Randy Randolph ~ Uber Agent

In a recent presentation to a group of realtors, HUD Secretary Donovan announced that borrowers would be allowed to use the $ 8,000 tax credit for their downpayment on HUD FHA Loans!

Then... S T O P, W A I T

On May 14th - two days later, the Mortgagee Letter 2009-15 has been put on hold by HUD.

HUD’s recently released Mortgagee Letter 2009-15, before it was "Pulled", allowed government agencies and other authorized entities, including FHA approved lenders, to offer either long-term secondary financing; or “short-term or bridge” loans secured by the anticipated tax credit for first time homebuyers established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for purchases and loan closings made prior to December 1, 2009.

My gut says the program will be BACK... but until further guidance is received from HUD LoanCentral has provided specific direction on using first-time homebuyer tax credits for the down payment, we will have to wait!

UNLESS you are in Washington State! Some states have already beat the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the punch on making bridge loans available to households who want to claim the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.

The Washington REALTORS® association was able to convince treasury officials that the money loaned to home buyers would not only be paid back when tax credits took effect, but also increase the state’s funds. Once we can figure out how to circumvent the current IRS regulations that require the IRS to send all refunds directly to the tax payer... we may see the Tax Credit become available for borrowers to use as their downpayment!

Original Blog by George Charles of LoanCentral.

This is from one of my wife's former managers. Please read and share with others that you know. I understand that money is tight right now for most of us, but if you could just find an extra $5 or $10 that would go along ways towards understanding this terrible disease.

No disguising it: this a charity plea.

My wife, Kirstin, and I are using the 204 mile Seattle to Portland bike ride as an opportunity to draw attention to and raise funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, a charity close to our heart given our son’s condition. Please feel no obligation to do anything with it just because you know me. I know people are tightening belts due to the state of the economy and I know you all are generous givers to charities close to your heart. With that said…. Any donation will be much appreciated..

As many of you are aware our six year old son Hayden was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) when he was two years old. The month of May is NF awareness month and we are hoping to increase people’s knowledge about this disease and to raise money to support research that will ultimately benefit Hayden and about two million other children around the world. Donations can be made on our fund-raising Web site.

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a common but under-recognized disorder that affects 1 in every 3,000 children. It is characterized by the production of faulty tumor suppressing genes throughout the child’s body (for example, every cell in Hayden’s body contains a faulty tumor suppressing gene) making them prone to the formation of tumors anywhere in their body. The disorder is also characterized by a host of other potential medical complications, such as bone and skeletal deformities, learning and behavioral disabilities (50 to 60%), hypertension (high blood pressure), migraine syndrome, early or late onset of puberty, scoliosis of the spine (curvature of the spine), cardiovascular defects leading to an increased potential for aneurysms (thinning of blood vessels) and strokes, brain and spinal tumors, 200-fold increased chance of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, mental retardation, fine and gross motor deficits, cancer, epilepsy (seizure disorder), pruritis (itching of the skin) and malignant brain, nerve and spinal cord tumors. One of the most common symptoms associated with NF1 is the formation of neurofibromas, which are benign (non cancerous) tumors that form on the nerve cells close to or under the skin’s surface. The number of neurofibromas tends to increase during puberty and pregnancy suggesting that there may be a hormonal link to NF1. Plexiform neurofibromas are also a common tumor associated with NF1. They are more diffuse and occur deeper in the body. These tumors may grow significantly causing disfigurement and are hard to remove because they occur on the nerve cells. They may also increase in size and start to push on internal organs causing significant problems. Neurological impairment is the risk of trying to surgically remove them and there is the potential that they may become malignant (approx. 10% do).

Unfortunately, Hayden was recently diagnosed with a plexiform neurofibroma on his shoulder that causes him a great deal of discomfort. Hayden has many of the numerous afflictions associated with a diagnosis of NF. This disease affects Hayden everyday of his life and will do so for the rest of his life. For example, Hayden suffers from a generalized weakness throughout his body, which prevents Hayden from being able to partake in the normal sports activities that his peers enjoy. He has never successfully ridden a bicycle because he has no lower body strength and still cannot successfully catch a ball or dress himself independently because he cannot do zippers and buttons etc. He is also unable to walk for more than a block or so because of fatigue, dizziness and pain in his extremities and he finds it very hard to sit up straight for even short periods due to lack of core strength. He suffers from puritis and literally scratches himself until he bleeds in his sleep. Hayden also struggles at school, due to poor fine motor skills he is unable to grip a pencil or pen effectively so his writing is illegible, he struggles with reading and becomes very frustrated whilst doing many academic exercises because although he understands them cognitively he is unable to write the answers down quickly like the other children and thus rarely completes his work. Imagine how awful it would be to be trapped in a body that “doesn’t work like everyone else’s” but your mind does. Understandably the aforementioned is slowly starting to affect his self esteem and confidence. Plus the other children are starting to realize Hayden is different and have started to tease Hayden about his tripping over and lack of co-ordination and dexterity which is starting to affect his psychological well-being. This is only going to get worse as he gets older.

