Podcasts about Litchfield Park

My friends Clint and Melinda Mueller (live in Litchfield Park, Arizona; BYU grads; forensic engineering business owners) join us to share their story of having two gay sons (four sons total, sons #2 and #3 are gay—age 29 and 26 respectively—both returned missionaries). Clint talks about the long road (started in 2016) when their first son came out—and all the changed perspective needed to better support their sons (going from “not on my watch will I have a gay son” to loving/supporting them). Clint talks about deeply spiritual experiences (including talking with other gay people in his life) that helped him do better. Melinda talks about personal revelation including “your job is to love them; my job is to save them.” Clint and Melinda talk about the shock of when their second son came out following his mission—and how they were better equipped to love and support him. Clint also shares what they are doing in their LDS circle to help local leaders/members better support LGBTQ members. If you are an LDS parent new to the road of having a queer child (or be better prepared for this possibility), or a local leader, please listen to the Mueller's story. It is a powerful story of growth, pain, honest communication, keeping the family circle together, and creating a beautiful family love story. Thank you, Clint and Melinda, for being on the podcast and giving us better tools/gospel insights to support the LGBTQ people in our lives. Links: Clint/Melinda Mueller's e-mail: muellakites@muellakites.com

Anthony (Quack Nicholson) and Tommy (Quackie Chan) of the band Menace Mary join us from Litchfield Park, AZ. Nerd out with Dragon Ball Z and retro video game banter while we all get spicy random weird with the newly infamous #PollBowl. Tommy is sans gallbladder and Anthony hates the original Super Mario which leads to their first official fight as a band. Come eat shit (Tommy's dinner) with us! As always, we are proudly powered by CAMO ENERGY aka the only caffeine you'll ever need for the rest of your life. Guest and sponsor links below.  CAMO ENERGY http://camo.energy Kaiju Studios / Menace Mary http://facebook.com/menacemaryband http://facebook.com/kmsstudio91 Insta: menacemaryofficial TikTok: iambannd, menacemaryband

At just 15 years old, Ashley Shaw is set to make her LPGA Tour debut this week, playing alongside some of the world's top golfers in the Cognizant Founders Cup. Her impressive win at The John Shippen Cognizant Cup secured her a place in the prestigious tournament. With her mother by her side, acting as her caddy, Ashley is ready to take on the challenge and show the world what she's capable of. Ashley Shaw joins Arizona's Family sports anchor and reporter Nick King in this latest "Extra Point" podcast.   00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Special Guest 00:18 Ashley Shaw's Journey to the LPGA Event 01:22 The Unfazed Amateur: Ashley's Confidence and Approach 02:46 Ashley's Unique Start in Golf 04:24 The Impact of COVID-19 on Ashley's Golf Career 05:46 Family Support and the Role of Ashley's Parents 06:44 Winning Moments and Emotional Victories 09:29 Ashley's Game Strategy and Strengths 10:30 Future Ambitions and Closing Thoughts

Season 2- Episode 30 On this episode, Making Music Fun Founder, Andy, shares the importance of music in education, the many skills that are developed through learning music, the benefits of introducing your kids to many different instruments, and the many free music resources that are available to families. https://makingmusicfun.net/htm/mmf_music_library_meet_the_composer_index Andy Fling, site owner/teacher, is a graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelors Degree in Music Theory and Composition, and graduate studies in Music Theory and Composition and K-12 Music Education. In 1992 he began teaching music at a small Christian school and an excitement for teaching kids and music education began. Today he teaches to a studio full of private music students, offers art lessons, and shares the fun through this website. Andy and his wife, Tricia, share a love for Christ, and attend The Refuge Church in Litchfield Park, AZ. Homeschool Yo Kids Podcast shares organic conversations that promote confidence, a growth mindset, and are filled with inspiration and good energy. Sharing stories from the classroom, their home learning journey, and other reflections and life experiences, come grow and learn with Jae. Homeschool Yo Kids Organization is a 501c3 nonprofit that provides families with tools to aid unconventional learning experiences, helping to create a positive home learning environment. In addition to this, we are missioned to help families in traditional schools build a healthy collaborative relationship between the school and home. Visit our website!! https://www.homeschoolyokidsexpo.com/Follow us on IG:@homeschoolyokids@homeschoolyokidspodcastJoin our FB Group: Homeschool Yo Kids Jae is a former public-school teacher, now homeschooling her 2 little people. She is the founder of the 501c3 nonprofit, Homeschool Yo Kids Organization. Join Jae as she chats with homeschool families, homeschool resource providers, and others that support the homeschool community on this journey of 'reimagining what learning looks like'. Introduction Song- ChrisNTeeb -Expect- Manifestation 2*⁠⁠⁠⁠‎The Manifestation 2 by Chris-n-Teeb on Apple Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Manifestation 2 - Album by Chris-n-Teeb | Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chrisnteeb.com⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/homeschoolyokids/support

Everyone knows 2024 is an election year but amid the chatter of who will be president of the United States is a wide selection of smaller, important local Arizona elections. Residents in the small town of Litchfield Park will have the opportunity to cast their vote to be an official charter city. It's the first city in the Valley to do so in 40 years and will grant them independence from the state on things like when their elections are held and term limits on elected officials. Tempe voters have the chance to elect who will sit on their city council. They will also vote on a proposition that will impact Tempe's ability to grow. In this episode, producers Amanda Luberto and Kaely Monahan are joined by Republic reporters to discuss not only who is running and what is on the ballot, but why voters should turn out for these hyper-local elections. We'll also hear about one state senator who is trying to make changes to how cities can run their elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Singer songwriter Jenny Teator returns!! I caught up with Jenny via Zoom the other day. I had a lot of fun catching up with her talking about her new music, upcoming album and learning all about rhinestone rock. We also talk about her upcoming stop in St.Louis, MO at City Winery!  Full video on YouTube! On this episode you'll hear: Whiskey With Me  Screaming Eagles  Find more from Jenny on your favorite streaming platform or jennyteator.com. Be sure to follow along with her on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok & YouTube. See her LIVE: 1/21 at City Winery in St.Louis, MO 1/24 at The Social on 83rd Peoria, AZ 1/25 at The Montauk Scottsdale, AZ 1/26 at The Hidden House Chandler, AZ 1/27 at Litchfield's Litchfield Park, AZ 1/28 at JOJO Coffeehouse Scottsdale, AZ 2/2 at Barefoot Bar & Grill San Diego, CA 2/3 at San Diego Mission Bay Resort San Diego, CA Listen to Rock Paper Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast apps or Rockpaperpodcast.com Thank you to Friendship Brewing Company in Wentzville, MO and Flint Hill, MO for their continued support! Stop in for some delicious food or grab a couple of canned beers to take home. Be sure to come visit them for all your craft beer needs. Over 25 rotating taps, all sorts of tasty eats! Live music every weekend FBC Wentzville 1/19 Michael Marciano (7-10p) 1/20 Buddy Entwistle (7-10p) FLI-HI Music: 1/19 Fireside Duo (7-10p) 1/20 Andy Tucker (7-10p) FriendshipBrewingCo.com

We drink and review beers from Litchfield Park, AZ and Fresno, CA. In our Beer News we talk about how much berry employees earn in a year and dumbass Bud Light. In our Cöld brüt List, Sorcerer Chromatic runs down the 2023 Bourbon County Brand Stout Variants. In our Drunken Shenanigans, we talk about football (yeah, mostly 49ers).

