About Newton County, GA

Now you can bite into your 15 minutes of fame!

The CW Network's "Vampire Diaries" TV show has put out a call for paid extras as they continue to film the popular series in Covington. The show held an open casting call last July in Covington, but is still looking for extras of all types and ages.

To bite into this opportunity, all you have to do is send an email to the extras casting director at vampirediariescasting@gmail.com. Send along a recent photo, along with your name, age, height, weight, clothing size, and phone number

The pay?... $7.25 per hour, plus overtime if you work more than eight hours. And I've noticed that the crew films all hours of the day and night. I guess that's what it takes to be a good vampire.

The show's website says that "Vampire Diaries" was the best premiere ever for The CW network, and averages 4.5 million viewers, making it the network's most-watched show.

Roll Me Over In The Clover... words to an old ditty I was reminded of when I read the latest FHA rules waiver.

On January 15, the Federal Housing Commissioner signed a waiver of Section 203-37a(b)(2) of FHA regulations which essentially state that you cannot get an FHA loan for a property which has been purchased by the seller within the past 90 days. The waiver takes effect on February 1, and will be in effect for one year from that date.

What does this mean?

The FHA decided that waiving the 90-day sale rule will offer a multitude of advantages to both the agency and the US housing market:

• It will help address the foreclosure crisis;
• Give FHA a "greater opportunity to dispose of its single family REO properties in a way that maximizes return to the FHA;
• Permit buyers to use FHA loans to purchase other bank-owned property;
• Create market conditions allowing homes to resell as quickly as possible;
• Help stabilize resale prices; and
  
• Help stabilize neighborhoods and communities where foreclosures have been high.

So, let the "flipping" begin!

There's Always A Catch...

Naturally, there are a few restrictions to applying the waiver. But they're not so bad for transactions on the up-and-up.

• All transactions must be "arms-length" between the buyer and seller;
• Seller must hold title to the property;
• No pattern of previous flipping associated with the property;
• Property must be marketed "openly and fairly" via MLS, FSBO, auction, etc.

And in cases where the sales price of the property is 20 percent or more over the seller's purchase cost, the lender must justify and document the reason for the increase in value with the seller or through an appraiser, and must have an inspection done and provide a copy to the purchaser.

Will It Help?...

In part of the waiver order, the FHA says, "As a result of the currently tightened credit market, FHA-insured mortgage financing is often the only means of financing available to potential homebuyers. FHA has an unprecedented opportunity to fulfill its mission by helping many homebuyers find affordable housing while contributing to the stabilization or neighborhoods and communities."

This could actually be as good or better an effort as the homebuyer tax credits which expire this April. We'll have to wait ans see. But, let's hope so!

Roll me over...
In the clover...
Roll me over in the clover,
And do it again!

Ron Brown, a loan specialist from Puyallup, Washington wrote a great blog today titled "Are these words "offensive?"

It's about two things... (1) What we can and can't say in real estate advertising to avoid Fair Housing Law violations, and (2) the condition and requirement that has sneaked into our society of being "PC," politically correct.

It seems that, at the beginning of every new year, Ron's local Multiple Listing Service board sends out a list of words to be avoided in real estate advertising by all their members because they may be found "offensive." The list is long, and includes such really nasty words as (dare I write them?):

• Adult
• American
• Church
• Couple
• Family
• Grandmas house
• Healthy
• Married
• Older person
• Retired
• Student
• Traditional
• Woman
• Working, and
  
• Young

At my last count, Ron's blog post had over 100 comments from my colleagues around the country, most of which included words to describe the list as "absolutely pathetic, sad, outrageous, downright stupid, ridiculous," and "extremism to the 'n'th degree."

One commenter said "There is nothing in our Constitution that says that we have the right to NOT be offended." Another said, "We can't say 'America' without offending someone? This is what I fought for in the Marine Corps for the last 14 years!" And yet another pondered, "Let's see... Realtors can't use the word 'Negro' but the Speaker of the House of Representatives can."

I have to admit, I agree 100 percent with the sentiments and comments expressed by my colleagues. I'm sick of being worried about being "politically correct," the accompanying guilt trips associated with not being "politically correct," and even the term itself. I realize that there are words in our lexicon that are offensive to some individuals and groups, and we shouldn't use them... in advertising, or anywhere else. But, the reason we shouldn't use offensive words is out of respect for our fellow human beings and/or their condition, not because we're worried about being politically correct.

Come on people! We need to stop being a nation of wimps. If you're worried about calling someone, or offended by being called an "Adult American who takes the Family to Grandmas House after Church on Sunday," you need to pull up your big-girl panties and get a life!

Allegedly, there's an annual contest at a major Texas university which calls for entrants to write the most appropriate definition for a contemporary term. Last years term was "Political Correctness." The winning entry was:

"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

My sentiments exactly!

