YOU WALK AWAY... from a mortgage!

The International Herald Tribune’s 2-29-2008 headline “Faced with mortgage default, some U.S. homeowners walk out” will lead you to this site, which results in walking away from a home and mortgage and ceding the home to a bank in foreclosure: http://www.youwalkaway.com/ . The house then becomes the lenders problem, and the former homeowner might be able to rent a property for less than half the cost of their mortgage they left behind. According to the article, while in some states banks have recourse to sue borrowers for their losses, it is usually not done because the process “is costly and “people’s nonhousing wealth tends to be pretty slim”. For a copy of the article, email marilynfjacobs@gmail.com. According to the founder of You Walk Away, which opened for business in January 2008, the company’s services are not for everybody and were meant as a last resort. Those finding themselves having to choose between a car payment and their kids’ health insurance or paying a ballooned mortgage may have an alternative now, and may feel that over the coming years their income will go up and their credit will improve while, in the meantime, they rent instead of owning a home.

FORECLOSURES NOT JUST MAINSTREAM

One of the nation’s priciest residences, Harold Vanderbilt’s Villa di Venezia, the 1929 Italian Renaissance mansion at 1100 South Ocean Boulevard in Manalapan, went on the auction block and was bought by mortgage holder, New Stream Capital, on the steps of the courthouse, for $22-MM. New Stream will put the property back on the market to recoup its investment. The 20,000 sq ft Maurice Fatio home was sold to Randolph Hearst by Mel and Bren Simon for $29.87-MM in 2000, a record sale for Florida at that time. Hearst died 6 months later and his widow, Veronica, was left the house but did not have the money to maintain it. Veronica Hearst paid for property taxes, renovations, etc. by borrowing millions of dollars against the home’ value, selling 150 feet south of the property for $6.2MM.

NEW SPANISH RIVER LIBRARY NOW OPEN… MAKE A VISIT A MUST!

Enter into a huge reading room with volume ceilings and high windows giving off light, and find a serene atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a book or a magazine. The facility is about 40,000 sq feet, a Mizner-inspired design, features decorative arches and faux coral stone columns, a Spanish tile roof, the man-made Blue Lake, coffered ceilings and dark cherry wood trim. Approved by voters, Countess de Hoernle's philanthropic gift greatly reduced our costs. Go visit and be proud to take guests from out-of-town to lunch at the Library Cafe. Check out the thousands of free books, newspapers, magazines, periodicals and more. Wireless computer outlets are available. The upstairs balcony area, as well as the main reading room, is perfect for studying and reading. Ground was broken on April 2, 2004 to start building the Library, and now that construction is complete, the library opened January 26, 2008. There are two Computer Labs each seating a dozen people. There is a Children’s Lab with learning games and application software. A spcial Teen Room for Tweens and Teens is provided. Rooms and beautiful outdoor areas, some with pretty Blue Lake views, are available for meetings and events. Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library offer a chance to win a $25 gift certificate and other prizes every day you come to one of the libraries from February 1-29. The Library Café fixes fresh salads and foods and has wonderful cookies, cakes and pastries. They can do catering for any kinds of parties. Email torocsikpeter@yahoo.com or call 561-305-8646. You can eat in the café, or go outside to the tables overlooking the pretty lake. Programs are featured and you can join The Friends of the Boca Raton Library for $25 or less. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 9 pm. Friday and Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm. Sunday, 12 noon to 8 pm. For more information go to www.bocalibrary.org.

OFFICE HOURS EXTENDED FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, PORTABILITY FILINGS

Gary Nikolits, Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, reminds homeowners that there is less than a month left to file for 2008 homestead exemption and portability benefits and has extended office hours for the next three weeks. Extended hours will be available at the service center on the first floor of the Governmental Center at 301 N. Olive Avenue in West Palm Beach, at 3188 PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens and 501 So. Congress Avenue in Delray Beach, and 200 Civic Center Way in Royal Palm Beach. These offices will be open from 7:30 am to 6 pm weekdays. Filing deadline for exemptions is Monday, March 3^rd. It is suggested to file as early as possible to avoid long lines. You can file online on the Property Appraiser’s website; go to the Exemption E-File link on the home page and follow the prompts. For more information, call 561-355-2866.

HERE is your opportunity for international exposure of your work!

