Jerry LaRose Waterford Lakes, Avalon Park Fl. Realtor

I just don't understand the course we're on.

Since when is it OK to just walk away from your responsibilities when things don't work out the way you wanted them to? Many people treated their homes like a day-trade on the stock market. Now that their ‘gamble' isn't working out, they seek government bailouts (not unlike their lenders and mortgage companies at my expense as a taxpayer) or the ability to just walk off into the sunset to live a carefree stress-free life. What about all the people that WERE responsible, who didn't wipe out every penny of their equity, who didn't run out buying three and four condos, who lived within their means? Why is it now our responsibility to bail these clowns out? It's just not right.

I find myself having a hard time feeling sorry for all these people, especially when Washington wants to tap my tax dollars to bail all these irresponsible people out of their irresponsible decisions. And I'm not falling for all the whining. "Oh, I didn't KNOW what was happening ... Oh, I had NO idea my loan was adjustable ... Oh, I didn't know housing prices would EVER go down..." Are you kidding me? Please spare me the melodramatics.

The marching masses of consumer zombies need to wake up and smell the toast burning, which just might be the two brain-cells they have left to rub together. You can't just live buying everything you want, the minute you want it, and spend more money than you earn. Many people now live like indentured slaves. They owe more than they will ever be able to payoff in a lifetime. Hopefully, they learned their lesson and will encourage others not to make the same mistakes they made.

I don't know how this is all going to end, but I can tell you it won't be pretty, and it will be a very long time until this whole mess is straightened out. You should forego your "now's the time to buy" campaign in lieu of a re-education program that explains to people what they can and can't afford on their salary - not some pie in the sky delusion on a suicide-loan with the hopes that the real estate market is going to take-off again at any moment. You're perpetuating an already bad situation.

Owning a home is NOT a given ‘right,' it's a ‘privilege' - one that has to be earned and that includes responsibilities. That's the message you need to be sending.

Will you wear blue?

International Picture of the Year

Here are two very touching photos honored this year.

First Place:

First Place
Todd Heisler
The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.

During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said

'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should.'

Second Place :

Second Place
Todd Heisler
The RockyMountainNews

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted.'

PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING!
'No arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.'
-- Ronald Reagan
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Blue Fridays
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority.' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops.

Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is ... 'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday.

IF YOU AGREE -THEN SEND THIS ON.
IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON.

IT IS YOUR CHOICE.

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE,

ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.
God bless all our soldiers

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, But people will never forget how you made them feel.

It's your attitude and not your aptitude that determines your altitude.

Buying a home is probably the single largest investment most people make in a lifetime. By preparing yourself and your credit profile before a home purchase, you can ensure a smooth finance process and can potentially save thousands on your loan.

Start by checking your credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax and Experian

* To get the best possible mortgage rate, make sure your credit history is healthy and accurate. Aim to raise your credit score above 650 in order to qualify for most prime loans.

* If your credit score is not quite 650, focus your efforts on paying bills on time, reducing your debt balances, avoiding new inquiries and clearing negative inaccuracies from your credit report. It is possible to improve your credit score quite a bit over a few months.

* Make sure the information on your credit report is correct and fix any problems you discover. Give yourself 30-90 days for correcting inaccuracies. You can learn more about the dispute process in the "dispute" section of this Learning Center

* Found an error while reviewing your credit with the lender? Ask about the "rapid rescoring" process where your lender can submit a dispute and potentially improve your credit score in 72 hours.

* For a complete understanding of your credit history, check your 3-in-1 Credit Report and Credit Scores online.

Figure out how much you can afford

•· The rule of thumb is that most borrowers can afford a home that runs about two and a half times their annual salary.

•· Calculate your loan-to-value ratio to see how much you can afford to borrow by dividing the loan amount by the property's value. If your loan-to-value ratio is above 80% your rates may increase significantly. Find a less expensive home or save up for a down payment to lower this percentage.

•· Calculate your debt-to-income ratio by adding up your monthly debts and dividing by your monthly income. A debt-to-income ratio under 20-30% is usually considered good and will help you be perceived as financially stable.

•· Don't be afraid to start small. Just because you may qualify for a large loan doesn't mean that it is a smart financial decision to buy as large a home as possible. Take a careful look at your family budget and your housing needs before you decide how much you can really afford.

Pick a mortgage to fit your finances

•· Fixed rate mortgages have a set monthly payment that remains constant through the life of the loan. The interest rates tend to be a bit higher on fixed rate loans.

•· Adjustable rate mortgages give you a lower initial interest rate with the risk of it rising in years to come. If interest rates decrease you will have an advantage over fixed rate borrowers. Setting a rate cap about 5-6% above your initial rate will protect you from extreme jumps in interest rates

•· Short term mortgages are loans with terms less than 30-years long. While these mortgages offer lower interest rates, they have higher monthly payments and more difficult qualification standards.

•· Long term mortgages are loans with terms of 30-years or more. These mortgages have slightly higher interest rates but lower monthly payments, allowing for easier qualification

Improving your finances before you start to shop can help you save thousands on your mortgage. Reducing your loan rate by just half a point can potentially save you a whopping $22,000 over the life of a $200,000 loan.

