lakeland village: Mortgage rate droping ! - 03/12/10 11:09 AM
Mortgage RatesMortgage Rates Drop Slightly in Freddie Mac Weekly SurveyMcLean, VA Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its PrimaryMortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM)averaged 4.95 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 11, 2010,down from last week when it averaged 4.97 percent.  Last year at this time, the30-year FRM averaged 5.03 percent.The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.32 percent with an average 0.7 point, down fromlast week when it averaged 4.33 percent.  A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRMaveraged 4.64 percent. The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) … (0 comments)

lakeland village: smell the roses - 02/23/10 01:42 PM

The northwest is one of the best places to be, these never ending views of creation help me see beyond the here and now.
 
For those of you working and not taking time to smell the roses, look around you and tell me some of the things in creation that you like!
It helps to see there is more to life than a closing or a listing!
… (0 comments)

lakeland village: Flipper law information - 02/22/10 10:55 AM

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lakeland village: stock pricing up due to sales on homes! - 02/02/10 12:37 AM
 Many stock futures rose modestly Tuesday as investors are betting that upcoming economic reports will show more signs of growth.
A report on the housing market in December is expected to show continued improvement in the battered sector. Major indexes rallied Monday following encouraging signs about growth in the manufacturing sector.
Overseas markets mostly rose following gains in the U.S. on Monday. Some Asian markets gave up gains as speculation remains that China's government will continue to try and curb runaway lending in an effort to avoid speculative bubbles.
Australia's central bank unexpectedly left a key interest rate unchanged. Australia, which … (1 comments)

lakeland village: Home sales down in December! - 01/25/10 02:10 AM
Sales of previously occupied homes took the largest monthly drop in more than 40 years last month, plunging far deeper than expected after lawmakers gave buyers extended time to use a tax credit.
The National Association of Realtors says sales fell 16.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.45 million in December, from an unchanged pace of 6.54 million in November. Sales had been expected to fall by about 10 percent, according to economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters.
Buyers were no longer scrambling to qualify for a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time homeowners. It had been … (1 comments)

lakeland village: Sitting by the dock at the bay! - 01/24/10 03:28 PM
Yes watching time go away!
The longer I am selling Realestate, the more my time seems so important with regards to family and friends!
The picture below is of a dock in Fair Hope Ala. Its been many years since I last fished off the dock , but I have so many good memorys with friends and family, that I just wanted to let others know,
 
spend time refelecting , and charish the time you do get to be with your family and friends.
 Thats worth more than any sale could ever bring!

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lakeland village: common questions that buyers have on tax credit - 12/19/09 02:22 AM
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on the changes to the Homebuyer Tax Credit
Question: Existing homeowner credit: Must the new house cost more than the old house?
Answer: No. Thus, for example, individuals who move from a high cost area to a lower cost area who
meet all eligibility requirements will qualify for the $6500 credit.
Question: I am an existing homeowner. On October 25, 2009, I signed a contract to purchase a
new home. I have lived in my current home for more than 5 consecutive years and
am within the new income limits. I will … (0 comments)

lakeland village: Thawing frozen pipes - 12/08/09 10:29 AM
Unless your water pipes freeze at night while your family is asleep (and this is often the case), you may recognize that your pipes are beginning to freeze by a reduction in water pressure. At this point, action should be taken immediately. If the pipes are allowed to freeze completely, blocking the flow of water, the pipes are likely to burst. Water expands as it turns into ice, and there is only so much room in the pipe. When the water expands beyond what the pipe can handle, the pipe may burst.
If you can catch the situation before the pipes … (4 comments)

lakeland village: Recovery of housing is in the air! - 11/16/09 12:26 AM
The number of first-time home buyers rose to 47 percent of all home sales from 41 percent of transactions in last year's study, and was the highest on record dating back to 1981. The previous high was 44 percent in 1991. It's interesting to note the last cyclical peak of first-time home buyers was during the last noteworthy economic downturn, with first-time buyers starting the chain reaction that led the nation out of recession.
The profile shows the median age of first-time buyers was 30 and the median income was $61,600. The typical first-time buyer purchased a home costing $156,000, down … (3 comments)

