tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44535991152449512024-02-20T12:44:54.011-08:00The Face of Chevy ChaseBarak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-6931114207210954312013-05-16T11:13:00.001-07:002013-05-16T11:13:13.761-07:00Barak J. Sky<a href="http://realtormag.realtor.org/30-under-30/honoree/2013/05/barak-j-sky#.UZUhqcMjJ_M.blogger">Barak J. Sky</a>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-38435277665178486602012-01-11T09:30:00.000-08:002012-01-11T09:30:17.052-08:00For Sale: 5BR/3+1BA Single Family House in Gainesville, VA, $394,999<a href="http://www.postlets.com/repb/6860911">For Sale: 5BR/3+1BA Single Family House in Gainesville, VA, $394,999</a>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-82547843413809807092011-12-19T20:51:00.000-08:002011-12-19T20:51:23.317-08:00Barak Sky Realtor Sky Group Long & Foster Real Estate Bethesda Maryland<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6hKvatDHfoY?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" width="480"></iframe>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-90376883597851271442011-08-20T04:14:00.000-07:002011-08-20T04:14:59.141-07:00Testimonial<span style="font-size: 10pt;">If you need a realtor Barak Sky is your man. He works hard for you in negotiations, shows properties when you can go, answers calls <span>ASAP, and makes sure you are happy even after you find a place to get. He still sends listing to show you that you don't have to settle. I worked with him for the past 4 months and finally found my dream condo thanks to him. This is my first place and couldn't have asked for a better person to be on my side. He worked hard in getting the price was I wanted it and was there every step of the way. When I thought that I might have a hard time with a loan we found a way to get a great APR and he was there every step of the way on financing as well. He will work hard on your behalf and make sure you are comfortable through one of the hardest decisions at least in my case of my life. He knows that this is a stressful time for most and makes it as simple and easy as he can. I recommend him HIGHLY</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>-</span></span>Michael Perry<br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span> </span></span>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-54107764046282666572011-05-13T13:47:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:47:04.003-07:00http://www.bisnow.com/washington_residential_news_story.php?p=14874<a href="http://www.bisnow.com/washington_residential_news_story.php?p=14874+">http://www.bisnow.com/washington_residential_news_story.php?p=14874</a>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-69489501481465911182011-03-29T14:20:00.000-07:002011-03-29T14:20:52.850-07:00http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Sky-Group---SPRING-IS-COMING-.html?soid=1102770465358&aid=RPlNIIxZloU<a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Sky-Group---SPRING-IS-COMING-.html?soid=1102770465358&aid=RPlNIIxZloU">http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Sky-Group---SPRING-IS-COMING-.html?soid=1102770465358&aid=RPlNIIxZloU</a>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-81847363757426304112011-03-08T18:31:00.000-08:002011-03-08T18:31:55.046-08:00Realty Times - DC Metro Area, District of Columbia Real Estate Market Conditions<a href="http://realtytimes.com/rtmcrloc/District_of_Columbia%7EDC_Metro_Area">Realty Times - DC Metro Area, District of Columbia Real Estate Market Conditions</a>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-64202299642645513542011-03-07T11:08:00.000-08:002011-03-07T11:08:49.513-08:00DCmud - The Urban Real Estate Digest of Washington DC: The Ground Floor<a href="http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2011/03/ground-floor.html?sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4d752d38f0198b47%2C0">DCmud - The Urban Real Estate Digest of Washington DC: The Ground Floor</a>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-58098204983223916872011-02-24T06:57:00.001-08:002011-02-24T07:00:00.929-08:00U.S. Economy: Existing Home Sales Climb to Eight-Month High<div><div id="story"><h1><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"></span> <cite style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">By </span></cite><span class="author" style="color: #999999;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Bob Willis</span></i></span><cite style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> - </span></cite><span class="datestamp" style="color: #999999;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Feb 23, 2011</span></i></span><cite><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></cite><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></h1><div id="story_content" style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Sales of U.S. previously owned homes unexpectedly climbed in January to the highest level in eight months as investors used all-cash transactions to snap up distressed properties. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Purchases increased 2.7 percent to a 5.36 million annual rate, figures from the National Association of Realtors showed today in <a href="http://www.blogger.com/redir.aspx?C=bb803ad842444017a6944628299397de&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftopics.bloomberg.com%2fwashington%2f" target="_blank">Washington</a>. The share represented by foreclosures and short sales rose to a 12-month high, pushing the median price to the lowest level in almost nine years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Affluent investors may continue taking a bigger share of the market as credit restrictions and 9 percent unemployment keep first-time buyers at bay. A pickup in job growth is needed to ensure more Americans will be in a position to consider home ownership. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">“It is really a foreclosure-driven market,” said <a href="http://www.blogger.com/redir.aspx?C=bb803ad842444017a6944628299397de&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftopics.bloomberg.com%2fethan-harris%2f" target="_blank">Ethan Harris</a>, head of developed markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research in <a href="http://www.blogger.com/redir.aspx?C=bb803ad842444017a6944628299397de&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftopics.bloomberg.com%2fnew-york%2f" target="_blank">New York</a>, who projected sales would increase to a 5.38 million rate. “I don’t think it is a sign of the market returning to health.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Stocks fell as <a href="http://www.blogger.com/redir.aspx?C=bb803ad842444017a6944628299397de&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftopics.bloomberg.com%2foil-prices%2f" target="_blank">oil prices</a> surged and Hewlett-Packard Co.’s forecasts trailed analysts’ estimates. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 1 percent to 1,302.51 at 12:22 p.m. in New York. The S&P Homebuilder Supercomposite declined 3.6 percent as foreclosures represent competition for construction companies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The median forecast of 73 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News projected a 5.22 million sales pace from a previously reported 5.28 million rate in December. The NAR revised the prior month down to 5.22 million. Estimates ranged from 4.86 million to 5.4 million. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Distressed Properties </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/redir.aspx?C=bb803ad842444017a6944628299397de&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftopics.bloomberg.com%2flawrence-yun%2f" target="_blank">Lawrence Yun</a>, chief economist at the Realtors’ group, said distressed sales accounted for 37 percent of total sales last month and all-cash transactions represented 32 percent, three times the average of about 10 percent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The increase in demand was “encouraging,” Yun said in a press conference as the figures were being released. “Right now it is the cleansing of distressed property that is coming on to the market” that is driving sales. Investors with all-cash offers are rushing in looking for “bargains,” he said. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Those sales climbed to about 50 percent of the total in cities like <a href="http://www.blogger.com/redir.aspx?C=bb803ad842444017a6944628299397de&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftopics.bloomberg.com%2flas-vegas%2f" target="_blank">Las Vegas</a> and Miami last month, he said. The share of first-time buyers fell to 29 percent last month compared with an average 40 percent, said Yun. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The median price decreased 3.7 percent from January 2010 to $158,800, the lowest since April 2002. Purchases were up 5.3 percent from a year earlier, when a government tax break was still in effect. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Less Supply </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The number of previously owned homes on the market fell 5.1 percent to 3.38 million in January. At the current sales pace, it would take 7.6 months to sell those houses compared with 8.2 at the end of the prior month. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Month’s supply in the eight months to nine months range is consistent with stable <a href="http://www.blogger.com/redir.aspx?C=bb803ad842444017a6944628299397de&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftopics.bloomberg.com%2fhome-prices%2f" target="_blank">home prices</a>, the group has said. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Three of four regions showed increases last month, led by a 7.9 percent gain in the West. Purchases in the Northeast fell 4.6 percent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">NAR’s Yun said the group is hoping to issue its benchmark revisions by the middle of the year. The updates are usually based on census questions relating to homeownership that weren’t included in last year’s decennial population count. He said the group’s figures over the past few years may be showing a slight “upward drift” that will be corrected with the new data. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Housing, the industry that triggered the recent recession, is struggling to gain traction after the lapse of a government homebuyers’ tax credit worth up to $8,000 caused existing sales to plunge to a 3.84 million pace in July. </span><br />
