Happy New Year 2010

Happy New Year To All!

Here's to a Happy and Prosperous 2010

COUNTDOWN FOR TAX CREDIT TO HOMEBUYERS

Just a reminder to qualify for the $8,000 homebuyer's tax credit, you must have an offer accepted and under contract by April 30th and close by Jun 30, 2010. Don't miss out on this exceptional tax incentive soon to end. A normal closing time takes around 45-days. You have to get pre-qualified, then shop for a home, make an offer, then wait for an acceptance from the seller. This all takes time, so don't wait until it is too late and you miss out on the lowest interest rates and incentives we have seen in the Real Estate market.

Balancing Home Purchase in 2010

It looks like for some of the lucky people still employed with a steady job, 2010 will be the year to buy a home. With home values plummeting to 2003 prices and fixed mortgage rates still at near record lows, what’s to think about?

Now add the facts with the foreclosure epidemic, the current housing market has created great opportunities for those bargain hunters in the market for the best deal of the century. To top that off, good old Uncle Sam is throwing thousands of dollars into the pot for not only first-time home buyers, but also existing homeowners who have been in their home a minimum of five years and close a purchase by June 30th, 2010.

There are a few important factors that would inhibit you from cashing in on a good deal:

1. You have to have a stable job, true story! So make sure and take a serious look at your employer, the company, and the industry as a whole to make sure your position looks secure. Unemployment is expected to rise in 2010.

2. Credit score needs to be registering on the mortgage lender’s rector scale, usually 700 or above.
Of course there are other requirements and considerations that go into the equation in order to qualify for a home loan, but these are the two basic show stoppers before considering further action on your part, which should have always been in place for anyone buying a home. So if you feel good about your present situation, you have money in the bank for earnest money and closing costs, and you haven’t maxed out your credit cards or behind in your current mortgage payment, you’re good to go!

Happy house hunting, and oh by the way, remember, nothing in life is free! We will always be held accountable for those agreements we enter into and everything has a price tag no matter how sweet the deal, so be careful and wise. Make sure you have a great Realtor (Buyer’s agent) on your team to assist you through the process making your next home buying experience both stress free and profitable.

Tune in to Real Estate Today Radio

Live Real Estate Today Radio Station now available on ShirLee's 24-7 Realtor Website http://www.utahrealestate-online.com/communities.htm presented by the National Association of Realtors® and its Realtor® members in your neighborhood.
Real Estate Today radio station opens doors for buyers and sellers with critical and credible information on the real estate market. It’s fast paced and fact packed with experts, interviews, call-ins, field reports, and timely market conditions.
On radio stations, satellite, and podcasts… even cell phones, Real Estate Today is your instant connection to the American Dream of home ownership. I am pleased to offer this additional communication and informational tool to my clients and business associates.

One Way To Guarantee Foreclosure...

DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Today I will be headed out with another member of my team to visit about 15 homeowners who are in Notice of Default to give homeowners an informational brochure so they are aware that they may qualify and have alternative options to avoid foreclosure. The most important factor when a homeowner is in this situation is to become pro-active and check out all their options EARLY! The clock is ticking once you receive that NOD and to do nothing you will lose your home, guaranteed!  According to statistics in the Financial and Real Estate field, a majority of Foreclosures could be avoided if the homeowner takes action early on to find an alternative solution to their personalized situation.

To enhance my education and knowledge I just finished my certification for SFR endorsement, which is Shortsale and Foreclosure Resource. Please feel free to call me if you need assistance or want to know what alternative options might be available to you. I am experienced in the field and I am here standing by to assist. 801-856-6594.

Home Ownership

Home Ownership ...Owning your own home is America’s unique recipe for avoiding revolution and promoting pseudo-equality at the same time. To keep citizens puttering in their yards instead of sputtering on the barricades, the government has gladly deprived itself of billions in tax revenues by letting home “owners” deduct mortgage interest payments...


Florence King (b. 1936), U.S. author. “Democracy,” Reflections in a Jaundiced Eye (1989).

All About Santa Clause

Saint Nicholas is the main Clause.

His wife is a relative Clause.

His children are dependent Clauses.

Their Dutch uncle is a restrictive Clause.

Santa’s elves are subordinate Clauses.


http://christmasjokes.wordpress.com/

Home prices predicted to fall in 2010

Fiserve, a financial information and analysis firm predicts an 11.3% housing price plunge by the middle of 2010.

Moody’s Economy.com calls for a 5-10% fall in home prices nationwide during 2010.

LendingTree’s chief economist Cameron Findlay predicts, “We continue to forecast a 5-7% decline in national average home prices.”

What does this mean? Check back tomorrow for continuation "Lurking in the Shadows"

Information gathered from bankrate.com

Open Hands

For those of us who are blessed with two hands…open those two hands to reach out to help not only yourself, but others in life.

They are your strongest tools for which to achieve, serve others, and make friends; so use them wisely and reach out with open hands to open the way to achievement. ShirLee McGarry

Credit card's newest trick: 79.9 percent interest This credit card's newest trick?

Just when you think things couldn't get worse....

NEW YORK (AP) -- It's no mistake. This credit card's interest rate is 79.9 percent.

The bloated APR is how First Premier Bank, a subprime credit card issuer, is skirting new regulations intended to curb abusive practices in the industry. It's a strategy other subprime card issuers could start adopting to get around the new rules.

You can find the article on yahoo Finance:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Credit-cards-newest-trick-799-apf-3359014390.html?x=0&.v=4

Are we having fun yet?

Existing Home Sales Reports Big Gain

The latest NAR reports Existing-Home Sales Record Another Big Gain, Inventories Continue to Shrink

November 23, 2009 - Driven by the first-time buyer tax credit, existing-home sales showed another big gain in October with a strong uptrend established over the past seven months, while inventories continue to decline.

Integrity Within The Home

“The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of its homes”

Confucius quotes (China's most famous teacher, philosopher, and political theorist, 551-479 BC)

2010 Residential Estate Market

Case Shiller just released its latest report on the state of the residential estate market. The good news is that home prices are falling more slowly. The bad news is that that we have a little ways to go.
What the Numbers Show:
• Through August, 2009, the price of an average home sold in the US fell approximately 13 percent, year over year, from 2008 levels.
• Home prices have now dropped to 2003 valuation levels, wiping out 6 years of home appreciation.
• Since the peak in 2006, average home prices are down 33 percent.
What Do the Numbers Say About the Future??
• Prediction: The “average” home price will likely fall more than 13 percent by year end. Reason: Home prices are always at their highest in the spring and summer. Families move during this time of year and they buy the largest, most expensive properties. As a result, Summer home sales skew the “average” price upward in the fall, but only temporarily.
• Prediction: Home Sales will suffer a downturn due to the expiration of the $8000 First Time Buyer’s Credit. So far this year, 350,000 buyers have been persuaded to purchase because of this incentive.

Reduction of Listing Inventory

A reduction in inventory can happen in cities where unemployment rises.

Sellers usually will withhold listings from the market or cancel listings that don't sell within 90 days.

The biggest demand in 2010 will come from first-time home buyers, inventory will fall. Unfortunate as it may seem, falling inventory will not drive up the prices.

© Big Stock Photo

Famous Quotes

" If Americans ever allow banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless" Thomas Jefferson

Quote on Homeownership

"...Almost any man worthy of his salt would fight to defend his home, but no one ever heard of a man going to war for his boarding house...”

Mark Twain quotes (American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer, 1835-1910 .

Gettin' Ready For Christmoas