Cleaning Up Common Kid-tastrophes In Your Home

Sabrina Soto shares some easy and amazing solutions to common kid-tastrophes. Want to know how to clean crayons & magic makers off of a wall, glass water stains on furniture, or how about water in your cell phone? Watch this video to see how! 

It almost makes me want to give my 15 month old a crayon to color on the wall so I can try it out. I did say ALMOST, right?

Common Home Styles in Jonesboro

There are many different style of homes found throughout Jonesboro.  Below are some examples of the most common styles of architecture you will see.

Colonial Style Floor Plans

The traditional Colonial or Early American styles floor plans are normally rectangular in shape with two floors with exteriors of wood lap siding and often have columns and shutters. The inside floor plans of traditional Colonial style floor plans generally consist of a center hallways with large square rooms on each side and two additional rooms in the back.

Colonial homes often have chimneys on both ends of the house and commonly have gambrel or a barn roofs. The upper floors generally have 4 large rooms which follow a similar layout as the main level floor plan. Federal or Georgian style floor plans are often characterized by brick exteriors without front porches and often feature gables and decorative dentils. While Southern Colonial floor plans, often include heavy columns in the front of the home often with an upper balcony supported by a large covered front porch.

Farmhouse style homes have a similar boxy style as other traditional colonials with distinctive pitched roofs and modest simple styling with large covered wrap around porches which extend from the front and wrap around the side of the house, while Country Colonial styles generally have more modest covered front porches that only extend across the front of the house and large “country” kitchens often situated near a family room.

In addition to the traditional colonials there are romantic Victorian styled home plans which typically have decorative "fish-scale" shingles, bay windows, "gingerbread" adornments on gabled roofs and large wrap around porches.

Also included in this group are Cape Cod styles which are generally smaller then their sister colonials with only two bedrooms on the upper floor and are characterized by sloped ceilings and roofs which normally have dormers built into to add additional space and no porches or columns.

Conventional Ranch Style

Typical Ranch floor plans are generally one story high with an "L" shaped floor plan with all the bedrooms grouped in one wing or one side of the home. Commonly, the master bedroom is somewhat separated from the other bedrooms on the main floor. Since Ranch styles are only one story high there are limited possibilities for expansion unless there is an attic.

   

Traditional Styles

Traditional floor plans are one of the most popular floor plan styles in America . The roofs are generally steep with front facing gables and the exteriors are often brick, stucco or clapboard. The interior also often offer lofts or high interior ceilings providing a very spacious interior. These homes strive for a grand appearance.

Contemporary Modern Styles

Contemporary styled floor plans are very popular through the U.S. Contemporary floor plans generally have plain exteriors but also often have wood or stonework facades. Plans can include large over hangs and often include split levels and very open floor layouts. Contemporary styled floor plans can have either single pitched or flat roof styles

Modern Contemporary styled floor plans generally have very asymmetrical design with bold shapes and more angles than traditional styled homes. Contemporary floor plans distinctively make use of a variety of glass from walls, windows, skylights and clerestories which provide a great deal of sun light and combined with very open spacious floor plan layouts with interesting angled walls, ceilings and roofs.

European Style

European floor plans encompass several different and distinct styles which have been influenced by the architectural styles from England, France and Spain.

Spanish/Mediterranean styled floor plans offer low red tiled roofs, pastel stucco exteriors and spacious interiors with clean lines and soft arches and columns which provide airy space and spanish floor plans that flow easily from room to room.

English Tudors acknowledge the design elements from Medieval England with warm stucco, stone or wood exteriors which are highlighted by dark angled wooden beams and planking for accents as well as steep roofs and gables. The inside floor plans of Tudors have visible divisions of rooms, arched interior and exterior doorways, and tall narrow windows and often have immense decorative chimneys.

French styles incorporate formal styling with exteriors of brick or stucco with accent quoins of distinctive interlocking stones which often form unusual designs with the use of alternating contrasting large and small stones on the exterior corners, multi-paned windows often acceded with decorative shutters. The interiors offer distinct formal living and dining rooms and charming floor plans.

