Top 10 Halloween Safety Tips

Trick-or-treating can be one of the most fun Halloween events for your kids. However, it can also be potentially dangerous because it happens outside in the dark. Here are some Halloween safety tips to make sure your kids come home safe and happy:

1. Never go into a stranger’s house – Only get candy from houses that give it to you at the door. If someone invites them in, tell them to just say “no, thanks” and leave immediately.
2. Use the buddy system – Kids should never go trick or treating without a sibling, friend, or parent. If they are going out without parents, make sure you know the area where they will be trick-or-treating.
3. Set a curfew – If you aren’t going trick or treating with your kids, set a time that they need to be home by or a time for them to check in with a phone call. That way, you know that they are safe.
4. Eat a snack / dinner before trick or treating – By eating something beforehand, your kids won’t be as tempted to eat their treats before they come home…which leads to the next tip…
5. Always cross streets at interections and walkways – Make sure your child knows how to cross a street and to only cross at designated intersections.
6. Always check candy before giving it to your child – Make sure none of the candy is open or looks like it was tampered with. If you have small children, make sure the candy is not a choking hazard.
7. Go on your local police website and search for sex offenders in your neighborhood - While this may seem overly precautious, you may want to steer clear of these houses or areas.
8. Wear something reflective in your costume and carry a flashlight – It’s going to be dark out by the time you go home, so make sure cars can see you at night. Put reflective tape on the costume and trick or treating bags.
9. Create well fitting costumes – Kids will be running from house to house, so make sure their costume is suitable for running. Make sure face marks still allow your child to see their full range, make sure capes are not too long to trip over, and ensure any swords are not too sharp. Have them wear gym shoes.
10. Choose flame resistant materials for costumes – Since there can be candles and other open flames at houses, choose a fire resistant material for costumes to avoid burn injuries.

Many fear arise about buying a home.  Some of these may include questions like:

• Can I afford to buy a home right now?
• Should I wait until the market gets better?
• What if I don’t have a lot of money for a downpayment?
• What if I can’t afford to buy my dream home?
• Why does buying a home seem so complicated?

Let’s take a look at these questions:

“Can I afford to buy a home right now?”

The first step in buying a home is to get connected with a mortgage lender to get pre-approved for a loan.  Doing so, before you even start to look for a house, will get you looking in the right price range for your budget.

Too many times I have worked with buyers who have assumed they could afford a certain price range and then ended up being disappointed when they finally get their pre-approval because they have fallen in love with a house they have seen, and it’s not in their budget.

“Should I wait until the market is better?”

Another concern is whether or not the market is right to buy in.

Buying when the market is at its peak is not the best decision, if you can afford to wait.  Many people have purchased when the market has been at a high, and are then disappointed later when the market drops, and the home loses appraisal value.

Of course the best time to buy is when the market is at a low, because the value will increase when the market picks up again, creating a great return on your investment.

This also helps when you don’t have the 20% or more to put down on the loan, and have to pay mortgage insurance.  The faster the home appreciates in value, the faster you can drop the mortgage insurance because the value in your home makes up the difference.

A Full-time Real Estate professional can help you determine if the market is at a high or low.

“What if I don’t have money for a downpayment?”

Many people are under the impression that they have to have a large amount of money for a down-payment to get a loan.  While it’s great to be able to put down 20% or more, son you won’t have to pay mortgage insurance, it’s not always required.  There are a lot of great financing programs out there that allow the buyer to put as low as 3% down.

The amount required for a downpayment will all depend on the program your lender can put you into, which will be determined by factors such as income level, debt-to-income ratio, etc.

This is another reason to get pre-approved for a loan, so you know how much money you will need to bring to the closing table, and whether or not you are going to have the right amount of money to buy a home.

“What if I can’t afford my dream home?”

Very few people are able to buy the home of their dreams when they purchase their first home.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 69% of all first-time home buyers in the United States have to compromise on some of the feature of their first home.

What you need to focus on is finding a home that will satisfy your core needs (location, price, schools, etc), and will be a good investment to build equity over time.

