Locally, the Raymondville Picnic starts this week.  The 59th annual event is held in the small village of Raymondville, Mo.  It’s always a great time for the kids since there are carnival rides and games and for adults who gather for gospel music, country music, dancing,crafts, food and fun.

Then begin the 4th of July celebrations.  June 25th the Houston Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a fireworks display at the fair grounds.  This is always a good time. 

This year the “Wall that Heals” will be in Cabool, Mo. beginning July 1 thru July 4th. The half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be located at the Cabool High School football stadium and will be open 24 hours a day.  Freedom Celebration fireworks display sponsored by Cabool Park Board begins at 9:45 p.m.

Every 4th of July we are reminded that we are privileged to live here, raise our families here and celebrate with our neighbors the freedom to enjoy living in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks.

Happy Summer everyone!

                                                           God Bless America

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!