Little America, Lion House cooks share Thanksgiving recipes

By Richard Piatt

SALT LAKE CITY — Get ready cooks! Thanksgiving is right around the corner. And if you're looking for ways to pep up or improve your standby recipes, we've enlisted the help of the head chef from The Little America and the head baker from the Lion House.

The turkey

Executive Chef Bernhard Gotz will oversee 2,500 pounds of turkey, 2,000 pounds of yams, and dozens of pans of stuffing this Thanksgiving. He says the key is to plan ahead: Buy your bird, defrost it, and get the seasonings ready to use.

Turkey tip No. 1: Gotz says the secret to a flavorful, juicy bird is slow cooking: 240 degrees for five to six hours.

"The whole turkey breast will be perfectly cooked and evenly cooked," he said.

Turkey tip No. 2: Stuff the bird, not with bread, but things that add flavor from the inside.

"What I do at home is I stuff it with apples and celery and onions," Gotz explained. "I put that right inside the turkey, that way I get moisture and flavor from the inside out."

Yams

While the turkey goes in the oven, Gotz starts on the yams. His recipe, he says, creates a dish even the kids will eat.

First the yams are peeled, quartered and steamed. Then Gotz adds a unique blend of flavors: "Pecans, raisins, brown sugar, chopped pineapple, pineapple juice, maple syrup, seasoning, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, (and) melted butter," he explained.

A few marshmallows on top, and into a 325 degree oven the pan goes.

Stuffing

Now it's onto the stuffing. Gotz suggests sautéing onion, celery, smoked sausage and thyme. Then combine those ingredients with Granny Smith apples, poultry seasoning, a pinch of nutmeg, ground ginger, orange juice chicken base and honey. Finally, add day-old rolls in chucks and unsalted turkey stock.

Then, as it's all mixed together, another seasoning tip: add salt at the end of your cooking.

Rolls

While we were waiting for our basics to cook, we headed over to the Lion House for rolls and pie. Head baker Brenda Hopkin and her crew are baking up a storm this week.

To make those famous Lion House rolls, Brenda mixes in a blend of bread flour and regular flour — the mix makes better rolls, she says. She lets the dough rise for about 45 minutes before she starts to work with it again.

Hopkin said it's normal for the dough to kind of 'bounce back' on the table. Her secret weapon: a quick flip.

"One great secret is to flip your dough and let it relax before you cut it," Hopkin said. "Then they won't shrink after you've cut them."

Next, she cuts the dough into strips. Then, she flips the strips into a roll. It's all in the wrist, she says.

Pie

Now, it's onto the pie, and the secret is a good crust. To get that perfect crust, Hopkin blends four different fats — butter, margarine, shorting and lard — creating a tender flakiness.

Mix it with your hand until it "sort of like cornmeal with some large chunks in it," Hopkin explained. To that, she adds ½ cup of water and folds the mixture together with her fingers.

Unlike most pie dough, this recipe is more forgiving to handle — not so crumbly, more like a sugar cookie dough.

To fit the dough in the pan better, a little nudge will do, Hopkin says. "Instead of trying to get it to go in, we drop it a couple times and it goes right in."

Hopkin has a secret for a finishing touch. "For a beautiful, brown, sparkly crust, lightly brush cream on the top (and) add sugar," she said. The raw pie goes into a 375-degree oven for a half hour or so.

The meal comes together

Now it's time for the rest of our meal to come together. The turkey's been resting — slow roasting means the juice stays in the meat. With the addition of the mashed potatoes, the yams, and the stuffing, our meal is complete.

"It's God's gift, what else can I say?" Gotz said. "Food is love."

"I would like to have everyone feel success in whatever they're baking," Hopkin said. "Everyone has their thing, mine is baking."

In the end, it's about having fun. Don't feel overwhelmed, Gotz and Hopkin say, just do what you can.

Email: rpiatt@ksl.com

Housing Is So Affordable, All You Have To Do Is Pick One...

Ultra-low interest rates mixed with stabilizing home prices continued to push housing affordability in the third quarter near its highest levels in more than two decades, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index.

For the third quarter, 72.9 percent of all homes sold were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,200, according to the index. This marks the 11th consecutive quarter that the affordability measure was above 70 percent; prior to this it rarely was above 60 percent.

