Publicist says filmmaker Blake Edwards dies in California at age 88 - Winnipeg Free Press

Publicist says filmmaker Blake Edwards dies in California at age 88 - Winnipeg Free Press

Mitsubishi bringing projects to Manitoba - Winnipeg Free Press

Mitsubishi bringing projects to Manitoba - Winnipeg Free Press

Awesome Kitchen Fix

The Magic Corner, from Golden Cabinets

Forks skating trail now open - Winnipeg Free Press

Forks skating trail now open - Winnipeg Free Press

Guy Maddin wins Bell Award in Video Art

Ottawa, December 13, 2010– Internationally renowned Winnipeg video artist and filmmaker Guy Maddin is the winner of the 2010
Bell Award in Video Art announced the Canada Council for the Arts today. Administered by the Canada Council, the $10,000 award recognizes exceptional contribution by a Canadian video artist to the advancement of video art and the development of video practices.

Download an image of Mr. Maddin.

Guy Maddin

Guy Maddin is a Winnipeg-based video artist and filmmaker with innumerable shorts and ten features to his credit, including cult classicTales from the Gimli Hospital (1988); and Archangel (1990), which won the U.S. National Society of Film Critics Award for best experimental film of the year.

Since then he has won many other awards including the Telluride Silver Medal for life achievement (1995), an Emmy Award for his ballet movieDracula – Pages from a Virgin’s Diary (2002), the San Francisco International Film Festival’s Persistence of Vision award (2006), and created dozens of beguiling films in his unique personal style. These include such celebrated feature works as The Saddest Music in the World (2003); Brand upon the Brain! (2006); and My Winnipeg (2007), which won the Toronto International Film Festival City TV Prize for Best Canadian Feature.

Mr. Maddin is also a writer and teacher, and occupies the position of Distinguished Filmmaker in Residence at the University of Manitoba.

Mr. Maddin was selected by a peer assessment committee made up of Jim Sinclair (Vancouver), Barbara Sternberg (Toronto) and 
John Zeppetelli (Montreal).

General information

In addition to its principal role of promoting and fostering the arts, the Canada Council for the Arts administers and awards many prizes and fellowships in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural and health sciences, engineering, and arts management. These prizes and fellowships recognize the achievements of outstanding Canadian artists, scholars, and administrators. The Canada Council is committed to raising public awareness and celebrating these exceptional people and organizations on both a national and an international level.

Find a complete listing of these awards.

What happens when the Internet runs out of IPs? We're about to find out - Winnipeg Free Press

What happens when the Internet runs out of IPs? We're about to find out - Winnipeg Free Press

New York state of mind - Winnipeg Free Press

New York state of mind - Winnipeg Free Press

World’s best commercials to screen at WAG - Winnipeg Free Press

World’s best commercials to screen at WAG - Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg new homes market back on the boil - Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg new homes market back on the boil - Winnipeg Free Press

Santa’s Village moving downtown - Winnipeg Free Press

Santa’s Village moving downtown - Winnipeg Free Press

Chinese vase that sat in suburban family home fetches $83 million at auction - Winnipeg Free Press

Chinese vase that sat in suburban family home fetches $83 million at auction - Winnipeg Free Press

Opera Company of Philadelphia "Hallelujah!" Random Act of Culture

Bruce%20Springsteen%3A%20In%20'Darkness'%20reissue%2C%20the%20CD%20that%20might%20have%20been

Bruce%20Springsteen%3A%20In%20'Darkness'%20reissue%2C%20the%20CD%20that%20might%20have%20been

The Gold & the Glory - Winnipeg Free Press

The Gold & the Glory - Winnipeg Free Press

First Fridays picking up steam - Winnipeg Free Press

First Fridays picking up steam - Winnipeg Free Press

Managing your Priorities

It is critical to treat every day as a unique challenge. You've heard "start with zero every day", right? Why? Because it ends complacency and also ends depression about a bad week, month, year or decade. Today is a new day. You must take today's work seriously. It is important.

