Current Mortgage Rates

Rates effective as of 12/01/2009

CONVENTIONAL FIXED RATE MORTGAGES
Term (Fixed):
30 year 4.75%
20 year 4.625%
15 year 4.250%
10 year 4.250%

*Rates subject to change at any time. Provided by Lynne Bateman, Mid America Bank, 573-896-4790 Rates quoted above are for qualified borrowers with a 95% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. Please call for rates on mortgage loans with 95.01%-97% LTV. Rates subject to change at any time without notice Credit scores may adversely affect quoted rates.

If you're thinking of selling or buying in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact me direct at (573)761-3485 or online at http://www.hankshouses.com/ . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!"

Bright Ideas for Your Bathroom

The glorious new tub, the beautiful new fixtures, and the sleek countertops always get top billing in the bathroom remodel. But don't forget one of the players most worthy of the spotlight—the lighting.

Lighting designers say a mix of different lighting types is essential in the bathroom to help blend all the bathrooms elements and create a unified look.
Unlike other rooms of the house, the bathroom is crammed with an assortment of materials and finishes.

"You have wall tile, floor tile, shower tile, faucet hardware, towel bars, wallpaper and paint all in a space often smaller than 100 square feet," said Dan Blitzer, a Manhattan-based educator for the American Lighting Association.

There are three general types of lighting: general lighting provides overall illumination; task lighting provides light for a specific task, like reading, homework, and computer work; and accent lighting puts the spotlight on a piece of art, plants, or other favorite possession. READ MORE

Local Housing Market Statistics

Current Month Statistics August 1-21, 2009

# New Listings - 123

# Under Contract Listings - 62

# Sold Listings - 42

Average Sales Price - $128,901

List-to-Sell Ratio - 95.8%

Year-to-Date Statistics January 1 - August 21, 2009

# New Listings - 1,455

# Sold Listings - 713

Average Sales Price - $135,751

List-to-Sell Ratio - 94.4%

Average Days on Market - 93

Previous Year-to-Date Statistics January 1 - August 21, 2008

# New Listings - 1,576

# Sold Listings - 689

Average Sales Price - $134,757

List-to-Sell Ratio - 93.7%

Average Days on Market - 89

The territorial jurisdiction of the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS®, Inc. includes Cole, Callaway, Moniteau, and Osage Counties. This representation is based in whole or part on data supplied by the Multiple Listing Service of the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS®, Inc. Neither the Board nor its MLS guarantees or is any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Board or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach

HURRY - TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!

Purchase before December 1, 2009!!

As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers.
Here is more information about how the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream. Click here

21 Home-Organizing Tips

De-mess and de-stress with these easy clutter-eliminating solutions

Home, your place of refuge, should never be a messy eye sore. But sometimes—bestrewn with papers, laundry you'll do tomorrow and toys the kids abandoned—that's exactly what it is. That said, we've prepared a list of do-it-along-the-way solutions that should keep your tasks a few steps shy of daunting. Read all 21 tips here

Basic Principles of all Mortgage Loans

The modern mortgage market offers a variety of mortgage loans catering to the needs of homebuyers. The titles and details of these plans can become confusing, especially as new types are introduced continuously. You can make sense of these loan types, however, if you understand the basic principles that govern all mortgage loans. Again, you can look to your real estate professional for assistance. Read more

COLLECTING FOR KIDS

The Jefferson Area Board of Realtors is sponsoring a back to school backpack event. We are collecting new or like new backpacks to provide area children in need with the essential tools necessary to succeed and feel confident as they begin their school year.

Backpacks will be collected at local banks, credit unions, Real Estate offices, or the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors office at 1906 Bubba Lane.

Backpacks may be dropped off any time in July! Thank you for your help!!

UPDATE: approximately 100 backpacks were collected and donated to the Samaritan Center for their "Back to School" program!! Thank you to everyone for your generous donations!!

Current local mortgage rates

Rates effective as of 07/20/2009

CONVENTIONAL FIXED RATE MORTGAGES
Term (Fixed):

30 year 5.375%
20 year 5.375%
15 year 4.75%
10 year 4.75%

*Rates subject to change at any time. Provided by Lynne Bateman, Mid America Bank, 573-896-4790 Rates quoted above are for qualified borrowers with a 95% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. Please call for rates on mortgage loans with 95.01%-97% LTV. Rates subject to change at any time without notice Credit scores may adversely affect quoted rates.

If you're thinking of selling or buying in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact me direct at (573)761-3485 or online at http://www.hankshouses.com/ . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!"

Be prepared for your open house

If your home is on the market, chances are your agent will at some point hold an open house. This can be a great way to drive buyer traffic to your home. But most often, buyers are inspired to physically view your home because of a picture they've seen on the Internet.

