Angela Pernisco

We have made it through the elections and regardless of whether or not your candidate was elected President, we all know that change is approaching. These changes will not happen on January 20, 2009 when Barack Obama takes office, in fact, we may not see any significant changes for a year or more. However, based on Obama's campaign, some of the changes that we can expect are:

•· Significant tax relief for middle/lower class, small businesses as well as Senior Americans.

•· Improve job security by encouraging American companies to keep jobs at home.

•· Invest in clean energy by providing financial means to create, educate and implement new energy sources.

•· Encourage technology and innovation by investing in the sciences.

•· Create accountability within the mortgage industry as well as more simplified disclosures.

•· Protect consumers from predatory credit card and lending practices.

•· Expand the family and medical leave act, expand after school opportunities, and expand the child tax credit.

I know what you are thinking: "Enough is enough, I have been hearing this for the last 10 months!" However, I wanted to mention his platform one last time as a reminder that there are some very positive changes coming our way at a time where our country needs it the most.

Did you know that economists are saying that the most recent decline is due to the "psychological impact" of the stock market? Many first time buyers have decided to wait to purchase, however, market conditions are ideal for first time buyers, move up buyers and investors. Interest rates are at historic lows for conventional and FHA financing and there are still a large number of loan options available despite media created perceptions. One thing remains true, homeownership continues to be one of the safest, most solid long term investments a family can make. Your home is a tangible investment that barring deferred maintenance and natural disasters will grow your personal wealth exponentially over the coming years.

As always, if you know of anyone in the market to buy or sell a home or simply has questions about the process, I will work hard to get them the best possible price so that they can begin to build their own personal wealth!

Home staging is no longer an option when selling your home. Whether you are staging yourself or hiring a professional it is a necessary action to take. The purpose of staging is to clear the room surface while also making it appealing to look at. Many people have difficulty doing this on their own because they are emotionally attached to the items that they have displayed. It is also difficult because many sellers have not fully accepted the fact that they will be moving in a short period of time and want their home to remain as they have it.

Here are some Do's and Don'ts to keep in mind when staging your home:

•· Do paint a room if the walls are stained or dingy looking. Don't paint using ultra modern colors or overly bright colors.

•· Do paint using neutral colors. Don't paint using hospital white.

•· Do move couches and furniture off the wall to create the perception of floor space. Don't have oversized couches and furniture that take up a large portion of the room.

•· Do take overly personalized pictures of parties and family gatherings off of the walls. Don't take all pictures off of the wall leaving blank empty spaces.

•· Do set tables according to their designed function. Don't simply add items to tables to cover them (i.e. games on a dining table).

•· Do play soft jazzy or classical music in the background during showings. Don't play rock and roll music in the background.

Always remember that the better your home looks, the higher price you will receive. If you are willing to spend the extra time to create a showplace out of your home, you will have significantly less time on the market and gain a higher price for your home!

The changing real estate market has caught many agents by surprise. This is a tough business to be in with duties ranging between home staging and decorating to sales and marketing to negotiation and loss mitigation. When the market is good we are buffered from some of the more discouraging aspects of our business because the income opportunities distract us. However, when the market is slower we have to work twice as hard to earn half the profits.

It is times like these that determine the true professionals. Professionals do not whine about the changes, they embrace them as an opportunity for change. It is also an opportunity for growth and self improvement. Try the Jeff Foxworthy test when determining who the professionals are in your market:

•· You might be a professional when the market changes and you adjust your selling strategies.

•· You might be a professional when you start telling people what they need to hear not what they want to hear.

•· You might be a professional when you take advantage of the slower market to improve your skills.

•· You might be a professional when you become an expert in your market.

•· You might be a professional when you negotiate sales not push sales.

Next time you are looking for a Real Estate Broker for personal use or to refer, make sure that you are hiring a professional, not just an agent.

Over the last couple of weeks many of us have received our property tax bills. In the past we have experienced appreciating market values and often did not look too closely at what we were being taxed. However, now that we are in a sliding market it is important to keep an eye out for as many savings opportunities as possible. A great way to do this is to appeal your property taxes to the Board of Tax Appeals.

This process begins by completing the necessary form to file a petition and providing documentation showing evidence of property value. Evidence can be an independent appraisal that was completed at the time the assessment was completed (typically January), or a comparison of your property with similar homes that have sold in the area. The deadline to file the petition is December 31, 2008.

Going through the appeal process is not a guarantee that your taxes will be lowered and it will likely take some work to complete. However, if you picked up your bill and the numbers did not seem right to you, it may be worth taking the necessary steps!

For more information visit: http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/PTD/IC_303_668.shtml

I recently read an article titled "101 Ways to Save". I am sure that we all agree that saving is a top of mind concern to perhaps every person within the United States. I found that the article was a good reminder of many things that we already know: wash your clothes on the cold cycle, credit card rebates, shop at Goodwill and consignment stores, replace your old windows...

We have been fortunate to live in society full of wealth with the opportunity to have many things. There are cultures that are thankful for a single pair of shoes where many of our closets contain many pairs. Other cultures are thankful to get a single bowl of rice for dinner where we are compelled to have at least 3 items on our plates. In reading this article I was drawn to the thought that many of us have the "don't rock my boat" mentality (me included). We fear giving up our modern conveniences and therefore do not save nearly as much as we could.

•· What if we did cancel cable TV and read a book or play board games instead? Would our families ultimately feel more fulfilled?

•· What if we did throw on a pair of long underwear under our slacks and turn down the heat? Would it be miserable or would we have the chance to tease our spouse about cold feet?

•· Why not spend some time on Saturday morning to clip coupons and plan our weekly meals? Would our week go more smoothly because our evenings have been thought out ahead of time?

•· What if we used our cell phones for emergencies only? Would we get more accomplished by lack of interruption and become more organized because business calls actually take place at our desks?

•· What if we looked at those around us and worked within the barter and trade system? Would we have a closer bond with our friends and neighbors by appreciating their individual qualities?

In a perfect world, what would you do differently and how would it affect your lifestyle?