https://activerain.com/blogs/jdicks en-us https://activerain.com/blogsview/1182924/real-estate-showing-signs-of-life Pretty much whenever I go for a coffee, I have a conversation with folks and inevitably we talk about Real Estate.  "How's the market?" to which I always reply "It depends" Fortunately Raleigh, Cary and the Triangle area have not sufffered as dearly as other parts of the country. With a large number of properties on the market it will feel like a lifetime before things improve. As the old saying goes "One man poison is another one's punch" To that end short sales, foreclosures have helped some get into the market where at another time they have not had the luxury. The good news is we are seeing a positive change in the Raleigh, Wake Forest and Rolesville market. One could opine that it is the historically low interest rates, the first time home-buyer credit for $8000 or perhaps sellers are finally lowering prices. Buyers are coming into the market we are moving inventory. In the end the meeting of the minds, or a reasonable Buyer and Seller negotiation with a great agent will get the job done. Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:23:11 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/1182924/real-estate-showing-signs-of-life https://activerain.com/blogsview/1155834/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? Dumb question!   At this rate I don't think I'll ever get there. So I guess I'll have to do it the old fashion way... save...save...save... (Not quite as exciting as answering a few questions for a million bucks). We were thinking of several ways to save a few more bucks and we came across a tip that may help you save thousands of dollars.  We thought we would pass it along to you just in case you don't actually win the lottery or qualify for a TV game show. Here's The Deal! 1.         For instance, if you are paid bi-weekly, you can voluntarily make a bi-weekly mortgage out of your existing mortgage and save, save, save!   The idea is to pay half of your monthly mortgage every two weeks.  At the end of the year, you would have made 13 payments instead of 12.   Viola... one extra payment per year... and that adds up! •2.                  If you are paid twice a month or monthly, simply divide the monthly payment (principal and interest) by 12 and add that number to each mortgage payment. This will make the terms of the loan reduce from 30 years to 18-22 years.  The savings will be phenomenal. Simply by making a 15-year loan out of a 30-year loan will save you thousands over the life of the loan.   And, if you ever decide to sell before the loan is over, imagine how much equity you would have accumulated when you sell your home. Well, you'll probably never see me on one of those crazy, "Win A Zillion Dollar" game shows, but I'm on my way to pay off my 30-year loan on the 15 year plan.   That will save me a bunch in the long run. If you are still a little confused about the 15/30 mortgage plan, please give us a call and we can refer you to one of our preferred mortgage counselors who can look at your payments and help you make a good business decision about your loan. Happy savings! Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:55:22 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/1155834/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire https://activerain.com/blogsview/863633/hockey-night-in-canada Happy New Year one and all! I have to admit I've been hibernating for the past month and a half. Once winter settles in I'm one for locking the doors, lighting the fireplace, enjoying a fine red and watching absolutely nothing on television> Since I migrated South of the 49th Parallel I have watched very little hockey as I live in the basketball mecca of the Triangle in North Carolina. With football, baseball and basketball its tough to compete for the headlines. Admittedly, the Carolina Hurricanes are the one and only professional sports team here and the organization has done a tremendous job promoting and growing the game. The crowning achievement came two years ago with a Stanley Cup. My experience with the Canadian pastime is deep rooted having grown up and lived in Northern Alberta. My father in the early 1980's started a Junior Hockey franchise with the support of a couple of NHLers, one guy named Mark Messier (yep that fella). The franchise bloomed and won the National Championship. My father had long given the hockey club to the community after a couple of seasons of ownership. The Fort McMurray Oil Barons recognised my fathers contribution and gave him a Championship ring. Not like a Stanley Cup ring but bares the prestige of Hockey accomplishment in the Junior ranks. I guess where I'm going with all this is I was at a New Years party and I met a couple from Michigan, Adam a devout hockey fan and I had a great conversation about the game. I have to say I missed not watching the games and seeing the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames in the "Battle of Alberta " So, here I am two days later and I'm signed up for the Nhl Center Ice and the NHL Network. Thanks Adam !! What was I thinking ?? Cheers Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Sat, 03 Jan 2009 07:45:20 -0800 https://activerain.com/blogsview/863633/hockey-night-in-canada https://activerain.com/blogsview/781700/the-fat-lady-sings------ Forgive father it has been several days since my last RANT !! Well folks the end is near for, well not human kind but certainly for our dear friends the Automakers. I have tried but I just cannot contain myself. This weekend the "Big Three" or the artists formerly known as employers, have asked for a bailout. They have asked for 25 billion for Health care costs, and another 25 Billion for liquidity. OK I'm STEAMING>>> They want public funds to make their Healthcare expense costs for their employees. I'm absolutely positive I receive no government assitance for my family's Health Care Expenses ! What a perfect storm I'm almost certain the current administration will attempt to defer these decisions to the next in late January. Now hows that for a parting gift?? This proposed bailout is utterly and completely asinine. John Q public just waits for another hammer to fall on his life savings and anticipates a tax hike of some proportion.Where does all the madness end? I'll reiterate I have the utmost respect for those who have spent their lives working for companies expecting to have a well deserved pension. The new reality is our economy is in shambles the automakers have had a broken business model for many years and their palms are waving to the Fed to help..........again. Forgive me but it's broke, literally and these giants need to go away in their current form. An estimated 1million retired autoworkers may/will be effected.  Countless jobs lost not only with the automakers, but also their suppliers. Full steam ahead to oblivion! In the words of the late John F Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you " Ask what you can do for your country " Carpe Diem Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:57:57 -0800 https://activerain.com/blogsview/781700/the-fat-lady-sings------ https://activerain.com/blogsview/763473/operation-coming-home--- Greetings fellow bloggers Todays message is all individual interpretation. I wanted to talk or write about a fabulous event I attended. Operation Coming Home- I was in Fuquay-Varina yesterday for a dedication of a home for one man and his wifes contribution to the Iraq War. Sgt Joey Bozik of the 82nd Airborne and his wife Jayme had a home given to him........let's rephrase. Sgt Joey Bozik lost an arm and two legs to a roadside bomb. He spent several months in a coma and spent an immense amount of time in rehabilitation and because of his intestinal fortitude and support to move forward he was recognized by his peers, and many supporters. I wanted to touch on his comments he made yesterday. Essentially, he stated I'm a soldier my place is not to disagree with the political agenda. I do it for my country ! Now, I am paraphrasing here but that was the gest of his message. I  personally have never served in the military,however, I have the utmost respect for all the men and women that do. I suppose we all to often and more currently worry about the economy, our 401K's and what our next commission check looks like and we forget momentarily of the lives lost and the devastating injuries many have suffered. I have had the opportunity in the past to have talked with many veterans, however, this was my first actual experience of having met an individual where I knew his injuries were war related.  I will admit and no longer will be so oblivious !! Thank-You Joey Bozik !! I wish you, your wife Jayme and un-born child all the best in the future. Your contribution has not been lost on myself a civilian. Carpe Diem Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:37:59 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/763473/operation-coming-home--- https://activerain.com/blogsview/733284/-out-here-in-the-fields- "We fought for our meals" The current economic meltdown is not what the rock band "The Who " had intended. What a mess ! If things weren't bad enough >> Now I will admit I have in past  mentioned the State of Affairs and I've discussed gloom and doom, and eerily as it may seem I've been 100% on. Fact is were watching the greatest financial debacle of our time. Of course I wasn't alive in the Great Depression, thankfully so. This current global potpourri of real estate foreclosure bank mergers and investment bank extinctions has me wondering. I like many have watched my personal fortune obliterated. I also like you wonder when the next shoe falls. I can't help but think of Warren Buffet and like minded value investors sitting on the side licking their chops. In the end this is my generations 100 year flood or financial blowout. The question we all have to ask ourselves what are we going to do about it. Sit tight, buy a fuel lamp a camping stove and some canned beans. Well I certainly hope not. Hopefully, if we have learned anything from these meltdowns of our past we can look forward to the opportunities of our lifetime. So go out there turn over a few rocks and you may just find your very own pot of gold ! You might need it/ Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:52:38 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/733284/-out-here-in-the-fields- https://activerain.com/blogsview/707336/don-t-worry-be-happy It's hard not to forget the late eighties hit by Bobby McFerrin, "Don't worry be happy" As of late the news  consistently delivers gloom and doom and in a sense I like many perpetuate the ramblings. The common theme is the Real Estate markets and financial markets are in turmoil in the United States. Granted not all markets are the same. Being fortunate enough to live in the Triangle area our market has suffered but not to the degree felt in California, Arizona and Michigan. Now with congressional hearings on a 700billion aid package for financial institutions being tabled I like many am very curious of the outcome. I certainly believe an aid package is about to occur but like you wonder of the repercussions. The fallout of these circumstances will be felt for years. Asset deflation(housing) food and energy costs skyrocketing spell hard felt consequences likely much sooner than we expect. As I have said in the past Silver and Gold are very attractive Real Estate will recover however, not likely for many years. Trying to make sense of this conundrum is difficult, and somewhat impossible. We have no one to blame but ourselves in believing that our houses will always go up, that we can borrow from our home equity to  buy a new car, vacation home and designer clothes. "Tommorow never comes" my Dad always used to say to me. I'm still not sure what he meant but somehow it seems fitting> Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:43:11 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/707336/don-t-worry-be-happy https://activerain.com/blogsview/692651/-bye-bye-birdie- Here we are 158 years later and the "Canary in the Coal Mine" as they are so aptly or were so aptly referred to is dead! Yes, were talking about Lehman Brothers. Where does it all end ?/ The good news is  Bank of America will buy Merrill Lynch by issuing stock. On the other side Goldman Sachs and Morgan -Stanley have been asked to help raise 70-75Billion to help AIG. I have to say would I love to see their Rolodex. My dear friends all is not lost. Since my first blog "It ain't over till the fat lady sings" (She's warming her vocal chords) We have nationalized Fannie and Freddie were about to guarantee low interest loans to the automakers and give food stamps to the poor to buy organic food. So where do the opportunities lie ? That's a great question, I've heard we have another year of pain in the financial markets before we can see any recovery. I've listened to top economics professors Nobel Prize winners and I'm more confused than I've ever been. The challenges remain my friends as of July 1.9 million Americans were behind on their mortgage payments. 