Market Update
The shorts sales continue to rear their ugly head. It appears now that many of the banks have gone to call centers handling the shorts sale calls for the banks and these people have no training no experience, but more importantly no authority to make decisions on whether or not to approve or disapprove a short sale.

Mortgage News
Guidelines continue to get tougher on condos with more restrictions imposed. In addition it has become virtually standard operating procedure for every lender to pull the Form 4506 from the IRS to request the borrower’s tax returns to make sure they match the ones they provided in the loan application process. Basically with the way the loans are going today, you have to fit inside the box. There is no thinking outside, underwriting or loans being approved outside the box. And lastly, second trusts continue to have no future in the mortgage or sales landscape.  

As always we strive to keep you educated in the real estate world.  It is more important than ever to get experienced, professional help with all your real estate needs.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL HEALTH

Although there are no cures for viral infections, they can greatly be reduced if everyone practiced good hygiene.  The first line of defense in preventing the spread of germ-causing illnesses is hand washing. The CDC states that hand-washing can reduce the incidence of illness by an amazing 50%.
1) Wash Hands Often- especially before eating, after using the restroom, after sneezing or coughing into the hands, and after using a tissue to blow the nose.  Washing hands for 15-20 seconds is the recommended amount of time to get hands clean.
2) Use Facial Tissues When You Sneeze - The Centers for Disease Control encourages using facial tissues when you sneeze, cough or blow your nose to minimize cold and flu viruses.  If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your shoulder.  Avoiding the hands reduces the chance of spreading the germs.
3) Get Plenty of Rest and Stay Hydrated: Getting plenty of rest and drinking adequate fluids is effective in helping to boost the immune system.
4) Eat Breakfast: Healthy kids are better learners and eating a nutritious breakfast with fiber will improve concentrate in the classroom.
5) Don’t Come to School Sick: A national Kleenex Anti-Viral survey revealed that 86% of moms agree that their child has gotten sick at school due to “under the weather” classmates. So please keep kids home when they’ve come down with the cold and flu – that way they are not spreading bugs to others.
6) To reduce the spread of illnesses within the family, clean all surfaces with bleach (1 part bleach to 10 parts water).

AREA EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER

Maryland Renaissance Festival
Aug. 29 - Oct. 25, 2009. Crownsville, MD. A 16th century English village with crafts, food, live performances, games and lots more.

Alexandria Festival of the Arts
Sept. 12-13, 2009. King Street becomes an outdoor gallery featuring 200 of the nation's top award-winning artists.

International Children's Festival
Sept. 19-20, 2009. Wolf Trap National Park, Vienna, VA. Enjoy live performances from around the world and a variety of arts and craft activities.

Virginia Wine Festival
Sept. 19-20, 2009. Centreville, VA. Sample wine from 60 Virginia wineries and enjoy gourmet food, seminars, arts and crafts, live music and more.

Fiesta Musical at the National Zoo
Sept. 20, 2009. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy a celebration of Latin American culture and wildlife through a variety of family-oriented activities, live music and dance, special keeper talks, and a Latin American food court.

National Book Festival
Sept. 26, 2009, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. National Mall, Washington, DC. Visit with more than 70 award-winning authors, illustrators and poets who will talk about and sign their books.

Latino Festival - Fiesta DC
Sept. 27, 2009, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Columbia Heights. Celebrate the Latino culture with one of the largest festivals in the nation's capital. International cuisine and lots of live entertainment.

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature               
1 stick butter, at room temperature
1 egg                                                                                 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (18-ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix                           
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the   cake mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner's sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet,
2 inches apart. Bake for 12 minutes at 350 deg. The cookies will remain soft and "gooey."