Challenges to be aware of in today's lending environment

Submitted by Brad Hartman, Community Blogger/Mortgage Professional

Thursday, May 26th, 2011, 10:33am

There seems to be a fear out there that banks are not lending money. This is absolutely not true. If you do decide to either purchase or refinance a home there are some items that are helpful to know prior to beginning this process. This article is intended to educate you about some of these complexities. There are always issues that could arise but having knowledge of the following items could allow you to alleviate some of the potential issues or at least educate you about what could happen.

SOURCING FUNDS
This issue would only be applicable if you are purchasing a home or putting money down for a refinance. Depending on the type of loan you are applying for the lender can ask for up to 60 days worth of account statements from the account you will use for funds at closing. They now require borrowers to show proof of any type of non sourced deposits to the account being used for down payment. They will not q

View Comments | Post a Comment

Cobb unemployment lower than Georgia rate in April 2011

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, May 26th, 2011, 5:42am

Cobb unemployment lower than Georgia rate in April 2011

ATLANTA -- Metro Atlanta's unemployment rate decreased to 9.7 percent in April 2011.

That's down one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 9.8 percent in March.

The rate decreased because there were 16,400 new jobs added in Metro Atlanta in April, mostly in leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services.

The lowest Georgia rate, at 7.1 percent, was recorded in Metro Athens, while the highest was in the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region around Dublin, with 11.5 percent unemployment.

Cobb County had a 9.1 percent unemployment rate in April.

April 2011 marks the 43rd consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.0 percent.

View Comments | Post a Comment

BEST SPOTS: Summer Camps for Kids

Submitted by Eden Godbee, Where U Live Producer

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011, 1:32pm

CASCADE, Ga. -- For this week’s installment of Best Spots, we've compiled a list of the best summer camps for your children, this year.

YMCA Centers are the nation’s largest provider of child care services and there are a number of YMCA centers around the metro area. According to their website, YMCA’s provide “family-centered, values-based programs” and they support the “physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of children”. Camp charges vary depending on if membership. Check them out online and find your neighborhood center.

Camp Twin Lakes is a network of camps around North Georgia that “provides life-changing camp programs for kids with serious illnesses, disabilities and other challenges and various state-of-the-art locations throughout the state”.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Toss your ugly diaper bag! $20 = $40 worth of chic bag organizers from PishPosh Mommy

Submitted by GA Lottery

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011, 1:04am

Toss your ugly diaper bag! $20 = $40 worth of chic bag organizers from PishPosh Mommy

Summer is here! Time to switch out your heavy winter bag for straw totes, lightweight hobos and cute beach bags. Oh wait, you have diapers, wipes and soaking wet bathing suits to lug around. Stay chic while carrying all your baby's necessities with Today's Scoop: CLICK HERE TO PAY $20 for $40 worth of stylish PishPosh Mommy products.

THIS EXCLUSIVE DEAL ENDS THURSDAY MAY 26TH AT MIDNIGHT!

ScoopMama.com brings you the Insider Deals on Local Family Fun! We offer our subscribers unbeatable family-friendly deals with savings of 40-75% off kid-friendly activities, stores, restaurants, services and more. Please sign up today to get the Inside Scoop (its free to join).

View Comments | Post a Comment

Cobb Co. to give student athletes concussion tests

Submitted by 11Alive News Staff

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 2:46pm

Cobb Co. to give student athletes concussion tests

MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) -- The Cobb County school district is screening 8,000 student athletes for concussion before the start of the 2011-12 athletic season to create a comparison for when athletes are injured.

The district will announce the new program Thursday during a 10:30 a.m. news conference.

Cobb County is teaming up with WellStar Health System for the tests, which will provide a baseline reading for medical staff in case the student is injured.

The 20-minute test measures cognitive functions like attention span, working memory and reaction time.

Experts estimate U.S. emergency rooms treat 135,000 sports- and recreation-related injuries in children ages five to 18 every year. If left untreated, concussions can cause long-term problems and even death.

The Associated Press

View Comments | Post a Comment

Lawmakers to look for charter school solutions

Submitted by Gary Franklin, 11Alive Assignment Editor

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 7:51am

Lawmakers to look for charter school solutions

ATLANTA -- State lawmakers are planning to meet next week to hammer out solutions for more than a dozen charter schools that face closing after a Georgia Supreme Court ruled the state commission that created them is unconstitutional.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Fran Millar said the meeting is set for June 3 at 10 a.m. at the Capitol. The Atlanta Republican says the goal is to make sure the 16,000 students enrolled in the schools have an "education setting that meets their needs" when school starts this fall.

Millar has invited several state officials, including state schools Superintendent John Barge and Mark Peevy, executive director of the Georgia Charter Schools Commission.

View Comments | Post a Comment

DINNERS ON A DIME: Real Southern Bar-B-Que

Submitted by Eden Godbee, Where U Live Producer

Monday, May 23rd, 2011, 9:39pm

DINNERS ON A DIME: Real Southern Bar-B-Que

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. – This week, Dinners on a Dime features the best in local BBQ. Every Tuesday Where U Live chooses four favorite eats in your area for you to take your family and friends for a fabulous meal for a price that’s economically feasible in today’s economy.

Harold’s Barbeque is a pretty popular restaurant with those of the “old guard” Atlanta. Perhaps, pretty popular is an understatement because according to some Harold’s is “the Georgia Bar-B-Que”. The restaurant which was frequented by the late Southern writer Lewis Grizzard epitomizes old Atlanta; and they even still have a sign sponsored by Coca-Cola. Harold’s is cash only so bring your wallet. The restaurant is located at 171 McDonough Boulevard in Atlanta.

Popular wrestler Abdullah the Butcher chops and smokes the opposition in and outside of the ring.

View Comments | Post a Comment