Treat each day of work like a sporting event. It's game day. Have a morning routine that includes spiritual quiet time and exercise, and that feeds you energy that carries into the rest of the day. Dress for success, get in a positive mindset, chant some positive affirmations and attack the day with high energy!
When you walk into the office, think: I am entering the arena and I have my game face on. Even if you work at home you can operate like that. There's a great commercial where a man is dressed in his suit, kisses his wife and children good-bye, gets in his car and drives down the street, turns around and comes back into his own house! Saying hello to his family like he just came to work, he heads to his own office in the house and gets on with his work day. Though working from home, he is treating it like game day. A special unique day. Face it: Sales takes effort--focused, concentrated effort. You can't do that when kids are screaming, the TV is on, and your focus is elsewhere. Be careful working from home to make it working from home-- emphasis onworking.

So here are some tips to getting in the game each day:

1. Create a separate place to work. You can do this even if you work from home. Go there when you work. When you're not working, leave that space (lunch/breaks/end of day). This gives you focus. When you are there, you're there to work. Period.

2. Take care of yourself physically. Exercise and watch what you eat. Take vitamin supplements to offset the lack of real vitamins in your diet. You can't be high energy when your health is bad. Many people do everything right but this and it does affect their results.

3. Take care of yourself spiritually. Find a quiet place, a quiet time and connect. You'll be amazed the great ideas and solutions that come by setting some time to come apart awhile.

4. Take this seriously. Work a schedule. Dress the part. Write a business plan. Follow It. Your business, your income, your success is a serious game. A lot of people depend on you. Go at it with 110% effort. A half hearted effort gets half-hearted results-- or worse.

The good news is, the people actually doing this are few and far between. By doing these 3-4 things you will be moving yourself to the upper echelon of sales people in your industry and the results will soon follow!

Nearly One-Quarter of $1 Billion Transacted on MLS® in September

- It took until the month of September last year to set a new sales and dollar volume MLS® record in comparison to the same month the year previous. Ditto for 2010. Like athletes vying for new records in the Olympics or Commonwealth Games, September 2010 sets the bar higher again for what September 2011 will have to achieve if there is to be a new MLS® sales record for this month. It was noted summer was a little slower than usual this year so it certainly appears cottagers and vacationers entered the fall market in larger numbers than 2009.

In fact, this is the case. While conversion of sales to new listings was very similar to 2009 at 70 and 73% respectively, listings entered onto the MLS® in September 2010 were up 6%. It was enough for total MLS® sales to edge out the best September previously in 2009. The dollar volume difference was more pronounced at close to 10% higher. It becomes that much more significant when you look back five and ten years. The increase is 72 and 349% respectively.

September MLS® unit sales were up 1% (1,142/1,127) while dollar volume was up 9% ($248.0 million/$227.6 million) in comparison to the same month in 2009. Year-to-date MLS® sales are up less than 1% ( 9,805/9,747) and dollar volume has risen 10% ($2.18 billion/$1.97 billion) in comparison to the same period last year. Total MLS® listings entered on the MLS® this year are 16,481, a 13% increase over the same period in 2009.

“More listings are helping create a more balanced market to keep a lid on house prices,” said Claude Davis, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. “The average house price has been consistently in the 230s on a monthly basis in the third quarter of 2010, down from the high 240s in the second quarter. On a year-to-date basis, it is up 11%.”

Winnipeg’s resurgence in the last month of the third quarter and good economic fundamentals sets the stage for a good October.

“We are in a bit of a sweet spot at this time with favourable mortgage rates, more listings, strong sales and prices holding firm,” said Davis. “Our glorious autumn summer weather can only help encourage prospective buyers to get out and view present and new listings coming onto the MLS® market.”

For residential-detached sales in September, the most active price ranges were the $200,000 to $249,999 and the $150,000 to $199,999 with 23 and 19% respectively of total sales. The $250,000 to $299,999 and the $100,000 to $149,999 price ranges each had 14% of residential-detached sales. The average days on market for residential-detached sales was 29 days, one day quicker than last month and September 2009.

Three out of ever four condominium sales in September were from $100,000 to $249,999 with 32% from $150,000 to $199,999 and 25% were from $100,000 to $149,999. The average days on market for condo sales was 33 days, one day quicker than last month and three days off pace set in September 2009.

