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It was bound to happen. The writing on the wall was there for several episodes, and in "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," Matt Saracen was finally demoted to backup quarterback as J.D. McCoy was crowned QB1. Coach Taylor has finally chose talent over experience and potential over the status quo. As I mentioned last week, a quarterback carousel will only work for a few games, and this team needs to look towards the future. As far as the coaching staff is concerned, J.D. is that future.
Eric deals with the situation as respectfully as he knows how by going to Matt's house to tell him face to face. Things get a bit awkward when Shelby and Lorraine come home to find Coach Taylor there as Matt's grandmother begins proclaiming that Eric "walks on water" as far as that household is concerned. When Shelby introduces herself as Matt's mother, Coach's reaction tells us that he realizes he may not have done everything he could have for Matt. As Tami mentioned last week, this boy is like family to the Taylors. So how could Eric have neglected him to the point where he knows nothing about a development as significant as this one?
Matt appears to take the demotion like a champ, pushing through it. But soon he's walking around with a numbness and an apathy that hints at a lot of pain on the inside. When Shelby reveals that she's considering renting out a chair at a local salon, Matt simply says, "You can do whatever you want," whereas a week or two ago he might've freaked out. His hidden anger finally comes out as he lets loose on some football equipment, and he reaffirms the inherent injustice of the whole situation. He's done everything the coach ever asked him to do. He led the team to a championship. He's helped them reach 3-1 so far this year (the sole loss, if you'll remember, was the game that Matt single-handedly clawed the team back to contention, only to drop the ball during the game-winning play). After all he's done, it seems so unfair to punish Matt when he's technically done nothing wrong. Eric convinces Matt not to quit, but the quarterback promises that this decision will eat away at Coach every time he looks over to see his backup still doing what's asked of him.
If there's a silver lining for Matt, it's that some of the weight that he constantly carries on his shoulders has been lifted. He gets a break from the pressure of being QB1 in Dillon, and he can focus on new things, like his relationship with his mother. They get a nice little scene at the end of the episode that could have easily been a clunker. The boy finally reveals to his mother everything that's been going on and how it's made him feel. The scene was dangerously close to being one of those "oh look, they're bonding!" scenes, but there were several things that turned it around. Unlike many other scenes of this kind, we were treated to more of the actual conversation. So many times a show will begin this scene, and just when you catch on to the fact that the two are "sharing a moment," it ends. Here, we get to hear Matt voice some things that we were already aware of but his mother wasn't. To most shows, this is redundant and unnecessary, but the folks behind Friday Night Lights are smart enough to realize that just because the information is old doesn't mean new things can't be revealed. We get to hear Matt explain to Shelby how Jason Street's injury was the only reason he ever became the starter, and also how scary Jason's accident really was. It felt like a real conversation between two people who are truly getting to know each other for the first time.
Tyra and her hunky rodeo cowboy Cash are still together, and we once again see him popping some pills (or "cowboy candy" as he called it last week). Tyra notices that he's popping them a little too often, but he just insists that the more pain he feels, the more pills he needs. This really is an overt setup for some sort of payoff in a future episode, and I'm a bit bothered by how amateurishly this device is being handled. Maybe I have to wait for the outcome to fully understand it, but I'm wondering why the show wants or thinks it needs this pill-popping situation.
Even without knowing of the cowboy candy, Tami is worried about Tyra's relationship with Cash. She's been skipping classes, bombing tests, and the principal just doesn't want Tyra to throw away everything she's worked for because of some man. Tyra pretends that she doesn't care what Tami says, but deep down, she seems to suspect some of the same things. One day, Cash convinces Tyra to skip out on class again, but this time, he takes her to see something quite beautiful: a newborn horse (a foal, if I'm not mistaken). Tyra realizes that there really is more to this guy. There's an appreciation for life and some of its magnificent surprises. When Tyra comes back and tells her principal that she's wrong about Cash, I really like Tami's response, which is a simple "okay." Parents and parental figures have a hard time relinquishing control and trusting the decisions of their kids, but Tami knows that at some point or another, she has to trust Tyra's choices, especially if she doesn't want to push the girl away. As she said, she doesn't care about Cash, she only cares about Tyra. So if Tyra's okay, then Tami's okay.
But it's this realization that gets Tami thinking about her situation with Julie. We saw remnants of the young girl's rebellious streak back in the first episode of the season (tricking her dad into signing papers to change her schedule despite the disapproval of her mother), and it seems to be back this week as Julie gets herself a bona fide tattoo on her ankle. Cue the parents freaking out. But after everything with Tyra, Tami realizes that, whether she likes it or not, she's going to have to learn to trust in Julie's decisions. On their way to get the tattoo removed, Tami pulls the car over and reveals to Julie that she had nearly dropped out of high school, and that the only reason she didn't was because she met Eric. He had his own problems, but they had the help of each other to make it through those problems (probably a very big reason why Tami and Eric have the relationship they have today). Tami's point is that paths like those are so easy to take. Julie is very independent. She doesn't want her own "Eric" to pull her out of problems. But her mother just needs reassurance that she can put her faith in the decisions her daughter makes.
This story isn't needed to advance any sort of plot, but it didn't feel out of place in the episode. It could easily have been botched, but I think it was held afloat by the choice to let Tami get things wrong at first. Her and Eric's approach to solving the situation failed on several counts, and it's not until Tami finds the right approach with her "surrogate daughter" that she can finally reach Julie at a level the girl can respond to.
I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't surprised to see Jason Street show up this week; deep down I'd hoped that we were through with his story. I didn't find his one-night-stand plot from last season to be all that interesting, but the consequences of that development are central to his story this season. When Jason knocked up Erin the Waitress, he considered it a miracle; doctors told him we wasn't going to be able to have kids after his accident. When the last episode of Season 2 ended, Jason vowed to care for this baby with all his heart. Apparently, he's a man of his word because the new Jason Street is a proud, infatuated father of a chubby young lad named Noah. Erin, who seems to have lost some personality since we last saw her, is a stressed out mother trying to make ends meet. It's difficult to gauge her relationship with Jason. They care for Noah like divorced parents would, sharing custody, yet Jason tries to convince Erin to stay the night at his place. He talks about making more money to provide a better life for her and Noah. Eventually, Jason voices that Erin is keeping him at arms length until he can prove to be a worthy man, one who can provide for her and their child.
Jason has always come across as an intelligent person, though we know that he can do dumb, rash things when he's desperate (such as going to Mexico to receive experimental treatment for his paralysis). Well, he must be quite desperate to enter a "get rich (relatively) quick" scheme with, of all people, the Riggins brothers and Murderball Herc. I'm no realtor, but if you ask me, flipping houses sounds a little risky to begin with, let alone in this economy. But it goes to show you what a salesman Buddy Garrity actually is.
Buddy? That's right. Tim uses Buddy's line ("When all the scared rats are leaving a sinking market, that's when a real entrepreneur steps in—a true visionary") to convince Herc, Jason, and Billy to buy the Garrity house and sell it for a profit. Just one line and everyone's convinced. And when you think about it, it's when Tim hears Buddy's utterance that the whole idea is cooked up to begin with. Just like that, Buddy's blatant line converts 4 people with absolute ease.
Yet it was nice to have the tables switched on Buddy. When he refuses to sell the house to the four young men, Jason has to use his own salesman skills to make Buddy a believer, and he knows exactly how to do it. Buddy seems to have 2 major weak spots: his daughter and his football team. His daughter is, in a way, the reason he's so against selling the house; he'd be selling it to Tim, the guy who could end up being the father of Buddy's grandchildren. That eats him up. But Jason pushes Buddy's football buttons to the point where he can't resist. Buddy's not selling his house to the Riggins, Jason says. He's selling it to Jason Street, quarterback of the Dillon Panthers. He's selling it to the guy who came through in the 4th quarter. The guy who, when you needed a leader and you needed someone to take charge and steer the ship, he was there. "That guy is who you're going to sell the house to," Jason says. The scene is so much fun to watch, not only because Jason is able to sell to the ultimate salesman (and leave him staring off into the distance, his eyes full of nostalgia), but also because the scene further reveals Jason's strengths. He's a good salesman, and while he hates using the disability or small-town QB cards, he'll do it if he has to. This passionate young man is fighting for Erin and for his son. He'll do whatever it takes.
Unfortunately, Erin has reached her limit. She's moving back east to receive help from family, and she's taking Noah with her. Jason tries to convince her that the house flipping project will work, but it's to no avail. "You can come visit. He's your son, too," is the only comfort she can give Jason. He's now left with only one option: flip this house and make that profit, otherwise he'll never convince Erin to come back with Noah.
As I mentioned, I find this whole plan very iffy and risky, yet I have a hard time believing that Friday Night Lights would set Jason up just to knock him down again. Would they really be willing to let him fail when he's desperately trying to do the right thing? You could argue that it's a possibility, given what happened to Matt this week. But it seems to me that Jason's subplot will be much like Smash's; it'll last a few episodes until we can finally be reassured that Jason will be okay, which probably means that the house flipping will work. It's an assumption on my part, but I think it's a fairly safe one. So if I think I know what is going to happen, all that's left is the "how."
Some miscellaneous notes:
1. I'm praying, praying, praying that this is the last we've seen of Guy, the crazy drug dealer of last season. I feared the copper wire plot would bring the show down much like last year's "stealing money from a drug dealer" development, but I didn't think they'd actually merge the two! Luckily, all the copper wire has been sold (to some shady guy who carries 20 grand in his backpack), so I'm assuming that effectively ends that plot device. Here's hoping there are no more scrapes with drug dealers firing guns.
2. Jason's words and actions tell us that he loves Erin, but I'm just not feeling it between the two. Honestly, I think he is totally in love with his son, and it simply spills over onto the boy's mother.
3. If Jason's subplot indeed only lasts 4 or 5 episodes like Smash's, this season is going to start feeling like Season 3 of Veronica Mars. The show had opted to create several 4 or 5 episode mysteries as opposed to grand 22 episode ones of seasons past. Oddly, Veronica Mars made it work, but I still missed those whirlwind finales where everything finally unravels.
4. I'll admit that I didn't notice this until I read something on IMDb, but in the early scene with all the coaches convincing Eric to make J.D. the starting quarterback, "CRM 114" is written on the whiteboard. It's a nice homage to Stanley Kubrick and Dr. Strangelove, though at first it seems a bit out of place. Why would someone choose this time and place to put an homage to Dr. Strangelove? Just pure fun? Maybe. But take a moment to remember what the CRM-114 Discriminator was in the film. Once the attack orders were given to the bombers (Plan-R), the CRM-114 was ultimately used to block any incoming transmissions that didn't have a specific three-letter prefix; further orders were only obeyed if they were received through that device. This prevented the White House from communicating with the bombers in their attempt to recall the mission. If memory serves me (it's been a while since I've seen the film, so I'm consulting the script found online), the prefix for the CRM-114 was cracked, and all planes were recalled except for one, who's device was fried, meaning they never received the orders to abort. I think we all remember what happened with that bomber. Maybe I'm reaching here, but could this be a very subtle yet specific hint? Is the coaching staff like the crew of that bomber, unable and unwilling to listen to any other reasoning or scenarios? Will the decision to go with J.D. McCoy eventually blow up in their faces? But most importantly, if J.D. is the bomb, will Coach bull-ride him?
Jonathan Pacheco is a current web developer and future freelance writer. He blogs and reviews films at Bohemian Cinema.


