Currently, the 4 most popular loans that we are working the most are the conventional mortgages (3% - 5% down payment), FHA loans (3.5% down payment), VA loans (0% down for qualified veterans), and the USDA loans (0% down)

I personally have seen the most activity since Jan, 2009 with the USDA loans, having buyers that initiated 3 USDA loans, with 1 turning to FHA because of the income restrictions.  The other 2 loans closed without much of a hitch, in 3-4 weeks. 

The USDA loan program (aka Guaranteed Rural Housing loans) is administered by USDA Rural Development offices.  It helps low to moderate income families purchase a home in a rural area with no down payment. Applicants must meet income and credit (min. score of 620) guidelines to qualify. Also, the property must meet USDA guidelines.  Most new and existing homes in rural areas that are in good-repair and non-income producing meet the criteria.   In middle GA, none of Bibb, but all of Peach and part of Houston is considered rural.   In Houston County, the eligible line is drawn from west to east beginning at Sandifur rd, to Hunt Rd, Tidwell Rd, Woodard Rd, straight across the county to Southfield Plantation and Riverbend Plantation.  Almost any property south of this line would qualify.  (See attached map.) However, there is a website you can check on any particular property.  Other rural counties that qualify are Bleckley, Pulaski, Crawford, Dooly and Twiggs.

These are 30 yr. fixed rate mortgages. (Call you local lender for the latest rates) Buyer can borrow up to 102% of the appraised value. (2% of the loan amount is referred to as the "guarantee fee") The 2% guarantee fee can be financed into the loan.  There are no other monthly recurring fees charged.  Buyer pays payment, interest, insurance and taxes in his monthly payment.  

With the IRS offering up to $8,000 first-time buyers credit and the USDA offering 100% loans, now is the perfect time to buy in Warner Robins and Houston County. You can't get the first-time buyers credit until you close, and if you are filing electronically, you can't claim the credit until after March 31, 2009.

There is a Rural Development service center office in Byron that can give you more info by calling 478-956-6495. To apply for a USDA Guarantee loan, ask your local lender. Or call me and I will be happy to help you find a local lender who knows the details about the USDA loans.

Warner Robins High School student council collects dresses to make prom dreams come true.

There are so many formal parties and usually a girl wears a particular dress once. It makes sense to make those little-worn dresses available to high school girls who might not want to pay a few hundred dollars for a dress that they will only wear once. That's why the Warner Robins HS student council collects new and nearly new formal dresses to be sold in the annual Demon Dress Drive.

Once the dresses are collected, they are sold at Warner Robins High School at the Rockin' R Cafe.  This years event was held on January 31st.  All proceeds from the sale of the dresses was donated to Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation. 

Thanks to our sponsors, Sharing Elegance, Strato Menswear, Flint Energies and Americom Realty, and many others.  Mrs. Hillard and Student council wish to thank all who made this year such a success!  They sold twice as many dresses as they did in 2008! 

Your Student Council 2008-2009   Lead Serve Unite Inspire

http://www.demondressdrive.com/

The Houston county real estate market saw a lot of changes in 2008.  We certainly saw less closings, fewer buyers and lower incomes for some real estate professionals.  Some of our local companies closed up.  Some agents gave up their licenses.  Others just went broke.  May and June were the busiest months.  We closed slightly over 200 homes each of those 2 months.  December was the slowest, though not dead.  We still managed to close 120 homes for December.  All together, the entire CGMLS closed a total of........... 2 0 0 8  single family detached homes in 2008!!!  This was all for single family detached homes in all counties the Central Georgia MLS covers.  The most homes sold was not in any subdivision.   But when looking at subdivisions, the most turnover was in Eagle Springs subdivision in Centerville.  There are a total of 11 separate "sub-divisions" in this complex.  But the most popular (the most sold homes in 2008) is the Grove Pointe subdivision.We closed a total of 39 in Eagle Springs, with 21 being in Grove Pointe.  After Eagle Springs in popularity comes The Arbors in Byron.  These homes were built between 2006 and 2008.  We sold 27 homes there in all of 2008.  There is a tie for third place between Rose Hill and Kensington.  Both are very popular subdivisions.  Fourth place is Southfield Plantation in Bonaire, fifth place goes to Bridlewood in Bonaire, and sixth place is Pembroke. More details on each of these subdivisions at a later date.  Happy New Year!!

Feb. 15 the Central Ga Board of Realtors held their annual awards banquet at the Board of Realtors new office and conference center. We had about 150 in attendance, including affiliates.  We had a catered Mexican fiesta with lots of good food, mariachi music and pinatas!  We honored out first time million dollar producers, our first time lifetime million dollar producers club and the Silver, Eagle and Phoenix awards. 