This approach will actually take you down the road faster to being able to afford your dream home, because (in a normal market) the house will usually gain value faster than the time it would take most people to save the same amount of money.

You need to think of your first home as a stepping-stone to get you where you want to go.  Choosing a good home in your price range, that will have a good chance of appreciating in the near future, will give you the leverage you will need to eventually get that dream home you always wanted.  An experienced Real Estate professional can help you find a home in an area that is bound to appreciate in value.

“Why does buying a home seem so complicated?”

Buying a home IS a complicated situation, because there are many factors to consider.  That’s why it’s important to have a full-time Real Estate professional consulting you to help you make the right decisions, and handle the process for you.

Having a team of professionals to guide you through every step of the process (your Realtor®, your loan officer, your home inspector, your title company, etc) will make what is normally a complex system into a simple and pleasant experience for you and your family.

In preparation for the weather/rain from Tropical Depression #13 (which could become Tropical Strom Lee):

•     The lake valves were opened on Friday morning.

•     Sand and sand bags are available behind the firehouse.  Please bring a shovel as you will need to fill your fill your own bags.  Please take only what you need as bags are limited.

•     Please ensure your culvert/drainage in front and around you property is clean of debris.

•     Please secure all items which could become projectiles in strong wind.

•     Trash service is still scheduled for Monday, September 5th.  Please ensure that your trash does not end up blocking the drains.  After the trash is picked up, please remove your garbage can.

•     The pool has been closed for the weekend and Labor Day, unless the weather changes.

•     The restaurant will be open:

Saturday, September 3, 2011:

8:00 am-10:30 am: Breakfast Buffet with Omelet Station at Waters Edge only $7.95 for Adults, $5.95 for Children 12 to 5, and FREE for Children 4 and Under.

Sunday, September 4, 2011:

11:00 am-2:30 pm: Summer Blowout Buffet- Come out and help us send summer off with a bang. Waters Edge is happy to present a menu of fried chicken, BBQ brisket, vegetables, soup and salad bars, as well as tempting sweets. This is only a portion of what we have planned. You must come to see the rest, and bring along your family and friends as we bid farewell to Summer 2011. The cost of this buffet is only $10.95 for Adults, $5.95 for Children 12 to 5, and FREE for Children 4 and Under!

•     HAWL Maintenance Department and equipment is ready to help clear any tree debris from the roadways.  We also have a contractor on standby if needed to help clear the roads.

•     The water system and gate system generators are ready should the electricity goes out.

HAWL stresses the necessity for all property owners to take safety precautions for you, your pets, and your property.

Community-wide communication will be made through the Guard House Entrance Gate should phone service become inoperable. Pending electricity and cable outages, HAWL will update the website (www.hawlms.com) with information as necessary.

Thinking of buying a short sale property?

Then you’d better understand what a short sale is, and what it will take to close that deal.

My buyer was looking for a good buy — not merely a good deal — but a good buy. Based on his criteria, I told him about several listings that may be suitable. The best one in terms of location, condition, amenities and price was a short sale.

Before writing an offer, I had to set expectations by first educating my buyer on short sale basics from a buyer’s point of view.

What’s a short sale?

Generally, it’s a sale wherein the seller is selling the property for less than what is owed. And as such, the seller’s lender will have to approve the sale, price, terms and conditions.

Who accepts the offer

The seller still decides whose offer to accept. Most lenders will only want to look at the best and highest offer. In multiple offer situations, highest offer doesn’t always win — which may be true with regular sales and foreclosures, too. The onus is on the seller to choose/accept the offer which has the best chance of getting approved by the short sale lender.

What are the terms and conditions that a short sale lender is likely to approve/disapprove?

Every short sale lender is different. But there are certain elements that are quite common.

Price. An offer that is too low or below the investor guidelines is likely to be rejected or countered. Just because it’s distressed or a short sale doesn’t mean the buyer can get it with a significantly low-ball offer.  You can deal, but not steal.

Find out how much is owed and to whom, check the comps in the area. Then go from there.

Close of escrow: For example, when the short sale lender grants approval, the lender typically sets an aggressive closing date, usually within 30 days. This makes it challenging for an offer with FHA loan and its 45 days or longer escrow period.

