Liz's Havasu Lifestyle Blog: May 2010

Since Lake Havasu City, Arizona is such a big vacation destination, I have some tips and advice for water safety while you enjoy the lake in Lake Havasu.  Many people come here from all around for boating, jet skiing, swimming, sun bathing, partying, and more.  But, we can find ourselves associated with water danger if we're not careful. 

The lake is where you will see plenty of dangerous situations if just four basic rules are not applied when swimming.

The four basic rules for swimming in a lake:

Learn to swim: Everyone should learn to swim at some point in their life.  If you don't know how to swim, you should wear a life jacket at all times while in or on the water.

Know your limits: Never try to keep up with swimmers who are more advanced than you.  This will surely lead to a dangerous situation.

Never swim alone: Always swim with a buddy.  The buddy system always works wonders no matter how advanced you are with your swimming.

Learn CPR: Lakes are a common body of water for drowning or near-drowning occurrences.  If you know CPR in a near-drowning occurrence, you can save a life. 

Most people think of lakes as a calm, serene body of water.  But, the fact is that most lakes are full of boating activities, jet skii, people drinking and more.  So, when you add all that together, you have the potential for danger if you're not aware of your surroundings.  Follow the above tips and advice to keep safe.  Also, remember not to drink while you swim or boat, always obey boating rules, and be courteous of others.

Bookmark & Share

Summer is usually the time of year that families decide to make the big move.  Sometimes it's across town, but other times it's across the state or across the country.  Either way, it can be stressful for the entire family, especially families who have children.  Therefore, if you're moving to Lake Havasu City, I have some tips and advice to help you keep you and your children entertained this summer. 

Lake Havasu City, Arizona is well known for being a tourist destination with tons of activities and recreation.  Lake Havasu itself is 45 miles long and sits along the Colorado River.  It's a desert lake that offers plenty of room for boating and swimming and is surrounded by beautiful cliff walls. 

Lake Havasu City is also home to the famous London Bridge, which holds the English Village of shops and restaurants just beneath it.  The local resorts contain shops and restaurants for added convenience.

If you're looking for memorable adventures, Lake Havasu City has it all.  The lake is perfect for boating, swimming, fishing, para-sailing, jet skiing, kayaking and boat excursions.  You can go camping, hiking, biking, take a hot air balloon ride, golfing, go on a safari tour, take a seaplane ride, take a ghost tour, visit the local wildlife refuges or shooting ranges and much more.  Visit www.golakehavasu.com for a list of more things to do in Lake Havasu. 

The desert itself is your open playground where you can enjoy offroading on thousands of acres.  And parks in the area are the perfect place to take the kids to play while you unwind or enjoy a family picnic. 

Lake Havasu City has all the recreation and activities you could need or want right at your fingertips.

Bookmark & Share

Today and Friday are the last days to vote early for the May 18^th election.  Over 2,350 Lake Havasu City residents have already cast their early votes for the May 18^th special statewide election, which is a little more than 7% of the city's voting population.

You can also cast your early vote at the Aquatic Center on 100 Park Avenue between 8:00am and 5:00pm today and Friday.  Lake Havasu City voters will only have one question on their ballot and that is whether or not to approve a temporary 1-cent statewide sales tax for the next three years. 

State legislators are counting on the measure "Proposition 100" to help close the budget gap.  So, money raised from the measure will go toward education, human services, health services and public safety, if it is passed.  Education is expected to receive the majority of the funding. 

If approved, the tax collection will begin June 1 and is expected to raise $918 million in the first year. 

Regular voting will begin on May 18^th from 6:00am to 7:00pm.  If you have a mail-in ballot, you can mail it to the elections department in Kingman anytime before May 18^th.

For a complete list of polling places in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, visit www.co.mohave.az.us or you can call (928) 753-0733 + #2.

Bookmark & Share

Lending standards have changed dramatically and consumers with good credit who have paid their mortgage for 10 years on time can be affected by these new changes.  Therefore, there are some things you need to know about today's lending standards. 

Even if you've been in good standing with the same bank or mortgage company for several years, when it comes to buying a home or refinancing an existing mortgage, your bank is going to treat you like a new customer right off the streets.  New banking laws require that you go through the entire process whether you are a new customer or an existing customer of 10 or 20 years.  Even if you have an excellent record with your bank, you should be prepared to be treated like a new customer.  There is a slew of new paperwork and guidelines to administer.

If you are an existing customer with your bank, don't feel like you're being singled out.  It's simply how the residential mortgage industry has changed since the big meltdown.  Now, the amount of mortgage products offered to consumers has gone down, while the required proof of income for borrowers has increased. 

While lending standards have pretty much gone back to the way they were 10 years ago, it has been a little jarring for many borrowers who are used to the "go-go" years when lenders asked for little proof of a borrower's liabilities, income and even enticed them with exotic loans with variable interest rates. 

The underwriting process for borrowers is currently being handled by three government entities that dominate the mortgage market, which include Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration.  It is very unlikely for a bank to issue a mortgage if it's not guaranteed by one of these three entities these days.  

Pre-qualification is another big issue.  Just a few years ago, you could find your dream home and then worry about financing.  Now you need to get pre-qualified for a loan before you begin your home search. 

The more educated and informed you are when it comes time to buy a home or refinance your existing home, the better off you will be.

Bookmark & Share