What we Know Now!

1. The number of foreclosures now exceeds the number of new and existing homes for sale on the market, combined.
2. The number of new foreclosures coming into the market place will certainly increase through mid-2010.
3. Subprime foreclosures are in the rear view mirror.  The new foreclosures coming to the market stem from prime borrowers.  This will result in an increased inventory of more expensive, luxury and second homes during this foreclosure cycle.
4. If tax incentives, low prices and low interest rates boost buyer confidence, then sales demand should keep pace with the new supply.  Result, house prices should remain fairly stable.
5. If unemployment and job concerns keep buyers on the sidelines, the inventory supply will increase, thus home sale prices will seek out new lows.
6. Seller’s of homes priced in excess of $500,000 will see much more competition and longer days on the market in 2010.
7. The increase of Foreclosures and Bad Loans was Expected.  Lenders anticipated a worse, ’worst case scenario’ during their Fed mandated Stress Tests.  Thankfully, the Fed should not have to intervene further to keep banks solvent, like they did last year.
8. If the jobless rate falls below 500,000, expect upward pressure on interest rates.  The Fed is already walking a very fine line in trying to keep rates artificially low at this point.  Any relief in the job market will likely mean an increase in rates and mortgage payments.
9. The 4 states hardest hit in the housing crash will continue to see the highest rates of default and foreclosure.  But, much further downside is limited in these beaten down area’s.  
10. The foreclosure problem is spreading into cities and states that were less troubled earlier in the cycle.  New locations and regions of the country will see record numbers of foreclosed property.  The hardest hit communities in 2010 will be some of the previously most stable. 

 Bottom Line:  Whether you’re a bull or bear depends upon whether you are buying or selling.  But, this is what you should expect and watch for in 2010.

Homes in lower price ranges will see price stabilization due to less inventory and tax incentives.  Bargain shoppers seeking more expensive homes will have plenty of inventory to chose from.    Vacation and second home shoppers get more for their money, in more locations, as a record number of these wonderful homes fall victim to the gavel.  The 4, hardest hit states will still experience problems, but seller’s in new, previously stable area’s of the country will sustain the most damage this go around.  Home builders will continue to struggle in the face of the largest inventory of existing homes they’ve seen yet.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website.  If you are selling, there isn’t a better time than now.  Get serious and use all the tools available to you, in order to preserve your cash.  We have helped sellers in all types of markets since 1988.  We can help you, too!  Call us at 1-800-858-6000 or visit the site Today!

Here are a Few Resources and Tips to Help You Decide

1. Read Ed Begley Jr.’s Guide to Sustainable Living
2. Watch the Planet Green channel
3. Do a home energy audit at energystar.org or call your power company.
4. Find Cash Back Offers.  Tax incentives abound for energy savings.   Too see what is offered in your area, check for incentives and rebates on a federal, state and local level. 
5. Check Tax Rebate and Credit websites dsireusa.org and greenmadesimple.com

Improvements in solar technology mean financial savings within 6 years, depending on your location and property.  Check it out.  Solar may be the perfect answer for your needs.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website.  We provide Free Home Listings, MLS and Realtor.com packages, Legal Forms and More.  We’ve helped buyer and seller connect for 21 years.  We can help you, too!!

The 5 bedroom, four bath home is ideally suited for well heeled vampires and humans alike.   According to the listing broker, the property is a modernist’s dream, with extensive use of glass and post and beam style throughout the soaring, open spaces. The fantastic views of the surrounding Pacific Northwest landscape only add to this home’s considerable charm.

To see 18 more great photographs of the Cullen House CLICK HERE!

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  Our FREE website features some out of this world deals!!  Place a Free Listing; Download Free Legal Forms; Print Brochures; View Video Tours and More.

Academy Award winning actor, Nicolas Cage, lost 2 New Orleans homes to a foreclosure sale this week. 

More bad news for freespending Cage. He owes more than $6 million in back taxes to the IRS. And, his properties in California and Las Vegas have been foreclosed on and are scheduled for auction this month.

Mr. Cage owed the City of New Orleans $151,730 in back real estate taxes and defaulted on his $5.5 million mortgage debt.  His home at 1140 Royal Street in the French Quarter, valued at $3.5 Million, sold for $2.3 million.  The other property located at 2523 Pataniya Street, appraised at $3.3 million, sold for only $2.2 million.  Pataniya Street is located in the Garden District.  Famous neighbors include author Anne Rice and football great Archie Manning, father of Peyton and Eli.

Bad Times or Crazy Spending?  Nicolas Cage, a member of the famous Coppola family, is known for being a big spender and news maker.  His obsession for Elvis resulted in a one minute marriage to Lisa Marie Presley.  He once paid $276,000 for a dinosaur skull.  At one time Cage owned 2 islands in the Bahama’s, luxury yachts (plural), a room full of shrunken heads and drove a stable of expensive cars, including a Lamborghini.  

Stars may occassionally fall to Earth, Nic won’t stay long.  Nicolas Cage and the Coppola family are Hollywood Royalty.  His movies have generated over $8 Billion in Box Office Sales.    Although Mr. Cage is facing financial ruin because he continued to spend, while millions of dollars drained from his bank accounts, we predict he will crank out more movies and will be back to living the high life in no time.  Also, it is rumored that Johnny Depp may come to Nic’s rescue.  It seems Depp has a soft spot for Cage, who got him his first roll in Nightmare on Elm Street.  Aren’t friends great!!

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net Free Homes for Sale and Rent website.  We have helped sellers and buyers connect since 1988.  We can help you too!!

The percentage of investors shopping for property also jumps higher when it comes to foreclosed property.   42 percent of foreclosure buyers are purchasing for an investment.   57.6 percent of foreclosure shoppers plan to live in the home they buy.

The survey also shows that 23.6 percent of investors and buyers believe that home prices are already as low as they will go.  Nearly 20 percent feel a sense of urgency when searching for a bargain. 

Another factor motivating home buyer’s off the sidelines is the real threat of rising interest rates.  Wall Street guru’s, who agree on very little, warn that lending rates will rise in the near future.   With real estate prices at their lowest levels, buyers risk much more in waiting to purchase, than they do by locking in record low rates on their loan.

Prediction:  We believe the leading indicator of an interest rate hike will be  falling unemployment claims.  When unemployment claim filings fall below 500,000 per month, a rate hike is likely!

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net Free homes for sale and rent website.  Happy Home Shopping!!!

The answer is definitely ”NO”.  There are a lot of reasons to keep your home listed right through the New Year.  And, there’s a special timely reason this holiday season!!

1. The First Time Buyers Tax Credit has been extended until April 30, 2010 AND it’s been expanded.  Step Up Home Buyers, who make a lot of money, can also receive $6500 in Tax Credits until April.   Big tax incentives mean that smart buyers will be house shopping vs mall shopping this holiday season.  
2. Interest Rates are at Record Lows.  30 year fixed rate mortgages are below 5 percent.  But, with the dollar weak and falling, low rates may not be around for long.   Serious home buyers are aware of the difference that even a small interest rate increase would make in their house payment.  The combo of Tax Credits and Low Interest Rates create strong urgency among buyer’s.  Smart seller’s spruce up their homes and play into the pressure.
3. Holiday Shoppers are Serious Buyers.  Trust me.  Everyone of us loves the holidays.  So, the people who are out looking for homes in November, December and January are SERIOUS Buyers.  Do you really want to pull your house off the market when the most serious people are shopping??  Think about it and gear up!!
4. Less Competition.  Many sellers don’t read our blog.  They foolishly pull their homes from the market during the holidays, and this year will be no exception.  Less competition and MLS exposure could make the difference between For Sale and Sold, this Christmas. 
5. Houses are Pretty during the Holidays.  Staging your home is easy during the holidays.  The mood is festive.  Holiday colors are warm and inviting.  Candles, centerpieces and decorations touch the heart and convey a peaceful lifestyle.  Light the candles, make a roaring fire, bake some goodies and turn on some relaxing holiday music.  Buyer’s love to see a home decorated and looking special.  Don’t let this once a year opportunity pass you by.
6. Curb Appeal.  If your landscape and lawn isn’t that great, breathe a sigh of relief that no one else’s is this time of year, either.   Add seasonal color, a wreath, perhaps some decorations.  Just keep it subtle and classy.  No mowing, no weeding and trimming, and best of all snow covers all…

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website.  Thanks to all Veterans and Active Military Personnel!!!  Call us today and receive a FREE Property Listing Upgrade as our gift to you.

The latest news about home sales through October 31st, was nearly more scary than Halloween.  Here are the high or low lights, depending on your market position.

1. Existing home sales were up 11 percent, due mostly to the $8000 tax incentives.
2. Sales prices were down 11 percent.  Average US home price is now $177,900.
3. One third of all homes sales were short sales or foreclosures.
4. Foreclosures are up nearly 90 percent.  And, the banks reported that one-third of all their foreclosures are being held off the market.  Their strategy is to trickle more homes on the market, in hopes of keeping inventory lower, and therefore, prices higher.  Bottom Line.  There will be a huge second wave of Foreclosures hitting the market in 2010.
5. The loan crisis isn’t over, it’s just starting in new places with new people.  Most defaulting subprime borrowers are already on the street.  When picturing the new homeless, visualize the bigger, Prime borrowers.  Expect foreclosures to rise dramatically in Salt Lake, Provo and Boise.  Also, expect a new surge of foreclosures in upscale, step-up homes and communities. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent FREE website.   We have helped Americans sell homes since 1988.  Anyone can post a property listing for FREE, on our site or Search for great deals in complete privacy.  We never sell or distribute user information, EVER.  We are a US manufacturer, who sells to US retailers and that pays our bills!  We don’t need to churn email lists!!

It is our special time to say thank you to all the men and women who serve and protect this country.  It is our special time to say thank you for keeping America free.  It is our special time to take a moment of silence for all who paid the ultimate price for us to protect this nation.

As our special way of saying thank you to all Veterans and Active members of the military, InfoTube.net is offering FREE Featured Home Listing Upgrades on Veterans Day!!!   Just phone 1.800.858.6000 or send an email to nicole@infotube.net with your ad number.  It’s that easy!! 

We are happy to report that other Businesses are joining us in giving back to Veterans and Active Military Personnel on Veterans Day!!!   Check out the Free Offers of Food, Goods and Services for all Veterans on Wednesday.

• Applebee’s, McCormick & Schmicks and Golden Corral are serving up FREE meals.  Drop by and enjoy a juicy steak, shrimp, chicken or whatever makes you happy.
• Outback Steakhouse may be from “down under”, but they love US Vets!!   Stop by Outback for a FREE Blooomin’ Onion Appetizer and Beverage.
• Krispy Kreme donuts will sweeten up your life with FREE Hot Ready Now Donuts.  YUMMY!
• For Vet’s in the mid-west, Hy-Vee Supermarkets is providing a FREE, all you can eat, Breakfast Buffet.  Stop by start your day right!
• Home Depot and Lowes are offering a 10 percent discount at the register!!  Save big on your home improvements or holiday needs.
• The Federal Government offers FREE access to all Federal Parks and Recreation Sites.  Grab the family and enjoy a day together.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website!!  To all Veterans and Active Military, THANK YOU and please don’t forget to claim your FREE Home Upgrade on Wednesday.

According to CNBC, Fannie Mae will give homeowners, who are in default on their loan, the option of renting the home and staying put for up to one year.  To be eligible, the homeowner must sign over the deed to the property.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.  We offer free home marketing assistance and thousands of great deals on property.  Check us out!!!

Great news for home buyers, sellers and owners, alike.  The homebuyer tax credit has been expanded to include step up buyers, who have owned a home for 5 years.  It also extends the tax credit through the end of 2010.  

GREAT NEWS! 

It appears that Senate Democrats have recognized the tremendous value of the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit and odds are it will be renewed soon. At this time, it is believed that the credit will allow anyone purchasing a home, by April 30, 2010, to participate and receive the full credit available.

The credit will continue until the end of 2010, but the amount of tax credit will drop by 2 percent every 90 days.  The graduated benefit should help the housing market recover into and through the 2010 summer selling season.

Here is the text of the story as reported in Bloomberg News today:
Senate Democrats on Board with Credit Extension

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) says Senate Democrats have agreed to extend the first-time home buyer tax credit.  The latest version extends the program to home sales signed not closed by April 30. Purchasers would have another 60 days to close the sale.  The credit will also be expanded to include so-called step-up buyers who have lived in their current home for at least five years.

The credit would be cut slightly to a $7,290 cap.  Income eligibility for first-time home buyers would stay the same, but it would rise for step-up buyers to $125,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples.
Source: Bloomberg News, Dawn Kopecki and Ryan Donmoyer (10/27/2009)

I don’t know if any of you watch Cake Boss on TLC network, but it is fun and fabulous.  Their new season just started.  Check it out.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website.  We have been connecting buyers and sellers since 1989.  We can help you market your property, too.  Check us out!

Take a look at this Great cake for watersport and beach lovers!!

Gotta love the Zombie’s!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM EVERYONE AT INFOTUBE.NET!!!  CHECK BACK WITH US TOMORROW.  WE HAVE MORE FUN CAKES FOR HALLOWEEN!!

InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website is wondering:  “Would you would eat these cakes???”   We will feature more incredible, edible Halloween cakes everyday this week.   Then, we are off to celebrate Halloween in New Orleans, LA and check out the housing recovery in the Big Easy. 

Thank you as always for visiting InfoTube.net.  Click the comment box below to weigh in on your favorite Halloween Cake.   Tommi Crow’s favorite is the one above.  Too Cool!!

I would probably eat this one.  Funny, but not too nasty and I love cake.

Now that is pretty knarly, but that dark chocolate looks good.

Which one is your favorite???  Click the comment box and tell us.  If you have a cake you want to brag about, email a photo to tommi@infotube.net

3 Short Real Estate News Items of Interest.

1. Good news for US Housing.  For those of you still searching for a BOTTOM in the real estate market, we hit it in January 2009.  A double bottom, in fact.  Take a look at the CHART.
2. China raised its minimum down payment requirement to 40 percent, in an effort to slow down the overheated housing market in Hong Kong.  Conversely, in the US, we still offer financing with NO Money Down, when the tax rebate is combined with FHA or VA financing.  Quite startling in light of the lessons we learned from subprime loans.
3. Uncle Sam Added 5 Percent to Home Prices.  Government interventions in the housing market have inflated home prices at least 5 percent higher than they would have been.  Artifically low interest rates, $8000 tax credits, push for loan modifications and efforts to stall foreclosures may have created a false bottom.  Since the props won’t last forever, the risk of price decline in the future is significant. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net a FREE homes for sale and rent website.  Since 1988, we have kept our fingers on the pulse of the housing market.  If you would like to receive a reminder when we release a new article, click on our feed below.