The Historic Hassayampa Inn (1927) in Prescott, AZ is pleased to announce it is the winner of the Best Small Historic Inn/Hotel was announced at the 2023 Historic Hotels Worldwide Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony and Gala Dinner at The Wigwam, a historic resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona, USA. Awards were presented to recipients before an audience of owners, senior management, industry leaders, and representatives from the finest historic hotels around the world. The Historic Hassayampa Inn (1927) is one of more than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the United States that is recognized Historic Hotels of America for preserving... For the written story, read here >> https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/prescotts-hassayampa-inn-wins-2023-historic-hotels-of-america-award/Follow the CAST11 Podcast Network on Facebook at: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network

Leo is in Litchfield Park and wants Gunner to razz his buddy Oscar, who works at a local Mattress store. Gunner is going to call him as a dude who can't afford a new Mattress to see if he will barter with him for the mattress. Gunner has a backstory and EVERYTHING! Will Oscar show Gunner some sympathy and hook him up?

Rob and Aaron get a personal tour from Mel Clement, President of the Pine-Strawberry Archaeological And Historical Society. Mel is a third generation Arizona native and a direct descendent from some of Pine-Strawberry's original settlers. Join us on this journey through the museum and make sure to stop by and support Mel and the rest of the volunteers efforts during your next trip to the rim.

Rob and Aaron do what they do best. Sit around smoking cigars, drinking whiskey and talking.

Professor Beerkowski talks about the role women played in the beer industry from it's conception to the modern day bevolution. After the lesson, we drink and review beers from Transplant City Beer Co. (Litchfield Park, AZ) and Hen House Brewing (Santa Rosa, CA). We discuss beer int the Metaverse, NFL Free Agency team grades, and how Greg ruined his computer. SMH!

‘Sky's in Pine' is home to some of the most beautiful and unique furniture on the market. Like all things on our podcast we knew there was a story behind the shop and we sit down with the namesake and master craftsman of the shop Ron ‘Sky' Davidson. We were lucky enough to spend time with Sky to hear the why behind the shop and how these unique furnitures pieces came to be. Enjoy this conversation and stop by Sky's next time on your trip to Pine. Special Guest: Ron Davidson.

This episode's guest on Xtreme One to Watch is bubbly, talented, Kailee Murdock, from Litchfield Park, Arizona. This interview was filmed the day before Kailee set the fastest time and won the first-ever Xtreme Mini Million in Las Vegas, earning her over $17,000 in one weekend. Learn how Kailee got started running barrels, and the many amazing horse, and life stories, she openly shares with us. You will fall in love with her dynamic energy, and fun personality. As she navigates life's hard challenges with a smile.

If you've driven the 87 through Pine you've likely seen the sign for ‘The Honey Stand'. And if you made the decision to stop and browse the delicious selection of honey and other delectable treats you certainly weren't disappointed. As you would guess ‘The Honey Stand' has honey of all shapes and sizes but honey isn't the only thing they carry. They also have some delicious fresh salsas, jam's, jellies, bee pollen and butters to name a few. We've been customers of the stand and we're interested in the history of the building and why Pine Arizona. We we're delighted that Robert Fuller was willing to share with us the history of the stand which extends well beyond its Honey Stand days and started in a different location then where it sits today. So enjoy this conversation with Robert and be sure to say hi during your next visit to Pine. Special Guest: Robert Fuller.

Ian Harwell knows beer. The man literally has the words “Beer Guy” on his business card. Ian was the guy in charge of the amazing beer program at Ground Control for years. Then in 2019 he and his wife Stephanie purchased the Litchfield Park favorite. Known by many for their beer selection, Ground Control is starting to become known for much more. With everything from an award-winning brunch to one of the best hot chicken sandwiches in the Valley, Ground Control needs to go on your shortlist of must-hit's . 

When you think delicious wood fired pizza you may not think Pine, Arizona. After spending some time with Chef Mike Dahling you should. Chef Mike Dahling along with his wife Jessie own and operate Old County Inn, Pinewood Tavern and Pine Provisions Delicatessen and Bottle Shop located in Pine, Arizona. Old County was their first restaurant in Pine and the pizza is among the best in Arizona, which is no stranger to great pizza. Arizona regularly has names among the best pizza in the country and Old County certainly holds their own. We would know as we ate there twice during our most recent overnight visit to Strawberry - Pine. Enjoy this episode with Mike and make sure and say hi during your next visit to Pine. Special Guest: Chef Mike Dahling.

The best thing about this podcast is the opportunity to meet new friends and hear the why behind their story. This was certainly true with our new friends Terry and Rick from Pine Creek Canyon Lavender Farm in Pine, Arizona. The restorations that Terry and Rick have made to the historic property preserved the legacy of the original homestead all while repurposing the ground for something unique and refreshing. In addition to the wonderful scent we learned of the many uses and types of lavender that all exist on the farm. Why lavender? Why Pine? All these questions and more are answered during our time with Terry. Enjoy this episode and be sure to stop by during your next visit to Pine - Strawberry, just follow the wonderful scent! Special Guest: Terry Gorton.

We're back! After the last couple of years we've all had, we deserve to get back out on the road and I can't think of a much better place for that adventure to start than at the Strawberry Inn. We had the pleasure of chatting with owner Amber Eilers after our stay at the Inn in mid September. Located off highway 87 in the beautiful pines of the Arizona rim country sits the Strawberry Inn. This beautiful boutique hotel is as unique and inviting as the landscape around it. Through our travels through the rim country we've heard great things about the inn and it did not disappoint. Each room is unique in its decor and features and all look out onto the beautiful courtyard complete with tables and yard games. Our room was comfortable and had plenty of room for our overnight visit to the town. The main property is just a piece of the hospitality that the Inn offers in town. You can also experience the unique feel of the inn through the private cabins, tiny cottages or airstreams. All uniquely Strawberry. As always this wouldn't be possible without out awesome sponsors. Please be sure to visit and support all guests and sponsors! Special Guest: Amber Eilers.

Melody in Litchfield Park wants Gunner to razz her husband, John. They just moved into a new house-- well, it's a new house to them but it's older and needs a lot of upgrades like new counters, flooring & plumbing. The plumber is switching out the sinks and toilets in the house, so Gunner is going to call John from the plumbing company they hired to do the work!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before the southwest Valley was filled with grocery stores, an airport and real estate, it was home to Latino farmworkers employed by Goodyear Farms.  Hundreds lived in five different camps made up of tents and wood-framed houses.The tight-knit communities were the first permanent residents of what is now Litchfield Park.  In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, producer Maritza Dominguez walks us through the history of the Mexican laborers who were recruited to work in Arizona's cotton industry, the campsite communities on Goodyear Farms and the Latino farmworkers' impact on the development of the southwest Valley.

