IMPORTANT

I've been doing a lot of thinking during the last several weeks about what is important in terms of possessions. Material possessions, in and of themselves, aren't all that prominent in my own thought process.....except where family is concerned.

A home is paramount to most folks; and where that home rests lends a degree of value to it. Not necesarily monetary value.....that's not what I'm getting at here. The "value" is inherent in a home to the degree that it lends solidarity and happiness to the family unit. The family home is so much more than a place to sleep and eat and avoid the weather. Its marketability and usefulness are long-terms goals that are excellent. But the interpretation of value doesn't stop there, does it?

Those of us that are God-fearing Christians understand that these things are gifts from God. And they are to be seen and understood thankfully. We're very thankful that we have one of these special homes in the Azalea District of Tyler Texas. It is distinctive and memorable because of all that's happened there; and because of why we're there.

We at Tyler Texas Real Estate (John and Flo) wish for all of our customers to be able to experience all the blessings of a home like we have. It's a place in which there is love; and it's a place from which we engage society.

HOUSING MARKET

The National Association of Realtors said existing-home sales rose 3.9% in February to 6.69 million units, the biggest increase since December 2003. That followed a rise in January to 6.5 million. Economists had predicted a drop in the annual rate to 6.3 million homes last month. Even though there are more foreclosures nationwide, that's not a reflection on the demand for housing! It's the downside to reckless lending.

There is no housing crisis. The "scare" from the media has caused people to lay off a bit, but the numbers don't lie. There is still a pent-up demand for property. There is lots of money out there, and folks want a place to put it. What better place than Tyler Texas Real Estate and East Texas Real Estate?

DOWNTURN

This is the National Association of Realtors' chief economist, as it appeared on MSN Real Estate:

"We are now in a solid buyer's market," says David Lereah, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR). "It has been a seller's market for many years, but now we are seeing people across the country making deals and bringing prices down."
A loss of confidence on the part of real estate investors triggered the psychological switch, he says. "What happened was, investors pulled out in droves, and the housing markets went dead," Lereah says. "When the investors stopped buying, regular buyers got scared."
That fear drove many house hunters to the sidelines, thinking that housing prices would continue to fall and waiting to see what would happen.
"At the same time, sellers refused to bring their prices down, and so buyers had no real incentive to get back in the market," Lereah says. "With everybody sitting on the sidelines, the market came to a standstill."
Sellers conceding. With a dearth of buyers, sellers eventually realized they would have to make concessions on their sale prices.
"Now they are making deals," Lereah says.
If the downturn was simply a product of a short-term panic, things would likely be back to normal by now. But Mickey Levy, the chief economist for the Bank of America, points out that the market is also suffering from an oversupply of homes created by an overzealous home-builder community.
"While demand is picking up, there is still that large supply overhang," he says. "And while the numbers are starting to come up for sales, prices still have a bit to drift before they start rebounding."

Well, Tyler Texas Real Estate has a little different approach here. In some sectors of the market there is, indeed, a softening. But overall there is still great strength in our area. Upgrades and new home sales in around Tyler, Texas have provided a wonderful opportunity for buyers of older homes and entry level homes. It's a great time to be a realtor!

Home Tips

Author Mark Nash presents these tips for getting your home ready to sell:

If you're re-doing a bathroom or kitchen, consider using glass tiles rather than ceramic ones.
They're gaining popularity again because of reflective qualities.
Avoid installing bowl-shape, above-the-counter bathroom sinks. They look pretty but have proved to be harder to maintain and keep clean.
Use engineered stone compound for kitchen countertops. The material is less expensive than granite and is expected to be the trend this year.
Don't install too many glass cabinet doors in your kitchen. They look better in magazines than they do in real life, where homeowners must keep their cabinets in perfect order or suffer embarrassment.
Consider replacing a wooden or chain-link fence with a wrought-iron one. Wrought-iron fences portray a look of luxury.
When repainting trim for shutters, doors and window frames, go with bold and deep colors. And don't get rid of the trim around interior window openings -- it only looks cheap.
If replacing floors, avoid bamboo. This flooring was popular when it debuted, but now users are saying it is easily dented and scratched. It is also more likely to warp due to weather and humidity.
If you're adding new construction, don't employ concrete blocks in exterior walls. They are not attractive and are more likely to leak moisture if not properly installed.