Ft. Benning and Columbus, GA Houses

Muscogee Schools: District receives $2 million

2010-07-22T09:22:00.000-04:00

Muscogee Schools: District receives $2 million for classroom iPods, laptops and video cameras

Ledger-Enquirer

July 20, 2010
by Sara Pauff

The Muscogee County School District has earned a $2 million grant from the Department of
Defense to improve instruction at schools with a high enrollment of students with parents in the
military.

Nine schools will benefit from the grant money -- Columbus High, Early College Academy,
Hardaway High School, Northside High School, Arnold Middle School, Blackmon Road Middle
School, East Columbus Magnet Academy, Midland Middle School and Veterans Memorial
Middle School. The schools all meet the criteria for the grant of having a military student
enrollment of at least 15 percent.

The grant activities will target science, math, technology and engineering. Schools will receive
advanced technology for instructional use, including iPods, interactive white boards, document
cameras, high definition video cameras, DVD/VCRs and laptop computers.

Teachers at these schools will also travel to the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta to learn new
instruction methods and attend training by the Center for Quality Teaching and Learning, the
Coca-Cola Space Science Center, Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center, the
Columbus Regional Mathematics Collaborative, Columbus Technical College and the Patterson
Planetarium.

The funding will begin immediately and continue through August 31, 2013.

NAR's New Consumer site

2010-04-26T12:41:00.001-04:00

The National Assoication of Realtors is providing a free site to find everything you need to protect, maintain, and enhance the value of your home.

Take a minute to check it out, it really offers quite a bit of information in all areas.

http://www.houselogic.com/

Pending Home Sales Show Healthy Gain, Hint at Spring Surge

2010-04-05T14:17:00.000-04:00

Washington, April 05, 2010

Pending home sales rose in February, potentially signaling a second surge of home sales in response to the home buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in February, rose 8.2 percent to 97.6 from a downwardly revised 90.2 in January, and remains 17.3 percent above February 2009 when it was 83.2. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which usually occur with a lag time of one or two months.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the improvement is another hopeful sign. “The rise in buyer contact activity may signal the early stages of a second surge of home sales this spring. The healthy gain hints home prices are continuing to flatten,” he said. “We need a second surge to meaningfully draw down inventory and definitively stabilize home values.”
The PHSI in the Northeast rose 9.0 percent to 77.7 in February and is 18.9 percent higher than February 2009. In the Midwest the index jumped 21.8 percent to 97.9 and is 18.7 percent above a year ago. Pending home sales in the South increased 9.2 percent to an index of 107.0, and the index is 17.5 percent higher than February 2009. In the West the index fell 4.8 percent to 98.0 but is 14.6 percent above a year ago.
“Anecdotally, we’re hearing about a rise of activity in recent weeks with ongoing reports of multiple offers in more markets, so the March data could demonstrate additional improvement from buyers responding to the tax credit,” Yun said.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
# # #
*The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.
The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. There is a closer relationship between annual index changes (from the same month a year earlier) and year-ago changes in sales performance than with month-to-month comparisons.
An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales.
Existing-home sales for March will be reported April 22 and the next Pending Home Sales Index will be on May 4; release times are 10 a.m. EDT.

Source NAR

Another Big Gain in Existing-Home Sales as Buyers Respond to Tax Credit

2009-12-30T09:19:00.001-05:00

Washington, December 22, 2009

Existing-home sales rose again in November as first-time buyers rushed to close sales before the original November 30 deadline for the recently extended and expanded tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – rose 7.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 6.54 million units in November from 6.09 million in October, and are 44.1 percent higher than the 4.54 million-unit pace in November 2008. Current sales remain at the highest level since February 2007 when they hit 6.55 million.

Source: NAR

Fha Mortgage insurance Program important to Housing Market

2009-12-10T07:19:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, December 02, 2009

The Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance program is a critical part of the American housing fabric and has never been more important than it is in today’s market, NAR President Vicki Cox Golder told a congressional panel today.
Testifying before the House Committee on Financial Services, Golder said that the FHA program is fiscally sound with responsible underwriting, and needs enhancements not radical reform. She urged Congress and the administration to tread lightly before making changes to a program that has a profound impact on economic recovery and serves the nation’s families.
“With the collapse of the private mortgage market, the importance of the FHA mortgage insurance program has never been more apparent. Thus far in 2009, nearly 80 percent of all FHA insured purchasers are first-time homebuyers. And if you take a closer look at the numbers, you’ll see that program is doing exactly what it was designed to do—make more affordable mortgage financing available to homeowners,” said Golder, owner of Vicki L. Cox & Associates in Tucson, Ariz.
She pointed out that this year almost 50 percent of non-white Hispanic borrowers used FHA insurance or the Veterans Administration’s loan guaranty for home-purchase loans and 21 percent used the FHA or VA program to refinance a home loan. Last year, more than 60 percent of home-purchase loans and about 45 percent of refinance loans to black homebuyers were insured or guaranteed by either FHA or VA.
“As the leading advocate for homeownership and housing issues, NAR knows that without FHA mortgage insurance, our housing market could never start to recover,” Golder said.
FHA’s decline in reserves is in part a reflection of a projected change in home price values, and is not tied to excessive increases in defaults or unsound underwriting practices, she said. In citing the recent FHA audit, Golder said, “If FHA makes no changes to the way it does business today, the reserves will actually exceed 2 percent in the next several years. FHA has sufficient reserves.”
FHA cash reserves and capital reserves give the agency combined assets of $30.4 billion—enough to pay all claims over a 30-year period. Most banks are required to hold reserves sufficient to pay only one year of claims. “Realtors® strongly believe that FHA is taking the necessary steps to assure its financial solvency,” Golder said.
“We look forward to working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. We have confidence that FHA Commissioner Dave Stevens will do what’s needed to ensure the financial health and stability of the FHA fund. We encourage FHA to take steps that will have the least impact on FHA borrowers who are such an important part of our housing and economic recovery,” said Golder.
NAR strongly opposes H.R. 3706, the “FHA Taxpayer Protection Act of 2009,” which would increase FHA’s downpayment requirement. The bill would not add anything to FHA reserves but would put homeownership out of reach for many creditworthy borrowers.
“Realtors® believe that the best way to ensure FHA’s success is to strengthen it,” she said.
Golder also thanked Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and the committee for passing legislation to extend the higher loan limits through 2010, but urged the committee to make the higher limits permanent. “The higher limits are not just for a few states with high median prices. There are currently 245 counties in 28 states that have high cost limits—this is a national issue,” she said.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

# # #

Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section.

Greater Columbus GA/AL Area Employment Outlook is Best in Nation

2009-12-08T21:46:00.000-05:00

According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today, the Columbus GA-AL MSA employment outlook for the first quarter 2010 is the strongest in the nation.
More than 28,000 interviews were conducted with employers within 201 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the United States and Puerto Rico to measure employment trends between January and March 2010. Among U.S. employers surveyed, 12% expected to add to their workforces, and 12% expect a decline in their payrolls during Quarter 1, 2010.
The Columbus GA-AL MSA ranked #1 as the strongest survey area. From January to March 2010, 25% of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 7% expect to reduce their payrolls, according to Manpower spokesperson Shelia Durham.

Source: The Valley Partnership - Columbus, GA

What is a short sale?

2009-12-07T07:19:00.010-05:00

PLEASE REMEMBER OUR VETERANS ON THIS DAY!

A short sale is a transaction in which the lender, or lenders, agree to accept less than the mortgage amount owed by the current homeowner. In some cases, the difference is forgiven by the lender, and in others the homeowner must make arrangements with the lender to settle the remainder of the debt.
Why is the number of short sales rising?

Due to the recent economic crisis, including rising unemployment, and drops in home prices in communities across the nation, the number of short sales is increasing. Since a short sale generally costs the lender less than a foreclosure, it can be a viable way for a lender to minimize its losses.

A short sale can also be the best option for a homeowners who are “upside down” on mortgages because a short sale may not hurt their credit history as much as a foreclosure. As a result, homeowners may qualify for another mortgage sooner once they get back on their feet financially.

Source: NAR

* I am a Loss Mitigation Certified Broker- (short sales and pre-foreclosure)

Nine Consecutive Gains for Pending Home Sales

2009-12-04T08:14:00.000-05:00

Pending home sales have risen for nine months in a row, a first for the series of the index since its inception in 2001, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in October, increased 3.7 percent to 114.1 from 110.0 in September, and is 31.8 percent above October 2008 when it was 86.6. The rise from a year ago is the biggest annual increase ever recorded for the index, which is at the highest level since March 2006 when it was 115.2.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home sales are experiencing a pendulum swing. “Keep in mind that housing had been underperforming over most of the past year. Based on the demographics of our growing population, existing-home sales should be in the range of 5.5 million to 6.0 million annually, but we were well below the 5-million mark before the home buyer tax credit stimulus,” he said. “This means the tax credit is helping unleash a pent-up demand from a large pool of financially qualified renters, much more than borrowing sales from the future.”
By Region

• Pending sales in the Northeast surged 19.9 percent to 100.2 in October and is 44.2 percent above a year ago.

