Housing Market Update by Budge Huskey, CEO of Coldwell Banker, Inc.

June Slusser, Broker/Owner of Coldwell Banker High Country Realty interviews Coldwell Banker Corporate CEO, Budge Huskey on the current market while he was in town for our Annual Gala. This is the man who speaks nationally on Nationwide News, so we are really blessed to have him locally!!
http://youtu.be/eEShybzDbMk

Is Anyone Else Tired of these Advertising Platforms acting like they're Real Estate sites????

Homes.com called me the other day to advertise with them and when they showed me my area, only ONE company's listings came up for several pages. I told them they just wasted all the money they said they are spending on advertising because what CONSUMER is going to use a site that SELLS and FORCES consumers to ONLY VIEW ONE COMPANY'S LISTINGS???? If a CONSUMER wants one company's listings, wouldn't they go to that company site rather than this one?

All of these "outside real estate" sites are selling to Agents/Advertisers and lacking in the service they give to the consumer. CONSUMERS are probably better off going to a real REAL ESTATE site, not an advertising platform, right? THE CONSUMER DESERVES TO GET ALL OF THE ACCURATE AND FULL INFORMATION FREE OF FORCED VIEWING (SO PAID ADVERTISERS) get their product in front of them rather than what they are looking for!! Ads should go on banners and sides of pages, not be forced in the body to look like its real information! IS THIS FRAUD???? What's your take on it?

Here's Homes.com in my area - which they said if I purchased what the other Agency had purchased then all of theirs would go below mine! Then the consumer would have to wade through all of our company listings and then the other company's listings before they could get to general listings in a price range order.

As of Sept. 18, 2013 - Homes.com Hiawassee, GA

http://www.homes.com/Real_Estate/GA/City/HIAWASSEE/

If you go to Trulia.com - if the listing agent doesn't PAY then consumers are FORCED in a very sneaky way to contact ALL of the Agents that do pay. See the link below. Mountain Realty is the listing company, because they don't pay all of the PAID ADVERTISERS are above the question box for a consumer to ask for information ABOUT THIS PROPERTY. To the left are small checks so that ALL OF THE PAID ADVERTISING AGENTS get the question from the consumer UNLESS the consumer sees all of those checks and unchecks them. I tried it, it goes to all of them. NOW, TRY TO FIND THE LISTING AGENT CONTACT INFO TO ASK THEM A QUESTION ABOUT THE PROPERTY? As a consumer, I should be able to ask a question of the listing agent or at least KNOW WHAT AGENT I'M CONTACTING??? As far as the search, it is the same as Homes.com in that it comes up with all of the PAID ADVERTISERS listings first - how is this consumer friendly? Then, they can't contact the listing agent, they have to contact ALL PAID ADVERTISERS?? IS THIS FRAUD?

http://www.trulia.com/property/3131491273-725-Bearmeat-Spur-Hiawassee-GA-30546

As an Agent, I complained and told Trulia.com they do not have my permission to put paid advertisers on my listings and force consumers to go somewhere unsolicited and they don't! Unless they can mask it that way when I look at it - so I have that link below - let me know if someone else comes up on my listings and if they put any paid agents, please!
http://www.trulia.com/property/3118402143-2061-Hi-River-Rd-Hiawassee-GA-30546

Now, let's talk Zillow! They DON'T DO THAT and that is why they are the #1 site after REALTOR.COM. They have lots of other information that is incorrect, because they try to access value in our area and it is off. Is their assessment of value off in any other area? They pop up agents in front of you while you're trying to look at properties - this would make me annoyed with that agent, but at least it's not forced in a covert way like Homes.com and Trulia.com.

www.realtor.com is the best site, in my opinion, because it has ALL LISTINGS, ALL AGENTS, ALL AREAS, ALL MLS SYSTEMS!! Yes, Agents can purchase "enhanced listings" so they have a yellow screen, but the PAID ADVERTISERS do not eliminate every other listing from the consumers' view. Paid ADS go on banners and skyscrapers as it should be!

I think REALTORS should complain on those sites for BLOCKING their listings from the consumer in favor of PAID ADVERTISERS when they are presenting themselves as a consumer-based real estate forum to the public. I think CONSUMERS should complain to these sites for misleading them. Would consumers who have worked with the FORCED AGENTS and had any bad dealings, be able to hold these sites accountable? Or, if they missed a better opportunity or property because they were forced with pages and pages of only ONE companies listings?