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BrightWire Client of the Month - Acme Fuel Co.
Acme Fuel was founded in 1925 by the Springer Mill Company to sell waste wood products as a fuel source for local areas homes in Thurston and Mason county Washington. In the early 1940's the company was purchased by the Tom Allen Sr. and has remained a locally owned family business since then.
Today, Christophe Allen and his team run a vibrant and growing operation based largely on his belief that consistent superior service and attention to the small details make happy customers and a strong business that otherwise might be just another commodity sale. Doing right by his customers is the foundation for the companies' long term success. "We find ways to help our customer's in ways they might not expect by providing niche services the bigger guys don't want to do because there's not enough volume. But for us, that little extra service builds customer loyalty. Just little things like doing BBQ grill hookups and offering a variety of specialty fuels builds value for our customers and makes a big difference in the long run".
But Allen isn't just a nice guy; he's also a keen business manager that looks for ways to optimize his operation and improve results. The company is doing several major improvement projects this year including fuel station modernizations, new delivery truck purchases, and a big upgrade for Acme's information technologies.
He's also fully embraced the concept that focusing his team on their core business is their best long-term strategy for success and he looks for outsource partners for as many critical day to day functions as possible.
One such decision was getting out of the HVAC business, "We realized that HVAC just isn't in our long-term interest; now we partner with a great local HVAC company and we share referrals – we've added more fuel business doing that than what the HVAC business did for us in terms of overhead and cost".
Allen realized years ago that IT management was not his companies' strong suit and hired BrightWire to fully manage his IT department responsibility. "We had used another smaller company for a while and that worked OK, but as our needs increased, eventually we started to see strain in the relationship. Response time to our help requests got much longer, and even the billing got messed up. We found BrightWire on a referral and they are awesome! As a small business owner, I wear many hats, but I certainly don't have the time to manage all there is do with our computer network. They take all that worry off my list."
Finally, Allen even decided to outsource their monthly billing to a mailing service, "Before we did that, it was a very stressful time of month with all-hands-on deck stuffing envelopes! Now we have more time devoted to customer service".
When asked what advice he'd offer to fellow business owners Allen said, "Don't try to do too many things. Dad was kind of old-school and wanted to manage everything, but we've been able to realize success by being the best at delivering great service (and fuel!) to our customers, and matching up with outsource partners that do the same for their clients".

subset: commoncrawl


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Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Cigar Gifts and other Cigar topics.
A cigar gift basket can include all the accessories needed to start or expand a love of cigars. These cigar gifts can include a host of cigars, a cutter, lighter and travel case. One can spend as much as they want for these gifts. Gift baskets can be specific to a certain brand or contain an assortment. Cigar stores, mail order and web sites are extremely creative with the cigars and accessories gifts. When it comes to cigar gifts for dad or unique gifts, make sure they are special as they will be enjoyed throughout the year.
|Guru Spotlight
|Phyllis Serbes


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Camellia x williamsii 'St. Ewe' by Joanne Taylor
In Bloom
Camellia spp. Theaceae
With bold blooms that spread cheer through the darker days of our calendar year, the Garden's collection of Camellia species and cultivars help to carry the cloud forest colors of fall and winter this year into the magnificent magnolias of the next.
In their native Asia, ranging from the Himalayas to Japan and south to Indonesia, the species we cultivate thrive in a temperate monsoon climate with a rainy season corresponding with summer. This fact may shed some light on their bloom period. With elaborate, fairly delicate flowers, it could be that camellias have evolved by adapting to their native, summer-rainy climate by flowering in the period of their year with less rainfall. Though water is critical to all life, it can also be a destructive force. To delicate plant parts, including flowers, falling water can break, tear, and weigh down. It can be "sticky" and fill narrow spaces through capillary action, making it uninviting to impossible for animal pollinators, from birds to bees, to access their nectar and other floral rewards.Without these pollinator visits, the wet flowers will not be fertilized, and the production of fruit and seeds will not occur. Flowers, along with other plant organs, are expensive to produce. They require significant investments in energy and in time – also precious commodities for life. With pollinators available during the winter, camellias and their elaborate flowers may very well stand a better chance of fulfilling their purpose to bear fruit with seeds – the species' next generation – without the onslaught of rain with which to contend.
There are near 300 species of Camellia endemic to Asia. About 20% of these species have been evaluated and IUCN red-listed as requiring significant conservation focus, primarily due to deforestation and habitat loss.
With the help of one of Asia's many botanical gifts, the Garden has flowers on display throughout the calendar year. Walk the Garden this winter to discover other colorful gems from around the world!
IN BLOOM CONTRIBUTORS: Text and Profile by Corey Barnes. Photos by Joanne Taylor and Mona Bourell.
Camellia spp. can be found


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The Systems of the Jewish Year
- Select A Category:
You are in calendar The Grave Sitter
"The Grave Sitter" - Comments
1 Yohanon on 2010 08 19
Perhaps our concern for the feelings of the dead really are meant to teach us respect for all things - akin to the prohibition of eating meat and dairy together or chasing away a mother bird before taking the eggs. Lessons are not always so obvious.
2 fishel on 2010 08 20
ofcourse we are our actions-- by the svara explained here defending the ben sorer morer- we can justify a person's illicit sexual behaviour or justify a violent act-- RL--- we are our middos-- and are hear to develop them-- no??
3 Sender Haber on 2010 08 21
Thank you for reading and for the great points.
I think that Rav Yonasan was showing respect for the dead by demonstrating that the deceased was no longer evil.
I am not suggesting that the Ben Sorer Umoreh is not responsible for his actions. He is responsible for his future and his failure to develop his Midos despite available opportunities results in his execution.
My point is that we should be able to look deep inside and see the beautiful neshama that was unfortunately obscured by Taava. I think that a reading of the chapter in Koheles bears me out. Shlomo Hamelech writes that the bad midos died with the person.


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Definition of adultry
1. adult [ n ] a fully developed person from maturity onwardUsed in print:
(Sports Age, 24:9...)
Since SAAMI 's conception in 1926 , and more specifically since the adoption of the Shooting Development Program in 1954 , millions of dollars and promotional man-hours have gone_into the development of more places to_shoot for more youths and adults .
(William C. Smith, "Why Fear Ideas?"...)
Children , conditioned by this mistaken notion , have feared stepmothers , while adults , by their antagonistic attitudes , have made the role of the substitute parents a difficult one .
(The Family Fallout Shelter. Office of Civil and Defence...)
After the family has settled in the shelter , the housekeeping rules should be spelled_out by the adult in charge .
(Jesse W. Grimes and Wesley Allinsmith, "Compuls...)
Reliability and validation work with the Children 's Anxiety_Scale by Castaneda , et_al. demonstrated results closely similar to the findings with the adult scale .
(Jay Williams, The Forger....)
It was strange stuff - it reminded me of the pictures of a child , but a child who has never played with other kids and has lived all its life with adults .Synonyms adult grownup Related Terms juvenile person character liberal host elder professional conservative oldster sophisticate centrist Jack_of_all_trades liberal stoic pacifist patrician ex-spouse sobersides stay-at-home important_person catch pledger pledgee thoroughbred militarist caregiver adult_body
2. adult [ n ] any mature animalUsed in print:
(B. J. D. Meeuse, The Story of Pollination....)
The development of the Andrena larvae is very rapid , so that by the end of spring they have already pupated and become adults .
The life_history of the alkali_bee is similar to that of Andrena , but the first activity of the adults does not take_place until summer , and the individuals hibernate in the prepupal stage .
In most places , there are two generations a year , a second brood of adults appearing late in the summer .
(Clifford H. Pope, The Giant Snakes....)
Laurence_M_._Klauber put length at maturity at two thirds the ultimate length for some rattlesnakes , and Charles_C_._Carpenter 's data on Michigan garter and ribbon_snakes ( Thamnophis ) show that the smallest gravid females are more_than half as long as the biggest adults .Synonyms adult Related Terms animal
3. adult [ a ] (of animals) fully developed
Examples: "an adult animal" "a grown woman"
4. adult [ a ] (of animals) fully developed
Examples: "an adult animal" "a grown woman"
(Sports Age, 24:9...)
But with the exception of professional athletes , few contact_sports and physical_education activities in our schools have any carryover in the adult life of the average American man or woman .Synonyms big grown full-grown adult grownup fully_grown Related Terms mature
Similar Spellingadult
|Definition of adulate
|Definition of adulation
|Definition of adulator
|Definition of adulatory
|Definition of adult
|Definition of adult_body
|Definition of adult_education
|Definition of adult_female
|Definition of adult_female_body


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85135455821294375732018-08-30T11:37:25.013-04:00Lake Charleston, Lake Worth Florida 33467Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-17846434887984016762016-11-15T19:07:00.002-05:002016-11-16T16:32:47.450-05:00Sell your Lake Charleston home for all cash? We have a way to do that!