Here is a snapshot of Friday’s real estate news.  You decide.

1. A record number of people snapped up bargains in September.  The median price of a home sold in the US fell to 174,000, down 9 percent from $191,200 one year ago.  Note: The significant price drop could be blamed in part to the First Time Buyer Tax Credit which favors the lower priced homes.
2. Keep in mind that the homes counted as “sold” in September were actually purchased in June, July and August.  No doubt the push to buy this summer had something to do with the expiring $8000 Tax Credit.
3. 70 percent of all homes closed in September were foreclosures or distressed property.
4. 80 percent of the homes closed, were sold for less than $250,000.  The market above $250,000 has stalled and inventory is rapidly growing.  And, the more expensive the home, the slower the market.
5. The biggest sales gains (not price gains) were seen in the hard hit cities of Miami and Orlando.  Sales in Miami were up 71 percent from last year, Orlando 65 percent.  Note: Prices are still falling dramatically in the Sunshine state.  In Miami and Orlando prices declined more than 30 percent from last year;  Tampa prices fell to $133,000, down 17 percent.
6. Sales of existing homes were down nearly 20 percent in Atlanta and Birmingham.  Local Realtors blame job loss for lack of activity.
7. Prices were flat or up a bit in some cities:  Dallas, Houston, San Antonio; Tulsa; Jackson, MS and Washington DC.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.NET.  Search our site for thousands of great deals on property or Post your Property Listing for Free.   We never sell your info or spam anyone.  No popups or dead links since 1989.  Happy Friday to all!!

Why We Like Natural Linoleum

It’s Versatile.  Marmoleum is available either sheet or tile forms.  It is used in both residential and commercial settings.  Great for resturants and offices, too.  The product can be used on floors and countertop surfaces.  It is sold in a wide range of colors and patterns.  Some patterns mimic quarried stone, others are mottled for subtle texture and other options include high tech MRI images.  The applications and decorating options are only limited by the owner’s imagination and tastes.  A Do-It-Yourselfer can easily install the tiles themselves, just like vinyl.      It’s Low Maintenance.  Manufacturers estimate the lifespan of natural linoleum at 30-40 years, compared to 10-20 for vinyl.  Scratches are no problem.  The surface is hard, and even becomes harder over time.  Additionally, any surface scratch can be buffed out, because the color extends through the entire thickness.  For cleaning, a dry mop is recommended for routine maintenance.

It’s Green and Better for the Environment.  Natural linoleum is much better for the environment than petroleum based, vinyl products.  Vinyl’s are not sustainable and are highly polluting in their manufacturing process.  Natural linoleum is made from wood, rosin, limestone and linseed oil.  All these materials occur naturally and are sustainable.  When it’s time to remodel, natural linoleum can be shredded and turned into compost for the garden versus filling a landfill.  Additional bonus, natural linoleum will last and look good for a least least twice as long as vinyl.

Disadvantages.  The linseed oil in the products “off gas” and some people are sensitive to its fumes.  We advise that you air out the product for a few weeks before you install it, if you have a sensitive reaction to the smell.   Like most plant-based products, linoleum doesn’t perform well in area’s with constant moisture.  Test the moisture content of floor slabs before installation.  Use Caulk to seal edges around tubs and showers where flooring abuts.  The only other disadvantage is probably the initial cost of the product.  Marmoleum costs around $4.00 per square foot, compared with $1.50 to $2.00 for vinyl flooring.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and lease website.  Search for properties or post your listing.  We connect thousands of buyers and sellers each day, and we can help you get more exposure, too.

And, it’s little wonder.  The IRS estimates that 1.4 million homebuyers have claimed the credit through August, and the Realtors Association estimates the credit was crucial in pushing 355,000 of those buyer’s off the fence.   

If the real estate industry gets it’s way and the amendment passes, the $8000 tax credit would be extended to June 30th, 2010 and it would allow more taxpayers to qualify for the subsidy.  The amendment would increase the income limit to $150,000 for a single filer and $300,000 for a couple, up from the current limit of 95,000 and $170,000, respectfully.

The Pro’s: Why Vote “Yea”

1. Lenders are still in trouble, as more people default or fall behind on their mortgages.  Experts predict an additional 1.5 million foreclosures in 2010, increasing supply and further eroding prices and demand. 
2. Dems and Rep like it.  The proposal was introduced by a GA Republican, Johnny Isakson, and it is also supported by Democratic heavy-weights.  House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid support the extension, President Obama hasn’t taken a position for either side.
3. Still too Many Houses.  Although the supply of existing homes on the market has fallen from 1-5 months down to 8.5 months, a healthy market has only 5-6 months supply of house.
4. Unemployment is Rising.  With national unemployment levels at 10 percent, and some states reporting a far higher number, extending the taxpayer subsidy of housing market would likely create and preserve jobs.  In addition, people out of work usually means more loan deliquency, foreclosures and further downward pressure on pricing.

The Con’s:  Why Vote “NAY”

1. The Cost to the Taxpayers.  The extension comes with a heavy price tag of $16.7 BILLION over 5 years.
2. As bad as Sub-Prime.  Opponents argue that the subsidy has artifically propped up the prices of inexpensive homes, targeted by first-time buyer’s, thereby creating another potential mini-bubble in affordable housing.
3. Both Opponents and real estate industry admit that most people who claimed the $8000 deduction, would have purchased a home anyway due to historical low rates and steep price declines.
4. Fraud.  The IRS has identified over 100,000 cases of fraud involving the tax credit.  On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to take a closer look.
5. Did we mention the cost to taxpayers is $16.7 BILLION?

Yea or Nay???  We thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website.  The website provides free legal forms and contracts, marketing and sales tools, real estate advice, news and updates for buyer’s, sellers, agents and builders.  We invite you to subscribe to our feed or leave a comment in the space below.

The hardest hit area of the country may be the slowly recovering New Orleans area, and the coastal area’s wiped out by Katrina.  After enduring floods and mud, this man-made victimization is the last thing these communities need or deserve.   For those wondering how bad the problem is….The problem is so bad that local governments, already low on funds, are waiving property taxes for homes rebuilt with the Made in China, toxic sheetrock.

                                      Facts About Toxic Chinese Drywall and Sheetrock:

1. The sheetrock may emit a sulfuric odor, which smells a bit like rotten eggs.
2. Health Problems are being Reported.  The most common health effects from the drywall are skin rashes, blisters and headaches.
3. Homeowners insurance does not cover claims due to construction defects.  When insurers discover a property has Chinese drywall, they are canceling homeowner policies.
4. The gases emitted by the Chinese Drywall eat away at any copper, aluminum or stainless materials inside the home.  This means that appliances, wiring, mirrors, computers, toys, plumbing pipes and fixtures, jewelry, HVAC or any systems that contain these component materials will also be damaged, usually beyond repair
5. Seller’s of Homes that contain Chinese Sheetrock must disclose that fact, even if all the sheetrock in the home has been replaced.
6. If your home contains any Chinese Made Drywall/Sheetrock file a compliant with Consumer Product Protection Council and also check about making a local compliant with your state.
7. For updates on the Chinese drywall, multi-district lawsuits (MDL #2047 to to www.laed.uscourts.gov and click on Drywall MDL.

