Thanks, tmac and bellarosa! tmac, I have been out of town for the last few days, and I just came back home. On my way back from the airport, I stopped by Lowe's and found the 1 gallon pot of F&E RED! I thought that I must come and post this for you, only to see this post! I guess Lowe's has a better deal then, at $14.99! However, I was hoping to get a larger plant though... sigh... let me wait a little bit... bellarosa - please post a pic! I am dying to see that red bloom!

In your opinion, if a buyers agent supposed to make sure a person can buy without the pre approval letter? How do they do that without a pre approval letter? The pre approval letter has less personal information than a W2. Im amazed that you are against getting a pre approval letter but you'll share your W2s and financial documents.? An agent such as ncrealestateguy who won't show a house without a pre-approval letter is doing everyone a disservice - buyers, sellers and him/herself. Especially himself, because as someone just beginning to search for a house, if I were met with that response, I would take my business elsewhere. I think that agents see the house buying experience quite differently than buyers do. As a buyer, I know generally how much I can afford (from the on-line calculator), and my focus is on locating the house, not the details of the sale. Not at that point. Here is an example in another field: a bathroom remodeling company in my area won't let you into their showroom without first having come to your house to measure. It makes perfect sense to them, but as a prospective buyer of that service, it was such a turn off that I went to another company. Linda, regarding showing my W-2 to an agent I want to work with, I'm not being secretive or trying to hide my financials. It is the real estate industry's requirement of the interim step of a bank pre-approval that I am arguing against. It seems a waste of time since I would want to shop the rates among various mortgage companies after I find a house and need financing. So, the prequalification doesn't help me at all. It is hoop that agents are making buyers jump through. If I e-mailed you explaining my circumstances, made an appointment, and then walked into your office with my W-2, a piece of paper showing my 800 FICO score, and my driver's license, why wouldn't that be sufficient for you to get me into a house that I had already researched on the internet?

Got a quick update. I ran over to a Viking dealer yesterday and tried a good walking foot. I was making WAY to much out of the whole thing! That foot was great. So that makes me wonder if I can find a better one for my current White. That will give me more time to find a used machine for a better price than a new one. A friend is supposed to let me know today if I can buy her used Pfaff or not. She gave it to her mom but doesn't think her mom is using it. She upgraded to a Bernina Aurora 440 QE. We'll see (fingers and toes crossed). There was a used machine at the Viking place for $485. Someone had traded that one in on a new machine. I don't remember the model number now. It has 20 or so stitches. I called all the sewing machine shops in town yesterday looking for used Pfaffs and Berninas but had no luck. It seems like once people have those machines, they don't sell them. Ever. So, I guess I'm still on the prowl for a new/used machine. Now at least my options are wider. Thanks for helping me through this. If y'all know of anyone looking to sell a clean used machine, let me know. Thanks. Christy

Wow....what an amazing list of people.... too many of them no longer with us or active here. It is nice to remember some of their names and their struggles that we shared. Thanks for the memories.