Bryan Godoy is a fit and healthy 17-year-old who is extremely active and passionate about sports. He had just graduated high school and was looking forward to starting college when he was accidentally kicked in the face during a soccer game. The bones supporting his left eye and left face were shattered and deformed, pushed inwards by about an inch and pushing his eye and jaw out of place.
"This was one of the worst fractures I have ever seen, even considering cases I have treated following car accidents and in patients who had been bucked in the face by a horse," said Dr. Jon Mathy, a board certified plastic surgeon with additional subspecialty fellowship training in microvascular surgery and head & neck surgery at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.
Because of specialists providing expert facial reconstruction surgery that uses cutting-edge 3D CT scan technology, Bryan's bone fragments were systematically returned to their anatomic positions.
"We are pleased to provide these services to those patients in the Fort Bend community who suffer traumatic facial injuries," Mathy said. "In the past, patients in our area would have to travel to the medical center for complex facial reconstructive surgery. Now they can receive the same level of expert care close to home."
3D CT scan technology provides Mathy with high-resolution, 3D renderings of a patient's facial anatomy that he can use to plan individualized treatments to optimize their facial function and aesthetics.
After Bryan's operation, the Imaging Department at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital performed a fine-cut, high-resolution CT scan of Bryan's craniofacial bones. These were stitched together into a 3D rendering that allowed Dr. Mathy to assess the outcome of the operation, including hardware positioning and facial symmetry.
"3D CT scan technology is extremely helpful from a reconstructive and cosmetic standpoint," says Dr. Mathy. "It allowed me to evaluate Bryan's facial bones in three dimensions to ensure that we had restored the functional elements of his face important for vision and eating. It also allowed me to optimize facial symmetry and aesthetic appearance. For Bryan, we were able to restore his appearance and correct the traumatic disfigurement that he had." Bryan is extremely pleased with the results.
"I am so thankful for the level of expert care I received from Dr. Mathy and Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital," says Bryan. "I can look in the mirror and feel good about myself again."
For more information about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland[1] or call 281.274.7500 for a physician referral.
houstonmethodist.org/sugarland (houstonmethodist.org)
Thursday, November 21, 2013
How a Real Estate Agent Who Knows VA Loans Can Save Vet Thousands
Shutterstock
Selecting a real estate agent is one of the most important choices you'll make when buying or selling a home. The decision becomes even more important when you're a veteran or active duty service member looking to use the VA mortgage guaranty. This nearly 70-year-old loan program backed a record 630,000 home loans in fiscal year 2013, nearly double the 2011 volume.
That's a huge increase in just two years' time. You typically only need a credit score[1] of 620 to qualify for a VA loan, which is more than 100 points lower than some other mortgage products. (It's important to check your credit before applying for any home loan, including VA loans. You can pay for a credit score or use a tool like the Credit Report Card[2], which gives you free credit scores and a breakdown of what's impacting your credit.)
As lending standards have become more stringent, greater numbers of veterans are using their VA loan eligibility as the only realistic path to homeownership. The VA loan is a specialized loan program only available to those who have served our country, and, because of this, it comes with some unique requirements. Veterans can really benefit from an agent[3] who can educate and guide them through the entire process.
Closing Costs: If you've done much research on purchasing a home or have purchased a home before, you know there are closing costs associated with the loan. "Closing costs"[4] is an umbrella term for the fees and costs charged by the lender and third parties who conduct work on your file throughout the process, such as a title company. They research the chain of title for the property and complete a significant amount of paperwork to assist in your home purchase. Working with a VA-knowledgeable agent can even save you thousands of dollars when it comes time to go under contract.
The VA has established a list of certain fees[5] that you, as the buyer, are not permitted to pay. This is good for you, because it means your overall cost is lower. But your agent needs to understand these non-allowable costs so they can try to ensure the seller covers them when drafting an offer. Agents should also know how to structure an offer and eventually a contract to deal with closing costs. Because the VA loan is 100 percent financing, meaning you don't have to put any money down, you're not generally able to roll your closing costs into the purchase amount. But that doesn't necessarily mean you're stuck paying them, since your agent can ask that the seller pay all closing costs.
