Tish Tischer

Maggie Clark Equity Title Agency, Inc 602-769-5565 http://www.eta-az.com Dear Agents, SO – here are the graphs! I have added a new feature to graphs with multiple cities: In the footer, I added a Breakdown By City – so you can see exactly where the numbers are. As far as the numbers go: There hasn’t been a lot of movement, but the little movement that we did see was all in the wrong direction – except in the SW Valley where their numbers are rocking! They had 64% of their inventory go Pending – that is insane!! And they are closing sales out there, too: 39% closed! WOW. Unfortunately, the numbers aren’t that good in areas like PV…. Currently the Valley’s months of supply is sitting at 4.5 months. 94% of the sales are still coming from properties under $400,000. By graph Scottsdale 8.8, Cave Creek 6.6, AJ and Queen Creek 4.4, Ahwatukee 5.0, East Valley 3.7, Fountain Hills 12.3, South West Valley 2.5, Northwest Valley 3.8, Peoria and Glendale 3.0, Paradise Valley 24.1. Have a wonderful weekend, don’t work too hard, (No please do!!! This way you can bring me escrows!!!) Happy Labor Day. Equity Title Agency, Scottsdale Branch will be closed on Monday, but open bright and early on Tuesday the 8th to open your escrows!!!! Maggie Clark Business Development Manager Mobile: 602-769-5565 E-Mail: maggiec@eta-az.com McCormick Ranch Office 7975 N. Hayden Rd., Ste. C280 Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Business: 480-607-0200 Fax: 480-607-3370

THE EPISCOPAL PARISH OF SAINT BARNABAS ON THE DESERT

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

May 17, 2009

Enjoy! Enjoy!

You have now heard everything I have to say this morning. But there is so much more to say because this is at the very heart of my Biblical faith and what I believe it means to be a Christian...

Author Harry Golden grew up on the Lower East Side of New York City in the early part of the last century. In one of his essays he speaks of his Mother’s faith in God. His Father was an intellectual who spent a lot of his time discussing God. Golden writes: “My mother, of course thought all those discussions were nonsense. She cooked and sewed and cleaned for the family and the neighbors. Even if a dish turned out well she would not take credit. The credit went to God. My mother talked with God all the time, actual conversations.”

Out of this faith came one of the few English words she knew—Enjoy! Golden writes, “When my Mother served our meals and placed before us a dish that may have turned out particularly well, she would always say, ‘Enjoy, enjoy’. The word covered hundreds of other situations. When the school had an outing and we all went off with our teachers, the last thing we heard going out the door was, ‘Enjoy, enjoy’.”

For nearly fifty years, Harry Golden’s mother’s faith and admonition have given illustration to a basic tenet of my Biblical faith—Enjoy!

One sentence in the Gospel this morning is one of a dozen passages of Scripture that provide the framework of my faith.

In the midst of a long conversation with his disciples, Jesus put it this way: “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

Out of her deep faith, Mrs. Golden put it this way: Enjoy! Enjoy!

I put it this way: God wants us to enjoy this life—and the next. In Jesus he has given us the way. Walk the path with me for a few moments.

Jesus said, “I have said these things…” What things?

Be at one with God. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Be at one with yourself and your neighbor. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

It all comes together in Matthew’s gospel at a time the enemies of Jesus are trying to trap him into saying something for which he could be arrested. One asked, “…which commandment in the law is the greatest?’” and he replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like unto it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 23:36-39)

Be at one with God. Be at one with yourself and your neighbor. But there is yet one more thing he said that is of critical importance. As you read a little beyond our lesson today Jesus reminds his disciples that “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own.” (John 15:18-19) Don’t abandon the world. Just don’t be owned by it.

If we are at one with God and at one with ourselves and our neighbors, it is not possible for the world to own us. Conversely, it the world owns us it is not possible to be at one with God and at one with ourselves and our neighbors. We cannot enjoy the world if the world owns us. It is that simple.

Jesus said, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” What is the joy that these things bring?

First let me say, the joy promised is not the mad dash for happiness we see in the proliferation of books on the subject nor the ever expanding market for better living through chemistry nor the preachers promising financial success.

I have followed the current financial crisis economically and sociologically. From a theological point of view, I am convinced that at the bottom of it all is the thought that we have a right to happiness.

In a recent column, David Brooks comments on a study of 268 prominent young men who entered Harvard College in the late 1930’s. These were young men who had everything the world had to offer and yet over the years many of them made a mess of their lives. Brooks writes: “There is a complexity to human affairs before which science and analysis simply stands mute.” I believe that it is in that complexity we find the promised joy.

