Vacation or Buy?

A few years ago I knew a guy who was cashing out and moving to Mexico. In the back of my mind I was thinking hhhhmmm, why would he want to move to Mexico? Now I hear about more and more people leaving the USA and buying in areas like the Playa del Carmen real estate.

My sister has been there several times, and loves it. She takes her vacations there year after year, and I think out of curiosity the next time she goes, which should be very soon knowing her, I will ask her to pick up some real estate magazines for me of Costa Rica Golf Real Estate.
I am a real estate magazine junky, but if you would rather just see Costa Rica Golf Real Estate through the internet you can click the links.

It can be confusing to buy real estate in this country, let alone thinking about investing out of the country in Panama Real Estate market. The links above should have some very helpful information for you. Maybe you are not in a position to buy now, but it is never to late to think about how you want to spend your retirement years.

My First Home

My very first home on my own was a sailboat similar to this one (minus the seals). I loved the boat life. It was simple and cheap, but as you grow up you want better things in life, like a real home.

I was self-employed, so getting a loan was not easy. I didn't even have a rental history. I just paid slip rent to keep the boat there. I had to shop around for places like Advantage Home Rates. I was able to get a loan, and have owned three homes since the boat life. There are still a lot of people who are self employed, and if they want a loan they might want to look at places like this one.

There are also those who are buying the houses that have been trashed by the previous owners, which you can get pretty cheap right now. A good source for a loan for a place like that would be Advantage Home Rates. Then there are individuals who have bad credit, but still have a good job yet have had some bad luck along the way, but want to be a home owner. It is still possible to get loans. It may take some work, but it can be done.

Things turning around?

Statistics released Tuesday by the Lake Havasu Association of Realtors, indicate the number of residential homes sold in the city jumped 12 percent in April over the same time last year. There were 154 homes sold last month, as compared to 120 in April 2008.

The increase in homes sold comes after median sales prices dropped more than $65,000 from last year.

However, Realtors continue to close the gap between the total sales dollars. Dollar amounts for April were just more than $3 million less than this time last year, at $27,635,314. Last year’s figures were $30,852,999.

April’s total dollar amounts also helped Realtors gain some ground on the year totals. Through April 2008, sales dollars were more than $109 million in the city. This year, those figures are just slightly less at $91.5 million.

Pat Landry, president of the Lake Havasu Association of Realtors, says the reason continues to be the number of foreclosures on the market. In April, sales on foreclosed homes accounted for more than half the total sales in Lake Havasu City, Kingman and Bullhead City. There were 78 foreclosed homes sold in Lake Havasu City, 37 in Kingman and 59 in Bullhead City. Lake Havasu City had 208 foreclosures on the market, Kingman 123, and Bullhead City reported 115.

Landry said she expects the number of foreclosed homes sold to increase in the next month, because of the number of those homes still pending escrow.

The departure of snowbirds from Lake Havasu City is having an impact, according to Landry. Part-time residents from as far away as Montana and Wisconsin currently have homes pending escrow. Landry said this is a typical trend that occurs each year right before winter visitors go home.

One thing, she said, that has been different is prospective buyers are taking a look at more homes, making sure the one they are buying is what they want for the right price.

Buyers are looking at how the home was built, including insulation, windows, air conditioning and energy efficiency to determine what utility costs they would incur with the purchase of a particular home.

The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act tax credit for first-time homebuyers has yet to impact sales, Landry said. Under the stimulus plan, first-time homebuyers would receive $8,000 tax credit next year. Landry said if the tax credit applied to every homebuyer, it might have more of an impact. With homebuyers not receiving the credit when they apply for the initial loan, Landry said she doesn’t see it making much of a difference. In fact, one first-time homebuyer she dealt with didn’t even know about the tax credit.

As the economy improves, the housing market will follow or vice versa. Landry said both are neck and neck with each other. And, with low-interest loans and low market prices on larger homes, she said things should continue to move upward. Homebuyers should be aware, though, lenders are being stricter on who they will hand out loans to.

Swine Whine

How did we go from being cute wriggly, pink little pigglets...

to big stinky pigs....

who never did any harm to anyone...

just minding our own stinkin' business...

to being accused of starting an epidemic called the swine flu, alarming the CDC,
and causing panic in the streets? HOW?
It is an INJUSTICE to pigs everywhere!!!

I don't know...I'm just glad the focus is off mad cow disease for awhile.