I think there are some possible legal issues, but as REALTORS and consumers, let's be aware and protect each other from outside sources that try to not only prosper from our hard work and the American Dream, but corrupt them!

Leave a comment if you have any opinion in the matter...

LAKE CHATUGE FRONT HOME SOLD FOR $325,000!!!

In the high times Agents were banging on this seller's door begging them to sell their home for $700,000. I had it listed at $399,900 originally and it was listed at $369,900 when it went under contract. I received well over 100 phones calls, text inquiries, internet interests and multiple showings. This property is not only ON deep water with a CURRENT dock permit, it's on a cove where you don't get a lot of traffic noise from the lake. It's also close enough that you can walk to town, on a dead-end street, and the lot is absolutely gorgeous with mature landscaping and a gentle slope. That said, the home was built in 1979 and no updates had been done. Still, a total steal - the lot was worth $325,000! But, only one buyer had the sense and the vision (and was able to get the money) so it's their home now!



MLS Sold buyer sheet:

HTML Link: Click Here to View Properties
Text Link: http://Neg.ctimls.com/Report.asp?000Neg22155156

SOLD! Prices going up?? I don't think those are the ones that are selling??

This home was currently listed at $189,900 and the seller took the first offer for $165,000!!! It was a second home like many in our area. Nice neighborhood with similar homes in Young Harris, GA.

MLS Sold buyer sheet:

HTML Link: Click Here to View Properties
Text Link: http://Neg.ctimls.com/Report.asp?983Neg22154813

BUY NOW OR PAY LATER!?!?

It costs $85,000,000,000 a month to keep interest rates down for you!!!
This can not last. The Fed will announce on September 18th just how much they are going to start reducing it each month. They use the word "taper" but realize that means by Spring 2014 real interest rates will appear and that will mean much less house for your money. So, whether you are buying or selling, get off the fence and call me today!!! Mary Lynn Durfee 706.835.7616

http://www.moneynews.com/FinanceNews/Mirhaydari-Fed-taper-10-billion/2013/09/13/id/525513?ns_mail_uid=54072265&ns_mail_job=1537485_09132013&promo_code=14DDD-1

Foreclose Activity is DOWN in Georgia (except Atlanta)!

Mary Lynn's Note: This backs what I've been saying - that foreclosures are not what they used to be. Non-judicial states like Georgia have gone through their greatest inventory. It's like when a dam breaks, it's a deluge at first and then it's just a trickle. We are in the trickle time now and that means that are not as many foreclosures which is GOOD NEWS for the Sellers who don't have to compete with prices (they won't get bailed out for) and for the Buyers because they can go back to rational negotiations and still get great prices because the foreclosure deluge already lowered all the prices.
All this equals a stabilizing market so long as they don't mess it up again??? I'm trying to keep a watchful eye for my Clients. The glare in the face financial happening right now is JP Morgan???
Not in chronological order, just points:
1) Obama says JP Morgan Chase is one of the best managed banks
http://thehill.com/video/administration/227315-obama-says-jpmorgan-chase-one-of-the-best-managed-banks
2) JP head Perry resigns http://www.financialstandard.com.au/news/view/12357489/
3) Vatican has a bunch of money-laundering firings - this info which has all 450 resignations, firings, retirements, etc. http://politicalvelcraft.org/2012/03/26/450-resignations-from-world-banks-investment-houses-money-funds/

1. 2/09/12 (VATICAN) Institute for Religious Works (IOR aka “Vatican Bank”), 62 year oldMonsignor Emilio Messina, the Archdiocese of Camerino-San Severino Marche investigated on money laundering by Italian officials. http://goo.gl/uztVU
2. 2/09/12 (VATICAN) Institute for Religious Works (IOR aka “Vatican Bank”), 49 year oldFather Don Salvatore Palumbo of the socially popular parish of San Gaetano http://goo.gl/uztVU
3. 2/09/12 (VATICAN) Institute for Religious Works (IOR aka “Vatican Bank”), 37 year oldFather Horace Bonaccorsi of Catania, already tried and acquitted in Sicily for money laundering offenses recycling money through accounts at IOR http://goo.gl/uztVU
4. 2/09/12 (VATICAN) Institute for Religious Works (IOR aka “Vatican Bank”), 85 year oldFather Don Evaldo Biasini of Rome. Father Don Evaldo Biasini is known as the “Don of Cash”.http://goo.gl/uztVU

