Pelham, AL

When the U.S. Treasury was given the authority to spend $700 billion to stabilize the U.S. economy, Congress created a Congressional Oversight Panel (COP) to "review the current state of financial markets and the regulatory system."

In December 2008 I did a post titled

ACCOUNTABILITY - What will the U.S. Treasury do with $700 billion?

where I encouraged everyone with a story to tell to go to the website and let their voice be heard. (Please click on the link above to read previous post)

The COP (Congressional Oversight Panel) has kept their website up to date with all of the Reports, Press Releases, Hearings & Testimony and the Stories from the public.

Below is one story posted to the website

Dreams of Retirement Slipping Away

Molly S. from Emerald Isle, North Carolina is a home owner grappling with the grief of losing her husband and fighting for her home. She shared her story with us:

My husband died about 5 months ago. My income was cut about $1700 per month. I have not missed a payment or ever been late with one, yet [my bank] will not renegotiate my mortgage or help me determine a way to make the present one workable for me. I am 66 years old and have been handicapped since age 22, following a stroke. I manage quite well considering my disabilities, but my husband's death and this financial crisis collided to cause me to have to sell my home. I do not want to move and do not know if the housing market will even rally enough for me to find a buyer. I would prefer to refinance and continue paying my bills and living in the retirement home that my husband and I enjoyed.

Please CLICK HERE to read more stories and if YOU have a story to tell please use the link below:

Tell Us Your Story Or Ask a Question

One of the reports dated March 6, 2009 titled "Foreclosure Crisis:Working Toward a Solution" is a very detailed report on how serious the foreclosure crisis actually is and the Need for a Comprehensive Foreclosure Plan and a Checklist for Successful Loan Modifications.

Checklist for Mortgage Mitigation Program

1. Will the plan result in modifications that create affordable monthly payments?
2. Does the plan deal with negative equity?
3. Does the plan address junior mortgages?
4. Does the plan overcome obstacles in existing pooling and servicing agreements that may
prevent modifications?
5. Does the plan counteract mortgage servicer incentives not to engage in modifications?
6. Does the plan provide adequate outreach to homeowners?
7. Can the plan be scaled up quickly to deal with millions of mortgages?
8. Will the plan have widespread participation by lenders and servicers?

In the video below, Chairwoman Elizabeth Warren of the TARP Congressional Oversight Panel introduces the COP June Report: Stress Testing and Shoring Up Bank Capital. The full report is available at

Stress Testing and Shoring Up Bank Capital.

PLEASE STAY INVOLVED IN THIS CRITICAL TIME THAT CAN HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY!

YOU ARE THE VOICE OF AMERICA!

About the Author

Debbie Hutchins a Certified Residential Specialist has been a licensed Realtor since 1987. Serving the Greater Birmingham Area and specializing in Shelby County Debbie is available to assist you with your real estate needs. We hope you have enjoyed reading and hope you will come back! You may also subscribe to "debs doodles" and have it delivered to your email! And as always, you are welcome to search the MLS through Debbies Re/Max website. All phone calls are welcome! You can reach Debbie via her cell phone at 205-368-2474

All data contained within is deemed correct however, RE/MAX First Choice and/or its Sales Associates are not responsible for errors and/or omissions. Prices are subject to change without notice.

MOTHERS DAY! That special day in May when we make a special effort to honor our Mothers and show appreciation for all that they have done for us.

A day of breakfast in bed, being showered with gifts and flowers and many other mementos that show Mom how much she means to you! For some it is just a phone call or a beautiful card in the mail, for others it can be a large family gathering and special meal prepared together or an easy dinner out in Moms favorite restaurant.

But however it is celebrated it is a very special day that Mom's look forward to and cherish as their special day to celebrate one of the greatest milestones of their life...the day that they became a Mother.

And as it is celebrated with great respect and love it is also fun to reflect back on the wonderful years of raising children and the many trials and tribulations that comes with it.

And in that light we bring to you some of the famous MOM-ISMS that have evolved over time!

