Randy Hooker Blogging Arizona Real Estate ~ Greater Phoenix Area

What are the symptoms of H1N1... and how are they different from the common cold?

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:42:44 -0700

Awareness is wisdom. Read and become more aware. ;-)

Via Debra Leisek (Broker Bay Realty Homer Alaska):

What are the symptoms of H1N1... and how are they different from the common cold?

How can you help stop the spread?

I don't know if this is accurate or not but several different sources seem to be giving us this information so I thought I would pass it on... some say the HINI outbreak will peak this week...some say it will break out again in January... I am not a doctor and have no idea but the chart is interesting so I thought I would pass it on... it makes some sense... as always wash your hands and stay home if you are sick and as we do in my office LYSOL!

Symptom

Cold

H1N1 Flu

Fever

Fever is rare with a cold.

Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.

Coughing

A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.

A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).

Aches

Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.

Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.

Stuffy Nose

Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.

Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.

Chills

Chills are uncommon with a cold.

60% of people who have the flu experience chills.

Tiredness

Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.

Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.

Sneezing

Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.

Sneezing is not common with the flu.

Sudden Symptoms

Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.

The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.

Headache

A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.

A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.

Sore Throat

Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.

Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.

Chest Discomfort

Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.

Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

Table credited to The Mortgage Market View...For the week of Oct 26, 2009 --- Vol. 7, Issue 43

When You Need results Bay Realty Works

A Nameless Faceless Lender From Somewhere Across the Country May Not Be Able to Get That House to Closing for You

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:25:20 -0700

Via Sandy Shores, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL, Brevard County Real Estate & Investing (M & M Real Estate Inc. www.SandyShoresMelbourne.com):

This week a client was referred to me that wants to buy a house.

During our initial phone conversation, one of the first things I always ask is whether they have a lender and are pre approved for a loan.

He indicated that he did have a lender, that he found online. (Uh-oh). And, that he was preapproved. The Brevard County Real Estate market is considered a distressed market. It is so important for a buyer to have a local lender and a local appraiser that understands our market.

My next question was whether or not he had received a Good Faith Estimate from the lender. He had not. (Uh-oh #2). Every buyer should be provided with a Good Faith Estimate when being Preapproved for a loan. This gives the buyer an estimate of his closing expenses and prepaid expenses. It will also provide an estimate of his monthly mortgage payment amount and his anticipated interest rate.

The buyer gave me his lender's long distance and toll free phone numbers (uh-oh #3) as I always talk to the lender at the beginning of a transaction, before we head out to look at any houses.

I called to get more info from his lender. I called 3 times in 2 days (uh-oh#4) with no response. His voice message said, "I will return your call in the order in which it was received." (uh-oh #5).

I have to know what type of loan he will be financing the house with, so I know what type of home he can buy. I finally found that this buyer is purchasing with an FHA mortgage, with a 3 1/2% down payment. So, he won't be able to purchase a home that requires extensive repairs. The roof has to be "newer" and so does the air conditioning system. There typically can't be broken windows. The house must have heat and a stove and it typically cannot be in some phase of remodeling. If this buyer was getting a conventional loan with 20% down he would be able to look at completely different properties, as there would not be many restrictions on what he could buy. In paying cash, a buyer could purchase any home he wants.

When I was talked to the lender, I received the Good Faith Estimate (as did the buyer). My teeth nearly fell out of my mouth, when I looked at the figures. (uh-oh #6). The fees were some of the highest I had ever seen. The interest rate was too high, the estimate was full of unnecessary junk fees. I couldn't believe my eyes!

I recommended this buyer get additional estimates from LOCAL lenders to compare fees. I know that he can do much better than what he was quoted.

In this market, as Patricia Kennedy pointed out, in a recent post she wrote, not only is it important to come in with a strong offer to purchase a house, but, listing agents also look at the pre approval letter with the lender info to determine whether they will accept the offer.

If a buyer winds up in a multiple offer situation, which many buyers here in the under $125K price range do, the best offer is going to be choosen based on which one has the best chance of getting to closing. Here in our market the listing agent often times wants a local, reputable lender, that knows the market, that has a processing center right here in town. They know if they tell us, upfront, that they can do the deal, then they can do it. They want the smoothest transaction possible, that won't get snagged or delayed. They don't want any surprises.

In our market, a nameless faceless lender, with exorbinant fees and a long distance or toll free number, that doesn't return phone calls, from somewhere across the country, is not going to help your offer along, to get you the house that you want to buy.

If your offer is accepted, will they be able to get you to closing?

All lenders are NOT alike. And, all online lenders are NOT alike.

Get a couple of estimates and talk to a couple of lenders.

Be sure you do your homework BEFORE you head out the door to look at houses.

FOOTNOTE: I later found out, after the buyer talked to a local lender, that he is self employed. The buyer indicated that he had not discussed his employment situation, nor the fact that he had recently opened a new business during his interview with the online lender. So, now, I am waiting to hear whether this buyer will be able to buy a house at all!

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

STATE and LOCAL TAXES ARE A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR INCOME - WHAT WILL THE FUTURE BRING?

Mon, 25 May 2009 18:59:21 -0700

Here's another great and timely post by Lenn Harley. How does YOUR state rank?

Via Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate:

Nannette Saunders offers an interesting post today comparing real estate tax rates for counties in her market area of Lynchburg, Virginia.

TAXES ARE ON THE WAY UP. If we can believe the prognostigators in the media, our taxes are likely to increase dramatically in the near future across the board.  Below is a table showing state and local tax revenue as a percentage of income.

The information below represents the latest aggregated information I could find and was compiled in 2006. It will be very interesting to review the same information in a couple of years.

Of course, state and local taxes are a percentage of your gross annual income. The table below does not include federal income taxes.

STATE State and Local Taxes as a

Percentage of Annual Income

Alabama 9.60%

Alaska 15.10%

Arizona 11.00%

Arkansas 11.70%

California 12.10%

Colorado 9.80%

Connecticut 11.90%

Delaware 11.60%

Florida 10.80%

Georgia 10.90%

Hawaii 14.00%

Idaho 11.20%

Illinois 11.20%

Indiana 11.90%

Iowa 11.00%

Kansas 11.70%

Kentucky 11.50%

Louisiana 14.00%

Maine 14.30%

Maryland 11.10%

Massachusetts 10.90%

Michigan 10.90%

Minnesota 11.80%

Mississippi 11.10%

Montana 11.10%

Nebraska 11.90%

Nevada 10.80%

New Hampshire 9.20%

New Jersey 12.50%

New Mexico 12.90%

New York 15.70%

North Carolina 11.30%

North Dakota 11.70%

Ohio 11.80%

Oklahoma 10.60%

Oregon 10.80%

Pennsylvania 11.40%

Rhode Island 12.20%

South Carolina 10.30%

South Dakota 9.10%

Tennessee 9.30%

Texas 10.00%

Utah 11.80%

Vermont 13.50%

Virginia 10.50%

Washington 11.20%

Washington D.C. 14.40%

West Virginia 12.30%

Wisconsin 12.30%

Wyoming 16.60%



Lenn's home in Loudoun County, Virginia - Real Estate Tax - $4,854.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

Speechless Sunday ~ How Many Animals Do You See?