One tell tale sign of toxic sheetrock can be seen in the corners of mirrors

Watch for corrosion in and around plumbing fixtures, refrigerators, ac units, on stainless steel appliances or any area with metal components.  

Our two cents:  In light of this most recent, very serious, and potentially deadly, problem with cheap imports, all Americans need to reconsider their ongoing love affair with everything cheap and Chinese.  If the US government, who allows these imports, can’t force the Chinese manufacturers to stand behind the products they sell, then the retailers, who chose to buy these goods should have to.    The cost of uprooting families and replacing all the sheetrock, mechanical systems and personal property in over 60,000 reported homes is overwhelming.   If anyone deserves a taxpayer bailout, it’s these innocent homeowners who have been victimized by governments and retailers, alike.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  All our products are MADE, ASSEMBLED and SHIPPED right here in the USA!!!   In November, we will celebrate our 20th Anniversary, proving that you can hire US workers and run a profitable business.   Thank you for your support over all these years and please tell your friends about us!!!

My Uncle, who owned a unit in a co-op apartment building, passed away recently.  If the heirs decide they do not want to sell the unit, will they be allowed to stay there part time?  Or, can they chose to live in the apartment if they  wanted to? 

Dear Niece,

Unfortunately, the answer to both of your questions is No.  Under all proprietary leases, occupancy is limited to the shareholder, only.  If a shareholder is deceased, no other person can live in the apartment without the consent of the co-op.  When your Uncle was alive, he could ask family members and guests to stay in the apartment, but only if he was there, too.

If you decide to keep the apartment, the new shareholder of record will need approval from the co-op board before they occupy the unit.   Even for a week or two.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and lease website.  We have been in the business of connecting buyer’s and seller’s since 1989.  We can help you, too.

What the Numbers Show:

• Through August, 2009, the price of an average home sold in the US fell approximately 13 percent, year over year, from 2008 levels.
• Home prices have now dropped to 2003 valuation levels, wiping out 6 years of home appreciation.
• Since the peak in 2006, average home prices are down 33 percent.

What Do the Numbers Say About the Future??

• Prediction:  The “average” home price will likely fall more than 13 percent by year end.  Reason:  Home prices are always at their highest in the spring and summer.  Families move during this time of year and they buy the largest, most expensive properties.  As a result, Summer home sales skew the “average” price upward in the fall, but only temporarily.
• Prediction:  Home Sales will suffer a downturn due to the expiration of the $8000 First Time Buyer’s Credit.   So far this year, 350,000 buyers have been persuaded to purchase because of this incentive.   To read more about the success of the 1st Time Home Buyers Tax Credit, CLICK HERE.

Our Crystal Ball:  The pace of the fall is slowing, but the expiration of the tax credit and the ”shadow inventory” of another 1.5 Million foreclosures will continue to put downward pressure on the market in 2010.  As a result, we predict that 2010 home prices will decline 6-7 percent.  The upside is that nearly all buying risk is out of the market.  Interest rates are at historical lows.  Any increase in rates would erase the possible gain a buyer would achieve from correctly timing the exact bottom…even if the timing were perfect. 

Bottom Line:  If you plan to buy a home within the next year, now is a great time.   Chose the best home, in the best location and the one that you can easily afford.  Live and enjoy the home for at least 5 years and you will likely be patting yourself on the back for a job well done.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and lease FREE website.  We have been in the business of connection Sellers and Buyers for 20 Years.  Chances are that we can Help You, too!!

“Yea” or “Nay”???    Before we cast our vote, we decided to find out whether the tax incentive successful or not?  Specifically, did it persuade people to jump into the market?   Would it be a good investment for taxpayers going forward?

According to a poll conducted by Zillow, the tax credit was persuasive.

• 18 percent of home buyers said the tax credit was the main reason they pushed to buy a home before November 30, 2010.
• Based on the number of first time buyer’s in the marketplace, a 6 month extension could persuade another 335,000 (18 percent) buyers to buy a home of their own.
• If the first time buyer credit is extended, home sales would likely increase 5 percent.  Without it, sales would be down as much as 2 percent.
• Only 31 percent of first time buyers said the credit had no influence on their decision to purchase. 
• 69 percent of buyers said the tax credit was important in motivating them to buy a home this year.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.  If you have an opinion about extending or expanding the tax credit for homebuyer’s we would love to hear from you.  Click the Comment link below.   Your privacy is completely protected.

In August, InfoTube warned its readers about the New Wave of Foreclosures that would be pounding the market, further driving up inventory and eroding prices.  Today, we learn that the Wall Street Journal agree’s with our accessment of the future market conditions for real estate.

Excerpt from the Wall Street Journal: 

“The size of this shadow inventory is a source of concern and debate among real-estate agents and analysts who worry that when the supply is unleashed, it could interrupt the budding housing recovery and ignite a new wave of stress in the housing market . . . Analysts who track the shadow market have focused primarily on the gap between the number of seriously delinquent loans and the number of foreclosed homes for sale by mortgage companies. A loan is considered seriously delinquent, which typically means it is headed to foreclosure, if it is 90 days or more past due.

As of July, mortgage companies hadn’t begun the foreclosure process on 1.2 million loans that were at least 90 days past due, according to estimates prepared for The Wall Street Journal by LPS Applied Analytics, which collects and analyzes mortgage data. An additional 1.5 million seriously delinquent loans were somewhere in the foreclosure process, though the lender hadn’t yet acquired the property. The figures don’t include home-equity loans and other second mortgages.

Moreover, there were 217,000 loans in July where the borrower hadn’t made a payment in at least a year but the lender hadn’t begun the foreclosure process. In other words, 17% of home mortgages that are at least 12 months overdue aren’t in foreclosure, up from 8% a year earlier.”

What this means for Home Seller’s:  Time is not your friend.  The shadow of inventory of distressed property will continue to place downward pressure on home prices.  Based upon our years of experience, we predict that home prices will fall an average of 7 percent in 2010.  

If you need to sell your home, DO NOT chase the market down.  Price your property aggressively, then market the home to as wide an audience as possible.  To learn about the best way to reach the mass buying market, CLICK HERE. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We have been connecting buyers with sellers since 1989.  We can help you, too.

The Bedbug Registry gives travelers and renters a reliable and neutral platform for reporting their encounters with bedbugs. Though most Americans have still never encountered one, these retro pests are spreading extremely quickly across several American and Canadian cities.

Bed bugs are easy to transport in luggage and very hard to get rid of. For this reason they have become an especial nuisance for hotels, who are not eager to publicize their infestations. You can’t tell whether a building or hotel room has them based on cleanliness - the bugs can thrive anywhere there are cracks and crevices to hide in.

Until a reliable, safe pesticide becomes available, avoiding bedbug encounters will be the only reliable way to ensure they don’t spread into your own home.

To Read More About How to Spot and Stop Bed Bugs Before You are Eaten Alive,  CLICK HERE!!!    

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. Place a Free Property Listing on in our database or Search for Thousands of Deals in Complete Privacy.

As part of the Clean Energy Bill, signed in 2007, most wattages of incandescent light bulbs, will go the way of leaded gas and oil based paint.   Australia started the light bulb ban in 2007.  Europe followed in September, this year. 

Even though Americans hate forced change, there are some reasons this change makes sense.  According to Energy Star, “a qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months.  It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.” 

