Anna-Lise Troup's Tucson Area Real Estate Update: June 2012

The summer months wouldn't be complete without a trip to the swimming pool, lake, river or ocean. But fun can quickly turn to tragedy without the right training and supervision — especially for kids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites drowning as the second leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 14.  Following are tips to keep your child safe in and around the water this summer.

Learn to swim
Formal swimming classes are a good bet to help kids learn how to move and stay afloat in the water. Many classes are offered to children as young as 6 months. Even if your children have successfully completed a swimming program, however, be sure to supervise them when they are in or around water.

Buddy up
Emphasize to your kids that they should never go swimming alone. It’s important to have a buddy. When selecting a pool to visit, also try to find one that keeps lifeguards on staff, especially during busy times when there are a lot of people in the water.

Take a class in CPR
CPR skills can save the life of someone who has taken in too much water. Hopefully you won’t ever have to use your training, but you’ll be thankful for it if you ever do need to jump into action.

Pay attention to the weather
If you're headed out on a boat or for a day at the beach, check the weather reports first. You don’t want to get caught in an electrical storm. Also, pay attention to beach flags. When the water is choppy or showing signs of rip currents, the lifeguards will change the green “water is fine” flag to yellow (caution) or even red (highly dangerous conditions).

Set up a fence
If you have a pool on your property, put a fence around it to keep curious children out, especially toddlers. Also keep the gate latched at all times.

Don’t make assumptionsIf you believe that a drowning person thrashes around in the water and easily draws attention, think again. Many victims simply sink silently under the water's surface. For this reason it’s very important to watch everyone who is in the pool or other body of water.
Pool toys
Floatable noodles or air wings around a child’s arms will not keep him from drowning. If you are in a situation where your child needs a life jacket, make sure to get one that is Coast Guard approved.
With a little bit of preparation and attentive supervision, you can ensure that your kids' water activities are fun, safe and memorable.

For further reading
For more on water safety, visit these links:
CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html)
Infant Aquatics (http://www.infantaquatics.com/)
List of beach warning flags (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/cmp/programs/pdf/WarningFlagSign.pdf)
Drowning myths (http://www.mamapedia.com/voices/4-heart-dash-stopping-myths-on-drowning-every-responsible-parent-should-know)
Drowning prevention tips (http://www.nhwatersafety.com)

--- Anna-Lise Troup Tucson REALTOR/Davis-Monthan AFB PCS Expert Realty Executives (520) 906-5659 --- Tucson Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale Free Relocating to Tucson, AZ Information Kit Davis-Monthan AFB Relocation Information ---

Great news for our military clients!

FHFA Announces Short Sale Assistance for Military Homeowners with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac Loans
 Washington, DC –
At a news conference with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray, CFPB Assistant Director of Servicemember Affairs Holly Petraeus, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy Robert L. Gordon III, DeMarco announced that military homeowners who receive Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders will be eligible to sell their homes in a short sale even if they are current on their mortgage. PCS orders often require quick moves and can create hardship for military homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages and therefore cannot sell their home without taking a loss. Previously, many service members felt their only option was either to maintain financial obligations on two residences or to default on their mortgage.
"It is in everyone’s interest for the men and women serving in our armed forces to focus on the important job they are doing defending our country, rather than worry about the maintenance and leasing of a property in another jurisdiction," said DeMarco. "These Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac policy changes, in combination with related guidance last fall, should now provide military homeowners with access to the immediate and automatic full range of foreclosure alternatives."
DeMarco commended the CFPB and the prudential regulators – the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency – for issuing a new interagency guidance that reinforces for mortgage servicers the importance of treating military homeowners with PCS fairly.
Under the new policy Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will not pursue a deficiency judgment or any cash contribution or promissory note from members of the military with a change in duty station for any property purchased on or before June 30, 2012. Service members must have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan to be eligible.
Last year Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued guidance to mortgage servicers confirming PCS orders as a qualifying hardship for forbearance and loan modifications.
Service members can check Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac websites to see if their loans are held by them or they can call hotlines for military homeowners at 1-877-MIL-4566 or 1-800- FREDDIE. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco today announced changes to short sale policies that will make it easier for military homeowners with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans to honor their financial commitments when they are required to move as part of their duty. ### The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks. These government-sponsored enterprises provide more than $5.7 trillion in funding for the U.S. mortgage markets and financial institutions.

--- Anna-Lise Troup Tucson REALTOR/Davis-Monthan AFB PCS Expert Realty Executives (520) 906-5659 --- Tucson Real Estate, Condos, Homes for Sale Free Relocating to Tucson, AZ Information Kit Davis-Monthan AFB Relocation Information ---