Vanessa is in Litchfield Park, she wants Gunner to razz her husband Jacob! So you know how most people have their basketball hoop at the end of their Driveway? Well, Gunner is going to call Jacob at work & thank him for the basketball hoop which Gunner was assuming he was giving away because it was at the end of the driveway. Of course, Gunner will drop an " I Love You Man" at the end of the call... but will Jacob return the love?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our Cöld Brüe List, we go over the Top Ten ZZ Top songs as well as add a few more of our favorites. We drink and review Coastal Hybrid (7% ABV), a mix of West Coast & Northeast style IPAs, brewed by Transplant City Beer Co. (Litchfield Park, AZ). We also drink and review Matryoshka (12.8% ABV), a Russian imperial stout barrel-aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Westward Whiskey barrels, brewed by Fort George Brewery (Astoria, OR). In our Beer News, we discuss the 11 brands cut by Molson Coors, Four Seasons Landscaping's new beer collaboration, and a widow who drank a 50 year old can of Coors Banquet Beer.

J-MILLA is an indigenous Australian hip hop musician from the Mak Mak Marranungu tribe of the Litchfield Park area in the Northern Territory. He was born in Darwin, and started rapping at the age of 11. Our local music show Fresh Mint with Matt Bern recently had him in for a chat while rolling some dice in the alley!J-MILLA current single is Fresh - out now

In this episode, beer reviewer Marcus Pina, aka Brewery 602, reviews the "Rebuild The Guild IPA" from Wrenhouse Brewing in Phoenix & "No Trabajes Tanto Amber Lager" from Harbottle Brewing in Tucson. Also, Tap That AZ Hazy IPA is back but with prickly pear this time! Listen to hear the details of that as well as a week-long 14-year anniversary party for the great folks at Ground Control in Litchfield Park. Shout out to The Hourglass Cats for the sweet tunes for this episode! Enjoy!

Greg talks with Ian Harwell, owner of Ground Control in Litchfield Park, AZ. Ground Control is a coffee bar, restaurant, and taproom with a wide selection of beers on tap and to-go. Ian talks about his journey in craft beer, trying to keep a restaurant afloat during the pandemic, and the future of Ground Control.

Official Website: https://www.lawabidingbiker.com Harley-Davidson has been making a ton of changes to the overall company structure in 2020. I've released several highly viewed videos on our YouTube channel in reference to this subject and I'll list them below along with some related podcast episodes we've done. It seems the temporary CEO, Jochen Zeitz, is trying to realign the company and has even pulled out of some overseas markets.  Per Zeitz, the company is going to focus most of its efforts on its current line up of bikes and on its current core customers, while still trying to attract a new generation of riders.  SUPPORT US AND SHOP IN THE OFFICIAL LAW ABIDING BIKER STORE In this podcast episode, I brought on guest Michael Rubinson, who is a 28-year-old rider and currently rides a Yamaha cruiser. He would really like to buy a Harley but the Motor Company has put up many barriers to entry over the years when it comes to attracting that younger generation of rider.  Michael and I discuss many of those barriers and what Harley should do in 2021 to not only serve its current core customers and riders but to try and break down the entry barriers to younger riders.  CHECK OUT OUR HUNDREDS OF FREE HELPFUL VIDEOS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND SUBSCRIBE! Listen in to this episode as we dive in deep on this subject matter. Michael has some great insight and suggestions for Harley.  Related: Harley Changes in 2020 Videos and Podcasts: Video-New Harley CEO Jochen Zeitz Making Emergency Changes! Sales Plummeting!! Video-Harley-Davidson End Times! CEO Matthew Levatich Quits Podcast-241-Harley-Davidson End Times! CEO Levatich Quits? Podcast-252-Harley-Davidson’s Efforts to Draw a Younger Generation-Guest Michael Rubinson NEW FREE VIDEO RELEASED: I Rode to Sturgis With These Motorcycle Shoes! Reax Fulton Sponsor-Ciro 3D CLICK HERE! Innovative products for Harley-Davidson & Goldwing Affordable chrome, lighting, and comfort products Ciro 3D has a passion for design and innovation Sponsor-RickRak CLICK HERE The Ultimate Motorcycle Luggage Rack Solution Forget those messy straps and bungee cords Go strapless with a RickRak quick attach luggage system & quality bag Sponsor-Butt Buffer CLICK HERE Want to ride longer? Tired of a sore and achy ass? Then fix it with a high-quality Butt Buffer seat cushion? New Patrons: Boady of Princeton, TX Chris Spann of Helena, Alabama Hoss Segura Dan Besserer of Litchfield Park, AZ Richard Smith Cameron Shier of Byron Center, Michigan Chris Slaughter of Hammond, Louisiana Neil Baird of Draper Utah Mark Miller of Bella Vista, Arkansas If you appreciate the content we put out and want to make sure it keeps on coming your way then become a Patron too! There are benefits and there is no risk. Thanks to the following bikers for supporting us via a flat donation: CARL SCHOLL SR JOHN NORRIS OTILO VIRAMONTES of Santa Clarita, CA ________________________________________________________ FURTHER INFORMATION:   Official Website: http://www.LawAbidingBiker.com   Email & Voicemail: http://www.LawAbidingBiker.com/Contact   Podcast Hotline Phone: 509-731-3548   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawabidingbiker      Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawAbidingBiker

Embodiment and wellness can mean different things to different people, and the Beths agree that what's important is to define them for yourself. Beth J shares how her own practice of embodiment has transformed over the past few years, culminating in her most recent embodiment exercise: writing a letter to her body and writing a letter from her body to herself. At first, she shares, she cringed a bit at the thought of engaging with this exercise, imagining that it would be cheesy or silly. After going through the exercise, though, she discovered how freeing and grounding it is to recognize both the unity and the distinction between the body and the self. Beth Z discusses her own embodiment journey, exploring her decision to stop taking hormonal birth control and instead tracking data from her body in order to map her cycle. This journey has been both freeing and informative for her, allowing her to connect much more deeply with her body and to feel a closer connection with nature as well. For both Beths, the past several months have been ones of sinking deeper into their bodies, enjoying the sensations of living and aligning with natural cycles and patterns. Grab a free 1-on-1 coaching session with Beth Z, and connect on Instagram. Read Through the Kaleidoscope, by Elizabeth Jeffries Recording date: December 6, 2020 Location(s): Beth J at Allegheny Commons Park West in PA, Beth Z at Litchfield Park, AZ Theme Song by DiLisio --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/walking-in-the-wilderness/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/walking-in-the-wilderness/support

Today, the West Valley is home to 1.7 million people, according to data collected by the Western Maricopa Coalition. And it’s still growing. The coalition anticipates that over the next 25 years, 49.5% of the growth in Maricopa County will happen in the West Valley. That's vastly different from what it was like in the beginning of the 20th century. Before Arizona had towns like Avondale, Goodyear and Litchfield Park, the West Valley was barren. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we're diving into the history of the Southwest Valley. What took it from the desert to what it is today? And we're doing that thanks to a question from listener Dale Arel, who asked how Paul Litchfield shaped the Valley

Ten55 Brewing Company in Tucson, Arizona.