Futhermore, Noah Horowitz, with the Natural Resources Defense Council stated “it would eliminate the need to build 30 new coal power plants and save as much electricity as used by all the homes in Texas.”

Astounding Energy Savings, No More Coal Plants and Free Money, too, what’s not to love??  Well, a couple of things…First of all, fluorescent bulbs contain mercury.  Remember the dangers of mercury?  If a bulb breaks, the mercury scatters around the room or hides in the carpet and toys.  And, don’t throw the new bulbs into the trash.  To dispose of these bulbs, if they don’t break first, they need to be handled like hazardous waste, ie: paint, chemicals, batteries, etc.  Home Depot, True Value, IKEA and other retailers will recycle them, but you need to carefully pack them up and drive them to the store.

Secondly, fluorescents can’t be used with a dimmer switch.  My personal favorite trick for creating ambiance.  And, I’ve already tried CFL’s and found they don’t produce enough light, or maybe the right hue of light, for easy reading and other close up tasks.  And, probably most concerning, they also aren’t a great light for those of us who look for bulbs that cast flattering, soft light ):

Change is coming.  Adjust or stock up before January 2012.   Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net your FREE homes for sale and lease website.  Have a great weekend and happy home selling and buying.

This problem may have been solved by Krisztina Bell, a smart Atlanta Realtor, who invented and patented a software program that will “virtually” stage any vacant property for around $250.  Her company has been heralded by the Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronical and other publications as the answer to giving the effect of a professionally staged home at a fraction of the cost.

With 90 percent of home buyers doing their shopping online, and thousands of vacant homes on the market, Ms Bell’s idea is smart and timely.  Her technique transforms listing photo’s of vacant homes into homes with professionally designed interiors, using a library of attractive furnishings, accessories and artwork.   The resulting “after” photo’s are realistic, authentic and hard to distinguish from a home that has been actually staged with furnishings.

To view the Photo Gallery of some impressive Before and After Pictures, please visit her website VirtuallyStagingProperties.com, by clicking this link.  You will be amazed.  And, if you have a vacant home to sell, you should seriously consider this inexpensive option and make your home pop.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.  If you virtually stage your home, be sure to upload the slideshow to InfoTube.net.  Thousands of buyer’s search our site daily for new information on properties.

If you plan to stay in your home a while and you want some wallpaper in your house, well, it is your house.  But, please, go sparingly. Avoid busy, colorful and loud types. And, please don’t forget to “size” the wall before you apply it, or you won’t get it off without destroying the wall surface underneath.

Tip for HomeSeller’s:   But, if you are trying to sell your home, without success, and it has a lot of wallpaper or busy, dated wallpaper, you can do yourself a big favor by pulling it down and applying a fresh coat of neutral paint.   A crisp, freshly painted room never turns off buyers. 

 The same can never be said about wallpaper.    Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website.  We have been helping seller’s and buyer’s connect since 1988.  We can help you, too.

Although the addictiveness of the game is the same as the original, you will experience some big, exciting changes.  If you are usually the Monopoly banker, you will certainly feel the effect of inflation, as you dole out $10,000 bills instead of $1 bills.  Also new, forget about feeling smug with your little hotel on Boardwalk, players in this high stakes game race to buy skyscrapers, stadiums, wind farms, sewage plants and garbage dumps.  And, not only can players collect hefty rents, they can bulldoze property and sabotage buildings to bring their values down. 

For those of us questioning why Hasbro would release the game in the midst of an economic crisis, the company reports that the game was in development before the melt down began.  And, ironically, the original Monopoly became popular with would-be tycoons during another economic crisis– The Great Depression, when Parker Brothers acquired it in 1935.  

Present real estate crash aside, Donetta Allen, spokeswoman for Hasbro, has this to say about the widely popular game ”It’s about the dream.  Monopoly has always been about that - the aspiration, I can’t do it in real life.  I want to do it on the board game.”  

There is one BIG difference between Monopoly City game and developing property in real life…. there’s no creative financing.  The game is cash only.  No debt.  No mortgage backed securities.  No credit default swaps.  Sorry, Trump.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net, a FREE Homes for Sale or Rent website.  Hint for holiday shoppers… Monopoly City is on my Christmas wishlist (:

Take a look at this brick fireplace.  It is a fireplace, but it is doubtful that buyers would conjure images of sipping wine by a roaring fire, in its present condition.

Now, take a look at the transformation, after engineered stone was applied over the old brick and a mantle was added.  The fireplace morphs from an eyesore into a floor to ceiling, hearthwarming focal point

In another example, this unattractive, dated fireplace with painted brick got a great makeover.  The homeowner correctly felt the fireplace was out of proportion, due to the narrow sides and tall top.  The mantle was also too small.

The After.  The budget minded homeowner added an “in stock” simple mantel and pilasters from a do-it-yourself center.  The design updated the fireplace, hid most of the outdated, painted over brick and brought the fireplace into correct proportion for under $750.

If your fireplace detracts from your home, get your creative genius in gear and simply cover it up.  Examples of “coverup” materials that are inexpensive and easy to work with are tile, manufactured stone, granite, marble or wood.  Sometimes even painting over old, ugly brick will make a huge improvement. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We love before and after pictures that we can share with our readers.  If you have completed a project and want a pat on the back, email photo’s to tommi@infotube.net

Enter the pleco algae eating fish, which are commonly found and abundant in fresh water lakes.   Only 15 pleco fish, placed in an abandoned pool, quickly eat away the algae and keep it away.

The environmentally smart solution leaves pools more sanitary, makes the homes more attractive to prospective home buyer’s and saves thousands of dollars in upkeep.   After the new owner moves in, they can return the fish to the lake or leave them in the pool for backyard fishing fun.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent complimentary website.  Search for some great deals or post your property for more exposure.  It’s FREE!!

Pat Hill, a 72-year-old real estate agent and grandmother from Alexandria, Virginia, has held season tickets to the Washington Redskins’ games since the 1960s. With the recent downturn in the real estate market she was forced to cancel her $5,300-a-year contract for two end zone seats.

Although she tried negotiating with the ticket office to waive the contract for a year or two, they were not willing to budge, and sued Hill for $66,364, the amount of the tickets each year until 2017, plus legal fees and court costs. Hill did not contest the suit, and a judgment was filed against her.

More information, including a list of NFL teams that make a practice NOT to sue their fans, is available in this Washington Post article.

What do you think - shouldn’t the Skins have cut Hill a little slack or perhaps let her throw out the first pitch after 40 years of loyalty? Take a minute and Let them know:

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  Post a Free Property Listing this weekend and reach more buyers.  Have a safe and happy Labor Free Weekend!

Your home will not get a second chance to make a good first impression on homebuyers.   Any money you spend on staging and updating your entry will be money well spent.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We have been helping buyers and sellers market their properties since 1989, and we can help you, too.

As creepy as it is, Bed Bugs are real and they are back with a vengence.  The use of DDT eradicated bed bugs more than 50 years ago, which explains why most of us have never seen one.   Today, exterminators use roach traps, instead of insecticide sprays, which do not wipe out the bed bugs along with the roaches.  So, the tiny bed bug is making a resurgence in a big way.

How Can You Find Bed Bugs before You’re Eaten?  READ MORE…..

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.  Search our site for great deals without deadlinks or popups.  Or, reach thousands of home shoppers and place a FREE property listing on the site today! 