4) JP Morgan closes the Vaticans account  http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/19/uk-vatican-bank-idUKBRE82I0P820120319 
5) 5 days ago it comes out that JP Morgan has a $2 billion dollar loss that is then $20 billion dollars
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/14/jpmorgan-chase-2-billion_n_1514884.html
6) Two days ago - the latest is they are expecting 50% of their trading to fail...
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/jpmorgans-trading-loss-said-rise-100803486.html

Hang on and let's see who is going to swallow up JP Morgan or if this Administration will chant "too big to fail" and bail them out. Looks like there is another banking shift happening small and big. I HOPE IT'S A GOOD CHANGE FOR A CHANGE!

Regardless, it's a good time to buy - prices are down, interest rates are still down - there is still EXCELLENT INVENTORY and GREAT DEALS!! Call your favorite REALTOR today!

http://rismedia.com/rrein/8563/91376/4582391/36845 U.S. Foreclosure Activity Shifting Eastward

RISMEDIA, Friday, May 18, 2012— RealtyTrac®, a leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, recently released its U.S. Foreclosure Market Report™ for April 2012, which shows foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — were reported on 188,780 U.S. properties in April, the lowest monthly total since July 2007. April foreclosure activity decreased 5 percent from the previous month and was down 14 percent from April 2011. One in every 698 U.S. housing units had a foreclosure filing during the month. “Rising foreclosure activity in many state and local markets in April was masked at the national level by sizable decreases in hard-hit foreclosure states like California, Arizona and Nevada,” says Brandon Moore, CEO of RealtyTrac. “Those three states, and several other non-judicial foreclosure states like them, more efficiently processed foreclosures last year, resulting in fewer catch-up foreclosures this year. “In addition, more distressed loans are being diverted into short sales rather than becoming completed foreclosures,” Moore continued. “Our preliminary first quarter sales data shows that pre-foreclosure sales — typically short sales — are on pace to outnumber sales of bank-owned properties during the quarter in California, Arizona and 10 other states.” Non-judicial foreclosure activity down, judicial foreclosure activity up Combined foreclosure activity in the 24 states with a non-judicial foreclosure process and the District of Columbia decreased 7 percent from the previous month and was down 29 percent from April 2011. More populous states like Arizona, California and Nevada drove the overall decreases in non-judicial foreclosure activity, but 14 of the 24 states and the District of Columbia posted month-over-month increases in foreclosure activity. Still, only seven of the non-judicial foreclosure states posted annual increases, including Georgia, Tennessee and Minnesota. Combined foreclosure activity in the 26 states with a judicial foreclosure process decreased 3 percent from the previous month but was still up 15 percent from April 2011. Foreclosure activity decreased on a month-over-month basis in 14 of the judicial foreclosure states but increased on a year-over-year basis in 15 of the judicial foreclosure states. Foreclosure starts down nationwide, but up in more than half of states After three straight monthly increases, U.S. foreclosure starts — default notices or scheduled foreclosure auctions, depending on the state — decreased 4 percent from March to April. A total of 97,665 properties started the foreclosure process for the first time during the month, down 2 percent from April 2011. Despite the overall decrease in foreclosure starts, 26 states posted monthly increases in foreclosure starts, and 27 states posted year-over-year increases in foreclosure starts. States with the biggest annual increases in foreclosure starts included New Jersey (180 percent), Utah (179 percent), Indiana (49 percent), Pennsylvania (44 percent), Florida (43 percent), and Michigan (42 percent). Bank repossessions decrease for third straight month Bank repossessions (REOs) decreased on a monthly basis for the third straight month in April, down 7 percent from March. Lenders completed the foreclosure process on 51,415 U.S. properties during the month, down 26 percent from April 2011 — the 18th consecutive month with a year-over-year decrease in REOs. REO activity decreased on an annual basis in 37 states and the District of Columbia, while 28 states posted monthly drops in foreclosure activity. States with the biggest year-over-year decreases in REO activity included Nevada (71 percent), Arizona (70 percent), Washington (67 percent), California (52 percent), Virginia (47 percent), and Maryland (47 percent). 11 of 20 largest metros post annual increases in foreclosure activity Eleven of the nation’s 20 largest metro areas based on population documented annual increases in foreclosure activity, led by the Florida cities of Tampa (59 percent) and Miami (38 percent). Other cities with increases included St. Louis (29 percent), Chicago (26 percent), Philadelphia (24 percent), and Atlanta (21 percent). Among the 20 largest metros areas, cities posting the biggest annual drops in foreclosure activity included Seattle (54 percent), Phoenix (44 percent), San Francisco (34 percent), Washington, D.C. (30 percent), Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif., (30 percent), and Los Angeles (28 percent). The metro areas with the highest foreclosure rates among the 20 largest were Riverside-San Bernardino (one in every 213 housing units with a foreclosure filing), Miami (one in every 273 housing units), Atlanta (one in every 298 housing units), Phoenix (one in every 313 housing units), and Tampa (one in every 315 housing units). The 11 cities with annual increases in foreclosure activity were all in the Midwest, South or on the East Coast, while six of the nine cities with annual decreases were in the western states of California, Arizona and Washington. Nevada, California, Florida post top state foreclosure rates A 15 percent month-over-month increase in foreclosure starts helped Nevada post the nation’s highest state foreclosure rate in April: one in every 300 housing units with a foreclosure filing. Despite the monthly increase in foreclosure starts, overall Nevada foreclosure activity decreased 67 percent from April 2011. California foreclosure activity decreased 30 percent from April 2011, but the state still posted the nation’s second highest foreclosure rate: one in every 351 housing units with a foreclosure filing. Florida foreclosure activity increased 26 percent from April 2011, boosting the state’s foreclosure rate to third highest in the nation. One in every 364 Florida housing units had a foreclosure filing during the month. The top 10 foreclosure rates among metropolitan statistical areas with a population of 200,000 or more were all in Nevada, California and Florida. Stockton, Calif., led the way, with one in every 213 housing units with a foreclosure filing during the month. Seven other California cities had foreclosure rates in the top 10, along with Las Vegas at No. 7 and Miami at No. 9. A 44 percent year-over-year decrease in foreclosure activity dropped Arizona’s foreclosure rate — one in every 377 housing units with a foreclosure filing — to fourth highest among the states, while a 21 percent year-over-year increase in foreclosure activity helped Georgia maintain the nation’s fifth highest state foreclosure rate — one in every 398 housing units with a foreclosure filing. Other states with foreclosure rates ranking among the top 10 were Illinois (one in 418 housing units with a foreclosure filing), Utah (one in 419), Michigan (one in 487), Ohio (one in 525), and Wisconsin (one in 547). For more information, visit www.realtytrac.com.

