Things to do in the Phoenix Metro area 12/31/2009, Drive Safe - 12/31/09 09:29 AM

The 21st Annual Insight Bowl will be played on Frank Kush Field at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
Game festivities start at 3.30.
 
Fiesta Bowl Block Party. Mill avenue Tempe starting at 5pm
Other events include
The New Years Party at Westgate
The New years eve party in Downtown Scottsdale.
 
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Insight bowl tickets available - 12/30/09 10:24 AM
We are fast approaching the Bowl Games and game week activity here in Phoenix, I have tickets the Insight Bowl 12/31/2009 also tickets to the Parade on 1/2/2010, Block Party Tickets Stadium club tickets. And more Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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Understanding the $8000 / $6500 Tax Credit - 12/28/09 10:37 PM
Here is a great article on the tax credits
Via Debe Maxwell, Realtor® - Charlotte NC MLS - Charlotte NC Neighborhoods (Helen Adams Realty):
Understanding the $8000 / $6500 Tax Credit Credits Offered to both First Time Home Buyers and on Purchase of a New Primary Residence There are key dates and conditions involved in this process if you expect to qualify for the $8000 or $6500 tax credit.
Some of the basics are:
· Homes valued at $800,000 or more do not qualify.
· A first-time buyer does not mean a person who has never purchased a home.  The IRS defines a first-time … (0 comments)

Fiesta bowl and insight bowl Tickets available, call or email me, first come first served - 12/27/09 11:48 AM
We are fast approaching the Bowl Games and game week activity here in Phoenix, I have tickets available to both gamesInsight Bowl 12/31/2009 Fiesta Bowl January 4th 2010 also tickets to the Parade on 1/2/2010, Block Party Tickets Stadium club tickets. And more Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F) … (3 comments)

THE CHRISTMAS CLOSING ~ Humor - 12/24/09 03:34 PM
'Twas an hour before closing and the agents were tense, to close Christmas Eve just didn't make sense. But the seller was booked on the 6 o'clock flight and had warned "THERE WILL BE A CLOSING TONIGHT!" The agents agreed because business was dead, and visions of commission checks danced in their heads. The loan was approved by the lender's good grace, Everyone knew 'twas a borderline case. The buyers divorced, remarried again, Divorced once more, and now were just friends. The loan package complete to the closer was carried, With instructions to close before they remarried. The title policy arrived … (10 comments)

Noraid tracks Santa. - 12/24/09 03:00 PM
This wonderful tool will allow you and your children to track the voyage of santa as reported by NORAID.
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html HTML Version
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/track3d.html Tracking him in Google Earth.
 Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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Christmas song of the day ~ My daughters choice - 12/24/09 02:32 PM

My Daughter, Emily picked my Christmas song of the day, hope you enjoy it.
 
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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Loosing one Police oficer in the line of duty is too much, Today Chris Marano will be burried - 12/23/09 09:16 AM
They will gather at a Peoria church at 10 this morning as all around them people sprint to the shopping malls in one final frantic push to be ready for Christmas.
On motorcycles and in cruisers they will come. From across the state, Arizona's law enforcement community will come to pay tribute to one of their own; to shoulder some small piece of the grief for those who loved him the most.
We should be there as well.
There is never a good day to bury a police officer. But surely, the day before Christmas Eve must be the worst day … (0 comments)

When is it OK for the Buyer agent to remove the keys from a property - 12/23/09 12:11 AM
More and more I'm seeing where the buyers agent takes the key before the property records, i have heard all the reasons,
Its going to close tomorrow, usually doesn't and we now have no key to get back in. Ill hold at my office till it records then and only then I'll give it to my buyer. its too far to go back, then you are operating outside your area of expertise and should not be working a area you dint know. Its a hot house so ill forget to put the key back and my client has a better chance … (9 comments)

Discounted parking available at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport this holiday season. - 12/22/09 11:31 PM
Once more Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is offering discounted parking rates during the busiest time of the holiday travel season. The airport is offering a coupon that takes 40 percent off the full-day rate at all terminal parking garages from Dec. 18 through Jan. 4. The discount cuts the daily rate from $25 to $15. There are no blackout dates. The airport advises travelers to use one of the exit lanes staffed by a parking attendant, as coupons can't be used in the "credit card only" lanes. Customers may enter a terminal parking garage prior to Dec. 18 and stay … (0 comments)

Maricopa County AZ, 30-Day Market Snapshot as of 12/19/09 - 12/22/09 11:26 PM
Thank you to Susan Kraemer, Team leader of Keller Williams professional partners in Glendale AZ for compiling these great numbers and stats.
As you can see there is less than 5 months of inventory available on the market although this is increasing somewhat over the past months, it is still a great time to buy and a good time to sell.
 

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Christmas Gifts, is it the size of the gift or the thought that matters? - 12/22/09 11:14 PM
It is that wonderful time of the year again, the sky is cloudy, the temperature is down into the low 70's, (we live in Arizona after all) the trees and lights are up and we seem to be in the cycle of one up your friends, who can buy the biggest and boldest gifts, who can spend the most and so on. In my opinion the best gifts are the ones that some one took the time to choose based on what they knew about the recipient, their likes, needs and desires. The most memorable gifts I have ever recieved is the ones with the … (4 comments)

Balckberry, I love you, why don't you love me back - 12/22/09 11:01 PM
All joking aside, the last email I received on my Blackberry was at 5.27 pm Arizona time, I thought it was the holidays and didnt think anything about it but when I got to my office I had over 100 emails across my accounts waiting for me.
This is the second time that Blackberry has been down in a week, I'm sure that ill hear from the IPhone brigade but AT&T was down in parts of the country last week so its not much better for what I need.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/tech/NATL-Blackb-79956497.html
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete … (2 comments)

You are who you surround your self with - 12/18/09 11:00 AM
It may seem like a simple comment but many of us surround ourselves with the wrong people. Complainers,Whiners,Mal Contents,Good People but in the wrong position. Over the past year I have looked at those around me, I have had all my potential hires take a paper disc test and before being hired they tak e a online disc profle whose resultis gone over with the team members tehy will be working with. I have seen a total transformation within the team, We now have people that are here to work, on the same page, happier, more focused and much more productive. Don't spend … (5 comments)

You are who you surround your self with - 12/18/09 10:59 AM
It may seem like a simple comment but many of us surround ourselves with the wrong people. Complainers,Whiners,Mal Contents,Good People but in the wrong position. Over the past year I have looked at those around me, I have had all my potential hires take a paper disc test and before being hired they tak e a online disc profle whose resultis gone over with the team members tehy will be working with. I have seen a total transformation within the team, We now have people that are here to work, on the same page, happier, more focused and much more productive. Don't spend … (0 comments)

You are who you surround your self with - 12/18/09 10:57 AM
It may seem like a simple comment but many of us surround ourselves with the wrong people. Complainers,Whiners,Mal Contents,Good People but in the wrong position. Over the past year I have looked at those around me, I have had all my potential hires take a paper disc test and before being hired they tak e a online disc profle whose resultis gone over with the team members tehy will be working with. I have seen a total transformation within the team, We now have people that are here to work, on the same page, happier, more focused and much more productive. Don't spend … (3 comments)

A day without Blackberry - 12/18/09 10:18 AM
Yesterday was either the most relaxing day or stress full day of my life, I awoke at 6am to find I had no emails on my blackberry form the previous night, Sweet, nothing happening must be a early start to the holiday,
7am, Still nothing by 8am i call T-Mobile, my carrier, and was told that Rim was aware of it and they were working on it.
At about 1230 i finally got about 100 emails in at once, then it went down again and so on for the rest of the day.
I did not realize how much i have come to … (11 comments)