Currently, 1.5 million homes are in foreclosure.  More Worrisome…an additional 3.5 - 4 Million home loans are “Seriously” delinquent or are in default.   Many of these loans are newer, high quality loans that have fallen into trouble due to job losses.  Job losses mean no income, so modifying or saving the loan is not an option for these homeowners.

Buyer Alert:  The $8000 Tax Credit for Buying a Home Expires in Only 90 Days.  If your loan does not close on or before November 30, 2009, you lose $8000 Grand.  Period.   With loans currently taking 90 or more days to close, you must buy a home now, in order to qualify.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We have been in the business of helping buyers and sellers for 20 years.  We can help you, too.

1. 1.  Think Long Term:  This is a market for smart bottom fishers, not flippers.  In this market, our advice is that you should plan to buy a home to live in, then hold it for 3-5 years, at the minimum.  Our reasoning, first, prices have not fully stabilized at these levels.  Secondly, there is no indication that prices will rise any time soon.  Last of all, we are still facing a rise in foreclosures in 2010, which will keep downward pressure on the market. 
2. It’s All About the Local Market:  We have all heard the golden rule of successful real estate investing…Location, Location, Location.  In other words, if you have a choice between a bigger home in an ‘iffy’ area, or a smaller home in a better one, always pick the the Good Location.  Remember, when comparing locations, real estate markets are entirely a Local matter.  There are big differences within neighborhoods, zipcodes, school systems and suburban towns.  Focus on the hottest area’s and the ones that are conveniently located near major employment centers.  In rough sea’s, these area’s will always rebound the fastest and appreciate the most. 
3. Be Wary of Foreclosures:  While some foreclosures may be a great buy, many of these properties are “cheap” for good reasons.  Many of the homes weren’t great to begin with and most have been terribly neglected.   Carefully look for mold, water penetration, structural problems, missing appliances, soiled carpets and flooring underlayments, broken windows and glass, strange odors and any evidence of illegal drug trade.  Also, never get emotionally attached to a foreclosure home.  Banks are notoriously hard to deal with and they can take forever to respond to offers.  Some buyer’s report a wait of several months before the bank approved an offer, or not.
4. Get Pre-Qualified for a Loan:  Submit your letter of loan approval with any offer you make on a home.  Banks always require a letter of pre-qualification before considering a bid, as will any serious seller.  With proof of funds in hand, you will be taken much more seriously by all seller’s, and you will in the end, get a much better deal on the house.   Getting Pre-Approved for financing is no lose proposition.
5. Don’t Take Chances.  Buyer’s are in the drivers seat and a lot of great values are available, but please don’t overspend.  The job market and general ecomony are uncertain.  Make sure you can afford the property, even if you find yourself in a bad or unexpected situation.  Even the perfect property can turn into a nightmare, if you can’t reasonably afford it. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.  Property Owners can place free listings on InfoTube.net.  Buyers can search the site in complete privacy (no registration) for great deals seen no where else without pesky popups and dead links.

Program Eligibility:

1. To qualify, the consumer must purchase appliances with an Energy Star designation.
2. You don’t have to “trash” your old appliance to qualify.
3. States must apply to the program before October 15, 2009

Pro’s:

1. Upgrading to an Energy Star rated appliance saves a family $50-$150 per year in utility costs.
2. Rebates will ease the transition into new efficient appliances and help some consumers avoid going into debt in order to upgrade.
3. Could provide a boost to the beleaguered appliance and home improvement industries who are suffering in the bad economy.
4. Helps the environment.

Con’s:

1. No plan for the Trashed Appliances.  Currently there is no plan for proper disposal for the trashed appliances.  Old appliances can be donated or resold, which will not help the environment.
2. If we can’t find a way to recycle old appliances, the program will add more trash to the planet.

Tips for Consumers:

1. Most retailers will haul away your old appliances, when you purchase a new one.   Ask the retailer what happens to the old one, after they pick it up.   Buy only from retailers who can prove that they recycle or destroy the old appliances.
2. Use a Good Recycler to Take the Appliance Away.  Good recyclers will capture all coolants in the units which cause serious harm to the environment.  In addition, they will recycle all the metal and foam contained in the old unit.
3. GE and KitchenAid are offering additional manufacturer rebates on Energy Star Rated appliances now.  Click on the company name for details.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We hope that Cash for Refrigerators is as successful as Cash for Clunkers.  If you have been waiting to update your appliances, October will be an excellent time.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  Search our database of homes for sale and rent for some great deals seen no where else on the web.

Worst 25 Housing Markets 2009

 Rank       Real Estate Market       2009 Forecast
    1.        Detroit, MI         − 36.8%
    2.        Manhattan, NY         − 32.8%
    3.        Grand Rapids, MI         − 28.4%
    4.        Phoenix, AZ         − 25.9%
    5.        Miami , FL         − 24.2%
    6.        Long Island, NY         − 22.7%
    7.        Las Vegas, NV         − 21.7%
    8.        Fresno, CA         − 20.2%
    9.        Bakersfield, CA         − 19.3%
   10.        Riverside, CA         − 19.1%
   11.        Lansing, MI         − 18.8%
   12.        San Jose, CA         − 18.5%
   13.        Anaheim, CA         − 18.3%
   14.        Los Angeles, CA         − 18.2%
   15.        Oakland, CA         − 18.2%
   16.        Scottsdale, AZ         − 17.8%
   17.        San Francisco, CA         − 17.6%
   18.        Seattle, WA         − 17.4%
   19.        Reno, NV         − 17.2%
   20.        Glen Falls, NY         − 16.9%
   21.        Boston, MA         − 16.8%
   22.        Providence, RI         − 16.4%
   23.        San Diego, CA         − 16.1%
   24.        Atlanta, GA         − 16.1%
   25.        Sacramento, CA         − 15.7%

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We invite you to place a FREE property listing on our site to reach more buyer’.  Have a great Monday.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We invite you to place a Free Property Listing or Search for some great deals on our site.  We have listings seen no where else and we have NO dead links or come on ad’s.

Please consider why trends in housing may have changed, Permanently.

1. Baby Boomers:  The baby boomers (born 1946-1964) are the largest and spendiest generation in American history, and their 40 year shopping spree is coming to an end.  
2. McMansion Glut:  Boomers are buying fewer single family homes and they are getting rid of the suburban McMansions they purchased when their children lived at home.  Evidence already shows that boomers favor 2 and 3 bedroom condo’s over 4 or 5 bedroom houses.   The Boomer trend to a smaller house, combined with fears of gas prices and long commutes, mean that the big house in the burbs is not the ideal dream house or location that is has been in the past.
3. Baby Boomers, Again:  Boomers are reorganizing their finances.  After the stock market crash, and with retirement approaching, fewer boomers will be purchasing vacation and second homes. 
4. Generation X:  The generation born between 1965-1976 will be unlikely to bid up home prices.  First, there are only 44 million X’ers compared to 76 million boomers.   Secondly, they are not as wealthy as their parents, and they are deeper in debt, due in part to college loans. 
5. Migration Back to City Life:  Due to our aging population, smaller family size and energy costs, people are returning to urban area’s that have not been overbuilt and offer quality of lifestyle. 
6. Permanent Changes:  The days of buying a huge home on a big lot, and paying for it with a 2 hour commute, may be ending.  This trend could mean that owners in McMansion communities, with little to no public transportation, will havetrouble finding buyers.   Some people predict that the large, single family homes, located miles from urban centers, will be subdivided into inexpensive housing for low and moderate income families, as the car lovers who moved to the burbs return back to the convenience of city life.