Builder Confidence Rises Five Points in May

http://rismedia.com/rrein/8563/91376/4582391/36851

Builder Confidence Rises Five Points in May

RISMEDIA, Friday, May 18, 2012— Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes gained five points in May from a downwardly revised reading in the previous month to reach a level of 29 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This is the index’s strongest reading since May of 2007. “Builders in many markets are reporting that buyer traffic and sales have picked back up after a pause this April,” says Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. “It seems we have resumed the gradual upward trend in confidence that started at the beginning of this year, as stabilizing prices and excellent affordability encourage more people to pursue a new-home purchase.” “While home building still has quite a way to go toward a fully healthy market, the fact that the HMI has returned to trend is an excellent sign that firming home values, improving employment and low mortgage rates are drawing consumers back,” says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “The pace of this emerging recovery could be stronger were it not for the significant impediments that the market continues to face with regard to builder and consumer access to credit, inaccurate appraisals, and more recently, rising materials prices.” Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 25 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores from each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor. Each of the index’s components rebounded from declines in the previous month. The component gauging current sales conditions and the component gauging traffic of prospective buyers each rose five points in May to 30 and 23, respectively, with the traffic component hitting its highest level since April of 2007. The component gauging sales expectations in the next six months rose three points to 34. Three out of four regions registered improving builder sentiment in May. This included a six-point gain to 32 in the Northeast, and five-point gains to 27 and 28 in the Midwest and South, respectively. The West posted a two-point decline, to 29.

Big Hitters: 2012 Major League Baseball Homes for Sale

http://rismedia.com/rrein/8579/91376/4582391/35273

IF THEY WERE SMART, THEY WOULD BUY A NICE HOME ($500,000)  IN THE MOUNTAINS HERE IN NE GEORGIA/SW NORTH CAROLINA!!! And they would still have a lot left over!!! If you see Walt, Barry, Adrian, Jonathan, Matt, John, Jamie, Nomar, Reggie or Mark - tell them to give me a call - I have just the place for them. Clint Eastwood was just here (Young Harris, GA) filming for his up-coming baseball movie - Trouble With The Curve - so we're already baseball friendly!!!

