This is a recent article in USA Today.  It makes you realize the world is not over.  If you listen to the national media you would think we were all in financial ruin.  That simply is not true.  Lets get the word out.  Arkansas is actually a bright spot in the national picture.

In Arkansas and elsewhere, economy stable

LITTLE ROCK - When a senior editor at New York-based SmartMoney magazine addressed an economic forecast conference here in November, he opened by joking about how nice it was to come to a place where people weren't jumping off buildings because of financial distress.

It was a perfect icebreaker, largely because it rang true. In Little Rock and in several other corners of the country, the financial crash has been more of a fender-bender - at least so far.

Layoffs and foreclosures are on the rise and some business investments are on hold, but unemployment rates remain well below the national level in Arkansas and several other states, including Wyoming, North Dakota, Wisconsin and West Virginia. New companies are moving in and some are expanding, adding a few hundred jobs here and a few hundred there.

In December, Forbes named Little Rock one of the best middle-class housing markets because median home prices were rising while the national market was plummeting.

Those small successes are magnified in a dismal economic climate, especially when they play out in states that have never been economic high-flyers or big population gainers. "Arkansas never really experienced extreme highs or extreme lows," says Jim Youngquist, director of The Institute for Economic Advancement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

This unassuming, steady-as-it-goes growth pattern is why places that did not enjoy dizzying highs before the recession are experiencing a gentler fall now.

"We're gratified that ... we've kind of withstood it," Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe says. "But we're not immune from it."

"Heading into this recession, from Texas up to Montana, the upper Great Plains and mountain states have been doing much better in 2007 and into 2008 and starting out 2009," says Jim Diffley, managing director of regional services for IHS Global Insight, an economic analysis firm.

Many states "did not participate in the housing boom and bust, and households have not seen their wealth evaporate," Diffley says. At the same time, some regions benefited from a boom in commodities prices such as oil, minerals and agriculture. That edge is slipping as prices drop, and states that have been spared so far will feel the pain, he says. They could recover faster, however, because they're diversified and not overwhelmed by the mortgage meltdown.

The feverish housing boom that sent prices soaring in states such as Arizona, Nevada and Florida never landed in places such as Little Rock. Nor did the subsequent meltdown that collapsed prices and triggered a wave of foreclosures.

Unemployment rates in several metropolitan areas in Arkansas are well below the national average. The number for the Little Rock area is 4.9%.

Wisconsin, which is faring better than other Midwestern states decimated by hemorrhaging in the auto industry (6.2% compared with 10.6% in Michigan, 8.2% in Indiana and 7.8% in Ohio), never enjoyed big jumps in wages, says Joel Rogers of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy.

"Wisconsin was not booming and had not been booming for some time," he says.

Diversifying a key strategy

Whether it's in the South or Midwest, diversification is vital to an area's ability to weather the financial crisis:

•In central Arkansas' 11-county region that includes the capital city of Little Rock, jobs come from state government, higher education and medical centers. Now, the area is capturing a slice of the soaring wind energy industry by luring windmill blade manufacturers such as LM Glasfiber and Polymarin Composites, which together hope to hire more than 1,500 people in the Little Rock metropolitan area (population 665,000).

HP, one of the world's largest technology companies, is building a customer service and technical support center that will employ 1,200 in Conway, north of Little Rock. Caterpillar just announced that it will locate its new North American production facility in North Little Rock, creating 600 jobs. The Fayetteville Shale formation in central Arkansas holds the promise of bountiful natural gas production and more jobs. Indian company Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren Ltd., maker of steel pipes for the oil and gas industry, is building a facility in Little Rock.

The Clinton Presidential Center here has helped the River Market District along the Arkansas River expand from a single building to several blocks of shops, museums, bars and restaurants.

Without fast growth, home construction is slower - lessening the risk of new mortgages going bad, prices plunging and foreclosures spreading when the economy turns bad.

The number of homes sold here in Pulaski County dipped in 2008, but the median sales prices rose 1% to $142,500 and the average number of days on the market grew by only three. Foreclosure rates are up but remain very low compared with other parts of the country.

