Pro-Link Blog

Crittenton Center offers assistance for low-income at-risk uninsured and under-insured women in accessing prenatal and postpartum medical services in partnership with Siouxland Medical Education Foundation.

In addition to being a long-time provider of maternal health care, the program is an integral part of efforts to identify and address community maternal and infant health needs and develop appropriate resources and policies.

Services provided to program participants include:

• Flexible scheduling
• Transportation
• Interpreter services
• Consistent client contact and follow-up home visits
• Health and parenting education on topics such as SIDS prevention and child development
• Psychosocial counseling
• Dental assessment, referral and prevention consultation
• Nutrition assessment, education, and counseling
• Parenting and parent preparation classes
• Pregnancy testing and birth control counseling and referral
• Referrals to community resources

Preventative health education services including smoking cessation counseling and support.

In addition to meeting with families and making referrals, the Westside Resource Center collaborates with local agencies to provide a variety of activities in both English and Spanish including:

• Oral health screenings for young children
• Car seat safety sessions
• Infant, child, and adult CPR classes for friends and families (no certification given)
• Parenting classes for families with young and pre-adolescent children
• Home visits for families
• Family fun nights
• Parent identified classes for educational sessions of their choice
• Work with youth groups to increase their success in schools
• Literacy promotion
• Computer skills building opportunities for families

Monday's bond market has opened down slightly despite a much weaker than expected housing report. The stock markets are posting minor gains with the Dow up 25 points and the Nasdaq up 5 points. The bond market is currently down 2/32, but we will still likely see an increase in this morning's mortgage rates of approximately .125 - .250 of a discount point due to weakness late Friday.

The National Association of Realtors reported late this morning that home resales fell a whopping 16.7% last month. Analysts were expecting to see a sizable decline in sales, but this was much larger than thought. The surprising drop indicates that the housing sector still is not stable, which... click here to read more

This information is available each morning on our website under the section "For Buyers".  The website page is titled "Daily Rate Lock Advisory".

Radon may be in the air we breathe.  It is the second leading cause of lung cancer.  January is National Radon Action Month.  The Siouxland District Health Department and the Iowa AIR Coalition of Public Health Officials are offering a limited number of FREE home radon test kits while supplies last.  One free kit per household, please.  Additional kits can be purchased for $5. 

Radon kits must be picked up Mon-Fri from 8-4:30 at Siouxland District Health Department, 1014 Nebraska St. Sioux City, IA 51105.  Kits must be picked up and will not be held or mailed. 

For more information on radon, call the Iowa AIR Coalition at 1-800-206-7818 (they also will mail test kits for $6) or the Iowa Department of Public Health at 1-800-383-5992.

A special thanks to Mid American Energy for providing us this information.

Check out one of our Real Estate agent's personal blog.

Jeff Bellgardt

712-574-2573

http://www.jeffbellgardt.com/MyBlog

A Real Estate professional will help you sell your home by

1. Knowing local trends to help price your home
2. Marketing your property nationally
3. Utilizing the latest technologies
4. Staging your home 
5. Screening potential buyers to ensure they are quailifing buyers
6. Professionally showing your home to buyers

To learn more, listen to http://www.pro-linkrealty.com/Howtosellyourhome

Snow building up on your home can cause several furnace problems.  It is important to keep a path clear around the inlets and outlets to your furnace. 

If you do experience your furnace not putting out warm air into your home, first find the furnace intake. Then, make sure the pipe is clear.  Also, check to make sure your furnace filter is clean.  If you furnace is still not working as efficiently as it should, call your HVAC representative.  If you need a referral, give your Pro-Link Realty real estate agent a call at 224-2300.

Do not make any adjustments to this piping without consulting your HVAC representative first.  Every furnace is different and very specific in how this piping should be ran.

Here are some interesting articles if you would like to read more on this topic:

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/article_379fa1f9-9451-56a6-9592-b2521ebc6f78.html

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2009/12/09/make-sure-outside-furnace-vents-are-clear/

http://energy-conservation.suite101.com/article.cfm/heavy_snow_and_furnace_trouble

	Limit house tours to six or seven per outing.  More than that and the house details can be forgotten or confused.
	Tip Provided by real estate agent,
		Jim Trucano
		712-301-2300
		jim@jimtrucano.com
		www.jimtrucano.com