This is a letter to the coward who ran into the back of our car last night and didn’t stop. This is to the driver of the blue car (with a spoiler on the back) who lacked the integrity and the courage to realize that what he did was not only wrong, but illegal.
Last night (about 8:30), you were driving on my street with at least three passengers in the car. I know that, for whatever reason, you ran into the back of my parked car (pushing it about 6-9″), backed up and then took off.
Do you know what this tells me about you? It tells me that you know what you did was wrong! It tells me that when you saw us respond to the blaring car alarm, you reacted and actively chose to leave the scene of the crime.
What you may not know is that there’s a name for what you did. It’s called “hit and run” and yes, it is a crime. What you may not know is that by including your passengers in this crime, they can also (possibly) be held responsible. I believe they’re called “assessories”. While you may not care about me, my family or my car – I’m saddened to think that you don’t even care about your friends or your future enough to do the right thing.
We called the Chandler Police Department. We filed a report and took plenty of pictures documenting the damage. So, today, I will take the time to call my insurance company and file a claim and pay to have the damage that you caused repaired.
Shame on you! How dare you shirk your responsibility. If you’re not mature enough to take care of this, you deserve to have your license taken away and your car impounded. You and your friends!
If by chance you or any of your passengers decide to do the right thing, I will gladly update my post and let people know that you have an ounce of integrity. But, until that happens, I hope you rot!
Now Is The Time To Buy?
I thought about titling this post, “If you snooze, you lose”, but then thought something a little friendlier and poignant. Now – is NOT the time to wait.
If you’ve been sitting on the fence trying to decide if now would be a good time to purchase a new East Valley home, here are a few good reasons to jump into action:
1) Inventory of homes has dropped dramatically in the last 3 months. From an all time high of over 60,000 to less than 36,000 today.
2) Bank owned homes are getting lots of attention & lots of offers. If a bank owned property peaks your interest, don’t wait to see the property. One too many times in the last week, I’ve had to explain to my buyer that they waited too long to see the property and it now has “more than a dozen offers in on it”. Yes, it’s true.
3) Financing requirements can always change. How’s your credit score?
4) Opportunity only knocks for so long and then goes away. The Arizona real estate market has weathered a fierce storm of rocky waters for a couple of years. Maybe, just maybe, the market is beginning to change and prices are beginning to rebound.
While no-one has a crystal ball and can actually pin-point the bottom of the market, it would seem that statistically, prices are rising and the number of days it takes to sell a house is lessening.
My suggestion? Tip toe in and test the waters. You may, just find, that the water is just fine.
Happy House Hunting!
In case you’re planning on traveling to Chandler this week, you should bring an umbrella…just in case. Today’s high was 108 as it was yesterday, but for the next couple of days – we’re expecting rain. R-A-I-N!
Just in case you’d like some proof – take a look at this It’s unbelievable, but kinda of nice.
My hopes is that it’s not a glimpse of some really hot, really humid summer weather.
Sometimes you just have to wonder about people. What’s the purpose of being rude or bad manners? Really?
What has me wondering such deep ponderances you ask? Well, it was yesterday’s lunch.
I was in the drive-thru at a local fast food place and was approached by this person. While he may not have been dressed in a three piece suit, he wasn’t dressed all that poorly either. He explained a long story to me about needing to get to the hospital (which by the way was only two blocks away) to tend to his wife who had been taken by ambulance because of dehydration.
He was asking for money to cover the bus ride. Actually, he was very specific he wanted at least $5.00.
When I handed him a handful of change, he looked at me and said “That’s it?” “Well, if that’s all…” and then he walked away.
My response? Gee, he didn’t even say “Thank you” and then I was mad. How rude! How dare he take advantage of the kindness of others and respond so rudely!
I was not happy. Actually, today, 24hr later – I am shocked at such behavior. I was brought up taught that manners are imperative – not optional.
I’m saddened by his behavior. Whether the story was true or not, it doesn’t matter. In today’s economy, all of us have needs and I think we, as a human race, should help out if the opportunity presents itself. But really, how hard would it have been to mutter a meager ”Thank You” – whether he meant them or not?
Ready.
Fire.
Aim!
This is essentially what has happened this week when HUD secretary Shaun Donovan announced in a prepared speech he was giving at the National Association of Realtors Real Estate Summit. Donovan commented that FHA may allow the 8000 tax credit to be used as a downpayment.