StealthSeminar is the longest-running automated webinar in existence that autopilots your efforts and lets you run pre-recorded webinars as if they are live to better leverage time, avoid tech failures, and remove presentation nerves. In this week’s show, you’ll meet Geoff Ronning, the CEO of this AMAZING must-have tool. Part One of ‘Interview with Geoff Ronning - Stealth Seminar’ Geoff Ronning resides in Litchfield Park, Arizona. His business focuses on automating webinars, generating leads & sales, building authority, and optimizing results. Geoff has helped thousands of clients successfully automate their webinars, and the numbers keep growing daily! Geoff Ronning is also into boxing, sanctioned by the USA Boxing Association, which is the same sanctioning body that sends people to the Olympics. They have divisions for older guys like him. He was such a big fan of boxing during his teenage years, but he got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. His doctor told him, “You have to start working out.” So, that was the time he tried boxing and loved it. “You can market without having the coolest, highest tech and shiniest object in the room.” — Patrick Allmond (29:12-29:19)   You can't argue with a company that uses a product that generates millions of dollars a month. So, it's worth mentioning that I've been in the digital marketing industry for many years, I see a lot of products come and go, but Stealth has always been there. Part Two of ‘Interview with Geoff Ronning - Stealth Seminar’ Before creating a webinar software, Geoff performed all over the United States and became an instructor of hypnosis through the National Guild of Hypnotists. Now, he doesn’t need to hire someone to do the automation for him because he created a software himself that works across an array of niches. Thus, it also brought about all the other things like Netflix, which used to be challenging to do back in the 90s. “We can all agree that McDonald's does not have the best burgers. But their killer marketing makes them different from the other popular brands.” —  Patrick Allmond (29:40-29:51) Geoff shares one of the biggest lessons he learned during his 20s — make sure that you’re always marketing. It should be a non-stop activity. He says that running a business isn’t supposed to be a complicated thing to do. You only need to identify your target clients and give them what they want. I just wanted people to know more about his great tool because it’s helping many businesses out there to increase sales conversions!   You can check out the main features of StealthSeminar through this link: https://www.stealthseminar.com/compare-us/ How to Connect More with Geoff Ronning Websites: https://geoffronning.com/,  https://www.stealthseminar.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffronning/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/geoff.ronning Twitter: https://twitter.com/stealthseminar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geoffronning/   About Patrick Allmond Patrick Allmond is a multi-decade entrepreneur, veteran, pilot, and ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX Contributor. He is also the founder of Focus Digital Marketing Agency and the StopDoingNothing movement. Action is the great thing that separates the average from the great. Decide today which one you want to be. Business mastery, generating wealth, personal development, and many more. You get to pick your transformation! https://stopdoingnothing.com/

We sit with the wonderful human and renown Chef Maria Mazon of BOCA Tacos y Tequila in Tucson, Arizona. Being an Arizona native I have tasted many tacos in my life and BOCA's may be the best ones yet. Never have I had the chance to enjoy tacos in front of the chef that crafted the recipes and truly describe the tastes that we were enjoying. It was indeed an experience second to none. Enjoy this episode with awesome person and chef Maria. Make a trip to the old pueblo and enjoy some of the finest and most unique tacos out there. Special Guest: Chef Maria Mazon.

We were lucky enough to be able to enjoy some great beer and conversation with Dennis Arnold. Dennis and his wife founded Arizona's oldest brewery Barrio Brewing Co. (https://barriobrewing.com) Even though we just met Dennis that evening it felt as though we were catching up with an old friend. The friendly atmosphere is felt through Barrio’s employees and the building itself. In fact, Dennis designed the bar to have enough area that he would have room to stand and enjoy drink and conversation with his customers. The word barrio means neighborhood and Barrio Brewing Co. has embraced that idea fully. Earlier this year Dennis made good on the idea to make Barrio Brewing 100% employee owned. It was his way of giving back to his community of individuals who helped build Barrio into what it is today. So when in Tucson be sure to stop by and enjoy some delicious food, beer and conversation. Cheers! Special Guest: Dennis Arnold.

This episode is a sermon delivered via zoom to the congregation of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Litchfield Park, AZ for online worship for the weekend of May 30th and 31st. Music by Epidemic Sound Contact Matt at @mattyinaz on Twitter and Instagram

Sarah's been a photographer for over 13 years. She specializes in personal branding imagery and helps businesses get personal by showing who they are, what they do, and why they do it … through powerful imagery. She believes that good businesses educate their clients and should illustrate that as well. She offers photography branding packages and one minute brand story videos to clients. Sarah lives in Litchfield Park, AZ and frequently travels to the San Francisco Bay Area, Southern CA, and Chicago for shoots. BUSINESS BUILDING INSIGHTSBe everywhere. Go out and meet people. Create connections with entrepreneurs in your industry. Don’t get stuck in comparison. More competition does not mean less business. It means more people need your service. Always be communicating what your brand is and the benefits it provides. Clearly define what you have to offer. If you confuse you lose. Good businesses educate in addition to providing a product or service. When talking about your business, position it as the client's story and experience of working with you. Lack mentality will hold you back. There is business for us all. RESOURCES MENTIONED Send Out Cards (https://www.sendoutcards.com/app) Write Solutions (https://abbymherman.com/) Building a Story Brand (https://amzn.to/3bkChmY) by Donald Miller Tuesdays Together (https://www.honeybook.com/risingtide/the-details) - The Rising Tide Society CONTACT LINKS Website (http://www.sarahhoagphotography.com) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sarahhoagphoto) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sarahhoagphotography) Join Our FREE Gift Biz Breeze Facebook Community Become a Member of Gift Biz Breeze (https://www.facebook.com/groups/GiftBizBreeze) If you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe so you automatically get the next episode downloaded for your convenience. Also, if you'd like to do me a huge favor, please leave a review. That helps other creators like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: (https://ratethispodcast.com/giftbizunwrapped) Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gift-biz-unwrapped/id986323267) Google Podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5naWZ0Yml6dW53cmFwcGVkLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Q=&inf_contact_key=f00b9b282a6156da6dc2e642eb167c2f680f8914173f9191b1c0223e68310bb1) Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/380HmeoVquMHRzOepaoF0s) Thank so much! Sue

Another great season is in the books! Join all of us at Lake Pleasant and we discuss some of our favorite parts from this past season.

In this episode I head over to Litchfield Park to hang out with the guys from TCBC. A great little taproom supplemented by fantastic beer and great people. Hell yes, I'm in. Make a trip over there ASAP. In the meantime enjoy the show!

