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.

In early December my business was DEAD. I had few prospects and I was very confused as to why. I had been praying that God would guide my steps to fulfill the plans he has for me ... plans to prosper.... however, it seems that I keep forgetting that God is more interesting in growing my character and relationship with Him rather than growing my bank account.

I had a client that I Pre-Approved after working with their credit for a while and sent to one of my Realtors a few months before December. During the course of looking at homes, the client came upon a deal they could not refuse with a builder's lender - which left me out of the deal. My Realtor - being the man of God he is  - reduced his fee by 1% so that the client could still pay me a consulting fee for helping them with their credit so they could be approved. I sent an Invoice thru my Employer's name so that the attorney would cut the check to them and I would get my normal percentage of the fee.

When the check came, it was written to me personally, "Brian Foxworth" not "Palmetto South Mortgage". As I held the check in my hands the thought came to me, "You could go a cash this since it is in you name and no one would find out." For that split second - it sounded like a great idea..

But then I heard God's voice, "If I can't trust you with this, how can I trust you with true riches?" I immediately asked for forgiveness of even thinking about cheating my employer, but most of all for cheating God.

I gave the check to my boss with a cheerful heart knowing that God would take care of my family as He always has.

The second week in December my Dad called me while I was at work and asked, "Are you sitting on ready?"

        "Dad, what are you talking about?"

"Are you sitting on ready?"

        "Ready for what?"

"I was driving down the road just now and praying for you and your sisters when suddenly I had to pull my truck over because God said, 'I'm about to answer your prayers.  I'm going to bless Brian with more business than he can handle.'  --- Brian, I began to thank God for this answer to prayer and had revival right there in my truck! Now I'm gonna ask you again -- Are you sitting on Ready? Are you ready for God to Bless your socks off?!" 

    "Dad, I am ready for whatever He wants to do -- I am SOOOO READY!"

A week later,  rates went down to 4.50% and I have been busier than a one-armed paper hanger ever since. Now, I'm not saying if I wasn't obedient to God, we never would have had 4.50% rates --

--What I am saying is Are we trusting in our business or trusting in God?

Are you sitting on Ready?

Historically, December is always slow for me. I have just chalked it up to people don't want to buy a house during Christmas when they are needing to buy presents, going to parties, finishing Thanksgiving leftovers....

However, this year is different. I have received more mortgage applications this month than the last 2 combined. I was talking about this to one of my Realtors who sent me 3 Buyers last night and she said that it was the same for her -suddenly her phone is ringing and clients are wanting to look at houses this month more than previous months.

She said that it is as if people are starting to realize that no matter what the media says -the economy is going to get better and now is the time to take advantage of these low rates!

Is you Housing Market Changing?

For Better?

For Worse?

This morning rates went down to 5.125% for a 30yr fixed Conventional 80%ltv Owner Occupied $160,000 loan with a 740 score (5.354% APR). I was doing my Happy Dance  when I saw this until I started contacting my watch list...

I have been contacting everyone on my Watch list who has told me - "When rates drop to below 5.50% let me know so I can refinance or buy!"

What I'm amazed at is how many people have been watching the news about the Treasury's announcement yesterday and think that the rates should be 4.50% or that they want to wait until the rates hit 4.5%.

Folks, the headline says, "WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The Treasury Department is contemplating a proposal that would cut mortgage rates for new loans for homes, according to the Wall Street Journal. "

Contemplating means they are thinking about it, mulling it over, wondering if it will work - NOT A DEFINITE DECISION! By no means can we count on this happenening.

But you can count on the rates as they are availlable.

5.125% is the lowest rate we have seen this year -yet people who want to wait for a lower rate might miss the opportunity if rates pop back up and the Treasury decides that the propsal the are contemplating just won't do the trick.

I guess I see it like the Ginger breadhouse my daughter made with my parents over Thanksgiving - they decorated this beautiful gingerbread house that came already made from Walmart -all they had to do was add the candy, frosting and other small pieces that make it fun.

