Jane Nicoletti

Week 1 June 8 - 12

• Camps Edge, 9 am - 3 pm: Calvery Church on Mid Rivers for K - 5th Grade or 9am - 11:30 for 4 years old +: $30 or $15 respectively - register online or at church
• Crocodile Dock, 6 pm - 9 pm: Willott Road Community Church, 4 years old - 6th grade

Week 2 June 15 - 19

• Gadget's Garage, 9 am - noon: Immanuel Lutheran in St. Charles
• Crocodile Dock, 9 am - noon: Messiah Lutheran in Weldon Springs
• Bommerang Express 6 pm - 8:30 pm: First Baptist Church O'Fallon, pre K+
• Camps Edge, 9 am - 3 pm: Calvery Church in Wentzville for K - 5th Grade or 9am - 11:30 for 4 years old +: $30 or $15 respectively - register online or at church

Week 3 June 22 - 26

• Boomerang Express 9 am - noon: First Baptist Church Harvester, 3 years old+ if potty trained
• Crocodile Dock, 9 am - noon: Zion Lutheran in Harvester
• Crocodile Dock, 9 am - noon: St. Cletus in St. Charles

Week 4 June 29 - July 3

• Crocodile Dock, 9 am - noon: First United Methodist in St. Charles, 2 years old+

Week 5 July 6 - 10

• SunRock Kids Camp, 9 am - noon: St. Charles Presbyterian Church

Week 6 July 13 - 16

• Camps Edge, 6 pm - 8:30 pm: St. Charles Christian Church, 2 years old+

Habitat for Humanity is doing a "Women's Build" on a home in St. Peters, MO. It's my understanding that is is being built for a single mom. SCHNEIDER Real Estate is putting together a team of Diva's headed up by Julie Quinones to participate in a work day. Tentatively scheduled for the 24th of June to assist in dry walling the home, we are all looking forward to a productive day and an opportunity to "Give Back" to our community.

Intrepid first-time homebuyers jumped off the fence and made an important impact on the housing market this week. Pending home sales rose 3.2 percent in March, according to the National Association of Realtors Pending Home Sales Index. Closer to home the news is even better–pending home sales in St. Charles County rose 26 percent in March, says Karen Vennard, president of the St. Charles County Association of Realtors.

Investors liked the news too. Infused with a sense of optimism about the economy, the stock market responded with the Dow Jones Industrial gaining 214 points and the Nasdaq 44 points in one day.

First-timers evaluated the housing situation and decided that now is the time to buy. Interest rates are at an all time low, there is plenty of housing available, prices are affordable, and then there’s the 8 percent tax credit incentive for first-time buyers.

That tax credit expires December 1, 2009. The credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to $8,000. This has really moved people into the market instead of waiting to see what might happen down the line.

Because of the time limit on the tax credit, if you are a first-time buyer even remotely considering a home purchase this year, now is the time to get organized. This is excellent advice even if you don’t qualify for the tax credit.

Potential buyers should:

• Keep saving! Cash is king and the bigger the down payment, the better mortgage terms you’ll get.
• Investigate financing now and get pre-qualified for a loan.
• Be very honest with yourself and determine how much house you can really afford. Do research on how much your monthly payment would be and consider expenses like utilities and taxes.
• Check your credit report. You don’t want any surprises there.
• Work with a SCHNEIDER Real Estate Realtor who knows the neighborhoods, schools, social amenities and has your interest as a buyer as first priority.
  

Sellers should:

• Communicate with your Realtor. Pass along improvements you’ve made that would make a good selling point. Open communication is absolutely necessary for your Realtor to bring you the best qualified buyers and avoid misunderstandings.
• Speaking of communication, make sure everyone knows your home is for sale. Word-of-mouth is one of the best marketing tools. Welcome neighbors at your open house. They in turn may very well bring your buyer to you Realtor and clinch the sale.
• Keep your property neat, clean and inviting. Mow the grass, trim the shrubs, water those annuals and perennials. Nothing says you’re not welcome like dead flowers and overgrown grass. Potential buyers will find your listing on the Internet or in the newspaper and drive by to preview the property. You have about 45 seconds of curb appeal to convince a buyer that your home is well cared for and the right purchase.
• Green, green, green is the way to go. The current movement toward energy savings and sustainable resources is not a fad. Buyers are looking for ecological solutions in their purchases and sellers need to incorporate these features into the home’s selling points.
  

While things are looking up right now, we still don’t know if the market has bottomed out and is on the way up to more robust times. Both buyers and sellers must make their own personal decisions about the housing market. Returning to a growing economy and housing market won’t be easy. But if we all get off the fence and show some confidence, we’ll get there sooner rather than later.

Jane Nicoletti knows local neighborhoods, schools, social amenities to help first time home buyers

Judy Bateman, SCHNEIDER Real Estate agent, recently hosted a "Shop Till Your Drop" shoes purse and jewelry party with a percentage of the proceeds going to charity. Women loved the UNIQUE shoes that have interchangeable tops creating many pairs of shoes out of one sole www.Onesole.com and the purse that had interchangeable covers and handles www.Michebag.comchange your purse without removing all the contents to another one! It was a fun night with lots of good appetizers and drinks and just in time for Mothers Day. The proceeds were split between the Karen Weidinger Foundation ( benefits breast cancer patients with "creature comforts" such as wigs, head covers etc. founded by a local Loan Officer who was a co-worker of Karen's) and our local Multiple Sclerosis Chapter.

SCHNEIDER agent Julie Quinones, recently hosted a fun-filled night under the big top at their AWANA lock in. Boys and girls 3rd - 6th grade are locked in for a night of clowns, gross out games, circus themed food and sleep around 4 am when the movie began-and very grateful adults!

Julie is also co-ordinating a team to assist in the Habitat for Humanity "All Women's" build breaking ground next Friday in St. Peters. Her once small group has gown to about 50. These 50 enthusiastic women (including SCHNEIDER agent Becky Jecha) have been attending the free LOWES seminars weekly to learn the tricks of the trade.

You are invited to view wrccsoundbooth's photo album: Awana 2009 Overnighter