Drum Beat Of Realty Downturn Off Key

One thing is for sure, real estate bubble headlines sell newspapers, not houses. Bubble this and bubble that, is your market one of the top over-priced ones? Comparisons to the dot-com crash, what's a home buyer to think? Exactly that, think, research and make educated decisions. Here is a reality check for those considering a home purchase.

-Residential real estate is moving away from being a speculative investment back to it's tried and true roots: shelter.

-The real estate market is not a centralized one like the stock market. The real estate market is made up of many thousands of micro or sub-markets. Each micro market performs differently and uniquely and does not always mirror national or regional trends.

-Ten states posted solid sales gains in the second quarter of 2006 versus 2005, reported the National Association of Realtors(R). The gains ranged from an impressive 48% in Alaska to a low of 5.3 percent in Georgia. The other eight states included Arkansas, Texas, North and South Carolina, Vermont, Tennessee, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

-Interest rates have been on the up-tick in 2006, ask any homeowner from the 1980's if they consider a 6 % mortgage too high, and they'll laugh you out of the room. From a historical perspective interest rates remain a bargain.

-Home buyers who read and believe the headlines and sound-bytes today and write a low-ball offer on a home are not buying houses. Homes that are well priced based on comparable's from the last six months and have updated kitchens and baths still sell the old-fashioned way; quickly.

-Agents from around the country report some homes are selling with multiple offers, over-full-price offers and in a matter of days. Upper-bracket properties are moving too. Though the frenzy of the last couple of years is not present in today's market.

-The market today in most areas is a balanced one, with the pendulum swinging back towards center. But Texas, Idaho, the Carolinas and other micro markets can still be sellers markets.

-Buyers need to realize that while they have more clout in many markets, they are still not driving the real estate market bus.

-Concessions by home sellers are signs of excess inventory. Concessions in new construction homes are more typical and shouldn't be arbitrarily carried over into resale home markets. Resale sellers though are now aware that they might have to offer repairs on home inspection items or help with closing costs to close a negotiation.

Mark Nash is the author of Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional, Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate, Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing, and 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home. Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. He contributes residential real estate analysis to Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, The Today Show, and USA Today. View his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com.

Angels Along for the Ride

Angels Along for the Ride
Author Interview with J.D. Kamps, The Foxhole Angel
By Lisa M. Hendey

Do angels, war, religious debate and emotionally charged young men mix? In The Foxhole Angel by J.D. Kamps they combine to an effect that is both thought provoking and gripping - fiction that will keep you both entertained and pondering important faith issues.

Joe Kamps and his wife Julie are the parents of six children, ranging in age from thirty to 13. Kamps, a cradle Catholic, admits to at times questioning his own commitment to his faith.

Although I am a cradle Catholic, I initially submitted to my ongoing conversion at approximately age 24. The mass was especially boring to me growing up - I secretly envied the clever people who came in late or snuck out the door during communion, shares Kamps. After my conversion, it was night and day; the mass became a living, breathing organism to me, settling into the center of my faith as my understanding of its mysteries grew. My newfound beliefs added richness to my life I hadn't known before, so I was content. I was rudely shocked in my discovery that God wasn't done with me yet - there was, and is, so much more to learn. Before my conversion, I was proud of my Catholicism, much as one would be proud of his ethnic heritage or political affiliation. However, pride has no place in Christianity, as God keeps beating into my head. That pride was taken away from me. I came to experience a sense of purpose in my chosen faith, but also a sense of sadness as I realize its responsibilities and the anger it invokes in so many.

The Foxhole Angel is inspired largely by the wartime experiences of Kamps' own father, who served in World War II. The book is a combination of many soldiers' actual experiences and a little journalistic license. Not typically a reader of this type of fiction, I was surprised by how involved I quickly became in the characters of the novel and their interplay. Kamps' inclusion of the men's guardian angels is a natural fit to me - don't our own daily lives point to multiple instances of the intervention of the divine? My own life certainly provides me ample certitude on this fact.

In order to prepare to write his book, Kamps relied upon his own personal interest in Church history coupled with inspiration from a series of homilies by his pastor, Father William Gould. I had all kinds of help for The Foxhole Angel, states Kamps. I read lots of books and cruised the internet with abandon, but nothing beat talking to its participants. Both Dad and Dutch Wilhelm, a twice-decorated rifle company hero from the Battle of the Bulge, were of invaluable assistance.

I had the opportunity to interview Joe Kamps and am pleased to share his thoughts on his book, his own faith, and, of course, the angels.

Q: Please briefly summarize the plot of your book.

