2 Stateline News Sunday, August 3, 2008 ‘ WORTH’ QUOTING “Barack Obama is an arrogant pretender to a throne he has not earned. He wanted to stand at the Brandenburg Gate like Reagan, grasping desperately for a chance to look presidential.” — Columnist Brent Bozell STATELINE BIRTHS Boy, July 23, to Jodi and David Dirx of Rockton Girl, July 23, to Alison and Chad Lewis of Beloit Boy, July 23, to Cecilia Aldama of Beloit Boy, July 25, to Matilde Bolanos and Felipe Ramos of Beloit Girl, July 25, to Nancy Garcia and Jonathan Barrera of Beloit Girl, July 25, to Jeanine Thomas of Clinton Boy, July 26, to Brandon and Aslynn Huisheere of Beloit Girl, July 26, to Patricia Madru of Beloit Boy, July 28, to Thad and Amy Engle of Footville STATELINE DEATHS July 22, Douglas Beachey, 78, of Rockton July 22, Monica Edwards, 58, of Beloit July 22, Jameah Lynae Hall, 27, formerly of Beloit July 24, Patricia J. Lee, 50, of Beloit July 24, Robert D. Goff, 63, of Beloit July 24, Vita Ross, 83, of Beloit July 25, James L. Welch, 90, of Clinton July 25, Joseph Lawrence Kniffin, 74, formerly of Beloit July 26, Nina G. Demrow, 97, of South Beloit July 26, Hazel L. Patrick, 84, of Beloit July 27, Doris Laray Dauenbaugh, 75, of Rockton July 28, James W. Kolman, 53, of Beloit July 28, Allen R. Black, 77, of Rockton WEB POLL RESULTS Question: Are you driving less now that gas prices are hovering near the $4-pergallon mark? Yes . . . . . . . . . . 80 percent No . . . . . . . . . . . 20 percent To vote in Stateline News Web polls, go to: www. statelinenews.com ■ MARKET Continued from page 1 good situation.” Dutter cautions <strong>first</strong>-time buyers to make sure they have their finances in order before they get ready to buy, however. “They should make sure that before they go house shopping they go lender shopping and realtor shopping,” she said. Most <strong>first</strong>-time <strong>home</strong>buyers recognize they’re taking an important <strong>first</strong> step toward long-term financial security. “<strong>Home</strong> ownership is historically the No. 1 wealth generator in our country,” said John Ramstad, director of housing for <strong>Community</strong> Action of Rock and Walworth Counties. But, Ramstad added, potential buyers should beware that what appears to be a good deal actually may be a pratfall. “The only caution is for people to be careful about buying properties that look awfully cheap on paper, but are such because there is significant work that is required or significant infrastructure improvements that need to happen,” he said. “It’s the longterm affordability of the house that’s the most important.” ■ BUILDING Continued from page 1 company has seen a 25 to 30 percent drop in custom-built <strong>home</strong> construction in the past two years, though a growing number of people are choosing to renovate their existing <strong>home</strong>s. “There are people still mulling around, wondering what they should or should not do,” he said. Wellnitz blames the economy, rising gas prices and upcoming presidential election year for the decrease in demand. “We believe it’s going to pick up; we have full faith in it,” he said, adding that he believes business will rebound in 2009. Sharon Bauer, co-owner of Bauer Custom <strong>Home</strong>s in Burlington, agreed. “It can’t stay like this forever,” she said. But for now, buyers are exercising restraint. “They’re just being cautious,” Bauer said. “Those that are get- FOR THE RECORD The Stateline News is ... People You Know Name: David Ramar Wilson. Age: 26. <strong>Home</strong>town/residence: Beloit. Occupation/civic memberships: Unit director at E.J. Dalton Boys & Girls Club in Beloit, and member of the Academy of Boys & Girls Club Professionals. Family: Mother Danita Wilson, sister Damischa Wilson, niece Taylor Vance and nephew Savion. Favorite food: I like food, period. I can’t really say there is KIRK IRK a food I don’t like. Favorite music: R&B and easy listening. Favorite movies: Comedies and action. Favorite books: Inspirational and fiction based on the lives of others, and howto books. Favorite vacation place: Puerto Rico. In my spare time I: Play Frisbee golf, rollerblade and ride my bike. I think the most important issue in the Stateline area is: Taking a <strong>home</strong>ownership class may help potential buyers see the big picture. “It’s a good way to assess how ready you are to take on that responsibility, since they go over all sorts of aspects of how to buy a <strong>home</strong>,” Ramstad said. “If you haven’t owned a <strong>home</strong> or it’s been a while, it’s a very valuable course and a chance to think through a lot of the factors you should be considering before you make that commitment.” Anyone in the market for a new <strong>home</strong> — not just <strong>first</strong>-time buyers and those with shaky credit histories — is under far greater scrutiny by mortgage lenders than they may have been a few years ago. Because of the so-called “credit crunch” — caused by lenders who doled out subprime loans to people who might not qualify for traditional mortgages, then went belly-up when those loans went into foreclosure — more buyers are using government-sponsored loans, like those through the Federal Housing Administration or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “There’s a lot of hope right now for FHA, because that’s the only place where you have any sort of high loan-to-value product still available,” said