A day of Remembrance, A day to be Thankful, A day to be Proud and A day to Honor. Almost anyone you ask either has a relative in the service, has had a relative in the service or knows of a family with someone in the service. Whether you personally agree with the ways of the military and the wars we have fought, there is one thing you have to give credit for. These men and women are putting aside the fear of dying so that we can sleep safe and sound in our comfy beds at night.
I just happened to be at an awesome "Motivational" Seminar yesterday and there were quite a few military guys and gals there. It was great listening to the guest speakers, such as Rudy Guliani, Sen. Colin Powel, Laura Bush, Zig Ziglar and many others talk. I would have to say the most inspiring of their talks happened to center around the mention of being proud to be in the United States of America, our Military Personnel and the heart of those who believe strongly "This is by far the greatest Country on the planet." I am not sure who made the statement and I know I won't get it word for word, but, "Those who complain and cut down our country should take a look at the lines of those waiting to get in....no where else has lines waiting to enter their country like The United States Of America.
It was an Honor to stand, clap and cheer our soldiers who were among us. It saddens me that we have one day to Honor these that sacrifice so much every day. My step-son, Terry, has just returned to the states from Iraq. In New York, now, he will be coming home at Christmas time and there isn't a day that goes by that I do not think of how he is doing and hope that he is safe. I am hopeful that his arrival back to the states was a welcoming one. I see the change since he deployed and we are all proud that he chose to protect and serve our Country.
Today is a great day to show love, compassion, honor and being proud. Shake the hand of the soldier you see at the airport or grocery store....better than that, give them a hug and graciously tell them how safe you feel because of them. Tell them they are your hero.
Like I said before, whether or not you agree with these wars, it is important that these soldiers know that they are dodging bullets, fearing missiles, missing their families and having sleepless nights for the greater purpose of keeping our Country safe and that WE ARE PROUD OF THEM.
Here is a short note we put in the local paper for Terry:
Dear Terry, The last two years we have watched you transform into an exceptional young man and father . You have made us all proud with your decision to serve our Country in the United States Army during this time of war. We are glad to have you back in the states, even though it may be for a short time, and cannot wait to see you and the new baby over the holidays. This journey you are on will be the solid building blocks of your future and Jaelah will one day know the sacrifices that you have made not only for her but so many others. Thank you for your bravery and faithful service. We all love love and miss you, Dad, Mom, Julian, Tina, Jeffrey and Tiffany.
Today is a day we decide to honor these men and women in many forms, parades, newspaper letters, t.v. clips and picnic get togethers.....but I believe we should choose to honor them EVERYDAY!
THANK YOU TO ALL THE SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN.....OF YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW!
EXIT Realty Tri-County is looking for great agents! EXIT is unlike any other Real Esate Firm....potential for more than 100% commissions!!! Contact Tina at tina@exitrealtytricounty.com or 352-455-1654 for details and a private interview.
Trying to stay on top of technology is a full time job in itself. With facebook, twitter and my blackberry, I already run out of daylight before I am finished updating and emailing. Sometimes I get that stare from my husband and I realize, okay, time to stop for the day. Plus, I feel kind of bad surfing the net while my husband is sweeping, mopping, vacuuming and dusting all around me.
So, I think I am pretty savvy most of the time. I knew it was bound to happen, but, I definately was not ready when it did. I have a 13 year old daughter and a 15 year old son, so as fast paced as they are learning I know the time will come when they surpass me with computer and technology knowledge. Well, I mean the time has come. Enter sad, defeated face here.
I had to buy a new blackberry when flushing my old one rendered it useless. This new one has a few more cool tools. After playing around for a few days...I had my facebook application set as well as a few others. One item that I have not started using is Bluetooth. I think it's a pretty cool tool especially for busy Realtors, but, I still find myself looking at people funny when I think they are talking to themselves before I see that bug like looking item sticking out of their ear. I just don't know if I am ready for it. So, I do not know a lot about Bluetooth......however, my 15 year old son does.
My cool new blackberry also has a music player and believe it or not my kids and I listen to the same type of music. I actually listen to many types, but, most music on my Ipod or computer is pop, hip hop/dance and R&B....I know, doesn't seem suitable but when I was young, I did a lot of dance (pop & hip/hop) and the roots are still there. My son who has a phone with music and Bluetooth capabilities decided he wanted me to send him some songs from my phone. Well, I couldn't figure out how to forward the music. He advised to do it with Bluetooth. I thought he was crazy...but, he walked me through the steps and waaalaaa....my songs went straight to his phone. I couldn't believe it.
So, the time has come....I am forced to never use the words "Because mommy's know everything" again.
I have been trying to get the word out there to consumers....don't wait. Now is the time to buy. Statistics are beginning to show a slight increase in sales already. If you were waiting for the bottom....I think you just missed it.
