Consider this analogy:  If we both bought stock in IBM around the same time 5 years ago, and I just sold my IBM stock last month and got "X", one would naturally assume that when you sell your IBM stock today you will also only get "X", not X+, right?  If you demand X+ from your stockbroker because you "need" the money, what will she do?  She'll say, "I'm sorry, but the market doesn't care what you need, it's only selling for X."  Can you make her sell it for X+?  There isn't a market for it.  It's the same principal with a home.  Please hear me out about why I think houses are the same as a stock.  

Think about a Mutual Fund.  People buy into and sell out of a mutual fund all year long--when you buy in, everyone pays the same price on the same day or sells at the same price on the same day.   Think about your home as being a "share" and your neighborhood as the "Mutual Fund."  We need to look at how your "Mutual Fund" performed since you invested into it.  I look for nearby houses that were purchased in the same economy in which you purchased (give or take 3- 6 months) and who also just resold in the last 6 months, the same economy in which you are attempting to sell.  That gives me a bigger picture of the appreciation/depreciation an area has had year over year.  For example, if the overall average annual depreciation is -1.78% for the past 6 years, I wouldn't expect your house to sell at 3% appreciation unless you had pumped significant amounts of cash into it, but that's what sellers are consistently trying to do.  

 Next we factor in the updates, features and amenities that make a house superior to the other unsold properties currently on the market.  Often I am met with a list of updates and upgrades that a seller put into their home and they naturally assume they can add that on to the price paid to arrive at a fair asking price.  If today I bought a top-of-the-line Kenmore Stainless Steel Side-by-Side Refrigerator with water and ice on the door, paid $2,000, brought it home, set it in the garage still boxed and then changed my mind about the purchase and tried to sell it on Craigslist, what would someone pay me for that brand new refrigerator?  $2,000?  I wish.   $1,800? $1,600?  It's brand new.  There's nothing wrong with it.  But yet I would be forced to sell it at a discount because the public somehow considers it "used".   Same with a house.  What amount of money does a seller expect a buyer to "reimburse them" for used granite countertops, used stainless appliances, walked-on flooring, used paver patio, 1 year old furnace, or expensive in-ground sprinkler system?  Everyone puts money into their house--in fact, NAR states that you must invest 1/2-1% of your home's value into your home every year just to maintain market value!  

If you are serious about selling, let me show you my proven plan to get homes sold in this market and for the best and highest price possible.  

I'm Sandie Hea and I've sold over 1,000 homes in my 25 year career with RE/MAX.  If you, or someone you know is getting ready to sell their home, call me.  I consider it a privilege to share my market expertise with you.  

RE/MAX University Recognized for High Quality and Real Results

Denver, CO – Two of the most distinguished corporate training competitions have honored RE/MAX University for its high level of performance.  Training magazine has named RE/MAX to its 12^th annual Top 125 list of leading organizations in the field of corporate-sponsored training.  In addition, RE/MAX has been recognized by the Brandon Hall Excellence Awards in the category of  “Best Use of Blended Learning.”

 “RE/MAX has always placed a very high value on the quality of our training, and we have dedicated considerable resources to ensuring the success of our brokers and agents,” said Dave Liniger, Chairman and CoFounder of RE/MAX, LLC.  “We know our extensive training programs make a difference; equipping our agents to better serve the consumer, and resulting in the creation of the most productive sales force in real estate.”

In the Best Use of Blended Learning category of the Brandon Hall awards, RE/MAX was in the company of respected award recipients like The Walt Disney Company and McDonald’s.  Among the Training Top 125, were such notable corporate names as Federal Express, Intel, and UPS. 

In 2010, RE/MAX enhanced its training program, establishing RE/MAX University, following the successful 16-year track record of RE/MAX Satellite Network.  RE/MAX agents lead the industry with professional designations/certifications, with nearly 65,000 earned at home or in the office through the use of RE/MAX University.