Sun, 24 May 2009 01:58:39 -0700

A Day at the Phoenix Zoo

photo by my daughter: Jenifer Hooker

Jenifer's "Butterflies or Grapefruit?"

Jenifer's "Rain in a New Light"

Jenifer's "Reflections of a Rainbow"

Jenifer's "Alone on the Beaches of Kauai"

Jenifer's "Two Special Flowers"

Jenifer's "Follow Your Dreams"

Jenifer's "Butterflies"

Greater Phoenix Area ~ Weekend Freeway Closures & Restrictions ~ May 22 - 25, 2009

Sat, 23 May 2009 00:33:59 -0700

There will be NO SCHEDULED CLOSURES on Arizona highways, including Phoenix-area freeways for the holiday weekend. ADOT asks drivers to be prepared in case of any unscheduled restrictions that may occur.

Have a Memorable Memorial Day Weekend!

Gilbert Homes ~ Chandler Homes ~ Mesa Homes ~ Queen Creek Homes ~ Phoenix Homes

Speechless Sunday ~ Butterflies or Grapefruit?

Sun, 17 May 2009 01:56:10 -0700

photo by my daughter: Jenifer Hooker

Jenifer's "Rain in a New Light"

Jenifer's "Reflections of a Rainbow"

Jenifer's "Alone on the Beaches of Kauai"

Jenifer's "Two Special Flowers"

Jenifer's "Follow Your Dreams"

Jenifer's "Butterflies"

Speechless Sunday ~ Rain in a New Light

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:23:00 -0700

photo by my daughter: Jenifer Hooker

Jenifer's "Reflections of a Rainbow"

Jenifer's "Alone on the Beaches of Kauai"

Jenifer's "Butterflies"

Greater Phoenix Area ~ Weekend Freeway Closures & Restrictions ~ April 17 - 20, 2009

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:36:44 -0700

1 Westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) closed between Country Club Drive and Loop 101 in north Mesa for carpool lane construction. 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (April 20)

2 Southbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) closed between Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Via de Ventura in the Scottsdale area for carpool lane construction. 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (April 20)

3 Northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) closed between Baseline Road and Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe for carpool lane construction. Northbound Loop 101 ramps to US 60 and US 60 ramps to northbound Loop 101 closed. 7:30 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday (April 20)

4 Eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) narrowed to two lanes between Washington Street and Center Parkway for freeway widening. Sky Harbor Boulevard access to eastbound Loop 202 closed. 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (April 20)

5 Eastbound I-10 on-ramp and westbound off-ramp at Queen Creek Road closed for pavement repair. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (April 18)

Have a Beautiful and Safe Weekend!

Mesa Homes ~ Gilbert Homes ~ Chandler Homes ~ Queen Creek Homes ~ Phoenix Homes

The art of the deal...or not

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:36:36 -0700

The below article was written by a great agent/broker in Alaska. Like Jesse, I receive such calls about twice a year, and every time I do, it hurts me. A word to the wise, home buyers. I invite you to read and take heed.

Via Fairbanks Ak Real Estate Broker Jesse & Kathy Clifton 907-699-6024 (Jesse Clifton & Associates, REALTORS®):

Principles of negotiation. Books have been written about it. Speakers travel the world lecturing about it. Millions have been spent trying to uncover the secret. For some, it will remain an abstract principle they will sadly never master.

A few weeks ago I had the chance to speak with a fellow for whom negotiations had not been a kind mistress. This fellow, we'll call him Stanley, set out to buy a home for his family and ended up outmaneuvered by a more skilled negotiator into a contract he now wishes he had never signed.

Stanley and his family had been renting a small house in Fairbanks for the past couple of years. It was comfortable and the price was right but with the changes in the housing market, he hoped to make the transition from renter to owner. A yard for his children to play in... a place in which to make memories of opening presents on Christmas mornings and birthday BBQ's on the deck. Reasons which we can no doubt all relate to.

When Stanley found 'the house' he sat down with his lender and later the seller to hammer out the details of a purchase agreement. The seller was ready to sell... he and his wife had plans of moving to be closer to their grandchildren and were ready to take the house off the market.

"Let's get this done and get you moved in." Motivated seller. That's good, right?

Having watched HGTV's endless parade of real estate programming and read every real estate article he saw on MSN, he had a plan. Take the purchase price, slice 10% off the top and negotiate up from there, if necessary. Armed with his offer strategy, Stanley and the sellers put pen to paper and in short order had a mutually agreeable contract.

"10% off the asking price and the seller agreed to pay $5,500 toward our closing costs if we would waive any contingencies and close in three weeks." The anguish was palpable as he told me the story. He ddn't need to continue... I knew the house and where this conversaton was going.

"Earnest money was placed in escrow with the title company. An appraisal was ordered and we were planning furniture placement." Imagine Stanley's surprise when the lender calls to say the appraisal came in... well... a little low. Seems as though there's a near $37,000 difference between appraised value and the contract price.

A call to the seller turns the butterflies in Stanley's stomach to catapulting, trapeze-flying monkey's trying to claw their way through his belly button. No re-negotiations. "You agreed to remove the contingencies for the 10% price reduction and the $5,500 in closing costs I'm paying" replied the seller. Hmmm. Now what? This is where Stanley begins his search for answers and where he lands on this blog and calls us for answers... guidance... absolution... something.

Unfortunately the only truly helpful advice I could offer is a referral to a reputable real estate attorney. Where and how did the train heading to paradise go so far off the tracks?

Representation - Stanley had none. No buyer-agent representation. No legal representation. Nothing. Mano-a-mano as it were. Given the complexities of contract law, finance, discovery, disclosures, etc. representation is key. A buyers-agent is the buyers advocate in a transaction. What a concept, huh? Their primary responsibility is to protect and promote the buyers interests. Most of the time said representation comes at little to no cost to the buyer.

Research - If you don't know the local real estate market, you need to hire someone who does. A sellers asking price is simply a number. Unrepresented sellers are notorious for having an inflated opinion of their homes worth. What are comparable homes selling for? How long is it taking to sell those homes... and how does that compare to the subject property? You need detailed market information... and someone to interpret that data.