"With interest rates at historically low levels and markets across the country beginning to improve, home ownership is within reach of more households than it has been for nearly two decades," Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, said in a statement. "However, tough economic conditions — particularly in markets that experienced major changes in house prices and production — as well as extremely tight credit conditions confronting home buyers and builders continue to remain significant obstacles to many potential home sales."

The most affordable major housing market nationwide? Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla., in which 92.5 percent of all homes sold were found to be affordable to households earning the median family income of $53,800 for the area. Other affordable major markets included Toledo, Ohio; Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa.; Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.; and Ogden-Clearfield, Utah. For smaller housing markets, Fairbanks, Alaska, ranked the highest, in which 97.8 percent of homes sold during the third quarter were found to be affordable to families earning the median income of $91,700.

Meanwhile, the least affordable major housing market continues to be New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.-N.J., in which 23.3 percent of all homes sold were affordable to those earning the area’s median income of $67,400.

Source: National Association of Home Builders

Housing Picture Expected to Brighten in 2012

Better times are ahead for the real estate market in the new year, according to several forecasts and recent surveys.

Fiserv, a financial information services firm, predicts that 95 percent of the 384 metro areas it tracks will see prices rise in 2012.

Many surveys and economists are forecasting a very modest increase for the housing market in the new year, but after several years of dropping prices and rising foreclosures, even the slightest increase would signal a glimmer of hope for the market. In a survey by MacroMarkets of 100 economists and real estate professionals, respondents reported home values will likely rise slightly at 0.25 percent in the new year.

The real estate market still faces a large backlog of foreclosures that it must work through in many markets. As such, price gains through 2015 will likely just be around 1.1 percent, according to the survey. However, this is a reversal after a forecast of 2.8 percent decline in median home values for this year.

Foreclosures continue to weigh on many markets and are preventing home values from stabilizing, economists say.

"The water is very deep in the living room, but it's no longer getting deeper and is starting to recede,” says Mark Fleming, CoreLogic's chief economist.

Low interest rates on mortgages mixed with more affordable housing for families in the median income range are expected help the market in its rebound in 2012, economists say.

Source: “A Smaller House Will Make a Big Difference,” Money Magazine (Nov. 14, 2011)

Housing Picture Expected to Brighten in 2012

Better times are ahead for the real estate market in the new year, according to several forecasts and recent surveys.

Fiserv, a financial information services firm, predicts that 95 percent of the 384 metro areas it tracks will see prices rise in 2012.

Many surveys and economists are forecasting a very modest increase for the housing market in the new year, but after several years of dropping prices and rising foreclosures, even the slightest increase would signal a glimmer of hope for the market. In a survey by MacroMarkets of 100 economists and real estate professionals, respondents reported home values will likely rise slightly at 0.25 percent in the new year.

The real estate market still faces a large backlog of foreclosures that it must work through in many markets. As such, price gains through 2015 will likely just be around 1.1 percent, according to the survey. However, this is a reversal after a forecast of 2.8 percent decline in median home values for this year.

Foreclosures continue to weigh on many markets and are preventing home values from stabilizing, economists say.

"The water is very deep in the living room, but it's no longer getting deeper and is starting to recede,” says Mark Fleming, CoreLogic's chief economist.

Low interest rates on mortgages mixed with more affordable housing for families in the median income range are expected help the market in its rebound in 2012, economists say.

Source: “A Smaller House Will Make a Big Difference,” Money Magazine (Nov. 14, 2011)

Boosting job growth, more businesses relocating to Utah

By Scott Haws

SALT LAKE CITY -- Approximately 102,000 Utahns are still looking for jobs.

Despite the discouraging number, Utah has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Still, the state is in dire need of an employment infusion. As jobs are slowly returning to Utah, the governor's office has set a goal to meet the need that might seem ambitious: 100,000 new jobs in 1000 days.

This goal is not exactly uncalculated, however. Utah has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the country, energy costs are 35 percent below the national average and 90 percent of Utah residents hold a high school diploma. These factors have not only helped businesses expand in Utah, they have also helped companies keep jobs local, instead of exporting them to other countries.

According to Lifetime Products President Richard Hendrickson, the company prides itself on keeping jobs in Utah. And with core technology that allows them to mold a ribbon of plastic into a kayak in 90 seconds locally -- instead of the 90 minutes it takes in China -- they are looking to expand their Utah employee base, which is currently made up of 1700 employees.

