Bo Kociuba

Holiday Surprise from Fannie and Freddie: Foreclosures Suspended until January

"The two mortgage giants have issued a notice to its loan servicing organizations and retained foreclosure attorneys directing them t suspend foreclosure sales on occupied single-family properties as well as the completion of evictions from occupied single-family properties scheduled to occur from November 26, 2008 until January 9, 2009. The effort was made to support the streamlined modification program that was announced on Nov. 11."

Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac loan servicers are prepared to work with borrowers during this period, even if previous workout efforts have been unsuccessful.

These steps are taken to expand foreclosure prevention efforts, which are designed to give loan services and foreclosure attorneys tools to find the best solution for a borrower in financial trouble.

Contact your loan servicers for available solutions that could make an existing mortgage more affordable.

Source: RIS Media. For full article click on the link: Holiday surprise ....

Again, like every year, the Holidays are sneaking up on me. I am not ready for a house full of guests. My turkey is still flying somewhere, cranberries are still growing, house needs some sprucing up, shopping is not done and I need a serious chunk of time for cooking!

My Mother asks me how come I get caught by a surprise. She says that Thanksgiving and Christmas come every year on the same day and year after year they don't change! She is so right!

I thought I need more time, if only I had more time... Excuses, apologies, explanations etc and you know I can hear my Mother again! She says that all of us have the same amount of time. That time doesn't change and you cannot make more of it. The only difference is how you plan to use it!

Wow, she is so right again!

I am tired of these surprises. Usually I am a very patient person but I have had it! I need a change and this time I am going to listen to my Mother! So today is the day that I declared war! There won't be any more surprises sneaking up on me. War on time and I am gonna win it!

Here is my WAR STRATEGY:

• Plan
• Organize
• Prioritize

Plan - what do I need to do? What do I want to accomplish? My vision-get the firm grasp of the big picture. Decide what is important. How am I going to do it? Write time frame or deadline. Do it for every day in my weekly day planner. I love technology but pencil and two calendar pages still work best for me (and pencil is so forgiving). Add activities and note birthdays, holidays and romantic dates with my honey. Plan for my "sanity time" - things I want to do, books I want to read and get rid of cobwebs onmy mind by exercising daily (walking and bike riding).

Organize - schedule best possible ways to accomplish what I planned, get rid of destructions which take time and accomplish nothing, relentlessly stick to the plan by blocking time for each task, respect my time by letting others know that I am busy and need their support and understanding - learn to say NO, get rid of the clutter, delegate some responsibilities to others.

Prioritize - first things first. Focus on things benefiting me and my pocket in other words lead generate and walk my talk. What is important is getting done first (according to my plan). Emails can wait. Close the door and window blinds and JUST DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

Having a clear picture in mind will give me a map to where and how to get there. What a satisfaction to give myself the power to take control of my time. What about you? What would you add to your war strategy?

I am gonna win this war!

Bo

PS. New Year is just around the corner - Business Planning and Goal Setting is in order....oh, well just another battle to win...

The Big Day was yesteday I know but I was out of town and couldn't get together with my Dad.

But today just a few minutes ago Dad and Mom left my house. We had a great dinner made specially in Dad's honor. He is a veteran of the Forgotten War in Korea. He doesn't share stories much ... He believes he "just served" his country. This was his duty...an honoroable duty he says.

Long time ago Dad told me a short story about a man whom he worked for as a 19 year old. A true patriot who also loved his country. Dad was gone for almost four years - Korea and later Japan - but when he came back the home he used to rent was waiting for him and all of his dues were current and paid. This gentelman kept paying for all of Dad's obligations out of goodness of his heart. Dad was so surprised and at awe about such unbelievable civilian sacrifice...the man told him that he was not...he believed that it was his duty and if he would do that my Dad will come back home without a doubt!

I am so thankful and honor all of you who fought to keep my country free and who gave me a chance to enjoy freedom and prosperity. I love you Dad!

I love America and her people!

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Part 2 of 4

You probably will agree with me that the last few weeks were a little hectic for all of us. But it is time to catch up and get up to speed.

What is happening in real estate nationally is affecting all of us. Markets and economy are in such turmoil. There is a lot of uncertainty and questions about the present and what the future will bring. So far we haven't heard any clear and straight answers. There is lots of brainstorming, debating and finger pointing.

But there is a little of positive news about the housing market in general and not only in Oklahoma. Statistics point us to a conclusion that the housing market has stabilized already. Read my previous (partI) article: Timing and chasing the market - a smart move or is it? This is a piece of news everyone will be glad to hear. Positive and encouraging. Ok, I can hear you say - but all of the headlines, all of the news...Well, guys, negative sensationalism always sells. We are no strangers to it. There is no denying about some builders and markets being in trouble but most the time the reason for this is because of bad business practices and wrong decisions.

The graph below speaks for itself. Markets have already corrected themselves.

Source: Keller Williams Realty

The long-term affordability trend of 4 percent appreciation has been recovered after a five-year period of unsustainable growth (2001 to 2005) followed by a three-year market correction (2006 to 2008).

Last quarter house sales in Yukon and Mustang areas:

Locally, in Yukon and Mustang area the number of houses sold is UP. And they sold for more money that in the previous quarter. Read my article: Yukon and Mustang, OK Housing Market Report for II quarter of 2008 and compare.

So let's stay positive and start investing in real estate. This is THE RIGHT TIME!

Please send your questions or comments to: Bo@Okla-OK.com

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It is fascinating what a few cups of tea can do for you!
Lowering blood pressure, preventing blood clotting, lowering level of stress hormone CORTISOL (this pesky guy is responsible for our weight gain) etc...

I love tea and drink it very often, indeed. All of the above mentioned benefits are quite important but most of all a quiet time with a cup of tea just does wonders for your sanity!

Here is the article I read this morning and I thought immediately about all of you .... So plan for your tea time and let me know how you are doing.


"Stressed out? Reach for a soothing cup of black tea.
A recent study conducted by University College London researchers evaluated the effects of black tea on stress in the body. Seventy-five regular tea drinkers were split into two groups. All study participants gave up their normal tea, coffee, and caffeinated beverages. One group drank a caffeinated black tea. The control group drank a caffeinated fake-tea placebo.
To eliminate the "comforting" effect of drinking a cup of tea, researchers masked the sensory cues typically associated with tea drinking. Then they had the groups perform challenging tasks to evaluate their bodies' stress responses as measured by the hormone cortisol, blood pressure, blood platelets, and self-rated stress levels.
The tasks caused similar stress levels in both groups. However, 50 minutes after performing the tasks, cortisol levels had dropped by an average of 47 percent in the tea-drinking group compared with a mere 27 percent in the fake-tea group. The researchers also found that blood platelet activation (which is linked to blood clotting and the risk of heart attacks) was lower in the tea drinkers. And the tea drinkers reported feeling more relaxed in the recovery period after performing the tasks.
Because tea is chemically complex, researchers can't yet pinpoint the ingredients responsible for its beneficial effects. What they do know is that enjoying a cup of black tea may speed recovery from the daily stresses in life. And that, in turn, can help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease.Stock up on healthy and delicious organic black tea. It's calorie-free, packed with powerful phytonutrients, and can help soothe away stress too."
Source: Kelley Herring

Wishing you all a wonderful day and reach for this relaxing cup of tea!

Bo

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