Spring Break Trip

We went to the Downtown Aquarium in Houston yesterday. I love seeing the amazing fish and other creatures God has designed and created. This is a neat place. It is owned by the Landry Family, that owns Joe's Crab Shack. We ate lunch there, then walked through the aquarium. They have beautiful fish, some cool animals (like the biggest tarantula I've ever seen), and white tigers. After that, we went outside and rode a couple of the rides. They have a Ferris wheel, a train that goes into a shark tunnel, a carousel, and the ride you see above that takes you up and drops you back down.

Lighthouse Lending

Texas residents: I am a loan officer working for Lighthouse Lending. I can help you get the best rates on home mortgages. We work with several lenders so we can offer the best deals available.

We offer FHA, VA, Rural Development, Conventional Loans, Reverse Mortgages -- even mortgages for Mobile Homes!

If you live in Texas and you are purchasing a home, refinancing for a better rate, or using the equity in your home to pay off bills, get in touch with me for the best rates. My email is lcraigharris@gmail.com.

See http://www.lighthouselending.net/ or http://www.texasreversemtg.net/ for more information on our company. We are part of Open Mortgage. http://www.openmtg.com/.

Our office is 111 W. Anderson Ln., Suite D213, Austin, Texas 78752

--

Here is some information on getting an FHA Loan on a Mobile Home:

--
The customer pays real estate taxes.
Wheels, axles and trailer hitches have been removed from unit.
The unit does not have a Motor Vehicle Registration Number [VIN Number].
The unit (single-wide or double-wide) was built after June 15, 1976.
Verification tht the HUD RED TAG is attached to property (1 for single-wide and 2 for double-wide units). If property does not have the identifying HUD TAG(s), the home is not eligible for FHA financing.
Meets all building codes and regional FHA foundation requirements. (Registered engineer's certification is required.)
First-time put down; not moved from another site (unit must not have been installed or occupied previously at any other site or location).
The land is owned "fee simple" (or has acceptable leasehold approved by Appraisal Underwriting Department).
The footings / piers must be located below the frost line (per state code -- registered engineer must certify).
The unit must have a permanent perimeter foundation of poured concrete, masonry blocks, or pressure treated wood (impervious to rot and infestation).
If there are any additions or structural modifications to the original structure, provide an inspection by the State Administrative Agency which inspects manufactured homes for compliance. (If no agency is willing or able to inspect the existing home for compliance to manufactured home construction and safety standards, the home is unacceptable, not eligible for FHA financing, and will be rejected.) ***May also be done by a registered engineer.*** [i.e., a registered Professional Engineer or P.E.]
Must be a minimum of 400 square feet. If less than 400 square feet, property will not be eligible for FHA financing -- no exceptions.
Is the home in, or to be in a flood zone A or V? The finished grade elevation beneath the manufactured home, or if a basement is used, the lowest finished exterior grade adjacent to the perimeter enclosure, must be at or above the 100-year return frequency flood elevation. One must provide a flood elevation certificate / survey to verify before the property can be approved.

Snow Day!

We got a rare snow here this morning. I took a few pictures before it all melted. I really enjoyed standing at the window watching the big flakes fall. The kids went out and made a couple of snow balls before I took them to school.

A Standard for Truth

I heard a simple, but profound, illustration about truth today. Dr. Tony Evans said a man stopped at his friend’s house on the way back from a fishing trip. He jumped out of the car and excitedly exclaimed that he had just caught a 20-pound fish. His friend smiled and disappeared into the house. He came back out with a scale and said, “Let’s see.”
The man with the fish said, “Well, it may not weigh quite 20 pounds.”
Truth has a tendency to be a little flexible unless there is a standard. I think many people today reject the idea of final truth because they like the idea of bending what they think it should be around their own agendas. My truth isn’t necessarily your truth; we all find our own truth if there is no standard.
But God said there is a standard. He himself is that standard (John 14:6). He is holding the plumb line by which all truth – and all behavior – is measured. He holds the scale.
Because there is the standard for truth, we can measure goodness and evil. We can weigh our lives by it. We can measure our attitudes by it. We can live with confidence that what God says is true. We can build our lives on his promises. We can trust God.
Some days we may doubt or question God because of our limited understanding, but when we believe his word is true, his promises are solid, and his standard for our good is not flexible, we can live full of hope. We can believe our lives have meaning and purpose. Jesus said we will know the truth if we hold to his teaching – and it will set us free.