Many borrowers are not getting help under president’s modification or refinancing plan. Officials don’t expect problems to be fixed until the fall.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Mr. President, help us get one of your mortgage workouts now.That’s what many borrowers are saying nearly five months after President Obama unveiled his housing rescue plan. The program is beset with problems, say borrowers, housing counselors and even the president himself.

Read More >>> Obama mortgage plan needs work

The Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force has been hard at work producing a Homeowner Guide to preventing foreclosure and the Arizona Foreclosure hotline has been busy with calls from homeowners trying to modify their home loans.

Technorati Tags: modification, Mortgage, obama, refinancing

WHEN: Thursday, June 18th
7:00 Registration and Networking
7:30 Breakfast
8:00 Presentation

WHERE: Lakeview Inn @ Camelback Golf Club
7847 N. Mockingbird Lane Scottsdale, AZ 85253

FEE: $65 General Admission
$50 Executive Partners
After 6/15/09 $75 General Admission
$60 Executive Partners

ATTIRE: Business
CONTACT: Elizabeth Savoia 480-496-4408

Join Valley business leaders and entrepreneurs for a discussion moderated by Mary Martuscelli, president of JP Morgan Chase Arizona and regional manager for JP Morgan Private Wealth Management Group, focusing on what steps should be taken now to rejuvenate the key elements of your financial plan and how to restart it given recent economic shocks.

Panelists include: Matt Donovan, attorney with Snell and Wilmer specializing in tax, trust, and estate matters Jessica Duff, director at Deloitte Tax LLP who provides consulting and compliance services to wealthy individuals Robert Phelps, estate and wealth attorney with JP Morgan Private Bank and one of JP Morgan’s top national experts

Event Chairs: Dan DiPomazio Treasurer, Enterprise Network Senior Manager, Eide Bailly Noel Lesniak VP of Marketing, Enterprise Network President, Six 9s Customer Research

Cancellation policy: Cancellations must be made 48 hours prior to the event in order to receive a full refund.

Technorati Tags: Arizona, JP Morgan Chase, networking, Scottsdale, Wealth Management

The savings is directly tied to the new Build America Bond (BAB) stimulus program in which the City is reimbursed by the Federal Government for 35 percent of the interest costs.

“We are pleased with the results of the bids.” Mayor Scott Smith said, “We are the first municipality in the State of Arizona and one of the first in the country to take advantage of the Build America Bond program. The future interest expenses savings will allow the City to continue our goal of completing needed facilities and meet the future needs of our customers.”

The $59,900,000 in Utility Revenue Bonds will be used for the City’s water, wastewater, natural gas and electric infrastructure capital projects.

The City’s General Obligation Bond sales were also sold successfully on the market at two-tenths of a percent less than last year’s rate.  The
$61,830,000 in General Obligation Bonds will be used to construct police, fire, and streets projects over the next 12-months approved by the voters in November 2008.

“Six months ago the municipal bond market was in disarray and the new Build America Bond program was nonexistent.” City Manager Chris Brady said. “The market was very favorable and our residents will reap the benefits.”

About Mesa, Arizona – The City of Mesa’s estimated population is over
460,000 within an incorporated area of approximately 133 square miles.
Total land area encompasses 182 square miles. The City ranks as the 38th most populous city in the United States, larger than the cities of Kansas City, Miami, St. Louis and Pittsburgh. Mesa is a favorite destination to thousands of visitors with more than 300 sun-filled days a year and average temperature of 72.6 degrees.

The area’s economy is driven by four major industries healthcare, education, aerospace, and tourism. Mesa is home to two award-winning airports, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and Falcon Field Airport. For more information about the City of Mesa go to mesaaz.gov

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Mesa Arizona, Utility System Revenue Bonds

California State University is hosting

IP3’s Strategy to Reality

“Real Risk, Real Management, Real Risk Management”

2-Day IT/ IA Security Executive Seminar

April 7th & 8th, 2009

Location:

California State University

Panorama Room- Lower Commons Bldg.

5500 University Parkway

San Bernardino, CA.

Bill Austin

On April 7th & 8th, 2009, the California State University is hosting IP3, Inc., for an Information Assurance and Information Technology Security seminar delivered lecture-style. Ken Kousky, CISSP, CISA, CGEIT, and CEO of IP3 (and former president of Wave Technologies – a NASDAQ publicly-traded company) will present “Strategy to Reality – “Real Risk, Real Management, Real Risk Management”, the nation’s leading IT security forum based on an application of IP3’s Strategy to Reality methodology. This unique risk management program will take attendees through four distinct stages of IP3’s Risk Management realization process with new content and new applications.