From Donovon’s speech:
And we are taking action to further help the housing market recover. I’m excited to announce here at NAR that FHA’s policy on the “monetization” of the first-time homebuyer tax credit will soon be published. I know that you’ve been waiting anxiously to hear FHA’s position on the matter. We, like you, believe that this new tax credit is not only a tremendous opportunity for first-time homebuyers, but also an enormous benefit for communities struggling to deal with an oversupply of housing. According to estimates by the National Association of Home Builders, this new tax credit will stimulate 160,000 home sales across the nation – 101,000 of which will be first time buyers who will receive the credit. Another 59,000 existing homeowners will be able to buy another home because a first time buyer purchased their home.
We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a downpayment. So FHA will permit trusted FHA-approved lenders and HUD-approved nonprofits, as well as state and local governmental entities to “monetize” the tax credit through short-term bridge loans. We think the policy is a real win for everyone, ensuring that borrowers can tap into the numerous organizations that are already part of the FHA network to receive this additional benefit. FHA will be publishing the details shortly.
What this means is…
No one seems to know for sure yet.
It may be true that sometime in the near future FHA will allow the 8000 tax credit to be used as a downpayment — but it may also end up getting squashed in some governmental shuffling before it becomes final.
Moral of the story: make you sure you follow the ready, aim, fire procedure… no one let the cat out of the bag before it happens.
And yes, of course we will be sure to keep you updated once everything becomes “official”.
I have two wonderful mothers-in-law and am surrounded by wonderful friends who are mothers. But those who have lost their own mother, will understand when I speak of the void that not having your own mother leaves.
My mom was my inspiration and my best friend. It’s been 8 years since her passing, but this day (and a few others) I find myself kind of feeling left out of the celebrations. I am a Mom and am blessed with some great kids, but it’s just not the same.
I honor my mother’s memory. I think of her often and even laugh of some of the things that I do that remind me of her. There are even times that I am sure she is looking down from Heaven at me shaking her head and her finger … because I know better.
It’s days like today that I wish she were here. I wish I, too, could take my “own” Mom out to lunch and have pictures taken to memorialize the event. I wish I could have had a few more hours with her to hear her laugh, see her smile or simply watch her breathe.
It’s been so long. Why do I share this with you? Simple really. I never realized the contribution that this strong woman had made on me, until she was gone. I never really had the opportunity to show her the person that I’ve grown into or the little wonders that her grand-kids are.
My hope for you is that you will take advantage of each precious moment you have with your Mom. Whether biological, adopted or the person that nurtured you – savor the moments. Far too few and far between are the days that you will wish she were there.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Real Estate Price Trends
The median single family home price as of 4/5/09 for CHANDLER is $266,577.
Price Per Square Foot
The median price per square foot for homes in CHANDLER as of 4/5/09 is about $129.
Homes for Sale
There are about 1,992 properties on the market in CHANDLER as of 4/5/09.
From the Chandler Unified School District website, I came across this earlier today and thought it was worth passing along.
Chandler Traditional Jr High (CTJH) will be located at 191 W. Oakland, the current location of the Pathways Learning Center, just north of Chandler High School. The school will open on July 27, 2009 for the 2009/2010 school year.
Registration will be accepted for incoming 6 th and 7 th grade students. For more information please visit CTJH website at:
ww2.chandler.k12.az.us/chandler-traditional-jrhigh
or call the temporary phone number for CTJH 480-224-2711. Mrs. Wilson our CTJH Administrative Assistant is available to take your calls and answer any questions you may have.
I think this is a great opportunity for the Chandler Unified School District and the families / students within the Chandler borders.
Just a reminder that the Chandler Farmer Market is this Thursday, April 9th from 3pm to 7pm at Dr AJ Chandler Park (downtown Chandler). This is a great time to stock up on locally grown produce, honey, jellies/jam and more!
- Justin McHood
If you’re in the market for a loan, then one of your interviews should be with Justin McHood from Arizona Mortgage Team.
In addition to writing a regular post here on At Home In Chandler, he writes mortgage-related posts for Zillow.
Want to know more about Justin’s dedication to helping his clients? Then you have got to read this post about Torturing His Boss.… not only very humorous, it’s also exceptional!
