I Can't Sell My House

Tired of the West

2011-10-26T11:00:00.001-07:00

I need to find a place that has a slower pace. So I was doing some research and came across some nice Real Estate in Charleston South Carolina. This place just might be the next place I move to. I have spent hours and hours just browsing Homes For Sale in Charleston. I am a dreamer and sometimes its just a dream. I have lived in so many different areas but one place I have not lived in is Charleston or anywhere in the South East. I wonder what I would do for a living? I wonder if Howard could survive another trip across the Country? Not likely he is getting pretty old and has a tough time getting around. So we just might have to wait a bit before we really get serious about moving to Charleston.But in the mean time I can see as many houses as my heart desires right online. I also have to convince Julie to move.
What I have in my favor is she has been there before and liked it.

Moving

2011-10-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever just wanted to move just for the fun of it? If it was an easy task I would move and hire some Movers to move all of my stuff. But its not that easy. Lets say I was moving to Toronto,I would have to hire some Toronto Movers. Where in the world would I find Moving Companies in Toronto? Or an International Movers?
The problem is Howard is getting old and has no desire to ever move again. He also wants to stay in the USA. I wonder if they have orange ones in Canada?

Dallas

2011-09-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

I love to follow real estate all over the country, and it seems that one part of the country where the housing seems to be not so bad is Texas. I have even heard recently of a few large companies that are moving to Texas. Housing seems to be fairly reasonable when looking at Dallas homes for sale.

I could spend all day looking at Dallas homes for sale not that I do though.

Texas has always appealed to some part of me. Perhaps it is the wide openness of the state, and the welcoming people who live there. Anytime I have been in Texas, the people are very down-to-earth and friendly. I don't think I could convince Howard and Julie to move there, as they like living near the coast and mountains and the mild California weather (so do I), and they both swear they are never moving again, but I'll keep my eye on some Dallas Real Estate just for the fun of it.

My dog is a cat

2011-09-10T17:04:00.000-07:00

The Author of this post is Darius Boone

Today was such a long day at work. I couldn’t wait to get home, make dinner and pour a big glass of red wine. I emptied the mailbox of today’s delivery containing my latest Netflix DVD, a save-the-date for an upcoming wedding and a flyer for Tv by Direct. I hadn’t decided what to make for dinner yet, but realized as I walked into the house that dinner would be put on hold for a bit. It seems my cat had found himself a little bored today and decided to shred a whole roll of toilet paper all over my house. When I decided to get a cat instead of a dog 8 years ago, I was under the impression that they were lower maintenance than dogs, but not this cat. He managed to get into everything and did not have the typical aloof personality of most cats; he craved the attention and companionship of man’s best friend. So, if you’re thinking about getting a pet, remember that you may end up getting what you wanted in the first place regardless of what you choose!

Casinos

2011-09-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

What do you do in your spare time? I do alot of Internet surfing and I come across all kinds of sites,for instance one of my most recent is Online Casinos for USA Players.There are all kinds of games on that site. i myself do not play for real money and im not sure its legal in the USA. You could go check at Poker Sites USA and get back to me.I am into the real live casinos and not so much into the Best US Poker Sites There seems to be a ton of new games that you can play. I stick to the basic games of Poker or a slot here and there thats about all I play these days.

Colorado

2011-08-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just think about moving. This time its Moving To Colorado . There is no reason for this, except that maybe it is the challenge for me. Finding the right home, packing,finding the right Colorado Movers , or a Colorado Moving Company. There also are Delaware International Movers. My wife's father was a builder, and when she was growing up she moved quite a bit within the same town, but they did not use any moving companies. Her extended family would help out, and I also think it helped that they would make short moves. She and I have moved several times throughout our marriage, and I swear that if we ever do it again we are hiring a moving service. We lived away from the nice extended family members, but God bless the people who did pitch in to help us. They saved our marriage when we moved from Arizona to Illinois. The last one did us in, and my back is not getting any younger. My wife just swears that we are not doing it again...unless it is to a better home in the same town.

The best thing about moving is getting rid of stuff we hadn't used or seen in years. It is so therapeutic to get rid of junk. I don't understand hoarders. Anyway, we sold or gave away almost everything at a garage sale before we moved from Illinois to California, and when we arrived at our new place we bought new things. For us, it was cheaper than hiring a truck to move us across the country. The only thing of importance furniture-wise, is a rocking chair that has been in my wife's family for almost 100 years. So we made it out of Illinois with a large, rented trailer. An enclosed one, lest you think we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies headed for Californ-y.

Moving, especially cross-country, is a HUGE job. You want to make sure you have a reputable company moving you. Even small moves can be a pain in the neck!

If any of you are going to be moving, and have too much that you cannot part with, be sure to get moving quotes We got a few before we made our decision. Happy moving! Glad it is you and not me.

Cashing out

2011-08-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I knew a guy who was cashing out and moving to Texas. In the back of my mind I was thinking hhhhmmm, why would he want to move to Texas? Now I hear about more and more people leaving California and buying Dallas Real Estate.My sister has been there several times, and loves it. She takes her vacations there year after year, and I think out of curiosity the next time she goes, which should be very soon knowing her, I will ask her to pick up some real estate magazines for me so I can check out some Dallas Homes for Sale .I am a real estate magazine junky, but if you would rather just see Dallas Homes for Sale through the internet you can click the links.It can be confusing to buy real estate these days. The links above should have some very helpful information for you. Maybe you are not in a position to buy now, but it is never to late to think about how you want to spend your retirement years.

Something New

2011-08-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

I have thought of a new item to sell, but I will need a way to get my name out there. After doing some research I found IDX Solution. It is a way to capture leads, and I am sure I will need to do some of that. It is so hard at first to get your product out there in the general public, but with some persistance I am sure it will be seen. There will be challenges, and some critisizing, but it's all part of the adventure. Who knows I just might hit the jackpot with my new item. Even if this one does not make it, I have many many more to try in the future.

To many plants

2011-08-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

I like to grow things like trees and flowers but the problem I am having is I am running out of space so I will be looking into getting some plant hangers for the back patio.
Then after I have filled up the back patio with all of my plants I will be working on the inside of the house. I may start with a corner vanity. I will see how it goes as to what I decide to do next.Who knows I might end up in the living room and end up putting an asian chest somewhere out there. Keep in mind that all of this has to go thru my wife and she is the one with the taste its sure not me. I might just wait until she gets home to tackle any of this. I do like living on the edge so I may surprise her.

Real estate in Hawaii

2011-08-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

Of all the places in the entire USA Hawaii is high on my choice of dream places to live. Yeah I know its expensive, just look at the real estate in Hawaii. They are not too bad though considering it is almost a perfect climate. Maui real estate has held up pretty well, and time will tell if it comes down as much as California has.

Back in my living on a boat days, I had quite a few friends who sailed to Hawaii. Some stayed and others came back ASAP. Sailor Sam was one of them (great guy). Sam if you're out there I would love to hear more of your stories. For you clowns who think its a cake walk to sail there, or dream about it, just so you know its about a 12-16 day trip on a sailboat from California, depending upon how fast your boat is. There are not any places along the way to get food or anything else you may of forgotten. Its a long long sail. Unfortunately Walmart and Taco Bell have not made floating establishments yet, but if it was feasible you can bet Walmart would have done it by now. They'd be selling China made pirate eye patches and hook hands at reduced prices.

If you do get to Hawaii, don't forget to look at some Hawaii real estate. If you're there send me a real estate catalog. I collect them much to my wife's dismay. She made me throw out a stack of them today, and it broke my heart.

So, if you are reading this at work right now, and you're hating your job because your boss is a complete tool, and you want to pretend you are working really really hard on that really really important research project check out the Kauai MLS instead. Dream about telling your boss to stick it as you rip off your tie and storm out of the office because YOU ARE MOVING TO HAWAII!!!

New recipes for pizza Wednesday

2011-07-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

In our household while I was a kid growing up, we always had pizza Wednesdays. Now most of the time that meant ordering in pizza and scarfing it down before we all headed off to church for Sunday night services. Well, I thought it would be fun to continue doing that with my own family. But the thing is that I didn't want to just order it in. I always loved pizza and looked forward to the middle of the week. But I really want to give my kids some better pizza to look forward to.

I was looking online for some good pizza recipes and as I was doing that I saw the site DomainNames.com. After I read that some I decided to buy a domain on there and start a blog called Pizza Wednesdays with recipes that I come up with and fix.

I told my husband and he thought that it sounded like a great idea. Now if I can just find enough other things to fill in the rest of the week between Wednesdays.

Chicago

2011-07-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Chicago I stopped by the Suites Collection. What is the Suites Collection? I myself had no idea so I started asking around.Here is what I found out.They own and operates several boutique serviced office or managed office suite locations in the city of Chicago. With today's new free lance economy, shared office space such as the properties operated by the Suites Collection provide free lancers, artists, consultants, designers and marketers the flexible space they need to get their business off and running.Sounds like a nice place to me. The Suites Collection properties are located in River North and the Loop in the city of Chicago. The Suites Collection also offers virtual offices and conference room rentals. So if your looking for serviced offices Chicago this might be just perfect. Or if your looking for serviced office spaces Chicago it would be worth checking out.

Tickets to anywhere

2011-06-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who wants to see Avril Lavigne I do not even know who this nor have I ever heard of this person. They asked me where can they get Avril Lavigne Tickets? I gave them a look like WHO??????? I must live in a cave because they also asked me if I can get Pageant Of The Master Tickets? Once again I gave the look that I have no idea what you are talking about. I ask them if they wanted some Nassau Coliseum tickets? Of course I do they answered. So since I am in the game playing mood I ask how about some United Center tickets? Yep they will take these too. Alright how about some Madison Square Garden tickets? Of course so I had to ask Is your life just going out to see any group or any Stadium? Yep it sure is they replied.

Gold or a House?

2011-06-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

If you had $100,000, which would you buy Gold Bullion,Gold IRA or a house? That's a tough one for me.But I think I would buy Bullion. Looking at the last 10 years, a home versus gold coins, it seems that the gold has held its value better. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I'm an easy-going guy, and I have nooo problem with that.

I have heard commercials about how gold has never been worth zero, and it always reminds me of when I was a kid and my dad bought some gold bullion. He actually buried it. I kid you not! He went out in the back yard like a golden retriever, and dug a hole to put it in. I remember it very well for two reasons. I was with him when we buried the gold bullion. He got out a gold coin and showed it to me. I think it was 10 oz, and at that time the price was around $250-$300 an oz. The other reason is that he told me if they were needed for some reason in the winter, we would be out of luck, because of the ground being frozen to about 2 feet down.

I also remember that about 2 years later we were going to dig up the gold and we could not find it. This was not in the city so its doubtful anyone saw us, but not impossible. We did this a few times, and would bury it in between two trees so it would be easy for us to find. All of the times we buried gold it was found, but not that one time.

Ahhh the father-son memories! This was back in the 60's and 70's when we still did things the old school way. Somewhere, in a quaint little town in northern Illinois, there is 10 ounces of gold that will likely never be found.

A green game room for the kids

2011-05-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

Guest post written by Pam Winger

Over the past few years as I've had to redecorate or refresh rooms in our home, I've tried to make them a little more green or efficient. Also, I've tried to use materials that are either green or made out of recycled materials. Up next is the kids' game room. It started out as more of a playroom but it mainly just houses the video game systems in our house now. Our kids spend most of their time in there, so I'd like to make it a little nicer and also more efficient for the environment.

But I wasn't exactly sure how I could redecorate it in a way that I could make it environmentally friendly. So I went online to try and get some ideas I could use for that. While I was online looking for that, I came across some information about stream energy tx . After that I decided to change over our energy provider.

I think that our kids' game room is going to end up really great. I bought some cool looking colorful chairs for the kids to sit in and have been designing the room around those chairs.

Canada Drugs

2011-04-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

I normally try my best to support USA products, but its getting harder and harder to do. I had to get some medication at the local drug store and I waited almost an hour after I went to the counter and told there I am here to pick up my order.It was called in 3 hrs earlier. So I now am considering calling Canada Drugs when I need some medication. If its not important that I have it now I am calling them up and see what they have to offer. I see no reason to wait an hour for something that was called in 3 hrs earlier. I am surprised that they do not make me wait for over the counter drugs. So when I go buy Lipitor I am considering using these guys.

Hawaii

2011-03-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

Of all the places in the entire USA Hawaii is high on my choice of dream places to live. Yeah I know its expensive, just look at the real estate listings in Hawaii. They are not too bad though considering it is almost a perfect climate. Honolulu has held up pretty well, and time will tell if it comes down as much as California has.

Back in my living on a boat days, I had quite a few friends who sailed to Hawaii. Some stayed and others came back ASAP. Sailor Sam was one of them (great guy). Sam if you're out there I would love to hear more of your stories. For you clowns who think its a cake walk to sail there, or dream about it, just so you know its about a 12-16 day trip on a sailboat from California, depending upon how fast your boat is. There are not any places along the way to get food or anything else you may of forgotten. Its a long long sail. Unfortunately Walmart and Taco Bell have not made floating establishments yet, but if it was feasible you can bet Walmart would have done it by now. They'd be selling China made pirate eye patches and hook hands at reduced prices.

If you do not like Hawaii, and just want to see some scenic pictures or some desert real estate check out newtohavasu.com If you're there send me a real estate catalog. I collect them much to my wife's dismay. She made me throw out a stack of them today, and it broke my heart.

So, if you are reading this at work right now, and you're hating your job because your boss is a complete tool, and you want to pretend you are working really really hard on that really really important research project check out carolina real estate instead. Dream about telling your boss to stick it as you rip off your tie and storm out of the office because YOU ARE MOVING !!!

Chicago

2011-03-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Chicago I stopped by the Suites Collection. What is the Suites Collection?They own and operates several boutique serviced office or managed office suite locations in the city of Chicago. With today's new free lance economy, shared office space such as the properties operated by the Suites Collection provide free lancers, artists, consultants, designers and marketers the flexible space they need to get their business off and running. The Suites Collection properties are located in River North and the Loop in the city of Chicago. The suites collection also offers virtual offices and conference room rentals. So if your looking for serviced offices Chicago this might be just perfect. Or if your looking for serviced office spaces Chicago it would be worth checking out.

Moving Overseas

2011-03-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just feel like moving. I use to think about Moving overseas. There is no reason for this, except that maybe it is the challenge for me. Finding the right home, packing,finding the right International Movers, or an International Moving Company. There also are Overseas Moving companys and International Shipping companys. My wife's father was a builder, and whe she was growing up she moved quite a bit within the same town, but they did not use any moving companies. Her extended family would help out, and I also think it helped that they would make short moves. She and I have moved several times throughout our marriage, and I swear that if we ever do it again we are hiring a moving service. We lived away from the nice extended family members, but God bless the people who did pitch in to help us. They saved our marriage when we moved from Arizona to Illinois. The last one did us in, and my back is not getting any younger. My wife just swears that we are not doing it again...unless it is to a better home in the same town.

The best thing about moving is getting rid of stuff we hadn't used or seen in years. It is so therapeutic to get rid of junk. I don't understand hoarders. Anyway, we sold or gave away almost everything at a garage sale before we moved from Illinois to California, and when we arrived at our new place we bought new things. For us, it was cheaper than hiring a truck to move us across the country. The only thing of importance furniture-wise, is a rocking chair that has been in my wife's family for almost 100 years. So we made it out of Illinois with a large, rented trailer. An enclosed one, lest you think we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies headed for Californ-y.

Moving, especially cross-country, is a HUGE job. You want to make sure you have a reputable company moving you. Even small moves can be a pain in the neck!

If any of you are going to be moving, and have too much that you cannot part with, be sure to get moving quotes We got a few before we made our decision. Happy moving! Glad it is you and not me.

Cleaning tips

2011-02-21T19:43:00.000-08:00

We all have our little accidents like a spill of a soda in the car.If this happens you are going to need car carpet cleaning tips. I myself an guilty of that one. Or maybe you have a dog and you will need carpet cleaning pet odor removal austin
Lucky for me my dog Howard is very well trained and in all the years he has had only a few accidents. One of them was in the car while driving down the freeway so I had to come up with a few carpet cleaning tips pet stains. He has been across the country and not one accident in a 32 hr drive. He did his fair share of crying but no accidents.

San Diego

2011-02-16T15:10:00.000-08:00

California takes its fair share of bad news. Like anywhere there are nice cities and not so nice cities. San Diego would fall in the nice city category. Its a fairly large city if your into that but at the same time there are some areas that are isolated from all of the hustle and bustle. If your interested in San Diego I found a website that has lots of San Diego information including the Real Estate news.
Way way back when I lived on a boat I met a guy who had sailed up to Santa Barbara from San Diego and he told me it took him 3 days and he loved the boat life. He had a dog that would actually dive about 3 feet deep to retrieve what ever he would throw in the water. I was amazed how much that dog loved to dive. He asked about the Real Estate market in Santa Barbara and at that time it was soft but if he had bought a house then even after all of the crashing of houses he still would be ahead about $400,000. Not to bad but I think he loved the boat life to much and most likely would of gone nuts living on land.

Home Inspections

2011-01-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

If your looking to buy a home or maybe you just want a pest inspection done in the Philadelphia area I can recommend a great company. The company is ValueGuard Home Inspections and has done over 40,000 inspections over the past 14 years. The inspectors are all ASHI certified and highly experienced. The main market is Greater Philadelphia, but they also serve much of PA, NJ, and Delaware. They also do radon testing. So if your buying a home and need some Philadelphia home inspections done click on the links and check them out.

Australia Real Estate

2011-01-09T18:41:00.000-08:00

I have never left the US but I would like to someday travel to Australia.

When I am there I will be checking on the Real Estate because where ever I go that's what I do. I also check out Land for Sale too but its getting harder to find that type of Property. I see some houses that are worthless but its the land that makes them worth anything.I have no idea what the market has done there so if anyone reading this can let me know by leaving a comment or two I would appreciate it.

A few changes around the house

2010-11-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

Guest post written by Amelia Bronson

I've been putting off a lot of home repairs and projects for the longest time, but I'm taking a staycation, you know where you take vacation days from work but just spend them at home instead of going off somewhere, and using all this time that I have to make those repairs and stuff.

First up is getting some new siding put up. I'm getting home pro improvement to come out and do it for me because I liked the price quote that they gave me and they had a color that I liked, this muted gray that looks pretty modern.

I'm also sprucing up my bedroom a bit because it's my sanctuary. I'm so tired of my old headboard so I'm actually working on a new one. I have some cotton batting and my sewing machine ready. I think that IÕm going to use this neat looking gingham print fabric that I have to cover the headboard with and it will really set off the dark red that I have the walls painted.

Arizona

2010-11-11T14:28:00.000-08:00

There are people that have a home paid for. Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but it's true of several retired people I know in Arizona. There are people with their houses paid for who want to sell homes in Arizona in this market. There are companies out there that will give cash for a home in Arizona. Not a bad idea in these tough times when there is a 'ready to buy' Arizona home buyer.

Arizona may have taken a beating in the housing market, but they are still selling and no matter what people have to have a place to live. There are still some wise individuals who have saved and are now buying a house that is reasonable in today's market. With the way banks are playing games with financing, if you have saved up enough to pay cash over the years, then you will be rewarded with a nice house with no house payment.

Gold or a house?

2010-11-11T10:20:00.001-08:00

Pest Control

2010-11-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

The Las Vegas housing market is still a bit weak, but houses are selling. If you're buying a home there and need pest control services, there is one Las Vegas Exterminator that would be glad to come out and give you some Bug Facts. If you need commercial pest control this company can do that too. There are so many pest control services in Nevada due to so many pests. If I lived in the desert, or Las Vegas for that matter, I would be getting a pest control company in Las Vegas.

The market for Las Vegas pest control is not an easy one, but I bet you could stay busy if you had one.

Billy the Exterminator should do a few episodes there!

Boston Real Estate

2010-11-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

Boston real estate is not something I am even remotely familiar with, but you can bet if I ever get the chance to pass through there I will be hitting up the free real estate magazine stands. Is there a high demand for Boston luxury real estate?How are the Boston Lofts for a place to live? When I think of luxury real estate I always envision west coast places like Santa Barbara, Montecito, Half Moon Bay, or Lake Tahoe. Those are places that hold appeal out here, but what about areas like Boston? Where do the Blue Bloods like to live?

If I had lived when our ancestors came across this great country in covered wagons, you can bet I would have been hitching up my team of oxen looking for land and adventure out west. However, that does not mean that I cannot appreciate the east coast and its appeal to others besides me.

Boston condos have held up pretty well considering that condos seem to take the first hit. California is not an area that has a high demand for luxury condos. Until recently, when developers started putting up cookie cutter two story houses so close you could feel your next door neighbors breath on your shoulder, Californians always had homes on fairly big lots with plenty of room to roam. Times they are a changin'.

Boston is an awesome city that I would love to visit one day.
If you live there or want to move there and are ready to buy visit Bushari Group Real Estate.

Easy Math

2010-11-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

Way back when houses were selling faster than they could build them, if only the banks had used some simple 4th grade math, we might not be in this mess. Now you have to have Algebra 2 for a bank to even look at your offer.

They ask for all kinds of things now! They might even ask for samples of graphing linear equations if you were to try and get a loan. If you are confused about what I am talking about, or if you want to learn some complicated math, just click on the links for all kinds tutoring on math like algebra 2, adding fractions, 5th grade math, the list goes on and on.

And if you kid comes home with math homework and wanting him to help you figure out the formula for volume, then you'll have a resource!

House Flipping

2010-10-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

House flipping is still happening, but now it takes a lot more than just buying a home and doing nothing other than putting it back on the market. It takes some hard work and there are some that do a great job at it. One thing that helps sell a home is placing nice bathroom tiles. The latest tile fad is subway tiles.

If the house has older tiles you can use some tile cleaner on them to freshen them up. If you have a home of your own, and just want to update your house with some new tiles, check out the website in this post. It's amazing what I found on the website. I had no idea that there were so many different ways to tile a floor or a bathroom or even a kitchen.

Lets dream about Delaware

2010-10-07T17:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just think about moving. This time its Moving To Delaware . There is no reason for this, except that maybe it is the challenge for me. Finding the right home, packing,finding the right Delaware Movers , or a Delaware Moving Company. There also are Delaware International Movers. My wife's father was a builder, and when she was growing up she moved quite a bit within the same town, but they did not use any moving companies. Her extended family would help out, and I also think it helped that they would make short moves. She and I have moved several times throughout our marriage, and I swear that if we ever do it again we are hiring a moving service. We lived away from the nice extended family members, but God bless the people who did pitch in to help us. They saved our marriage when we moved from Arizona to Illinois. The last one did us in, and my back is not getting any younger. My wife just swears that we are not doing it again...unless it is to a better home in the same town.

The best thing about moving is getting rid of stuff we hadn't used or seen in years. It is so therapeutic to get rid of junk. I don't understand hoarders. Anyway, we sold or gave away almost everything at a garage sale before we moved from Illinois to California, and when we arrived at our new place we bought new things. For us, it was cheaper than hiring a truck to move us across the country. The only thing of importance furniture-wise, is a rocking chair that has been in my wife's family for almost 100 years. So we made it out of Illinois with a large, rented trailer. An enclosed one, lest you think we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies headed for Californ-y.