But when it came down to eating the Gingerbread House -it was as hard as a rock because my parents bought one that had sat on a shelf for a while and wasn't suitable for consumption any longer. They wanted to get the best one they could but they did not buy it at the right time - or they did not pick out the best one available to them at that moment.

Mortgage rates are a lot like that Gingerbread house -if you don't take advantage of the rates while they are low and just keep waiting for a possibilty of lower rates in the future -you may have to settle for a rate that is not as edible as the one I have been trying to contact my watch list for.

You mortgage professionals are professionals for a reason - because they try to get you the best terms to save you money on your next purchase or refinance. Instead of listening to the news - listen to the person you know and can speak face to face with.

So what do you want -a rate that might possibly come or a rate that you can lock today?

Dang It! :D

                               I've been tagged by my fellow South Carolinians Jim & Maria 

Hmmmm. what do I want for Christmas....

                                                                                         maybe a

then again I've always wanted a

but I've really wanted a to catch whoever has been eating my Slim Jims!

I tag   J.L. Boney, III

and   Marcie Toliver

Merry Christmas!

My daughter Megan does her Happy Dance for all sorts of reasons (in no particular order):

• succesfully performing her Flower Girl duties
• candy
• playing with toys
• playing with friends
• seeing a movie
• popcorn
• playing with Sadie the Whiney Weiner Dog
• getting new library books
• "girls night" with Mommy
• shopping with Mommy
• getting better at cartwheels
• performing the perfect flip on the couch
• pigtails
• new hair bows
• new crowns
• dress up Princess Clothes
• playing "Pretty Pretty Princess"
• watching any Princess movie no matter how many times she has seen it
• dancing with Daddy to all the music on every Princess Movie - no matter how many times...
• performing the perfect jump on her bed
• performing the perfect jump on Mommy and Daddy's bed
• scaring Mommy
• scaring Sadie the Whiney Wiener Dog
• Bubble baths
• spending the night with Granny & PawPaw, Nana, Aunt Ruby & Grandmama, Aunt Lisa & Uncle Leroy
• Visiting baby Ella Pearl, Aunt Susie, and Uncle Michael 
• Swimming in Aunt Susie's pool
• Riding in Uncle Michael's boat
• Driving PawPaw's John Deer lawnmower (with PawPaw of course)
• making a cake with Granny
• making a cake with Nana
• making a cake with Aunt Susie
• making a cake with Aunt Lisa
• eating cake
• chicken nuggets
• meatballs & noodles (spaghetti)
• ketchup
• pancakes
• lollipops
• no nap
• Riding her Barbie 4 wheeler
• racing her neighbor's Barbie jeep in her Barbie 4 wheeler
• Writing all of her letters
• finger painting
• coloring
• drawing
• Santa Claus
• Christmas Trees
• Christmas presents
• Birthday Cake
• Birthday Parties
• Birthday presents
• Are you getting the picture yet?!!!!

Then I started thinking about what is worthy of my Happy Dance (in no particular order -except for the kissing my wife one..):

• Kissing my wife and what it might lead to.... more kissing!
• Dancing with Megan to every Princess Movie musical Score
• Closing a Home Loan
• Creating something -website, blog post,
• Finally finishing Painting a room
• winning the lottery (I wish!)
• flying a plane
• going to Disney World
• making my parents proud
• making my God proud
• making my wife happy
• Clemson Tigers making a touchdown, interception, and winning the game
• A medium grilled steak with a baked sweet potato drenched in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon
• .....

I've noticed my list isn't very long compared to Megan's..... what events are worthy of your Happy Dance?

Shameless plug -I know - but after all the time I have spent creating my first site, I'm gonna shout it from the roof top: "MY WEBSITE IS FINALLY DONE!!!!"