The man who'll shape our skyline - Winnipeg Free Press

The man who'll shape our skyline - Winnipeg Free Press

globecampus.ca ~ Research Matters

globecampus.ca ~ Research Matters

Property Values - House Hunting in ... Barcelona - NYTimes.com

Property Values - House Hunting in ... Barcelona - NYTimes.com

International Real Estate - House Hunting in ... Corsica - NYTimes.com

International Real Estate - House Hunting in ... Corsica - NYTimes.com

The secret to weight-loss workouts (you may not like the answer) - The Globe and Mail

The secret to weight-loss workouts (you may not like the answer) - The Globe and Mail

Artwork by Hashim Hannoon � Mayberry Fine Art

Artwork by Hashim Hannoon � Mayberry Fine Art

July MLS Stats

allWhen all is said and done about our Bombers at the end of July - they’re 2 and 3 – but the numbers don’t look all that bad! And to hold Calgary to 6 points in the second half and still have a chance to win with 30 seconds on the clock with our first-string quarterback hurt - a lot of positives are in the air.

Same with the WinnipegREALTORS® MLS® stats for July. With the weather way better than last July … and maybe people thinking more about some sun, sand and surf rather than listing and selling – the numbers don’t look all that bad. And looking at year-to-date … there are still positives in this more balanced – healthier market (unlike the Bombers who don’t look so healthy!!!).

In July, there were 3,191 listings actually available for buyers to see … down just 17 properties from July of last year (3,208). The number of new listings added in July this year was 1587 … just 95 shy of last year’s 1,682. Sales were 178 fewer than last year (1,195 vs. 1,373) and with 178 fewer sales, dollar volume dropped $15.2 million from July 2009 to $261,349,000 (from $276,582,000).

International Real Estate - House Hunting in ... Ireland - NYTimes.com

International Real Estate - House Hunting in ... Ireland - NYTimes.com

GEICO-Piggy

Set the Stage, Urban Barn

Set the Stage, Urban Barn

Advice for parents of “big kids with even bigger problems”

A bestselling author and television screenwriter, Gail Parent has won two Emmys and was nominated for 12 more for her work on shows ranging from The Golden Girls to Tracey Ullman’s comedy specials. In her new book, How to Raise Your Adult Children, co-authored with psychotherapist Susan Ende, she offers advice to parents of “big kids with even bigger problems.”

Q: Social scientists and demographers now talk about a period of life called “pre-adulthood,” after adolescence but before true financial independence, which often stretches through the late 20s. The reasons it takes so much longer to reach adulthood today are primarily economic: rising costs of a university education, higher housing costs, higher unemployment. What are the effects of all this on parents?
A: We were raised to think our parenting days were over when our kids left home to go to college. But they aren’t. Financially and emotionally, many families don’t separate and adult children don’t achieve true independence. A lot of adult kids are essentially thinking they should still get an allowance—only it should be a big one, big enough to buy a house. And huge numbers of them are moving back in with their parents.

Q: In a recent Pew Research study, 13 per cent of American parents said an adult child had moved home in the past year because of the recession. Obviously, this has implications for the household budget, but what other kinds of issues does it raise for parents?

49 Creative Reuse Ideas That Will Inspire & Surprise You

The Many Amazing Ways to Reuse a Jar:

• 10 Simple Uses for Spaghetti Jars
• Crafty Uses for Baby Food Jars
• Don't Throw Out That Jar! New Uses for Old Jars
• In Praise of the Mason Jar
• How To: Make a Mason Jar Lantern
• Simple Green: Use Empty Food Jars for Your Bulk Items

Other Great Creative Reuse Ideas for Everyday Items:

• 10 Common Thrift Store Finds and Ways to Use Them for DIY Projects
• 20 Creative and Repurposed Kitchen Storage Ideas
• Salvaged Ladder Pot Rack
• How To Make Wine Crate Kitchen Cabinets
• Recycled Soda Bottles for Dish Soap, Oil and Vinegar
• 8 Bathroom Items To Repurpose Around the House
• 5 Things To Do With Bubble Wrap After You Move
• 10 Ways to Reuse Plastic Plant Pots
• 6 New Ways to Use a Cutlery Tray
• Use an Old Mailbox to Store Garden Tools
• 6 Ways to Reuse Bread Tags
• 7 New Ways to Use an Antique Bread Box
• 10 Ways to Repurpose Lightbulbs
• Rescue Stained Textiles with a Cool Graphic Pattern
• Creative Reuse: Flip Your Old Deck Boards
• DIY Idea: Blanket Upholstered Ottomans
• 7 Easy Ways to Reuse a Plank of Wood
• Steal This Idea: Paper Menus-Turned-Take-Away Bags
• Before & After: Mailbox Umbrella Stand
• How To: Make a Recycled Wine Bottle Torch
• 7 Ways to Repurpose an Ice Bucket
• 4 Ways To Reuse Wallpaper
• Look! Garage Door Headboard
• 5 Uses for a Collection of Liquor Glasses
• 5 Favorite Reuses for Wooden Crates
• Roundup: New Takes on Old Doors 
• Look! A Pallet Plate Rack
• Look! Vintage Tea Cups Make Great Storage
• Clipboards for Hanging Artwork
• 10 Ways to Reuse a Card Catalog