One thing that is certain is that change happens.  As environmental, economic, political and cultural forces change the way we live, our view of residential home investing will change, too.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.  We invite you to place a FREE home listing on our site or search for your dream home in complete privacy.   Click on our RSS feed to stay current on our articles about real estate and if you have a comment or question, please click the link below.

Insuladd insulating paint additive increases the “Mean Radiant Temperature” of any home or office and provides energy savings by reflecting and dissipating heat.   Reports show an average decrease in utility bills of 20 percent (and, as high as 40 percent for in some homes) after a home or building has been painted with the additive.  

Product Features:

• Increase the R value by making paint insulating.
• It is safe and non-toxic
• It can be applied to roofs, walls and ceilings.  Interior or exterior.
• It works in hot or cold climates.
• Reduced heating and cooling costs, while increasing comfort.
• It prevents mold and mildew by blocking moisture and condensation.
• It can be added to any house paint.
• Can be used for all residential or commercial paint applications

Tips for Using the Product:

• Add the mixture to your paint, then stir throughly before applying.
• If you want a satin or gloss finish, add Insuladd to the primer coat and first coat.  Apply a finish coat without the additive.
• If you want a high gloss coat on trim, don’t use the additive.
• Insuladd will leave a very slight texture to the walls that can be felt, but usually isn’t visable.  It may hide cosmetic defects such as gouges, dents and surface imperfections if 2 coats are applied.
• Insuladd is ideal for light colored paints and you will notice no change in the color of your paint.
• If you are using a dark paint, Insuladd may lighten the color by up to one shade.   If this is a problem, tint the paint one shade darker at purchase.
• Don’t pour the mixture into a one gallon paint can to avoid overflow.  The additive will overfill a full gallon of paint.  Pour the paint into a 5 gallon can, add additive and mix.  Left over paint with additive can be stored in the original container for touch ups.

Paint, insulate, save money on energy bills, increase the comfort of your living space, prevent mold and mildew.  What’s not to love.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We have been helping home sellers since 1988 and we can help you too.  Check out all the freebies on our site.

1. If the home qualifies for FHA financing, and you occupy the home, you MUST complete this form in order to sell your property.
2. If you are advertising your home as a “short sell” and live in the home, you MUST complete this form in order to sell your property.
3. For those homes listed by an agent or broker, the agent only has to request the form from the seller 3 times and they are off the hook.
4. This form is not required for non-owner occupied housing (ie: foreclosures and bank owned).

With the first time buyer tax credit expiring in a couple of months, you don’t want to lose a sale because you have not completed this simple form.  Make sure you complete it and provide it to all buyer’s.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We are here to help you buy and sell real estate.  Post a Free Ad on our website or Search our database, in complete privacy, for some great deals on houses.  Home sales are definitely picking up, don’t let the end of the selling season pass you by.   Have a great weekend and happy selling!!

I have been watching HGTV’s “Real Estate Intervention” for a few weeks now.  As a real estate professional for the last 25 years, I give this program a Big 2 Thumbs up!!  If you are buying or selling real estate, this program is a must see.   Check it out on Thursday nights at 10:30E/9:30C on HGTV. 

The HGTV Synoposis of the Show is:   In this current real estate market, pricing is everything. And the best way to really find out how much your house is worth is to check out the competition. Real Estate Intervention takes motivated sellers on a tour of other listings in the same area and same price range. They’ll get to see firsthand who their competition is and whether they’ve priced their house right. Does the competition have better closets? Granite counters? A bigger backyard? Which home is the best value for the dollar? We’ll help them determine the best way to get top dollar — and in the end we’ll see which home sells first!

Bonus:  Do you want to be on TV???  If you are confused about how to price or market your home and want objective advise, can contact HGTV and be on the show.  Click this link to contact HGTV. and tell them InfoTube.net sent you.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We are here to help you buy and sell real estate.   If you like what we do and you want to receive updates about our short, informative articles, click on the RSS feed on the right hand side of the page.

We’ve all heard the sage advise “Location, Location, Location” when it comes to successfully selecting a good piece of property.  But, what is truly important to buyers as they search for their ideal Location? 

Seller’s, the answer may surprise you!  It isn’t being near fancy restaurants, parks, churches or friends and family. 

The Top 5 Things Buyers Look for in a Great Location are:

• #1 - Being Close to Work.  By far, the most popular choice among homebuyers when selecting a home to buy.
• #2 - Splitting the Distance to Work between Spouses.  Runner up for most important factor in buying a home– an ideal location must be about half way between your job and mine.
• #3 - Good Schools.  No Surprise Here, other than we thought it would be #1.  It’s Not.  Could it be that a lot of buyer’s don’t have kids?
• #4 - Entertainment.  Convenience and having fun things to do nearby the home is still important to buyers.
• #5 - Friends and Family.  It made the list, but certainly isn’t a major factor for buyer’s looking for a good location.

(In case you’re wondering, Safety wasn’t apart of the location poll, because staying alive and robbery free is important to all of us.  It is assumed that if you don’t feel safe, the commute time really doesn’t matter to you.)

Why does this information matter to home sellers???  This insight gets to the heart of what people will sacrifice for and what they will not.  It seems that the true hunt for location is not based on prestige or having nearby boutiques, its one that allows for a balance between life and work. 

Home Seller’s can profit from this knowledge by knowing their town, and by asking the buyers where they work and how they live.   Smart seller’s learn where nearby large employment area’s are.  They know the easiest, fastest or least traveled routes to major job centers and area’s of interest.  They know about the neighborhood school district and the drive time to school, if the buyer has children.  And, most importantly, they convey this information to the buyer, in the order of importance.

The Bottom Line is:  If you find a home that is in a good neighborhood and close to your job, you will usually end up finding all the other things that are important to you, too.  Now, show and sell.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent FREE website.  Place a FREE listing or Search in Privacy thru thousands of ideally located properties.

Today’s Article of Interest for Real Estate Lovers:  3 Reasons that Interest Rates will Stay Low.

Meaning? Half of us will be upside down, underwater, or whatever you want to call it over the next 2 years?  Pretty scary.  How do they know that?   One indicator they use may be the Shadow Inventory of Homes, which will eventually enter the market place over the next 3 years. 

So, what is a Shadow Inventory of Homes and How Does it Affect Future Home Values?  Technically, a property is not in foreclosure until the lenders files against a deliquent loan.   Lenders are purposefully not filing to foreclose, in order to control the present inventory by keeping homes off the market.  This creates a Shadow Inventory of Homes in Default.  Why do they do this?  Simple economics, really.   Less supply creates more demand (ie: higher prices) for the property they already have for sale.

Since, we know lenders are holding back the number of homes that should be in foreclosure, how many “shadow” distressed properties will come into the market in the future?  Truefully, we can’t know the exact number.  That is the reason it is referred to as a Shadow Inventory.  We can all see that the problem is lurking out there, but we can’t identify the exact numbers or the amount of future damage because “only the shadow knows…”.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.  We invite you to Place a Free Property Listing or Search for Thousands of Great Deals from the Privacy of your Home.

Entry #1:

Look honey, the two car garage you’ve always wanted.

No, we’re not kidding and someone even hung drapes.  Ugh, I’m getting seasick just looking at it.

