wedding gift: cash toward

MSN Money - A practical wedding gift: cash toward a home MSN Home My MSN Hotmail Shopping Money People & Chat Sign In W eb Search: Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Planning Home Retirement Savings Insurance Family/College College Tools Scholarship Search College Search Resources Decision Centers Commentary Index More Tools Related Links Message Boards Print-friendly version Send this to a friend Get market news by e-mail See if refinancing works Personal finance bookshelf Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site map Related Articles Marriage means updating important documents Romance can wait; first, talk cold, hard cash Tie the knot without busting your budget Related Resources Decision Center: Essential homebuying guide Decision Center: Love, money and marriage See if youre carrying too much debt Stay at home or work? Try our calculator Related Sites Bankrate.com The Basics A practical wedding gift: cash toward a home advertisement If anyone asks what you want for a wedding present, you might try 'cash for a down payment.' Its legal, if you follow the rules, and asking for cash even meets the Emily Post test for politeness. By Bankrate.com June is the busiest month for weddings, and a forest's worth of invitations either already has been mailed or soon will be sent. A lot of couples want money for wedding gifts. A wedding-day cash infusion can make putting a down payment on a home easier. With prices appreciating rapidly in much of the country, lots of couples need all the help they can get. There are formal and informal rules governing gifts of money to help newlyweds buy a house. First, the informal rules: Is it OK to ask one's wedding guests for money? "It's not rude to request money as a wedding gift," says Peggy Post, author of Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette. "However, it's extremely important to ask politely." Peggy Post is Emily's great-granddaughter-in-law, the wedding etiquette expert for WeddingChannel.com and the main spokesman for the Emily Post Institute. She says one of the most common challenges that couples face is how to request money as a wedding gift. Doing so is acceptable, if done politely. If you seek down-payment money, get the word out through family and friends, Post recommends. Just don't include that info in the same envelope as a wedding invitation. "If you are asked point-blank what you would like for a gift, you might say, 'Whatever you choose will be wonderful, I'm sure, but money for a house down payment is on the top of our wish list,'" Post says. It's OK to say what it's for Go ahead and tell people what you want the money for. Who knows? If you let people know that you plan to spend the money on a down payment, rather than on a honeymoon in Tuscany, they might be more willing to open their pocketbooks. Wedding guests who insist on giving you yet another toaster or wicker picnic basket or a set of rosewood corn holders should be thanked anyway, even though they aren't helping you buy a house. "You should always accept any gift graciously, and remember that the choice of what to give really belongs to the gift giver," Post says. With the etiquette question out of the way, that brings up how to get the money from your guests' pockets and into the hands of the folks who eventually sell you their house. It's not simple, because mortgage loan programs have differing rules on the use of gift money in making a down payment. So know the gift rules Generally, you are expected to be able to make a down payment of at least 5% from your savings, excluding gifts. But what if you are too impatient to wait that long? Some mortgage programs allow you to use gift money if you can't scrape together that 5%. Loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration allow you to use money from gifts to make a down payment of as little as 3%. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two biggest purchasers of home loans, offer similar programs through lenders. Fannie Mae's program is called "Flex 97" and Freddie Mac's is called "Alt 97." If there is a problem with these loan programs, it is that they limit whose money you can use. The FHA, Fannie and Freddie allow you to use money from family members. In the FHA's case, givers have to be members of your "immediate family." It's up to the loan officer to figure out who is family and who is immediate family. What about friends? Can you use gift money from, say, the woman who has been your mother's best friend since kindergarten? Technically, no. The money has to come from family (or from a nonprofit or government agency, but they don't give wedding gifts). It wasn't always this way. In 1996, the FHA encouraged lenders to offer "bridal registry accounts," where couples could stash gifts from friends and family. "Then, when the newlyweds purchase their new home, the money will be available and documented through a lender-supervised account," the FHA said. A few lenders responded enthusiastically, establishing account programs specifically for newlyweds complete with gift cards that could be returned to the bank with a check enclosed. One such lender is SunTrust Mortgage, a subsidiary of SunTrust Banks. Through SunTrust Mortgage, you can open a bridal registry savings or checking account at SunTrust Bank. When a wedding guest makes a deposit, the bank sends a card to the bride and groom to let them know. Ready to find a mortgage? "When they're ready to go ahead and make that first home purchase, they access those funds and we get a mortgage for them -- and we hope they remain a SunTrust banking customer," says Cheryl Nolda, senior vice president of marketing for SunTrust Mortgage. In the last few months, about 500 brochures have been given to prospective couples, Nolda says. The lender usually sees an upsurge in interest in the two months before June and October, which tend to be the busiest months for weddings. Despite their success at SunTrust, bridal registry accounts never really caught on. You can always open a regular old savings or money market account to hold your down payment fund, but you might need to document where the money came from. That's easy enough when the money comes from your paycheck. If some of the money comes from gifts, be prepared to document the source. Encourage gift-givers to give checks from their personal accounts. And don't forget to write those thank-you notes. Editor's Choice 3 legal papers you can't live without Your own business, your tax shelter Brush: The 5 most overpaid CEOs Are seniors gambling away retirement? Cut your taxes by going solar Readers' Choice Ratings Top 5 Articles 9.34 Zombie debt collectors dig up your old mistakes 9.33 10 ways to stop identity theft cold 9.31 10 ways to avoid outrageous hospital overcharges 9.22 The tricks and traps of debt consolidation 9.17 Safeguard your Social Security number View all top rated articles More Resources · E-mail us your comments on this article · Post on the Your Money message board · Get a daily dose of market news S earch MSN Money tips advertisement MSN Money's editorial goal is to provide a forum for personal finance and investment ideas. Our articles, columns, message board posts and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by Microsoft of any specific security or trading strategy. 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Jewelry Gifts • Gemstone