HOA: The lender may also refuse to pay for HOA documents, fines and delinquent fees. If the seller is delinquent, buyer (and seller) may be requested for a contribution to satisfy these demands.

Credits: The lender may also refuse to give credits for closing costs, repairs, replacement and/or warranty.

What does the buyer need to know?

Who is the lender? Some lenders are a lot harder to work with and may take longer than others to approve a short sale, while other lenders (like Wachovia) have a good track record of closing short sales.

How many liens are there, and are they by the same lien holders? Having one lien holder is tough enough. Having two is tougher. But when there are different lien holders, it can become extremely difficult to negotiate the short sale.

Liens against the property can be by anyone besides the banks: utility companies, the IRS, mechanic’s liens. Each one of these has a claim against the property and has to be satisfied. If the seller is totally insolvent, the bank may need to offer payouts to these lienholders who may refuse or negotiate for more.

DOES THE AGENT HAVE SHORT SALE EXPERIENCE?

It makes a world of difference to work with a listing agent who has a track record of successful short sales. That agent knows what to do, and can avoid pitfalls and delays in the process.

By the same token, the buyer’s agent must also have short sale experience to guide the buyer how to write an offer with a good chance of getting the short sale accepted and approved.

What notices has the seller received?

Notice of Default?

Notice of Trustee Sale? If the seller is just days away from being foreclosed, there may not be enough time to do a short sale.

Inspections and reports. If there are none, by all means, get them during your buyer investigation contingency period. With so little room to negotiate, the buyer must have all pertinent information to determine if he is getting a good value with the purchase.

Condition of the property. If there are safety hazard issues, the buyer may be able to justify asking for credits or repairs for a loan to be approved. For example, lenders and their appraisers may look for a functional kitchen which generally means having a working stove. There must also be a functional heating system.

How long will it take to get a short sale approved?

There is no one answer to this question. It’s not unusual to wait 3-6 months, or even longer. It all depends on the lender, the situation, the market, the completeness of the short sale package, the willingness of all parties to negotiate and/or contribute. This where one must have patience, persistence and perseverance.

Can a buyer continue to look and write offers on other properties?

A buyer can…but this could also mean that the buyer was not acting in good faith when he wrote the offer on the property.

Good faith is defined as: Effort made, information given, or transaction done, honestly and without a deliberate intention to defraud the other party. However, good-faith does not necessarily mean “without negligence:. Also called bona fides, it is implied by law into commercial contracts.

Can a buyer walk away?

After offer acceptance: Like any sale, there are contingency periods after acceptance (or approval by the short sale lender) during which time the buyer is expected to do his due diligence in terms of buyer investigation, loan appraisal and loan approval.

Before offer acceptance: In several states, a buyer can stipulate how long his offer is good for.

For example, in California and per our short sale addendum, the buyer can specify that his offer is good for 45 days or longer from the time the seller accepts his offer until the time the short sale lender approves the short sale. If no approval is forthcoming, the buyer’s offer expires.

There are NO guarantees.

BOTTOM LINE

If a buyer doesn’t have the patience, perseverance, motivation and/or the time to wait…

Then the buyer should NOT buy a short sale.

By: Pacita Dimacali – ePRO, SRES, CDPE, Alain Pinel in Northern California

This past Monday, Dean Graziosi released what I believe may be the greatest training video I have ever seen.  I’m not alone on that thinking. By Wednesday afternoon, over 5,500 glowing, raving comments on the video had come in.

And just when I thought nothing could top it, he did with the release this morning of Video #2… Can you say NEXT LEVEL!?!

Here, Dean explains what SIGNS are showing that the real estate market has hit bottom, and he also describes techniques you can use to start, part-time or full-time, to invest in real estate TODAY:  http://picayunehomefinder.com/invest

This video speaks for itself.. I’m humbled, impressed and driven to do everything in my power to get you to watch this.  Dean has just set the bar. What he is sharing, changes the game and it’s something you can’t miss.

