The Sex Offender Living Next Door... (DRAFT) essay #2

At the age of 13, Alexia Rubio, a teenage girl, was walking back from the park to her house by herself. On the way, a man jumped out in front of her and sexually assaulted her. Currently, Alexia Rubio is scarred for life and keeps getting nightmares about what happened that day. As of the man who attacked her, a level 2 sex offender, is now in jail. People may say that everyone deserves housing and the right to freedom. However, not every person deserves the “American dream.” In fact some people don’t even deserve any kind of housing at all. A sex offender, one who has been criminally charged and convicted of, or has pleaded guilty to, a sex crime, is the least welcome resident in any city or neighborhood. Sex offenders should not be given the same choices as any other American citizen, because of the severity of the crime they have made. Parents fear for the safety of their kids, and sex offenders have a greater chance of re-offending where kids are near by. Very few sex offenders are able to change their habits and their thoughts of mind and start a new life. This statistic makes people very scared and forcing the city and state to react by making tougher laws against sex offenders. Such laws consist of sex offenders are to stay away a certain distance from schools, parks, pools, and any place where kids are to be playing or living. The best way to prevent sex offenders to strike again is to greater the punishment. Housing is like a privilege, and it is a human right until the privilege is lost by committing a sex crime, especially against a helpless minor.

Sex offenders are categorized in three levels, a level one, a level two and a level three offense. The level one sex offenders are people with a minor sex offense, yet the level three offenders are predators that are likely to re-offend. Then why are these sex predators out on the streets? In a press release by The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, it shows that the United States has 603,000 registered sex offenders and 100,000 are unaccounted for. These sex predators can be anywhere. This is a huge catastrophe in America. The only way to solve this is to either provide some kind of housing for all sex offenders, micro chip them or sentence them to life in prison. “We will not mess around with those who mess with our children,” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif., said in June of 2006, “We will find them. We will put them in jail. And we will keep them there.” In a report from last April, the U.S. Marshall Service caught up with 1,102 people who are either wanted for a sex crime or sex offenders who have failed to register. General Alberto R. Gonzales, a U.S. attorney, says “The operation targeted the worst of the worst.” The majority of Americans may agree with him, but there may be a few people who disagree. Critics say that tougher laws, especially in Iowa, have made sex offenders go on the run and become an extreme danger to the people of America. On the other hand, the sex crimes in Iowa have dropped significantly ever since tougher laws have been in place. Also it makes complete sense to guard kids from sexual predators. State Representative Keen, a sponsor of a Georgia proximity law states, “People are putting a premium on the safety of kids.” I agree with Mr. Keen, the only way to secure the future for America is to take care of the young generation, and one major step that will help is to take sex offenders out of society. They are a bad influence not only to our second generation, but more generations to follow.

Housing is an opportunity that every man and woman has in America. Although, anyone can lose that opportunity in a heart beat. All it takes is one mistake to lose the right to housing. The reason for the harsh regulation is to keep people from re-offending and the safety of the citizens of the United States. According to Stacie Rumenap, the executive director for Stop Child Predators writes in an article, “Sex offenders are four times more likely than other criminals to commit a sexual offense.” Although some may argue, that sex offenders should be given a second time, I believe it is too big of a threat to the general public. Parents should not have to worry about a sex offender living next door. If a sex offender does live near a minor, he is more likely to re-offend and destroy yet another innocent life. If I was a parent, I would never want a sex offender living near me or my kids. I would always have doubts in my mind, and worry all the time about my kids. I wouldn’t want any other parent doing the same, and that’s exactly why tougher laws are being placed against sex offenders.

In recent studies, fewer sex crimes have been committed in the last decade than in the 1990's, and the reports show that the decline in sex crimes is a result in tougher laws, making people aware of the consequences they may face if they commit such a crime. A recent law that has been passed enables a 30-year minimum sentence for those who have sex with a child younger than 12. The U.S. Department of Justice has made fighting sex offenders a top priority, and it seems like they are doing an excellent job of it. People might argue that new laws do more harm than good. Although part of it may seem correct, in the long run it is the right decision made by law makers. This “harsh” punishment will make sex offenders think twice of recommitting a sex crime, or a person to commit a sex crime for the first time. Electronic monitoring, frequent visits by patrol officers and restricted zoning are just some of the ways the U.S. government is helping battle the war between the U.S. citizens and sex offenders. A study from the University of Florida State shows that out of 75,000 sex offenders placed on a GPS monitoring system, 67,500 sex offenders did not re-offend, which is 90% of the entire number of sexual predators tested. People are now aware of the severe consequences of a sex crime, and most are not willing to risk their entire life for a “fantasy” they might have.