Now distributed via high-speed broadband Internet service, RE/MAX University is a 24/7, on-demand platform that includes over 1,000 titles in its library.  The RE/MAX University system is capable of delivering HD quality video programs and online training to multiple devices such as: personal computers, television sets, smart phones and other personal digital devices.  The RE/MAX University platform is provided at no cost to all RE/MAX Affiliates.

Because RE/MAX has a presence in more than 80 countries around the world, its training materials are available in multiple languages and is distributed to international affiliates from the RE/MAX Global Education Center in Denver. Although the methodology of the two rankings differ slightly, competition is known to be fierce, and winners must link their training initiatives to specific company goals and objectives, with verifiable results.

 “Our training is both comprehensive and flexible, able to change focus with an evolving marketplace.  This is why RE/MAX agents continue to outperform their competition in a market that challenges the very best agents in our profession,” added Liniger.

RE/MAX University offers a great variety of programs, from the very latest in industry trends and designation/certification courses to customized presentations by some of the most respected trainers in the real estate industry. For information please visit www.remax.com or www.joinremax.com.
 

About the RE/MAX Network:
RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, real estate industry visionaries who still lead the Denver-based global franchisor today. RE/MAX is recognized as one of the leading real estate franchise companies with the most productive sales force in the industry and a global reach of more than 80 countries. With a passion for the communities in which its agents live and work, RE/MAX is proud to have raised more than $100 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and other charities. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX.  For more information about RE/MAX, please visit www.remax.com or www.joinremeax.com

About Training Magazine:
Training is a 47-year-old professional development magazine written for training, human resources, and business management professionals in all industries that advocate training and workforce development as a business tool. Training also produces world-class conferences, expositions, and digital products that focus on job-related, employer-sponsored training and education in the working world. Training is published by Lakewood Media Group. www.training-mag.com

About Brandon Hall Group:
Having worked with more than 10,000 clients globally and after 19 years of delivering world-class solutions, Brandon Hall Group is the preeminent research and analyst organization focused on developing research-driven solutions to drive organizational performance for emerging and large organizations.  Brandon Hall Group has an extensive repository of thought leadership, research, data and expertise in Learning and Development, Talent Management, Sales Effectiveness, Marketing Impact, and Executive Management. www.brandon-hall.com  

Have you ever found yourself at a loss for words when you encounter a friend who is hurting?  You often don't know WHAT to say---and what not to say.  I recall seeing a woman at the St. Louis Hills Art Fair in September whom I did not know and never saw before.  She had a scarf on her head, covering up what was probably a bald head due to chemo.  I didn't want to stare, but I wanted to connect in some way, so I went up to her and asked a question, I don't recall what it was now.  She (Karen) was so touched by that gesture I will never forget it.  She said "I'd much rather someone ask me what happened than to just stare" and we engaged in a conversation about her ordeal.

Here are some suggestions from Focus on the Family's counseling team to help you reach out with genuine help to someone in pain.

DON'T serve up platitudes:  If your friend just suffered a miscarriage, even well-meaning phrases like, "It wasnt meant to be" can be extremely hurtful.

DON'T turn someone's problem into your story:  When you learn of someone's pain, it's human nature to want to share "what happened to me one time."  Don't.  Keep the focus on your friend.

DON'T be quick to say you understand:  You might have experienced a similar loss or setback, but your friend's circumstance is different.  Listening shows you want to understand.

DO acknowledge the pain:  Always reach out and empathize.  Saying, "You must really be hurting" is a good way to break the ice and communicate that you care.

DO offer a hand:  Although you can't solve every problem, your offer of assistance will be appreciated.  Go ahead and ask, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

DO be honest:  It's OK to admit, "I wish I knew the answer to your problem, but I just don't."  In the end, simply listening may be the biggest help. 

Above all, pray with and for your friend.

