Linda DeRusha Broker/Realtor, ABR,ASP,CDPE

Announcing the GRAND OPENING of Coldwell Banker Advantage in Clayton at Flowers Plantation

34-104 Oleander Drive Clayton, NC 27527

Come by our new office to fill out a registration card that enters you into a drawing for a

$500 gift card to Best Buy!!!

Just come by the Coldwell Banker Advantage office (between Woodall's Fitness and Bent Tree Hair Salon) between Friday April 8th and Sunday April 10^th. The drawing will be held at 5pm on Sunday the 10^th.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE!!

Our Mission Statement

Strive for Excellence. Build Enduring Relationships. Be your Real Estate Advantage

I just read a very interesting and informative article from Housing Wire News(www.housingwirenews.com). It's source is a report from the Congressional Oversight Panel.

It says that the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) will likely help to prevent up to 800,000 foreclosures before it expires at the end of 2012. HAMP was started by the Treasury Dept to give loan services an incentive to modify loans that were just about to go into foreclosure.

As of the end of October, servicers have completed around 519,000 permanent modifications. Originally it was estimated that this program would prevent from 3 million to 4 million homes from going into foreclosure.

However, as you can see in the chart below, the conversion rate from trial modifications to permanent modifications has gone down every mont since June 2010.

According to Tim Massad, of the Treasury Drpt, "It's been clear all along that the servicers were not equipped to handle this problem. They did not have the systems or the people. The process of modifying mortgages is incredibly people-intensive and resource-intensive. They've improved, but there's still a lot to do."

An unbelievavle amount of money has been thrown at this problem, resulting in a small percentage of people being able to keep their homes.

Has it been worth all the effort? Overall, it seems to have been an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars. However, if you were one of the homeowners saved from going into foreclosure, then you definitely will think it is worthwhile.

Please lety me know your opinion. Has this program been justified, or not?

What do we do when the bottom falls out and we find ourselves in an unfamiliar place?

Yes, we do live our lives with complacency, coasting through life with our eyes closed to reality. Everyday is the same. We do not truly appreciate what we have. We have been given good health, a loving spouse, beautiful children, a lovely home.

Sometimes, we do not see all of the good---we only focus on the negative--" I need to lose weight, my spouse forgot my birthday, the kids need my attention all the time." We come to a sudden, crashing stop when something profound touches us. Sometimes, we have health issues, sometimes a financial crisis threatens to change our world. Maybe we lose a parent, a spouse or another loved one. Maybe we are facing foreclosure. These are all "earth shattering" events.

It is through these life-changing events that we truly grow as individuals. If we are smart enough, we learn from these tragic experiences and become wiser. THINGS HAPPEN TO US FOR A REASON! We are put here on earth to experience life--good and bad. Life is supposed to be a learning experience. It is through these life-changing events that we truly grow as individuals. If we are smart enough, we learn from these tragic experiences and become wiser.

Let us all spend this wonderful day today being thankful for where we are right now. Let us be thankful for life's lessons--however harsh they may be.

CAESAR SALAD

• Clove of garlic, finely chopped
• two anchovies, chopped
• teaspoon of dijon mustard
• juice from one half fresh lemon
• two tablespoons of worchestershire sauce
• one egg
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• croutons
• large head of romaine lettuce

Place first five ingredients into a wooden bowl and whisk to combine. Break egg into the bowl and mix into the first ingredients. Pour in the olive oil until desired dressing consistency.

Cut the head of lettuce into bite size pieces and place in the bowl on top of the dressing. Drop in a couple of handfuls of croutons and parmesan cheese to taste. Using two wooden spoons mix the dressing up from the bottom to cover the lettuce and croutons.

Fresh ground pepper to taste and enjoy!

Seves two as entree or four as salad course. If eating raw egg is a health concern you can use a substitute.

I'm sure that a lot of you potential new home owners are asking yourselves if this is the best time to get off the fence and finally make a decision to buy that home.

So is now the best time to buy a home?

Well, it depends.

• There are certainly quite a few great reasons to buy right now. I was in the office today talking with another agent. She has been in the business for fifteen years and she said that she has never seen a better time to buy.
• The interest rates are just about the lowest they have ever been.
• Home prices have decreased in price in the last couple of years.
• Depending on the price range, there is a large inventory of homes to choose from.
• $8000 first time home buyers' tax credit has been extended to include homes that go under contract by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30,02010.
• $6500 home buyer's tax credit for how buyers who have lived in the present home for the last five years.

If any of you have any questions concerning buying or selling real estate in Johnston county, North Carolina, please give me a call at 919-418-7442 or email me at lindawderusha@hotmail.com . I would love to talk with you and help you in your search for a new home.