Real Estate Information Archive

FREEDOM FEST SCHEDULE

Sheppard Air Force Base - Wichita Falls, TX July 4th, 2009

Gates open at 3 p.m. today for Freedom Fest on Sheppard Air Force Base (enter through the Hospital Gate)

3:30 p.m.: Sack race for those ages 5-10. Rock/funk band Miyagi will perform.

4 p.m.: Jalapeño-eating contest, balloon smash and a sack race for those ages 11-15

4:30 p.m.: Speed-toss for those ages 5-10

5 p.m.: Cookie-stacking contest; speed-toss for those 11-15. Honky-tonk band Cody Shaw and the Rhythm Boys on the main stage.

5:30 p.m.: Trash-can basketball and three-legged races for those ages 5-10 (parent and child).

6 p.m.: Kick-the-can game and a three-legged race for those ages 11-15

6:30 p.m.: Apple-eating contest and a cookie-eating contest for those 5-10. Rock band Twice Broken on the main stage.

7 p.m.: Mine field and a cookie-eating contest for those ages 11-15

7:30 p.m.: Multi-way tug-of-war

8 p.m.: Tops in Blue performing on the main stage

10 p.m.: Fireworks

Hotter 'N Hell Hundred and the cycling community of America can look forward to continued innovation in 2009, GPS mapping, and changes to Hell’s Gate. Riders and racers from all over the USA will celebrate the 28^th annual Hotter 'N Hell Hundred on Aug. 29, 2009. Hotter 'N Hell Hundred will continue to excite record numbers of participants and add to their fitness experience.   The Hotter 'N Hell Hundred is one of the oldest and largest cycling events in the nation. Fitness oriented riders and bicycle racers will come to Wichita Falls, Texas, from virtually every state and several foreign countries. They will set their calendars for the week of Aug. 27 - Aug. 30, 2008.  The official ride start will be approximately 7:00 a.m. (official sun rise) on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. The Endurance ride is Saturday Aug. 29,2009 with USA Cycling racing on Friday and Saturday. The HHH will continue to offer an off-road mountain bike race on Friday August 28, 2009 and a trail run on Sunday August 30, 2009 as well.  By the way, the HHH is always 9 days before Labor Day.

Several things happen during the Hotter 'N Hell weekend. The activities that comprise the HHH are: Registration, Consumer Show, Spaghetti Dinner, USA Cycling Criterium Race, USA Cycling Road Race, the Hotter 'N Hell Hundred Endurance Ride, an Off-Road bicycle race, off-road trail run along with entertainment food and fellowship at the Finish Line Village. In other words, HHH is not just one day, it is at least 4 days of challenging and inspiring activities.

Endurance cyclists will face wind and heat with the help of 4,000 event volunteers on routes up to 100 miles. The Hotter 'N Hell Hundred route is rolling with some long inclines accentuated by incessant wind. With the huge consumer products show, off-road mountain biking and USA Cycling Races over the weekend, the Hotter 'N Hell offers an awesome start and the greatest weekend on two wheels. If you are going to ride 100 miles, the best place to do it is at the Hotter 'N Hell Hundred!

People ask what you get when you register for the HHH. It is a grueling day in the sun so what does a rider get besides sore muscles, tired posterior, sense of accomplishment and several hours of pure cycling madness? There is no answer that fits all. Riders pit themselves against the road and elements for different reasons. What everyone does get is a ride T-shirt and water bottle, goodie bag, free stuff from the consumer show, his or her share of 15,000 gallons of hydration fluid, truck loads of fruit, pickles, thousands of helpers on the route and a hard-earned finisher pin.
Route distances are:
10K - 25 mile - 50 mile - 100K  - 100 mile
Riders for the 100 miles need to be aware of Hell's Gate! Hell's gate is located at the 60.3 mile mark on the 100 mile route. Hell's Gate normally closes at 12:30 p.m. unless weather conditions force an early closure. Riders who reach Hell's Gate after closure are directed to a shorter route that finishes the day with 84 miles. This year, rest stops prior to Hell’s Gate will display closure status so riders can adjust their pace to reach Hell's Gate prior to closing. The process for closing Hell's Gate will be reviewed in the Ride Tabloid mailed during the spring of 2009.  

10K: This short route is for those who don't ride much but want to experience the dynamics and human energy unleashed at the starting line.
Off Road:  HHH weekend includes a 10-mile off-road route. The start is adjacent to the 100-mile start. The trail will be open all day but will be swept for survivors at 6 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday. The trail is single track with quick short climbs and drops. The route is fun but riders are reminded that these nature trails are on natural surfaces surrounded by trees, water, wild animals, pointy objects and poison ivy. Off-roading requires skill and caution on the part of the rider.

EntryFee:  HHH has worked hard to keep entry fees as low as possible. To help families, there is a family discount. Regular registration is $30. The family discount is applied to registrations from the same household after the first full fee is paid. The maximum is 5 discounts per household. The family rate is $25. The family discount is available during early registration which expires July 31, 2009. All family discount registrations need to be received at one time and paid all together. Riders can register on line, by mail, fax, or in person. Late registration is $35.

