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How to Stay Young

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay ‘them’

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, and hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

October 21, 2009 Posted by | Inspiration | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Good Housing News Predicted

All the leading indicators say housing is definitely on the mend, economists reported in advance of the official release of several pieces of good news expected this week.

Bloomberg News surveyed 53 economists and asked them where they expected the numbers to fall. Here are their predictions:

• Construction starts in September are expected to hit a 610,000 annual rate, the most since last November.
• Sales of existing homes likely rose to a two-year high.
• Because of fear of a relapse, the Federal Reserve is predicted to leave interest rates low for a few more months.
• Building permits, a sign of future growth, probably rose to a 590,000 annual pace, also the highest level since November, the Commerce Department is likely to announce.
• The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo index is expected to rise to 20 from 19, the economists say.

Google Inc. plans to resume hiring and acquisitions after its third-quarter sales beat analysts’ estimates. CFO Patrick Pichette says: “We weathered what is an incredible recession. If you have all this behind you, the only outcome you should have as management is: ‘OK, let’s build now.’”

Source: Bloomberg, Courtney Schlisserman (10/18/2009)

October 21, 2009 Posted by | economy, real estate | , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Things Condo Buyers Should Consider

Buyers who are considering the purchase of a condominium should inspect the health of the home owner’s association before they close.

The seller should provide the buyer all financial documents relating to the association in time for an attorney for the buyer to review them before closing.

Here’s some advice from Leonard Baron, professor of finance at San Diego State University, about the information that the seller should consider:

• Does the association budget include money for operating expenses such as water, lights, elevator maintenance, and landscaping?
• Is there extra money set aside in a reserve fund for long-term maintenance? If there is an outside reserve study, that should be provided. If not, there should be adequate money in the reserves right now to cover 50 percent of the estimated cost of repairs over the next 30 years.
• Do the condo’s expenses exceed revenues due to a high foreclosure rate or other reasons that owners’ debts go unpaid?
• If there is a shortfall, does the association have a plan besides cutting back on services for making it up?

Source: The Wall Street Journal, June Fletcher (10/17/2009)

October 20, 2009 Posted by | Nashville, real estate, tennessee | , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Market Comment for Week of October 19, 2009

MARKET COMMENT
Mortgage bond prices fell sharply last week driving mortgage rates higher. Rates were under pressure from better than expected economic news and rising stocks. Retail sales, weekly jobless claims, and industrial production data were all better than expected. The improved economic outlook had investors flocking to buy stocks, which helped the Dow Jones index to close over 10,000. For the week, interest rates rose nearly 7/8 of a discount point.

The producer price index data to be released Tuesday will be the most important data this week. Any signs of inflation will generally not bode well for mortgage bonds. The Fed “Beige Book” will factor into trading this week. Stock strength and dollar valuation will play a pivotal role in mortgage interest rates as well.

HOUSING STARTS
Housing starts data is a leading indicator of the state of our economy. This report, provided by the Bureau of the Census, takes into account data from both single-family homes and multi-family dwellings. Building permits are also released with the housing starts data. By knowing the number of permits issued monthly, analysts can attempt to estimate for the upcoming months. Normally, starts are 10% higher than permits since all locations are not required to have a building permit.

Housing starts and permits give a warning of future economic activity. In effect, a rise in housing starts can lead to a fall in the bond market and vice versa. Consumers tend to hold off on the purchase of new homes, new cars, and other big-ticket items if they are worried about the future of the economy. Housing is an important part of our economy. Continued declines in housing starts can lead to continued economic slowdown and essentially a deeper recession. On the other hand, increases in housing starts could signal a possible reversal.

From the opposite perspective, changes in interest rates often lead to changes in housing starts. High interest rates can cause a significant decline in home sales, which can lead to a drop in housing starts. Just the opposite happens when rates drop and is one of the additional reasons the Fed is trying to keep rates low. Low mortgage rates affect both home sales and housing starts. The housing market across the country is a vital component in sustaining the economy. For some time homeowners generally saw an increase in the value of their homes. Unfortunately now that has all changed. The softening of the housing market tied to credit concerns continues to have many worried. Most economists believe more pain is headed our way from the housing sector.

There is still uncertainty regarding the future state of the economy. Mortgage bonds have been volatile and improvements are not a given despite the recent Fed efforts to purchase mortgage bonds. The good news is that mortgage interest rates remain historically low. Be cautious.

Source: Courtesy of Todd Kabel, US Bank, Nashville, Tennessee

October 19, 2009 Posted by | economy, real estate, tennessee | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Open House this Sunday! – MLS1101357 – 3324 Dumas Drive

Kenneth Bargers, REALTOR® – courtesy of Prudential Woodmont Realty
(615) 512-9836 cell | (615) 661-7800 office | kb@bargers-solutions.com
CLICK LINK for Details: http://www.bargers-solutions.com/3324Dumas.html
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October 17, 2009 Posted by | Nashville, open house, real estate, tennessee | , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Foreclosures Down but Still Elevated

Mortgage foreclosure filings declined in September for the second-straight month, but September was still the third-highest monthly total behind July and August since real estate data firm RealtyTrac began keeping count in January 2005.

September filings were down 4 percent from August, according to a report released Thursday, but they were up 29 percent compared to August 2008. Third-quarter filings were 5 percent higher than the second quarter.

One in every 136 U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing during the third quarter. “Bank repossessions, or REOs, jumped 21 percent from the second quarter to the third quarter, corresponding to jumps in defaults and scheduled auctions in the previous two quarters,” James J. Saccacio, CEO of RealtyTrac, said in a statement.

Nevada’s foreclosure rate led the nation, followed by Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Utah, Georgia, Michigan, Colorado, and Illinois.

Unemployed homeowners are driving the increase.

Source: Reuters News, Julie Haviv (10/15/2009)

October 17, 2009 Posted by | economy, real estate | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Take Advantage before Time Ends on $8000 Tax Credit

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October 15, 2009 Posted by | Brentwood, economy, Nashville, real estate, relocation, tennessee | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Open House this Sunday – South Nashville Beauty!

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October 15, 2009 Posted by | Brentwood, Nashville, open house, real estate, tennessee | , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Real Estate Pros Seek Side Jobs

The real estate business has been challenging for many practitioners in the last year, and some have gone hunting for part-time jobs during the downturn.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says there were 310,100 employees in real estate offices in August. That’s down 17 percent from August 2007. That number doesn’t include self-employed practitioners.

Recruiter Deb Barbanel, managing director of real estate in the Americas for Russell Reynolds Associates, says real-estate veterans have an advantage over many job seekers because they have extensive Rolodexes. Some are opening small businesses of their own.

“They build strong relationships and can take those skill sets into other areas where relationships are tantamount to success like sales and marketing,” she says.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Dana Mattioli (10/13/2009)

October 15, 2009 Posted by | economy, real estate | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Take Advantage of $8000 Tax Credit Before it Ends!

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October 13, 2009 Posted by | Brentwood, Nashville, real estate, relocation, tennessee | , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

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