Honor Flight Honors Local Vets

I was a Guardian for the Honor Flight organization and I've included a video of my most recent trip so you can share in excitement and admiration for the 101 veterans we escorted to Washington, DC. 

In case you are not familiar with what Honor Flight is, here's a brief description I 'borrowed' from the website: 
A non-profit program operated entirely by volunteers, our Wilmington, NC headquarters is affiliated with the national Honor Flight Network and serves veterans of southeastern North Carolina and surrounding areas.  Honor Flights demonstrate respect and admiration for these elderly service members by flying them at no cost to Washington, DC to see the magnificent World War II Memorial, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, finally completed in their honor in 2004.  They will be accompanied by understanding guardians who will assist with any medical or mobility needs.

It's Confirmed - Major Motion Picture Filming in Wilmington!

The office of Governor Beverly Perdue announced Monday, "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" will start production later this month in Wilmington. The movie stars Dwayne Johnson and Oscar-winner Michael Caine. New Line Cinema, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers, will spend five months in Wilmington.

The film is about a teenager who sets out on a mission with his mother’s boyfriend to find his grandfather, who is thought to be missing on a mythical island, according to Internet Movie Database. It’s slated to be released September 23, 2011. And even more exciting is that "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" will use the water tank at Screen Gems for the first time ever along with five of the ten stages at Screen Gems. 

“Mysterious Island” is a sequel to “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” That movie, which was released in 2008, had a budget of $45 million and grossed $231 million worldwide. And like the first movie, “The Mysterious Island” will be shot in 3D! 

After Foreclosure: How Soon Can You Buy?

With the rash of foreclosures across the country many people wonder exactly how a foreclosure will affect their home-buying power in the future. Chris Hutchens of Alpha Mortgage provides the following information on the waiting period most lenders follow. In all cases, borrowers must re-establish their credit, meaning they must meet minimum credit score requirements and eligibility requirements.

For buyers who’ve had a foreclosure the typical waiting period is 7 years. There is a three year exception, however, but borrowers must be able to show documentation for an extenuating circumstance, must have at least 10% for the down payment and the purchase must be for a primary residence.

Even if you didn’t go through a full foreclosure Fannie Mae has set requirements for the waiting period for Deed-In-Lieu of Foreclosure, Pre-Foreclosure and Short Sale to the same limits of:

•         2 Years – 80% Max LTV

•         4 Years – 90% Max LTV

•         7 Years – LTV Ratios Per Eligibility Matrix

And as with foreclosure, if you have a documented extenuating circumstance then you may be eligible to qualify for a two year waiting period if the Max LTV is 90%.

If you have experienced any one of these challenging financial events, please contact your mortgage lender to discuss exactly what your options are before trying to buy a home.

Morning Coffee for October 5th

Here's a brief article filled with tips from a leading writer and speaker to compliment this week's Morning Coffee.

Have a fantastic week!  

Secretary of the Navy Honors Wilmington

According to a press release from U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre, the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, has accepted his invitation to come to Wilmington to celebrate the 235th birthday of the U.S. Navy aboard the USS North Carolina battleship on October 12th.

McIntyre stated, “This is a great honor that Secretary Mabus would come join us in Wilmington, not only to celebrate the Navy’s birthday, but also to honor veterans and our servicemen and women of all branches of our armed forces. Southeastern North Carolina has a great tradition of honoring those who serve and those who have served our country, and the Secretary’s visit will emphasize that service.”

The ceremony on the battleship is being hosted by the Navy League, a veterans organization that includes those engaged in maritime service, such as the Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, and Merchant Marines.

“The Secretary’s visit will also be an integral part of the ongoing celebration in anticipation of the upcoming commission of the U.S.S. Gravely as the Navy’s newest destroyer, which will be held on November 20th,” continued McIntyre, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee.