I'm not skilled in any of it. Dad can do it all. He definitely won't be taping or doing dry wall. He hates it. Nephew is a painter - I can help with that - if needed. I'd love to take more time and put more money away, but...we've been through some serious stress already. I'd hate to air my dirty laundry, but here it is in a nutshell. Back in March we started the loan application. We are both teachers for almost 30+ years combined - secure jobs. As our broker says "squeaky clean credit, you can't get much better than that". Bank was in no hurry to loan money. Were approved in June with plans to sign the next week, so we took our own money to get the project rolling. Workers dug out kitchen, mudroom and porch area. We're living in dirt!!! Mind you, it's summer, we aren't working, and so on... State comes into bank and says stop all lending just as our loan is being finalized. We're living off of our savings which has been reduced substantially. On to the next bank. They want 10 comps instead of 3. Again, in no hurry. Now it's been 7 months since we applied to the first bank and we are getting much less than we asked for. Good bye granite, goodbye windows, etc. However, the teachers have learned their lesson. I may just do builder grade to be safe, and then let dad do the upgrades where we decide.(he'll be living with us). It keeps him busy too. Anyway, reality has set in, and all of the wonderful selections I've made have been tough to let go of. I'm holding strong on the hide-a-hose though. My builder knows how bad I wanted it and says I'm getting it no matter what. Our builder is so understanding, and he needs the work just as much as we do. So, he suggested my dad do the trim work, painting, etc. We'll see what happens. There's always the lottery, right?

There are still a few assumable mortgages floating around out there. It sounds like you've found one. It's easier to explain by example, I think...so here goes: Asking Price of House: $200,000 Assumable 1st Mortgage: $150,000 Payable to Seller: $ 50,000 The advantage of the old assumable loan was that most were written so that whoever "assumed" the loan didn't have to qualify. They just starting making the payments. The advantage there is obvious...it's a way for people who have cash but can't qualify for a mortgage to purchase a home. That said, there are also "assumable" mortgages that DO REQUIRE QUALIFYING. But, there may still be an advantage. If, for example, the original mortgage was placed mid-summer of '03...then the rate may be around 4.75% which is quite a bit lower than you could get today. A purchaser wanting to assume a mortgage has to pay the seller the difference between the selling price & the amount remaining on the note that is secured by the mortgage. In times of severely declining real estate markets...the seller may have NO EQUITY. Again, as example...the property may only be worth the outstanding loan amount. In this case, a buyer would apply with the lender to assume the mortgage (if there is a "qualifying" clause) and then just begin making the payments. The lender would issue new coupon books (or, most likely arrange for the mortgage payment to be automaticallly withdrawn from your checking account each month). So, if there's equity in the property you need a down payment (that would be the cash going to the seller). If there's no equity in the property...then there's no down payment. And, it could mean that the value of the property is BELOW THE AMOUNT STILL OUTSTANDING ON THE NOTE in answer to your question. You would need to be quite certain of the market value of the property before entering into a Purchase & Sales Agreement. However, some people who can't qualify for a loan might agree to pay a higher amount for the property because otherwise they can't buy at all. Although, I don't believe there are many "no qualifying" mortgages left out there. I might be wrong on that...but I don't think so. It's been years since any were written without the qualifying clause. Hope that answered some of your questions. Tricia

1.) How long did they say it would be before they contacted you? If they gave you no time frame, I might cut them some slack as they're probably trying to get some pools finished up so those customers can catch a swim or two before closing the pools. No, the sales rep/consultant isn't building those pools, but he or she may need to check on some things with the PB before getting back to you. You'll need to contact more than that one PB anyway, so you may at well make some of those other appointments while you're waiting...just be sure to get them to commit when they'll be getting back to you. 2.) Depends - some do, some don't. 3.) Depends. As you receive more bids, you'll have a better idea of what's customary in your market. 4.) The all-important question!!! Leepoffaith has some good points. It may be possible for you to go to your local permit office and ask for a list of the most recent permits a company has pulled. You could then contact the homeowners for a reference and get a good idea of how things are going right now. I can say from personal experience that a good BBB report and good recommendations don't mean much if the PB has just experienced a change of fortune; that's why a list from the permit office would help.

you could take one plant on the end you dont focus on.. and right after flowering ... or even now.. cut it to about 3 inches ... AND SEE HOW IT REACTS ... given a few weeks ... and then you will have learned such.. and you can determine what to do ... not much at all.. dies simply from pruning ... back when i learned it all.. there was no WWW to make me worry about everything.. so i just experimented .. and lo and behind.. i remember those experiments today .... also ... if i felt like it.. i might trim every other plant ... just to be creative ... i would probably do it with hand shears.. and i would gather all the branches if one plant in one hand [or as big a gob that i could get] .. and cut them with the shears [secateurs if you are canadian] ... it will give you a better understanding of the plants form ...physiology? most likely .. what is left.. has dormant buds.. and once you remove the rest.. those buds will activate.. and you can see the result within the few weeks mentioned above .. have no fear ... ken