Q:I just signed the paperwork to close on my parents' refinance. Theclosing fee is $26,000 on a $25,000 FHA loan. The closing costs arehigher than what was quoted on the good faith estimate.

Iam very upset. I have two days to cancel the refinance, but my parentsdon't want to start the loan process all over again. The lender addedpoints without telling them (I really didn't understand how it wassupposed to work until I read your articles online).

Theinterest rate on the loan is 5.5 percent, but I think $26,000 in cashis too much. Something is not right. I don't have money for a lawyer soI hope you will be able to give me an answer soon, since in two daysthe refinance will be finalized.

A:You're paying 10 percent in closing costs? I agree. That doesn't soundright. If the numbers on your HUD-1 weren't the same as on the goodfaith estimate, you shouldn't have closed until the documents werecorrected.

Occasionally,numbers do change from the good faith estimate. But the changes shouldbe small and usually have to do with an extra title fee, or ifsomeone's credit has dramatically changed since the loan applicationwas approved.

Thereare times that real estate taxes and the homeowners insurance policypremium play a part in the increases on the settlement statements.You'd need to look at the closing statement and subtract the costs forreal estate taxes and homeowners insurance to see what you are reallypaying.

Ifyour lender charged you points without telling you, you may want tocancel the deal. A point is one percent of the loan amount. If you arepaying three points, that would cost you $7,500. Depending on yourcircumstances, that might be too high for you and your parents.

Ican't tell for sure, but it sounds like the mortgage lender might notbe doing everything correctly. I know you feel as though you can'tafford an attorney, but hiring one for a few hundred dollars to helpyou go over everything is exactly what you need to do now.

As of my tour through the area, the downtown seciton is not yet built but, when finished, will boast restaurants, bandstand, office, and retail space.

The neighborhoods are a mix between 2-story Single Family homes and Townhouses.
Every street is lined with trees and sidewalks. Personally, I'm a big fan of that friendly-neighborhood feel and I think it could be attributed to the mass amount of front porches and open spaces - which is what this community is brimming with.
There was something about walking down the sidewalks from one home to the next, with the sun shining down on me, that put a little pep in my step and lifted my mood.

• Gorgeous Club House with Banquet Facility
• Billiards Room
• Game Room
• Gym with separate wooden floor dance studio and locker room
• Playground
• 8 Tennis Courts
• HUGE resort-style pool and separate children's swimming area
• Many community events and meetings
• Property management office
• Gated front entrance and private gated back entrance

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Well, don your backpack and grab that Batman lunchbox, ‘causewe're going to speech school! ;

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In any public speaking setting, it is important toaccurately identify your audience. ; Somemay say ‘target' audience, but there is a definite difference between the‘target' audience that you're trying to reach and the physical audience that isactually listening to you. ; While thismay seem like a no-brainer, improper interpretation of your audience'sviewpoint will lead to one or both of the Two B's: Boos and Blank Stares. ; Especially when presenting to investors, youhave to place yourself in their shoes and attempt to determine what they are looking to get out of your presentation. ; Let's run with the ‘investor example'.

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When evaluating a new startup or investment opportunity,investors are simply wondering if the product being offered for review iscompelling enough to warrant a funds transfer. ;That said, the whole process should be looked at less like a shakedownfor cash, and more like the presentation of a valuable idea to those who havethe ability to make it a reality. ; Ifyou've created something that truly is of value, you're doing your audience afavor by asking them to invest. ; Keepingthis in mind, here are some tips to help you knock your next presentation outof the park.

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Q: What is mybusiness model? A: Investor Kryptonite. ; Factof life: Business models are not made of concrete. ; They change, and change often. ; For this reason alone, refrain from makingthe meat of your presentation the same cut as your business plan. ; Potential investors could care less about howyou speculate you will be makingmoney in the coming years. ; Instead,narrow down one problem you are actively and successfully working to solve, andbase your presentation around that. ; Theboardroom will look at you like a much smarter person when you show them the stepstaken to solve important industry issues. ;Besides being a waste of precious presentation minutes, business plansare nothing more than assumptions; if you have a particularly shoddy oneinvestors will walk away thinking of you as "the company with the terriblebusiness plan" rather than "the guys who are solving important problems". ;

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Those kids and theirPowerPoint... ; Another surefire way tosabotage an investor presentation is to the ball when it comes toslideshows. ; This is most likely due toan ill-founded viewpoint of the actual role held by PowerPointpresentations. ; To set the recordstraight, the slideshow is a supplementto your presentation; it is not your entirepresentation. ; Rule Number One: DONOT Recite your slides. ; Rule Number Two:20 words per slide, no more. ;Since Homo sapiens speak insentence form, the easiest way to follow Rule Number One is to craft yourslides to contain bullet points of no more than, you guessed it, 20 words perslide. ; This way, you can maintain eyecontact with the audience while the slideshow advances behind you, augmentingyour sentences with hyphenated detail. ; Aminimal amount of pictures is a safe bet as well, reducing the clutter andamount of distractions. ; The audience issupposed to be reading you not the wall, after all.

