Monday, December 6, 2010

Holiday Lights

Take some time to enjoy the holidays by viewing the amazing Christmas light displays throughout the Valley. Here is a link to the Holiday Lights Map put out by The Arizona Republic.

For those who celebrate Chanukah, you won't want to miss the display being shared by Mel and Ellen Bett Kline at 9802 N. 46th St., Phoenix. A living, 100-year-old-plus, 40-foot saguaro is lighted like a Chanukah menorah at 6 p.m. Dec. 1-8, and 5 p.m. Dec. 3. The lights will be taken down on Dec. 10.


And, of course, don't miss
Zoo Lights and Las Noches de Las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden!

No Foreclosures Over the Holidays

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine, December 2010 with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are freezing all foreclosure evictions on the mortgage loans they own or back from Dec. 20 through Jan. 3.

"If the property is occupied, our foreclosure attorneys will suspend the eviction to provide a greater measure of certainty to families during the holidays," says Anthony Renzi, executive vice president of single family portfolio management at Freddie Mac.


Most of the large banks, including Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Wells Fargo, already observe a moratorium through the New Year, unless the foreclosure involves an investor who chooses not to observe the holiday policy.


Source: CNNMoney, Les Christie (12/03/2010)

Tax-Free Home Sales Could Be Vulnerable

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine, December 2010 with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

The deficit reduction panel, which released it's findings last week and hasn't gotten much Congressional support, is still likely to provide a guiding light as Congress looks for ways to save money and raise taxes. One target could be tax-free -- at least the few transactions in which profits exceed $500,000 (or $250,000 for singles). The panel would tax these people at 15 percent, or maybe even 20 percent.

The National Association of Home Builders is much more concerned about the commission's recommendation that the exclusion for capital gains in general be eliminated. That could cost taxpayers 28 percent on the sale of all kinds of investments.
"Eliminating the gain exclusion would drive down housing demand, hurt housing prices, and reduce the after-tax wealth of home owners, particularly older home owners whose equity in their home they planned to use as part of their retirement," says Robert Dietz, an economist with the NAHB.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, S. Mitra Kalita (12/03/10)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Mortgage Rates Continue Record Slide

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine, November 2010 with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Freddie Mac reports that rates on fixed mortgages again fell to their lowest levels in decades this past week, with the average interest on 15-year loans dipping to 3.57 percent from 3.63 percent a week earlier, and the average interest for 30-year loans sliding to 4.17 percent from 4.24 percent. That is the lowest since 1971.
The impact of the favorable borrowing costs is being muted somewhat, however, by a high rate of joblessness, foreclosures, and tight credit.

Source: Boston Globe (11/12/10)

© Copyright 2010 Information Inc.

Jumbo Loans Come Out of Hiding

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine, November 2010 with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Jumbo mortgages are more readily available than they have been for the last two years. Both small and regional banks are beginning to offer them again.
In the second quarter of this year, jumbo lending rose 30 percent compared to the first quarter, according to Inside Mortgage Finance Publication, which provides industry data.
J.P. Morgan Chase home lending unit has increased jumbo lending by 146 percent in the first six months of this year. Wells Fargo’s jumbo lending is up 47.5 percent in the same time period.
Securing these loans continues to be difficult. Borrowers need excellent credit scores, verification of income and a down payment of somewhere between 20 percent and 40 percent. Some borrowers report that approval time can be faster at smaller banks.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, M.P. McQueen (11/06/2010)

Home Sales Could Enter 'Virtuous Cycle'

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine, November 2010 with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Consumer confidence and business spending are key to whether the U.S. housing market will move into a virtuous or a vicious cycle in 2011, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun told a packed audience at the Residential Economic Outlook Forum Friday in New Orleans.
After the downturn, the housing market has clawed its way back to a point of near stability, Yun said, with the pace of new foreclosures easing, sales moving toward historically normal levels and prices on a national basis gaining modestly.
At the same time, affordability remains strong. He said all of the price excesses from the housing bubble have been squeezed out. In San Diego, for example, buyers today would pay $1,564 a month in mortgage payments for a house that at the height of the boom would have cost
them $2,833 a month.

