I was thinking today that it had been a few days since my last post and what was going on that others would want to read about here in Emerald Isle, NC. Well, the summer has started here on the island. It takes longer to get anywhere on Emerald Drive. I have learned that it is smart to go everywhere you need to before you get on the island or it will take twice as long to get there. A good sign is that it takes more than one turn of the traffic light to get down the street to the water spewing from the top of the Watter Boggin, a favorite on a hot summer day. The Waterboggin has been on the island for a very long time. My daughter worked there the summer of her 11th grade year. At that time the owner was going to sell the property and get out of the waterboggin business. Thank goodness he didn't as of yet. The visitors and locals alike love to go and its a fun place for both kids and adults alike on a hot summer day.
Anyway.... it has been a busy week with the occasional birthday party added in! Like I said before we have so many this month that we finished them up today. We leave on Tuesday early morning for our vacation to Hawaii. This has been planned since before my husband and I got married. Actually we were going to get married in Hawaii, but the first time I went to California, I said it was too far so we opted to marry locally. This November we celebrate our 5th anniversary so we are bundling this in with our anniversary. I was looking on the US Airways website for details about baggage and such. Well it seems that the bags we have are too big and probably after we get them packed they will be too heavy. How can you go somewhere for over a week and not take more than 40 lbs with you? The bag weighs like 5 by itself and then the contents can't weigh more than 35? This constitutes an additional expense to the traveller to the tune of $15.00 for the first bag and then an additional $25.00 for the next one and so forth. So,I guess if we took stock in UPS we could just ship our stuff there hoping it will arrive within the time we are there, maybe it would be cheaper than asking those folks at the airport to move it from one plane to another. I have started to pack a carry on and a big pocketbook or bag as my personal item. Remember tho that you cannot put any liquid in it that is more than 4oz and that includes a used tube of toothpaste that may have.05 oz in it. Yes, we had to throw away a tube of toothpaste that had a little in it even tho the tube said 7oz.
Great thing is that we applied for US Airways credit cards so we could get some benefits towards our travel and my husband uses his faithfully for all of his purchases, so he can get his points. We looked to see if we could upgrade to first class and they want you to use 30,000 points for one person one way to upgrade. Be real......
So, thus begins the brunt of my frustration. I will faithfully pack my bags within my limits and weigh it on the scale before I leave. Usually I am dead on the money so I hope that those shorts and tank tops will be light. I will promise not to buy too much for souvenirs before the weight limit changes and that I won't rip the head off of the attendant that is checking me in when she tells me how much more I need to pay. I will be sure to give you an update as to how expensive checking bags will be. On the website it now states that it will cost you more to take a bag on a plane if you don't pay for it on line before you leave. Yes, its true, after 7-9-09 you are to pay for your extra bags on line or they charge you $5.00 more at the airport. Just think about the number of people who will never go to the website and will have to pay that fee at the airport. I thought the oil companies were bad!!!How bout Granny who doesn't even know what a computer is and she is going to visit a family member. Cha Ching..... Granny it now costs you more to go visit if you take a suitcase. Wonder if I could just put a bunch of layers on my body and then once thru the check in, buy a bag in the little airport store and carry it on. Hey, there's a way to get around it!
Enough venting for now, hopefully it will be relaxing in Hawaii and everyone enjoy the Independance Day holiday!!!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
June Birthdays
June Birthdays! Its one of those things when everyone and anyone in your life all have a birthday in the same month. It has been one of those months for me. It all started out with Krista my oldest having hers on June 4th, so of course that is in the middle of the week and she came home on the weekend and we celebrated. She is getting older now and doesn't care for cake so we just took her out for her birthday and went to the beach. Luckily for us it was a wonderful and warm weekend so we had a great time. Then on June 11th it was time for one of our grandsons Ben to have his 5th birthday. Again it was during the week so Saturday was the day of choice for the party. It was a pool party with 20 little 5 and 6 yr. olds with a cookout for the adults. A wonderful time.
This week was my oldest son Pete's birthday on the 17th again he didn't want a cake and even didn't want a dinner so it was pretty easy on that day. I think one evening we will go out and celebrate. This coming week is Alex (my son's wife )birthday on the 25th and then Anthony another son's on the 27th! So, maybe this week we will get a chance to eat some cake.