Big Hitters: 2012 Major League Baseball Homes for Sale RISMEDIA, Saturday, May 19, 2012— The biggest names in baseball have now departed Florida or Arizona and headed north for the regular season. The rigors of a 162-game season can be tough for anyone, but a bad real estate market can be a big strike out for athletes who are more likely to be moving on to other cities and homes because of trades, retirement, or finding a state with low taxes. Throw in the fact that most of these guys are young with multi-million dollar homes, selling that big fancy home can be as difficult as hitting a Mariano Rivera cutter. For baseball players, hitting a home run is a lot easier on the baseball field than it is when it comes to real estate. Here are ten former and current players who are trying to hit a home run off the field. As these players prepare for the upcoming season or whatever is in store for those who are retired, they also have a lot on their plate off the field. For these ten current and former players hitting it big between the lines is very important, but striking a big deal off the field with their home sale is also part of the game. Walt Weiss This former Rookie of the Year, All-Star and World Series champion had a successful 14-year Major League career from 1987-2000. He played for four different teams and had over 1,200 hits. He spent the middle of his career with the Colorado Rockies from 1994-1997. His home in nearby Castle Rock, Colorado is now up for sale and valued at $3.999 million. The highlight of this home is the large baseball diamond in the backyard and the indoor batting cage. With perfectly manicured grass and dirt around each base, Walt has a state-of-the-art ball diamond with a big league feel to it. In his backyard! The property is set on 73 acres and is 10,668 square feet. With multiple swimming pools, a full basketball court and a beautiful mountain view, this house is an outdoor delight. There are six bedrooms and eight baths along with a seven-car garage. The batting cage on the inside of the home tops it off. Barry Larkin While he called Cincinnati home his entire life, Larkin—formerly of the Cincinnati Reds—currently resides in Orlando, Florida in a $10.9 million mansion that is up for sale. This 14,500 square foot home is built on 2.8 acres on the amazing Lake Chase. The fun here begins outside as there is a lighted tennis court, outdoor basketball court, four-boat dock and a three jet-ski dock. There is also a full outdoor kitchen with a theater and fireplace. Moving inside, there are 13 bathrooms and six bedrooms. Among the activities on the inside is a disco lounge, private gym, pool, spa, full bar and a stage room. One of the best aspects of this house is the view of Lake Chase at sunset and nightly fireworks from Disney and Universal which can be seen from almost anywhere on the property. Adrian Beltre Entering his second season in a Texas Rangers uniform, Adrian Beltre remains one of the best third basemen in the American League. Beltre spent his first seven season in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His home in Bradbury, just 30 minutes outside of Los Angeles, is valued at $19.8 million. The mansion is situated on 4.16 acres with 16 bathrooms and seven bedrooms. It is located in the gated community of the Bradbury Estates. This Mediterranean-style home has a circular driveway with a breathtaking entry-way consisting of a 35’ painted ceiling. The inside has a rec room with a batting cage. There is an eight-car garage, a private pool and a spectacular view of the city. The home also has a 2,500 square foot guest house with three beds and two baths. Outside, there are golf greens, a tennis court and a basketball court. Jonathan Papelbon After spending his first seven Major League seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Jonathan Papelbon is now entering his first season in Philadelphia with the Phillies. The four-year $50 million contract Papelbon signed over the winter means his home in Boston is up for sale. The $3.1 million pad on Beacon Street is located real close to Fenway Park. This penthouse, located in downtown Boston is 2,500 square feet with marble and hardwood flooring as well as custom cabinetry. This four-bedroom, three-bath also has a nursery with two seats from Fenway Park included. The kitchen is filled with the finest appliances and copper fixtures. There is access to a roof, via an elevator where there are two deck tops. One of the decks has a hot tub overlooking the Charles River Basin and the downtown area. Matt Cain As one of the most dominating pitchers in the National League, Matt Cain helped lead the San Francisco Giants to the 2010 World Series Championship. His home in downtown San Francisco has a listing price of $1.795 million. With floor-to-ceiling windows and some amazing views of the bay, this four-bedroom and three-bath home is 2,815 square feet. It offers a kitchen that has been completely updated along with a solarium. The home, built in 1968 is located in the Diamond Heights area and has been completely remodeled on the inside. However it might be