Bobbie J Smith, CRS

Here are the statistics for the Average Sold Price for June of 2008 versus June of 2009. These stats were obtained from flexmls on 7-5-09 and are for Monroe County and deemed reliable however I am not responsible for typographical errors.

Here are the statistics for June of 2009 compared to June of 2008. Some areas actually sold more homes in their area this year than they did last year for this same time period. (GOOD NEWS!) Statistics were obtained from flexmls on 7-5-09 and are for Monroe County only, and are deemed accurate. I am not responsible for any typographical errors. Will post stats for the average sale price and the 2nd quarter shortly. Stay tuned!

Upon entering the home today I had a feeling of dismay and vowed not to let it cloud my thinking until I had seen the entire home.

BOY WAS I PLEASANTLY SURPRISED when I was shown the main floor of the home.

Unknowingly this potential client brought me into the home the usual way, the way the family always enters the home and has for years.

It wasn't until we had gone over all the "details" of putting his home on the market for sale that we then discussed "first impressions" and "staging" of the home. After I reminded him that first impressions are so very important and that I felt that all potential buyers should enter the home on the main floor, that once they saw this "great" area their potential to fall in love with the home had much stronger possibilities.

I was then impressed to see a glimmer of recognition in my clients eyes as he realized that this entry would make a huge difference in the first impression of the home.

When selling your home it is sometimes so hard to see the "sameness" through open eyes. As I have stated in many of my newsletters and tips to help you sell, etc. if you think you are having trouble opening your eyes to what needs to be done to optimize the sale of your home, ask a friend. Remember not to take it personally. You are no longer selling a home, you are selling a house. The same house that you bought and turned into a home and now it is a house for sale. You need to emotionally detach yourself from the home, turn it into a house for sale and optimize all of the homes best features.

Realtors see house after house after house. They develop a feel for what is appealing and what is not within a home. Talk to a reputable Realtor. Then do as your Realtor suggests. It benefits both of you.

OK, so how do we get to utilize this incentive for our Clients?

I tried and tried today to find a mortgage company that would actually use this tax credit as part of the closing costs and each Mortgage company that I spoke to said that HUD had not issued the guidelines for "its use" yet.

My memory may be lapsing (not surprised) however I seem to recall reading several articles recently where it was stated that this tax credit could be used for these purposes.

Is it true that these statements have been issued (I'm sure we can find lots of places where they are written) but in essence our clients still cannot use the benefit due to non-received "rules of use?"

What do you see as the disadvantages to the real estate market in using this "tax credit?"

Should buyers have to stick with the old adage - "20% down and enough cash to cover all your closing costs" or you dont buy a house?

I'm looking for opinions and insights into this situation. Thanks for letting me hear yours.

I was just reading about the old Summit Resort in Tannersville becoming a new resort.

They are to become Outback Lodge and Waterpark. The lodge is to be a 411 room lodge

with a 100,000 square foot indoor waterpark.* This article also stated that Camelback

Mountain will be adding a ski-in, ski-out hotel with a 100,000 square foot indoor waterpark

too! WOW! Waterparks galore in the Poconos. *article was read in the Eastern PA Business

Journal*

Submit your comments on what you think about all these waterparks coming to the Poconos.