THINGS TO DO: It’s National Night Out Next Week!
July 31, 2009 Richland, activity, fun, home, home owner, law, lexington, things to do No CommentsWhat is National Night Out?
It’s America’s Night Out Against Crime!
The “26th Annual National Night Out” (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2009.
Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2008. Read the rest…
Well, here I go again, on another political rant. (At least I warned you.) As a result of the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac fiasco, there has been a lawsuit settlement reached between the NY Attorney General, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. While the proposed law seems good on the surface (it’s meant to protect us, right?), there are some serious flaws that will hurt borrowers, sellers, lenders and real estate agents. It will most likely hinder efforts to sell property in the future. 
It’s official, folks! First time buyers can use the $8,000 tax credit on closing costs or down payment on FHA loans! There must be a catch, as it sounds too good to be true. You’re right. 
One can say that Realtors step into people’s lives, one story at a time. Many of my clients say I should write a book someday of the experiences I’ve had and the families I’ve met over the years. Perhaps someday I will, but a tale that involves real estate and a woman that could be anyone’s Grandmother has captured my fascination this week. It is the story of 90 year-old Addie Polk from Akron, Ohio. She is someone I will never meet, but in knowing her story it has changed my perspective on big business, Congress and those in foreclosure forever. 
It is absolutely amazing the stories and headlines that have been in the press lately. They are screaming about the economy heading into a recession and are finding new and innovative ways to help out ‘the common man’. Granted, the Columbia, South Carolina economy is doing very well, thank you…but who am I to turn down free money like this?
All right, so maybe we won’t be seeing the headline that ALL dogs are banned as a companion in Columbia, South Carolina right away. However, if the current Breed Specific Legislation that is being worked on currently in Richland County goes through as planned, it could become a reality for some dog owners of specific breeds identified as having “vicious” tendencies. I was shocked to see in the recent Richland County Council minutes that Councilwoman Valerie Hutchinson is working on such laws as I write this. As many of you know, I am passionate about animals and especially the rights to have a canine companion. 
There has been a lot of commotion about the new “Credit Freeze” laws that have been enacted as of November 1, 2007 that give consumers more control over who views their credit reports and why. However, the state of South Carolina is not one of the states in compliance with these laws which are mandated on a state-by-state basis. The states that have adopted a consumer credit freeze law allow you the right to completely freeze all activity on your credit report, for a fee. South Carolina residents are getting freezes from credit reporting agencies on a “voluntary” basis. 