The broader economy is also showing positive signs, with businesses enjoying strong profits, sitting on huge cash reserves, and even adding jobs. Yun predicts this positive trend to continue into 2011, with existing home sales reaching 5.5 million units, prices rising a modest 1 percent, and the U.S. gross domestic product increasing to about 2.5 percent.

“We are entering a virtuous cycle,” he said. But for the positive trend to continue, he added, businesses will have to start spending some of their cash to fuel job growth at a far greater pace than they’re doing now. Currently, businesses are adding jobs at a pace of about 100,000 a month. That needs to grow to about 400,000 a month for unemployment
to start shrinking.

The scenario will be far more negative if businesses continue to sit on their cash. In that case, sales will fall, inventories will rise, the high rate of foreclosures will resume, and the cost to the federal government of bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will surge.

Federal Reserve Governor Thomas Koenig, who shared the data with Yun, said the Fed’s continued effort to spur the economy, most recently through a $600 billion bond buying program, is understandable given concerns over the slow pace of growth. But the continued subsidization of the market could unleash inflationary forces.

Yun said he sees possible evidence of inflation building, but it’s not visible now because the housing-cost portion of inflation measurements is holding down prices.


—Rob Freedman, REALTOR® Magazine

7 Trends That Will Drive the Future of Housing

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine, November 2010 with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Hanley-Wood's ProSalesOnline.com identifies seven trends that the magazine’s editors believe will have the biggest impact on housing in 2011.

1. Big builders are wringing the extras out of construction costs and dropping the national average cost-to-build 36 percent to $52 per square foot.


2. Starting in 2011, Energy Star will ramp up its efficient design and quality installation standards. To get Energy Star certification, builders will have to install the right insulation, HVAC systems, and other features related to energy efficiency correctly every time.

3. Sheds are the next evolution. As homes get smaller, a separate shed will become a popular home addition.

4. There are 81 million "Echo Boomers" who were born from 1981 to 1999, compared to just 78 million Baby Boomers born from 1946 to 1964. These children and grandchildren of Boomers will drive home-building for years.

5. By 2015, demographers say, more than two out of every five households occupied by Generation Y people born between 1981 and 1999 will be WINKs (women with incomes and no kids).

6. Make room for the "Sandwich Generation" – Baby Boomers living with both their kids and their parents. These families like having two master suites, a second cooking area, and lots of storage.

7. Baby Boomers want to keep working and continue to live where they have always lived. They want a first-floor master bedroom near the washer and dryer and lots of convenient storage.

Source: ProSalesOnline.com (October 2010)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Veterans Day 2010

Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that finished World War I. The main hostilities of WWI were properly finished at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, with Germany signing the Armistice.

With heartfelt thanks to the men and women who have served in our armed forces, protecting our nation, and preserving the freedoms we cherish.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Happy 235th birthday to the United States Marine Corps!

Each year on November 10th, Bob Parsons, CEO and Founder of GoDaddy.com, presents a birthday tribute to the Marine Corps. Please take a moment to view this year's tribute.

Semper Fi to 
THE FEW, THE PROUD
!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Housing Trends Newsletter

Here is the link to my current Housing Trends Newsletter. You can always go to my website for the link to the most recent HTN.

10 Reasons to Buy a Home

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine, September 2010 with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. 

Time magazine is being overly pessimistic in its recent cover piece that called into question the benefits of homeownership. In fact, now is a great time to buy. And, what's more, tomorrow will be a great time to own, because the fundamental strength of homeownership hasn't changed. 

