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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

5 Ways to Expand Your Network

Networking is all about building relationships by sharing information and finding sources of support. It's time to step out of your comfort zone, expand your network and meet new people that could help you reach your goals.  Going up to a stranger can be an intimidating task; so the next time you find yourself standing alone, try some of these networking tips!

1. Bring a Wingman  


Many people don't like going out alone or walking into a place by themselves.  One way to overcome this fear is to bring a friend along.  Together you can meet new people and expand both of your networks.  Try choosing a friend in a different industry than yours and use your conversation to draw others in.

2. Participate in Alumni Events


Alumni chapters are a great way to stay connected and network outside your industry.  These events often include graduates from all different majors and its a fun way to learn from people you don't normally interact with. You have a shared interest in the school you attended, so you can always talk about your experience there if you can't come up with a conversation starter.

3. Volunteer Time


Charity events are great places to meet people with similar interests and passions.  Choose an organization with a cause you care about and volunteer for even just a few hours a month.  Not only will you meet new people in different industries, you will be helping your community and those in need.

4. Host Your Own Event


Rather than attending events where you don't know anyone, have those people come to you. People are naturally drawn to the host, even if its just to say thanks for hosting.  Plus you are in your space and will be more comfortable than in a foreign location.  Conversation will flow more easily and the pressure of finding people to talk to will be removed.

5. Join a Business Organization


Lakelender Michael Lasson is a member of the Lake Business Builders Business Network International (BNI) Chapter.  This is a great way to get to know other business professionals in your area.  Communicating with those business professionals in diverse markets, you get feedback on how your business is perceived by others outside of your industry.  It's also a good mental exercise.

As your Lake of the Ozarks mortgage lender, I'm committed to providing you with not only updated economic information and business tips, but also information on all the local events!  I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance.  Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!

Source: http://www.success.com/article/8-ways-to-expand-your-network-today

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 


Michael Lasson
Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender
NMLS #: 493712

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B
PO Box 1449
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

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Monday, July 21, 2014

Miller County Fair Starts Tomorrow

It's that time of the year again...the Miller County Fair is back!  Lakelender Michael Lasson brings you the scoop on this wonderful family-friendly event here at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Join us July 22-26 for live music, contests, shows, carnival and more! Check out the fair highlights below.

Photo From: Miller County Fair's Facebook Page
Parade 

Kick off the Miller County Fair by attending the annual parade Tuesday evening at 6:15 pm. The parade will start at the South Elementary School and continue downtown finishing back at where it started. See local 4-H groups, community floats, vintage cars, horse-drawn wagons, and much more. This year's theme is "Sew it, Grow it, Show it”.

Compact Figure 8 Challenge 

Join the crowd on Tuesday night for some rough and tough action. For more information contact Gary Jones at 573-289-1236.

Carnival 

Ready to ride?  Fun Time Shows will be the carnival for our fair this year.  The carnival will be open Tuesday through Saturday evenings. Armbands will be available nightly for $20.00 for unlimited riding from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm.  You can purchase these same armbands for $15.00 each in advance at various locations through-out Miller County.

Little Royalty Contest 

The Little Mr. & Miss and the Prince and Princess will be selected on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm at the EHS Fine Arts Auditorium (Admission is $5.00 for adults 13 and over and $1.00 for 6 – 12 year olds). Children from Miller and the adjoining counties between (and including) the ages of four and seven will be competing for the titles.

Photo From: Miller County Fair's Facebook Page
Pageant

The Miss Miller County and Miss Miller County Teen Scholarship pageants will kick off on Monday night at 7:00 pm for the talent portion. It will take place at the EHS Fine Arts Building. The pageant will conclude on Wednesday night at 8:00 pm with formal evening wear, also to be held at the EHS Fine Arts Building(Admission is $5.00 for adults 13 and over and $1.00 for 6 – 12 year olds).

Youth Livestock Shows 

Join area youth as they compete in the Bottle Calf, Goat, and Sheep Shows on Tuesday, July 22. The Hog Show will be on Wednesday July 23 and the Beef Show will be on Thursday, July 24. Friday will be the final day with the Rabbit and Poultry Shows and the Livestock Auction.

4-H/FFA Exhibits 

Items created by local 4-H and FFA members will be on display during the week of the fair.

Truck & Tractor Pulls 

A Garden & Lawn Tractor Pull will be held Wednesday evening, beginning at 6:30 pm.  This event is sponsored by the Sleeper Lawn Tractor Pullers Association.  For information, call Joe Prater at 573-434-1014.  Thursday night come out to enjoy the Sanctioned Truck & Tractor Pull sponsored by the Mid Missouri Truck & Tractor Pullers Association.  Friday night will feature a stock Truck and Tractor Pull, beginning at 7:00.
Photo From: Miller County Fair's Facebook Page

Demolition Derby 

Join us on the final night of the fair for the ever popular Demolition Derby starting at 7:00 pm.