<h2><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Lower Prices </span></h2><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The S&P/Case-Shiller index of home values in 20 cities fell 2.4 percent in December from a year earlier, the biggest 12- month decrease since December 2009, the group said yesterday. Prices were down 31 percent from their peak in July 2006. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Industry projections reinforce the concern about housing. The number of homes receiving a foreclosure notice will climb about 20 percent in 2011, reaching a peak for the housing crisis, RealtyTrac Inc., an Irvine, California-based data seller, said last month. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Rising borrowing costs represent a new hurdle. The average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages matched or exceeded 5 percent for a third period in the week ended Feb. 18, the first time that’s happened since April, the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/redir.aspx?C=bb803ad842444017a6944628299397de&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftopics.bloomberg.com%2fmortgage-bankers-association%2f" target="_blank">Mortgage Bankers Association</a> said today. Rates have been rising from a record low of 4.21 percent reached in October. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Homebuilders are still posting losses. D.R. Horton Inc., the second-largest U.S. homebuilder by stock-market value, on Jan. 27 reported a fiscal first-quarter loss that was wider than analysts expected. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">“I think 2011 will be a marginal, weak year in the homebuilding industry,” D.R. Horton Chief Executive Officer Donald Tomnitz said during a conference call the same day. “Given the weak macroeconomic conditions, high levels of existing homes for sale and tight mortgage availability, we remain cautious and realistic in our expectations.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">To contact the reporter on this story: Bob Willis in Washington at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/redir.aspx?C=bb803ad842444017a6944628299397de&URL=mailto%3abwillis%40bloomberg.net" title="Send E-mail">bwillis@bloomberg.net</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/redir.aspx?C=bb803ad842444017a6944628299397de&URL=mailto%3acwellisz%40bloomberg.net" title="Send E-mail">cwellisz@bloomberg.net</a> </span></div></div><div style="color: #eeeeee;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">®2011 BLOOMBERG L.P. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. </span></div></div></div>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-77700535161768411502011-02-23T13:47:00.001-08:002011-02-23T13:47:48.851-08:00GOVERNOR O'MALLEY TO NOMINATE MICHAEL D. BARNES TO WMATA BOARD OF DIRECTORS<div class="pane-content"><br />
</div><div class="panel-pane pane-views pane-byline-info"> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="view view-byline-info view-id-byline_info view-display-id-block_1 view-dom-id-3"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-nothing"> <span class="field-content"><div class="byline-image"><img alt="" class="imagecache imagecache-profile_bylinepic imagecache-default imagecache-profile_bylinepic_default" height="32" src="http://hlcdn.datasphere.com/sites/wusa9.com/files/imagecache/profile_bylinepic/me_0.jpg" title="" width="32" /></div><div class="byline-1"> <div class="byline-top">Submitted by <a href="http://chevychase.wusa9.com/profile/46396/courtney-rhodes">Courtney Rhodes</a>, WUSA9 Community Web Producer</div><div class="byline-bottom"><span class="date-display-single">Tuesday, February 22nd, 12:51 pm</span></div></div></span> </div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="story-row story-row-story-layout-6 clear-block story-2"> <div class="inside story-row-inside story-row-story-layout-6-inside clear-block"> <div class="story-region story-region-story-layout-story_2 story-region-first story-region-last story-2"> <div class="inside story-region-inside story-region-story-layout-story_2-inside story-region-inside-first story-region-inside-last"> <div class="block block-content region-odd odd region-count-1 count-1" id="block-content-field_header_image"><div class="block-inner"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-header-image"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <span class="image-caption-container image-caption-container-" style="display: block; width: 200px;"><img align="" alt="GOVERNOR O'MALLEY TO NOMINATE MICHAEL D. BARNES TO WMATA BOARD OF DIRECTORS" class="imagecache imagecache-story615 imagecache-default imagecache-story615_default" height="199" src="http://hlcdn.datasphere.com/sites/wusa9.com/files/imagecache/story615/barnes.jpg" title="Michael