First State Bank is Moving to a New Lake Ozark Location!!

We are excited to announce that we are moving to a BIGGER location to serve you and your buyers better. 

The Lake Ozark offices of First State Bank will be moving Monday, August 26, 2013.  The new location is located in the Elliott Interior building on the top floor. This building is right across the street from JB Hooks Restaurant. 

The new actual address will be:

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B

PO Box 1449

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Our contact information will remain the same.  

Office 573-746-7211 

Cell Phone 573-216-7258 

Michelle 573-746-7212

We 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 

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Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B

PO Box 1449

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712

What to Watch: Unemployment by State

The media keeps close tabs on the national unemployment rate, but that's just a national average. The more important number is close to home. After all, people tend to base their perceptions of the economy on experiences closest to them. That's why state-by-state unemployment numbers are so important to watch.

The map displayed with this article breaks down the unemployment rate for each state, based on the numbers for June that were released last month. Here's an overview of how those numbers shake out:

• A drop in the right direction: 11 states saw decreases in their unemployment rates
• Not out of the woods: 28 states showed increases in their unemployment rate
• Same story: 11 states and the District of Columbia had no change

The bottom line is that the labor markets are not out of the woods yet. So the national and state labor markets will be important to watch in terms of the broader economy...not to mention, your own community.

We 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 

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Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2140 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite 303B

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712

The 2103 Eldon Mustang Football Season is Almost Here!!

It’s a great time to be a MUSTANG!! As many of you know, I am a BIG Fan of the Eldon School Athletics and I am very excited for Eldon Mustang High School Football to get underway!!!  Each year the Eldon athletic programs have continued to improve and I cannot wait to see what this year's talent will bring!!

Check out the Eldon Mustangs High School Football schedule and mark your calendars for some great football!!

• Fri 08/23/13 Camdenton Jamboree Varsity Away 7:00 pm 
• Fri 08/30/13 Miller Career Academy Varsity Home 7:00 pm 
• Fri 09/06/13 Buffalo Varsity Home 7:00 pm 
• Fri 09/13/13 California Pintos Varsity Home 7:00 pm 
• Fri 09/20/13 Warsaw High School Varsity Home 7:00 pm 
• Fri 09/27/13 Versailles High School Varsity Away 7:00 pm 
• Fri 10/04/13 School of the Osage High School Varsity Home 7:00 pm 
• Fri 10/11/13 Hallsville Varsity Away 7:00 pm 
• Fri 10/18/13 Southern Boone County Varsity Home 7:00 pm 
• Fri 10/25/13 Blair Oaks Falcons Varsity Away 7:00 pm 

I hope you get a chance to come out and support the Eldon Mustangs this year!  Go Mustangs!

We 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 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2140 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite 303B

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712

6 Tips to Help you Save Money for you Next Home Purchase

If you're preparing to Buy a Lake of the Ozarks Home, then saving money is not a new topic for your.   When purchasing a Lake of the Ozarks Home, you will need a down payment, but saving for the down payment can challenging.  

Here are a few tips that can help you focus on your goals and have you in your new home sooner than you hoped!!

1. Make saving money a priority.  Have your savings deducted automatically for each pay period so that you hardly even "feel" the pain of giving the money up. 
2. Determine what is really important. Sometimes we indulge in services that we simply do not need.  Perhaps you could reduce your current cable services, phone services, extra curricular activities for yourself or your children, manicures/pedicures, expensive coffee drinks etc.
3. Plan your family menu. If you have a plan for you and your family you will be less likely to splurge on last minute "quick dining solutions" and you will have a prepared list when shopping for your weekly groceries.
4. Control your schedule. An overly busy schedule can be deadly to your budget. A busy schedule will usually result in careless spending because you are too tired to stick to your original plan.  It is likely that you will take the easy route which is usually the more expensive route.
5. Take a little time to go over your bills each year.  Many companies will have a better offer if you simply ask.  Consider calling your phone company, cable company, internet provider etc.  Check up on your bills regularly and make sure you are getting the best deal available. realized that I should really be more diligent in checking up on my bills.
6. Control Impulsive Purchases.  Set a rule for yourself that you will wait 10, 20, 30 days before purchasing items that are not on your budget.  This is an invaluable idea because it will keep your impulsive behavior in check and you may discover during your "wait time" that you do not want the item as much as you originally thought.

We hope these ideas will help you save money to buy a Lake of the Ozarks Home - we would love to meet with you and discuss your financial condition and how to position yourself to purchase your next home!!

We 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 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2140 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite 303B

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712

9 Ways to Add 5 Hours to Your Day

Do you ever feel like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything marked off your To-Do List? Here are some great tips that can add 5 hours of productivity to your work day!!

