HARRY'S COLUMN

 

SORRY ABOUT THE CANCELLATION

 

We apologize for the cancellation of our first "Open House with Style" that we announced last week. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to call off the event, which had been scheduled for October 24th .But we will be scheduling another one in the near future. Stay tuned !!

 

CONFIDENCE IN HOUSING VALUES JUMPS

 

A new Rasmussen Report indicates that Americans are more confident than they have been all year that housing values are going up and are also more likely to say their home is worth more than they owe on it..but they still don't think it's a good time to be selling.

 

The new national telephone survey report finds that 27% of homeowners say the value of their home is likely to go up over the next year. That's an eight-point jump from August and the highest level of confidence measured this year.

 

Just 19% say the value of their home is likely to go down in the next year, an eight-point drop from the previous survey. Unchanged is the 49% who expect their home's value to stay about the same.

 

In the same report, Voters remain closely divided on their opinions of President Obama when it comes to economic issues. While 40% say he is doing a good or excellent job handling those issues, 40% say he is doing a poor job. Still, 55% say the nation's current economic problems are due to the recession that began under President Bush. 37% blame the policies Obama has put in place since taking office. These findings have remained relatively stable since May.

 

Sixty-two percent (62%) of Voters oppose the passage of another economic stimulus package this year (the effects of which would be felt immediately before the elections of 2010). Sixty-seven percent (67%) are against a national sales tax on all goods and services as a new revenue source for the federal government.

 

For the first time this year though, Voters are almost evenly divided when asked if the environment can be protected without hurting the nation's economic growth.

 

CITY INITIATIVE 2C - PPAR SPEAKS OUT

 

On the upcoming November ballot, City Initiative 2c proposes to raise Colorado Springs' mill levy by 6 mills this year and 1 mill for each of the following four years. The Board of Directors of the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors (PPAR) has issued the following statement regarding this proposed Initiative:

 

"The Board of Directors of PPAR does not support Initiative 2C. The current economic downturn has undeniably affected all sectors of the economy, including revenue shortfalls for our local governments. While the City of Colorado Springs boasts having some of the lowest property taxes in the Front Range region, the heaviest burden of taxation currently inappropriately impacts our business/commercial sector. The PPAR leadership believes that a property tax increase as currently submitted to the voters of Colorado Springs continues to promote an imbalance of taxation between our residential and commercial sectors."

 

We have to agree with the Board of Directors of PPAR and we feel that Initiative 2C would create a burden on all the taxpayers in Colorado Springs.

 

MORE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE WORLDWIDE ERC CONFERENCE

 

After having had a chance to digest all of the information gleaned from the presentations at the recent relocation Conference in Chicago, it's obvious to me that there was a consensus on several key points:

 

Corporate relocation activity is down approximately 30%, undoubtedly as a result of the worldwide economic downturn.

 

Considering the fact that the stock market typically leads the business cycle by 2 quarters, the recent upturn in the market should be a signal to investors to take action in their local real estate markets. There will be an inevitable recovery from this, our worst recession since the Great Depression and the investors who take advantage of the current, low mortgage money, will prosper (Ben Bernacke has put us all on notice that these rates will not last much longer). Today's Real Estate investor should realize an excellent return over the next several years.

 

Investors who have concentrated exclusively on stocks and bonds would be well served to add real estate to their portfolios.

 

In general, there was an optimistic view of the real estate market in the near future and I was very glad I attended the conference.

 

And, please remember, I would be honored to serve as your Broker for all of your residential real estate needs. I want to help you, my reader, make the most prudent and accurate Real Estate business decision.

 

Also if you know of anyone who desires to buy or sell local real estate, or, who is moving in or out of the Pikes Peak region, remember that, with over 37 years of providing relocation and Real Estate services to clients throughout the country, I am uniquely qualified to assist them with the relocation process, including buying and/or selling their homes on both ends of their move. Please allow me to implement my negotiating skills on your behalf.

 

Just click on the icon at the top of this email to listen to my latest podcast. ..And, if you would like to learn more about our Job Loss Protection Program, or, about our CyberHomes Complete Market Analysis of a property, please contact us. 

 

 

 

JOKE OF THE WEEK

 

For those of you who are parents of grown children, the following might make an interesting email to send to your offsprings:

 

Dear Son (Daughter):

 

Here's an easy test to find out who your Role Model is:

 

1)  Pick your favorite number between 1-9

2)  Multiply by 3

3) Add 3, then multiply again by 3

4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number ..

5) Add the digits together

Now, using that number, see who your ROLE MODEL is from the list below:

 1. Einstein

 2. Nelson Mandela

 3. John Wayne

 4. Helen Keller

 5. Bill Gates

 6. Mother Theresa

 7. George Clooney

 8. Thomas Edison

 9. Your Mom (or Dad)

10. Kermit the Frog

I know... I just have that effect on people ... one day you too can be like me...

Mom (or Dad)

P.S. Stop picking different numbers. I am your idol -- just deal with it!