In northwestern Arkansas, where growth exploded in recent years from Bentonville to Fayetteville because of big employers such as Wal-Mart, Tyson Food and J.B. Hunt, the foreclosure rate is much higher than around Little Rock. Wal-Mart said this month it will cut 700 to 800 jobs at headquarters in the area.

• Wisconsin's economy is spread over 11 metropolitan areas - none as dominant as Detroit in Michigan or Chicago in Illinois - so trouble in one doesn't necessarily drag down the whole state. The state has many suppliers to the auto industry but not as many as Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. General Motors announced last year that it would close its plant in Janesville, Wis., by 2010, a loss of 2,400 jobs.

"It affects Janesville and the surrounding area greatly, but not so much the rest of the state," says Dennis Winters, chief of the Office of Economic Advisors in the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. "A lot of industries are doing really well - electric machinery, manufacturing equipment, export market." The state is home to companies that make motorcycles (Harley-Davidson), boats, giant cranes and medical devices.

• In Roanoke, Va., a city of 93,000, the largest employer is Carilion Clinic, a health care company of more than 10,000 workers. Mortgage delinquencies are below the national average.

"We're kind of a steady player," says Beth Doughty, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. "We don't have dramatic ups and, consequently, don't have any dramatic lows."

A $60 million art museum just opened, and Carilion is building a medical school with Virginia Tech, whose main campus is in nearby Blacksburg. "The only sectors adding jobs are health care and education," Doughty says, "and we're strong in both."

Cutbacks still occurring

Things may be going better in central Arkansas than in other parts of the country, but that doesn't mean all is rosy.

There are cutbacks. LM Glasfiber, the Danish windmill blade manufacturer, announced last month it would lay off 150 at its plant here. Arkansas' general revenue declined in December by $20.2 million compared with the same month the previous year because of a drop in income and sales tax collections.

"There's a large emphasis on tying education, workforce education, to the needs of businesses coming to an area," Gov. Beebe says. "I don't think anything is as important as the quality of the workforce."

That's why Pulaski Technical College is conducting classes to train people to work in wind energy industries. Donny Pointer has been an account development manager at Coca-Cola for 15 years, but he's always had a second job - until now. That's why he's taking a 20-hour training course to prepare for jobs at the new Polymarin plant.

"I need some supplemental income," Pointer says.

You may have noticed an incentive package being passed. What does it mean for me, is what I always ask. Well if you are a first time home buyer it means a lot.

Congress Enacts Bigger and Better
Home Buyer Tax Credit

A tax credit of up to $8,000 is now available for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. Unlike the tax credit enacted in 2008, the new credit does not have to be repaid.

$8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

• The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only.
• The tax credit does not have to be repaid.
• The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

If you have questions feel free to contact The Sumbles Team for complet information.  We can help you find your new home and the great thing is you don't pay us a fee.  The sellers pay for all fees.  We are one of the top teams in this area and are experienced in all phases of Real Estate.  Call us today at 501-960-4111.

Randy Sumbles

Keller Williams Realty

www.TheSumblesTeam.com

501-960-4111

rsumbles@kw.com

July Fourth Recipe

Grilled Chicken With Green Chile Sauce

Marinate meats to make them tender without adding a lot of fat.

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 cup water

10 to 12 tomatillos, husks removed and cut in half

1/2 medium onion, quartered

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 serrano or jalapeno peppers

2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup low fat sour cream (or Homemade Sour Cream)

juice of 2 limes

Combine the oil, juice from one lime, oregano, and black pepper

in a shallow glass baking dish. Stir. Place the chicken breasts in

the baking dish and turn to coat each side. Cover the dish and

refrigerate overnight. Turn the chicken periodically to marinate

chicken on both sides.

Put water, tomatillos, and onion into a saucepan. Bring to a

gentle boil and cook uncovered for 10 minutes or until the

tomatillos are tender. In a blender, place the cooked onion,

tomatillos, and any remaining water. Add the garlic, peppers,

cilantro, salt, and the remaining lime juice. Blend until all the

ingredients are smooth. Place the sauce in a bowl and refrigerate.

Place the chicken breasts on a hot grill and cook until done.

Place the chicken on a serving platter.

