Cap Phantom

INTRODUCTION

If you’re in the military and considering buying a home, there are some issues you should consider that are unique to active-duty military members. Some of these issue include: the decision to rent vs. buy, advantages and disadvantages of getting a Veterans Administration (VA) guaranteed loan, and other issues related to finding a home and closing the deal.

SHOULD I RENT OR BUY?

The answer is, it depends. The main complication for military homebuyers is that the duration of an assignment to any Command is usually limited to just a few years. Therefore, the potential price appreciation of a home is a key consideration. If a home is likely to appreciate during your assignment more than the fees associated with selling the property, then it may make sense to buy. However, if you are moving to a region in which home prices are likely to remain stable or decline during your residency, then it probably doesn’t make sense to buy a home. Keep in mind that conventional fees for selling a home range from 5% to 7% of the home’s price, so factor this into your cost-benefit analysis.

It’s also hard to predict how easy or difficult it may be to sell a home when you are ready to move. Although there are many factors that impact this issue, homes tend to sell quickly if demand exceeds supply, and slower, when there are too many homes and few buyers.

Besides the issue of price appreciation, there are some circumstances in which it may make sense to buy a property. For example, if you are moving to a community that you could be your final retirement destination, then you may want to buy a property during your assignment. Since property values tend to increase over time, this would allow you to buy a home at a lower price and hold on to it until you retire. In this situation, military homebuyers usually rent out their home after being transferred to another assignment, and then return to the property at retirement.

If you’re considering holding onto the property for rental purposes, be sure you understand the typical costs involved in maintaining a rental property. Some of these costs include: rental agent or property manager fee (if used), maintenance and repairs, property taxes, property insurance, etc. You should determine if the benefits of retaining the property outweigh the costs of being an out-of-town landlord.

The obvious dilemma is that no one can predict the future; your decision should be based on the advise of experts and your own research and judgment.

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION GUARANTEED HOME LOANS

Ok. You’ve decided to buy, now what? Well, its time to start looking into getting a loan. If you’re in the military, then you are probably eligible for a VA-guaranteed loan. In addition, many reservists and veterans are also eligible, but check with your local VA office to find out if you qualify. One other VA rule to keep in mind; you must intend to occupy the property you plan to purchase.

The first step in getting a VA-guaranteed loan is to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA. You can apply for the COE by completing VA Form 26-1880, which is available on the VA’s web site. After getting the COE, you are now ready to begin the home loan process.

With your COE in hand, find a lender or mortgage broker who is familiar with doing VA-guaranteed loans. To find these people, ask for referrals from your friends, accountant, attorney, real estate agent, etc. Keep in mind that the home loan business is a competitive industry, and you want to select a lender who can get you the best deal.

You should know that private lenders provide the money for VA-guaranteed loans, and if you don’t repay the loan, the federal government will reimburse the lender up to 25% of the loan amount (but not to exceed $104,250 as of 2006). While the government will reimburse a portion of the loan amount, you will still be held responsible for the debt, so it’s in your best interest not to default on the loan.

SHOULD I GET A VA GUARANTEED LOAN OR A TRADITIONA LOAN

The answer depends based on your situation. In addition to typical costs associated with a loan, the VA-guaranteed loans charge a funding fee ranging from 1.25% to 2.4% of the loan amount (as of 2006), depending on the amount of your down payment. This fee certainly adds to your costs. Some non-VA loans also have similar fees, so it’s important to compare the details of various loan options. Ask your lender to provide you a written Good Faith Estimate (GFE) for both VA and conventional loans. The GFE provides an itemization of the predicated costs associated with different loan types. This will help you to compare loan products and reduce any ambiguity on what a particular lender can provide. Remember, the home loan business is a competitive industry, so be sure to compare different lenders to see who can get you the best deal.

GETTING A LOAN PRE-APPROVAL LETTER

As you talk to different lenders, they will all ask you about how much money you make, how much debt you have, your credit rating, and other financial questions. Based on this information, they will give you an idea of how much you can afford, as well as the predicted monthly payment on your home loan. If you qualify, they will also give you Loan Pre-Approval Letter, which is important because it lets home sellers know that you are a serious buyer.

HOW DO I FIND A HOUSE THAT I LIKE?

Probably the most useful thing you can do to locate a house that meets your needs is to first locate a Real Estate Agent (sometimes called Realtor) to help you. In most circumstances, the home seller pays the buyer’s agent, so there is no cost to you for using an agent. Find an agent who lives and works in the community that you are moving to. It’s also helpful if you can find an agent who has experience working with military homebuyers. You should let the agent know your price range, the type of property you need, the kind of community you want to live in, the size of house you desire, and all the other factors that are important to you.