• Joey B's on the Landing -  Rachael Ray loved Joey's "Square not Round Pizza" and you will, too! The extensive menu also includes delicious appetizers, soups & chili, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, a great kid's menu and more. Large-screen TVs deck every corner. There's free entertainment Thursday - Monday nights and there’s truly something for everyone!
• Show-Me's on the Landing - The tasty menu of great appetizers, burgers and seafood, includes crab legs, shrimp, & oysters. Get your sports fix while being surrounded by 30 (yes, 30!) big screen TVs at Show-Me's. The spacious patio has a spectacular river view. Show-Me's is perfect for food and fun!
• Sun deckers - A St. Louis tradition for over 27 years, this great neighborhood bar offers good food & a fantastic place to hang with good friends on the deck, watching the river roll by. Entertainment includes karaoke, DJs and live entertainment
• The Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar is interactive musical mayhem unleashed! Locals and tourists alike love singing and dancing the night away here, and ALL requests will be honored! Great FUN!

These are only a taste of the many food & entertainment options you'll find in & near Laclede's Landing.

Family Fun & Other Attractions

• Brookdale Farms Carriage Services offers horse-drawn carriage rides around Laclede and downtown St. Louis, and makes a great romantic outing or good fun for the whole family!
• The St. Louis Zoo - Absolutely one of the best zoos in the Midwest – or anywhere! Great exhibits & events for all ages.
• The Gateway Arch Experience offers riverboat and carriage tours, plus amazing attractions and events.

Laclede's Landing has excellent schools and great neighborhoods: It's a wonderful place to call home!

• Two works of William Kentridge - his Virtual Musing Prints and two of his films in the new media series
• The works of Ian Monroe
• Engraving in Renaissance Germany
• The Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley

Though it's known as the custodian of many amazing international cultural treasures, the St. Louis Art museum itself is nothing short of a treasure when it comes to St. Louis attractions. The Museum offers Tours, exciting School Programs for students, and Professional Development Opportunity Programs for educators.

Make sure you visit often. Memberships are available both at the individual private membership and corporate membership levels. Click HERE for more information.

Dave Liniger, President and Founder of RE/MAX International has been instrumental in dealing head on with Congress, Bank of America, Chase, Citi and Wells in working on this housing crisis. 

http://www.remax.com/documents/insider/pr/2011/AdministrationRevampsHousing_10-24-11_Final.pdf

Eligible Properties

1. One-to-four family dwelling that has been completed for at least one year.
2. Demolished or soon-to-be demolished properties that retain some of the existing foundations.
3. Conversion of a one-family dwelling to two or more as well as multi-unit dwellings to one-to-four family units.
4. Mixed-use residential properties that:
   1. Has no greater than 25% (for a one story); 33% (for a three story); and 49% (for a two story) of commercial/storefront floor area.
   2. The commercial use will not affect the health and safety of the occupants of the residential property.
   3. The rehabilitation funds will be used only for residential access and function.
5. Individual units in condominium projects that have been approved by the FHA and meet the following conditions:
   1. Owner/occupants and qualified non-profit borrowers are eligible. Investors are not.
   2. b.  Rehabilitation is limited to only the unit’s interior. Exteriors and other areas that fall under the purview of the condo association are not permitted, except for firewall installation for the unit.
   3. Only the lesser of five units per condo association, or 25% of the total number of units, can be rehabilitated at any one time.
   4. The maximum mortgage amount cannot exceed 100% of after-improved value.
   5. Individual buildings within the condos must not contain more than four units.

How 203k Rehab Loan Program Works

The program can be used to:

1. Purchase a dwelling and the land on which it is located and rehabilitate it.
2. Purchase a dwelling on another site and move it to a new foundation on the mortgaged property and rehabilitate it.
3. Refinance existing liens secured against a property and rehabilitate it.

