REMEMBERING OUR MILITARY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Trying to take care of those at home may be hard this year when it comes to buying gifts. Finding inexpensive ways to celebrate your holidays can still make the most for your family and friends because the thought in putting the gift together should be what matters. Unfortunately, we have many families that will be apart for the holidays. Our Military. And we should not forget the sacrifices they are making for those of us at home that will have the chance to see family for the holidays.

If you can not afford to assist one of the many military programs in sending care packages, etc. Xerox Corporation has a program where you can thank a soldier. You can go to www.LetsSayThanks.com and pick out a card to send. Xerox will print the card for you and mail it to a soldier currently serving in Iraq. You will not be able to select the soldier recipient, but it will go to a member of the armed forces.

If you would like to help out a soldier’s platoon or send a care package, you can visit www.AnySoldier.com or contact me for a list of different military assistance programs or you can go to www.uso.org.

As a sponsor and entertainer for our Armed Forces and the USO, I can tell you from personal experience, that these men and women are very appreciative of what they receive. They experience some of the worst conditions that you or I probably would never imagine and having a touch from home helps the time pass so they can think of coming home. It only takes a second to help out. There are many ways to help out, so please put our military on your list this year During the Holidays.

GIVE BACK FOR THE HOLIDAYS

How can you Help?

Soldiers Far Away From Home

Any Soldier Inc
Any Soldier Inc. started by the family of Army Sergeant Brian Horn as an effort to help him. Horn "was one of the 1,000 soldiers who parachuted into Northern Iraq on March 26th, 2003."Horn's family "knew his unit, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was living under very rough conditions", and they were "sending Brian care packages as often as we could."Then, thinking about the other soldiers in his unit, Horn's father, an Army veteran, started a web site offering ideas and practical links that help make contacting military personnel much easier. Learn about what's needed by and how you can help our troops deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Serbia, Uzbekistan, or at Sea. Information on sending packages, contacting soldiers by email and much more. This site works year-round, so don't limit your efforts to the December holiday time - no matter when you are reading this - drop by Any Soldier Inc. and reach out to a soldier.cite: anysoldier.com.

A Million Thanks

A Million Thanks "is a year-round campaign to show our U.S. Military Men and Women, past and present, our appreciation for their sacrifices, dedication, and service to our country through our letters, emails, cards, prayers, and thoughts.". cite: amillionthanks.orgSend your letter, cards and emails to A Million Thanks and they'll deliver them to military personnel, past and present, in the US and abroad.cite: amillionthanks.org

Military Care Packages
Military Care Packages. "Whether your soldier is learning the ropes at boot camp, or out and about in a foreign land, getting a care package from home gives them the knowledge that people are thinking about them - that's a huge pick-me-up. Military Care Packages orders are shipped in white boxes, have colorful fill to brighten their day and include a card personalized with a note from you. Our top priorities are quality of food and products that go into our care packages, fantastic presentation and top value for your dollar."militarycarepackages.net

Military Exchange Prepaid Calling Cards. The Department of Defense Military Exchanges have been authorized to sell the following prepaid calling cards to individuals and organizations who wish to purchase these [lower rate] cards for our troops serving overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi, freedom.thor.milexch.com

Operation Hero Miles

Operation Hero Miles allows troops stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan to fly home on leave for free. It also gives family members of wounded servicemen and women free plane tickets to visit their loved ones recovering at military hospitals across the country. Donations are currently being accepted from the following airlines: Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Air Lines and US Airways.cite: heromiles.org.

Soldiers' Angels

Soldiers' Angels currently supports thousands of American Service Members and the number is growing daily. Work to support wounded soldiers, with transitional backpacks, personal visits, phone calls, etc. They also send thanks via letters and email to the military of Great Britain, Poland and Australia who serve by US soldiers side in Iraq.soldiersangels.com.

Stars and Stripes Holiday Message Program

Stars and Stripes Holiday Message program: Let Stars and Stripes deliver a holiday message from you to your loved one deployed downrange or stationed in Europe or the Pacific. Messages submitted by Nov. 30 will be printed in Stars and Stripes editions around the world in time for the holidays. (Learn more) messages.stripes.osd.mil

USO Operation Phone Home

USO Operation Phone Home makes it possible for the men and women of our armed forces to stay connected to their loved ones. Our troops need phone cards. Your donations will help buy 100-, 300- and 500-minute international long distance calling cards for troops around the world. Please help deployed service members call home by donating to USO Operation Phone Home.uso.org

Wounded & Hospitalized Soldiers

Coalition to Salute America's Heroes
Coalition to Salute America's Heroes was created to provide an easy and meaningful way for individuals, corporations and others to help our severely wounded and disabled veterans and their families rebuild their lives. Your gift will be distributed in Coalition programs that provide emergency financial support to wounded heroes and the families in need, create job conferences, build handicapped-accessible homes, as well as many other initiatives.certifichecks.com

Road to Recovery
Road to Recovery was created to provide an easy and meaningful way for individuals, corporations and others to help our severely wounded and disabled veterans and their families rebuild their lives. Your gift will be distributed in Coalition programs that provide emergency financial support to wounded heroes and the families in need, create job conferences, build handicapped-accessible homes, as well as many other initiatives.saluteheroes.org

For the Families of Soldiers

Family Support Network
Family Support Network resources that will provide housing in private homes and hotels for free or significantly discounted costs. Reduced cost meals and airline flights are also available to assist with traveling expenses; provided hundreds of computers to service members and their families to make sure that they can communicate with each other, network, and have access to all the opportunities that being "online" affords.; experienced individuals who will work one-on-one with wounded veterans to provide you the counseling, encouragement and everyday life-coaching you need to figure things out. They're right there with you to make sure you aren't just settling for "getting by."saluteheroes.org