Moving, especially cross-country, is a HUGE job. You want to make sure you have a reputable company moving you. Even small moves can be a pain in the neck!

If any of you are going to be moving, and have too much that you cannot part with, be sure to get moving quotes We got a few before we made our decision. Happy moving! Glad it is you and not me.

Some ways to make extra cash.

2010-10-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you are thinking about getting a roommate, or looking for a room for rent because times are tough and you have to make that boat payment,or you could use some extra cash. Unless you want to end up with a roomie that is not the best, then might I suggest a roommate matching service? Allow me to explain. I am a quiet, laid back person. I prefer turning in early and waking up early. I like to quietly eat my bowl of cereal before taking on the demands of the day. I hate cigarette smoke.

Sooo...for me to live with a smoker, party animal, night owl, or loud mouth could be a recipe for disaster. A roommate search such as this makes it a bit more simple to find a roommate.

A roommate matching service is an excellent way to weed a lot of people out that just would not be good matches. We all lead busy lives, and it is nice to have services like this that take a lot of the guess work out of difficult choices.

Roommate renovation

2010-09-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

Guest post written by Gary Dexter

Because of my job I tend to move around every few years, so I've never settled down enough to buy a place of my own. That means that I've had more roommates than I can count, but I'm so used to it that I'm good with dealing with potential roommate disasters before they happen. I also know how to handle landlords and property managers as a result.

That's when I noticed that our air conditioner wasn't working I went through the old motions of making sure it wasn't frozen over and then called the landlord. I had already done my research and suggested sears home improvement san jose. Surprisingly the landlord agreed with me and had them over almost immediately.

I learned a long time ago that it's best to let landlords know about things wrong with the property, whether it's a broken doorknob or air conditioning unit. Sure, they don't like to pay out the money to get stuff fixed, but you also don't want to get charged with it when you move out because you didn't report it in the first place.

Dallas Real Estate

2010-07-31T15:43:00.000-07:00

I love to follow real estate all over the country, and it seems that one part of the country where the housing seems to be not so bad is Texas. I have even heard recently of a few large companies that are moving to Texas. Housing seems to be fairly reasonable when looking at Dallas homes for sale.

I could spend all day looking at Dallas homes not that I do though.

Texas has always appealed to some part of me. Perhaps it is the wide openness of the state, and the welcoming people who live there. Anytime I have been in Texas, the people are very down-to-earth and friendly. I don't think I could convince Howard and Julie to move there, as they like living near the coast and mountains and the mild California weather (so do I), and they both swear they are never moving again, but I'll keep my eye on some Dallas homes for sale just for the fun of it.

Myrtle Beach

2010-07-31T15:29:00.000-07:00

I am not a good golfer. I'm just not. That being said, I do enjoy being outdoors on a nice day feeling the warmth of the sun on my shoulders. Always open for new ideas for our next vacation, these Myrtle Beach golf packages sound nice and relaxing, and a great way to experience a beautiful area of the country.

Myrtle Beach golf courses look amazing, and if you click on the link of some of the golf courses you can see video footage of them. I don't think I am up for a "golf vacation," but I definitely would not mind checking out the Myrtle Beach golf packages and spending a day on one of the Myrtle Beach courses. One of the great things about vacation destinations like Myrtle Beach is that there is usually something for everyone, and plenty to keep one entertained.

Now to find a dog sitter for Howard!

No Mailboxes?

2010-07-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

When we moved into our home in northern Illinois, we realized that we needed a mailbox. Coming from California, in an area where residential mailboxes were located at one spot for several houses, this was a surprise for us.

What to do? What to do?

I wish we would have known about this company that specializes in residential mailboxes as well as commercial mailboxes. We ended up going the do-it-yourself route and were not as pleased with the results as we had hoped. Many times it pays to go with the professionals!

This company has way more selection than any home improvement store can offer, with many unique ways to add to the character of your home!

Lets move!!!

2010-07-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just feel like moving. I use to think about Moving To Florida. There is no reason for this, except that maybe it is the challenge for me. Finding the right home, packing,finding the right Florida Movers, or a Florida Moving Company. There also are Florida International Movers. My wife's father was a builder, and whe she was growing up she moved quite a bit within the same town, but they did not use any moving companies. Her extended family would help out, and I also think it helped that they would make short moves. She and I have moved several times throughout our marriage, and I swear that if we ever do it again we are hiring a moving service. We lived away from the nice extended family members, but God bless the people who did pitch in to help us. They saved our marriage when we moved from Arizona to Illinois. The last one did us in, and my back is not getting any younger. My wife just swears that we are not doing it again...unless it is to a better home in the same town.

The best thing about moving is getting rid of stuff we hadn't used or seen in years. It is so therapeutic to get rid of junk. I don't understand hoarders. Anyway, we sold or gave away almost everything at a garage sale before we moved from Illinois to California, and when we arrived at our new place we bought new things. For us, it was cheaper than hiring a truck to move us across the country. The only thing of importance furniture-wise, is a rocking chair that has been in my wife's family for almost 100 years. So we made it out of Illinois with a large, rented trailer. An enclosed one, lest you think we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies headed for Californ-y.

Moving, especially cross-country, is a HUGE job. You want to make sure you have a reputable company moving you. Even small moves can be a pain in the neck!

If any of you are going to be moving, and have too much that you cannot part with, be sure to get moving quotes We got a few before we made our decision. Happy moving! Glad it is you and not me.

Hey Roomie Where Should I Park My New Boat

2010-06-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you are thinking about getting a roommate, or looking for a room for rent. Unless you want to end up with a roomie like this guy, then might I suggest a roommate matching service? Allow me to explain. I am a quiet, laid back person. I prefer turning in early and waking up early. I like to quietly eat my bowl of cereal before taking on the demands of the day. I hate cigarette smoke.

Sooo...for me to live with a smoker, party animal, night owl, or loud mouth could be a recipe for disaster. A roommate matching service such as this one lays everything out on the line. Even down to orientation (gay, straight, etc.), which at the end of the day we all have our opinions.

A roommate matching service is an excellent way to weed a lot of people out that just would not be good matches. We all lead busy lives, and it is nice to have services like this that take a lot of the guess work out of difficult choices.

Howard says hi

2010-06-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

I can't help it if "going bye bye" sounds like a great idea. It is all I know to call that exhiliration of being on the open road, ears flapping, nose sniffing air at 80 mph.

There are some things I miss quite a bit. When I was a wee little pup, Brad would drive from Lake Havasu to Santa Barbara every single week and sometimes he would bring me with him. It was a fun trip, of course, because I was on the road nose to the wind. The only problem was he would drive his truck every single time but does not have a ton of space for me to lie down. I, Howard, need my naps. Even as a puppy I needed a daily nap or five.

I used to dream that he would buy a bigger car,maybe an Acura TL. I used to picture myself hanging out the huge side window, barking at the passers by and laughing under my breath like Mutley when the jumped. Never happened though. Instead I was stuck in the little truck bracing myself for every slam on the brakes. One time we were cruising along at 70, and all of a sudden he slammed on the brakes and I end up on the floor. Not fun for me at all, and after that the truck needed a brake job.

I needed a craniotomy.

Brad was always good at putting her up on two wheels as well. You have NO IDEA the suffering I endured all for the thrill of a joy ride. I would even drive from California to Arizona just for an oil change. That is how hardcore I am.

Montana

2010-06-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

This guest post written by Lorenzo Matthews

My wife and I have lived in Los Angeles (where we met) for over ten years. After we had Simon, we started thinking about moving. The area we lived in was expensive plus the apartment seemed to be shrinking. Funny how kids change everything. My family owns a lot of property in Montana where I grew up. My dad offered one of the rentals to us and even hired me as a property manager. So we moved.

Our new neighborhood lacks some of the cultural refinements of Los Angeles, but it sure is a lot quieter. Cindy joined the neighborhood watch to meet the neighbors because my job will force me to travel all over the state. She learned our new home is in a great area with good schools and low crime. So far the only reported crime we have noticed was under-age drinking at a high school dance.

But since I am on the road quite a bit, I did get Home Security In Montana. Now there is good exterior lighting and the property is wired into a reputable, local security company. Cindy is also getting a dog. Not for protection but just because we finally have a yard.

We have been here for over five months now. I feel a lot better on the road knowing the neighborhood is safe and our house is protected. You know you live in a pretty safe spot when the neighborhood watch spends most of its time deciding where to have the next barbeque.

Moving into a new home

2010-05-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

This is a guest post by Angela Walker.

We just bought a new home on the other side of town and I am so excited to get moving! I started packing up boxes last week and we have so much stuff. I did some shopping around for internet and tv and made a call to get it hooked up at our new house. I am really happy that I got a better deal than we had before. I got the electric and gas ready to be set up too.

On moving day we started right away. We moved everything we could in one day. It made for a really long day but all that is left at the old house is the beds and essentials. We will be sleeping at our old house for the last time tonight. It is crazy thinking we will never stay there again. I am so ready to start the new adventures in our new home.

Dallas Crime

2010-05-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

Guest posted by my friend Matthew Thoms

As with any major metropolitan city, Dallas, TX has its fair share of crime. Additionally, certain areas of the city appear more prone to crime than other neighborhoods. Statistically, there was a time when Dallas had the highest crime rate of any U.S. city for 10 years. However, in 2009 it dropped to the number two slot. This is a significant improvement for those living in the DFW region.

Living in Dallas, TX for the past 15 years has offered many benefits. We have lived in many neighborhoods over the years but particularly in the smaller suburbs surrounding Dallas. Regardless of the neighborhood we have lived we take necessary precautions in order to keep us safe. When we purchased our last home, we had all the locks changed with state-of-the-art locks, and we installed a highly sophisticated alarm system with motion detection from an online dallas adt security company we found. We have three large dogs that are part of the family, but also would make an intruder think twice before entering.

Regardless of the area we have lived in the city our main concerns have stemmed from burglary, car jacking, and violent assaults. Living in a “safer” neighborhood in Dallas, does not mean you let your guard down, on the contrary, you must always take the necessary precaution in order to remain safe. Many crimes occur because the victim failed to use common sense, shopping in the wee hours of the night or not locking doors and windows in their home. Overall, my family and I do feel safe living in Dallas, TX.

Putting It All On Red 36!

2010-05-21T15:08:00.001-07:00

Right before the housing bubble I did some day trading. It was fun, but hard to make money. I did like the ability to do online trading. It was like I had my own online broker. Mobile trading was not even around at that time. Sometimes, I get the urge to put in a couple of hundred dollars and try my luck again with stock trading. It has come a long way in such a short time! I also have learned a lot on what stocks to buy. The difference, is I am now working at a 9-5 job, and cannot sit at home in front of the computer and watch the market.

One of the good things I have now, which I did not have before, is a few IRA accounts.

Time to leave?

2010-04-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I knew a guy who was cashing out and moving to Texas. In the back of my mind I was thinking hhhhmmm, why would he want to move to Texas? Now I hear about more and more people leaving California and buying Dallas Real Estate.
My sister has been there several times, and loves it. She takes her vacations there year after year, and I think out of curiosity the next time she goes, which should be very soon knowing her, I will ask her to pick up some real estate magazines for me so I can check out some Dallas Homes for Sale .
I am a real estate magazine junky, but if you would rather just see Dallas Homes for Sale through the internet you can click the links.

It can be confusing to buy real estate these days. The links above should have some very helpful information for you. Maybe you are not in a position to buy now, but it is never to late to think about how you want to spend your retirement years.