1. Never wait alone. Checkups, oil changes, long lines and hold times--all of these contribute to significant chunks of idle time. Rather than catching up on the latest celebrity gossip, bring something to work on. (30 minutes)
2. One-touch rule. Don't get back to it later--if a voicemail, email, or piece of paper takes one minute or less to handle, do it and move on. (20 minutes)
3. News Fast. Take a break from watching or listening to news first thing in the morning--it's more important to build a positive mood as you prepare for your day. (30 minutes)
4. News Faster. Get your news sources, blogs, and favorite daily content fed to a single location instead of clicking around willy-nilly. Bloglines is one resource. (20 minutes)
5. Write everything down. How many times have you gone to the grocery store with the list in your head, and still forgotten something? Write short lists on a sticky note, or simply text yourself. Same goes for the office: carrying a to-do list in your head is not just a recipe for forgetting all you have to do, it's a stress generator. (30 minutes)
6. Free your hands. Holding a phone in the crook of your neck limits your ability to do much else. Handle calls while cooking, cleaning, and driving with a headset. (30 minutes)
7. Call them all. Instead of making three or four calls to different people on the same action item, make a conference call. Freeconferencecall.com is both free and reliable--and even gives you your own line. (20 minutes)
8. Techno Freeze. Identify your most productive time during the day then turn off tech that distracts you. Setting aside email and phone for that period can easily double or triple your productivity. Turn off your TV early and save an average of 2.6 hours a day--11 days a year--according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (90 minutes)
9. Waffle check. Every minute you spend deciding what to do, buy, or wear is time you could use elsewhere. Knowing how much your time is worth per hour can help you avoid indecision. For example, "shopping around" for two hours to save $10 on shipping only makes sense if your time is worth $4 an hour. (30 minutes)

We 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 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2140 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite 303B

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712

Positive Signs in the Current Economy

There continue to be some optimistic signs in parts of our economy, specifically with the housing sector last month. Here are some indicators that the Housing Market is in good shape and it is a good time to consider purchasing a Lake of the Ozarks Home!!

• Existing Home Sales rose in May to reach the highest rate since November 2009. Housing Starts also rose by 7 percent in May to come in a whopping 28 percent higher than May 2012. 
• In other housing news, RealtyTrac reported that foreclosures rose by 2 percent in May from April. But the good news is that foreclosures have fallen 28 percent from where they were just one year ago. 
• The economy as a whole also received some good news last month. Standard & Poor's, one of the big three credit-rating agencies, raised the credit outlook for the U.S. from negative to stable. The manufacturing sector also received a boost of good news, as both the Philadelphia Fed Index and the New York State Empire Manufacturing Index came in well above expectations. And, consumers felt confident enough to open their wallets in May, as Retail Sales rose at the fastest pace in three months, led by demand for groceries, autos and building materials. 
• Although inflation at the wholesale level rose unexpectedly in May, inflation at the consumer level remains tame and overall inflation pressures remain muted, which should help keep Bonds and Lake of the Ozarks Home Loan rates at attractive levels. 
• Another factor that has helped Bonds and home loan rates remain attractive is the Fed's Bond purchase program (known as Quantitative Easing). Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke did say the Fed may begin tapering the program later this year and to finish by mid-2014. So this will be an important story to keep an eye on as economic news comes in over the next several weeks and months. 

The bottom line is that home loan rates remain attractive and now is a great time to consider a home purchase or refinance. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or someone you know.

What Caused the Recent Home Price Increase?

Home prices continue to rise and even reached a record increase recently. That's the bottom line of a recent release of the S&P/Case-Shiller Index.

What happened? 

• The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Index rose in April to beat expectations with a record 12.1 percent increase over the past 12 months. All 20 cities showed positive year-over-year returns for at least the fourth consecutive month. In addition, the following cities continued to show double-digit annual gains: Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Tampa. 

What is the S&P/Case-Shiller Index?

• The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index is the leading measure for the U.S. residential housing market. The report tracks changes in the value of residential real estate both nationally as well as in 20 metropolitan regions. 

What does it mean?

• The overall trend looks good for the housing market and the economy as a whole, as home prices have continued their rise. However, it's important to remember that all markets are unique, which means each local housing market may have its own trend.  If you have specific questions, we can help you understand the Lake of the Ozarks Housing Market. That means now is a good time to not only keep an eye on the national trend, but also to reach out to your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Lender to answer your questions and help you make an informed decision about purchasing a home at Lake of the Ozarks.

We would love the opportunity to work with you on 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 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2140 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite 303B

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712