East Falmouth, MA

What is not to like here?! A 4 bedroom Colonial home WITH an approved, in-law apartment. Set on a private acre, this home is in move in condition.

Gas fireplace, wood floors, and room for a pool outside! There is a first floor master bedroom and a second floor master, too. Both masters have private baths. The over-sized two car garage is large and attached. The level yard has privacy and space to play! Discover this gem on Cape Cod!

This home is easy to show and is ready for your family and friends!

Livestock shows, horse and oxen pulls, variety shows and amusement rides abound at the Barnstable County Fair from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 1220 Nathan S. Ellis Highway, East Falmouth.

Admission is $10 adults and $2 ages 6-12.

The Village People perform Saturday and the Eli Young Band performs Sunday.

The fair runs through July 24. For more information, call 508-563-3200 or go to www.barnstablecountyfair.org.

The Falmouth High Class of 2012, also known as the current sophomore class at Falmouth High will be doing light yard work on Saturday, October 24th for all town residents who would like to hire them. From 8:30 AM-5PM the students will do light chores in your yard for a small contribution to their Class Fund.

The rain date is Saturday, November 11th. Please contact ebourgeault@falmouth.k12.ma.us or
crankin@falmouth.k12.ma.us to reserve students to work. The minimum request is 2 students for 2 hours for a contribution of $20.

Jobs that require climbing ladders are not allowed. There are some other restrictions for safety reasons, too. Please contact the sponsoring teachers (above emails) for further clarification.

If you are renting on December 1, 2009 you just lost $8000. Here's why!

People who have not owned a home in the last three years are called First Time Buyers by the US Government. Those First Time Buyers can get $8000 IF they close on a property before December 1, 2009. So how much house can a renter buy?

One of the old calculators I use shows how much real estate a person with the following income levels might be able to purchase.

The numbers below are as follows: Annual Income (AI), Monthly Income (MI), Maximum Monthly Payment (MMP), Other Monthly Debts (OMD), Price of a Property per Interest Rate of 5%, 6%, and 7% (NOTE: These are ONLY estimates for conversation.)

(With 5% down)
20,000 (AI) 1667 (MI) 467 (MMP) 133 (OMD) at 5% 66K at 6% 61.5K at 7% 56.9K
30,000(AI) 2500 (MI) 700 (MMP) 200 (OMD) at 5% 100K at 6% 92.2K at 7% 85.2K
40,000(AI) 3333 (MI) 933 (MMP) 267 (OMD) at 5% 133K at 6% 123K at 7% 113K

Another method I use is to compare a current rental payment with a mortgage payment at the same amount. For example, if the rent being paid is $900/month, I divide the 900 by 6 and get 150. That indicates that someone paying a rent of $900 per month could possibly pay a mortgage on a $150,000 property.

Here is how I used math to get that: First, 6 is the interest rate multiplier when calculating interest on a loan with a 6% interest rate. So, I could multiply six by loan amounts until I get 900. 100 x 6 = 600; 125 x 6 = 750. 150 x 6 = 900. (Note: you leave off the last 3 zeros of the loan amount for this type of calculation.)

Or, I can "reverse" the same equation and use the monthly rent amount divided by the interest rate multiplier which then equals the loan amount. This liiks like; 900 / 6 = 150.

Of course other variables will affect the purchase ability of a buyer. Things like credit score, amount of down payment, and the total of the other debts the buyer has, and the condition of the property, are some of the major ones. First Time Buyers (people who have not owned a home in the last 3 years) have a major advantage right now, because the US Government will provide you with $8000 of down payment money. But you have to find a house quickly and close before the end of November 2009! Call a broker and get started! You only have $8000 and your own home to lose!

Happy real estate buying!

In addition to communicating with the local Air Traffic Control facility, all aircraft in the Persian Gulf AOR are required to give the Iranian Air Defense Radar (military) a ten minute 'heads up' if they will be transiting Iranian airspace.

This is a common procedure for commercial aircraft and involves giving them your call sign, transponder code, type of aircraft, and points of origin and destination.

This conversation was overheard this on the VHF Guard (emergency) frequency 121.5 MHz while flying from Europe to Dubai. It's too good not to pass along.

The conversation went like this...

Iranian Air Defense Radar: 'Unknown aircraft you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself.'

Aircraft: 'This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace.'

Air Defense Radar: 'You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!'

Aircraft: 'This is a United States Marine Corps FA-18 fighter. Send 'em up, I'll wait!'

Air Defense Radar: (no response .... total silence)

Thank you to all who are protecting us.