The "Small Blog" by Debbie Small

We've moved to a new location!

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:19:51 -0500

Well, as I am sure many of you will agree, moving is never an easy decision or endeavor. When we opened our satellite office several years ago, we knew that it would be temporary until we took off in the shadow of our well established sister office.

Thanks to our success and the support of our corporate office, we have been able to make a strategic move despite the current economic times.
This speaks volumes of Long & Foster's confidence in its agents.

For the record:

Founded 1968
Over 200 offices
13,700 Sales Associates
Largest independently owned brokerage firm in the Mid-Atlantic region
#1 Privately owned real estate company in the nation
Offers their sales associates a pertinent cutting edge education on changing trends

Need I say more as to why I have been with this company for over 15 years!
Location, location, location has long been the touted adage regarding real estate and now I'm pleased to say we have the best of all worlds. Stop by and see me for all your real estate needs.

It's been a busy week so far, and it's only Tuesday!

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:37:34 -0600

On the heels of Monday's announcement with Citigroup receiving an additional $20 billion through the Trouble Assets Relief Program, it's been yet another busy day.

The Federal Reserve announced today that it will purchase up to $600 billion in mortgage backed assets from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Banks. In an added effort to stabilize the economy, the central bank also announced the backing of consumer debt securities up to $200 billion that will include student, auto and credit card loans as well as loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Question: So how does this affect you?
Answer: Lower mortgage interest rates!

Shortly after today's news, I began receiving emails regarding the lowering of mortgage interest rates. I decided to be proactive and send emails requesting rates from my lender contacts. As of this post, the best deal received for a 30 year fixed conventional loan was 5.50% with zero points and origination fees.

The trickle down to the consumer was immediate today. The DOW closed at 8,479.47, +36.08 from yesterday. I hope Wall Street gets a little more excited tomorrow before stuffing their bird.

You're Invited to The Housing Forum

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:27:53 -0600

Press Release: Housing Forum will be held Monday

The first of many anticipated public housing forums will be held tomorrow, November 24, between 6 and 8pm at The Living Room in Martinsburg.

The evening's event is sponsored by Marc Savitt, owner of The Mortgage Center. The guest speakers for the evening include David Hartley of the Eastern Panhandle Homebuilders Association, Stacy Lawing affiliated with Keller Williams Realty and yours truly.

The focus will be on the micro market of the Eastern Panhandle and our current economic state during these uncertain times. Is our housing market as bad as the national media portrays it? Come find out for yourself from local experts who really have a pulse on the local market.

When: Monday, November 24, 6-8pm

Where: 50 Monroe St, Martinsburg WV

Cost: It's FREE!

2009 FHA Loan Limits

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:44:00 -0600

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development just released 2009 Federal Housing Administration loan limit guidelines for single-family residences. The new loan limits will take effect January 1, 2009.

Berkeley and Morgan County
Current loan limit $377,500 = $393,191 Sales price
2009 loan limit $271,050 = $280,880 Sales price
Jefferson County
Current loan limit $729,750 = $756,217 Sales price
2009 loan limit $625,500 = $648,186 Sales price

Click here for more information>

It's All Brad's Fault

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:08:33 -0600

I recently attended a class emphasizing blogging and social networking, so when Brad Andersohn posted "You're Social Media User Name - Is It Too Late?", I was really curious.

The website usernamecheck.com worked seamlessly in finding my web presence, but there were so many other services that made me curious, I had to do some further exploring. Hey, I've only just started using Twitter and now there's StumbleUpon. This is a great way to randomly discover sites that are informative, beautiful, weird, useless or just plain stupid.

Here's a few for starters:

Geeky Stuff:
25 Must-Have Thumb Drive Apps For Geeks
Send Voice and Text Reminders to Your Phone
Flock - The Social Web Browser
How Old is the Internet

Photography:
Photos that Changed the World
Kenneth Parker
Brent Stirton (some may find these images disturbing)
Andrej Belic, Undersea Photography
Ok, We all love our dogs

Extremely Clever:
Funnel Design Group
Nothing Something
Why do you stay up so late?

Worth Keeping:
Calendar Templates

Weird & Odd:
50 Strange Buildings of the World
Today in Rotten History
Chocolate Cake in 5 Minutes
Facts on Farts

And then there's just plain stupid:
The Evolution of Man and Woman
Only word that comes to mind is "ouch"
More PC vs. Apple
Futuristic & Crazy Computer Cases

Check it out and see what you StumbleUpon.

Grow Up and Do YOUR Job Responsibly!

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:41:24 -0600

When YOU call me to show one of my listings, I'm ecstatic. I have the utmost faith in YOUR ability to do your job, albeit sometimes it's real a "leap of faith".

I know that when we do our job we are taking on a number of responsibilities on the behalf of our buyer and seller clients, but sometimes I feel that sellers are taken for granted as if they don't even matter. As many of you know, there are a number of vacant properties on the market and I am relying on you to do your job by turning the lights off and locking the doors when you leave. This should be a no brainer!

It is extremely embarrassing getting calls from the neighbors, the housekeeper or, God forbid, the seller that the house was left unsecured. Needless to say, I found out today that a careless agent left the lights on, the doors unlocked and nobody's home. It goes without saying that you should always check and recheck before leaving the property after a showing as you could be held personally responsible in the event of mischief and damages.

I really want you to show and sell my listings, so please take a few extra minutes to "Do YOUR Job Responsibly".

1017 West King Street, Martinsburg WV 25401

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:28:29 -0600

Offered For $225,000

This grand four-square brick colonial, located in the desirable west-end historical district of Martinsburg, is graced with a large front porch leading into the formal foyer entry. Beautiful hardwood floors grace this vintage home throughout offering a formal living room with a wood burning fireplace and a formal dining room.

More Information >

Resizing Photos With 2 Clicks

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:37:35 -0600

Are you looking for an easy way to resize photos? Try this on for size but before you get excited, it only works with Windows XP, sorry Vista users. Simply scroll down the page to download and install Image Resizer. This small 521kb gadget is a must have in my toolbox and easy to use without opening an editor program.

1. Right click on any photo or graphic file to bring up the Resize Pictures option.

2. Choose one of the defaulted options or use the advanced tab for customized resizing. When the resized photo is saved, the file name remains the same and is differentiated as (small) etc. in parenthesis.

Enjoy!

Is This The Right Time To Buy?

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:51:28 -0600

We've all heard the old adage "What goes up, must come down", however the opposite is true in housing.

Home prices tend to rise with commodity prices over the long term. Currently, the Producer Price Index for construction is up 39 percent over the past five years, and prices for commodities like oil, copper, steel and cement are sky-high. Sooner or later the increasing costs of these raw materials will push home prices higher.

As the supreme commodity, every home is full of materials like steel, wood, and copper wiring. Presently, an oversupply of homes may be keeping prices low, but home prices are rooted in hard costs and will eventually adjust to reflect the price of production.

If you are sitting on the fence wondering if this really is the right time to buy, consider that many homes today are being sold for less than their replacement cost due to oversupply and deeply discounted foreclosures. As interest rates begin to creep upward, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage is forecast to rise gradually to 6.8 percent by the end of this year and hold at that level for most of 2009.

"5 Easy" Common Sense Tips

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:20:17 -0500

With our convenient location to the Baltimore Maryland and Washington DC beltway areas, West Virginia's eastern panhandle has long been a popular destination for tourism and home ownership. Most are drawn by our beauty and slower pace of life as well as the economics of lower priced real estate and taxes.

Some folks decide to put their roots down while others are looking to escape the beltway bustle at the week's end and I have had the privilege to assist both mindsets.

Since marketing vacation homes has become one of my niches over the years, I would particularly like to address those second home owners about some of the pitfalls to avoid.

