Whether this is your first closing or if you have been through it before, closing on a purchase of a home can be stressful and all the paperwork can seem overwhelming. However, there are several things that you can do prior to the actual closing day that will help to ensure that your real estate transaction will go smoothly and help reduce the stress and anxiety. • Set the closing date that is best for you. Before you rush to set the date to close, consider that realize not all closing dates are equal. Be sure to sure to set a date that's in your best interest. Some things to consider: Does it give you enough time to prepare your move? Is it near the end of your lease so you won't pay unnecessary rent? Are there tax implications (if it falls at year's end, would you be better off pushing it to January)? • Gather all necessary documents and receipts. Organize all the items you need to take with you to the actual closing, you do not want to forget something and delay th...

Now that the holidays are here, celebrate with New Mexico's largest city as we observe the holiday season with notable style and festivities. Take time to enjoy these events with family and friends. • 13th Annual Holiday Shop & Stroll in Historic Nob Hill. Enjoy music, food and special sales with over 50 shops and restaurants along the Nob Hill business district participating in the spirit of the holidays. Central Avenue will be closed to cars from Girard to Washington. A great way to get all of your early holiday shopping done in one area. This is a free event on December 6th, for more information call 255.5006. • Enjoy the Annual Holiday Stroll in Old Town, December 7th. This event features live entertainment, dancers, family activities, Santa Clause will be on hand and the lighting of the giant Christmas tree at Plaza Don Luis. For more information visit http://www.albuquerqueoldtown.com . • Come enjoy colorful floats and custom cars and bands and more at Albuquerque...

The season of giving is upon us! If you would like to donate or volunteer to help brighten the holiday for those in need, check out one of the many organizations that needs your help. •The Roadrunner Food Bank is one of our state's largest non-profit organization dedicated to ending hunger. They need your help with the 2007 Holiday Food Drive. Their goal is to raise over one million pounds of food to feed our hungry neighbors this holiday season. With many events and drives going on, there are several ways to participate, visit their website for more information at http://www.rrfb.org/ •Start a new tradition and volunteer to prepare and serve a holiday meal to those in need. Visit this site for a listing of all the organizations in the area that host a free holiday dinner and get hands on and help! http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/pdf/Feeding •Visit the website www.thehungersite.com and help feed the hungry for free! For every click on their site their sponsors will dontate to h...

Moving can be a stressful and difficult time for children as well as adults. When children are forced from their familiar surroundings they experience a vast array of emotions. Children can feel scared, angry, anxiety and grief when they learn they are moving. It is important to ease the transition into a new home, below are some helpful hints that parents can use is important for children, some tips for parents include: • Try to involve children in the moving decisions as much as possible. Involving children in the selection of the actual house, what room they will choose as their own and other decisions gives children a sense of empowerment over the situation. • If you are moving across town, take your children to visit the new home and explore the new neighborhood. • Also visit new schools to see if orientation programs are available for newcomers. • If you are moving to a new town or state, do as much research as possible about the area together. • After you have moved into ...

The first Wednesday of the month and every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, is free entrance to the museum. It is easy to find, located in a unique position—in the heart of historic Old Town and just across the street from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History. The museum regularly features exhibitions, and from November 18, 2007 thru February 10th, 2008 Temples and Tombs: Treasures of Egyptian Art from The British Museum will be on display. The full range of pharaonic history, from shortly before the Third Dynasty, about 2686 B.C., to the Roman occupation of the fourth century A.D. The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to view renowned Egyptian masterworks and lesser-known treasures before their final return to The British Museum. In addition, you will also experience paintings, sculpture, artifacts, a sculpture garden and they also offer children and adult workshops. For more information visit their website at http://www.cabq.gov/museum . Don’t miss out on this great cultura...