Saturday, October 18, 2008

10/18/08

What Goes Up, Must Come Down; Refinance Boom Might Not Follow Bailout; and Recycling With a Payoff

Dear Friends,

Perhaps you noticed that I now have two designations after my name. In an earlier E-News I told you about the e-PRO technology designation that I received in June. Now I am excited to tell you about my newly earned CERTIFIED NEGOTIATION EXPERT (CNE) designation. The designation recognizes advanced negotiation training and skill development in handling the complexities normally associated with real estate transactions. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to get this advanced training and look forward to using my expertise to help my Buyers and Sellers achieve their desired goals.

Warmest Regards,
Pook


What Goes Up, Must Come Down

What Goes Up Must Come Down -- It's no secret that real estate is undergoing a painful correction. Though housing cycles aren't all alike, experts say in the long run there is a basic pattern.

Refinance Boom Might Not Follow Bailout

Refi Boom Might Not Follow Bailout -- A dramatic drop in mortgage rates has motivated some homeowners to wonder if they should refinance. A better question might be: Are they able to refinance?


Thanks to local lender Rob Kanyur for sharing the following info about recycling!

Recycling With a Payoff

It's safe to say that recycling plays a significant role in most of our lives, and is very rewarding when we consider the ecological impact we collectively produce by our efforts to recycle, reduce, and reuse. But, what if I told you that "going green" could be financially rewarding as well?

The following are some easy ways to make a little "green" for yourself, just for doing the little things you already do to lessen your ecological footprint.

Like Money in the Bank
In some states, RecycleBank.com is changing the way we take out the trash. This company takes the recyclables you already wheel out to the curb each week, and pays you for it by the pound – depositing points into a "bank account" redeemable for products and services in your area. The Recycle Bank takes paper, plastic, glass, phone books, cardboard, and cans.

Music to Your Ears
iPods and other mp3 players have turned CD collections into dust collectors. Instead of piling them up in your closet, check out FeedYourPlayer.com. This innovative company allows you to trade in your CDs and DVDs for items like flat-screen TVs and digital cameras at a major discount. Think how happy your children will be when you trade in your old CDs and DVDs for a new PlayStation®.

Dial "S" for Savings
Do you have a drawer full of old, out-of-date cell phones you don't use anymore? Well, GreenPhone.com wants to buy them from you! That's right, as long as your old phone still works, you could get anywhere from $1 to $70 for it. GreenPhone, in turn, sells the cell phones to people all around the world who can actually use them. Plus, you can also earn commissions for any referrals you provide. And, for every phone that GreenPhone buys, they plant trees through partnerships with American Forests and Sustainable Harvest.

Electronic Deposit
Similar to Greenphone, MyBoneYard.com takes your working flat panel TVs, laptops, and computers, erases all of your personal information, and then donates them to women's shelters, senior citizens, schools – or sells them to companies worldwide that can use them. What an e-volved concept!

Who said recycling doesn't pay off? Take advantage of these great companies and help the environment at the same time. If you know of any other green companies or websites that I should add to this list, please give me a call! I'd love to hear how you're making recycling pay off for you and your family.


Wednesday, October 8, 2008

10/8/08

HOME SALES ARE UP!

Dear Friends,


I don't have to tell you that current news reports regarding the economy are both frightening and depressing. One can't help but worry when reading headlines like those
in this morning's Arizona Republic: "Crisis grips campaign, nation," "Dow hits 5-year low despite Fed's efforts," and "Retirement-fund freefall: 20% lost over 15 months." However, on CNN this morning, financial expert Gerri Willis reported that there have been 15 "Bear" markets (prior to the one we're in now) since 1929 and, historically, we have come out of all of them. She noted that they usually last about 15 months and show stock declines of about 33.5%. The big question is, "How do we know when we've hit bottom?" No crystal ball here, but, despite all the bad news about the stock market, bank failures, job losses, and the housing market, the National Association of REALTORS® today reported some GOOD NEWS: "Pending home sales activity surged as buyers took advantage of low home prices and affordable interest rates."
Click on the link below to read the NAR press release.

http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2008/pending_home_sales_up

According to an article
("The Housing Crisis is Over") in The Wall Street Journal on May 6, 2008, the housing market may actually have bottomed out in April 2008. The article noted that "a bottom does not mean that prices are about to return to the heady days of 2005. That probably won't happen for another 15 years. It just means that the trend is no longer getting worse, which is the critical factor." Valley-wide, we have seen a constant rise in sales since June of this year. The attached chart shows monthly Valley-wide sales since 2003. There were 6,168 total closed sales in September, an 81% increase over September 2007 and a 115% increase over January of this year! This is the first month with over 6,000 sales since August 2006! Have we hit the bottom? Is the housing market turning around? Again, no crystal ball here, but the article in The Wall Street Journal said, "In the past five major housing market corrections (and there were some big ones, such as in the early 1980s when home sales also fell by 50%-60% and prices fell 12%-15% in real terms), every time home sales bottomed, the pace of house-price declines halved within one or two months."

While volatility continues and
we're all currently in a holding pattern, financial experts are saying that, for those in a position to do so, this may be the time to invest rather than pull out. On the housing side, as I've said before, we're looking at a perfect storm of low interest rates, low prices, and high inventory. Have we seen the bottom? The NAR report on increasing PENDING sales (homes currently under Contract) and current housing trends here in the Valley are very encouraging! Think positively! There is power in positive thinking and positive action!

Warmest Regards,
Pook