When it comes to buying a house, you can never be too prepared.  Whether you are purchasing a home for the first time, or moving up into a bigger home, there are two key points to making the transition a success:  having enough money saved for your down payment and being able to afford your monthly mortgage payments. Here are some great tips from HouseHunt.com on how to prepare yourself for buying that dream home. The first thing to decide is how much you are going to buy, and going to be able to afford.  One you have a perspective on that, your next step is to figure out your current financial picture.  Keep these three views in mind when doing so: Your income.  Make sure to include all income from all sources across the board.  Then take away any income you'll owe on that income. Your... 03/15/2011

The Cheyenne Police Department is set to host a FREE Facebook and Social Networking Safety Seminar on Thursday, March 24, 2011 6pm to 8pm  Cheyenne-Kiwanis Community House, Lions Park This seminar will specifically address the potential for criminal activity when using Facebook and other social networking mediums.  It will include the potential dangers of different websites and information posted on the web by millions of users.  Most importantly, the ease in which ANYONE can gain unlimited access to your personal and family information. Social networking sights are used daily by millions and millions of people and it is important for users to know how to protect their content from unwanted others. This information will be presented by Cheyenne Officer John Gay by showing and evaluating... 03/09/2011

In an article provided by Investopedia Personal Finance on Forbes.com, eight common emotional mistakes that people make when buying a home are discussed. Mistake #1:  Thinking that a particular house is the only one that will suit you.  Chances are that for any home you find that you like, there will be quite a few others that are nearly identical to it.  Most neighborhoods are constructed by the same builder which means they will be very similar, if not identical in model.  If your offer isn't accepted on the first one, keep in mind that there is probably another home out there with very similar features to suit your needs. Mistake 2:  Being so desperate to become a homeowner that you buy a place that doesn't suit you.  When things don't go your way, it's very easy to start thinking t... 03/08/2011

The Cheyenne Animal shelter had such good feed back from Fur Ball 2010 that they decided to do it again. Fur Ball presents Mission IMPAWSIBLE Saturday, March 26, 2011 Little America Hotel & Resort Fur Ball is the Cheyenne Animal Shelter's most crucial fundraiser of the year.  Funds raised are used for critical programs that will help thousands of people and animals all year long.  In 2010 alone, the Shelter cared for over 5,600 cats, dogs, kittens and puppies.  This is a fun-filled auction event to support our local animals. Reservations for this event are required and you must RSVP by March 7!  For reservations call 640-2456.  For auction donations call 220-9920.  Any and all help is greatly appreciated!! For more information, email info@casfurball.org or visit CASFURBALL.ORG. 03/03/2011

Sometimes its good to go back to the basics; especially when it comes to being a new homeowner.  A first home will often be a buyer's largest and most valuable asset.  Therefore, protecting it properly is very important, but also can be complicated.  The unexpected, like a breakin or flodd can often compromise you financially so homeowners insurance is an important consideration. Here are some basics about homeowners insurance, provided by BestHomeInsuranceTips.com.  Most homeowners insurance policies will offer three kinds of protection: Liability - Homeowners insurance also provides compensation for liability claims and medical expenses that result from property damage and personal injuries suffered by others. Structures - Protects a person's dwelling for damage due to common threats ... 03/01/2011

Support the Cheyenne Little Theatre by attending its 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Masked Ball Friday, March 4, 2011 6pm Cocktails, 6:30pm Dinner Historic Atlas Theatre (211 West Lincolnway, Cheyenne) Join the Cheyenne Little Theatre playersfor a fun Mardi Gras Celebration including, dinner and desert, live and silent auctions, live entertainment featuring the Cheyenne East High School Jazz Band, DJ & dancing, including a traditional Mardi Gras Second Line Dance and more! Costumes and masks are encourage! Tickets are on sale now for $45 per person.  Call the box office today at 638.6543 to purchase your tickets, or order them online. This is a great opportunity to not only support a local Cheyenne organization, but to get out with some friends and have some 'masked' fun. 02/24/2011

Do I need to have an escrow account?  How does it work?  When is it used?  These are all great questions to ask a lender when buying a home.  To start, here is a simple definition: Escrow, an amount of money or property granted to somebody but held by a third party and only released after a specific condition has been met. So how exactly does escrow apply when buying a home?  In an article provided by the LendingTree.com, escrow and how it works and when to use in buying a house is discussed. Escrow, what is its purpose? The idea of escrow is to protect the lender by ensuring that you will pay your taxes and insurance on time.  An example of this is if your house was to burn down and you had neglected to pay the insurance; if there was no escrow account, your lender would be left with n... 02/21/2011

