Colorado is ranked as the third lowest state for closing costs, according to BankRate.com.

Based on a $200,000 mortgage, closing costs in Colorado are approximately $3,199. This includes bank origination fees of $1,512 plus third party fees, appraisals, and title insurance of $1,667.

The national average for the same loan is $3,754.  Missouri came in with the lowest closing costs of $3,006.  Kansas came in second with costs of $3,193.

Bankrate.com conducted its exclusive 2012 survey of closing costs in the largest city in each state, plus Washington, D.C.

Read the full story at BankRate.com.

photo credit: SalFalko

Posted in Technology And You

Spring cleaning on your mind?  Let your smart phone help you simplify and organize your life using these free apps.

Paper Karma helps you get rid of all that junk mail.  Do you find yourself standing over the trash can when you sort the daily mail? "Nothing makes your house feel more cluttered than a big stack of coupon catalogs," says an article by BrightNest.  Wouldn't it be nice to give junk mail the boot?

"Simply snap a picture of the offending catalog or mailer and within 24 hours they'll unsubscribe you from the spammer's distribution list." says BrightNest. "Not only will this help keep your home tidy, it helps the environment, too!"

iRecycle is an app that helps you figure out how to properly dispose of those unused items in your garage and home, like an old car battery or old pesticide.  The app covers over 300 materials and will help you locate a disposal facility near you.

Koubachi is the green thumb you've always wanted, states the article.  Have you ever forgotten to water your plants? "Simply add your plants to the app, and Koubachi will send you push notifications when it's time to care for a plant." according to BrightNest. "The app even takes the season and your location into account when it sends you information!"

Cozi is a free online shared calendar that helps you keep track of the whole family and their activities in one easy app! Never miss a game or school concert again!

Mint has a financial app that lets you view your account balances and purchase information.  It can even help you keep track of your budget!

BrightNest also has a free app that provides tools and tips to homeowners to help them save money, get organized and maintain their home in tip top shape.

photo credit: mikecogh

Posted in Technology And You

The statistics are startling... did you know that you spend approximately 6,000 hours in the shower in your lifetime? "That's about the same amount of time it would take your to run 1,200 marathons." says Ashley on BrightNest.com.  "So, if you're going to spend so much quality time there, why not upgrade the experience?"

Improvements that Don't Cost a lot

Replace the showerhead:  If your showerhead is giving you that spa experience with high water pressure, you can try cleaning it or it might be time to swap it out. The good news is that it doesn't have to be very expensive to give you better quality. 

If you have a standard, fixed head, you can add a rainfall showerhead like this one, for a little over $100.

Set the Mood: Create a relaxing, peaceful setting with live plants and scented candles to help relieve stress.  Set the mood by dimming the lights a little and if you have the room, add a comfy chair to relax in and maybe soak your feet!

Relaxing Music:  Pleasing the senses is what it's all about in a spa, so add some relaxing music to the mix!  

Add a Towel Warmer:  A wall mounted towel warmer is easy to install and is one spa-like amenity, the whole family will enjoy.  You can even use it to warm up your robe!

Upgrade Your Towels:   Look for plush, oversized towels for a real treat after showering.  

Get a New Look:  A new shower curtain can do wonders for your bath.  Or look into a glass door for a more polished look.

Be Organized:  Clutter is not peaceful.  Make sure everything has its place.  Use caddies for each person to keep everyone organized. 

Bring the spa experience into your home with these small improvements.  And if you're thinking about selling your home, a few upgrades to your bath can make a big difference!

Planning on Selling Your Home?

Photo Source: BergenLinen.com

Posted in Technology And You

According to the Denver Business Journal (DBJ) there were 11 mass lay-offs in January 2013 which resulted in 1,787 workers let go.  This is the highest monthly total for Colorado in nearly three years, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

"A mass layoff involves 50 or more workers at a time, at a single workplace." reports Mark Harden, News Director at DBJ. "Layoffs of that size must be reported to government officials under law."

2012 was a bleak year for jobs in Colorado.  According to the DBJ, there were a total of 104 mass lay-offs, resulting in almost 10,000 lost jobs.

"First time unemployment claims, generated by these mass layoffs, was up 221 percent in January 2013," writes Ryan McMaken, an economist with The Colorado Division of Housing.  "There were 1,787 first time unemployment claimants in January, up from 556 during January of 2012."

Mass lay-offs do not necessarily lead to more unemployment, assuming there is new hiring going on, says McMaken.  However, new hiring remains moderate in Colorado.

Read the full story at DBJ.

Posted in Technology And You

When it comes to insurance, you need to make sure you are covered in case of an auto accident, sickness, disability and natural disasters. 

But if you have more than the top 5 insurance policies that everyone should carry, it may be time to rethink what you are spending your money on.

"It's important to be covered," says Nicholas Pell, on MintLife.com. "But you can also be too covered. Paying for too much insurance takes money away from other areas, such as your emergency fund and your retirement savings."

According to Pell, other than auto, home, health, disability and a life policy, you should be fine.

Five Unnecessary Insurance Policies

 Flight insurance: Flying is one of the safest ways to travel.

 Life Insurance for Kids: Life insurance exists to replace lost income. Children have none.

 Accidental Death Insurance: Even the accident-prone should skip this insurance, which generally contains so many restrictions that it is nearly impossible to collect.

 Disease Insurance: A good health insurance policy is probably a far better investment than trying to cover yourself for every type of ailment out there.

 Mortgage Life Insurance: Another redundant form of insurance, a good term life policy will cover your mortgage in the event of your death.

So, unless you live in a flood plain or tornado alley and need an extra policy, call your insurance agent and go over the policies you have and see if there is any place to save money. (Read: My Mother Told Me to Save, But...)

Read more at MintLife.com

Posted in Technology And You