FHA and Fannie: Pushing Foreclosure Sales w/ Tony Alvarez comment

FHA has lifted the 90 day rule for reselling properties. Anyone who wished to sell their property using FHA financing has had to wait at least 90 after buying. This was directly aimed at investors who wanted to "fix & flip" properties. So even if an investor completely renovated a property in three weeks, they could not sell the property using the easy to obtain and qualify for FHA loans, And the beautifully rehabbed properties were subject to theft and vandalism and loss for the investors.

Fannie Mae is now offering assistance for buyers of its foreclosed properties.

Here's the link to the article:  http://www.cnbc.com/id/35184396

Here's Tony Alvarez's response to the article:

"THE PARTIE'S JUST BEGINNING!

As I have mentioned many times over the past 12 months as we approach this years election, the Government will move quickly to remove some, if not most, of their restrictive policies that they themselves have created within the past year. This is all politically motivated and not at all in the spirit of solving any problems for anyone.

They are basically hoping to look good and keep the wheels greased so something positive starts happening and we take our eye off the election ball.

Stay alert to these new opportunities and above all make your vote count this year as never before. It is our deepest commitment to remove the absolute power presently corrupting our nation's politicians. We need balance. We need to hold them to a higher standard and only when we can make them remember that they are ALL expendable, if they forget they represent our collective best interest, can we hope of standing a chance of unraveling this financial mess with our heads intact."

For more from Tony or his newsletter, go to www.THEREOMENTOR.com

Stroke Identification

My aunt just suffered a stroke. I hope you find this useful. It just may save the life of someone you love.

Stroke Identification

During a barbeque, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and that she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BarBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

Recognizing a Stroke

Remember the 3 steps, STR. Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

•S: Ask the individual to SMILE .

•T: Ask the person to TALK; to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. . It is sunny out today)

•R: Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

•Ask the person to stick out their tongue. If the tongue is crooked (if it goes to one side or the other), that is also an indication of a stroke.

If the person has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

 Copyright © 2009, Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Laughter and aging

We don't stop laughing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop laughing.

"Move Over" Law video

In California, and 47 other states, the "Move-over" law became effective on January 1, 2010.

http://www.moveoveramerica.com/

This is one of the many new laws that went into effect this year. It shouldn't have been necessary but many drivers don't pay any attention to it. Please drive safely and follow the rules.

Ray Stevens on Taxes

Ray Stevens, the singer, sings a song about taxes. It's a hoot. Be sure to read the lyrics. It's called "If Ten Percent Is Good Enough for Jesus"


http://susie1114.com/10percentisgoodenough.html

Traffic Tickets Fines in effect 1/6/2010

Please drive carefully and obey the law, the fines are really steep now. Make sure you count to 3 at every stop sign and count to 6 when you are making a RIGHT TURN on RED LIGHT. No more "California Roll".

Traffic Tickets Fines - 1/6/2010 in effect

VC 12814.6 - Failure to obey license provisions. $214

VC 14600(A) - Failure to notify DMV of address change within 10 days. $214
            Note: The fine may be reduced with valid proof of correction.

VC 16028(A) - Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility (insurance). $796
            Note: This fine may be reduced with proof of insurance on or after the violation date.

VC 21453(A) - Failure to stop at a red signal. $436

VC 22349-50 - Unsafe Speed, 1 to 15 miles over the limit. $214

VC 22349-50 - Unsafe Speed, 16 to 25 miles over the limit. $328

VC 22450 - Failure to stop at a stop sign... $214

VC 22454(A) - Passing a school bus with flashing red signals. $616

VC 23123(A) - Drive using wireless phone not hands free, First offense. $148

VC 23123(A) - Drive using wireless phone not hands free, For each subsequent offense. $256

VC 23123.5(A) - Drive while wireless device to send, read or write text. $148

VC 23124(B) 16 - Minor drive using wireless phone. $148

VC 22500(I) - Parking in a bus loading area. $976

VC 22507.8(A through C) - Violation of disabled parking provisions, first offense. $976

VC 22507.8(A through C) - Violation of disabled parking provisions, second offense. $1876

VC 26708(A) - Unlawful material on vehicle windows. $178

VC 27150(A and B) - Adequate muffler required. $178

VC 27315(D and E) - Mandatory use of seat belts. $148

VC 27360(A and B) - Mandatory use of child passenger restraints. $436
            Note: This fine may be reduced by completing a court authorized child seat diversion program.