"The fact that we are able to add 140 jobs over the next 10 years is a big deal," Hendrickson said. "[As well as] the fact that we've been able to keep our jobs here over the last 10 years"

Lifetime Products, like other companies, has considered expanding overseas but found Utah had a better business environment.

One of the things that makes Lifetime Products so unique is vertical integration. Train loads of steel and plastic are all ending up in products like their tables, chairs and other products are available in Utah.

Jeff Edwards is President of EDC Utah --a private and public partnership that helps local businesses grow and works to attract new companies. According to Edwards, Utah is now among the top spots businesses look to expand and relocate.

"Utah has the advantage of a very stable economy right now and it's a place where businesses can find certainty," Edwards said. "It's become a preferred destination of a company."

Whether looking for certainty or something else these companies feel Utah has, Procter & Gamble, ITT, Home Depot, Adobe, Ebay, and Boeing all announced expansions in Utah this year; Litehouse Foods looked at locations all over the west before deciding on Hurricane for its new facility, which will eventually add 162 new full-time positions in the rural community.

"One of the reasons, in fact, probably the number one reason that people select Utah is because of our workforce," Edwards said.

Hendrickson agrees and offers further explanation.

"We've got the most capable, dedicated, honest workforce," he said. "There were reasons to look all over the world for places to expand. But at the end of the day, with the governor's help, we are right back here in Utah, which is where we want to be."

But Utah does have some hitches that may discourage particular types of businesses from expanding and relocating to the state. For the outdoor industry, air quality hinders that decision. For others, it may be demographic. Utah's workforce is strong now, but one of the challenges business leaders say Utah faces in the future is maintaining an educated and skilled workforce.

Tips for Selling a Home in the Winter

Traditionally, the time from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day can be some of the slowest time of the year for home buying due to the holidays and the often less-than-perfect weather. But that doesn’t mean sellers can’t sell during the winter months. In fact, with decreased inventories, sellers may have a better chance to standout and face a buyer pool with more urgency to settle down.

Experts offer some of the following tips for selling a home in the winter:

Stage it: Stagers can arrange furniture so that selling-points in a home don’t get overlooked, paint rooms inviting colors, and have the know-how to give a home a cozy winter feel. Display photos of the home that also show it in warmer summer months. And don’t forget to turn up the thermostat in the home so buyers are comfortable from the moment they step through the door."If you have a vacant house in winter with the heat turned down to 50, chances are someone will make a very low offer," Loren Keim, a real estate broker, told the Associated Press.

Price it right: "If it's priced properly, it will sell any day of the year," Katie Severance, a broker for RE/MAX in Upper Montclair, N.J., told the Associated Press.

Show the way: Keep sidewalks and driveways clear of snow, ice, and leaves--giving potential buyers a clear path to your listing’s front door.

Light it up: There’s less daylight in the winter months so it’s even more important to keep all the lights on as well as open blinds and drapes for natural light. Keep the home well-lit even when you’re not there so the home still looks inviting to passersby who drive by in the evenings after work.

Source: “Selling Your Home? Some Tips for the Off-season,” The Associated Press (Nov. 9, 2011)

Mortgage Rates Drop Sharply This Week

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the most popular choice among home buyers, dropped to its second lowest reading on record this week, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.

"Market concerns over the European debt market drew investors to U.S. Treasury securities, lowering bond yields and mortgage rates,” says Frank Nothaft, chief economist at Freddie Mac.

Here are how rates fared for the week:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4 percent, with an average 0.7 point, down from last week’s 4.10 percent average. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is the second lowest on record, just behind the 3.94 percent record reached on Oct. 6. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.24 percent.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.31 percent, with an average 0.7 point, falling from last week’s 3.38 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year mortgages averaged 3.63 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.96 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, dropping from last week’s 3.08 percent. At this time last year, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.39 percent.
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.88 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, dropping from last week’s 2.90 percent average. A year ago at this time, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.26 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac

Investment Market Posting Record Gains

Apartment rents and occupancies are nearing record highs as demand increases, particularly among former home owners who have faced foreclosure and are now forced to rent than buy. Nationwide, 1.5 million new rental households are expected in 2011 -- which would be a record number, according to Green Street Advisors.