The buyer is expecting something fantastic and if you've got anything less than a fantastic-looking, you are less likely to get the offer you are looking for.

Everywhere the eye rests, the sale begins. So that means everything counts: floors, walls, ceilings, windows, the stuff outside, inside, cleanliness, ..... attention to detailng.

Read more .....

July Home Tip

Replace carpets or area rugs that have stains or show significant wear. Hardwood, ceramic tile or lacquered and etched concrete floors all wear well and are popular with home buyers

Things Not to Do Before Purchasing a Home

Purchasing a home is the probably one the largest single investments a person makes. During the purchase process many folks get excited about moving into their new home. They start buying furniture or appliances .... on credit. After they have applied for and been pre-qualified for a home mortgage, they might change jobs. These kinds of actions may cause delays in the purchase process. Here is a short list of things NOT to do during the home purchase process.

A. NO major purchase of any kind
B. DON'T move money around
C. DON'T Change Banks ...or Jobs

Read more here

Summer Grilling Safety

Summer barbeque season is here. Family and friends make it a tradition to gather all summer long and enjoy great food prepared on an outdoor grill. Here are 10 tips to make these events safe.

1. Clean your grease pan or dripping pan frequently

2. Keep a spray bottle or squirt bottle filled with water handy while you're cooking.

3. Change your lava rocks periodically, or consider replacing them with porcelain rocks.

4. Check your hoses and connections for gas leaks.

5. If your grill bottom has vent holes, be certain that it also has an ash can to catch hot embers.

6. Use a cylindrical water smoker or "bullet smoker" only on a concrete or nonflammable surface.

7. Wet down burning embers before disposing of them.

8. Keep your barbecuing set-up in an open area away from the structure of your home.

9. If you do use a chemical starter, use it safely and according to the instructions that come with the product.

10. Never -- under any circumstances -- start a grill fire using gasoline.

Complete list of Barbeque safety tips here.

5 Summer Home Improvement Projects

As the weather gets warmer there are many projects you may find your self needing to complete. Some projects should be looked at once a year typically each summer.

Project #1- Decks

You will need to give your deck a good cleaning and check for any water damage from the winter. They make scrub for the decks, scrub your deck with this and let dry one day. Then you should apply a fresh coat of sealer providing there is no water damage to the deck. If there is water damage then you may want to sand it and refinish it. Then each year apply the sealer to it and you should have no more problems.

Project #2- Caulk

Caulking is something that should also be done once a year. You should caulk around the exterior joints and around the windows. Just because its warm out doesn't mean you wont need to do this. In the summer you are trying to keep the warm air out and this is a vital place that READ MORE TIPS HERE

Mortgage Rates as of 06/23/2009

Rates effective as of 06/23/2009

CONVENTIONAL FIXED RATE MORTGAGES
Term (Fixed):

30 year 5.50%

20 year 5.50%

15 year 5.00%

10 year 4.875%

Rates subject to change at any timeProvided by Lynne Bateman, Mid America Bank, 573-896-4790 Rates quoted above are for qualified borrowers with a 95% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. Please call for rates on mortgage loans with 95.01%-97% LTV. Rates subject to change at any time without notice Credit scores may adversely affect quoted rates.

If you're thinking of selling or buying in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact me direct at (573)761-3485 or online at http://www.hankshouses.com/ . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!"

This June, the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS joins the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS and State and Local REALTOR Associations across the nation in celebrating National Homeownership Month. Homeownership is more than a financial investment - it is an investment in family and in the community. When more people own homes, we all benefit.

The Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS is proud to be sponsoring two Habitat for Humanity build days in observance of Homownership Month:

Saturday, June 13th and 27th

8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

1106 East Atchison

Shifts available 8:00 - 11:30 or 11:30 - 3:30

Lunch will be served @ 11:30

You do not have to be an experienced carpenter to participate. There will be activities and jobs for everyone! All volunteers should wear closed toed shoes and bring a hammer, hat and gloves if possible.

REALTORS understand better than anyone how important home ownership is to our nation. We are working and volunteering every day in cities across our country to bring more Americans home; helping to build strong families, and vibrant communitites.

Current Market Statistics for Jefferson City Real Estate

May 1-31, 2009
# New Listings - 159
# Under Contract Listings - 114
# Sold Listings - 109
Average Sales Price - $131,560
List-to-Sell Ratio - 95.0%

Year-to-Date Statistics
January 1 - May 31, 2009
# New Listings - 925
# Sold Listings - 395
Average Sales Price - $129,539
List-to-Sell Ratio - 94.2%
Average Days on Market - 98

Previous Year-to-Date Statistics
January 1 - May 31, 2008
# New Listings - 1,053
# Sold Listings - 460
Average Sales Price - $130,430
List-to-Sell Ratio - 93.5%Average
Days on Market - 93

The territorial jurisdiction of the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS®, Inc. includes Cole, Callaway, Moniteau, and Osage Counties. This representation is based in whole or part on data supplied by the Multiple Listing Service of the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS®, Inc. Neither the Board nor its MLS guarantees or is any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Board or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

6 Landscaping Tricks That Buyers Will Love

In today's market, sellers have to work harder to persuade buyers that their property is worth the bite. Landscape designer Michael Glassman has cooked up a recipe for guaranteed curb appeal.

1. Add splashes of color. With every changing season, a landscape should provide a new display of colors, textures, and fragrances. "It’s best to use one or two and repeat them," Glassman says. Example: white iceberg roses that bloom in spring, summer, and fall as a backdrop; in front, a contrasting punch of purple salvia or lavender that will flower at the same time; and as an accent, a crape myrtle tree that provides changing leaf colors in fall and interesting branches come winter.

2. Size trees and shrubs to scale. These should be planted in the right scale for the house so that they don’t block windows, doors, and other architectural features on the home’s facade. A large two-story house can handle a redwood, Chinese pistache, sycamore, or scarlet oak, but a one-story cottage is better paired with a flowering cherry, crabapple, or eastern redbud. Too many trees cast too much shadow and cause potential buyers to worry about maintenance and costs.

3. Maintain a perfect lawn. A velvety green lawn demonstrates tender loving care, so be sure sellers’ homes don’t have brown spots. Some rocks, pebbles, boulders, drought-tolerant plants, and ornamental grasses will generate more kudos, especially in drought areas.

4. Light up the outside. Good illumination allows buyers to see a home at night and adds drama. Sellers should use low-voltage lamps to highlight branches of specimen trees, a front door, walk, and corners of the house. But less is better. The yard shouldn’t resemble an airport runway.

5. Let them hear the water. The sound of water appeals to buyers, and you shouldn’t just reserve this for your backyard. A small fountain accented with rocks provides a pleasant gurgling sound, blocks street noise, and is affordable.

6. Use decorative architectural elements. A new mailbox, planted window boxes, and a low fence wrapped in potato vines add cachet, particularly during winter months when fewer plants blossom. Colors should complement the landscape and home. Just don’t overdo it: Too much can seem like kitschy lawn ornaments.

9 Easy Room Makeovers That Wow Buyers

A home has only one chance to make a first impression on potential buyers, and a poorly designed room can be a quick turnoff. Misplaced furniture, overwhelming paint colors, "busy" accessories, clutter, floral prints, and outdated fixtures are some of the most common problems in staging a home for sale. REALTOR® magazine asked readers to send in stories of how they took action against their home's trouble spots. View before and after photos of room transformations and borrow some ideas for sprucing up your own property here.

Tax Credit Can Be Used on Closing Costs

FHA-approved lenders received the go-ahead to develop bridge-loan products that enable first-time buyers to use the benefits of the federal tax credit upfront, according to eagerly awaited guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on so-called home buyer tax credit loans that was released today.

Under the guidance, FHA-approved lenders can develop bridge loans that home buyers can use to help cover their closing costs, buy down their interest rate, or put down more than the minimum 3.5 percent.

The loans can't be used to cover the minimum 3.5 percent, senior HUD officials told reporters on a conference call Friday morning.

Thus, buyers applying for FHA-backed financing with an FHA-approved lender that offers a bridge-loan program can get a bridge loan to bring down the upfront costs of buying a home significantly but would still have to come up with the minimum 3.5 percent downpayment.
Read more here...

Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors Honor Society

13 local Realtors were awarded Honor Society status at the last General Membership meeting of the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors. This honor is in recognition of a Realtor's participation in board activities such as, education, civic events, committees, volunteering, and over-all involvement in the board. This is the second year since its inception and I have been given the award both years. Once a member reaches 10 years in the honor society, they become lifetime members.

Jefferson City Realtors raising money for Council for Drug Free Youth

On May 2, 2009, the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS, Inc. held the 3rd Annual Cinco de Mayo 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Walk. Thanks to the overwhelming support of our contributors and sponsors and the 100 runners and walkers, we raised over $3,012.13 for the Council for Drug Free Youth.

For complete list of sponsors, volunteers, race results and pics, click here

June - Home tip of the Month

Add some color!

Fresh paint in vibrant but neutral tones will give your rooms a clean updated look. Painting is one of the simplest, most cost effective improvements a homeowner can make.

Jefferson City in Spring

Just a few pics I took around Jefferson City this spring -

Top 15 Ways to Sell Your Home in the Spring

The warmer weather has us flinging the drapes open, pushing up the windows and taking a deep breath of fresh air into our lungs. Yes, it's spring, and it's time to shake off winter's dust and give our homes, and ourselves, a shiny makeover.

