Yvonne Martin

You can help Hammond raise money for the American Cancer Society by donating money to teams participating in the 14th Annual South Tangipahoa Relay for Life in Hammond on Saturday, November 7th at North Oak Park (2311 N Oak St). Even though their goal of $185,000 seems lofty, they have already received more donations in their offices than they did the same time last year. So, their hopes are high. The thing that stands out the most with this year's teams is the ingenuity and creativity they have used to raise money. Instead of the standard car washes (which are always nice), a hair salon held a "cut-a-thon" and there was a Fall Frenzy fashion show and silent auction held to raise money by Beauty of Hope.

And the raffle prizes this year are some of the best South Tangipahoa's chapter of the American Cancer Society has ever seen. Just some of the prizes up for raffle are a Disney vacation, Beau Rivage getaway (with dinner), a football autographed by the New Orleans Saints (not just one member, but the WHOLE TEAM), a fun Dollywood vacation and even a great basket loaded with all kinds of techy gadgets, like an iPod and more.

Everyone is excited about the 80's theme, as well. Don't be surprised if you see acid wash jeans and lots of big hair. Survivors should register at the survivors' tent at 9:30 on the morning of the event. Opening ceremonies begin at 10am. The relay will start with a special "survivors' lap" to honor and celebrate all those who have survived cancer. After the relay, there will be entertainment provided by local dance teams, school groups and the local band Space Trumpet. Tons of food will be available from vendors in the area. Food for the day starts off with coffee, beignets and a pancake breakfast for teams that show up early and will eventually progress to hot dogs, jambalaya and BBQ later in the day.

A luminary ceremony will conclude the festivities at 5:30pm. All proceeds from the Relay for Life benefit the local chapter of the Baton Rouge regional office of the American Cancer Society to help cancer patients and their families in the local area, including Hammond. So, come out on Saturday to help celebrate and raise money for this wonderful organization. You can help and have fun at the same time. For information on purchasing raffle tickets, please call Andrea Arnold at 985-974-5744 or Juanita Lee at 985-974-3266.

Yvonne Martin, Let My Family Bring Your Family Home to Hammond real estate

Here's an equation to be happy about:

Low Interest Rates + $8000 Tax Credit = Lots of Tangipahoa Mortgage Applications

With interest rates dipping below the 5% mark recently and the deadline for the $8000 First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit looming (must close by November 30, 2009 to qualify), many local Tangipahoa Parish banks and lending companies are experiencing a flood of calls inquiring about refinancing their current mortgages or applying for new ones. The tax credit has been a major incentive for buyers to purchase properties, helping to lift the slow sales over the last year. In fact, approximately half of all purchases lately have been first time homebuyers wanting to cash in on the tax incentives for their first Tangipahoa home.

Another benefit of the lower interest rates in the Tangipahoa real estate market seem to be propelling homeowners to start considering refinancing their current mortgages as well. This has created another refi boom and kept mortgage and loan companies very busy. Even if your credit scores are below the 720 required for the best mortgage rates, you can still get a good deal if you pay even part of a point. As of Thursday, October 8, interest rates were at 4.875 with no points for a 30-year loan while 15-year loans were at 4.375 with no points.

It looks like the last quarter of the year is going to be one of the biggest ones. Let me know how I can help you get the best deal on your Tangipahoa home purchase today!

Yvonne Martin, Let my family bring your family home to Hammond real estate

Cate Street in downtown Hammond will be the place to be on September 26, 2009 from 8:30 am to 3 pm for the 3rd annual Dutch Battle Memorial Ride and Cook Off. Raffle tickets and gumbo will be sold at the event. All funds raised at this family day event will be donated to motorcycle safety awareness.

The Dutch Battle Memorial Chapter of the Motorcycle Awareness Campaign will sponsor the event that includes a gumbo cook off. The cook off includes vendor booths, great food, dance team performances, live music, face painting and a vintage bike display. A photographer will also be on hand to take pictures of children with some of the motorcycles that will be displayed at the event. The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Department will perform motorcycle safety demonstrations.

The Louisiana State Police will escort over 200 riders along an 82-mile route for the memorial ride which will leave Hammond at 9:30 am. The goal of the event is to make drivers of automobiles more conscious of motorcycle riders and to make riders more safety conscious so that everyone can get back to their homes and families safely. Raffle tickets will be sold for $5 each.

There is still room for riders and competition riders. The cost is $20. Each rider will be given a raffle ticket and a bowl of gumbo for their meal. Those interested in learning more can call 985-386-6191 or 225-567-1475.

Raffle Prizes:
Grand Prize: Honda Metropolitan motor scooter
Gift Certificates from various businesses
Necklace donated by Guzzardo's
Note: winners will be notified. You do not have to be present in order to win a prize.

