And Then There Was 1!

Kansas and the other 3 #1 seeds are on their way to the Final 4!  I did feel bad for a bit when Texas got knocked out by Memphis- but just for a minute.  As with all KU games- it was a nail biter and came down to the final seconds of the game.   Rock Chalk Jayhawks- GO KU!

Is The 100% Gone?

Today is the day we lose what was once known as the Straight 100 w/ MI loan.  It was a Fannie/Freddy program- that carried Mortgage Insurance (MI) and was widely used as a product by all of the industry.  But with guidelines changing by the minute in today’s market- Fannie and Freddy decided to do away with it as they had been learning that most of the MI companies decided to stop offering MI to that loan.  But the 80/20 lives and has always been an alternative- just tougher to qualify for.  Questions?  I am ready to help you better understand the implications of this if you want to learn more.

Habitat Corner

The below information was sent to me recently from our local Habitat office:

For low to moderate-income families, owning a home is the principle form of wealth.  Our populations’ bottom fifth has a median wealth of $68,000 when they own a home.  Median family wealth for renters is $500!  That is profound.

More homeownership in neighborhoods is directly related to lower crime and higher property tax values.

A recent Fannie Mae study indicates that children of low income homeowners are:

33 percent less likely to give birth as unmarried teenagers

40 percent less likely to be idle at age 20

35 percent less likely to receive welfare

20 percent more likely to graduate from high school

63 percent more likely to acquire post secondary education

Their early adult earnings are 24 percent higher.

Habitat Restore Has Light:  Check out the selection of lights just recently donated for the Restore to sell.

Optical Illusion Time

Mom sent me this- you might have seen it before.  Here is what to do:

1. Concentrate on the 4 dots in the center of picture
2. After staring at it for 20-30 seconds- look away to a blank wall
3. Start blinking your eyes
4. Care to e-mail back what you think you saw?

Click Below- How Aware Are You?

Here is a 1 minute link this week- let me know if you see what I saw.

I Keep My Flag!

NCAA tournament is going strong and though the Big 12 lost a few teams- Kansas and Texas are on to the Sweet 16.  How did your bracket do?   Rock Chalk Jayhawks- KU!

Our President Has A Challenge For You:

Not sure how involved I will be but I did sign up and look forward to getting in better shape this year- have Julie and I be a good example for the boys.

Seth Takes Out Church Leaders!

This was a challenging week- Seth had stomach flu and Luke an ear infection.  Friday came and I thought for sure we were over it, so I took the boys to St. Philip’s to walk the Stations of the Cross.  Directly after the boys, Julie and I spend time with church Vestry members, the Atwoods and the Austins. Unfortunately, we left each family with a parting gift: a raging stomach virus. Needless to say, they would have preferred a different Easter present. Perhaps the joy of the resurrection of our Lord will help offset it a bit? I somewhat doubt they’re going to invite us back.

Going To Be A Great Week!

That is because I am finally ready to turn in my information to my CPA for our 2007 return preparation!  Every year I say I will hire a bookkeeper and every year I try and do it alone.  Just getting this information together to turn over to the CPA is one heck of a chore.  Help me get over the fact that sometimes you have to pay others and that helps you make more money…

Click Below To Be Inspired:

Here is a 3 minute audio of a Paster’s take on His King.