Billi Evans

I had a young couple buying a home through me with USDA financing. Their lender (not one I've used before) assured us over and over that everything was moving along smoothly. That is until two days before our scheduled closing when I get word through my clients (not the loan officer) that my clients make $180 too much each year to qualify for the USDA loan. AAACK! Shouldn't that had been discovered weeks ago?

Because the loan officer did not return my calls, I asked my clients to have her challenge the fact that because they are both teachers they could not count child care for three summer months! Guess what, no teacher in Missouri gets three full months off anymore. Seems reasonable right? It would have been, except for the fact that the USDA underwriter was going to be at a work conference for a week, so the file would have to wait until he got back. DOUBLE AAACK!

So do we wait 9 days to get an answer to our appeal or do we change financing directions? We chose the latter. We contacted another lender and went the FHA route. Once again, everything seemed to be going well. We were set to close this coming Friday when just yesterday I was told because one of my clients had been a student for the last 4 years and had not had a job during that time, there might be a hiccup. TRIPLE AAACK.

So we are crossing our fingers and holding our breath that we get an exemption on the job rule. AAACK!

A couple of weeks ago my son (I'd like to say my baby but he would disown me) turned thirteen. In another month he will start Jr. high and I see him changing daily in moving from boyhood too young manhood.

This last Friday my other son who is twenty-one and lives near Oklahoma City invited my younger son to spend this week with him. So I took him down, spent the night with them and then headed back to Missouri thinking about everything I planned to get done with him gone.

So today I called my younger son to see how he was holding up being away from mom and yep you guessed it, he's having the time of his life and to my utter dismay not missing mom a bit.

I unfortunately can't say the same. I can't wait for him to come home. Let's just face it, to a mom selling a million dollar mansion doesn't hold water to spending time with your little boy.

I wish I had a dime for every time I hear this phrase in reference to buying now and reaping the financial rewards of selling in 4 or 5 years.

In the Midwest, the most popular catch phrase used to be, "someone from California will think this is a steal." But a depressed national real estate market made that phrase obsolete.

Who knows, in 4 or 5 years it might come back.

Whether it was due to truckers blocking the way, bikers patrolling the streets, or the hand of God himself, protesters from Westboro Baptist Church were not able to mount the protest that had been announced and feared in tornado ravaged Joplin, MO.

The true story of what actually happened is hard to verify. The Springfield News-Leader says they were a no-show. The New York Times says they came but couldn't get close to where President Obama spoke while a couple of the television stations says they came, clashed with locals and left.

This group that calls itself a church needs to stay away. People have suffered and don't need to be goaded by hate mongers. They pride themselves in showing up at funerals of fallen military men and spread their hate. To call themselves Christian is nothing short of sacrilegious. I just can't find where in the Bible Jesus told us to hate like these people hate.

I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day.

Until last night, it seems the Southwest Missouri area where I sell real estate has seen it's share of stormy nights. After what happened in Joplin, out sister city to the southwest, every clap of thunder has people on edge.

Needless to say, sleepless nights have been prevalent so a little research came up with these tips.

1. Don't sleep late even on your days off.

2. Try to avoid naps.

3. Avoid exercise within six hours of sleep.

4. Contrary to popular belief, avoid heavy alcohol usage within four hours of sleep.

5. Absolutely no caffeine after 6:00 pm.

6. Avoid large meals.

7. Keep the bedroom for sleep and sex. Watch TV elsewhere.

8. Also avoid nicotine in the evening.

9. Keep noise and light at a minimum in the bedroom.

10. Don't start serious conversations right before sleep.

Hopefully as summer rolls in some of these storms will roll out.