South Loop News November 2009

South Loop News November 2009

H1N1: Information is the Best Defense!

Symptom	Cold	H1N1 Flu
Fever	Fever is rare with a cold.	Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100�F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing	A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.	A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches	Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose	Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.	Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills	Chills are uncommon with a cold.	60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness	Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.	Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing	Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.	Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache	A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.	A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat	Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.	Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
Chest Discomfort	Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.	Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

New Area Code For Chicagoland Area

Due to increased demand for telephone numbers, the Illinois Commerce Commission approved the addition of a new area code, 872, for the same geographic area as the 312 & 773 area codes. Everyone should now begin dialing all local calls using 1+area code + 7-digit telephone number. Effective November 7, 2009, all calls must be dialed using this new dialing procedure.

What is the New Dialing Procedure?
To complete local calls, the new dialing procedure requires callers to dial 1 + area code + telephone number. This means that all calls in the 312 or 773 area codes need to be dialed using 1 + area code + telephone number.

When will the Change Begin?
Beginning November 7, 2009 you must use the new dialing procedure for all local calls. After this date, if you do not use the new dialing procedure, your call will not be completed, and a recording will instruct you to hang up and dial again. All customers should begin using the new dialing procedure before November 7, 2009.

Why is the Change Necessary?
To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the 872 area code is being added to the area served by both the 312 & 773 area codes. Since more than one area code will now serve the same geographic region, 1 + the area code must be used when dialing any telephone number—including calls within the same area code. Beginning November 7, 2009, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers with the new 872 area code.

What Will You Need to Do?
In addition to dialing the 1 + area code + telephone number for all local telephone calls, you may need to:

• Update any preprogrammed 7-digit telephone numbers in your handset to include the 1 + area code, as well as any text or email alert services.
• Reprogram all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment that are programmed with a 7-digit telephone number to include the 1+ area code. Some examples are life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, security gates, speed dialers, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, and similar functions.
• Check your websites, business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks, contact information, and your ID tags to ensure the 1+ area code is included.

What Will Remain the Same?
Your telephone number, including current area code will not change.

• The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
• What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
• You will still dial just three digits to reach 911.
• If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, and 811 are available in your community, you will still dial them        with just three digits.

Proposed Changes For FHA………

FHA had announced new changes to take place on October 1 regarding among, other items, spot approvals for condominiums.  The change implementation date has now been changed to November 2 of this year.  My sources tell me at issue is that FHA wants to place the responsibility on the lenders for the condo approvals in terms of FHA acceptability   Word is (and you heard it here first) that all the major lenders in the USA have refused to accept this responsibility.  Lenders could potentially find themselves in the position of having closed and funded loans, and then have FHA say they are not acceptable under FHA guidelines and not FHA insurable.  FHA is overwhelmed with the project and spot condo loan requests and wants to get the work off their staff.  So, it’s back to the drawing board on these changes.  I’ll let you know when more information is available.

Southloop News Oct 2009

I Don’t Know Why I Go To Extremes

Soutloop News Sept 2009

Sept09 SOUTHLOOP

What Would You Do With $8000?

Mortgage News What Would You Do With $8,000?

What if the government decided today that, instead of bailing out Wall Street, it was going to give every American $8,000? What would you do with the money? For most Americans, paying off credit card debt would be a great way to use the free money. According to a Nilson Report released in April 2009, the average credit card debt per household in the US was $8,329 at the end of 2008. That money from the government would almost wipe out your debt completely. Imagine being completely debt free. Healthcare is a big topic these days. According to the most current Census Bureau statistics, some 45.7 million Americans do not have health insurance. So, many Americans might choose to use their $8,000 to enroll their family in a healthcare program through their employer. The federal government tracks the average spending on health insurance for people with job-based coverage, and the most recent figures (from 2005!) indicate that the average individual’s premiums were $3,991, while families spent an average of $10,728. Your $8,000 would go a long way in insuring your family. Some Americans might choose to start a small business. Experts estimate that start-up costs for many new business ventures are between $10,000 – $15,000. With $8,000, a large portion of your initial investment would be covered. If you really think about it, there are so many things you could do with $8,000. You could open a 529 college savings plan. You could add your 8 grand to the government’s $4,500 Cash for Clunkers plan and buy a new car. You could take your family on an amazing once-in-a-lifetime vacation. You could open an IRA and save for retirement… But what’s the point in dreaming. The government’s not giving away $8,000, right? Wrong. Right now, through November 30th of this year only, the government is giving qualifying first-time home buyers up to $8,000 for purchasing a home (or up to 10% of the purchase price). This is free money that you do not have to pay back. And here’s the best part: if you qualify, you can get your money from the IRS this year, even if you’ve already filed your 2008 taxes. There are, of course, limitations and other qualifying factors, but they are all pretty reasonable and easy to explain, and we’ll be glad to discuss these with you or anyone you know who is looking to buy a home. With today’s combination of lower home prices and lower interest rates, this temporary incentive from the government is really a great option for many Americans who act now to finally fulfill their dreams of owning a home.

Kiplinger Letter Week of August 7th

Kiplinger Letter

The Wall Street Journal Notes…….

High-End Homes Frozen Out Of Budding Housing Rebound