Hello Everyone,   Received this from Trulia today...Good information!     With doomsayers declaring that the housing market is freefalling and the media prophesying catastrophe, many sellers have abandoned any thoughts of selling. They’ve figuratively gone back to bed and pulled the covers over their heads.   The pundits are wrong.   Most news is national and doesn’t reflect local trends. While houses may not be selling in other parts, they are definitely selling here in the San Francisco Bay Area. In fact, sales number are rapidly increasing due to the influx of REOs.   Bottom line: local home sales are not dead.   Heed some basic advice and you stand a very good chance of selling your home even in this current market. As has been mentioned in countless other blogs, home preparation is... 01/09/2009

If your looking to move to Greenville, North Carolina or other surrounding areas of Pitt County, NC, you've come to the right place. We have the largest selection of Greenville, NC real estate listings and homes for sale.   Our subdivision guide contains over 231 of the counties subdivisions.  From the established to the new, the starter home to the dream home, we have it all inside!    Make the right move in 09' visit:  www.GreenvilleMove.com     01/07/2009

You are interested in a property that needs a little work. Well, maybe it needs a lot of work. What do you do?   Unless you have the wherewithal to purchase the property “as is” and pay for the “fix up” from your own money, you may want to consider the FHA 203(k) loan.   FHA offers two variations of the 203(k) program; the traditional and streamline. Both are designed to assist with the repair/rehabilitation of an owner occupied property. Both have a minimum repair limit of $5,000.00.   The FHA 203(k) Streamline provides for a maximum repair allowance of $35,000.00. The traditional program can accommodate repairs above $35,000.00. Both programs are subject to the statutory loan limits for the county in which the property is located.   Once you have located a property and performed a fea... 01/03/2009

Home loan guidelines changed in rapid fire fashion in 2008. FHA is continuing this trend with the following guideline changes going into effect January 1, 2009.   Down Payment The minimum down payment requirement increases from 2.25% to 3.5%. For a more detailed explanation of this change with descriptive examples, click here.     Rate and Term Refinances Quick explanation of “rate and term refinance” , new loan amount only includes existing mortgage balances being refinanced plus closing costs, prepaid expenses and any discount points. Maximum loan to value is 97.75% of the appraised value of the property If an existing home equity line of credit is being refinances and there has been an advance on the line of credit in excess of $1,000 within the last 12 months, then the line of credi... 01/01/2009

“In with the new and out with the old” This is a phrase we often here this time of year. I don’t know about you, but I certainly hope 2009 is better than 2008.   For the last couple of years as I’ve come to the end of the year I remember thinking, let’s just get this year over with, next year can’t possibly be any more challenging. Guess what? I was wrong, at least from my point of view.   I find myself thinking the same thing again this year. Are you ready for a change? I am!   Just for the fun of it I thought I would look up definitions and synonyms for three words Old New Better   Let me share my thoughts with you.   OLD (a) ”overfamiliar to the point of tedium”  Tedious! Yes I feel like 2008 was a tedious year (b) “of long standing; having been such for a comparatively long time” 20... 12/31/2008

Tax season can be a stressful time for many Americans, but for those who own homes it's a time to add up the many tax benefits homeownership brings. If you do not own a home yet, take a few minutes to read our newsletter. You may find that buying a home makes more sense than ever before. Keep in mind, the information provided here is a summary of home-related tax issues rather than a comprehensive guide. In addition, although this information was accurate at press time, tax laws change continually. We strongly recommend you consult a professional tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service for authoritative answers to your tax questions as they apply to your specific situation. A WORD ABOUT GAINS TAX FACTS: Taxpayers who sell their principal residence can pocket -- tax-free -- as much a... 12/31/2008

Hello Everyone, As we all know it's hard to compete without a great web site these days. Is yours the best that it can be? Here are some easy and effective ways to improve yours - without spending a penny. From customizable charts of local home prices to an interactive map of your listings, check out these easy-to-use tools to add some bling to your web site or blog! Use these free tools to show: Your listings Your expertise Your local prices TruliaMap: A cool and interactive map of your listings, customized for your site TruliaVoices: Shows your latest answers to questions on Trulia Voices. TruliaStats: Interactive price trends chart that shows yearly prices for your local markets. Visit http://www.trulia.com/tools/ for more free tools! 12/29/2008

