The New Year

I resolve to live even more simply this year.  I will not spend frivolously on stupid things like a sponge holder when I can just use one of those small plastic chinese soup cups.  Times are hard, the economy is getting worse.  Lots of bank robberies going on, people living without necessities, high unemployment, low morale, increase in crime...you get the drift.

First subprime.  Next Alt-A.  Save your pennies and have a JOYOUS NEW YEAR!!!

If a pedestrian fell, could he/she sue our building?

So I went to Pathmark to get some stuff.  It was 1 pm.  I couldn't walk down my building's sidewalk because it was covered with icy packed snow.  So I decided to cross the street and walk down our neighbor's sidewalk.  I saw a huge difference between the two sidewalks.  Can you?

Mommy & Daddy's night before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house
I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.
Instructions were studied and we were inspired,
In hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required."
The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,
While Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's town house to boot!
And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!
We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat....
Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!
Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;
If we can't get it right, it goes in the basement!
When what to my worrying eyes should appear,
But 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,
With each part numbered and every slot named,
So if we failed, only we could be blamed.
More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,
All over the carpet they were scattered about.
"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!
Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!
Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand."
"Honey," said hubby, "you just glued my hand."
And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact
That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact
To keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night
With "assembly required" till morning's first light.
We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,
Till our eyes, they went bleary; our fingers all hurt.
The coffee went cold and the night, it wore thin
Before we attached the last rod and last pin.
Then laying the tools away in the chest,
We fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.
But I said to my husband just before I passed out,
"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.
Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,
And not have to run to the store for a thing!
We did it! We did it! The toys are all set
For the perfect, most perfect, Christmas, I bet!"
Then off to dreamland and sweet repose I gratefully went,
Though I suppose there's something to say for those self-deluded...
I'd forgotten that batteries are never included!  

Hamilton Heights News

There's a newsletter from Steven Kopstein, a broker.  It has alot of great information about the area.  If you want to subscribe to it, send an email to hamiltonheightsnews@gmail.com

The newsletter is very colorful and pretty but please save a tree and get it delivered to your email.

Expansion

I've had lots and lots of requests to expand this blog to include surrounding buildings.  I could rename this blog but that would put smiles to the cuckoos in this building and the developer so I'm gonna refrain from doing that.  Like I said, I've been thinking about going YOUTUBE.  I'm working with another writer on how to structure a 5 minute YOUTUBE show.  If you have suggestions, feel free to email me:  theharlembubu@yahoo.com.  I'm quite excited about this.   I just gotta figure out how I'm gonna have time to do everything.  

Keep up the good work and continue telling folks about this blog!

Jackie Robinson Park

Is it just me or does the park look scary.  The recreation center looks like a freakin' prison. Get rid of some bricks!  I feel like they should redesign the park and make it more open.  It should be a place that encourages residents to hang out.  .  Add a nice fountain, pond or something.  Also, it needs prettier benches.  These benches are nice.

Review of Resources for First Time Homebuyers

If you're in the market to buy a home and you're poor like me, you can get help to buy your first home from a couple of places.  Here are places that can help you:

1.  HPD - they have a 6% down payment assistance program.  Go here:  HPD

2.  Abyssinian Development Group has a home grant.  Contact them at 212-368-4471

3.  West Harlem Group has a home grant.  Contact them at 212-281-5552

4.  Almost all of the community groups give some type of grant for first time homebuyers.  

5.  Many banks will give you a couple grand to mortgage with them.  Ask the mortgage banker about community grants.

6.  If you're buying in the Bronx, contact me personally and I will give you info on how you can get a 40K grant.

Almost all community groups give some type of grant to first time homebuyers.  If you belong to a special group, contact them because they might have some program that you don't know about.  IT COSTS NOTHING TO ASK.  For example, if you're Native American, contact your tribe. Most likely they'll give you some type of assistance.  My hubby is part Native and his tribe gives 6% of home price assistance.  I'm Vietnamese and I get free money from Vietnamese organizations.  There are rules for these programs.  Some require to be placed as a second mortgage, some require a specific length of stay, some just give you the money without any stipulations as long as you show proof of closing.

Don't be ashamed and don't be shy about getting free money.  These organizations get money for giving money.  

Mo Money!

I was approached by several companies to advertise on this blog.  Two were moving/relocation companies.  But I didn't accept because I have other plans.  Funny how a segment aired on the news today about making money on Youtube bcuz I've been pondering for some time whether to take this blog LIVE. I think it would be interesting.  Of course I would have to expand to cover other related subjects even though I probably would have enough topics to fill my web show.  

You would be surprised how many people read this blog.  I've gotten emails all the way from Tokyo!

So tell me what you think.  Got any ideas?  Write me:  theharlembubu@yahoo.com

Change? What change?

Geez, the change I voted for seems like the same old BS.  I smell something fishy between Barak and Blagojevich.  If our government is buried in corruption can you blame your board?  These SOBs don't know when to stop.

Something was fishy between Barak and the Kennedys and now you see why.  I would be very surprised if Pat over there don't appoint whats her face to fill Hillary's place.

Yep.  This is why our country is where it is now.

What happened to the Xmas spirit?!?

Back home, homes are lighted up with Christmas lights by now.  I finally got the lights out yesterday and put it up around the living room windows.  Last year, we put a Xmas tree up but this year we decided against it because of my son.  I'm too afraid it'll fall on him.  It's a gloomy atmosphere out there but it's warm and cozy in here.  I tried to put a wreath on my door but the stick on hook ain't strong enough.  Gotta go get some epoxy or something.

Back home, everywhere you go, folks treat you with "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" and "MERRY NEW YEAR!" even though we're weeks away.  Immediately it puts you in a good mood to shop and shop and plan for a joyous holiday.  I love OKLAHOMA!  

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

4.5% mortgage rate!!!!

home prices down, $7500 tax credit and 4.5% mortgage rate!!!!  What are you waiting for?  Get your act together, start looking at homes if you haven't already done so.  Call up the non-profit groups to the side of this blog and see how you can get some grants to help you out.  Don't know if banks are still giving out grants (the financial crisis) for getting your mortgage through them but it doesn't hurt to ask.  

To get the 7500 credit, you gotta buy before end of June 2009.  

Here's your chance!

Increase in common charge

Wow!  the increase is 12%.  I haven't heard of any building with a 12% first year increase.  But typical of incompetent boards and low balling of common charges to attract buyers.  I knew the increase was going to be high from the get go just from the budget, especially that first one.   I recall talking to a few neighbors and they were so confident the CC's wouldn't increase for a while.  What board are they putting their confidence in.  Merry Xmas my dear neighbors!  All you gotta do is work a little more over time.  Are there even jobs out there?

Talk about busting your gums!  I heard that dumb machine cost $5000.  How much gum can it bust at one time?  Have you seen that toy at work?  It takes about 5-10 minutes to bust ONE gum spot.    Who's gonna be the full-time gum buster?  Not everything on the discovery channel is a good investment.  They don't promote products for free on TV.  Everybody gets paid so you can act the fool.  

Don't get me wrong, I like it when there are no gum spots on the ground. 

Back to what I was talking about.  Like I said before, being able to pay mortgage is only half the battle.  It's the ever increasing common charges that can leave you without a home.  Uncontrollable expenses are not the only expenses that increase common charge.