"5 Easy Tips" to Protect Your Investment:

1. First and foremost, always turn off your main water valve when you leave. Make it a habit to do this year round because Murphy never takes a vacation and anything can go wrong while you're away. I can't tell you how many disasters I've encountered over the years while marketing vacation homes due to water damage.

2. While staying on the topic of water since it is one of most damaging elements that you can control, hire a professional to winterize your home. Turning the main water supply off and draining through the open faucets may not cut it when the temperature drops below 20 degrees. If you are not planning to use your home over the winter, I highly recommend this investment for your peace of mind. Trust me when I say that a frosty coating of ice in your oven is undesirable.

3. Oh those trees, those beautiful trees! We are so fortunate to have an abundance of beautiful hardwoods and pines covering our mountains, but they could be your nemesis too. Look around the perimeter of your home for trees leaning toward the house and also look for nearby standing dead trees that could fall and cause damage. Trees are beautiful and a wonderful habitat for local wildlife, but sometimes they need to come down. If you are fortunate enough to have standing dead hardwood trees, save them for firewood.

4. Most likely your vacation home will have that "cozy fireplace" and of course you'll need wood to fuel that fire. Don't stack the wood against the house or on the deck just because it's convenient. In your absence, the termites move in. Leave your permanent wood stack at least 20 feet away from the house. As an added tip, burn hardwood such as oak and limit the use of pine for burning as creosote could build up in the flue and may cause a chimney fire. If you use your fireplace or wood stove regularly, you should have the chimney cleaned once a year.

5. Bugs will be bugs and they all have a job to do, but they shouldn't be confined within your four walls. The obvious pests are termites and ants, but during this time of the year there may be infestations of lady bugs, stink bugs and common flies looking for a place to winter away. Here again, hire a trusted professional to control those little pests. I recommend quarterly treatment to protect your investment and making sure that the company you hire is fulfilling their contractual agreement.

The above tips are a compilation of my many years of experience in dealing with second home properties. Although I may have injected a little bit of humor here, it's basically common sense when you think about it.

Photo courtesey zieak

Meet "Joe the Plumber"

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:46:34 -0500

The 2008 Presidential Election could certainly go down in history as the most interesting race faced since the election of President Kennedy. The interest in this election is high and there was much said tonight about "Joe the Plumber" during the debate. Is this the "Real Joe"? Doe's it really matter?

Isn't it wonderful that we live in such a democratic country where we are able to individually have an opinion and cast our vote?

Just make sure you VOTE! It's you're RIGHT.

THINK ABOUT IT? DO IT!

What's "On the Go" in October?

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:26:46 -0500

"On the Go" for October

10 - Identity Theft Seminar at the Martinsburg Library - for more info: call (304) 267-8933

11 & 12 - Berkeley Springs Apple Butter Festival

11 - Hedgesville Heritage Days in downtown Hedgesville

16 through 19 - Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival

17 - Feast for The Arts "A Taste of France" call 304-263-0224

18 - Maryland Symphony Orchestra MasterWorks season featuring violinist Rachel Barton Pine

24, 25, 26, 31 - Old Opera House Night Watch

25 - Adam Stephen House pumpkin carving contest 6-9pm - for more info: call (304) 267-4434

25 - Taste of Transylvania "Dinner with Dracula" fundraiser for WV Filmmaker's Guild

27 - Maryland Theatre Tribute to Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee

WVHDF Tightening funds brings more woes for borrowers

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:09:35 -0500

I received the following via email today regarding the current state of the West Virginia Housing Development Fund. This comes as no surprise at this time, and as I think back on the history of this loan program, the same thing occurred in the early ninety's. The current bond offering of 5.79 % (APR 6.389%) could not possibly continue during this stormy credit climate.

I urge all those affected to attend the workshop hosted by WVHDF in Martinsburg on October 9, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Holiday Inn on Foxcroft Avenue.