Here are two knowledgeable and experienced FHA lenders..... There's no other way to put it than, it's now or never....well, maybe not never, but, it's not guaranteed. Tina
A great friend and colleague in NJ wrote this, and it so needs to be shared. With so much talk about the First Time Buyer Tax Credit, and if it may be extended or not, it's good to know what's at stake if you decide to wait.
As for myself, I agree with Jeff Belonger below that waiting is foolish. Our local market here in Central Florida has seen severe price reductions and some very good deals are out there. Though multiple offers are being submitted on the better deals, the fact that sellers are taking offers for $0 down financing and paying all closing costs says volumes about the type of offers they are getting. Buyers certainly continue to have the upper hand, and buyers working with knowledgeable and experienced Realtors are really winning in this market.
Lastly with continued tightening of lending standards, and the spector of higher rates it's just not prudent to roll the dice on buying a home now. If you are interested in buying a home in Central Florida, and can qualify now, you are best served to try to close before November 30th and get your tax credit dollars.
Just another opinion from somebody with enough experience to take seriously...
How smart do you think you are? Do you think you can outsmart people, just because you read some good advice, yet it failed to share with you the opposite side of things. That has been one of my biggest fears and pet peeves when it comes to blogging. And another? That many blogs are opinions, not facts, yet they sound like facts.
Janet Guilbault wrote this interesting post that makes a good point : Outsmart the crowd : Skip the $8,000 tax credit & wait to buy - She talks about skipping the first time homebuyers tax credit in hopes that you could get the house of your choice for $20,000 less. She adds that winter is around the corner and the market should be slower, which could get you that price reduction. Again, some good food for thought, yet forgetting some very key points to her opinion. And just for the fact, in my opinion, this is a risk. Are you willing to chance your $8,000 tax credit? Let's look at this further....
RISK - CHANCE - HOPE - LUCK - FALSE HOPE
Again, Janet states that you should skip the $8,000 tax credit, because you could get a better deal on a house in the winter months. And because there wouldn't be as many buyers in the market, because of the first time homebuyers tax credit of $8,000 would not be available. Overall, I feel really strongly against this kind of advice.
Here are my thoughts on why you should be careful of such advice :
Reduced property values - You got the house for $20,000 cheaper, and based on a $250,000 mortgage, that would save you $120 a month. So you didn't get the $8,000 tax credit. It would take you 5.5 years to save that tax credit with your monthly savings.
Interest Rates - Do you have a crystal ball? Do you know where mortgage rates will be in December? You get that new house for $230,000, yet the rate increased .375 of a percent. Your new savings will now only be $64 a month. That means that it would take you 10.4 years to save that $8,000.
Real Estate Market - Do you know how appraisals truly work? Do you understand that an appraisal is an opinion from a certified appraiser? Not one house is the same and in many cases, not all appraisals of that same house are the same. I could give you many examples of specific homes in recent months, having a few different appraisals that could vary from $3,000 to $20,000 in value.
$8,000 tax credit in your pocket - You now have the $8,000 in your pocket 2 months after settlement. What could you do with that monies?
- Use the money to fix up the house.
- Use the money to pay off some credit cards, which could save you more money in the long run.
- Possibly pay back some debt to those that helped you get into your new home.
- Save for any housing emergencies that could happen at any moment.
- Ryan Shaughnessy, in comment # 11, states that you could use the tax credit to pay for 12 months of your mortgage payments. Imagine that, no mortgage payments for a year.
Waiting for a possible increase to the tax credit, possibly a $15,000 tax credit - So you take Janet's advice and say to yourself, maybe they will extend the tax credit or raise it to $15,000. Ouch, in my opinion, that is a huge risk. If you are actually in the market now, why play the market? If you come across your home now, but it now, don't roll the dice.
Real Estate Market - Each real estate market is different. In my opinion, even the experts can't truly predict what the housing market will do. Some have said that we have hit bottom. Some say it could be a year. But then again, in some markets, prices have increased already. In Janet's post and in a few of the comments, some people have stated that there will be a correction to this. Again, it's an opinion, not a fact.
$20,000 reduced value - You don't physically see this money. You don't get 20k in hand. And what happens if the house was over-priced to begin with? What happens if values don't increase in 5 years? The only equity is that equity that you build yourself. In 5 years, you knocked your principal balance down by $16,000.
Conclusion : Janet ended her post with this ... "If you save $20,000 on your house, do you care if you sacrifice an $8000 tax credit? Probably not. (But don't expect anyone in the real estate industry to talk about this until AFTER the rebate ends)."
