About Putnam County, IN

No, it's not what you think, but have you ever driven up to a home that you have listed, know that the hom is unoccupied but when you pull into the driveway, sitting there in the window sunbathing is a cat? Well my first thoughts were I am at the wrong house, and my clients are going to think I am crazy. Then after taking a second look

around making sure I am at the correct address and my sign is out front. I realize that this is my listing and that I have a problem.

Once inside I found that the only way the cat could have gotten in was through the hole in the floor where the dryer vent should be, but the vent pipe was gone and access to the crawl space was very apparent.

Nothing can be more embarrassing then for an agent to show a home that has an issue that the agent was unprepared for. An agent must be prepared for anything including cats in the house and the odors that are accompanied with them.

What are some of your unexpected moments when showing a home?

Cathy Cooper-Arzola

PS - I always make sure that all my vacant homes now have the dryer vent access covered when no dryer is included.

DPA or Down Payment Assistance has been a major concern to many of us agents who work with first time home buyers or those individuals who require some assistance but may have a good credit back ground. In a rural location selling homes, USDA Rural Housing has been very good to the first time buyer by now providing a 100% loan. At this time this is the only program available that will help with down payment.

I have been hearing from some mortgage brokers that the DPA programs are trying to raise its head. After being proided a link to check out the lastest information on DPAgroundswell.org, I wanted to share it with others who may be interested and haven't heard about i yet.

This link http://www.dpagroundswell.org/index.cfm will take you to the DPA Ground Swell and give information regarding the down payment programs and the effect on the current economic conditions. According to a senator in TX, there is minimal success rate in those individuals who put down their 3% and those who receive 3% in funding from non profit organizations such as Neimiaeh.

Check out what the information provides and send a letter to your congressman if you think we should keep the down payment assistance programs.

I feel that these programs can provide a boost in the current real estate down turn and help to bring back buyer confidence.

Cathy Cooper-Arzola

As we all know, the US and many other countries are in an economic downturn. This was not the case back in 2004, 2005 when homes were increasing in value fom 1-5% depending on location. I was a big advaocate of first time home buyers investing in a starter home and holding onto their investment for 3 to 5 years and resaling at a 1% to 5% increase. Bu I could not have forecasted what has happen to the economy today.

Today we even see the "Realtor" stating that buying home increases its value. There is data that can show how some areas of the country can still achieve this type of return but in Indiana with all the repo's that are on the market or soon to be on the market, it's hard to find homes that can be used as comps not only for real estate agents but appraisers too.

As a specialist in "Affordable Housing" the mnufactured homes are starting to take a beating from the financial companies. Currently all double wide manufactured homes on lots attached to the poured concrete foundation, 2 car attached garage, and front porch are considered to be unfinanceable. These home are less affordable in th Indiana area and required less fix up then the repo homes, but no bank will touch them unless the home in brand new.

Our "Brand New" 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car attached garage, poured concrete foundation, sidewalk, driveways, and covered porches and patios are being financed by USDA, Rural Housing with 100% financing available if home appraises. This is the only way we are currently able to sell manufactured homes (Affordable Homes). Guess what these homes are appraising and I am ableto provide affordable housing to first time home buyers. But I won't be able to tell my new buyers that there homes will increase in value within the next 5 years, because who knows if there were be any banks or financial institutions loaning money on these new homes for $89,900.

No more forecasting the future, the future will only tell.

If you want more information about "Affordable Housing" check out www.manufacturedhousing.org or www.stardusthills.com

Cathy Cooper-Arzola

Pumpkin pie is a tradition around Thanksgiving, and some people like it, while others don't. I have to admit that I love pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top. When you really think about it, who would have ever thought to take a vegetable that grows in the garden and make it a desert?

Pumpkin comes from a Greek word that means large melon, which indeed it is one of the larger melons. According to history and the pumpkin patch, The origin of pumpkin pie is thought to have occurred when the colonists sliced off the pumpkin top, removed the seeds, and then filled it with milk, spices and honey. The pumpkin was then baked in the hot ashes of a dying fire.

According to History.com the largest pumpkin pie ever baked was in 2005 and it weighed 2,020 pounds. I wonder how many people had a piece of that pie?

How do you like your pumpkin pie?