To all my Louisiana friends… PaRTy HaRDy!!

That’s me taking a pre-mardi gras stroll at the French Quarters in Louisiana.

This weekend kicks off ‘mardi gras’.

Mardi Gras is the last day before the fasting season of Lent. It’s the french word for “Shrove Tuesday”. Literally translated, it means “fat tuesday” and was so called because it represented the last opportunity for merry making and excessive indulgence in food and drink before the solemn season of fasting. (smiling)….love that: merry making and excessive indulgence!

In N’Orleans it is five days of the biggest party on planet Earth. Starting on friday of the Mardi Gras weekend and going on till fat tuesday, it is a carnival of music, dancing on the streets, parades and indulgence of every kind. There’s parades every day, all kinds of colourful costumes and people generally havin fun everywhere. The amazing part of Mardi Gras is that allmost all the partying is done on the streets. The whole of French Quarter and the neigbouring Canal & Poydras streets are the venue for this huge outdoor party.

To check out a Y360 mardi gras fan visit ‘little red riding hoods’ blog.

Daisy Says: Laugh and BE Merry!!

I have the privelege of mentoring over 2,300 partners in the mortgage industry across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. I would like to share a sweet victory of one of my partners in Louisiana. She did an outstanding job!

This is her version as she retold her experience as she journeyed with her client in assisting her into home ownership:

“Closed June 29, 2007

I had a client that called me all the time. I had to hold her hand throughout the whole process.

I learned a lot during this transaction. The client had good scores but not enough money, so I found a product that gave her more purchasing power and with her good rates and her Realtor getting the seller to give our client 3% seller concession, the loan was on its way to closing.

First I learned how the asset vs the liabilities need to work. At first the liabilities were more until I studied the 1003 and went back to my client to see if she had any stock, bonds, 401k, insurance with cash value or real estate, finally it paid off, she had 401K’s and Cd’s which brought her assets up higher than her liabilities and it worked.

Then I learned how to get an elevation certificate because the property was in a flood zone area.

Next I learned about Mortgage Insurance. It could make or break your deal if it’s too high. And I had to assist in my client finding hazardous insurance that would keep her note in the price range she needed to be at.

Well we thought that we were in a comfort zone but learned that the lender decided to get the appraisal review and it was too close for comfort. The house listed for $85000 but only appraise for $77.000. This was a difference of $8,000. The lenders agreed with the appraisal and this was one of the happiest days of my clients life for her not was better and her closing cost was less.

Quote from my client, “JUST LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT MY HOUSE, I LOVE IT, THANKS AUDREY QUINCY, MY LOAN OFFICER” ”

Daisy Says: Team work makes the Dream work.

Here is a good website to peek into Mardi Gras history:

http://www.carnaval.com/cityguides/neworleans/history.htm

The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in the start of the Catholic season of Lent, starts on Twelfth Night (January 6). The season of parades, balls (some of them masquerade balls), and king cake parties begins on that date.

From about two weeks before, through Fat Tuesday, there is at least one major parade each day. The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last five days of the season. In the final week of Carnival many events large and small occur throughout New Orleans and surrounding communities.

Share your favorite Mardi Gras experience.

Daisy Says: Mardi Gras, feel it, live it…the soul of the people.