Lois's Blog

Lets fight to keep Down Payment Assistance Programs for future home buyers

Lois Szydlowski (Future Home Realty) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:17:10 -0500

Seller funded down payment assistance (SFDPA) will deny hunreds of thousands of buyers a chance to buy a home in next year if this is allowed to be banned. We have to act now to stop the ban.
Banning SFDPA SELLER FUNDED DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE will indirectly impact the real estate, mortgage and home building arenas with the loss of employment.
The vast majority of those taking advantage of this program allows minority groups, females, and first‐time homebuyers to have the American Dream come true---home ownership for them.
Half of FHA mortgages these days utilize Down Payment assistance programs--substantial to keeping home ownership possible in today's market.
There are no tax dollars used to fund these
The use of these down payment assistance programs contributes to the overall economy because it is putting money back into all the areas of consumer spending on their best financial investment of home ownership.

to read the full article by Inman News:

http://www.inman.com/news/2008/09/10/congress-weighs-reprieve-seller-funded-gifts

here Is How You Can Help:

Step One: Contact your industry organizations to tell them to support H.R.6694.

Step Two: Call, fax and email your Washington representatives, especially your senators. Call and ask to speak with the Housing Legislative Assistant. Tell them how important down payment assistance is--leave a message if you must. Below are a couple of documents with talking points.

.	HUD's Model Analyzing Effect Of DPA On Foreclosures Flawed
.	Talking Points
.	Why Congress Should Not Ban DPA Word PDF
.	DPA Has Not Caused Increase In Overall Foreclosures Word PDF
.	HUD's Faulty Reasoning Word PDF

Step Three: Because senators are now visiting their home states, now is the time to schedule a meeting with your congressman and senators or their housing legislative assistant. You can print out the above documents to bring to your meeting. Visiting your congressman's office is by far the most effective way to influence them to vote in favor of HR6694.

Important Points:

Be sure to tell them the urgency of getting this legislation through before they adjourn on the 26th of September.
Delay the implementation of that portion of HR3221 that eliminated DPA until the February of March of 2009. This will greatly help with the seasonal downturn in the housing market and will allow the Senate to better consider the data the DPA industry will be providing them.
H.R. 6694 Addresses all of HUD's stated concerns.
Let them know how banning down payment assistance affects their states--.

•· Tell them you would like to know what studies have been done to show the impact banning DPA will have on the national housing market.

•· Tell them you would like to know how banning DPA will help the national economy.

Thank you for your support at this critical time.

Michael Whipple 877-313-3485 Marketing Director

Sovereign Grant Alliance

Michael@apollogrants.com

The American Dream of Home Ownership is Still Viable

Lois Szydlowski (Future Home Realty) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:55:05 -0500

Home ownership has enjoyed a well-deserved reputation as a crucial component of the so-called "American Dream." But for many people, home ownership is now perceived more as a nightmare than an essential element of the "good life" that could be attained in the United States.

The perception of home ownership as a nightmare when this is the reality out there from the Press:

A avalanche of foreclosures has forced homeowners to give up a home they can't afford.
Equity in homes have been eroded and homeowners are upside down in investment power.
Insurance and taxes still can make housing unaffordable. And now that gasoline costs upwards of $3.75 a gallon, the more afforable communities, mean expensive commutes to jobs.
Homeowners are paying more for utilities, insurance and maintenance due to natural disasters, inflation and global materials markets.
Wall Street analysts have spewed out piles of statistics to convince the public that a home is a worse investment than stocks or mutual funds.
We are stuck in a mindset of Instant gratification and short term payoff. Real Estate is a long term investment that gives immediate rewards. It is not a "cash machine".
A relocation workforce have made short-term home ownership a questionable financial proposition.
The prospect of diminished home values or minimal appreciation has scared off many people who otherwise might have been good candidates for home ownership.

Yet homeownership still offers the same benefits and advantages it always has. These include:

The opportunity to build equity and create wealth over time.
Protection from rent increases or eviction at the whim of a landlord.
The pleasures of a relatively larger home, suitable for a family, and with a backyard, garage or other auxiliary space.
The freedom -- design review boards notwithstanding -- to improve, remodel or redecorate to suit one's own style and budget.
A variety of lucrative income-tax breaks.
Pride of ownership and a greater sense of security and stability.

