Helen Johnson

Monica M. Foster, REALTOR

Biography/Qualifications

Monica Foster is a full time Realtor/Associate with RE/MAX Space Center in Houston, Texas with 5 years experience in representing all buyers and sellers, including first-time buyers. She provides service to South Harris County and North Galveston County and is experienced in all aspects of Residential Real Estate.

Monica is a firm believer in the importance of continuing education and greatly exceeds the minimum requirements set forth by the Texas Real Estate Commission with regard to continuing education. She lives and works in this area and keep abreast of the market there. Monica stays active in the community and serves on the Board of Directors for the Homeowner’s Association in the neighborhood in which she lives.

Monica is a member of the following Associations/Organizations:

Additionally, she has earned the following certifications, designations, and awards:
Accredited Buyer Representative (2005)
Residential Construction Certified (2008)
Certified New Home Specialist (2008)
RE/MAX International’s Executive Club Award

Monica is currently working toward earning the coveted Certified Residential Specialist designation, as well as her Broker’s License.

Her motto is “Love your work and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Monica truly enjoys what she does – helping others realize their goals. She takes great satisfaction in serving others, so for Monica, a career in Real Estate was the logical choice … and she cannot imagine doing anything else.

Monica joined the Homes for Heroes program because to her, the program is a wonderful way of giving back to the men and women who give so much of themselves to the community each and every day. It’s her way of saying “thank you” to them for all their hard work.

http://www.troopathon.org/
Help them reach their goal.
Homes for Heroes has sent a package to our troops,
You might want to send something too!

The Price of Procrastination

Everyone Wants a Lower Price, But What About the Impact of Interest Rates? Does waiting really prove to be benefical? Here is some food for thought

When shopping for a home, the natural tendency of any buyer is to want to pay the lowest price possible. It's important to keep in mind, however, that the sales price is not the only factor that determines what your monthly payment will be. In fact, the impact of higher interest rates can easily nullify any benefit of waiting for a lower price.

Why Should I Rush to Buy?

While you may have heard discussions in the media about the decline of property values in many markets, the rate of decline appears to be stabilizing.

That being said, it would not be unreasonable for you to want to hold out for an additional decline of 10%, hoping to capture the best possible price. However, as property values have declined in many areas to 2003 levels or lower, waiting longer to pull the trigger could be a mistake. Many markets are reporting that lower property values have been bringing out investors and the result has been multiple offers on many properties. Properties priced correctly are not declining and, in fact, are creating a lot of interest.

Interest Rate Complacency

The problem is that many home buyers have been lulled into a sense of complacency because of extremely low interest rates. Since the Federal Reserve initiated its program of buying mortgage-backed securities, which control the rates people pay for their home loans, rates had been range bound, bouncing between 4.50% to 5.00% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan.

But do not be confused by this. These rates are artificially low! Historically, interest rates have been above 6.00%. And any rate obtained below this number is a great deal, especially on homes with price tags from 2003!

Markets are Unforgiving

The last two weeks of May showed just how unforgiving the markets can be for people who choose to procrastinate. In just five days, interest rates from many lenders increased anywhere from .50% to 1.00% as fixed-income investors demanded more for their money.

For anyone who was waiting for prices to drop even more, a 1.00% increase in your interest rate would bring a higher monthly principal and interest payment on a home, even if the price of that same home had fallen an additional 10% in value.

If you're waiting for home prices to fall even lower, be aware that while holding out for a lower price may help you win the battle, you could lose the war in terms of monthly payments and overall affordability. With the Federal Reserve scheduled to end its buying of mortgage-backed securities this year, rates only stand to go higher for those that wait. In fact, interest rates are already on the rise and could go higher from here.

Submitted to us by

Troy Mlenar

Landmarq lending

troy@landmarqlending.com

!!!!!!!!!!!! Check out the photos here

http://www.postlets.com/repb/2332416

Until your good name is besmirched. Homes for Heroes in the past has taken people leveraging our brand as flattery. We often ask if they would like to continue to use our good name by joining forces with us, and if they do not want to we are okay with that decision also. But recently something came up that does need to be addressed. We will let the Morris Daily Herald explain it.

Illinois allegation hurts ‘real' Heroes

Minneapolis, Minn-When Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan took enforcement action against the Minooka, Ill.-based Homes for Heroes Inc., says Brad Oosterhuis, it was not a reflection on the "real" Home for Heroes.

"Our organization has been serving heroes continuously since 2002, and we have a serious concern that the publication of the charge against the Homes for Heroes company in Illinois could seriously tarnish our good name," said Oosterhuis, executive director of Home for Heroes, in a recent e-mail.

Since the founding of Homes for Heroes, a press release from the Minnesota-based organization notes, many organizations have tried to duplicate the Homes for Heroes model and have illegally used the trademarked name. The widespread recognition of the Homes for Heroes name across the nation has caused many groups to attempt to leverage this successful brand to their advantage.

"While Homes for Heroes encourages all companies to support our heroes, it is illegal for them to use the Homes for Heroes trademarked name," said Ruth Johnson, president of Homes for Heroes. "It is especially disturbing when these organizations are providing false claims and tarnishing the good name and work that Homes for Heroes is doing."

In an effort to advance its cause and protect its name, Home for Heroes, which is now in its seventh year of operation, recently created the Homes for Heroes Foundation.

Due to its highly recognized name and brand nationally, the press release notes, Homes for Heroes became inundated with calls that were predominantly from severely wounded military personnel asking for assistance.

"These requests went far beyond the scope of our business model and ability to help," Johnson said. The shareholders of Homes for Heroes saw a need for a charitable organization that would have a similar vision to its own. After much thought and the desire to help, they formed the Homes for Heroes Foundation.

The foundation will endeavor to provide or coordinate financial assistance to the heroes of our nation, such as military, police officers, firefighters and first responders who are in need.

Meanwhile, with the busy spring housing market well under way, Homes for Heroes affiliates will continue to "give back" by providing significant savings to its local heroes, particularly military personnel, police officers, firefighters, teachers, health care workers and others who serve our country and communities everyday.

If you would like more information about the Homes for Heroes, please call Ruth Johnson at (866) 443-7637 or log onto www.homesforheroes.com or www.homesforheroesfoundation.org.

In her enforcement action against the Minooka-based company using the Homes for Heroes name, Attorney General Lisa Madigan alleged the company and its owner, Patrick Gleason of Minooka, conducted a fraudulent charitable solicitation campaign and engaged in deceptive practices by falsely representing the local Homes for Heroes is "a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization."

Gleason has gone on record calling the IAG's action "absurd."

"This is absurd," he said. We filed for our corporation and status a long time ago. The IRS asked us to put it on good paper, not wallpaper. It was done, it was all signed and sent in again. So, they're trying to smear our names with improprieties ..."