The laws of Attraction!

What is the secret to life? Has anyone not seen the acclaimed film "The Secret" yet? IF not, you must buy the DVD. Not only that, but you need to watch it at least once a month! I'm not kidding. If you feel like you are in a perpetual rut, it could change your views on life, love, money, relationships, everything.

Is anyone else done with the bad economic news. It's time for us to start making good economic news on our own. This holiday season, don't worry about your bank account or your 401k. Instead, be thankful for what you have. We all have something we can be thankful for. We are all alive! So let's change our attitudes a little bit this winter, and make it a little warmer.

I started volunteering this year for the Salvation Army for the first time in a long time. I have never felt so warm on such a cold day. I'm going to do it again next week. Come visit me if you want to out at the Hy-Vee on 156th & Maple next Thursday. I'll be the guy ringing the bell, makin' a fool out of himself.

What does this have to do with the economy? and my poor financial situation? Watch "The Secret" and you'll know what I'm talking about. Happy Holidays everyone! Safe travels!

Oh By the way... I'm never too busy for any of your referrals!

Time's running out!

Listen up potential buyers! Have you been thinking about buying a home, but want to wait for this economy to turn? If you are planning on obtaining a loan to purchase your new home, you may want to get off the bench and in the game! If you are short on cash in your pocket, but can still afford the monthly mortgage, insurance, and tax obligations, an FHA loan may be perfect for you. But beware, your down payment minimum is changing as of January 1, 2009. Until then, you will only need 3% of the purchase price as a down payment toward your purchase. As of the beginning of next year, that will change to 3.5%. So on the purchase of a $150,000 house, your down payment would change from $4500 to $5250. It may not be much, but every little bit counts when making such a huge purchase. For more information, call or email me anytime.

Oh By the way... I'm never too busy for any of your referrals!

How can I possibly buy a house in today's market?

This is a good question. The answer might surprise you. Today is actually one of the best times in the last 30 years to buy a home, especially for a first time buyer or a move up buyer and seller. There are several factors that contribute to this. First, We presently have an enormous amount of inventory, meaning there are way more homes on the market than buyers are buying. Because of this, those sellers who need to sell are having to drop the listing price of their homes, some up to 10-15%! That is a lot. When you combine those facts with the recently dropped intereste rates, which were already at historical lows, you have a perfect storm for home buyers....



The catch...



With the current economic situation, potential buyers must beware of a number of things. First, you must be financially ready to buy! You need to have an up to date running budget. You need to have a 3-6 month cash or liquid reserve for emergencies. You need to have a minimum 3% (which would be $4500 for $150,000 purchase) available for downpayment. As lending laws and regulations are constantly changing, this will also change. You need to have professional representation when buying a home. Without an expert working diligently for you, you could run into such pitfalls as predatory lending, title issues, abstract contractual obligations, problems with appraisals and mandatory repairs, negotiating and understanding a fair price and terms, home inspection issues including radon, mold, and lead-based paint issues, and the list goes on. There are many things to consider when purchasing or selling a home.

Help me Help you! Don't do it on your own