Real Estate Trends and Stats

Brian Buffini has realeased his Real Estate Report, updated for 2011. I'll give you some of the facts that I find interesting.

• ForSaleByOwner's down in 2010, less than 1 out of 10 sales.




• 95% of first-time homebuyers chose a fixed-rate mortgage.




• Distressed homes make up 36% of the market.




• Top factors influencing a buyers decision - Quality of neighborhood, convenience to work, and affordability.




• Percentage of buyers who were first-time home buyers increased to 50% in 2010.




• Typical home sold for 96% of the final listing price.




• Most popular motivation for selling a home - current house is too small.




• The most cost-effective improvement project to sell a house - Cleaning and de-cluttering. Next is lightening & brightening, then staging.

To find out more about the local real estate market, call the Eisenlauer Team.

We'd love to be of assistance.

Bill 770-2455 Bob 979-2883

Thrift Store Find

I was doing my courier service for the Eisenlauer Team. Going across town to Beaverdale, the Salvation Army on 2nd and Euclid was right there, so I had to stop. They seem to price things $1.99 no matter what the item is...so as I was looking thru the jewelry I found this silver bracelet for...you guessed $1.99. I brought it home and shined it up...a great Mexican sterling silver bracelet for under $2.

New Quilt for FatHead

My expendiature for the day...I picked up the crib-size quilt that I had made for my niece's son. His name is Dominick, but his nick name is Fat Head. I took the quilt to Lousie Munyon to be machine quilted, her and her husband do a great job. Nothing fancy, but good predictable, and quick results. My bill was $27.50. Isn't it cute? And Fat Head likes it!

Don't You LOVE a SNOW DAY??

I love a day like yesterday, staying at home during a snow storm in a warm house. Everything you thought you were going to do is cancelled, so the day is yours to spend how you want. Spend the day in P.J.'s if you like. What did you do on your snow day? ( I spent 50 cents on a can of Diet Coke.)

Don't Ignore the Prompting ... only $1

Has someone come to your mind...and you think.."I should call them, or send them a card" ? I think we've all had those passing thoughts..and allowed them to pass and Not acted on that prompting. This company, SendOutCards, was based on just that concept. Knowing how busy we all are, they wanted to simplify the process of sending a card before the thought is forgotten. At the convenience of your computer, you choose a card, add a personal note, the envelope is addressed, stamped and in the mail! It literally takes only minutes to send a card with a personal note in it. If that sounds like something you would like to know more about, please give me a call. Myrna 250-9862 I've already sent 6 six cards since last Monday when we signed up for this service. That's my spending for the several days last week...$1.00 a card!

Got behind...Feb. 11

Whew, this is more work than I thought, writing about a purchase each day! Yesterday I stopped at the Art Store and purchased a disposible fountain pen! Isn't America Great? For $3 you can own a disposible fountain pen. Back "in the day" you had to buy a jar of ink, the fountain pen, the nibs...and then spill ink where you didn't want it...blott the spills..now Pilot has a disposible fountain pen. On With the Future!

Thursday - Oranges

Hope Thrift Store received a donation of fresh oranges. They are great...and juicy...and cheap. I bought an 8-lb. bag for $3.00. We had delicious Orange Smoothies today...Umm-umm. I made ours with 3 fresh oranges, cup of yogurt, and ice cubes. If you want to try an Orange Julius copy recipe try this. The thrift store also gets fresh produce in every Thur. They had boxes of tomatoes today. Check it out...