1. Check your gutters and downspouts.
2. Replace batteries in your fire alarms.
3. Fix cracks in your foundation, walkways and patio during the winter months.
4. Caulk, repair windows.
5. Move wood and junk away from your house.
6. Inspect your air conditioning unit, outdoor faucets and lights.
7. Examine roof shingles.
8. Examine the chimney.
9. Replace furnace air filter.

1. Make Leprechaun traps.
2. Wear green for St. Patrick's Day.
3. Watch Irish movies together. Try "The Secret of Roan Inish", "The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns" or "The Luck of the Irish."
4. Make a St. Patrick's Day dessert.
5. Live a greener life. Use this "green" month to teach your children how their efforts can help the environment. Conserve water by taking shorter showers, save energy by shutting off electronics when not in use, and walk instead of driving when possible.
6. Make Irish soda bread.
7. Make rainbow cupcakes.
8. Have the Leprechaun visit every night while you sleep. Similar to the Elf on the Shelf, the Leprechaun comes by every night to do mischievous things like empty the tissue box or hide the remote. 
9. Research your family tree even if you don't have Irish roots. Start with a free trial on Ancestry.com and see how far back you can trace your family's history.
10. Cook a traditional Irish Dinner.
11. Incorporate a green vegetable into your dinner plan each night. Try broccoli, brussels sprouts, peas, spinach, asparagus, cucumbers and or green beans. Tell your kids that Leprechauns love everything green and that you made some of their favorite meals. It's a great way to get them to try new veggies. For really picky eaters, offer a chocolate gold coin chaser as a reward for trying. 
12. Share your blessings with someone else. Although the December holidays are over, the need for volunteers and charitable gifts is still vital. Use your family's time and talents to give back to the community.

1. Conventional Loan- Best for borrowers with a good credit score.
2. Jumbo Loan- Best for borrowers with excellent credit looking to buy an higher end home.
3. Government- insured loan- Best for borrowers who have lower credit scores and minimal cash for a down payment.
4. Fixed-rate mortgage- Best for borrowers who'd prefer a predictable, set monthly payment for the duration of the loan.
5. Adjustable-rate mortgage- Best for borrowers who aren't planning to stay in the home for an extended period, would prefer lower payments in the short-term and are comfortable with possibly having to pay more in the future.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or to taste
• 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cubed
• 3 russet potatoes, diced
• 1 pound baby carrots
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (16 ounce) bottle stout beer, divided
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add beef; cook until evenly browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
2. Place potatoes, carrots, onion and garlic in a slow cooker; top with browned beef.
3. Pour 1/4 cup beer into the same skillet and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of beef off of the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon. Stir in tomato paste; cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Pour beer mixture into slow cooker.
4. Pour beef broth, remaining beer, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika salt and pepper into slow cooker.
5. Cook on low for 8 hours.
6. ENJOY!

JANUARY MARKET TREND

We are seeing more price reductions in the last 30 days making this an ideal time to purchase! If you have any questions or would want to learn more about what these market patterns represent and what they mean for a home buyer/seller, please text or call us at 208-684-0000. We'd love to talk!