Yuri Rashkin, owner of Service First Mortgage in Janesville. “Now, everybody starts with FHA. It used to be a very underutilized product — now it’s the <strong>first</strong> step.” That sea change has some wor- ting into a custom <strong>home</strong> are generally trying to sell a <strong>home</strong> of their own, and that seems to be giving people problems.” The market is floundering so much that a nonprofit agency that secures low-interest, no-risk mortgages and helps people build newconstruction <strong>home</strong>s is in danger of closing its doors. The Burlington-based Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Corporation builds groups of <strong>home</strong>s and trims costs by having future <strong>home</strong>owners, under the supervision of a professional, complete much of the construction. “So many people are running scared because of the economy,” said SEWHC Executive Director Arturo Gonzales. “As long as they make the minimum payment according to their income, they’ll never lose their house.” The organization, which has built nearly 1,500 <strong>home</strong>s in Walworth, Rock, Racine and Kenosha counties since 1971, is looking for qualified families who want to build a <strong>home</strong>. If the organization is unable to Providing recreational activities for all ages, genders and cultures to do together as a community. If I could change one thing: It would be how people base what and how they think on the opinions of others, without seeking the knowledge themselves. Peak experience: Waking up this morning. Pit experience: I try to have a positive outlook every day, so I can’t really speak about a “pit” experience, although there have been some in my life. If I could sit down to supper with anyone, living, dead or fictional? Charles Barkley. Most people don’t know I: Speak Spanish. I can’t stand: Kids who are disrespectful. I wish I knew how to: Fly like a bird. ried. “I think that it’s just unsustainable,” Rashkin said. “We can’t be relying on government programs if we are to continue to be a (consumer-based) economy where people buy and sell houses. There just has to be some more flexibility in the system.” The upside of the credit crunch is that <strong>home</strong>buyers now must live within their means. “They should figure out pretty precisely what they’re able to spend for a <strong>home</strong>,” including property taxes and insurance, Rashkin said, “and be realistic.” That’s exactly what Ryan and Rianne Graves did before buying in Darien. Even though they were approved for a larger mortgage, they opted for one they regard as more affordable. “We weren’t comfortable with that financially,” Ryan Graves said. “As far as <strong>first</strong>-time <strong>home</strong>buyer advice is concerned, staying in your comfort zone is your best bet.” The couple spent nearly a year looking at available properties. “We got excited at the potential of the houses we could have,” Ryan Graves said. “From there, it became kind of a fun adventure, getting the opportunity to look at these houses.” Such excitement, Dutter said, makes her job worthwhile. “It’s really exciting — they’re so thrilled,” she said of <strong>first</strong>-time <strong>home</strong>buyers. “They beam through the entire closing.” find five eligible families by the end of the summer, Gonzales said the program’s funding will not be renewed. DAVID AVID WILSON ILSON Motto, inspiration or favorite quote: Mata el lobito cuando es chiquito. Translated, it means, “Kill the little wolf when it is little.” Handle, work out and solve problems when they are little. AT A GLANCE Upcoming <strong>home</strong>buyers’ education classes in Beloit are held monthly at Neighborhood Housing Services of Beloit <strong>Inc</strong>. Sessions are scheduled for: ■ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9, Sept. 13, Oct. 11 (English) and ■ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 23, Sept. 27, Oct. 25 (Spanish) To register, go online to www.nhsofbeloit.org/education or call (608) 362-9051. BY THE NUMBERS: Sales of existing <strong>home</strong>s in Beloit: 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 592 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 641 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 836 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 574 New housing units in Beloit: 2002 ............................. 61 2003 ............................. 84 2004 ............................. 84 2005 ............................. 97 2006 ............................. 56 2007 ............................. 61 Building permits issued in Beloit: 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 “Everyone in this country has a right to own their own <strong>home</strong>,” he said. “Work on your credit, get it cleaned up, and we will help you.” A CSI Media Publication 1555 Willowbrook Rd., Beloit, WI 53511 (608) 365-1663-Wisconsin (815) 389-2722-N. Illinois Online: www.statelinenews.com Circulation: 45,213 President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sidney H. Bliss Vice president/general manager . . . . . . . . . . Dan Pyfer Source: Beloit assessor’s office Display sales manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diane Greenlee Managing editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruce Heisel Circulation manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Schumacher
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