Your Real Estate Agent should do at least the following:

1. Advise you about lenders they know who can provide competitive bids on your home loan.

2. Get you access to the MLS from their website so that you can search for homes yourself if you wish.

3. Set up automated property notifications so that you receive emails of any homes that come on the market that meet your criteria.

4. Advise you about the advantages and disadvantages of buying a home in different communities. Recommend different communities based on your unique needs.

5. Advise you about the differences between a condo, townhouse and a single-family home.

6. Estimate driving times (rush hour vs. off hours) from different communities to your job or other frequent destination.

7. Provide information about local resources such as schools, libraries, shopping centers, etc.

8. Take you to different homes until you find the one you like.

9. Recommend an offer price (usually a range) based on their research and experience.

10. Prepare written offer documents and negotiate on your behalf to get you the best deal possible.

11. Help you throughout the home closing/escrow process.

There are many other aspects of home buying that your Realtor should be able to help you with. The list above is simply a starting point of the areas that you should expect help from your agent.

FOUND A HOUSE THAT YOU LIKE…NOW WHAT?

The short answer is that you have to make an offer on the property that is attractive enough to be accepted by the seller. Your Real Estate Agent should guide you through all the important issues you need to consider when making an offer. In addition to the price you are willing to pay, you should decide if you want a home inspection, when you would like to move into the home, how much deposit you are willing to provide, etc. Keep in mind that in a market where there are many buyers and few home sellers, offer prices tend to increase. Conversely, in a market when there are too many sellers and few homebuyers, offer prices tend to decline. Again, your agent should advise you about the various issues you need to consider at this point in the process.

Once you have determined your offer price and considered all other relevant information, your agent will prepare a written offer document, which is then delivered to the seller’s agent. The seller will review your offer and either accept your terms, reject the offer altogether, or make a counter offer.

If your offer is ultimately accepted, there are many things that need to occur before you become the owner and move into the house. These steps typically take at least 30 to 45 days after the offer has been accepted. This process is known as “closing” or “escrow.” Your agent can advise you about the various activities that occur during the closing/ escrow process, and the actions you need to take during this time.

During the closing/escrow process, there are many service providers such as home appraisers, home inspectors, termite inspectors, title companies, escrow companies, real estate attorneys, and others, who will provide you services. These services are typically required by your lender to process the loan, or by local law and regulation to transfer the property. These providers charge a fee for their services, which are collectively known as “closing costs.” The Good Faith Estimate mentioned previously should have an estimate of the amount of these closing costs.

BOTTOM LINE

Buying a home, condo or any other type of real estate can be a complicated process. However, by doing some research beforehand, and finding a good Realtor and lender, you should have a smooth and successful experience.

For Immediate Release

The U.S. Military, Managing Medical Information from the Battlefield

For the first time in the history of the U.S. Military, battlefield information management and information technology systems are enabling improved quality of care and communications by capturing information electronically.

The Theater Medical Information Program – Joint, a Department of Defense (DoD) and Military Health System (MHS) program provides information management tools to the U.S. Military’s deployed medical community. This mobile, flexible software system, designed for low-to-no communications environments, supports clinical care documentation, medical supply and equipment tracking, patient movement visibility, and health surveillance in a deployed setting. TMIP-J operates on a combination of hand-held devices, notebooks and deployable servers and mirrors the capabilities of the Military’s U.S.-based medical information management systems.

TMIP-J carries out Presidential and Congressional requirements for establishing a life-long electronic health record for all Service members. Since May 2005, TMIP-J applications have electronically captured more than 1.2 million medical encounters. Patient data is available in near real-time through the DoD Central Data Repository to approved medical personnel throughout the MHS.

This presentation will delve into the challenges and successes TMIP-J faces during the development, update and integration process of the applications supporting the Theater medical business practice, including lessons learned.

To register for Early-Bird Passes please visit http://gov.wowgao.com/registration OR call (416) 292-0038 Ext. 812.

About the Theater Medical Information Program – JOINT (TMIP-J)

The Theater Medical Information Program – Joint (TMIP-J) provides an integrated suite of software that supports the U.S. military’s deployed medical business practice. TMIP-J supports complete clinical care documentation, medical supply and equipment tracking, patient movement visibility, and health surveillance in an austere communications environment. TMIP-J serves as the medical component for the Global Combat Support System (GCSS) and the Global Command and Control System (GCCS). Today, TMIP-J is in use by war fighters and medical practitioners supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

About the 2008 Government and Health Technologies Conference & Expo:

The 2008 Government and Health Technologies Conference and Expo will focus on the latest IT products and solutions being developed and sought after in the healthcare and public service sector, including Web 2.0, Patient Monitoring Systems, Document Management, Business Intelligence, Mobile Data Systems, RFID Solutions, Biometrics and much more.