Christmas lights in April?

2010-04-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

No Need to Break Your Back Putting the Christmas Lights Up This Year If You Buy This Foreclosure!

I spend a lot of time looking for houses online. Probably too much time. I love it like a wino loves his Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. It relaxes me, and at least I'm not stumbling around and yelling at the neighbors with slurred speech: "Hey put those guns away or I'll pall the colice!"

One site that is helpful a list of Free REO foreclosures . This service is free and one of the better ones I have found. It's very easy to use, and do a foreclosure search in the city of your choice. Every state is on the map, and there are more cities to choose from than you likely have the time for.

Check it out and do some searching for some Real Estate Owned Foreclosures Click on any state then you will see the cities from that state. Its fun to do just for pure entertainment. They now have pictures so you can get a general idea of what the house looks like.

So sit down at your computer, pour yourself a glass of Two Buck Chuck, and search away.
Use your imagination and do a search for Free Foreclosures.
We all know there is no such thing as a free foreclosure though. But there are some good deals right now.

Howard Goes to Europe!

2010-04-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

If there is one City I could not imagine the hassle of moving in, it would be New York City. New York movers must have their work cut out for them, but I am sure they are of a tough stock and can handle the worst of the worst.

Moving to New York would be a HUGE culture shock for me and my wife. We would not even know where to begin, and would definitely want to consult a New York moving company. We would look like two little country mice visiting the big city. Our dog, Howard, would just be ready to shoot us. He is not so big on moving, and has done it about 4 times in his 12 years, including 4 cross-country drives.

Imagine us getting Howard to New York, and then telling him we are heading to Europe. He would be the biggest beast ever. He would be consulting a New York international moving company himself to book him a private suite on a luxury ship with plenty of room service for his bon voyage!

Nothing but the best for our pooch!

Carolina on My Mind

2010-04-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

Smoky Mountains

I have never been to the Smoky Mountains, but have always held them in a mystical sort of way in my mind. Pictures, as always, never do a location enough justice. Nonetheless, I sometimes like to imagine what it would be like to live in different parts of the country. It is a wanderlust that I come by rightfully from my father.

I am always trying to convince my wife to do travel nursing. It would be great to go for 2 to 3 months at a time to get the feel of a new region. Although I am not a fan of apartment living, for the obvious reasons (noise, smells, people) I think I could tolerate anything if I am enjoying myself, or at the worst know I am only obligated for 60 to 90 days.

When an advertiser for Durham, NC Apartments showed up in my inbox, I could not help but be interested. Their apartments look very clean and well maintained. They also have High Point, NC Apartments and Charlotte, NC Apartments. Some of the 3 bedroom floor plans have nearly 1200 sq. ft.

The grass may not be greener on the other side, but it is always good to get out and experience life while you are able.

Boston

2010-04-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

Boston real estate does not seem to be hit as hard as other areas of the country, especially like California. Here is my take on it:

1. Boston Real Estate never had the overinflated jump that other areas did.
2. There is a demand for Boston luxury real estate there.
3. Boston is a historic and cultural place to live with plenty to do and see.
4. Even Boston condos have held up pretty well considering that condos seem to take the first hit.
When you are ready to buy visit Bushari Group Real Estate

All I ever write about is California real estate, because it is what I know. Do any of you have insight on the east coast market? I'm curious

Used cars

2010-03-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

If you break down in a big town like Chicago you will most likely be looking for a Chicago auto repair shop. Right? Perhaps you will run into Rod Blagojevich as your mechanic. In which case I would push my 2002 Toyota Corolla to the next repair shop if I had to. I highly doubt Blago would give you a honest deal on a new water pump, but I'm just sayin'.

Oooh...here is a question for you. Who would you trust more as an auto mechanic, Nancy Pelosi or Rod Blagojevich? If you ask me and I had to answer I would pick Blagoat least he is showing up in public and telling his side of the story. I do not believe the story but he is talking and good ole Nancy just sits behind closed doors and does more and more damage to the country. Oh well thats enough of the political talk!!!

Foreclosures

2010-01-13T18:18:00.000-08:00

Nice Huh?

I spend a lot of time looking for houses online. Probably too much time. Some people are online gamers. I am an online real estate junkie. Pick any town, and I'll look it up and be able to tell you about the real estate market in a nutshell. I have my favorites, like Lake Havasu, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Pismo, but sometimes it is nice to check out middle of nowhere locations and see how they are doing.

One site that is helpful is this site with Free Foreclosures .This service is free and one of the better ones I have found. It's very easy to use, and get Free REO foreclosures in the city of your choice. Every state is on the map, and there are more cities to choose from than you likely have the time for. Not everybody is Real Estate smart and there was a day when I did not know what REO foreclosure meant. So for the newbies it means Real Estate Owned Foreclosures

Its simple to use all you do is click on any state then you will see the cities from that state. Its fun to do just for pure entertainment. They now have pictures of the foreclosures with addresses.

Moving

2010-01-13T18:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I just feel like moving. There is no reason for this, except that maybe it is the challenge for me. Finding the right home, packing getting,local moving quotes, etc. My wife's father was a builder, and when she was growing up she moved quite a bit within the same town, but they did not use any local movers. Her extended family would help out, and I also think it helped that they would make short moves. She and I have moved several times throughout our marriage, and I swear that if we ever do it again we are hiring a moving service. We lived away from the nice extended family members, but God bless the people who did pitch in to help us. They saved our marriage when we moved from Arizona to Illinois. The last one did us in, and my back is not getting any younger. My wife just swears that we are not doing it again...unless it is to a better home in the same town.Although we did use a local moving company when we lived in Illinois because we were only moving a few miles.

The best thing about moving is getting rid of stuff we hadn't used or seen in years. It is so therapeutic to get rid of junk. I don't understand hoarders. Anyway, we sold or gave away almost everything at a garage sale before we moved from Illinois to California, and when we arrived at our new place we bought new things. For us, it was cheaper than hiring a truck to move us across the country. The only thing of importance furniture-wise, is a rocking chair that has been in my wife's family for almost 100 years. So we made it out of Illinois with a large, rented trailer. An enclosed one, lest you think we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies headed for Californ-y.

Moving, especially cross-country, is a HUGE job. You want to make sure you have a reputable company moving you. Even small moves can be a pain in the neck!

If any of you are going to be moving, and have too much that you cannot part with, be sure to get moving estimates. We got a few before we made our decision. Happy moving! Glad it is you and not me.

Boston

2010-01-01T18:35:00.000-08:00

Times are changing

2009-12-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

Commercial, retail and high-end residential real estate in Monmouth County does not seem to be hit as hard as other areas of the country, especially like California. Is it because real estate in New Jersey never had the overinflated jump that other areas did? Is there a high demand for oceanfront luxury condos, waterfront homes, etc. in the New Jersey Real Estate market? California does have more than its fair share of luxury real estate...Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, just to name a few and the demand is still there just not as much.

I do see the professional & medical class A office space, retail, shopping centers hanging in there but they sure are not building any new buildings here in California.

Until recently, when developers started putting up cookie cutter two story houses so close you could feel your next door neighbors breath on your shoulder, Californians always had homes on fairly big lots with plenty of room to roam. Times they are a changin'.

Moving Van or House Removals Van?

2009-11-28T13:36:00.000-08:00

When I lived on a boat there was nothing to move, but now that I live in a home its a lot more to move. A LOT. It's not always fun to move, and any help you can get is a bonus. I usually blog about the US, but this time I will do some blogging about the UK. I have never been there, and I would like to hear how things are there. I am sure people move around there like they do here. If they do, they need to use a house removals company. I like how we share the same language, but use different terms for the same things. If you tried to ask about a "house removals company" in the US, people would look at you with a blank stare.

I don't think Howard could tolerate a move to a different country. It would do him in. We're staying put for now.

Home sales up

2009-11-23T19:14:00.000-08:00

This is from the local paper in Lake Havasu
A decline in October home sales from September isn’t worrying local real estate officials.
Home sales typically slow during holiday months and the numbers are still up from last year, according to Lake Havasu Association of Realtors President Pat Landry.

“Our inventory has gone up some,” Landry said of the increase in residential active listings to 974 from 930 in September. “I was kind of surprised to see that, to tell you the truth. I’ve been busier than ever. I’m thinking more people are coming in now with the snowbirds and the holidays and people are thinking now is a better time to sell.”

The number of residential homes on the market has decreased in the last four months and foreclosure sales have skyrocketed, Landry said. Median prices, however, are continuing to see a rollercoaster effect in the last four months. The average median sale price for residential homes in October dropped slightly for the fourth consecutive month to $134,450 from $150,000 in September, and $152,500 in August.

The number to focus on is the 92 sales in October 2008 versus the 132 sales this year, Landry said.

“We are doing much, much better than last year,” she said. “The median price may have been higher but we’re more than making up for it in the number we’ve sold. People are seeing it’s a safer time to buy and it’s a sure sign things are getting better.”

Landry said she was pleased to see foreclosure closings stay well above the expected 50 percent marker with 74 of the 100 listings closed in October.

“We had been running at about 50 percent for a long time but just like last month, we sold a lot more of those,” she said, adding that the number of active listings (100) was another steep decline from September (142). “Gradually that number has gone down quite a bit and that’s another positive sign.”

Landry cautioned that she still expected to see a monumental increase in foreclosure listings in January due to a bank backlog of foreclosures. The backlog has also made short sales more difficult for real estate agents and buyers, she said. The median short sales closing price $162,000 in October, well above the $115,000 foreclosure closings in October.

“If the banks would listen to us and get these short sales moving, they would make a lot more money,” Landry said. “We’re still trying to get legislation passed that would be similar looking as California and it would streamline the process to make them move much faster.”

A five-month extension on the first time buyer’s incentive package has added a shot to the arm for real estate agents, Landry said.

“I think it will help out more now that they’ve included people that have owned homes from five to seven years,” Landry said. The tax credit program gives current owners up to $6,500 who have owned homes for five consecutive years during the last eight years. “We aren’t going to see a lot of first-time buyers in Lake Havasu but extending it to others will help us quite a bit.”

LHAR president-elect Suzanne White said residents should be assured that overall real estate market numbers are improving.

“Sales are still strong and that’s five months now of strong sales,” White said. “Things are looking really good.”

White said residents should also not be discouraged by an almost inevitable decline next month.

“We’re getting close to the holiday season,” she said. “It’s completely typical to see it go down during the holidays. Things are much better than a year ago, and I think we will continue to get better from here in the long run.”

Buying a house?

2009-11-12T07:37:00.000-08:00

Are you thinking of buying a house? I follow the market mostly in Arizona and California and I see prices have leveled off and there are some bargains out there. I see some houses that are going for under $50,000 and its hard to believe that just a few years ago these same houses were priced up near $300,000. One problem people are having today that was not a problem a few years back is getting financing, there are still ways to get loans, here is a website to get some tutorials on mortages. FHA is a popular program people are using right now since you can get into a home with as little as 3% down. So if you are looking to buy your first home or a fixer upper visit advantagehomerates.com

Gold or a House?

2009-11-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

If you had $100,000, which would you buy? Gold, or a house? That's a tough one for me. Looking at the last 10 years, a home versus gold coins, it seems that the gold has held its value better. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I'm an easy-going guy, and I have nooo problem with that.

I have heard commercials about how gold has never been worth zero, and it always reminds me of when I was a kid and my dad bought some gold bullion. He actually buried it. I kid you not! He went out in the back yard like a golden retriever, and dug a hole to put it in. I remember it very well for two reasons. I was with him when we buried the gold bullion. He got out a gold coin and showed it to me. I think it was 10 oz, and at that time the price was around $250-$300 an oz. The other reason is that he told me if they were needed for some reason in the winter, we would be out of luck, because of the ground being frozen to about 2 feet down.