By the end of the third quarter, 5.6 percent of apartments stood vacant, the lowest level since 2006, according to Reis Inc. Effective rents increased to $1,004 a month in the third quarter, which is a 2.3 percent gain from last year, Reis reports.

Rising rents are appearing even in the hardest hit cities, such as Orlando, Fla.; Detroit and Phoenix, that have faced some of the highest unemployment rates and biggest losses in housing values, The Wall Street Journal reports. Only Las Vegas rents declined compared to a year earlier, out of the 82 major markets that Reis analyzed.

A lack of supply in rental units to meet the increased demand is causing rents to rise. Reis reported that about 8,200 new apartments were added to the market in the third quarter, but that’s the second lowest number since the company began tracking that data in 1999.

Meanwhile, investors are seeing soaring profits from apartment buildings they may have purchased just a few years ago. In fact, due to rising rents and demand, some real estate companies are expected to post their highest gains since 2006 in property net income for this year and next, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Source: “Apartment Values Rise, as Do Rents,” The Wall Street Journal Online (Oct. 26, 2011)

Renters Spending 5% More Than Home Owners

Rising rents are forcing renters to outspend home owners on housing costs, according to a new study.

Since 2005, home owners’ housing expenses have climbed from 31.9 percent of their household budget to 33.2 percent. On the other hand, in that same time period, renters’ expenses have jumped from 35.6 percent to 38.4 percent, according to the October CoreLogic U.S. Housing and Mortgage Trends.

In the last 26 years, home owners have increased the amount they spend on household expenses by 12 percent while renters have increased it by 22 percent, according to the study.

Earlier this month, Capital Economics economists noted that for the first time in 30 years the median monthly mortgage payment is about the same -- or less -- than the median rental payment.

Yet, with the bleak job market, home ownership rates continue to fall in many parts of the country, particularly among younger generations. CoreLogic found in its report that the home ownership rate for the 25-to-34 age group dropped from 51.6 percent in 1980 to 42 percent in 2010. For the 35-to-44 age group, home ownership rates fell from 71.2 percent to 62.3 percent over that period.

Source: “Renters Outspend Owners on Housing,” RISMedia (Oct. 25, 2011) and Capital Economics

Wedding Registries for Home Downpayments?

Forget the toasters and champagne flutes: More engaged couples are doing a different type of wedding registry that allows them to collect cash for a down payment on a home, according to a recent article in The Washington Times.

Dana Ostomel, founder of Deposit a Gift in New York City, says that about 15 percent of their registries are to raise down-payment funds for a home and another 15 percent are for home-improvement funds to pay for upgrades like a new roof or furniture.

"Given that 75 percent of today's engaged couples already live together and are older, very often they are already established with the household basics that you find on a traditional registry," Ostomel said. "What they want is the gift of big-ticket items and longer term goals, like the gift of home ownership.”

The FHA permits gifts from a wedding to be used as a down payment, but lenders are required to document that the funds are gifts. About 27 percent of first-time home buyers use gift money from relatives and friends for a down payment, according to a 2010 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers survey.

Source: “Registries Raise Cash Gifts, Avoid Etiquette No-No,” The Washington Times (Oct. 20, 2011)

How to secure your home during a foreclosure

By Andrew Johnson, ksl.com contributor

SALT LAKE CITY — A vacant home is a tempting target for all sorts of criminal activities, like vandalism and even illegal drug operations. Take a look at a few statistics regarding bankruptcies and foreclosures: According to the United States Bankruptcy Court, bankruptcy filings in Utah have increased 7 percent so far this year, even though the national rate has fallen 10 percent.

Although Utah’s rate of foreclosure filings during the third quarter of 2011 dropped from the second quarter, the state is still ranked among the nation’s Top 10 for rate of default filings in that time period.

As people foreclose on their homes, neighborhoods deal with the increased potential for crime. When a home becomes vacant, either through a foreclosure, repossession or even when the owners leave for an extended vacation, it’s important to make sure the property remains secure.

Malicious or unintentional property damage can end up costing banks and homeowners money, and property insurance may not cover it all. Guarding against accidents and break-ins is crucial, since the homeowner is still liable for the property during the process of foreclosure. Experts recommend thoroughly securing the property and the home before moving out, and paying close attention to the details.

Before you secure your home, realize there are certain things you shouldn’t overlook. It’s also a good idea to make sure the property doesn’t look vacant. If potential vandals, thieves and trespassers believe there is still someone living at the property, they’re less likely to target the home.