During this two-day seminar for CEOs, executives, managers and IT professionals, you will learn how the technologies, threats and deployment environments have changed, even since 2008!

Some of the more persistent challenges are revisited with updated best practices.
· Updated Threat Assessment – Impact Analysis – New Technology Deployment
· Mitigation

This is a must attend event for all IT-IA security executives looking for a comprehensive overview of today’s information assurance security issues and solutions. Earn 16 CPE’s by attending.

Learning Objectives and Course Outline:

8:00 am – Registration & Continental Breakfast

Section 1 – Introduction and Overview: It’s all about RISK

A. Risks, risks everywhere
B. The core methodologies – three principles
1. Expected losses
2. Risk/return trade-offs
3. Rationality
C. Risk management failures
D. Too many tools, too little integration
E. ISACA and COSO Frameworks
F. A Grand Unifying Theory of Risk/Security Alignment

Section 2 – A New Security Architecture based on a Risk Management Framework

A. The Classical Architecture
1. The Perimeter
2. The End-point
3. The Assets
B. The flaws in the model
1. The Porous Perimeter (2003)
2. Insecure COTS (2002)
3. System holes – buffer overflows and OS exposures
C. The NEW Technology Holes
1. Cloud computing
2. Virtualization
3. Endless wireless
4. Cellular bridges
5. Smaller formats and increased mobility

12:00 – 1:00 pm – Lunch

Section 3 – Exploit Architectures 2009

A. A new game in town – money and invisibility
B. The market for malware
C. The penetration
D. The phone home
E. A Bot – a specialized army for the challenges at hand

Section 4 – An Economic Analysis of Cybercrime

A. Cash is king
B. First choice – technology augmentation, enhance existing frauds

4:15 pm – Q & A

Day 2 – 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

8:00 am – Registration & Continental Breakfast

Section 5 – Identity management and authentication trends

A. My systems secure but I still need to authenticate
B. Multi-factor a must but still not there – WHY?
C. Addressing strong authentication challenges

Section 6 – Converged content and the next open door

A. Consumer content and strategic assets
B. The Web 2.0 dilemma
C. Segregating environments
D. Securing the wireless, mobile, globally connected employee
12:00 – 1:00 pm – Lunch
Section 7 – Data Integrity
A. Policies and people: EMRs unintended consequence
B. Role-based access control
C. Logging Reads AND writes
D. Certificates, smart-cards and other factors
Section 8 – Putting it All Together and Staying in Front
A. Best Practices – the economic impact
B. Human Capital – trends in certifications
C. The NEXT Generation of Regulation – it’s coming fast to a company near yours!

4:00 pm – Q & A – Certificates of Completion, CompTIA voucher drawing and CD tools distribution

If there is one seminar to surely attend, this is it!

You and other AZhttp, Inc. security professionals are cordially invited to attend this special information security / information assurance event at a reduced rate of $150 per person (general public admission is $595). You can upgrade to our full package for $695 and receive your choice of a 120 GB iPod Classic or an 8 GB iPod Touch with a 1-year subscription to IP3’s Podcast Library (24 podcasts). IP3’s educational programs are supported through sponsorships that allow us to offer a quality experience at a minimal investment to association members.

Throughout the two days, we’ll discuss these critical topics, answer vital questions, share current solutions and provide in-depth coverage regarding real-time issues affecting IT-IA security and infrastructure solutions. This is the forum where enterprise, government security, law enforcement, financial, management/response professionals and private industry (SMB’s) connect to learn, network and find the solutions needed to protect and understand their data assets.

Additional Program Information:
Program Level: Overview
Delivery Method: Group-Live / Lecture style
No pre-requisites / No advance preparation required

Interested colleagues may register at our website: http://www.ip3seminars.com/security/register.php using the Registration Codes below or you can contact Mike or Judy at 1-800-473-5181 with any questions regarding registration.

Benefits of Attending – Learn and Earn!

Sixteen (16) CPE’s are approved and recognized by NASBA and (ISC)2. In addition, seminar attendees may petition for CPE’s for most other professional credentials. IP3’s Podcast Library contains 24 podcasts that can be downloaded for 1 CPE per hour. 1 Attending our seminars and downloading our Podcasts are great ways to earn added hours for the year towards maintaining your certification credentials!