Last but not least, forget the hype. Not even HGTV, your Uncle Bob in Poughkeepsie or Donald 'Combover' Trump will be much help in crafting a negotiation strategy in Fairbanks, Alaska... or in any market they're not well versed in. When the time comes to buy a home for your family, and now is a pretty good time, rely on a local expert. As luck would have it, I happen to know a couple.

(gold man image courtesy of Guido Jansen)

Real Estate Market Report for Phoenix, Arizona ~ March 2009

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:54:10 -0700

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

...a/k/a "The Valley of the Sun" continues to be one of the most popular cities (and 5th largest) in the United States!

March 2009 vs. March 2008

1,968 single family detached homes were purchased last month vs. 629 last year.
The average price paid was $103,952 vs. $283,472 last year.
The median price came in at $62,100 vs. $227,900 last year.
The ratio of purchase price to list price was 105% vs. 97% last year.
1,586 of the homes (81%) were bank owned vs. 157 homes (25%) last year.
The average time on the market was 86 days vs. 104 days last year.
There were 12,966 Active single family listings vs. 13,092 last year.

Click Here for full current Phoenix Market Report

Phoenix Homes

photo by Miguel Folch

Real Estate Market Report for Queen Creek, Arizona ~ March 2009

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:43:37 -0700

QUEEN CREEK, ARIZONA

...is indeed a community with great demand and incredible values!

March 2009 vs. March 2008

419 single family detached homes were purchased last month vs. 234 last year.
The average price paid was $132,559 vs. $178,337 last year.
The median price came in at $108,000 vs. $152,500 last year.
The ratio of purchase price to list price was 98% vs. 97% last year.
287 of the homes (68%) were bank owned vs. 105 homes (45%) last year.
The average time on the market was 73 days vs. 92 days last year.
There were 2,247 Active single family listings vs. 2,694 last year.

Click Here for full current Queen Creek Market Report

Queen Creek Homes

photo by Miguel Folch

Real Estate Market Report for Mesa, Arizona ~ March 2009

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:33:02 -0700

MESA, ARIZONA

...continues with its long-standing reputation of being one of the most desirable communities in The Valley of the Sun!

March 2009 vs. March 2008

552 single family detached homes were purchased last month vs. 310 last year.
The average price paid was $152,191 vs. $256,219 last year.
The median price came in at $130,000 vs. $205,000 last year.
The ratio of purchase price to list price was 100% vs. 97% last year.
346 of the homes (63%) were bank owned vs. 70 homes (23%) last year.
The average time on the market was 82 days vs. 105 days last year.
There were 4,114 Active single family listings vs. 4,555 last year.

Click Here for full current Mesa Market Report

Mesa Homes

photo by Miguel Folch

Real Estate Market Report for Chandler, Arizona ~ March 2009

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:20:54 -0700

CHANDLER, ARIZONA

...is truly a sparkling gem in The Valley of the Sun!

March 2009 vs. March 2008

280 single family detached homes were purchased last month vs. 234 last year.
The average price paid was $238,112 vs. $291,644 last year.
The median price came in at $208,900 vs. $249,500 last year.
The ratio of purchase price to list price was 99% vs. 96% last year.
142 of the homes (51%) were bank owned vs. 52 homes (22%) last year.
The average time on the market was 89 days vs. 93 days last year.
There were 2,340 Active single family listings vs. 2,843 last year.

Click Here for full current Chandler Market Report

Chandler Homes

photo by Miguel Folch

Real Estate Market Report for Gibert, Arizona ~ March 2009

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:33:27 -0700

GILBERT, ARIZONA

...a shining star in The Valley of the Sun!

March 2009 vs. March 2008

* 318 single family homes were purchased last month vs. 263 last year.

* The average price paid was $224,572 vs. $285,589 last year.

* The median price came in at $200,000 vs. $245,000 last year.

* The ratio of purchase price to list price was 97% = 97% last year.

* 162 of the homes (51%) were bank owned vs. 58 homes (22%) last year.

* The average time on the market was 79 days vs. 94 days last year.

* There were 2,635 Active single family listings vs. 3,220 last year.

Click Here for full current Gilbert Market Report

Gilbert Homes

photo by Miguel Folch

Greater Phoenix Area ~ Weekend Freeway Closures & Restrictions ~ April 3 - 6, 2009

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:08:14 -0700

1 Southbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) closed between Broadway and Baseline roads in Tempe for carpool lane construction. US 60 ramps to southbound Loop 101 also closed. Southbound Loop 101 narrowed to one lane between Rio Salado Parkway and Broadway Road for carpool lane construction. 2 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday (April 6)

2 Eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) narrowed to two lanes between Priest Drive and Scottsdale Road for freeway widening work. Eastbound Loop 202 on-ramps at Van Buren Street and Center Parkway closed. 11 p.m. Friday to 9 p.m. Saturday (April 4) Eastbound Loop 202 on-ramp at 32nd Street closed. 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Sunday (April 5).

3 Westbound Interstate 10 narrowed to one lane overnight between Dysart Road and Sarival Avenue for freeway widening work. 11:30 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday (April 4)

4 Westbound Interstate 10 on-ramp at Litchfield Road and westbound off-ramp at Bullard Avenue closed for approximately one month starting Friday night for freeway widening project. 9 p.m. Friday night (April 3) through approximately May 4

5 Eastbound Interstate 10 narrowed to one lane overnight between Sarival Avenue and Litchfield Road for freeway widening work. 11 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday (April 5)

6 Southbound State Route 143 (Hohokam Expressway) closed overnight between Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) and Washington Street and northbound SR 143 ramp to westbound Loop 202 closed overnightfor freeway widening work. 10 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday (April 6)

7 Arizona Avenue (SR 87) narrowed to one lane in both directions at Riggs Road in Chandler area for paving work. 5 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday (April 6)

May an Outstanding Weekend Be Yours!

Queen Creek Homes ~ Mesa Homes ~ Phoenix Homes ~ Chandler Homes ~ Gilbert Homes

"No water in the swimming pool? No loan!" says FHA

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:11:27 -0700

I'm in the final stage of a transaction in which I'm the Buyer's Agent and the seller is Freddie Mac (bank owned single family detached house). All inspections have been completed, appraised value is in, and by all appearances, we were good to go ~ until we received a letter from the buyer's lender. Here are the key parts of the letter:

"The purpose of this letter is to address the empty pool at [referenced] property. The buyers have applied and been approved for an FHA loan in order to purchase the property. The credit approval part of this process has been finalized and is complete.

To obtain full and final approval and successfully close this transaction we need to obtain property approval. Upon reviewing the appraisal it came to our attention that the pool is currently empty. According to FHA guidelines, the pool must contain enough water to allow the pool's pump to successfully circulate the water. The pool's current state will not allow us to move forward on this transaction at this point.