One of the biggest challenges so far for Hayden and us as a family has been the diagnosis of three brain tumors - for which Hayden has been on chemotherapy every Friday for 16 months so far. As the months have gone by Hayden has been more and more affected by the effects of the tumors in his brain and the side effects of the chemotherapy. The effects are so devastating as those of you who knew Hayden pre-chemo are aware. Hayden has the potential to lose his eyesight because of an optic nerve tumor (his eyesight is gradually deteriorating), become paralyzed due to his brain stem tumor and have little control over his balance and movement due to a cerebellum tumor. This is Hayden’s reality and on top of this he suffers a whole host of debilitating side effects from the chemotherapy that put him at risk of life threatening illnesses, make him feel sick, left him malnourished and very underweight, caused incontinence, given him mouth ulcers, made him anemic and leave him drained and fatigued so he cannot just be a normal little boy. Longer-term consequences of the treatment could include future cancers and infertility. Hayden literally fights his way through each day, conquering an array of challenges that we all take for granted. Then it’s only to stabilize the tumors not to get rid of them. Hayden will likely be on and off chemotherapy for the rest of his life.

We are in awe of our brave son Hayden who is so courageous and brave on a daily basis. Hayden is only six years old but has undergone more physical and psychological challenges than most of us will experience in our whole lifetime. Please help us to help him by funding research for a cure. We have chosen to ride the 204 miles from Seattle to Portland on July 11/12 to experience what is likely a small fraction of the pain and fatigue that our Hayden experiences on a daily basis – especially given we are finding it impossible to do the required training due to the constraints in our life!!! We dearly hope you will join us in supporting research that will ultimately benefit Hayden and about two million other children around the world. Thank you so much for your support and generosity. We appreciate that times are hard in the economic crisis the world seems to be going through at present. Any sized donation will make a difference and the more people that donate the better (and then we really have to do it!!). Therefore, if you feel comfortable doing so, please pass this on to as many people as possible. Thank you so much, we truly appreciate your support!! A donation big or small can be given via our fund-raising Web site.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!

Kirstin & Brendon

First off, I Love Dogs. Have had dogs all of my life. They make me happy and reduce my stress.

I even used to own Three Dog Bakery in Seattle. It was a Bakery just for Dogs. I did that with my wife Bonnie for 10 years until we sold it in 2006. We miss the dogs that would come in and shop with us. Miss some of the people also, but mostly the dogs.

We have 3 dogs now:

Mocha 14 1/2 year old Chocolate Lab. Fantastic Dog. She likes to sit on my lap even though she weight 65 pounds. She has slowed down and has put up a good fight against cancer. She is my Brown Bomber.

DASH is 4 years old and a Seal Italian Greyhound. He is wild, fast and likes to cause trouble. He thinks he is such a tuff guy, but he isn't. He loves to lay on his back and look at you while you rub his belly. He is, how can I say this politely? um, FAT. He needs to lose about 4 pounds, which is about 30% of his total weight. What can I say? He eats like an Italian.

Lyra is my little girl. She makes my heart melt. Her big brown doe eyes. She is a 6 year old Red Italian Greyhound. Her favorite thing is chicken. Licking me all over when ever she sees me is a close 2nd. Even if I have just been at my desk and she has been by the fireplace. When I come over to her she goes crazy loven on me.

A week ago I went to tuck Lyra to bed. When I went to pick her up she started to cry in pain. Lyra NEVER cries when she is in pain. EVER. Torn ACL -- not a sound. Step on her tail -- not a sound. So, when she cried I knew something was very wrong.

I took her to the ER Vet in Lynnwood WA the next morning. They did a full exam and also a neurology exam. Took some x-rays. They thought she just had a pulled muscle. I didn't buy that, but I am not a vet, so. Took Lyra home with her meds and started bed rest.

She didn't improve.

Back to the ER Vet. Now they said that she likely has something wrong with her back. They want to do an MRI to see just what is going on. We can't get it scheduled until Wednesday morning, so more pain meds and bed rest at home.

She got worse. She would not walk or stand. She cried in pain. It broke my heart to see her hurting so much.

Back to the ER Vet today. They decided to admit her overnight, pump her full of fluids and do an IV drip with stronger pain meds. Then first thing in the morning she will have her MRI.

From everything that we have heard and learned about what could be causing the pain and immobility it sounds like she has a ruptured disc in her back. The MRI will give us the answer. If it is her disc, then she will have back surgery tomorrow. 3-4 weeks of bed rest and rehab.

I am glad that we live where we have access to this type of medical expertise. Lyra means so much to me I would do what ever it takes to keep her healthy, happy, pain free.

She is my little girl. Please get better soon.

Abraham Lincoln Didn't Quit

Author Unknown

Probably the greatest example of persistence is Abraham Lincoln. If you want to learn about somebody who didn't quit, look no further.

Born into poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown.

He could have quit many times - but he didn't and because he didn't quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the history of our country.

Lincoln was a champion and he never gave up. Here is a sketch of Lincoln's road to the White House:

1816 His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.

1818 His mother died.

1831 Failed in business.

1832 Ran for state legislature - lost.

1832 Also lost his job - wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.

1833 Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.

1834 Ran for state legislature again - won. 1835 Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.

1836 Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.

1838 Sought to become speaker of the state legislature - defeated.

1840 Sought to become elector - defeated.

1843 Ran for Congress - lost.

1846 Ran for Congress again - this time he won - went to Washington and did a good job. 1848 Ran for re-election to Congress - lost.

1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state - rejected.

1854 Ran for Senate of the United States - lost.

1856 Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention - get less than 100 votes.

1858 Ran for U.S. Senate again - again he lost.

1860 Elected president of the United States.