If you've always rented a place to live, buying a home can seem like a monumental undertaking.  This report breaks down this process into clear steps.   Seven Steps to Transition from Renter to Homeowner   Step One:  Identify Your Needs and Wants Begin your search by considering the kind of home you need and want.  Write down your specific requirements like number of bedrooms, size of yard, floor plan, location, schools, etc.    Step Two:  Determine How Much You Can Realistically Afford Consider your budget and financial obligations.  Decide what monthly house payment you can really afford.  Most mortgage consultants advise limiting your payment to no more than one-third of your net monthly income.   Step Three:  Get Pre-qualified or Pre-Approved By a Mortgage Consultant  When you know ... 08/25/2008

Your imagination is the most powerful tool you have to improve the value of your property - and it's free.  Here's how:  Step out of your own shoes and step into your potential buyer's shoes.  Then take a good, realistic look at your house and property, and consider:  Is it appealing?  Can you imagine yourself living there comfortably?  Or do you imagine yourself putting in a lot of work to make the house and property acceptable? Most buyers are interested in three things about a property they're considering •¨      Visual appeal (landscaping, spaciousness, cleanliness, color, lack of clutter) •¨      Maintenance (everything in working order, nothing to repair or paint) •¨      Safety (locks and deadbolts, burglar/fire alarm systems, busyness of the neighborhood)   If a potential buyer ... 08/25/2008

Get yourself into hot water... Sam's Family Spa Hot Water Resort was built in 1971 on over 50 acres of selected desert property with underground hot mineral water springs. Our therapeutic pools are partially enclosed and are naturally heated by hot mineral water pumped from three underground wells which are constantly flowing through the pools.     Our wells are approximately 105 to 140 degrees and between 265 and 300 feet deep. Soak for a while and then kick back and feel the heat of our dry sauna. Now "this" is family relaxation at it's finest! Travel trailers, tents, motor-homes, campers and fifth wheels all are welcome here. We even have motel rooms for those who prefer not to camp and we have Wi-Fi! Sam's Family Spa was created and designed as a family park, so that both children ... 08/22/2008

       PALM SPRINGS, CA - The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway constructed in rugged Chino Canyon on the north edge of Palm Springs - about two hours by car from Los Angeles and San Diego - did not just happen.  It required foresight, planning, financing and, most of all a vision.  For years, it was the dream of a young electrical engineer named Francis F. Crocker to "go up there where it's nice and cool". Crocker's dream began in 1935 while he was on a trip to Banning, California, with newspaper publisher Carl Barkow.  Mopping his brow in the heat of the day, Crocker gazed on longingly at the still snow-capped peak of Mt. San Jacinto 10,804 feet high. At that moment, "Crocker's Folly,'' as it was soon dubbed by one newspaper woman, was born - a tramway up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon. I... 08/22/2008

In the past, women were often taught some pretty silly notions about money, says Nice Girls Don't Get Rich author Lois P. Frankel.  And even though a lot of these notions are outdated, many women are still affected by what they or their mothers or women of previous generations were taught.  Most women have probably heard these ideas before; the question is whether they are affecting your finances in subtle or not-so-subtle ways.  Here are some of the myths that have been passed along about women and money:   It's just as easy to marry a rich man as it is to marry a poor one.  Many women were told or taught to rely on marriage for financial security in the past, Frankel says, but marrying rich is just not something you can count on.  And if you do marry rich, divorce and other factors co... 08/22/2008

It takes a good question to get a good answer.  Yes, it would be nice if others remembered to give us all the details about something the first time the subject came up.  But we can cut to the chase by controlling the way we ask questions.  Always try to have a "specific" in every question you ask.  A specific is a word that prompts other to give you information.  For example, don't say, "What do you mean?"  Instead say, "What, precisely, do you mean by _______?"  Don't say, "How much bigger is the job?"  Instead say, "In what ways is the job bigger?"  Training yourself to ask questions in this manner will not only make you a better communicator, but it will also encourage more effective communication from the people with whom you interact.   08/21/2008