MEMORANDUM
TO: All Correspondent & Participating Lenders
FROM: David Rathbun, Senior Director
DATE: October 1, 2008
SUBJECT: Urgent-New Program Announcement

Temporary QMB Bond Program Pause

Those following the financial news recognize the mortgage industry is currently facing difficult times. WVHDF is not immune from the tightening of credit and the crisis on Wall Street. Given the current state of the financial markets, the WVHDF cannot successfully market bonds to support our QMB single family program at affordable rates for borrowers. As a result, we must temporarily pause our QMB Bond program once our current bond funds of approximately $4.5 million are depleted. Funds remaining will be updated on our daily rate sheet. Please rest assured that all borrowers currently registered are accounted for and will be fully funded as their loans are approved. Also, please know we are working diligently to reestablish our QMB Bond program with all the benefits you have known and relied upon.

Please Welcome Martha Hilton

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:35:05 -0500

Please join me in welcoming Martha Hilton to the Active Rain Network. Martha has been a REALTOR® for 20+ years and is Broker of RE/MAX Vision Quest in Lewisburg West Virginia.

She is an active member of the West Virginia Association of REALTORS® and is currently serving as a National Director of the National Association of REALTORS®. She also served as 2003 President of the West Virginia Assocation of REALTORS®. Martha has earned the CRS, ABR, GRI and e-Pro designations.

Martha is hard working and always upbeat. It has been my pleasure to associate with her over the years.

Please Welcome Charlotte Stewart

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:44:20 -0500

Please join me in welcoming Charlotte Stewart to the Active Rain Network. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Charlotte through our affiliation with the West Virginia Association of REALTORS® and we have become close friends over the years. We enjoy working on the WVAR Membership and Bylaws committee together and love those roads trips.

She resides in Wellsburg West Virginia, operates her business in Weirton West Virginia and is affiliated with Howard Hanna Mortimer Realty. She is a member of the Weirton Area Board of REALTORS® and was honored as the "2007 REALTOR® of the Year" by her local association.

Whew! That Bailout Almost Destroyed the Housing Industry

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:29:46 -0500

"Food for Thought" regarding the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (bail-out bill) written by Matthew Ferrara of Matthew Ferrara & Company. This is a rather long read, but certainly worth your time.

Via Matthew Ferrara:

Whew! That was a close one! Good thing that bail out failed - it almost wiped out the entire housing industry!

Only in the United States Congress can a plan to destroy the housing industry and credit markets be called a "rescue" plan. It's almost as farcical as calling "card check" bill that effectively kills secret voting for unions a "secret ballot bill." Far more troubling, however, is the fact that the elements of the plan are laid out - in plain sight - for everyone to see and think about.

Why, then, does the real estate industry and average homeowner, not see the danger?

Set aside for a moment what "caused" the current financial crisis. Let's assume there's a lot of blame to go around: Stupid investment banks that didn't assess the risk of securitized mortgages. Political shenanigans for "affordable" housing through two lending institutions that thought they didn't have to actually check if borrowers could repay their loans. And a Federal Reserve that forgot to control inflation - and devalued the dollar - which is how homes, as commodities, are primarily priced.

How about the entire issue of Americans spending way beyond their means for a decade? Taking out home equity for plasma TVs, cars, remodelling, trips around the world - all consumption, no production. Oh, but never mind.

The issue is what to do "now." For starters, the only reason there's a "rush" to do a bailout is because there's a Presidential election coming up. In reality, private investment isn't sitting too far off on the sidelines. Warren Buffet put $5 billion in to the market yesterday and today, even though Washington Mutual "failed" it didn't "collapse." Bank of America had plenty of private capital cash - and a willingness to spend it. Consider it a private bailout.

The danger lies in the rush to do the proposed Government bailout. Injecting a trillion dollars - the real cost of $700 billion - cannot have only good effects. And the most likely - and ironic - negative effect is that the bailout will ultimately destroy the housing industry.

If Fannie and Freddie's business practices weren't a stab in the heart of the concepts of "credit worthiness" and "equity" in the American financial system, then the "bailout" will simply twist the knife until the housing industry dies. What's at stake here isn't the banking system; it's the fundamental basis of savings in our economy: home ownership.

