Here's a few pics from a recent trip to Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, KY. A renowned ghost site...

 

  

I used a long exposure and no tripod. That's why they are blurry, but kinda ghostly... ;)

The family that bought the building now sells guided night tours. This was a lot of fun because I love exploring vacant buildings - especially ones with a view. We were hooked with the 1.5 hour tour and now we want to have the eight hour overnight experience!

"The massive collegiate gothic style sanatorium still stands on Waverly Hill today. This sanatorium could accommodate at least 400 patients. It was considered to be one of the most modern and well equipped facilities when it opened. Construction of this sanatorium began in March of 1924. It opened on October 17, 1926 to administer patients. Waverly functioned as a tuberculosis hospital until 1961."... read more at TheRealWaverlyHills.com

"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" is in my hometown this week! Yesterday they announced which family was picked for the show: WATCH VIDEO

I thought I'd check out the site firsthand.  I'm guessing that if you want to be picked for a home makeover then (besides being a deserving family) it really helps to live one block from a city park!SEE THE MAP

I never really considered what a massive production goes into the show. There are three streets completely blocked off ('safety' purposes).

  

THE QUOTE:

"That's not to say there are not individual homes...

"...that have been impacted by the presence of wind projects," Ryan Wiser said.

MY ILLUSTRATION:

MY COMMENTARY:

I suppose that wind farms don't technically MAKE wind (so this is NOT meant to be a negative commentary). But if they did... then this might be worth a chuckle. I also wonder: why did the imaginary builder decide to build one wood-frame house between two identical brick homes?

THE ARTICLE:

Here's a link to the MSNBC.com article that inspired this illustration: Study shows wind farms don't hurt home prices

REAL ESTATE NEWS IN ONE PLACE:

Here's my first TWITTER account - started a couple of days ago. This account will be for (real estate) news links only.

I don't know how I feel about Twitter yet. I never even thought about 'friending' strangers on Facebook, but I didn't hesitate on twitter - strange. At first, I was excited to find Ivanka Trump's Twitter (my celebrity crush). But then I realized that I'm not really interested in "sugar cookie exfoliation scrubs." I'm curious to see what Ashton Kutcher uses his Twitter for. He is apparently trying to become a 'media/marketing mogul'. I'm curious to follow the CEO of Zappos. Who else is following him - business types or shoe nuts?

It definitely is a new level of voyeurism. I think I'll stick to posting news TWEETS for now.

Can you suggest any good sources to follow?

Start by reading the selection below (in quotes) from the following article: HVCC appraisal rules effective May 1

"Lenders may use "in house" staff appraisers to conduct appraisals. However, the loan production staff cannot select, retain, recommend or influence the selection of an appraiser for an assignment or appraisal roster. Staff also cannot have any substantive conversation with an appraiser or appraisal company regarding valuation."

Now help me to understand why a lender could use In-House appraisers, but can't be responsible for selecting or conversing with a third party appraiser!

  

Here's a BEFORE AND AFTER photo of the Tower Oaks townhouse. Notice the boards on the wall (the two squares). The boards used to cover holes made from dog's teeth. The trim was extremely chewed up, as well. I wish I didn't accidently delete the photos that showed a collection of dog hair matted to the wall behind the trim. Fortunately, there was tile throughout - so we literally hosed the place with bleach.

I was encouraged today when I read about provisions being added to the bill passed this Wednesday by the U.S. House that will require states to deny a license (to sell home loans) for applicants who have committed a felony within the last seven years. This is especially reassuring after a Miami Herald investigation shed startling insight into Florida's lax application screening:(The quotes below are from The Miami Herald, Matthew Haggman and Jack Dolan, as seen on The Florida Association of Realtors news website)"The Miami Herald investigation also found that 5,306 people with criminal histories became loan originators between 2000 and 2007...

"...after allowing thousands of criminals to sell home loans in Florida...

"... including the agency's licensing of Anthony Hollis, of Orlando. Despite convictions for car theft and passing bad checks, Hollis was granted a license to own a brokerage in 2003...