Homes for Wounded Heroes
Homes for Wounded Heroes forges a partnership between the wounded veteran, government agencies, manufacturers, businesses, and individuals in order to provide new or renovated housing at little or no cost. By connecting all of these various resources, the Homes for Wounded Heroes Coalition is looking to lessen the financial burden these heroes must endure in addition to the physical changes that they must deal with daily.saluteheroes.org

VETERANS DAY 2008

We thank and honor all who have given selflessly to serve our country in times of peace and war. Throughout history, as men and women have been sent to war, the USO has been there to provide them with a cup of coffee, a smile, a kind word, entertainment, an occasional dance or two and most of all a "touch of home" in a far-off place. The USO began providing service to military members during World War II and continues today for service members supporting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, and at other duty stations worldwide. Please show your support to our servicemen and women and their families. Go to www.uso.com. See how you can help now, for the holidays and until every last soldier comes home.

message sponsored by Chanssonnier Entertainment and Dawnmarie/HatfieldHomes of Keller Williams Realty @ 2008

Citigroup to help at-risk borrowers stay in homes

Published - Nov 11 2008 08:50AM EST AP
By SARA LEPRO - AP Business Writer

Citigroup is imposing a moratorium on most foreclosures as part of a series of initiatives aimed at helping at-risk borrowers remain in their homes making Citi the latest big bank to announce sweeping efforts to try to curtail losses from souring mortgages.

Citi said late Monday it won't initiate a foreclosure or complete a foreclosure sale on any eligible borrower who seeks to stay in a home if it is the borrower's principal residence, the homeowner is working in good faith with Citi and has sufficient income to make affordable mortgage payments. Citi said it is also working to expand the program to include mortgages the bank services but does not own. Additionally, over the next six months, Citi plans to reach out to 500,000 homeowners who are not currently behind on their mortgage payments, but who are deemed as potentially needing assistance to keep current with their payments. This represents about one-third of all the mortgages that Citigroup owns, the bank said.

Of the four biggest U.S. banks _ Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. _ Citi has been on the shakiest footing as a result of the mortgage crisis, reporting losses in the past four consecutive quarters while its rivals have managed to post profits. The steps announced Monday are designed to stem those losses.

"Typically the lender loses the most money when a house goes into foreclosure," said Barry Zigas, director of housing policy at the Consumer Federation of America. "(The lender) takes some kind of loss that's usually much greater than what they sacrificed through some kind of workout."

Sanjiv Das, chief executive of CitiMortgage, said, "It is in our interest that borrowers stay in their homes and actually make the payments."

Citi is targeting homeowners in geographic areas with higher-than-average unemployment and foreclosure rates, primarily in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, Das said. The program is expected to affect about $20 billion in mortgages.

"As the unemployment rate is starting to creep up on us, there is going to be increasing distress in the marketplace," Das said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's not going to distinguish between what type of mortgage they have."

Why I like Working for Keller Williams Realty

As a Realtor, for the last year I have seen many, many short sales and foreclosures come about. It's the housing frenzy that everyone has been speaking about which has resulted in our economic decline. The unfortunate is that many realtors and housing gurus have been thriving on the idea of a short sale - hoping to get more homes moving off the inventory and more homebuyers to assist in the economic situation. The only concern that arrives is that not ALL homes are short sale qualified. Not all homeowners in short sales were the "investor" who bought with an ARM financing product that had hoped to turn that property around for a profit before the ARM came due. Many of those homeowners in short sale or foreclosure, were middle class families whom either lost their jobs, had trouble making ends meet and could no longer keep up the payments on the home while fending for their families.

I can't tell you how many companies I have seen, even real estate related, that are taking advantage of this.

What happened to the Realtor that works for you and assists you. Not ever transaction should be about the money. It should be about building relationships and assisting those in need during hard times so that somewhere down the line that homeowner you helped will either refer your services or ask for your services again. I'm not saying Realtors should not get paid for their efforts. Remember I am one. But I am saying that if you receive a client that wants to sell their home because they can no longer afford it, think about their situation before your pocket. Our housing inventory is not moving and as a Realtor you can not guarantee how long it will stay on the market or how quickly it will sell. You just have to offer the best services you can provide and aggressively market their property. In the meantime realize, that homeowner who is in financial trouble still has to pay their bills and if they couldn't pay them when they first signed with you, maybe you need to offer them another approach so the home does not go into foreclosure before you get the opportunity of a buyer. ANd if the sale is a short sale, that sale can take longer than an average sale largely because the lender holds the cards on deciding who will be accepted to purchase that home.

Helping your client by discussing their options to work with their lender is the first step. No bank wants to acquire a home. They want their loan money returned and if they short sale they will receive a loss. They would rather work with the homeowner to keep the home rather than buy it back. The Lender provides Loan modification options - all the customer has to do is contact the lender and ask for help. The lender may require a hardship letter, or other information, but it is really the first step before the family you are working for ends up without a home.

Subscribe to this feed for future information on upcoming programs that you can provide to your clients in this situation.

As a Keller Williams Agent, we learn not to just be a realtor, but a consultant. And in being a consultant to someone who really needs your help, you may just end up their Realtor for Life.

Wishing you all the best.
Dawnmarie Hatfield, TRC Realtor
Keller Williams Realty, Palm Harbor