Me too, but I'm confused.
What does this have to do with real estate?

Wally World or Bust!

Time For a Break From the Hamster Wheel of Life

Are you in a rut? Do you need a vacation? You do and you know it. Your boss and co-workers are about to get on your last, dangling, exposed nerve. Your nerve that is just hanging there from the constant exposure to the Nancy Pelosi's of the world. This goes for business owners as well...your ungrateful employees just need to quit their whining and help you hang onto what little you have left so that you can ALL keep working. Most likely, due to budget cuts, you are expected to do MORE work for LESS money and just be grateful you have a job.

Swine flu be damned, just put out your closed for business sign, and take off a day or 10. If you are one of the fortunate few who have any extra money that you can spend, might I suggest checking out Costa Rica Country Club? While you are there look into some Costa Rica real estate, because, trust me, you are not going to want to leave.

Belize real estate is awesome. Perhaps you need a 320 acre farm and mountain property for $499,000? Far, far away from those annoying, chirping little voices of your co-workers or employees, whatever the case may be.

Get out there and vacation. Howard would.

Marco, Polo, Howard

If you are a handsome devil like Howard, then you know how good you look in a polo shirt. Polo golf shirts say, "Hey, I'm busy and important, but I am approachable too," in a way that a business suit never could. Also, what better way to advertise your business than on a polo shirt? People can see you and say, "Look at that classy fella in that good-lookin' shirt. I'm gonna go right out and buy me some of the stuff he is advertising!" Business problems solved.

Want to make your own embroidered golf shirts? Check this website out. There are tons of items to choose from...not just polo shirts.

Enjoy Paradise!!

This is from Havasunews.com

By TONY WAGGONER
Friday, April 10, 2009 10:35 PM MST

Foreclosures are making a difference for the real estate market in Lake Havasu City, as more and more bank-owned homes are being sold.

Pat Landry, president of the Lake Havasu Association of Realtors, said offers are pouring in on foreclosed homes. Usually, she said, two to three of those offers are coming from investors.

Lake Havasu City reported 80 foreclosures sold for the month of March, more than half of the 149 single-family residential homes sold total.

And, Landry says there are even more bank-owned homes pending escrow. Already in April, there are 167 foreclosed homes pending approval for purchase in Lake Havasu City.

The total active listing for foreclosures in the city currently sits at 232 homes.

Landry said she expects foreclosures to continue through the end of 2010. With the average price of a bank-owned home in Lake Havasu around $126,000, Landry says prospective homeowners, especially first-time buyers, should continue to consider the foreclosure route for purchasing a new home. Right now, homes that were once in the $250,000 range have dropped in price more than $75,000 in some areas.

Landry says now is still the best time to buy, too. As the inventory of homes goes down, prices will, once again, begin to rise across the city.

“Prices have pretty well hit bottom and won’t go down any more,” Landry said.

The market in Lake Havasu City could begin to turn the corner by next year, Landry said.

The momentum gained from foreclosures is just a sign of what is happening in the real estate market across the city. For March, 149 homes sold. That number is more than the same month last year, when 123 homes were sold.

Landry attributes the increase in homes sold partially to snowbirds leaving Lake Havasu City. Numbers often indicate snowbirds will wait until the last minute to buy a second home here, in order to get the best possible price, Landry said.

Median and average sale prices for residential homes sold are well below what they were last year — $240,768 average for 2008, $194,984 this year. The median price compared with last year was an approximate $59,000 difference between the two years.

The average and median price of the homes sold may have dropped considerably, but the total dollars stabilized for the month of March. Total sales for the month of March this year were $29,052,677. Last year’s dollar amount for March was $29,614,466.

In comparison to other cities in Mohave County, Lake Havasu City is doing quite favorably. Kingman has a total listing of 806 residential homes on the market. Bullhead City has 884. Lake Havasu City lists 1,142 residential homes on the market, but sold a greater number of homes in March than either city. Bullhead City listed 62 homes as closed, Kingman 87. Both cities have a good number of home sales pending — Kingman, 160, Bullhead City, 62.

While the home industry continues to have some improvements, the building industry is still struggling. In March, only seven lots were sold, bringing the overall total to 21 for 2009. That is an average of seven homes per month for the first three months of the year, though.

What may be even more disappointing are the total dollar amounts of those lots being sold. Last year at this time, the total dollar amount of lots sold was near $1.6 million. This year total sales fell to approximately $652,150.