And the winner is.....

We would like to first give a special thank you to all four competitors in this year's Christmas tree decorating contest at Country Faire. Each entry deserved to be winners in their own right. However, when the votes were tallied there was one clear winner.

The results....

1st Place: Linden High School Associated Student Body $500

2nd Place: Linden Community Garden Club $300

3rd Place: SJ County Sheriff's S.T.A.R.S Volunteers $200

4th Place: Linden-Peters Fire Department Family Auxiliary $100

Happy Holidays From Raymus Homes

Happy Holidays from all of us at Raymus Homes

Recent NY Times Article

As some of you may know, mortgage interest rates are near all time lows. Conventional, 30 year fixed loans can be found between 4.875% and 5.05% depending on credit scores and the loan-to-value ratio.

This article from the NY Times provides some compelling information on why TODAY is the right time make your new home purchase. See the article at the link below:

http://tinyurl.com/3j5att

2008 CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATING CONTEST

The second annual Christmas tree decorating contest is underway at Country Faire. Four local community groups have decorated their trees in hopes of winning the top prize of $500.

If you are in the area, stop by and vote for your favorite tree.

Holiday Safety Tips

The holiday season is upon us once again. I recently received a list of safety tips from the County Information Security Officer of San Joaquin County, courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security. While shopping, we tend to forget elementary safety precautions. This list will serve as a refresher! Have a happy holiday and BE SAFE!

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings
• Carry only the amount of cash or number of credit cards necessary to make your purchases. Using debit or credit cards is much safer than carrying a lot of cash. However, if you must carry a large sum of money, divide the cash between your purse, pockets, and wallet.
• When using a credit card, be certain that you get yours back, as well as any and all copies of the receipt.
• Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a personal check.
• Carry your purse close to your body with the flap turned into your body. Never wrap the strap around your body.
• Keep your wallet in the breast pocket of your jacket or in your side pants pocket. The rear pants pocket is the easiest to pick.
• Never leave presents on display in your car. Lock them in the trunk.
• Don’t leave belongings unattended. Do not hang your purse over the back of your chair in a restaurant; keep it on your lap.