Eligible Improvements

1. Painting
2. Room Additions
3. Decks

Required Improvements

1. Cost-Effective Energy Conservation Standards that conform to the following:
   1. Addition to an existing structure. New construction must conform to local codes and HUD Minimum Property Standards.
   2. Rehabilitation of an existing structure that improves thermal efficiency in the following ways:
      1. Caulk and sealing all openings, cracks, joints.
      2. Insulate all necessary openings and areas.
      3. Ventilate attic and crawl spaces.
   3. Replacement Systems:
      1. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning system supply and insulated return ducts and pipes.
      2. Heating systems, burners, and air conditioning systems must be no greater than 15% oversized.
2. Smoke Detectors

HUD’s Maximum Mortgage Calculation

1. Refinance:
   1. Based on the lesser of existing debt on the property before rehabilitation, plus the estimated cost of rehabilitation and allowable closing costs.
      OR
   2. Based on the lesser of the As-Is value plus rehabilitation costs or 110% percent of the after-improved value multiplied by the appropriate loan-to-value (LTV) factor.
2. Purchase:
   1. Based on the lesser of the as-is value or the purchase price of the property before rehabilitation, plus the estimated cost of rehabilitation, multiplied by the LTV factor.
      OR
   2. 100% of the after-improved value of the property, multiplied by the LTV factor.

For more information, see Hud.Gov

This Sunday, September 25 from 10 until 6 pm, come see why St. Louis Hills is one of the premiere neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis.  Built between 1930's and 1950's with Francis Park at the center, these tudor-style and art-deco homes host 2000+ families.  Art in the Park features local artists, local restaurants like Stellina Pasta and Bartonlino's, not to mention the famous LeGrand's local butcher/caterer and sandwich maker where everyone knows your name!  Every year we've had terrific sunshine and blue skies, warm breezes and this year the fun live music from Hudson and the HooDoo Cats as well as Phoenix.  The artists' booths will run along both sides of the Lily Pond, straight up the middle of Francis Park, the crown jewel of St. Louis Hills.  There will also be a classic car show for all you roadsters.  What a great opportunity to be outdoors in a beautiful park-setting, great food, lots of friendly faces and a chance to shop for early Christmas gifts or a new item for your house or to adorn your body!  I will have a booth near the restaurants and band giving away FREE popcorn and FREE real estate advice.  Have questions about "the market" or your home's value?  I'd love to chat with you.   

I have nearly 1,000 homes for sale that you can buy right now with half the normal down payment or less if you have at least a 600 credit score.

They’re foreclosed properties that I can immediately sell to qualified buyers. After that, you’ll get additional loan funding for remodeling work – with no down payment.

Don’t be fooled. Foreclosed homes aren’t junk listings in bad neighborhoods. The first thing you need to do is call me. Tell me what specifications you want such as square footage and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. I’ll have a list of good properties for you to consider in great neighborhoods and school districts.

When you find a home that you want, I’ll then connect you to lenders I’ve done business with for years. Rehab-purchase deals up to $281,000 are available through FHA 203k financing while Fannie Mae will process a rehab purchase up to $500,000 – both programs featuring smaller down payments and 100 percent remodeling loan possible.

There’s more - I’ll connect you with a local home remodeling contractor who specializes in rehabbing homes in the FHA and Fannie Mae foreclosure programs.

Foreclosure buys are 15-30 days faster than traditional home sales. For those who buy and remodel, the closing will be a couple of weeks longer.

Be in control. Custom build a foreclosure-remodel home. A bigger house in a better school district should be on your radar screen. And you’ll get the money needed to remodel that you couldn’t get from conventional programs.

Keep up to date every day with news and listings at The Sandie Hea Team Facebook & Twitter pages!

See all our great listings and more at www.sandiesellsstlouis.com

The exciting lineup for this year is as follows:

• The Roots
• TV on the Radio
• Cat Power
• Deerhunter
• !!!
• The Hold Steady
• Surfer Blood
• Dom
• Das Racist
• The Low Anthem
• Kings Go Forth
• Lost in the Trees
• Ume
• Sleepy Sun
• Troubadour Dali
• Jumbling Towers
• Old Lights
• John Hardy & The Public

Because this is an all-ages event, there is also a space just for kids called Area K. Not only are there arts and crafts for children (such as designing Mad Hatter hats with staff from the Magic House, the St. Louis Children’s Museum), but it also has its own stage with a unique lineup. For more information on what is available in Area K along with the stage schedule, click here.

Lou Fest is also interested in making this a “green” event. They are encouraging public transportation, offsetting the amount of electricity used to power the concerts, requiring vendors to use compost and recycling bins, and even valet bike parking! To find out more about the “greening” of Lou Fest and the various green vendors they have, click here.

For more information about Lou Fest performers and admission prices, click here.

There are also competitions of all the farm animals you could imagine. There are goats, horses, cows, chickens, bunnies, pigs, and even a mule show! These competitions are bound to please every member of the family and and create smiles and memories.

The Missouri State Fair also offers great deals on admission depending on the day. Even with the hard economic times, you’re guaranteed to find a deal that fits your wallet. Listed below are the some of the different deals.

• August 11^th – Two-buck Bonanza! ($2 admission for ages 6 & up)
• August 13^th – Pepsi Day ($1 off adult admission, $5 off carnival ride wristband)
• August 14^th – Military Appreciation Day (FREE for active, veterans, and delayed entry recruits with proper I.D.)
• August 14^th – 17^th – Five After Five ($5 admission after 5 P.M.)
• August 18^th – Thrifty Thursday ($4 admission all day; $1 for ages 6-12)
• August 21^st – Fair Finale/Half Price Day ($4 all day; $1 for ages 6-12)

This year marks the 109^th year that this event has been entertaining the citizens of Missouri. To make this summer one to remember, visit the Missouri State Fair.

By Jim Lange

If there is one truism in life – and especially the business and professional world – it is that “stuff happens,” things transpire for no apparent reason, things you cannot explain.

An important sale you were expecting to close after extraordinary effort suddenly falls through.

• You lose a major client, without warning or understandable cause.
• You do not receive the promotion you had been expecting to get – or you do get the promotion, but it fails to turn out as you had hoped or anticipated.
• A key staff person suddenly resigns and goes to a competitor, after you had invested much time and money in training that individual.

 When things like this take place, we often wonder, “What did I do to deserve this?” or even, “Why did God have to do this to me?” Sometimes we will never gain a satisfactory explanation. Other times, however, we do receive an answer to our “why” question. The following story provides a wonderful illustration:

 A daughter was telling her mother about how everything in her life seemed to be going wrong, that she was failing her math class, her boyfriend had broken up with her, and her best friend was moving away. Her entire world seemed to be crashing down.

 As the daughter was expressing her tale of woe, her mother was baking a cake. Pausing from her activity, she interrupted her daughter to ask if she would like a snack. The daughter responded, “Absolutely Mom, you know how much I love your cake!”

 “All right, here, have some cooking oil,” her mother said, reaching the bottle of oil toward her daughter. “Yuck!” said the daughter.

 “How would you like a couple raw eggs?” the mother asked, holding them out toward her. “No, Mom – that would be terrible!”

 “Would you like to eat some flour then?” the mother inquired. “Or maybe baking soda?”

 “Mother, why are you asking me that? All of those would be awful to eat!”

 At that point the mother replied: “Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake. And if you forget to include even one ingredient, the result will not be very good.

 “God works the same way,” the mother continued. “Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all together, in His perfect, all-knowing order, they always bring about an outcome for our good! We just have to trust Him – and eventually they all will combine to make something wonderful!”

 This is why the Bible can give us this promise: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, those that have been called according to his purpose”
(Romans 8:28).

 © 2011 by Jim Lange. Jim is a chapter president with Truth@Work (www.christianroundtablegroups.com), a ministry to people in the workplace. He writes a regular online blog, www.5feet20.com, and is the author of a book, Bleedership: Biblical First-Aid for Leaders. He and his family live near Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A.