The Jackson Realty Group will do something to sell your

Lake Charleston home that no other agents are doing!

We can market your Lake Charleston home to a huge
group of buyers that other agents don't even know exist...

We are able to offer your Lake Charleston home as a "lease-option"

(and get you an all cash sale in weeks!)

If you are thinking of selling and want to find out more about how we reach out to this untapped segment of the buyer market
give us a call at (561) 432 5202 or email us
Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-11198591000835986122015-10-21T15:31:00.001-04:002015-10-21T15:31:35.842-04:00Our marketing video for our most recent client

If you think your home should be marketed like this…please give me a call at 561.602.1258

or email me at email link

Thanks..Steve Jackson

Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-8173727363098882372014-12-30T08:10:00.001-05:002014-12-31T13:49:14.291-05:00Bad Credit? Had a short sale or foreclosure? I can help you buy a house!This week I had a meeting to discuss the details of the launch of a new type of lease-option program for my clients. This is very exciting news for the thousands of people looking to do a lease option the ability to lease option a very wide range of homes.
Our program is unique as it allows people who would not qualify for traditional home financing due to a short sale, foreclosure, or credit issues to select the home they would like to buy at some point, have our investor purchase it, and have a long-term lease with the option to purchase WITHOUT having to make the typical large, non-refundable option payment.
Since the market crash I have had dozens and dozens of people asking me to help them find a seller that would do a 'lease-option' or hoping to find someone to owner finance. This has always been (until now) a very difficult goal to accomplish as the minute number of sellers that would consider a lease option for their home are looking for a significant non-refundable deposit to be included.
These clients, and thousands more like them, are not able to buy at the present time for any number of reasons, but need the security of a long-term housing solution and typically are very specific about the school district they need to be in. They don't want to pursue a standard rental and the uncertainty that comes along with it…the owner can decide to not renew the lease, sell the house, or even let it go into foreclosure forcing the tenant to move every year and uprooting their family over and over.
What makes my new program so unique is that, once approved, the buyer/tenant gets the ability to go and shop for the homes they want to eventually buy (within their approved budget) and once a home is identified, our investor with my assistance, purchases the home as a cash sale for the buyer/tenant.
After the normal inspections, the sale can close quickly as there is no financing involved. Sellers who may have been unable or reluctant to do a lease option themselves get the benefit of a quick, cash sale. The buyer has the flexibility to move in with much less than the typical lease option would require too. A security deposit, and first and last month's rent is typical. Much less than would be typical for an owner financed purchase.
Right now in Palm Beach county there are under a dozen homes that have offered non traditional financing, or lease option programs (and they require a big, non-refundable deposit). But now I have a way to satisfy sellers looking for a hassle free sale, and to help buyers that are looking for a lease option program.
The basic criteria we look for with the buyer is steady income, no serious criminal history, and a minimum household income of $50,000. With regards to homes that qualify we allow homes priced up to $500k and homes that are in good school districts.
If you think that this program may work for you, give me a call right away at 561.602.1258 to set up your initial meeting. Regardless of credit issues, a prior short sale, bankruptcy, or even a foreclosure this could be a new way to get your family's next home. I am very excited to have this great option to give families the housing stability they need in the school districts they want with the prospect of buying their home in the near future!
Call me today to see if you can pick out your new lease-option home!
Steve Jackson
561.602.1258Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-63796106647591889192014-12-13T23:55:00.001-05:002014-12-13T23:55:10.013-05:00No Money Down?

What are the maximum concessions (Seller-paid costs) a buyer can receive from the seller, realtors, and other parties in a real estate transaction?

This is a great question we deal with all the time. There are so many buyers who need help with their cash for closing. Each program has different guidelines, so I will review the guidelines for the three more popular programs:

Conventional: When a buyer is financing a primary residence or second home the conventional guidelines base the allowable concession on the buyer's down payment. Buyers who put less than 10% down can receive up to 3% of the sales price in the concessions. With 10% - 24.99% down the concession can go up to 6% and with 25% down or more, can up to 9% of the sales price.

FHA: This is a little bit more liberal. They allow 6% in contributions with FHA's minimum down payment of 3.5%.

VA Loans: They are even more liberal because they will let interested parties pay for all of the Veterans closing costs plus another 4% for other costs related to the transaction. VA allows 100% financing, so they can move in with literally no cash out of their pocket.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO US ABOUT GETTING IN TO A HOME WITH LITTLE OR NONE OF YOUR OWN MONEY…GIVE ME A CALL.

Steve Jackson

561.602.1258

EMAI L
 Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-31008707459791535662014-11-10T15:07:00.001-05:002014-11-10T15:07:30.630-05:00NAR Buyer/Seller traffic report analysis

Back in early to mid 2011 the market value of homes here bottomed out. Then several big hedge funds started scooping up everything under $300k…with 'all cash' offers. Home prices/values had been on quite a tear since…until recently.

What happens from here is difficult to predict. With the elections having just tilted back towards the Republicans we should quickly see if this translates into a more robust economy/jobs/business environment.

The current market may look like a 'standoff' between sellers and buyers.

But is not about standoffs, it's about negative feedback loops and positive feedback loops:

Positive feedback loop: buy because prices are increasing, don't put your house on sale because next year you can get 15 percent more. All of a sudden you have low inventory and rising prices, further feeding the loop.

Negative feedback loop: prices are stalling, let's wait to see where they are in a year. Let's sell that house now before prices fall further.

Let's not forget, there is a lot of investor housing bought in the last 36 months that may quickly make it back on the market once the price gains stall out.

I'll keep an eye on this…you keep an eye on this blog.

Thanks for reading…Steve Jackson…561.602.1258
 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-43013945581928783932014-10-20T17:48:00.001-04:002014-10-20T17:48:24.975-04:00A dirty little real estate secret

The "Dirty Little Secret" Agents Don't Want You to Know

…that can cost you tens of thousands of dollars (and waste a lot of your time)!

Did you know…..most agents list homes at a price where the property WILL NOT SELL?! In fact almost 70% of homes listed today are initially listed overpriced, meaning that they require one or more price reductions before they sell. For some reason, most agents don't want to admit that little-known secret…that agents typically price homes where they will not sell!

You may be saying, "OK…so they priced it too high initially…no big deal…we can always come down." But here is the shocking truth…..

Overpriced listings end up selling for less because they sit on the market too long and can become stigmatized. After weeks and weeks on the market the "WWWTH Syndrome" kicks in with buyers…."What's Wrong With That House."

Here are the actual statistics! Of these overpriced listings that actually end of up selling (not including the ones that don't sell at all), they average selling for only 87% of their original asking price and take over 120 days on average to sell! Homes that are priced right from the beginning, sell for over 97% of list price with an average of only 45 days on the market to sell!*

The TRUTH is that the "Price-It-High, Come-Down-Later Strategy" actually costs you precious equity…2%, 3%, 5%, or even more!!! When your home is initially listed too high, you lose the opportunity to get the premium value for your house…because of this simple, statistical fact: the longer a house spends on the market, they lower the offers it generates. This happens for two primary reasons:

1. The "WWWTH Syndrome" (see above) causes buyers to offer less for your property…if they're willing to make an offer at all.

2. After price reductions, buyers and agents perceive an increased motivation from the sellers so they make lower offers thinking you are now desperate to get an offer. It doesn't matter if it's true or not…their perception costs you.

"...Beware of agents who set the list price on homes at unrealistically high levels simply to get listings. They will tell you what YOU WANT to hear…because they are AFRAID if they tell you the truth up front…they might not get the listing. DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH?" Real estate trainers even have a name for this tactic…it is called "Buying a Listing"!

I will always tell you the truth. And the THE TRUTH IS…I don't want your listing. I want to help you get WHAT YOU WANT…which is to get your property SOLD, within your timeframe, for the BEST PRICE AND TERMS. If that is what you want…LET'S TALK.

Call me today at: 561.602.1258

Thanks again for reading…Steve & Jackie Jackson
 Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-76976153702881646792014-09-12T13:55:00.001-04:002014-09-12T13:55:37.925-04:00ReMax 360 Video Channel

 Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-89598501095831179002014-06-07T11:54:00.001-04:002014-06-07T11:54:34.278-04:00Build your multi-generation compound
Are you tired of the rules and restrictions of a homeowners association?

Do you have a boat, motor home, work trucks, etc. that you'd like to store at your home?

Would you like to have a big workshop next to your house?

Do your elderly parents need your help and watchful eye now?

Are the just-graduated kids moving back home?

We may have a great solution for you…we just signed an agreement to market a 1.4 acre piece of property a short distance from Winston Trails, Journeys End, Smith Farm, Lake Charleston and Lakeview Estates.

It is a heavily wooded, private parcel ready to be cleared and transformed. It is surrounded by other large parcels providing extra privacy.

We even can recommend a great, local, custom builder/engineer to help you with your plans and construction.

You can buy this property from us today for only $130,000! (Cash Only)

Call me today before we release this opportunity to the general public.

