774 University Ave • Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104 • Ph: (651) 222-0399 Fax: (651) 294-0034
Happy New Year
UNDERSTANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Affordable housing is a term we frequently hear these days, but do we really understand what it means? Many buyers feel that just because the payments are low and you can stretch them out for a long period of time, it must be affordable.
Today the average home costs $113,000. To make the home affordable, what you pay for housing should not be more than 30% of your income. At $113,000 a person would have to make $45,000 a year.
Policemen, office workers, teachers start out at approximately $30,000 a year. (salaries taken from channel 4, evening news 7/14/04.) They could not afford a $113,000 house.
The price of housing has increased tremendously in value in the past few years. In the 50's and 60's the average price of houses in this neighborhood ranged from $10,000 to $12,000 for a one family dwelling. Those houses are now worth approximately $120,000, (low estimate) on the market today.
In the 50's and 60's there were strict criteria that had to be met in order to purchase a house. Housing could not be more than 50% of your income. You could not count your wife's income as part of the income for paying for the house. You also had to have good credit. Consumers objected to these restrictions, but little did they know that these restrictions protected them from predatory lenders who prey on the impoverished. Mortgages were for 15 years and most people were able to pay for their homes without having them go into foreclosure. You only paid one and a half times what the actual purchase price was for your home. With such laws a seller would not be able to sell the house if the house was too high and no one was able to afford it. Therefore, this kept the price in a range that was not exorbitant.
Do the math, the more you extend the mortgage, the longer you pay interest on a higher balance which will cause you to pay over three times the selling price in 30 years. Whether or not your home appreciates in value, depends on whether or not inflation continues at its present rate. Since you paid three times the house's worth, it would have to appreciate more than 300% in the next thirty years in order for you to get your money's worth.
Fifty years ago, there were laws against such high interest rates and long term payments, but not so today. Today, creditors are looking for people with poor credit and who buy beyond their means, or in other words, they have become the loan sharks of yesteryear.
This information was gathered from the May 13, 2004 Spokesman/Recorder and life experience.
Patricia Black
GRANITE McCROSSAN
Granite/McCrossan is a federal contractor and Equal Opportunity Employer. They make every effort to comply with Affirmative Action requirements of the Civil rights Act of 1991 and the Americans with Disability Act of 1990.
The labor agreements to which Granite/McCrossan may be signatory provide that this Company must hire employees from a union hiring hall.
Therefore, we encourage all qualified persons to make application to union hiring halls for employment opportunities. Some unions have established apprentice training programs. Anyone wishing to participate in an apprentice program should contact a local union office.
A list of the local union offices in St. Paul are:
Lakes and Plains Regional Council of Carpenters and Joiners
842 Raymond Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651-646-7207
Fax: 651-645-8318
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local Union No. 512
851 Pierce Butler Route
St. Paul, MN 55104-1634
Phone: 651-489-1488
Fax: 651-489-9530"FIRE YOUR BOSS!"Quote by Dave Gagne
ASANDC ENTTREPRENEUR TRAINING AND SUPPORT OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Midway Hamline Coalition
Do you wish to operate your own business in YOUR neighborhood? Are you tired of being the last hired, the first fired and/or laid off: then come join our business training and support classes. We are looking for residents who want to learn the skills needed to successfully start and operate a business. This program is specifically designed for low and moderate income residents, people of color and women of Frogtown and Summit, University areas.
NOTE: This class is also for people who are currently in business, but want to take their business to the next level.
In addition, ASANDC will assist with Financial Education in ASANDC's Family Financial Wellness Program, "Get Credit Smart!"
Other Advantages: People who successfully complete the program, write a business plan, and locate their business in target neighborhoods are eligible for Neighborhood Development Center's ongoing business support.
- Consulting
- Access to low accounting services
- Access to Pro Bono legal services
- Opportunities to participate in joining marketing initiatives
- Eligibility to apply for loans from $500 - $10,000 and much more.
Business classes will start in the latter part of February. Cost for class is based on sliding fee scale, and family household income. Partners can take class together, for the price of one individual.
If you are interested or wish further information, please contact Nieeta Presley at 651-222-0399 or nieeta@aurorastanthony.org. Register now, space is limited.
IS IT NECESSARY FOR YOU TO GET A PAP TEST?