In order to approve the property, the pool must be filled with water to meet the above mentioned criteria for a period of time long enough for the appraiser to re-inspect the pool. This is for 2 reasons. The first is to ensure that the pools systems are functioning. The second is that to ensure that the pool can hold water to avoid any safety issues."

At this late stage in escrow, the questions raised by this letter are numerous and potentially devastating:

Who is going to pay for the water to fill the pool?
Is the FHA appraiser qualified to determine if the pool equipment is functioning properly?
Who is going to pay for repairs to the pool equipment if it is not functioning properly?
What are the implications for the seller if they refuse to cooperate and effect the pool filling and/or repairs?

Personally, I'm in favor of dropping a water hose in the pool, filling it up and calling the appraiser back to re-inspect as quickly as possible. But the "what if" questions come into play, so who knows what's gonna happen! Any thoughts?

Gilbert Homes ~ Chandler Homes ~ Mesa Homes ~ Queen Creek Homes ~ Phoenix Homes

photo by Jono Rotten

Snapshot Real Estate Market Report for Greater Phoenix Arizona - March 2009

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:24:18 -0700

A couple of you have contacted me privately to make sure I'm alright. I've not been as active and visible with my blogging lately, but I'm OK! There's one simple reason for my online absence: I'm completely swamped with home buyers. In fact, I haven't seen this kind of buying activity in about 3 years! And I'm not talking about low end bargain hunters; I'm working with clients looking at large horse properties, waterfont estates, gated commuities, golf course homes ~ especially in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek and Phoenix. I've also been dealing with many out-of-state folks as well as local buyers ~ and I cannot remember the last time anybody has asked me if we're "at the bottom" of the market. Smart money is on the move, and they are indeed buying!

For those of you that are 'numbers people', take a good look at the following two charts. Not only will you notice a significant decrease in the number of listings on the market (for 3 months running), but you'll see that we just dropped below 7 months of inventory, a level we haven't seen in perhaps 3 years, with home sales almost doubled from a year ago.

I'm not one to try to prematurely call the bottom of ANY market, but there are several key indicators that are clearly turning positive. Is it possible that we are heading into the year of the turnaround in the great Phoenix area?

Following is a graphic illustration of the current real estate market conditions in the greater Phoenix area, which encompasses the entire Valley of the Sun, including Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek and Phoenix, Arizona.

Chandler Homes - Gilbert Homes - Mesa Homes - Queen Creek Homes - Phoenix Homes

Data was compiled and provided by the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS)

Greater Phoenix Area ~ Weekend Freeway Closures & Restrictions ~ Mar 27 - Mar 30, 2009

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:05:08 -0700

1 Eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) narrowed to two lanes between Priest Drive and Scottsdale Road for widening project. Eastbound Loop 202 on-ramp at Center Parkway also closed. 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (March 28)

2 Northbound I-17 closed between Happy Valley and Jomax roads for widening project. Traffic will use frontage road and re-enter northbound I-17 via the Jomax Road on-ramp. 9 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday (March 28)

3 Northbound I-17 on-ramp at Happy Valley Road and off-ramp at Jomax Road will close for approximately two months starting Friday night for freeway reconstruction work. Traffic will be able to use ramps at adjacent freeway interchanges. 9 p.m. Friday - Approximately May 27

4 Westbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) on-ramp at McClintock Drive and off-ramp at Rural Road closed for widening project. Westbound right lane also closed between McClintock and Rural. Same restrictions overnight Monday through Thursday evenings next week. 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday (March 30)

Have an Outstanding Weekend!

Phoenix Homes ~ Gilbert Homes ~ Chandler Homes ~ Mesa Homes ~ Queen Creek Homes

EUREKA! I JUST FIGURED IT OUT! BANKS THINK THEY'RE SELLING RETAIL RATHER THAN RESALE.

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:11:31 -0700

I totally love Lenn Harley, Maryland & Virginia real estate Broker and blogger extraordinaire. And she's totally nailed it again with the following article on banks and real estate. Now if we only knew how she REALLY felt. LOL

Via Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate:

Inspired by an article by Scott Daniels this morning, I experienced a genuine EUREKA moment.

Banks are not negotiators. BANKS ARE DICTATORS.

Banks do not consider the listings for their properties as "offered for sale". They consider their property listings to be a menu of what's available and priced as is and the banks are not really interested in what a consumer believes that property to be worth to them, they home buyer.

The thought that resale real estate has no "retail" price such as shoes in a shoe store or chairs in a furniture storeis anathema to banks.

THE BANKS SAYS, THIS PROPERTIES IS. . . . $XXXXX.XX.. . . . . and the consumer is expected to write a contract for that amount with no conditions or contingencies. Sort of like buying a pair of shoes.

The banks actions and procedures are calculated to avoid risk on their part and create an atmosphere of submission on the part of the buyer.

The price is what the price is.

BUT WAIT!!! Suppose there are 6 homes on the market in a neighborhood which are . . . .

similarly situated,

similar in size,

similar in floor plan,

similar in amenities,

similar in condition

Appraised Value $363,500 Appraised Value $700,000.

BEFORE AND AFTER RENOVATED HOUSE - THE BANK WOULDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO SELL REAL ESTATE.

THE BANK HAS NOT SEEN THE OTHER HOMES in the neighborhood. In fact, the bank may not and has probably not even seen the home that they own and which is now priced for sale. YET, they persist in thinking that the consumer should simply buy "as is" with no negotiation.

This concept may explain the banks unwillingness or inability to conduct real estate sales efficiently. Real estate agents and brokers have learned over the past 100 years that one of the keys to successful real estate sales is timely communication between the agents for the buyer and seller.

BANKS HAVE NOT LEARNED THAT LESSON. Sadly, the banks do not seem likely to learn that lesson because they appear unable to change their procedures for selling REO inventory.

BANKS NEED FOOT SOLDIERS rather than AN ARMY OF GENERALS. Real estate brokerages have been successful managing the sale and resale of real property for generations. We have foot soldiers, agent who get out in the field and reconnoiter properties and neighborhoods. Agents know the market. Agents know how to compare property condition and amenities. These important duties cannot be performed sitting in an office probably in another state.

BANKS DON'T KNOW HOW TO DELEGATE.

BANKS NEED AGENTS. . . . .

BANKS NEED TO LISTEN TO EXPERIENCED REAL ESTATE PRACTITIONERS. . . . .

WILL THEY, NO. THEY HAVEN'T IN 50 YEARS AND THEY ARE NOT LIKELY TO NOW . . . .

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.

Courtesy. Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

How Aggressive and Questionable Tactics of Lender Sellers Torture Buyers & Cost Our Industry

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:48:56 -0700

This is incredibly timely and poinant article by an incredibly astute mortgage broker and fellow ActiveRain blogger in San Francisco, Janet Guilbault. I'm honored to be able to re-blog her post here. Enjoy!

