Tammy Lankford- lake sinclair

Every year my Donald carves me a pumpkin, The seeds are roasting in the oven usually by this time, but not this year.

We go to the market and we buy a big bag of candy. We trim the lantana off the steps. The porch light is on, the lights are dim and we get ready... just in case.

And as always, out where we live, the knocks do not come to our door with one single exception.

This year the one beautiful little girl who came to knock on our door and say "Trick or Treat" was Dorothy from Kansas. She was just beautiful and we nearly stuffed her pumpkin full of candy, puzzle books, pencils and gummy things. She gets a real loot at our house, because we only buy candy we like since we usually end up having to eat it.

Dorothy also stayed to visit a while. She got to play with Gabby and give her a fresh catnip leaf as a treat. She also gave a treat to Glen and Laney, but only while they were in their crates, since each of my dogs were larger than Dorothy.

Isn't she just adorable?

I just love those Ruby Red Slippers with those blue socks.

I know that next year we will do the same thing again, buy the pumpkin, carve the pumpkin, put up the decorations and buy the candy and turn on the porch light and wait and while I don't know who will show up... I am sure that I will always have one little pretty girl come to my door and say "Trick or Treat".

Do you turn out your lights? Leave Home? or do you participate in Halloween?

Now I have to go and take care of the cookies in the oven. I can't put the pumpkin seeds in until I take out the cookies and let the oven cool to the right temperature...

Happy Halloween everyone!

Purrrrrr!

Every year house fires cause over 4000 deaths in the United States. Approximately 130 of those deaths are in the state of Georgia. Many could be avoided if all families have working smoke alarms in their homes. Of course having a smoke alarm isn't enough. You have to have WORKING smoke alarm. It should be tested at least monthly and you should have a fire escape plan for your family that you have actually practiced.

Remember those fire drills when you were in grade school? Well plan one for your family. You should practice several times and with no notice to all family members. An in the middle of the night drill will tell you if your family is ready and would likely survive a house fire. It's also a good idea to have several fire extinguishers in your home. I have one in my laundry room, one in the kitchen and one in my bedroom. I also had one in each of my children's rooms when the kids still lived at home, but I sent them off to college with them. (I also keep one in the trunk of my vehicle)

So this weekend when you get that extra hour... make good use of it. Make sure you have working smoke alarms, add fresh batteries and sit down and plan your fire escape plan with your family. It could save your life and the lives of those you love if you just have a plan of action to take in case of a fire.

I've heard it said so many times that people say "well I'd try to get my photographs, they can't be replaced." Well I've lost a family member in a house fire and your photographs can be safe guarded, but you certainly can't replace people. You can scan photos and store the cd at the bank in safe deposit box or use one of the many on-line places to store your photos. Get your family out. Make a plan.

The Ready.Georgia website has some great information for planning. And some do and do nots for different types of fires that you should know and teach your children about.

Most home fires occur in winter when heat from different sources is being utilized. So Saturday night when you are getting ready to go to bed, remember to change your clocks! But even if you forget that... don't worry you'll be early not late to church! But whatever you do, don't forget to make sure you have a working smoke alarm and a fire escape plan. It just may save the lives of those you love. And I can't think of anything more important than that.

My daughter works for this company that makes and sells these t-shirts. They can be custom imprinted. Prices are great and if you might be interested please give Abi a call at 478-456-5878.

They are great shirts and can custom imprints for a really good price. And I think with the video the product sort of speaks for itself with the resistance to fire.

And as always if you are are looking for property on Lake Sinclair give me a call. I'd be happy to help you with that.

For years now Lane Realty has been listing foreclosures. As the market has changed more and more foreclosures are occurring and dictating market values. So if you are looking to purchase a foreclosure in the Lake Sinclair area who better to help you than a brokerage thatis familiar with the process and extra steps and paperwork of a foreclosure.

There are a lot of great deals out there right now. Even private party listings have values that are lower than they have been in years.

If you are looking for a waterfront property on Lake Sinclair it's a great time to invest

Here are just a few of the deals available.

For a more complete list of properties available you can visit our website and search the Lake Sinclair Area Multiple Listing Service.

It's updated daily!

Thinking of selling your home on Lake Sinclair? Think it doesn't matter if you don't have flood insurance because you have no mortgage? Well your buyer may have to have a mortgage so it's still something to think about.

Today I got this email inquiry:

Tammy, I have not connected in some time, but wanted to say hello and get some guidance-My sister and I have a home over off XXXXX River on XXXXX Drive and we looked into flood insurance recently and were told by our insurance company today that she plugged in our address and we are in flood zone A- I remember that I read that some mapping was re-done, but not sure on the specifics as we do not have a traditional mortgage thru a bank where they may have informed the owners-we are being told the cost would be $2K /year- just wondering if this is what other folks have run into when they go to sell their homes, do banks now require flood insurance in the area if you go to sell to a new buyer that gets a loan? what if the new buyer cant afford $2K a year; also, the insurance company mentioned gettting a certificate or something-I am so confused on this issue and wanted to find out the correct information and make sure I have the right information on our home for future-any information about the best course of action or a resource would be helpful- thanks a ton

Potential Seller

I sent her back an email with a link to a post I wrote last winter when FEMA maps were still quite new to Putnam County.

I have advised all of my sellers and most of them have taken my advice to get an elevation certificate because most homes don't need to have flood insurance, but there is a process you must go through. To be exempt or to have people wanting to purchase your home to be exempt you need a LOMA. (Letter of Map Ammendment)

Full pool of Lake Sinclair is 340 feet above sea level. The height of the top of the Sinclair Dam is 343 feet above sea level. Homes are required to be above the 343 to be issued a LOMA from FEMA. The process is not difficult. You need to get an elevation certificate from a registered surveyor and file paper work with FEMA for consideration of map ammendment.

Of course it takes time. The process is 8 to 10 weeks usually. So by the time a LOMA is issued your buyers could have walked, lost their rate lock, purchased another home.... so the time to get your LOMA is NOW. Before you list your house.

The link above is to my previous post that includes local surveyors that will be happy to get the process started.

Beginning July 9, 2009 submittals for request should be sent to LOMC Clearninghouse, 6730 Santa Barbara Court, Elkridge, MD 21075 to the attention of LOMR Manager on MT-2

For questions about this type of request you can contact the MAP ASSISTANCE CENTER of FEMA at

1-877-336-2627

It's important not to wait.