The Real Estate Geeks - Which Is Better : Fresh Produce Or Frozen Produce?

There's a long-standing myth that freezer-section produce is "worse for you" than fresh produce from a farm. The truth, however, is often the opposite.

Because of upgrades in packaging and delivery methods, frozen produce is often more fresh than "fresh produce", and contains higher nutrient levels, too.

The key is to know how to shop for it.

The main advantage that frozen produce carries over fresh produce is that frozen produce is picked in its most ripe -- and most nutrient-rich --  state. Then, when the produce is flash-frozen, its nutrients become locked-in and sealed.

Fresh produce, by contrast, tends to be picked before it's ripe, and is left to ripen in transit.

Because food nutrients degrade with exposure to heat and/or light, the longer it takes produce to get from the farm to the supermarket, the fewer nutrients the produce will have. 

Did you know? Fresh fruit and vegetables might sit for up 2 weeks before they're sold by your local supermarket. And not to mention how long it may take you to consume them.

Another advantage of frozen produce is that it's often less expensive than fresh fruit. For example, looking at the cost of strawberries bought in bulk:

• Frozen strawberries : $1.71 per pound
• Fresh strawberries : $1.90 per pound

This isn't to say that frozen produce is "better" than fresh produce. It just depends on your circumstance. If you plan to consume the produce within a short period from purchase, and can account for its ripeness and freshness, fresh produce may be preferred. Or, if you eat organic produce, free from pesticides and chemicals -- certain produce may be better eaten fresh.

But know the facts. Frozen produce can be healthier and cheaper -- a good combination for your household.

Thanks for checking out our videos & blogs - Our time is dedicated your buying & selling needs. Call or click - but contact us today For more current real estate market information just visit our website at http:www.TheRealEstateGeeksTv.com

If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure here's tons of FREE information that will be very useful - http:www.Help4Ca.com until Till Next Time

Take Care, Melissa Bayles (714) 720-2555 & "Chip" Richard Esajian (714) 272-5369 The Real Estate Geeks

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The Real Estate Geeks - Retail Sales Report Should Spell Higher Mortgage Rates For Wednesday

Consumer spending is alive and well, it seems -- unwelcome news for today's home buyers. 

Wednesday, the Census Bureau will release its March Retail Sales figures and the report is expected to show higher sales receipts for the 9th straight month. A strong reading like that should spell higher mortgage rates nationwide.

The connection between Retail Sales and mortgage rates is fairly tight. Retail Sales are "consumer spending" and consumer spending accounts for the majority of the U.S. economy. The U.S. economy, of course, is a dominant force in setting the direction in which mortgage rates are headed.

For example, in 2010, it was a weak economy and murky outlook that helped drive mortgage rates to all-time lows. Since last year, however, the jobs market has started its recovery, monthly receipts have returned to all-time highs, and the Federal Reserve is revising growth estimates for 2011.

Not surprisingly, mortgage rates have reversed, too.

As compared to 6 months ago, conforming rates are higher by 0.750%. Home affordability across California is taking a hit. Plus, the stronger the economy appears to be, the more likely for mortgage rates to climb more.

It's why tomorrow's Retail Sales report is so important. 

If you're under contract for a home, or even evaluating the merits of a refinance, there's a lot of risk in "floating" your mortgage rate. The more prudent plan is to find a rate at which you're comfortable with the payment, and lock it in.

And you may want to take that lock sooner than you had planned -- if only to protect your monthly payments. Once tomorrow's Retail Sales report hits, it may be too late. Especially if receipts rise for the 10th straight month.

The Retail Sales report is due for release at 8:30 AM ET.

Thanks for checking out our videos & blogs - Our time is dedicated your buying & selling needs. Call or click - but contact us today For more current real estate market information just visit our website at http:www.TheRealEstateGeeksTv.com

If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure here's tons of FREE information that will be very useful - http:www.Help4Ca.com until Till Next Time

Take Care, Melissa Bayles (714) 720-2555 & "Chip" Richard Esajian (714) 272-5369 The Real Estate Geeks

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The Real Estate Geeks - How Healthy Is Your Bedroom?

Most people spend about one-third of their life in the bedroom. So, how healthy is yours?

In this 5-minute piece from NBC's The Today Show, you'll learn about dust mites, mold and the other hidden health risks in your bedroom. Some may be compriming your sleep, and others your well-being.

The interview is comprehensive and covers a lot of ground, including:

• The importance of an excellent vacuum with HEPA filters
• The advantage of latex pillows over other pillow-types
• Why blackout curtains can help reduce blood pressure

The piece also talks on several goods reasons to leave your bedroom electronics-free.

For as much time as we all spend in our respective bedrooms, we should want it to be a healthy, clean place. Following the video's advice is a step in the right direction.