As one of Canada’s leading annual IT conference and exposition, the event features ground breaking IT applications that aim to educate key IT professionals, Government officials, developers, architects, engineers and medical professionals with the necessary tools and techniques for the reliable, effective management of all public information services across Canada. For more information about the event, please visit http://gov.wowgao.com

About WowGao Inc.

Our featured events include:

Government & Health Technologies Conference and Expo | April 15 & 16, 2008

Wireless & Mobile Expo and Conference | July 15 & 16, 2008

RFID Forum, July 15 & 16, 2008

Financial Services Technology Forum | October 2008

For more information about the events, please visit http://www.wowgao.com/

For conference inquiries:

Conference Producer

(416) 292 – 0038 ext. 840 | conference@wowgao.com

WowGao Inc. | www.wowgao.com

The first Member Company, GAO Research Inc., was founded on June 2, 1992 and it quickly established its reputation as an R & D power house in the embedded industry. GAO Group has continually grown and has become a conglomerate of fast growing companies with an enormous international customer base and an extensive network of VARs, distributors, resellers, and strategic partners in diversified industries worldwide.

With the aim of providing unparalleled services to its enormous customer base spread out over the world, GAO Group has developed and deployed state of the art technologies among all its facilities to support such functions as e-commerce, inventory management, CRM, project management, and supply chain management.

There’s been quite a bit of talk about lowering the drinking age limit for people who serve in the military. The argument posed is that these people are young enough to shoot guns, serve and die for the U.S., so why not allow them to drink legally? Of course, organizations like M.A.D.D. consider this to be a foolish idea. They’re just not mature enough to think logically when they get behind the wheel after a few drinks. Is it indeed foolish to legalize drinking for active duty military younger than 21?

States such as Wisconsin and South Carolina have pushed for allowing active duty military under 21 to drink. There are even groups on the internet collecting signatures via social networking website such as MySpace and Facebook so that they can get a measure on the ballot to lower the drinking age limit.

On some military bases like Camp Pendleton near San Diego, marines are already allowed to drink when they’re on base. However, some business owners and residents have already noticed that there more problems with drunk driving in the area of Oceanside. Although military personnel can drink on base, once they step off military property they’re subject to the 21 age limit law.

Many argue that no matter what drinking laws there are, people are going to find a way to buy and drink alcohol. I’ve witnessed teenagers pay people over 21 to buy them a drink. If you live in a city like San Diego which is close to the Mexico border, you’ll see thousands of young people heading down to the bars in Mexico to drink.

In any case, it all comes down to the maturity level of young adults who are given the opportunity to drink. It’s up to them to be responsible and learn the consequences of their actions. This means better education and harsher penalties for those who break the drinking laws.

The United States military includes branches for the Marines, Army and Air Force to name a few of the most popular sub-divisions. Each branch of the military uses its own ranking system to separate individuals of higher authorities, assigned tasks and pay grades. In order to reference individuals within military ranks, 3 sub-categories help organize authority levels within each branch. The following lists the sub-categories in order from lowest in the chain of authority to highest in the chain of authority: enlisted personnel, warrant officers and commissioned officers.

The Army and Marine Corps both have enlisted personnel, warrant officers and commissioned officers. However, the Air Force stands out among the different divisions, as it does not have any listed ranks for warrant officers. Instead, the list of enlisted personnel for the Air Force is nearly twice as long as most other branches.

The Marines and Army both start off the category for enlisted personnel with Private Classmen and Private First Classmen. However, the similarities in order of advancement titles end here. For the Marines, Lance Corporals, Sergeants and Master Sergeants comprise the remaining titles for advancement.

Specialists, and variations of Sergeants complete the chain of command within the category for enlisted personnel. The warrant officers and commissioned officers of the Marine Corps and the Army have similar ranks for their warrant officers and commissioned officers, as well.

The Air Force stands apart from most branches of the military that use categories, such as enlisted personnel, warrant officers and commissioned officers for easier reference, as they do not have a section for warrant officers. The category for enlisted personnel begins with Airmen, and progresses through higher chains in command as follows: Airman First Class, Senior Airman, Staff Sergeant, Tech. Sergeant, Master Sergeant, Senior Sergeant and Chief Master Sergeant. Commissioned Officers begin with the 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant and proceed through the order of rank as Majors, Captains, Colonels, Major Generals and Lieutenant Generals.

