The unthinkable happened in our quiet little community of Jackson, MO.  Actually this murder happened about 2 blocks from our secure little home….almost in my backyard.  That’s too close for comfort!  Who would have thought it!  This sleepy little community is like Mayberry, USA, on the weekend, the business district (pretty much one block) rolls the sidewalks up at noon, forcing everyone to either shop at the super WalMart or go to Cape Girardeau, MO. Many times people still leave their front doors unlocked, kids play outside unattended, spring, summer & fall sees families picnicking in the park.  This peace was all shattered, Monday, December 3, 2007.  All the details have not yet been revealed, but it seems an exparte order had been filed against a husband and he could not deal with it, so a couple of hours later he shot his wife, her 16 yr old son, and their 2 other children, one 4 yrs and the other a toddler, he then killed himself.  The toddler was dead at the scene, the mother fled to the sheriff’s office for help, the 16 yr old died about 2 days later.  At this point in time the mother and 4 yr old have survived. 

My opinion has always been if someone is in such a rage then just kill themselves and end their apparent misery……do not take innocent children down with them!  What a waste of our precious young people. 

I am a real estate professional, because of this, I am constantly asked if a particular area is a “safe place to live”.  Legally I cannot answer that, I have to direct prospective clients to statistics so they can arrive at their own opinion. 

I am still happy to say that Jackson, MO, is not a violent community.  Yes, there are occasionally violent happenings, but they are truly a rarity.  Unfortunately as time progresses all things change and history repeats itself, however, it would be a wonderful thing to be able to cling to sanity, even if it’s for a few fleeting years!

I will never remember everything I learned, but if I can just remember a fraction of it then I will be better prepared to be even more professional in my service to others with their real estate needs!

 Debbie
 

There’s alot of times I have a pretty bad day and if I just go to the barn, saddle up and ride, all of a sudden things are better.  The stress doesn’t go away, but it suddenly becomes manageable.

I love when I go to the barn that I leave my cell phone in the car.  Our horses do not want to hear my phone ring and know that they do not have my undivided attention.  I pride myself in always returning calls to my clientel, and I do, but only when I am done at the barn.  That is my personal time!

 I know there are many other ways to destress our lives.  I’d be real interested to find out what others do to make all the bad things disappear!

It seems a real shame that the stable forces of our community, who are getting older, are being raped with the high prices to go to and from Cape to Jackson.  I drive a vehicle and I just don’t think it costs $20 (per person) to drive from Jackson to Cape and back.  I have almost come to the conclusion that perhaps I should quit my job and start shuttling senior citizens around to appts, seems there’s plenty of money in that!

I do think many lenders have over extended themselves and wrote loans that shouldn’t have been written, we will be seeing those houses in the foreclosure market in the near future…..but back on the positive note.  We live in a fairly stable part of the nation and not that much has really changed around here.  One large change that I have seen is homes seem to stay on the market for a much longer time.  Again because buyers are “running scared” with all the bad press from the media.  Interest rates are still good—providing your credit is good.

My husband has always said my cup is “half full”….maybe I’m just looking on the bright side, but there’s just no sense in everyone pushing the panic button. 

John Q. Public is very “under educated” about the impact their credit scores will have on their future ability to purchase high ticket items, such as a home.  This education needs to be started very early on, however, the sad thing is children learn from their parents, being uneducated financially seems to be “genetic”.  It would be great if there were classes on the high school level to teach young people how to manage money and also the good & bad aspects of having credit cards….”teachers-make sure the students are AWAKE during these classes—-it will have a high impact into their adulthood”.

The other day I was driving a young man around in my vehicle and showing him houses….I do not work with people unless I know they have the ability to obtain a loan.  This young many simply blows me away……he is so very responsible, a real credit to his upbringing.  I don’t think he is much more than in his possible early 20’s and he has the ability to buy a nice home.  He did not “come from money” but rather he has been sensible and responsible.  Somewhere along the line he figured out he better pay his bills on time to keep his credit scores up.

At the same time……I realize many individuals go through difficult times in their lives and are not always able to make monthly payments, sometimes bankruptcy occurs….it happens and I have no “stones to throw” at them.  Pick yourself up and start over again…….it can be done……if you learn from the experience you will then be a better person.

Any thoughts or comments?

Debbie