Randy Hooker ~ Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek

One of the coolest places on earth, with no way to describe the feeling. I had the incredible opportunity of snorkling at this small island off the coast of Hawaii, which was our very first snorkling experience. Being so close to all of those beautiful fish and sea turtles was simply beyond words!

Homes in Arizona ~ Homes in Gilbert ~ Homes in Chandler ~ Homes in Mesa ~ Homes in Queen Creek

Here we go again, boys and girls! On October 1, 2008 Down Payment Assistance (DPA) by Sellers was eliminated by HUD, and many FHA Buyers were taken out of the market. It was a hotly contested issue, but ultimately, HUD won the battle.

The powerful agency claimed that DPA by Sellers was fraught with too many risk factors, and was a major contributor to inflated home prices. HUD cited statistics that many felt were inaccurate, if not erroneous.

According to Rep Al Green, however, "HUD chose to eliminate rather than regulate."

Well guess what ~ word on the street (from several mortgage brokers) is that Congressman Green (D-Texas) is introducing ‘‘FHA Seller-Financed Downpayment Reform Act of 2009’’, reportedly with bipartisan support. And according to AmeriDream, one of several major DPA firms, the bill - HR600 - may be introduced as early as this coming week.

This will no doubt be another battle royal, as the issue involves practically every segment of the financial and economic sectors of our country. And the ramifications, either way, may be felt far and wide. So before the frenzy heightens and becomes national news again, I would REALLY love to hear your opinions, my colleagues on ActiveRain.

As for me, I am very much in favor of Seller-financed Down Payment Assistance. I personally know several clients who sincerely wanted to purchase a home in the last quarter of 2008, had FHA loan pre-approval, but just flat didn't have the down payment funds to make it happen. I believe there are eager-to-purchase Buyers out there who are still long on credit but short on cash.

Perhaps the biggest reason that I'm in favor of expanded/reinstated DPA is that the entire housing industry (and public) desperately need some good news. It's been a long, long time since we had any favorable media coverage, and if handled properly (with a little luck), I can envision expanded Down Payment Assistance for FHA loans being greeted with optimism and enthusiasm by many of our client Buyers.

Perhaps that's just stemming from my own desire for a little light at the end of the tunnel, and hoping all the while that it's not a train! But I'm open and eager to hear your thoughts.

Arizona Homes - Chandler Homes - Gilbert Homes - Mesa Homes - Queen Creek Homes

I'll admit it ~ I hate dentists! Call me a bigot, or a baby, or a wuss, or a stereotype-challenged idiot, or any other name you want, but it will not change my painful memories and fear-based perceptions of the teeth doctors.

Now that I have your attention, and you know where I'm coming from, you'll no doubt be shocked by my next statement.

My youngest daughter, Z, recently got braces. Unfortunately, one of her permanent teeth didn't want to cooperate with the rest of her mouth, and it had decided to grow at a 45 degree angle to the rest of her teeth. And to add insult to injury, that tooth didn't want to surface and reveal itself to the world.

The recommended solution to this problem was to seek the services of an oral surgeon. I immediately conjured up mental images of old Frankenstein movies, Three Stooges episodes, and other nightmarish imaginings.

However, much to my surprise and delight, the treatment Z and I received from the dreaded oral surgeon was most incredible. Every single staff person was warm, friendly, empathetic, sympathetic, caring, kind and professional. At first, I was in shock. Then I went into disbelief. But finally, after our third visit to his offices and interactions with his staff, I became a believer.

If any of you ever need the services of an oral/facial surgeon, I can unconditionally endorse and recommend this guy. And even tho this strikes me as a weird blog post, I'm just compelled to go with my gut. I think this guy deserves as much support and promotion as I can give him, which is why I'm including a copy of his business card. And from a veteran/survivor of more fillings, bridges and root canals than you can imagine, this dentist/doctor/surgeon cares! And he's definitely worth seeing.

Until next time, here's to flossing and brushing! ;-)

Arizona Homes - Chandler Homes - Gilbert Homes - Mesa Homes - Queen Creek Homes

"Well who would have thought..." That could very well have been the title of this blog post, but after the events of the past couple of years, I just couldn't bring myself to say it again. ;)

Nevertheless, believe it or not, Fannie Mae could very well become your landlord in the near future! If you're renting a home that is in pre-foreclosure status, and Fannie Mae becomes the owner of the property via foreclosure on the owner, then that's exactly what could happen.

In a Press Release by Fannie Mae, a new policy was just announced that could allow current tenants to continue living in foreclosed homes. Of course there are all sorts of stipulations and contingencies, like:

• Properties that are insured by FHA will require HUD approval. [How long might that take?]
  
• Rental rates will be set at market rates by comparables, surveys or "other relevant indicators." [Who makes the final decision?]
  
• The property will be placed on the market for sale, and the tenants must cooperate with showings to prospective buyers. [Does anybody have a problem with that?]
  
• Tenancy will be on a month-to-month basis. [Upon 30 days notice, you have to vacate the premises?]
  

On paper, it sounds like some much-needed relief for unsuspecting tenants in foreclosed homes, but in reality, is it? Fannie's new we-won't-evict-renters policy makes for great PR, and in select situations, could very well be a lifsaver for some renters. But for the majority of tenants, having Fannie as their landlord might just be a bigger headache (nightmare?) than anybody could ever imagine.

So... have I dropped totally off the cliff of cynicism, or do I just need an adjustment in attitude?

Arizona Homes - Chandler Homes - Gilbert Homes - Mesa Homes - Queen Creek Homes

Hello good people! I'm certainly not new to the planet, and I'm not new to real estate, but I am brand new to ActiveRain blogging. I know several AR folks from long ago days at RealTalk and eProTalk, but for a variety of reasons, I just dragged my feet in diving in to "blogging." But thanks to the role modeling of one of my heroes, Lenn Harley, and the warm welcome from Teri Ellis, here I am ~ full of excitement and trepidation at the same time! Can any of you relate?

I couldn't thinkof a better way to break the ice, and get my feet wet, than by introducing my family. So here's a pic. Well... that's actually only two of my four little 'hookers', and my wife. My two sons weren't with us on that trip to Hawaii, and have both already flown the coop.

Anyway, I just wanted to say Hi and formally introduce myself. I'm soooooooo impressed with the quality and calibre of the AR community, and I'm truly looking forward to being a part of.

Warmly (from greater Phoenix),

...randy