I also remember that about 2 years later we were going to dig up the gold and we could not find it. This was not in the city so its doubtful anyone saw us, but not impossible. We did this a few times, and would bury it in between two trees so it would be easy for us to find. All of the times we buried gold it was found, but not that one time.

Ahhh the father-son memories! This was back in the 60's and 70's when we still did things the old school way. Somewhere, in a quaint little town in northern Illinois, there is 10 ounces of gold that will likely never be found.

Goin' to Carolina

2009-10-28T22:48:00.001-07:00

In my mind I am going on a vacation. A place where the pace is slower, the sky is bluer, and the beach and ocean calm me. A place like South Carolina. I have always wanted to visit the Atlantic coast. I've always been on the Pacific coast, and even lived on a boat for 14 years.

Lately, my wife and I have been realizing if we don't plan something, it will never happen. We've been wanting to check out Myrtle Beach, SC,but we could not find a nice Myrtle Beach Resort but after some searching we have found a site for Myrtle Beach Resorts to help us plan where to stay with links for things to do while there. Sailing will definitely be on the agenda!

The Myrtle Beach Hotels listed offer different things for different people, whether you are laid back like us, or like to be on the go. We're looking forward to the next adventure. That's what life is all about!

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina Can't you see the sunshine Can't you just feel the moonshine Ain't it just like a friend of mine To hit me from behind Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind -James Taylor

Brick Wall Cable Company

2009-10-28T22:34:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you, but there are times when I have been dealing with the local cable company that I just want to bang my head against a brick wall. The customer service is horrible. I will go out of my way to avoid dealing with them. I have been thinking about switching to satellite TV, and looking into Direct TV for my entertainment needs.

I am somewhat of a cheapskate, but have come to the realization that I don't mind paying more for the same service if it means that I will be treated like a valued customer. We used to have DirectTV when we lived in Arizona and then again in Illinois, and I was pretty happy with it. In fact, we had Directv when we were on the boat in Santa Barbara, so that brings back some happy memories. Ahhh....when life was simpler.

It seems that that is what people are longing for these days, a simpler time. Back when life was more innocent and kind. When companies treated you like they were happy for your business, not put out by you like they are doing YOU the favor.

Did that time ever exist? Why yes it did, and I'm glad I got to experience a part of it.

Sorry I Can't Help You Move...I'm Getting a Root Canal That Day!

2009-10-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just feel like moving. There is no reason for this, except that maybe it is the challenge for me. Finding the right home, packing, finding the right movers, etc. My wife's father was a builder, and when she was growing up she moved quite a bit within the same town, but they did not use any moving companies. Her extended family would help out, and I also think it helped that they would make short moves. She and I have moved several times throughout our marriage, and I swear that if we ever do it again we are hiring a moving service. We lived away from the nice extended family members, but God bless the people who did pitch in to help us. They saved our marriage when we moved from Arizona to Illinois. The last one did us in, and my back is not getting any younger. My wife just swears that we are not doing it again...unless it is to a better home in the same town.

The best thing about moving is getting rid of stuff we hadn't used or seen in years. It is so therapeutic to get rid of junk. I don't understand hoarders. Anyway, we sold or gave away almost everything at a garage sale before we moved from Illinois to California, and when we arrived at our new place we bought new things. For us, it was cheaper than hiring a truck to move us across the country. The only thing of importance furniture-wise, is a rocking chair that has been in my wife's family for almost 100 years. So we made it out of Illinois with a large, rented trailer. An enclosed one, lest you think we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies headed for Californ-y.

Moving, especially cross-country, is a HUGE job. You want to make sure you have a reputable company moving you. Even small moves can be a pain in the neck!

If any of you are going to be moving, and have too much that you cannot part with, be sure to get moving quotes. We got a few before we made our decision. Happy moving! Glad it is you and not me.

Some good news

2009-10-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

Here is an article from the local paper in Lake Havasu.

Home sales begin to get sea legs

By NATHAN BRUTTELL
Today’s News-Herald
Friday, October 9, 2009 10:59 PM MST

Lake Havasu City has seen rock bottom in the real estate market, according to local officials.

“We are definitely stabilizing right now but it’s going to be awhile before we really turn that corner,” Lake Havasu Association of Realtors President Pat Landry said. “Our supply is starting to go down and the snowbirds are coming in and we haven’t seen our numbers drop in the last few months. These are all good signs.”

The number of residential homes on the market has decreased in the last four months and foreclosure sales have skyrocketed, Landry said. Median prices, however, are continuing to see a rollercoaster effect in the last four months.

“I don’t think we can go any lower because we are down,” LHAR president-elect Suzanne White said. “We might do a slight increase in dollars but I think we’re going to see the same numbers because people are more willing to buy.”

The average median sale price for residential homes in September dropped slightly to $150,000 from $152,500 in August. The numbers were also down from July ($162,500) but up from June ($148,700).

“They are going up and down and that shows me that it’s starting to stabilize,” Landry said. “I think buyers are realizing it’s a good market and more and more people are starting to buy, causing the prices to stay where they are.”

Landry said she was particularly surprised to see that 139 of the 142 foreclosure listings sold in September.

“We’ve been running at about a 50 percent rate (of selling foreclosed listings),” she said. “So that number shocked me as I sat and looked at it.”

Landry added the current number of foreclosed home listings in the city is 105, with 106 sitting in escrow, indicating that foreclosed lots are starting to decrease. The trend may change in the next several months as several banks have reported a backlog of foreclosure listings, Landry said.

“They just got so many at one time that I think by January, we might see a lot more on the market,” she said. “With 139 sold in September though, that’s a really good sign of things turning around.”

There is still a problem with short sales in the real estate market, however, and Landry said banks have been inundated with too many listings to give approval in a reasonable amount of time.

“It’s taking the banks sometimes five to eight months to respond to the contracts and it’s causing buyers to just walk on some deals,” she said. “That tells me that I want to scream at the banks and that things need to change. It’s hurting us a lot.”

The first-time buyer’s incentive package has helped sales, but not as positively as many hoped, Landry said.

“The problem is that the government has given the tax break over three years and most buyers are still struggling to get that down payment,” she said. “We see only a few but having that extended over another six months would help us a lot.”

White said many Realtors are seeing many positive signs, but added that nothing drastic has occurred.

“I am seeing definite improvements in terms of number of sales and prices,” White said. “I think we’re getting more and more buyers on the market and things are starting to change for the better.”

Boston Real Estate

2009-10-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

Boston real estate does not seem to be hit as hard as other areas of the country, especially like California. Is it because real estate in Boston never had the overinflated jump that other areas did? Is there a high demand for Boston luxury real estate ? California does have more than its fair share of luxury real estate...Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, just to name a few.

Boston is a historic and cultural place to live with plenty to do and see. California does not have as old of a history, but there is plenty to do and see here. Ocean, desert, mountains, valleys, vineyards, orchards, ranches.

Boston condos have held up pretty well considering that condos seem to take the first hit. California is not an area that has a high demand for luxury condos. Until recently, when developers started putting up cookie cutter two story houses so close you could feel your next door neighbors breath on your shoulder, Californians always had homes on fairly big lots with plenty of room to roam. Times they are a changin'.

Boston is an awesome city that I would love to visit one day.
If you live there or want to move there and are ready to buy visit Bushari Group Real Estate.

Where Do They Go?

2009-09-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

I have often wondered where people go after the foreclosure or short-sale of a home. Do they stick around and tough it out? Move out-of-state? It's not easy to just pick-up the pieces of ones life and move anywhere, especially if it's not planned! If you live in Houston, Texas, and happen to be looking for Houston apartments you can check out Houston Apartment Services.

I know of a couple with kids who decided to sell their home and move into an apartment with a 3 - 5 year plan to get out of debt, and purchase and pay cash for their dream home. They are making the best of it, and actually find ways to enjoy themselves. They have a pool, playground, and workout room, and make good use of them. These are tough times, and bring out the need to learn to find enjoyment in more simple things, and that is what they are doing.

Looking in areas other than Houston, Texas? Check out Apartment Info to find what you suits your needs. Whatever your case might be I hope it all works out for you!

Living on a boat

2009-08-13T13:03:00.001-07:00

My very first home on my own was a sailboat similar to this one (minus the seals). I loved the boat life. It was simple and cheap, but as you grow up you want better things in life, like a real home.

I was self-employed, so getting a loan was not easy. I didn't even have a rental history. I just paid slip rent to the City of Santa Barbara. I had to shop around for places like Advantage Home Rates . I was able to get a loan, and have owned three homes since the boat life. There are still a lot of people who are self employed, and if they want a loan they might want to look at places like this one.

There are also those who are buying the houses that have been trashed by the previous owners, which you can get pretty cheap right now. A good source for a FHA loan for a place like that would be Advantage Home Rates. Then there are individuals who have bad credit, but still have a good job yet have had some bad luck along the way, but want to be a home owner. It is still possible to get loans. It may take some work, but it can be done.

A Good Read

2009-07-19T21:24:00.000-07:00

A Reminder of More Peaceful Times
Lake Geneva, Wisconin

As you are weathering the economic storm that seems to be raging fast and furious, information can be a shield of sorts. Articlealley.com has many excellent real estate articles for nearly any topic one could possibly want to research.

The articles are recent and relevant, and free to republish on your own blog. You know me, I've been having a hayday reading them myself. Howard is going to want to check articlealley.com out for his own blog too!

A Foreclosure?

2009-07-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time looking for houses online. Probably too much time. I love it like a wino loves his Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. It relaxes me, and at least I'm not stumbling around and yelling at the neighbors with slurred speech: "Hey turn that loud rap music down or I'll pall the colice!"

One site that is helpful is Free REO foreclosures. This service is free and one of the better ones I have found. It's very easy to use, and do a Free foreclosure search in the city of your choice. Every state is on the map, and there are more cities to choose from than you likely have the time for.

Check it out at Real Estate Owned Foreclosures Click on any state then you will see the cities from that state. Its fun to do just for pure entertainment. I wish they had pictures of the foreclosures, but that would be the undertaking of the century.

So sit down at your computer, pour yourself a glass of Two Buck Chuck, and search away. Maybe you'll find your boss' house on there...that would be sweet justice now wouldn't it! The Man stickin' it to The Man.

Infomercials

2009-06-30T21:28:00.000-07:00

I have been seeing more and more homes just like this one. I wonder how inexpensively I could pick up one? I'm not in the market, but I know there are investors out there who are getting these dumps for next to nothing, and then renting them out. I also wonder how many of these investors have heard of dean graziosibio? He has a book and a blog.

If you are into infomercials, go to this website about being a real estate millionaire now and you most likely will recognize him. He has over 12,000 registered users so he must be doing something right.

My advice is always to do your homework, and never buy anything you cannot afford.

Boston hanging on?

2009-06-30T15:34:00.000-07:00

Boston real estate does not seem to be hit as hard as other areas of the country, especially like California. Is it because real estate in Boston never had the overinflated jump that other areas did? Is there a high demand for luxury real estate in Boston? California does have more than its fair share of luxury real estate...Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, just to name a few.

Boston is a historic and cultural place to live with plenty to do and see. California does not have as old of a history, but there is plenty to do and see here. Ocean, desert, mountains, valleys, vineyards, orchards, ranches.

Boston condos have held up pretty well considering that condos seem to take the first hit. California is not an area that has a high demand for luxury condos. Until recently, when developers started putting up cookie cutter two story houses so close you could feel your next door neighbors breath on your shoulder, Californians always had homes on fairly big lots with plenty of room to roam. Times they are a changin'.

