Angie Murphy

The Good Neighbor Next Door Program (GNND) is designed to attract public servants to designated communities where they can purchase homes in neighborhoods in which they serve. This program makes homeownership more available and affordable to these particular individuals. Public servants under this program serve as resident role models and ensure the safety and well-being of residents in those communities where help is needed to promote safe neighborhoods and stronger educational opportunities.

Participants are offered up to a 50% discount on HUD-owned, single-family homes under the Direct Sale Program in designated revitalization areas. It is necessary for the participants of this program to utilize the assistance of a real estate professional. HUD requires these buyers to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise that an experienced real estate agent has to offer.

Applicants interested in the program are allowed to submit an "intent to purchase" during a restricted offer period, which is five days before the property is listed to the general public to receive the appropriate discount. Participants are required to own and use this property as their sole primary place of residence for at least 36 months.

Law Enforcement Officer
Eligible participants under the Law Enforcement Officer program are employed full time by a law enforcement agency of the federal government, a state, unit of general local government, or and Indian tribal government. In carrying out such full-time employment, the person is sworn to uphold and make arrests for violations of the federal, state, tribal, county, township or municipal laws.

Teacher
Eligible participants under the Teacher program are employed full-time by a state accredited public or private school that provides direct services to students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. The public or private school where the person is employed as a teacher serves students from the area where the home is located in the normal course of business.

Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician
Eligible participants under the Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician program are employed full-time by a fire department or emergency medical responder unit of the federal government, a state, a unit of general local government or and Indian tribal government serving the area in which the home is located.

Other qualifying criteria include:

• All participants' employers must certify that the applicant meets HUD's eligibility definition for participation and is an employee in good standing.
• Married couples are eligible for both programs, but can purchase only one home under either program.
• Single-family homes are the only properties available for sale in the program.
• Earnest money deposit is required of 1% of the list price, but no less than $500.00 and no more than $2,000.00.

For more terms and conditions regarding the Good Neighbor Next Door program, please refer to : angiesells4u.com

As Christmas approaches, take time to consider what you can do to help your local environment. To help you " think green" I have listed below a few tips that can make a difference.

1. When heading to the supermarket, dont forget to bring along a reusable canvas or string bag for carrying out your groceries.

2. Shop for items that use the least amount of packaging, and look for packaging that uses recycled and post Consumer content.

3. Whenever possible,purchase produce that is locally grown, since less energy is expended to transport it to your grocery store.

4. Though big Christmas feast can translate into a lot of cleaning up , don't be tempted by plastic utensils or paper plates, napkins, and tablecloths. Not only is it much more festive to use your favorite plates, silverware ,napkins,and tablecloths, it also means less waste ends up in the landfill.

5. If you plan to keep your leftovers, be sure to have plenty of reusable food containers on hand for after the meal. Stock up on reusable food containers that can save resources all year long.

Also have a Safe and Happy Holidays

Get Rid Of Chlorine and Other Toxins Now!
The solution is to use an effective shower purifier (which can also be used to fill the bath tub).

Recent research has established that Vitamin C is a highly effective agent for eliminating chlorine AND chloramines from water.

KDF is another popular purifying media made of copper & zinc. It will eliminate chlorine, and also heavy metals like lead, mercury and iron, even in hot water (which ruins carbon). Beyond that KDF takes care of bacteria, algae and mildew, keeping the shower and/or tub cleaner.
Further, KDF reduces smelly sulfur, and it conditions water, making it kinder to the skin & hair, which stay softer.

However, KDF is not very effective on chloramines. (Vitamin C will take care of that completely.)

Enjoy softer skin and hair and eliminate the burning eyes, itching skin and allergies caused by showering with chlorinated water.

Eliminating chlorine with Vitamin C or KDF helps to prevent rashes, dryness, and other skin problems; hair loss; lung irritation from chlorine byproducts; and more.
The conditioned water leaves hair more manageable. Less soap or shampoo is required. Perms and hair color treatments last longer.

Another media sometimes used for treating water for showering and bathing is activated carbon, but it has a very short life, especially in hot water.

Sulfur based compounds, including calcium sulfite and sodium sulfite, are also used. We do not need more sulfites added to our water cycle; and these have toxifying qualities of their own.

Click Here for information on highly effective low cost shower filters.

FORT WORTH Foreclosures - City officials are addressing the housing meltdown, with a plan to use $6.2 million in federal funds to help people buy foreclosed homes in areas that have been hit the hardest.

Targeted areas are mainly outside Loop 820, which saw a lot of development in recent years.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on a spending plan during today's meeting. Several other area cities received similar funds, as did Tarrant County.

Unlike some other local governments, which want to buy foreclosed homes outright, Fort Worth plans to loan the money in $20,000 increments. Buyers will be able to use the funds for down payments, closing costs and repairs.

The city's goal is to get more property into the hands of homeowners.

If the borrowers stay in the home for five years, the city can forgive the loan.

About half the money is targeted at low-income families (less than $32,300 for four people), and the rest at people making up to 120 percent of the area median ($77,500).

The money will provide about 280 loans. Fort Worth had 3,780 foreclosures from September 2007 to October 2008.

The Housing and Community Development Department has recommended that the loans be concentrated in seven ZIP codes 76123,76133,76112,76179,76131,76137, and 76248 generally in newer areas outside Loop 820, which accounted for 49 percent of the foreclosures in the last year.

For example, ZIP code 76248, which is bounded by Interstate 35W, North Tarrant Parkway and Alliance Gateway, had 341 foreclosures.

According to the city, the homes are middle class, with an average size of 1,909 square feet and an average value of $120,000.

Fort Worth Foreclosures

One of the major provisions of the Housing and Economic recovery Act of 2008 is the tax credit for first time home buyers. This has nothing to do with the lender when you are purchasing a home , and there is no opportunity to use this tax credit as a down payment.

Tax Credit Parameters;

Here's how it works : First-Time homebuyers ( anyone that hasn't owed a home in the past 3 years) purchasing a new or pre-existing home are eligible for a tax credit to $7500.00 for a married couple or up to $3750.00 for an individual . To Qualify, the following must be met:

1. The loan must close on or after April9,2008, and before July 1, 2009

2. The property type must be a single-family home,townhouse, or condo.

3. The property must be a primary residence

4. Borrower's must not have owned a home during the past 3 years

5.Income for Borrower's must not exceed $75,000 for single taxpayer and $150,000 for married couple.

In short this is a non-interest loan from the government ,that will be repaid over a 15 year period through your taxes at tax time. For more information please give me a call. I would be happy to answer all your questions.