Again, these are most common style of homes you can expect to find in Jonesboro.  Which is your favorite?

My Career as a Realtor

I'll never forget the moment I decided to become a real estate agent.  It was 1994 and I had just had surgery for a ruptured disc in my neck.  I had worked as a legal secretary for 10 years and my doctor recommended for me to change occupations since I sat at a desk and typed on a computer all day long.  Too much stress on the neck.  I was ready for a change anyway, too much stress for too little pay.  Trust me, working in a family law office under 3 attorneys was very stressful.  I was also bored with the same ole thing everyday sitting at a desk 8:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday.  Being the free spirit I am, it was too confining.  Not to mention the stress of driving Fort Worth, Tx rush hour traffic to and from work everyday. 

So one day I noticed my neighbor across the street had listed their home for sale with a local, well known, and very successful Realtor.  I watched out my front window as the Realtor placed a for sale sign in the yard before getting into her new blue cadillac and driving away.  I remember thinking to myself, "that would be an easy and fun job."  I then called my neighbor and she told me they had listed the home for a 6% commission.  I quickly calculated the price of the home by 6% and thought to myself, "oh my gosh, she's going to make that much money for 'just' selling a house."  When my husband came home from work I immediately shared with him about my new career decision.  I excitedly told him how much money the Realtor was going to make for "just" selling the house across the street and how I was going to real estate school, etc.  I remember him laughing at my excitement and telling me if that's what I wanted to do to go for it.  So the next day I scheduled my six weeks of classes.

The school was long hours (8:00 - 6:00) and very hard.  Some days were so overwhelming with laws, rules and regulations, plus so much math that I wondered if I would pass the much dreaded state exam. The instructors were always emphasizing how hard it was to make it in real estate and how it was an industry with a huge turn around.  People were continually going in and out of the real estate business.  After I completed the 60 classroom hours required in Texas, I began to immediately study for the exam.  I studied everyday for two weeks.  The test took about three and half hours to complete and was very hard.  In Texas, it usually takes at least two to three trys to pass the test, so I was very excited when I found out I had passed on my very first try.  So now I was a licensed real estate agent.

My 1st Real Estate Photo 1994.
Big Hair was in!

I had already selected the broker I wanted to hang my license under and immediately went to work.  However, that is when I found out the real estate school taught absolutely nothing about how to get business.  I didn't know anything on how to get listing appointments and I surely didn't know how to do a listing presentation if I had an appointment.  I didn't know how to work with buyer's either.   I didn't want to just "wing it", I wanted to succeed in this new career decision of mine.  That is when I signed up for a two week training course in Dallas to learn how to list and sell real estate.  I utilized everything I learned in that course and started calling for sale by owners which led to listing appointments.  I had prepared a really good listing presentation and the next thing I knew I had several listings, good ones too.  I began marketing the listings, working with buyers, and wrote my first offer on one of my listings which was accepted by the seller.  I now had a contract and was on my way to my first closing.   I remember being so excited!  My office manager congratulated me, but also warned it was hard to sell your own listings and to not get used to it.  About a week later, I wrote an offer on another listing of mine, then a third.  So I sold my first three listings myself and sold a couple of other homes too.  In short, I closed over a million in real estate transactions my first three months of obtaining my license.  And that is when the average sales price was only $80,000.!  I knew I had found my niche and have never looked back since.

I have and still do love being in the real estate business.  I love meeting new people and helping them with their real estate needs.  I've helped people sell in difficult situations, such as, a family being separated from their husband and dad due to a job relocation hundreds of miles away.  Oh what joy to see that family join together again.  I've helped young couples find their perfect first home and have had the joy of watching their family grow, only to move up to a larger one.  I've helped people find luxury property to live out the lifestyle that comes with the reward of hard earned success.  So many people, so many families, so many homes.  I believe like people, each home is unique, our very own part of heaven on earth, our safe place from the stress of the world. 