Top $100 ideas to help sell your home

Lois Szydlowski (Future Home Realty) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:05:59 -0500

$100 Ideas to Help Sell Your Home
Reinvent the Kitchen

$100: Install new cabinet knobs and drawer pulls for an instant makeover.

$100: Hang a new light fixture over your kitchen table or install smaller ones over your breakfast counter.

$100: Pack away any electrical or other device you absolutely don't need on the counter. Buy new towels, rug, placemats and coordinating décor to add a splash of complimentary color to your kitchen.

$100: Purchase new baskets for grouping paperwork, pens, and napkins, utensils for a coordinating look on counters, refrigerator and stove. Remove everything from magnetic refrigerator.

Beautify the Bath

$100: Replace towel rings and bars, toilet-paper holder, and toilet seat.

$100: Buy new towels, new shower curtain and rug.

$100: Replace faucet fixtures in sink and tub area.

$100: Recaulk all tiles; remove wallpaper and paint instead.

"Enlarge" a Bedroom

$100: Hang a mirror in a small bedroom to make it look larger. Paint 1 wall darker to add depth.

$100: Remove the headboard and footboard; purchase large pillows for against wall.

$100: Remove night stands; mount small shelves on either side for items.

$100: Remove all drapery and rods; install blinds or shades.

$100: Pain the walls, ceiling, any chair railing all the same light neutral color to make the boundaries of the room disappear.

Living Room Redo

$100: Put on a fresh coat of paint.

$100: Remove dated wall décor and install a few wood shelves.

$100: Buy new decorator pillows for couch and chairs.

Dining Room Update

$100: Buy a new light fixture; sell the more expensive but dated one on EBay.

$100: Buy new centerpiece and candles for table; Declutter china cabinet.

$100: Remove old drapery and sheers; donate. Hang new rod from ceiling; purchase lightweight drapes just for ends only.

Outside Curb Appeal

$100: Paint faded trim and shutters.

$100: New Mailbox and door mat

$100: New outside light fixture.

$100: Buy weed killer and new mulch.

$100: Rent a Power Washer and clean walkway/ stucco

$100: Buy 1 large pot; fill with fresh annuals by entryway.

Laundry Room Lift

$100: Freshly paint; add new wire shelving.

$100: Store everything either in coordinating baskets, bins or behind closed door cabinet.

Carrollwood Florida....Why I love Carrollwood Village

Lois Szydlowski (Future Home Realty) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:31:04 -0500

Carrollwood Florida area features some of the most beautiful traditional Floridian comfort and elegant homes in Tampa with the added bonus of being only 15 minutes northwest of downtown Tampa in the zip codes of 33618 and 33624. Since 1950, more than 90% of metropolitan population growth in America has taken place in the suburbs. Today, roughly 2 out of 3 people live in suburbs like Carrollwood. The Carrollwood Village suburban atmosphere offers winding roads, overhanging oak trees, abundant ponds with wildlife in and amongst the community subdivisions which are some of the features that appeal to Carrollwood Florida residents. In addition, the access to a wide array of convenience shopping, numerous restaurants, movie and comedy theatres, churches and schools ,all along the main corridor of North Dale Mabry, makes Carrollwood real estate a hot commodity in Tampa. While there are newer communities in and around Tampa, Carrollwood is chosen for steady property values, quality schools, central access to all of Tampa Bay, all age groups and lifestyles and just a great quality of living.

10 reasons I love Carrollwood Village Tampa

•1. Convenience of being centrally located to everything Tampa Bay

•2. Deed restricted but not fanatical

•3. no cookie cutter homes

•4. maintenance of surroundings

•5. living within a small 30 something neighborhood of homes, I know and love my neighbors

•6. close proximity to major highways: Veterans, I -275, I-75, N Dale Mabry

•7. Reputation of Carrollwood Village

•8. winding oak-lined streets that only the residents know their way around

•9. I can walk to all kinds of shopping and entertainment

•10. Property Resale Value

Carrollwood boundaries include Lake Magdalene to the north, Tampa to the east, Egypt Lake to the south, and Citrus Park to the west. Single-family detached homes generally start around $200,000 and sell to over $1,000,000. Many have lots over a 1/4 acre and lot of trees, conservation and ponds. There are also many condominiums and some townhome communities ranging from the $100,000's to over $800,000 on the Golf Course. Apartment living is also abundant.