too late to purchase this home. Several Bay Area agents report that Matt has accepted an offer of $1.8 million for the home - $5,000 over the asking price. John Smoltz This eight-time All-Star selection spent 20 of his 21 full seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He won the National League Cy Young award in 1996 and was a World Series champion in 1995. He spent his final season with the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals before retiring in 2009. His $7.2 million home in Milton, Georgia is now up for sale. The mansion is set on 22 acres, and is a dream for anybody interested in sports. Smoltz loves to golf so there is a full 18-hole golf course in his backyard. There is also a baseball diamond, fishing pond, jogging trail, basketball court, football field and tennis court. Upon entry into the 18,265 square foot home, it only gets better. There are 10 bedrooms and 14 baths along with six fireplaces and an eight car garage. The views of the property from all corners of the house are outstanding. Jamie Moyer Not many 49-year olds find themselves in a Major League camp on the verge of making a big league squad, but that is what Jamie Moyer is attempting to do this year. Moyer is attempting a comeback with the Colorado Rockies, after missing last season with an injury. Moyer’s estate in Seattle is currently up for sale and priced at $5.35 million. This 7,100 square foot estate is set on nearly half an acre. There are seven bedrooms and five baths with three fireplaces. Built in 1933, the outside and inside of the home is brick. There are full length glass windows throughout and hardwood oak floors. The backyard is one of the highlights with a saltwater pool, bath house, croquet yard, batting cage and an outdoor pizza oven. Nomar Garciaparra With a .313 career batting average, Nomar Garciaparra is one of the best hitting shortstops in baseball history. He spent the majority of his career with the Boston Red Sox, before spending two years with the Chicago Cubs and three with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent his final full season in Oakland with the Athletics. He grew up in Whittier, California and his childhood home is now up for sale. Priced at $595,000, this house has recently been put on the market by Nomar and his wife Mia Hamm. This Spanish-style home is 2,200 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths. There is a vaulted ceiling with wood beams in the living room. The master bedroom comes equipped with a hot tub and two large closets. The entire inside of the house has recently been completely remodeled. There is also a guest house that has brand new floors and brand new amenities. Reggie Sanders Outfielder Reggie Sanders played for eight different teams in his Major League career, the bulk of which were for the Cincinnati Reds. He is one of only six players in Major League history to have over 300 career home runs and 300 career stolen bases. His $2.195 million home is now up for sale in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 8,000 square foot mansion has six bedrooms and seven baths. Built in 1999, the home is situated on an acre of land in a cul-de-sac of a gated community. There is a spa, waterfall and pool in the backyard. There is a bonus room on the inside with a wet-bar. Also on the inside is a master-chef kitchen and a beautiful den with cherry wood cabinets. It is a split floor that separates guest wings from the family section. The home has various Spanish-style columns and designs throughout the house. Mark Teixiera First baseman Mark Teixiera spent his first five seasons with the Texas Rangers . He has won four Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers and was an All-Star in 2005 and 2009. After spending five seasons with Texas, Teixiera was with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for two total seasons from 2008-2009. He has spent the past two seasons with the Yankees. His estate has been on and off the market since he left Texas, but is now for sale and priced at $3.995 million. Located inside of Vaquero Golf Club in Westlake, Texas, this lakefront estate is 8,554 square feet with five bedrooms and eight baths. Also inside the house is a large master suite with a gas fireplace, private patio and hot tub. There is a game room, wet bar home theater and two-level office. Right next to the main home is a one-bedroom guest house. Outside, there is a large patio area with an outdoor kitchen and gas fire pit. A large pool in the backyard tops it all off. As these players prepare for the upcoming season or whatever is in store for those who are retired, they also have a lot on their plate off the field. For these ten current and former players hitting it big between the lines is very important, but striking a big deal off the field with their home sale is also part of the game. For more information, visit Top Ten Real Estate Deals. RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to:realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com. Copyright© 2012 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission.