Why is now a great time to buy? Here are 10 reasons:
1. You can get a good deal. Prices are down 30 percent on average. They're at a level that makes sense for people's income.  
2. Mortgages are cheap. At 4.3 percent on average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, your costs to own are down by a fifth from two years ago. 
3. You can save on taxes. When you add up the deductions for mortgage interest and others, the cost of owning can drop below renting for a comparable place. 
4. It'll be yours. The one benefit to owning that never changes is that you can paint your walls orange if you want (generally speaking; there might be some community restrictions). How many landlords will let you do that?   
5. You can get a better home. In some markets, it's simply the case that the nicest places are for-sale homes and condos.  
6. It offers some inflation protection. Historically, appreciation over time outpaces inflation.  
7. It's risk capital. If the economy picks up, you stand to benefit from that, even if you're goal is just to have a nice place to live.  
8. It's forced savings. A part of your payment each month goes to equity.  
9. There is a lot to choose from. There are some 4 million homes available today, about a year's supply. Now's the time to find something you like and get it.  
10. Sooner or later the market will clear. The U.S. is expected to grow by another 100 million people in 40 years. They have to live somewhere. Demand will eventually outpace supply.   
Source: Wall Street Journal, Brett Arends (9/16/10)
Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine, September 2010 with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

4 Loan Programs You Need to Know About

Article by:  by Dean Hartman on September 16, 2010 
Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters 

While a vast majority of all mortgage products are fairly “vanilla”, there are a couple of other flavors of loans that, if you meet the criteria, may help you get approved, or may help make your purchase more affordable monthly, or lessen your need for as much cash to close. Recognize that each of these loan programs are all fully documented loans for income, assets and credit worthiness, but at the same time they have nuances that can be powerful for many borrowers.

 

1. VA Loans

As a country, we need to honor those who have served. For eligible Veterans, 100% financing is available up to a $417,000 Purchase Price which may include a seller’s concession to cover closing costs. As an insurer of the loans, the VA charges a Funding Fee which can range from 0-3.3% of the loan amount based on the loan-to-value and/or whether this is the first time the veteran is using the benefit or not. (Consult your mortgage professional for your personal situation.) What is terrific is that the VA Funding Fee can be added into the loan amount and is not a required cash outlay for the customer at closing. Talk to your loan officer about the VA’s unique approach to income qualifying, credit analysis and who is eligible to co-sign. And REMEMBER, FIRST TIME HOMEBUYING VETERANS ARE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR THE $8000 TAX CREDIT, IF THEY GET IN CONTRACT BEFORE APRIL 30, 2011 AND CLOSE BY JUNE 30, 2011!!!

2. USDA Loans

If your home is in an eligible location (typically rural in nature….heck, this is a program available from the US Department of Agriculture) and you fall below the ascribed income limits, the USDA loan is a wonderful option to explore. Up to 100% financing with a financed 2% Guarantee Fee at typically lower rates than conventional loans and NO MONTHLY MORTGAGE INSURANCE PREMIUM! There are no asset or reserve requirements and closing costs can be totally gifted to the buyer. There are even special provisions for repairs to be financed into the loan, if the appraisal has room. Most loan professionals are unaware of the magic of this loan….talk to one who knows it, if you think you could qualify. Check out http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/sfh/brief_rhguar.htm to see location and income qualifications.

3. 203K Loans

Often discussed in this space, the FHA’s 203K Program is one loan that is used for both the purchase and renovation of a home. With so much of the housing inventory needing some sort of rehabilitation, this loan program’s popularity is at an all time high. Read past blogs on the qualifications and process, and make sure your loan professional explains the plusses and minuses for you.

4. Purchase Reverse Mortgages

For Seniors over 62, regardless of their income or credit history, the ability to borrow approximately 50% of the purchase price of a home and have NO MORTGAGE PAYMENT is certainly something to explore. With retirement plans slashed and anticipated equity shrunk, many seniors who had hoped to buy their home “all cash” are now unable to do that. A Purchase Reverse can be a perfect solution to help seniors make the transition to the next phase of their lives. Counseling requirements and a good loan officer can explain the logistics and opportunity.

Today, I wanted to say that there are still some wrinkles out there in the mortgage world. To know you are making choices after you have looked at all your options, make sure you are working with an expert loan officer who understands how the programs work and if you should entertain them.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

FHA NEWS and RELATED ARTICLES

Courtesy of FHA.com
An FHA refinance mortgage or FHA loan allows for the refinance or purchase of a home with a low down payment. These loans are great for the first-time homebuyer.  Below are several articles that may be valuable to those looking to purchase a home with an FHA loan and those who are currently "underwater with a non-FHA loan.

