Home Sale information for Barrington...still ahead of last year!

Great information...Sometimes when you are  watching the news..you are not really getting the correct information for our "neck of the woods" For instance...sales in our Multiple Listing Service are actually up!!

"Annualized Existing Home Sales for June dropped 5.1% from May, but were still 9.8% above the pace a year ago, according to a report released by NAR today.  “June home sales still reflect a tax credit impact with some sales not closed due to delays, which will show up in the next two months.  Only when jobs are created at a sufficient pace will home sales return to sustainable, healthy levels,”  said Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist.

“Despite market swings, total annual home sales are rising above 2009,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder.

Note:  The RE/MAX National Housing Report on 54 metro areas, which is not annualized, showed a 5.6% increase over June 2009 sales.

June Annualized Existing Home Sales

	June 2010	May 2010	1 Mo Change	June 2009	1 Year Change
National	5.37mil	5.66mil	-5.1%	4.89mil	+9.8%
Northeast	.960mil	.890mil	+7.9%	.820mil	+17.1%
Midwest	1.23mil	1.33mil	-7.5%	1.10mil	+11.8%
South	2.01mil	2.15mil	-6.5%	1.81mil	+11.0%
West	1.17mil	1.29mil	-9.3%	1.16mil	+0.9%

June Inventory Levels

1.       Total residential inventory = + 2.5% to 3.99 million homes

2.       Months Supply = 8.9 months up from 8.3 in May

June Median Sales Price

1.       National All Residential = $183,700, which is 1.0% higher than June 2009

June Survey

1.       Distressed homes were 32% of all sales up from 31% in May

2.       First Time Buyers purchased 43% of all homes, down from 46% in May

3.       Investors accounted for 13% of all sales down from 14% in May

4.       All-Cash deals were 24% down from 25% in May

5.       30 yr fixed average = 4.74% down from 4.89% in May and 5.42% a year ago.

(National average commitment rate from Freddie Mac)


So folks...if you want to know what is happening in "our neck of the woods" call Judy!
cheers!

Peak House Prices ..when will they return?

Thought this was a very interesting article from Diana Golobay....

Peak House Prices Will Return to Sand States after 2025: Fiserv

by DIANA GOLOBAY

Housing markets that experienced the greatest inflation in house prices — including certain metro areas in sand states California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada — will not see a return of peak-level home prices before 2025, according to financial services technology provider Fiserv.
According to the Fiserv Case-Shiller indices measuring historical home price data and forecasts for more than 375 local markets, scattered metropolitan areas could recover home prices before 2013 (highlighted below, in blue):

“Nationally, Fiserv Case-Shiller data points to a further 7% decline in home prices through the end of this year, with a prolonged recovery beginning early in 2011. In many markets, the emphasis is on the word ‘prolonged,’” said Fiserv chief economist David Stiff in a statement this week.
Other factors besides a run-up in house prices are dragging down recovery times in the industrial Midwest — including Michigan, Indiana and Ohio — where steep job losses in the manufacturing sector could keep housing demand low for some time.
But the data is not “uniformly grim” across all states, Stiff added.
A number of trends have defined initial signs of recovery in the housing market in recent months, including rising home sales. In particular, Pittsburgh, PA; Columbia, SC; and several metropolitan areas in Texas, Washington and upstate New York could see peak-level prices return within the next few years.

Remember "knowledge" is power! And I am here to help you make the right real estate decisions for you!

Latest Foreclosure News..I can help!

News from Realty Trac:
Top 10 Foreclosure Metro Areas February 2010 - Total Properties With Foreclosure Filings


1.Miami-Fort Lauderdale FL 19,033

2.Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA 18,118

3.Chicago-Naperville, IL 16,186

4.Phoenix-Mesa, AZ 13,830

5.Riverside-San Bernardino, CA 12,840

6.Detroit-Warren MI 12,078

7.Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA 9,096

8.Las Vegas-Paradise 9,012

9.Orlando-Kissimmee, FL 6,823

10.Tampa-St Petersburg, FL 6,681

According to Realty Trac, Foreclosure filings-default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossesssions were 2% lower than previous month but still 6% higher than reported in Feburary 2009. 1 in 418 US hones recieved foreclosure filing. Though is is the smallest increase since January 2006.

Remember, if you have any questions regarding purchasing a foreclosure or short sale or if you know anyone that might be late on their payments and possibly facing losing their home...I am here to help. I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert as well as an Shortsale Foreclosure Resource.

