Your home – where you celebrate the holidays, where you welcome family and friends, and where you make cherished memories.

BUYERS, BUY NOW!

Regardless of the “doom and gloom” stories your nightly news likes to report, now is a great time to buy real estate. While the 2007 collapse of the sub-prime mortgage industry triggered disaster headlines all across the country, the truth is that numbers are trending upwards and consumers are ready for action.

Now is a great time to buy because all the “fence-sitters” who thought it might be too risky to put their homes on the market are now itching to get moving. They are encouraged by two recent news events:

First, the U.S. Government has created the FHA Modernization Act of 2007, which makes it easier for people who can’t afford traditional loans to find reputable loan programs. This will end many of the “predatory” practices of certain sub-prime lenders, while maintaining the ability for lower-income individuals to buy a home.

Second, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that as 2007 ends, nationwide home sales are once again trending upward. This is amazing news for an industry that has received a series of severe blows by the news media in the last year.

Both of these recent developments are “booster shots” to the real estate market. With such good news, people who had been fearful to list their homes are reassured by a more positive outlook.

And there are a lot of them! After sitting on the fence for months, the good news will motivate them into action in 2008 —which will make this year a great time to buy a home. When listing your home you just want to be the best in your price point as inventory is building up this spring. Consumer confidence has been so low but we’re optimistic that with the rate change it will spur people to make a move. If you need any update information feel free to call or email me and many thanks to the people who called to say they enjoyed the calendar. Roger did the photos as I’m sure you guessed. Think Spring.