Robert L. Brown~Grand Rapids Real Estate Flexit Realty, West Michigan

Woman shoots herself after being foreclosed on by Fannie Mae.

This story has become one of the symbols of the growing crisis of the foreclosure mess here in the US. A 90 year old woman preferred to die then lose the home she has owned since 1970. We ask what has this country come to? Is this action going to be seen across this land because people are losing one of the most important possessions in their life? I hope not. Only time will tell. And yes she did survive. Read the article. Very interesting.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/03/eviction.suicide.attempt/index.html

Robert L.Brown

FleXit Realty

616 366 7030

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com

Good News from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Below is an article hot off the press concerning the use of the term “declining markets “. This terminology which was instituted during the aftermath of the sub prime fiasco in 2007 has affected more minorities and lower income families.

“NAR and other real estate and banking organizations have been calling on both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to change their declining market policies, which disproportionately affects minorities and lower income families and communities as well as first-time home buyers, further contributing to the sluggish housing market”

This way hopefully the stigmatism of “declining market” can be put behind us and we can dig ourselves out of this mess. With it came higher down payments and interest rates. In order to jumpstart this real estate economy those two scenarios definitely were not a help. Trust me I’m not the biggest fan of “zero-down” loans. A buyer should always invest some money into the purchase. So possibly there will be better opportunities to purchase homes in the future. We have to stay positive. It (hopefully) can only get better.

http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2008/fannie_mae_policy_change

For all your real estate needs:

Robert L.Brown

FleXit Realty

616 366 7030

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com

Good News for Grand Rapids!!

It seems we’re on an upward trend according to CNN Money. We’re in the list of the top ten cities for fastest growth in the real estate market. To me (and you) hopefully that’s great news. With the medical industry influx it’s my personal opinion the prices will restore to the levels that they were in years past.

When is another situation all unto itself. As we all know real estate is cyclical anywhere we may live. We have to be able to roll with the punches. I’ve been in the business for over 22 years and I’ve seen these trends come and go. I can honestly say I’ve never seen the housing market (here) dip so low but hopefully we will bottom out soon. The equity in most people’s homes where their savings for numerous reasons. Gone were the days that most homes here had so much equity you could tap into it for a various amount of reasons (education, home improvements and such).

We need to think positive and hope that this market will start with an upswing and people can keep their jobs and stop losing their homes. We all have to make an effort to hang in there and keep the faith.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/moneymag/0805/gallery.resg_gainers.moneymag/8.html

For all your real estate needs feel free to call:

Robert L.Brown

FleXit Realty

616 366 7030

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com

21^st Annual Fair Housing Luncheon & Workshop Series

What a power packed day it was at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza (28^th and Kraft) for the annual workshop. I wasn't having the greatest couple of days but to attend this yearly event definitely changed my perspective for the better. As a staunch advocate for Fair Housing (and for some who may not know this it is the Law) it definitely bother's me when you see and hear of blatant situations that people do and say and don't have the foggiest idea that they are breaking the law. There are so many instances that it happens the numbers are staggering and getting worse.

I attended one of the morning workshops that was moderated by Nelson Miller (Associate Dean at the prestigious Cooley Law School). The panel consisted of Shanna Smith (keynote speaker for the conference and head of the National Fair Housing Alliance), Stephen Dane ( practicing attorney in the law firm of Relman and Dane in Ohio) Sylvia Elliott (managing attorney for the Michigan Dept of Civil Rights) and Fred Mackraz ( an attorney with Kuiper Orlebeke here in GR). I am very fascinated with the law and I always gravitate toward case law and how it affects real estate. The workshop opened up with Mrs Smith and she imparted upon us a wealth of information concerning issues nationwide. A very dynamic speaker.

Mr Dane gave us a synopsis of several cases (concerning discrimination, mortgage discrimination and landlord tenant situations) and one that happened here in West Michigan recently. Ms Elliott concurred with some very pertinent facts that have affected us here in GR as well from a civil rights perspective and Mr Mackraz ended with his perspective from a local level. It gave me the opportunity to see and hear from people who are in the front lines who are out there trying cases to make our lives a better one. One would like to think that 40 years later people would be educated enough to do the right thing when dealing with clients/customers/tenants etc.

Sad to say they are not. Why you may ask is that? It's that people think they can get away with it. They think that there will be no enforcement and for the most part it's not. The Act needs more teeth in it to discourage people from discriminating against other's. There needs to be large (and I mean large) penalties for individuals and/or corporations who violate this law and made to be the example. In our discussion we were shown slide after slide of blatant discrimination towards protected classes. It's like an epidemic. Things which you would think that common sense would tell you you're doing the wrong thing. And as Shanna Smith showed us how they have tester's who travel to different cities because someone has filed a complaint. Whether it is because of an agent who has tried to steer different people to areas which suit their "race" to landlord's and /or property manager's who refuse to rent to someone to mortgage lender's who give preferential loans to certain people and not other's. It's never ending. We are professionals and should act as such. I asked a question of why over the last 40 years people would be educated enough to know that everyone has the same inalienable rights as everyone else. Everyone has the right to live where they choose. We don't have the right to take advantage of other's to harm them but some of us are guilty of this very same thing.

I'm not speaking out of turn here. The statistics don't lie. How many of us truly follow this law to the letter? How many of us have violated it? I suspect some of us are guilty. It was eye-opening to listen to Shanna Smith and Cathy Cloud (Senior Vice President for the National Fair Housing Alliance). They are in the trenches everyday. They work tirelessly to stem the tide of discrimination. I was very impressed with them. Is there a local Fair Housing Center in your area? If not one needs to be implemented. The team of Nancy Haines and Liz Keegan here in West Michigan is imeasureable. I've had the opportunity to speak with them first hand and their dedication is second to none. Stop in one day at 29 Hall SE. Become a member. Volunteer at an event. They will never turn down someone who wants to help. We need to get involved. Whether we're a seasoned professional, new to the business and /or the public. These problems that exist need everyone giving a concerted effort to eradicate this epidemic. If you've never heard them speak you really need to. You will surely be enlightened.

For ALL your real estate needs please call:

Robert L Brown

FleXit Realty

616 366 7030

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com

I received the information below and thought it best to forward on to you the consumer. Read thru it carefully and there is a link to a website below for further information. Furnaces are an integral part of living but a bad furnace is not. So take a look at your current furnace and see if it fits this criteria. Pass it on to everyone you know.

Class Action Lawsuit for Bryant, Carrier & Payne furnaces made & sold since January 1, 1989

The Suit:

· The suit alleged, “From January 1, 1989, Carrier manufactured and sold 90% residential high-efficiency condensing furnaces that contained defective polypropylene laminated condensing heat exchangers and failed prematurely.”

· The complaints specified that Carrier manufactured more than 3 million units with an inferior material in the secondary heat exchangers that may cause premature corrosion and failure.

Agreement:

· The agreement is a “short” 66 pages in length. It states Carrier will pay up to $270.00 to reimburse anyone who previously experienced a failed secondary heat exchanger.

Public Information:

· For applicable homeowners, the deadline for submitting claim form is August 1, 2008.

· http://www.furnaceclaims.com/ was created in the settlement agreement to provide the public access to notices, claim forms and locations of Carrier and Bryant dealers.

Furnace Models Included in this Settlement:

· Carrier, Bryant, Payne, and Day & Night residential high efficiency (90% +) gas furnaces that operate on natural gas or propane, manufactured after January 1989 are included in the settlement.

For all your real estate needs please call:

Robert L. Brown

FleXit Realty

616 366 7030

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com