farmhomesrealty

Spring is here! Daffodils are in full bloom, plum trees and tulip trees have popped out overnight! What a beautiful way to celebrate Easter.

Our local office of the USDA is holding a realtor’s meeting March 24, 2010 from 10:30-11:30 at the MSU Research Center in Mtn Grove. 

Missouri has over $45 million in single family housing direct funds to lend.

This meeting will help educate realtors on how to inform perspective buyers of this additional  option when  applying  for home loans.  

Time is running short as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will expire September 30,2010.

Try to attend and learn how your clients can make the most of this program before the deadline.

Agents from our office plan to attend so that we can better serve our clients with all of their real estate needs.

For more information you can contact USDA Rural Development Houston, MO. 417 967-2028

We received some encouraging news from our local USDA representative. She informed us that Rural Development has money to loan. The terms are pretty simple.
Applicants must:
* Have an adequate & dependable income
* Be a US citizen or permanent resident
* Have an adjusted annual income that does not exceed the limit for the county in which they are purchasing a home.
* Have a credit history that indicates a reasonable willingness to meet obligations & ability to repay debts
* Qualify within the flexible guidelines offered by Rural Development for housing and other debt loads.

Housebuyers may work with an approved lender of their choice to gain approval for guaranteed financing.

We were also reminded that 100% guaranteed financing is not just for first time homebuyers.

For more information on this type of loan you can go to www.rurdev.usda.gov/mo/grhpage.htm or give us a call and we’ll walk you through the process.

Out with the old and in with the new has a whole different meaning for most Realtors.  We keep hearing that recovery is on the way and, believe me, we are ready for it.  Business had picked up a lot just prior to the Christmas holiday.  Historically the week between Christmas and New Years is pretty slow and it has been.  Although we’ve continued to show property it’s at a slower pace.  

I can’t think of one realtor that will be sorry to see  the end of 2009. 

Recently, we had a speaker who referred to all in the room as  “survivors”.  For some reason that term really encouraged me.  Even though the room had fewer attendees than the year before, it was still filled with realtors who had weathered the worse housing crisis in American history.  Each and every one in attendance had their own version of the same story and none of it was pretty.  Still we survived.   Nothing good has come out of this situation other than a store of  tragic stories to tell our grandchildren with survival being the happy ending.

Goodbye 2009!  Welcome 2010!

We wish everyone a safe, happy and prosperous New Year!

Remember, you are a survivor!

I came out this morning to find a beautiful sunny day. The sun shone down on the frost covered ground and created a magical display. It’s days like today that makes me realize why I love living in the Missouri Ozarks!

Soon the highways will be crowded with pickups, some pulling travel trailers and 4 wheelers. The cafe’s will be a sea of hunter orange. Tall tales about the one that got away will be discussed over endless cups of coffee.
Texas County has historically been in the top 5 producers in deer harvest. We expect this year will be no different.

Deer season in southwest Missouri is one of the major elements in the holiday season. First comes Halloween, then DEER SEASON, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Two weeks until the season opens and you can rest assured hunters are marking their calendars.

Each year, downtown and other city merchants set up tables along Grand Avenue in Houston to hand out treats to area children.

The street is blocked off to traffic so little ones can safely trick-or-treat on both sides of the street.

This activity has proven to be a safe and fun time for all involved. The little ghosts and goblins are rewarded with treats while the adults can be assured their children are having fun in a safe environment.  This program has worked out great for merchants and participants alike.

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!