Lion's Club & 4-H Consessions

You'll want to include a stop at the Lion's Club or 4-H concessions stands when planning your night at the fair.  You can choose a delicious pork dinner, 1/4 lb. hamburgers, bratwursts, hot dogs, pizza, Frito Lay snacks, a cool soft drink or bottle of water and much more.  Best of all, you will find all of our concession items featured at great prices.

For more information, please visit: www.millercountyfair.com.
Photo Credit to: Miller County Fair's Facebook Page.

As your Lake of the Ozarks mortgage lender, I'm committed to providing you with not only updated economic information and business tips, but also information on all the local events!  I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance.  Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 


Michael Lasson
Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender
NMLS #: 493712

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B
PO Box 1449
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211


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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

How Much is a Down Payment on a House?

Some people stress about the amount of cash they will need to become homeowners at Lake of the Ozarks.  Depending on where you get your loan, you will see anywhere from 3.5% to 20% down payments. You will need to consult with a lender to evaluate your individualized Lake of the Ozarks mortgage loan options, but before doing that, you should consider these pros and cons of various down payment scenarios laid out by Realtor.com.

Larger Down Payments are Ideal for Lenders


A mortgage lender at the Lake of the Ozarks' job is to make an educated guess about whether you will manage to repay your loan responsibly by evaluating your credit profile, your debt-to-income ratio, your job history and your assets.  With a 20% down payment, you are investing a significant amount of your own money in your home and therefore the lender's risk is reduced.

Buyer Advantages of 20% Down 


Private mortgage insurance provides insurance to the lender in case you default on your loan.  If you put down 20%, you eliminate the need to pay for this insurance.  Other advantages of a 20% down payment on your new home at the Lake of the Ozarks include:

  • A 20% down payment will qualify you for a slightly lower interest rate than a borrower who makes a smaller down payment.  
  • You'll be borrowing less which will make your monthly payments lower.
  • You will instantly have 20% equity in your home, which you can borrow against in the future or get back as part of your profit when you sell. 

Keep in mind though, that 20% of an average home could be around $40,000.  It can take years to save that amount of money and you will need additional cash for closing costs, cash reserves in case of an emergency and moving costs. While you are working to save up that money, home prices and interest rates may have risen increasing the cost of your purchase.  

Pros and Cons of Smaller Down Payments


If you make a down payment of 5-10%, you will be able to become a Lake of the Ozarks homeowner faster since you won't have to save as much cash.  It's a smart idea to keep a robust savings account to cover emergencies and even anticipated expenses of home ownership such as maintenance and repairs. However, there are definitely some disadvantages to this option as well:

  • You will need to pay PMI to your lender, which increases your monthly payments. 
  • Your home loan will be larger, so your monthly payments will also be larger. 
  • Your interest rate will be a little higher than for someone who makes a 20% down payment. 
  • In order to qualify for a mortgage at the Lake of the Ozarks, your maximum debt-to-income ratio must be 43% or less, so a smaller down payment will make it harder to qualify for a loan. 

This decision depends on a variety of factors including home prices in your market and your personal income.  As your Lake of the Ozarks mortgage lender, I will help you make the best choice in the context of your individual financial plan.  When it comes to your financing needs, I'm committed to working with you every step of the way. I'll discuss financing options, offer competitive interest rates and back it up with the FIRST Class Service you deserve! 

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 


Michael Lasson
Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender
NMLS #: 493712

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B
PO Box 1449
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211



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Friday, July 11, 2014

Productivity Tips to Start Your Day

When doing any kind of project, whether it be cooking a meal, building a tree house or applying for a mortgage loan at the Lake of the Ozarks, you need to get all your ingredients and utensils, supplies and tools together before starting.  The same principle should be applied to your work day.  If you just jump into a task without preparing for it, you may forget something or get distracted making that task take twice as long as it should.  Planning before your day begins often makes all the difference in the kind of day you'll experience.  Start your day off right by following these 4 steps, to maximize both your time and productivity!

1. Don't Check Email Yet - Checking your voicemail and email first thing in the morning tends to make you reactive right away, losing focus and being diverted from productivity. 

2. Begin with the End in Mind - Take a moment to distinguish the urgent tasks from the important ones.  What do you want to accomplish by the end of the day?  What needs to happen so everything is completed?  

3. Make a Plan - A short planning session is all you need to help keep focused on your key tasks and goals for the day.  You should develop a daily to-do list using verbs.  For example, instead of listing "Presentation," use phrases such as "Collect Sales Data/Charts," "Find Images," and "Draft Slides" so that your key actions are covered.  

4. Prioritize Tasks - Take your to-do list and place the tasks in order of importance.  Consider attacking the most challenging items first.  Studies have shown that we have less will power as the day progresses.  

Use these tips to help achieve more goals through better morning planning!  Then pass them along to your team to create a more productive environment.  No matter if you're a teacher, doctor, athlete or mortgage lender at the Lake of the Ozarks, planning your day could be the key to a successful day and career!    

I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance.  Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 


Michael Lasson
Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender
NMLS #: 493712

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B
PO Box 1449
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211




at No comments: