We all seem to have an opinion on the $8000.00 tax credit that is set to expire on November 30, 2009.
It seems to have sparked some new interest in real estate and caused some serious sales. Do you think that if the credit does expire the market will come to a halt again?
Should we push to have the tax credit extended? Would it make a difference in our business thoughout the winter months? Would it make a difference in the economy?
I would love to hear what your thouhts are! I know the folks in congress are working on what is the right thing to do.
Washing machines use a ton of energy, but did you know that 90% of that energy goes into heating the water? Forget the warm and hot wash cycles, and instead keep the dial on cold and rub a little eco-friendly detergent on those harder-to-clean stains. Not only are you saving the environment, but using less energy means a lower electric bill at the end of the month. Who could argue with that?!
Friday, Sept. 25: YWCA Walk a Mile in her Shoes. This event--in which men walk one mile in women's shoes to help raise money for the YWCA of Rock County--starts and ends at Kutter Harley-Davidson and includes a party afterward. Go to www.ywcawalkamile.org for more information.
2009 YWCA Walk a Mile In Her Shoes
Supporting women and girls, one step at a time...
Last year, nearly 100 men, boys, and even women and girls, joined the YWCA Walk a Mile in Her Shoes one mile trek in high heels through downtown Janesville. (Like Paul Benish here of M&I Bank.) Help us reach our 2009 goal of 150-200 participants who will walk down Hwy 14 and Hwy 26 starting and ending at Kutter-Harley Davidson/Buell on September 25!
Stay for the Walk a Mile After Party beginning at 5pm, sponsored by Kutter Harley Davidson. Everyone is welcome and will enjoy great live music, drinks, hors d'oeuvres, silent auction in a fun venue at the Rudi Kutter Pavilion. Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased here or by calling 608-752-5445.
When you are finished with your cell phone, make sure it gets disposed of properly.
The average lifespan for a cell phone is a brief 18 months, and currently, only 1% are recycled. On average, 130 million are retired annually in the U.S. alone.
Yet almost all cell phones contain enough lead to qualify as hazardous waste under federal regulations. And even lead-free phones are considered hazardous under California regulations because of the high amounts of copper, nickel, antimony and zinc that leach into landfills.
So do something good for the environment and recycle your old phone.
Here are 4 places that accept them (and will make a contribution to charity):
Date: August 12, 2009 MADISON, WI - Wisconsin home sales and median prices both fell in the second quarter of 2009 relative to that same quarter in 2008 according to data just released by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). But despite significant job losses in manufacturing and other sectors that have pushed the state unemployment rate to 9 percent in June, REALTORS® say the state housing market is actually showing signs of stabilization. The decline in home sales was 10.5 percent, which was higher than both the Midwest region, which fell 5.3 percent, and the nation, which was down just 2.9 percent, but it was well below the steep reductions in Wisconsin sales volume that we have seen over the last few quarters.
Mulleady also pointed out hopeful signs that the national economy may be starting to emerge from the depths of this steep recession. He noted the Conference Board's Index of Leading Economic Indicators was up for the third consecutive month in June of this year, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 9000 in July with the upward trend continuing into the first half of August. "These are positive developments because improvements in the national economy will help stimulate job growth in the state, which will directly improve Wisconsin's housing market," said Mulleady.
Median home prices in Wisconsin fell 9.9 percent to $146,000 in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter of 2008, according to the WRA. However, William Malkasian, WRA President, cautioned that these numbers are unique to this market. "These data need to be taken with a grain of salt because lower priced homes are moving more briskly than higher priced homes, thus skewing the median price downward," Malkasian said. "The most important factor is the federal tax credit on housing, which qualifies first-time buyers for up to $8,000 in tax credit on their purchase. This is a strong enticement for first-time buyers who typically buy lower cost starter homes, but it also brings down the state median price," noted Malkasian.
Still, sellers remain highly motivated," Malkasian said, "and when you combine the available tax credit with mortgage rates at near historic lows it makes this an excellent market for credit-worthy buyers." With such strong inventories statewide, buyers have a lot of options, and there are solid advantages to working with a REALTOR® to help identify the best values in this market. For More Information Contact: David E. Clark, Economist, C3 Statistical Solutions Inc. Office phone: 414-803-6537
About the WRA The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association is one of the largest trade associations in the state, representing more than 15,000 real estate brokers, salespeople and affiliates statewide. Sales estimates for the state are provided by the National Association of REALTORS®, which seasonally adjusts quarterly sales figures. All county figures on sales volume and median prices are compiled by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association and are not seasonally adjusted. Median prices are only computed if the county recorded at least 10 home sales in the quarter.