This month we leave behind a decade characterized by unprecedented change in our real estate industry and the world.

During the past ten years we saw our industry boom, lead the national economy, and then implode.

Today we look outward on a nation whose economic system is near collapse, an unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent, banks collapsing, huge companies being taken over by the government, and security systems that don't work.

Technology, with the emergence of flat-screen, high-definition digital-broadcast television, the IPod, Social Networks, smart telephones, advanced, inexpensive digital cameras, ultra high-speed Internet connections - all these changes within the last ten years. And you can bet that equally impressive and important changes will happen in the coming ten years... optimistically, changes for the better!

In the real estate industry, the change began on the first day of the new decade. HUD issued a new RESPA (the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) rule, effective that day, which changes the process of obtaining a mortgage. The object of the rule change is to make it easier for borrowers to comparison shop for their mortgage, and better understand the closing costs they have to pay.

Among the RESPA changes are:

• Use of a new "good faith estimate" (GFE)
• A new HUD1 settlement statement, which adds a third page to the statement
• Restrictions and limits on which and how much GFE charges may change at the closing table, and
• Bundling of fees on the HUD1 by category or provider, allegedly to make things easier for the borrower to understand.

Are these changes good or bad? Some say good. Some say bad. We'll just have to wait and see.

in another change in Georgia this year, now before a Realtor® refers a buyer to another broker they must do two things:

• Get prior written permission from the person being referred for the referral, and
• Include an estimate of the referral fee, if any, the referring broker will receive by making the referral.
  

What else might change in real estate in 2010? Real estate gurus and prognosticators are saying this:

• Sales volume should be way up, compared to last year, particularly early on, due to buyers taking advantage of the expanded tax credit. (Not sure I believe that, but we'll see!)
• Average sales prices may dip even lower, or stay flat at best, because foreclosures will remain high. (Signals continuing difficult times for sellers)
• Future foreclosures will be more widespread geographically, not because of the market bust, but because of high unemployment. (Employment figures are usually the leading indicator of a bettering economy. Watch them!)
• Agents will have to convince sellers to price their property realistically for this market. (Duh! Is that a change? You bet it is! And if they don't, the property won't sell.)
• Short Sales will get easier and less confusing because lenders will staff up and develop routine processes to handle the sales. (I'll believe that when I see it!)

It should be very interesting to watch what happens in the coming decade in real estate... and in the world around us. But the one thing we can always count on... The only thing that stays the same is Change!

Farm for Sale in Covington, Georgia - 4176 Hwy 81 South  GAMLS# 02778963  FMLS# 3989815  $1,450,000

For more information, call my mobile phone 770-337-5262, or visit my website www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com

Farm For Sale in Covington, Georgia - 74.76 Acres - 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths

This special Farm for Sale in Covington, Georgia, only nine miles from Covington's historic square, features 74.76 rolling acres and a beautifully decorated and immaculately maintained 4 bedroom / 3 bath Cape Cod home.

Secluded on a wooded plot at the end of its winding driveway, the lovely home on this Farm for Sale features cedar shake siding, dormer windows, and a huge 160 square foot screened porch stretching across its back.  Inside is a comfortable, open Great Room and formal Dining combination anchored by a masonry fireplace and built-in bookshelves.  The rear kitchen is light and airy and a chef's delight.  Everything is at your fingertips.  Modern appliances and conveniences, including built-in double convection ovens, solid-surface island cook-top, built-in microwave, spacious pantry space, corian counter-tops, and under-counter wine rack make cooking a pleasure.

Also on the main floor of this Covington Farm for Sale home is a convenient office which can easily be used as a fourth bedroom to fit the needs of a larger family.  Upstairs are three additional over-sized bedrooms and two full baths.

The home's many special amenities include programmable thermostats, gas fireplace logs, burglary / fire alarm security system, wide wooden blinds, over-sized bedrooms, hardwood, carpet and ceramic tile floors, water softener, and built-in vacuum system.  Outside the home is an in-ground 18 X 36 gunite pool.

The gently rolling acreage of this Farm for Sale is approximately half wooded and half open pasture, fenced and cross-fenced.  A short distance behind the home is a perfect spring-fed lake site.  And to the right of the home, beyond the pool, is a large kitchen garden spot and grape arbors.  The Farm for Sale also includes open storage sheds for tractors and equipment and a large outbuilding for workshop or additional storage space.

Don't miss the comfortable convenience and secluded splendor of this beautiful Farm for Sale with its move-in-ready home.  It's perfect for the "Gentleman Farmer" and his family to play, relax and entertain.  Contact me today for a showing.

See the location of this Covington Farm for Sale on the map below.  And be sure to watch the virtual tour located just below the map.

View 33.524569, -83.954296 in a larger map

For more information on this property, call my mobile phone at 770-337-5262.