As a friend, more than anything, I want to make sure that I do an excellent job because we probably have mutual friends and word would spread fast if I didn't take care of one of them.  Secondly, and more importantly, this person is near and dear to my heart therefore I care about their welfare and want to help them make a wise decision.   

You have to be careful that friends don't take advantage of each other...i.e, that they expect a discount because you are friends or that they can call the professional at home after business hours and talk about work.  Even the professional needs to "turn it off" when they come home to family.  

 Conversely, the professional needs to be sure that he/she isn't being too casual with the friend simply because they are familiar or taking advantage of the situation and treating them with less than the utmost courtesy and professionalism. 

The best advice is if you choose to work with a friend, be sure that your friend is competent.  Everyone has to start somewhere, everyone was "new" once, but decide if you want to be the one they "practice on" or would you prefer that the biggest investment of your life be handled by a professional with years of experience who is also considered by their peers to be one of the best in the industry?    

  Watch this video http://youtu.be/NrJXWhU85Fs about working with a friend...it's just funny. 

In March 2006, Mr. Liniger said we are in a bubble.  People hated him, got a lot of backlash and hate mail at the time but it was true.  In early 2007 he said this will be the worst housing crisis our nation has ever seen and he was correct.  In early 2008 he said the market is what the market is, figure out how to do business with the changes we have.  In March 2009 at the annual convention he said, "We are not at the bottom yet."  He was correct.  In 2010 he said we are in a soft recovery.  Now for 2011, he says "As United States recovers, so does the world.  We are the economic engine of the world economy.  Oil is going up, it's not an aberration.  Saudi is our best friend and they have excess capacity of 6 billion barrels a day, but are limited by Opec.  Oil is not going to be a long term problem, but markets move on emotion not on fact.  GOLD:  It's a bubble.  Don't go running out and buy gold.  Take American dollars, stocks and bonds.  

We have regained 80% of our losses from 3 years ago.   It will continue to recover.  World Unrest:  We've been involved in famines, wars, etc for years gone by.  Christmas Sales were up in 2010... they were down for 4 yrs in a row.  Auto sales are going up rapidly.  Employee productivity going up.  Unemployement 8.9 but will go up over 9 again but inching it's way down.  Service sector and small business has been the fastest rate in 5 years.  Consumer confidence has gone up.  Top wage earners are spending again.  Investors are hungry, hedge funds are going together; we are working through the foreclosure mess, pent up demand is starting.  We are doing the same number of real estate transactions now as the year 2000.  Now we have 27 million more Americans than we did then.  People who are sharing housing are going to go out and get their own.  He believes it will come around faster than most economists expected. 

However, there are still 7 million homeowners who will go through the foreclosure process before we're done with this catastrophe.  RE/MAX has more specially-trained Realtors to handle short sales and foreclosures than any other company. Citibank has agreed to refer all their distressed property homeowners to 3 local RE/MAX agents because they know that RE/MAX sell more homes per agent than any other real estate company and has more distressed property certifications than all the other companies combined.   

Mr. Liniger went on to say, "We have survived the worst housing crisis in the history of the world."

Now that's good news for all of us!

Details on Tax Deductibility for MI Remain Unchanged

• The home purchase or refinance loan must close between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2011;
• Household income must be at or below $100,000 for a full deduction of premium;
• The premium deduction is reduced 10% for each $1,000 of income over $100,000;
• The premium deduction is prorated in the first year based on the month the loan closes;
• Applies to primary residence and one other residence purchased for personal use by the taxpayer;
• Monthly, annual, and single MI premiums are eligible. Financed premium deductions should be taken over a seven year period.

 Getting a home pre-inspected (and then addressing any ‘red flag’ items) before putting the property on the market can save a great deal of headache down the road. Avoid the last-minute hassle of finding contractors! Save money by taking time to choose contractors who can offer the best deal to do the work!  And, by all means, spare yourself the heartache of not being able to get the problem solved down the road, and watching a buyer walk away as a result.