A: The story revolves around WWII draftee Jimmy Donovan, a likable, devout, married Irish Catholic and father-to-be. His private hatred of Protestants comes from his Catholic pride and a childhood clash with the KKK. He and Pete Calvert, his charismatic but bigoted southern friend, are shipped into the hell of D-Day + 1, the Battle of the Bulge, and wherever else his country needed him to fight. Joining them in these assignments are their guardian angels, whose purpose is to jealously guard their charges through all appointed times. Jimmy, who wouldn't hurt a fly, surprisingly exhibits an aptitude for killing. Pete Calvert, whose proficiency exceeds his friend's, originally volunteers for the army with an itchy trigger finger, anxious to blow the hated Nazis to Hell and beyond. Pete despises the Germans, but not so much as he loathes fellow infantryman Will Jackson, a hard working, staunchly moral, highly educated French-African whose skin tone enrages the Southerner. These soldiers' angels protect them through all manners of peril to fight another day, it seems -- but in reality, God has further plans for these soldiers.

Q: What is the message you would hope to spread through The Foxhole Angel?

A: Each person on this earth is of equal importance to God - He loves us -- our love for Him is shown by our compassion for others. Life is hard and we need to be reminded of this maxim. The Lord is tough at times; tougher'n all heck, but sometimes I'm tough on my children, too. I love them more than I love my own life - I can't even fathom how much more God loves us and how he looks after everyone on the planet. This is the path each one of us needs to follow in order to find true happiness, and in order to love, we must attempt first to understand.

God doesn't allow us to hide from ourselves, either. Not forever, anyway. All of us find places to hide from God, even though most of us are willing to follow God -- up to a point. In other words, we will seek after him if as parents, it doesn't interfere with what we want to give to our children, or if in our business lives, it doesn't come between us and what we want to earn, or as pastors, if it doesn't affect the happiness of our congregations. Sooner or later we will confront what is ugly and false in our lives -- either in this world, or the next.

Q: Let's talk about Guardian Angels for a moment - how did the angels become such a central part of the message of your story? Why is their presence in the story so important?

A: Oh boy, where do I start? First of all, I'm a big believer in angels. We all run into them from time to time without knowing it, and when one sees an angel, one sees the Almighty. Angels among us remind us that God is among us, and the thought of individual angels ministering to each of us effectively drives that point home - I mean, after all... who sent 'em to begin with!? One other thought: in most books and films the afterlife is depicted as a step down from this life. When someone dies we claim piously at funerals that he's in a better place but we sure don't pursue Heaven like we believe in it. During WWII a soldier thought of it often. Sixty million people died in that conflict; too many of its victims were so very young. Were their lives wasted? Were they cheated by the Almighty? Of course not. The best is yet to come! They become angels themselves and are filled with purpose and power. What could be better? We should only mourn the dead by missing them, not mourn them as though something terrible has happened to them.

Q: Did you make a conscious decision to make their human emotions so tangible?

A: Yes. In order to make heaven appealing to people, they must have the idea of purpose and enjoyment of that purpose. That's why the angels smile - even when they shouldn't. I don't see Heaven as a dreary existence.

Q: Please say a few words about the gripping scene between Jimmy and Martin - I found the dialogue in that chapter to be both very interesting and very tension filled.

Christians can get carried away by doctrine. We want so badly to be right - to be uniquely right - that kindness takes a back seat to our competitive natures. I have seen too many instances of God-fearing people discussing Him, then arguing about Him, and finally cursing the other person. Done it myself. We need to love for the sake of God. We can't allow ourselves to lose sight of that directive. In reading about medieval Catholicism and the Reformation, I think that's exactly what happened. We needed reform in the worst way and should have listened to Luther and his fellow reformers; it was so sinful not to. Vatican II is a stark reminder of our lack of charity in that era, as six of seven Augsburg Confession demands were finally met in the 1960s. We must remember though, the reformers needed us as much as we needed them. They had their shortcomings, too. I must say that Luther was no saint himself; he passionately hated Jews, he called for the deaths of scores of the oppressed and downtrodden, and had a well-earned reputation for religious intolerance. Sadly, both sides seemed to put Christ on the back burner, I'm afraid, for the sake of power and / or ego. Jimmy's and Martin's conversation was a re-enactment of that time. It was also God's repair for it.

Q: How does your personal faith reconcile with the version of the afterlife you portray in this book?

Father John Legerski, former pastor of St. George's, was another huge influence. It is his desire for the world to be saved -- spend a few minutes with him and it will quickly become evident he sees each one of his spiritual children as an important individual. I have six children of my own, and as you can guess, all of them are of the utmost importance to me. How much more God loves us! We are His progeny, and dysfunctional of a family as we are, He will never forsake any of us.

Although the Catholic Church certainly has no lock on Jesus, our church is where His message of Salvation originated. If we truly see this we need to lead Christianity in love of God and in charitable understanding of one another.