Another Reason to Live Downtown Tampa

Lois Szydlowski (Future Home Realty) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:55:29 -0500

A Tampa personal chef and herbalist who runs a business called Eternal Balance in Tampa is working on having a very eclectic, open-air market starting this October on Fridays from 10 to 2:00pm and running through April. Tiffany Ferrecchia, an organic foods and veteran of the restaurant industry has worked with Chamberlin's Market & Cafe, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's and other health food stores. She was hired by the Tampa Downtown Partnership to manage the new Tampa Downtown Market.

If you live in downtown or just visiting, the market is planned to be between Franklin and Tampa Street on Madison Street. If you know where Lykes Gaslight Square is, you are there.

There will probably be 15-20 vendors(mostly local) where you can buy fresh and organic produce, ready-to-eat and take- home foods, plus other traditional farmer's market items - specialty and gourmet foods, coffees and teas, baked goods, plants and flowers, crafts, etc.

When you go, you will also experience live music, from radio station WMNF. Tampa Downtown is slowly growing to be a happening place....buy Real Estate there now before it is out of sight.

Abridged from: Tampa Downtown Market Planned By: Gary Shepherd

Websites for Home Searching

Lois Szydlowski (Future Home Realty) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:56:09 -0500

I try to keep up with the plethora of Real Estate websites that buyers can search for not only Tampa homes but all over the United States and beyond. Knowing what buyers like and how they search is the key to giving them what they want-homes to buy. I am amazed at the difficulty and tedium of many sites and wonder why they are even visited. It takes forever for many sites to bring up homes I am requesting; others like Yahoo Real Estate are incomplete and favor certain listings.

Why would anyone use a search engine to find homes unless it was 1) fast to download, 2) listed all the homes available, 3) allowed me to detail my specific search and 4) didn't make me sign up with any specific agent? If I, as a Realtor, get frustrated by testing the multitude of Real Estate sites out there, surely, novice searchers and first time home buyers have got to become frustrated. Personally, I find Realtor.com the easiest and most complete to navigate. Then Craig's list is one of the most popular sites to search and it like Backpage.com doesn't allow you to narrow your searches like Realtor.com and doesn't offer pictures on your front page searches. This doesn't make sense to me because all this extra searching takes more time, more clicking and I thought the internet was all about saving time? Some of my other pet peeves in trying to find a specific type of home are:

Sites that give you huge price spans; $50,000 to $250,000---this leaves way too many homes to view
Sites that require you to re-submit your home listings every 14 days
Sites that use Monopoly® pieces on their map that clutters and confuse.
Site that is tricky to find where to remove listings, edit or email etc.
Having to press Ctl; Alt; Delete because I am tired of watching the hour glass spin waiting for the page to load

Now that I am a Realtor, I understand why all of this could be eliminated if buyers would just register with a Realtor of their choosing and all the current homes would come to them---straight to their inbox everyday. Imagine that, not having to do your own searching? Understanding that is too much of a commitment at first for many people and not sure which Realtor to trust, along with a host of other reasons; having the internet to search homes has been a godsend for everyone. And then, buyers change their criteria many times without notifying their Realtor and want to look for homes outside of it. Listing Book® now allows buyers to change their search criteria at will. That's a good thing. Having IDX on my and other Realtor sites also avoids a lot of this unnecessary jumping from site to site to search for homes. I guess the options are out there for all types and stages of the process.

Curious about Downtown Tampa --the Who, What, Where

Lois Szydlowski (Future Home Realty) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:38:51 -0500

Beginning this year in September, there is a new episode series informing you about what is going on in downtown Tampa Florida. You will see who lives down there...incase you are considering if you would want to live there. You will also see where these residents hang out and those places are places you would like to be seen too. Maybe you are considering opening your own business or just want to see if the businesses that are going to be opening will be those that interest you. There is going to be a big Arts Scene in Tampa and you will want to find out where and who is doing that. So if you are at all considering either a move into the urban core of Tampa Bay or planning to visit to keep up with the latest and greatest, then you will want to subscribe to HiLife TV and find out more about how out who the people are that are making Tampa a 24 hour happening city neighborhood.

Become a subscriber of HiLife TV so you are instantly notified of new episodes. To subscribe to this service, click here.