I love birthday's as I have always felt it is the one day you celebrate differently from everyone else. Its not Easter or Christmas its the celebration of your birth and of you!!!
So, ending the month will be my birthday on the 30th. My loving husband is taking me to Hawaii. So I will be celebrating for about a week!!! No better way to handle celebrating your birthday then to be on vacation. What do you think???
Now that I think about it there are about 5 more birthdays we have to celebrate in July too, so maybe this whole birthday thing isn't so bad.
I wanted to do a group party and do it all at once, but with schedules, it didn't work out again this year.
My plan for Christmas is for all of my kids and my husbands kids to take a cruise! Now that would be a blast. There are so many affordable cruises now and the way they have accomodations for kids makes it even better!!!
So, for now I think I am off to buy yet another birthday present, but I don't mind because I love shopping!!!
Maybe I can do a blog one of these days about the deals I find!!!
Stay tuned!!
This week was my oldest son Pete's birthday on the 17th again he didn't want a cake and even didn't want a dinner so it was pretty easy on that day. I think one evening we will go out and celebrate. This coming week is Alex (my son's wife )birthday on the 25th and then Anthony another son's on the 27th! So, maybe this week we will get a chance to eat some cake.
I love birthday's as I have always felt it is the one day you celebrate differently from everyone else. Its not Easter or Christmas its the celebration of your birth and of you!!!
So, ending the month will be my birthday on the 30th. My loving husband is taking me to Hawaii. So I will be celebrating for about a week!!! No better way to handle celebrating your birthday then to be on vacation. What do you think???
Now that I think about it there are about 5 more birthdays we have to celebrate in July too, so maybe this whole birthday thing isn't so bad.
I wanted to do a group party and do it all at once, but with schedules, it didn't work out again this year.
My plan for Christmas is for all of my kids and my husbands kids to take a cruise! Now that would be a blast. There are so many affordable cruises now and the way they have accomodations for kids makes it even better!!!
So, for now I think I am off to buy yet another birthday present, but I don't mind because I love shopping!!!
Maybe I can do a blog one of these days about the deals I find!!!
Stay tuned!!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Busy, doing what?
I realized today that it had been a week since I last posted something so I thought I must write something, even if it is quick.
This has been a busy week..... I am working with some people who are trying to get their loan finalized so we can close the deal. Many of you remember me talking about closings the other week. Well, I can honestly say that most of the reasons we can't get anything closed has nothing to do with the people wanting the loan. It is the people behind the scenes that control the lending and the evaluation process for the consumer.
If you watch the news they say "oh the market is good, there is plenty of money out there at good rates". Heck yeah! There are a lot of good mortgage companies out there wanting to lend money, but they want a first time home buyer to "jump through hoops" to get the money. This particular time its not the mortgage company but the appraiser. Of course, I got the draw of an unknown appraiser that was assigned to do the job. Nobody, and I mean nobody that I know in the business is aware of who this person is or where they came from, but that is not for us to decide. Anyway.... they were asked for more info and just said I gave you all I am going to do.
Well, anyway.... we are working again to get this to the closing table.
Be aware, if you are planning on buying a home in the near future, be sure you have cleaned up your credit. Get the bad stuff off right from the start. Most of all be sure that you have a down payment of at least 10% minimum. Mortgage companies have money to loan but they want you to put some substantial money up front to make it a good deal for all. Remember that you can qualify for an $8000.00 tax credit for first time home buyers. Check with your tax preparer or accountant for more information.
For now I will continue to work for my clients to get this moved to the closing table. Maybe the next time we will get some people on the appraisal side that want to help us out and get the right information the first time so we don't waste an additional month trying to get it done.
Until the next time........
This has been a busy week..... I am working with some people who are trying to get their loan finalized so we can close the deal. Many of you remember me talking about closings the other week. Well, I can honestly say that most of the reasons we can't get anything closed has nothing to do with the people wanting the loan. It is the people behind the scenes that control the lending and the evaluation process for the consumer.
