A friend, Patty, received this adorable dog, Sherlock, last night. 
He is a 'rescued dog' and came
from a couple of states over from her.  
Patty is housebound so
Sherlock was driven to her home
by a chain of volunteers. 

She's already in love. Here is what she says:

"This is the cutest dog ever! A real sweetheart - friendly, trusting, is immediately fast-friends with Hampton (my other dog), just an amazing little guy. The only problem is he tends to "leak." .....little dribbles and drabbles. He goes to the patio door when he wants out, so that's great, but I am wiping up a lot of little leaks around the house. 

He also has to learn eating manners, as in "Thou shalt not eat thy brother's food as well as your own!" Hampton is big on being the first dog out the door, but he gives up his food without so much as a whimper."

I don't know why Sherlock had to be rescued.  Maybe he had an elderly owner who could no longer take care of him.  Maybe his owners lost their home. Could be a lot of reasons.

Which brings me to my point.  We have a cute little cottage listed 'for sale' which needs to be bought and 'rescued.'  It needs a face lift, needs cleaning, painting, old carpet removed.  But with a little elbow grease, you could fall in love with this cottage just like Patty fell in love with her new dog.

Just like volunteers helped bring Sherlock home to Patty, the seller will work with you on down payment assistance to make homeownership possible for you.

Oh, and you and your little dog will love the fenced back yard! Click on the photo below to see information from MLS.  Call your Realtor/Buyer's Agent and have them make an appointment to see, or John and Sarah Rummage for more information. Direct: 615-945-1838. Email us if you like. 

Don't miss out on the $8,000 tax rebate for new home buyers, soon to expire!

 
2629 Woodyhill Dr, Nashville TN 37207, MLS 1125295m $75,000.

Here is a travel tip from somebody who travels a lot to China and other countries:

If you have an iPhone or Smartphone, make sure you turn off your data plan. Even if you do not use it while in country, it will connect and download your mail and stuff. This will cost you lots of bucks. My brother just got back and he forgot to turn the data part off on his cell phone and it cost him $900.  Just a friendly FYI.

I can't vouch for this, as it has never happened to me.  However, I have had cell phone bill surprises after traveling abroad, when I thought that I didn't use the phone that much.

At the very least, call your company and find out the rates for use when traveling overseas.

Here in Nashville TN, we don't usually get much snow.  A few winter seasons have LOTS of snow, and below freezing temps, and the snow will hang on and on. School is out for days and days. But this is only occasionally.

For the most part, we have a comfortable, pleasant climate. Cold, yes, but not bitter cold very often

This weekend, though, we have had snow, probably 6-8 inches.  Right now it is 25F and most church services are canceled for tomorrow, because of slick, icy roads. 

What I have noticed about our city is that our residents get cabin fever.  They want that big snow and they get so excited in the anticipation of a big snow. 

But after a very few days, they are ready to get out and shop, look at houses, go to the park....anything..........after a siege of cold, bad weather. 

And they come out in swarms.  Get ready for lots of emails and phone calls, and crowded open houses next week end!  Yeah!!!

That is unless we have another round of snow!

Our son and grandson took the chance to sled in Old Hickory TN. Making memories!

I checked this list published by TripAdvisor and I don't think I have stayed in any of their infamous hotels, but I have stayed in some questionable ones.  Not often, but occasionally. 

Once in India, there was a hotel with a bathroom which reminded me of a so-so clean gas station bathroom in the states.  The blanket on the bed looked like a horse blanket.

Do you have any hotels you would like to add to TripAdvisor's list?

Sarah in Nashville

The Nashville City Paper reports that according to James Hagerty at the Wall Street Journal, Nashville TN has one of the highest housing inventories of any major city. 

Indeed, I just did a MLS search for Nashville Davidson County TN.  There are (at this minute) 4,244 listings, and in the last month (since 12-25-09) there have been 296 closings.  So that makes approximately a 14.33 supply of homes on the market.  That is high.  It should be no more than a 5 month supply to have a healthy buyer/seller market.

Sellers need to get realistic about price, and buyers have lots of opportunity! Go get that tax rebate before it expires!

Our team would very much like to help you take advantage of the (up to) $8,000 tax rebate for first time homebuyers, and the $6,500 tax rebate for existing homeowners of 5 years of more.  More Information here.  Email us, or call, 615-457-2188.  We will find out what you need and we can get started!

Here are two opportunities to put your usable items, which you no longer need, to good use.