Your second option is to decide how much you want to offer on the home, get an estimate of your closing costs and then add the two together. By making an offer combining the two amounts, you are effectively rolling the costs into the loan. Sellers are generally more accepting of this method because it doesn't change their bottom line.
It's important to note here that the home will have to appraise for the full contract amount. If it doesn't, you'll have to renegotiate to lower the price or walk away from the deal. Agents unfamiliar with this strategy could mean thousands of dollars paid out of pocket to cover these costs or completely restructuring the contract, adding additional time to the process.
Property Requirements: The VA also has a set of minimum property requirements (MPRs) to ensure the property is safe and structurally sound for a veteran homebuyer and their family. A few examples of common MPRs include peeling lead-based paint, exposed wires or lack of a handrail on stairs. These repairs generally have to occur before you can close on the home, and, if the seller refuses or the repair can't be done, you will likely have to walk away from the home.
Failing to satisfy the property requirements can absolutely kill your deal. Veterans can also run into trouble trying to purchase unique properties, like geodesic domes, berm homes, A-frames and other relatively uncommon structures. The home appraisal process[6] revolves around good recent comparable home sales, and it can be tough to find workable "comps" for unusual homes or properties with significant acreage. Appraisals can cost around $500, which is a lot to spend on a home that's never going to fly with the VA appraisal process. That's why agents who understand these requirements can save veterans time, money and heartache.
VA-savvy agents can steer you from problematic properties at the outset, and also help guide you to closing if there's a shot at making the deal work. The experience of a VA-knowledgeable real estate agent is invaluable when shopping for a home. Be sure to ask any agent you interview whether they've closed VA loans before, and, if so, how many. By working with an agent experienced in VA loans, you'll be on the right track to a smooth home purchase.
References
- ^ credit score (blog.credit.com)
- ^ Credit Report Card (www.credit.com)
- ^ How to Find a Good Realtor or Real Estate Agent (www.credit.com)
- ^ "Closing costs" (www.veteransunited.com)
- ^ What Veterans Need to Know About Getting a Home Loan (blog.credit.com)
- ^ The home appraisal process (www.veteransunited.com)
- ^ How to Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage (www.credit.com)
- ^ How Do I Compare Mortgage Rates? (blog.credit.com)
- ^ Why You Should Check Your Credit Before Buying a Home (www.credit.com)
- ^ Real Estate (realestate.aol.com)
- ^ calculate mortgage (realestate.aol.com)
- ^ homes for sale (realestate.aol.com)
- ^ foreclosures (realestate.aol.com)
- ^ homes for rent (realestate.aol.com)
- ^ @AOLRealEstate (twitter.com)
- ^ AOL Real Estate on Facebook (www.facebook.com)
Source : http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/11/21/real-estate-agents-va-loans/
Clements HS students benefit from $15.7 million Fort Bend Education Foundation grant
Computer Science students at Clements High School are exploring the field of engineering by taking part in a pilot program made possible through a $15.7 million Fort Bend Education Foundation grant funded generously by Schlumberger.
The pilot program will provide educational programs to assist students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) labs. Included in the agreement are 25 Licenses for Petrel Software, which supports the study of petroleum, earth science and technology, as well as 25 Licenses for Ocean Kit Software that are geared toward science, technology and engineering. Schlumberger will also provide a new computer lab equipped with 25 computers.
Participating in the program this year are Clements students enrolled in Computer Science III classes, led by teacher Lubna Lorena. The students will benefit from working with a college-level intern and engineers throughout the school year.
"We are extremely grateful to Schlumberger for their support of our Computer Science program," said Lorena. "I am delighted at the thought of the opportunities that our students will have the doors which will be opened for them and the learning that will take place. For me personally, this program represents the realization of a dream. I have the means to enhance my instruction and the resources that will allow the Computer Science program to strengthen and grow."