Here are some tips to consider:

• Lock up — All it takes is one window left unlocked, and the insurance company could deny any potential claim. Check all the entrances to your home — and then check them again.
• Winterize — Before a home is left vacant for any length of time, shut the water off at the main valve. You should also drain the water from the plumbing systems, and push the leftover water out with compressed air. Even a small leak can lead to a big problem, potentially costing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
• Maintain the property — Property preservation companies offer services to give a vacant property a “lived in” look. They’ll maintain the yard, pick up mail and newspapers, shovel snow from the driveway, and remove debris. Companies like these offer services to homeowners and banks, so a vacant property can be maintained indefinitely.
• Ask for help — Former neighbors and friends can lend a hand with maintaining the property when it becomes vacant. Ask them to occasionally check up on the home or lot, and check for leaks, turn the blinds and monitor for trespassers.
• Unplug — An appliance that is set to “off” still draws a little power, so make sure everything inside the home and garage is unplugged. Before the electricity to the home gets shut off, pulling the plug can ensure a potential fire doesn’t start.
• Test and retest — Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as security alarms, should all be functioning properly. Make sure there are fresh batteries in the units, and test them before vacating the property.

Down economy's upside: City living becomes affordable

By Sarah Dallof

SALT LAKE CITY — Downtown Salt Lake lofts and condos that used to be in high demand when they introduced city living with big city price tags. But falling interest rates and low list prices are offering people the chance to get into dream properties.

Take a look inside one of the Broadway Park Lofts: two bedrooms, one and a half baths baths in nearly 700 square feet. Originally listed for over $261,000, it's now on the auction block starting at $100,000.

A penthouse that was once worth nearly $350,000 now has an opening bid of $140,000.

"Where the pricing ends up, you have to wait until auction day (to find out)," said Susie Keller, project manager of the Broadway Park Lofts.

So, is it a good deal or a ‘too good to be true' deal? Downtown sales veteran Babs De Lay, with Urban Utah Homes and Estates, cautions there are risks with developments like this, specifically when it comes to an unknown home owners association.

"There are a lot of things that haven't happened there because it's not finished, and what will you be absorbing there in a building that's not completely sold out?" De Lay said.

But it could be a killer deal for the right investor. And the dream of downtown ownership isn't just found on the auction block. If you can qualify for a loan, historically low interest rates are waiting.

"Business is crazy right now because of the interest rates. If it stays this way, I don't think I'll have days off for a month," Keller said.

De Lay says people with good credit, an income history and not a lot of debt are the folks qualifying for loans these days.http://www.modernhomebuyers.com/

5 Family Movie Night Ideas...

SALT LAKE CITY — If the man of the house quotes Clark W. Griswold on road trips and your toddler runs around shouting, “To infinity, and beyond!” it’s likely your family has their own list of top 5 movies.

A great family movie has endearing characters, humor and a life lesson, all rolled into an original and memorable story. When an entire family can sit down and enjoy the same movie together, it’s a cinematic success.

But you need more than a great family film to have an enjoyable movie night. Choosing a theme and adding a little extra entertainment can go a long way. Here is a list of five more current family films, and ideas for snacks and activities to make movie night more enticing.

"Enchanted"

1. Fairytale Night

"Enchanted" is a fairytale gone awry. In the movie the evil queen, Narissa, pushes the beautiful princess, Gisele, out of the animated world of Andalasia. The princess finds herself in modern-day New York City, communing with street rats and dirty pigeons instead of animated forest animals.

The fairytale feel and catchy soundtrack will appeal to younger family members, while mom and dad will appreciate the playful jabs at traditional happily ever after stories.

Since the evil queen’s henchman (the fabulous Timothy Spall) spends the entire film trying to trick Gisele into biting the poisoned apple, it’s only fitting to serve candied apples with this movie night. An easy recipe for Pip's candied apples can be found at www.mommybistro.com.

For an older fairytale classic, “The Princess Bride” is another family favorite worth watching.

2. Superhero Cinema

“The Incredibles,” one of Disney-Pixar’s most original animated movies, is the perfect choice for a superhero movie night.

