There is something about this show.  The writers are not afraid to take on some of the biggest questions and issues facing the "real" world today.  All with a witty, no nonsense approach to different sides of the question.  So far they've covered gays, minorities, disabilities, military, economy, society, tobbaco companies, politics, and many more subjects that most "sitcom" TV shows stay away from.  

Just wondered if anybody else enjoys the show as much as me, or if anything there has ruffled your feathers?

If you've never watched it, try and catch a show sometime....hey its got William Shatner in it playing one of his best characters to date, so it can't be that bad right???

I grew up watching my father sell real estate with outrageous interest rates and tough times.  You knew when you signed on a listing that you were going to have that listing for a while, and it was going to take lots of effort and hard to come by money to get it sold, just so that you could try to recoop your expenses and earn a living.  I also watched my father make deal after deal come together, and on top of giving me a wonderful childhood, he was able to give good counsel to those who didn't know which way was up.  Not one of those clients is complaining today.  Most have seen what a remarkable market Hot Springs is, and have reaped the benefits of owning property here. 

It was tough to buy a house, and even tougher for the average working man to buy one needing a huge down-payment, but people did it.   They figured out a way to make it happen.  Real estate has never been something thats easy, but if you have the right attitude and a little bit of knowledge you can make it happen.  He figured out a way to make it happen, just like so many "old-time" REALTORS have done and been doing for many years.

I got into real estate in the "boom."  It won't say it was easy,  but it wasn't like anybody with a real estate license had to bend over backwards to make a decent living either.  You had a small inventory, and people knew if they wanted to get in a house at the lowest possible price you had to act fast.  Show, sign and sell.......it almost happened without having to think about it.

Today, we have a better and greater inventory, but buyers are much more reluctant to jump into buying a home.  Why you ask?  The economy?  Future of jobs?  Election year?  Lender and loan concerns?  Fear of commitment to a loan or payment? or just letting loose of what cash they have saved up? 

The answer isn't just one of those, it's all of those plus a whole other bag of questions and concerns for some.  But the underlying need is still there, and people will continue to buy and sell homes.  It's up to me to make sure that those needs and concerns are met and satisfactory to today's buyers, but overall this is probably one of the better times to buy a home.  Some sellers are nervous and fear sitting on the market for many months with no real since of security that they can sell their home and move on with their life.  They have put themselves out there, listed the house (and here is where it gets interesting) and have established what they see as a fair price for their home.

Say your looking for a house under $150,000.  You need 3 beds, want 2 baths, and love to cook so a good kitchen is a must.  You don't want to remodel or rehab a home to make it "right" for you, so you need something move-in ready.   Do you think you could find one? 

What if I told you I could get you in a home that in 5 to 10 years would be worth at least $20,000 more than you paid, and could get you that house for under $140,000.   Think I'm crazy?  There are over 250 homes in our local market that meet those criteria.  Could you buy them all for under $150K?  NO, I can't predict what each individual buyer is going through and has in mind.   But it only takes one, and with the right approach just about every one of those homes under $150,000 could potentially be yours.  We can and will find you the right home, and work hard to get that "motivated" seller truly "motivated" to sell you his/her home. 

You'll get good schools, great neighborhoods, and you get to enjoy the benefits and pleasure of owning your own home, not to mention building credit, equity, and a pride of ownership that comes with having something as cherished and valued as a home. 

It's mostly about attitude and how you see things.  I'm not going to try and sway you, or change or thinking, but an open mind, and the desire to better your situation should allow you to see that this is the RIGHT time to buy a home.  Rates are at near all time lows, loans are available, and people are more open to wheeling and dealing to make something happen.  You just can't be afraid to be different, and separate yourself from the crowd and make that first step. 

If George Washington and our forefathers hadn't taken that first step we might not be the great country we are today.  If you never mustered up the courage to do or ask, you never gained anything.  If you simply sit idly by and do nothing, guess what your going to get.

That's right.......NOTHING.   

Take that first step, ever cautious as you want to be, and know that nobody can force you to do anything.  If it's not right for you, and you truly believe that, then don't, I know I personally am not going to take offense or get upset becuase someone has looked and weighed all the options and doesn't feel right about purchasing a home; but don't think that just because everybody else is scared that you have to be.  Educate yourself, be informed, and make the best decision you know how, and in the process of doing so I think you'll see what I see.

A bright, positive, viable future.  We have made it through every obstacle that has ever come down our way, it is no time to just sit on our hands and do nothing.  This year is going to bring incredible change, its up to you which way that change affects you.