D. Barnes" width="200" /><span class="image-caption" style="color: #252525; cursor: default; display: block;">Michael D. Barnes</span></span> </div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="panel-pane pane-node-body"> <div class="pane-content"> <div align="center"><em>Former Maryland Congressman to Represent Montgomery County</em></div><strong>ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 17, 2011) – </strong>Governor Martin O'Malley announced today that he will nominate former Maryland Congressman Michael D. Barnes to serve on the Board of Directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA). Mr. Barnes will represent Montgomery County and will fill the seat of Peter Benjamin, who has completed his term.<br />
“Mike Barnes brings a wealth of public and private sector experience to the WMATA board as the organization transitions to a new form of governance, the leadership of a new General Manager and the addition of new board members from our neighboring jurisdictions,” said Governor O'Malley. “He has witnessed the evolution of Metro since its earliest days and was a strong supporter of WMATA during his time in Congress. He understands Metro's past and has a clear vision of where the organization needs to go in the future regarding the key issues of safety, customer service and the maintenance of the system.”<br />
Mr. Barnes is currently a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy in Washington, D.C. From 1978 through 1987, he was a member of Congress representing Maryland's 8th Congressional district. While in Congress, Mr. Barnes chaired the Metropolitan Affairs Subcommittee of the House District of Columbia Committee, which oversaw issues involving WMATA. Prior to his tenure in Congress, he served as Vice Chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission and served on the Maryland Public Service Commission. <br />
Since leaving Congress, Mr. Barnes has practiced law and been active in the public policy arena. He has served on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board, as well as on the boards of several private sector organizations including his service as Lead Director and Chair of the Governance Committee of WGL Holdings, Inc and its subsidiary, Washington Gas Light Company. Washington Gas Light Company provides natural gas and electricity service to more than 1,000,000 customers in Maryland, Virginia and the District.<br />
Mr. Barnes and his wife, Joan Pollitt, reside in Chevy Chase. His nomination to the WMATA Board must be approved by the Maryland Senate. Mr. Barnes will assume the seat on the WMATA Board currently held by Peter Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin recently completed a one-year term as Chairman of the Board. <br />
“During his year as Chairman, Peter successfully guided the WMATA Board through one of the most challenging times in the history of the Metro system,” added Governor O'Malley. “With the hiring of a new General Manager and a renewed emphasis on safety, Peter can be proud of his accomplishments. I thank him for his years of service to Metro and its customers.”<br />
</div></div></div></div></div></div>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-43288950633191430742011-02-08T14:45:00.000-08:002011-02-08T14:45:48.320-08:005903 Sonoma<a href="http://animoto.com/play/qjzJ3PwzZ120IqFCJ76bow">5903 Sonoma</a>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-88752371901160961752010-12-14T15:20:00.000-08:002010-12-14T15:20:36.161-08:00Don't wait to buy...READ THIS!Real Estate News <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="table6"><tbody>
<tr> <td> <h3 align="center"> <span style="color: #4d668c; font-family: Arial,sans-serif,verdana; font-size: xx-small;"> <br />
</span> <b> <span class="propertyMain"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif,verdana;">No winners in real estate waiting game</span></span> </b> </h3></td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <div align="center"> <span style="color: #4d668c; font-family: Arial,sans-serif,verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Mon, 13 Dec 2010 09:21:59 | Category: Real Estate</span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <br />
<span style="color: #4d668c; font-family: Arial,sans-serif,verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.skygrouprealestate.com/real_estate_news.php"><b><span style="color: #4d668c;"><< back to articles</span></b></a></span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;"> Mood of the Market<br />
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<span class="">Tara-Nicholle Nelson</span><br />
