Sunny Hilton Head, South Carolina

About a month ago my daughter Megan and I were going to the Edventure Children's  Museum here in Columbia, SC to see the New Curious George exhibit.

On the way, we were involved in an accident that left our car on it's passenger side and glass everywhere.

It happened so fast, I didn't even see the Jeep coming. When our car stopped moving it somehow was up on the sidewalk between a light pole and it's guideline -not touching either one. Megan is always strapped in her booster seat in the middle of the backseat of the car.  I looked back as much as my locked-down seatbelt would let me and I expected to see her hurt.

I asked "Megan are you okay?!"

     She answered in her wannabe teenager voice, "Daad, I'm hanging upside do - owwnn." Not upset at all, not yelling, screaming, or even crying.

I looked past her head and saw that the back windshield was somehow shattered away from the car and the beachball we keep in the car to play with at the park was wedged between the side of her headrest and the back passenger-side window that remained intact. Within seconds, a lady appeared at the back windshield and asked if she could help Megan out of the car. I asked her if there was any glass that could cut Megan on the way out and the lady said that it was all gone.

So I told Megan it was okay to go with the lady and I would be right out. I stretched back under my seatbelt to push her release button on her booster seat and Megan went out with the lady.

By that time about 3 guys had opened my driver's door that was up in the air (since we landed on the passsenger side) and pulled me out of the car. I ran to the other side of the car to find Megan was in the arms of the same lady as calm as a cucumber. I picked Megan up and checked her over to find she didn't have a scratch, lump, or mark on her. I kept cheking her scalp all over her head to make sure I did not see any glass or cuts - not believing that we had escaped this accident without any injuries. 

I called my wife and explained we had been in a car acident.

After I checked Megan out, an EMT who goes to our church arrived and checked Megan out again. When she had thoroughly examined us she said, "I don't see anything wrong with either of you."  About that time my wife arrived (the accident happened within 3 minutes of our home) and was crying when she saw the car on it's side,  expecting to see us badly injured (even though I had told her on the phone we were okay). She picked up Megan and hugged her tight then began checking her over from head to toe just like the EMT and I did.

Megan said , "Mommy why are you crying?"

    My wife said, " Because after I saw how  the car was wrecked I expected you to be hurt very bad."

 

Megan just calmly replied in her best DUH voice, "God takes care of us - of course we are okay." As if she never doubted that God would keep us from harm.

The EMT, cops, and firefighters on the scene said that we would be very sore the next day and to expect some deep bruises where our seatbelts had caught us; however,  Megan and I have had no soreness or bruising at all.

The lady who helped Megan out of the car turned out to be my Mother-In-Law's Pastor's wife who lives across the street from the accident site. She told my Mother-In-law the folllowing week that when she had helped Megan out of the car,  Megan hugged her tight and asked in a normal voice, "Will you take care of me until my Daddy gets out of the car?"

The Pastor's Wife said that it truly was a Miracle that we came out of that accident without a scratch -especially since a lady who was involved in an accident at that same intersection the month before died at the scene.

How awesome is it for a 5 year old to know and have complete trust that God takes care of us even during a car accident?!! 

Megan asked me recently before we prayed one night, "I know God takes care of us, but why did he let us get into an accident?"

     I answered, "Only God knows for sure, but maybe it was so everyone there after the accident could see that God kept us from getting hurt when we should have been hurt very bad -or maybe it was so that they could see how calm you were because you knew that God takes care of us."

As we all know, God never promised us that we would never be hurt; however, it is so cool that the only way some things can be explained is that God stepped in - otherwise there would have been a different result.

Since that day over a month ago, whenever I start to worry or get upset over something in this business or at home, I remember the Faith of a 5 year old -  Megan - God's, my wife's, and my daughter.

 

Home prices have hit bottom in most areas of the country, but they're not like a rubber ball. Sellers can't expect much of a bounce.

At the Center for Economic Policy Research, in Washington D.C., analysts are predicting that the pricing arrow is pointing up, but not very far. There are still too many foreclosed homes on the market.

So, what did the center's co-director do? He bought a house. He doesn't expect its value to rise much in the foreseeable future. But the home had features he loved. The price was affordable, and the loan's interest rate was below 5 percent.

This set of circumstances encouraged him to take the plunge and acquire a place his family could call home for many years to come.

Today's reasonable prices can make a good case for buying rather than renting, say advisors quoted in USA Today. While many first-timers are leery of making a long-term contract, here is a way you could determine if the move is a wise one.

* Divide the price of a home you are considering by the annual rent for a comparable place. If the number falls below 15, buying starts to look like a good idea.

* Consider whether you will stay in the home long enough to make the purchase worthwhile. Closing costs are high. If you intend to sell the house and buy another in two or three years, you could take a loss.

* Analysts say it's reasonable to buy a home only if you plan to stay in it for five to seven years.

 

 

Gabe Sanders and Susan Maxwell

Stuart Florida Real Estate 

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Are You A Victim Of The Market? Vancouver WA Real Estate

It seems that you can barely turn on the news without hearing about how "The Market" has taken another victim. It seems this market has been indiscriminately targeting sellers and their agents and casting hexes on them. Their homes have been sitting for sale for weeks and months and years without any visits or offers. Certainly, they must be "victims" of the market! Right?

What do we know about victims?

1.  They think that they have no responsibility in their fate. Whatever it is, it has happened to them.

2.  They think that there is nothing that they could have done to prevent the outcome from happening. Their actions did not affect the results.

3.  They always have something else to blame their fate on. (The market, the weather, their agent, their neighbor, etc.)

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, if you have a home that has been sitting on the market for weeks and months and years without any visits or offers, you either need to start listening to your Realtor® or get a new agent.

The answer to your dilemma is quite simple. You are either over priced or the condition of your home doesn't warrant the price that you are asking. (i.e.; You are over priced!) There are a huge number of homes selling in this market and some are selling in just a few short weeks.

Don't be a victim! If your home isn't selling, then you need to do one of two things: listen to your agent's pricing recommendations or find a new agent! There are no victims of the market. There are only sellers who sold their homes and sellers with over priced homes. Which do you want to be?

If you are looking for expert representation in any Vancouver WA market, you need to call us for a seller's interview. You won't be disappointed.
 

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver WA dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.  This post written by Mark Hall all rights reserved. Are You A Victim Of The Market? Vancouver WA Real Estate