Common Sense Economic Forecast Part I

I have so much to blog about I don’t know where to begin.  The market has been very active in recent weeks and it’s kept us  focused  on meeting deadlines, dotting I’s and crossing T’s.  I did take one day out last week to attend four, yes FOUR webinars. I will forever be a student.  I love to learn and there is never any shortage of material!

One of my favorite webinars was taught by John Tuccillo.  I have heard him before and was exited about getting an update on the economic recovery. I wanted to share with you a little of John’s common sense approach.

The Good News:

• John addressed the fact that only 10% of stimulus funds were spent in 2009, 60% will be spent in 2010 and  the rest will be spent in 2011 and beyond.

• Home sales are up!  Of course we are not sure how much of these number are attributed directly to the tax credit.  We will find out soon enough…less than 90 days left to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credits.

• Babyboomers are buying real estate.  They are beginning to retire which means downsizing and/or changing locations.

• We are in recovery and consumer psychology is reviving.

The Challenge

• Job growth is still a big concern.  The recovery in this area is slow and sluggish at best.  The silver lining is that if history repeats it’s self; sharp job losses tend to be followed by sharp job gains.  It will be interesting to see how that plays out.  One of the concerns is that some of the lost jobs have been eliminated because technology has made them obsolete.

• Foreclosure rates will continue to be  higher than normal (nationwide) because of the job market and because there are still a lot of people out there who over-borrowed against thier homes.  keep in mind….normal forclosure rate is approx  1/2 % of the total housing stock and currently it is 2% of total housing stock.

• Interest Rate will go up.  Likley starting around the 4th quarter of 2010.  Initially this will create activity in the market as it will get buyers off the fence.  Longer term though,  higher interest rates make it more expensive to own.

Overall I was encouraged.  Knowledge is power and the more we know the better decisions we  make with our businesses and personal finances.    Stay tuned….I have a ton of “bloggy” ideas rolling around in my head and I’ll be sharing them with you soon.

Sarah Johnson

Winter Curb Appeal

Here Are A Few Tips for Winter Curb Appeal

Because of bare trees, buyers will be able to see through clearly view of your home in the fall and winter than they do in the spring and summer. With just a few simple and inexpensive updates you can shine.

Since the front door is the first thing a buyer sees of your house, make sure that the paint on the trim is fresh and not peeling, maybe install a new knob if the old one is dated or has lost it’s shine.

Avoid accidents and present a well cared for property by clearing your walkways and steps & driveway,  of snow, ice and leaves.

The grass is no longer green, but you can still keep your lawn looking neat so buyers can picture what it will look like in the spring and summer. Keep your lawn clean by keeping an eye out for a build up of leaves that have blown in from the neighbor’s trees, or remind the kids to put up their toys and bikes.

With the short winter days, having proper outdoor lighting will make your home safer and more attractive for buyers who come to visit or drive by at night. Use a series of path lights to illuminate the way to your front door, or improve or update the outside front door porch light, even updating the bulb can make it shine brighter.

Subtle decorations can bring out the best in your home. Try a simple wreath on the front door, new house numbers that are clearly visible from the street, and a new door mat will be easy improvements that won’t cost a lot.

Lisa Marchant

Progress, Resolutions, How are yours going?

Can you believe that the January is almost over?? Wow! It’s true, time flies when you are having fun! We are seeing a nice increase in business and although we have been keeping steady all winter we have to admit that we are ready for the Spring Season in Real Estate. We are making some changes with the New Year and it’s fun to learn new things and to set professional goals both individually and as a team. With that being said….how are your New Year’s Resolutions going? I’m happy to report that I’m almost, kinda, and pretty close to keeping mine. For once in my life I decided to make my resolutions rewarding and practical, and lighthearted. So here we go, this is what I’ve done so far. Drum roll please……

1. Start making jewelry again. – Check! I’ve made some earrings, and a bracelet, haven’t worn them yet, thinking of giving them away as presents.

2. Be more firm with bullies. – I have been doing this! And seeing great results, maybe not all the time, but I’m choosing my battles and being firm. You all have heard to eat the frog when it’s still a tadpole? It’s true. Confrontation is much easier when you conquer the problem when it’s small.

3. Write a bucket list. – Working on this one, it’s fun to hear what others have on theirs!

4. Keep a house plant alive for longer than 6 months. – Cha-Check! Can you believe it? I have a healthy poinsettia still alive from before Christmas…for those that really know me, this is a biggie!

5. Get back to learning to paint, or just tell people it is Impressionism and enjoy myself anyway. – Okay….so I’ve traded the paints in for another craft, making cards. It’s more fun and honestly, if a person can’t draw a stick man, they probably shouldn’t be painting.

6. Learn to Fish-Patiently. Not throwing things & quitting after the line gets snagged for the 15th Time! – Patiently waiting, (not really) for Spring for this one. I hate the cold, so ice fishing is not my sport, I’ll work on this one at a later date.

So, this is my progress. What’s yours? Put yours in the comment box we would love to hear from you!