After cutting production 2 million barrels back this summer OPEC has recently announced additional cuts of 2.2 million barrels.   I became interested in “The Pickens Plan” from his TV ads this summer and have been following his web site. I was familiar with T. Boone Pickens from my days living in Oklahoma.   We import 70% of the oil we need and half of that amount comes from OPEC. At the height of oil prices, less than six months ago, this meant we were spending $350 billion a year to purchase OPEC oil.   Even at today’s prices this equates to over $100 billion a year. Need I remind you that many of these people hate us and some want to kill us?   There have been several cycles in my lifetime where OPEC pushed prices up to determine our breaking point. The American public would become o... 12/28/2008

Employment Information Are You Stable? This section of your home loan application addresses your employment information. Stability is considered by looking back over at least the past two years. Another of the two year look backs of a mortgage loan application.   Be prepared to provide your mortgage lender with the name and address of your employer(s). How long have your worked for this employer? Please be exact with your to and from dates. Many times I’ve asked mortgage loan applicants, “How long have your worked there? I will receive a reply “I’ve been there about two years”. Probing further I find that you have been with this employer one year and 10 months. One year and 10 months is not two years, we need to look back further.   What is the phone number of your employer(s)? The ques... 12/27/2008

Hello Everyone,   Received another email today from trulia.com very useful tool & most of all it's FREE! Check out 10 ways to enhance your online presence using Trulia:   Earn credentials as area expert.A complete suite of Web 2.0 tools lets real estate agents show market expertise with up-to-the-minute statistics and reports that you can use in your blogs and on the Trulia Voices question-and-answer platform. You will achieve an increasing level of expertise as you answer more questions and blog. Brand your listings. The most consumer-friendly property detail sheet is not complete without your name, your contact information, and a link right to your web site. Trulia receives listings from real estate companies, multiple listing services, and other online publishers. If your listing is ... 12/24/2008

Christmas time holds special memories for me and I'm certain this is true for countless millions of others. I remember one Christmas when I was quite young when I got up early, before anyone else, and in my zeal to open each and every present I received I diligently opened every Christmas present under the tree. That went over real big with my parents. Another Christmas memory stands out from my childhood. This was the year my younger brother rose early, went to the woods and gathered a collection of switches. He substituted the stocking stuffing, for my youngest brother, with the switches. Two of us had a pretty good laugh, the other three members of the family failed to see the humor.  A Christmas memory that still makes me laugh occurred when I was a young adult. I was in the kitchen... 12/24/2008

In an era of high foreclosure and short sales the FHA 203(k) loan program may be just the answer.   It can also be the answer for existing homeowners that may choose to remodel/upgrade their current home I don't really know how long this loan program has been in existence, except it has been around as long as I can remember. It has, although, been rarely utilized. Many lenders are unfamiliar with the program and others don't have access to the program.  What is this loan program? The 203(k) program can be used to repair, rehabilitate and/or improve an existing one-to-four dwelling. It can be used to purchase a home and remodel or make necessary repairs. It can also be used to remodel and/or repair and existing home while refinancing the current indebtedness. In a practical sense this lo... 12/21/2008

Part III of the Uniform Residential Loan Application compiles Borrower and Co-Borrower information.   Of course you will need to provide your full name, as it appears on your social security card. It is also useful to provide your loan officer with any other name you may use or any other name you may have used. First, we like to call you by the name you prefer to be called. Second, if you have changed your name either by marriage or previous marriage or have used any other name, it's a good idea to share this with you home loan lender. A credit report, once pulled has a section labeled "AKA Information". Credit reporting agencies pick up name variations associated with your social security number. Many underwriters request explanations of name variations listed on the credit report. Rem... 12/17/2008

  When I initially speak with someone interested in a residential mortgage most of the time the first question I am asked is either (1) what are your rates. Or (2) what do I need to do to qualify for a loan? The purpose of this series is to address the steps in completing a mortgage loan application for qualifying purposes. I will make one quick statement on rates. The question is not what are my rates, but what is your, the customers, rate. Home loan rates are dependent on many factors such as your loan profile, the type of loan needed and the purpose of the loan. The rate is about you. We are going to be discussing the 1003. What you ask? I don't understand what it is about government, quasi-government or whatever, it seems they can only speak in terms of numbers or anachronism. How a... 12/13/2008