Inspirational Creative Reuse:

• Ref-Use Turns Wood Scraps Into Furniture
• 15 Repurposed, Upcycled and DIY Storage Ideas
• Upcycling Thrift Store Dishes
• Cool Cabinets Built from Recycled Gym Flooring
• DIY Artwork: Frame an Everyday Object
• Vintage Airline Food Carts by Flight 001
• Recycled Carhood Tables
• Inspiration: The Dram Tumbler Lamp by Propellor
• Furniture Made of Old Airplanes and Fighter Jets
• Dumpsters Turned Swimming Pools! 
• Creative Reuse: Toothpicks Turned Lampshade
• T.O.M.T: Refitting the Planet
• Wine Bottle Recycled Shelving from Zero-Wa

Trial and Error: Re-Creating Restaurant Sweet Potato Fries

Really good sweet potato fries are a surprisingly difficult thing to achieve. Even in restaurants, they often arrive limp, soggy, and the exact opposite crispy. We’ve tried high-heat baking, frying, soaking the cut pieces in cold water, starting with a hot baking sheet, and a dozens of other little tweaks and inventions in our pursuit of a better sweet potato fry at home.

With this technique of parboiling and tossing with salt, we feel like we’re getting close. We sliced the sweet potatoes into wedges and boiled them for just two minutes to soften the outsides. A quick shake with kosher salt and olive oil, and into the oven they went.

At first, we were disappointed. The fries didn’t brown as much as we would have liked. The outsides felt dry, but didn't get truly crispy.

The real difference was in the texture. Sweet potato fries often end up with a mushy texture on the inside, but these sweet potatoes felt firm and had a nice bite. We could dunk them in the dipping sauce without worrying that they were going to break off or be too limp to scoop anything up.

These were really the closest to restaurant fries we’ve ever gotten. We can’t wait to try it again and combine the technique with others we’ve tried in the past. We think that pre-heating the baking sheet and possibly adding an egg white (or panko crumbs?!) along with the olive oil and salt during the tossing step could get us even closer to perfection.

Have any of you had success with making crispy sweet potato fries at home?

Close-to-Restaurant Sweet Potato Fries
Serves 4 as an appetizer

2 medium-sized sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Pre-heat the oven to 450°.

Cut the sweet potatoes into fry-sized wedges. Place them in a sauce pot with one tablespoon of kosher salt and enough water to cover. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cook uncovered for two minutes until the potatoes are soft on the outside but still firm in the middle. Drain immediately.

Combine the drained sweet potatoes, one teaspoon of kosher salt, and one tablespoon of olive oil in a mixing bowl. Cover with an inverted dinner plate and shake to roughen up the sides of the sweet potatoes.

Spread the sweet potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes and then flip the potatoes. Bake for another 5-7 minutes, until the potatoes are dry to the touch and brown in some places.

Eat as soon as they’re cool enough to handle!

10 inexpensive fixes that increase property value

Remodels are great, but can get pretty pricey. Not everyone has thousands to add value to their home - but what about those less glamorous repair projects on your to-do list? These simple and inexpensive maintenance items don't seem like they add to your home's value, but they're big money-savers in the long run.

1. Caulk

If you've lived in your house a few years, you probably noticed that the caulk along your sinks, countertops and bathtub is coming loose. These gaps may not seem like a big deal, but they can wreak havoc inside your walls. Moisture causes mold and even leaks - expensive repairs that can easily be prevented. A tube of kitchen and bath caulk costs just a few dollars, and you'll avoid expensive repairs.

2. Insulate

The quickest way to save money on your energy bill is to insulate, yet so many of us overlook this simple home improvement project for its benefits. Sure, your walls are insulated, but what about your basement, your attic, and your garage? Just in case the energy cost savings aren't enticing enough for you, check with the government - there are current credits that allow you to deduct this energy-saving expense from your taxes.