I cannot imagine myself doing anything else.  And yes, the real estate business is tough, very competitive, and as mentioned earlier there is a constant turn over.  I assure you, it is a difficult profession.   You are constantly being interviewed for hire, filling out legal documents, utilizing marketing skills, multi-tasking, negotiating deals, and looking after your client's best interest at all times. Ideally one should have the patience of a saint, nerves of steel, the wisdom of Solomon, honest as Abe, the luck of the Irish, good counseling skills, an unselfish and patient spouse, lot's of friends AND a nice 4-door (remember the blue cadillac) vehicle. One must also love to work very long hours and be on call seven days a week. 


Real Estate photo now
Photoshop is in!

Yes, I was very young and naive to think I would make a lot of "easy" money "just" selling homes.  I also didn't know the commission would be split four ways and that my many expenses would come out of my fourth.  However, I cannot imagine myself doing anything else.  I truly found my niche and just like other full-time, hard working and successful Realtors, I possess a genuine passion for the business.  I love that every day is a new one and every client/sale are unique.  I feel blessed to help so many people and do it as my career.

Just wanted to share!

Holiday Staging Tips

Six Principles to Holiday Staging To Sell
by Melissa Dittmann Tracey

The key to holiday decorating is to keep the decor high quality and color-coordinated. If you plan on staging a home for the holidays, here are some important things to keep in mind.

1. Don't overdo the holiday cheer.

When Santas start to outnumber the rooms in the house, you may want to start being more selective in what you display.

"If it is 'cute' it stays packed" says Joanne O'Donnell, president and CEO of Chic Home Interiors, who offers holiday staging services. "Cute is not a universal concept and the surest way to avoid trouble is to keep it simple and elegant."

The same staging principles apply during the holidays: Don't overwhelm the space with clutter.

"For every holiday decor item put on display, temporarily pack something you keep out all the time . That way you can avoid over-decorating," says staging pro Tori Lynn Wallitsch.

2. Add splashes of holiday colors.

Psychology research on color responses has shown that warm colors, such as red, can increase excitement and energy in those viewing it. Pops of seasonal colors--such as red or green-- add festive cheer to a home too and can be as simple as just adding a red everyday throw to the sofa or adding poinsettias throughout the home.

Add greenery to fireplace mantels or as a base for the dining room table centerpieces.

But when bringing in holiday colors, be careful not to clash with your home's current color scheme.

3. Stage for the senses.

Get buyers in the mood with some holiday music and the smell of Christmas filling the home. Christmas music--mixed with holiday scents--has been shown to boost people's attitudes in retail stores and increase their likelihood of wanting to visit them.

For scents O'Donnell recommends adding a pot of mulling spices or cider. The Smell of Christmas by Aromatique is a favorite of Cunnighham's or candles that smell like pine or fresh baked cookies can create holiday season scents too.

But if you're going to include a holiday scent just don't forget the music.

4. Keep the tree simple, yet elegant.The Christmas tree will likely be your biggest decor piece so it needs to make a statement. Use a sting of lights for every foot of tree, suggest Cunnighham's. In other words, if you have a 7-foot tree, use at least 700 lights(she prefers the white twinkling ones.)

5. Give a holiday impression from the curb.

You needn't be able to view your outdoor holiday lights from space, Clark Griswold, to show your holiday spirit. Twinkling clear, white lights tend to be favorite among staging professionals for classy holiday curb appeal.

Here some holiday curb appeal tips:

•Add poinsettias: Plant several poinsettias in group of three or five close together in the garden.

•Hang a wreath on the front door.

•Have battery-operated candle lamps in each of the windows for extra glow.

•Make the deck sparkle.

6. Remove decor after the holidays.

Christmas in July isn't for everyone, so in general, wait to decorate for the holidays until after Thanksgiving and be sure your decoration are removed promptly by New Year's.

My Comments:

One important tip I would like to recommend is to avoid displaying Christmas cards and stockings.  We all like to showcase our cards and hang our stockings around the fireplace or stair railing, myself included, but not when your home is on the market.  Inex:  usually the fireplace is the focal point of the room and you don't want buyer's to miss that very important feature.  A cozy and clutter free mantel sets the stage for a warm and welcoming mood. 