Well, I will still be talking about it, no matter if the tax credit continues or ends. I am all about educating the consumer, sharing both perspectives on real estate and mortgage issues. And yes, I would care if I sacrificed the tax credit, especially based on what I stated above. Especially if interest rates went up a half of a percent by December. In my opinion, I can go to Vegas and or Atlantic City to gamble. But why gamble on free money, money that you don't have to pay back. We are in a very tight economy now. I don't think many of you have money to gamble with as you did several years ago. (I don't want to get into the statement of free money, because yes, as tax payers, we are paying for that)
Lastly, excellent time for first time homebuyers. Home values are lowest in the last 5 years, with interests being close to the lowest in several decades, and $8,000 given to you if you qualify.
IMPORTANT REMINDER - The $8,000 first time homebuyers tax credit ends on November 30th, 2009
It never ceases to amaze me....almost daily, you can find a magazine or news article, a post or a T.V. show which brings the newest tech savvy tool to the world. Most of the time I feel as though I am staying somewhat current with technology but all too often when I come across the "newest" gadget or tool, I feel like throwing in the towel and screaming from the top of my lungs "I just can't do anymore." All of these great new gadgets and tools are supposed to make our lives run smoother and allow us more time to spend with our families, etc., however, it seems all of these things are just sucking the life out of us. I know, that's quite a strong statement, and I don't really mean that, but, geesh.....it's neverending!
So, I was reading the new issue of the REALTOR magazine while waiting for my daughter, Tiffany, to be finished with Volleyball practice and I came across this article about Virtual Staging. Yes, Virtual Staging. We have virtual office assistants, virtual pets and virtual avatars that can be designed to look just like us, and now we have Virtual Staging.
Who thinks of this stuff? Actually, it's kind of funny...I think I was thinking about this just a few weeks ago, dang!, could have been the cool inventor of "Virtual Staging". Anyway, compared to the thousands of dollars it might cost to stage a vacant home with "real" furniture, this virtual staging can cost less than $225. In this day and time, we are all trying to save a dime or two, and now, instead of having movers and stagers packing and unpacking, when you sell the home, you can just hit a clear furniture button, lol. Maybe not, just leave it....it's not going to bother anyone.
I think I really like this idea. It seems as though a well staged home will get more showings than a home that is completely empty and nowadays, more and more buyers are searching online. So, it makes since, right?
Now, you'll have to go find your REALTOR Magazine....it's somewhere in that pile on your desk or in your car. Here is a link to virtualstagingsolutions.com to check out some pics of before and after....pretty amazing if you ask me.
What do you think about Virtual Staging and do you feel it could help you sell more vacant homes? I wonder if when we list a home and the seller has "not so nice furniture", can we use virtual staging to remove their old stuff and replace it with really cool stuff?
I can't hold it in any longer....I have bitten my tongue long enough. If I don't get this post out, it's just going to eat at me until it's all I am thinking about.
So, I am strolling through the Multiple Listing Service checking out the new active listings. I click to view the pictures because the front of the home is enough to spark my interests. And there it is....one of my pet peeves, staring at me again....ugh! The bed. Yes, the bed. I am not seeing the room as a whole, I am staring at a bed. It's a very nice bed with a beautiful bedspread and fluffy matching pillows. Does it come with the house? I mean, why else would you take the shot right smack in the middle of it?
Don't you think you're doing a disservice to your sellers? Shouldn't the picture be of the bedroom as a whole? So, I go to the next picture and the next. Same story....nice kitchen table and nice Dell Laptop on the mahogany desk. What is wrong with this picture? I can't see the room!!!! That's what is wrong. I want to see the floor and the size of the room...geesh! Am I asking too much?
If you're selling the furniture then go ahead.....shoot away, but, please, please don't give me a close up of the monogrammed pillow on the bed if you're trying to sell the HOUSE!!!
Okay, I feel better now. And I won't be looking at anymore new listings tonight...I promise.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
ask either has a relative in the service, has had a relative in the service or knows of a family with someone in the service. Whether you personally agree with the ways of the military and the wars we have fought, there is one thing you have to give credit for. These men and women are putting aside the fear of dying so that we can sleep safe and sound in our comfy beds at night. 
Posted by 
your home.
already run out of daylight before I am finished updating and emailing. Sometimes I get that stare from my husband and I realize, okay, time to stop for the day. Plus, I feel kind of bad surfing the net while my husband is sweeping, mopping, vacuuming and dusting all around me.
show which brings the newest tech savvy tool to the world. Most of the time I feel as though I am staying somewhat current with technology but all too often when I come across the "newest" gadget or tool, I feel like throwing in the towel and screaming from the top of my lungs "I just can't do anymore." All of these great new gadgets and tools are supposed to make our lives run smoother and allow us more time to spend with our families, etc., however, it seems all of these things are just sucking the life out of us. I know, that's quite a strong statement, and I don't really mean that, but, geesh.....it's neverending!
Maybe not, just leave it....it's not going to bother anyone.
post out, it's just going to eat at me until it's all I am thinking about. 
of the monogrammed pillow on the bed if you're trying to sell the HOUSE!!!
;)
;)