Spring is the optimum time to sell a home. Regardless of whether it's a buyers market or a sellers market, inventory almost always rises in the spring. Why? Because the largest number of buyers are actively searching for a new home during the months of April, May and June.

Here are 15 things you can do to improve the odds that your home will stand out among the sea of new listings flooding the spring-time real estate market:

1) Wash windows inside and out / polish all mirrors
Sparkle is free, and sparkle sells homes. A potential buyer may not realize why your home seems so inviting but will feel drawn to it if the windows are spotless and your mirrors reflect sunlight. Cleaning is the first step to preparing your home to sell.

2) Rake the yard / trim back bushes
Clean out dead leaves and debris in your lawn. Don't let overgrown vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and tree limbs will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home. More tips here

Jefferson City Real Estate Stats

Statistics for March 2009

Active listings --------------- 771

New listings ----------------- 200

Units sold ------------------- 86

Average sales price --------- $127,643

Average days on market ---- 117

Total units sold YTD -------- 190

The territorial jurisdiction of the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS®, Inc. includes Cole, Callaway, Moniteau, and Osage Counties. This representation is based in whole or part on data supplied by the Multiple Listing Service of the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS®, Inc. Neither the Board nor its MLS guarantees or is any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Board or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Mortgage Loan Rates for Jefferson City Area

Rates effective as of 05/06/2009

CONVENTIONAL FIXED RATE MORTGAGES
Term (Fixed) Rate:

30 year 5.00%
20 year 4.875%
15 year 4.625%
10 year 4.625%

Rates subject to change at any timeProvided by Lynne Bateman, Mid America Bank, 573-896-4790 Rates quoted above are for qualified borrowers with a 95% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. Please call for rates on mortgage loans with 95.01%-97% LTV. Rates subject to change at any time without notice Credit scores may adversely affect quoted rates.

If you're thinking of selling or buying in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact me direct at (573)761-3485 or online at http://www.hankshouses.com/ . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!

The Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors will host the 3rd Annual Cinco de Mayo 5k run/walk 1 mile fun walk. The proceeds from this event benefit the Council for Drug Free Youth. The previous two years we raised over $6,000 to help area youth to have the resources to lead a drug-free life. All registrants will receive a t-shirt, gift bag, and refreshments. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards will be given in each age group of 5 k walk/run. Please come out and help us support this worthy cause.

Date: May 2, 2009
Location: Memorial Park, Jefferson City MO, 111 Memorial Park Drive.
Course: Leaving the park, turn left onto West Main, turn left onto Boonville Road (return same course).
Time: Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. race begins promptly at 8:00
Online registration form: www.jcabor.com
Phone: 573-636-6721
Fax registration: 573-636-6723

Jefferson City Real Estate Statistics - February 2009

Average days on market -- 91

Total properties sold -- 69

Median list price -- $129,900

Median sell price -- $127,900

List price to sales price ratio - 94%

According to the statistics from one year ago the number of homes sold stayed exactly the same at 69. The average number days on the market went from 95 days last year to 91 in 2009. The median sales and list price increased by about 3% while the list to sales ratio decreased by 3%.

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the MLS of the Jefferson city Area Board of Realtors. Neither the board nor the MLS guarantees or is any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the board may not reflect ALL real estate activity

Jefferson City Realtor / Multicultural Forum connection

In February I received recognition for service and support of the Jefferson City Multicultural Forum. The Jefferson City Multicultural Forum exists to foster understanding of and communication between races and cultures by: Promoting harmony; Welcoming diverse groups into the existing population; Encouraging acceptance and acknowledgement of our diversity; Working with individuals of all origins to develop capable, productive citizens; Providing information regarding multicultural issues; Facilitating networking opportunities with regard to multicultural issues; and, Educating employers and potential employees regarding hiring practices and opportunities for diverse populations. Everyone who decides to make their home in mid-Missouri deserves to feel at home. That is the ultimate goal of the Jefferson City Multicultural Forum. I am honored by this recognition, and happy to now be a part of the Board of Directors. Each year the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors participates in the Forum's Fall Festival and have taken diversity training through the Forum. The Forum has also helped promote the Board of Realtors activities surrounding our "Diversity Awareness Month" and educating the public about fair housing. If you would like to learn more about the Forum and its many projects in the community, click here.

Jefferson City Realtors attend Capitol Conference

The Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors Board of Directors members attended the 2009 Capitol Conference in Jefferson City in January. During this conference we met with lawmakers serving the districts our MLS/Board covers. At these meetings, Realtors advocated for such things as home owner's rights, inspector licensing, and against such things as "sales tax" on home purchases, and funding for social issues through the sale of homes. Our opinions and ideas were well received by the legislators and were promised support on issues on the pro side of home ownership and taxes and fees relating to it.