lakeland village: Making a name for ourselves - 11/14/09 02:13 PM
Many have said a Realtor with a good name thats what I want!
Do we think of that as we deal with the public, as well as others we deal with ,agents, brokers,appraisers,etc..?
I have noticed it takes a lot of work to build on a name for the good!And yet it takes 1 act of indiscreation to ruin it!
As we go thru in our minds of this last years transactions think of what we have done to the good and well pat yourself on the back for the good, also think of the not so good things and reach down inside … (0 comments)

lakeland village: a stable market is coming! - 11/13/09 07:44 AM
The national median existing single-family price was $177,900, which is 11.2 percent below the third quarter of 2008; the median is where half sold for more and half sold for less. Distressed sales - foreclosures and short sales - accounted for 30 percent of transactions in the third quarter, which continued to weigh down median home prices because they sell at a discount relative to traditional homes. The decline in the national median price has moderated recently, and a shrinking supply of unsold inventory suggests we are getting closer to price stabilization in many areas, but we need a steady stream … (0 comments)

lakeland village: Feelings of positive thinking - 11/10/09 01:03 AM
As we in the northwest go into winter it rains a lot, but have you ever thought that the sun is just above the clouds?
When things slow down we can be glad for the slow pace due to all the things we would like to do but couldn't because we had been to busy! I like to think the winter is a way to reflect on the past year and what I would like to do in the coming year,
Its been often said
Have you ever seen a skinny bird?
Of course not and yet they don't stress out … (2 comments)

lakeland village: crab reciepe - 11/08/09 02:17 AM
I wanted to share a reciepe that does well with crab or shrimp.

Ingredients
Old Bay Seasoning TM to taste 5 pounds new potatoes 3 (16 ounce) packages cooked kielbasa sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces 8 ears fresh corn, husks and silks removed 5 pounds whole crab, broken into pieces 4 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined newspapers beer Directions
Heat a large pot of water over an outdoor cooker, or medium-high heat indoors. Add Old Bay Seasoning to taste, and bring to a boil. Add potatoes, and sausage, and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the corn and … (1 comments)

lakeland village: Snow day - 11/06/09 02:53 PM
As winter is upon us, it seems we are waiting for the appraisar,or Obama to sign something,or the check in the mail, or fill out our taxes, or vacation,
I guess what I am saying is lets not forget to take care of ourselves, whether its a snow day, down time or just not answering our email and phones for a while,
We need our breaks more than ever!
… (1 comments)

lakeland village: Data for buyers and sellers tax credit info - 11/06/09 05:47 AM
Congress has extended and expanded the homebuyer tax credit. The modifications in the column labeled"December 1 - April 30, 2010" become effective when President Obama signs the bill. All changes madeto the current credit become effective on that date, as well.FEATURE Jan 1 - November 30, 2009Rules as enactedFebruary 2009December 1 - April 30,2010 Rules as enactedNovember 2009FirsttimeBuyer -Amount of Credit$8000($4000 marriedfiling separate)$8000($4000 marriedfiling separate)FirsttimeBuyer -Definition for EligibilityMay not have had an interestin a principal residence for 3years prior to purchaseSameCurrent Homeowner -Amount of CreditNo Provision $6500($3250 marriedfiling separate)Effective Date -Current OwnerNo ProvisionDate of EnactmentCurrent Homeowner -Definition for EligibilityNo Provision Must … (0 comments)

lakeland village: A well to dip into! - 11/06/09 05:11 AM
People with significant assets in their individual retirement accounts can tap that cash to invest in a retirement home, but there are many complexities involved. They have to establish a self-directed IRA with an independent trust company . They have to treat the home as an investment, so they can't use it as a vacation home or rent it out at below-market rates to friends and relatives. When it is time to retire and they want to start using the home, they have to pull it out of the IRA, and if it's been held in a tax-deductible IRA, that would force … (1 comments)

lakeland village: tax credit extension Allyn,Belfair and mason county - 10/29/09 04:28 AM
 The housing industry insiders fear the tax credit's expiration will hurt the residential market's recovery. Analysts attribute close to 20 percent of home sales nationally this year to buyers eligible for the tax credit, and the National Association of Realtors claims first-time buyers account for 50 percent of all sales.
Congress is moving toward extending, expanding or replacing the tax credit. The Senate is expected to vote soon on a bill co-sponsored by Georgia Republican Johnny Isakson that would extend the deadline five months to April 30, 2010, and make the credit available to all new home buyers, not just to … (0 comments)