You're hearing a lot of talk these days about "Going Green" and the idea that environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility.  Going Green suggestions abound from recycling glass and plastic to carpooling and using public transportation.  But how about a "green" Halloween?   If the idea of Going Green this Halloween appeals, here are a few suggestions:   Consider your options for healthy and/or non-edible treats.  Healthy treats could include individual organic microwavable popcorn packs, "eco-friendly" candy like organic chocolate and lollipops, and small boxes of organic juice.  Non-edible treats that kids love include small boxes of crayons, erasers in fun shapes, stickers, collectible cards, and other inexpensive items from your dime/dollar store.   Provide your trick-or-... 08/21/2008

Here are some offerings from well-known authorities on the subject of why that famous - or infamous - chicken crossed the road:   ANDERSON COOPER, CNN:  We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.   OPRAH:  Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad.  So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.   DR. SEUSS:  Did the chicken cross the road?  Did he cross it with a toad?  Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.   MARTHA STEWART:  No one c... 08/21/2008

To-do lists have long been the traditional approach to managing schedules and commitments.  But today there's a growing trend to get rid of the to-do list.  Should you?  That depends.   If your to-do list works for you, why throw it out?  But if you're like a lot of people and you use your to-do list as a sort of ongoing, guilt-inducing reminder of things you need to do but keep putting off, then tossing it might be the best move for your emotional well-being.   Here's one way of dealing more efficiently with to-dos:  As each task arises, ask yourself exactly when you're going to do it.  Then write it on your calendar or put it in your electronic organizer, giving yourself an appropriate amount of time to accomplish it.  When the day arrives, you'll look at your calendar and take care o... 08/20/2008

While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground.  "That's my son over there," she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.   "He's a fine-looking boy," the man said.  "That's my daughter on her bike."   Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter.  "What do you say we go, Melissa?"  Melissa pleaded, "Just five more minutes, Dad.  Please?  Just five more minutes."   The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart's content.   Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter.  "Time to go now?"  Again Melissa pleaded, "Five more minutes, Dad.  Just five more minutes."  The man waved and said, "OK."   "My, you certainly are a patient father," the woman commented. G... 08/20/2008

Twenty-six-year old Peggy was forced to leave her job and convalesce at home because of arthritis in her ankles and feet.  She spent her time reading in bed, until one day her husband, John, brought her a used Remington typewriter instead of her requested library books.  He told his wife that she'd read just about every book in the public library, and she should get started on writing her own because he was tired of lugging home the heavy historical tomes she preferred.   So Peggy began writing a book, starting with the last chapter.  Slowly, the pages piled up, and her friends jokingly referred to it as "the great American novel."  Over the next nine years, 70 more chapters would make their appearances in no particular order - sometimes typed, sometimes handwritten, sometimes scribbled... 08/19/2008

In honor of Labor Day, September 1, and all workers, here's a look at the lighter side of labor:   My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned...couldn't concentrate.Then I worked as a lumberjack, but I couldn't hack it, so they gave me the ax.After that I tried being a tailor, but I wasn't suited for it...and it was a so-so job.Next I tried working in a muffler factory, but that was too exhausting.My best job was being a musician, till I found I wasn't noteworthy.   I wanted to start a bakery, but I couldn't raise the dough.I studied a long time to become a doctor, but I didn't have any patience.I became a professional fisherman, until I couldn't live on my net income.I managed to get a good job with a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draini... 08/19/2008

I was reading an idea from a purported sales expert. She recommends going into a sales appointment "naked." Her title even states: "Naked Sales Calls Pay Off." She writes about sales reps who she says are having extraordinary success since they started going into meetings without a brochure or any other collateral material. "Armed with only notebooks and pens, they had nothing to hide behind. ... And because they were naked, with no brochures to fall back on, they had totally client-focused conversations." She concludes, "If you rely too heavily on your marketing collateral or samples, try shedding them for a while. Go naked into your sales calls, and try having a real discussion with your prospects instead of a pitch meeting. It won't be long before you start seeing a difference."This ... 08/18/2008

Here's How To Get Your Free July 2008Guide To Cathedral City CaliforniaReal Estate Prices... If you're just starting to look for a new home in Cathedral City California, this guide could be very helpful. It's a comprehensive guide to the Cathedral City California real estate markets. Inside you'll get pictures and price ranges for 72 of the most common house style available, along with features and descriptions, so when you're driving through these neighborhoods, you'll know how much the houses generally sell for... It's like having the teacher's edition of your high school algebra book!There are locator maps of Cathedral City California so you can find your way around. The guide also includes important telephone numbers you'll need - like schools, municipal offices, and utilities.When... 08/17/2008