Governor Matt Mead and state business officials announced Tuesday that construction will begin this spring on a $40 million wind tower manufacturing facility near Cheyenne.  This is hoped to be the start of a flourishing industry in Wyoming. The 30-acre facility will be a milestone in efforts to build a manufacturing sector around the state's growing wind energy industry, and will be Wyoming's first-ever wind energy manufacturing facility.  This project should create about 150 new jobs. Wyoming was chosen to serve as the North American headquarters for Worthington Industries' wind energy division because of its low business costs, work force and regional market projections and because there are no Wyoming-based wind manufacturers to compete with, said company president Ralph Roberts. A ... 02/17/2011

When you begin the process of purchasing a home, there are many things that you want to make sure you do.  But it is also important to think about the things you should not do before purchasing a home.  Every last dime, nickel and penny you spend, and how it is spent, before purchasing a home can factor into whether you will be approved for a mortgage and at what rate. Here are 10 things you SHOULD NOT DO before buying a home, provided by Move.com: Don't buy any form of transportation that you will have to finance.  This would increase your debt-to-income ratios and that is something important that loan officers won't want to see. Don't change your job before applying for a home loan (unless absolutely necessary).  You wan't to show lenders stability, which will show that you will be l... 02/15/2011

Valentine's day is a day about love.  Whether it's love for your significant other, your children or your pets, it's a day to celebrate the love we all have for one another.  And what better way to celebrate this Valentine's Day than with your son and/or daughter. The Cheyenne Family YMCA will be hosting  Father Daughter Dance  Saturday, February 19, 2011 6 - 8 pm     Mother Son Dance Sunday, February 20, 2011 6 - 8 pm   Enjoy live music, professional photos, dancing and dinner. For daughters and sons of all ages.  Cost is $20 per father/mother.  Tickets are on sale at the YMCA (1426 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY).   Spend a night with your daughter/son, and dance the night away (just remember to wear some padded shoes for comfort of your young one dancing on your feet!). Visit the Cheyen... 02/10/2011

Cheyenne is located near the geographical and time center of North America and is strategically situated at a major transportation hub; the intersection of Interstate 25 and 80 and two major railroads.  Cheyenne is the capital of Wyoming, the seat of Laramie County, and the site of F.E. Warren Air Force Base; not to mention a great place to live!   The following statistics are provided from Zillow.com and are estimates only.  Wyoming is non-disclosure state (meaning transaction sale prices are not available to the public) so the information posted here may vary.  Information provided deemed reliable by not guaranteed.Here is an overview of Cheyenne    Cheyenne People Data Cheyenne, WY Nation Median Household Income: $38,856 $44,512 Single Males: 12.8% 14.6% Single Females: 9.7% 12.5% Me... 02/08/2011

The Friends of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and US Bank proudly present the 30th Annual Glass Art Celebration February 11 - 20th Monday - Friday 8 to 5 pm Saturday - Sunday 10 to 3:30 pm Cheyenne Botanic Gardens     See stained glass, glass beadwork etched, melted and more glass art creations.  All pieces are  displayed in the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens greenhouse/conservatory and meeting room. This is the perfect time to see beautiful art and visit the tropics for FREE! This year's show is sponsored by Holiday Inn of Cheyenne, US Bank and the Northern Colorado Stained Glass Supply. The show is open to professionals, intermediate and amateur artists doing work in any kind of glass art.  If you would like to enter a piece of art, download an entry form.   02/03/2011

The state of Wyoming may not have an NFL Football team, but that doesn't mean you can't throw a great Super Bowl Party.  Whoever you will be cheering for this Sunday for Super Bowl XLV, here are some great tips to make your Super Bowl party a success. Stick with traditional Sunday football food items;  chips, cheese dips, chili, salsa, cheese balls, pizza, wings, mini franks, anything that screams unhealthy for you, but we all love. Set up as many televisions as you have available around the party.  This will prevent people from having to crowd around one television to take in all the game's highlights. Prepare food items will allow you to socialize and not keep you couped in the kitchen all night. Be sure to have enough beverages to go around.  Or suggest that each guest brings a bever... 02/01/2011