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Vite, vite! Lui l'arrêt! ; "Quick, quick! Make it stop!" ; Experts on the subject say you should aim tofinish within 20 minutes, but will be interrupted so often that most of thetime a presentation will stretch to 40 minutes.  ;Regardless, most will agree that investorswill judge your performance/business within the first 30-60 seconds, and if youdon't perform in that time frame, no mascash. ; ; It is also considered bestpractice to progress rapidly to a product demonstration. ; Demos explain better than words, which isespecially helpful in solicitation situations where people who are bad atexplaining are presenting to people who are bad at understanding. ; Incidentally, this describes most investorpresentation scenarios.

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Fundraising isselling, not storytelling. ; Truerwords were never spoken. ; Whenpresenting, you must effectively sell not only your idea, but yourself and yourmanagement team. ; At this point, realestate agents have an advantage due to their independence. ; Investors want to know if you have theability within the ranks of your personnel to put their monies to good use, soin this way it is easier on the presenter if they are only sellingthemselves. ; In the case of a team, touchon each member's experience and how this relates to your team's collectiveability to ‘ute'. ; While it iscertainly more productive to have only one member of the team actually speakduring the presentation, if somebody happens to be highly specialized in aspecific area a one- to two-minute interjection might be in order. ;

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In order to effectively sell yourself, you must project massamounts of confidence and poise. ; Nobodylikes to give money to an apologetic ‘sob' who doesn't know his product wellenough to stand tall and present with confidence. ; In order to be confident (and in turn project confidence) one must be familiarwith every intricacy of their product or idea. ;If you happen to be presenting an opportunity rather than a startup,perhaps a condominium development still in its pre-development stage orsomething of that nature, take some time to anticipate and prepare answers forany questions you think will be raised. Do a bit of research on zoningregulations and estimated development costs, as these will have an effect onthe way the buildings will be constructed and will enable you to offer the mostcomplete and custom tailored quote to potential investors. ; Make projections of the time it will takeuntil the property will be placed back on the market, or on the specific amountof money they will have to invest until they realize a worthwhile return.

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Beyond the actual content you present, of equal importanceare the techniques you employ when speaking to a group of people. ; Since public speaking is an unavoidable partof life, and since most people aremore afraid of speaking than they are of death, I thought I might share sometips on the art of speech itself. ; Everypresenter, nervous or otherwise, should, upon taking the stage, locate the red-glowing‘EXIT' sign that will be inevitably perched somewhere near the rear of theroom. ; When times get tough, the EXITsign can be your greatest friend. ; Youwill maintain a sort of eye contact with the audience, but without actuallylooking them in the eye. ; The EXIT signwill also serve as a non-distracting anchor point, so when you happen to bemaking a particularly complex point or you are simply having troubleremembering your content, fix your peepers on the red letters and let yourthoughts flow uninhibited. ; This little trickcan help prevent that embarrassing situation where you forget what to say nextand the audience's expectant collective face is doing nothing but providing youwith a healthy case of speaker's-block. ;Speaking of the audience, make sure you keep some form of eye contact atall times, however painful it may be, and always aim to speak to the backrow. ; You will unconsciously speak in alouder tone, ensuring that no one is straining to hear your words. ; Also, it is important to speak slowly andenunciate every word, or the people in front of you will be dropping likeflies. ; The acting community has a sayingwhen reciting lines: "If you feel you are speaking too slowly, you are at thecorrect pace." ;

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Always remember that your main goal is not to educate investorson every minute aspect of your idea, but instead to simply sell yourself,convincing them that you are worth talking too again. ; If your product, startup, or empty lot isworth your time, then is it not alsoworth the time of the potential investors? ;That said, go into the meeting with the mindset that you are doing thema favor by presenting. ; You're not looking for money, you're lookingto progress your business. ; Explicitlyhighlight how the other side of the table will benefit from a partnership. ; Create a sense of urgency by plotting atimeline for an increase of value, rather than plotting out all the reasons youneed the money (e.g. Rent, Payroll, New Software, etc...). ; And remember, you are there to sell, not to story-tell.