• In the Midwest, the index rose 11.6 percent to 109.6 and is 36.6 percent higher than October 2008.

• Sales in the South increased 5.4 percent to an index of 115.4, which is 31.6 percent above a year ago.

• In the West, the index fell 11.2 percent to 127.7 but is 21.9 percent above October 2008.

Not Out of the Woods Yet

Yun cautioned that home sales could dip in the months ahead. “The expanded tax credit has only been available for the past three weeks, but the time between when buyers start looking at homes until they close on a sale can take anywhere from three to five months. Given the lag time, we could see a temporary decline in closed existing-home sales from December until early spring when we get another surge, but the weak job market remains a major concern and could slow the recovery process.

“Still, as inventories continue to decline and balance is gradually restored between buyers and sellers, we should reach self-sustaining housing conditions and firming home prices in most areas around the middle of 2010. That would mean broad wealth stabilization for the vast number of middle-class families,” Yun said.

Source: NAR

ABR and SRS Designations

2009-10-05T11:24:00.006-04:00

Just another update. I just completed two designation courses. ABR - Accredited Buyers Representative and SRS - Sellers Representative Specalist.

What does this me to my clients?

It means I have spent the time and expense to inprove my skills to represent my clients the best I can when reprsenting them during the purchase or sell process.

I feel it is very important to keep my skills up todate so I can best represent my clients.

Please feel free to call me and ask questions regarding purchasing a home or selling one.

Vote to be a Local Director for the Columbus Board of Realtors

2009-09-21T15:01:00.003-04:00

I was just voted to be a local Director for our local Columbus Board of Realtors for the 2010 year. Along with this, I have agreed to continue to be the Chairman of the Education Committee as well.

Next year is going to be a very busy year not only because of my new positions, but the Real Estate market is picking up here in the Columbus and Phenix City area.

As always, if you have any Real Estate questions, please let me know.

Stats for Muscogee and Harris Counties

2009-08-31T14:03:00.003-04:00

Stats

Here are the stats (single family homes) for the Columbus, GA (Muscogee & Harris Counties) real estate market for the week ending 8/22/09

1416 homes for sale (median list price $174,900, median days on market 91 days)

38 homes went under contract (median price $172,400)

37 homes sold(closed) for the week (median price $139,900, median list price/sale price ratio 97.71%, median days on market 70 days)

10.58 month supply of inventory

2009 Year-to-Date stats (single family homes) for the Columbus, GA (Muscogee & Harris Counties) 1066 homes sold(closed) with a (median price $147,103, median list price/sale price ratio 98.03%, median days on market 93)

Compared to:
2008 Year-to-Date stats (single family homes) for the Columbus, GA (Muscogee & Harris Counties) 1252 homes sold(closed) with a (median price $150,000, median list price/sale price ratio 98.43%, median days on market 106)

Loss Mitigation Certified

2009-07-23T07:55:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone,

I just finished the requirements to receive my LMC which states for Loss Mitigation Certification. This covers Forclosures, Auctions, Short Sales and REO's

If you or someone you know in the Columbus area that is missing mortgage payments or about to, please give me a call. I have a program which allows my investor to purchase the property before it goes into forclosure..... call short sale. This program is set up for houses $300,000 and above only.

Email me if you have questions about this program.

Questions.... Let me know

2009-07-01T09:14:00.002-04:00

If you have any questions regarding real estate or the market, please let me know. If you are a first time buyer.... we can set up a meeting to review your needs and how the purhcase process works and it is free. Just call me to set a time and I will answer all your questions.

Market is picking up

2009-06-10T07:17:00.004-04:00

Wow, things seem to be picking up. Just got a contact on one of my listings in less than two weeks. Also have new client who are looking to purchase. I believe with all the new programs available, like the $8,000 first time buyer tax credit, more people are coming out to purchase.

If you are in the market to sell or purchase, please give me a call, I would love to help you.

More News on the $8,000 First Time Buyer Program

2009-06-01T15:19:00.002-04:00

Ok, I have some new information on the First Time Buyer Credit. There is a way for the qualified buyer to use the money at the closing table instead of waiting to get it in their tax return. For more information on this..... send me a email asking for the one page report and I will be happy to sent it to you.