 Despite the fact that I have been encouraging sellers for more than 4 years to have their homes professionally inspected prior to going on the market, some sellers are reluctant to spend that money ($400) up-front when they know the buyer will still be having their own inspection; or they truly believe there isn't anything wrong with their home or they just don't want to know.  Some of our recent closings, during the height of the $8,000 tax-credit frenzy where Title Companies were burning midnight oil to meet closing deadlines, encountered frustrations and last-minute inspections and repair hold-ups…cutting awfully close to closing time. And let me tell you, such a situation is fun for no one.

 Case #1: Mr. Seller forgot to disclose an un-vented basement bathroom, caught by the buyer's inspector but which seller refused to correct; buyer accepted. However, the County caught it and required it to be done which led to a scramble to find contractors who could get the work done in the week just before closing. Seller again was adamant that he wouldn't pay for it.  Buyer wanted the house so badly they agreed to pay 50%.  Total cost borne by both:  $2000.      

 Case #2: Miss Seller waited until the very last minute to finish repairs necessary to obtain a compliance certificate from the county, though she had been aware for 4 months of the repairs needed, leading to frantic calls to the County inspector to make sure he could re-visit the home before closing.  Coupled with her incredibly busy job and the fact that she wanted to use her own contractors, there was much anxiety to ensure that nothing was missed.   

 Case #3:  Mrs. Seller informed me the roof was old & I suggested it be replaced before going on the market; she wanted to negotiate it instead. We mistakenly let the buyer choose their own roofer because any leftover money from the $6,500 roof credit she was giving him could be used for his closing costs.  Buyer dragged his feet getting roof bids. The two roofers he chose came with their own set of issues: First one didn't have insurance; second quickly got insurance but wanted 50% up front; third one (the bid she got) wanted 50% down.  Finally we settled on my roofer who was insured and didn't require any money up front so 4 weeks later and 2 days before closing, the roof finally went on, but the VA appraiser had to come back out and make sure the roof was on before the loan would be granted.    

Thankfully, none of these sellers saw their transactions fall apart. The properties closed and everyone left the closing table…relieved. But, they each endured needless anxiety that could have been prevented. I’m sure that in hindsight, each of these sellers would have rather they opted to have their homes pre-inspected, which would have given them the chance to address most of these issues before the pressure was on to get the job done.

Your Realtor’s job is to help you expect the unexpected. (One of the reasons we urge you get your home pre-inspected!) However, we do live in a world of uncertainty, and with the changing industry practices involving lenders, appraisers, inspectors and the like, the unexpected will sometimes occur. This is why your Realtor should also be capable and well-informed, able to ease your mind and defend your wallet when those “surprises” come along. Be comfortable with and be confident in your agent’s ability to handle whatever surprises come your way. It can make all the difference in making sure that if a transaction gets “bumpy”, it ends up a smooth one.

Case in point:  The City of Rock Hill in the County of St. Louis, Missouri. 

In the last few years, sellers in this city have been forced to spend thousands of dollars to retrofit their homes either at the whim of the inspector, or because Rock Hill thinks it's their job to protect people from stupidity.  A recent home re-occupancy inspection for a home in this city noted several “violations” and required fixes of said “violations”. Such requirements included adding a light fixture to the basement stairwell where one already exists, adding balusters to the stairwell so a child cannot fall off, dry walling the interior of a basement garage and building a concrete stoop for fire-safety, and installing a railing or bushes as a barrier to falling off a 5-foot retaining wall. 

Further review by the seller of the city’s International Property Maintenance Code revealed that none of the described “violations” were really violations at all! The issues are not stated in the maintenance code, and therefore the seller has wisely chosen to appeal the predications with the city.

Although conditions at this home have been this way for 50-60 years, now that a seller wants to move, the city decides it's time to make this property "safe".  It makes me wonder, if these issues are so inherently critical to ensuring an occupant’s safety, why didn't the city choose to take action to protect the current owner’s safety before now?

