farmhomesrealty

A recent Reuters report says that home sales in September reached a 2 year high! This is good news for everyone.

The National Realtors Association and local realtors associations are urging members to contact their local lawmakers to extend the first time home buyers credit. It’s even been suggested that Congress might pass a bill to offer home buyer credits to all buyers.

It’s evident the impact the housing market has on our economy. Any movement in a positive direction gives us hope that we may be seeing daylight after a long dark recession.

The National Association of Realtors says sales of existing homes climbed 9.4% in September. Much of the credit is given to the First Time Home Buyers credit.

We’ve finally found something that really works to stimulate the economy.  Let’s encourage our law makers to continue this program and keep the economy growing!

We are expecting our second frost of the season. Brrrr!
The fall foliage has been absolutely gorgeous this year. Bright reds and yellows mixed in with the greens of the pines and cedars have painted the beautiful Ozarks hills in a pallet of natural beauty.
We’ve been blessed this year with a chance to enjoy a long spring, mild summer and now a brilliant fall.
Life is good in Missouri.

I recently received a forwarded email from a friend of mine.  My friend thought I would enjoy it because I’m from Missouri.  Once you read it you’ll understand.  Enjoy!

“Phones in Church”

A man in Topeka, Ks decided to write a book about churches around the country.  He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east from there.

Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and taking notes.  He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign which read “Calls: $1000 a minute”. Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign.  The pastor replied that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to GOD.  The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way.

As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Milwaukee and many other cities and towns all around the United States, he found more phones, with the same sign and received the same answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in Missouri.  Upon entering a church in the beautiful Ozark region of Missouri, behold, he saw the usual golden telephone.  But this time the sign read, “Calls: .35 cents”.  

Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor.  “Reverend, I’ve been in cities all across the country and in each church I’ve found the golden telephone.  I’ve been told it’s a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to GOD.  But in the other churches the  cost for the call was $1000 a minute.  Your sign reads only 35 cents a call.  Why?” 

The pastor smiled broadly and replied, “Son, you’re in Missouri now…..You’re in GOD’s country so it’s a local call”.

Since I’m from Missouri I understood completely!

American by birth – Missourian by the Grace of God,

Barb  

P.S. Why do Missourians go barefoot? – Because when you’re in Missouri you’re on holy ground!

The National Association of Realtors has issued a “call to action” for all realtors to contact their local and state representatives to extend the $8000 first time home-buyer tax credit.

Officials have cautiously suggested that we may be recovering from the recession. This is partly due to the rebound of the real estate market. If we want this trend to continue, it is very important that we support the effort to extend the first time home buyers credit and possibly expand it to include all home buyers.

We all recognize the impact real estate has on our economy.  The first time buyers tax credit has played a part in stimulating the real estate market.  In order to continue the current recovery it is essential that the first time buyers tax credit be extended for at least 6 more months.   

 The current deadline for this valuable program is fast approaching.  As it stands now you must have your home bought and the transaction closed by November 30.  On average, most home closings are taking 30-45 days so it may already be too late for some.   We are asking everyone to contact your state representatives, congressman and senators to get to work NOW to extend the first time buyers tax credit.  Time is running out.

Let’s let our voices be heard in Washington and do our part to  keep our economy growing!

School has started all across the Ozarks!  Please use extra caution in the mornings and afternoons and watch out for the little guys.

Growing up in a small town is an experience that most of us cherish for the whole of our lives. In many of the small towns across  southwest Missouri, school children walk and ride their bikes to school.  Parents feel safe letting their youngsters take the short walk or ride to school  then back home

. 

As the children pour out of the school,we are assured that some day they too will look back on fond memories of growing up in small town U.S.A. – Houston, Missouri.

We always welcome new neighbors so if you’d like to experience the good life in a small town give us a call at 417-967-2221 or visit us on the web at www.farmhomesrealty.com.

Where did the summer go?

School starts in 1 week!
The anticipation of the first day of school is building for school children everywhere! New shoes, fresh haircuts, and best of all – SCHOOL SUPPLIES!
We feel fortunate to live in a small town where the school is the hub of the community. Because of this, it seems everyone shares the excitement of back to school.
In one short week we’ll see children walking to school, waiting for the school bus or hopping out of the family car carrying backpacks, greeting old friends and anxious to make new ones as they burst through the doors to a new year of wonder, excitement and hopefully some learning – ha!

www.farmhomesrealty.com

The 4th of July is a time for everyone to get together and celebrate  how lucky we are to live in the greatest country in the world! 

We are especially lucky to live in southwest Missouri.  Celebrations began last weekend with a carnival, live entertainment and fireworks at the fairgrounds in Houston.  

Cabool is planning a fun filled day with live bands performing, a fiddling contest and venues for the kids.  An activity tent features candle making, homemade bread and butter and tie quilting.  Square dancing is also planned for the evening.  Fireworks will begin at 9:30.

These types of celebrations are just one of the reasons we feel we live in the best place in the best country in the world!Happy 4th of July everyone! Celebrate and be safe!

Soon the first crocus will break through the frozen ground giving us the reassurance that spring will arrive.   We still have weeks of cold weather to endure but there is hope and assurance that spring is on the way.

We complain about the cold of winter, the stress of the holidays, the heat of summer, the mounds of fallen leaves during the fall but rarely do we hear complaints about spring!  Year after year, spring brings the hope of a whole new beginning.  What a wonderful gift of nature!

There is always hope on the horizon.  Thanks to Mother Nature the hope  of spring is just a few short weeks away!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

There are very few of us that won’t be happy to see 2008 in our rear view mirror!  This has been a particularly tough year for all of us.  Each new year gives us the opportunity to begin fresh.  By December 31st of each year we are all ready for a fresh beginning! 

With the new year comes the new year’s resolutions: “I’m going to get in shape this year.”, “I’m going to quit smoking this year.”, “I’m going to start saving for next Christmas now!”.  By February we’ve usually set those resolutions aside.

We will go into 2009 with lots of great expectations and some will work out and some won’t.  The one thing I’m certain of is, we’ll be happy to see 2009 go and we’ll be hopeful for 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We are all feeling the pinch of this volitile economy.

For those of us who have managed to hold onto our jobs, our retirement or our savings, there could not be a better time to invest in real estate.

If you are looking to upgrade or to get into your first home this could very well be the best of times to purchase a home.  

Many of the houses offered today are at a more realistic price than the super-inflated prices we’ve seen in the recent past. 

Houston, Missouri has been insulated from a lot of the financial turmoil.  Our property prices were never really out of line with actual property values.  But like most areas of the country we are being affected by high fuel prices, food costs, etc.   We’ve had only a slight increase in foreclosures over the past year.  Thankfully none of the houses we sold were through after-market lenders that later resulted in foreclosure. 

Just like the local real estate market, the local banks have maintained a good handle on loans and don’t seem to be suffering like many of the larger banks.

We feel like our low property taxes along with realisitic values on our property has made our area even more attractive to prospective buyers.

First time buyers have the extra advantage of not having to sell an exisiting home in order to make a purchase.  Established home owners will find that buying land, homes, farms or any type of property can be a pleasure and not a chore.

Now IS the perfect time to buy the home of your dreams!