What do you want to do with YOUR money?

It is the BEST of times, it is the WORST of times. You’ve heard it said often, right? But there has never been a BETTER time to BUY real estate than NOW!

It is the BEST of times, it is the WORST of times! You’ve heard it said often, right? Well, it may be only partially true. In our economy today, people all over the country view the Real Estate market as going through one of the toughest times in many years - and we have certainly had our bumps. Overall, home prices have dropped over the last five to six years across most of the country, BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS! Interest rates remain at record lows! And MORE GOOD NEWS is that the current rates make it more affordable to purchase real estate - so I would say that NOW is one of the best times to invest in real estate, NOW is the best of times - and I will show you why.

According to Cendera Funding DFW Regional Manager, Jill Clifton, “the Federal Reserve's highly unusual promise — to keep interest rates low for "at least" the next two years — should assuage fears of a rising rate environment. The positive effect that has on real estate is that flat or declining values offer additional affordability, allowing many more buyers the ability to qualify for a home mortgage loan. There has been some recent credit softening that will allow consumers with lower than 600 credit scores the ability to qualify under certain conditions.”

Here is an illustration of a comparison of rate and purchase price history (taxes and insurance have been taken out of the equation).

Loan Amount	Rate	Principle and Interest*	30 Years of Payments
$200,000	Today @4.5%	$1,013.37 a month	$ 364,813
$200,000	In 2008 @6%	$1,199.10 a month	$ 431.676
$200,000	in 1983 @13%	$2,213.40 a month	$ 796,824
$100,000	in 1983 @13%	$1,106.20 a month	$ 398,232

*These payments do not include Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).

The chart illustrates that today you are able to borrow double the amount of money someone could 28 years ago and pay less principal and interest! Real Estate is not a get rich quick investment but over the years it has always been a solid investment!

So, the question is – what do you want to do with your MONEY?

Article Contributors:

Brian Tarbet
Cendera Funding
817-219-5555 cell
btarbet@cenderafunding.com
www.cenderalo.com/btarbet

Jill Clifton, Regional Manager
214-232-0979 cell
www.jillclifton.com

Contact Jill or Brian to see if you qualify for a low-interest loan and to get started with your smart real estate investment.

NMLS # 237394

CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company

800-451-8055 or email 411@judgefite.com.

Why I Choose? Judge Fite helps you stay ahead of the curve

Dene McFerren of the Cedar Hill office shares her thoughts about training in a fast changing business.

Before I decided to get my real estate license, I knew I wanted to work for Century21 Judge Fite, if they would have me. As a life long citizen of Dallas, I grew up hearing the Judge Fite name associated with words like integrity, value, service, and longevity. When they added Century21 to their title, they became a a formidable force with a national presence.

Now that I have been a part of the Judge Fite team for almost ten years, I can honestly tell you that their impeccable reputation pales in comparison to the true integrity of this organization. They believe in supporting their agents and staff to a level I have never experienced before in my professional life. Recently it became necessary for some agents to have additional training for a particular facet of this business. Instead of making it a negative, or punitive situation, Judge Fite created a training session that was not only extremely informative and easily accessible, but also provided all of the agents with FREE MCE hours as a result of completing the training. When you make a mistake, as we all do, the management and executives at Judge Fite not only stand by you, they help you correct the problem and then find a way to improve your ability to deal with whatever may come your way.

Real estate is a fast changing business with a myriad of moving parts. Judge Fite stays ahead of the curve and provides training throughout your career at every level of success you achieve. They support you when you are in need, appreciate you in your successes, reward your achievements, and they provide all the training and education that make everything possible. They really have no equal in my opinion.

Dena McFerren
Cedar Hill
469-879-6178

SaleabilityCommercial

Real Estate 411: Saleability means SOLD in Commercial

In Commercial we are just as concerned as you are in “getting your house ready to sell” to make sure our commercial properties are “ready to sell”.

We are still very much in a “Buyer’s” market in Commercial and it is our responsibility as agents for our clients to make sure their properties are “ready to sell” in order to maximize the price that they can achieve for the property.

Curb appeal is just as important in selling a Commercial property as it is in selling a house. We try to make sure that all properties that we have listed to sell have landscaping carefully manicured, the buildings painted if need be, and make sure the parking lots are picked up with no trash blowing around the grounds. While emotion does not play as big a part in the purchase of a commercial property, the initial reaction to a property that is well maintained certainly is a plus.

A successful sale requires that we concentrate on six considerations (yes the same six as residential):

1. The listing price – The values of most commercial properties are not what they were 2 – 3 years ago. So while the Seller’s may want to “achieve” the price their property was once worth, it is our job to help list the property at a current market price – other wise it will be more difficult to sell the property.