(Season 1: Episode 3) South African born PGA professional Warren Schutte joined Jason & Alli Wiertel to share his astounding golf journey and expert perspective on Episode 3 of Grow the Grind. The former UNLV Running Rebel was an NCAA Individual National Champion, Masters participant (with Mr. Palmer), and currently runs the Warren Schutte Players Academy in Litchfield Park, Arizona.  Joining Warren throughout the hour long segment, is his golf prodigy daughter Abbey. The 15-year-old phenom has built an impressive junior golf resume over the past few years, and continues to pave her own way in the sport that has brought so much the Schutte Family over the decades. Warren & Abbey are absolutely sensational on any golf course, but they shine even brighter as people off of it. Their welcoming message of patience, work ethic, and enjoying the GRIND is a lesson for all to hear. 

(NSFW) This week Ed, Nate, and Chris head out to the far West Valley to Litchfield Park to chat with new owner Ian Harwell of Ground Control fame. Where the motto has always been No Crap on Tap! Special guest the AZ Bearded Realtor Francisco Isaula joins the guys to go over what he is doing out west to high light some amazing business like Ground Control. So look for that special video edition of the show coming to his video feed. We dive in and put them both through the rapid round.  Guest Info: Ground Control - Ian Harwell 4860 N. LITCHFIELD RD., LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ 85340 https://www.groundxcontrol.com/ https://www.instagram.com/groundcontrollitchfield/ AZ Bearded Realtor Francisco Isaula https://www.instagram.com/azbeardedrealtor/ https://www.facebook.com/AZBEARDEDREALTOR/ Our Information: Music Credit: Takotsubo Men The assorted sounds of three ageing humans hitting things in a studio for five days. Beautifully nasty and pretty vile at times but ultimately gorgeous. Enjoy! Intro: Skint But Free Outro: Takotsubo Man Follow them! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakotsuboMen Twitter: https://twitter.com/TakotsuboMen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TakotsuboMen Contact us! Instagram: @hoppycraftsmen Twitter: @hoppycraftsmen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hoppycraftsmen/ E-mail: hoppycraftsmen@gmail.com Blog: http://hoppycraftsmenpodcast.com/ YouTube: Hoppy Craftsmen – Craft Beer Podcast Support US! Buy Us a Beer! For as little as a dollar a month you can help a bearded white guy drink a good craft beer. Your generous donation will help supply thousands with the gift of more podcasts and we are pretty sure inappropriate humor as well. Invest in Us!  Rate us on iTunes! Want to help us reach a bigger audience and keep the episodes coming? Then head over to iTunes and Give us a rating and feedback! Tell A Friend! Tell someone you know about our show! If you know that a friend likes or loves craft beer tell them to give us a listen. Or if you know someone who is new to craft beer and you are tired of telling them about the scene, let us be your soap box! Or have an amazing whale that you want to share with the world. Go on your social media platform of choice and give us a shout out. Use the hashtag #hoppycraftsmen and we’ll respond in kind. Probably in some form of emoji and maybe a super rad type of comment. You get the picture.

In this episode of the podcast Rob, Steph, and our good friend Roger Naylor sit down with Bill Murray, Chief Flattery Officer and co-owner of the Verde Lea Market Deli and Grill on Main St in beautiful Cottonwood! This quaint market has a been in the area since the 1980’s and Bill and his wife Missy have owned it since 2003. It is known to locals and the foodie who loves scouting out local treasures. Bill and Roger swap stories about burgers, tortas, and the Cottonwood community, while Stephanie and Rob sample the menu! Bill also tells the story of the Verde Lea from dairy to deli, and how state politics and changes in the local market affect his business. We hear about the challenges and the blessings of running a small business. You can hear the pride in Bill’s voice as he talks about how his customers have become friends and the wonders of watching the generations grow. When you are in the Cottonwood area, stop in, grab a torta or a burger, and tell Bill we sent you! Enjoy! Special Guests: Bill Murray and Roger Naylor.

All aboard! We were lucky enough to ride one of the last 'Starlight Tours' of the season. Departing from Clarkdale, AZ aboard the wonderfully refurbished train cars, we traveled through the beautiful Arizona scenery that is the Verde Canyon. The 'Starlight Tour' leaves in late afternoon shortly before sundown. It allows plenty of time to take in the striking scenery around you on the way out from the depot. The return trip takes you back to a simpler time where the stars shined brighter unfazed by city lights. The Verde Canyon Railroad has different theme rides throughout the year that all people can enjoy. Before our ride we were able to spend time with Ellen Roberts from the railroad. We had a great time talking with Ellen while she told us a little about her history and that of the Verde Canyon Railroad. Everything was recorded on the train as you can tell by the train soundtrack heard throughout the episode. This is just a small snippet of the amazing time we had on the three hour tour. You'll have to make the short 1.5 hour trip north of Phoenix and experience this one for yourself. With Christmas coming up you won't want to miss the 'Magical Christmas Journey' where you are magically transported to the North Pole. Enjoy! Special Guest: Ellen Roberts.

We kick off Season 4 with a bang! We had the honor and pleasure of spending the day with Roger Naylor. Roger is writer whose work can be found in his many books, The Arizona Republic, and state publications. After breakfast at Crema, one of The Haunted Groups many delicious Cottonwood restaurants, we travel to Dead Horse Ranch State Park just a few minutes from Old Town Cottonwood. Rather than attempting to write about the man who makes a living doing just that, enjoy our conversation with Roger and be sure to pick his works which can all be found on his website www.rogernaylor.com. Enjoy! Edited by: Alexander Payan of Huntington University in Peoria, Arizona Special Guest: Roger Naylor.

We sit down for food, drink and conversation at Red's Bar and Grill located at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park. Reds has become the regular stop for each of our season’s final episodes. Next time you stop at Reds, make sure you ask for our new friend Rhianna who took great care of us! Season 3 brought with it some great guests and stories from all corners of the Valley. One meal is not nearly enough time to share all that we loved about this past season. We simply scrape the surface and highlight each episode from this past season. Thanks to all the guests that spent time with us this season and of course thanks to our great season sponsors MLR Pro Tax Service and Credit Union West for making this possible. Both are great local businesses that love the state and community they serve. Be sure to check out our sponsors and all our great guests from this season. Cheers!

Attention: Parents, church leaders, and caring adults! In this episode, we discuss the spiritual life of teenagers, the mysterious work of youth ministry, and ways to incorporate youth into a faith community.  My guests are Liz Hengst, Minister of Youth at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Litchfield Park, Az and Jesse Villegas, Canon for Youth and Young Adult Ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona.   Donate and support the show at www.patreon.com/practicemakespresence!   Reach Matt at listen@practicemakespresence.com Reach Liz at Liz.Hengst@hotmail.com Reach Jesse at Jesse@azdiocese.org    

In this episode we travel all the way to north Peoria where we enjoy wine and cigars on Robs back porch. We spend the time sharing what motivated us to start the podcast and what we’ve learned throughout this inaugural season. We also share some of our favorite moments spent with our guests and experiences we’ve shared. Now one cigar and a bottle of wine does does not provide enough time to share all the experiences we gained throughout the season, we simply scratched the surface. We also share a small preview of things we can expect for season 2 where we ask you as the listeners to get involved and provide feedback on what you want to hear about. We thank you for coming along on this journey with us and hope to provide you with entertainment and education in the seasons to come.

