Betsie Melter

The Birds are Back! The ostriches, that is. Chandler has it's annual Ostrich Festival every March and it starts today. Gates open at 2PM and will close at Midnight. Saturday's hours are 10am - Midnight and Sunday 10am - 11 PM.

The Ostrich Festival features Ostrich Races, Petting Zoo, Dock Dogs, A Monkey Show, Carnival Rides, Vendor Booths, Food Booths and of course Live Music. This year's Musical Talents include Tonic, Blue Oyster Cult and The Marshall Tucker Band.

If you haven't explored Chandler and The Ostrich Festival, I highly recommend it. It is a safe and clean environment with a small farm town feel. Fun for all ages.

For more information check out the website at http://www.ostrichfestival.com/

Discount Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at FRY'S and parking is $5.00.

I am starting a new journey. One with a buyer doing an USDA loan. USDA loans are loans that help buyers purchase a home in a rural area with 0% down and good interest rates. Now, you must be thinking, Rural, that isn't where I am living, but it actually covers a large area. I have attached the map below so you can see what areas are considered "Rural". 1st of all most, if not all, of Queen Creek is considered rural from - East of Power Road, South of Germann. All of the City of Maricopa and San Tan Valley are eligible. And on the West side of the Valley, anything west of 187th Ave is eligible.

The USDA Website says:

"Purpose: Section 502 loans are primarily used to help low-income individuals or households purchase homes in rural areas. Funds can be used to build, repair, renovate or relocate a home, or to purchase and prepare sites, including providing water and sewage facilities.

Eligibility: Applicants for direct loans from HCFP must have very low or low incomes. Very low income is defined as below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI); low income is between 50 and 80 percent of AMI; moderate income is 80 to 100 percent of AMI. Click here to review area income limits for this program. Families must be without adequate housing, but be able to afford the mortgage payments, including taxes and insurance, which are typically 24 percent of an applicant's income. However, payment subsidy is available to applicants to enhance repayment ability. Applicants must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere, yet have reasonable credit histories.

Terms: Loans are for up to 33 years (38 for those with incomes below 60 percent of AMI and who cannot afford 33-year terms). The term is 30 years for manufactured homes. The promissory note interest rate is set by HCFP based on the Government’s cost of money. However, that interest rate is modified by payment assistance subsidy.

Standards: Under the Section 502 program, housing must be modest in size, design, and cost. Modest housing is property that is considered modest for the area, does not have market value in excess of the applicable area loan limit, and does not have certain prohibited features. Houses constructed, purchased, or rehabilitated must meet the voluntary national model building code adopted by the state and HCFP thermal and site standards. Manufactured housing must be permanently installed and meet the HUD Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards and HCFP thermal and site standards."

As far as writing an offer, it is pretty much like an FHA offer. You can ask for closing costs to be paid for by the seller, the house has to pass an appraisal similiar to FHA guidelines. Not much different on the agent's part for writing or accepting an USDA loan offer. The buyer will have to do up front work with the lender to make sure they qualify, but after they are approved, it is a pretty simple process.

Click Here to type in an address and it will tell if it is in an eligible area or not.

If you would like more information about buying a house with 0% Down Payment, contact me and we can see if you are eligible and if the subdivision you want to live in is also eligible.

These of course, are just the basics. For more details about the loan process contact Amy Simmons with On Q Financial at 480.353.9140.

What Will Be Hot in Home Interiors in 2012? On December 5, 2011, in Home Trends, by Melissa Tracey By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine The design forecasts are rolling in for the new year and the predictions of what’s going to be popular in interior decorating in 2012. According to Beasley & Henley Interior Design in Winter Park, Fla., here are some interior design trends to be on the lookout for in the upcoming year: Homes go gray: All shades of gray will be making up more households, from warm grey to charcoal gray, through furnishings, window treatments, and artwork. Yellow pops: Yellow can lift practically any room, according to Beasley & Henley Interior Design. Pairing yellow with gray can bring a trendy look to a home in 2012. Rustic: Furnishings from natural, reclaimed, and rustic wood are expected to catch on. “Finishes on these rustic pieces will range from wire-brushed to bleached oak to gray washes,” according to Beasley & Henley Interior Design. Repurposed lighting: Reclaimed pieces that are turned into lamps and lighting pieces is expected to continue its wave of popularity in 2012. The industrial look: The industrial look is also gaining traction, such as repurposed, industrial occasional tables or side carts. Lower seating: Chairs and sofas are sitting lower to the ground. More home furniture manufacturing companies are debuting lounge chair seating lower than the standard 20’’ off the floor. They’re introducing more products at 17-18’’ off the floor–possibly to fit in smaller homes. Oversized photography, such as in Sepia or computer-enhanced, will dominate the look of artwork in the coming year. Supersized artwork: Artwork continues to get bigger with oversized photography dressing up interiors with black and white, Sepia, or standard pictures.

3 Bedroom/2Bathroom home within walking distance to the Elementary School and just minutes away from the new Ironwood Banner Hospital.