Posted on August 4th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Just for Fun, Photo Flash
Some of the days lately have been on the warm side. But I guess I’m one of those persons that doesn’t mind at all. The heat feels good actually. What you rather have…weather like this, or what we had in mid-January? I’ll take hot weather every time. Besides, it doesn’t do any good to complain. I’ve never seen the weather change because it hears people complaining. I have a feeling those same people would find something to find fault with even if the high was 75 and sunny every day, with low-humidity, and a slow drizzle for one hour exactly every night from 2 until 3am to keep things green.
But it’s not only the weather that’s got heat in the forecast. The cayenne peppers in the garden are getting ripe too. Having already plucked a half-dozen ready-ones this morning, I thought some of these peppers still remaining looked like a string of lights that you might find on a Christmas Tree in Chihuahua Mexico.
Last year I had so many of these guys that I couldn’t use them all and dried a bunch of them, later to be ground-up for use in a special-issue batch of barbecue sauce. It turned out to be probably the hottest batch ever, and even more enjoyable because of the home-grown ingredient. I didn’t hear any complaints about the heat from anyone though.
Posted on August 2nd, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Architecture & Design
I’m one of those people that loves old homes and buildings. Part of it has something to do with seeing and being inside an old structure where you can feel the presence of others whose lives were lived or passed within those same walls. There’s some residue of their energy left behind that I find intriguiging. Also, part of it has to do with the joy of seeing the workmanship and materials used by master craftsmen of earlier times. The phrase “they don’t make them like they used to” is certainly true. Some things are done better now of course as techniques and technology have advanced. But it’s wonderful to see details in old buildings that nowadays would literally cost a fortune to recreate, even if you could find a trades-person who knew how to do it.
I had the good fortune of being able to look breifly inside the old Summers Mansion on Cold Springs Road which is on the grounds of the Cold Springs Elementary/Magnet School there the other day. That’s where the photo above of a small part of window was taken. The home is now owned by IPS who has adapted it for their use as office space. But the charm and grandeur of the original home still permeates every corner wherever you look. Woodwork, glass, masonry, trim, fixtures, flooring, murals, tile…everything. I literally could have stayed for hours thoroughly enjoying myself.
Posted on July 30th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: For Home Buyers, For Home Sellers
An agent showed a home that I have listed to their customers a week ago that since has an accepted offer on it from another Realtor. The agent who called saw the home now had a sale pending but wanted to know if the Seller would consider taking a back-up offer. The current offer was a good one or the Seller wouldn’t have accepted it, but you never know 100% for sure that any sale will work, so it’s usually in the best interest of the Seller and can’t hurt to have another offer in your back pocket in case something gets soft with the other sale. The back-up offer might even be a better offer in terms of price, terms or less contingencies. Until all contingencies are eliminated or satisfied then the outcome of any transaction is not absolutely certain. So I told them to write the offer, send it over and we would take a look at it.
When I’m working with Buyers, I usually stay away from showing a home that has a pending sale, let alone writing a back-up offer. The reason is that the primary offer in place usually works and I don’t want my Buyer-customer tied up. Something better might come along and they could miss the opportunity to act upon it because they were focused on the other home. The only reason I would is if my customer really wanted that particular home, above all others, and thought it would be worth taking a chance. Besides, the Buyer can always withdraw the back-up offer at any time unless the Seller agrees to make it the primary offer.
Posted on July 23rd, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Nature
I’ve been dazzled lately watching the activity around the Butterfly Bushes that I’ve seen. I can’t remember a year when there have been more butterflies, and of all varieties and colors. Recently I watched as dozens of them flitted silently along, delicately flapping their wings, circling and jockeying for landing space on the outstretched limbs and blossoms. An amazing aerial show.
I thought there must be another REAL name for a Butterfly Bush. It just sounded like slang or more like a common, popular name. So I looked them up. But no, that’s the real name. And how appropriate. Butterflies especially seem to be drawn to them instinctively. Their favorite dining experience.
Posted on July 21st, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Financing, Market Conditions, Market Watch
A review of market activity last month shows it’s continued transitioning into a market that’s more traditional. Without the effects of the federal government stimulus money that induced purchasers to buy now, altering their normal motivation, sales slowed from previous months. This was expected. But still it was surprising that the market was 30% off compared to the same time period in 2009.
While some would see this as negative news, I call it a normal reaction to market influences and a step in the right direction. From my vantage point, I see a stronger and more balanced market. More homes in higher price ranges are selling now which happened far less frequently a year ago. But mainly I hear and see more optimism in the voices and eyes of customers…and the phone rings more often.
For an in-depth analysis of last months market activity, including actual sales numbers, charts, graphs…take a look at my latest Market Watch Newsletter.
The most positive result of slower market activity is that interest rates dropped to astounding levels. Last time I checked, the rate for a 3o yr conventional loans with NO buy-down points was 4.5%. And for 15 yrs it’s 4.0%. The rate for an FHA loan with only a 3.5% down payment to purchase is 4.375%. Those are amazing rates. Very good timing especially when you consider home prices are more affordable than they have been for years. Great circumstances for anyone who wants to purchase a home or refinance.