3. Change Filters

When was the last time you changed your furnace's air filters? It's an oft-overlooked chore, but one that keep your furnace running efficiently, and improves the air quality inside your home. Change your filters at least every three months to keep your furnace working efficiently for years to come.

More from Inves4. Install a Thermostat

Does your home have a programmable thermostat? If not, invest in one; it'll earn its money back in no time. By programming heating and cooling, you avoid paying to keep an empty house at a comfortable temperature. Manage the heat appropriately in winter to avoid burst water pipes; in summer, draw your curtains during the day to keep the house cool. Buy a programmable thermostat and you can save big on monthly bills.

5. Fix Leaks

That leaky faucet or runny toilet is draining your water bill, and in most cases it's a cheap and quick fix. Replace the washer on your faucet, and while you're at it, consider installing a faucet aerator if yours doesn't already have one. Faucet aerators reduce water flow from your faucet to save on your water bill; check your home improvement store for this inexpensive fix.

6. Install Dimmers

Dimmers aren't just for romance; they can save you big bucks on your energy bill. They're cheap and easy to install, so look for rooms that could use a little reduction in harsh lighting. While you're at it, replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient ones. They're big money savers.

Thinking of renova Doing home7. Clean Carpets

Clean your carpet lately? With proper care, carpets can last a long time and look great, but everyone needs to clean them sometime. You don't need to hire an expensive service either - if you can vacuum, you can clean your carpets by yourself. Rent a carpet cleaner at your local supermarket or big-box store for a modest fee. Make sure you vacuum thoroughly before cleaning, and pick a dry day so your carpet dries quickly. With regular cleaning your carpet can last a long time, saving you big bucks on new flooring.

8. Clean Siding and Windows

Windows and siding get a beating in most climates. Wash your windows and siding with a simple hose and water first, and with a cleaning solution as needed; your home improvement store sells specialty products for just this kind of job. Rent a power washer for very dirty jobs. Keep an eye on cobwebs, wasp and bird nests to ensure your home's exterior stays in good shape. Touch up with paint as needed, and your house will look like new at little or no cost. (Some renovations will mean a bigger sale price on your home, while others will just cost you.

9. Fight Pests

Those spiders and ants at your foundation, that mouse nest in your crawl space? Take care of it - pests can destroy a home in a hurry. Hire an exterminator, or for small pests, combat with pesticides. Even if you don't think you have a problem, inspect every part of the interior and exterior of your home regularly to avoid small pest problems getting out hand.

10. Clean Ductwork

If your home is older, your ductwork likely has dust, grime, and other unwelcome residue inside. For big jobs, pay a professional; a simple cleaning can easily be done yourself. Simply remove the grates from your air vents, and clean the inside with your vacuum.

The Bottom Line

The best way to invest in your home is to take good care of what's already there. With these simple repair jobs, you'll even save money - with just a little elbow grease as investment.

Don’t let rising rates rush you into a bad decision

When RBC announced a 25-basis point hike on fixed rate mortgages on Tuesday, the news triggered a flurry of calls to mortgage brokers around the country. Homebuyers are worried they’re running out of time to lock in to an affordable interest rate in a heated housing market.

“I say, don’t panic,” said Jeff Mayer, a mortgage broker with Mortgage Intelligence in Toronto. “People tend to have this theory that they won’t be able to buy, but there are a lot of options.”

The fear of rising rates is keeping Mr. Mayer’s office busy these days. “We were doing 40 deals a month about two months ago. Now we’re doing 75,” he says.

But the frenzy to buy can lead some to risk rushing the process and missing or misunderstanding important steps. First-time homebuyers are especially vulnerable.

”A lot of first-time buyers can’t wait to get out there and house hunt, but they need to understand that this is not a decision to enter into lightly,” says Mr. Mayer. “With things changing rapidly in the marketplace, it does get confusing and you have to make sure you’re prepared.”

He prepares first-time buyers by explaining all the steps in the process and pointing out the pitfalls.

Here are some of Mr. Mayer’s tips:

- Get your down payment and deposit ready. A down payment must come from your own resources, and in most cases must have been held in your account for at least 90 days. If you’re using a gift from your parents or other family member for a down payment, you’ll need a letter stating that it is actually a gift and does not need to be re-paid. These funds will likely need to be deposited in your account two weeks before your purchase closing date.