Via Janet Guilbault, California Mortgage Expert (Banker/Broker with RPM Mortgage, FHA Certified):

When a bank sells a foreclosed property do they try to replace one bad loan with one good loan?

If the main agenda is to dump the house, is the hidden agenda to seize a golden opportunity to gain a new loan customer (far less risky because the "dumped" price was lower and the qualification standards higher)?

And should we believe our honorable lender sellers when they torture a buyer by forcing him through a second approval process (right at the time he is ALREADY feeling stressed about making an offer)?

They justify it this way: "Preapprovals from other lenders are worthless, we have to check this guy out ourselves before the house goes off the market!"

And if some little minor detail gets in the way, you know....like the buyer feeling bonded to their mortgage broker who spent months getting them ready BEFORE they made the offer, what then?

Bank thinking: Wait. I am the bank. I own the house. Why not just whisper this in the buyer's ear? "Use my financing and I will sweeten the deal. Use his and I won't".

Is this scenario the best thing the real estate industry can dish up for our poor customers?

If you have ever watched a buyer in this situation you have seen one unhappy camper. He is torn between the lure of a better deal or the confidence of sticking with his original mortgage person. Why should he be forced to make this choice?

You have watched him squirm and you know why.

His skin is crawling. He senses something very slimy is going on. And he is right.

I will admit the tactics of these REO mortgage people can be more subtle. Sometimes they offer to pay for appraisals. Sometimes they offer to throw in the credit report.

And sometimes way less subtle: like continuing to hound the client right up until the week of the closing to "change your mind".

They also know no shame. I have had REO loan officers call asking ME to send them documents from MY file to help them approve MY CLIENT. What is wrong with this picture?

I'm going to help YOU steal my customer? I may have been born at night, but not LAST NIGHT.

In the background, a very confused buyer has no idea what to think, but we know this: the distraction of 2 loan officers fighting over one loan cannot make buying a house a better experience. Only worse.

One has to wonder this: why would ANY loan officer want to do a prequalification if he thought the loan was going to someone else?

What did the banks THINK would happen when they asked their mortgage people to prequalify people making offers on their foreclosed properties? Did they think buyers would come to the table without a preapproval already in hand?

For the record, we mortgage brokers don't lose many clients this way. We are too far ahead in the game. We have the ability to lavish far more attention on each individual buyer. And frankly, we wouldn't be very good if we didn't already intimately understand bank tactics.

What we lose as an industry is far more serious: We lose RESPECT.

Written by Janet Guilbault, San Francisco Bay Area Mortgage Lending Specialist

Town of Queen Creek Spring Family Celebration!

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:43:02 -0700

Enjoy Art, Culture, Science and Fun at Spring Family Celebration

Spring into the season at the annual Queen Creek Spring Family Celebration! Bring the

family and enjoy a colorful combination of art, culture, science and fun in this all-in-one community festival.

This free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 at Desert Mountain Park, 22201 S. Hawes Road, Queen Creek, Arizona.

Kids of all ages will be caught up in the excitement of a variety of activities. Get the family up and moving for the Family Fun Run/Walk, a child, stroller and dog-friendly 2-mile course.

In the fourth annual Queen Creek Salsa Challenge, individuals will compete for the title of “Queen Creek’s Best Salsa,” and a public tasting will be held with proceeds going to support the Queen Creek Family Resource Center’s Diaper Drive. Salsa Challenge applications and Family Fun Run registration forms are available at the Queen Creek Parks & Recreation office, 22350 S. Ellsworth Road.

This annual community tradition also offers exciting egg hunts, an interactive children's Discovery Zone, amazing performers on the Cultural Rhythms entertainment stage, a Tot Spot area for children ages 4 and younger, inflatable attractions and craft and food vendors.

Spring Family Celebration is sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and Arizona Commission on the Arts, Barney Family Sports Complex, SRP, The UPS Store, Custom Dream Homes, and The Queen Creek Tribune. For more information, visit www.queencreek.org or call the Queen Creek Parks & Recreation Department at 480-358-3700.

Queen Creek Homes

The Code of Ethics - Bite your tongue!

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:59:23 -0700

Following is what I consider to be an outstanding post by a fellow ActiveRain blogger and friend of mine in San Antonio, Texas, Matt Stigliano. I know many Realtors and real estate Brokers who think issues such as this should be kept quiet and hidden from the public, but I respectfully disagree. Part of our responsibility to the public is to keep them informed and as aware as possible - and I think you, my readers and clients, should have the advantage of knowing that not all agents are alike. Hope you enjoy Matt's article!

Via Matt Stigliano (Exit Realty North-San Antonio):

The Code Of Ethics and Standards Of Practice.

A recent conversation between myself and Randy Hooker brought up some interesting thoughts on the National Association of Realtor®'s Code Of Ethics. For those of you unfamiliar with the Code (as we call it, also referred to as the COE), it is basically a set of guidelines to help determine our duties to clients and customers, the public, and other Realtors®. Within the code, we are taught to apply these ethics to our daily practice of real estate and it also sets forth a system to deal with those that break the Code.

I love the fact that the National Association of Realtors® has put forth this set of 17 Articles in order to help define our business and I take the idea of ethics quite seriously as in this business, as with many others, there is always a potential for unethical actions that could bring harm to the consumer as well as our industry as a whole.

The responsibility of a Realtor®.

Randy and I were talking about the responsibilities of being an agent and best serving our clients. We were discussing Trulia Voices and bank foreclosures. Trulia Voices is a great idea, if you've not used it before its pretty simple - people post questions and people answer them. Typically its consumers asking questions and agents responding, but sometimes it works the other way around. There has been a lot of debate over the value of Trulia Voices and the potential problems it brings. As for bank foreclosures, we both agreed that the current state of them in the MLS is unacceptable and its a shame the banks don't care much or know about it. These foreclosed properties are lucky to get one photo and a line description. Without showcasing the property, the bank is losing out on potential buyers (in our opinion). We both wished there were good solutions to the problems.

Of course, the simplest solution would be for Randy and I to rule the world and list all these properties and answer all the questions on Trulia Voices (no offense to all you other great agents out there, but it was Randy and I talking, so we took it upon ourselves to rule the world). Of course, that's not going to happen and in reality, there are plenty of excellent agents out there who could join our team. But there are plenty that couldn't join. They're just no good. Yep, I said it - there are Realtors® out there that are no good. They're bad at their jobs, they do a disservice to their clients, they flirt with legal disaster, and they give the rest of us a bad name. I'm not talking about the ones who slip up here or there - people make mistakes. The ones who do it consistently time and time again - those were the targets of our ire.

