Homer Ray

The Walter B. Jones Park in Havelock will be the site of a Military Family Appreciation Day on July 18, 2009 from 2 p.m. to about 6 p.m. This annual event is sponsored by the Victory Chapel of Havelock. This is the 4th event the church has organized.

According to Pastor Gary Monnens, the family oriented event will have something for everyone including games, food, music and fun.

PEDRO will be there as well as working military dogs. You can see the classic car show and participate in various drawings.

A presentation honoring military families is scheduled at 4 p.m. Various bands will perform starting at about 4;30 p.m.

Food tickets are 4 for $1.00 and you can get hot dogs, snow cones, cotton candy and drinks at very affordable family prices.

Proceeds from the car show and the gas grill raffles will be donated to the "Wounded Warriors" fund.

Last year over 600 people were in attendance and this organizers are planning for a larger crowd.

Come and enjoy the fun and fellowship with your neighbors and friends. The public is also invited to this tribute to our military families.

As we get ready to enjoy this holiday week-end, Memorial Day 2009 I think it is only fitting to reflect for a few moments on what Memorial Day is all about.

My Dad served in World War II and didn't really talk about it much. I do remember he said" he saw California on his way to the Pacific theater, before he had a chance to see the capital of North Carolina, Raleigh." My uncle said he remembers taking my Dad to the train depot about 3 miles from our family farm, and they did not see him again for almost 4 years. When Dad did come home from the war, he arrived at Fort Bragg and took a taxi cab to rural southeastern N.C. and got home at about 4 a.m., and lived within half mile of where he was born until his death in 1979.

I had another uncle who served in Germany. My friend Mr. O.C. Bennett, who lives in Aurora today, was at the Battle of the Bulge, I think he was 18 at the time. They were some of the lucky ones who served and came home to build their lives and families. Memorial Day is about people like them.

I had the pleasure of meeting Frank Farmer a few years back. Frank loved German Short hairs, quail hunting and living on Brice's Creek with his wife Mrs. Becky. Frank was a retired Marine, who served in Korea and Vietnam. He was a Chief Warrant Officer and later became a successful business man after his military retirement. Frank passed away a few years ago. Memorial Day is about him.

We live in an age where time moves very quickly, and our connection with names like Pearl Harbour, the 38th Parallel, D-Day, the Tet Offensive, the "Iron Curtain" are being replaced with names of more immediate recognition like, Beirut, Baghdad, Kuwait, Iraq, 911, Al Qaeda. While they have many differences in politics and geography one thing is constant: The fact that Americans where willing to pay the ultimate price for freedom not only for themselves, but for others.

We all have both happy memories of loved ones who came home and sorrowful memories of friends, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers who did not. Memorial Day is about them.

Memorial Day is this week end, let's all please reflect on what our military members do and have done of all of us and others around the world. If you see someone in uniform, take a moment and tell them how much you appreciate what they do for all of us!

For more information about National Military Awareness Month, May check out this website:

http://www.nmam.org/

Remember what we have always been told: "Freedom is not Free."

In my opinion the biggest risk for home buyers in 2009 is the failure to take advantage of the 2009 First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit. This program could have had other provisions included to help our clients navigate this challenging time in our economic cycle, however it still has a lot to offer individuals and families that can qualify.

1. Up to $8000.00 or 10% of the purchase price of a home for qualified buyers.
2. Very limited repayment conditions, i.e. own for 3 years, anti-flipping clause.
3. Income limits of $75,000 single and $150,000 joint filing incomes so lot's of people can qualify
4. Easy way to claim the credit IRS form 5405
5. Aimed at home ownership, not speculation. Owner occupied only, in the U.S.

My concern is that in North Carolina it seems that loans are taking longer to process due to re-fi's and more banking oversight due to sins of the past. I hear that 40-45 days is now becoming more common to take a loan to closing.

Several things should be addressed with the potential first time home buyer:

1. The deal must close by November 30, 2009 to get any credit as the bill is now written
2. If it takes 45-50 days to close they can't wait until November 1 to see what the economy will do
3. Every 1% rise in interest rates reduces purchasing power by 10%
4. The best homes always go first
5. Sellers may be less reluctant to make concessions it they believe a turn around is building.

We as licensed, real estate professionals must be able to perform as the "trusted" advisors to the First Time Home Buyer's and help them achieve the dream of owning their own home. Are you up to the task?

· Our real estate market has fared better than some other parts of the country and state!

However:

· Inventory levels are climbing (it's Spring) and sales are sluggish.

• 63% of homes sold in the first quarter of 2009 where under $200,000.00

· Homes priced between $200-299,999K represented 23.9% of all 1st quarter sales

· Homes priced at $300k & up represented only 13% of 1st quarter sales .

· Buyers are scarce and offering prices are lower. Days on the market are increasing.

· Until inventory levels of new and existing homes come down substantially AND the economy improves, the downward pressure on prices will continue to intensify, as sellers compete for fewer qualified buyers that are actively ready and willing to buy now.

· If you are considering selling make sure you understand the ramifications of getting in the market now (longer time on market, fewer showings and lower offers). You must be priced right to sell in this current market.

The $8000.00 tax credit is the ticket

These BAH rates are in effect at MCAS Cherry Point effective 1 January 2009.

With Dependants W/O Dependants

E-1 -E4 $1013.00 $769.00

E-5 $1122.00 $860.00

E-6 $1362.00 $1022.00

E-7 $1387.00 $1040.00

E-8 $1415.00 $1169.00

E-9 $1449.00 $1244.00

W/D W/O

W-1 $1362.00 $1022.00

W-2 $1398.00 $1168.00

W-3 $1432.00 $1251.00

W-4 $1456.00 $1368.00

W-5 $1483.00 $1393.00

W/D W/O

O-1E $1393.00 $1122.00

O-2E $1427.00 $1227.00

O-3E $1460.00 $1362.00

W/D W/O

O-1 $1149.00 $904.00

O-2 $1357.00 $1084.00

O-3 $1431.00 $1276.00

O-4 $1495.00 $1390.00

O-5 $1539.00 $1406.00

O-6 $1552.00 $1432.00

O-7+ $1570.00 $1461.00

MCAS Cherry Point is one of the best all weather jet bases in the world and serves as a emergency landing site for the space shuttle program. In addition AIR FORCE ONE is spotted landing at Cherry Point from time to time.