The Janesville Farmer's Market has Summer activities scheduled for most Saturdays!
Join the JFM Cooking Demonstrations every second Saturday of the month. Area cooks will show you how to cook produce and goods found at the JFM.
Every third Saturday, show off your creative cooking skills at the Market's Recipe-Cooking Contest. Each month's Contest features a different theme, based on seasonal ingredients: June-Strawberries; July-Corn; August-Tomatoes; September-Potatoes; and October-Soups or Stews. Contest Rules and Entry Form are here.
Finally, every fourth Saturday of the month is Kids' Activity Day. Bring the kids and let them discover the various activities waiting for them throughout the Market!
Join us every Saturday for a summer of great farmer's market goods, activities, and fun. Come celebrate the Janesville community!
The statistics are in for July 2009. These numbers are direct from the MLS.
There are 602 active listings currently with 95 new listings this month and 75 that sold. The average sale price is $115,742 with average days on the market 111 and percent of sale to list 89%.
Janesville's condo market has 71 active listings with 7 new this month and 10 sold. The average sale price was $104,390 with the average days on the market 117 and the percent of sale to list 90%.
Janesville's investment property has 74 active listings with 14 new and 6 sold. The average sale price was $82,733 with the average days on the market 94 and the percent of sale to list 91%.
Rock county has a total of 1491 active listings with 255 new this month and 177 sold. The average sale price $124,090 and on the market for an average of 127 days.
YTD Janesville's single family SOLD 406 with an average sale price $118,107 for an average of 99 days on the market and 89% of sale to list.
So far this year in Janesville 30 condos, 22 multi-family units. Beloit has sold 190 single family,
7 condos and 2 multi-family units in 2009. Rock county has sold 847 total for an average sale price of $122,186 in an average 104 days.
Coldwell Banker-Success has 27.3% market share for the city of Janesville and 20.3 for Rock County.
The next competing company in Janesville has 13.7%. Our office is doing really well!
Banks Express Hope for Fed Short-Sale Effort The federal government is launching a program to simplify and speed up the short-sale process by providing standardized documentation, cash incentives to lenders, and a $1,500 moving allowance to borrowers. Holders of second liens will get up to $1,000 to relinquish their claims.
Banks say the short-sale process has been taking so long because both their employees and real estate practitioners are learning as they go.
David Sunlin, vice president in charge of short sales at Bank of America, says he hopes the new government plan will help. "About half of short sales never close. We see it as a big lost opportunity, and we need to improve the rate we close them," he says.
Wells Fargo says it has cut its short sale average turnaround time from 90 days to 30 days by preparing a guide from real estate practitioners and putting in place procedures to handle short-sale requests.
[Editor's note: The federal government announced its short sales initiative in May at the annual Washington meetings of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and the association maintains short-sale resources for practioners.
This would be a very good thing. Anyone who has worked on short sales know how frustrating this process is. More to come on this issue, I'm sure!
I get calls everyday asking about rent with option to purchse. I've found some info from NAR regarding this process. Sometimes it sounds like a better idea than what it really is. If you are planning to go with an FHA loan this process may not work for you either. Make sure you work the process through from start to finish before signing.
Rent-to-Own Deals: Smart Questions to Ask...
For Sellers:
Who will tend to the property and pay for routine maintenance? Who pays for major repairs? What are the costs of setting up and managing an escrow account for the portion of rent allotted to the down payment? Will you manage the property yourself, or hire an agent? What if the renters change their minds? Who keeps the money in the escrow account? If the buyers change their minds, what will be required to put the property back on the market?
For Buyers: How much of the rent is going to the down payment? How locked in are you if you change your mind? What will it cost you to get out of the deal? How long will it take to accumulate enough of a down payment that you are likely to qualify for a mortgage?
With all the inventory we currently have, there are things you can do to help with the sale of your home.
Never has it been more important to go above and beyond to attract a buyer. The list below is from NAR and has some great points. Make yourself attractive both with price and condition. You will find a buyer!
Simple Tips for Better Home Showings
1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don't forget to clean out the garage, too.
2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.
3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It's worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.
4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.
5. Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.
6. Don't disregard minor repairs. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they'll give buyers the impression that the house isn't well-maintained.
7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.
8. Patch holes. Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
9. Add a touch of color in the living room. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.
10. Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.
11. Make centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.
12. Set the scene. Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.
13. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.
14.Accentuate the fireplace. Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it's not in use.
15. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.
16. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that's not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they'll be to eliminate surprises.
17. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it's impossible to watch everyone all the time.
18. Leave the home. It's usually best if the sellers are not at home. It's awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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