Hot Springs, Hot Springs Village, and all of Garland county, have actually seen a 1.5% to 3.1% increase in home prices in the first quarter of 2008.  Granted some homes have been selling for less than list price, the inflated list price hasn't struck a chord here.   Prices are stable, the local economy is stable too, and several future business ventures and expansions are sure to keep things on track.  Arkansas as a whole has seen a 1.4% increase in home prices, so besides being one of the cheapest places to live, retire, or vacation, things are looking positive for homeowners.  It may be a little slower than last year, but business is still better than 5 years ago, 10 years ago, or even 3 years ago.  Don't believe the hype.  Take a look for yourself, do the research, look at the numbers.  Buying or investing in Hot Springs is still a smart move.

1. The fence or other barrier should be at least 4 feet high. It should have no foot or handholds that could help a child climb it.

2. Vertical fence slats should be less than 4 inches apart to prevent a child from squeezing through.

3. The maximum clearance at the bottom of the barrier should not exceed 4 inches above the ground, when the measurement is done on the outside of the barrier, the part that is facing away from the pool.

4. Gates should open away from the pool, not into the pool, and should be self- closing and self-latching. The gate should have no opening greater than ½ inch within 18 inches of the latch release mechanism.

Of course these are basic guidelines and your local codes may require more stringent safety precautions.  Some say 5 ft fences should be the norm.  Please check with your local code department and use your common sense.  Think safety first and everyone will have fun!

This is a repost from Mark Flanders, a Mortgage Broker with Olympic Northwest Mortgage.  I thought his angle is right on so I'm reposting it here!

Just as Realtors® don't approve acceptance of offers, loan officers don't approve loans. Lenders approve loans. In both cases, the Realtor® and the Loan Officer are acting as facilitators of the transaction. Neither of them has the authority to legally bind the parties they represent.

A Pre-Approval Letter is such a strong buyer's tool because it means that a Lender has reviewed the buyer's application and supporting documentation (pay stubs, bank statements, W2's etc.). In addition, the Lender has agreed in writing, that they will loan money to the buyer if they find an acceptable property. Loan officers can confirm to a buyer that they will be able to get a loan. The Lender will confirm that the buyer is actually approved for a  loan. This approval will have loan conditions to satisfy, but it is a real approval. The predominant condition will of course be that the buyer finds a piece of acceptable  real estate! Pre-approvals are issued without an address.

Your chance of being viewed as a Serious Buyer skyrockets when the seller and the listing Agent are presented with tangible proof that you, as a buyer, prepared for this transaction in advance. The Pre-Approval letter indicates that you have taken the time to sit with a mortgage professional, discuss the details of your financial situation, applied with a Lender and been approved by that Lender, before looking at homes.

Yes prices have come down.......when you look at what they've come down here vs. what they have done elsewhere; I'd still rather be trying to sell here in Hot Springs because our home prices have only fallen 3-6% from 2007 numbers, and that's still well above average.

Yes loans are harder to get, but think about it.......20 years ago interest rates where 17-23%, and you had to have at least 20% down if not more to even think about purchasing a home.  Even today, FHA or conventional type loans are at some of the lowest interest rates, and getting a loan doesn't normally require more than 10% if anything down.

So before you freak out, get worked up, start to panic.......think about all that Hot Springs has going for it, what its been through......and realize that things aren't that bad HERE.  We don't have any control over what happens elsewhere, but we do have control over what does on HERE.   Take pride in knowing that this is a Great place to live and grow old.  Our local economy is strong and people from Hot Springs have always been resilient.

By Marketwatch:

All of the gloomy economic news may have investors bracing themselves for more turmoil. But according to one respected investment research firm, the economy may have already emerged from a recession.

Mark Hulbert reports that TrimTabs used a proprietary econometric model that examines job data to arrive at this conclusion. TrimTabs found significant improvements in this data at a time when a recession would mean continued declines in such numbers. Though the Hulbert Financial Digest does not track TrimTabs' investment advice, Hulbert writes that TrimTabs does seem to have made some impressive market calls over the past few years.

Gold may have staggered away from the $1000 threshold recently, but Peter Brimelow finds gold investors taking solace in two seemingly obscure data points. And Brimelow says that gold may now be at a price point that could spur new demand in India, which is the world's largest importer of gold. -- Ari Charney, Portfolio Analyst

This blog is as much about you as it is us.  Got something you want to see?  or know?

Drop us a line and we'll be happy to shell out advice, free of charge.

Common, there is NO dumb question in Real Estate.