After the Superhero Relocation Program forces the supers into hiding, Mr. Incredible finds himself restless in suburbia while working as a disgruntled insurance salesman. But he’s called back into action and duped by the evil villain Syndrome. His family of supers comes to the rescue, and they pull together to show how incredible they really are.

“The Incredibles” is devoid of princesses or talking animals. It’s rare when an animated film has characters with real depth, as well as hilarious dialogue that adults and children can both enjoy. The computer graphics are great, but they’re nothing compared to the smart humor and story that makes this a stand out family movie.

Parents may find themselves identifying with this line from Mr. Incredible: “No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for 10 minutes?!”

Even though the seamstress to the supers, Edna, declared, “No capes!” after many death-by-cape mishaps, it’s probably safe for your family members to sport one on the couch. Recycling old t-shirts into a superhero cape is fun and easy. You can find simple instructions at the Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs website. Decorate them during the movie while munching on a superhero sandwich from allrecipes.com.

3. Bon Appetit Theater

While most family films put a lot of emphasis on big laughs and musical numbers, "Ratatouille" has subtle charm and wit.

Remy, a rodent with a passion for the culinary arts, prefers French cuisine over garbage. Determined to be more than the average sewer rat, he leaves his family and follows his nose to Paris where he hides out in Gusteau's Parisian restaurant. He becomes an unlikely team with Linguini, an untalented heir to Gusteau's legacy, by manipulating his every move in the kitchen with a pull of his hair.

"Ratatouille"

The moral of “Ratatouille” is voiced by Peter O’ Toole, the feared food critic: “Not everyone can be a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.”

Remy's ratatouille fondue is délicieux. Follow an easy recipe at Mommy Bistro's website.

Having paper toques (chef hats) for the family to color and decorate is an easy activity for young chefs.

Food-inspired films like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs” also hold a lot of potential for a fun movie night.

4. Sports Night

What better way to kick off fall than by having a football-themed movie night?

Mark Wahlberg stars in “Invincible,” the true story of Vince Papale, who went from being a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles to an actual team member. In the spirit of “Rudy,” “Invincible” is all about an underdog who achieves his dream through pure grit and determination; the perfect recipe for a family sports movie.

“Invincible” is rated PG and has a moving story, but it’s probably best suited for audiences 12 and up.

Providing game day snacks can make this movie night feel like a Super Bowl party. Follow the recipe fortwice “blitzed” potatoes or kick-off kabobs with easy instructions from pittsburgh.about.com. Wearing your faorite team's football jersey only adds to the fun.

“A League of Their Own” or “Rudy” could be great picks for future sports-themed movie nights.

"Invincible"

5. Fright Night

This theme can be tricky, so take into consideration the age of your family members and plan accordingly.

It might seem like a safe choice, but “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” would make for a great movie night. There are so many recipes and activities on the Web that would add to the fun of the film that it shouldn’t be passed up.

The third film in the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” is a bit darker in comparison to the first two films. The plot revolves around Sirius Black, an Azkaban escapee who was blamed for the death of Harry’s parents and who is now hunting down Harry. New characters and creatures are introduced, like Professor Lupin and Buckbeak. The dreaded Dementors add to the suspense and fright factor making, it just scary enough but not too scary for a family movie night.

Nicole Pollard currently resides in Canyon Country, Calif.

30-Year Mortgage Rates Drop Below 4%

For the first time ever, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell below 4 percent, Freddie Mac reported in its weekly mortgage market survey.

In the last month mortgage rates have continued to set new weekly record lows, but the 30-year mortgages’ latest drop below 4 percent may be an important threshold for potential buyers. The 30-year mortgage is the most popular financing option of buyers.

Mortgage rates are expected to stay well-below 5 percent through 2013, Fannie Mae economists are projecting. Home buyers taking out loans for purchase is expected to more than double in the next two years too, Inman News reports.

Rates have continued to free-fall as concerns over a global recession grows, Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement.

Here’s a closer look at rates for the week ending Oct. 6.

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.94 percent this week, down from last week’s previous record low of 4.01 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.27 percent.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.26 percent, another all-time low. This is the sixth-consecutive week the 15-year mortgage has posted new average record lows. Last week, 15-year rates averaged 3.28 percent. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.72 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.96 percent this week, dropping from last week’s 3.02 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.47 percent.
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.95 percent, the only mortgage rate to move up last week. Last week, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.83 percent. A year ago, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.40 percent.

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Daily News