<a href="http://www.inman.com/" target="_blank">Inman News™</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">When my children were young, I felt like my entire life was a constant fight to keep them alive. I was like Trinity in "The Matrix," Jackie Chan in any film he's ever made, and Mrs. Incredible (from the animated "The Incredibles"), all in one, stretching beyond all scientifically proven capabilities of the human physique to keep them out of the street, body-blocking falling hazardous objects, and trying to keep chokeable items out of their grubby little hands and faces -- all at the same time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Educating them about how best to operate in the world, advising them about the joys and pitfalls of life, even teaching them their Sunday school memory verses, all came a very distant second, fourth or even 15th priority behind keeping them alive for the first few years of their lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">It was quite similar, now that I think of it, to the role I played with my real estate clients and readers at the top of the market. Back then, it was all I could do to battle harmful misinformation and aggressively over-high hopes of the "too-good-to-be-true" variety.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">This ranged from unbelievable claims about crazy loans that "my friend said" could be had (despite no job, no cash and bad credit -- really bad, in some cases) to the late-night, no-money-down infomercials' promises of fast riches through fast, free real estate financing, refinancing and flips. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">It felt like I spent much more time deflecting these harmful half-truths and executing intricate mental gyrations and logical articulations to protect my clients from themselves and their willingness to suspend disbelief.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">These days, as I've mentioned multiple times, there has been a major shift in how Americans think and act as consumers, in every sector from real estate to retail. And, oh, how the tables have turned. Now, people are so cautious that they don't believe the now true and good prices and interest rates could possibly be creating the real opportunities that they actually are.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Formerly careful buyers are now nearly paralyzed, as they think the bottom is yet to come so they'd best keep on waiting. Prices are past bottom in many areas, though real estate is so local that no blanket statement is true nationwide. Yet in many towns, bottom-waiting buyers have missed the boat. And virtually everywhere, the consensus is that mortgage rates can go no lower.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">I don't mean to call people out as overcautious, per se. It is tough to be overcautious when it comes to decisions as important as your mortgage and real estate decisions. Cautious is good: It inspires planning, research, analysis and smart decision-making.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">What concerns me is this pendulum swing -- from borderline reckless real estate decisions at the top of the market, to painstaking overanalysis of all things real estate -- which often leads to purchase paralysis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Now, to be sure, when homes are appreciating like fire, it's less necessary and even more costly to spend a lot of time in deliberate decision-making. And when they move slowly, if at all, like now, buyers have much more time and space in which to think. I submit, however, that the same, efficient steps should be taken to make wise real estate decisions in any market. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">The fact that the market gives you some leeway to overbid without fearing that you won't be able to break even on the place later, or that easy mortgage money can be had at a low, but temporary, introductory payment only obscures the fact that the piper will eventually show up to be paid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">So the simple but sometimes less-than-fun steps to making a smart real estate decision should be taken in any market climate, not just in a down market.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Recently, I read an article that said something to the effect that when things all fall apart in life, it's generally because something in the foundation is fundamentally broken and needs fixing. Same goes for homes themselves, and for the decisions we make around them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">This not-so-Great-Recession represents things falling apart, don't you agree? But the answer is not to give in to the knee-jerk reaction to be tight-fisted, afraid and paralyzed. The answer is to address the fundamental flaws in the foundation of how we go about making our large money and life decisions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">These flaws, as I see it, are the absolute commitment to decision-making shortcuts -- in any direction, and in any market! There's no single answer to the questions, "When should I buy/sell my home?" "Should I own or rent?" "Condo or single-family?" "Mortgage broker or bank?" that is the right answer for every adult in every city in America. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">We must treat these decisions respectfully, giving them the nuance, time, effort and even professional advice, if necessary, they warrant -- no matter whether we're at the peak or the trough, or some point in between.