Bank of America Short sales SUCK - 12/18/09 10:08 AM
I have been attempting to work with Bank Of America short sale department for over 6 months, my feeling at this time is that this company does not care nor does it want to help the homeowners that are in trouble.
During this time
The vale of the home has dropped $20K
I have lost a buyer, Back to the start,
Had a negotiator assigned that kicked out the file. said he was assigned in error,
Was told that the loan had MI which was why it was originally kicked.
Had the file suspended as they put it into a loan … (12 comments)

What exactly is a Short Sale - 12/18/09 09:55 AM
A short sale in Real estate terms is when a owner must have to or wants to sell a piece of property and the value of the home is  less than the loan amount on that property, should the seller be able to find a ready, willing and able buyer, the acceptable contract is sent to the lenders for approval and if it is approved the bank / lender may approve the sale with a short payoff from the borrower and release them from the loan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_sale_(real_estate)
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home … (0 comments)

Phoenix Area Road closures for teh weekend of Devember 18th -21st - 12/18/09 09:45 AM
1         Loop 303 closed in both directions between Grand Ave. (US 60) and Happy Valley Pkwy. to prepare for opening new Loop 303 interchange at Happy Valley Pkwy.         9 p.m. Friday - 5 a.m. Monday(December 21)                                   2         I-17 narrowed to one lane in both directions overnight between Dixileta Dr. and Lone Mountain Rd. for freeway widening. Traffic may be stopped for short durations.         11 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday(December 19)                   … (0 comments)

Wahooo, Arizona is named the 5th happiest state - 12/18/09 09:41 AM
According to the online edition of the journal Science published on Dec. 17,  Arizona is the 4th happiest state in the US.
While it is good on the surface, the data seems to be old and much has changed since it was collected, the housing Crises and the financial meltdown coupled by the face that Arizona as a state is borrowing money to stay afloat may have changed some minds.
 
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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Fannie Mae suspends foreclosure evections - 12/18/09 09:31 AM
Fannie mae has announced that they will be suspending all foreclosure evictions from tomorrow, December 19th through January 3rd 2010.
"We're taking this step in support of struggling families who have unfortunately found themselves facing foreclosure," said Michael J. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer. "No family should have to face the prospect of being evicted during the holiday season."
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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My favorite Christmas songs - 12/14/09 11:30 PM
In no particular order
  Band Aid '84 - Do they know it's christmas time "Little Drummer Boy", David Bowie and Bing Crosby Christmas Cannon 
 
Happy New Year (ABBA)

 
Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
BONEY M. - Mary´s Boy Child - Merry christmas to all Celtic Woman-Silent Night Where are you Christmas - The Grinch - Faith Hill
 

Andrea Bocelli - Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)  
The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York  
Just a few of my favorites, part 2 may follow.
 


 
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Free training at the Keller Williams office in Glendale AZ - 12/12/09 11:39 PM
Monday 10:00am – noon Preparing a CMA for Your Listings w/Bob pearson Tuesday 9:00am – 1:00pm Contracts 101 at GLENDALE Office w/ Robert Tompkins Wednesday 9:00am – 9:30am ALC MasterMind 9:30am – 11:00am ALC Meeting (open to all agents) 2:30 – 4:30pm Camp 443 #12 Thursday 1:30pm Understanding the new HUD-1 Form w/ Fletcher Wilcox Friday 2:30 – 4:30pm 50 Ways to Jump Start Your 2010 Business w/Susan Kraemer Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE. Team Leader, The Monaghan Group Keller Williams Professional Partners. http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.com Andrew@TheMonaghanGroup.com For the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map. 602-308-4660 Ext … (1 comments)

30 Day market snapshot of maricopa county as of 12/12/2009 - 12/12/09 11:35 PM
These numbers mean we currently have 4.32 months of inventory(Active listings divided by sold listings!!!!)
 