Steve Jackson: 561.602.1258
 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-40866936371771964182014-03-03T07:37:00.001-05:002014-03-03T07:37:51.197-05:00The propaganda confliction continues…

First…the ACTUAL facts related to the current state of housing…

JPMorgan to lay off a total of 17,000 mortgage bankers by the end of 2014

Prices were up 11.7% in the first nine months of 2013, but fell 0.3% in the fourth quarter. And, the latest housing news has been bad.January existing-home sales fell to an 18-month low. And home construction in January recorded the biggest month-over-month drop in seven years.

"Our early data shows national quarterly price gains are falling at a rapid pace and suggest overall prices could dip into negative territory soon if current conditions continue,"

NEXT: Here is a sample of recent 'upbeat' housing related headlines:

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. As March comes in this year, the housing sector continues to roar ahead with good news, while other sectors are struggling.

NAR says the housing market will continue to experience a growth in home sales, provided the job market continues to improve.

As a seller or buyer, it's difficult to know what to believe. Are prices rising? Is inventory low? Should you sell now or wait? Should you buy now or wait?

Here, in Palm Beach County, it looks like the market peaked in August, 2013 after a bottom in early 2011. An additional signal is the inventory levels have risen about 25% from the beginning of September 2013. Where is our local market headed this year? I think I know what the indicators are and where they are pointing.

My business has been built upon giving highly personalized advice based upon my client specific needs and goals. No one answer is right for all sellers or all buyers. And you can't rely on the media to give you all of the 'unbiased' data and analysis required for you to make an educated decision.

If you are thinking about making a move, selling or buying, we should see what is the best thing for you to do, now. My direct line is 561.602.1258

Thanks for reading….Steve Jackson
 Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-37514640683992668462014-01-21T12:06:00.001-05:002014-01-21T12:06:11.119-05:00What's in store for 2014?
Sorry to start out 2014 with a bad-news post…but writing about all sides of the real estate market is how I roll!

On December 31, 2013, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) reduced the loan limits for its single-family insurance program in 652 counties, while increasing them in 89 counties. The changes result from the expiration of provisions of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.

In Palm Beach County, the FHA loan limit for 2013 was $423,750…which meant that a buyer could obtain an FHA insured loan for $423,750. Typically, buyers choose the FHA loan route for 2 reasons: 1) they have little to no down payment, or, 2) their credit score would not enable them to obtain convention financing.

With an FHA loan, a buyer could purchase a home with as little as 3.5% down. On the aforementioned 2013 limit, that would have been a home sales price of about $439,000.

But starting now, the maximum loan amount for an FHA buyer is only $345,000! A $94,000 reduction…almost 20%! This new loan limit will translate into a new maximum purchase price of about $358,000.

Lets look at what effect these new limits would have had if we overlay the 2014 limits on to 2103 loans.

In 2013, there were 2301 FHA home sales (about 5% of the total sales) reported in MLS statistics. Of those 2301, 127 of them fell above the 2014 limits. This doesn't necessarily mean that those 127 sales would not have happened in 2014 limits were in place, but in my 15+ years of experience I have found that the great majority of FHA buyers do not have much money for the down payment and that is why they pay the higher fees and higher interest rates associated with FHA as FHA is about the only game in town for this type of buyer.

So lets assume that 20% of those FHA buyers could have financed the loan another way…that leaves 100 sales between $357,000 and $439,000 that would not have been possible (or will not be possible this year). No matter how you interpret it, losing 5% of your prospective buyer pool is not good for home sellers in 2014.

Another interesting and potentially impactful statistic: in 2013 there were 767 all cash sales in the $357k-$439k range. This equates to 43% being cash sales. The all cash sale market is expected to contract again this year as investors/hedge funds continue to scale back on purchases as prices have risen 25% or more since the bottom in mid 2011.

All-in-all, I foresee a tightening of the real estate market going forward this year. I am of the opinion that sales prices will be flat-to-negative. But on the flip side…for the (non FHA) buyer, buying sooner rather than waiting will be advice I will be comfortable giving seeing as how interest rates are expected to continue climbing (with the next 'taper' on the horizon) and as underwriting rules are going to be getting tougher.

If you'd like to discuss your options as a seller or buyer in this market give me a call at 561.602.1258

Thanks for reading, Steve Jackson

And come to visit us in our new office (We are now a REMAX franchise). we're located on the SW corner of Hypoluxo and Jog in the Charleston Square Plaza. 6582 Hypoluxo Rd., Lake Worth 33467

 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-54008705521750101122014-01-09T09:53:00.001-05:002014-01-09T09:53:14.079-05:00Janet Yellen, The Nation's New Chief Slumlord
Below is a blog post from Charles Hugh Smith's blog: OfTwoMinds.com

I couldn't comment or paraphrase anything in his post that would be an improvement or would add any clarity…so the verbatim post is below. You should add his blog to your daily reading list.

Janet Yellen's role as the nation's slumlord is masked by her apparent distance from the Fed's money spigot and the resulting institutional ownership of the nation's rental housing stock.

Please welcome the nation's new chief slumlord, Janet Yellen. The previous top slumlord, Ben Bernanke, has retired from the position of Chief Slumlord (i.e. chair of the Federal Reserve) to the accolades of those who benefited from his extraordinary transfer of wealth from the many to the few.
Why is the chairperson of the Fed the nation's top slumlord? Allow me to explain.We only need to understand two facts to understand the Fed's role as Slumlord.
1. Rental housing has long been a decentralized, locally owned industry. Over 90% of rental properties under 50 units have historically been owned by individuals or couples: the nation's landlords have historically been Mom and Pop, middle-class folks who saved capital and used those savings to buy a single-family home or small apartment building (duplex, triplex, four-plex) as an investment that they own and manage.
Very few amass a huge portfolio of properties, as few have the income or assets (i.e. the collateral) to leverage the purchase of dozens of rental properties.
Buildings up to four units qualify for conventional mortgages; small rental properties are not considered commercial properties like strip malls or large apartment complexes.
This diverse, local ownership provided a wide spectrum of residential rentals. The wider the variety of rentals and owners, the greater the diversity of prices, locales and requirements. This is the essence of free enterprise: sellers (landlords) and buyers (renters) agree to price and conditions in a dynamic, open and adaptive marketplace.
2. No Mom and Pop real estate investor can compete with financial institutions who can borrow unlimited sums of money from the Federal Reserve at near-zero rates of interest.

Let's start by asking what happens to the price of real estate when mortgages fall from 8% interest to 4%: prices basically double, because buyers can "afford" to pay more at low rates of interest.
When conventional mortgage rates are 8%, a rental that costs $200,000 requires a 30% down payment in cash (because the buyers are not owner-occupants) or $60,000. The simple interest on a $140,000 mortgage is about $11,200 annually. (Let's use simple annual interest for simplicity's sake.)
At 4%, the price can double to $400,000, with a 30% down of $120,000 and a mortgage of $280,000, and the mortgage accrues the same $11,200 in annual interest.
Declining interest rates push real estate prices higher.

At first glance, this doubling in price doesn't seem to affect the cost of ownership. But that is deceptive; consider how many households can scrape up $120,000 in cash compared to the number who can scrape up $60,000. The higher the price, the bigger the down payment required. The higher the down payment, the fewer the number of households who can accumulate that much cash.
To households that live paycheck-to-paycheck, both sums are out of reach. But a significant number of middle class households could accumulate $60,000: such a sum could come from a family house that was sold and divided amongst the offspring, for example, or a Solo 401K that allows the retirement fund to own real estate, or from saving $5,000 a year for 12 years.
The Federal Reserve's Zero Interest Rate Policy (ZIRP) was designed to push real estate prices higher. The Fed's public justification was "the wealth effect": the idea was that as the family home increased in value, homeowners would begin to borrow and spend more money due to their increased home equity.
The second Fed goal was to increase home sales by lowering mortgage rates, theoretically enabling more marginal buyers to buy a home. But since prices rise as mortgage rates drop, this goal is mooted unless marginal buyers are also given a free ride on down payments and qualifying income, i.e. offered near-zero down payments and no-document mortgage qualification processes.
But zero interest rates and unlimited liquidity don't just push real estate prices higher--they give institutions with access to the Fed's nearly-free money an unbeatable advantage over Mom and Pop real estate investors.

Imagine being able to borrow $400,000 at 1% with zero collateral. You can now buy the rental property for cash, and pay only $4,000 in simple annual interest. And you didn't have to put up a dollar of actual collateral to buy the property.
Consider the huge advantages you now have over the competing Mom and Pop bidders. Sellers typically prefer cash offers, so your cash offer (of Fed money) is more attractive than Mom and Pop's loan-based bid.
If the price jumps to $500,000, Mom and Pop are blown out of the water: they don't have the additional $30,000 cash required as collateral.
Thanks to the Fed, you don't need any collateral. You can borrow $500,000 as easily as $400,000, and the increase in annual interest is trivial: a mere $1,000.
Now consider the operating costs: you have a $7,000 annual advantage because you have access to the Fed's nearly-free money. Mom and Pop have to pay $11,200 in simple annual interest, while you pay only $4,000. A property that is break-even to Mom and Pop reaps you a $7,000 annual profit, just because you can borrow money from the Fed for next to nothing.
Now multiply the $400,000 and the $7,000 by 1,000. Now you can buy $400,000,000 of rental properties and skim $7,000,000 in annual profits, just from the advantage of having access to the Fed's quantitative easing (QE) nearly-free money.
Any advantages you can accrue from economies of scale from owning tens of thousands of rental properties are also yours to keep, courtesy of the Fed.
Now you understand why Janet Yellen is the nation's new top slumlord. Her policies of unlimited liquidity, QE and zero interest rates directly enable financial Elites to beat out Mom and Pop rental housing investors and buy tens of thousands of rental properties at will.
Access to free money and near-zero interest rates gives institutional buyers a built-in advantage over Mom and Pop rental property owners: no collateral and free profits from super-low rates available to those closest to the Fed's QE money spigot.
Institutional ownership turns the rental housing stock into a Fed-enabled financial monoculture. Individual Mom and Pop owners may not require a credit check, or they might not raise the rents very often; the odds that you will be treated as a human being are higher because the scale of the operation is small and local.
To Fed-enabled Institutional landlords, you are an income stream to be skimmed.You will be processed and managed remotely, and variations are not allowed, as they mess up the profit machine.
Fed-enabled Institutional landlords may or may not hire competent, responsive managerial firms to manage their thousands of properties: from the point of view of Fed-enabled Institutional landlords, the lower the costs, the larger the profits. One way to lower costs is to not respond to tenant complaints or requests for service. Another is to hire the lowest-cost (and likely understaffed) management firm.
Janet Yellen's role as the nation's slumlord is masked by her apparent distance from the Fed's money spigot and the resulting institutional ownership of the nation's rental housing stock. But guess what, Chairperson Yellen: we're not fooled. Your phony facade of "progressivism" doesn't mask your real role as the nation's top slumlord.
 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-8482406942319552912013-12-25T01:28:00.001-05:002013-12-25T01:28:42.937-05:00Happy Holidays to all of my loyal blog readers!