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Don't like math? Get over it and do it anyway. If you want a home you can take the time to understand your financial foundation, including your debt, income, expenses and monthly housing allocation. You can create a basic monthly spending plan that accounts for all your needs, including savings, home maintenance and other boring, grown-up things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">You can meet with a mortgage broker (or two), a real estate agent (or three) and a financial planner to get her professional advice on your situation -- even if the financial planner charges you for her time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">(Hint: Fee-based financial planners are often the most credible ones, since they're not usually trying to sell you any investment products.) Selling, short-selling, refinancing or trying to deal with negative equity? You can do the math and the research, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">And after doing your research, online and in person, meeting with the relevant pros, doing your own vision, math and planning -- execute your homebuying, selling, refinancing or even staying put, if that's the right decision, with the normal nerves any mature adult making a grown-up real estate decision would or should have. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Reactionary, inappropriately conservative decisions or inaction when action would be wise can be just as dangerous to your long-term real estate and financial picture as the overly aggressive, premature real estate trigger-pulling from a few years ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif,Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>Tara-Nicholle Nelson is author of "The Savvy Woman's Homebuying Handbook" and "Trillion Dollar Women: Use Your Power to Make Buying and Remodeling Decisions." Tara is also the Consumer Ambassador and Educator for real estate listings search site Trulia.com. Ask her a real estate question <a href="http://www.inman.com/buyers-sellers/columnists/tara-nicholle-nelson" target="_blank">online</a> or visit her website, <a href="http://www.rethinkrealestate.com/" target="_blank">www.rethinkrealestate.com</a>.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-88471823086283471552010-12-14T15:07:00.000-08:002010-12-14T15:07:31.167-08:00What Can $150k Buy in Real Estate Around the World?<a href="http://matadornetwork.com/life/what-can-150k-buy-in-real-estate-around-the-world/">What Can $150k Buy in Real Estate Around the World?</a>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-67812495298309609582010-12-14T15:04:00.001-08:002010-12-14T15:04:37.772-08:00Download my FREE iPhone Home Search app.<div align="left" style="background-image: url(http://www.MyHomeCards.com/images/LongAndFoster-Badge.jpg); background-repeat: no-repeat; width: 330px; height: 200px; cursor: pointer;" onclick="window.open('http://www.myhomecards.com/LoadMobileAppStoreLink.aspx?MobileAppID=F7B00EC471036E5CF2FEF826661DE5D3&SrcWID=21759', '_blank')"><div style="font-weight: 700; font-family: Helvetica, Helvetica World, Arial; color: #000; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; padding: 105px 0px 0px 24px; width: 142px; overflow: hidden;">1986</div></div>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-16502263288296544562010-12-10T08:06:00.001-08:002010-12-10T08:06:53.273-08:00Sky Group WUSA9 Commercial<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XxCBD3Q3pI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XxCBD3Q3pI</a>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-82738412731547723162010-12-09T14:44:00.000-08:002010-12-09T14:44:14.946-08:00Sky Group WUSA9 Commercial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwiXabGWc-9DfcKcaKouPqib70pm3VEz78WCGBOHFwfLy3tMof8GcXzOM4bQJ7Csg-HxpI-QM_iIoKEOdTf' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453599115244951.post-51296270741286357172010-12-09T14:14:00.000-08:002010-12-09T14:14:55.998-08:00Interest rates are on the rise as well as housing prices! If you are on the bench about buying or selling then now is the time to decide. Click on this link and read the article... <br />
"WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Average interest rates for long-term mortgages rose for the fourth consecutive week, the U.S. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. said Thursday.<br />
The average interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose from 4.46 percent to 4.61 percent with 0.7 points. Average interest rates for 15-year contracts rose from 3.81 percent to 3.96 percent with 0.7 points, Freddie Mac said."<br />
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<a href="http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/12/09/Mortgage-rates-rise-for-fourth-week/UPI-73451291921226/">http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/12/09/Mortgage-rates-rise-for-fourth-week/UPI-73451291921226/</a>Barak Skyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16054670523326996621noreply@blogger.com0