- First-time buyers shouldn’t forget that they have the ability to finance their homes through The Home Buyers’ Plan. It allows you to withdraw up to $25,000 ($50,000 per couple) from your RRSP to buy or build a home.

- Figure out what you can afford. The best way to do this is get pre-approved for a mortgage. Not only will it help you figure out your monthly payments and home buying costs, the financial institution may also offer to lock-in the interest rate for up to 120 days.

“This is very helpful if you’re buying in a rising rate environment,” says Mr. Mayer, but he cautions that many lenders are not offering this lock-in option anymore.

He also warns that a pre-approved mortgage is not a guarantee that the financial institution will actually lend you the money. Your application will still be subject to a full review when it comes time to sign the papers. Even if your application is approved, you need to be careful not to change your debt-to-income ratio, through a job change or a large purchase, or you may no longer qualify for the mortgage.

"Until you close and the money is transferred, you’re not fully approved. The bank can always pull that approval.”

- Get in touch with the professionals. A lot of work goes into getting you into a new home. You will need a team of people, which may include a mortgage broker, a real estate agent, real estate lawyer, home inspector and home insurance agent.

- Mr. Mayer insists that buyers step up and take responsibility for the process early on. “Don’t go into it blind assuming everyone else will do everything for you. People spend more time planning a wedding, which is $40,000, than on their house. The client needs to spend more time. It’s a very big investment.”

- Choose the right property. Many people fall in love with the look and feel of a home and realize too late that it needs a new roof and is too close to the railway tracks. Mr. Mayer provides his clients with a checklist covering the basics – such as square footage measurements and the age of the furnace – to help buyers stay objective when viewing a house. “Look at the location and educate yourself on the property. Make sure it’s a property you can grow into and not grow out of.”

- Come up with an offer strategy. In competitive real estate markets, it is common for vendors to put off accepting offers until a particular date. This means buyers may be bidding for a home along with several other parties. It’s easy to get caught up in the emotion, so it is important to decide on a maximum price before bidding and to stick to it.

- Get ready to close. When buying a home, it pays to learn about closing costs, which can represent up to three per cent of the purchase price, including land transfer tax, lawyer’s fees, appraisal fees, title insurance and home inspection fees. A mortgage professional can help estimate how much these will cost and offer ideas for how you can cover these costs.

Mortgages: should u or shouldn't u??

Breakage issues with your mortgage? A well-stocked toolbox of online calculators can help.

With borrowing costs set to rise in the months ahead (see my Facebook page for comments: Rob Carrick - Personal Finance), homeowners have a dwindling amount of time left to investigate the possibility of breaking their mortgage to take advantage of today's low rates. The challenge is finding out, first, how much it will cost and, second, whether it's worthwhile to proceed.

This is where the calculators come in. They're online, they're free and they're useful to people who are both shopping for a mortgage and who already have one.

Your lender has the information you need to decide whether it's worthwhile to break your mortgage, but it's always smart to learn what you can on your own. It's not unknown for banks to exploit the uninformed and credulous.

The best way to find out the cost of breaking your mortgage is to use a calculator like the one offered on the website of the Canadian Mortgage Trends blog. It's explained here that your lender will require that you pay the greater of three months' interest on your mortgage, or an amount called the interest rate differential (IRD). That's the difference between what you would have paid in interest and what the lender can make at current rates for the remainder of your mortgage term.

Personal Finance mortgage forum

Is this a good time to lock in or refinance your mortgage?

View

Four pieces of information are needed to use this calculator: the current balance on your mortgage, your original rate, the rate you can get now and the remaining number of months in your mortgage term. If you have online banking, you should easily be able to get this information (I found mine in about five seconds).

Play around with this calculator and you'll realize that, in addition to the gap between your existing rate and the new rate you'd like to get, the key variables in determining the compensation you'll have to pay your lender are the length of time left on your mortgage and your mortgage balance. The longer you have to go, the more likely it is that you'll have to pay the pricier IRD.

It's important to note that we're dealing in ballpark amounts here, not exact numbers. Still, you'll have enough information to proceed to Step Two of the should-I-break-my-mortgage analysis, which is to decide whether paying the compensation amount is worthwhile.