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

Home prices drop severely…

When you’re out there in your market listing property there will be several seller’s who think there properties are worth what they think it is( vs what the market says it is) please show them the article attached below. We who are in the trenches daily have seen a steady decline in our respective areas for some time. We need to educate the public about these changes so they can realistically price their home to have it sell.

Hopefully one day soon we will reach bottom and the only way to go is up. Is it soon is anyone’s guess. Right now this is the market we’re dealing with until things get better and IMHO they will. It’s a Buyer’s market and Sellers have to realize that fact. There’s no easier way to say that. So buyer’s get out there and start buying.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080129/home_prices.html

Robert L. Brown

Flexit Realty

616 366 7030

Obama takes South Carolina …..

He takes it with 55% of the vote. Not bad. Not bad at all. Still the idea of having to crisscross the US from state to state just to get a nomination. There should be a simpler process. I know this has been in place for decades but I’m all for someone coming up with a plan that shorten the time. Some of the money spent could be directed to other areas. Feeding the homeless and better schools come to mind.

As I said in an earlier post there are candidates that don’t have the staying power and drop out of the race. Where does the remainder of their contributions go to. Sorry for going off topic there. Barack Obama still has a long way to go. Hilary Clinton still leads in the number of delegates (by 82) but that margin could be erased in the near future. Caroline Kennedy has announced that she will be supporting Mr Obama. There was an earlier post that in it I mentioned that he(” Yes he's young but this brings to mind someone who reminds me so much like him and his name is John Kennedy. Some of the same qualities President Kennedy had I see also in Sen Obama) has the same charisma as the late President Kennedy had. It’s been said that history repeats itself. They are both popular and both have excited this country during their campaigns. All we can do is watch and see the next twists and turns that undoubtedly unfold in election 2008.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/305311/Senator-Barack-Obama-Oprah

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27kennedy.html?ref=opinion

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080127/ap_on_el_pr/south_carolina_primary

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/jan/26/obama_knocks_one_out_park/

Robert L. Brown

616 366 7030

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com

Tax Rebates and all that jazz…….

So with this rebate what will it accomplish? 1200.00 for a couple. 600 for an individual. Now I’m not saying not to be grateful for it but how long in this economy will that money last. For some that’s a house payment. Others a car payment. Will this really stimulate the economy? In my opinion no. Is this a move by the Bush Presidency to let us know that they value us? What about rising oil prices? What about people losing their jobs and homes on a daily basis. We’ve been held hostage to these and other things for so long. My opinion is with everything that has happened in the last month or so capping it with the sub prime mess this will help only for a moment.

This is just a band aid on a much bigger problem. Do I have the answer? Of course not. Just an observation from where I’m sitting. The state of Michigan’s population and economy has steadily declined over the past few years. I don’t know the numbers but in speaking to people on the street at times I hear of people leaving to find a better place to work, live and support their family.

Have we hit the bottom yet? I don’t think so. But we don’t need to slide any more. This election is going to be one of the most important in this country in decades. Whoever gets elected has their work cut out for them. They will have to hit the ground running to turn this country back into the great nation it truly is.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/washington/25fiscal.html?th&emc=th

Robert L Brown

Flexit Realty

616 366 7030

Breaking News: Feds Cut the Rate.. Again

In another extraordinary move the Federal Reserve cut the interest rate by .75% to try and head off a recession. Is this too late? Many people are wondering when the downward spiral will come to an end. If there are ANY tentative buyers around now is the time to buy that home you were thinking about. Rates are at an all time low. I don’t understand why there aren’t more buyers purchasing homes. This is a true buyer’s market. I by no means am an economist. I’m just an educated real estate agent who knows a good thing when he sees one. There is so much inventory at such reduced prices. The main reason for this rate cut IMO is the stock prices falling. Consumers need to have more confidence in this economy before it can turn around.

This move reminds me of the movie “The Core”. The premise of this movie is that the Earth’s “core” has stopped moving and the EMF (electro magnetic field) that surrounds the earth has started to deteriorate. So they send a group of scientists to the center of the earth to “jumpstart” the core to make it move again. A little hokey but entertaining nonetheless. Back to the Feds. Lowering the rate is like getting out a giant pair of jumper cables to get this economy started on an upward course.

This economy ( or lack thereof) affects EVERYONE. Noone is immune to it. We’ve seen (in our ‘state”) loss of jobs, high gas prices, people losing their homes etc. Is there no end in sight? We are all in this together.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jan/22/useconomy.marketturmoil1

Robert L Brown

Five Star Real Estate

616 366 7030

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com

Now the infighting begins…

For the life of me I don’t understand why politicians within their own party resort to squabbling between each other. It has happened since as far back as one can remember. It’s like a free for all and whoever is standing when the dust settles is our candidate. Now what a way to pick the next leader of the free world. When would we come to the realization to pick the best viable candidate to lead this country.

Everyone has their idea of who they think would be the best one. They start out throwing their hats in the ring. Next we have them raising funds (war chests) for the long haul of hitting the campaign trail. Then on to endorsements from high powered entertainers, tv personalities and the like. During this process if you haven’t raised enough money some may drop by the way side. Then on to the debates and caucuses. So much time. That’s why people get disenfranchised with the whole political process. Then when you have your front runners (from both parties) they ALL think they are the best candidate for the job. Then the bickering starts. We could go on and on but why bother. All we have to do is watch the news in the media and the internet. This reminds me of kids in a schoolyard. We want to be no1. Well sit back and enjoy. Like they say the best is yet to come.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22769395/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/democrats_debate

Robert L Brown

Five Star Real Estate

616 366 7030

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com