If you watch the news they say "oh the market is good, there is plenty of money out there at good rates". Heck yeah! There are a lot of good mortgage companies out there wanting to lend money, but they want a first time home buyer to "jump through hoops" to get the money. This particular time its not the mortgage company but the appraiser. Of course, I got the draw of an unknown appraiser that was assigned to do the job. Nobody, and I mean nobody that I know in the business is aware of who this person is or where they came from, but that is not for us to decide. Anyway.... they were asked for more info and just said I gave you all I am going to do.
Well, anyway.... we are working again to get this to the closing table.
Be aware, if you are planning on buying a home in the near future, be sure you have cleaned up your credit. Get the bad stuff off right from the start. Most of all be sure that you have a down payment of at least 10% minimum. Mortgage companies have money to loan but they want you to put some substantial money up front to make it a good deal for all. Remember that you can qualify for an $8000.00 tax credit for first time home buyers. Check with your tax preparer or accountant for more information.
For now I will continue to work for my clients to get this moved to the closing table. Maybe the next time we will get some people on the appraisal side that want to help us out and get the right information the first time so we don't waste an additional month trying to get it done.
Until the next time........
Monday, June 1, 2009
Aaaah Monday!
Just another Monday at the lovely island of Emerald Isle. Most days I don't complain too much about my job but today its been a trying one.
I have a house that is supposed to be closing and we seem to be having another crisis with the mortgage company.
With the rise in foreclosed properties, we have found that the mortgage companies have really tightened up. I thought this was something that was happening to people who may be wanting to get a mortgage that may have a less than normal credit score or someone who has had problems with their repayments. No, that doesn't seem to be so true anymore. It seems that the mortgage underwriters have taken it upon themselves to just ask for everything (including your first born) as proof that you plan on paying for this property.
I have been working for almost 2 weeks to get a loan closed for a great client. This is the first home they have ever bought so I was hoping this would be a fun and enjoyable experience for them. Needless to say, it has been far from easy. The mortgage people keep on asking for more. When I say more I mean more than the normal average person should have to produce to get a mortgage.
Now, I do understand that the current economic crisis has created this situation, but should all good standing American citizens who want to buy a home be punished for those that decided to just quit and walk away? I do think NOT!
So, I continue to search for the needle in the haystack which will provide enough information for these very prudent people called "underwriters" to approve this loan.
Keep your fingers crossed that we get the ok and we can move on. As I wrote earlier in one of my blogs, closing days don't come very often so when they do you want to get it taken care of quickly!
So, remember if you have a desire to purchase a piece of property you need to let me know as I will be the expert in gathering information after this deal closes!
Besides that the weekend at Emerald Isle was simply wonderful. Sunny, warm in the 80's and no rain!!!! Finally...... its supposed to be a beautiful week so book your property now for the weekend. www.bluewatergmac.com.
I have a house that is supposed to be closing and we seem to be having another crisis with the mortgage company.
With the rise in foreclosed properties, we have found that the mortgage companies have really tightened up. I thought this was something that was happening to people who may be wanting to get a mortgage that may have a less than normal credit score or someone who has had problems with their repayments. No, that doesn't seem to be so true anymore. It seems that the mortgage underwriters have taken it upon themselves to just ask for everything (including your first born) as proof that you plan on paying for this property.
I have been working for almost 2 weeks to get a loan closed for a great client. This is the first home they have ever bought so I was hoping this would be a fun and enjoyable experience for them. Needless to say, it has been far from easy. The mortgage people keep on asking for more. When I say more I mean more than the normal average person should have to produce to get a mortgage.
Now, I do understand that the current economic crisis has created this situation, but should all good standing American citizens who want to buy a home be punished for those that decided to just quit and walk away? I do think NOT!
So, I continue to search for the needle in the haystack which will provide enough information for these very prudent people called "underwriters" to approve this loan.
Keep your fingers crossed that we get the ok and we can move on. As I wrote earlier in one of my blogs, closing days don't come very often so when they do you want to get it taken care of quickly!
So, remember if you have a desire to purchase a piece of property you need to let me know as I will be the expert in gathering information after this deal closes!
Besides that the weekend at Emerald Isle was simply wonderful. Sunny, warm in the 80's and no rain!!!! Finally...... its supposed to be a beautiful week so book your property now for the weekend. www.bluewatergmac.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)