FHA Short Refinancing is only for borrowers who are underwater on properties that are considered the borrower’s primary residence, and is intended only for those with non-FHA guaranteed home loans.

If you want to apply for a loan to buy a house with an FHA mortgage, one important fact you should know is that the FHA does not set interest rates, regulate closing costs or negotiate discount points on the mortgage.

The Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH for short, is a military benefit that comes in handy when applying for an FHA loan or VA home loan because it provides the lender with an easy-to-measure proof of a veteran’s ability to pay a mortgage.

Some Experts Weary of Government Intervention

Courtesy of REALTOR®mag 

An increasing number of economists and housing analysts are urging the government to step back and let the housing market fall where it may.

''Housing needs to go back to reasonable levels,'' says Anthony B. Sanders, a professor of real estate finance at George Mason University. ''If we keep trying to stimulate the market, that's the definition of insanity.''
''We have had enough artificial support and need to let the free market do its thing,'' housing analyst Ivy Zelman says.
Even the National Association of Home Builders hasn’t been supportive of another tax credit, because its members believe that in order for one to have impact it would have to be worth at least $25,000 an unlikely proposition.
''Our members are saying that if we can't get a very large tax credit one that really brings people off the bench why use our political capital at all?'' says David Crowe, NAHB's chief economist.


Source: The New York Times, Davie Streitfeld (09/06/2010)
Copyright National Association of REALTORS®. Reprinted with permission 

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

August Housing Trends Newsletter

Here is the link to my August Housing Trends Newsletter.  You can always go to my website for the link to the most recent HTN.

When Can I Buy a Home After a Bankruptcy? Foreclosure? Short Sale?

The following information has been provided by:  
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 Obtaining a Conventional Loan

Ø  Chapter 7 Bankruptcy                            - 4 years from discharge date
Ø  Chapter 14 Bankruptcy                          - 2 years from discharge date
Ø  Foreclosure                                               - 4 years from completion date
Ø  Deed-In-Lieu of Foreclosure                - 4 years from completion date
Ø  Short Sale                                                 - 2 years from completion date

Obtaining an FHA Loan

Ø  Chapter 7 Bankruptcy                            - 2 years from discharge date
Ø  Chapter 13 Bankruptcy                          - 1 year of the payout must elapse & 
                                                                           payment performance must be 
                                                                           satisfactory – buyer must receive 
                                                                           permission from the court to enter into a 
                                                                           mortgage
Ø  Foreclosure                                                - 3 years from completion date
Ø  Short Sale                                                   - ***NOTE: This is a recent 
                                                                         change*** 1 year from completion date 
                                                                             if the  borrower was current at the time 
                                                                             of the short sale on their mortgage   
    
Obtaining a VA Loan

Ø  Chapter 7 Bankruptcy                            - 2 years from discharge date
Ø  Chapter 13 Bankruptcy                          - 1 year of the payout must elapse & 
                                                                           payment performance must be 
                                                                           satisfactory - buyer must receive 
                                                                           permission from the court to enter into a 
                                                                           mortgage
Ø  Foreclosure                                                - 2 years from completion date
Ø  Short Sale                                                   - No specific information on this yet but 
                                                                             assume foreclosure rule of 2 years 
                                                                             applies.   
                                                                             Once this is officially defined, I will 
                                                                             provide an update.

Obtaining a USDA Rural Housing Loan

Ø  Bankruptcy (Ch 7 & Ch 13)            - 3 years from discharge date
Ø  Foreclosure                                                - 3 years from completion date
Ø  Short Sale                                                   - No specific information on this yet but   
                                                                             assume foreclosure rule of 3 years 
                                                                             applies. 
                                                                             Once this is officially defined, I will 
                                                                             provide an update.
I hope this information helps!  One last note, FHA and VA 30 year fixed rates have dropped to 4.250% (with NO POINTS).  If you currently have either an FHA or VA loan, you can do a streamline refinance regardless of the equity, or lack thereof, in your home. 
- Michael McDermott

Live MLS IDX Search

I have always taken great pride in providing exceptional service for my clients as a consultant, negotiator, and overseer of transactional details.  Part of my service is creating searches and updates for clients, using parameters that meet their specific needs, as they begin the search process.  I will always continue to provide that service, however, the latest reports show that over 95% of Buyers prefer to use the Internet to begin their search for new housing on their own.  I understand that desire to dive in and poke around the listings... it's easy and it's fun.  There are many sources out there for doing such searches, but these searches are not "live" and, therefore, are not necessarily current.   