Spoon a tablespoon of low fat sour cream over each chicken

breast. Pour the sauce over the sour cream.

Yield: 4 servings--Serving size: 1 breast

Each serving provides:

Calories: 192

Total fat: 5 g

Saturated fat: 2 g

Cholesterol: 71 mg

Sodium: 220 mg

Calcium: 53 mg

Iron: 2 mg

 

4th of July

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was

approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies

on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this

most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks

and backyard barbecues across the country.

Fourth of July Cookouts

More than 1 in 4

The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the

Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home

to 17.6 million market hogs and pigs on March 1, 2008. This

represents more than one-fourth of the nation's total. North

Carolina (9 million) and Minnesota (6.7 million) were the

runners-up. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

<http://www.nass.usda.gov>

6.8 billion pounds

Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2007. Chances

are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your

backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted

for about one-sixth of the nation's total production. And if the

beef did not come from Texas, it very well may have come from

Nebraska (4.7 billion pounds) or Kansas (4.1 billion pounds).

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov>

Georgia

The state that led the nation in watermelon production last year

(1 billion pounds). Other leading producers of this popular

Fourth of July dessert included California, Florida and Texas,

each with more than 400 million pounds.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov>

More than 74 million

Number of Americans who said they have taken part in a

barbecue during the previous year. It's probably safe to assume a

lot of these events took place on Independence Day.

Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008, Table 1213

<http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html>

Tips to Improve Your Gas Mileage

Keep Your Car In Shape

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent,

though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty

oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 4% Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.15/gallon

Check & Replace Air Filters Regularly

Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car's air filter keeps impurities

from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.

Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 10% Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.37/gallon

Keep Tires Properly Inflated

You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires

can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last

longer.

Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 3% Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.11/gallon

Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil

You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example,

using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1-2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an

engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1-1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving"

on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2% Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.04-$0.07/gallon

Driving More Effeciently

Drive Sensibly

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway

speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 5-33% Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.19-$1.23/gallon

Observe the Speed Limit

While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases

rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an

additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 7-23% Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.26-$0.86/gallon

Remove Excess Weight

Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your

MPG by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller

vehicles more than larger ones.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2%/100 lbs Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.04-$0.07/gallon

My wife and I have lived in the Little Rock area for 40 years and we dine out frequently. I am going to start blogging about our dining experiences. Little Rock is a great town for eating out. Lots of great restaurants. We are very fortunate to have great places to eat especially for a smaller city. Today I want to talk about a great place called Copper Grill. It is located at 300 West Third in downtown Little Rock. It is on the first floor of a newly built condo high rise. Mary Beth Ringgold is the owner. She owns two other well established restaurants in town, Cajuns and Capers. She has vast knowledge and experience in the restaurant business and it shows at Coppers. The atmosphere is clean and very comfortable. It has high ceilings and stained concrete floors. It has a big city feel. There is a court yard for dining outside. Inside there is a long bar with 2 plasma T.V.'s for sports fans. The food ranges from sandwiches to steaks. I have tried most everything and it is all very good. The cheese plate is our favorite appetizer. Great selection of unique cheeses, nuts and crusty bread. They simply have the best burger in town. its not a burger joint but the burger is to die for. Have a mix of french fries and onion rings to go with it. Their sea food specials are always great and they have an angus rib eye that is very good. Mid priced but worth it. The wait staff is well trained and very attentive. Good selection of fine wine to choose from. If they don't have it just ask. It will be there the next time you come in. Very accommodating. There is a small grocery next door that has home cooked meals to take with you. Wonderful selection of soups. Try the cheese dip. Its made with poblano peppers. Park in the parking deck on 3rd. just past the restaurant. Try Copper Grill I guarantee you will return. Randy and Kathe

The Nick Sumbles Blog Hi. My name is Nick Sumbles. I am 16 years old and attend Episcopal Collegiate. I may not be a Realtor but I am certainly a member of The Sumbles Team. If you are interested in putting your child in a private school, then I recommend the Little Rock Episcopal Collegiate School. I began to attend the school this year and have enjoyed every minute of it. The school has a special community in which being made fun of simply does not exist. The staff treats the students equally and tries their best to help each student achieve their goal to success. The most enjoyable aspect that the school has to offer, is the amazing academic programs. They have over 30 AP classes and over 50 extra Curiccular activities. Each student even has the right to create their own club, held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I am creating a programming club for the technology group in the school next year. I also enjoy the brilliant way they remind the student of homework and notifies the student about his/her grade fast and efficiently. When you join the school, they give you username and a password to a website called powerschool.com. There, you can see every single grade, tardy, and special events in one private student folder. It is easy to acess and guide around. Instead of having to wait impatiently for a test grade, you can simply check powerschool. It is updated at least 2 times a week. The school is an Episcopal college preparatory school for boys and girls in grades 6 through 12. Their strong college prep courses, nationally recognized teachers, community service, extracurricular activities, honor system, plus parent support and involvement are key elements of the Episcopal academic experience, which aims to educate the whole student "mind, body and spirit," a hallmark of an Episcopal education. To their prospective families, their academic excellence is emphasized primarily through core courses of science, mathematics, social studies, and English. In addition to that core program, Episcopal offers studies in foreign languages, health and physical education, religion, technology, and visual and performing arts. Electives, honors, and Advanced Placement classes (AP) are available in many subject areas. Extracurricular activities such as student organizations and special events, as well as a multidimensional athletic program and chapel contribute to the social and spiritual development of the Episcopal student. The Admission section provides a wealth of information for your review and consideration. However, nothing can replace an actual visit to the beautiful 31-acre Jackson T. Stephens Campus, which houses the Middle and Upper schools, a multi-use student complex, and athletic fields. Their facilities, located just two miles west from the heart of thriving downtown Little Rock, provide students with a state-of-the-art learning environment complete with technology, amenities, and equipment. To parents of current students, Their website keeps you aware of the recent school news and activities so you may stay informed. I encourage you to visit often to stay abreast of the latest information about the school. The Parent section not only offers a variety of means to show your support of the School, but provides an opportunity to communicate and build rapport with other Episcopal families in a password protected manner. Should you have questions, or desire information about admission, please call 501-372-1194 or email ahoneywell@episcopalcollegiate.org.

Its that time of year again. The weather is warming and we are gearing up for the lake season in Hot Springs Arkansas. Enjoy The Full Lake Experience Phase Two Is Now Complete. Pre-Season Specials $5,000 Closing Costs Paid By Seller On C & D Buildings $20,000 Discount On Our Last 3 BR Now Only $249,900 2 BR Units Starting At $229,900 1 BR Units Starting At $136,000 Offer Ends March 31, 2008 Woodland Condos are located across from Garvan Woodland Gardens. Views are of the grounds of the Gardens instead of other condo complexes. Very private setting in a quiet cove. These units are at the end of a long cove so the water is always smooth. Not a lot of boat traffic so it is very quiet. Perfect for swimming or rafting. One of the closest projects to Little Rock and very conveniant to downtown Hot Springs, Hwy. 7 and Oaklawn Park. Nice pool with beautiful views of the lake. Grounds are professionally landscaped with sidewalks and in ground sprinkler system. 400' boardwalk with numerous boat tieups. These tieups can be used by owners for weekends or short periods. Boat launching is 2 minutes away for Lake Hamilton or Lake Catherine. Great area for fishing, boating, visiting the Gardens, back packing, etc. Units have luxury features throughout including: granite counter tops, fireplaces, walk in closets, 9' ceilings, lots of crown molding, upgrade appliances, Kraft Maid custom cabinets, covered patios, outside storage and nice views

Hi. My name is Randy Sumbles with The Sumbles Team. My wife Kathe and I made the decision to join Keller Williams in September of 2005. You can access Keller Williams information at http://www.kw.com/ but I wanted to personally give you the reasons we teamed up with Keller Williams.

We were with RE/MAX for 11 years and built a successful business with little or no support from RE/MAX. It was a franchise and they showed up once a year to hand out awards and that was about it. We knew there had to be a better company, but could not find it. We wanted the presence of a national company so we did not pursue the local boutique shops like Adkins or Janet Jones. Great companies but they could not give us the benefits of a national company.

The Best of Both Worlds 

Keller Williams is a national franchise and each office is independently owned and operated. Each agent is an independent contractor. You have your freedom and get the many benefits of a national company. Be your own boss and have the tools to make you a success.

Keller Williams is the fastest growing real estate company in America. There's a reason, actually numerous reasons.

Education

The education resources are unbelievable. Many courses are on-line and seminars are available year round at the home offices in Austin, Texas. Lead generation, listing resources, how to get buyers, how to compete in a down market, how to grow a team and how to handle discounters, are just a few examples of courses at your disposal.

Before we joined Keller Williams, we went to a week long event in Austin called Mega Agent Camp. This is an event for all agents, not just KW, that do $6 million a year plus. We figured we could learn a lot about Keller Williams and could make a better decision about joining. By noon the first day, we knew we were joining Keller Williams. I can't fully describe the atmosphere, but it was unlike anything we had ever witnessed before.

We continued the classes and the information was overwhelming. We learned more in one week that we had previously learned in 11 years with RE/MAX. The Keller Williams model is a proven system that helps you to grow your business at your own pace. We immediately joined Keller Williams and started implementing what we learned. The results have been dramatic.

On a local level, our Little Rock office has training classes numerous times each week. Many of our top agents help to teach and it creates a very supportive atmosphere. This emphasis on training is a valuable tool and it keeps us a step ahead of the competition. I have never heard of a company that put education first and foremost. It has been a tremendous help for our team. We welcome agents from other brokers to come experience this training first hand.

Name Branding

We are The Sumbles Team first, with Keller Williams Realty second. Look at our signs and our ads. Our emphasis is on our business, The Sumbles Team, Inc. Look at all other real estate signs, what logo do you see? You see the company, then if you slow way down, you see the agent's name. Who are you doing business for, yourself or your company? Keller Williams philosophy is for you to "Name Brand" yourself. This will make you more successful and therefore Keller Williams is more successful. It just makes sense.

Broker Support-- Broker Does Not Compete

Our broker is Dana Powell. Her knowledge of this industry is unsurpassed. She gives all Keller Williams agents in this market center the advantages of support and knowledge. She is literally here for the agents. She has her license but she does not sell or list and therefore is not competing with the agents. Most companies are broker oriented. It's all about the broker making more money. Keller Williams is agent oriented.

If your broker is listing and selling, do you really think they are sharing the tools and information that are necessary to grow your business? Or do you think they are more interested in their bottom line? Our market center is owned by a team of investors as well as agents within our market center. We all want every agent to maximize their potential and keep as much of their commission as possible.

100% Company with An Absolute Cap

Every Keller Williams agent pays the same amount to the company. There are no special deals and therefore it is a fair and equitable system. The company dollar for this market center is $22,000 per year and the franchise fee is $3,000 per year. Once this $25,000 is paid, you earn 100%, minus a $50 transaction fee, of your commission for the rest of the year. That's it! No confusing sliding scale. It is the only true 100% company in this industry. The only monthly fees you have are less than $100 per month and they are paid by every agent in this business.

When you grow your business, you keep your profit. It is a great deal.

Profit Sharing

Once a market center pays off its startup costs and becomes profitable, appoximately 45% of all market center profit goes back to the agents twho have helped us grow the market center. It is a way to earn residual income in an industry that is typically commission only. You help our market center grow and you reap in the benefits. You can listen to the rumors or come profit from the truth with our model.

ALC

This is the Associate Leadership Council. This group is made up of agents in our market center and they make all the decisions regarding the market center. The agents set the policies of the market center, not the broker. This is very unique and is more like an agent democracy rather than a broker dictatorship. If you are unhappy with a rule or regulation, all you have to do is bring it up for the ALC to debate and make a decision on. It is a Win-Win for everyone.

Supportive Atmosphere

All of this leads to a very supportive, sharing and friendly atmosphere in our market center. We are all in the same business and we will compete with each other from time to time. The difference is, we help each other, do the right thing and work together to grow not only our business but that of the market center as well. We are all a part of the whole. We love sharing our story because it is real, exciting and gives us the tools to be better people and succeed.

Call me on my direct line at (501) 666-4111 if you want to further discuss the Keller Williams difference.

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