Let's Talk About It

You have all seen the commercials where Mr. Opportunity is knocking on the inside of your TV screen telling you that you had better get to your nearest Honda dealer and buy a car or the world will come to an end tomorrow.

I'm not selling Hondas, but I am here to tell you that opportunity is knocking when it comes to buying a home at a bargain price at bargain mortgage interest rates.

My business was down 30% last year as compared to 2007. That means that 30% of my buyers are still squeezing 5 people into that one little bathroom, or the two brothers sharing a bedroom are coming closer to maiming one another if they don't get separate bedrooms soon. Maybe you are the buyer that wants to move within a 15 minute commute to work instead of your current 45 minutes.

There is not going to be a big news flash stating that housing prices will reach their very lowest point next Tuesday at 9:52 AM. There will be no press conference called to tell us that prices will start rising next month.

I am here to tell you that prices have stabilized and interest rates have flattened out for the time being. There are plenty of homes to pick from. You can buy a fixer or you can buy a move in ready home. Many new home builders are offering fantastic incentives just to move their inventory.

Buy low, sell high. Nobody is going to tell you when the absolute low is, you have to make up your own mind that there are bargains to be had now.

As of yesterday, Citigroup was moving forward with taking delivery of a new corporate jet. Timothy Geithner, our new Treasury Secretary, did step in yesterday to say this is not an appropriate way to spend the taxpayer's bailout money.

Read the CNN story.

On the other hand, John Thain, Merrill Lynch's CEO decided he needed his office redecorated to the tune of $1.22 million.

$1400 for a trashcan?

I am sitting here tonight after viewing the latest weather forecast calling for 3 - 4 inches of snow.

Come on Spring! There are houses for sale at ridiculously low prices, interest rates at phenomenal lows and buyers that are ready and able, but not willing to brave the cold and snow.

If you are a ready, WILLING, and able buyer, contact me...I have a 4 WD pickup truck and I am WILLING to show you the perfect home, snow or no snow.

I have recently had the pleasure of getting to know a wonderful couple that is relocating to the Indianapolis area from Ventura, California.

I helped Jim and Adrienne find a home near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and have been helping Jim prepare the house for their move-in in mid February.

They had planned to start a business in the Ventura County area building custom street rods and custom motorcycles, but with the number of racing teams and the diversity of the teams that are relocating to Indianapolis and Brownsburg, he decided that this is where he wants to be.

Here is Jim's words about the area and his decision to make the move here:
"The plan was originally created to start a business here in Ventura, but my wife and I came out to Indy for the 500 in 2006 and fell in love with the area. I'm a confessed life-long Open Wheel racing addict, and the idea of moving out and setting up shop in a town that is racer-friendly is becoming more and more appealing."

This is directly from his business plan:

"Revelation Rods & Rides is a low-volume Automotive and Motorcycle specialty shop specializing in the design and construction of custom street rods and motorcycles. The business combines aspects of Manufacturing, Merchandizing and Service.

Revelation Rods & Rides will manufacture custom Street Rods and Motorcycles, with the emphasis on distinctive styling and exhilarating performance, while at the same time being environmentally sensitive and economical through the use of light-weight components and fuel-efficient powerplants.

Revelation Rods & Rides’ initial product offering is a small, nimble lightweight roadster based on a 1927 Ford model “T” body. The design theme will hearken back to the “track roadsters” driven on dirt and paved bullrings around Southern California in the immediate post-World War II era. It will be powered by an economical 4-cylinder engine. Given the light weight, this powerplant will provide ample power for exhilarating performance, while at the same time being environmentally sensitive by consuming far less gas than a larger engine.

The Company will also merchandise Revelation Rods & Rides branded apparel, accessories and promotional items, such as T-shirts, and other clothing items, license plate frames, and other accessories, coffee mugs, key fobs, calendars, and posters.

Finally, Revelation Rods & Rides-manufactured and modified vehicles we will be repaired and serviced as a convenience to its customers."

Jim said to me one day last week while we were working on laying some laminated flooring, "I have always followed the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, but I never in my dreams thought it would be in my own backyard."

If you are interested in more information about what he will be building or would like to contact Jim, email me and I will put you in touch with him. I would like to see them get off to a great start and be successful in their new venture.

Interest rates have plummeted recently. Click here to use a calculator that will compare today's interest rates to rates just a few months ago. See what your monthly payment can be today compared to a few month ago or see how much more home you can buy today by entering a budgeted monthly payment.

Here is another article from CNNMoney.com.