POETRY PROTOCOL, Syndicate is currently accepting poetry for it's International Poetry Quarterly. You also have the opportunity to submit your work for the '10TH ANNUAL MARILYN FARBER JACOBS POETRY AWARD' Contest! Grand prize: ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS!! Second Place: $50; Honorable Mention Certificates Awarded. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: Theme: open - any style or genre of poetry; 20 lines or less; typed or printed, double spaced; deadline is March 18, 2008; entry fee: $5 for unlimited poem entries. Please make check out to: North Tulsa Literary Guild, Inc. and mail to North Tulsa Literary Guild, P.O. Box 6221, Tulsa, OK 74148-0221. ANYONE CAN ENTER!

OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT AT MIZNER PARK & GREENMARKET AT ROYAL PALM PLAZA

Come with chair or blanket to watch an outdoor movie on the 40-foot screen at the Mizner Park Amphitheater for “Cinema in the Park,” with support from the city’s Recreation Services, equipment underwriting from Mizner Park and promotional support provided by Sunrise Cinemas at Mizner Park and the Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park, award-winning and timeless classic movies will be shown. Selected cartoon clips and live entertainment may preceded the main feature. Compliments of Sunrise Cinema, free popcorn will be available. Movie-going cuisine provided by Boca Raton Community High School Band Boosters will include hot dogs, soda, water, candy and other snacks. Parking is available adjacent to the Amphitheater and in several garages. Family pets, alcoholic beverages and smoking are not permitted. On Friday, April 4^th, Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events will l be shown. On Friday, May 16^th, Shrek the Third will be shown. For more information call 561-393-7806, selection 2. On Saturday, March 1,8,15,22,29, come to the BOCA RATON GREENMARKET – a free Children’s Museum event from 8 am to 1 pm in Royal Palm Plaza, SW corner of South Federal Hwy & South Mizner Blvd. Local produce, plants and prepared foods, specialty arts & crafts, food tastings, family activities, food vendors, community not-for-profit organizations, fresh cut flowers, food & health information will be featured. Contact (561) 393-7827 for further information.

LINK TO LOWEST LOCAL GAS PRICES

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-gasprices-htmlpage,0,826131.htmlpage

DON’T MISS AMERICA’s INTERNATIONAL FINE ART & ANTIQUE FAIR

Starting with an invitation-only event on January 31^st, and running through February 10^th, the show being held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Boulevard in downtown Palm Beach, will feature fine art, antiques and estate and couture jewelry. Works of art from more than 80 dealers from around the world will be shown. Artwork will include Greek, Roman and Egyptian; Asian; Old Master paintings and Sculpture; arms and armor; American and European 19^th and early 20^th C. fine art and antiques; 18^th-20^th C. furniture,; jewelry and objet d’art; pre-Columbian and tribal art; classic modern and contemporary art. To buy tickets or for more information, call (866) 802-8337, or visit www.palmbeachfair.com

BEGONIAS… WORKSHOP WILL EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE

“The Beguiling Begonias Workshop” will be held Saturday, February 9^th from 9 am to noon in the Mounts Botanical Garden auditorium, located at 559 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach. Begonias are perennial landscape plants that grow well in Florida. See slides and live plants to learn about the various types of rhizomatous, cane and other begonias, which will thrive in your garden. Each attendee will learn how to propagate these begonias and will pot up a tray of assorted cuttings to take home. Admission price is $40 for members, $50 for non-members – Admission price includes potting materials and begonia cuttings. Workshop will be held in the Garden Pavilion. If you want to expand your begonia collection there will be a selection available for purchase after the workshop. Call Mounts to reserve space. Mounts features plants from 6 continents on 14 acres. For information contact Joy Ford Le at 561-233-1747 or jlford@co.palm-beach.fl.us.

A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM YOUR BLOG MANAGER

“Buyers are coming out of the woodwork,” is what I’m hearing from other real estate agents, and that is indeed true for me as well. I’m working with many buyers on purchasing primary and second homes. Closings are resulting. Some are from the US, and others from countries including Canada, England, and Singapore. I predicted in the past, and reiterate now: “the best buys will be made between now and the early summer… after that the pickings will be left on the market.” Sale prices are on the low side right now, interest rates are low and may go farther down, and there is huge inventory to pick from – A BUYER’S MARKET. Will keep the readership updated in the coming months... Marilyn Farber Jacobs, Realtor, ePRO - Lang Realty & Lic. Mortgage Broker - Iberia Mortgage Corp., Lic. Correspondent Lender.