Home ownership is the most common and primary "investment vehicle" for consumer savings. The bailout will destroy that investment for millions of Americans, today and tomorrow. Consider the "other investment" most Americans believed the Government was making on their behalf: Social Security. Essentially, it's worthless because the "assets" used to create its value are declining, as the number of American workers paying for each retiree declines. The same will happen to the mortgage "assets" held by the Government: Just because they suddenly own them doesn't mean they won't continue to decline. In fact, most of the provisions of the bailout bill will hasten - not slow - the pace of falling home prices.

Since the bill will transfer control of millions of American's basic investment vehicles - their home equity - to the Federal Treasurer, the result will be to ultimately push private lending out of the housing industry entirely. When that happens, the housing industry effectively becomes nationalized - since the only lenders left will be Government-backed (through "equity" shares) banks. Without lending choices, sales will slow to a crawl and the housing industry - including REALTORS, inspectors, appraisers, builders and countless other associated industries - will likely shrink too. Without lending, the economy shrinks.

And just about everything in the bailout bill is designed to discourage - not expand - private lending. For example:

Foreclosure Prevention is a major provision of the bill. While distressed "renters in homeowners' clothing" may find this comforting, it should more properly be called "Contract Abrogation" authority. The provision would allow judges to - at their own whims - change the terms, conditions and value of a mortgage owed to a lender. If you want to kill lending entirely, then eliminate the law of contracts. Make lenders fear that their contracts might be abrogated or adjusted at any time by a judge who takes pity on a homeowner but never the lender who provided the means for their purchase - and the cost of mortgages will soar. Lenders might reasonably decide to stop lending to individuals at all. They have lots of other ways to make money, rather than risk a capricious legal system. Within the housing industry, builder financing will disappear, too. Why would a builder risk investing in new development, marketing it, and providing financing to the buyers - when a court could decide at any time to lower the value or payment terms? Robin Hood would be proud.

Executive Compensation oversight is not just vindictive, it will slow the pace of the mortgage industry's growth. Limiting compensation simply pushes smart people out of the contention for the hard jobs of running a bank. Capping salaries in the finance industry means smart financiers will become executives in other industries. Lending will be left to political appointees. And we all know how well that worked out at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Equity Stakes in exchange for Fed money sounds like a great idea. When Warren Buffet bought shares of Goldman this week, he ended up with "equity" in the company. If the Government buys mortgages from failing banks, shouldn't it also get a stake? When a private individual invests in a company, it's called equity. When a government uses taxpayer money, it's called "nationalization." If the Government has equity in the banking industry, it simply has more control. For any indications on how a nationalized lending system will work out, refer back to Fannie and Freddie.

An Oversight Board to keep an eye on the Treasurer of the United States also sounds like a good idea. In fact, it has been tried for decades - in command-economies like North Korea and Communist China. Let one department of government - and some un-elected bureaucrats - start throwing around a trillion dollars, and you'll be creating more bubbles than a Lawrence Welk show. The Fed already tried this once - by inflating the money supply. Now it will try again with a trillion taxpayer dollars injected into the economy. It's still inflation of the money supply, which means devaluation of the housing industry. Rather than printing money or loose credit lending, the Fed will take it directly from taxpayers disposable income. It has to come from somewhere - which means more taxes - leaving only enough money left over for lower-cost housing. That's called "renting." And there's no housing industry when nobody can afford to actually buy a house.

Home owners should be terrified of the bailout plan. By destroying the lending industry - or making mortgages too expensive. When contracts become tentative, lenders will dramatically increase the interest required to take the risk; which will decrease the number of people who will qualify to repay the loans; which will freeze home-ownership to it's existing levels for years, if not decades. We have already seen frozen neighborhoods across America, where people can't afford to sell and nobody willing to buy.

REALTORS should be panicked: As a the new major equity partner in the lending business - Government will be involved in even more real estate transactions (if not the majority) bringing with them a vast array of government provisions for closing. Perhaps one provision will be capped commissions for REALTORS? Why not cap those along with executive pay? Already today FHA is flexing its muscle, setting standards for inspection and appraisal that the average homeowner cannot meet with enough money remaining for a down-payment on their next home.

