Be Prepared for Groundhog Day Feb. 2! - 01/27/10 09:19 AM
What does a sleepy, furry marmot have to do with seasonal change? According to fans of Punxsutawney Phil, everything!
Since the 1800s, Groundhog Dayis celebrated each February 2 in Punxsutawney, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, PA. According to local folks, if the groundhog emerges in early morning and sees his shadow, we can expect six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring. See more about Phil at http://www.groundhog.orgMore than 30,000 visitors visit each year for Phil's appearance.  But you don't have to go there. You can be among the first to learn … (0 comments)

Changes in FHA Mortgages--Buyers Need MORE $$ Upfront - 01/26/10 09:18 AM


If you are planning to buy or sell a house this year, you should know about big changes that will go into effect this spring. It will impact you as a buyer because you are now required to have a higher credit score or come up with a significant down payment. As a seller, you will still be able to assist with buyer's closing costs, but the amount you can contribute has been cut in half. (Paying buyer's costs is a very common seller concession during the negotiation process.)
Why did this happen?  In October 2009, FHA announced that its … (1 comments)

Shiny Brass = Kiss of Death - 01/24/10 01:42 PM
Good advice for anyone considering offering their home for sale...in ANY market!
Gayle Causey, 318-614-5615Relocation DirectorKeller Williams Realty Parishwide Partners, Monroe, LA USA

Via Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing):
It's everywhere, that shiny brass!  You see it on doorknobs, light fixtures, cabinet pulls, faucets and more.  When I do staging consults, recommending that people update their fixtures and doorknobs is one of my key points.  Nothing says, "lowball me" or "this house hasn't been updated" like a pitted, tarnished, shiny (or not so shiny anymore) brass front door knob.  
Now of course, it can … (0 comments)

Krewe of PAWS Mardi Gras Parade - 01/12/10 01:17 PM
Saturday, February 6th, 2010 will be a day of fun for both people and pets!
When & Where:100 Commerce St., (Antique Alley) West Monroe, LA11:00 to 4:00Registration, games and face painting will begin at 11am. Contest judging starts at noon. The parade will line up at 1pm and roll at 1:30. For the first time in KREWE of PAWS history we will have goodie bags for the first 150 entries! Thanks to our wonderful sponsors and hard working parade committee, they will be stuffed FULL of goodies, including a limited edition 2010 parade T-shirt. Please register early! Entries can be mailed to: … (1 comments)

$6,500 is yours even if you don't sell your current personal residence! - 01/11/10 03:29 PM
The guidelines for the $6500 tax credit can be confusing. I hope this helps.
Gayle Causey, 318-614-5615Realtor, Relocation Specialist
Keller Williams RealtyMonroe, LA USA
PS. Thanks, Robert, for the good info!
Via NP Dodge Real Estate:
I just spent an hour on hold with the Internal Revenue Service to gain clarity on something and here is what I found out:
Q:  I'm already a homeowner. If I buy another home after Nov. 6, 2009, to use as my principal residence, do I have to sell my home to qualify for the homebuyer tax credit?
A: No. If you meet all of the requirements for the credit, … (0 comments)

Sprucing Up the Ouachita River Seawall. - 01/11/10 02:37 PM
The aging concrete seawall which protects the city from flooding if the river overflows its banks in West Monroe will get a long-needed face lift this year.  A grant from Home Depot and materials donated by Sherwin Williams will make it possible.  AmeriCorps, Keep West Monroe Beautiful, agents from Keller Williams Realty and other community organizations will provide the volunteer labor.
The project will be kicked off Jan. 16-18 in conjunction with the national Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
West Monroe's AmeriCorps coordinator Alicia Stewart said volunteers will paint bricks and wrought iron designs on the seawall.  She worked with West Monroe historian Ron … (0 comments)

Monroe's Stable Housing Market UP Dramatically! - 01/04/10 08:38 AM
News about northeast LA keeps getting better and better! Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of any big city, the Monroe, LA, area is showing people from other parts of the US that living in a small town is still something folks want in America.
Housing in Monroe, West Monroe and other parts of northeast LA continued to be the strongest market in the state and among the strongest in the US during the third quarter of 2009.  In fact, Q3 2009 sales in the Monroe area market were up 21.6% over the second quarter and up a whopping 53.9% over the … (2 comments)

 

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