With all this in mind, I have created an opportunity for you to do live searches using the same search system that local real estate professionals use.  Whether you are looking for a new home or are just seeing what the market looks like in your area, you can now begin searching for properties in the greater Phoenix area using the official live ARMLS (Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service) IDX search system.
(
IDX stands for "Internet Data Exchange" commonly called Broker Reciprocity.)

Finding homes of interest is just the first step.  It allows you to become informed about the houses that are currently on the market... and I am here to take you to the next step, providing you with the valuable assistance you will need to make every step of your transaction run as smoothly as possible.   Together, we can make your dream home or investment property a reality!

By creating a free account, you can:
  • Save your searches
  • Get updates on new listings and price changes
  • Track your favorites
  • Add notes and messages
  • Personalize your dashboard
  • Forward links to friends and relatives
Click on this IDX LINK and start searching! 

For your convenience, I have created several searches for properties in Scottsdale in varying price ranges.  I have also created a search for golf properties in PV and Scottsdale.  All of these can be found at pookbellini.com.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Parking Fee at Phoenix Parks & Trailheads Reduced to $2 a Day

Following its announcement last week to charge "up to $5" for parking at its city mountain park and preserve areas, the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board has announced that the fee will be reduced to $2/day.  Beginning August 30, users at five gated mountain park and preserve parking areas will be asked to purchase a $50 six-month or $2 daily Phoenix Mountain Pass to park at these areas.  According to the Phoenix Mountain Pass Update posted by the City of Phoenix, "A six-month introductory period will begin Aug. 30. People will be able to purchase six month passes online or in person at Parks and Recreation Department facilities to park at select trailhead parking areas. Park rangers will distribute self-pay envelopes to those who show up at a parking area without a pass that visitors can use to mail in a fee. There will be no enforcement during this time period. Eventually, purchase of a parking pass -- six-month, annual or daily -- may be added as a requirement to Phoenix city ordinances. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department would announce any ordinance changes as well in advance as possible. To communicate changes to visitors, park rangers will post signs at affected mountain park and preserve areas and will plan trailhead “meet and greet” events. Volunteers will hand out informational flyers. City staff also will update the department webpage regularly and issue news releases through area news media to publicize the upcoming “effective date.” The goal is to give mountain park and preserve visitors plenty of advance notice of any changes to the program."

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Phoenix Will Start Charging to Park at City Parks

According to an article in yesterday's Arizona Republic, the City of Phoenix will begin charging up to $5 for parking at its parks and Mountain Preserves starting August 1st, although they will not fine anyone during the first 6 months.  There will be a 6-month pass available for $50 and an annual pass available for $75, assigned to a particular license plate number (and allowing for up to three vehicles per family).  Parking passes will only be available online (not at the parking lots), which could pose some problems for both locals and visitors who are unaware of how the system works before getting to the parks or preserves.  And, there's also talk of putting up NO PARKING signs on the streets near the parking lots to keep folks from parking in nearby neighborhoods.

While today's article didn't mention it, I'm hoping the City will consider offering a pass that could be shared by carpoolers - it may cut down on the number of passes sold, but it would encourage folks to share a ride and help the environment.  Perhaps, too, the City might consider the possibility of offering a reduced rate or a life-time pass for Seniors and also
making fees tax-deductible donations.

While I'm not thrilled about the new fees, I understand the City's need for funds to keep the parks and trails open and I would rather pay than not be able to enjoy this great treasure.  

States Attract Retirees With Favorable Taxes

Courtesy of REALTOR Magazine Online 

States are wooing retirees with tax breaks. On average, retirees pay only half the state income tax levied on working-age people, according to researchers at the University of New Hampshire and Georgia State. 