2. The terms of the sale – we have found that many of our clients are more flexible now on how they will sell a property. Some will take back seller financing. Others will give more feasibility time and/or closing time. We try to approach each one with creative ideas that fit their situation best.

3. Condition of the Property – going back to what I mentioned earlier, if the property appears to be well maintained vs. the opposite, the buyers will not worry as much about “hidden” items that have not been taken care of by the current owner.

4. Location of the property – while it may not be as important as a home buyer “wanting to be only in a certain neighborhood”, some buyers do prefer to be in “certain” parts of the Metroplex for a number of reasons.

5. Accessibility – very important factor in selling a commercial property. If access into and out of a shopping center is not good, then it will definitely make it more difficult to sell the property because it is probably harder to keep tenants – if customers have trouble getting in and out of the property.

6. Marketing exposure – We are able to give all of our commercial properties exposure through a large number of commercial listings services and email systems that allow us to constantly keep it in front of other brokers in the Metroplex.

Please keep your Commercial Department in mind for your Commercial referrals. They can come from a number of sources that you may deal with daily. Neighbors, church members, family members, anyone that you know that owns a business. We work in all areas of Commercial and will work all of your referrals to the best of our ability.

Thank you for all of the referrals some of you are already giving us. We enjoy giving you the “referral” check when we complete the transaction and we have had an increasing number of those this year.

Call me with any questions you might have and let us know how we can help you with your commercial referrals.

Larry Harbour, Manager, Commercial Division

214-446-2575

LarryHarbour@judgefite.com

Are you Ready to get off the Fence?

TaxCreditFacts

The Homebuyer's extended tax credit is about to come to an end - are you ready to get off the fence?

There hasn't been a time like this to buy a home in 40 years.

Interest rates are at historic lows but cyclical trends suggest they will soon rise. Home buyers may never see such a chance again

If you want to buy a house, now is the time, and if you don't act soon, you will regret it. Here's why: historically low interest rates!

The average 30-year fixed-rate loan with no points or fees is around 5.5%. That is the lowest the rate has been in nearly 40 years. In fact, rates are so well below historic averages that it should make all current and prospective homeowners take notice of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

You can see how the trend upward began in the 70’s and peaked in the eighties. There has been a slow downward trend and we are now at the bottom. Experts agree that rates will begin to climb back up in the very near future.

What I'm trying to impress upon everyone is that if you are planning on being a homeowner now and/or in the foreseeable future, or if you are looking to move your family into a bigger home, then pay more attention to the interest rates than the price of the home. If you have a steady job, good credit, and the down payment, then you really are being offered the gift of a lifetime.

There is still time to get in on the Extended Homebuyer’s Tax Credit.

Now is the perfect time to revisit the extended and expanded Home Buyer's Tax Credit.

Why? Because now, as you calculate your tax bill or your tax refund, you can finally see in real terms just how beneficial a tax credit of up to $8,000 can be to your bottom line.

Here's the basics:

Qualified 2009 and 2010 first-time home buyers can get up to 10% of the home's purchase price or a maximum of $8,000. In November 2009, legislation extended a tax credit of up to $6,500 (or up 10% of the home's purchase price) to long-time residents of the same primary residence if they purchase a new main home. To qualify, eligible taxpayers must show that they lived in their previous homes for a five-consecutive-year period during the eight-year period ending on the closing date of the new home.

Important details to remember:

1) You don't have to pay it back (as long as you stay in your qualified home for at least 36 months).

2) If you qualify for the credit, you can still apply it to this year's taxes, even if you've already filed your returns, or save it for your 2010 returns.

3) This is a true tax credit, not a deduction. If you qualify for the full credit, there will be an actual dollar-for-dollar reduction of up to $8,000 (or up to $6,500 for qualified repeat buyers) on your tax bill now or in 2010.

4) New income qualification limits have been put in place that expanded the pool of qualified buyers.

5) If you purchased a qualified home or plan to after reading this article, you must have a contract in place by April 30, 2010 (with closing to take place by June 30, 2010), so don't wait!

There are, of course, other details and qualification requirements and restrictions that you'll need to consider – so please contact one of our real estate professionals or one of our in-house Loan Officers to find out if you are ready to get off the fence! Call 800-451-8055 or email 411@judgefite.com.

Working with Mobile Real Estate Technology

Going online for real estate information is a fun and new way to go house hunting and locate information about neighborhoods, school, parks, communities…and more! Just imagine putting that information into the palm of your hands via your BlackBerry, iPhone or other “smart” phone? It’s possible now with the new mobile technologies that are available in the real estate market.