Builders - who are essentially financiers who make a profit through housing investment and sales - will simply shift their capital to other markets, like commodities or overseas development where their property rights will be respected under the law, not judicial discretion.

The bailout plan is the exact opposite of what has to happen to correct the economic downturn. Adding more money to an inflation-weakened economy is no worse than devaluing the dollar or printing more of it. Buying distressed mortgages can only be called buying "assets" by Government accounting standards; if they were really worth something, more private equity would be out there snapping it up. Undermining contract law and abrogating lenders' rights to repayment on behalf of "distressed" homeowners will only mean more bank failures - as banks will be unable to recover the money due to them, with which they create jobs and pay employees. The cycle will only accellerate, eviscerating the lending industry, scaring the sidelined-buyers into waiting even further, discouraging foreign investment in what was once considered the safest place to invest: a country of (contract) laws, not of (judicial or political) men.

Now is that any way to bail out the housing industry?

- M

191 Sapphire Drive, Hedgesville WV 25417

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:10:01 -0500

PRICE IMPROVED $20,000 - BRING YOUR OFFER!

The Meadows at Sleepy Creek

OWNER SAYS TO BRING OFFERS - The perfect contemporary for all seasons situated on 5.5 private acres featuring an open floor plan and tiered decks perfect for entertaining or relaxing. Exterior sided with low maintenance hardi –plank board plus an additional panel box installed for generator hookup. Floor plan includes 2 bedrooms on main level and large master suite with private deck on the upper level. Fabulous sunny open kitchen/dining/great room with cathedral ceiling.

VIRTURAL TOUR

Contact Debbie Small
304-582-5788

Public Open ~ 140 Leviticus Drive, Bunker Hill WV

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:46:44 -0500

OPEN HOUSE

When: Saturday - September 13th
Where: 140 Leviticus Drive - Woodridge Community
Time Open: 10AM - 2PM

This is not your typical split-foyer!

Built 2005, loaded with upgrades and well maintained throughout featuring gas fireplace w/ceramic tile hearth, double-door refrigerator, glass top range, built-in microwave, Hunter ceiling fans, designer Kohler kitchen sink and breakfast bar.
The home is T-1 hard wired throughout for internet, sound system and HD theater hookups in all rooms with surround system in the living room. The recently stained deck located off the dining area is buffered by mature hardwood trees.

Directions: Interstate 81-Exit 12, Turn east toward Inwood, Turn right at traffic light onto Route 11, Turn left at traffic light (Sheetz) onto Route 51, Drive 2 miles and turn left on Three Run Road, Drive 1 mile and turn left on Leviticus to #140 on right

Bluegrass Festival "Pickin' in the Panhandle"

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:52:07 -0500

In spite of hurricane Hanna's threat, spirits weren't dampened for the West Virginia State BBQ and Bluegrass Festival, "Pickin' in the Panhandle", held this weekend at the Lazy-A Campground. Attendance may have been light for the Saturday kickoff due to rain, but folks rolled in Sunday taking advantage of the perfect weather and festivities.

The highlight of the weekend was the great music preformed by nationally renowned bluegrass bands on the main stage. Musicians were also performing at the popular Pickin' Porch concession and beer garden area. Senator Robert Byrd sent a representative onstage offering his sentiments that he could not attend. God bless him, he loves his fiddle and did it justice in the day.

Fierce cook-off competitions always arise at such events and this weekend was no exception as the ribs, chicken, and brisket rolled off the grill for the judges to decide the contest winners. There was something for everyone to enjoy throughout the weekend of festivities including craft vendors and the kids' korner. It was evident that there was not age barrier for fun this weekend.

