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3910 So. Alma School Rd. #1

Chandler, AZ 85248

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|[pic] |Got House? |

| |Kristine Mill |

| |REALTOR |

| |(602) 689-5040 (cell) |

| |(480) 831-8813 (fax) |

| |kmill1@ |

I would like to send a personal thank you to everyone over the past year for your support and referrals. I wish you all the health and happiness in 2006. Have a wonderful holiday!

Peace and joy,

Kris

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[pic]Jazzy’s Column:

Jazzy’s friend Roxy asks: My owner is looking for good Holiday toys for me that are original and cost effective due to the increase in our gas bills. Where can she go to get them?

Jazzy replies: I heard that there is a new company started called Petapalooza. Your owner can also have pet parties for us. It’s that cool or what!!!!! They can be found on

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Tame Holiday Temptations

By Stephanie Osfield for

With nibbles lining the coffee table and sumptuous snacks stuffed into the fridge, the best of intentions often fly up the chimney during the holiday season, as taste buds take over. Here’s how to survive temptation with your waistline intact:

Make an eating plan. A food journal can be your best friend this time of year. Record absolutely everything you put in your mouth, down to the spoonful of gravy on your potatoes.

Decide why you’re eating. Often during the holidays, we eat for all the wrong reasons—to keep Aunt Mabel happy because she went to so much trouble, because we got chocolates as a gift, because there’s just so much food lying around the office. Instead, savor your favorite holiday foods when you’re really hungry and leave the others behind.

Eat before you go. Don’t starve yourself before attending holiday parties—do just the opposite. Try to eat something healthy beforehand, leaving just enough room for some small treats. Also, try to fill up on fruits & veggies so you’ll be less tempted by the pecan pie.

Minimize alcohol intake. Alcohol adds empty calories and helps you lose sight of your goals. To minimize your intake, use low or no calorie beverages as mixers. Alternate alcoholic drinks with wine spritzers or low calorie soft drinks.

If you are currently working with another Broker please do not consider this a solicitation.

Tax Saving

For the End of the Year

Although the end of the year is closing in, there are still several steps homeowners can take to increase their property-related tax deductions.

One strategy is to make the January mortgage payment early, beefing up their mortgage-interest deduction for the year. They also can deduct the sales tax paid on home-building materials and get a charitable deduction by donating leftover materials from a residential project to Habitat for Humanity or another affordable-housing nonprofit.

For 2006, homeowners can benefit from tax credits tied to energy efficiency. Those who purchase energy-efficient windows or insulation between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2007, can get a tax credit of up to $500. Homeowners who buy solar-powered water heaters during the same period will qualify for a tax credit of up to $2,000.

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December 2005

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Real Estate Corner

[pic] “How to Save on Home Equity Debt”

Thanks to an odd twist in interest rates, you could save thousands each year just by converting your home-equity line of credit to a closed-end loan or refinancing your mortgage to pay it off.

People with big home equity debts may have an unusual opportunity right now to lock in some savings. The rates on home equity lines of credit, generally referred to as HELOCs, have climbed 2 full percentage points in the past year and are expected to rise some more. At the same time, longer term mortgage rates have dropped . This has created a rare situation where long-term borrowing can cost less than short-term borrowing. As a result, some mortgage experts are recommending that those with big HELOC balances consider locking in current rates—either by converting their debt to a closed-end home equity loan or by refinancing their primary mortgage to a larger loan that would encompass the home-equity debt.

“We’re talking about going for the safety of a fixed rate, while the going’s good”, said Jack Guttentag, a nationally syndicated mortgage columnist and professor emeritus of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. “I think a strong case can be made for that.”

HELOC’s, a kind of adjustable rate mortgage that allows homeowners to borrow against the equity in their home, expose borrowers to more interest-rate risk than most other kinds of mortgages, Guttentag said. They typically have no payment caps and their maximum interest rate is high—usually 18% or more. Furthermore, HELOCs respond quickly to changes in short term rates. If the prime rate goes up on a Monday, your (HELOC) rate is up on Tuesday. Closed end home equity loans, by contrast, offer a fixed rate (currently averaging just over 7%, compared to 6.25% for the average HELOC after the teaser rate expires). You may face higher payments, though, because home-equity loans require principal payments as well as interest. HELOCs typically require you to pay only interest in the initial years. The other option: paying off your HELOC balance with a cash-out refinancing of your primary mortgage.

December 2005

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