Dawn Marie White, Broker-Office Manager

FEMA has issued the following bulletin, I thought I would pass it along for those of you in need.

Have Flood Insurance? Don't Wait - File Your Claim Today.

If you've registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and have not filed a flood insurance claim, don't put it off any longer.

Receive FEMA Updates During Disasters

PLEASE FORWARD THIS POST BULLETIN TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

Best Regards,

Dawn Marie White

Broker-Sales Manager

Crossroads Realty Inc

www.njwaterfront.com

NEPTUNE, NJ. -- New Jersey residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Irene may submit their U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan applications online through the secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. SBA's electronic loan application is simple, fast and available when you're ready to apply for SBA assistance.

Link to Submit your application

Hope this link helps all residents and business owners who were affected.

Dawn Marie White

Broker-Sales Manager

Crossroads Realty Inc

www.njwaterfront.com

New Jersey is the fifth-smoggiest state in the nation, according to a report that was released today by the nonprofit

organization Environment New Jersey. The report was compiled using federal Environmental Protection Agency air readings and ranked 5th in the nation by analyzing the number of days with elevated smog levels compared to the rest of the country.

New Jersey, had 35 more smoggy days in 2010 than Ohio and New York. It was tied with Pennsylvania.

The Garden State also encompasses four of the 20 areas with the most smog days. They include Camden and the greater Philadelphia area (ranked 8th), Monmouth-Ocean (15th), Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon (17th) and Trenton (20th). Parts of Southern California took the top five spots.

Environmentalists who gathered in the Ocean County Park in Lakewood today pointed to the statistics as proof the tougher air quality regulations should be put into place as soon as possible.

"The problem is even worse than the public thought," said Megan Fitzpatrick of Environment New Jersey.

"People think of Newark and Camden when they think of smog, but it’s also in the suburbs," said Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "Here in New Jersey, we have some of the worst air pollution in the country."

The health effects on asthma and heart attacks are well-documented in medical publications.

Article Source

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/09/nj_is_the_5th_smoggiest_state.html

Dawn Marie White

Broker-Sales Manager

Crossroads Realty Inc

www.njwaterfront.com

HUD SECRETARY ANNOUNCES DISASTER ASSISTANCE
FOR NEW JERSEY STORM VICTIMS
Foreclosure protection offered to displaced families in three counties

WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of New Jersey and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms and flooding last month.

Yesterday, President Obama issued a disaster declaration for Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties. The President’s declaration allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families living in these counties.

“Families who may have been forced from their homes need to know that help is available to begin the rebuilding process,” said Donovan. “Whether it’s foreclosure relief for FHA-insured families or helping these counties to recover, HUD stands ready to help in any way we can.”

HUD is:

• Offering the State of New Jersey and other entitlement communities the ability to re-allocate existing federal resources toward disaster relief – HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs give the State and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars to address critical needs, including housing and services for disaster victims. HUD is currently contacting State and local officials to explore streamlining the Department's CDBG and HOME programs in order to expedite the repair and replacement of damaged housing;
• Granting immediate foreclosure relief – HUD granted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages;
• Making mortgage insurance available – HUD's Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims who have lost their homes and are facing the daunting task of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs;
• Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation – HUD's Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home; and
• Offering Section 108 loan guarantee assistance – HUD will offer state and local governments federally guaranteed loans for housing rehabilitation, economic development and repair of public infrastructure.

Information on housing providers and HUD programs -The Department will share information with FEMA and the State on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties. This includes Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Family owners. The Department will also connect FEMA and the State to subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.

If you’re about to get married or your a newlywed, you can get help from a little-known bridal registry program created by FHA. It is difficult in today's day and age to save enough money to make the required down payment for a mortgage. Most couples think they may be able to turn wedding gifts into cash so that they can start off their lives together as homeowners. However FHA requires that you provide proof of money deposited into a regular bank account. So with numerous gifts and cash it may be quite time-consuming to get a gift letter from all your wedding attendees.

This FHA streamlined program provides couples and opportunity to create a new bank account named "Bridal Registry Account". The wedding attendees, family members and friends will be provided with the details of this bank account and all the funds deposited in this bank account will qualify for gift funds and can be used to purchase your new home. There is no further documentation necessary. Providing proof that the The 3.5% down payment is from your own funds in combination with a Bridal Registry Account (Gift) will make it much easier for a new couple to buy a home.

There is no penalty if you decide later on that you do not want to use this money to purchase a home. You may simply withdraw the money and use it for what you wish.

Good Luck To All The Newlyweds out there. Happy Home Buying.

If your looking to buy a home in Ocean or Monmouth County New Jersey,

Give me a call, I can help.

Dawn Marie White, Broker Sales Manager, Crossroads Realty Inc

1-800-677-4033 Office 732-581-9414 Cell Dawnmariewhite@gmail.com

www.njdistinctivehomes.com

www.njwaterfront.com