Seven states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming — don't tax personal income at all. New Hampshire and Tennessee tax interest and dividends but not other income. Still, these states may not offer the best total deal for seniors because other states have crafted special programs that reduce taxes and fees across the board. Considering everything, here are the states that tax experts say offer the best deals for residents older than 65:
1. Georgia
2. Pennsylvania
3. Mississippi
4. Illinois
5. Michigan
6. Kentucky
7. New York
8. South Carolina
9. Delaware
10. Louisiana 
 
Source: Forbes, Ashlea Ebeling (06/28/2010)

Tricks to Keep Your House Cool this Summer

Courtesy of RISMEDIA   
By Paige Tepping

RISMEDIA, July 3, 2010--As the temperatures continue to rise this summer, so does the cost of keeping your home cool. While homeowners across the country come to depend on air conditioners to keep the temperature down during the warm summer months, there are other options that will keep you cool while keeping your energy bill low.


Fans and ceiling fans
-If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.

-You should remember that even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Also, make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer – you should feel the air blown downward.

Shades, drapes or blinds
-Install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. Always remember that the best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out.

Internal Heat
-The most common sources of internal heat gain are; appliances, electronic devices and lighting. Be aware of devices in your home that are generating heat and if you have air conditioning, use it wisely.

-Don’t put lamps, televisions or other heat-generating appliances next to your air-conditioning thermostat, because the heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. The heat they produce will make the thermostat think your house is warmer than it really is, and your system will run harder than it needs to.

-Unless you absolutely need them, turn off incandescent lights and heat-generating appliances. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat.

-You should also try to avoid heat-generating activities such as cooking on hot days or during the hottest part of the day. If you are cooking, use your range fan to vent the hot air out of your house. By reducing the amount of heat in your home, you will use less energy to cool it.

Plants
-Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity. Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides will keep your house cool in the summer and allow the sunlight to warm the house during the winter.

Roof and Walls
-Paint your roof white – If you’ve got a flat roof, paint it with a specially formulated reflective paint or just paint it white. The reflective effect will help to keep the rooms under the flat roof much cooler.

Other things to remember
-Humidity makes room air feel warmer, so reduce indoor humidity. Minimize mid-day washing and drying clothes, showering and cooking. When you must do these things, turn on ventilating fans to help extract warm, moist air.

-Avoid landscaping with lots of unshaded rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home because it increases the temperature around the house and radiates heat to the house after the sun has set.

-If the attic isn’t already insulated or is under-insulated, insulate it now. Upgrading from 3 inches to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10%.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Mortgage Applications Drop, Rates Stay Low


Source:  REALTOR®Mag

Applications for mortgages to purchase homes declined 5.7 percent last week compared to the previous week on an adjusted basis that takes into account Memorial Day, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey.

On an unadjusted basis, the purchase index decreased 16.3 percent compared with the previous week and was down 30.4 percent from Memorial Day week last year. This is the fifth straight week mortgage applications have declined.


“Purchase applications are now 35 percent below their level of four weeks ago, as home buyers have not yet returned to the market following the expiration of the home buyer tax credit at the end of April,” says Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics.


Mortgage rates continue to be historically low:
  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 4.81 percent from 4.83 percent;
  • 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 4.26 percent from 4.24 percent;
  • 1-year ARMs decreased to 6.94 percent from 6.96 percent.
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (06/09/2010)

Copyright National Association of REALTORS®. Reprinted with permission

New Treatment for Melanoma

Having lost a dear friend many years ago and a 34-year-old cousin just two years ago to melanoma, it's a subject that's close to my heart. Living in the desert, of course, makes it a constant concern. In our house, SFP 50 is the sunscreen of choice... and I nag my children (who grew up under the Arizona sun) and my husband to make annual visits to a dermatologist for a head-to-toe body check. When I was teaching, I taught my young students about sun safety and brought the SunWise Program (http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/kids/index.html) into our school.   
My old friend, Dr. Howard Young, who does cancer research at the National Cancer Institute recently wrote on Facebook that cancer is actually many diseases, not one, and said that rather than finding a single cure, the hope is to find a treatment that will allow people to live with and manage their condition with a good quality of life. That being said, it was with great excitement that I heard the news of a new treatment for melanoma on the news on Monday monring.  The drug has not yet received FDA approval, but is being offered on a compassionate basis to people with advanced melanoma.  This new drug also provides hope for other forms of cancer.  In this time of seemingly endless bad news, how wonderful to hear something so positive!! Below is a link to the NBC report about the new drug.  I have also included a link to a great organization called the SHADE FOUNDATION (http://www.shadefoundation.org/), founded by former baseball player Curt Schilling and his wife, Shonda, which is dedicated to melanoma education. I encourage everyone to learn more about skin cancer prevention and hope that today's news will brighten everyone's day.