I also want to emphasize that "less is more".  A lot of Christmas decorations will distract the buyers from noticing all the features of your home.  Instead of remembering the spacious floor plan, awesome kitchen and all the other wonderful features of your home, buyers will walk away with the memory of "oh yeah, that's the house with all the Christmas stuff".  Trust me, I've heard this so many times.

I also couldn't agree more with taking all the decorations down by New Years.  I would like to add that if your home was placed on the market in December and photos were taken, please have the agent redo a photo shoot without the Christmas decorations.  Nothing is worse than to see a home online or in the MLS in February or beyond and have Christmas trees, etc., in the photos.

However, most importantly, enjoy your Christmas holiday season!  If you are one who enjoys going all out on decorating for Christmas and you don't have to sell immediately, it may be better for you to wait until January to place your home on the market.

Hope this helps!



Amesley Manor Boasts Fine Luxury Living

Amesley Manor is one of the luxury home communities in Jonesboro, AR and is home to the first and only gated luxury home community.  Amesley Manor features beautifully designed luxury homes and is located in a prime Jonesboro real estate area.  Within minutes of the future NEA Baptist Hospital, downtown Jonesboro, ASU, shopping, restaurants, Sage Meadows golf course and Brookland School District makes Amesley Manor a much desired location. 

Amesley Manor consists of 13 three acre lots with only 6 lots currently available.  Price range for lots are $100,000 - $125,000., very conservative compared to lot prices in other luxury communities and with no gated entrance.  Thus the reason only six lots are still available.  The homes architecture being built are Old-World European and French Country with New Orleans flair designs.  Amesley Manor's square foot minimum is 4,000 square feet. 

To show the caliber of homes Amesley Manor will boast, I've included a slideshow below of the first completed home.  The home is built and owned by luxury home builder and developer Tim Redden.  As the developer of Amesley Manor, Tim has again earned up to his reputation of perfectionism and quality.   Nothing is left unthought-of from the very impressive gated entrance of Amesley Manor to the design and building of the below home.  From entering the 14 ft. iron entry gates to the the circular drive of the home with a beautiful water fountain and from the inflowing courtyard to the double iron entry doors, this property says "welcome to fine luxury living".  I invite you to view the below slideshow to see all the stunning features and details throughout this architectural masterpiece.  Enjoy!  (Be sure to view in full screen by pressing the rectangle in the bottom right hand corner of the slideshow)

Feel free to contact me anytime for further information regarding lots or available homes in Amesley Manor.

Looking Good For Arkansas...Especially Jonesboro!

Average DOM
November 2009: 103
November 2010: 93

Average Price of Active Listings
November 2009: $133,888
November 2010: $178,362

Number of Active Listings
November 2009: 826
November 2010: 842

Number of Listings Sold
November 2009: 127
November 2010: 71

Average Price of Sold Listings
November 2009: $123,340
November 2010: $132,697

MLS Sold Volume (YTD)
January 1, 2009-November 30,2009
$189,722,196
January 1, 2010-November 30, 2010
$205,609,811

Above stats are provided by the Jonesboro Board of Realtors.  Total sales are up for 2010 from last year.  And according to an article I read from the Associated Press, Arkansas is leading the way to the recession recovery.  Jonesboro also has had JOB GROWTH according to the same article.  Very refreshing to hear some good news for a change.  To read the article click here "Arkansas Leads The Way In Recession Recovery."

Cold Weather Is Coming...10 Ways To Winterize Your Home - Now

Cold weather is coming to Jonesboro and northeast Arkansas this week, so if you haven't winterized your home, now is the time.  You'll get a season's worth of savings and peace of mind by taking a few steps to get your home ready for cold weather.

My husband, Bryan, has been in residential and commercial construction all his adult life and is the one who winterizes our home each year.  So I asked him what all he does to make our home winter safe and efficient.  I also looked online for further information.  Here is the to-do list:

 
1)  Clean out those gutters

Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home's gutters -- by hand, by scraper or spatula, and finally by a good hose rinse -- so that winter's rain and melting snow can drain. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into the house.

