Stimulus should focus on housing
Realtors across North Carolina and the rest of the country are advocating for a comprehensive stimulus package to reduce housing inventory, make mortgages more affordable and available and help deserving families refinance or modify their loans so they can keep their homes.
North Carolina is in a significant economic decline, and definitive action needs to be taken to help our state and others. It’s important for our leaders in Washington to understand that a stable housing market is the only way to begin an economic recovery.
To accomplish these goals, it is vitally important for President Obama and Congress to complete a bipartisan stimulus package focused on housing. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a good start, but much more needs to be done.
Federal “rescue” dollars should be directed to buy down mortage rates ó a half-million additional homes could be sold if interest rates were lowered by just 1 percentage point.
Realtors also support a $15,000 homebuyer’s tax credit and expanding it to include all homebuyers, not just first-timers. Reinstating the increased FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits that expired on Dec. 31 will also help the recovery by increasing mortgage liquidity.
Realtors urge all parties to work together ó and work quickly ó to restore confidence in the housing market and the U.S. financial system.
ó James Poe
Salisbury
Poe is president of the Salisbury/Rowan Association of Realtors, Inc.
Thanks to all
On Jan. 4, 2008, I was involved in a car crash on St. Pauls Church Road. I was rendered unconscious by the impact and subsequently flown to Carolina’s Medical Center. I have no recollection of the events after the crash due to a brain injury.
The purpose of this letter is to thank the first responders, fire department personnel, rescue personnel, law enforcement and Rowan County citizens for coming to my aid that day. I am certain each of you were in top form the day of my crash, and my family and I offer to each of you our sincere thanks for rescuing me. I would like to thank my State Patrol family for your caring and support during my recovery period. Thanks to each of you who sent cards, e-mails and those who stopped by to check on my well-being. A special thank you to Trooper Tommie Cato for comforting my wife the day of my accident and for transporting her to CMC and remaining by her side through this traumatic event.
This event has changed my life, and I am still in the recovery phase of my care. I believe the greatest gift in all this is that no one else other than myself was injured that day and that God has a purpose for us all.
I hope to be serving the citizens of our great state and Rowan County once I make a full recovery. Please be safe and always wear your safety belt.
Thank you all.
ó Mark Gravitte
Salisbury
What’s really fair?
As the husband of a longtime Freightliner employee, I felt compelled to make a few points. We give incentives and tax breaks to companies that take food off our table? Our government invented the TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance) to help?
Why not keep the jobs here for the loyal American workforce and quit playing with people’s livelihoods.
Land of the free, home of the brave?
Our government created this mess. Fix it now! Or has all the money been spent on CEO bonuses?
ó Alan Morgan
Salisbury