Deals & More Deals!

The real estate market has been sluggish and you should be able to find a good deal this winter!  Homesellers are just waiting for offers.  With the recession in full force, many homesellers are getting nervous about selling.  Afterall, carrying taxes, utilities, insurance and mortgage payments on a vacant property is not pleasant.

Find a Buyer agent and let him or her go to work for you.  Take advantage of the good interest rates and tax credits.  If you are in a position to do so, this may be one of the best times to buy in recent years.  

It you have a question, or need a buyer agent, contact us.

Have you ever prayed and heard a response from God?  Is it possible? You will never know until you receive His Holiness and try!  Some days we feel paticularly closer to God than on other days.  When we feel close to God, God often speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.  God leads us to Him and teaches us what He wants us to know.  He reveals something about His Greatness. 

If we need something, sometimes we just need to ask, “God what is it you are trying to teach us?”  If we hesitate long enough, we will always receive a response.  Believers know this to be true.  The response we receive is not what is always expected, but it is a response that we need to hear and pay close attention to.  

This morning I awoke from my sleep and asked myself, “What pleases God?”  I was led to the passage of Ezekiel, chapters 2 and 3.   I had expected to be led to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Matthew Chapters 5, 6 and 7, where Jesus taught his disciples about some important principles to live by.   

I thought for a minute, God wants us to be obedient and to help the needy.  He wants us to be kind and considerate to each other, and he wants us to be accountable to Him.    

But as I said, I was led to read the passage by the prophet Ezekiel whereby God sent Ezekiel to the house of Israel to do a difficult task; God asked Ezekiel to tell the house of Israel to not be rebellious to Him. 

Sometimes God asks us to do something that we may not like to do, but we need to remain obedient and have enough faith to follow His instructions.  Growing spiritually does not always come easy, but if we remain close to God and listen to His ways, we will be rewarded.  His way is the Truth and He knows what is best for all of us.  He is consistently trying to teach us lessons that we need to learn. 

We must digest the Word of God often, especially if we want to stay spiritually connected to Him. We must be consistent and faithful or we will be prone to fall from His Grace.  When we are not obedient to His authority, we often pay the consequences.  This is the message God shared with me, which I have chosen to share with you. 

Stay close to God, read and study His Word regularly, and may God’s Blessings be with you always.

For most of us, this winter will be different from years past.  Therefore, it is important to reflect on how good we have it in America as opposed to other people around the world.  We always should give thanks for what we have.

While our economy is not what it once was, many consumers are finding new ways to keep peace and joy in their hearts.  Years ago, our forefathers worked long hours and experienced shortages too.   Many of our parents had to go without gifts but were lucky if they had the basics such as food, shelter and clothing. 

Today, we all need to be more sensible with our spending and we need to appreciate what’s really important.  We need to dig a little deeper in our pockets to help others.   I hope this Holiday season will be joyful for you and hope that you will find the things that really make you happy.  That which matters most is our health, faith, friends and family. 

Find joy in each day and give a little to those who are less fortunate.

Holiday Blessings from all of us!

Each day we are alive is a day of Thanksgiving.  How do we spend each day?  What are we thankful for?

God gave us life, he gave us family, he gave us friends, he gives us comfort, he provides us with our own unique identity, but how we use our time and what we do for others is what life is all about.  Even in difficult times, we should give thanks, for God is always preparing us for something new.  If we embrace life in a joyful and constructive matter, we will find happiness within. 

While life is so difficult for many people, we all need to find ways to make life better for others.  We are not to be foolish with our time, nor are we to take advantage of others.  We are here to serve and be obedient to the instructions God has laid down for us.

While temptation and sin are always before us, and because we are human, most of us are prone to sin in one form or another.  Few people can achieve true sainthood, but this is what we should strive for.  Let all of our hearts grow bigger this season of thanksgiving.