As you're hosing out your gutters, look for leaks and misaligned pipes. Also, make sure the downspouts are carrying water away from the house's foundation, where it could cause flooding or other water damage.

2) Block those leaks 

One of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out.  I looked online about this and the average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall, according to EarthWorks Group. Wow, that's a lot of leakage!

First, find the leaks: On a breezy day, walk around inside holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets.

Then, buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or apply tacky rope caulk to those drafty spots, says Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated TV show "Today's Homeowner." Outlet gaskets can easily be installed in electrical outlets that share a home's outer walls, where cold air often enters.

Outside, seal leaks with weather-resistant caulk. Also look for weathered caulk (cracked or pulled away from surfaces) and re-caulk if needed.  For brick areas, use masonry sealer, which will better stand up to freezing and thawing.  My husband, Bryan, says "Even if it's a small crack, it's worth sealing up,"  It also discourages any insects from entering your home which makes me agree, "seal it up!"

3)  Insulate Yourself

Everytime it has snowed during our 23 years of  marriage, Bryan has always pointed out to me how you can tell if a home is well insulated.  The longer the snow stays on your roof, the better your home is insulated.  Our roof is always the last one in the neighborhood to have snow on it.  According to Bryan, that means our home is well insulated.  So another thing that does cost a little money -- but boy, you do get the money back quick -- is adding insulation to the existing insulation in the attic.  According to experts, you need a minimum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic.

Again, looked this topic up online and found that you shouldn't clutter your brain with R-values or measuring tape, though.  According to Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated TV show "Today's Homeowner, a rule of thumb on whether you need to add insulation: "If you go into the attic and you can see the ceiling joists you know you don't have enough, because a ceiling joist is at most 10 or 11 inches."

A related tip: If you're layering insulation atop other insulation, don't use the kind that has "kraft face" finish (i.e., a paper backing). It acts as a vapor barrier, Lipford explains, and therefore can cause moisture problems in the insulation.

4)  Heat Maintenance

First, if you have a furnace turn it on to make sure it's even working, before the coldest weather begins. A strong, odd, short-lasting smell is natural when first firing up the furnace; simply open windows to dissipate it. But according to what I have read, if the smell lasts a long time, shut down the furnace and call a professional.

Whether you have a furnace or a central electric unit, throughout the winter you should change the filters regularly (check them monthly).  According to experts, a dirty filter impedes air flow, reduces efficiency and could even cause a fire in an extreme case. Toss out the dirty fiberglass filters; reusable electrostatic or electronic filters can be washed.

According to our heat and air professional, if you have a heat pump, turn to emergency heat when the temperature is 36 or below to avoid the coils on your outside unit from freezing.  If your coils freezes up, your unit will run continuously.

5)  Get your ducts in a row

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home with central heating can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well-connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces. That's a huge amount of wasted money, not to mention a chilly house.

Ducts aren't always easy to see, but you can often find them exposed in the attic, the basement and crawlspaces. Repair places where pipes are pinched, which impedes flow of heated air to the house, and fix gaps with a metal-backed tape (duct tape actually doesn't stand up to the job over time).

 

Ducts also should be vacuumed once every few years, to clean out the abundant dust, animal hair and other gunk that can gather in them and cause respiratory problems.

 

6)  Face your windows

Now, of course, is the time to take down the window screens and put up storm windows, which provide an extra layer of protection and warmth for the home. Storm windows are particularly helpful if you have old, single-pane glass windows. But if you don't have storm windows, and your windows are leaky or drafty, "They need to be updated to a more efficient window," says Lipford.

Of course, windows are pricey. Budget to replace them a few at a time, and in the meantime, buy a window insulator kit, Lipford recommends. Basically, the kit is plastic sheeting that's affixed to a window’s interior with double-stick tape. A hair dryer is then used to shrink-wrap the sheeting onto the window. (It can be removed in the spring.) "It's temporary and it's not pretty, but it's inexpensive (about $4 a window) and it's extremely effective," says Lipford.