There were about 22 first time million dollar producers, and about 14 who made the first time in the lifetime million dollar producer club.  I say "about" because I dont want to miscount anyone.  Two agents in my office made the later club, first time in the lifetime million dollar producer club, Terri Jackson and Blair Myers. We are sooo proud of them! 

The picture on the left is Pam and Helen.

Nine in the Phoenix award, which means they have been million dollar producers for 10 years.

One for the Eagle award, which is 15 years being a million dollar producer.

And one for the Silver award with 20 years being a million dollar producer.

 

The picture on the right is Terri, Jody Sewell, our broker and Blair.

 

Warner Robins High School  student council collects dresses to make prom dreams come true.

There are so many formal parties in the county and usually a girl wears a particular dress once. It makes sense to make those little-worn dresses available to high school girls who might not want to pay a few hundred dollars for a dress that they will only wear once. That's why the student council is collecting new and nearly new formal dresses, to be sold in the 2nd annual Demon Dress Drive.

Once the dresses are collected, they will be sold at Warner Robins High School.  All proceeds from the sale of the dresses will be donated to Houston County Foster Care program. Young women from all schools are welcome to participate in the sale.

This years sale was larger than last year, as there was much more media coverage than before.  There were over 60 girls and mothers in line when the doors opened at 10am.  The amount of funds raised was doubled from last year.  Thanks to our sponsors, Sharing Elegance, Strato Menswear, Flint Energies and Americom Realty. 

http://www.demondressdrive.com/

This report is residential properties only, for the entire service area that our MLS covers.

As of Feb, 2008, there are 1,869 residential properties available in our multiple listing service.  The average listing price is around $180,00 with DOM at 129 days. Since Jan. 1, we have listed 639 homes and sold 26% of these or 167 homes. These 167 homes that have sold, went for 97% of their listed price.  35% of what was listed has expired. 

Last year during this same time period, we were selling 46% of what we had listed, for DOM at 93 days, with only 13% expired. We had listed 1,504 and sold 703. The list price to sale price ratio was 98%.

Currently, we are about 459 less residential properties sold, than last year at this time in Houston county, which is an 18% decrease. We are not experiencing what the rest of the country is feeling right now.  But what we are seeing more of is buyers coming into our area, not prepared to purchase right away, because their property is another area has not sold yet.  In the past this has not been an issue, but it seems the woes of the rest of the county are effecting us in this small way. But we are finding ways around this, but arranging and finding sellers who are willing to do the lease to purchase option.

Year to date totals are as follows: (Houston county, residential properties only)

                         Jan-Nov. 2006                      Jan-Nov. 2007
sold                            2,494                                 2,035 (18% decrease)
avg. sales price           $154k                                $153k
 
In Oct. we sold 67 less than last Oct.
In Sept, we sold 95 less than last Sept.
In July, we sold 56 less than last July.
In May, we sold 22 less than last May.

Though sales are a little slower than last year at this time, we are still doing well. The reason?  We use all the latest high-tech tools to maximize a home's market exposure. We use virtual tours on all our listings, completely branded, so they are not allowed to be linked in the MLS, but thats okay. We still have the link on Realtor.com, which is much more important for securing potential buyers.

We finally moved to number 20 out of a possible 42, so I feel we are doing wonderful, considering we have only been in business since the first of May. We have moved our sales meeting out of the office and into the community.  We have meet at Roberts by the pool, the bowling alley and at IHOP resteraunt.  We feel more relaxed and are able to enjoy the discussion and it is not so formal. We all equal contributors to the sales meeting and we all feel safe in expressing our opinions and concerns, something we didnt experience before.  We all feel accountable to one other.  Helen picked up a new builder over the weekend and listed 5 new construction homes. Robert immediately volunteered to open the houses every Sun and hold open houses. WOW!  No one asked him to, he just felt like that is what is needed at this time, plus it will help him acquire buyers. We are all excited at the prospect of the coming year, and every agents' and every companys' volume meter gets set to zero.  We are steadily packing the pipeline, excitedly awaiting the outcome in the new year. Our goal is to be in the top 10 companies in volume in the 1st quarter. Not a small feat for a company as small as ours. We are working on recruiting efforts and learning more about ourselves in the process.

This is an all brick home with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms in the Weatherby Plantation, Warner Robins newest upscale community.  Large fenced in back yard, with many upgraded features including crown molding, ceiling fans, ornate lighting, granite counter tops, marble and ceramic tile flooring, decorative columns, and sweeping arches, alcoves, and built in desks, this home is offers delightful surprises throughout. Quiet cul-de-sac lot.