Q: How can readers who are interested in this book obtain a copy of the book?

The Foxhole Angel may be purchased at any Spokane area Hastings, Auntie's bookstore, or Kaufers in Spokane. Our website, www.thefoxholeangel.com, will be up and running within a few weeks. Amazon.com should have it available within a few weeks, as well. For right now, mail orders are through www.auntiesbooks.com

Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerous web sites, including http://www.catholicmom.com and http://www.christiancoloring.com, and an avid reader of Catholic literature. Visit her at http://www.lisahendey.com for more information.

About the Author

Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerous web sites, including http://www.catholicmom.com and http://www.christiancoloring.com, and an avid reader of Catholic literature. Visit her at http://www.lisahendey.com for more information.

Following Simple Children Vehicle Safety Tips Can Reduce Auto Accidents And Injuries

Child Car Seat Safety:

Child Car Seat Safety:

We know you love your children, but so many people do not follow these simple car seat safety principles. By following these easy steps you can ensure your child is completely safe in your car. Just to get one thing straight, there is no one best child car safety seat. The best car safety seat is determined by various factors that you as the parent need to take into consideration. The seat needs to fit your childs height and weight, as well as be able to fit properly in your car.

Another common misconception is price. More expensive, does not always mean better quality or the seat is better safety wise.

The first step of proper car seat safety is of course determined by the age of your child. Any child that is under the age of twelve should be kept in the back seat of a vehicle. This is especially true if your car has passenger side air bags.

Infants should be in a rear facing car seat until they are at least one year old and twenty pounds. After they are twenty pounds they can be placed in a front facing car safety seat until they are around forty pounds or they have reached the maximum height recommended for the specific car safety seat in question.

Once a child reaches forty pounds, they should be placed on a belt positioning booster seat. The vehicles normal seat belt should not be used until they are around eighty pounds or 4ft 9 inches tall.

As always read your cars owners manual as well and any manuals with the car safety seat.

Additional Car Safety Tips:

Most accidents that occur over a parent/child incident occur when a parent is trying to turn around and discipline their child. Think about it, you are taking you eyes as well as you mind off of the primary task at hand (driving) and exclusively focusing on your child who should be, and usually is behind you in the back seat of the vehicle.

To prevent this the best thing to do if you must discipline your child is to find a place to pull over and do so then, when you are not moving.

About the Author: Child Safety is our primary concern, check out these FREE child safety related resources at http://www.ChildSafetyInfo.com

California Dreams

Have you ever dreamed of owning a home in California? If so, there?s never been a better time to dive right in and begin working on getting that dream home. With so many different things to think about when you begin to search for your perfect home, sometimes it is difficult to know where to start. But when searching in the state of California, you will be glad to know they?ve thrown out their welcome rugs and have done the dirty work of research for you.

Having put into place several programs that assist the consumer, California?s future home owners should be well equipped and armed with knowledge before they set out on their real estate venture for the home of their dreams. The California Department of Real Estate, as well as the California Department of Housing, has developed websites and packets chocked full of information for the first time homeowner. There is also a wealth of information for second and third time buyers.

With programs such as Home Owners Counseling Services, Home Ownership Vouchers, state license inquiry for Real Estate brokers, as well as the development of many sites that lead to information to protect the consumer against predatory lending prevention, why wait? California has definitely taken great strides in providing the home consumer with knowledge of programs and the information they need to know in order to own a home. With all of these resources, a consumer should feel secure in their pursuit of home ownership in California. So don?t hesitate, put those dreams into action and enjoy your new home.

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Living The Laid Back Life In Tennessee

Tennessee is a great destination for the avid vacationer and the couple or family looking to get away to a more rural lifestyle. Of course if you are into the big city life, Tennessee can accommodate you for that as well.

Eastern Tennessee is one of the foremost vacation destinations in the Southeastern United States with cities such as Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and of course the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited National Park in the United States with more than 9 million visitors every year and Cades Cove is the most popular destination within the park. Cades Cove offers a look back to what life was like for the early settlers during the 19th century. A 10 mile loop road around the Cove is the highlight of a visit here.

The park also includes more than 800 miles of hiking trails for everyone from a casual nature walk to backcountry rock climbing.

Gatlinburg is the main town that services the National Park and if you aren't camping in the park you are probably staying in Gatlinburg. An interesting little known fact about Gatlinburg is that ten times as many people lodge in Gatlinburg every night as live there. Gatlinburg and the surrounding area boasts accommodations for more than 30,000 people. Some of the more popular places to stay are in log cabins with incredible mountain views or in a secluded wooded cabin away from everything. There isn't anything that will give you more of a sense of the rural and relaxing lifestyle than to vacation in a log cabin.