Timing: Riders can request electronic timing. For an additional $5.00 ($7 at late registration) riders will use a state-of-the-art electronic timing chip and receive comparative speed and elapsed time information by age and gender. Riders that pre-register can contract for text messaging service as they cross the finish line.

It is important to accurately register for the event you intend to participate in. The USA Cycling races are for licensed racers who have paid or plan to pay a license fee to "race". Most of the 10000+ endurance cyclists that come for HHH will be registering for the Endurance ride. No license is required and you compete against your own personal best, the road, the wind and the heat. 

Rates have increased due to concerns over government spending and inflation concerns.   If trends continue rates will continue to rise with periods of stable rates that staircase upward.
 

If you are looking for a home, you must see www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com . This site is the 1 stop shop for everyone looking for a home.

I wanted to let you know about some interesting news that was just released today in regards to the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow homeowners to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment.

Secretary Donovan said that important changes, which the National Association of Realtors® has been calling for, will help consumers purchase a home. “We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a down payment,” Donovan said. According to Donovan, the FHA’s approved lenders will be permitted to “monetize” the tax credit through short-term bridge loans. This will allow eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table."

I wanted to let you know about some interesting news that was just released today in regards to the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow homeowners to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment.

Secretary Donovan said that important changes, which the National Association of Realtors® has been calling for, will help consumers purchase a home. “We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a down payment,” Donovan said. According to Donovan, the FHA’s approved lenders will be permitted to “monetize” the tax credit through short-term bridge loans. This will allow eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table."

Are you looking for a home with a pool in Wichita Falls? Please send and email to ashton@bishoprealtors.com with the subject POOL and the price range you would like to stay within.

Within 24 hours you will have a list of every home available with a pool, and receive instant updates as others become available.

Congratulations to Mr. Chad Brewster, Principal at Zundy Jr. High School, who was named as Wichita Falls High School Principal.  Mr. Brewster will replace Dr. Bob Mobley, who is retiring at the end of this school year after 40 years of service in education, 28 of those years in WFISD.
 
Brewster is an 11 year employee of WFISD. He was a social studies teacher in Missouri before coming to WFISD where he was a history teacher and later Assistant Principal at Kirby and then Principal at Zundy since 2004.

Grant McCasland was named the eighth men's basketball coach at Midwestern State University on April 17, 2009.

"Our family is thrilled and honored to come to Midwestern State," McCasland said. "I am thankful (President) Dr. (Jesse W.)  Rogers and (Athletic Director) Mr. (Charlie) Carr for trusting me with the responsibility of leading a program with such a great tradition. I hope to continue that."

If his track record as a five-year coach at Midland College is any indication, the Mustangs will be in good hands.

McCasland led the Chaparrals to a National Junior College Athletic Association championship in 2007 and a national runner-up finish earlier this spring. Midland College has won at least 26 games in each of its season with McCasland at the helm while posting a 143-32 record and an .817 winning percentage.

"We just felt like he was such a good fit for our program and what we are trying to do," Carr said. "He has a great passion for the game, and he came across as having a great passion for the kids in the meetings he had with them."

McCasland led the Chaparrals to the NJCAA Elite Eight in all but two of his seasons at Midland College and earned numerous coaching honors as he was named NJCAA National and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' Junior College Coach of the Year in his national championship season of 2007. He is a two-time NJCAA District Coach of the Year and earned Western Junior College Athletic Conference top coaching honors on two other occasions.

McCasland, who is the first coaching hire from outside of the Midwestern State staff since Dr. Gerald Stockton accepted the position in 1970, steps into a rich basketball tradition at Midwestern State.

My last blog I introduced to you the Help for the First-Time Homebuyers Program administered by the Neighborhood Resources Division of the City of Wichita Falls.  Today, I would like to explain who is eligible for this program.

Who is Eligible?

If you have not owned a home within the past 3 years (see exception below) and your gross household incomes from all sources is equal to or less than the following amounts you may qualify:

(Effective 2-13-2008 Income Limits adjusted annually)

• A single parent who has custody of and is caring for minor children and who is legally separated from their spouse.

What Other Requirements Apply?

• The home must be a single-family dwelling located within the city limits of Wichita Falls, but not in the 100 year flood plan.

• The selling price must not exceed $95,000.

• For sale properties housing existing renters are not eligible, unless the occupying renter is the buyer.

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or permanent legal residents, and not owe any debts to the City of Wichita Falls.

• The home must pass a City inspection to conform with federal and local property standards and comply with Federal rules concerning lead-based paint.

• At closing the first-time homebuyer signs legal documents creating a second lien on the property for the $7,500 that is provided.  This assistance is considered a "deferred payment loan."  No monthly loan re-payments are made to the City.  However, if the first-time homebuyer sells, leases or rents the property within a 5 year period following purchase, all or part of the loan must be repaid to the City.  At the end of this five year period, the lien is released.

• Program assistance is subject to available funding.

Join me tomorrow for more information on how the First-Time Homebuyers Program might be right for you.  Please let me know if you have questions or if you are ready to take advantage of this great program.