The Harder I Work The Luckier I Get!!!

I don't need the "Luck of the Irish" to help you with your Real Estate needs...and that's "No Blarney"
Here a few of my favorite Irish Blessings and Sayings:

May you always have
Walls for the winds,          
A roof for the rain,
Tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire!

May you be in
Heaven a half hour before the
Devil knows you're dead!

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Tis like a morn in spring.
With a lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing
When Irish hearts are happy
All the world is bright and gay
When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure, they steal your heart away.

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

May the best day of your past
Be the worst day of your future.

I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I overlooked before
One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain,
Third is the roses that grow in the lane.
No need explaining the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.

May you live to be a hundred years
With one extra year to repent.

May those who love us, love us
And those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts
And if he can't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles
So we will know them by their limping!

As you slide down the banister of life,
May the splinters never point in the wrong direction!

May luck be our companion
May friends stand by our side
May history remind us all
Of Ireland's faith and pride.
May God bless us with happiness
May love and faith abide.

Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter
Lullabies, dreams, and love ever after.
Poems and songs with pipes and drums
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes.
That's the Irish for you!

There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle,
'Twas St. Patrick himself, sure, that sets it;
And the sun of his labor with pleasure did smile,
And with dew from his eye often wet it.
It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland,
And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

May your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.

May you have:
A world of wishes at your command
God and his angels close at hand
Friends and family their love impart,
And Irish blessings in you heart.

May God grant you many years to live,
For sure he must be knowing
The earth has angels all to few
And Heaven is overflowing.

These things I warmly wish to you-
Someone to love
Some work to do
A bit o' sun
A bit o' cheer
And a guardian angel always near.

Here's to a long life and a merry one
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer and another one!

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night,

O Ireland isn't it grand you look
like a bride in her rich adornin?
And with all the pent up love of my heart
I bid you the top o' the mornin!


May the lilt of lush laughter lighten ever road,
May the midst of Irish magic shorten every road.
May you taste the sweetest pleasures
that fortune ever bestowed,
And may all your friends remember
all the favors you are owed.

Go mbeannai Dia duit
(May God Bless You)

May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.
God is good, but never dance in a small boat.

May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.

If you're enough lucky to be Irish...
You're lucky enough!

My wild Irish rose
The sweetest flower that grows
You may search everywhere
But none can compare to my wild Irish rose
My wild Irish rose
The sweetest flower that grows
Someday for my sake she may let me take
A bloom from my wild Irish rose

'Tis better to buy a small bouquet
And give to your friend this very day,
Than a bushel of roses white and red
To lay on his coffin after he's dead.

For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way-
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.

And remember...Everybody is Irish on St. Paddy's Day!
See you at McGonigal's in Barrington (105 S Cook Street)?!!
Cheers!

Spring Break or Spring Broke???

Just remembering the days of taking the kids on Spring Break. I would be exhasted before we left the house.
I would start to pack and realize the girls had grown over the winter..thus spring clothes would have to be purchased..except of course for the littlest one..oh hand me downs weren't so bad! Except if they were in pink..pink was not and still is not her color! Then off we went...always happy to be heading somewhere warm and a change of pace from Barrington!
Now, the thought of packing up the family is a distant memory...sports, jobs and the price of airline tickets have changed the way we think of spring broke..I mean spring break!

PS..if you are heading somewhere for Spring Break and find a fabulous condo or home you would like to purchase..STOP..call me and I will find you the best agent in the area to help you make a smart decision!

How to sell a house quickly!

I just listed a great home in the Village of Barrington and we received and accepted an offer after 5 days on the market! How did that happen you ask? Here are a few tips...

4 things sellers need to know...Price,Terms,Condition and Location. Every single one of these items need to be taken into consideration if you want your property to sell. Remember this----PRICE fixes everything! When the buyer perceives there is value (because of the price)..they will quickly buy the home!
The other variables can affect the price.
Terms: Owner financing is a great carrot to dangle! Buy down mortgage!
Condition: Always fix what needs to be fixed! Stage the property! Start packing!
Location: It is the only variable that cannot be changed! A bad location is a bad location..so price it right and it must be picture perfect inside!
Ok folks, like I always say.."This is not brain surgery!"
Buying a home is an emotional response to what "feels" right. Key into those emotions and your home will sell quickly!