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To all of Frederick and beyond…

July 4, 2008 · Filed Under Frederick Events

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Kids do the greatest things

I enjoy helping people - a lot. It has been a self driven passion of mine. It hasn’t been a lucrative one in the sense that it has made me rich and famous, but when I lay my head down at night, I know I made a difference in someone’s life today. By participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, I have been in contact with some of the bravest and most dedicated people on earth. As a parent you want to instill these traits into your kids as they grow up. You want to break the mold of the “Me” generation and forge a society that believes they can make a difference no matter how big or small the task.

I have the pleasure of knowing a former real estate agent, Gabe O’neill, that happens to be a programmer with some serious skills. With his daughter as his inspiration, he has created “Kids are Heroes.” He wanted to share his daughters desire to help others and show off the wonderful things that other kids have done too. Lily, his Bernese Mountain Dog, encourages children and parents to share their stories. Gabe’s dogs have been helping people and dogs for a long time with Wags for Hope.

MaryMargaret O’Neill is very concerned about the animal population on this planet. For her ninth birthday party, instead of gifts she had her friends contribute donations to the “Defenders of Wildlife”, a national organization whose mission is to protect endangered species. (See more at www.defenders.org.) She is also a major contributor to this website - her focus is on helping animals. She is also a member of Wags for Hope, and goes with her dad and her dog Charlie to visit people in nursing homes.

This is one of the stories that inspired him to create “Kids are Heroes.” Take the time to read a few of the others and what they have do for the community or for others. It helps reassure you that our future is in good hands. Thanks Gabe for sharing your site.

Even if you are too shy to share your story online with “Kids are Heroes” I encourage you to share the site with others to show them no matter what your age even you can make a difference. Some adults can take note ;)

Have a great day!

May 22, 2008 · Filed Under Frederick Events, Frederick Misc

5 Comments 

Friday is For Fundraisers - Frederick Relay For Life

Get this widget!

Click here to go to MY Relay Website and Donate

Today I am at the Frederick Fair Grounds for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. I will be twittering events and also sending pictures to my Photoblog and Flickr account. Each time I will be trying to solicit more and more donations through out the night. I will be looking for the support of my online friends as well as my off-line friends.

In order to attract my fellow bloggers…I will be sending them some link love, please take the time to visit their sites while you are here.

What happens is each one of these Bloggers will get nosy and see why some is linking back to their blog. Hopefully they would like to donate to a great cause…cause today, I am blogging for a cause.

DONATE NOW PLEASE - this will take you to a secure site.

May 16, 2008 · Filed Under Frederick Events, Frederick MD Real Estate, Fundraiser

6 Comments 

“Suffering in Silence” - Foreclosure outreach

I attended the Frederick Foreclosure Forum last night. The turn out was not as expected. There were only a small handful of consumers looking for answers and guidance. The other 85% were local professionals, city and county personal looking for more resource to help those in need. I kind of expected a low turn out for the consumer side. As part of Thomas Perez’s, the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations Secretary, opening speech…This is a humiliating and an embarrassing problem…homeowners are suffering in silence. This problem occurred out of the absence of sufficient regulations in the real estate industry (lending portion.) He could not of said it more bluntly. I couldn’t imagine folks that really need this help, showing up amongst a crowd. I applaud the few that did.

There was a question about the appraisers being held accountable for not predicting this back in 2006. A gentleman from the Emerald Farm area, not in trouble now, but sees the potential when it is time for him to sale in the near future. He feels the appraiser falsely gave value to his home. He believes his home and others on his street are $100,000 less than back in 2006. I know that the Appraisal process is under scrutiny and will have new laws in effect come January 2009. Not sure about $100,000 but we have been experiencing about 1-1.5% depreciation in some neighborhoods. Emerald Farms price drops have been a result of the increase in short sales ranging in price $300-349,000. The home that sold for $349,000 was originally purchased for $360,000 in 2004. One home currently on the market for $300,000 sold back in 2006 for $450,000. A non Arms length transactions should not impact future appraisals but the do impact sellers pricing strategy.

Fernando Herboso, a local real estate agent, wanted to know what the state was doing to help the Hispanic community who are also falling victim to bad loans. He said down in the trenches they are afraid to speak out for fear of being deported and separated from their children. He also went on to explain these are hardworking families that are helping build a community and doing jobs that others will not. They have no place to turn. He spoke of a tragic situation about a woman beaten by her husband with black eyes that was also afraid to speak out. This problem is not only housing related but domestic too. He said they fear of speaking to the police in their community. Perez was appalled by the beaten and said people should not be afraid to speak out against crimes. He then went on speaking about the programs in general that the state offers.

A couple items I took away from this; The Emergency Foreclosure Bill and also the state has a team that investigates the mortgage fraud and mortgage scams. (yes, I did ask the question about the carpetbaggers) Thomas Perez just loves ripping out the signs of these scam-artist that scrape equity off of homes. They also dupe homeowners out of their homes by having them sign a quitclaim deed and “renting” the home back to them until they can get back on their feet. This never happens.

Numbers you need if you or someone you know is facing foreclosure.

1-877-462-7555 or www.mdhope.org

If you think you have been a victim of mortgage fraud or a mortgage foreclosure rescue scam…

1-888-784-0136

Locally Frederick County residents can get free counseling by contacting the Frederick Community Action Agency. You can talk to Joe Baldi or Brad Peterson. They will help you talk to your mortgage company and possibly negotiate a better situation for you. Frederick doesn’t want empty houses in the community either.

One last take away from this meeting was about the rights of tenants. Mary Beth Johnson of the county housing rental assistance, has been seeing a rise in landlords going into foreclosure and the tenants are left on the curb without notice. Scott Borison of Legg Law,LLC, states the tenants have rights and the lease supercedes the foreclosure. But this is only true if they stay in the property. Once they vacate, they have lost their right of possession. (Side note, Scott was instrumental in the drafting of the Emergency Foreclosure Bill for the state)

I am sorry to see the low consumer turn out, but glad I went. The resources that I took away from this forum will help me guide troubled homeowner in the right direction.

Back to my Foreclosure mantra….You have choices, but you have to do something…you can’t ignore it.

Please spread the word…homeowners need to act fast in order to help alleviate some of the problems.

May 6, 2008 · Filed Under Frederick Events, Frederick Foreclosure, Frederick MD Real Estate, Frederick Misc

6 Comments 

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