Aspen Country - Jewelry Gifts, Affordable Earrings, Chains, Necklaces, Pendants, Rings, Fine 14k Gold Jewelry & Sterling Silver Jewelry, Genuine Gemstone Jewelry Entrance Reminder Service Contents View Basket Shipping Checkout Contact Us F.A.Q. About Us Express Order Welcome to Aspen Country Aspen Country specializes in distinctive home decorations, home decor accessories, lawn and garden accents, decorative bookends and office decor, country kitchen decorations, and affordable fine art sculptures. Shop for that perfect decorative home accent piece, or browse our American Old West statues, patriotic decorations and eagle sculptures, wildlife figurines and collector's plates. And, be sure to check out our unique gift ideas. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! Enjoy Aspen Country! Store Directory Aspen Country Sampler Men's Home Decor & Gifts Nautical Home Decorations Decor & Gifts for Women Patio, Lawn, Garden Decor Home Decor Accessories Antique-Style Decorations Decorative Mirrors Country Clock Shop Feng Shui Oriental Decor Country Kitchen Decor Country Candle Shop Angel Sculptures & Decor Religious Gifts & Statues American Old West African Heritage Decor Dolls, Miniatures, Musicals Toys, Chess Sets, Games Medieval & Legendary Wildlife Animal Sculptures Elephant Statues & Decor Bird & Eagle Sculptures Human Figurines Decorative Photo Frames Home Office Accessories Knives, Tool Sets, Totes Fine Jewelry Gifts • Gemstone Earrings, Post Stud Earrings, Birthstone Earrings • Sterling Silver Bracelets • Lady's Rings - Gold & Silver • Pendants, Crosses, Charms • Chains & Necklaces • Lapel Pins & Fun Jewelry • Genuine Gemstone World Globe Keychains Christmas Decorations New Knickknacks & Gifts New! Gift Certificates Home Fine Jewelry Gifts *NEW!* African Amethyst Stud Post Earrings in Sterling Silver - Birthstone for February Add to Basket Add to Wish List ]-- Genuine deep purple, grape jelly color amethyst gems create these gorgeous stud earrings. Meaning "not drunken" in Greek, "amethyst" was historically worn to guard against drunkenness! 5mm round gems. Approx. ctw .80ct. Pair. Our Price: $24.95 In Stock Item: ACS-1003 *NEW!* Amethyst Stud Post Earrings in Sterling Silver - Birthstone for February Add to Basket Add to Wish List ]-- Genuine lilac amethyst gemstones with pink overtones, set in sterling silver, create lovely stud earrings. Our amethyst stones display pleochroism: light reddish-violet with gray violet flashes. 5mm round gems. ctw approx .80ct. Pair. 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Genuine blue lapis lazuli world globe, inlaid with semi-precious gem continents, is accented with continent names, silver-tone latitude and longitude lines, and red equator. Heavy silver-tone keychain is 1 1/8" x 3/16" x 4 1/8" long. Our Price: $19.95 In Stock Item: ACS-2001 *NEW!