1.  CCSI needs donations of new or gently used children's and women's clothing, toys, children's items, and home decor to consign in Encores Consignment sale to raise money to support their programs.  All items must be clean and in good condition.  Women's clothing should be in-style, upscale brand clothing.

They are also looking for donations of wire hangers, safety pins, and volunteer time to help tag the items.    All items must be received by Wednesday, February 10, 2010.

Days of Sale: Saturday, February 20 Noon - 8pm
Sunday, February 21   Noon - 6pm
Monday - Thursday, February 22 - 25   10 am - 7pm daily
Friday, February 26      10 am - 7pm   25% OFF DAY!
Saturday, February 27   8am - 3pm     50% OFF DAY! 

Place of sale: 7015 Moores Lane, Brentwood, TN 37027

Thanks for helping CCSI achieve our mission of empowering families, through caring relationships, to achieve social, spiritual, and economic self-sufficiency!  
More info: Pam Webb, Family Services Director, (615) 297-4024.  


2.    Thriftsmart, 4890 Nolensville Road, Nashville, TN 37211, 615-833-8200 ext 23. 

100% of ThriftSmart's profits go to supporting four locally based ministries-  Mercy Children's Clinic, New Hope Academy, The Belize Project, and African Leadership.

Gently used items are needed and welcomed: Shoes, clothing, books, furniture, electronics, house wares , appliances, etc.

While there, shop a little. Find some good buys.

Just a reminder that if you have a seller who has an FHA
loan to be paid off, close near the end of the month. 

No matter what day of the month you close, the FHA payoff is going to include interest for the whole month.

Usually we think that the timing of the closing affects the buyer more than the seller, because the buyer is charged prepaid interest on the remaining days of the month after closing. 

But if your seller is just squeaking by to get enough equity out of her sale to purchase another home, and almost a whole month's interest is added to the payoff (if you are closing at the beginning of the month), that can sting!

In fact it could be devastating to the deal.

A friend asked me to lunch today, and our group went to the Cathay Asian Bistro in Murfreesboro, TN.

She had ordered Peking Duck (it has to be reserved 24 hours in advance).  That was delicious.  We also sampled a steak lunch cooked on a Hibachi grill.

The building is gorgeous.  It reminds me of the Forbidden City.  There is marble and granite everywhere.  There is also a fish pond (I believe there is a fancier name for it but I can't remember what it is) in front of the front door with a little bridge over it. 

Inside there is lots of wood (looks like mahogany) and there is a VIP room with a lazy Susan round table for a private family party.  We will ask for that room next time!

The information is below. Check them out.  Our table buddies were from another county.  Maybe this restaurant will become a destination restaurant in our area.  It is just off I-24 at the Murfreesboro Exit. Below is the information.

You may be a buyer who is approved for $250,000.  What if you are writing an offer on a home for $200,000. Do you have your lender write the approval letter for $250,000 or for $200,000? 

Some feel that the letter should reflect the amount of the offer, the lower amount.  Why let the seller know that you CAN go up on the offer? This may hamper negotiations for a lower price, they feel.

Others feel that your letter should be for the higher amount.  That way, the seller knows that you have a cushion between the contract price and the approved amount.  They also may think that you are frugal and that you are conservative about finances and probably also have good credit.  Another thing, it saves having to get a new approval letter at each price change in the offer.

How do you feel about it?  Personally, I like the letter for the full approval amount. 

Sarah

Have you been touched by the tragedy in Haiti, but didn't know quite how to help?  Founding Family Charitable Foundation (FFCF) would welcome a small donation to help bring a waiting child home.

John and I are on the board of FFCF, a 501c3 non-profit, which was founded in 2005.  FFCF is an all volunteer organization, whose primary mission is to provide grants to adoptive families to pay initial adoption expenses.  We are in contact with several families who are adopting from Haiti.  Due to the earthquake, their waiting children have been granted "humanitarian parole" by the United States and Haitian governments.  This means that they can come live with their approved families while the adoption process is completed.  The orphanages in Haiti will then be able to care for newly orphaned children.  Click here for local TV coverage.

These families will possibly travel in the next week or two to get their children.  The expediting of the process is wonderful, but some families do not have the funds to travel at this time.  Most adoptive families we know are not wealthy, and the adoption journey for them is a faith walk. They rely on God to provide at each step. 

Any donation, large or small, is gratefully accepted and is tax deductible.  You will receive a receipt for tax filing purposes.

Contribute conveniently by PayPal 
OR mail a check to FFCF, Children of Promise-Haiti, 295 Plus Park Blvd Ste 207, Nashville TN 37217.   Thank you!  Email us with questions.