The last thing any parent would want is getting a sex offender notice flyer in the mail. In the western culture, sex offenders are never welcomed, because of the threat they pose to anyone. Sex offenders reduce the value of the neighborhood. I believe most sex offenders are not able to change their habit of sexual “fantasies” with minors, and should not be given a second chance to re-offend. Sexual predators, in reality, have a better life in prison, where they get food, a clean shower, and a shelter. It is in the best interest of everyone if sex offenders are kept in a safe place, where they can not devastate any more lives. They should receive the utmost punishment possible, and they should not be given any other shelter besides the jail cell.

Sources:

http://www.metrokc.gov/exec/sexoffenderhousing/

http://moe.ic.highline.edu.2160

http://articles.latimes.com/2006/may/31/local/me-offenders31

http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#sex

Thesis For Essay 2

Housing is like a privilege, and it is a human right until you lose the privilege by doing something horrible.

Teen Prostitution (Article Free Write)

Child prostituion is a child's nightmare, yet there is one place where any teen prostitute can go and a call a home for herself. The Children of the Night, which is an excellent shelter for teenage prostitutes, was founded by a Louis Lee. Lee is trying to help those kids, who either have decided they are going to sell themselves for money or are being forced into teen prostitution by peer pressure. In a recent article written by Kimerly Sevcik, who writes for Rolling Stone, Salon.com and The New York Times, Lee talks about how she is the father and the mother for all these kids. Lee is completly motivated and dedicated to get these kids to the right path. One of those teens, who's name is Lily, has recently moved into the shelter. She was forced to do teen prostitution at the age of 11. After a few years, she decided to join an escort service. This is where she really knew that she needs to change herself. After she got arrested, her probation officer handed her some information about COTN. Shorlty after she joined the shelter, she deicided to pursue her plans, that she previously had for herself. Now with the help of Lee, Lily is searching for a new place to live, and start over from a new point. The COTN, which is suported by private donations, is a resort for teen prostitutions, where they can start a new life with hope.

My Real Estate is My Home. (Final Draft, Essay Number 1)

In my household, where real estate is our business, the market is always good because no matter how bad or good the market may seem, we always make a profit. My family’s business is building homes for the people of Seattle. The business has been growing ever since it was started ten years ago, even during the time when it seems the market has been “slowing” down. The majority of the real estate market is the process of selling or buying a property. In the past, the real estate market has never been stable. Either the economy was booming or failing. The prices of property have dropped, making the home sales reasonable for people who couldn’t afford a home earlier. Recently, it seems like the real estate market has started to increase in its value. In other words, the real estate economy has shown signs of rebounding from the “real estate crisis.” Although many people may assume the real estate economy is going through a tough time, recent studies show it is a great time to buy or even sell a home.

Although some may say the real estate market may not have a big role in the U.S. economy, it is quite the contrary. The real estate market makes ten percent of the entire U.S. economy. That is a big component of the U.S. financial system. In other words, if the real estate economy is booming, chances are that the U.S. financial system will do the same. Along with that, the real estate market will determine if some people have jobs or not. A lot of people’s lives depend on how the real estate market is working. The real estate economy is one of the most difficult things to analyze, because of all the factors and aspects people have to take a look at. However, there are experts who analyze and predict the future of the real estate economy. Some recent predictions show the real estate economy is going to either stabilize or decrease a little bit, which is not bad news for most Americans because of recent allegations that the economy may be going through a recession. This report showed a sign that eventually the real estate economy is going to be up and running like it was two years ago. In my past experience in the real estate economy, the real estate market has a cycle. This cycle consists of a “depression” mode as well. After looking at a few studies the typical trend shows that after five years of positive reception there is an average of two years of a downfall. This downfall enables many of the lower class people to afford a home. If this downfall never existed, the average American wouldn’t be able to afford the extremely high home prices. This two year period enables everyone to draw even and be active in the real estate market.

