Does anyone out there feel the way I do about this year? I’m feeling like I have been running in one of those races I dream about sometimes. You know, the one where you’re going along at a great pace and then all of sudden it’s like running through water with two anvils for legs.

As I recall, my year started out well and I was hopeful of the future. For all intents and purposes, I feel like a winner and I am hopeful for 2009. Here, for your consideration, are some of my choices of winners and losers in ‘08.

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Each year at this joyous time, my husband and I will talk about what we call the “Spirit of Christmas” or the holidays. We discuss the nature of this so-called “Spirit.” How do we recognize it and what are the benefits of it? My husband has even asked any number of our friends at various holiday gatherings about their thoughts on the subject.

The responses have been things along this line:

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I really loathe this quote. It’s such a downer and so cynical - never mind that it’s so true. It doesn’t begin to lift my spirits or offer any hope. And hope is what we in the real estate world need, especially these days.

Whether or not you agree with the government’s October bailout program, it is, in fact, a reality. Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac are going to be working with delinquent homeowners to get them back on track so they can keep their homes. JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bank of America Corp and Citicorp are also falling in line to offer mortgage loan modifications to those who qualify.

Qualify - therein lies the rub.

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I’m a Baby Boomer, born to parents who lived during the Great Depression. My mother was a very young girl during the Depression’s early years; my dad was in his late teens. Each walked away with different perspectives.

My mom always considered her family poor, living in rural Fargo, ND. My dad grew up in somewhat better circumstances on the island of Saint Croix, in the Virgin Islands. He was a Danish citizen until the U.S. purchased the islands in 1927 and he came to the States.

Marrying after World War II, they lived simply in Chicago in a one-bedroom apartment until I came along. My sister followed a couple of years later.

We were a family of modest means that thought nothing of eating leftovers. We were taught to throw garbage (litter) in trash cans and to pick up after ourselves in public places. Our week off of school in April was not referred to as “Spring Break,” but Clean-Up Week. Kids from our block got together to sweep sidewalks and curbs and eliminate trash. We were even given a certificate from the City of Chicago for our contributions.

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Lots of change and lots of good news to post. This fourth post in the Age of Empowerment Series is a pleasure to write. I’ll cover the good of people helpin’ people and cap it with a relief to your wallet these days.

Let’s begin … (more…)

Dear Mr. Stein,

I came across your oh-so-enlightening article on Yahoo! Finance today, “Why I’m Still Buying”, and wanted to share an important lesson with my readers, using you as a perfect example.

Thanks in advance. (more…)

I write this post as I sit on a Sunday evening enjoying time with my family, each of us engaged in separate activities, but all of us together and united.

I am reflecting on a blog post I just read, “Beneath the financial crisis waits a nastier beast”, which explores the last domino of the financial crisis. The blogger, Waleed Aly, discusses what might happen with social politics as a result of the economy. Aly’s belief is that government intervention and the new marketplace cannot help but alter social politics. (more…)

Through the negative mire that clogs the RSS feeds fighting for your attention, my posts will vye for your attention to serve as a distraction. You don’t have to look far to know what’s going on in the economy. You don’t have look far to feel the seeds of fear being planted and the hungry vines trying to spread their tentacles into every soundbite in the media.

I am asking you to commit to a pre-New Year’s resolution. Please repeat after me: “I will remain laser-focused on the positive.” (more…)

November is fast approaching and election 2008 is rounding the corner. Did you realize that if you haven’t registered to vote by today, you could be giving yourself laryngitis on Election Day? In 20 states around the country, if you are not registered to vote by today, October 6, you won’t be able to vote on Election Day.

If you’re concerned about housing, you need to register to vote. (more…)

I wrote a post earlier this month, “Downpayment assistance goes down the drain October 1st.” As of this writing, the groundswell movement has not yet passed H.R. 6694 - FHA Seller-Financed Downpayment Reform and Risk-Based Pricing Authorization Act of 2008. This bill would allow downpayment assistance to continue.

Is there still time to save DPA?

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