Active listings in ARMLS                            34021            (33,866 last week)
Active with contingency                              6309           (6,251 last week)
Pending sales                                         10,898        (10733 last week)
Sales in last 30 days                                 7,878        (7883 last week)
Cancelled in last 30 days                           2,666        (2,612 last week)         
Expired in last 30 days                              1,458        (1,424 last week)
Temporarily Off Market in last 30 days           657       (698 last week)
(Compliments of Keller Williams Realty Professional Partners • Phoenix/Glendale Arizona)
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE. Team Leader, The Monaghan Group Keller Williams Professional Partners. http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.com Andrew@TheMonaghanGroup.com For the most complete home … (0 comments)

If you are buying a home in Arizona you have to read this - 12/11/09 01:46 PM
This document has been put together by the Arizona Association of Realtors, I give it to all my buyers as both a source of information and to allow the buyer to get all the information that they need.
www.aaronline.com/documents/buy_advis.pdf
This link opens up the document in a adobe PDF, all the hyperlinks that are in the document are click able should the buyer require more information.
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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I can save my home, The Government has a plan to allow me to modify my loan. - 12/11/09 10:41 AM
With great fanfare the Obama administration unveiled the Mortgage relief plan last March.
So far according to the Associated Press a whopping 31,000 people have been able to get their loans permanently modified. the worst offender is of course Bank of America that does not seem to have any aspect of its distressed assets organized, loan modifications, short sales or REO. the best was GMAC that accounts for 7100 of the 31000.
All this lack of follow through is doing is to push the challenges forward and cause the foreclosure bubble to grow larger.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2009/12/11/20091211biz-mortgageaid1211.html
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The … (3 comments)

Foreclosures are not just for Homeowners in Phoenix - 12/11/09 10:26 AM
It is the foreclosures in the residential arena that are getting all the press in the Phoenix metro area over the last few years, now we are seeing many of teh luxury hotels in the area going into bankrupcy as well.
the list includes,
1. The Mondrain in Scottsdale/
2. Th Montelucia In Paradise Valley.
3.The W in Scottsdale
4. The Wigwam in Litchfield Park.
This economy is hitting all areas of the market.
 
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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Phoenix area road restrictions and closures for the weekend on December 11th to 14th - 12/11/09 10:13 AM
 
1 I-10 narrowed to two lanes in both directions between Loop 101 and Dysart Rd. 11 p.m. Friday – 7 a.m. Saturday(December 12)       2 Westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) narrowed to three lanes overnight between Scottsdale Rd. and Priest Dr. 10 p.m. Friday – 7 a.m. Saturday(December 12)10 p.m. Saturday – 9 a.m. Sunday(December 13)10 p.m. Sunday – 5 a.m. Monday(December 14)
      3 Eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) narrowed to two lanes overnight between 32nd and 44th streets. 10 p.m. Saturday – 9 a.m. Sunday(December 13)       4 32nd St. … (0 comments)

Help me assist you getting your REO offer accepted - 12/09/09 09:46 PM
In my experience here are some things that can assist you in making your offer more acceptable to the Bank.
1.    This is a totally unemotional deal, its about the numbers.
2.    Show where the money is coming from, this is for any money the buyer is to come up with. If you are paying in any cash into the deal prove where it is coming from.  
3.    Title and escrow is usually non negotiable as the lender has already started the work long prior to it going on the  market, if you really have to use your favorite Title … (1 comments)

Im buying a REO What should I think about, Its not a normal deal. - 12/09/09 09:43 PM
Buying a REO (Bank Owned) home is not a usual transaction, Many of the things that go into a normal transaction are changed or some times turned on its head, as a buyer you need to be aware of the differences, the homes may be a great deal or not, you may have to shorten your inspection periods, you may have to pay part or all of the sellers closing costs etc.
We have put a Frequently asked questions for the buyers and agents to review when they are submitting a offer to explain some of the things to watch out … (1 comments)