General Registration Packages:
$295 – Registration Code – CORP295 – Special Registration for corporate group attendees of 3 or more. Without the IPod or podcasts
$595 – Registration Code – MB595 – General Attendee Basic Package – Includes registration, 300-page workbook, security tools CD and certificate of completion – Without the IPod or podcasts
$895 – Registration Code – MB1895 – General Attendee Full Package – Includes registration, all attendee materials, choice of 120 GB iPod Classic or 8 GB iPod touch, and 1-year subscription to our online podcasts.

Previous Attendee Registration Packages:
$195 – Registration Code – PA195 – Basic Package – Includes registration, 300-page workbook, security tools CD and certificate of completion – Without the iPod or podcasts
$695 – Registration Code – PA695 – Full Package – Includes registration, all attendee materials, choice of 120 GB iPod Classic or 8 GB Apple iPod Touch, and 1-year subscription to our online podcasts.

Association Registration Packages:
$295 – Registration Code – MB295 Association Membership Basic Package – Includes registration, 300-page workbook, security tools CD and certificate of completion – no iPod. (Other special rates and discounts are available. Go to our website or talk with your professional association for details.)
$695 – Registration Code – MB1695 – Association Membership Full Package – Includes registration, all attendee materials, choice of 120 GB iPod Classic or 8 GB Apple iPod Touch, and 1-year subscription to our online podcasts. (Other special rates and discounts are available. Go to our website or talk with your professional association for details.)

Register by March 20, 2009* to be entered into a drawing for a free 8GB Apple iPod Touch!
(*Must have a minimum of 15 paid registrants to conduct drawing.)

We are extending this sponsorship opportunity with the discounted price to you and your association members. We are asking for your support in the following manner:
1. Distribute this email or event invitation to your membership.
2. Include this event in your next newsletter or post it you website and event calendar.
3. Our way of saying thanks is to invite your leadership (complimentary seat) to share your member benefits with our audience (5-10 minutes) during the seminar.
For your reference, there is also a short biography about Ken Kousky on our website at http://www.ip3inc.com/management.htm.

For more information regarding refund, complaint and/or program cancellation policies, please contact our offices at 800-473-5181.

Thank you,

Michael Brown
IP3 Inc.
T: 989-771-1007

IP3, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Website: www.nasba.org

1Podcast CPE’s cannot be claimed through NASBA, but seminar attendees may petition other professional associations for continuing education credits.

Technorati Tags: California, California State University, IP3, Risk Management, Seminar

There is a lot of questionable information floating around with regard to Mortgage modification.  Most of this information is being provided by people and companies who hope to profit from the current mortgage loan crisis and want to charge people large fees to negotiate modification of their mortgages.

Talk to your lender and ask for the loss mitigation department.

Look in your local area for Foreclosure Prevention Seminars or Foreclosure Prevention Workshops.

You want to look at events that are involved with the HOPE program and Hope for Homeowners and similar programs.

Community Information & Referral http://www.cir.org/ runs a state-wide foreclosure prevention hotline in Arizona under the sponsorship of the Arizona Department of Housing. Callers are put in touch with a HUD Certified Foreclosure Counselor.

In Arizona, the number to call is 877-448-1211.  Outside of Arizona call 888-995-HOPE.

http://www.arizonaforeclosuretaskforce.com/ provides news about foreclosure prevention efforts in the state of Arizona. This is the website of former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano’s Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, and is sponsored and supported by two of my companies.

Thursday night, there was a foreclosure prevention workshop in Glendale Arizona and hundreds of people were helped. I heard one of the 20+ lenders who had a team there say that she had helped over 90 people begin the process of modifying their loans that night.

Loan Modification – Frequently Asked Questions from the Department of Housing and Urban Development – HUD

A Loan Modification is a permanent change in one or more of the terms of a mortgagor’s loan, allows the loan to be reinstated, and results in a payment the mortgagor can afford.

Loan Modification Frequently Asked Questions – HUD

Bill Austin

Technorati Tags: Foreclosure, Foreclosure Prevention, Foreclosures, HOPE, Mortgage Loan Modification, Mortgage Modification, Mortgages, Real Estate

Employees impacted by layoffs at the East Valley Tribune and layoffs at other East Valley employers (and West Valley employers) are encouraged to attend the next Scottsdale Job Network meeting on Tuesday October 7, 2008 at Temple Chai at 4645 East Marilyn Road Phoenix, Arizona 85032 from 9 AM – 11:30 AM. (map)

The topic of the meeting will be “Developing Your Resume” and there will be recruiters in attendance and networking opportunities.