The memorial ride will be held in memory of Dutch Battle, a former Ponchatoula resident. Dutch was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by an automobile and killed. Dutch was returning to his Summit, Mississippi home when the accident occurred. Dutch Battle served aboard the USS Ponchatoula during the Vietnam conflict. Dutch is remembered by many in the Ponchatoula area as an insurance agent and others remember him for his involvement in our local theater. I hope to see you at this event.

Yvonne Martin - Your Hammond Real Estate Professional

The 14th Annual South Tangipahoa Relay for Life will be held at North Oak Park in Hammond on November 7, 2009.  Relay For Life ia a 24 hour camp-out and track relay event organized by local volunteers to celebrate, remember and to fight back.  The event will celebrate those who have survived cancer and remember those who have lost the battle.  Teams fight back by raising funds through pledges for research to fight the dreaded disease.

Everyone young or old can volunteer to be a relayer, a team captain, a sponsor or volunteer their time and/or donate to the cause.  A relayer walks or runs a track in a relay style with a personal goal of raising $100 for cancer research.  The financial goal is a goal and not a requirement; everyone is welcome to celebrate and remember by participating in the relay.  There is a registration fee and every team is asked to have at least one member on the track at all times during the event.

Teams are now forming in Tangipahoa Parish to participate in the Relay For Life event.  Over 16 teams have already formed.  To register as a relayer, team captain, sponsor or to donate, contact Juanita Lee at 974-3266 or Arnold at 974-5744.

Linda Koles Hoover of Ponchatoula has donated a beautiful quilt "On The Mend" to be raffled at the event. Linda donated the quilt in memory of Corliss Ivanyisky, a friend who lost her battle to cancer in September of 2006.  The quilt is predominately pink, the color associated with breast cancer, and depicts ladies wearing scarves and ladies who have no hair.  Raffle tickets can be purchased for $3 each or four for $10.  Also to be raffled is a Fleur for the Cure tapestry and a sparkling crystal necklace.  The items will be on display at various businesses.  Any business owner that would like to help sell raffle tickets and to display the raffle items can contact Susie Ivanyisky at (985) 419-0256.

There is no limit to what a community can do when it joins together with a common purpose and goal.

Yvonne Martin, the Martin Team for Hammond real estate - Let My Family Bring Your Family Home

Whether you are a buyer or seller, it is important to understand what mortgage points are and why or why not you should pay them. Mortgage points are finance charges paid by the borrower. However, sellers can pay the buyer's discount points.

Two Types of Mortgage Points:

Origination points

• Are a lender's fee for the cost of giving the borrower a loan.
• May be tax deductible if they are noted as a percentage on your closing statement. A fee amount is not tax deductible.
• Not all lenders charge origination points (fees) - always shop for the best mortgage terms available.
• Typically, an origination point is 1% of the loan amount. If you pay more than 1%, you may be overpaying for your loan.

Discount Points

• A type of pre-paid interest or finance charge.
• One point is equal to 1% of the loan amount.
• Discount points are tax deductible.
• One discount point should reduce your interest rate by .25%.
• If your interest rate is not discounted, you are paying an additional lender fee.

Why do sellers need to know about discount points?

• Because your buyer may ask you to pay for points when negotiating their offer.
• The most important factor for sellers is not what a discount point is but how much it will cost you.
• A discount point should not exceed 1% of the buyer's loan, not the selling price of your home.

Why would a seller want to pay a buyer's discount points? Well, truthfully, no seller does. However, today's real estate market is in the buyer's favor and this could be a "lose-the-sale" item. S o, the real question is: are you willing to lose the sale over the amount of money the buyer is asking you to pay?

Why do buyers need to know about discount points?

• Buyers need to know if they are buying a discount on their interest rate or paying a lender fee.
• Points add to the total funds needed by the buyer to close the sale of the property they are buying.

Why do buyers pay discount points?

• To make qualifying easier by compensating for a credit score less than 740.
• To obtain a lower interest rate.
• A lower interest rate will decrease your payment about $20 (based on a loan amount of $165,000 at 5.25% vs. 5.5%).
• A .25% lower interest rate will save you about $10,000 (based on a loan amount of $165,000 at 5.25% vs 5.5%).

Buying discount points may or may not be a good financial decision for the buyer. This depends on your particular situation. In the long run, a lower interest rate is beneficial. To help you determine if paying points is a good financial move for you, use this handy calculator. If you decide that paying points is best for your financial situation, remember that discount points are tax deductible even when they are paid by the seller.

Yvonne Martin, The Martin Team - Let My Family Bring Your Family Home to Tangipahoa Real Estate