Bloomberg... Home Prices Rise in Half of U.S. Cities as Market Stabilizes...

Home Prices Rise in Half of U.S. Cities as Market Stabilizes!?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-09/home-prices-rise-in-half-of-u-s-cities-as-markets-stabilize.html

Mary Lynn's note: Forgive me as I rant, but I've had about enough of this - please keep your eyes and ears open and feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong...

It is mostly foreclosures and it is the gov't banks who are making the profit. Read it for yourself, but when you get to the bottom and see the profit made by Fannie Mae, you will know whose prices have risen. Many seller-owners are still lowering their prices and still can't sell. Why? Buyers WANT foreclosures. 

The change I see is the foreclosures are selling for more money - I've seen it in my own market. They are not slashing the prices to list and move the properties, like they were in the beginning. They don't have to - buyers want foreclosures - they have been hypnotized to buy from banks/corporations instead of people/human beings and believe they are getting a better deal because the word "foreclosure" is stamped on it. 

It's simple economics - drop the prices, give away homes - get everyone hooked to buy from you and then you raise the prices, but everyone still thinks you're the best deal. It's simply psychology in marketing and it is being used on the masses. 

Thus, Fannie Mae, etc. can slow down now and raise their prices, because they know it's a long-term "business" (real estate) they're in. As REALTORS we fought them for years to stay out of our business, but they found their own way in. The original problem still exists in full force, it's just increasing its own profit. How are they making MORE profit? A smaller decline in home prices - that's price increases, but they don't want you to catch on to that and admit that they are raising their own foreclosure prices to make more profit. That may wake up some buyers to start buying from human beings again. Surely, they can't have that.

It was a hostile take over of the Real Estate Industry, they got all the people who have money left to chant "foreclosure, foreclosure, foreclosure - we want foreclosure" and now they are settling into ANOTHER profit maker caused by a problem THEY created and we paid for and are still paying for!

THE GOOD NEWS is that as foreclosure prices rise, the human being seller will not have to reduce their price so low, but that still does not change the mass hysteria that has created buyers who only want foreclosures. I call it Zombie Real Estate. No matter how many times I tell a buyer that they are still only going to get a CURRENT FAIR MARKET VALUE for ANY property they remain under the FANNIE MAE spell. Now, at the beginning of the hostile take-over there were steals and deals, because many of the homes were builders brand new homes, but those are long gone. Now, you just get a trashed home, that the bank stole from someone that they loaned 3x the value of the property, to. And their reward??? $2.7 billion in 3 months!!! 

I am PRO LOCAL BANKS and CREDIT UNIONS - can you tell? :)

Here's the excerpt below - you do the math. They lost $6.5 billion in all of 2011 and in the first quarter of 2012 they have over a 3rd of that back already. They knew exactly what they were doing and they do now - I expect to see a continuation of the rising home prices, but it will be because a large percentage of the market is owned by Fannie Mae. These writers need to separate home sales/prices by corporations and human beings. BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING! Corporations thrive on profits and human beings thrive in a republic with a free market and moral integrity. Okay, my rant ends now - start your own!

Fannie Mae, the nation’s biggest mortgage-finance company, today reported a $2.7 billion first-quarter profit after a $6.5 billion loss a year earlier, citing smaller declines in home prices as one of the reasons for improvement. The Washington- based company said that it won’t need Treasury Department aid to balance its books for the first time since it was seized by federal regulators in 2008.

Waiting to sell for prices to raise? Could be a long wait...

Why U.S. House Prices Won't Recover 

By JACK HOUGH

When will U.S. house prices recover? Likely never. But that's no reason not to buy.

Read full article below from Wall Street Journal "Smart Money"

http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/real-estate/why-us-house-prices-wont-recover-1335877657114/?mg=com-sm

Gratitude is an Amazing Attitude!

These gorgeous lillies with pine branches were a gift to me from a Seller with a note that said "Thank you for getting it done". It's not easy these days, folks. The banks are under FDIC regulations, many of the rules have changed or change on a daily basis. You can get deals, but you may get some grey hair on the way. Yet, I AM SO BLESSED, because rather than complaints or impatience or blame, I received Gratitude which shows the character and core values of the people in this area and that is why I love living here and love helping other people live here!

SOLD Cabin in the Mountains

Another cabin sold by Mary Lynn. On the border of Young Harris and Blairsville, GA. This gorgeous cabin had never been lived in, built in 2008. 3-sided porch and chalet windows to enjoy year-round view. SOLD December 31st by Mary Lynn!

SOLD REAL ESTATE in the NE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS

This beautiful, never-lived-in 2BR/2BA on a full basement with year-round mountain views, built in 2007 cabin in Young Harris, GA was sold by Mary Lynn December 30th to a wonderful couple from Tallahassee, Florida.

Almost 60 degrees after 10" of snow!?

It's hard to believe that just after having all that snow in the NE Georgia Mountains that today it was raining and almost 60 degrees!!!