 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-68318096215882025302013-11-20T15:24:00.001-05:002013-11-20T15:24:07.596-05:00It's a Wonderful Life
This isn't real estate related…but I thought it may come in handy to my loyal blog readers.

I ran across a blog that has a listing for ALL of the holiday TV shows…date/time/channel!

The list starts with shows as of tomorrow (11/20) and runs through Christmas day. It's an awesome list…click on the image below and go print your list so you don't miss seeing (or DVR'ing) any of your holiday favorites.

Thanks for reading…and be on the lookout for a big announcement coming in the next few weeks!

Steve Jackson

561.602.1258
 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-72609883703323260452013-11-11T10:46:00.001-05:002013-11-11T10:46:16.019-05:00

 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-75229535243719893192013-10-14T20:28:00.001-04:002013-10-14T20:28:10.712-04:00The canary in the coal mine?
Back in the early days of the mid 2000's real estate bust…Las Vegas was the first to show signs of cracking. Now, is Vegas trying to tip us off again?

Read the excerpts from todays WSJ story below and see what you think. Personally, for the past 60 days I have been telling my clients that I feel (and see) a softening in demand and growth in listing inventory. Although we still seem to be short on properly priced inventory in certain price ranges, I can feel the tide shifting.

Also, I am of the opinion that rents will be softening up soon as there are hundreds of new rental units coming close to completion. And new construction 'for sale' homes are coming our of the ground everywhere…just like in 2005. Close to me, Osprey Oaks had the timing about right, but I think that DR Horton is going to be late to the party with their 2 developments on Hypoluxo and the one on Haverhill north of Lantana. Then there is Capistara just around the corner on Military (Lennar I think?) and also on Lawrence just south of Hypoluxo. I think we'll be seeing LOTS of builder incentives in 2014 in an effort to maintain the listed pricing…just like the builders tried to do in 05/06/07.

Las Vegas: The share of homes that sold in cash last month stood at 47.2%, down from 54.8% in August and one year ago, and down from a high of 59.5% in February, according to the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors. Many cash buyers tend to be investors.

Home sales were down 1.2% from a year earlier, even though there were more homes for buyers to choose from. The number of single-family homes listed for sale, at 14,659, stood 12.6% below last year's levels, but the inventory of "non-contingent" listings—homes that don't have any offers and aren't under contract—was 60.5% above year-earlier levels. The median sales price in September fell for the first time in 19 months.

In Las Vegas, buyers earlier this year found themselves regularly losing out to investors amid tight supplies of homes for sale. Now, "the market is softening tremendously," said Bryan Lebo, a local real-estate agent. "Buyers are becoming a lot pickier. They're more patient."

In some neighborhoods, he says, homes are now selling for 10% less than they were just a few months earlier, and builders are beginning to offer generous incentives, such as home upgrades to buyers and commissions to real-estate agents, in order to stay competitive.

Thanks for reading…Steve Jackson

561.602.1258
 Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-57305222586319264602013-09-20T15:01:00.001-04:002013-09-20T15:01:18.821-04:00Show Me The Money!!
IMPORTANT NEWS FOR ANY HOMEOWNER WHO OWES MORE ON THEIR MORTGAGE THAN THEIR HOME IS WORTH!!

PLEASE FORWARD THIS POST TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY…

TALLAHASSEE—During a press conference on Friday, September 20, Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) announced that next week, Florida homeowners who have remained current on their mortgages may apply for federal assistance from the Florida Hardest-Hit Fund Principal Reduction (HHF-PR) Program. The online application, www.PrincipalReductionFLHHF.org, will open at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern) on Wednesday, September 25, and will be available in all 67 counties. ON A FIRST COME-FIRST SERVED BASIS

"This morning, Florida Housing's Board of Directors approved $350 million in federal Hardest-Hit funds allocated to our state to be used specifically for a principal reduction program," said Steve Auger, executive director of Florida Housing. "While our state's housing market continues to recover, many Florida homeowners have remained current on their mortgage payments in spite of their homes being substantially underwater. For those who qualify, this new program can help to reduce their principal balance, which can result in a lower monthly payment and put more money in their pockets."

Initially, only 25,000 completed and submitted applications will be accepted for eligibility determination, via the website only. When that number has been reached, the ability to start a new application will be disabled so that staff can begin processing the completed applications. However, if additional funding is available for the program after this initial launch, Florida Housing will notify the public prior to re-opening the application process.

The Florida HHF-PR program is designed to provide up to $50,000 to eligible homeowners who owe at least 125% more on their home than its current market value—commonly known as having a home that is "underwater." Funds will be applied to reduce the principal balance of the first mortgage to reduce the loan-to-value (LTV) of the first mortgage to no less than 100%. The mortgage can then be recast (re-amortized) or refinanced to produce a lower monthly mortgage payment.

The minimum qualifications a homeowner must meet to be considered for participation in the Florida HHF-PR program are as follows:

· Must be a Florida resident and a legal US resident/legal alien, and occupy the property as the primary residence;

· Must be current on the monthly mortgage payment—first mortgage payment cannot have been 60 or more days late within the past 24 months;

· The first mortgage must have originated prior to January 1, 2010;

· The unpaid principal balance for the first mortgage cannot exceed $350,000;

· The loan-to-value for the first mortgage must be greater than 125%—in other words, home must be more than 125% "underwater"; and

· The total household income, including all persons age 18 years and older who live in the home, must be less than 140% of the area median income.

Principal reduction program funds will be in the form of a 0% percent, deferred-payment loan that will be subordinate to current mortgages on the home. The loan can be forgiven over a five-year period, at a rate of 20% each year. For conventional mortgages, once HHF-PR funds are applied to the principal, the mortgage will be recast (the terms of the loans will remain the same, but the loan will be re-amortized).

If the borrower has a FHA, VA or USDA-RD mortgage, the mortgage will need to be refinanced within 120 days after closing on HHF principal reduction funds in order to receive the pro rata forgiveness.

If a refinance is not completed within the specified time, the principal reduction loan will be 100% forgiven after a full five years of the borrower remaining in the home.

Homeowners in every Florida county may apply for the Florida HHF-PR program by using the official website: www.PrincipalReductionFLHHF.org. The site contains all the information users will need to begin the application process, including a program fact sheet and answers to frequently asked questions. Additionally, the Florida HHF Toll-free Information Line [1-(877)-863-5244] will be open on Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to answer any questions callers may have about the program.

Application for the Florida HHF-PR program is FREE-OF-CHARGE, and applicants will not be asked to pay for any eligibility determination services in conjunction with applying for the program.

To My Blog Readers: If you apply for this program please follow up with me and let me know what happens/how it goes. Thanks

Steve Jackson…561.602.1258

 Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-13076888066079140602013-08-20T19:42:00.001-04:002013-08-20T19:42:46.178-04:00Lets keep this housing party going!
There was a time when those who defaulted on their debt, especially mortgages, had to wait 3-5 years before they became eligible for any form of new credit, let alone a brand new mortgage. That, however, was in the Old Normal. In the New one things are different: so different, that for anyone who filed a bankruptcy on or before July 2012, we have good news for you - the FHA (subject to an explanation and several almost painless conditions) will be happy to provide you with a brand new mortgage.

From the recent FHA Mortgagee Letter 2013-26:

FHA is continuing its commitment to fully evaluate borrowers who have experienced periods of financial difficulty due to extenuating circumstances.

As a result of the recent recession many borrowers who experienced unemployment or other severe reductions in income, were unable to make their monthly mortgage payments, and ultimately lost their homes to a pre-foreclosure sale, deed-in-lieu, or foreclosure. Some borrowers were forced to file for bankruptcy to discharge or restructure their debts. Because of these recent recession-related periods of financial difficulty, borrowers' credit has been negatively affected. FHA recognizes the hardships faced by these borrowers, and realizes that their credit histories may not fully reflect their true ability or propensity to repay a mortgage.

To that end, FHA is allowing for the consideration of borrowers who have experienced an Economic Event and can document that:

certain credit impairments were the result of a Loss of Employment or a significant loss of Household Income beyond the borrower's control;

the borrower has demonstrated full recovery from the event; and,

the borrower has completed housing counseling.

Housing counseling is an important resource for both first-time home buyers and repeat home owners. Housing counseling enables borrowers to better understand their loan options and obligations, and assists borrowers in the creation and assessment of their household budget, accessing reliable information and resources, avoiding scams, and being better prepared for future financial shocks, among other benefits to the borrower.

