in part by NASA’s newsocial media promotions, including itscampaign around the 2015 movie TheMartian. The Verge.com� For the 25th consecutive year theLabrador Retriever is the most popular dog in America. 2015 AKC� People who use Airbnb increasinglydon’t want to go back to hotels—a troubling sign for the hospitality industry. A new survey by Goldman Sachs foundthat 79 percent of consumers who havenever used Airbnb or other “peer-to-peerlodging” sites still prefer hotels forovernight stays, but among people who had used them, that figure dropped to 40 percent. Fortune.com� Legal fees have ascended to newheights. Some of the nation’s top corporate law firms now charge up to$1,500 per hour for top partners. Hourlyrates have risen by 3 to 4 percent a year since the economic downturn. Wall Street Journal� Women in corporate leadership positions lead to increased profits, according to a massive study of nearly22,000 public companies in 91 countries.An increase in the share of female managers from zero to 30 percent wasassociated with a 15 percent increase inprofitability. The New York Times� According to real-estate website Zillow,May is the best month to put a home on the market in 18 out of 25 of the biggestmetro areas. Homes listed in the first half of May sold 18.5 days faster and for 0.9%more money. Wall Street Journal

Noted

Mortgages for First Time BuyersBrittany and her boyfriend Tyler just bought a home. Both 28, they areamong the many millennials making the transition from the family home to a home of their own. Brittany is in food service, and Tyler is a personalassistant for a local executive. They were on a savings mission for a fewyears, and it finally paid off.

DOWN PAYMENT THOUGHTS FOR A FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER:

Some lenders require 20 percent of the home’s purchase price as a downpayment. However, many lenders now offer loans that require less than 20 percent down–sometimes as little as 5 percent on conventional loans. If a 20 percent down payment is not made, lenders usually require the homebuyer to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) to protect the lender incase the home buyer fails to pay. When government-assisted programs such as FHA (Federal Housing Administration) or VA (VeteransAdministration) loans are available, the down paymentrequirements may be substantially smaller.

Ask about requirements for a down payment, includ-ing what you need to do to verify that funds for yourdown payment are available. Be sure to ask about special programs. Remember, lending power is buyingpower. If you are pre-approved for a mortgage, you willbe in a position to make offers and home sellers will take you seriously. Already a homeowner? Please pass this on to someone that isn’t.

In s i g h t sI n s i g h t s

Interior designer Aliza Hartman designs interiors worldwide. She hasjust completed another custom kitchen. “It’s all about greys these days. It has been the trending color for a whilenow, and if done right, it can look classicand timeless,” says Hartman. Shedescribed some of the materials she used and why they were selected. For thekitchen floor a matte charcoal grey 16” x 32” porcelain tile was installed. The bigger the tile, the more seamless and clean it looks. Shaker door cabinetsare the “in thing” for transitional designs,giving the kitchen a fresh look withoutgoing super modern. The grey island wasinstalled to give some character. A 2 ½-inch “skirt,” or build up, placed at the edge of the counter makes it appear thicker. A Carrara slab for counter tops with rounded edges sets the kitchen apartfrom recent styles. Carrara and Bardigliohexagon mosaic tiles in the backsplash create a soft, classic and flowing look. AWolf oven and Sub-Zero refrigerator werechosen. Though there are less priceyappliance options, make sure to installquality appliances or you’ll ruin the lookof the kitchen. Finally, a detachable faucethead allows for cleanliness and a sleeklook in this kitchen. Info.hdginc@gmail.com

The 2016 Transitional Kitchen