* Keychain with Genuine Gemstone World Globe - Black Onyx Add to Basket Add to Wish List ]-- Genuine black onyx world globe, inset with semi-precious gem including jade, tiger eye, obsidian, and jasper. Accented with continent names, silver-tone latitude and longitude lines, equator. Globe: 7/8" diameter. Keychain: 1 1/8" x 3/16" x 4 1/8" long. Our Price: $19.95 In Stock Item: ACS-2002 *NEW!* Mystic Fire Topaz Stud Earrings in 14k White Gold - Birthstone for November or December Add to Basket Add to Wish List ]-- Genuine mystic fire topaz gemstones in 14k white gold create beautiful, versatile stud earrings. 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Our Price: $17.95 In Stock Item: ACS-1008 *NEW!* Sky Blue Topaz Stud Earrings in Fine Sterling Silver - Birthstone for December Add to Basket Add to Wish List ]-- Genuine sky blue topaz gemstones, set in .925 sterling silver, create these exquisite stud earrings. Clear sky blue topaz stones are a delicate light ice-blue color with striking internal brilliance. 5mm round gems. ctw approx 1.10ct. Pair. Our Price: $17.95 In Stock Item: ACS-1012 *NEW!* Swiss Blue Topaz Stud Earrings in Fine Sterling Silver - Birthstone for December Add to Basket Add to Wish List ]-- Genuine Swiss blue topaz gemstones, set in .925 fine sterling silver, create these gorgeous stud earrings. Clean Swiss blue topaz stones are eye-catching electric blue color -- the color of blue popsicles. 5mm round gems. ctw approx 1.10ct. Pair. Our Price: $24.95 In Stock Item: ACS-1013 *NEW!*10k White Gold .60 Ctw Tanzanite 3-Stone Ring with Diamond Accents - Sizeable Size 7 Add to Basket Add to Wish List ]-- Three genuine rare tanzanite gemstones and diamond accents in white gold create a lovely feminine ring. Our quality tanzanites are medium blue-violet with red flashes and adamantine luster--NOT light lavender. Ring approx 3/4" x 5/16" high. Our Price: $174.95 In Stock Item: ACS-3001 Shop Online! Our customer service is second to none and your credit card purchases are secure. Shop By Mail or Fax Order Form Shop By Phone 303.221.2010 For the newest home and garden decor trends, distinctive decorating themes, and unique gift ideas, please visit our deluxe ENTRANCE Aspen Country: Decorating Themes & Home Decor Trends Patriotic Sculptures Old West Decor Cowboy Statues Southwestern Decor Wildlife Sculptures Oriental Home Decor Feng Shui Accessories Feng Shui Garden Lawn Ornaments Garden Sculptures Garden Angels Country Kitchen Rooster Decorations Flower Vases Collector's Plates Decorative Bookends Golf Theme Decor Fishing Decorations Hunting Theme Decor Safari Motif Decor Sun Moon Stars Motif Cherub Motif Decor Elephant Sculptures Monkey Theme Decor 2004 Aspencountry.com

Gifts for Women Merchant

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Jewelry Gifts • Gemstone

Valentine Gifts License this

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