His testimony supports the view that the Fed is not done cutting interest rates. The central bank has lowered its target overnight lending rate to 2.25% from 5.25% last fall, the largest percentage decline on record. Bernanke suggested the central bank is slowing down the pace of its rate cuts. "Much necessary economic and financial adjustment has already taken place, and monetary and fiscal policies are in train that should support a return to growth in the second half of this year and next year," he said. Inflation remains a concern, he noted, and some signs indicate that the public expects prices to continue rising.  by Greg Robb

Tornados leveled several communites, 16'' of snow a week later, then a 75-80 degree week followed by more than a foot of snow, then between that runoff and in some places 14" of RAIN we are still trying to dry out.  Hey they had to close barge traffic on most every river in the state.  Todays forecast is 60 degrees with Isolated Thunderstorms, with more Thursday and Friday.....yet there is hope (keep reading).

The weekend looks to be beautiful and there really is nothing more enjoyable than Arkansas in springtime.  65-70 degrees with lots of Sunshine!!! 

With Oaklawn winding down there is some great thouroghbred racing going on in Hot Springs.  The lakes are full and just gleaming with anticipation of the upcoming Summertime season, and Garvan Gardens is in full bloom with some of the most gorgeous botanical displays in the country.  While your out that way be sure to check out the Southern Living House....which is for sale by the way if your interested....FURNISHED!  (I know a Great Real Estate Team). There are countless other things going on.....need to know what and where. 

CALL ME!  I like to keep the really good things exclusive 

Freddie Mac  said Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage average fell slightly from last week to 5.67% with an average 0.4 point for the week ending Feb. 7. Last week, the average was 5.68%, and in the year-ago period the average was 6.28%. "Long-term mortgage rates were little changed this week, largely in sync with the movements in the Treasury bond yields during the same time," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac chief economist, in a statement. "Additionally, economic news released in the past week showed that the economy continues to be weak."

http://hsbor.fnismls.com/Paragon/AssociatedDocs/HSBOR/MLSSharedDocs/Crime%20Rate%20Report/Crime%20Rate%20Report%202007.pdf

(ARA) - Consumers will likely pay record prices to heat their homes this winter, up an average of 10.5 percent from last winter, says NEADA, a group of state energy aid officials. Now is the time to give your home a “check-up.” Here are seven tips from the Comfort Institute to make your home an energy sipper instead of a gas guzzler.

1. Ask your HVAC contractor to test your duct system for air leaks. Many assume that windows and doors are the major cause of a home's energy wasting air leaks. But according to recent research by the Department of Energy (DOE), gaps, joints and disconnections in the typical home's duct system are much more significant. The DOE states that the typical duct system loses 25 to 40 percent of the energy put out by the central furnace or heat pump. Authorities recommend sealing ducts with a brushed on fiber-reinforced elastomeric sealant. Duct tape usually dries out and fails. It turns out duct tape is great for many things, but sealing ducts isn't one of them.
   
   
2. Ask your contractor to perform an Infiltrometer “blower door” test. The blower door is a computerized instrument originally invented by the Department of Energy. It pinpoints where your home's worst air leaks are, such as duct leaks, and also measures how leaky the overall house is. Most homes have the equivalent of an open window in combined air leaks. Many heating contractors offer an Infiltrometer test as part of a “Home & Duct Performance Checkup” that also checks insulation levels and overall duct performance.
   
   
3. Have your heating system cleaned and tuned. A pre-season tune up is a great investment. It reduces the chances of breakdowns on cold winter nights, improves safety and more than pays for itself through more energy efficient operation. For a free report: “How to Identify a Good Heating and Cooling Contractor,” go to www.comfortinstitute.org.
   
   
4. Replace your furnace or heat pump air filter (or clean it if it is an electronic unit). Most systems need this done every month to ensure safe and efficient operation. Keep forgetting to do it? Ask your contractor for an extended surface area central air filter that only needs to be replaced once a year. It also does a far better job of keeping your equipment and the air in your home clean.
   
   
5. Close your fireplace damper. Did you remember to close it last time you used the fireplace? Shut it now or waste precious warm air all winter long.
   
   
6. Install a programmable set-back thermostat. Turning down the thermostat eight degrees for eight hours a day will save 8 percent on home heating costs. An easy way to take advantage of these savings is to lower the thermostat temperature while away from home or sleeping. Ask your heating contractor about new models which are much easier to program.
   
   
7. Consider replacing your old furnace or heat pump. Just like a car, heating and cooling equipment doesn't last forever. Is your system more than 12 years old? Planning to stay in your home more than a few years? Many authorities recommend replacing it before it fails permanently. New units can pay for themselves over time as they are up to twice as energy efficient. However, government and utility research has found that over 90 percent of newly installed high efficiency systems have energy wasting mistakes. Today's new equipment is drastically compromised if it is hooked up to bad ducts.

Do some homework before talking to contractors. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov and www.comfortinstitute.org. Print out the free Comfort Institute report “Tips and Secrets to Buying A New Heating and Cooling System.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent