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Memorial Day Facts & Ideas

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching, an extended weekend for family, friends, bar-b-cue, parades and sporting events. How will you share this holiday time? When you’re out on the lake fishing, boating and enjoying your freedom, take special time to reflect on the reason for the holiday, to honor those who gave their lives in military services. 

Memorial Day Facts

  • Memorial Day is always held on the last Monday of May.
  • A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3pm local time.
  • A Memorial Day tradition is to fly flags at half-staff from dawn until noon.
  • Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at National Cemetaries.
  • Memorial Day originally was held on May 30th of every year, but was changed to the last Monday.
  • Memorial Day was originally known as “Decorations Day.”

Ideas for Memorial Day Activities

If you haven’t made your Memorial Day plans, here’s a few ideas that are affordable for the whole family.

  • Throw an impromptu bar-b-cue in the backyard or by the pool.
  • Make a special desert with strawberries and blueberries resembling the American Flag. 
  • Take pics of the kids with their American Flags for keepsake, Facebook and scrapbooks. 
  • Visit grandparents and “pick their brains” about the past. 
  • Take flowers and candy to elderly relatives who are in retirement centers.
  • Put a flag up in your front lawn. 
  • Play out in the sprinklers with the kids. 
  • Vow not to work at all this weekend. 
  • Attend Memorial Day services. 
  • Visit a local National Cemetery. 

Whatever you do this Memorial Day, take pause for those who died in military service who are so deserving of the honor. 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!! 

Posted via web from dotjenna’s posterous

Freddie Mac CEO: Housing Is Near Bottom

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Freddie Mac CEO: Housing Is Near Bottom
The inventory of foreclosed houses still hampers the recovery of the housing sector, but overall, the U.S. housing market appears to be at or near bottom, Freddie Mac CEO Charles Haldeman told the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday.

He predicted that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate would remain between 5 percent and 6 percent through 2010.

“The big downside risk to all this is a large wave of homes now in foreclosure potentially hitting the market at prices that are destructive,” Haldeman said.

Source: Reuters News, Soyoung Kim (01/26/2010)

10 Most Undervalued Housing Markets

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

The 10 Most Undervalued Housing Markets
Nationwide, only 87 markets are in the overvalued category, according to a newly released 2010 report compiled by IHS Global Insight and PNC Financial Services.

That means 242 of the 299 largest U.S. housing markets are selling for prices that even bankers think are less than fair market value. The judgment is based on a comparison of median home prices, local interest rates, population densities and income, plus historic premiums or discounts.

Here are the 10 most undervalued areas, according to the study:
Las Vegas, -41.4 percent
Vero Beach, Fla., -39.8 percent
Merced, Calif., -37.7 percent
Cape Coral, Fla., -36.8 percent
Houma, La., -34.6 percent
Port St. Lucie, Fla., -33.3 percent
Warren, Mich., -32.3 percent
Vallejo, Calif., -31.9 percent
Modesto, Calif. -31.8 percent
Stockton, Calif., -31.8 percent

Source: CNNMoney, Les Christie (01/27/2010)