2008 REALTOR® of the Year

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:26:50 -0500

Debbie Small was recently recognized as "2008 Realtor of the Year" by The Eastern Panhandle Board of REALTORS® at their annual awards banquet. This honor is awarded to a member recognized for their outstanding service and achievements. Short lists of accomplishments have included:

Service

West Virginia Association of REALTORS® Director (2nd term)

EPBR 2003 President

Beta Tester for MRIS

EPBR Committee Chairs:
      -Community Service
      -Education
      -Public Relations
      -Business Partners
      -Web Page

Awards

EPBR 2008 Quarter Silver Award

EPBR Top Producer's Club "Hall of Fame"

Long & Foster Executive's Club

West Virginia Association of REALTORS® "Mary Pauley Community Service Award"

CRS and GRI Designations

A Cautionary Tale About Loan Grants

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:35:39 -0500

With the Nehemiah grant program drawing to a close, there is still time if you need to shift to another property. Here's the perfect scenario.

Let's say you, the home purchaser, have been approved for an FHA loan using the Nehemiah grant assigned a case number prior to August 31with the condition that settlement must occur by October 1 to qualify for the Nehemiah assistance. The offer you submitted was on a property with short sale conditions but weeks, or possibly months, have gone by awaiting approval from the lender holding the seller's note. This is not at all uncommon.

You would be well advised to find another house quickly that is not a short sale. Your lender can amend your grant package changing the property address and using the existing case number to meet the settlement deadline.

AmeriDream Program Slip-Sliding Away

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:22:44 -0500

According to my sources, the hammer has slammed down on the non-profit AmeriDream program bringing a close to this DPA chapter. The "heads up" is that if a home buyer is purchasing a home, their loan must be in process with a valid contract by August 29, 2008 and closed by September 30, 2008. I suspect that the Nehemiah program will soon be history as well, if it isn't already.

Typically, I play the devil's advocate and can see both sides, but I feel this is going to have a further negative impact on the housing market. As we're all aware, the onset of foreclosures and short sales has caused declining housing values and sent Fannie and Freddie running scared. The obvious positive is that buyers who were previously shut out of the housing market are slowly re-entering and taking advantage of the lower pricing. The profile of today's median price range buyer either needs assistance with closing costs, down payment or both. Without these entry level buyers, inventory will continue to mount fueling the fire for recession.

Google Directory Assistance - Really Cool!!!

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:01:57 -0500

For those of you who hate paying $2 every time you dial directory assistance from your cell phone, I heard about a cool tool today. If you send a text to Google (466453) and type a name, and a city and state if necessary, you get free directory assistance via a return text. The response is immediate and free unless you have to pay for the text through your plan.

Try it: Debbie Small, Martinsburg or sample Google SMS online

140 Leviticus Drive, Bunker Hill WV 25413

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:46:06 -0500

Woodridge Subdivision

This is not your typical split-foyer! Built by A&A Homes in 2005, loaded with upgrades and well maintained throughout featuring gas fireplace w/ceramic tile hearth, double-door refrigerator, glass top range, built-in microwave, Hunter ceiling fans, designer Kohler kitchen sink and breakfast bar.

The home is T-1 hard wired throughout for internet, sound system and HD theater hookups in all rooms with surround system in the living room. The recently stained deck is located off the dining area overlooking the backyard buffered by mature hardwood trees.

Stovetop Salsa Mac 'n Cheese

Debbie Small, REALTOR® (Long & Foster Realtors) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:26:01 -0500

Stovetop Salsa Mac ‘n Cheese

8 oz. Campanelle pasta
3 Tablespoons butter or margarine
2 Tablespoon flour
1 Cup milk
4 oz. cubed extra sharp cheddar cheese
4 oz. salsa (about ½ jar)

Prepare pasta, drain and set aside. Heat butter and whisk in flour to a rue. Add milk and stir until creamy. Turn heat to low and add salsa and cheese covering pan until melted, then stir pasta in reheating to ready.

Bon Appetite

* This is something that I recently made up that's become a hit! I prefer Campanelle pasta because it holds the sauce so well. Be creative. If you like it hot, add some chiles or toss in leftover veggies like that ear of leftover corn.