The Arab League and the Quartet – America, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations – have become totally paralysed as Hamas and Fatah lay into each other in Gaza with a ferocity that makes the never ending procession of pious resolutions passed at the United Nations condemning Israeli “brutality and breaches of international humanitarian law ” what they always have been – totally hypocritical and quite farcical.

Throwing people off high rise buildings, murdering patients in hospital wards and shooting off peoples’ heads now join Gaza’s bizarre list of inhumane and barbaric practices.

Gaza’s culture of violence has exploded to new limits of horror and revulsion yet the Arab League and the Quartet are not lifting a finger to actively end it.

The chickens are now coming home to roost with a vengeance for the Arab League and the Quartet.

The Arab League’s Peace Plan (2002) and the Quartet’s Road Map (2003) sponsoring an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza – just 6% of historic Palestine – were catastrophic decisions that set back any hope for peace in the region during the last five years.

Expectations in the Palestinian Authority that it now had worldwide public and political support firmly behind it for the creation of an independent State in the West Bank and Gaza, emboldened it to continue to make three impossible demands that Israel could not ever possibly accept:

1. The withdrawal from every square inch of Gaza and the West Bank

2. The right to return and live in Israel for millions of former Arab residents and their descendants who wished to do so

3. The removal of 450000 Jews from Gaza and the West Bank where they had lived for up to 40 years and their forced repatriation to Israel if they did not wish to leave willingly.

Israel’s precipitate action in unilaterally evacuating all 7000 Jewish residents from Gaza in 2005 contributed to a fuelling of these expectations and even more – the belief that this was the first step in the ultimate destruction of Israel.

Instead of dancing and singing in the streets and engaging in nation building, Gaza reverberated to the sounds of hundreds of Kassam rockets fired at Israel, more suicide missions were undertaken into Israel, a total breakdown of law and order occurred and increased smuggling of weapons from Egypt was carried out – at the same time as an increasingly hostile and belligerent population were voting Hamas into power.

Whatever you think of Hamas – they mean what they say and don’t mince the words they use. The goal of Hamas is the destruction of Israel – nothing more, nothing less.

The Arab League and the Quartet however weren’t listening and continued to pursue their misguided and flawed policy by supporting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in his supposed quest to achieve a state in Gaza and the West Bank – even as Hamas began to consolidate its position as the Government in Gaza.

Attempts by the Arab League to broker a unity Hamas/Fatah Government failed dismally.

Abbas had become a powder puff President with no real power or authority. Now Abbas’ demise in Gaza is very close at hand as his forces wilt under the Hamas onslaught.

The current carnage has ensured once and for all the demise of any plan for the creation of an independent State in the West Bank and Gaza.

Perhaps the Arab League and the Quartet now need to ponder on the phrase used by Plato in his Republic written in 369BC:

“Then, I said, let us begin and create in idea a State and yet the true creator is necessity,who is the mother of our invention”

The idea of creating a State in Gaza and the West Bank may have seemed a good idea and been undertaken with the best of intentions by both the Arab League and the Quartet.

Yet by refusing to accept anything less than they demanded, the Arab populations living in those areas put their hatred of the Jews above their claimed necessity for such a State.

Rejection of Statehood had been similarly refused by the Arabs when proposed by the Peel Commission in 1937 and the United Nations in 1947.

It had also been rejected between 1948-1967 during the occupation of the West Bank by Jordan and of Gaza by Egypt.

It was rejected again after the Six Day War in 1967 when the Arab League refused to negotiate with or recognise Israel.

In every case, hatred of the Jews was thought more important than the Arabs having a second Arab state in Palestine in addition to Jordan .

Five attempts to create a new Arab State between Israel, Jordan and Egypt over the last 70 years have failed miserably and have brought nothing but continuing death and suffering to both Jews and Arabs. It is time to close the book on this proposal as the means of achieving an end to the 130 year old conflict in former Palestine.

The current parlous position in Gaza and the potentially looming confrontation in the West Bank between Hamas and Fatah have created a new, very urgent and different necessity that needs to be addressed by an inventive solution that is not based on the creation of a state in these areas.

This solution can only be found through the re-entry of Jordan into the heavily populated Arab areas of the West Bank – to assume control there and incorporate the area into Jordan – with the unconditional diplomatic and financial support of the Arab League and the Quartet and with the express consent of Israel.

Gaza has now become a place no one wants to enter. It has become Israel’s neighbour from hell. Israel will no doubt have to deal with the mess there. It will not be a pretty sight.

The Arabs in Gaza and the West Bank have managed to turn their call for self determination into a dangerous game of self extermination. They only have themselves to blame.