Of course, the promised joy is happiness, but it is also sadness. It is deeper than both. It is a mystery that keeps opening to us as we walk life’s way. And it is a gift. It was demonstrated on the cross and made real in the empty tomb.

Between the pursuit of happiness and the gift of joy is a very fine, perhaps mystical, border where we come face to face with God—where “science and analysis simply stand mute”.

There is so much I want to say about this joy because it is so central to my Biblical faith—to my understanding of what it means to be a Christian. Let me put it as starkly as I can: I enjoy both the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains and the glitz of the Las Vegas strip—recognizing each for what they are. I believe that is Biblical joy.

The movie Angels and Demons premiered Friday. The critics and panned it and the religious folks have dammed it. It’s just a story. It’s curious to me that we have so much trouble having fun with our religion—poking fun at it a bit.

Someone said, “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting ‘Wow, what a ride!’” I believe that is Biblical joy.

In my life I have experienced the normal highs and low, successes and failures but I have never experienced anything catastrophic. If I do, it is my prayer that I will have the faith to experience the joy of those terminally sick persons who decide to spend their days living rather than dying. It has been said, “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” I believe that is Biblical joy.

I believe God wants us to enjoy this life—and the next.

Be at one with God. Be at one with yourself and your neighbor. Don’t let the world own you.

The travel writer, William Least Half-Moon, shares the complaint of a woman he met. “I got a livin’ room, but in my life I got no room to live and that means I’m doin’ some wrong livin’”.

Jesus said, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

Out of her life of faith, Harry Golden’s mother said it all. Enjoy! Enjoy! Amen.

Philip Lawrence Carlson+

Short Sales challenge us to be kind. There are many people involved in a short sale all of whom have must to loose and or gain in the transaction. The business ethic of win'-win becomes an issue of selfishness or kindness.

My current thoughts as a listing agent of short sales is to see that the property is improved over the months of a short sale process. If a home has two loans on it from two different banks or lending institutions you can expect a long negotiation period. -- 45-90 days. During that time I have on two occasions had 2 offers go in and out of escrow on to close on a third offer.

The critical pieces are to talk with the loss mitigators and work out the agreed settlement amount from the 2nd and the 1st. Continue to market the home and lower the price regularly so that you always have a good or better backup offer if your primary disappears.

Remember to not submit an incomplete short sale package. It must be complete and easy to understand. The hardship letter must be compelling.

A short sale is much better than a foreclosure on your credit and can be less painful if done with a CDPE.

Tish - Tom Tischer, Associate Broker, CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) 480-231-0782

Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Carefree are full of really good deals in every price range. The Bank owned properties (REO) close quickly and for good price however they always need considerable work to be functional. Often these properties need new appliances, and evrything from flooring to roofing.

Short Sale -- still owned by the person in it! That Owner must sign the Purchase contract -- BUT -- The Bank that holds the Note and the Title must approve the sale as they take the loss between what is owed and what the Purchase contract indicates.

2nd Notes on the same property complicate the process even more. -- If the second note holder does not accept what the First note holder offers the @nd then the property goes to foreclosure and from there it either goes to auction by the Bank and/or the Bank lists the Property as an REO -- REO means owned by the Bank and stands for Real Estate Owned (REO) by the Bank or Mortgage holder or 3rd party.

Use a CDPE for any of this transactions. They know what to do and can save you money and time as well as give you a much better chance of closing a deal on a good property. CDPE is a Certified Distressed Property Expert.!

Got Questions? Give me a call 480-231-0782!

If you have a destressed property issue talk to Tom Tischer, Certified Distressed Property Expert in Scottsdale, Arizona. There are alternatives that will optimize your situation and keep you from either losing your home and or wipe out your retirement. Short Sale is a practical solution to some situations which can be done efficiently and completed in a timely manner when done through the CDPE method. Whether you are Buying or Selling Short Sale properties advantages are many.

For the Buyer of CDPE listed property, you will most likely get a quicker answer on your offer and close escrow in an average of 6 weeks and often as quickly as 4 weeks. The property is often in much better condition that a foreclosed property.(not always) Pride of ownership often comes with short sale.

For the Seller,and the buyer a short sale does not show up on title as a foreclosure does.

If you would like more information from CDPE Tish Tischer, email TishTischer@hotmail.com Phone is 480-231-0782.