In this weeks episode we tour the Litchfield Park Historical Society Museum located on the grounds of the former Litchfield mansion. Judy Cook, who is a board member and caretaker of the museum, guides us through the many exhibits that tell the origin stories of Litchfield Park, Goodyear and the surrounding areas. Judy expands upon many of the stories we heard last week about the founding of the Wigwam and how they have impacted the rest of the surrounding community. Goodyear and Litchfield Park may have started with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber cotton fields but have grown exponentially since. From aerospace engineering firms that assisted with war effort and would later turn into a major employer for the city, to the development of the Wigwam resort corridor, and ultimately to the major residential areas that have followed in recent decades, all started with the cotton fields. If you’re a student of history and enjoy hearing of the correlation within the West Valley you’ll enjoy this episode. Special Guest: Judy Cook.

In this episode of the Not So Native Podcast we sit down with the Social Media and Marketing Manager of the beautiful 4-Star Wigwam Resort, Sarah Boyd. The Wigwam’s luxurious history in Litchfield Park starts shortly after Arizona’s joining of the lower 48, before many of the valleys other well known luxury resorts like the Phoenician and Biltmore, and decades before Phoenix became the sprawling metropolis it is today. We spend the majority of our time together in the Organization House of the resort which is in the midst of its 100 year anniversary celebration. As Sarah describes, much of the room today is as it was a century ago, the room has become a piece of history and one of the many reasons the Wigwam is a member of ‘Historical Hotels of America’. She continues to share with us more history of the resort as well as some unique features such as the doors and windows throughout the property that pay homage to the resorts founders, Goodyear Tire and Rubber. After our time with Sarah we ventured to Reds Bar and Grill and enjoyed the delicious and renowned Arizona burger paired with their exclusive brew the Wigwam ale (both highly recommended). Be sure and book your next vacation, or if your local like us your next staycation, at the beautiful Wigwam resort, you will not be disappointed. Be sure to say hello to Sarah and let them know that the No So Native Podcast sent you. Enjoy! Special Guest: Sarah Boyd.

A conversation on LOS CAMPOS DE LITCHFIELD PARK, including the amazing story of Paul W. Litchfield and the life, work, faith, service, celebrations, and contributions of the hundreds of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the labor camps around farming, livestock, construction, and much more.

12 West Two Year Anniversary At: 12 West Tap Room at Barnone 3000 East Ray Road Barnone, Building 6, Suite 110, Gilbert, Arizona 85296 Friday, November 23rd 11 am - 11 pm It's hard to believe it's been 2 years already! Join us for one amazing anniversary party.  Stay tuned for: -Can Releases -Special Tappings -Live Music -New Merch 12 West Beach Cruiser Raffle! Huge thanks to our friends at Image One Sign Company and SOUL Beach Cruisers for putting this together for us. Raffle tickets are $5. Winner will be announced at the Anniversary. Grand Opening for Transplant City Beer Co. 107 W Honeysuckle St, Litchfield Park, Arizona 85340 Saturday, November 24th 11 am - 10 pm Transplant City Beer Co. is located where the original location of Peoria Artisan Brewery was by the Wig Wam Resort in Litchfield Park. Who’s going to be thirsty on Saturday, November 24th? Join us and help us celebrate what still feels like a crazy dream. Other than the brews, we’ll have sodas and snacks, plus we will always have FREE juice boxes/Capri Suns for kids. Don’t forget about our dog-friendly patio as well.  Fayuca RiZing: Festival De Beer y Musica At: Helio Basin Brewing Company 3935 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85018 Wednesday, November 21st 4:30 pm - 11:30 pm Benefiting ALAS De America. All Ages Food + Bravo Pay Beer Garden + Craft Beer + Games + Tacos $10 or $8 Via Bravo Pay app (@fayucabeer) Kids 16 under $5 Schedule: Jam Now (Rock) 5:00pm Wyves (Rock) 6:00pm Black Moods (Rock N Roll) 7:00pm Mercado Negro (Cumbia/ Reggae) 9:30pm This Weeks Beer Review The Beer: King Kota The Brewery: The Shop Beer Co + Wandering Tortoise Collab The Reviewer: 602Brew.  Thanks to Fayuca for the episode music      

In this episode, I made my way over to Litchfield Park to hang out with Ian and Tara from Ground Control, an Arizona craft food and drink bar. This place has it all: great food, artisan coffee, an amazing craft beer selection both on the retail side and on tap as well as wine, cocktails and Arizona Meade. Can you really beat a place that has amazing craft beer on tap AND makes their own gelato? Yeah, I don’t think so. Stay tuned after the show to see how you can win a $25 gift card for Ground Control. Don't forget about their Red, White, and Brew Festival coming up November 17th. Find tickets here. You'll hear more about that in the episode. Enjoy! Ground Control Website Ground Control Instagram Ground Control Facebook Shout out to the show sponsor, Goodfellas Merch out of Glendale Intro/Outro music is "La Negra Tomasa" by the awesome local Arizona band Fayuca Want to show your support and help this show grow? Simply click here, give the show a rating and share some feedback!

Danny Escobar is entering his fourth season with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He is currently serving the Angels as the Return to Performance Coordinator, overseeing the training progressions for players who are limited in physical activity. Danny spent his first two years as the Strength Coach for the Rookie Affiliate in the Arizona League, and then spent his third year with the High-A Affiliate, the Inland Empire 66ers in San Bernardino, CA. Prior to joining the Angels, Danny was privately training athletes at local training centers and on-campus in Goodyear, AZ. At the time, most of his clientele centered on middle school- and high school-age football, volleyball, track, and baseball athletes. Previously, he worked at FittQuest Training Systems in Phoenix, as well as at Foothills Sports Medicine & Rehab/FAST Training in Litchfield Park, AZ. In 2014, Danny was an intern with Northern Arizona University’s Track & Field team, where he assisted with the Sprints and Hurdles training regimen. At NAU, Danny completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science, which had an emphasis on cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. If you would like to learn more from Danny, you can follow him on social media: Instagram: @edanielescobar Twitter: @edanielescobar

In this episode I sit down with Matt Frosch from Peoria Artisan Brewery. We met at the actual brewery located in Peoria. They also have a tap room, which was the original location, in Litchfield Park. Matt was a great host giving me a tour of their process and was just a very down to Earth guy. Peoria Artisan Brewery does some great things with beer and I had the pleasure of trying some of their holiday seasonal beers. The Cranberry Gose was great. I have never found a sour beer that I like but this one changed it all for me. They also having some great flagship beers including the Haboob Black IPA and the Savannah Marie IPA. I even got to try my first straight-from-the-tap beer and it was way better than I expected. Oh yea, their food is amazing too. So much so that I made sure we set up the interview on a Sunday so I could get the shrimp & grits off of the brunch menu. Amazing. Enjoy the show! Official Website: http://www.tapthataz.com/  Instagram: @tapthat_az Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tapthataz/   E-mail: eric@tapthataz.com   Intro/Outro music is "La Negra Tomasa" by Arizonas own Fayuca - http://www.fayuca-music.com/   Want to show your support help this show grow? Simply click here, give the show a rating and share some feedback!  