I wish I could paint a rosy picture for you and tell you all Realtors® are perfect and do everything in their client's best interest, but that would make me a liar. Because of my own ethical code, I wouldn't want to do that. So, yes, there are bad Realtors® out there. I don't have some magic list, but in some ways, I wish I did. The problem with our own Code Of Ethics is that it protects us against each other. Ever wonder why Realtors® always ask, "Are you working with a Realtor®?" Its because we're afraid you might have a contractual agency-relationship with another agent and we could get in big trouble for getting in the way of that relationship.

So how does the Code Of Ethics create a problem?

Article 15 of the Code Of Ethics deals with how we relate to other Realtors®. Its basic tenet is that we shouldn't "trash talk" other agents (I'm putting it simply there). In making this Article, my guess is that the National Association Of Realtors was attempting to stop agents from saying things about other agents in order to gain business (ie, "Oh him? He smokes crack," "You're working with who? They ripped off their last client," or "That agent? I heard he eats babies and runs a small-time meth lab out of his office.") Obviously, this type of business practice is idiotic and not-so-ethical, but things like these happen everyday in all types of businesses. Competitors trying to run the other into the ground through rumor, false statement, and misleading comments. Its not the way I would choose to run my business, but there are those that would (ie, politicians).

The problem arises when you want to "call someone out" for what they're doing that isn't in the best interest of the client or the public. I know a lot of people keep the "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all" idealism going in real estate, but the fact is - if someone's giving a client sub-par service than that consumer deserves to know. Of course, this brings up a conundrum - whose idea of "best interest" is right. Because of this little snag, its next to impossible to get around the Code and "call someone out" for their actions (or more typically, their lack of them). So at the end of the day, those of us who want the world to get the best from real estate and improve the client's experience (and perception of the industry) just have to lead by example and do our best as trying to correct the situation (via open discussion with the client about their agent) really isn't within our reach.

I love real estate, but (and I've stated this before) we sometimes get a bit touchy about the subject of ethics and what to do about the agent who's giving us all a bad name. I've seen many posts here on ActiveRain revolving around "taking the high road" or "best not to air our (Realtors®) dirty laundry in public" and I have to politely disagree. If this industry is to move forward and adapt to work with a changing society, then we need to discuss things openly and honestly - with the public involved. Locking out the public, just creates a secret society that will fuel the images of corruption and greed within the consumer's mind. It does us no good to not involve the public in our growth as they are the people we serve (I sound like I should be running for City Council) and without them, we're a huge number of our of jobless people with useless licenses.

photo courtesy of ^Berd

Article 15
REALTORS^® shall not knowingly or recklessly make false or misleading statements about competitors, their businesses, or their business practices. (Amended 1/92)

Standard of Practice 15-1

REALTORS^® shall not knowingly or recklessly file false or unfounded ethics complaints. (Adopted 1/00)

Standard of Practice 15-2

The obligation to refrain from making false or misleading statements about competitors’ businesses and competitors’ business practices includes the duty to not knowingly or recklessly repeat, retransmit, or republish false or misleading statements made by others. This duty applies whether false or misleading statements are repeated in person, in writing, by technological means (e.g., the Internet), or by any other means. (Adopted 1/07)

Short Sale Information and Frequently Asked Questions!!

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:09:58 -0700

There continues to be a TON of misinformation and false expectations out there about "short sales." Following is a very thorough and accurate breakdown and description of the short sale process. It is not for the faint of heart, is not easy, is not quick, and is not successful in the greater Phoenix area about 90% of the time. Read David's article and you'll better understand why.

Via Boca Raton Florida Homes for Sale David Serle (RE/MAX Services):

We are all doing a lot of short sales right now so I came up with answers to some frequently asked questions.

What is a Short Sale?

            A short sale is the process by which a homeowner can sell a house for less money than he actually owes on the mortgage(s). This is done by the buyer or investor providing proper documentation to the mortgage lenders to convince them to reduce the mortgage balance to allow the sale. The mortgage lender (or bank) actually takes a loss (or write-off) on the mortgage because the value of the home has fallen below the mortgage balance AND the homeowner is in a poor financial condition that will not allow him to continue to pay on time.

            If the bank approves the discount on the mortgage, the home can be sold for a lower price without the seller having to come up with cash to cover the shortfall, and the mortgage is satisfied and the foreclosure process stops.

What type of situation is the short sale best for?

            Short sales are done on properties in which the owner is "upside down". This means they typically have negative equity or no equity in the home. In other words, the total balance owed on the mortgages is equal to or greater than the price at which the house can be sold. This situation unfortunately, has increased due to the risky loans within the last few years including 100% mortgages (no money down) as well as the recent decline in prices. This is particularly prevalent in the South Florida area, which has a large glut of homes for sale.

            In addition, the homeowner must have some type of financial hardship that is preventing him from paying the mortgage. This is commonly job loss, medical bills, disability, or some other hardship.



How does a homeowner benefit from a short sale?

            First and foremost, it relieves the stress of being in foreclosure or the worry about possibly going into foreclosure and being hounded by the mortgage lender; and it allows homeowners to get rid of their big mortgage payment and move on with their lives. If you have stopped making the payments on your mortgage, a short sale allows you to stop the foreclosure and get a fresh start. In my experience, this is the primary benefit to homeowners. They are tremendously thankful to just relieve the burden that their home and mortgage have become.

            A short sale also prevents additional damage to your credit. Having some late payments and a foreclosure filed has already done damage to your credit. However, a completed foreclosure will do much more damage and lower your credit score tremendously. Obviously, if you have to declare bankruptcy, that is a huge black mark on your credit. A short sale results in the mortgage actually being paid off, which reflects positively compared to a foreclosure.


Why would a bank or mortgage lender want to do a short sale?

          A common saying is that banks are in the business of lending money and do not want to own real estate. When a bank takes a property back via foreclosure, it is a long and expensive process and often results in holding the property in their inventory as a non-performing asset. Banks have a limit to the amount of non-performing assets they want to hold. Once this limit is exceeded, they have a strong incentive to get rid of the properties at discount prices.

            For a lender, doing a short sale avoids many of the costs associated with the foreclosure process.   Attorney fees, delays from borrower bankruptcy, damage to the property, costs associated with resale, property tax, insurance, etc. all must be paid by the bank during a foreclosure. In a short sale scenario, the lender is able to cut its losses by getting rid of the property faster.

Will a short sale "save my house"?

            In the sense that you will be able to continue to live in the house, unfortunately the honest answer is no. A short sale is only done involving a legitimate sale of the home from the foreclosed owner to another unrelated party.

Will a short sale "save my credit"?

            The short answer is yes and no, a short sale can save you from the worst credit disasters.

            By defaulting on mortgage payments or having a foreclosure filed against your property, you have already done damage to your credit. Your credit score has declined and those negatives will stay on your credit report for some time. However, it will get much worse if you allow the foreclosure to continue and do not try to short sale the property.