"...the case of Donald Smith, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison for strangling his wife and dumping her body in Tampa Bay. Saxon said staff did not "timely review" information submitted by Smith and had to issue the license because an administrative deadline expired."

"In the case of Richard Crowder, who went on to commit $37 million in mortgage fraud, Saxon pointed out that Crowder's grand theft and burglary charges dated back to 1984..."Among the ex-convicts given access to the mortgage industry was Scott Almeida... Florida regulators asked for a character reference. He gave them a note from his mom... They said he needed a reputable supervisor for his practice: He chose a guy he met in the prisoner visitor room... Almeida spent the next three years arranging nearly $3 million in fraudulent loans for which he was put back behind bars."

Some of the government's new regulations seem bogus to me; just a band-aides to make themselves look good. For example, regulation against prepayment penalties. In the short term that might help some people sell a house in foreclosure. In the long term it forces lenders to use higher interest rates, making it harder for people to buy. HOWEVER - I am definately in favor of adding regulations that encourages trancparency within any transaction that allows borrowers to understand what they are paying for. I remember how shocked I was years ago, when I learned that mortgage brokers were being rewarded by offering me a higher interest rate. I thought they were shopping for ME - trying to get me the lowest rate! I am encouraged to see that this issue has, at least, been recognized by legislators. This should be disclosed to people. Borrowers need to know who is on their side, what choices they have, and where the money is flowing!!! Here is an accompanying article on CNNMoney.com titled, New Fed rules miss one key lending abuse (http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/21/real_estate/mo_ban_on_lending_abuse/index.htm?postversion=2008072309)

Before Zillow.com, I paid nearly $100.00 for access to The First American Corporation's data base of recently sold properties so that I could get an idea of what a property's value was. Of course, I am not a Realtor, so this information was not as readily available to me.

Then came Zillow. This site is awesome for people who are not real estate agents and want to check for recently sold homes in their neighborhood. Some counties have organized their own database, but not here in Gainesville (Alachua County).

I would warn against putting too much faith in the "Zestimate" that Zillow offers for specific properties. Primarily because it cannot consider the condition of the properties or their value based on their exact location. In other words, Zillow will consider the all of the values surrounding your property, even when the neighborhood directly across the street might not be very comparable.

I primarily use Zillow by entering a specific adress and then pulling up 'recently sold' properties surrounding the property. I write down general info such as address, bedrooms, selling price, and square footage. I always drive-by the properties so that I can see which ones are in similar condition and neighborhoods to the property I am comparing. Then I put together my 'Buttstimate". I know, that sounds bad ( just consider my last name).

Here's a recent article about Zillow reported by RISMEDIA.

FORECLOSURE DISCOUNTS: Even with the Feds trying to help homeowners 'keep their homes' (in other words, help banks 'save their shirts'), only a small percentage of people are qualifying for loan modifications. Then, after qualifying, only a small percentage are maintaining their new loan. As a result, many homes sell at discounted prices before auction, at auction, or they sit vacant which increases the supply. Home values decline.

LENDING STANDARDS: When it was easier to borrow money, more people baught homes, which decreased the supply. As we speak, lenders and federal regulators are making it tougher to borrow money, so fewer homes are selling. The federal regulations that were just instituted (such as restricting when a lender can institute a prepayment penalty) will force lenders to raise interest rates to cover their increased risk. Higher interest rates means that homebuyers can't afford higher prices. Home values decline.

MORE BUILDING: Obviously building has decreased and future building will decrease even more. However, there are still some developments that began before the big crash, so more units are still being added to the market. Home values decline.

INFLATION: The dollar is losing value. As the Fed continues to bail out banks, send out stimulous checks, and fund 'defense', then it will inevitably borrow from other countries and print it's own money. As the value of a dollar deceases over time, then it will take more dollars to buy a home of tomorrow then it will to buy a home of today. Home values increase.

So what influences will win out? Will prices increase or decrease? Only time will tell.