In this episode we continue the discussion of anxiety and how to manage it in one's life. We are keeping with the concept that we want to embrace our anxiety instead of deny it and ignore it. In the last episode we learned more about our anxiety to help it be our frenemy instead of our enemy. In this episode we start to look at some practical ways to manage the anxiety. We review the biological causes, and then cover three techniques.  This episode is connected to a 4 week workshop at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Litchfield Park. The workshop is from 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm. Join us if you like. Or you can download the workshop materials at my website www.drneilstafford.com. As always please follow up with me at my website or  Dr Neil Stafford on Facebook @drseab on Twitter info@drneilstafford.com

Live chat with Lori & "G-II"If the chat window does not open,hold down the control key thenclick the Chat Icon above.Ok... school is in... LOLThe first thing I want to say is that for some folks, using their VA benefits is a good thing and for some folks, using their VA benefits is not only NOT fiscally prudent; it could even be financially irresponsible. Over the past 15 months, Lori and I have closed well over 75 transactions of our own and mentored and have been involved in another 60 transactions with protégés. Of that number, perhaps as many as 2/5th were veterans, active duty or retired or simply discharged from their particular branch of service. Of that 2/5th, less than a dozen or so used their VA benefits. The cost of money today is so inexpensive that there is little reason and almost NO advantage to a vet to use his or her VA benefit. There are numerous optional loan platforms that emulate the benefits of a VA loan without causing the buyer to toss away thousands of dollars in a VA funding fee.Suffice for now to say that Lori & I have been in this industry nearly two decades. The VA loan platform is one that we are extremely proficient with and since I too am retired USAF, we tend to draw a huge number of vets to our web site who ultimately secure our services to procure their home, help with arranging home inspections, termite inspections and... oh yes... sorting out what type of loan makes the best sense for that particular eClient.So, Let's Chat...QUESTION: There are a million mortgage calculators online, and they all differ from one another. The simplest ones just ask for the amount of the loan, any down-payment, and number of years. However, there are some that have blanks that require specific information such as Tax Rate and Insurance. I have no idea what to plug in, for those items. Can you help me with this?Correct; there are literally millions of mortgage calculators on the internet today. Quite frankly, over the years, Lori & I have played with hundreds of them, searching for what we feel are some of the best and least confusing. We have found that nearly all of the mortgage calculators, found on lender sites, are very confusing. Some, quite honestly, are actually weighted so that eConsumers conclude that the Lender who provided a particular mortgage calculator, appears to offer the best mortgage deal on the Internet or even the planet. In our opinion, this is unfortunate and very confusing and can tend to be a bit misleading.As for how to divine what figures to use for Tax Rate and Insurance, let’s first discuss Tax Rate. Here’s a good rule of thumb we have arrived at after reading hundreds, perhaps thousands of Arizona Public Reports; if you use a figure of somewhere between $10.00 and $13.00 per $100 of property value (not purchase price), you will come really close to the actual tax rate. Property values, as we discuss in this article can be researched at http://www.maricopa.gov/Assessor/. Tax Rate calculations are extremely complex computations. If you would like to know more about how a municipality actually establishes the tax rate, call the county recorder in the county you wish to live and ask to speak to a clerk of the County Tax Assessor’s office. They are very happy to educate the consumers with the math… but… make sure that, if you have a full head of hair when you begin, you’re not going to be disappointed if some if it is missing after the tax rate calculation class concludes. Insurance is a bit trickier, only because there are several variables that play into the actual insurance rate a buyer will be charged. Two of the most important variables are derived from the C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriters Exchange). C.L.U.E. is a database that all insurance companies use to assess the risk factor for insuring a particular piece of real or personal property based on both the real or personal property and the individual wishing to be insured. The first assessment is conducted around the real or personal property. The next assessment is conducted around the credit score of the individual and the individual’s history of filing insurance claims. The C.L.U.E. retains a five year history for the majority of all insured individuals and their widgets. Learn more about C.L.U.E. at http://www.choicetrust.com/. Many factors play a vital roll in providing the information insurance companies require to tender a firm-fixed quote for a homeowner's insurance policy. Even in the early quotes, the figures are truly speculative numbers and could vary a few hundred dollars up or down in the final analysis, and the final analysis can only be determined once you have settled on a particular home in a particular geographic area and on a particular price and on a particular amount to finance.Back to mortgage calculators; Lori & I actually favor mortgage calculators that have been put up on the web by college students. These are truly unbiased mortgage calculators that offer honest unbiased results. Some are very complex and some are very simple. In the following paragraphs we have provided links to three of our favorites, one of which we keep on our web site in a secure location, offered to eClients that have selected us as their Realtor Representatives. They were all developed by college students, one in Japan, the other in Pakistan.QUESTION: Some calculators have fields for loan components called “points”. What the heck are these things, and do I need to worry about them? POINTS – Perhaps lead the pack of some of the most confusing parts of the loan package. So what is this thing called “points”? Points are often confused with “origination fees”. The two serve completely different rolls in the loan process.An “origination fee” is an amount of money, charged by a mortgage company, to the buyer as part of the lender’s cost of doing business. However… what most consumers do not know is that the “origination fee” is a totally negotiable charge, assuming the buyer has relatively good credit. It has been our experience that buyers with FICO scores in the high 600s or higher can usually shop, with great success, for lenders who will charge minimal or NO origination fee in their loan process. Our suggestion would be to stand your ground. Assuming that all of the other terms of the proposed loan are acceptable, make it clear to the loan officer, that if he/she does not alter their costs of the “origination fee” you will simply take your business elsewhere. If you are currently searching for a couple of lenders, check out Coldwell Banker Mortgage, Rosemarie Cox (602) 565-6948 and/or Pacific Funding Group, Mark Schmidt (800) 245-6722.Points, often called Discount Points, are the amount of money a buyer will pay to control the interest rate on his mortgage. The “point” is calculated against the amount of money that will be financed, I.E. your mortgage amount. So, if you’re going to make a purchase of $350,000 with a 20% down payment, your mortgage amount will be $280,000. Therefore one point (1%) would be calculated to be $2,800. There are numerous formulas bandied about on the Internet about how these fees benefit or hinder a borrower’s loan. In short, if you spend one point of your loan amount, you can affect your interest rate by about 1/8th of a percent.This means, if the consumer is quoted an annual interest rate of say... 6.5% but wants to reduce that rate (I.E. buy it down) to 6.0% by paying money at the time of closing to do so, the consumer would have to part with about $11,000. For some buyers this is a good idea, particularly if they are going to stay in their home or not refinance the home for many years. But keep in mind too, that another barometer to making such a decision is how long it will take to recapture the $11,000. By reducing the annual interest rate by 1/2 a percent, the payment reduction on a $280,000 loan is about $90 per month. That means that it will take about 10.18 years to recapture the