In today's world, social networking has become a phenomenon.  More and more people are using social networks to connect with people not only in their personal lives but their professional lives as well. Join the American Society for Training and Development - Northern Rockies Chapter on Thursday, February 10, 2011 11:30 am to 1:00 pm (Lunch included) LCCC - Training Center, Room 112 (1400 E. College Drive, Cheyenne, WY) Presented by Stan Skrabut     LinkedIn is a social network website that enables people to build and manage (mostly) business connections in order to discover jobs, ventures, new clients, etc.  Unlike other social networking sites, its focus is business rather than social or entertainment. By the end of the session you should be able to: Set up a LinkedIn account Add conn... 01/27/2011

Don't let the dead of winter prevent you from keeping up on your home maintenance routine.  Your most important task of January, according to Marilyn Lewis of MSN Real Estate, is to prevent water damage from bursting pipes and leaks in your home. Water and dampness in the home can come from a number of sources: Groundwater and rain seeping into your home Leaky pipes inside the walls Pipes bursting from freezing and thawing Here are a few steps that you can take to safeguard against damage from frozen and bursting pipes: Insulate any pipes exposed to the cold Seal any leaks that are letting cold air in Search for uninsulated water supply lines in the attic, garage, basement and crawl spaces When temperatures drop below zero, open both hot and cold faucets a trickle to relieve pressure in... 01/25/2011

Join the Wyoming Division of  State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails this Saturday, January 22 for the 3rd Annual Wyoming Kids Xtreme Ice Festival. From 10 am to 3 pm, you will have the opportunity to learn the correct way to participate in winter activities such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing and tobogganing, as well as enjoy ice sculptors, living history, a food vendor, ice climbing walls, Igloos, roasted marshmallows, dog sleds and more! This event is FREE and open to the public, and will be held on the lawn of the Wyoming State Museum (2301 Central Ave. in Cheyenne). Held as part of the national Children in Nature program and the Wyoming Kids Xtreme campaign, the Ice Festival is committed to reconnecting children and families with nature and the outdoors. For more information visit, W... 01/20/2011

Here is a market update of Cheyenne, WY for the week ending January 12, 2011 (provided by Trulia.com). The average listing price for a home is $216,857, which is up $10,248 or 5.0% from the week prior.  The median sales price, October to December 2010, is $126,025.  This number has increased $1,025 or 0.8% from the same period a year ago.  Recently, about 168 homes were sold and there are approximately 312 homes for sale.   Median Sales Price (1yr) Number of Sales (1yr) Average Listing Price Number of Listings Average Price per Square Foot (1yr)   01/18/2011

Winter is in full bloom, and as many people prepare themselves for taking the plunge into the cold, make sure your pets are ready to bear the cold as well. Here are some tips on keeping pets safe and healthy all winter long, provided by Mother Nature Network. Break the ice.  If you keep your pet's water bowl outdoors, or even in the garage, be sure to check and see if the water has frozen over.  Breaking the ice will make sure that he or she has access to clean, fresh water. Wipe 'em down.  Various ice-melting chemicals can cause irritation and burning on the bottom of your pet's feet and bellies.  These chemicals can cause serious illness if swallowed, so wiping your pet down when they come inside is a good idea. Antifreeze is not a pet's best friend.  Although cats and dogs are attrac... 01/12/2011

On December 21, 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2010 Census state population counts and Wyoming's results reflect its fastest decennial growth since 1980. Wyoming's total resident population reached 563,626 on April 1, 2010, gaining 69,844 persons over the decade, a 14.1% increase since 2000.  This is the strongest growth in population Wyoming has experience since 1980.  During the decade between 1970 and 1980, Wyoming experienced an energy boom which resulted in the population growing a significant 41.3%.  Then in the mid-1980s, the state endured a heavy out-migration and the population declined 3.4%. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts a Census every 10 years in order to count every person living in the United States.  It measures the resident population living housing units, gr... 01/10/2011

The Cheyenne Animal Shelter will be conducting off-site adoption drives during the month of January on Saturday, January 8 Sierra Trading Post 11 am to 3 pm   Saturday, January 15 Petco 12 pm to 4 pm   Saturday, January 29 Murdoch's  11 am to 2 pm Several wonderful adoptable animals (canines and felines) will be on site looking for a caring new home and a second chance at life. For over 30 years, the Cheyenne Animal Shelter has extended the hand of kindness to neglected and abused companion animals in Cheyenne and Laramie County.  Their goal is to go beyond sheltering the homeless and unwanted pet populations and find a home for every adoptable companion animal that's brought to their door. To learn more about the adoption process visit Cheyenne Animal Shelter.  . Every animal needs an... 01/05/2011