7)  Don't forget the chimney

Don't put off your chimney needs before using your fireplace, according to Ashley Eldridge, director of education for the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

Eldridge advises. "A common myth is that a chimney needs to be swept every year," says Eldridge. Not true. But a chimney should at least be inspected before use each year, he adds. "I've seen tennis balls and ducks in chimneys," he says.

Ask for a Level 1 inspection, in which the professional examines the readily accessible portions of the chimney, Eldridge says. "Most certified chimney sweeps include a Level 1 service with a sweep," he adds.

Woodstoves are a different beast, however, cautions Eldridge. They should be swept more than once a year. A general rule of thumb is that a cleaning should be performed for every ¼ inch of creosote, "anywhere that it's found." Why? "If it's ash, then it's primarily lye -- the same stuff that was once used to make soap, and it's very acidic." It can cause mortar and the metal damper to rot, Eldridge says.

Another tip: Buy a protective cap for your chimney, with a screen, advises Eldridge. "It's probably the single easiest protection" because it keeps out foreign objects (birds, tennis balls) as well as rain that can mix with the ash and eat away at the fireplace's walls. He advises buying based on durability, not appearance.

One other reminder: To keep out cold air, fireplace owners should keep their chimney's damper closed when the fireplace isn't in use. And for the same reason, woodstove owners should have glass doors on their stoves, and keep them closed when the stove isn't in use.

8)  Reverse that fan

Reversing your ceiling fan is a small tip that people don't often think of.  By reversing its direction from the summer operation, the fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable.  I can never remember which way the blades should be turning in summer and then in winter.  Here's how you know the fan is ready for winter: As you look up, the blades should be turning clockwise.

9)  Wrap those pipes

A burst pipe caused by a winter freeze is a nightmare. Prevent it before Jack Frost sets his grip: Before freezing nights hit, install exterior insulated spigot covers from Home Depot or Lowes.

Next, go looking for other pipes that aren't insulated, or that pass through unheated spaces -- pipes that run through crawlspaces, basements or garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, available at hardware stores. If you're really worried about a pipe freezing, you can first wrap it with heating tape, which is basically an electrical cord that emits heat.

10)  Finally, check those alarms

This is a great time to check the operation -- and change the batteries -- on your home's smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced every 10 years, fire officials say. Test them -- older ones in particular -- with a small bit of actual smoke, and not just by pressing the "test" button. Check to see that your fire extinguisher is still where it should be, and still works.

Also, invest in a carbon-monoxide detector; every home should have at least one.

Hope this helps you stay warm and energy efficient!



Cost of Home Ownership - Why Should You Buy a Home Today ...

Yesterday I posted (see below post) about how and why NOW is the time to buy a home.  I wanted to share a video I watched tonight from a Realtor friend in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex who is a leader in his area and respected in the field.   Troy George agrees with so many that NOW is the time to buy and shows you why. 

I Want To Buy But Think I'll Wait...

I am hearing this a lot...I think I will wait to buy a house when the market gets better. Do will you know when the housing market has reached bottom?  The answer is...you will not know the market has reached bottom until it is on its’ way back up.  So in other words, no one can predict the actual “bottom” of any market.  In addition, Jonesboros' market hasn't had the hard blows that much of the country has had.

I can however with certainty tell you that interest rates are at historic lows and there are some great homes in the Jonesboro market that are attractively priced.  

I can also say with certainty that the government wants to stimulate the economy and to do so will start printing money which historically has driven interest rates up.  It is NOW you can get more for your money.  Consider this:  (below information is principal/interest only & based upon a 30 yr loan with 0 down)

Home Price          Home Price                Home Price
 $200,000              $200,000                  $200,000

Interest Rate         Interest Rate               Interest Rate
      4%                       5%                             6%

Payment                Payment                     Payment
  $954                    $1,074                       $1,199

$245. more a month from a 4% to 6% interest rate for a $200,000 home!