Currently, the housing prices are dropping significantly from the past year, and the interest rate seems to be lowering. In an article from CNN.com, Ben Rooney, who covers most of the money related stories for the news channel writes, “The report showed that the national median existing-home price for all housing types fell 6.3%.” Common sense would dictate that because of this the real estate market should be struggling drastically. However, that is terrific news to current home buyers. Buyers can now take advantage of affordable home prices at low interest rates. In the same article from CNN.com, Ben Rooney also writes, “The number of existing homes sold during May rose 2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.99 million units in May from a level of 4.89 million in April.” This is excellent news for the entire U.S. economy. Stephanie Armour, from USA Today writes, “Yet, what's bad for sellers is good for buyers — at least those blessed with excellent credit and enough money for a sizable down payment.” As of this time, anyone who has good credit and is looking for a house can get an excellent deal, which will save the buyer thousands of dollars. If I was a buyer, I would take advantage of these fabulous home prices and the interest rates. Also another trend that I am seeing is more Americans are willing to go and look for a new home. Although they may not buy anything, it keeps the market in better shape, because it shows investors that people are still looking around. These prices are only to stay low for a little time and it is an excellent opportunity for the low and middle class people to purchase a home. The time to buy a home couldn’t be better for most Americans.

Since the interest rates are lowering and the home prices are dropping, it may seem like this is a horrendous time to sell a home. The media is making it seem like the world has turned upside down. While it is true that the prices are falling, it does not necessarily mean that the economy is significantly struggling. My own experience with selling a home makes me believe that the prices have fallen but people are still making profit on houses, which is the main goal of a seller. I believe if the seller approaches the concept of selling a home by making a stellar presentation, developing a market plan and listing the house reasonably, it should sell quickly. On top of that, there are even some areas in the United States that haven’t really taken a big blow. Take Seattle for an instance, NWMLS, also known as Northwest Multiple Listing Service, have just released a new report this month. The report shows the housing market is becoming more balanced as the number of homes sold climb to the highest level in ten months. The prediction is that the percentages are going to increase, and the real estate economy has “recovered.” The major reason for this decline of home prices is the number of inventory in the market. As of right now, there are more houses for sale than buyers in a large number. This allows the seller to have the advantage rather than the other way around. Gradually, the inventory will reduce making the demand for houses greater. This is what happened four years ago, when the housing prices went ridiculously high, and is a basic example of "supply-and-demand." Home sellers have nothing to fear about and should be able to sell their home at a reasonable price if marketed correctly.

The real estate economy is a unique system. The standard way of thinking about the real estate market these days is that the economy is extremely fragile and risky; yet with great care there is, a financial reward at the end. People don’t realize how the media overemphasizes every little thing and makes it a huge deal. As of right now, potential buyers are realizing that and are taking advantage of the low home prices, and the sellers are happy with the sales. The bottom line is that if the market has home buyers and homes to sell, the economy is not going to go down drastically.

Is the Real Estate Market Booming or Falling? (Due Wed.)

In our household, where real estate is our business, the market is always good because no matter how bad or good the market may seem, we always make a profit. The majority of the real estate market is the process of selling or buying a property. In the past, the real estate market has never been stable. Either the economy was booming or failing. The prices of property have dropped, making the home sales reasonable for people who couldn’t afford a home earlier. Recently, it seems like the real estate market has started to increase in its value. In other words, the real estate economy has shown signs of rebounding from the “real estate crisis.” Although many people may assume the real estate economy is going through a tough time, recent studies show it is a great time to buy or even sell a home.

Although some may say the real estate market may not have a big role in the U.S. economy, it is quite the contrary. The real estate market makes ten percent of the entire U.S. economy. That is a big component of the U.S. financial system. In other words, if the real estate economy is booming, chances are that the U.S. financial system will do the same. Along with that, the real estate market will determine if some people have jobs or not. A lot of people’s lives depend on how the real estate market is working. The real estate economy is one of the most difficult things to analyze, because of all the factors and aspects people have to take a look at. However, there are experts who analyze and predict the future of the real estate economy. Some recent predictions show the real estate economy is going to either stabilize or decrease a little bit, which is not bad news for most Americans because of recent allegations that the economy may be going through a recession. This report showed a sign that eventually the real estate economy is going to be up and running like it was two years ago. In my past experience in the real estate economy, the real estate market has a cycle. This cycle consists of a “depression” mode as well. After looking at a few studies the typical trend shows that after five years of positive reception there is an average of two years of a downfall. This downfall enables many of the lower class people to afford a home. If this downfall never existed, the average American wouldn’t be able to afford the extremely high home prices. This two year period enables everyone to draw even and be active in the real estate market.