Gatlinburg's sister city, Pigeon Forge, offers many attractions and hotels on the main road through town. Go-karts and the Dollywood theme park are the more popular attractions. Pigeon Forge also boasts one of the largest outlet malls in the south for the person that can never get enough shopping.

Tennessee has a rich history that includes many major battles fought in the Civil War. If you are a civil war buff you can visit such historic sites as Chattanooga National Military Park, Fort Donelson National Military Park, Shiloh National Military Park, Stones River National Military Park and the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site as well as others.

If you would like to live in Tennessee and still be close to the mountains, but away from the tourist areas, then Knoxville is your city. With a population of 180,000 and great home prices you can be within 45 minutes of the Smokies and enjoy everything the city has to offer.

And if you do enjoy the amenities of the big city life then Memphis will surely accommodate you. The Memphis metropolitan area has a population over 1.2 million and offers everything you could want in a big city. It is famous for music and has produced several genres of well know music such as the blues, rock n roll and gospel. Some of the more famous Memphis musicians are B.B. King, Johnny Cash and of course the King of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley.

Tennessee offers a little bit of everything for almost every one. Come and enjoy a great vacation or choose Tennessee as your permanent address.

Alan LeStourgeon writes about several areas of the country on his Melbourne and Palm Bay web site where you can get more information about the Tennessee lifestyle and search Tennessee MLS listings for a new home.

The diversity offered by promotional bags

There?are a plethora of different styles to choose from when selecting promotional bags for your campaign.

With such a diverse selection of promotional bags available ? from business bags, laptop bags and backpacks to sports bags, travel bags, tote bags and cooler bags ? the choice can be a bit overwhelming and it may prove difficult to know which bag is the right one to meet your needs.

Promotional bags are extremely popular with companies looking to reward loyal customers and employees or to make an impact on potential customers at events such as exhibitions, trade shows, conferences, fundraising or sporting events.

There is a bag for every purpose. Promotional bags range from basic single compartment budget bags to more sophisticated multi-pocketed laptop backpacks, and everything in between.

Inexpensive tote and drawstring bags are great for everyday use and are particularly popular for use as promotional giveaways at events, whilst conference and document bags are perfect for handing out to delegates at conferences and seminars. All offer instant visibility and brand recognition with a high perceived value relative to their low unit cost.

Sports bags and travel bags are available in a wide variety of styles and price points. They lend themselves perfectly for use in internal promotional incentives, when a more stylish gift is called for.

Executive quality leather business and laptop bags offer a superior finish and greater longevity. These premium bags are therefore mainly reserved for use as high class corporate gifts.

The diversity offered by promotional bags means they are an ideal marketing tool, whether used as promotional giveaways, corporate gifts, for sales promotions or incentives.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


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Is it too Late to Make Money Fixing Houses?

With the popularity of reality TV shows following real estate investors fixing houses for profits, many people would love to do the same. However, media reports on the housing bubble, too many houses for sale, and dropping prices make many wonder: is it too late to make money fixing houses?

Seasoned real estate investors understand how to make money fixing houses in any market. They've been playing the odds and making wise investments for years. Just like the stock market, real estate has its ups and downs. But the downs haven't been as bad as the stock market because people always need housing.

If you're thinking about real estate investing, you can learn from following the practices of wealthy investors. Like most investments, no guarantees of profits come with real estate. You must learn as much as possible about the business before you risk your money. Some inexperienced investors lose money buying houses that just don't turn a profit.

The key to making money with fixers in a buyer's market is to get in and out fast. The real estate market could go down in value. Usually, this takes some time. You should understand your local economy so you're prepared. Here are five tips to help you make a profit.

Buy low and sell for market value.

Buy a home that you can improve in value. If homes in the neighborhood in excellent condition only sell for a few thousands more than fixers, look for another neighborhood to invest in.

Plan your changes during the buying process. Be ready to fix the house right away.

Fix the home for a home owner who will live in the house. Profile your target buyer and select interior design details that speak to this buyer. Make your home outshine other homes for sale with extras that don't cost much like window coverings for privacy.

When you're ready to sell, price the home right. Make a business plan to sell with marketing psychology.

Each geographical area comes with its own economic conditions and possibilities. Learn about your economic outlook and explore your possibilities.

You might not make as much from a fixer this year as you could have made last year, but you can still make a nice profit. Last year, investors frequently made over $100,000 on one fixer. This year, the same investor might expect to make only $40,000 on a similar house, which is still a good paycheck for part time work.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Free Real Estate Investing Information, teleseminars, and reports for beginning real estate investors from author Jeanette Fisher. Get a free ebook: The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses at http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com.