Monday, August 31, 2009

Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC)

The Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) establishes standards for solicitation, selection, compensation, conflicts of interest and appraiser independence. It is effective May 1, 2009, for any mortgage that will be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac; Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) mortgages are not covered in the agreement.

How HVCC Affects the Appraisal Process

REALTORS® and mortgage brokers are prohibited from selecting appraisers. Lenders are may use “in house” staff appraisers to conduct appraisals. However, the loan production staff is prohibited from:

  • selecting, retaining, recommending, or influencing the selection of an appraiser; and,
  • conducting any substantive conversation with an appraiser or appraisal management company regarding the appraisal assignment.

For the consumer, the appraisal process has remained largely intact. However, consumers may find the process takes longer than and may be more costly than it has been in the past.

For More Information

President's Podcast: Legislative Update on HVCC

NAR's HVCC FAQs

NAR's HVCC Myths and Facts Flyer

Complete Home Valuation Code of Conduct

Or contact me at:

www.edina-realestate.com/

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Live Young! Live Long!

About LifeVantage

Lifevantage Corporation is a publicly traded health products company based in San Diego, CA. Their vision is to be a leader in science-based health and wellness products. LifeVantage manufactures, markets, and distributes a patented dietary supplement, Protandim®, which is a unique antioxidant therapy, shown to reduce oxidative stress in a human clinical study.

CLINICALLY PROVEN PRODUCT

LifeVantage’s Director of Science, Dr. Joe M. McCord, is one of the foremost authorities on the body’s antioxidant defense system and co-discovered the enzyme Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) in 1969.Protandim® triggers the cells in the human body to produce more of its own free radical-fighting antioxidant enzymes, SOD and Catalase (CAT). These enzymes effectively and efficiently neutralize free radicals inside the cells where free radicals are produced.Protandim® patented formula is a blend of high quality, herbal ingredients including:
Milk Thistle Extract (Silybum marianum)
Bacopa Extract (Bacopa monnieri)
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Green Tea Extract (Camilia sinesis)
Turmeric Extract (Curcuma Longa)
Herbal ingredients, sourced from around the world, are chosen for quality, purity and potency. Each herb undergoes a quality review process for potency, purity and identification prior to acceptance for production.About Protandim®Oxidative stress is a term you hear a lot these days. It refers to the imbalance between the production of highly reactive oxygen molucules, called free radicals, and the special antioxidant enzymes that neutralize the free radicals. This imbalance results in aging and health conditions. And as you age, this imbalance becomes even more significant as your body produces far more free radicals than antioxidant enzymes.True Science Anti-Aging CreamTrueScience anti-aging cream was formulated to fight your aging battles from the outside in. With cutting-edge science battling externally and the ingredients in Protandim proven to protect your cells internally, TrueScience is the complete anti-aging solution that gives your skin a beautiful, even tone, diminishes fine lines and wrinkles, and provides a vibrant, glowing appearance.

THE ANTIOXIDANT MYTH

Not all antioxidants are equal. Conventional or “consumable” antioxidants from food or vitamin-mineral supplements are used up on a one-to-one basis as each antioxidant neutralizes each free radical.We’ve been told that if we eat antioxidant-rich foods or consume vitamin pills, we’ll receive tremendous antioxidant rewards. But the fact is, scientific studies show that you can’t possibly ingest enough antioxidants to neutralize the free radicals your body produces every day. You would need to eat impossible amounts of foods rich in antioxidants (over 350 oranges, over 30 pounds of raspberries or 15 pounds of dark chocolate per day) to equal the antioxidant power you receive from one Protandim caplet daily.

For More Information

For more information contact me or got to:www.lifvantage.com

Make sure to watch the ABC Primetime Video

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Twin Cities Real Estate Update

The Twin Cities housing market continues to regain a semblance of
balance in supply and demand. For the week ending August 8, there
were 1,802 new listings, down 9.5 percent from last year. There were
also 1,037 purchase agreements signed (pending sales), up 15.2
percent above last year. The total inventory of homes available for sale
is down 21.5 percent from a year ago.
The Housing Affordability Index (HAI) of 195 has begun to taper off
from its high of 219 earlier this year, yet the current HAI still represents
an increase of more than 30 percent from the boom years earlier this
decade. Months Supply of Inventory currently sits at 7.2—down 31.4
percent from last year's mark of 10.5.
All in all, the see-saw is moving back towards equilibrium. This doesn't
mean that everything is hunky-dory; sellers still face a challenging
market, especially in the higher price ranges. But the overall shift is
welcome news.