Let us give to one another the most precious gift of all:  Love, gentleness, caring attitudes and joyfulness for others.  Together, let us achieve greater understanding for the precious and fragile nature of our lives.

I give profound thanks to all of you who have been so kind to us this past year.  May your Thanksgiving holiday be joyous and your days long numbered.

It’s a great time to buy real estate with the low interest rates and Federal Tax Credits that are available for 1st time buyers.  If you can find what you are looking for, now is a great time to make an offer.   Call your lender and get pre-qualified , then call us to help you find the right property and take take advantage of the Federal Tax Credits. 

Here’s an over view of the Tax Credit:

Q. President Obama has signed into law legislation extending the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and creating a new, $6,500 credit for longtime homeowners who buy a new home. How does the extension of the first-time buyer credit work?

 
A. The old credit was scheduled to expire Nov. 30, so folks who hadn’t already signed a contract faced a daunting task to get a deal closed by the deadline.

Some real estate agents were writing provisions into contracts, making the purchase contingent on closing in time for the buyer to get the credit. Failing to do so would kill the sale.

Under the new law, the credit is available to qualifying buyers who sign a binding contract by April 30, 2010, and who close by June 30, 2010. The 60-day period should offer plenty of time for last-minute buyers to get to the closing table.

There are a few differences that apply to deals closed after Nov. 6, the day President Obama signed the bill into law.

First though, the similarities:

The first-time buyer credit isn’t really restricted to first-timers. You’re considered a first-time buyer if you have not owned a home for at least three years prior to the date you settle on your new home.

The credit is available only for the home you live in. It’s not available for rental properties or vacation homes.

The credit is 10 percent of the purchase price of the home, up to a maximum credit of $8,000. Therefore, if the house costs $80,000 or more, you can qualify for the maximum tax credit.

Unlike the first-time buyer credit that was available in 2008, this credit does not have to be repaid… as long as you live in the house for at least three years. Sell or move out before three years, however, and you have to pay back the $8,000 as extra tax on your tax return for the year you sell or move. The payback can’t exceed the amount of profit you make on the sale, though.

Want more info?  Visit the Federal Tax Credit website to learn more.

1.  Sell when the market it hot, Buy when it’s not!

2.  Read one good book a week, either for enjoyment, self-improvement or knowledge.

3.  Always have a plan when you are buying or selling.

4.  Know when to cut your losses & don’t hang onto past mistakes!

5.   Check references carefully before you make big life decisions!                                                   ( Marriage, Faith, Finance, Children, Careers, Exercise & Diet are all big or long term decisions)

6.   Treat others as you wish to be treated!

7.   Don’t let stress control your life or it will affect your health!

8    Find humor in all that you do!  Learn at least one funny joke to share with others.

9.   Think about what your top priorties are, then find away to accomplish them.

10.  Pick good mentors and friends, and develop worthwhile relationships.

11.  Choose to be Happy each day!

12.  Why Choose Us?  Take a look!

Q:  What’s the most important thing a buyer can do before deciding to buy property?

A:  Talk to a local lender and get prequalified for a mortgage before you begin your search.  A knowledgeable lender will discuss your credit score and mortgage options with you.  The lender will even provide you with a good faith closing estimate so you will know how much money will be required at the closing table.

Q: Are all lenders alike?

A:  No, not all lenders provide the same level of service, mortgage terms and information.  Shop for a lender that explains the process to you and that will return your call.  Get your pre-approval letter prior to looking at properties.  This will take the stress out of shopping for a mortgage and help you close faster.

Q:  Does being pre-approved give me more negotiating power?

A:   Yes, all sellers want to know you are pre-approved.  Many sellers will not accept an offer unless you have a pre-approval letter in place.

Q:  If I am not pre-approved, what can happen?

