Grant for First Time Homebuyers

Clay County Savings Bank was one of two financial institutions in the State of Missouri to be awarded a grant for first-time homebuyers through the Federal Home Loan Bank. Grants totaling $1.0 million were recently awarded to 20 financial institutions in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota an South Dakota to assist individuals and families in purchaing a home for the first-time. The grants are part of the FHLB Urban First-Time Homebuyer Fund which supports efforts to provide permanent housing to families and individuals in communities with a population of 25,000 or more. The grants can be used to provide assistance of up to $5,000 for down payment, closing costs, counseling or rehabilitation assistance. For information as to how the program can be used to assist you or your buyer, please contact Kathy Varnon at 816-781-4500.

Curb Appeal Sells!

According to Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University, 71% of buyers choose the house they look at based on curb appeal! A statistic I had never heard of before!

Here is a link that will help you with ideas on what to do. Even if you choose a few select ones, this could really improve your foot traffic!

http://homebuying.about.com/cs/sellerarticles/a/curb_appeal.htm

Volunteering

I had the greatest moment working with a 2nd grader recently. She's a bright girl and has struggled with telling time. As we went through the flash cards, I could tell that she was confusing the big hand with the little hand. So, I said to her, "Right now you're a little girl who will grow up to be a big girl, right?" and she nodded. "So, you are a little girl first, and then a big girl. So, look at the little hand first, remember that number and then look at the big hand next and you will be telling time." You know when you can see the light bulb go on? It did! She aced the next 10 flash cards! She is fully on her way in telling time. There was that defining moment that I realized I had made a difference in the life of a child today!

Volunteering at a my son's elementary school is priceless! Twice a month I donate an hour of my day to be with these kiddos. If they only knew that I learn more from them than they do me...

Tax Credit Extended for Certain Individuals

This is good info to know for military families and certain government employees should their service take them outside the US for at least 90 days during a defined period of time:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=215594,00.html

New normal: Real estate market starts finding its footing in smaller homes

This article was in the Kansas City Business Journal last week:

Midwestern roots and a housing market that didn’t go insane will help the Kansas City area’s residential real estate market find its footing faster than the rest of America, area experts said — even if that foot plants itself in a new normal.

“What always sustains the residential real estate business is: Life goes on,” said Jerry Reece, CEO of Reece & Nichols Realtors Inc. “We’re selling 45 homes a day right now, so it’s not like it’s not happening out there.”

Reece said the company’s sales volume in February was up 24 percent compared with February last year.

But he and others in the industry said they don’t expect the market to return to previous conditions.

50 days and Counting...

The countdown is on! The clock continues to wind down the final days of the tax credits. 50 days is how long a buyer needs to be under contract by. Can you believe that April 30 is only 50 days away?

New inventory is coming on the market daily and the activity is plentiful! Interest rates are still low. Sellers want to sell and buyers want to buy - what a win-win!

Next week is Liberty school district's Spring Break. We anticipate a lot of activity! Get your runnin' shoes on!

Best Affordable Suburbs 2010 - Business Week

Did you happen to see this? Exciting, wonderful news! Congratulations to Kearney, MO for being feature as the most affordable suburb in Missouri according to Business Week.


http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/03/0302_affordable_suburbs/26.htm