   Lisa Marchant

Haiti Relief Support

The latest news of the devastating earthquake in Haiti is heart wrenching. The news of this horrible incident has us all at a loss of what to do. Everyone wants to help, but are unsure of where to start, or where give our support. The only way I knew was though prayers and a money donation.

My husband and I donated to Doctors Without Borders, and World Vision

There are so many wonderful organizations to donate to, but you also want to be careful. There are always scams. Please check out this  list from MSNBC on organizations providing relief in Haiti including scams you want to avoid.

 Lisa Marchant

New Home Owner

Well, we did it!  This morning my husband, Dave, and I bought a new house!  We’ve been home owners before, but for the past 2 1/2 years we have been renting.  We left our home in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina for the beautiful Rocky Mountains that surround and protect our north Big Horn Basin.

Once you’ve been a home owner you miss having your own home.  For the time we were renting I always felt I was borrowing the house.  Now, I will once again truly feel “home”!  The federal government, for better or worse, is helping us become home owners once again with their $6,500 tax credit for existing home owners.   We qualify for this since we owned a home three of the last five years.

Being a REALTOR and also a new home buyer is a wonderful double “growth experience”!  Johnson Home and Land has empathy for all of our buyers and sellers, but the personal experience helps increase this!

Well, I’m out of here to go home and move furniture and boxes!  Yahoo!

Jyl Duffy

Cost vs. Value

Often January finds us setting goals and planning the year ahead.  If you are a list person like I am you have a list of projects you’d like to complete in 2010.  Maybe some of your projects are hunny do’s and others are serious home improvements.  If you are considering home improvement you’ll be interested to know which projects will increase the value of your home the most. The following are a few of the best investments.  If you have been wanting a new front exterior door….I have some GREAT news for you! On a midrange home in our area you can recoup you an average of….

111% of the cost of a steel exterior door !

79% of the cost of new windows,

79% of the cost of a new wood deck

76% on a minor kitchen remodel and 73% on a major kitchen remodel.

If you’d like the full cost vs. value report….check it out here.   I think is is very good information for all homeowners regardless of whether or not selling is in your plans.

I should also mention that there are some great tax breaks for those who decide to purchase energy efficient doors and windows.

Thanks and hope the first week of  2010 is going well for you.  We are off to a great start here at Johnson Home and Land.

Sarah Johnson

Once in a Blue Moon

Night’s like tonight happen just once in a Blue Moon! Sounds exciting doesn’t it! This New Year’s Eve is going to be extra special because we will be having a Blue Moon in tonight’s sky to help us ring in 2010!

So while you’re out celebrating tonight, look up at the night sky. A Blue Moon on New Years Eve won’t come around again until the year 2028!

The term “blue moon” generally refers to the second full moon in a month and occurs just once every 2.7 years. The last blue moon to shine on New Year’s Eve was 19 years ago, in 1990.

Although the color of the moon won’t truly be a blue color literally, but it will shine brightly and light up the night to add to the excitement!

5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Happy New Year!

“Here’s to the bright New Year
And a fond farewell to the old,
Here’s to the things that are yet to come
And to the memories that we hold.”

Lisa Marchant

What is your New Year’s Resolution?

Ok, so almost everyone I’ve talked to over the past week has been asking the same question….What’s your New Years Resolution? They ask in a very peppy manner as if I am going to have something new or exciting to say.

I’d like to come up with something new this year! More than the old stand by, loose weight! I don’t know what that would be. Maybe fit more into my 24 hour day? I feel like I’m busy all the time, that is of course until I get the well-meaning holiday form letters and think, WOW how do you fit all of that wonderfulness into one year? No, Really?  Maybe it’s my time management? I am going back to the old-fashioned day planner book with real paper. I went digital last year. You know, save a tree, join the 21^st Century all that. What ever, I love all the sticky notes, slips of paper tucked in and the handy-dandy pockets to save my To-Do lists in.

I’m going to say my New Years Resolutions are the following.

1. Start making jewelry again.
2. Be more firm with bullies.
3. Write a bucket list.
4. Keep a house plant alive for longer than 6 months.
5. Get back to learning to paint, or just tell people it is Impressionism and enjoy myself anyway.
6. Learn to Fish-Patiently. Not throwing things & quitting after the line gets snagged for  the 15^th Time!

What are your New Years Resolutions? Write them in the comment pages!

Lisa Marchant

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Merry Christmas to you and yours…..from the Johnson FamilyLacey, Noah, Sarah, Summer and Rob

What is a short sale?

I have been asked this question a few times recently. What is a Short Sale?

No easy answer is available because every situation is different. We are very fortunate in our area that foreclosures, and short sales are not as common as they are reported to be nationally on the nightly news. I have been involved in a Short Sale transaction recently with an out-of-state lender who contacted me to help a client. I have to say that it was a good, positive result for that family and also for the lender. The buyer was able to buy a home that his family loves and are now contributing to our community and love living in Wyoming.

Answer from the National Association of REALTORS(r): A short sale is a transaction in which the lender, or lenders, agree to accept less than the mortgage amount owed by the current homeowner. In some cases, the difference is forgiven by the lender, and in others the homeowner must make arrangements with the lender to settle the remainder of the debt.

Lisa Marchant