interest savings. Not a bad scenario, and often a $90 reduction in the monthly payment can mean adding a little more tile in the house, or the cost of some appliances or any number of additional accoutrements or creature features that the buyer may want to add to the loan.Here are a few thumbnail guidelines to help you decide if the return on this type of investment is warranted.It may not be wise to spend money on Discount Points if:you plan on selling your home in less than 3 to 4 yearsyou plan on refinancing your home in less than 5 yearsyou are applying for an ARM type mortgageyou are applying for an Interest Only loan productIt may be wise to spend money on Discount Points if:you do not plan on selling your home in the next 5 yearsyou do not plan on refinancing within the next 5 yearsyour purchase is for investment and/or rental purposesThese are suggestions and not items to be thought of as “Set in stone”, but they are a good sound foundation for developing your loan strategy.CLICK HERE for a very simple mortgage calculator, just plug in the numbers. Be sure to enter NO commas. The interest rate will accept a dot, for example 6.5 but do not include a % sign. This is by far one of the simplest mortgage calculators we have found and is GREAT for calculating VA loans because it does not automatically include MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premium). This calculator does not produce an amortization schedule but the next mortgage calculator does.CLICK HERE to use a more sophisticated mortgage calculator. Again, only use numbers and no commas and too, the interest rate can be calculated using a decimal point in the rate, but again... DO NOT use the % sign. This calculator can produce an amortization that can be produced in HTML or Plain Text. In the " Monthly Principal Prepayment Amount " window, DO NOT enter any values and the same is true for the " Annual Principal Prepayment Amount (Enter B here for Bi-weekly Loans) " and " One-Time Prepayment Amount, to be paid before payment (month #) ".CLICK HERE for an interesting mortgage calculator created by Hugh Chou. This is a mortgage calculator that compiles a maximum monthly payment that Hugh feels is appropriate for a home buyer. Keep in mind that Hugh built these calculators as a college project although now I believe he works in the financial industry.There are many factors to consider when searching for a home loan, not only the total monthly payment, but also total loan costs. You asked about "Points". As we mentioned, this can be a confusing term. Often consumers believe that there MUST be points associated with ALL loans. As we explained above, that could not be further from the truth.When considering a new construction home, remember, that in almost 100% of loans that are configured by a builder's lender, the builder's lender will add... at a minimum 1% to the loan cost (sometimes, incorrectly, referred to as a POINT). This fee is really an "Origination Fee". In our opinion, consumers with GREAT credit scores, also referred to as the "FICO" (Fair, Isaac and Company Inc) score, should not be subjected to these fees. Unfortunately, when builders offer incentive packages to the consumer, those incentive packages are tied directly to the requirement that the consumer utilize the builder's lender to secure financing for the purchase.It would be sensible to consider not using the Builder’s Lender if the total incentive package hovers around the $5,000 mark. Some of our clients have had a GREAT deal of success using non-builder lenders, wherein our clients have given up as much as $5,000 in incentives from the builder and... even after doing so, have secured a much more favorable loan program and sometimes even lower monthly payments, with similar or lower closing costs, than they would have if they had used the builder's lender.Another typical lender explanation for an Origination Point is: "An origination fee is the amount charged for services performed for handling the initial application and processing of the loan". Hog wash! While it is true that some loans should be burdened with such a fee, such as loans granted to buyers with less than perfect credit. The amount of effort and research that goes into locating an investor who is willing to purchase the loan from the lender can be intense. In our opinion, level of effort and perhaps even ‘arm twisting’ should be compensated. But if the consumer/borrower has a good to great FICO score, again in our opinion, there should be NO Origination Point... NONE... NADA... ZIP... ZILCH... got the picture? Why should a lender, granting a loan to a buyer with good to great credit, make profits on two transactions? The first transaction is between you and the lender. The next/second transaction for the lender is between the lender and his investor, the entity who will purchase the loan from the lender. Remember, if you keep your credit in good condition, you have a boat load of strength and negotiating power as you shop for your loan.Another item to pay attention to are the ever swampy quagmire of Lender Fees... Ok... I know... so what does that all mean... ?... LOL Ok... Lender's fees are fees that offset the cost of producing the loan. Different companies may refer to them by different names, such as, processing fees, broker fees, tax service fees or underwriting fees; or you may have heard these fees referred to as Junk Fees. Most lenders are very sensible and fair about these fees. Obviously all businesses are in business to make a profit. Lender Fees are one of the vehicles that generate profits for lenders. Years ago I wrote an article for an On-Line Real Estate Forum, about Predatory Lending. CLICK HERE if you would like to read that article, but keep in mind that the figures in the article are very outdated, however the nefarious activities I write about are, unfortunately, still very much a part of the lending arena. I think that article will explain what you do not want to see in your lender.I could write hours about the loan and lending process because the entire process is so interesting and is very involved. Here are a couple of more nuggets for you to ponder.QUESTION: Is there a difference between APR and Interest rate?You bet! The APR (Annual Percentage Rate) reflects the cost of your mortgage loan as a yearly rate. It also incorporates the cost to obtain the loan, such as discount fees and loan origination fee. The interest rate is the actual note rate.When you finally get to the closing table, you will be presented with a TIL (Truth In Lending) statement. You will undoubtedly ask: "Why is the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the Truth-in-Lending Disclosure higher than the rate shown on my mortgage note?" Here is a simple explanation:The rate reflected on the APR shows the cost of your mortgage loan as a yearly rate. This rate is generally higher than the rate stated on your mortgage note because, in addition to the interest rate, APR includes other costs such as origination fee, loan discount points, pre-paid interest, and mortgage insurance. The APR allows you to compare, in addition to the interest rate, the total cost of financing your loan, among various lenders.CLICK HERE for an example of several loan scenarios in a spread sheet provided by one of our most reliable lenders to one of our past eClients. As you can see, the buyer was purchasing a home for $189,000 (that’s not going to happen again any time soon! LOL) and was pondering a VA loan VS. a conventional loan. This purchase was for an "as yet to be built" new construction home. If the buyer chose to NOT use the builder's lender, he would have given up $4,500 in incentives from the builder. This particular buyer had his own closing cost money and was able to put up to 5% down on the principal. All scenarios in the spread sheet are fixed rate loans, there are no ARMs (Adjustable Rate Mortgages), although to opt in for an ARM provided an even lower monthly payment for our buyer. The loan identified at the far right as an 80/20 is called a HELOC. This particular type of loan has been most attractive to our vets because it can be nearly 100% tax deductible and... as you can see... this type of loan produces a very low PITI (Principal Interest Tax and Insurance) payment. And... as you can see, if our buyer’s target ceiling were a $1,500 PITI monthly payment, he could actually increase his purchase well above $200,000 while still keeping his monthly payment well under $1,500. There is one catch to being able to take advantage of a HELOC, the buyer must have GREAT credit... the good news is... YOU DO!Well... now that I have totally confused you...Bye for now... and we'll be in touch in a couple of weeks. Lori and I trust that you are enjoying your FREE subscription to your CLUB membership.