Can anyone say surveillance contractor for the government?   Hey, we’ve spotted a spider web in zone 5.

Do you want a printed receipt?  Click Yes or No.

Unless you can top this, we may have the Winner of the Bad Contractor Award for 2009.  But, we are still accepting entries until December 31st. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent FREE WEBSITE.  If you have an entry for our Bad Contractor Award for 2009, please email your pictures to tommi@infotube.net.  We find that in a bad economy, laughter helps.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.  If we can assist you with a Free Webpage for your Property, MLS listing or Internet marketing blitz package, visit the site or call 1-800858-6000.

1. Insurance.  Insurance companies place a higher risk, therefore cost, to insure vacant property.  As many owner’s have also discovered, vacant homes are targets for thiefs, vagrants and vandals.  In addition, vacant properties are more likely to suffer damage from fire and water.  Add in the higher liability of “No one lives there…let’s play” and it is no wonder that the cost to insure a vacant home is substantially more expensive.   Talk to your insurance agent, before you move out, to determine the best protection for the money.
2. Protect Your Property.  It’s a good idea to install a monitered security system in a vacant property.  If the service moniters fire, smoke and theft, it can lower your insurance premiums.  Also, don’t forget to install new batteries in all smoke detectors.   You should also have a friend or neighbor check the property on a regular basis. 
3. Create the Illusion of Occupancy.  Ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway.  Stop mail and newspaper service, or make sure someone collects it.  Install timers on lights.  Leave some window treatments and furniture in the home.  Keep the lawn, landscape and home exterior maintained at all times.   
4. Rent it Out.  Renting the home will insure it is occupied and the rent will offset the costs of carrying the property.   The insurance will need to change to a rental policy, but rental insurance is much cheaper than the premium for vacant homes.
5. Let a Friend Live in the Home.  If you don’t want to tie the house up by renting it, consider letting a trusted friend or family member live in the home until it sells.  If you don’t know anyone, hire a housesitter.  Either way, the home remains occupied and vacancy problems are averted.
6. Don’t Sneak.   If your home is vacant for longer than your insurance policy allows, you could save a ton of money by sneaking.  But, don’t.  First, insurance fraud is a serious matter.  Secondly, if your vacant home is damaged or totaled, the insurer can and will challenge your claim.   Don’t commit fraud.  The little bit of money you may save is just not worth it.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net, a Free Homes for Sale and Rent website.  The market is certainly showing some positive signs.  We have better than expected sales across the entire country, price declines have lessened, rates are low and banks are lending.  If you need to buy or sell, InfoTube.net is the place to be.

The intent of the new rule for loan funding was to eliminate inflated appraisals.  Lawmakers found that lenders, such as Washington Mutual, pressured appraisers to inflate values in order to make more money on higher priced loans.  Although accurate appraisals are necessary to prevent fraud, the policy has had unintended, devastating effects on the entire real estate industry.

Take the case of the Mann family from San Jose, CA.  David and Penny Mann decided to sell their downtown Victorian home in order to move to a retirement community closer to their children and grandchildren.  They knew the market was tough, but they priced the home to sell and they were rewarded with back to back offers.   They accepted an offer for $560,000 from an excited young couple, buying their first home.

The Mann’s home appraised for full value, but it was deemed to be invalid, because it was done before the new rule took effect.  The second appraiser,  sent by an appraisal management company, came in $100,000 below the contract price, resulting in the buyer being turned down for their loan.  After the initial tears and panic, both parties did some frantic research.  They discovered that the appraiser didn’t live in San Jose and had never worked there.  Both buyer and seller decided to take action versus lying down and rolling over.

The buyer’s, a lawyer and student, toured at least 40 homes before buying the Mann’s house, and had lived in San Jose their entire lives.  They knew that the 100 year old home was perfect for them and they insisted that the management company send an appraiser, from the 408 area code to value the property.  The 33 year old lawyer said, “I am an educated person.” …”I’ve lived in the Bay Area my whole life”.  “I had no question it was worth $560,000, plus.  Neither did my agent or the mortgage broker or the first appraiser.  “Nor, as it turned out, did a third appraiser”,… who valued the property at the full sales price.

After all the drama, buyer and seller recently celebrated their victory at the Mann house.  The first time buyer’s brought the wine.  The Mann’s provided fresh peaches from the tree in the backyard.   Finally, a happy ending.

Unfortunately, not all victims of the new appraisal law are as fortunate as these couples.  75 percent of Industry professionals said they have had at least one low appraisal problem since May 1st, with the average loss being around $13,000.  In addition, 90 percent of real estate professionals site that at least one transaction had fallen apart because of the new law.

Something is definitely wrong, but you can take action:

To read more about what you can do if you are the victim of a low ball appraisal, Click Here.

To sign a petition to repeal the law, Click Here.  Gary Miller, Rep from California is co-sponsoring legislation.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and lease website. If you have experienced a financial loss due to the new law, please leave a comment in the space below. Your identity is completely confidential.

Homeowners can always place a Free Property Listing on InfoTube.net. Thousands of home buyers search our site for their dream home.

10 Noteworthy observations and signs include:

1. The rate of REO’s (real estate owned by the bank) coming onto the marketplace has slowed across the country.
2. In May, sales prices for existing homes rose 3 percent from April levels.
3. The number of Sold Homes surged in California, Nevada, Arizona and other hard hit area’s of the nation.
4. Even in Las Vegas, the epicenter of the crash, sales prices are firming and seller’s are receiving near full asking price, albeit at a 50 percent discount to pre-crash levels.
5. Inventory levels of existing and new homes has fallen in recent months.
6. The doomsayers were wrong about runaway inflation and rising rates.  30 year fixed interest rates remain at a very attractive 5.5 percent and banks are lending money.
7. Stocks of pubically traded home building companies have moved off their bottoms and are trading within a sustainable uptrend range.
8. The number of housing starts increased for the first time in months.  Since financing for speculation homes is hard, if not impossible to obtain, we assume these homes are already sold before construction begins, signaling demand.
9. Large home builders are starting to acquire select tracts of land for future development.
10. The rate of borrowers receiving notice of foreclosure has seen a meaningful decline of late.

Finally, we have a glimpse of light at the end of a long tunnel.  While the market will surely continue to experience difficulties, news indicates that the worst may well be behind us. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.   The summer home selling season is rapidly getting away.  If you need to sell a home, nothing beats the power of the MLS to get you noticed.  To learn more about the advantage of selling by owner and taking advantage of the MLS, Click Here.

The answer is overwhelming, Comparable Sales Data.

Looking at the prices of listed property is a big mistake, when determining the correct asking price for a home.  Take a moment and think about it.  If the neighbors list price was motivating, the property would be Sold, not Still for Sale. 

Always use accurate a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) to correctly price your home.   A CMA features only properties that have sold for all cash or a funded loan.  This is important because many properities aren’t appraising or closing for anything near their “under contract” price.   In our declining market, a home that is worth $250,000 today, may only be worth $220,000, 60 days later when it closes.   Appraisers are aware of this fact and generally appraise very conservatively these days.

Click here To Read more about Appraisal Problems and What you Can do About it.

To obtain accurate Sales data about competing properties in your neighborhood, visit your local county tax assessor website.  Or, research MLS data which can be viewed at sites like zillow.com.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We are here to help you sell your home.  Feel free to place a free property listing on our site or search for a great value on your dream home.