Well, we did say almost painless: it is only logical that after filing bankruptcy one should go to housing counseling. Surely that will 'learn' one to buy that 18 bedroom McMansion that the evil banker, gun against head, forced down one's throat.

Either way, once done with the grueling "counseling" sessions, and providing evidence one didn't blow it all in Vegas, the FHA makes one eligible for a new mortgage even with a prior recent bankruptcy, and not just any but Chapter 7 as well as 13, as follows:

D. Economic Event-Related Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

The lender must verify and document that:

a minimum of twelve (12) months have elapsed since the date of discharge of the bankruptcy; and

the bankruptcy was the result of the Economic Event.

E. Economic Event-Related Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

The lender must verify and document that:

the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy was discharged prior to loan application and all required bankruptcy payments were made on-time, or a minimum of twelve (12) months of the pay-out period under the bankruptcy has elapsed and all required bankruptcy payments were made on time; and

the bankruptcy was the result of the Economic Event.

But what if, gasp, the existing bankruptcy has not yet been discharged? Don't worry: the FHA's got you covered even then:

If the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy was not discharged prior to loan application, the lender must also verify and document that the borrower has received written permission from the Bankruptcy Court to enter into the subject mortgage transaction.

And so on. There are other conditions (the full FHA Mortgagee Letter can be found here) but if the only gate for a bankruptcy as a restraining factor is for 12 months to have gone by, one can imagine just how "strict" the other conditions have to be.

So…party on!

Thanks for reading…as always.

Steve Jackson

561.602.1258
 Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-68446329450664749062013-06-17T16:20:00.001-04:002013-06-17T16:20:34.633-04:00Does it pay to sell?

 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-66220382722539173622013-06-13T11:19:00.001-04:002013-06-13T11:19:29.817-04:00Is the "smart money" starting to bail on real estate?
Here are 2 recent headlines relating to the hedge fund investing strategy that has gained popularity in the past few years:

Is private equity and Wall Street planning their exit from the rental business- Lower yields, IPOs, and packaging deals to sell: The whispers about private equity exiting the rental market are now out in the open.  A few reports are highlighting that some private equity investors are testing the waters for an exit via IPOs.

Housing Bubble II: Euphoria And Other Shenanigans: Private-equity funds have poured tens of billions into gobbling up vacant single-family homes in specific markets. And now some of them are planning IPOs as a way of dumping this stuff into funds that unsuspecting worker bees hold in their 401(k)s. It's called an exit, and they have to do it before it blows up in their faces.

Personally, I just last week saw another agents deal that Blackstone (a very large hedge fund) tried to renegotiate at the last minute…then bailed out on. They had a 3 week to closing date contract on a single family home in Deerfield at $333k and on the final day of their 10 day due diligence period they asked the seller to reduce the price to $300k. Even though the seller had already contracted to purchase another home and packed most of their belongings they counter offered Blackstone at $325k..and Blackstone walked. Was this their normal M.O or are they getting a bit skittish about the rapidly rising home prices in South Florida? Time will tell I guess.

In the past few years institutional investors rushed to buy homes with the philosophy of buy cheap, renovate, and rent. But they might be in for a surprise. According to real estate research firm Trulia Inc., since 2005, there have been almost four million single-family homes added to the rental market. That supply has met the demand created during the crisis in the housing market. (Source: Trulia Inc., April 4, 2013.). Also those numbers do not include the huge rush into the building of multi-family/apartment rentals. With just a simple 15 minute drive around our area you can see hundreds and hundreds of new rental units being built…Cheap corporate money+lots of bad credit/unstable job families=A generation of renters. But the returns projected by these entities, are, in my opinion, much too high.

As a result, the rental rates that institutional investors were banking on (they were working off projections of up to 5% annual rental rate increases) are actually compressing. Recent reports have shown that rental rates are down 1.2% on average in Dade/Broward/Palm Beach counties year over year.

Interest rates have recently spiked to over 4%, which is still historically low, but every tic higher changes the yield for a leveraged investor and reduces the amount any that any buyers who needs a mortgage can qualify for.

Be careful out there.

Thanks for reading…Steve Jackson, 561.602.1258
 Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-37018822771989957392013-05-25T16:18:00.001-04:002013-05-25T16:18:58.757-04:00For Memorial Day…The Pledge of Allegiance

Thank You to all of the veterans who have served, sacrificed and protected our freedom…
 Steve Jacksonhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-77688069720382647432013-05-24T08:35:00.001-04:002013-05-24T08:35:31.050-04:00Don't "sell your listing" when trying to sell your home
All recent indicators point to it being a strong sellers market…super low inventory, historically low interest rates, lot's of cash on the sidelines too. It is the strongest sellers market I have seen since 2005.

But…be careful when pricing your home for sale lest you may miss this selling opportunity. It is always tempting to hire the agent that tells you the highest price. Unscrupulous agents are well aware of this typical seller tendency and often try to take advantage of it as follows:

Case in point: Earlier this year I met with a prospective seller to interview for the job of assisting them with the sale of their home. All went well EXCEPT for the portion of our meeting where we discussed the most likely selling price range. These sellers were of the opinion that their home would sell for about 20% more than my assessment. Shortly thereafter, their home showed up on the market with another well-known local franchise agent/team at the price they told me they thought it was worth. Now, not to be an "I told you so"…but after 3 price reductions and 5 months on the market, their home sold $8,000 below where I recommended it be priced initially. Buyers quickly become very astute in determining a homes value…there is sooo much information readily available that you're not going to fool anyone into overpaying. And if you do,  then you have to convince the buyers appraiser of the higher value too!

What is your home really worth?

In a way, that's a trick question. What your home is worth to you, considering the new paint and the children's park across the street, could be very different from what the home is worth to a couple who doesn't like your taste in color schemes and whose kids are grown. So before you put a price tag on your home, read this:

CMA (comparative/competitive market analysis) : an objective point of view

Your home's "fair market value" is the price a buyer agrees to pay and you agree to accept. All homes ultimately sell at this price.

Instead of using subjective measures, the housing market uses a "Comparative Market Analysis" or CMA. It's the most important factor in determining what your home's fair market value is. A CMA compares your home to comparable homes, or "comps," in your neighborhood that are presently on the market, currently under contract and that have sold recently. Adjustments are made to account for differences in location, size, condition, upgrades, etc...

For $300 or so you can also pay for a professional appraisal of your home to get a state certified appraisers opinion of your home's fair market value.

When Your Realtor Suggests a High Selling Price, Beware!

Meeting With Realtors

· You've decided to sell your home and have a fairly good idea of what you think it is worth. Being a sensible home seller, you schedule appointments with a few local agents who've been mailing you cards. Each Realtor comes prepared with a "Competitive Market Analysis" and they each recommend a price.

· One of the Realtors has come up with a price that is lower than you expected and although they back up their recommendations with recent sales and current market data, you remain convinced your house is worth more.

· When you interview the next agent, they are much more in line with your own hoped-for value, or maybe even higher. Suddenly, you are a happy and excited home seller, already counting the money.

A Dangerous Sales Practice Called "Buying a Listing"

· If you're like many people who don't buy or sell a lot of homes, you pick Realtor number two. This is an agent who seems willing to listen to your input and work with you. This is an agent that cares about putting the most money in your pocket. This is an agent that really sees the value in your home.

· The truth is that you may have just met an agent engaging in a questionable and all too common sales practice called "buying a listing."  He "bought" the listing by suggesting you might be able to get a higher sales price than the other agent recommended. Most likely, he is quite doubtful that your home will actually sell at that price. The intention from the beginning is to eventually talk you into lowering the price to where he knows it should be. (Or it could be that the agent is NOT being underhanded but that they are just new/inexperienced or plainly not very good).

Why do some agents "buy" listings this way? There are 3 reasons:

· The first one being that the agent realizes that you have to sell and they will eventually get you to reduce your asking price to where it should have been initially, even though it may be $10,000, $20,000, $50,000 or even $100,000 less then they told you they could get you on the day you signed up!

· The second one is so that they can do a neighborhood mailing and in that way get another listing "priced correctly" that they believe they have a chance of selling.

· The third reason is that they hope to get a buyer to call off of your sign or ad and that buyer will purchase some other (properly priced) house and the agent eventually gets a paycheck that way.

A seller who choose an agent based on which estimate is highest is the ultimate loser.

Selecting an agent by essentially "auctioning" your listing is a sure way to waste your time and miss out on a real buyer for your home.

Conclusion: Choose your agent based on honesty, reputation, ethics, experience, competence and marketing, and don't chase after those tossing around pie-in-the-sky numbers.

As always, thanks for reading,

Steve Jackson: 561.602.1258
 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-4900230339800002532013-05-14T22:44:00.001-04:002013-05-14T22:44:25.231-04:00Interesting Perspective
A guy whose videos I get a few times a week recently did a short video with an interesting perspective on the current market conditions.

Thanks for reading…Steve Jackson

561.602.1258
 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-33439123181536738472013-05-03T15:26:00.001-04:002013-05-03T15:26:16.680-04:00Making Moving Easier for Children
From a great parenting blog, Little Hearts/Gentle Parenting, that I read whenever I can, comes this post on kids and moving

Transitions are hard on everyone, and when the whole family is affected such as in a big move to a new home, parents often get so caught up in the logistics of the move and their own stresses that helping their children cope with the move can get lost in the chaos. Here are a few things you can do to ease the transition for your little people without adding more stress to yourself:

With small children, it can be tempting to build up the move beforehand to make it seem like an exciting adventure, but over excitement can be just as stressful and overwhelming to small children (and big ones!) as anxiety can be. Instead, try to keep things as low-key as possible. Wait until it's close to time to actually start packing before discussing the move with your little one, and then use simple, age-appropriate language to tell them that you are all moving together (emphasize together so there's no misunderstanding!) to a new house.