Facebook has adopted a new Privacy policy - 12/09/09 08:28 PM
Facebook.com, the social media giant has changed and updated its privacy policy, now you can tweak who views all or part of your profile and what those people see, the challenge may be that the default settings are rather broad and may open your profile to more than just your friends. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/09/AR2009120904200.html Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE. Team Leader, The Monaghan Group Keller Williams Professional Partners. http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.com Andrew@TheMonaghanGroup.com For the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map. 602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F) … (3 comments)

Simple truths video, Eat the Frog - 12/05/09 09:53 PM
My business coach, Bill Hart with Building Champions recomended this to me as part of my coaching, it is a very simple and quick video but if you put it into practice your productivity will soar

 
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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Maricopa County AZ, 30-Day Market Snapshot as of 12/05/09 - 12/05/09 09:29 PM

These numbers mean we currently have 4.3 months of inventory(Active listings divided by sold listings!!!!)
 
Active listings in ARMLS                          33,866        (33,696 last week)
Active with contingency                              6,251        (6,356 last week)
Pending sales                                         10,733        (11,404 last week)
Sales in last 30 days                                  7,883        (8,404 last week)
Cancelled in last 30 days                           2,612        (2,700 last week)         
Expired in last 30 days                                                 1,424    (1,552 last week)
Temporarily Off Market in last 30 days           698       (749 last week)
(Compliments of Keller Williams Realty Professional Partners • Phoenix/Glendale Arizona)
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IRS has set the mileage rates for 2010 - 12/04/09 11:39 AM
The IRS has announced the optional mileage rates to calculate the deductible costs for operating a Automobile, as of January for 2010.
Standard Mileage for Business use $0.50
Medical or Moving purposes, $0.165
Use of a automobile $0.14
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=200505,00.html
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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Fiesta Bowl, Aerospace challenge - 12/04/09 11:11 AM
This Monday and Tuesday, December 7th and 8th, form 8am to 4pm,  at the ASU west campus over 1000 students from 55 schools will be competing in the preliminary judging. The Finals will be held at the Challenger space center on December 31st.
Teams are presenting their projects to experts from Honeywell at the event.
 
http://www.fiestabowl.org/index.php/events/aerospace/
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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Things to do in Phoenix ~ Electric Light Parade - 12/04/09 10:48 AM
The 23rd Fiesta of light, Electric light parade is this Saturday, December 5th at 7pm. The parade runs along Central Avenue from Montebello to Camelback, turns east on Camelback to 7th Street, South on 7th St to Indian School.
The tempature at this time of year is clod (for Arizona) and seating is on a first come first served basis.
http://phoenix.about.com/cs/familyactivities/a/phxholiday01.htm
 
Andrew Monaghan, CRS, GRI, CDPE.Team Leader, The Monaghan GroupKeller Williams Professional Partners.http://WWW.TheMonaghanGroup.comAndrew@TheMonaghanGroup.comFor the most complete home search tool, visit http://www.themonaghangroup.com and click on the map.602-308-4660 Ext 203 (O) 480-302-5816 (F)
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Mortgage rates are at a (almost) all time low. - 12/04/09 10:19 AM
This week the average rate for a 30 year mortgage dropped to 4.71 percent, this is the lowest average rate since Freddie Mac started tracking data in 1971.
It is a fantastic time to buy, should a buyer be worried about the priced continuing to drop, most of the gains can be lost if the interest rate goes up.
We as Realtors have to be able and willing to show the whole story, be educated on the cost of money and its effect.
I found this great chart at The Millionaire systems website This shows how a interest rate of 6%, 6.5% … (1 comments)

Bank of America Short sales, this is getting ridiculous - 12/04/09 09:52 AM
I have had the misfortune to be involved with a BofA short sale since may of this year, the level of service from Bank of America reps is all over the place, some are friendly and some are downright rude.
Why should it take so long to get a decision, i have lost buyers because of the incompetence, had to get the foreclosure date moved 4 times while they wait to assign a negotiator.
What can i do?, My client is at their wits end, the new buyer is getting frustrated and i still dint know what is going on.
Andrew … (5 comments)