Don't Sit on the Fence, Now is the time to Buy

With the Spring and Summer season upon us, there couldn't be a better time to buy! Inventory is still high in most markets, giving the home buyer many choices. The first time home buyer $8,000 tax credit is available to buyers who have not owned a home in the last three years. You can amend your tax return and get a check this year if you make a purchase now. FHA is in the process of possibly allowing the tax credit to used as a down payment, I'll post more on that as the news breaks.

Here in St Charles County, MO we are starting to experience a definite increase in showings and closed sales. I'm confident that with the sunny weather we also have a sunny real estate forcast. According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, NAR Research, in a recent market update, "Housing affordability is one of the best headlines I can give you. The first quarter housing affordability index figure of 172 is the highest ever recorded since NAR began tracking the measure. The higher the figure, the more people have the financial capacity to enter the market. A median-income family, earning $61,100, could afford a home costing $291,600 in March with a 20 percent down payment, assuming 25 percent of gross income is devoted to mortgage principal and interest." If you've been on the fence about buying now is not the time to hesitate! As interest rates begin to increase, even a .5% hike could cost you $30,000 in interest over the length of your loan (based on $150,000 purchase price). You'll never find conditions more favorable- BUY NOW!

Think Outside the Box for Charity

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Judy Bateman, SCHNEIDER Real Estate agent, recently hosted a "Shop Till Your Drop" shoes purse and jewelry party with a percentage of the proceeds going to charity. Women loved the UNIQUE shoes that have interchangeable tops creating many pairs of shoes out of one sole http://www.onesole.com/ and the purse that had interchangeable covers and handles http://www.michebag.com/change your purse without removing all the contents to another one! It was a fun night with lots of good appetizers and drinks and just in time for Mothers Day. The proceeds were split between the Karen Weidinger Foundation ( benefits breast cancer patients with "creature comforts" such as wigs, head covers etc. founded by a local Loan Officer who was a co-worker of Karen's) and our local Multiple Sclerosis Chapter.
Posted by SCHNEIDER Real Estate at 1:07 PM 0 comments
Labels: Karen Weidinger, SCHNEIDER Real Estate, st charles county, written by Jane Nicoletti

SCHNEIDER Agent Help Host Local Fear Factor!

SCHNEIDER agent Julie Quinones, recently hosted a fun-filled night under the big top at their AWANA lock in. Boys and girls 3rd - 6th grade are locked in for a night of clowns, gross out games, circus themed food and sleep around 4 am when the movie began-and very grateful adults!
Julie is also co-ordinating a team to assist in the Habitat for Humanity "All Women's" build breaking ground next Friday in St. Peters. Her once small group has gown to about 50. These 50 enthusiastic women (including SCHNEIDER agent Becky Jecha) have been attending the free LOWES seminars weekly to learn the tricks of the trade.

You are invited to view wrccsoundbooth's photo album: Awana 2009 Overnighter

St Charles County Real Estate Forecast for the Future

Today's General Membership Meeting (sponsored by St Charles County Association of Realtors and St Charles Chapter Women's Council of Realtors) featured guest speaker Joe Zanola. Zanola Company, LLC, specializes in Feasibility Studies, Market Graphics and Business Consulting. Mr Zanola gave a very informative power point presentation showing past, current and projected trends in real estate. His research was very insightful on such topics as supply and demand and how that has changed over the last few years and what that means in conjunction to Realtors selling homes successfully. Joe had charts of each city in our county with helpful statistics including the projected "growth markets". Joe's was an excellent presenter full of helpful facts and insight