Technorati Tags: East Valley Tribune, East Valley Tribune Layoffs, Layoffs, Scottsdale Job Network, Scottsdale Job Network Meeting, SJN

CBI Group, the new face of Keystone Real Estate Investments, has announced the launch of a fund that will allow Canadian investors to profit from the downturn of the Phoenix Arizona housing market. The Arizona Acquisition Fund will raise up to 12.5 million (Cdn) to purchase approximately 175 single-family homes in the Phoenix area over the next 12 months.

The Arizona Acquisition Fund is an opportunity for Canadian investors to enhance and diversify their portfolios without the traditional hassles associated with foreign real estate investments. Institutional financing, tenant prospecting, property management and sales processes will handled by CBI Group and their extensive network of Phoenix Arizona Real Estate industry experts residing in Phoenix area.

“Most Canadians are starting to realize that we have ideal market conditions to invest in the U.S. thanks to a strong Canadian dollar and extremely low home prices due to the sub prime mortgage crisis. The Phoenix market remains an area of interest for baby boomers, so we expect that it will produce the greatest profit when it recovers over the next five years.” explains Travis Cadman, co-founder of CBI Group.

For a minimum RRSP eligible investment of $10,000 investors in the Arizona Acquisition Fund will receive a 6% annual bond interest that will be disbursed as cash flow permits as well as a share in 60% of net profits when the homes are sold.

Technorati Profile

Technorati Tags: Arizona Real Estate, baby boomers, Canada, Canadian Investors, Phoenix Arizona, Phoenix Arizona Real Estate, Phoenix Real Estate

“MORTGAGE TROUBLE? DON’T DELAY. CALL TODAY.”
Governor announces local toll-free help line

PHOENIX – Governor Janet Napolitano announced today the latest effort in a series of state initiatives to better serve Arizona families facing foreclosure. Homeowners who are either delinquent on their mortgage or face foreclosure now have a new, dedicated 24/7 toll-free help line to reach a local Arizona foreclosure counselor: 1-877-448-1211.

“In response to a problem that is increasingly affecting so many Arizona families we are launching this new toll free number in an effort to urge homeowners to not delay – to call today,” said Governor Janet Napolitano. “Troubled Arizona homeowners now have a phone number that will connect them to specialized services right here in Arizona. We urge anyone who may be at risk of foreclosure to call a local foreclosure counselor today.”

The Arizona foreclosure help line, made available through a $1.3 million federal grant, will be a vital link between families facing a housing crisis and access to free foreclosure counseling appointments. The Arizona Department of Housing is contracting with Community Information and Referral Services to staff the call center which will connect homeowners to a local, certified foreclosure counselor.

Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, Arizona Governor, Foreclosure Prevention, Janet Napolitano

The Fair Housing Act protects the basic right of all Americans to pursue the dream of homeownership, free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status and national origin. NAR demonstrates its strong commitment to fair housing through partnerships with real estate diversity partners, education, and grant and award programs.

“Realtors® build communities and play a vital role in advancing fair housing laws and improving access to affordable housing,” said NAR President Dick Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif. “NAR and its 1.3 million members pledge to continue our work educating home buyers and homeowners in our communities about fair housing laws, discrimination and predatory lending practices, making the dream of homeownership viable for all Americans.”

NAR is working with Congress to make permanent the new FHA and conforming loan limits, mandated by the economic stimulus package, so that Americans can access affordable financing in all areas of the country. Realtors® also continue to push for a stronger, more flexible FHA program, to give more first-time home buyers access to affordable and safe financing options.

Phoenix Real Estate

For the past decade, NAR has been educating Realtors® about being sensitive to and aggressive in meeting the homeownership needs of a diverse society through its “At Home with Diversity” program. More than 25,000 Realtors® have completed the course. In celebration of Fair Housing Month, NAR is waiving the At Home with Diversity® program fee for any local or state Realtor® association that sponsors the course in April. Realtors® can also save 50 percent off the online At Home with Diversity® course this month.

NAR also embraces fair housing by recognizing the efforts of individuals and organizations that advance minority homeownership. NAR joins together with five real estate diversity partners in sponsoring the HOPE Awards (Home Ownership Participation for Everyone). The awards showcase exceptional individuals and organizations that are working to increase minority homeownership, revitalize communities and expand affordable housing opportunities.

In 2007, NAR proudly contributed $1 million to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project. The memorial is due to open on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in 2009.

In addition, NAR’s Community Outreach Department provides financial resources to local and state Realtor® associations for programs and activities that advance smart growth, diversity and housing opportunities. Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded twice a year; more than $239,000 was awarded in 2007.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Technorati Tags: April, Fair Housing, Fair Housing Month, housing, Real Estate