Some years ago, I had a hysterectomy. I asked my gynecologist if I should continue getting a pap test. He said, "Yes, by all means." I asked my general practitioner the same question, he said "No."
To be on the safe side, I continued getting the test. I continued asking the question, and kept getting the same answer depending on whether it was a woman's doctor or a General Practitioner (GP).
So here's the answer from the Journal of the American Medical Association, June 23, 2003: Women who have had a complete hysterectomy are no longer at risk for cervical cancer and the test is unnecessary. So save your money ladies.
LANDLORD WON'T MAKE REPAIRS?
CSP can help you get needed repairs made by utilizing the tenants remedies act (TRA). What is TRA?
TRA is a law that legally forces landlords to make repairs and if they don't, the courts have the authority to take the property away from the landlord and hire someone who will make sure that the repairs are made and to ensure that you are not made homeless due to the lack of repairs. The power is in your hands as the tenants(s) affected.
Who is CSP? CSP is Community Stabilization Project. This is an organization whose mission is to spark low income people, tenants, people of color and new immigrants to organize and take action to preserve and increase the supply of affordable housing in the Twin Cities Metro Area.
If you are in need of getting repairs made, you need to call Jessica or Georgia at: The Community Stabilization Project at 651-225-8778
SUPERIOR MORTGAGE, INC.
Johnny Allen
Mortgage Specialist
Toll Free: 1-866-302-1898 X32
OFFICE: 763-201-2100
FAX: 763-201-2111
Jallenjr@smi4loans.com
Visit us on the web at:
www.smi4money.com
NEED HELP WITH UTILITY BILLS?
The place to go is Ramsey Action Program (RAP). Ramsey Action Program is located at 450 Syndicate in St. Paul. The money will be available from October 15, 2004 to March 1, 2005, on a first come, first served basis.
Bring your last utility bill and proof of income for the last three months with you.HEART ATTACK SELF HELP
Say you are driving home (alone of course), you suddenly begin experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital but unfortunately, you don't know if you can make it that far. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.
Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.
However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds, without let-up, until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.
Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.
Be a friend and tell this to as many friends as possible. It could save their lives!Information received from the internet
PAID UP CREDIT CARDS AS GIFTS
Thinking of giving a paid up credit card as a gift? Be sure to read all of the fine print. Apparently there can be hidden charges on these cards, such as, usage fees, activation fees, expiration, to name a few. When the person tries to use the card, they find that there is no money left on the card. Be sure to watch for expiration dates as the card can expire before it is used and the company absorbs the money that was paid for the card.
I found this out from WCCO news on December 13th about 4:00 in the morning. I have to admire the credit card people's ingenuity in the way they can always find a way to turn nothing into money for themselves.
Pat Black
LIBRARY BOOKMOBILE
The Saint Paul Public Library Bookmobile is an outreach service that brings materials and information to people at designated stops throughout the city of Saint Paul. Currently, the Bookmobile provides bi-weekly service to 39 sites including high-rises, apartment complexes, and neighborhoods without a nearby branch library. In addition, the Bookmobile visits elementary, middle, and charter schools, child care centers, and after-school programs.
The Bookmobile carries more than 4,000 items for children, teens, and adults including books, magazines, movies, audiotapes/cds, and a large print collection. With internet and catalog access available to staff, patrons may apply and receive a library card on their very first visit. Patrons may ask reference questions and request library materials from other branches. To find a location nearest you, pick-up a schedule at your local Saint Paul Public Library or call the Bookmobile office at 651-642-0379.
2005 Calendar Board Meetings: Tuesdays 6:45PM January 11 May 10 September 13 March 8 July 12 November 8 Neighborhood Meetings: Tuesdays 7- 9 PM St. Peter Claver 375 N. Oxford, St. Paul 55104 January 25 May 24 September 27 February 22 June 28 October 25 March 22 July 26 November 22 April 26 August 23 December 26 Youth Teen Council: 5:30 - 6:30 PM Wednesday, January 26 Contact Coordinator:
Damone Presley
(651)222-0399Monday, February 21 Monday, February 14 Watch for the groundbreaking date of our new office building! Thank you.
I just want to take this time to thank all of the members, friends, board members and neighbors for the many cards I received from you during my recent surgery. Thank you so much for your thoughts of kindness and concern. God bless you all.Pat Black