Currently, the housing prices are dropping significantly from the past year, and the interest rate seems to be lowering. It is written in an article from CNN.com “The report showed that the national median existing-home price for all housing types fell 6.3%.” Common sense would dictate that because of this the real estate market should be struggling drastically. However, that is terrific news to current home buyers. Buyers can now take advantage of affordable home prices at low interest rates. In the same article from CNN.com, Ben Rooney, who covers most of the money related stores for the news channel writes, “The number of existing homes sold during May rose 2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.99 million units in May from a level of 4.89 million in April.” This is excellent news for the entire U.S. economy. Stephanie Armour, from USA Today writes, “Yet, what's bad for sellers is good for buyers — at least those blessed with excellent credit and enough money for a sizable down payment.” As of this time, anyone who has good credit and is looking for a house can get an excellent deal, which will save the buyer thousands of dollars. If I was a buyer, I would take advantage of these fabulous home prices and the interest rates. Also another trend that I am seeing is more Americans are willing to go and look for a new home. Although they may not buy anything, it keeps the market in better shape, because it shows investors that people are still looking around. These prices are only to stay low for a little time and it is an excellent opportunity for the low and middle class people to purchase a home. The time to buy a home couldn’t be better for most Americans.

Since the interest rates are lowering and the home prices are dropping, it may seem like this is a horrendous time to sell a home. The media is making it seem like the world has turned upside down. While it is true that the prices are falling, it does not necessarily mean that the economy is significantly struggling. My own experience with selling a home makes me believe that the prices have fallen but people are still making profit on houses, which is the main goal of a seller. I believe if the seller approaches the concept of selling a home by making a stellar presentation, developing a market plan and listing the house reasonably, it should sell quickly. On top of that, there are even some areas in the United States that haven’t really taken a big blow. Take Seattle for an instance, NWMLS, also known as Northwest Multiple Listing Service, have just released a new report this month. The report shows the housing market is becoming more balanced as the number of homes sold climb to the highest level in ten months. The prediction is that the percentages are going to increase, and the real estate economy has “recovered.” The major reason for this decline of home prices is the number of inventory in the market. As of right now, there are more houses for sale than buyers in a large number. This allows the seller to have the advantage rather than the other way around. Gradually, the inventory will reduce making the demand for houses greater. This is what happened four years ago, when the housing prices went ridiculously high, and is a basic example of "supply-and-demand." Home sellers have nothing to fear about and should be able to sell their home at a reasonable price if marketed correctly.

The real estate economy is a unique system. The standard way of thinking about the real estate market these days is that the economy is extremely fragile and risky; yet with great care there is, a financial reward at the end. People don’t realize how the media overemphasizes every little thing and makes it a huge deal. As of right now, potential buyers are realizing that and are taking advantage of the low home prices, and the sellers are happy with the sales. The bottom line is that if the market has home buyers and homes to sell, the economy is not going to go down drastically.

Works Cited

Amadeo, Kimberly. "Has Housing Bust Bottomed Out?" About. 26 Feb. 2008. 25 June 2008 .

Ben. "May 2008 NWMLS Housing Report." Seattle Housing Buzz. 5 June 2008. Housing Outlook. 25 June 2008 .

Bordo, Micheal D. "U.S. Housing Price Boom-Busts in Historical Perspective." Papers.SSRN. Oct. 2005. Harvard University - Department of Economics. 25 June 2008 .

Christie, Les. "Vulture Real Estate Investors Swoop In." CNN. 6 July 2008. 6 July 2008 .

Rooney, Ben. "Existing Home Sales Rise on Price Drop." CNN. 26 June 2008. 25 June 2008 .

Essay #1 Rough Draft

The real estate market is unpredictable. One never knows what is going to happen the next day. The majority of the real estate market is the process of selling or buying a property. In the past history of the real estate market, it has never been stable. Either the economy is booming or failing. Yet, this year a new trend may have been started. Prices of property have dropped a little bit, but it seems like the economy has stalled at where it is. In other words, the market is going to stay put where it is for a while. Hopefully, this will allow people to start investing their money back in the real estate economy.While many people may assume the real estate economy is going through a tough time, recent studies show it is a great time to buy or even sell a home!

Although some may say the real estate market may not have a big role in the U.S. economy, in fact it does. According to Kimberly Amadeo, about.com guide to the US economy, she states that the real estate economy consists of ten percent of the entire economy. That is a big chunk of the U.S. financial system. In other words if the real estate economy is booming, chances are that the U.S. financial system will do the same. Along with that, the real estate market will determine if some people have jobs or not. Many people’s lives depend on how the market is moving. The real estate market is one of the most difficult things to analyze. It consists of several factors and aspects people have to take a look at, although there are many experts who seem like they know their way around the market. The recent predictions show the real estate economy is going to stabilize, which is fabulous news for most Americans.