Schlumberger employees understand the importance of sharing their products and expertise to expose students to computer science and engineering. "It is definitely our goal to introduce concepts and partnerships that will encourage students to excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and continue on to STEM majors and careers," said Paula Harris, Schlumberger's director of community affairs.
Schlumberger currently collaborates with more than 530 universities worldwide in providing this program. Clements is one of only two high schools in the world to pilot the program.
"I would like to thank our business partner, Schlumberger, for their outstanding and continued support for the teachers, students and schools in Fort Bend ISD," said Brenna Smelley, executive director of the Fort Bend Education Foundation.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Fort Bend “Drug Take Back” event yields nearly 600 pounds of unwanted medication
More than 150 community members took part in the Drug Enforcement Administration's "National Drug Take Back Initiative," sponsored by the Fort Bend Police Department, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Department and the Fort Bend Community Prevention Coalition. The event gave community members the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets of old, expired or unwanted medicine and avoid giving youth access to the medications, which can lead to abuse and addiction.
Among those taking part in the event were Marie Hoyte and her son, Shawn Thibodeaux. Shawn is a heart transplant patient. He and his mother learned about the Drug Take Back event from their CVS pharmacist.
"My son and I are both heart patients, and my husband is a spine patient," said Hoyte. "Between the three of us, we have several bottles of medication that we can no longer use. We asked our CVS pharmacist where we can dispose of the medication, and he suggested we drop them off at this event."
The event also welcomed community members who disposed of medications belonging to family members who recently passed away, led group collections throughout their neighborhoods, and simply cleared out their personal medicine cabinets. Combined, community members dropped off more than 580 pounds of medication for safe disposal.
Sugar Land's tax rate ranked lowest among Texas cities
Sugar Land again has one of the lowest tax rates in the state, according to a Texas Municipal League survey of 657 Texas cities.
When comparing cities with populations greater than 25,000, Sugar Land's tax rate of 30.895 cents was the lowest. The report also included the following results for 31 cities with populations of 60,000 to 400,000:
2013 TML Tax and Debt Survey | |||
| Group Average | Sugar Land | Sugar Land Rank |
Tax Rate | 57.599 cents | 30.895 cents | Lowest |
Taxable Value per Capita | $ 61,667 | $ 114,783 | 2nd Highest |
Population | 131,154 | 84,511 | 24th Largest |
Net Taxable Value | $7.8 Billion | $9.7 Billion | 8th Highest |
Tax Backed Debt as a Percent of Taxable Value | 2.54 percent | 2.4 percent | 15th Lowest |
These results of the survey are another example of the City's strong economic health, contributing to the public's continued confidence in the City's responsible financial stewardship. The City's sound fiscal management has resulted in a AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor's and Fitch, allowing Sugar Land to finance capital improvement projects at competitive rates.
School finance lawsuit reopened; still on way to Supreme Court
When District Judge John Dietz ruled Texas' school finance system unconstitutional earlier this year, everyone expected the state to appeal.
And appeal it did. But along the way, the Legislature restored some of the money cut during the previous session, and made other changes to the state's education accountability system, leading Dietz to reopen the record and allow supplemental evidence about the new education bills.
"The Supreme Court needs to see that the new developments have been considered," said David Thompson of Thompson and Horton, and lead attorney representing one of the plaintiff groups. "I think it's the right thing to do."
Thompson gave an update to Spring Branch ISD trustees Monday, Nov. 11. Spring Branch is one of 84 districts in Thompson's Fort Bend ISD group that sued the state, claiming the school finance system is inadequate, inequitable, unfairly allocates funding to local districts and relies too heavily on property taxes in local districts.
The Fort Bend ISD group represents some 1.8 million schoolchildren, including Houston and Katy ISDs and most large suburban districts in the Houston area. The four groups bringing suits collectively represent some 630 school districts and 3.6 million schoolchildren, "the largest group of students ever" to join in a school finance lawsuit, Thompson said.
