Karen Church

"Go To" Gal Karen Church from RE/MAX Integrity wants you to be first to hear information about the First Time Homebuyer Credit. Contact her at www.eugenehomesgal.com for more information about this program in Eugene, Oregon and Lane County.

First Time Homebuyer Credit

HUD has just announced that detailed guidance on the federal government's plan to provide short-term loans to borrowers using the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit is expected to be out shortly but a spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is writing the guidance, couldn't give a firm release date.

The short-term loan program, which would effectively monetize the first-time homebuyer tax credit by permitting eligible lenders to make bridge loans collateralized by the borrower's expected tax credit, was announced by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan at the Real Estate Summit the National Association of Realtors® hosted on May 12 during its 2009 Midyear Legislative Meetings in Washington.

It's unclear at this point what shape the guidance will take and whether authorization for the loans will be available across the board or only in states in which the state housing finance agency already has a tax credit bridge-loan program in place.

I will keep you informed regarding the release date of the guidelines.

This article was sent by E-News, and is the Oregon REALTORS® electronic newsletter sent to all Association members. Credit for this article goes to the Oregon REALTORS®

Karen Church your "Go To" gal at www.eugenehomesgal.com says, "Don't forget to take care of yourself!" As Mother's Day has come and gone here in Lane County in our beautiful city of Eugene, Oregon she is reminding us that we need to remember the other 364 days of the year to honor ourselves.

How did you spend your Mother's Day? Did you spent it sight seeing, golfing, on family picnic, breakfast in bed, or just quietly sitting at home reading a book? If you are like me, I rarely take time for just myself. Family, work, friends, or necessary obligations get in the way of that hot bath and glass of wine with your favorite novel. We need to remember that we can honor ourselves as mothers, sisters, friends, or parents by taking that time for ourselves. Men, you are included in this too! Do you take anymore time than we do?

I spent my Mother's Day smelling the two dozen roses that my son set me from Boston. I spent my Mother's Day reading the poem that my daughter wrote me about a horse. I spent my Mother's Day gardening, tending the grass, and spreading bark that my husband got me to make me happy. I spent my Mother's Day calling my mother, sisters, and girl friends to wish them a Happy Mother's Day. This was my idea of a "Wonderful Day". Does this happen often? Yes... I love to take the time to garden. Yes, I call my mother, sisters, and girl friends to just see how they are. Yes, I spend time talking to my son and daughter.

Time is precious and all we have are those we love. Cherish your family and your friends. Take time for yourself. Do the things you enjoy in life. Do it during the other 364 days of the year.

Karen Church, www.eugenehomesgal.com, and your Lane County "Go To" gal is here to report on the current Market Share Stats of the Greater Lane County area. What a great opportunity for sellers to be a part of this amazing company which is currently using national advertizing to bring in buyers.

Definition of % Market Share - the percentage obtained by dividing the number of properties sold within an individual neighborhood in a given time period by the total number of properties sold throughout the Greater Lane County market during that same period. Also known as market share.

RE/MAX is again leading the way in this Real Estate market with 16.18% of the market share. Following in second is Windermere with 12.82% and Prudential at 11.45%. Keller Williams is trailing with 9.47% followed by John L. Scott at 7.24% and Barnhart at 3.24%. This means that out of the 204 units sold here at RE/MAX there has been a closed volume of $46,346,821. This is great!! It demonstrated that the agents here are getting homes sold for our RE/MAX sellers and finding homes for those RE/MAX buyers.

Average days of the market for April 2009 are 120 whereas in April 2008 there was an average of 86 days on the market. This also lends to the rise in months of inventory at current sales pace of 10.9 months vs. 9.5 last year. Average sales price is $229,999 down approximately $22,000 from a year ago.

While the stats are down, people here should know that this market closely resembles that of the 2005 market. Our numbers may be down, but on the whole, we are relatively stable. My goal would be to see more buyers going out and purchasing property. What a great time to buy.... in a down market.

RE/MAX Realtor Karen Church, www.eugenehomesgal.com , reports that the number of buyers looking for new homes has picked up in Eugene, Oregon and around Lane County. Her observations come from the traffic she observes coming though her recent open houses in Danebo, East Eugene, Ferry Street Bridge, and South Eugene.

"I have held four open house's in the last two weeks with home prices varying from $250,000 to $825, 0000. The traffic coming through has been spectacular! Each home has had an average of a dozen or so people come through. This is up from the winter months when there were only three or four buyers in a three hour period. I am happy to see that people are again out looking for homes. Buyers are in various stages of the home buying process. Many are "just looking" and beginning their search, while others are pre approved for a home loan and are ready to buy. I believe that a combination of President Obama's $8000 tax reimbursement and low interest rates are enticing buyers to venture out and begin again to look. This is an optimistic view of the housing market from this realtor's perspective. With so much doom and gloom in the media, I am pleased to see that buyers are gaining confidence and understanding that now is really the time to buy.

"No matter what stage of buying or selling you are in, I encourage you to get out there and come to open houses. I look forward to talking with you as you visit the wonderful homes I have to show."

Spring has sprung here in Eugene, Oregon, and there are many fun activities around Lane County for all age groups and interests. As your "Go To Gal," Karen Church of RE/MAX Integrity www.eugenehomesgal.com, I'd like to bring your attention to the many different opportunities for recreation in Western Oregon.

There is a lot to see and do for Mom and you as Mother's Day weekend approaches. Remember, Sunday, May 10 is Mother's Day! Here are a few activities Mom and the whole family might enjoy. The Oregon Horse Center, 90751 Prairie Road, is hosting the Mother's Day Spring Classic, May 6-10, beginning at 8:00 am. This is a USEF "A" rated show with a wide range of classes and divisions. For old movie buffs, the Jaqua Concert Hall at The Shedd, Broadway and High Street, is hosting "Hold That Ghost" May 7-10 with music from Universal Studios. Check out www.theshedd.org for more information. The NASU is holding its 41^st annual U of O Mother's Day Pow Wow at Mac Court May 8-10. There will be a dance and hand drum competition plus dance specials. The best part is that admission is free! See www.uoregon.edu for details. Feel like a day in the country? Saturn Farm will be hosting a Mother's Day Art and Farm Show May 8 and 9 from 11am-5pm at Saturn Farm, 27548 Fruitway Lane in Alvadore. This is a great place to check out local arts and crafts, landscaping ideas, and music. Of course no spring weekend in Eugene would be complete without track and field. The Oregon Ducks Track and Field Team will again be hosting the Oregon Twilight Meet at historic Hayward Field with an evening meet beginning at 5:30pm on Saturday, May 9. This is the last meet of the regular season as the Duck athletes tune up for the championships and compete for USA qualifiers. There is so much to see and do in beautiful Eugene, Oregon and the surrounding area. What a great place to live, and what a great time to buy the home of your dreams! Check back here often for "Go To" ideas from your "Go To Gal," Karen Church, the Eugene Homes Gal of RE/MAX Integrity.