Be careful with what you are using in your garden!

As some of you know, I am a huge pet lover and I also love to garden. I just read this article about how your pets are sometimes more vulnerable to pesticide poisoning than us humans. My dogs love to go out to the front lawn and eat grass, nose around the yard sniffing and sometimes eating things they find and then they lick themselves clean afterward. All of that means they may be at risk of chemical poisoning and some other health problems.

Below is an excerpt from the story regarding pesticides:

Numerous studies have documented the risk of pesticides to pets over the years. A 1991 National Cancer Institute study found that dogs whose owners' lawns were treated with 2,4-D four or more times per year are twice as likely to contract canine malignant lymphoma than dogs whose owners do not use the herbicide. Exposure to herbicide-treated lawns and gardens increases the risk of bladder cancer by four to seven times in Scottish Terriers, according to a study by Purdue University veterinary researchers published in the April 15, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Research published in the December 1988 issue of Preventive Veterinary Medicine links hyperthyroidism in cats to flea powders and sprays, lawn pesticides and canned cat food. Allethrin, a common ingredient in home mosquito products (coils, mats, oils and sprays) and other bug sprays, has been linked to liver problems in dogs, according to a 1989 study by the World Health Organization. The 1989 edition W.C. Campbell Toxicology textbook reports that chronic exposure to abamectin, an insecticide often used by homeowners on fire ants, can affect the nervous system of dogs and cause symptoms such as pupil dilation, lethargy and tremors. According to 2004 statistics compiled by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center, 22 percent of approximately 880 cases of pet birds being exposed to common household toxins involved pesticides (including rat bait and insecticides).

For more information about harmful pesticides go to:
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/infoservices/pesticidesandyou/Fall%2007/pets.pdf

And if you suspect your animal has been poisoned, take him/her to the vet immediately.

Fannie and Freddie extend foreclosure Suspensions

Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reported this week that they have extended a moratorium on foreclosure suspensions for another three weeks, directing the mortgage servicers they work with to postpone any foreclosure or eviction proceedings through January 31.

Under the original moratorium, which began Nov. 26 and was scheduled to lapse on Jan. 9, 6,000 homeowners would avoid bank repossession and eventually qualify for mortgage modifications.

Hopefully, the extension should give servicers more time to help these at-risk homeowners enroll in the companies' Streamlined Modification Program.

That program is aimed at helping borrowers who are 90 days or more late on payments, who own and occupy their primary residences and who have not filed for bankruptcy to reduce mortgage payments to no more than 38% of their income. I am sure other lender will be following shortly if they already haven't flexed their rules a bit.

California Tops the List!

Yahoo has reported the top 10 foreclosure cities and California takes the prize:

1. Merced, CA
2. Modesto, CA
3. Stockton, CA
4. Riverside, CA
5. Detroit, MI
6. Fort Lauderdale, FL
7. Cape Coral, FL
8. Vallejo, CA
9. Las Vegas, NV
10. Sacramento, CA

Oh no California... What next?

White House for Sale! $9.88 million dollars and it's yours!

Ok, so it's not the actual white house but it's a replica designed by a developer in Atlanta. Yes, that is right... an exact replica. It's hard for me to imagine who would buy it but I guess someone will even in this economy. Ugh.

Check out the story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/us/08atlanta.html?ref=us#

Vival La Mexico!

My boyfriend and I just got back from a weeks vacation from San Pancho, Mexico. A small town North of Puerto Vallarta. It was fabulous! The food was wonderful, the town was very cute, and our house was a five minute walk to the beach. We decided to stay there because I didn't want to be in the hussle and bustle of PV, but I also wanted to be close to Sayulita because of the great surf break. For some reason, I thought the real estate would be cheaper than PV but I was wrong. Check out the prices below.
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Now, this is brand new construction but a 3 bedroom/ 3 bath, 3000 sq.ft. home is going for a whopping $700,000 US (not pesos). WOW. They are still building like mad there and I am sure the US economy has taken a toll on their economy but the prices in real estate seemed to be increasing fast. Below is a link:

http://homes.point2.com/MX/Jalisco/San-Pancho-Real-Estate.aspx