"Military Markets Specialist"

2009-05-23T18:15:00.003-04:00

I wanted to let everyone know that I have just earned the designation of

"Military Markets Specialist"

Among the other designations I have, I am most proud of this one since I come from a military family, a majorty of my clients are military and that I live near Ft. Benning.

Fun Facts - Urban Legends

2009-05-18T12:11:00.004-04:00

1. Coca-Cola Products originally contained cocaine.

Answer: TRUE. Coca-Cola did once contain trace amounts of cocaine, but Coca-Cola products with cocaine were no longer produced after the 1903's.

2. Rice is bad for birds. You should never throw it at a wedding.

Answer: FALSE. A bird could just as soon eat rice in a field as it could on a sidewalk after a wedding. Their little bird tummies will not swell or explode.

3. Hair grows back darker and thicker after you shave it.

Answer: FALSE. If this were true, balding and graying men could just shave their heads and solve the problem!

4. Ice cubes made with hot water freeze faster than ice cubes made with cold water

Answer: FALSE. A tray of hot water and a tray of cold water will freeze into ice cubes in the same amount of time.

I hope you got a kick out these......

(source - Tidbits Paper)

2009-05-15T10:34:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the readers from the Bayonet. I hope you will find my Blog useful to you and you will continue to come back for more visits and information.

If you would like to ask questions regarding Real Estate or the Columbus area, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Also, I have a web site http://www.rothrealtor.com/ I invite you to visit.

Thank you again for your visit.

Happy Mother's Day MOM

2009-05-10T14:29:00.003-04:00

Wishing my mother and all mothers a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! Picture is of my mother when she was a baby..... ( a few years ago...haha) Love you Mom.

$8,000 First Time Buyers Tax Credit

2009-05-06T21:31:00.002-04:00

First time buyers!!!! This is the time to buy. The Government is providing an $8,000 tax credit if you purchase a home this year. For more details, either email me or call me at706-332-3333

Link me with my new Icon

2009-05-04T16:41:00.002-04:00

If you have a website and would like to exchange links, please copy and paste the code below. Once you have done so, let me know and I will get a link back to your site.

<a href="http://www.rothrealtor.com/" alt="Doug Roth, Realtor in Columbus, Georgia"><img alt="Doug Roth, Realtor in Columbus, Georgia" src="http://tinyurl.com/dy84c9" border="0" /></a>

Great Weekend

2009-04-27T08:00:00.003-04:00

I meet a wonderful couple from Ft. Campbell, KY on Saturday who are planning on moving here in the next couple of months. Looking forward to working with them. Also, I had an open house and had some folks come by who might have an interest in the house. People are starting to come back into the market, so if you have been considering purchasing, this might be a great time. Remember, for first time buyers who purchase a home this year, there is n $8,000 tax credit availiable to you. Call me for more details.

Things are picking up

2009-04-20T16:50:00.002-04:00

WOW.....things are starting to pick up. With the rates as low are they are and the price of houses, everyone is starting to look and purchase houses. If you are or have been considering purchasing or selling your home, give me a call as this might be the right time for you!

Happy Easter to Everyone

2009-04-12T13:45:00.004-04:00

Wishing everyone a happy Easter

Lower Price on White Chapel

2009-04-07T16:40:00.002-04:00

WOW>>>> We have just lowered the listing price on White Chapel Dr. to $99,900. That is an outstanding price as the property has been updated. To see this property look below or online. The MLS # is 102191....... Come see this property.

Rain, Rain and more Rain

2009-04-02T19:48:00.002-04:00

Rain, rain go away, come back another day! Wow have we been getting rain lately, enough already..haha

New Virus out today

2009-04-01T07:54:00.007-04:00

I am sure you have heard about the new virus due out today. If you dont have an anti-virus software to protect your system, Microsoft offers a free one.. Just enter in your search box.... microsoft free virus software ....and you will see it come up. The one I found which is called "Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal TooL" I believe you can use this anytime, so I suggest you do it at least once a month if you don't already have an anti-virus software.

Mortgage Calculator

2009-03-30T13:31:00.005-04:00

I have just added a Mortgage Calculator that should help anyone who is wanting to find out what their PITI (est)payment will be. It also offers some of the best information I have seen on Amortization Schedule, the total payout, ect.... Just input your information, then hit calculate and you will see how great it is. I hope this helps.

BRAC is Still on track

2009-03-27T15:17:00.006-04:00

I just went to an update meeting on BRAC and everything is still scheduled as we have heard about for sometime. We here in the Columbus area have a special market to do the BRAC program which will be bringing into our our area by the end of 2011 about an additional 28,000 people. Not all those will be military, but it will still have a large inpact in many areas to include, Real Estate, Shopping, Food, gas and more. If you wish to have a better update, please email me at Doug@RothRealtor.com and I would be happy to send you some information.