Just recently, in another comparable circumstance, the seller of a house in Webster Groves was forced to dead-wood her 40 year old oak tree in the front yard at a cost of several hundred dollars. Sure, I suppose a branch could have been ripped from the trunk in a storm and possibly hit a car driving by…but why didn't the city notice the dead branches of her tree while driving through her neighborhood in the last 12 months? Why does this become an issue only now?

If these inspectors are REALLY concerned about safety issues in the neighborhood, why aren't they routinely driving through looking for how an average citizen might be harmed simply by living in their community? (And caulking the bathtub?  How is that a safety/health violation that requires compliance before an Occupancy Permit will be issued?  Yes, that came up on a Webster inspection, also.)

I’m just going to say it…I'm weary of the government acting as my protector and treating us as if we are all helpless victims. Does the government serve a place in our society for protecting the common good? Absolutely. Have recent circumstances shown an unhealthy extension of their influence and involvement in the home sale process? I believe so.

The truth is that the tougher these supposed "code violations" become, the more agents will be unwilling to extol the qualities of living in that community, knowing the kind of repairs and modifications the buyer-turned-seller will have to do…and decreasing the ease or motivation for moving real estate, particularly in the current market, serves no one.

Next up, Laclede Gas predications, Cap and Trade and the new Transfer Tax.

(Denver, CO., April 15, 2010) - Two surveys of elite real estate brokerages indicate that in 2009 RE/MAX significantly outperformed its national competitors. The 2010 Power Broker Report ranked 69 RE/MAX brokerages among their Top 300, representing 23% of all ranked brokerages.  This showing placed RE/MAX 47% higher than its closest competitor.  In the REAL Trends 500 survey, 122 RE/MAX brokerages earned a ranking, giving RE/MAX 24% of the top 500 brokerages in the U.S.  

“We are so proud of our Sales Associates for earning such an impressive distinction, especially considering how difficult today’s market is,” says Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX International. “The fact is, only the best trained and most experienced agents will find ways to succeed and be able to provide valuable assistance to so many American families facing financial difficulties.”

RE/MAX Sales Associates had the highest agent productivity of all the national real estate brands.  In the 2010 Power Broker Report, Sales Associates affiliated with RE/MAX brokerages averaged an impressive 15.1 transaction sides per agent, an 18% increase over their winning position in last year’s survey, and a performance that placed them 26% higher than the next closest competitor.

Kelly believes a significant factor in the success of RE/MAX Sales Associates is the comprehensive educational resources available through RE/MAX University. "Our Associates lead the industry in sales experience and professional designations.  Within the past year, over 15,000 agents earned a distressed property designation from RE/MAX University, our on-demand, multi-media educational institution, and we have significant initiatives that will increase those efforts in the coming year.” 

 1. $15 million to pay the first year of property taxes for qualified homebuyers who purchase a new or existing home after January 1, 2010. This has the opportunity to help between 9,000 and 11,000 Missouri families making less than $100,000 a year.

 2.  $5 million in assistance to qualified homebuyers to help with down payments and closing costs. This helps potential homebuyers overcome the obstacle of coming up with enough cash for a down payment and closing costs. MHDC has been a national leader on this front.

 3. Additional assistance to homebuyers who purchase an energy-efficient home or purchase energy-saving appliances. This is an opportunity to raise energy-efficiency standards in Missouri, making a positive impact on both the economy and the environment. It's a win-win.

This economic development package provides property tax relief to thousands of Missourians at a crucial time in our economy without spending Missouri tax dollars. This will be paid for entirely out of MHDC's reserve fund and federal recovery funds already in our possession. This comes in addition to more than $100 million in recovery funds and more than $19 million in reserves already allocated to boost Missouri's economy and put Missourians back to work.

If you have been thinking of buying a home and waiting for "the bottom", now is the time to make that move.  Call me for a list of qualified Mortgage Lenders and let's find you a home.