Remind you, these low rates are FIXED rates that will not go up.  People have gotten used to today's low historic rates and just do not realize the opportunity.  When I bought my first home in 1989, my interest rate was 9%, a rate common in those days.  When I sold real estate in the early and mid 90's, interest rates fluctuated from 7% - 8.5%.  I am not willing to bet that home prices will go down in Jonesboro but I am willing to bet that interest rates will eventually go up.  Don't believe me?  Look at the following article below.

If HE Says It Is Time To Buy A Home, BUY A HOME! by KCM Crew

“If you don’t own a home, buy one. If you own one home, buy another one. And if you own two homes, buy a third and lend your relatives the money to buy one.”

– John Paulson 9/27/2010

WOW! That’s a powerful statement.  There is no question that John Paulson is a bull when it comes to residential real estate right now. Should we care what Mr. Paulson thinks? Should we listen to him? The answer to both questions is a resounding ‘YES’. Here are several reasons why.

Who is John Paulson?

Paulson is the person who made a fortune betting that the subprime mortgage mess would cause the real estate market to collapse. He understands how the housing market works and knows when to buy and when to sell. What do others think of Paulson?

According to Forbes John Paulson is:

a multibillionaire hedge fund operator and the investment genius who made a killing going short subprime mortgages a few years ago.

According to the Wall Street Journal Paulson is:

a hedge fund tycoon who made his name, and a fortune, betting against subprime mortgages when no one else even knew what they were.

What did other financial players think of his statement?

The Wall Street Journal agrees with Paulson:

Ignore the critics. The odds have to be on his side…It isn’t just that home prices have fallen a long way. It’s also that, if you can get a mortgage, you are basically taking a reverse bet on the bond market. You could be a long-term borrower at fixed rates, instead of a long-term lender. Right now you can borrow for 30 years at around 4.3%. After the mortgage tax deduction, for some people the net effective interest rate is nearer to 3%. That’s going to prove an awesome deal if we see inflation again.

And Forbes said:

As this is the best time in 50 years to buy homes, Paulson advised his listeners to take 30 year mortgages to buy a home as “your debt and interest payments get locked in at record lows, while the price of your home will rise.”

Are others also saying now is the time to buy?

In the last weeks there is a growing number of people saying that NOW is the time to buy, including:

The Wall Street Journal
Professor Karl Case, founder of the Case Shiller House Pricing Index
The wealthiest families in the country and
70% of everyone else in America

Bottom Line

Thinking of buying a home? Are you taking advice from a friend or family member telling you that now is not the time? It may be time to listen to people who better understand the opportunities that exist in real estate today.

Hope this helps!

Less Than 60 Days To Take Advantage Of Home Improvement Tax Credit

There is less than 60 days left for homeowners to take advantage of the 2009-2010 tax credit for energy efficient home improvements. The credit includes but is not limited to insulation, heat and air replacement, windows and door replacement. When a homeowner purchases energy saving items they can save in 3 ways.

1) Home energy cost year round.
2) Tax credit of 30% of the purchase price up to $1,500. total credit for all qualifying products.
3) Any  manufacturer cash rebate(s).

Any  home improvement for the tax credit must have been put into service after January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010.

I know tax credits and deductions can sometimes be confusing.  A "tax credit" is generally more valuable than an equivalent "tax deduction" because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed. For example:  if you owe $10,000. in taxes and you have a "tax credit" of $1,500., you would owe $8,500. after your tax credit.  Consumers can itemize purchases on their federal income tax form, which will lower the total amount of tax they owe the government. Check with your CPA for specific filing rules.

Hope this helps!

NEW WEBSITE COMING!

My website, NEAhomes.com has served it's purpose and has been a great site for Jonesboro real estate.  However it's time for an overhaul and a whole new look.  I've been working on my new website and am soooo excited about it.  It's going to have many more features, awesome tours, tons of information and a whole new design.  The blog will also be integrated into the site instead of opening into a new window.  I know buyers and sellers alike are going to love, love, love it!

If you would like to suggest any features or have something you would like to recommend, please feel free to let me know.  I would love to have your input!

Launch date is planned for January 1st.