Seasoned pro, newbie on the fence, OR never thought even once about making money from real estate before, it doesn’t matter, you need this video.  You will kick yourself in the backside if you miss it.

Go check out this video series.  He’s even giving away an investment property, valued at $60,000, and to be qualified, all you have to do opt-in with your first name and email address, and watch his series of videos:

http://picayunehomefinder.com/invest

After the Shuttle: The Next Space Age

From Senator Roger Wicker

Wicker Says Mississippi Will Continue as Aerospace Leader

The landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center this week closes a remarkable chapter in America’s space program.

President Obama announced early last year that human space flight would be discontinued after the retirement of NASA’s Space Shuttle.

The end of the shuttle era, however, will not be the end of American leadership in space.  According to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, “Our destinations for humans beyond Earth remain ambitious.  They include:  the moon, asteroids, and Mars.  The debate is not if we will explore, but how we’ll do it.”

Our Space Legacy

Space exploration has long been an emblem of America’s courage and can-do spirit.  Just as the Apollo program defined a generation by putting the first man on the moon – a milestone that celebrates its 42^nd anniversary this week – the Space Shuttle program has carried our sense of wonder and adventure for 135 missions.  The International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope are among its many noteworthy achievements.

Mississippians have been at the forefront of aerospace technology since the beginning of the space program and will be essential to future discoveries among the stars.  The NASA Reauthorization Act, which provides funding for NASA through 2013, recognizes the importance of the Stennis Space Center in fulfilling these future endeavors.  As a member of the Senate’s Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, I will continue to support Stennis and make sure its facilities are utilized to the best of their capabilities.

50 Years of Service

Stennis – which employs more than 5,000 and is home to approximately 30 federal, state, academic, and private organizations – has made a monumental impact on our state.  As the space center celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we must remember the Mississippi families who have helped this country reach its space dreams.

Rocket scientist Wernher von Braun recognized the state’s contributions and ingenuity from the beginning.  “I don’t know yet what method we will use to get to the moon, but I do know that we have to go through Mississippi to get there!” he famously quipped.

Since then, each space shuttle’s main engine has been tested in Hancock County.  Last year alone, the groundbreaking work at Stennis generated an economic impact of $616 million within a 50-mile radius and $875 million across the globe.

Model for the Future

The future of space exploration has already begun in Mississippi.  The A-3 Test Stand, a one-of-a-kind test facility currently being built at Stennis, will provide the rocket propulsion testing and simulated altitudes needed to prepare NASA’s next fleet of rocket engines for deep space travel.

Commercial companies continue to turn to Stennis for upcoming space projects.  Orbital Sciences Corporation partnered with Stennis last year to test its Aerojet AJ26 rocket engines for commercial cargo flights to the International Space Station.  The company has committed to eight of these ISS missions through 2015.

The journey to space will still go through Mississippi long after the retirement of the Space Shuttle.  The historic final flight of Atlantis comes with a look back at what we have done – and what we still hope to do.

Extremely large home has 6 bedrooms upstairs and a full guest house at ground level, with it’s own kitchen, bedroom, and family room. Huge master bedroom with cathedral ceiling, whirlpool tub and two walkin closets. Granite counters in upstairs kitchen. Very open floorplan. Above ground swimming pool partially submerged. Large decks around the house with a great view of pond next door.  For more information, or to see this home, be sure to contact Michelle Fradella at Pinnacle Real Estate Services – 601-569-0075.

Pearl River Central School District (PRC):

All students register at the PRCHS Cafeteria at 7407 Hwy 11, Carriere, MS:

June 27th – Last Names A-Co

June 28th – Last Name Cr-Hi

June 29th – Last Names Ho-Mis

June 30th – Last Names Mit-Sm

July 1st – Last Names Sm – Z

New Students must fill out the following paperwork to bring with them: 2011-2012 Registration Packet – New Students ONLY

Returning Students must fill out the following paperwork to bring with them:2011-2012 Registration Packet – Returning Students ONLY

Picayune School District:

July 18th – District Registration 11:00am – 7:00pm

July 19th – District Registration 8:00am – 3:00pm

Click for a list of schools in the Picayune MS School District