Dietz ruled in February that the state's school finance system was not equitable, not adequate, not suitable and creates a state property tax.
"It was probably the most sweeping decision in favor of schools in (Texas school finance) history," Thompson said.
Thompson said that while the 83rd Legislature this year restored $3.7 billion of the $5.4 billion cut by lawmakers in 2011, it didn't put it back in the same places where it was cut.
He said that the two sessions can't be looked at as disconnected but as "two halves of a whole."
"The combined effect of the two years was to level the system down, at the same time the state is raising its standards" said Thompson.
"Did the money put back this session help? Yes." Thompson said. "Is this a fundamental change of the system? No. It's a tweaking around the edges."
Public education in Texas is enshrined in the state constitution, in language that has remained unchanged since 1876. That language states that an educated populace is essential to a free society, and mandates the state "to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools."
Thompson said that "efficient" has been interpreted in earlier lawsuits to mean "equitable" and that equity doesn't have to be perfect but "roughly" equitable.
"Historically, (standards) have been pulled down, rather than up, and the courts have said 'no, equalize up to standards," he said.
He said that he didn't think the bills passed this year would change the case's outcome, and that the system is still unconstitutional. His goal is to get school finance "front and center" for the 84th Legislature in 2015.
Spring Branch ISD Superintendent Duncan Klussmann will give testimony through deposition as the case is reopened, representing the districts that are considered property wealthy but have significant populations of underpriveleged students.
Spring Branch ISD is a chapter 41 district, subject to the so-called 'Robin Hood' plan of school wealth equilization. And besides sending money to the state each year, as the district's cumulative appraised value rises, it gets less funding from the state as it collects more revenue locally. The district has advocated legislators for several years about returning control of local dollars back to districts.
Because No One Plans to Be Homeless
Hi, Book Scan readers. I spent the first part of last week hanging out with community planners at the American Planning Association's national conference. Though I haven't read the book described below, I thought the author (who gave the closing keynote at the conference) had some beautiful thoughts on home ownership that real estate professionals would appreciate. Enjoy! —MW
Early Pearl has a great idea for dealing with an intractable problem. As a homeless 11-year old Chicagoan, she sees all of the sturdy housing stock that stands empty and abandoned in her south side neighborhood and decides to take action.
From the cover of Blue Balliett's new book, Hold Fast
She gets some friends together and, with a few cameras, they snap pictures of these empty houses. They send the pictures—along with their imaginings of how the structures could be transformed into dream homes for kids without anywhere to live—to community leaders in an effort to spark a change in their unfortunate circumstances.
Early is only a character in Blue Balliett's newest mystery novel, Hold Fast[1] (Scholastic Press, 2013). But there are more than 30,000 kids in Chicago alone who are homeless just like she is, and some 16,000 vacant properties like the ones that Early dreams of inhabiting.
"Kids will easily share their dreams about a home," Balliett said in her keynote speech at the American Planning Association's national conference last week. "They never make small plans."
Balliett, a bestselling author of young adult literature, told planners that she came up with the idea for Hold Fast during the housing downturn, when she noticed a dearth of news stories about the effect foreclosures were having on her target audience.
"The children were invisible," she said. "I kept wondering about the kids: Who are they and what does it feel like to grow up without a front door?"
Of course, community planners, writers, and nonprofit directors know as well as real estate professionals the value of home when it comes to children.
"What kids need most is stability in their lives and a home provides that… Blue's book really captured that," said Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director Ed Shurna, who spoke on a panel alongside Balliett at the closing keynote of the APA conference. "The danger is that they are going to stay homeless as adults."
W. Paul Farmer, executive director and CEO of the APA, called on members to devote more of their attention to this difficult problem.
"As we have become arguably the best-housed nation in the world… we have allowed ourselves to not realize that we have these problems," Farmer said. "These are, in fact, invisible to many people in the country."
In a brief Q&A period, attendees asked panelists what they could do to help solve the issue in their local communities.
"Part of the key is to make your community care and take ownership in this problem," Balliett responded. "Become determined to do something."
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