Show them pictures of the new house, the new yard, their new room, the kitchen, bathroom, living room, etc. Ask them where they'd like to put their bed and draw it on the picture with a marker. Do the same with their toy box, toothbrush, high chair, sandbox, and anything they ask about to reassure them that their things are coming along on the move and to begin to familiarize them with their new space. Give them a marker and another set of pictures of the new house to draw on so they can begin to make it their own.

Put boxes in their room a few days before the move and let them begin to pack their own things in their own time. You can go back and repack the boxes when they're asleep or playing elsewhere if needed. Giving them some control over the move will help tremendously with their feelings of being taken away from their familiar home.

Keep a few familiar toys out for the actual move to help your little one see that their things are coming with them. If possible, let them help with loading the boxes from their room onto the truck, too. Knowing that their toys and clothes and bed are coming with them on the move is very comforting.

Pack a travel bag with new toys and activities and healthy, familiar snacks for moving day. The novelty of the new toys will help them to travel more happily, and the familiar snacks will keep their tummies settled and hunger at bay making for a calmer trip for all.

At the new house, unpack your little one's things first if at all possible so that they can see for themselves that they made the trip and can begin settling in right away. Take the time to play with them, too. It's amazing how a few minutes of playing together can settle a small child when they're stressed!

Don't be surprised if your little one is clingy and whiney for a few days after the move. After unpacking their things, don't try to rush to unpack everything else all at once. Give your child all of the time and attention they need to help ease the transition for them.

Nighttime can be the hardest for children in a new home, so be prepared for lots of cuddling and possibly a night visitor in your bed for a while. Being there for your little one at night is as important as being there for them in the day!

Involve them in unpacking and putting away everything from kitchen utensils to books to linens to clothes. Children are very tactile, and actually touching all of the places and putting familiar things from their old home away in the new home can help them to begin to feel at home themselves.

Stick to familiar routines such as bedtime, naptime, etc. But don't be rigid about schedules. Your little one has been through a huge change and needs extra attention and understanding from their source of comfort and security…you!

Introduce new things like playgroups, pediatricians, babysitters, churches, etc. slowly, spread out over as long a period of time as possible. The move itself is overwhelming enough in its newness without adding in a ton of other unfamiliar things right away.

Find some things near your new home that are familiar to your little one from your previous home such as a chain grocery store, toy store, restaurant, etc. Seeing and visiting familiar places is vastly reassuring for small children because they can see for themselves that you can still buy them food and other necessities even though you've moved.

Giving your child the reassurance that some things will remain the same even when so many things have changed helps to stabilize and assure them that their needs will still be met and life will still go on in many of the same patterns and routines they are used to. Remaining calm and available for your little one, even in the midst of your own stresses over the move, is key. But take care of yourself, too. Change is hard on everyone, so cut yourself some slack and don't try to do everything at once. Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

Thanks for reading…Steve Jackson…561.602.1258
 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-68273699436495196582013-04-01T12:28:00.001-04:002013-04-01T12:28:33.891-04:00Lantana investor special
I am sure that all of you investors know how difficult it is to find (and successfully get under contract) decent single family properties in the 'under $150,000' market.

I now have access to a package of 10 single family homes in east Lantana…fully leased…NO HOA…owner stated rental income of $106,200/yr..

They are not, and will not be listed on the MLS and are sold as 1 complete package.

The price is $1,050,000

Call me quickly at 561.602.1258 or email me at email@example.com (please include your proof of funds with your email).

Steve Jackson
 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513545582129437573.post-35811487781474184232012-12-24T15:47:00.001-05:002012-12-24T15:47:49.626-05:00How Santa refuels his sleigh

 Steve Jacksonhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com


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Carhartt SS Pocket T-Shirt White Carhartt WIP on Sale UK Stockist
SOLD OUT (see more Carhartt WIP)
Editor's review
Carhartt's staple SS Pocket T-Shirt returns in White as part of their SS17 offerings. This regular-fit crew neck is cut from a 100% cotton jersey and features a pointed patch pocket on the left breast, affixed with a woven brand patch appliqué. The shape and fit are retained by a rib-bound collar, set-in sleeves and a straight hem. This tee is also available in Vegas Pink, Mojito, Glacier and Lion.
- Carhartt SS Pocket T-Shirt
- White
- 100% Cotton
- Single Breast Pocket
- Woven Brand Appliqué
- Ribbed Collar


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Ask either Ducati Xerox rider, Michel Fabrizio or Noriyuki Haga, what their favourite circuits are and somewhere high on the list would be Brno. Its intoxicating mix of fast and flowing chicanes, plus frequent changes of elevation wrapped in a wonderfully scenic backdrop make Brno a favourite with many riders.
Despite Haga not winning there since 2005, and Fabrizio not winning there at all, it is a circuit each rider believes he can do well at come raceday on Sunday 11th July.
Said Haga after a busy period of testing at Imola, "I like the Brno track and don`t really know why I haven`t done better. I have won a race there but that feels like a few years back now! Last year was especially hard work after the accident at Donington. I needed lots of painkillers in order to get through race day and all in all the results were not so bad; of course we want to do a lot better than that this year though."
For Fabrizio, Brno is something of a magic track, for the most part at least, and he has secured podiums there more often than not.
"Traditionally I`ve done well at Brno in recent years but, although I`ve had a lot of podium success, I haven`t ever won a Superbike race there," said Michel. "I was happy to be back on the podium at Misano just recently but I really had to fight tooth and nail to get there; the competition won`t be any easier to beat at Brno, but I`m feeling confident that I can do well."
Both Haga and Fabrizio have won races in 2010 already, Haga at Valencia race two and Fabrizio in race one at Kyalami. Currently Haga is fifth, Fabrizio eighth in the rankings.
ユーザーから注目を浴びたヤマハ車はこれだ! 前回のホンダのモトレポート10選に続き、今…
2018/12/18アルパインスターズ製キャップが当たる!アンケートキャンペーンがスタートアルパインスターズからのクリスマスプレゼント! 岡田商事は、人気ブランドAlpinesta…


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|Health Tip: Prepare for Hiking
|Medical news
Even hiking to enjoy nature has its rules and safety precautions.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offers these tips:
Make sure you're in good physical shape before tackling a challenging trail.
Tell a friend or family member where you're going and when, so you can be reached in case of emergency.
Hike with at least one buddy.
Learn to identify and avoid common poisonous plants.
Learn the safety and behavior rules that apply to the area where you'll hike.
-- Diana KohnleJohn Wensink Womens Jersey


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Vivien Anstiss
Vivien is currently studying Osteopathy at the British School of Osteopathy and holds a BTEC level 5 qualification in Sports and Remedial Massage. She is a member of the ISRM (Institute of Sports and Remedial Massage).
Before her career change, she was a Project Management Consultant in the City of London for 11 years. She now likes to apply her problem solving skills to bodies which gives her a much greater sense of job satisfaction.
She works with a broad spectrum of folk: triathletes, runners and cyclists to help them with minor injuries and body maintenance, through to those suffering from the day to day aches and pains (sore backs, shoulders, hips etc).


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Blue Ridge Foot and Ankle Clinic Signs a New Doctor
The doctors of Blue Ridge Foot and Ankle Clinic are pleased to welcome a new colleague. Dr. Colleen Law will be joining the Blue Ridge Foot and Ankle's team of podiatrists in July 2017. Dr Law is coming to the Blue Ridge Foot and Ankle Clinic from the exceptional and renowned podiatry foot and ankle surgical residency training program at St. Luke's University Health Network in Allentown, Pennsylvania. We are busy getting ready for Dr Law's arrival. Dr Law is accepting new patients beginning July 17, 2017.
Read the rest of this entry.


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Brooks Hotel Edinburgh Directions
70-72 Grove Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8AP
From the Airport (Taxi Estimate: £25.50)
Take the number 100 bus to Haymarket Station (8 Stops) or take the tram to Haymarket Station (10 stops).
From Haymarket Station (Taxi Estimate: £7.50)
Walking Route (Distance – 0.4 miles): Exit Haymarket through the doors adjacent to M&S and follow the pavement to the right. Then Go past the pub Ryrie's and cross the road, then bear left onto Morrison's street. Follow Morrisons street upwards for 400m, passing the Premier inn before turning right onto Grove Street. Follow Grove Street for 300m and Brooks Hotel will be the building on the right hand side of the road with two blue banners hanging outside.
Public Transport Route: No applicable route.
From Waverley Station (Taxi Estimate: £9.10)
Public Transport Route (9 minute journey): Take a train or the Number 100 bus back to Haymarket and follow the instructions "From Haymarket."
Getting to the Conference Centre (Taxi Estimate: £6.00)
Walking Route (Distance – 0.3 Miles): Exit the Hotel and turn left, walking back to the top of Grove Street. Turn right onto Morrisons Street and the conference centre will be on the left hand side of the road about 50m up.
Public Transport Route (4 minute journey): Exit the hotel and turn right, you will find a bus stop by the Bank of Scotland branch. Take the number 34 bus towards North Leith for 2 stops, exiting near Semple Street. From there, follow Semple Street round to the left where it should meet with Morrisons Road. Follow Morrisons Road down and the conference centre should be on the right hand side of the road.