VC 27400 - Headsets/Earplugs over both ears. $178

VC 27803 (A through C) - Motorcycle safety helmet requirements. $178

VC 34506.3 - Commercial Driver - Log book violation. $616

VC 4000(A) - No evidence of current registration.. $256
            Note: The fine may be reduced with valid proof of correction.

VC 4159 - Notify DMV of change of address within 10 days. $178
            Note: The fine may be reduced with valid proof of correction.

VC 5200 - Display of license plates. $178
            Note: The fine may be reduced with valid proof of correction.

VC 9400 (A through C) - Commercial weight fees due. $178
            Note: The fine may be reduced with valid proof of correction.

The price of everything has gone up!

Real Wealth Expo this weekend Jan 22-24th. It's FREE

I'm doing a exchanging/cowboy auction workshop at the Real Wealth Expo at the Scottish Rite Center ( http://www.realwealthinvestor.com/real-wealth-expo-2010/?RM) this Friday evening (not Saturday like I told everyone until today) from 6-9 PM, Saturday afternoon a part of a panel with Bruce Norris & others and providing counseling to participants at a "Pro/Help Desk throughout Saturday.

Here's the schedule of events/speakers: http://expo-video.s3.amazonaws.com/Schedule%20RWE%20San%20Diego%201.17.10.pdf

Bring valuable stuff that you don't want or need & participate in the Cowboy Auction Friday evening!

Stay safe & dry till then!

Some Predictions for 2010

Some Predictions for 2010 according to David Goldberg, home-building analyst for UBS, a global financial services firm.

"... the government is going to do everything in its power to protect home prices...In the end; we believe that concerns about higher rates and declining mortgage market liquidity won't amount to much. In our opinion, the government continually made it clear that it is working to limit further home price declines given the serious ramifications these declines would have for both consumers and lenders."
Yes, the government will continue to do everything to maintain home prices. Higher interest rates are coming. Banks & the financial system are the base for our country's economy. The mortgage market's liquidity is the basis for much of our past prosperity & is a function of risk & reward. If investors see reduced risk & sufficient reward, they will bring their funds to the marketplace.

"Although we forecast that as many as 7 million foreclosures are likely to occur over the next several years, we believe the pace at which these homes will come to the market will be consistent with current levels. As such, the concerns around the negative impacts of rising inventory levels are overdone."
I hope that foreclosures will be allowed to come to the market faster than they are currently. They're coming at a level that is maintaining the price however they are strangling the marketplace. There are so many jobs & industries associated with real estate: building (construction & Home Depot, et al), lending (banks, mortgage bankers, loan officers, appraisers, et al), sales (real estate agents, escrow, title, et al), insurance, all of the associated industries (property management, tools suppliers, et al) and all of the employees of those industries as well as the clothing and materials they all require.

"An improvement in unemployment is the single most important predictor for the longer term health of the housing market - only by focusing on this variable can we truly understand the timing for a recovery."
So true. I wish our government would turn to restoring and improving our country's infrastructure rather than giving money and resources away. That would create a lot of jobs and actually produce tangible end products.

"Given the limited amount of high quality, finished lots coming to market, we expect the builders to increasingly consider purchasing undeveloped parcels, which represent a greater value.
Don't see this at least for a couple of years. We have millions of foreclosed on properties which need to be recycled before building new ones are feasible. It makes better sense for the lenders that take back raw land to improve them & offer them to builders.





"The longer term outlook for housing will increasingly dominate investors focus toward the end of 2010." 

Absolutely!


What ideas do you have? They may make a difference to us and to you!