Boston is an awesome city that I would love to visit one day.
If you live there or want to move there and are ready to buy visit Bushari Group Real Estate.

A House With Potential

2009-06-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

This place should sell VERY quickly with the recliner out front and Christmas lights still up. The tough economy is nothing for this seller.

All kidding aside, I might have to take a look at this house. It looks like a fairly decent place that needs some minor work like a remodeled bathroom. It's no mansion, but with some work you could enjoy a nice place to live if you are one who likes a small house. Smaller means less to heat/cool, less to furnish, and less to remodel. You could just choose to update some parts of the home like making a tub into a walk in shower. I found a nice site that has a lot of up grades for the bathroom s if you are in the market for home improvements.

My wife and I recently bought a smaller home its 3 bed with 2 baths and we love it. It is cozy and our gas bill last month was only $8. Our electric bill was only $68 and we keep our air at 75-77 degrees. Since we bought less house we were able to upgrade some appliances, so it's not all bad. It helps that we don't have kids, but our dog Howard makes sure we keep him cool in the summer or else!

Shack for Sale!

2009-06-07T21:00:00.001-07:00

Located in Beautiful downtown Needles, California

View the serene Colorado River on the backdrop of the Mohave Desert from the veranda of this lovely little gem. Needs a little TLC...or just rip it down and start all over.

Once upon a time this house was likely someone's pride. A cool, breezy front porch to sit on and watch the Colorado River after a long, hot day at work. Now, it is a shack for people like me to take pictures of and mock. How sad what time does when things are neglected and treated poorly.

Vacation or Buy?

2009-05-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I knew a guy who was cashing out and moving to Mexico. In the back of my mind I was thinking hhhhmmm, why would he want to move to Mexico? Now I hear about more and more people leaving the USA and buying in areas like the Playa del Carmen real estate.

My sister has been there several times, and loves it. She takes her vacations there year after year, and I think out of curiosity the next time she goes, which should be very soon knowing her, I will ask her to pick up some real estate magazines for me of Costa Rica Golf Real Estate.
I am a real estate magazine junky, but if you would rather just see Costa Rica Golf Real Estate through the internet you can click the links.

It can be confusing to buy real estate in this country, let alone thinking about investing out of the country in Panama Real Estate market. The links above should have some very helpful information for you. Maybe you are not in a position to buy now, but it is never to late to think about how you want to spend your retirement years.

My First Home

2009-05-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

My very first home on my own was a sailboat similar to this one (minus the seals). I loved the boat life. It was simple and cheap, but as you grow up you want better things in life, like a real home.

I was self-employed, so getting a loan was not easy. I didn't even have a rental history. I just paid slip rent to keep the boat there. I had to shop around for places like Advantage Home Rates . I was able to get a loan, and have owned three homes since the boat life. There are still a lot of people who are self employed, and if they want a loan they might want to look at places like this one .

There are also those who are buying the houses that have been trashed by the previous owners, which you can get pretty cheap right now. A good source for a loan for a place like that would be Advantage Home Rates. Then there are individuals who have bad credit, but still have a good job yet have had some bad luck along the way, but want to be a home owner. It is still possible to get loans. It may take some work, but it can be done.

Things turning around?

2009-05-07T20:41:00.000-07:00

Statistics released Tuesday by the Lake Havasu Association of Realtors, indicate the number of residential homes sold in the city jumped 12 percent in April over the same time last year. There were 154 homes sold last month, as compared to 120 in April 2008.

The increase in homes sold comes after median sales prices dropped more than $65,000 from last year.

However, Realtors continue to close the gap between the total sales dollars. Dollar amounts for April were just more than $3 million less than this time last year, at $27,635,314. Last year’s figures were $30,852,999.

April’s total dollar amounts also helped Realtors gain some ground on the year totals. Through April 2008, sales dollars were more than $109 million in the city. This year, those figures are just slightly less at $91.5 million.

Pat Landry, president of the Lake Havasu Association of Realtors, says the reason continues to be the number of foreclosures on the market. In April, sales on foreclosed homes accounted for more than half the total sales in Lake Havasu City, Kingman and Bullhead City. There were 78 foreclosed homes sold in Lake Havasu City, 37 in Kingman and 59 in Bullhead City. Lake Havasu City had 208 foreclosures on the market, Kingman 123, and Bullhead City reported 115.

Landry said she expects the number of foreclosed homes sold to increase in the next month, because of the number of those homes still pending escrow.

The departure of snowbirds from Lake Havasu City is having an impact, according to Landry. Part-time residents from as far away as Montana and Wisconsin currently have homes pending escrow. Landry said this is a typical trend that occurs each year right before winter visitors go home.

One thing, she said, that has been different is prospective buyers are taking a look at more homes, making sure the one they are buying is what they want for the right price.

Buyers are looking at how the home was built, including insulation, windows, air conditioning and energy efficiency to determine what utility costs they would incur with the purchase of a particular home.

The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act tax credit for first-time homebuyers has yet to impact sales, Landry said. Under the stimulus plan, first-time homebuyers would receive $8,000 tax credit next year. Landry said if the tax credit applied to every homebuyer, it might have more of an impact. With homebuyers not receiving the credit when they apply for the initial loan, Landry said she doesn’t see it making much of a difference. In fact, one first-time homebuyer she dealt with didn’t even know about the tax credit.

As the economy improves, the housing market will follow or vice versa. Landry said both are neck and neck with each other. And, with low-interest loans and low market prices on larger homes, she said things should continue to move upward. Homebuyers should be aware, though, lenders are being stricter on who they will hand out loans to.

Swine Whine

2009-04-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

How did we go from being cute wriggly, pink little pigglets...

to big stinky pigs....

who never did any harm to anyone...

just minding our own stinkin' business...

to being accused of starting an epidemic called the swine flu, alarming the CDC,
and causing panic in the streets? HOW?
It is an INJUSTICE to pigs everywhere!!!

I don't know...I'm just glad the focus is off mad cow disease for awhile.

Me too, but I'm confused.
What does this have to do with real estate?

Wally World or Bust!

2009-04-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

Time For a Break From the Hamster Wheel of Life

Are you in a rut? Do you need a vacation? You do and you know it. Your boss and co-workers are about to get on your last, dangling, exposed nerve. Your nerve that is just hanging there from the constant exposure to the Nancy Pelosi's of the world. This goes for business owners as well...your ungrateful employees just need to quit their whining and help you hang onto what little you have left so that you can ALL keep working. Most likely, due to budget cuts, you are expected to do MORE work for LESS money and just be grateful you have a job.

Swine flu be damned, just put out your closed for business sign, and take off a day or 10. If you are one of the fortunate few who have any extra money that you can spend, might I suggest checking out Costa Rica Country Club? While you are there look into some Costa Rica real estate, because, trust me, you are not going to want to leave.

Belize real estate is awesome. Perhaps you need a 320 acre farm and mountain property for $499,000? Far, far away from those annoying, chirping little voices of your co-workers or employees, whatever the case may be.

Get out there and vacation. Howard would.

Marco, Polo, Howard

2009-04-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

If you are a handsome devil like Howard, then you know how good you look in a polo shirt. Polo golf shirts say, "Hey, I'm busy and important, but I am approachable too," in a way that a business suit never could. Also, what better way to advertise your business than on a polo shirt? People can see you and say, "Look at that classy fella in that good-lookin' shirt. I'm gonna go right out and buy me some of the stuff he is advertising!" Business problems solved.

Want to make your own embroidered golf shirts? Check this website out. There are tons of items to choose from...not just polo shirts.

Enjoy Paradise!!

2009-04-11T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is from Havasunews.com

By TONY WAGGONER
Friday, April 10, 2009 10:35 PM MST

Foreclosures are making a difference for the real estate market in Lake Havasu City, as more and more bank-owned homes are being sold.

Pat Landry, president of the Lake Havasu Association of Realtors, said offers are pouring in on foreclosed homes. Usually, she said, two to three of those offers are coming from investors.

Lake Havasu City reported 80 foreclosures sold for the month of March, more than half of the 149 single-family residential homes sold total.

And, Landry says there are even more bank-owned homes pending escrow. Already in April, there are 167 foreclosed homes pending approval for purchase in Lake Havasu City.

The total active listing for foreclosures in the city currently sits at 232 homes.

Landry said she expects foreclosures to continue through the end of 2010. With the average price of a bank-owned home in Lake Havasu around $126,000, Landry says prospective homeowners, especially first-time buyers, should continue to consider the foreclosure route for purchasing a new home. Right now, homes that were once in the $250,000 range have dropped in price more than $75,000 in some areas.

Landry says now is still the best time to buy, too. As the inventory of homes goes down, prices will, once again, begin to rise across the city.

“Prices have pretty well hit bottom and won’t go down any more,” Landry said.

The market in Lake Havasu City could begin to turn the corner by next year, Landry said.

The momentum gained from foreclosures is just a sign of what is happening in the real estate market across the city. For March, 149 homes sold. That number is more than the same month last year, when 123 homes were sold.

Landry attributes the increase in homes sold partially to snowbirds leaving Lake Havasu City. Numbers often indicate snowbirds will wait until the last minute to buy a second home here, in order to get the best possible price, Landry said.

Median and average sale prices for residential homes sold are well below what they were last year — $240,768 average for 2008, $194,984 this year. The median price compared with last year was an approximate $59,000 difference between the two years.

The average and median price of the homes sold may have dropped considerably, but the total dollars stabilized for the month of March. Total sales for the month of March this year were $29,052,677. Last year’s dollar amount for March was $29,614,466.

In comparison to other cities in Mohave County, Lake Havasu City is doing quite favorably. Kingman has a total listing of 806 residential homes on the market. Bullhead City has 884. Lake Havasu City lists 1,142 residential homes on the market, but sold a greater number of homes in March than either city. Bullhead City listed 62 homes as closed, Kingman 87. Both cities have a good number of home sales pending — Kingman, 160, Bullhead City, 62.

While the home industry continues to have some improvements, the building industry is still struggling. In March, only seven lots were sold, bringing the overall total to 21 for 2009. That is an average of seven homes per month for the first three months of the year, though.

What may be even more disappointing are the total dollar amounts of those lots being sold. Last year at this time, the total dollar amount of lots sold was near $1.6 million. This year total sales fell to approximately $652,150.

Boston Real Estate

2009-03-26T17:09:00.001-07:00

Boston real estate does not seem to be hit as hard as other areas of the country, especially like California. Is it because real estate in Boston never had the overinflated jump that other areas did? Is there a high demand for luxury real estate in Boston? California does have more than its fair share of luxury real estate...Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, just to name a few.

Boston is a historic and cultural place to live with plenty to do and see. California does not have as old of a history, but there is plenty to do and see here. Ocean, desert, mountains, valleys, vineyards, orchards, ranches.

Boston condos have held up pretty well considering that condos seem to take the first hit. California is not an area that has a high demand for luxury condos. Until recently, when developers started putting up cookie cutter two story houses so close you could feel your next door neighbors breath on your shoulder, Californians always had homes on fairly big lots with plenty of room to roam. Times they are a changin'.

Boston is an awesome city that I would love to visit one day. If you live there and are ready to buy visit Bushari Group Real Estate.

Madder than a Hornet!

2009-03-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

Our sales tax is going up in the beautiful, but poorly run by a bunch of darn liberals, State of California. Here is what I am doing about it - I am now making as many online purchases as possible and it will depend upon where the location of the business is as to whether or not I will have to pay the sales tax. I found a new source online that you can shop for some good deals on anything from appliances to food processors.

