Cindy & Troy Browning

As more commercial installations of wind turbines become installed in Reno, NV I am left to ponder, when will there be more residential installations? We are in a natural location that lends itself to wind power and solar. It seems to be windy every day and arguably we have over 290 days of sunshine per year.

I thnk the reason we don't see more residential uses is the "nimby" attitude. Everyone wants to be "green" and vocally will express their opinion on how great clean energy is, except when their neighbor decides to put up a windmill in thier backyard. It's cool to drive a Prius, but not for your neighbor to have a windmill that you may have look at.

Hopefully these attitudes will change soon as we try as a society to promote more clean energy.

Why are agents allowed to be unethical when listing bank owned properties?

How many times have we seen properties listed that are hundreds of thousands of dollars under the "true" market value and then sold by the listing agent?

How many times have we seen a property that you know is bank owned suddenly appear in the MLS listed and then sold the same day or maybe a few days after entering the MLS?

How many times have we seen undervalued properties bring down the neighborhoods values, because the agent is holding the listing so she/he can sell it themselves?

How many offers do you submit only to be told by the listing agent that it is sold, by them, because they wait until they have a buyer. Seems odd that the bank would not want it sold asap and agrees to have it off the market.

How many complaints and/or lawsuits have to be filed before these agents are sanctioned and this practice stops?

As I sit here in Reno after the biggest storm in years and a cold snap that feels like we are in Alaska I am thinking what a good time it is to sell during the Holidays.

Think about it, the people that are looking now are generally serious. Who else wants to look while stepping through a foot of snow and wind chill in the teens.

Your house is decorated with festive items and looks great. It is probably the best your house will look.

There is normally less competition. Most people don't want to be "bothered" by having showings during this time. You have a distinct advantage if you are willing to do so.

I have been able to be successful during the Holidays just for these reasons. So if you are serious, decorate, be willing to let the agents show your home for the serious buyer and if there is snow on the ground shovel your drive and walkways. People don't want to have to walk through snow if possible.

Why has Congress not extended a tax credit for second home buyers or investment property?

President Obama just signed the bill to extend the credit for first-time buyers and for buyers who buy a new primary residence with some restrictions.

Because of the state of the economy and the real estate market there are many vacant homes at incredibly low prices. If investors get back in the market and buy up some of this inventory it would have a dramatic effect. Why not give them some incentive? The market would start to come back, basic supply and demand, (guns and butter). Also people losing their homes would have more to rent.

Let's quit giving stimulus money to the banks that just buy other banks and get the economy back on its feet. Until the real estate market makes a dramatic shift up we are all in for a long haul.