Thanks for checking out our videos & blogs - Our time is dedicated your buying & selling needs. Call or click - but contact us today For more current real estate market information just visit our website at http:www.TheRealEstateGeeksTv.com

If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure here's tons of FREE information that will be very useful - http:www.Help4Ca.com until Till Next Time

Take Care, Melissa Bayles (714) 720-2555 & "Chip" Richard Esajian (714) 272-5369 The Real Estate Geeks

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The Real Estate Geeks - March Fed Minutes Show Inflation Risks And Rate Hikes On The Horizon

The Federal Reserve released its March 15 meeting minutes Tuesday. The notes revealed a Federal Reserve split between optimism and caution for the U.S. economy.

The minutes' official name is "Fed Minutes". It's a periodic publication, published 3 weeks after each meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. The FOMC meets 8 times annually, so the Fed Minutes is published 8 times annually, too.

The Fed Minutes is similar to the meeting minutes released after a condo board gets together, or after a meeting of the Board of Directors at a large corporation. The minutes give a detailed account of the important conversations and debates that occurred among the attendees.

At the Federal Reserve, those conversations are deep and, as such, the minutes are long; much longer than the more well-known, post-meeting press release anyway.

Whereas the press release is measured in paragraphs, the minutes are measured in pages.

Here is some of what the Fed discussed last month:

• On inflation : Pressures are rising, but largely because of food costs and oil costs.
• On housing : The market remains "depressed" with large inventory and weak demand.
• On stimulus : The Fed will keep its $600 billion bond plan in place.

In addition, there was talk about ending the Federal Reserve's accommodative monetary policy (i.e. the near-zero percent Fed Funds Rate). The FOMC's voting members unanimously elected to leave the Fed Funds Rate near 0.000 percent last month, but there was talk of raising the benchmark rate later this year.

Conforming and FHA mortgage rates are mostly unchanged since the Fed Minutes release.

Thanks for checking out our videos & blogs - Our time is dedicated your buying & selling needs. Call or click - but contact us today For more current real estate market information just visit our website at http:www.TheRealEstateGeeksTv.com

If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure here's tons of FREE information that will be very useful - http:www.Help4Ca.com until Till Next Time

Take Care, Melissa Bayles (714) 720-2555 & "Chip" Richard Esajian (714) 272-5369 The Real Estate Geeks

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The Real Estate Geeks – Plan To Sell Within 5 Years? Consider An Adjustable-Rate Mortgage.

The interest rate gap between fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages is growing. It peaked 2 weeks ago, but remains huge at 1.16 percentage points.

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The Real Estate Geeks – How To Clean A Gas Grill

Cleaning a gas grill is simple and should be performed at least once every 12 months for light use, and once every 6 months for heavy use. Here's how you do it.

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The Real Estate Geeks - How Does Your Work Commute Compare To Other Cities?

As part of the Census Bureau's data collection activities from 2005-2009, a number of interesting charts have been published at http://census.gov.

The data should not be confused with Census 2010 -- a separate survey conducted every 10 years. This is the first-ever, 5-year American Community Survey. Based on data from 3 million households, it details social, economic, housing, and demographic data "for every community in the nation".

Among the surveys:

• Median Household Income, Inflation-Adjusted To 2009 Dollars (Chart)
• Median Housing Value Of Owner-Occupied Housing Units (Chart)
• Percent Of Households That Are Married, With Children Under 18 (Chart)

The ACS survey also charts average commute time by county. The chart is shown at top.

Whether you live in a "long commute" town like Richmond, NY (40 minutes), or a "short commute" town like King, TX (3.4 minutes), rising gas prices have made commute times and distances relevant to everyone.

Since the start of 2011, the average price for gasoline is higher by 54 cents per gallon. Assuming 22 miles per gallon on a passenger car, that's an increase of 2.5 cents of gasoline per mile driven in the last 90 days. It's a cost that adds up quickly, and can affect a household budget. Plan for higher pump prices moving forward, too. Historically, gas prices surge between April and June.

The American Community Survey is loaded with charts and data. It can tell you a lot about your current neighborhood, and any neighborhood to which you may want to relocate. Then, to bridge the ACS data with community details such as school performance and typical home prices, talk to a real estate professional.

Thanks for checking out our videos & blogs - Our time is dedicated your buying & selling needs. Call or click - but contact us today For more current real estate market information just visit our website at http:www.TheRealEstateGeeksTv.com

If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure here's tons of FREE information that will be very useful - http:www.Help4Ca.com until Till Next Time

Take Care, Melissa Bayles (714) 720-2555 & "Chip" Richard Esajian (714) 272-5369 The Real Estate Geeks

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