Heart center debuts today   By Tom Marine The Daily Reflector Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Greenville officially becomes home today to a major cardiovascular center, devoted exclusively to the treatment and prevention of heart disease. Officials from East Carolina University and Pitt County Memorial Hospital are gathering to celebrate one of their most significant partnerships - the East Carolina Heart Institute. The dedication ceremony represents a culmination of the four-year partnership, which resulted in a 206,000 square-foot research facility at the university and a six-story patient bed tower at the hospital. "The part that is so rewarding, as someone who is from this area, is to be part of a partnership that is really focused on improving health care for the people in this region... 12/12/2008

That's the Question of the Day!  Keep up to Date Here! A reporter for Syracuse University football, talks of Skip Holtz being in New York today. ECU head coach Skip Holtz and Director of Athletics Terry Holland are together at the Waldorf this afternoon, possibly to discuss Monday's meetings between Holtz and representives from Syracuse. The vacancy atop The Orange football program appears to be short-lived, as Holtz Monday became latest in a string of candidates to discuss the position with Syracuse AD Daryl Gross. This comes after ECU beat Tulsa Saturday to become the Conference USA Champions - the first time the school has won its conference championship since the late 70s.  ECU's current record, 9-4, is it's best since Head Coach Skip Holtz took over the struggling program in 2005.... 12/09/2008

Christmas brings a season of giving, and several nonpofit organizations in Pitt County have planned holiday fundraising efforts to help meet the needs of our community. Human service organizations have reported a significant drop in annual donations, while the number of those in need has increased. Here are some of the ways to help fill in the gaps people are experiencing this holiday season. Coats for Kids Coldwell Banker Coastal Rivers Realty, with offices located in Greenville, NC and Washington, NC, is holding its annual "Coats for Kids" Christmas drive.  Members of the public are encouraged to bring in new or gently used coats to either of our offices.  From there, the coats will make it to deserving children throughout the county the donation came from, both Pitt & Beaufort count... 12/09/2008

A city greenway project and an initiative to build greener structures were given the go-ahead at Monday night's City Council meeting. The council voted unanimously - excepting Councilman Larry Spell, who was absent - to award a Goldsboro company with the contract to begin construction on the first half-mile of the South Tar River Greenway. That initial portion of the greenway will run between the Town Common and Woodlawn Street, and then from Woodlawn to North Warren Street. Hine Sitework will be paid $329,800 to install 10-foot wide asphalt greenways, narrow a current roadway and install a storm drainage pipe. The project will be paid for with federal funds earmarked in 2005 through the North Carolina Department of Transportation. City Engineer David Brown said there were nine bids su... 12/09/2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - East Carolina will play Kentucky in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl's Golden Anniversary Game on Friday, January 2, 2009 at 5 p.m. (ET). The game will be televised by ESPN.    East Carolina (9-4) will be making its third appearance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The Pirates earned their spot in the game after defeating Tulsa 27-24 Saturday and winning the Conference USA championship. East Carolina played in the 1994 (vs. Illinois) and 1995 AutoZone Liberty Bowl games, defeating Stanford 19-13 in the 1995 contest.  "We are excited about the opportunity to represent Conference USA in the 50th Anniversary of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl," East Carolina Head Coach Skip Holtz said. "It's going to be a phenomenal trip. This is what we've talked about beginning with the first day of pr... 12/08/2008

Governor-Elect Bev Perdue GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue is continuing her roundtable discussions on the economy. But this time she's focusing on rural development.Perdue will hold a roundtable discussion Monday in Greenville.She has held similar events in the Triangle, the Triad and Charlotte. Perdue has been holding the events as part of a listening tour in which she hears the concerns and hopes of business leaders in the state.  In almost everyday's news, you'll hear about the economy.  Whether it's stocks, bonds, real estate, banks or gas prices, we're in a time of doubt.  The catch-all term "Recession" has been in full swing since late last year and even President-Elect Obama vows that it may get worse before it gets better.  However, please note ... 12/08/2008