Renting vs. Owning

Although some renters believe that renting is “maintenance free,” they are actually paying for maintenance in their rent – whether they need it or not. Renting offers you no equity, no tax benefit, and no protection against regular rent increases. If you’re paying rent, you’re really just paying someone else’s mortgage. Let’s compare.*

Rent Vs. Own

Monthly Payment
$1,000 vs. $855
Insurance
$30 vs. $50
Taxes
$0 vs. $260
MIP Insurance
$0 vs. $45
Total Payment
$1,030 vs. $1,210


Savings

Interest Deduction
$0 vs. $175
Tax Deduction
$0 vs. $75
After Tax
Net Monthly Payment
$1,030 vs. $960

* Approximate Payment/Cost Comparison based on estimated annual tax results. Based on 2.5 tax bracket and on estimated first year interest and taxes. Recommend consulting with tax expert. Payment based on FHA 30-year fixed rate loan with 7% interest rate, sales price of $125,000 and a loan balance of $121,250. Interest rate/rental rates, prices, terms, and availability subject to change without notice. See a qualified tax consultant for more details.

Hello world!

Today I finally got my letter into the mail, for those of you who do not receive the letter, this means I don't have your current address. I would love to keep up to date so let me know where you are at! I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm now in real estate and very excited to get movin! Do you want to hear my funny story? I ordered my business cards a while back hoping that I could send them out with my letter of introduction (you know, put a face with the name kinda thing). So I've been putting off sending it in hopes they would show up. Finally, this morning I decided that I would just send it anyway and get my cards out on a later mailing. So off they went at about 1:30 pm. However, just as Murphy would have it, at about 4:40pm got a call from my office and guess whats there just waiting for me to pick up?...You got it, my cards!!!! They had just arrived this afternoon, conveniently, after I sent out my letter. So I apologize for the absence of my business card, you will be getting them shortly! Also, when you receive my letter please email me and tell me what you think! You can also comment here on my blog and be entered into a drawing for a fun little prize. Thank you all for you in-exhaustible support. It really has meant alot!

the numbers are in....

It's official, Ammon is HUGE!!! He weighed in today at 24 1/2 pounds! Whoa!!!! Not bad for 10 months. He's a little sick today which is why we were at the doctors getting weighed. (boo) However, with his pluck I'm sure he'll be feeling better in no time!

amazing feets of a 10 month old!

So try to imagine this, Bath time rolls around and I manage to bathe Ammon without getting totally soaked and still have a few minutes left to call my visiting teaching companion to make appointments before I have to put Ammon down for bed. As I was going over dates with my companion it was daddy time for Ammon. They were playing on the couch and being all sorts of wild. After a few minutes I realised it was strangely quite. Sure enough both boys were sound asleep, and Ammon was still only in a diaper. Well, I thought, I'll just give him his bottle and get him to bed since he's so sleepy, thinking about how un-happy he will be when he's woken up (he's not a fan of being interrupted in his sleep). However when I tried waking him up....nothing, not even a stir! So alright, I'll just change his diaper and put his jammies on, that will get him going a bit. I kid you not, I wiped his bum with a cold wipe, replaced the diaper, put a onsie and pants on him, rolled him over and pick him up without so much as a sigh. I couldn't believe it, he was totally out! And to top it off, he slept the whole night! I thought for sure he would wake up early with one thing on his mind 'must have bottle!' So either I'm just that good (unlikely) Or I should have Jimmy put him to sleep every night!

(the picture is of him completely crashed (and clothed) on the couch before I took his catatonic body to bed!)

just an up-date

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Just a short update about our little world. Ammon is going through a Major growth spurt and is closing in on 23 pounds! He's our little tank. His new tricks include, standing on his own, gabbing non-stop, clicking his tongue, and eating a diet entirely consisting of adult foods (well the softer adult foods). He got a brand new car-seat at the beginning of the month (very snazzy) that will house his bottom clear into the booster months. Thanks Dad for the help out on that one. Jimmy is crazy busy with school. He is taking 18 credits and just started working in a lab doing mini-brain surgery on baby mice (so fun). So far he is doing well in his classes, this however is at the expense of little sleep and missed hours at work. He is in good spirits though and always has a great attitude. I scheduled to take the 2nd part of the real estate exam on wed. morning (wish me luck) I didn't pass this part the first time, by one question! Hopefully I will be successful this time. So after Wednesday everyone will have to call me "Holly Messegee, Realtor" from now on. lol. It will be a little interesting to have a title. I've also been called to serve at girls camp this summer for my stake. That should be interesting, and exciting. The theme is 'catch the spirit' and I will be called the 'team manager' for whatever age group I am assigned. Yea for baseball. Anyway, that's about it. I hope everyone is healthy and happy and lovin' spring!!!

wasn't conference fantastic!?!

I'm always sad when it's over. I can't wait to get my conference ensign and re-read all the amazing talks that were given over this last weekend. I particulalry loved Elder Holland's talk on Sat. morning and Elder Eyring's on Sun afternoon! I hope you all enjoyed that sweet spirit of conference. I know I feel compleatly rejuvinated and ready for another six months!!

adendum to the list

Jimmy has changed his mind. (I'll explain) Replace #10 U of Wisconson in Madison for University of Colorado in Denver. The change is because last years prices for the U of Colorado were $70,000. A little much for our tastes (more then Harvard!) However, this year they are significantly lower due to state assistance in funding. So, it will join the ranks with all the other schools!

OoOoOh the possibilities!

I know you've all been waiting, your infinite patience has paid off, we have reached the final cut of possible med. schools! Jimmy will be taking the MCAT on July 13th (yes, that is Ammon's first b-day) and starting the very next week he will begin work on his applications! (did that come up fast or what?!?) So, in case you were interested in where we might end up, here are our 15 choices;

#1 Johns Hopkins: Baltimore, MD
#2 University of Washington: Seattle, WA
#3 University of California in San Francisco: San Fran, CAL
#4 Baylor University: Huston, TX
#5 University of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, PA
#6 Duke University: Durham, NC
#7 University of California LA, Los Angeles, CAL
#8 University of Michigan: Ann Arbor, MI (?)
#9 University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill, NC
#10 University of Wisconsin: Madison, WI
#11 Pritzker University: Chicago, IL
#12 Northwestern University: North Chicago, IL
#13 University of Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh, PA
#14 Oregon Health and Science: Portland, OR
#15 University of Utah: Salt Lake City, Utah

The list is long, I know, but Jimmy's advisor "advised" that he should apply to this many as it is very typical among those who make it in. We are very excited about the possibilities and of course are crossing our fingers and praying extra hard for our first 2 picks! Any prayer time you're willing to donate rest assured it's for a great cause and will be immensely appreciated!