It is important to evaluate the variousfactors that have played the role of vital contributors for SanAntonio's progress. The place has a rich economic stratum. The presenceof people from various economic groups is seen here. The financialstatus of the city too is vibrant. The other major contributors for SanAntonio's development are fine and extremely hospitable climate, greatsupply of cheap hands as well as skilled laborers, prosperous market,enriched hinterland with great demand, and comparatively low cost ofliving. Tesoro, Clear Channel Communications and AT&T have alreadyset base in San Antonio. And there are various other big corporationsthat are planning big time to settle in here.

San Antonio is in Texas and has the secondhighest population (approximately 1,296,682 in '06) in the state. It'sone of Texas's most favorable tourist spot. The history of San Antoniopoints to the fact that the Spanish discoverer St. Anthony of Paduadiscovered the place around 1691. Some of the important attractions inand around the area are Alamo, St. Anthony of Padua, Zoo and Aquarium,Sea World and White Water Bay among various others. The place alsoboosts of an international airport which is of utmost importance forany city to develop. It also has accommodation for all economic needsfrom economic hotels to deluxe ones. For example, you can getaccommodation for $100,000 to $500,000- and hence it is open for allsections of the society.

Along with tourism, defense too plays animportant part in this place. There are important defense installationshere which are strategically important for the country's defense. Italso gives the place a sense of importance. Some of these installationsare Houston, Randolph, Brooks and Lackland Bases. The finance andhealth sectors too are growing quickly. The banking system is strongand health care facilities available for almost everyone here. SanAntonio is also famous for its sports heritage. The sport bodies thatmake people crazy are the basketball group, ice hockey team, Rampageand Spurs are famous all across Texas.

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The housing facilities available here are at least 30 percentlower than national rates. Thus, increasingly more investments arecoming for San Antonio. The good news is that the place has thepotential to growing still. So if you desire to shift here, do contactthe estate managers available easily. So why waste your time over Realtor's Multiple Listing Service; contact the on-line equivalents inSan Antonio. VIP Realty clients are entitled to premium property ratesand great negotiation options by our San Antonio MLS. Come make SanAntonio your home!

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Hotel #1 - I will never go back to again. I was afraid to leave my laptop in the hotel while I went out to get a bite to eat. The sheets were scratchy. The front desk clerk was smoking outside wearing an old sweater and slacks when I arrived. Breakfast was Little Debbie Individually packaged breakfast snacks. And the milk and juice were in containers I could not take with me to drink on the road.

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Hotel #2 - I may not go back but for completely different reasons. It was very comfortable, but very expensive. Eco-friendly and Eco-style sitting room. The king sized bed enveloped me and I wish I could have slept in it more instead of only 6 hours a night between meetings. But the sitting room was very stiff. I loved the kitchenette and the maid even cleaned my dishes for me! They even had cards to remind you to strengthen your brai and your body. ; ;

But here's where it went downhill. ; When we booked the room, we knew it was going to cost a bit more, but I did not know that all parking was valet parking ONLY. I had to pay extra for that each day - at valet parking prices. Then every time I needed my car, I paid the valet a tip to get it or take it back. Thus, when I needed my phone power cord, it took me a few days to get it out of the car. And the hotel was not within walking distance of restaurants. So get your car from the valet or eat in the hotel. They had the snacks in the room. That's great! If I wanted to pay $8 for jellybeans or $4 for a soda, it was available in my room for me. But the vending machine with the soda for $1.50 was missing. So once again, you were put into a predicament of buying nothing or paying 400% more than usual - which would be taxed at the end of your stay. Always helpful, but always for an additional cost.

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Hotel #3 - This hotel was kid friendly and fun! We got a great deal and the service was very polite. It did not include food, but there were plenty of food options available from inexpensive on up. It included free shuttle service. Parking was free. There was plenty to do with its resort setting. I would certinly go back.

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Hotel #4 - Comfortable and clean. No breakfast, but we got coupons for the kids to eat free at the attached restaurant with we actually decided to use because it was clean and empty. The service of the hotel was a bit awkward though. Not very friendly and acted like I was doing them a service by staying with them instead of making me feel welcome and invited. It seemed like I was taking up their time from doing something more important. We had to take the plastic off the sleeper sofa (well at least we knew it was clean!). I'm not sure if I would go back to this hotel or not. It would depend on the other options at the exit.