Currently, the housing prices are dropping significantly from the past year, and the interest rate seems to be lowering. In an article from CNN.com it states, “The report showed that the national median existing-home price for all housing types fell 6.3%.” Common sense would dictate that because of this the real estate market should be struggling drastically. However, that is terrific news to current home buyers. Buyers can now take advantage of affordable home prices at a low interest rates. In the same article from CNN.com it states that the real estate economy has risen by two percent. This is excellent news for the entire U.S. economy. Stephanie Armour, from USA Today writes, “Yet, what's bad for sellers is good for buyers — at least those blessed with excellent credit and enough money for a sizable down payment.” As of this time, anyone who has good credit and is looking for a house can get an excellent deal, which will save the buyer thousands of dollars. If I was a buyer, I would take advantage of these fabulous home prices and the interest rates. Also a trend that I am seeing is more Americans are willing to go and look for a new home. Although they may not buy anything, it keeps the market in better shape, because it shows investors that people are still looking around. The time to buy a home couldn’t be better for most Americans.

Since the interest rates are lowering and the home prices are dropping, it may seem like this is a horrendous time to sell a home. However, my own experience with selling a home is different. I believe if the seller approaches the concept of selling a home by making a stellar presentation, developing a market plan and listing the house reasonably, it should sel0 pretty quick. On top of that, there are even some areas in the United states that haven’t really taken a big blow. Take Seattle for an instance, NWMLS, also known as Northwest Multiple Listing Service, have just released a new report this month. The report shows the housing market is becoming more balanced as the number of homes sold climb to the highest level in ten months. Also in another article from CNN.com, Ben Rooney writes, “The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said that the number of existing homes sold during May rose two percent.” The prediction is that the percentages are going to increase, and the real estate economy has “recovered.” Home sellers have nothing to fear about and should be able to sell their home at a reasonable price if marketed correctly.

The real estate economy is an amazing thing. The standard way of thinking about the real estate market these days is that the economy is extremely fragile and risky. People don’t realize how the media expands every little thing and make it a huge deal. As of right now, potential buyers are realizing that and are taking advantage of the low home prices, and the sellers are happy with the sales. The bottom line is that if the market has home buyers and homes to sell, the economy is not going to go down drastically.

SHANGHAI LIVING (Picture Number H61)

This is an absolutely amazing picture. It is unbelievable to see how so many people can live in such a small place. Inside the place there are six people, including four kids, and they only have two small beds to sleep in. On top of that, the picture shows that the family only has very little food on the table to feed themselves. The family seems so poor, that they have to write numbers on the wall. The entire room is unorganized, and it looks extremely dirty. The parents look tremendously sad and hopeless. It seems like they are ashamed of themselves and are humiliated about their financial status. Yet it looks as if like they both are hard working but just can not seem to make any money. Finally, the room is very dangerous. There are electrical wires running from one side of the room to the other, and with four kids, it is very scary to see. I would never want to live there, and see anyone doing the same.

Buying or Selling a Home Revision #3

The real estate market is unpredictable. One never knows what is going to happen the next day. Some may think, the real estate market is going through a tough time, and buyers fear a financial crisis and are not willing to make any big purchases. The majority of the real estate economy is the process of selling or buying a home. Currently, the housing prices are dropping significantly from the past year, and the interest rate seems to be lowering. In an article from CNN.com it states, “The report showed that the national median existing-home price for all housing types fell 6.3%.” Common sense would dictate that because of this, the real estate market should be struggling drastically. However, that is terrific news to current home buyers. Buyers can now take advantage of affordable home prices at a low interest rates. Stephanie Armour, from USA Today writes, “Yet, what's bad for sellers is good for buyers — at least those blessed with excellent credit and enough money for a sizable down payment.” As of this time, anyone who has good credit and is looking for a house can get an excellent deal, which will save the buyer thousands of dollars. I’ve always believed the real estate market isn’t as bad as people are making it. Our family business has always been in the real estate market and making homes. As of right now, we are selling our houses cheaper than last year. Yet the prices for the building materials are dropping, making it the same profit we had been making when the real estate economy had been “flourishing.” Overall the economy may have seemed like it stalled, but people are still making money and houses are being sold.