The Different Ways to Pay for Closing Cost

Again the key is how long will you own the home or own the loan. If you are a first time home buyer I really recommend paying your closing cost in the rate. The odds are great you will not own the property long enough to matter too much. I am a big fan of owing less money.

Here is a table that I used to explain the different scenarios in the video.

Fell free to contact me if you would like to discuss this further.

Don’t forget you can search all homes listed by Realtors by clicking on the Search Homes Tab up top.

Well we all remember the bitter break up of the Jordan School District’s East and West Sides. The East side felt it’s tax dollars were not being distributed fairly. While new schools were being built on the west side, the east side schools are old and in need of major capital improvements or rebuilding.

So five east side cities voted to separate from the Jordan District and form it’s own Canyons School District and there was arbitration that divided the assets.

Now that the Jordan District is running short on cash, (Canyons is not flush with cash) there was a bill introduced called HB 292 “The Education Equalization Bill”. Which would essentially require the Canyons School District to give about $15 million to the Jordan District.

The Jordan School District’s point is they need help to get back on it’s feet again.

The Canyons District feels that their money has been going to the West for too long. Another issue with the bill is it had no end.

Well it came to a head last night when the Utah legislators voted down the bill 11-3

“This process has been upheld by federal courts. We’ve had an arbitration, and I think it’s time for both sides to move on,” said Canyons School District superintendent David Doty.

A Jordan District supporter was quoted as saying about the Canyons split “It may have been a legal thing to do, but it was not a moral thing to do.”

Does that mean because Canyon Parents want to spend their money on their children it is immoral? That’s pretty harsh!

On February 9th we had our annual Death By Chocolate Party. As usual it was a good event and great job by Kathy and Stacy and all the volunteers that worked the will call for tickets.

Below is a video slide show.

Happy Birthday Cottonwood Heights Utah

Cottonwood Heights Birthday Celebration

Come and join the celebration Friday January 15th, 2010

The party will kick off at Butler Middle School where children’s artwork will be on display from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, the free skating or swimming will last from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center. The birthday cake will be cut, and the show will begin thereafter.

Wow it’s hard to believe it has been five years already.  Cottonwood Heights has accomplished a lot in that time. We have been named the the top 100 in the US by Money Magazine, we have formed our own Police Force, we were very instrumental in creating the Canyons School District.

I came across this article by a part time real estate agent on why you should hire her.  I found it interesting to say the least.

I am pasting the article verbatim, my not so humble opinions are below each point and italicized.

Here is the article

Although almost every article and blog on how to find a realtor suggest that buyers/sellers should not work with part-time Realtors, remember that the service you provide is just as valuable. This position may be controversial, but there are many reasons why they should choose you.

1) You have gone through the same licensing requirement that full-time realtors have . Many part-timers continue to take more classes than what is minimally required earning designations and continuously expanding their knowledge in order to be competitive.

First I want to say a license does not equate to market competence. It means you are now legally allowed to work for a broker and learn the business. In order to be competitive you need to be immersed in the industry.

2) You are able to provide the same service whether it is at 4:00p.m., or at 10:00a.m. The majority of your clients work also and many have the same schedule and aren’t available until after 4:00p.m. anyway. If you are able to manage your time effectively when you take lunch and breaks on your day job you are able to make the necessary calls to the loan officers, attorneys and appraisers, etc.

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to show a property and you cannot get a hold of the agent.

3) I’m sure you’ve heard many full-time realtors say that this is their bread and butter. This may not be your bread and butter, but that may be a benefit to your clients. This not your sole income, you are less likely to influence your clients decisions in the purchase or sell of a property. The sell is always nice, but if it doesn’t happen it’s not going to make or break you.

OK, who do you want handling real estate, someone that doesn’t care if it closes? If a transaction is going to make or break an agent then they are not a full time seasoned agent.

4) You are just as motivated to provide a service of excellence so that you can get repeat business and have a referral base.   Let’s face it many of you aren’t in the business to continue to have to work two jobs. The goal is to give up the 9 to 5. Many full-time realtors started where you are today.

Kind of contradicts the point above

5) Finally, you have paid your dues. If this Business is a hobby for you then it’s an expensive hobby. Not only are you paying the same monetary dues and fees as full-time agents, but many of you are working 12-14 hour days and weekends.

So tell them why they should choose you?

Similar to my first response, the dues and fees allow you to have an active license not to be confused with a person running a business.

I just completed an eleven tab spread sheet for my business plan next year. It has a marketing budget that will be more than the total revenue generated by a part time agent.

You decide

Is this really about health care or is a group of large builders trying to squeeze out the little builders. I really don’t know, BUT I can tell you this, it is not about providing health care any more.

Here is an article from the National Association of Home Builders web site

December 21, 2009 – In a rush to pass a massive health care overhaul before Christmas, Senate Democrats have included a last-minute provision targeting the construction industry that is certain to derail the fragile housing recovery and threaten the solvency of countless small home building firms.  continued...

I can not think of any reason that this would make sense.

So when something doesn’t make sense, I always ask myself, who is going to gain or forced to lose, you know follow the money.

Well we know that ever contractor with more than 5 employees will definitely lose. They would not be able to grow, can you imagine being in the building business the last couple of years and finally start seeing daylight. You find yourself with some work and cannot hire a sixth person because you couldn’t afford to pay for health care for everyone. How about if one guy cost too much to insure, you would have to let him go to take of the others.

There is no way this is about providing health care for Americans, this is a piling on of the “Fleeing of America”.

What are your thoughts?

City News

Eco-Friendly Kitchen Design

A really cool video on an Eco-Friendly Kitchen describing materials that are Eco-Friendly

Richard L. Guthrie Skate Park
2415 Bengal Blvd
Cottonwood Heights UT 84121

Skate Boarding in Cottonwood Heights

On the south side of Butler park is the skate park. It is called the The Richard L. Guthrie Skate Park.

It is a medium sized park for beginners and intermediate skaters.

It has hours for different ages and for skate boarders and BMX riders

In the summer months
skateboarders and rollerbladers can use the park
Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 7am-9pm,
Wednesdays 12noon-9pm, and Sundays 11am-9pm

BMX riders can use the park Mondays and Thursdays 6pm-9pm, and Sundays 7am-11am
It is open exclusively to elementary-aged children on Wednesdays 7am-12noon

In the winter hours are as follows
Skateboarders and rollerbladers can use the park
Mondays & Thursdays 3:30pm-6pm
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3:30pm-9pm
Saturdays 7am-9pm, and Sundays 11am-9pm

BMX riders can use the park
Mondays and Thursdays 6pm-9pm, and Sundays 7am-11am
It is open exclusively to elementary-aged children on Fridays 1:30pm-3:30pm

I promise you a 9 year old boy that likes his skateboard can memorize that schedule.

There are skateboard lessons in the summer
Classes start in early June

Boys and girls grades 1st-6th
This program includes 6 weeks of professional instruction

Call SL County Recreation at 424-0621
Please register at Holladay Lions Recreation Center or online at www.activityreg.com

Here is a nice little two and a half minute video on staging a home. Stay tuned for more to come.

If you need a stager or just some basic questions just contact me and I will be glad to answer or find out for you.