FREE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS-DIABETES, MOBILITY, ARTHRITIS

Medicare will pay for your supplies. Delivery will be made directly to your home. Your claims will be filed for you. No waiting in line, no trips to the pharmacy, NO COST TO YOU. For diabetics, we have a brand new state-of-the-art testing meter, virtually pain free – never prick your fingers again! With free blood pressure monitor on first reorder, you get a free cookbook. No cost scooter or power wheelchair, delivered to your home with free in-home setup – choose from a variety of brands. Equipment provided for relief from arthritis, back ache, elbow, ankle or knee pain, swelling, soreness, stiff joints-relieves pain, increases mobility, reduces swelling, long-term wearer comfort, increases circulation, promotes healing. VitalWrap System delivers targeted relief through hot, cold, contrast and compression therapies with precision and comfort. Sizing guide included. Email marilynfjacobs@gmail.com for free Community Service Medical Equipment Brochure or call Marilyn to receive brochure in person or by mail at 561-988-0070. Marilyn is a Licensed Advisor/Independent Insurance Agent and will be happy to discuss with you Medicare Supplements, Life and Health Insurance, Annuities, Long Term Care, and Life Settlements.

TODAYS AWARD: FREE COPYING, FAXING AT OFFICE DEPOT FOR JOB SEEKERS THROUGH MAY 30^th

Kudos to Office Depot, for recognizing these are tough times for many, and offering up to 25 single-sided free copies of resumes and free faxing to 5 different domestic numbers for job seekers.

2008 WORLD’S MOST ETHICAL COMPANIES

Names you may recognize on this list include American Express, HSBC, Nike, Honda Motor Company, Sun Microsystems, FPl Group, General Electric, General Mills, Kellog, Pepsi, Caterpillar, AFLAC, International Paper, Allianz, Google, Kiplinger, Marriott, Time Warner, McDonalds, Starbucks, Gap, Ikea, Trader Joes, Vodaphone and United Parcel. For a complete list, and how they were chosen, see http://www.ethisphere.org/wme2009.

FROM FORBES, “10 THINGS TO BUY BEFORE THE ECONOMY IMPROVES”

Sadly, someday this recession is going to end. After 17 months of steep decline, both the president’s Council of Economic Advisors and the Federal Reserve now believe the conomy will begin to recover sometime in 2009. Great news, to be sure. But it’s also a warning to consumers: The deals you’re seeing on everything from houses and cars to televisions and furniture won’t last forever. Luckily for a host of goods and services, the sale of the century (literally) is still on. The reason is simple: no buyers. Personal savings in 2008 were nearly six times greater than in 2005… For those feeling bold enough to bargain shop, opportunities abound. Some deals, like housing and automobiles, might be obvious, but others, like diamonds, might not be. BIG TICKET ITEMS: At the top of the list: housing. This may be the best time in a generation to buy a home. According to the S&P/Case-Shiller US National Home Price Index, fourth-quarter 2008 prices were down 25% from the fourth quarter of 2006. The stimulus bill Congress passed in February includes an $8000 credit for first-time home buyers. According to bankrate.com, average interest rates are beginning to dip below 5% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

THE GOOD, BAD AND BETTER NEWS ON HOUSING AND MORTGAGES

Neighborhood Stabilization Programs are reaching heavily into foreclosed areas. $4BB of federal monies authorized by Congress in 2008 and another $2BB dollars in the 2009 economic stimulus package are being distributed to dozens of cities, towns and counties in the United States. These are aimed at purchasing blocks of distressed properties to create “land banks” for future redevelopers. Private investors can work jointly with nonprofits to assemble and prepare real estate for government purchase. Sidelined by the recession, now local builders and developers may be able to help reconstruct damaged houses and manage them until they are ready for resale. Contact local housing and community development agencies that are making Neighborhood Stabilization proposals to the federal government. If local officials have not yet prepared proposals for HUD, you may be able to talk to them and get the process started. Tamarac in Broward County, the closest area to Palm Beach County receiving initially distributed funds for this plan, will get almost $5MM. For Further information. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that 2 weeks ago US mortgage applications soared 32% as record low interest rates spurred home refi loans, accounting for 78.5% of all applications. Zillow.com reports that in 2008 the housing market lost an estimated $3.3 trillion in value. Credit Suisse Group AG estimates that a total of 16% of all US households (8.1MM homes) with mortgages could fall into foreclosure by 2012. The Mortgage Bankers Association estimates that at the end of 2008, a little more than 9% of all US home loans were either in arrears or foreclosure. The $75BB incentive plan for lenders applies when they lower interest rates so that a borrowers monthly mortgage payment is no more than 38% of his or her pre-tax income. Then the government program would match the amount reduced by the lender to bring payments down to 31% of their pre-tax income, or to lower the principal owed on the mortgage, according to Market Watch. Part of the initiative provides for servicers to receive $1000 for each loan modification, and government funding for each month the borrower stays current on the loan. Homeowners can also receive $1000 annually for 5 years as long as they stay current on loan payments – this comes from the Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP) and from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A plan allowing judges to rewrite mortgage terms for homeowners in bankruptcy court is under consideration so that rather than force people into foreclosure they can make at least some of the payments. There is a fear, however, that this “cram down” law, if passed, would stop investors from buying mortgage-backed securities, fearing judges could unilaterally change the terms of the deal the securities were created around, according to MSNBC, thereby destabilizing the marketplace.