The Desert Circuit Horse Show Horse Show Dates DESERT CIRCUIT IJanuary 24 - 29DESERT CIRCUIT IIJan. 31 - Feb. 5DESERT CIRCUIT IIIFebruary 7 - 12OFF WEEKFebruary 14 - 19DESERT CIRCUIT IVFebruary 21 - 26DESERT CIRCUIT VFeb. 28 - March 5DESERT CIRCUIT VIMarch 7 - 12   EVENT: Indio Desert Circuit WHAT: Six-week hunter/jumper horse show circuit produced by HITS WHERE: HITS Desert Horse Park, Indio, California WHEN:  Wednesday through SundayCircuit I             January 26-29Circuit II            January 31-February 5 Circuit III           February 7-12 OFF WEEK:   NO SHOW - February 15-20Circuit IV           February 21-26Circuit V            February 28-March 5 Circuit VI           March 7-12 HOURS: 8 am to approximately 4 pm DIRECTIONS: Take I-10 to the Monroe Street exit in Indio. Go sout... 08/14/2008

Our guided trail rides take you through the canyons of Morongo Valley, with beautiful views of the San Gorgonio mountains and Mt. San Jacinto. At 3200 ft. elevation our mountainous terrain offers abundant wildlife and plant species. Experience magnificent golden eagles, red tailed hawks, and kestrels soaring high above, or perhaps see coyote pups at play, and listen to covies of Gambel's quail chirping under the cover of creosote bushes. All of our rides are accompanied by a guide to ensure the safety of our guests and horses. Coyote Ridge Stable has been in business for over 15 years. Owned and operated by Sue Lund and Sally Ellis, who along with several of the horses volunteer their time with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Mounted Search and Rescue. Sally has a Master's degree in... 08/14/2008

The Desert IMAX® Theatre is proud to be the only IMAX® 2D/3D facility in the Coachella Valley. The theater includes a six-story high screen and crystal clear surround sound that will have audiences feeling as if they are part of the picture.     68-510 E. Palm Canyon Dr.Cathedral City, CA 92234                                  www.northamericancinemas.com/desertimax.asp760-324-7333 08/14/2008

Experience Jeep Eco-Tours and Special Events by Desert Adventures. Serving the Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta, Desert Adventures' offers jeep tours of the San Andreas Fault and Joshua Tree National Park as well as numerous corporate programs and special events at our exclusive desert venues. Enjoy jeep eco-tours, hiking adventures, teambuilding programs, and wonderful parties at Desert Adventures' Metate Canyon Ranch, our exclusive and unique 1000 acre private desert preserve, located just 15 minutes from most Palm Springs area resorts. Desert Adventures was voted the Best Attraction and Best Front Line Staff by the Palm Springs Desert Resorts Convention and Visitors authority and is the winner of numerous ... 08/14/2008

Open 7 days a week, Boomers! Family Fun Park features three 18 hole miniature golf courses, batting cages, go-karts, bumper boats, laser tag, games pavilion, and more. 67-700 E. Palm Canyon DriveCathedral City, CA 92234Phone: 760.770.7522 boomersparks.com/park/palmsprings/index.html   Hours of OperationOpen 7 Days a Week, Including Holidays Monday - Thursday 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Miniature Golf & Video Games   3:00 pm - 11:00 pm Entire Park Friday 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Miniature Golf & Video Games   3:00 pm - 11:00 pm Entire Park Saturday 10:00 am - 11:00 pm Entire Park Sunday 10:00 am - 11:00 pm Entire Park   Hours are subject to change without notice due to weather or other related issues. Boomers! Palm Springs 67-700 E. Palm Canyon Dr.Cathedral City, CA 92234(760) 770-7522Yahoo Map        ... 08/13/2008

33700 Date Palm DriveCathedral City, CA 92234 Phone: 760.324.5600   Big League Dreams is the premier developer and operator of amateur recreational sports facilities in the country. Built in 1997 for $4.4 million, the Cathedral City Big League Dreams Sports Park is a sports complex that replicates Yankee Stadium. The park also offers inline hockey, softball, basketball, indoor/outdoor soccer, flag football fields, batting cages, sand volleyball courts.      www.bigleaguedreams.com 08/13/2008