TV Interview around Parents As Teachers Program

I got the call! To be on TV advocating for our Parents As Teachers program! Here is the link to the video. It's all of 1 1/2 minutes.

http://www.fox4kc.com/videobeta/502f23f4-8a32-4ffc-b28c-ae12fe8feafe/News/Parents-as-Teachers-Programs-Face-Budget-Crunch

Thank you to Becky Gossett for allowing me the opportunity to voice my concerns and opinions!

Sold at the Court House Steps

Those are words that I never want to hear. I have represented Sellers who have been close, but never as close as today.

This business is more than a sign in the yard. It's a people business. Lives are affected when a home sells. Some times there are cheers, and other times there are tears.

Today, one of our listings was to be sold at the court house steps at noon today. I did everything that I possibly knew to do to keep my Sellers in their home. My job was to help keep a roof over their head and buy them time. We knew that the end result was that they would have to move out of their home, the question was when.

With the help of an interested Buyer, we were able to help put together an offer and submit it to the bank within TWENTY MINUTES of noon today. In TWENTY MINUTES the house was to be sold in the court house steps for a fraction of what the market value is. Even after we were told yesterday that it was a waste of our time, we pushed forward. We got the offer written, all parties to sign, and submitted the offer within TWENTY MINUTES of the foreclosure date/time.

We prevailed! The foreclosure was stopped today and the lender is reviewing our offer. It was an emotional phone call to the Seller. After days of intense conversation, strategy and planning, my Sellers are sleeping in their home tonight.

Liberty RAN Office stats - April 2010

Below are the number of units and their price ranges. We had an incredible month! We sold 155 units...Go Liberty Office! We ranked 4th in the company!

$0 - $100,000 30 units

$100,000 - $150,000 42 units

$150,000 - $200,000 39 units

$200,000 - $250,000 16 units

$250,000 - $300,000 12 units

$300,000 - $350,000 7 units

$350,000 - $400,000 3 units

$400,000 - $500,000 1 unit

$500,000 - $600,000 4 units

$600,000 - $700,000 1 unit

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