• Money does not grow on trees.
• Don't make that face or it'll freeze in that position.
• If I talked to my mother like you talk to me....
• Always change your underwear; you never know when you'll have an accident.
• If someone jumped off a cliff? Would you do it, too?
• Close that door! Were you born in a barn?
• If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
• Don't put that in your mouth; you don't know where it's been!
• Be careful what you wish for, it might come true.
• Don't eat that, it will stunt your growth.
• Eat that or you will stunt your growth.
• What's meant to be, is meant to be.
• It doesn't matter what you accomplish, I'll always be proud of you.
• I hope that when you grow up, you have kids "Just Like you"!
• Because I'm your mother that's why.
• If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times.
• Eat your vegetables, there are children in China starving!
• "Cheer up, the worst is yet to come."
• Someday your face is going to stick like that.
• Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
• Yes, I AM the boss of you.
• Because I said so.
• Just wait till your father gets home.
• No dessert till you clean off your plate.
• I brought you into this world and I can take you OUT !!
• I've got eyes in the back of my head!
• Get that out of your mouth!
• Don't stick that in your nose!
• Just you wait until you have kids of your own - then you'll understand.
• I slave for hours over a hot stove and this is the thanks I get?!
• Honestly... You'd lose your head if it wasn't screwed on!
• Bored! How can you be bored? I was never bored at your age.
• Who will end up walking, bathing and feeding it...?
• Eat everything on your plate and you will be in the clean plate club.
• You are going to pay for your raising!

I wish each and every Mother a Very Special Day!

May you all enjoy the special treatment you receive and may all of the "givers" find special delights in the joy of giving as you show that special someone how very much she means to you!

And enjoy a laugh or two as you read over the Mom-isms and say...."I remember when you use to say that!"

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

(I love you Mother, may you have a wonderful day!)

And special thanks to "my" children for giving me the opportunity to be a MOM! And "our" favorite Mom-ism is still in force! "Because I am your Mother, that's why!"

OK I am off to eat my pancakes and bacon that I smell from the kitchen! :o)

"Till the Last Shot's Fired" sang by Trace Adkins and accompanied by the West Point Glee Club during the Acadamy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on April 5 reminds us of the importance of supporting our troops not only while they are fighting for our country but also after they return. The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is the charity that was selected by the ACM charitable fund Lifting Lives to support, and this performance by Trace that appears on his newest album, X, will donate profits from this song on ITunes to this great cause.

Please visit the web site WOUNDED WARRIORS PROJECT to see all of the many great things that are being done by this non profit organization and if there is something that YOU can do to contribute to this needed cause to help make the transition easier for the dedicated soldiers that have so proudly served our country.

God Bless the USA and the Wounded Warriors
and a very special Thank You for YOUR support!

When you are ready to enter the market to sell your home one of the first things you will need is a CMA or Comparative Market Analysis.

A CMA is a comprehensive detailed report of the real estate market inside your neighborhood and the surrounding area that shows you the statistical information that you need to arrive at a correct price at which to offer your home for sale on the market.

In this report you will find the ACTIVE LISTINGS - Homes that are presently on the market....YOUR Competition.

CANCELED, WITHDRAWN and EXPIRED Listings - Homes that have been removed or expired off of the market.

PENDING SALES - Homes that have gone Under Contract and are waiting to close.

SOLDS - Properties that have actually Sold and Closed and are what become the COMPS or Comparative Properties that are used to price your home and are used by Appraisers to appraise the properties to determine Appraised value. These are what you want to give the strongest consideration.

You will be able to review all of the important details about each of these homes such as year built, number of days it has been on the market, compare the rooms offered, lot size and description, features of home, condition, additions and updating of home, the original list price and the current offering price. The CMA will include photos of the homes exteriors and if you want to look at the interiors of each home to see how they visual compare you can be provided an on line report where you can view virtual tours of all the homes.

This report will also include easy to read color charts to help you visually see the comparisons of these properties! It will also show you the Average, Low and High Price in each category.