Air Show

2009-03-23T09:30:00.006-04:00

I hear that the Air Show this past weekend was great. I hope all that went to it had a good time. I was doing floor duty and open house so I was not able to see it.... but I did hear some of the planes.

Lower Mortgage Rates

2009-03-21T06:22:00.004-04:00

Wanting to know what the mortgage rates are these days? Check out the link to the right for Stacy Bishop of Met Life. If you have any questions, please contact Stacy or me, we would be happy to assist you.

Market is starting to pick up

2009-03-19T17:40:00.001-04:00

Things are starting to pick up. It might be the right time to put your home on the market as we are seeing more buyers wanting to look at houses to purchase.

If you are a buyer, this might be a great time for you as well, for the prices of houses are still pretty low meaning you can get more house for the money.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss the market or would like a professional Realtor to assist you.

$7,500 toward Down Payment for Protectors, Educators and Nurses

2009-03-18T08:55:00.000-04:00

Georgia Dream Program provides up to $7,500 toward downpayment for those who are in the following fields.... Proctectors, Educators and Nurses. (this also includeds...Police, Fire, Sheriffs office, Correctional Departments and Military). This is a great program so if you or anyone you know fits the above requirements, please let me know. Like all programs there are some requirements regarding Income and sales price but it usually fits most who apply. Call me for more detail or pass this along to family and friends or ask them to call, I will be happy to answer any questions.

Lower Price on White Chapel Home

2009-03-17T17:42:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone, I just lowered the selling price on my listing in Regency Park on White Chapel Dr. It was listed at $109,900 and now it is $104,900. THATS a $5,000 REDUCTION in price!!! At this price we are way below market. Please look below and you will see a comment that has a video of this property. If you have questions or would like to see it, please let me know.

Open House at Creek Rise

2009-03-15T05:52:00.001-04:00

Please join me for my Open House today at Creek Rise Sub-Division off River Road. I will be there from 2:00 to 4:00 today. Great neighborhood and close to Columbus. (picture above is a stock picture- not one in sub-division) Houses range in price from $500,000 to $1,000,000

New Clients

2009-03-13T05:56:00.000-04:00

Ok, I am looking for folks who want to purchase a home. If you are considering a purchase or know someone who is, please let me know. I specialize in First Time Buyers and the Military. The market in Columbus is outstanding! There are many price ranges of homes to choose from and great financing available.

I know of several programs available in the Columbus area for first time buyers, which include downpayment assistance, tax credits and more. So if you have an interest, call or email me so we can go over them.

Closing

2009-03-09T19:32:00.000-04:00

Hi, just wanted to let everyone know that I just closed on my listing on Forest Rd. It was a 3 bedroom 1 bathroom which the whole house had been updated. The buyer was able to get a 2-1 buy down on his mortgage rate. That means his rate for the first year will be 2 % lower than the original rate, then the second year it will be 1% and the third year and beyond will but at the original rate. This is NOT an adjustable rate like most people think of because once you hit the third year, the rate stays the same for the rest of the mortgage.

If you have any questions about this, just call me or email me.

Thanks

Doug

Open House This Weekend

2009-03-06T12:51:00.000-05:00

I am having an open house this weekend at 2642 White Chapel Dr, in Regency Park Sub-Division. Please come by and take a look

If you have questions or need directions, please call me at 706-332-3333

Looking for First Time Buyer $8,000 tax credit info?

2009-03-03T12:24:00.000-05:00

I am sure you have heard alot about the governments new $8,000 Tax Credit plan for First Time Buyers, but do you know the details?

If you are looking for some information and a comparison to the old $7,500 Tax Credit Plan, just email me I will send you a one page comparison so you will have a better understanding of what is being offer now.

If you are a First Time Buyer, this might be the right time to purchase as this program as it stands today, will only be for this year.

2009-03-02T08:32:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe, but it does snow here in Columbus once in a while.... here is proof from this past weekend

Ft. Benning, GA blog by Doug Roth Realtor

2009-02-27T10:24:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Ft. Benning, GA blog site. I will adding more information in the days and weeks to come, so please continue to check back.

If you have any suggestions as to information you would like me to include, please let me know.

If you have questions on the local Real Estate Market, which includes Ft. Benning, Columbus, Harris County and Phenix City Area in Alabama please let me know. I am licensed in both states.