Congress approves increased mortgage loan limits

Congress gave overwhelming final approval on 2/7/08 to the Economic Stimulus Package supported by NAR and Realtors across the country. As a result, the government will be sending payments to most American households and grant tax incentives for business investment The plan totals $152 billion. The final deal came yesterday after the Senate added low-income seniors and disabled veterans to the list of people who would receive money under a package previously approved by the House, then approved the bill, 81 to 16.
The House took up and passed the Senate measure last night in a 380 to 34 vote, ensuring that checks would begin reaching eligible recipients by mid-May.
In a nod to the housing problems, the stimulus plan will increase the limits on home loans that can be purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored finance companies, and on loans that can be insured by the Federal Housing administration. The one-year increases will make it easier to refinance loans or obtain new mortgages in expensive markets. The new limits will vary based on local conditions. The increased loan limits means borrowers will see immediate relief with new liquidity in the mortgage market and the nation will see an additional 300,000 home sales. The increased FHA loan limits means an additional 138,000 Americans will purchase homes, and with the needed FHA reforms means 200,000 families can refinance their homes safely and affordably. (info from NAR and The NY Times)

Check out what Edna has to say about her trip to Cambodia and the treasures she found--

I just put some jewelry up on Etsy that I purchased in Cambodia, while I was there I met a shop owner I really liked and liked her jewelry as well so I decided to bring some home and share this great find with the public.

http://ednabishop.etsy.com

:) Edna

Are You a Real Estate Professional

I think everyone in our industry will acknowledge that we find ourselves in a very challenging market. I consider this to be a time of great opportunity. I know that Real Estate careers will be made in the coming year and smart agents will take their "unfair share" of the market in a way that will help them build their brand and their business for years to come. Likewise, agents will leave the real estate business in record numbers if they don't have the skills, systems and support needed to sustain them.

This is a time when many agents are considering their options...and they should be.

In considering your options please ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does my company have a retirement program in place for me? Do the owners share their profits with agents in addition to paying commissions?

2. Does my company's Risk Management program include training, E&O insurance and an attorney on call and does it cost $600 a year or less?

3. Does my company's commission structure limit (cap) the amount of money the company takes and allow me to go to 100% commission split?

4. If my company is a franchise does it limit (cap) the Royalty fee or franchise fee I pay?

5. Does my company offer an in-house training program that gives me the systems, models and dialogues I need to be competitive in today's market?

6. Is my Manager/Owner NON competing? Is all the referral business coming into my office referred to the agents in my office?

7. Does my company permit me to put MY name and cell phone number on For Sale signs on MY listings thus assuring sign calls go to me?

8. May I put my name and cell number in my listings when they are advertised in the company ad?

9. Does my company have an in-house coaching program with a full time professional coach on staff who is dedicated to helping agents build their brand and their business?

10. Does my company have state of the art technology tools, a Technology Director and an in-house technology training program?

11. Does my company open its books monthly so I can see how the money I make for them is being spent?

12. Do I have a say in company policies and the way in which my office is run?

13. Has my company's Market Share grown dramatically over the past year?

14. Do I love where I work? Is the culture of my office and the attitude of the support staff upbeat, positive and service oriented? Do I feel like the valued customer of my office?

15. Does my company consider me to be their partner and a valued asset?

If your answer to any of these questions is No, please consider that you have options and may want to explore them.

If the answer to most of them is No, we should talk as soon as possible! I would love to share with you what your options truly are.

My cell phone number is (206) 696-9240; my e-mail address is maryam@kw.com. Please call me right now. All conversations will be held in strictest confidence.

2008 is the Year of Opportunity, may it be your best year in real estate ever!

Maryam Mirnateghi

Team Leader

Keller Williams Realty

Daily Inspiration

Don't hide behind your fears; shower the shadows with the light of awareness.

Daily Inspiration

True self-awareness does not leave us quiet and content. 
It rouses us from complacency and moves us with its vitality,
always to attain ever-greater heights.

Car Seat Inspections

I finally made it out to Ikea in Renton to have our baby car seat inspected. In line ahead of me was a responsible pregnant woman making sure her car seat was properly installed before her precious cargo arrived. Ahead of her was another irresponsible couple like myself who hadn't gotten around to this important job in a timely fashion since their rear facing pint size passenger was in the dad's arms. In my defense (to make myself feel better and look less flakey) my baby did come nearly 3 weeks early (never mind he's 3 1/2 months old now and I've had 3 1/2 months to get around to this task).

After sitting in my car for about 15 minutes it was my turn for a pat on the back. OK, so I was expecting to be one of the 10% of the genius population who can install a car seat properly. Actually, I was piggybacking on the brains of my engineer husband who is very mechanically inclined. I knew that by myself I would be part of the 90% of the population who have to chant "righty tighty, lefty loosey" when turning a screw driver.

Not only did we:

1) fail to install our car seat in best location (middle seat - which we knew, we just couldn't figure out how to make the seat base secure enough),

2) we attached it incorrectly and

3) had the harness too low on the baby which would have helped facilitate serious damage to his delicate internal organs in the event of a car accident.

Needless to say I was humbled to learn that our efforts to keep our son safe were very flawed and I am very grateful to the people who volunteer to help keep our innocent children safe while they share the roads with distracted drivers.

If you have a baby in a car seat or a toddler or young child in a booster seat you can call the Washington State Safety Restraint Coalition at 1-800-BUCKL-UP or visit their website 800bucklup.org for information on car seat checks like the one I attended today at Ikea.

White Center Walgreens

Is having a sale.

Daily Inspiration

The best response to anger is praise.
Sincere praise of another’s virtues arouses and calls
forth those qualities from within the core of their soul.   

Daily Inspiration

As you feed your faith-- your doubt will starve.

Daily Inspiration

Intellect and passion are two separate worlds.
Intellect is cold and settled; passion is seething and impetuous.
We must unite the two.
Intellect then becomes a guide for a life passionately
devoted to purposeful action.

Daily Inspiration

The key to personal growth is the ability to acknowledge what is truly good for us and to reject what is not. This innate sense is developed not in the rational mind. Rather, it is formed in the deepest, most intuitive part of our soul, in the ability to show gratitude and sincere appreciation.

West Seattle Art Walk Video Jan 10th

Here is a video I found online of the recent West Seattle Art Walk and it features our very own Keller Williams Agent Edna Bishop


Art Walk Jan 10th