Have you been feeling frustrated at clients who don't seem to be able to make a decision? At the beginning they seem interested in buying, either they've contacted you or you contacted them. Then as they see some homes and may begin listening to the news about today's marketplace, they start to get cold feet.

They don't return your phone calls or e-mails, and when you finally reached them they say, "I'm not sure this is the best time to buy. I've heard prices may get lower."

At this point you can either get exasperated and give up or you can give them a good reason to buy now, one that they can't refuse.

This is a simple three step process:

First, say to them, "Did you know that Donald Trump is buying up as much real estate as he can right now?" Client, "No, really? Why?" You respond with, "Donald Trump is a very smart businessman, wouldn't you say? What he knows that other people don't know is that this is the best time in history to buy. Prices are at an all-time low and so are interest rates. It doesn't get any better than this. So he is getting great deals all over the place." After this, your client will probably say, "Wow I didn't know that." You respond with, "If you're excited about this, then let's get you a deal."

Notice the invitational quality of your last statement. Who can resist a deal? Isn't this an irresistible statement? You are offering to partner up with them to help them make money.

Watch how quickly your previously "indecisive" clients start taking action. You've done your job to tell them the facts. You've backed that up with an offer to help them make money in the same way that Donald Trump is making money. There may be objections that come up.

Here is the KEY: if you are convinced that this is the best time to buy, then they will be too. People can sense the depth of your conviction, so convince yourself first and then you will be attracting your ideal clients

About the author:

Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://www.jerrysellsorlando.com/ for your real estate needs. Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

Jerry LaRose, P.A., ABR, GRI, e-PRO, CLHMS, REALTOR® 407-580-7011

(Copyright © 2008 By Jerry LaRose, P.A. All Rights Reserved.)

Mold is a potential health danger for any family and also a legal liability for you and your clients. Because of the fear over mold contamination there are so many lawsuits flying around today that sales of resale homes are in jeopardy -- and insurance companies are scrambling to avoid liability, with some U.S. 1:country-region> insurers refusing to write any new homeowner policies. So what do you need to know about mold to best serve your clients and keep yourself out of trouble?

1. Molds are everywhere and have been around forever. Many people have the impression that this is a new problem -- think, "Attack of the killer molds!" -- and that we now must arm ourselves against the impending invasion. Nothing has changed, however, but the awareness of the presence of mold. Instead of fear -- we need to focus on total elimination, prevention and control. This is easy: Sunlight and ventilation are key.

2. Use common sense in your approach to mold. Examples of common sense? Reduce indoor humidity 30 to 60 percent by venting bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; use air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increase ventilation; use exhaust fans for cooking, dishwashing, cleaning. Also, reduce condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation (windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, floors, etc.). Excessive exposure can cause symptoms in anyone. Asthmatics and other people with sensitivities (such as infants and the elderly) will be particularly prone to increased asthma attacks, even with moderate exposure to molds. In particular, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders should be particularly wary of molds. Be aware of their conditions and take the necessary precautions.

3. You cannot spot the feared "Toxic" or "Black" mold simply by looking at it. Most molds are black or dark green in color and the only way to determine its type is through laboratory testing. This type of mold is also known by its technical names of Stachybotrys Chartarum, or Stachybotrys atra.

4. Most of the media attention surrounding Stachybotrys is overblown. In statements surrounding mold in residential construction, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not believe that there is not any difference between Stachybotrys and any other mold. It just so happens that since this mold may grow more commonly on building materials, it is the one that happens to be most present in most homes. It's not any more toxic than other molds and the steps taken to remediate Stachybotrys should be the same as that for any other mold presence.

5. Mold can be cleaned and corrected. If you find mold on a hard, non-porous surface, it can be cleaned with a 1:16 bleach to water solution (only after first opening a window and wearing non-porous gloves and protective eyewear) as long as the area is less than 10 ft 2 in. If more than 10 ft 2 in needs to be cleaned, consult the EPA's guide titled, "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings" (You can also get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318). If the affected material is porous, it should be removed and thrown away. If the porous material mold is extensive, you should contact professionals to gather and remove. Lastly, NEVER and I mean NEVER mix household cleaners. Mixed chemicals can make toxic combinations.

6. Always get the home professionally inspected. While the information in this article is good and it's always smart to arm yourself with enough information to properly handle any situation, you are not to be mistaken as the mold expert. A professional home inspector will bear the responsibility of the mechanical, structural, and in most cases the environmental conditions of the home once they are hired by the client, releasing you from that burden. The inspector will assess the situation and put it into the proper prospective (believe it or not, I have seen a big deal made from some mold on a wall because some water was spilled from a fish tank when the home was vacated) for both you and your clients and make the call to refer it to the professionals if a "Red Flag" is discovered. So there you have it … the nuts & bolts to mold within our homes. Further information on mold can be found on the EPA website, by clicking here.

About the author:

Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://www.jerrysellsorlando.com/ for your real estate needs. Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

Jerry LaRose, P.A., ABR, GRI, e-PRO, CLHMS, REALTOR® 407-580-7011

(Copyright © 2008 By Jerry LaRose, P.A. All Rights Reserved.)