1.2million more in foreclosure. Ah the Bush years long remembered and not forgotten. What a legacy I can hardly wait until the library opens. Carpe Diem Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:33:58 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/692651/-bye-bye-birdie- https://activerain.com/blogsview/675120/a-stanley-cup-and-a-superbowl-- What a week ! Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to listen to a keynote speaker none other than Peter Laviolette from the Carolina Hurricanes. It was interesting to hear his perspective on the game of hockey and team building. Some of it may have been lost on his audience of Real Estate Professionals but having grown up myself playing hockey it was insightful. Roll the calendar ahead a couple of days onto Bald Head Island,NC and there he is enjoying a cheeseburger and his favorite beverage the one and only Bill Cowher former head coach and Superbowl Champion from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now I have to say when does one ever have a week to meet two World Champion head coaches. I managed to sit with Mr. Cowher for a couple of hours share a beverage and listen to him describe his moment in history. What a wonderful experience ! Thanks to you both Peter and Bill you are true Champions.Nonetheless back to my world our world, after a few short days of vacation. Next order of business the news !! Still doom and gloom and the credit markets in a stalemate. When will this all end. Well for some likely more bank closures, takeovers. The clock is ticking for a big National, further write-downs to come. Now I'm not saying go hide your head under a pillow just be somewhat conscious of these events and pay attention people. My favorite order of the day the big three and no I don't mean football, yes the automakers are seeking 50 billion yes that's billion in low interest loans to re-tool their plants to convert from trucks to fuel efficient cars. Are you kidding me !! So now we need taxpayers money to help these overpaid Ivy League Grads running these companies to help them compete with Asian companies. O.k so the average autoworker in 2005 was making 105k a year with a 3 year compensation guarantee of up to 95% of their salaries if they were laid off due to factory closings. Hmmmm The bottom line they need liquidity cause even Employee discounts and 0 percent financing can't save them. Let alone the 1million retired autoworkers with nice pensions. Let me be clear I support pensions, but the day of fat pensions is long gone, a likely epitaph for my Three Big Friends, but somehow, someway will resurface in a new improved way. I haven't quite figure that out but will likely involve the PBGC. Hey aren't they supported by the taxpayer ??/ Phew, Well on the serious side I hope all my coastal Carolinian, Floridian, and Louisiana friends are safe and those that were displaced this past weekend and some likely this weekend take care, drive safely and your homes are unscathed God Bless Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:37:42 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/675120/a-stanley-cup-and-a-superbowl-- https://activerain.com/blogsview/661040/ground-beef-and-oatmeal Well another day, another week. World news today, NPR reported today that food stamps can now be used for organic food at farmers markets across the nation. So, how is it that middle class folk like myself can't afford to grocery shop there but the poor can? We can still eat ground beef and oatmeal. Stay tuned A favorite writer of mine commented today on a rare coin dealer that can't deliver silver eagles due to the large run-up in demand for the precious metal. Well have no fear silver is still trading at 13.50 an ounce but I can smell 50.00. According to a recent CBS News/New York Times poll, Americans' views on the general state of the country have hit an all-time low, with 81% saying the prospects for the United States are declining - the worst-ever number for this barometer Another great tidbit from my Canadian brethren, Air Canada Jazz announced today the are removing life vests from their flights to aid in reduction of fuel costs.  Heck let's not worry about human lives they can float on their seat cushions!! I'll just bring my own strobe light and whistle. Hey I wonder if I'll get a discount? Well the good news is Hurricane Gustav is rippin thru Haiti, might make it to the Gulf of Mexico and ........ well mess or miss the oil rigs and I'll still be able to by gas at Costco for 3.53 a gallon/ Oh yeah I almost forgot Fannie had a great debt auction today it was hugely successful, HMMM I wonder if they raise their dividend> Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:01:15 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/661040/ground-beef-and-oatmeal https://activerain.com/blogsview/651140/it-ain-t-over-till-the-fat-lady-sings Well unfortunately the infamous "Kate' from the Philadelphia Spectrum days is no longer with us, a likely outcome for Fannie and Freddie. Will the Fed bail them out? Unfortunately, a likely event. Since, Congress passed the Mortgage bill we have seen both Fannie and Freddie's stock price crumble. How is it that we can attempt to save the necessary twins from extinction. Well the bottom line is we need a secondary market. The primary lenders are boxed in with the Foreclosure pile mounting daily. Not to be negative but ? The only way this mess will get solved is time >>>>> And baby it's going to take some time. My guess is Fannie and Freddie will go bust, they will be Nationalized (Oh Oh) Inflation !! and the taxpayer DUH !! Will be on the hook. I can hear the printing presses beginning to rumble. Hey maybe I can get a contract to sell ink to the Fed. Well maybe I'm right or maybe I'm wrong. What do you think ?? Jeff Dicks (Keller Williams Realty) Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:42:38 -0700 https://activerain.com/blogsview/651140/it-ain-t-over-till-the-fat-lady-sings