When reviewing the Sold properties you can see the List price of home, the Price that it actually sold for, the number of days it took to get it sold, the % of Sold to List and the date that it closed.

The Real Estate Market changes just like the Financial, Stock and World Markets so you always need to look at the data to see what the market shows during the period of time that you are in. Most CMA's are typically done for the previous 6 months. There are many factors that can have an affect on the value of a property such as the Supply - number of homes on the market and the Demand - number of buyers in the market. You also need to consider if this factor is increasing, decreasing or constant. The value of your real estate can also be threatened by outside influences such as changes in governmental policy and the economy.

When you are selling a home in a market that is Price driven like we are in today it is CRITICAL that you price the home properly in the beginning or you can spend many days on the market with no results.

So if you have thoughts of putting your home on the market give me a call today and let me put together a Comparative Market Analysis for you to review. We can sit down at your kitchen table with a nice hot cup of coffee or iced tea and help you to decide the offering price of your home. And while I am there I can also give you some ideas on things that you might need to do to prepare your home for the market!

Click on the links below to view more information on marketing your home:

Ready, Set.....Sell! Curb Appeal

"I want to sell my house" - Preparing Your Home For The Market

A showing on your house....#%&*#....TODAY?

I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU! And when we are done we can turn on the TV and check out the CMA (Country Music Awards)! There is always time for some fun when the work is done!

Debbie Hutchins a Certified Residential Specialist has been a licensed Realtor since 1987. Serving the Greater Birmingham Area and specializing in Shelby County Debbie is available to assist you with your real estate needs. We hope you have enjoyed reading and hope you will come back! You may also subscribe to "debs doodles" and have it delivered to your email! And as always, you are welcome to search the MLS through Debbies Re/Max website. All phone calls are welcome! You can reach Debbie via her cell phone at 205-368-2474

All data contained within is deemed correct however, RE/MAX First Choice and/or its Sales Associates are not responsible for errors and/or omissions. Prices are subject to change without notice.

The magical Easter Egg has become a universal symbol of Easter and thus the popular Easter Egg hunts that are held all around the world!

This unique oval shaped egg takes the stage every Easter as young and old alike drag out the utensils to began the annual project of decorating their Easter Eggs!

The "EGG" has been decorated in every way imaginable! It has been dyed, colored, painted and adorned in every way humanly possible to create the most beautiful Easter Egg of all!

And yes there are even contests to determine who has managed to create the winning Egg!

Some like to just grab the Egg Decorating kit from the local discount store and get the job overwith quickly...ahhh...but others go to great pains to come up with the most unique offering of the season.

Egg decorating is actually considered by some to be an art form and adorn their eggs with jewels, braids and other beautiful objects. And don't forget the famous Faberge eggs that were designed by Peter Carl Faberge in the 1800's! Now that is certainly an example of turning an egg into gold!

But whatever your delight is in the decorating of Easter Eggs it is always a joy to hear the laughter and join in the festivities as the bright eyed happy children dressed in their Easter frocks and fancy pants run to find the eggs with high hopes of finding the always sought after "Golden Egg"!

If you are tired of the same old primary colors for your Easter eggs and want to get a bit creative here is a color chart to help you make a wide variety of colors to dye Easter eggs.

Following the instruction on the chart below to mix each color. Mix the number of drops of each food coloring with about 2 - 4 ounces of vinegar for dipping.

EASTER EGG COLORING CHART

Lime - 24 yellow, 4 green
Purple - 15 blue, 5 red
Cantaloupe - 24 yellow, 2 red
Jade - 17 green, 3 blue
Plum - 10 red, 4 blue
Spearmint - 12 green, 6 yellow, 2 blue
Raspberry - 14 red, 6 blue
Maize - 24 yellow, 1 red
Watermelon - 25 red, 2 blue
Teal - 15 green, 5 blue
Grape - 17 blue, 3 red
Fuchsia - 18 red, 2 blue
Orange Sunset - 17 yellow, 3 red
Jungle Green - 14 green, 6 yellow

May each and every one enjoy a Happy and Blessed Easter with your loved ones!