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One more note... ; It's not a hotel, but a town. Ad no, it was not Disney owned. We stopped in Jacksonville, FL for lunch one day. The Arby's was the nicest Arby's I've ever visited. Almost too happy! But you know what? I remembered them! And they made the whole family laugh! We also stopped at Starbucks before hitting the Interstate. They were all happy and bubbly too! And the next time we drive through Jacksonville, we will probably stop to see if they are just as polite and friendly.

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OK. What's my point? There's several ways I can go with this.

• In your job, what type of service do you provide?
• Do you make your clients feel special?
• Do you offer items in the name of service, but then make it so expensive that it's not used?
• Where are the hidden fees?

These do not have to be just business, this could be in your personal relations or community volunteering too!

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But the one question I want to ask is "What type of home environment do you create?"

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How does your home make you FEEL?

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So often I'm running around trying to help my clients find that special home, but then I get home and I pull out the pizza. Now the kids say "yea!" but the husband does get tired of it. So here are some questions I asked myself about my home while I was traveling:

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• How often do I take TIME when setting the table? Does it all match? Are the utensils where they belong? Did we turn off the TV? How about a candle or other decoration?
• My home may be tidy, but when was the last time it received a deep cleaning? Have I moved the couch pillows to vacuum lately? Do I need to clean the chocolate pudding or pen marks of the arms of the chair? Have I flipped my mattress lately to keep it even?
• What special touches have I added to make my home feel warm and welcome? Does the family look forward to coming home so they can relax? Use your five senses here! Candles for smell. De-clutter for sight. Soft music in the background for sound. Texture and color in paintings and pillows - the feeling of joy or welcoming. Chocolate chip cookies or pumpkin pie ready for dessert?
• What fun things do you add for the kids, your company or your spouse? Not just in their rooms. Folding napkins for dinner, towels and little soaps in the bathroom, cutting sandwiches for lunches, kid-sized tea cups when you have your coffee.

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What types of touches do you like to see when you go on travel? Why not add them to your home!

Q:I would like to pay off my mortgage with an IRA distribution. A friendtold me that you have some advice on your website about the best timeof the year to do this. The amount on my condo is about only about$40,000, but of course my IRAs and regular mutual funds are shrinkingdaily.

Canyou tell me if I should do something before the end of the year orshould I wait until next year? Thanks for your assistance.

A:I don't think I'd pay off my mortgage with an IRA distribution for afew reasons. First, when you withdraw cash from your IRA, you'll payincome taxes at your marginal tax rate on the distribution. If you'reunder the age of 59 1/2, you'll pay a 10 percent tax on the distributedamount on top of the taxes.

How much do you need to withdraw to pay off the house? Assuming thatyou need $100,000 in order to pay off the house, it will look on yourfederal tax return as if you added that amount in income, which islikely to push you up to the highest federal and state tax rates. It'llcost you another $10,000 if you're under 59 1/2.

Thatmeans you might have to withdraw as much as 45 to 50 percent more thanyou need to pay off the loan, or $145,000 to $150,000 from the IRA.

Next, if you withdraw this cash from your IRA, you'll be selling assetsat their lowest price in years. Unless you think that the U.S. andworld stock markets will never recover or won't recover for many yearsto come, you'll be selling at a low point and miss out on the gainsyou'd earn back as the stock market rises.

Refinance If You Can't Afford Mortgage

Ifyou can't afford your mortgage payment, you should certainly considerrefinancing your mortgage. If you can't refinance (perhaps because thehouse is worth less than your mortgage amount), only then considerusing an IRA distribution to pay off the mortgage loan.

Lastly,you have to really decide why you would want to pay off your mortgagein this manner. If you are able to refinance today or in the comingweeks, interest rates on home loans appear to be heading lower. If youare able to refinance at 5 or 6 percent, that interest rate is quitelow and you would be able to preserve the money invested in your IRAfor future use during retirement.

If you're bound and determined to withdraw the cash, you should do itin smaller amounts so that you're less likely to add to your income taxburden the following April 15. Also, if you withdraw your money earlyin the year, your obligation to pay any tax on that money won't occuruntil April 15 of the following year. The company holding your IRAwill, in any event, withhold the 10 percent penalty (if you owe one) atthe time of the withdrawal. Your tax preparer or accountant can guideyou further.