Not only is the sales tax a reason to shop online, but some of the help at stores is just so bad. They really do not have the knowledge about any of the products, or even care if you buy from them. When I needed a new oven range I shopped at one of the big box stores, and the person had very little knowledge about what I was interested in.

So even if its only dinnerware you want there are ways to buy the product online, and you can do some reading on what other consumers have to say about the what you are looking to buy.

Besides, Howard needs some lovin' from the UPS man.

Rabbit Ears

2009-03-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

If you were one of the lucky people, or maybe you waited to buy and now you have your own place, you surely will want to watch some TV. There are two ways to get reception: one is Satellite and the other is cable. If you choose satellite there are some good Direct TV deals right now. If you are fortunate enough to live out in the middle of nowhere, like I would love to do, and want to watch TV you also can get good Direct TV offers.

It looks like the rabbit ears days are over! Check out the Direct TV specials.

Don't Pick Your Gang Fight in My 'Hood

2009-03-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

Several months ago we purchased a home in a nice neighborhood with a cute little park across the street. Most days we enjoy watching little kids playing, and elderly people walking their dogs. There are three schools within walking distance, including a high school and a junior high. There is also a gated senior community.

Well, yesterday some high school kids thought they could use the park as a scene for some kind of gang rumble. If they had only known my wife would be pulling out of the garage to go on an errand at the same time. She whipped out her cell phone like a gun slinger whips a gun out of his holster, and dialed 911 and told the police to get there ASAP, which they did. We have a great PD in our town. The police had already received several other calls. She then dog starred all of the little punks down, especially the three who thought they could park in front of our house. After that we drove over to speak to the police, as there was no way in H-E double hockey sticks that they were going to get away without hearing her out about the little kids and elderly people who use the park and would not tolerate these gangster punks in her neighborhood. Becoming a nurse has made my once shy, quiet wife fearless.

I then patiently listened to her rant about how people don't know what their little brats are up to half of the time, and is sick of parents who are afraid of their own children and do nothing to set boundaries for them, and how when she was a kid and got in trouble at school she would have been in even bigger trouble once she got home, and never wanted to do anything that would bring shame to her parents or cause them to be disappointed in her because she RESPECTED them, and so help her she REFUSED to live in a 'hood.

I love this woman.

WOW!!!

2009-03-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

This is from the manteca bulletin

Thirty-five months ago only 4.8 percent of the people working and living in San Joaquin County could afford to buy a home here.
Today, 66.4 of county residents can now afford to buy a median priced home taking it from one of the least affordable counties in California for housing in 2006 to the third most affordable today.
That is being made possible by a significant drop in median housing prices going from $435,000 in the first quarter of 2006 to $175,000 at the end of 2008 while median household income at the same time went from $57,100 per household to $61,300.
The information is gleaned from the Wells Fargo Bank Housing Opportunity Index that has been monitoring the affordability of housing nationwide.
“I think more and more people are getting the message that this is a good time to buy,” said Jennifer Harnden of Coldwell Banker Crossroads Real Estate.
She noted that a sign of that is the fact she is writing between five and 15 offers for each buyer she represents until they are able to secure a home.
The buying activity is reflected in pending sales that continue to stay at near high levels with 212 deals in escrow. There have been 151 homes in Manteca close escrow as of Wednesday so far this year with another 335 available through the Multiple Listing Service.
Harden noted that some banks that have voluntarily put a moratorium on mortgages while trying to sort through the proposed housing bailout plan will have the effect of slowing down the supply.
“We’re already seeing less homes become available each week,” Harden said.
That could translate into good news and bad news for buyers. If another glut of foreclosures hit the market in a few months propped up by banks holding back, it could drive down prices a bit more. Experts are saying that only 5 to 6 percent of those who have homes facing foreclosure could be helped by the Obama plan.
At the same time, though lenders have been noticed that FHA is getting ready to increase minimum credit scores required for mortgages significantly to tighten up lending standards. That could create problems for people who can now afford homes but may not after the qualifying guidelines are changed. Virtually every home being bought by first-time buyers to live in on the resale market in the Manteca are going FHA. That is due to more lenient income and debt ratio standards, the affordability of the mortgage insurance, and the fact only a 3.5 percent down payment is required as opposed to 10 to 20 percent with conventional loans.
Realtor Tom Wilson said the $8,000 tax credit for buying a home is serving as a big carrot.
He noted one client – single man with a well paying, stable job who was comfortably living in his apartment – finally gave in to his mother’s constant insistence that he buy a home while the affordability is so good because of the $8,000 tax credit.
That means on a $109,900 home going FHA with a required 3.5 percent down payment, it will end up costing you less than $2,050 once you file taxes for next year as the $8,000 would cover the $5,300 in closing costs and $1,700 of the $3,742 down payment requirement.
As of Wednesday, there were four homes in Manteca or Lathrop listed for $109,900:
• three bedrooms, two bathrooms with 1,146 square feet at 796 Cherry Hills Court in Lathrop.
• three bedrooms, two bathrooms with 1,076 square feet at 430 Eva Drive in Manteca.
• three bedrooms, two bathrooms with 1,077 square feet at 405 Locust Ave. in Manteca.
• three bedrooms, one bathroom with 1,094 square feet at 339 Edward Ave. in Manteca.
Wilson noted you don’t get the money until you file your taxes for the year the home was purchased it. He has had several clients who are borrowing the amount from relatives and paying them back when they get the tax credit/refund check.

Need Help?

2009-02-20T14:19:00.000-08:00

I'm sure there are plenty of people who could use a service that offers Loan Modification.
I get A LOT of google hits for "can't sell my house," and if you have arrived here looking for advice, or want to do a Mortgage Loan Modification, then you are in luck. There is help available that will show you how to stay in your house, without your mortgage company harassing you, while you figure out what you are going to do next. Of course you won't be able to stay there forever, but if you are on the verge of foreclosure with no other options you may want some Foreclosure Assistance. For more information, click on one of the links.

Most affordable place in California

2009-02-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

From the Modbee

Stanislaus County homes are the most affordable in California, followed by Merced and San Joaquin counties, a study released Thursday shows.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that home sales prices plunged again in January, pushing values back to what they were in autumn 2000. Stanislaus home prices, for instances, have fallen nearly 65 percent since peaking in December 2005, and Merced and San Joaquin values have dropped even more.

Housing statistics from various sources keep demonstrating how drastically things have changed in the valley.

New calculations show that Stanislaus' median-income families can afford to buy 71.1 percent of homes on the market. Three years ago, before the housing bubble burst, only 3 percent of Stanislaus homes were affordable to median-income families.

Most homes also are affordable in Merced (70.9 percent) and San Joaquin (66.4 percent).

That's terrific for first-time buyers such as Tammy L'Allier.

"I have a fairly decent job, but I never thought I'd be able to afford my own home in California because I've always been a single mom," said L'Allier, 47. So she was shocked last summer when she saw a home for sale in her price range. "I thought: Oh, my God! I could actually afford that."

She started searching and by October bought a $129,000 home on Estep Drive in central Modesto. The foreclosed house, with more than 1,600 square feet, costs her only about $150 more per month than what she had been paying for rent. She expects to save at least that much in income tax deductions.

"I still can't believe it. Now I can own dogs and paint my walls any color I want, which I couldn't as a renter," said L'Allier, who has painted her living room dark chocolate and put black stripes on her bedroom walls. "I love it!"

Andy and Amanda Baker of Modesto also are thrilled. They bought their first home in December for $123,000, and their monthly payment is just $930.

"We're so thankful we were able to do this," said Andy Baker, 38, who is an adoptions social worker in Merced County. He and his wife, who is 36 and works with developmentally disabled adults, expressed sorrow that their Carol Street home's previous owner went into foreclosure. "It was hard to buy knowing someone else lost this home," he said.

But the Bakers, who have two children, had been frustrated for years as they watched home prices soar out of reach.

"We were ready to settle down and get that first home," said Andy Baker, who was raised in Merced County. He advises others to consider buying now, but he cautions: "Make sure the home is within your ability to pay for and that it's someplace you want to live."

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index, released Thursday, shows how the Northern San Joaquin Valley has flipped from being among the nation's least affordable places to buy to being among the most affordable.

Stanislaus hit its highest affordability level in 1998, when median-income families could afford nearly 80 percent of homes. That was well above the national average, but the county fell way below average during this decade's housing boom.

The index shows that 62.4 percent of homes sold nationwide in October, November and December 2008 were affordable to families earning the national me- dian income of $61,500. The median income was calcu- lated at $56,500 for Stanislaus, $47,400 for Merced and $61,300 for San Joaquin.

Those incomes were about the same three years ago, even though homes cost more than double what they do today.

In January, the median-priced home sold for just $140,000 in Stanislaus, which was $17,500 below December and $256,000 less than 2005's peak price, according to MDA DataQuick. That's a 64.6 percent decline.

That value drop, obviously, is bad for current homeowners, many of whom now owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth.

During the past 24 months, lenders have repossessed more than 11,601 Stanislaus County homes as homeowners have defaulted on more than $3.9 billion in loans, according to statistics released this week by Foreclosure- Radar.

To attract new buyers for those foreclosed properties, banks typically offer to sell at bargain prices. That drives down home values even more.

Because existing homes are priced so low, new home builders are struggling. Stanislaus new home building permits fell to the lowest level on rec- ord in 2008, and this year is expected to be worse, according to recent forecasts by the California Building Industry Asso- ciation.

To see all the affordability statistics, visit www.nahb.org/hoi. Additional home price data is posted with this story at www.modbee.com.

Go Big Network

2009-02-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

I see all kinds of things that people invent or dream up, and I have asked myself on more than one occasion, "why didn't I think of that?" Here is one of those ideas. You make a website and name it Go Big Network, and have it as a connection for people who need funding for a project or an idea.

The Go Big Network offers more than just funding. You can get business plans, and either find a job or post job. They have been featured in several places like Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and The Street.com just to name a few. So, if you own a business, or want to start a new business, and you either need funding or a business plan, you can get some help on GoBigNetwork.com. Also, don't forget to check them out if you are looking for a job.

At the Top

2009-02-04T18:42:00.000-08:00

If you did a search for "I can't sell my house," you would see that this blog is likely number one or very near the top. There are several ways to be on the top when your website is searched. One of these ways is a company named SEO Expert, Inc. This company is excellent at making sure you are top ranked in search engines. In case you are wondering what SEO stands for, it is Search Engine Optimization.

It does not matter if you are a business website, or you have a personal website. If you want people to see your site, then this company is the best. Their website is easy to navigate and offers all of the information you need to make an educated decision. They have been in business for over 10 years, and have clients that range from small start-ups to major corporations.

SEO Expert, Inc. also offers partnerships and affiliates where you can private label their services as your own and sell them to clients. They do all the behind the scenes work, while you handle all of the customer service and billing, etc.

Now is a time in the economy to put your creativity to work. Check this company out!

Representin'

2009-02-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

There is nothing wrong with showing a little hometown pride on your house. I love how Modesto is spelled with a dollar sign for the "s". If I were a betting man, I'd say this guy is gunning for Mayor of Modesto.

Truth in Advertising

2009-02-04T05:51:00.000-08:00

You may have to click on the picture to see the underlined portion for this short sale that says: WHY RENT WHEN YOU CAN OWE?

At least there is truth in advertising here. I'm just waiting for the sign that says:
WHY RENT WHEN YOUR ASS CAN BE OURS FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS?

It's so refreshing to see some honesty in this day and age.