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You are here
Get Answers
okay so i had sex a day or so after my period, could i be pregnant?
1 answers
i had sex a day or so after i had my period and i am not sure when i am ovulating or anything so i was just wondering if i could be pregnant. i have been cramping some but its no where near time for my period again.
answers (1)
If I were you I wouldn't worry about it for a few weeks. I don't think there is any way to tell if you are pregnant right now. Just wait until you are supposed to get your period and take a pregnancy test. Or you could buy the tests now (they usually come in boxes of 2) take one, and even if its negative save the next to take in a couple weeks.
Parenting.com's Answers are provided by members of our community. While your fellow moms and our editors have plenty of great advice to offer based on their experience, it is not a substitute for professional medical help. Always consult a medical professional when seeking medical advice. All submitted answers are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use


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J. Scott Garland, M.B.A.
Mr. Garland has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2014. Mr. Garland has been the Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Relypsa Inc., a publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company since November, 2014. Prior to Relypsa, Mr. Garland served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Exelixis, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing cancer treatments, from October 2011 to October 2014. Prior to joining Exelixis, from April 2002 to October 2011, Mr. Garland held positions at Genentech, Inc., most recently serving as Vice President of Genentech's Avastin® franchise, where he led the U.S. sales and marketing efforts for the drug. Prior to that position, he served as Vice President, Hematology Marketing and Sales, overseeing the Rituxan® franchise and as a Director on the Tarceva® franchise. From July 1997 to April 2002, Mr. Garland held several positions within the sales and marketing division of Amgen, Inc., and from July 1991 to July 1995 he served as a professional sales representative at Merck & Co., Inc. Mr. Garland has an M.B.A. from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a B.A. from California Polytechnic University (San Luis Obispo).


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A GURPS WW2 extravaganza today, once again the pictures are from the EBay auctions.
I convinced myself this was research material for my, now largely back-burnered, B/X WW II project; but really I just like GURPS sourcebooks despite the fact that I really am not a big fan of the game system.
This gives us the specifics of the mighty British Empire.


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Purdue Joins ADC to Help Indiana Farmers Manage On-Farm Data
(WEST LAFAYETTE, IN) – Purdue University announced today that it has joined the Agricultural Data Coalition (ADC), a group recently formed to build a national repository where farmers can safely store and manage their farm's production information.
Farmers collect valuable statistics every time they pass through their fields, and that data will be key to fueling future innovation and helping growers drive efficiency on their own farms. But its full potential has not been realized because of hurdles to housing and transmitting information in a uniform and usable way.


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« Pretty Baby, Public Intellectual | Main | Author Interview: Tilly Bagshawe on Adored »
Your Good Deed for the Day: Save the Supreme Court
So, here I was, just sitting here waiting for Rehnquist to resign and for O'Connor to become the next Chief Justice, when the lady up and quits herself. Given that her boss is, indeed, expected to drop any day now, that means that young Master Bush will be placing two—yes, two—new judges on the Supreme Court.
I would like to take a moment to point out that, when I was trying to dissuade friends from voting for Nader—remember him?—I predicted that this would almost certainly come to pass.
Even though justices are appointed, not elected, we can all play a role in determining the new shape of the Supreme Court. Luckily, with the Interweb, taking an active role in your government is easier than ever! Get informed: With just one click over to Planned Parenthood's Court Watch page, you can get the lowdown on potential nominees and learn how to make your voice heard. If you're particularly worried about what W's appointees might do to reproductive choice, you can join the Save Roe team right now.
July 1, 2005 | Permalink
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Katy ministry aids families who are adopting overseas
A recent trip from Katy to China was long and arduous for Katy-area couple Suzanne and Kurt Box yet the journey resulted in great joy for their family as the couple welcomed into their home an adopted 2-year-old girl.
"Adoption was not about bringing in an outsider," said Suzanne Box, who has three biological sons and now an adopted Chinese daughter, Reese. "She was part of our family the day we decided to adopt."
The day she and her husband made that decision was in December 2010, Box said, yet the process was only finalized earlier this year as the Katy couple traveled to China to bring home their daughter after waiting more than a year.
"This adoption has been good, it has been hard and it has been heartwarming," Suzanne said. "This adoption has brought us more joy than we can even put into words."
Adoption was an idea Suzanne said she and her husband considered a decade ago when they were married, Box said, but become more real as they heard frequently about adoption at their church, The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch.
"Adoption began to stir our hearts and it became an act of obedience in following the Lord's will for our family," she said.
Once she and her husband were ready to adopt, Box said they had the support, guidance and encouragement they needed from leaders at their church who had started an adoption ministry.
"We wanted to bring awareness to the issue of adoption and orphans because God is the father of the fatherless, and provide support to those who couldn't afford adoption," said Fellowship's Worship Pastor John Cordes, who began the 1:17 ministry which is named after the Bible verse Isaiah 1:17 that says, "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow."
Also in the process of adopting a child, Cordes and his wife, Vanessa, began the ministry in 2010 by meeting in their home with other church members interested in adoption. About 10 other families began meeting together to discuss the adoption process, both locally and globally, and provide encouragement and support, Cordes said.
"We are a support group for adoptive families and families that are interested in orphan care but might not adopt," said Cordes, adding that several families in the group have already adopted or are in the process.
Members of the ministry meet Monday evenings to discuss and study a specific book the group has selected, Cordes said, and to learn more about adoption. They also study what the Bible teaches about orphans and adoption, Cordes said, adding that he prays the church as a whole will take responsibility for caring for orphaned children.
Through the 1:17 ministry, Cordes also wanted to find ways to help families afford adoption, which can cost up to $30,000. No family should be hindered from adoption due to cost, he said.
Scott Balin, a member of the 1:17 ministry and adoptive father, didn't think so either. Using his talent and love for running, Balin had an idea to benefit the ministry and help orphans through a fundraising 5K run called Run4TheChildren.
"This race really seemed like a natural way to bring two of my passions together - getting people moving and exercising, and bringing awareness to adoption and orphan care," said Balin, who has adopted two children and is also the organizer of the local running group, Katy Fit.
The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch hosted the second annual race in March that drew more than 500 participants who raised more than $20,000 to help provide funding for families interested in adoption.
Funding from last year's race allowed the 1:17 ministry to provide funds for Katy adoptive families to bring home three orphaned children, Balin said.
"There are 163 million orphans in the world today and we would love to see that number diminish," Balin said. "This is just our way to play a small part in this cause."
For more information, visit www.thefellowship.org/ministry/1-17/.
Kimberly Piña is a freelance writer who can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com
More Information
Learn more
What: 1:17 Ministry offers support, funding for adoptive families
Where: The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch, 22765 Westheimer Parkway, Katy
Details: Visit http://www.thefellowship.org/ministry/1-17/


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Dawn Bleeker, owner of Capitol II Theatre and its mascot Joy the miniature pig, couldn't be more excited following the approval changes to the city's animal ordinance regarding miniature pigs. Bleeker will now be able to get Joy a friend and, if necessary, foster a miniature pig.
City council adopted an amendment to the ordinance redefining breed standards and examination requirements for miniature pigs and the maximum number of both miniature pigs and dogs at a residence. The changes come after Bleeker made a presentation to the council in November regarding updating the city's regulation on miniature pigs.
"I'm thrilled the miniature pig ordinance has been updated. The current ordinance has been weighing heavily on my mind for a few years now based on first-hand experience and the educating taking place within miniature pig groups I've been networking with over the last five years," Bleeker said.
Miniature breeds of pigs have been allowed in Newton since 2012. Originally, the code only allowed owners to have one miniature pig that weighs no more than 80 pounds and be no taller than 24 inches at the shoulder. The ordinance also required annual blood tests to screen for brucellosis and pseudorabies.
Following Bleeker's presentation, Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess researched the matter and found many of her suggestions viable options for the city. Burdess found most breeds of miniature pigs will range in weight from 75 to 200 pounds with some reaching 350 pounds. Most miniature pigs reach mature size at 2 years of age, though continued growth will occur in future years with the pig's weight being greatly influenced by diet. Typically, the average height is less than 24 inches, but some may exceed this measurement by a few inches.
"We removed the height and weight requirement and broadened it to allow a veterinarian to say, 'yes, this is a mini pig,'" Burdess said. "With that verification, knowing that it could get up to 200 pounds, it would be allowable in the city."
By not defining a height and weight standard, the city is allowing a licensed veterinarian to identify and recognize the breed standards of a miniature pig and distinguish the pig from other types of pigs. It is also lessening the likelihood of an owner underfeeding its animal to keep it within the regulations and potentially causing issues to the animal growing to its mature size.
"We reached out to a number of veterinarians in both Newton and Grinnell and the Iowa Pork Council," Burdess said. "Even though the pork council is involved in more of the meat productions, they have expert veterinarians that work in the industry and had a lot of good feedback on the pseudorabies and brucellosis."
After talking with the experts, Burdess recommended the city remove the requirements of an annual blood test for pseudorabies and brucellosis. He said they recommended an initial test be completed but any follow up would not be necessary since the pig will not be subjected to hog lots.
The final part of the ordinance pertaining to mini-pigs is the allowable number on a property. The city has raised that number to two, with the option of foster an additional pig for a period not to exceed 90 days.
"Pigs are social animals and some pig owners have found it advantageous to have more than one in their home," city administrator Matt Muckler said. "There are also instances where a pig may need to be fostered due to unhealthy or unfit home or other reason. In these circumstances, it is better for the miniature pig to temporarily go to a home where caretakers have knowledge and experience with miniature pigs and is more advantageous than sending the pig to a pet shelter or rescue center."
While researching the code involving pigs, city staff found the ordinance on the number of dogs allowed on a property resided in the city's zoning ordinance relating to kennels. In order to keep the kennel language intact and bring clarification to the number of dogs allowed on a property, a maximum number of dogs allowed of three was added to the animal ordinance code.
While Bleeker is very happy with the code changes, she said she isn't in a hurry to get another miniature pig.
"I'm waiting for a miniature pig to come along that has the perfect personality to become a certified therapy pig. Plus, I need it to be warmer out, so I can slowly introduce the pigs to each other outside in a neutral territory," Bleeker said. "I'm sure Joy will need time (and space) before she'll allow another pig to share the spotlight."
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or firstname.lastname@example.com