NBC Report

Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day 2010




NATIONAL CEMETERY PHX.jpg
NATIONAL CEMETERY - PHOENIX, ARIZONA

I have always found it strange to wish someone a Happy Memorial Day.  I can never bring myself to say those words.  Yes, we all look forward to the first long weekend that marks the beginning of summer (albeit a few weeks shy of the actual summer solstice).  When I lived in New York, Memorial Day marked the beginning of the planting season, though here in Arizona it's a little late to start planting!  It also marked the date you could start wearing summer white... again, Arizona folks know that we start that much earlier, too.  For many folks, Memorial Day means the first barbecue of the season... picnics, trips to the lake, lots of beer and chips.  Yes, all of those things make Memorial Day weekend a fun time.  But, I sincerely believe that we need to remember the real meaning of Memorial Day. 

I am greatly impressed by the way Israel honors its fallen heroes.  On Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Memorial Day, a siren is sounded twice throughout the country during a 24 hour time period, from sunset to sunset. The first siren marks the beginning of Memorial Day at 8:00 p.m. and the second is sounded at 11:00 a.m, before prayers are recited at all military cemeteries.  When the siren is sounded, the entire nation observes a two-minute standstill of all traffic and daily activities.  For the entire day, all places of public entertainment are closed and all radio and television stations
play music appropriate to the mood of the day and broadcast programs honoring fallen soldiers.



Enjoy your holiday weekend, but please take some time to honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to give us the freedoms we cherish.

Thanks to all our Veterans for your service to our country!


Warmest regards,
Pook


War Casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq


Source:  CNN.com
Thanks to the folks at CNN.com for creating an incredible site to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.  While it is actually one website, I have created separate links below to separate the casualties of Afghanistan and Iraq.  When you go to the website through either of the links below, you will be able to get to the LIST and MAP views for both Afghanistan and Iraq.  The Map View is amazing... be sure to check it out. 
U.S. AND COALITION CASUALTIES IN AFGHANISTAN: 
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/war.casualties/table.afghanistan.html
This list includes the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, and sailors whose deaths have been reported by their nation's government. The list also includes two U.S. Defense Department civilian employees. The troops died serving in the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or the NATO-led International Security Assistance force in Afghanistan. At least 5,917 U.S. personnel have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. In addition to the military deaths, one Jordanian and 11 U.S. intelligence operatives have died in Afghanistan. 

U.S. AND COALITION CASUALTIES IN IRAQ:   
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/war.casualties/table.iraq.html
This list includes the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen whose deaths have been reported by their country's governments. The list also includes 13 U.S. Defense Department civilian employees. At least 31,822 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. 

An Excellent Teacher


Thanks to Dr. Lanny Knell for passing this email message to me.  One never knows if these emails are true or not, but the message is a good one, so I'd like to share it with you.

A lesson that should be taught in all schools ... And colleges!  Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School   in Little Rock , did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the School Superintendent, the Principal and the Building Supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 'Ms.. Cothren, where're our desks?'  She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.'  They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.'  She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period... Still no desks in the classroom.  By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.  The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk less classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'  At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it.  Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall... By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned..  Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'


By the way, this is a true story.


Please consider passing this along so others won't forget that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by U. S. Veterans.


SGM David Carmel US Army Ret.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Housing Trends Newsletter

I'm excited to share a fabulous new monthly Housing Trends eNewsletter.  It is filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National Association of Realtors, and includes U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, housing market video reports, blogs, real estate glossary, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, and information on 50,000 neighborhoods.  You will be able to see what's happening in your local market.
Please check it out!  I would love your feedback!