            Once a foreclosed property is sold at auction, your credit score is further reduced and when the foreclosure is completed via eviction and repossession of the home, your credit will be even further damaged. If you can complete the short sale BEFORE either of these takes place, then you can prevent that further damage to your credit. In addition, when the short sale is completed, it shows up on your credit as a "Paid" mortgage and a canceled foreclosure, which shows future creditors that you did take care of your obligations.

            If your situation eventually winds up in bankruptcy, then that is the worst item that could appear on your credit report and it will remain there for years and cause numerous difficulties in getting future credit. A short sale can help avoid this, but the key is not to wait.

What other options might I have at this point?

When faced with a foreclosure, some things you may be able to do are:

Sell your home through the normal channels

Bring your mortgage current by making the missed payments and paying the penalties

Refinance your mortgage with another lender

Foreclosure Defense

File for bankruptcy

       If you can do any of the first 4, then you probably should! Those are usually the best solutions for a homeowner in foreclosure.

      However, if your situation is such that your house cannot be sold for the amount owed, and you have no money to bring the payments current, and you have no equity to qualify for a refinance, then you should consider a short sale before considering option #5.

      Again, I encourage you to educate yourself as much as possible about your situation and seek advice from any attorney, CPA, or Real Estate Agent you have access to about your choices. I do caution you against paying for the advice of so-called "foreclosure work-out specialists" or other such advisers unless it is by personal recommendation.

What is "Financial Hardship" and why is it so important?

        "Financial Hardship" is a critical part of the short sale equation. No matter what you hear about banks "not in the business of owning real estate", etc., they DO NOT give homeowners a break easily. They require GOOD REASON to give a discount for a short sale. They have entire departments called "Loss Mitigation", which means their entire job is to reduce the loss the bank takes on a bad loan. Giving big discounts to investors increases the loss on a bad loan, so they don't take it lightly.

        The ONLY reason a lender will agree to a short sale is if they determine that the short sale will net them more money than proceeding with the foreclosure.

      Understanding the homeowner's financial hardship is a big part of the lender estimating whether they will be paid in full for the mortgage.

What do I do about my back property taxes when I do a short sale?

            Just as in a normal home sale, property taxes are the responsibility of the homeowner until the date the sale is closed. Then they become the responsibility of the buyer or investor.

            If your property taxes have not been paid this will affect the negotiations between the buyer and the bank, so you must inform us or any buyer of those taxes owed.

Can I short sale my own house?

            No, this would be illegal. A short sale must be an "arms length" transaction. You cannot short sale your own house nor can close members of your family or friends do one for you either.

            In a short sale, the lender is agreeing to discount the mortgage amount due to legitimate hardships; but not so that the homeowner can make a profit. No money from a short sale transaction can be paid to the homeowner (seller). Lenders will not approve any short sale in which they suspect the foreclosed homeowner will profit.

My house is already listed for sale on the MLS but isn't selling; can I do a short sale?

            Yes, you can and it is relatively common. Some lenders even require that a house be listed for sale before approving a short sale in order to show that a discount is necessary.

Are short sales guaranteed to work?

            No. All the criteria MUST be met for a bank to even consider a short sale. It is not easy to convince a bank that the market value of the home is lower than what they are owed. They do not like to take a loss on a loan.

            Then the bank must be convinced to discount the mortgage enough to make it viable for an investor to make a profit for his work and risk. The discount must cover all repair costs, closing costs, broker commissions, taxes and still allow for a profit for the investor.

What if a bank doesn't accept the short sale?

            Again, if the bank doesn't accept the short sale offer, there is no transaction and the home is still owned by the homeowner and the foreclosure process continues.

How long does a short sale take, I need to get out now!

            A short sale takes approximately 60 to 90 days to complete and sometimes longer. This is very important. This complicated process takes time so to have the option of a short sale, you must act soon. If you wait until 1 week before eviction, no one can help you do a short sale. It is simply impossible. DO NOT WAIT.

What paperwork do I have to do to complete a short sale and what is the exact process?

            There is some paperwork to do at the beginning that we can assist you with but most is handled by us:

      1.   The homeowner must fill out a Borrowers Authorization form for each mortgage allowing us to speak with the lenders about the short sale.

      2    You will be asked to write a letter detailing the financial hardship that caused you to fall behind on your mortgage. Any other proof of your financial hardships such    as bank statements, medical bills, pay stubs, termination letters, etc. should also be included.

After we have prepared and sent the entire short sale package to the lender, the lender will arrange a BPO, which is similar to an appraisal, to determine the value of the property. This can take a few weeks.

4.   Based on the BPO, the bank will negotiate with us on the details of the short sale and after several weeks, they will either approve or deny the final offer.

5    If approved, a date will be selected to close the transaction just like any other real estate transaction.

Why do I have to sign a Borrower's Authorization?

            In order to both determine if your lender will consider a short sale and then to actually negotiate the short sale, we need be able to speak to your lender about the mortgage. The lender will only speak to people you have authorized them to speak with.

            By signing a Borrower's Authorization, you give the lender permission to speak to us about your loan. That is all it does, but it is necessary. An authorization must be filled out for each mortgage.

The treasuries "toxic asset plan" a massive taxpayer fraud

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:33:51 -0700

Via Matt Heaton (Timu Corp - CEO, ActiveRain - Co-founder):

The details of the Treasuries much anticipated toxic asset plan to "cleanse" the banking system and restore financial stability are now public. My reaction posted on Twitter as I was reading it.

@timu_matt: Reading the Treasuries new toxic asset plan. Everytime I think they can't get more hell bent on destroying this country they surprise me again.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. In a nutshell the plan revolves around the Treasury and FDIC loaning private investors money to buy the toxic assets from the banks. These loans would be made at almost no money down, when you combine the Treasury and FDIC incentives these (non-recourse) loans would account for up to 97% of the purchase price. The treasury is essentially trying to create a whole bunch of private "hedge funds" operating on insane amounts of leverage (33x), overpaying for toxic assets.

Wait, isn't excess leverage one of the main causes of this mess? At 33x leverage, 3% drop in the value of the assets blows up the investor, but hey the US taxpayer the one taking taking the loss on 97% of it, so who cares. This scheme basically opens the door for wide scale gambling in the financial system at the taxpayers expense. Now, you want to know the truly sick part?

The biggest gamblers in this system will be the big banks themselves. They will practically be fighting each other to grossly overpay for each others (and their own) toxic assets. Hey, they make money either way no matter how much they overpay, it's the tax payer on the hook. Seriously, we might as well pass some new legislation so that any federal taxes we pay go directly into the coffers of the big banks just to formalize the whole arrangement, because that is what we've been doing informally for months now.

Others finance bloggers react (similarly):

Paul Krugman: Despair over financial policy

Calculated Risk: Geithner's Toxic Asset Plan

Naked Capitalism: Private Public Partnership Details Emerging

Karl Denninger: Toxic Assets: Promise, But Also Peril

Speechless Sunday ~ Reflections of a Rainbow

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:15:08 -0700

photo by my daughter: Jenifer Hooker

Jenifer's "Alone on the Beaches of Kauai"

Jenifer's "Two Special Flowers"

Jenifer's "Bubbling Lemon"

Jenifer's "Purple Lightning"

Jenifer's "The Eyes Have It"

Jenifer's "Butterflies"

Symptom	Cold	H1N1 Flu
Fever	Fever is rare with a cold.	Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing	A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.	A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches	Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose	Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.	Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills	Chills are uncommon with a cold.	60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness	Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.	Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing	Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.	Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache	A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.	A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat	Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.	Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
Chest Discomfort	Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.	Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

STATE	State and Local Taxes as a
	Percentage of Annual Income
Alabama	9.60%
Alaska	15.10%
Arizona	11.00%
Arkansas	11.70%
California	12.10%
Colorado	9.80%
Connecticut	11.90%
Delaware	11.60%
Florida	10.80%
Georgia	10.90%
Hawaii	14.00%
Idaho	11.20%
Illinois	11.20%
Indiana	11.90%
Iowa	11.00%
Kansas	11.70%
Kentucky	11.50%
Louisiana	14.00%
Maine	14.30%
Maryland	11.10%
Massachusetts	10.90%
Michigan	10.90%
Minnesota	11.80%
Mississippi	11.10%
Montana	11.10%
Nebraska	11.90%
Nevada	10.80%
New Hampshire	9.20%
New Jersey	12.50%
New Mexico	12.90%
New York	15.70%
North Carolina	11.30%
North Dakota	11.70%
Ohio	11.80%
Oklahoma	10.60%
Oregon	10.80%
Pennsylvania	11.40%
Rhode Island	12.20%
South Carolina	10.30%
South Dakota	9.10%
Tennessee	9.30%
Texas	10.00%
Utah	11.80%
Vermont	13.50%
Virginia	10.50%
Washington	11.20%
Washington D.C.	14.40%
West Virginia	12.30%
Wisconsin	12.30%
Wyoming	16.60%

Randy Hooker Blogging Arizona Real Estate ~ Greater Phoenix Area

What are the symptoms of H1N1... and how are they different from the common cold?

A Nameless Faceless Lender From Somewhere Across the Country May Not Be Able to Get That House to Closing for You

STATE and LOCAL TAXES ARE A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR INCOME - WHAT WILL THE FUTURE BRING?

Speechless Sunday ~ How Many Animals Do You See?

A Day at the Phoenix Zoo

photo by my daughter: Jenifer Hooker

Jenifer's "Butterflies or Grapefruit?"

Jenifer's "Rain in a New Light"

Jenifer's "Reflections of a Rainbow"

Jenifer's "Alone on the Beaches of Kauai"

Jenifer's "Two Special Flowers"

Jenifer's "Follow Your Dreams"

Jenifer's "Bubbling Lemon"

Jenifer's "Purple Lightning"

Jenifer's "The Eyes Have It"

Jenifer's "Butterflies"

Greater Phoenix Area ~ Weekend Freeway Closures & Restrictions ~ May 22 - 25, 2009

There will be NO SCHEDULED CLOSURES on Arizona highways, including Phoenix-area freeways for the holiday weekend. ADOT asks drivers to be prepared in case of any unscheduled restrictions that may occur.

Have a Memorable Memorial Day Weekend!

Speechless Sunday ~ Butterflies or Grapefruit?

photo by my daughter: Jenifer Hooker

Jenifer's "Rain in a New Light"

Jenifer's "Reflections of a Rainbow"

Jenifer's "Alone on the Beaches of Kauai"

Jenifer's "Two Special Flowers"

Jenifer's "Follow Your Dreams"

Jenifer's "Bubbling Lemon"

Jenifer's "Purple Lightning"

Jenifer's "The Eyes Have It"

Jenifer's "Butterflies"

Speechless Sunday ~ Rain in a New Light

photo by my daughter: Jenifer Hooker

Jenifer's "Reflections of a Rainbow"

Jenifer's "Alone on the Beaches of Kauai"

Jenifer's "Bubbling Lemon"

Jenifer's "Purple Lightning"

Jenifer's "The Eyes Have It"

Jenifer's "Butterflies"

Greater Phoenix Area ~ Weekend Freeway Closures & Restrictions ~ April 17 - 20, 2009

Have a Beautiful and Safe Weekend!

The art of the deal...or not

Real Estate Market Report for Phoenix, Arizona ~ March 2009

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

...a/k/a "The Valley of the Sun" continues to be one of the most popular cities (and 5th largest) in the United States!

March 2009 vs. March 2008

1,968 single family detached homes were purchased last month vs. 629 last year.

The average price paid was $103,952 vs. $283,472 last year.

The median price came in at $62,100 vs. $227,900 last year.

The ratio of purchase price to list price was 105% vs. 97% last year.

1,586 of the homes (81%) were bank owned vs. 157 homes (25%) last year.

The average time on the market was 86 days vs. 104 days last year.

There were 12,966 Active single family listings vs. 13,092 last year.

Click Here for full current Phoenix Market Report

Phoenix Homes

photo by Miguel Folch

Real Estate Market Report for Queen Creek, Arizona ~ March 2009

QUEEN CREEK, ARIZONA

...is indeed a community with great demand and incredible values!

March 2009 vs. March 2008

419 single family detached homes were purchased last month vs. 234 last year.

The average price paid was $132,559 vs. $178,337 last year.

The median price came in at $108,000 vs. $152,500 last year.

The ratio of purchase price to list price was 98% vs. 97% last year.

287 of the homes (68%) were bank owned vs. 105 homes (45%) last year.

The average time on the market was 73 days vs. 92 days last year.

There were 2,247 Active single family listings vs. 2,694 last year.

Click Here for full current Queen Creek Market Report

Queen Creek Homes

photo by Miguel Folch

Real Estate Market Report for Mesa, Arizona ~ March 2009

MESA, ARIZONA

...continues with its long-standing reputation of being one of the most desirable communities in The Valley of the Sun!

March 2009 vs. March 2008

552 single family detached homes were purchased last month vs. 310 last year.

The average price paid was $152,191 vs. $256,219 last year.

The median price came in at $130,000 vs. $205,000 last year.

The ratio of purchase price to list price was 100% vs. 97% last year.

346 of the homes (63%) were bank owned vs. 70 homes (23%) last year.

The average time on the market was 82 days vs. 105 days last year.