FOUNDERS PARK HOSTS FREE MOVIE NIGHTS JULY 8 – AUGUST 27

The free July 8 – August 27 series features “Family Nights” each Friday and “Date Nights” on Saturdays again this year. Free tickets are available each week at selected locations. The City of Springfield and Park Board have again partnered with SATO 48 film challenge organizers to feature a handful of 5-minute shorts again this summer, produced by local Ozark filmmakers.This summer’s movie list includes the following:

July 8 – “Shrek Forever After” (PG)

July 9 – “Meet Me in St. Louis” (N/A) • SATO 48: “Start With A Story” & “wavelengths”

July 15 – “Nanny McPhee Returns” (PG)

July 16 – “Burlesque” (PG-13)• SATO 48: “Le Squid Noir” & “Corrugated”

July 22 – “Letters to Juliet” (PG)

July 23 – “August Light: Wilson’s Creek and the Battle for Missouri” (G)

July 29 – “Rango” (PG)

July 30 – “The Social Network” (PG-13) • SATO 48: “Synchronicity” & “Drop Job” & “The String”

August 5 – “Gnomeo and Juliet” (G)

August 6 – “Just Go With It” (PG-13) • SATO 48: “Love in Cliché” & “Lily’s Petals”

August 12 – “Tangled” (PG)

August 13 – “Tron Legacy” (PG-13) • SATO 48: “The Cowboy Warrior of Golf City” & “Dream ‘Scapes”

August 19 – “Toy Story 3” (G)

August 20 – “Inception” (PG-13) • SATO 48: “The Refuge” & “Vic-Six” & “The String”

August 26 – “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (PG)

August 27 – “West Side Story” (N/A)

By Dian Hymer
Inman News™

A successful home sale is one where buyers and sellers experience no after-closing disputes or legal claims. One way to maximize the chance of a happy ending is to have the property well inspected before the sale is consummated.

For decades, buyers have been advised to have a property they are seriously considering buying inspected by professionals. In recent years, many sellers have had presale inspections done before they put their home on the market.

The purpose of a seller inspection is not to preclude buyers from doing their own inspections. A well-inspected property keeps sellers out of trouble by making buyers aware of defects before they close the deal.

Sellers often wonder when they should have presale inspections done. If they are aware of defects they want corrected, they may want to have the work done before inspectors take a look. However, any work done after a report is issued can be disclosed to the buyers along with copies of invoices for work completed.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: One reason for sellers to have their property preinspected is to make full disclosure of defects and to decide if some defects they didn’t know about should be corrected before marketing. Before authorizing work, generate a list of all the items that should ideally be completed before showing your home to prospective buyers.

Get cost estimates and compare the total with your budget for “fix up for sale” work. Your real estate agent can help you prioritize the list so that you get the most return from your investment.

For example, if the wood pest (“termite”) inspector says there is dry rot under the front porch and the bathroom floor, and you can’t afford to repair both before marketing your home, replace the bathroom floor. The bathroom will show better. You can disclose that there is dry rot underneath the front porch, which is out of sight and won’t affect buyers’ first impressions.

To find good inspectors, ask for references from acquaintances who bought or sold recently. Your real estate agent can provide you with recommendations. Be sure to check references and use contractors who know the local area. Check with the state’s contractor licensing department and Better Business Bureau.

Sellers should make sure they use reputable inspectors who are highly regarded within the local real estate community. They should also get written reports that can be made available to buyers before they make an offer. Verbal and checklist reports can work for buyers, if they accompany the inspectors while they’re inspecting. But they don’t work well for seller preinspections that are intended for buyers’ review.

Inspections are somewhat subjective. For example, one roof inspector might feel that the life of the roof can be extended several years with $2,000 of maintenance. Another roofer could bid for an entire roof replacement for $10,000. In this case, it’s often best to go ahead and have the roof maintenance work done before marketing the home. The buyers then know that they don’t have to immediately replace the roof, and you save $8,000.

Sometimes sellers receive a report they don’t like. For example, one seller received a termite (wood pest and organism) inspection report that said the large, wood-frame, stucco-coated stair system was dry rotted and needed to be replaced at a cost of $25,000.

The seller’s agent asked the inspector if there was an alternative to completely replacing the steps. The inspector included a secondary recommendation in his report that called for resurfacing the stairs with a sealant and replacing the damaged wood from underneath for about half the price.

THE CLOSING: If you get multiple reports, make sure to make all of them available to the buyers, even the ones you don’t like.

Dian Hymer, a real estate broker with more than 30 years’ experience, is a nationally syndicated real estate columnist and author of “House Hunting: The Take-Along Workbook for Home Buyers” and “Starting Out, The Complete Home Buyer’s Guide.”

Some might even say it’s a smart move to list in the winter…

And how about for buyers, what’s the advantage to purchase during this season? From MSN.com’s article featuring Dorcas Helfant-Browning, CEO and principal broker with Coldwell Banker Professional in Virginia Beach, Va., and a past president of the National Association of Realtors:

* Sellers who keep their homes on the market at this time are very motivated.
* You have less competition from other buyers than you would in the spring.
* Lenders, agents and others have more time to work with you.
* Interest rates are typically lower than in the spring.

Whether you are buying or selling, this is a great time of year to do so. And, when you are ready, call YourSuperAgent to get the job done!

Christopher Day

Realtor- Residential Specialist
Coldwell Banker Vanguard
417-569-2480

“These record low rates offer Missourians an incredible opportunity to purchase their first home at an affordable cost,” said Greg Spurgeon, Single Family Homeownership Administrator for MHDC. “The historically low mortgage rates now available through MHDC will encourage sustainable homeownership and help support the state’s housing market.”

You must be a 1st time home buyer, or have not owned a home in the past 3 years
Maximum income for a 2 person family is $58,700, 3+ family $67,505

*Bottom line… these are regular FHA loans with only the 1st time home buyer and income limits. If you have the 3.5% required FHA down payment, you can get 3.5% interest fixed rate for 30 years – THAT’S CRAZY!!!! If you want to use the 3% down payment assistance it’s 4.0% fixed for 30 years. If you use the 3% cash assistance, you can get into a $100K house for $500.00 if the seller pays the closing cost and prepaids. With these interest rates its like getting FREE MONEY!!!

MHDC First Place Loan Program

Contact Chris Day-REALTOR for more information, and to start your easy home search!
Call or text 417-569-2480
Email Sold@YourSuperAgent.com

Here’s information from the magazine:

Forbes magazine turned to real estate research firm Local Market Monitor to figure out which markets have the greatest likelihood of price appreciation because they offer a mix of jobs weighted toward growth industries.

These are the top markets, the research company concludes:

1. Raleigh, NC

2. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas

3. Austin-Round Rock, Texas

4. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.

5. San Antonio, Texas

6. Colorado Springs, Colo.

7. Albuquerque, N.M.

8. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colo.

9. Springfield, MO

10. Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
Source: Forbes, Francesca Levy (09/13/2010)

Looking to buy now, while there’s great interest rates and wonderful homes for sale? Put Christopher Day at Coldwell Banker, Vanguard in Springfield to work for you! Call or email and we’ll help you find your place to call home.