Cars

2009-01-30T11:46:00.000-08:00

I have been doing some traveling lately, mostly due to my work. To my surprise I have seen quite a few new cars on the road, and one of them I see a lot is the Hyundai Genesis. It's a nice car, and although I am not in the new car market this is one I would be looking at if I were. Another car would be the Toyota Corolla. My wife used to have a Toyota Corolla before she met me, and she is a such sweetheart and would let her then 16 year old brother borrow the car. I've heard some stories about how she'd come out to her car in the morning and find mud on the bottom and tumbleweeds sticking out from underneath. According to her brother, that car took a beating and kept on running like a charm. It's still a touchy family subject.

The choices are hard for me because I would need a nice tow vehicle. I like to be on the water, so I need something to tow a boat or jet ski, and I like the look of the Toyota Land Cruiser. I know a few people with these and they love it.

If you are into getting really good gas mileage, then the Toyota Prius is the car for you. You get 48mpg in the city and 45mpg on the highway. The good thing about the high MPG, is you can drive a long ways and not have to stop to gas up. All I would be stopping for is to let Howard out. I wonder which vehicle Howard would like the best? My guess is the Toyota Land Cruiser. He's a big guy and would need more space than a Prius.

Pests

2009-01-30T11:24:00.000-08:00

When we looked at the house we recently purchased, there were a ton of Ants and when I say a ton I mean a ton. The person who lived here didn't like to have any treatments for any pests. To me that's just disgusting. We had a pest inspection done and got a nice pest inspection report back. When you buy a house, be sure to get a pre-purchase pest inspection done. They are well worth the money, and they inspect your entire house. You can ask for a copy of the inspection after its complete.

We hired a pest control company to control the ants and within a day they were all gone with none to be seen ever since. They are safe for your pets too, once the application has dried. Even if you already own, it's not a bad idea to get a pest inspection done. You can see if you have any around, and if you do you can prevent any damage or control further damage. There are so many options, and some are pretty high tech like the thermal camera that is used by a pest inspection company in Sydney with some nice testimonials.

My 2 Cents

2009-01-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

A long time ago, my dad told me 3 things run this country:

1. Communication - The media is a very powerful tool. Just Barrack Obama.
2. Education - From our grade schools to our universities minds are being molded and shaped.
3. Transportation - Gas prices affect the cost of everything. Did you see prices drop on any goods that were raised when gas was over $4/gallon. No? Me either, but I guarantee that when gas prices go back up, prices on goods will go up again.

I read a blog of someone crying about how they had lost over $30,000 on their 401K this year, which is sad and I felt bad for them, but then they said that 'social security isn't looking so bad now.' WHAT? Do you think that there is going to be funding for social security if your 401K is circling the drain? I don't, and I have never in my life wanted to depend upon the government for my financial security.

I truly do not understand the mindset of those individuals who think that the government should support them. I don't want the government to tell me how to live my life, but that is what is being taught and now, Barrack Obama is the answer to everyone's prayers and it baffles me. It sickens me when people chant, "Obama! Obama! Obama!" instead of "USA! USA! USA!" We didn't hear people chanting, "Clinton! Clinton! Clinton!" or "Bush! Bush! Bush!" Not like we do for Obama. Nothing against the guy, but it is scary to see someone in power worshipped like he is. Pretty soon I have a feeling we'll be the United States of Obama.

There are three parties in this country:

1. A very strong Democrat party who leans toward socialism, and is ruining, I mean running our country.
2. A very weak Republican party who does not know what has hit it, and sides with the Democrats because they don't want to ruffle feathers.
3. A conservative party who wants smaller government, less spending, fewer taxes, and a price to pay instead of a bailout.

Remember AMC, American Motor Corp from the 1960's? They failed...life goes on.

I may get slammed by some of you who disagree with me for what I have said, but I just wanted to say it while I'm still free to do so.

Howard Checking In

2009-01-21T20:52:00.000-08:00

Howard had surgery on his ear. Read about his experience here.

Caceres

2009-01-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

Cáceres is a nice luxury gated community of town homes in Houston, TX, right inside the loop. They have a very unique design and are a short 3-5 minute commute to downtown Houston. These Houston town homes are really nice with a ton of upgrades. I have been through Houston, and it looked like a pretty nice place to live. Be sure to check it out if you are in the market for a new town house in Houston.

This website has a lot of information www.caceresliving.com. Here are a few facts I got from the website, it has Green space living – almost every town home enjoys a view of one of the six parks within the Cáceres community. You won't be too crowded, because it has 19 custom homes, 34 villas, and 67 town homes. Seeing this place makes me want to move there.

The Best of NYC

2009-01-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

Its time for some East Coast Real Estate talk. We will start with NYC real estate. I wonder if the housing market has held up since the Stock Market has not done so well? Other than real estate, the Stock Market is another hobby I have. Although I would not trade my simple life, it would be fascinating to be a stock broker on the NY Stock Exchange floor, and to see what it's like to live in the best of best places such as a 5th Avenue penthouse. Click here to see a very nice place.

Space is very limited in NYC, so when something is built they get top dollar, and of course they build nothing but the best and very luxurious. If you want to see a sample here is a good source.
These places have everything from a water garden to a white glove doorman, and the views are unbelievable. Feel free to check it out.

Here is a link to a blog that you may find interesting as well.

Retirement

2009-01-15T10:18:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I knew a guy who was cashing out and moving to Mexico. In the back of my mind I was thinking hhhhmmm, why would he want to move to Mexico? Now I hear about more and more people leaving the USA and buying in areas like Puerto Vallarta.

My sister has been there several times, and loves it. She takes her vacations there year after year, and I think out of curiosity the next time she goes, which should be very soon knowing her, I will ask her to pick up some real estate magazines for me of "Puerto Vallarta Real Estate "
I am a real estate magazine junky, but if you would rather just see"Homes for Sale in Puerto Vallarta" through the internet you can click the links. Maybe you just want to browse the
"International Real Estate " market.

It can be confusing to buy real estate in this country, let alone thinking about investing out of the country in Puerto Vallarta. The links above should have some very helpful information for you. Maybe you are not in a position to buy now, but it is never to late to think about how you want to spend your retirement years.

If you are looking to retire soon, and have some extra cash laying around, check out some international spots. You never know what you'll find. If that does not interest you, perhaps you could leave me in your will. I would not be mad at you for that. Really. Then I'll be checking out the international market.

My First Home

2009-01-12T08:58:00.001-08:00

My very first home on my own was a sailboat similar to this one (minus the seals). I loved the boat life. It was simple and cheap, but as you grow up you want better things in life, like a real home.

I was self-employed, so getting a loan was not easy. I didn't even have a rental history. I just paid slip rent to the City of Santa Barbara. I had to shop around for places like Advantage Home Rates. I was able to get a loan, and have owned three homes since the boat life. There are still a lot of people who are self employed, and if they want a loan they might want to look at places like this one.

There are also those who are buying the houses that have been trashed by the previous owners, which you can get pretty cheap right now. A good source for a loan for a place like that would be Advantage Home Rates. Then there are individuals who have bad credit, but still have a good job yet have had some bad luck along the way, but want to be a home owner. It is still possible to get loans. It may take some work, but it can be done.

Lights Off

2008-12-30T17:07:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. Time to take down your Christmas lights and decorations. My brother-in-law took our lights down in approximately 5 seconds. Since I'm feeling extremely generous I'll give people until February to get their lights down before I start mocking them. Anything after that is just shameful.

Keep Christmas in your hearts...not on your house.

Where is the bottom?

2008-12-29T13:14:00.000-08:00

Here is an interesting article from the Modesto Bee.

Stanislaus County housing prices stabilized a bit last month, slowing the brutal price plunge that began three years ago.

Median-priced homes sold for $160,000 during November, which was $1,500 less than October. That decline was far less than previous price drops. Between September and October, for instance, home prices fell $17,500.

Stanislaus home values have fallen nearly 60 percent since peaking three years ago, according to housing statistics provided by MDA DataQuick.

First-time home buyers and investors are taking advantage of the now-affordable pricing. Sales volume was strong during November, as more than twice as many homes sold compared with the same month last year.

The sales statistics aren't nearly as comforting for Merced and San Joaquin counties.

Merced prices continued plummeting in November, falling to a median of $124,500. That was $12,250 less than October, and nearly 66 percent below what houses were selling for three years ago.

San Joaquin prices dropped to $172,000 last month, a staggering $28,000 fall from October. Its home values have declined nearly 62 percent in three years.

The Northern San Joaquin Valley has been rocked by the foreclosure crisis, which experts agree is pushing down home prices. Those experts disagree, however, on whether the region is through the worst of the housing mess.

"It comes down to just the sheer volume of problem loans in your area," said Rick Sharga, senior vice president of RealtyTrac, which monitors foreclosures nationwide. Sharga predicted the region will continue to lead the country in foreclosures through 2009.

But since this region was first to enter the foreclosure mess, some think it may be among the first to rally.

"It is already recovering," said Sean O'Toole, founder of ForeclosureRadar, which tracks California real estate. He said it's a good sign that the valley's sales are up and prices are affordable. "Whereas the so-called strong areas in California, like San Mateo or San Francisco, are now only beginning to correct (by lowering prices). At current prices, I'd much rather own property in Modesto than Palo Alto at the moment."

Bargains to be had

Local realty firms also are seeing some positive signs.

"There's a tremendous amount of demand for housing at these prices, and there are good interest rates right now," said Mike Zagaris, president of Modesto-based PMZ Real Estate.

Whether home buyers will continue to be able to take advantage of low-cost housing opportunities depends on the economy, Zagaris said, "because we have a growing recession that's putting people out of work."

Zagaris also is concerned that many current owners are giving up their homes because they've lost so much equity.

"I'm being told by my people in the trenches that the vast majority of those facing foreclosures now have no interest in redoing their loans. They just want out," Zagaris said. "If that's true, there's no stopping these foreclosures."

Demand catching up

What has stopped is most new home construction.

That's good, according to Sharga, because the region needs to reduce its overall inventory of homes so demand can catch up with supply.

Most of the valley's new home builders have sold all their finished houses and they're only building new ones after they sign sales contracts, according to Kent Steinwert, chief executive officer for Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California. He thinks that will stabilize new home prices.

Steinwert is bullish on the valley's housing future: "The fundamentals are there. We're growing in population ... and we can't build enough homes long term to meet demand."

Population estimates released this week show there's been a shift in who is living in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

More people are moving out of the region than are moving in. New population estimates from California's Department of Finance determined that about 6,824 more people moved to other parts of the United States from Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties this year than moved to the region.

But new immigrants from foreign countries and high birth rates among current residents more than made up for that loss, the figures showed, so the three counties still gained in population.

Vacation

2008-12-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

I have been getting antsy for a trip somewhere, and some of you know that I ~~like~~ love to go to Lake Havasu City. Like anywhere I go, I like to check out the local market for houses and
Real Estate Owned Foreclosures. It never gets old for me and since I am a cheapskate I like to look for the Free REO foreclosures list. I can look at houses all day long, even if they are dumpy homes. It's like a challenge for me to use the Free Foreclosures and map out where the houses are, and off I go having no idea where I may end up. I think that might be why I like to do this.

The site offers everything for free. No trial period...just a free service for anyone to use. Its pretty simple to use, and all you do is go to the main page and click on the state and find the city. It's that simple!

Boston Real Estate

2008-12-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

Boston real estate does not seem to be hit as hard as other areas of the country, especially like California. Here is my take on it:

1. Real estate in Boston never had the overinflated jump that other areas did.
2. There is a demand for luxury real estate there.
3. Boston is a historic and cultural place to live with plenty to do and see.
4. Even Boston condos have held up pretty well considering that condos seem to take the first hit.
When you are ready to buy visit Bushari Group Real Estate

All I ever write about is California real estate, because it is what I know. Do any of you have insight on the east coast market? I'm curious.