The purpose of all these gadgets, when it comes to real estate, is to provide the customer with streamlined information so that you can make a more informed decision. It also enables your real estate agent to provide you with almost immediate service and answers to questions, before and throughout the transaction. Here are a few helpful hints to get you started using mobile technology.

• Buy the perfect phone – choose the phone that has all the options you want and more
• Get connected – make sure your mobile service has a broad network with GPS
• Learn to text – subscribe to a generous “texting” package with your mobile network provider
• Visit iTunes.com to browse, purchase and download real estate applications from the “Apps” store
• Set up accounts for your real estate apps so you can easily log in, browse homes, save them, and make notations
• Trulia’s iPhone app is a great real estate application where you will quickly learn how to “house hunt” using your iPhone

When you are ready to buy or sell your property, engage a mobile real estate agent who is connected through a lead router service and will be able to receive your online inquiries and emails instantly and respond with the answers you need!

Everything but skiing in Dallas/Fort Worth!

Jim Fite talks about the diverse real estate market and the many property types available - just about everything you could want...except skiing!

Finding the right house is about more than bricks and mortar, it’s about choosing a lifestyle!

A home and a neighborhood tailored to your personality
One of the joys of owning a home is the creative aspect of tailoring your new environment to your personality, your lifestyle, and your needs. From decorating and painting to landscaping to location, your home tells a story about you! The variety of home types in Dallas Fort Worth supports a highly diverse Metroplex of retail and business professionals, craftsman and artisans, teachers, health professionals and civil servants. There is not just one housing answer! Maybe that’s why DFW is one of the most sought after markets and job growth centers in the nation – there is something here for everyone.

Here is a list of things to think about when choosing your DFW real estate lifestyle:

Personality type – City-goer or country lover? Quiet or party lover?
Work requirements – work in an office downtown? From your home? What is the commute?
Family – Do you have kids? Is your family active in sports? Weekend activities? Weeknight activities?
Entertainment – love the movies? Like to listen to live music? How far are you willing to drive for your fun needs?
Hobbies – Do you need a hobby room? Place for a garden? Pool or gym access? Golf?
Physical limitations – are you physically limited? Do you want stairs? Need easy access?
Schools/Church/Shopping – Involved in PTA? Teach Sunday School? Do you want shopping easily assessable?
Time Management – How much driving do you want to do? Can you handle traffic? Do you have daycare time requirements?
Budget – what can you afford? What area can you afford? How dependable is your car? Gas mileage? School? Taxes?

Think about these things, discuss them with your partner if you are buying a home with someone else. Write down the answers and use this as a guide to start your search for the perfect real estate lifestyle you will enjoy for years!

To find a real estate professional who can help you get started with your real estate transaction, contact CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company today! Call 800-451-8055, or email 411@judgfite.com.

Why use a Realtor in Commerical Real Estate?

Realtors are not just real estate agents. They are the true professionals and experts in the industry. There are many reasons to use a Realtor in commercial real estate transactions. Here are several real examples that will show how using a Realtor benefited some of the clients of the CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Commercial Division:


A retailer has always done his own site selection for his new locations. Our Realtor Agent met with him 12 years ago and showed that he could research the site selection and negotiate the lease as well as the client, saving the client valuable time that he could use running his business. 15 locations later (and counting) this is still working effectively for both the client and Realtor.

A developer/contractor did his own leasing of the shopping centers he built. Our Realtor Agent convinced the client that he was capable of handling all aspects of the leasing of the center, allowing the client to spend more time working on his construction business and procuring additional construction jobs. The Realtor leased up one center, prompting the client to ask him to find another site for purchase and development. Now, the Realtor is pre-leasing that soon to-be- built shopping center. The client now spends his time and energy growing his construction business, knowing that his Realtor is handling the leasing of his center in a professional and effective way.

The owner of a dry cleaning business wants to build and own his own retail center. Our Realtor Agent researched areas, helped negotiate the purchase of land and then helped the client with development, leasing and eventual sale of the center while allowing the client to spend his time successfully running his other four stores.

A banker with a property in default wants to sell it before it goes to foreclosure. The banker calls a Realtor to help him. The Realtor contacts one of his investors and is successful in quickly negotiating a sale of the property before foreclosure. This allows the banker to remove the property from his “bad” loan list, provides the investor the opportunity to pick up a valuable property and both parties obtain a mutually satisfying ongoing lender/borrower relationship. A win-win for all sides because the banker knew the value of using a Realtor.

I you would like help with your commercial listing or are interested in a career in commercial real estate, contact Larry Harbour, Manager, Commercial Division for CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company at 214-446-2575, or email LarryHarbour@judgefite.com. Be sure to visit http://www.c21jfcommercial.com/ to view all our commercial property listings.