My grandmother used to say “The only thing on the news these days is Bad News” that was nearly 40 years ago…She refused to watch the evening news as she grew older.  I understand now what she was doing, and why.  Although the negative then was not as Epic as the negative now she kept  informed with the important things in life but protected all of us from the negative outlook on life according to the evening news reporter.

We can all take a lesson from my grandmother on that topic.

I don’t think anyone in America has escaped a daily update on America’s Imploding Status…From the National Debt of $14 Billion Plus to the fact there are over 1.9  million mortgage loans being 90 plus days late with 42 percent of those homeowners not making a mortgage payment for over a year…icing on the cake…the banks have not filed Notice of Default on any of these homes.  You know what that indicates…scary…this is truly “Shadow Inventory” at its finest.

Kris and I have a unique advantage in this economy…we have already “lost it all” and are now rebuilding.  It’s been a true blessing, yes, a blessing.  Being forced to live differently and setting realistic goals even though the “news” tells us we are doomed for years to come.  I don’t doubt that we as Americans are going to continue to see great change in our society.  I for one think change is good…here is an off the wall thought about painful change but end result is beautiful…

Anyone remember how painful it was when you had your braces put on your teeth?  It hurt to talk, eat, basically it just hurt!  Each month you experienced the wrenching tightening of the braces as your teeth moved around and you experienced that pain…month after month for years…

Now, remember what it was like when you felt the smooth straight surface of your teeth with your tongue for the first time in years…and then the orthodontist gave you a mirror?  Beautiful…the result of that uncomfortable and painful change has been worth it.

We have to understand what is going on in our economy, we are living the painful reality daily.  How we allow all the “news” to affect us is our choice.   I thank God for my grandmother’s insightful view on Negativity everyday.

Kris and I have a dear friend that we have been helping the last year or so to work through a difficult situation.  Due to a considerable loss in income our friend was faced with loosing his home.  There were options and the best one a year ago was to enter into a chapter 13 bankruptcy, basically allowing him to get rid of all his debt and keep the house.

Again, the economy struck another blow and his industry was hit harder and his income declined again…no longer able to proceed with the chapter 13  a chapter 7 bankruptcy was filed in it’s place to basically dissolve all debt.

Still desiring to keep his home, he applied for a loan modification.  The long process left him tired and mentally beat up as he was not granted a loan modification that he could afford.

We are now working with our dear friend to short sale his home.  It’s very difficult for him as you can imagine.  He’s owned the home for over 15 years and is established in the community.  I’m sharing this true story with all of you for one reason…

Being informed and making the right choices will get you through these difficult, but not impossible times.

“Negative  news”  surrounds us, don’t let it beat you up.  Use it….

Moral of this story…. If your facing uncertainty in making your mortgage payments now, chances are very high that you will need to make very calculated decisions based on what you know to be true about your personal finances and your families long term needs.  Don’t put yourself in a “bubble” until you get a foreclosure notice.  Making changes now will eliminate one major “anchor” that has you going around in circles making no movement in the direction you must go to “move forward”

Blessings