A:   Sellers will probably accept another offer over yours.  Also, you may have some surprises that delay your loan approval.  So if have deadlines to meet, make sure you are pre-approved in advance.  Banks are notorious in taking way too long to approve your loan.   Work with an experienced lender and you will save time, money and frustration.  Find a lender who is committed to helping you obtain your loan and examine which type of loan is best suited for you.

Need help?  Talk to us!  Can’t get approved?  Maybe we can find you private financing at reasonable rates.

 How do we move forward as a society?  In Biblical times, the word was spread by missionaries.  There was chaos among empires, plagues, war and all types of suffering, but there were also miracles of healing.  Today, we have technology that helps us spread the word.  We have so much more than our forefathers, but yet our society struggles to improve. 

Why, because temptation and sin are still in our lives.  We continue to have wars and kill others, we develop prejudice attitudes, we continue to collect material things and constantly want more, we seem to never be happy or satisfied.  Perhaps our focus is on the wrong things.  What is it we really want? 

We are taught to compete on all levels, but will anyone really win the game and at what cost?  Competition may seem good, but not if it distracts and takes away from winning the game of life.  Are you winning, or is winning just an illusion?  Time teaches that winning is temporary, because someone will always come along and break our records.   What should we be winning at?

We live in a small divided community.  We have 10 or 15 townships that compete with one another.  When you compete, someone wins and someone loses, but if all were to work together, more would be accomplished.  Society cannot continue to defeat itself.  No one school  or town is really better than another, no one person is greater than another, because the life God has given us is equal.  We all have 24 hours in a day, but how we use it differs.  In the end, our time will be consumed.

Unforturnately, many do not see life this way.  Some people crave more than others.  Some people perform great deeds and work many hours, while others choose to do little at all.  God gives us choice and temptation comes before us.  How we use our time does matter!

Do you know God?  Does God know you?  Serving God means serving others.  It means showing compassion and respect to others.  It has nothing to do with politics, money or our collectibles.   God wants us to worship him and to serve him with all our heart.  Are you doing this in your life?  Or are you wandering down a path that leads to a feeling of emptiness?  Are you feeling joyful or are you depressed?  Are you listening to what God is saying to you?  

To move forward, you must give up the past that has controlled you.  You must surrender yourself to God’s will.  God will move you in a direction where you can be most utilized.   Then you will be able to move forward and your love will be magnified across the earth.  We are here to help each other.  Money is not the answer to our salvation, God’s love is!

When the Lord speaks to us, he gets our attention.   He calls us to action.   Recently, I have spent time wondering what my life is really about and what God has been preparing me for.  Up until now, I spent my time going to school, working odd jobs, fixing up houses, attending college, and working in real estate.  But what was the purpose?   Was God preparing me for something better?  Was he teaching me along the way? 

God has shown me his grace and brought people into my life so that I could move onto the next chapter.  As I help others buy and sell real estate, I provide counsel and witness.  I help others with their real estate needs.  I help them prepare a plan.

As we come closer to the Lord each day, we are reminded of our responsibilities.   The Lord uses us as his servants to serve and teach others.  Much of what we do may seem meaningless, but when we keep the Lord in our work,  our work begins to take on greater meaning.  What is the Lord trying to say to you?  How are you serving others?

Are you thinking about selling your property but don’t know where to begin or how successful you will be?

Selling by owner is not as easy as it looks, especially in today’s economy.  That ’s why we created our For Sale By Owner program.  We can help you sell your property in an efficient manner.

Here are the benefits we offer:

• Save on commissions and advertising expenses
• Make your property more visible to buyers
• We’ll provide yard signs, comparable sales, and better Internet exposure
• We can offer local MLS listing at a discounted price
• We can help you with the paperwork, marketing ideas, contracts, forms, disclosures
• We are an experienced in negotiating contract terms
• You stay in control of the showing process answering basic buyer questions
• All for a price you can afford while keeping your Equity!

If you have questions about our program, selling techniques, fees or success rate - just call Eric Strong at 607-725-3742.

We look forward to serving you!