On my site clients may:

1. Check Rates
2. Apply Online
3. Check the status of their loan
4. View my Active Rain Profile/Blog
5. Run different Scenarios with numerous Mortgage Calculators
6. Check Foreclosure Listings anywhere in the country

A BIG "THANK YOU!" goes out to several folks here on ActiveRain and in my office who helped me with their Constructive Criticism and made my site better.

• Loreena Yeo
• Jeff Belonger
• JL Boney, III
• Nicole Weidauer
• Jan Lahan
• Glen Osborne

So check it out, tell your friends, and let me know if you see anything that I can improve.

Christmas is bustin' out all over the place - so I figured i'd help you with a FREE Christmas gift!

That's right -I said FREE!

From the company that brought you

the RedNeck Senior Scooter

 Redneck Skiing

The Redneck Jacuzzi

Not to be confused with the Redneck HOT Tub

The new All Terrain Wheelchair (Sold more when marketerd as "All Terrain" instead of "Redneck" Go figure...)

and my personal favorite - the Redneck Babysitter

oh yeah, and the Redneck Home Office

From that same awesome company comes Redneck Playstation absolutely free -enjoy!

Remember, I gave you your first Christmas gift this year -you owe me!!

David Patterson has listed this Beautiful Log Cabin in Lexington, SC and has given me permission to Re-Blog it with the best Mortgage program available.

This property is eligible for the Rural Housing Program which finances up to 102% of the Appraised Value.

Since most Buyers are having their offers accepted well below the Appraised Value -this program allows Buyers in this situation to also include their Closing Costs in the loan if they or the Seller are unwilling to pay them out of pocket.

A Beautiful Home with Beautiful Financing -What else could you ask for?

For those buyers who already reside in Richland County there is Down Payment /Closing Cost Assistance available to you if you Choose to Purchase a home in the unincorprated areas of Richland County.

Here is how it works:

This forgivable loan can be used with any program FHA, VA , Conv, etc...

Applicants:

1. MUST BE Residents of Richland County at the time of application -no exceptions
2. Must be qualified as a HUD low to moderate income household (dependant upon how many people in household)
3. Must attend  Program Orientation and pay $100 Application fee offered only ONCE A MONTH - November 18^th, Dec 16^th, Jan 23^rd .. (4^th Tuesday of every month from that point on)
4. Must attend Home Buyer training and Home  Maintenance training (times and dates offered given at Orientation meeting so no one can crash the party)
5. Must purchase a home that will pass "rigid" inspection, built after 1978, and be in unincorporated areas of Richland County (not within city limits of Columbia, Irmo, Chapin, or any other city or town in Richland County)

This is what Richland County has to say about it:

GOAL
To provide down payment and/or closing cost assistance to first time home buyers.

MAXIUM LOAN AMOUNT
$5,000

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

•·         Must be a resident of Richland County

•·         Must be qualified as a household of low to moderate income (See HUD income guidelines)

•·         Must be employed. If applicant is not employed, he/she must provide income documentation supporting the following:

Disability Benefits
Social Security Benefits
Other Retirement Benefits

ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES
Single family dwellings located in the unincorporated area of Richland County. New and existing homes, town houses, and condominiums are qualified properties if they were built after 1978. (Each property must be able to pass rigid inspection that will guarantee the home is livable, safe and does not require immediate repair.)

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

•·         Attend Program Orientation

•·         $100 Application Fee(Money Order or Cashier's Check) No Personal Checks

•·         Attend home buyer training and home maintenance training (information will be provided at the Program Orientation

LOAN DESCRIPTION
The assistance will be provided in a five-year deferred forgivable loan. Approved applicants must live in the purchased property for five years (from the time of closing) for the loan to be forgiven. If the approved applicant does not stay in the home for the five-year period, the assistance must be repaid based on a prorated formula. (20% per year)

Contact me at 803-446-3270 or email at BFoxworth@PalmettoSouth.com for more details. I look forward to helping you finance your new home with $0 down payment out of your pocket.