A Letter To The Editor of Our Local Paper--Who Is Holding Our Hand?

In December of 2005, my husband I purchased a home in Rocky Point, NY. At that time, we bought a house, for 199k. It was appraised for this value, and we obtained a mortgage for this home.
Fast forward to 2007, the market falls apart, mainly due to the lack of government supervision of mortgage industry.

Now, here we are, in the year 2011. We are still living in our home. We have made this house, into a home, by investing 150k. And paid all mortgage payments on time.

We figured, since we bought a 200k home and invested 150k into it, there would be enough equity in it, to get a better interest rate. But, instead, we received nothing but 3 months of stress, terrible customer service and a bill for $350 from the bank we applied to(Wells Fargo/Residential Mortgage). Why, because our home was appraised for 181k. And although even the square footage on the appraisal was off by 100 ft, they refused to increase the appraisal.

Wells fargo/Residential Mortgage claims the reason is due to the process changes handed down from the government.

Just 6 years ago, our government sat back and watched the appraisers and mortgage companies, inflate values and give ridiculous mortgage rates. And now, are they standing back and watching as these same people, deflate values and therefore forcing homeowners into paying the same mortgage inflated mortgages rates?

What is our government doing to help those stuck in the mortgage “trap”? Who is looking out for us?

And, I am wondering, are there other North Shore families going through the same process, only to come through spending money on an appraisal, for a mortgage, that most likely the mortgage brokers know we aren’t going to get?

I Love This Story

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/sns-ap-odd-wandering-dog,0,7304880.story

"Stuff"

Sometimes the "stuff" you collect isn't about the "stuff". It's about the meaning behind it.

Sure, the memories are really what you are really holding on to. But, if the "stuff", allows you to feel closer to the memory, then I say hold on to it.

This piece was inspired by a vase of my Nanny's, that I wish I had today.

It's About Time, but...

Well, it's about time. But, I just don't think the fine is stiff enough.

I see it everyday and it sickens me. People typing and driving. How selfish. How cruel. That one second that you spend typing could cost you or some innocent other their life.

You know exactly what your doing. You know its wrong. Think twice.

I say try these criminals as if it was a DWI. I don't see the difference. It's irresponsible, and voluntary. And I say post their picture for the world to see, just like Newsday does with DWI arrests.

$150 is a warning, not a penalty. And what happens when a warning doesn't work?


Here is the article...


Txt + driving = $150 DWT fine in Suffolk

BY RICK BRAND | rick.brand@newsday.com
8:26 PM EDT, September 16, 2008
U text and drive, U pay $150.

Starting Sunday, Suffolk drivers nabbed for driving while texting will face a fine under a new county law that is the first of its kind in New York State.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and sponsor Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) held a news conference in Hauppauge on Tuesday to alert the public to the new law and cautioned the public that police will begin ticketing violators immediately. County officials also said they have asked the state Department of Transportation to post notice of the new law on its electronic message sign system on local state highways.

"Our message is that it's all right to text while in your armchair, but not when you're behind the wheel because it may cost you your life," said Levy.


The county joins four other states with such a law: Alaska, Washington, Minnesota and New Jersey. County officials said they hope that the new law will encourage New York lawmakers to approve a statewide measure. Westchester and Nassau recently approved similar laws, but those measures have not taken effect. New York City is considering a similar ban.

Officials had no accident statistics for Suffolk on texting while driving. But Levy said that a national study by the Virginia Technical Transportation Institute showed that eight of 10 accidents and 65 percent of near-accidents occurred because of distractions within 3 seconds of an accident.

Schneiderman said that text messaging may have been the reason for a recent upstate SUV accident where three teens were killed. He said it may also be linked to the California railroad accident that killed 25 people.

"We're trying to send a powerful message that it is just too dangerous to text," said Schneiderman. "It takes your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel."