So much news to share

Wow!  Where has time gone?!?  My baby is 6 1/2 months old now.  Life has been wonderfully full but incredibly busy.
The reason for my long departure from the real estate world is my son had some major surgery on his kidney three weeks ago.  We knew there were some issues before he was born but had no idea how extensive his issues were until after his birth.  Long story short, my son had surgery at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee and is recovering nicely.  There will be a few more hurdles to jump through before he's given the 'all clear' but God has been right by our side all the way through this. 
So with that being said, I decided to wait until after his surgery to head back to work.  I have mixed emotions about coming back.  I wish my son were 100% better but the final 'all clear' is several months off yet.  I keep getting calls to help clients with their real estate needs so I felt it was time.  Maggie has enjoyed her break in blogging but I told her to gear up.  She's currently thinking of clever things to post in the future.
I will leave you with an article from the Realtor's Association from this last month.....good news....finally!

Both Home Sales and Prices Rise in April
By Dave Clark, Economist

MADISON, WI - The strong pace of existing home sales continued with 10 straight months of double-digit sales growth. Home sales rose 19.5 percent in April 2012 compared to April 2011, according to the most recent monthly report by the WRA. Home prices were also up for the second straight month, rising 2.4 percent to $128,000 in April compared to April 2011.

Visit the WRA website to read the full report. To find monthly and quarterly housing data for your county, visit www.wra.org/housingstatistics.

Happy Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for right now.  My mom had a baby boy, Thatcher Jeffrey, on 11-11-11.  We're now a family of five......me, my mom, my dad and sister.....life is good!

No Rise in Home Prices Until 2020: Bankers

Home prices are unlikely to recover before 2020 and mortgage defaults will persist for years, says a survey of bank risk managers out Friday.

Fuse | Getty Images

The survey conducted by the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association for FICO, found that 49 percent of respondents do not expect housing prices to rise back to 2007 levels for another nine years. Only 21 percent of respondents said they would.

The findings, which authors called “a decidedly pessimistic outlook”, are a sharp reversal from cautious optimism the survey respondents expressed late last year and in early 2011.

In addition, 73 percent of surveyed bankers say they expect mortgage defaults to remain elevated for at least another five years. And 46 percent believe mortgage delinquencies will increase over the next six months.

Only 15 percent of respondents expect mortgage delinquencies to decline during that period.

“While the housing sector will almost certainly gain strength during the next nine years, many bankers clearly believe prices will remain depressed for half a generation,” said Andrew Jennings, chief analytics officer at FICO.

Bankers concerns spread beyond the housing market.

A large number of respondents says they also expect to see an uptick in delinquencies on auto loans, credit cards and student loans.

Small businesses are expected to continue face a challenging credit environment. More than one-third of respondents forecast an increase in delinquencies on small business loans.

Bankers also appear to be pessimistic about recovery in consumer spending, with 64 percent of respondents expecting credit card usage to remain below pre-recession levels for at least five more years.

Half of the respondents expect credit card balances to increase over the next six months, due to higher spending by some households and smaller monthly payments by others.

Housing Starts, Permits Slip in July

Reuters

Housing starts fell less than expected in July as builders broke ground on new multifamily units likely to meet demand for rental apartments, while permits for future construction dropped, a government report showed on Tuesday.

The Commerce Department said housing starts slipped 1.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 604,000 units. June's starts were revised down to a 613,000-unit pace from a previously reported 629,000 unit rate.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast housing starts to slow to a 600,000-unit rate. Compared to July last year, residential construction was up 9.8 percent.

A bloated inventory of unsold homes and a weak economy are weighing down on the housing market, whose collapse was the main catalyst of the 2007-09 recession. A large foreclosure pipeline also is not helping, leaving builders with little incentive to break ground on new projects.

Sentiment among home builders was steady at low levels in August, a survey showed on Monday, but they were pessimistic about sales over the next six months.

But demand for rentals, as Americans shun homeownership because of plummeting home prices and a 9.1 percent jobless rate, is stemming further declines in home construction.

Last month, housing starts for multi-family homes rose 7.8 percent to a 179,000-unit rate, and groundbreaking for projects with five or more units was the highest since January. Single-family home construction -- which accounts for a large portion of the market - dropped 4.9 percent to a 425,000-unit pace.

New building permits fell 3.2 percent to a 597,000-unit pace last month. Economists had expected overall building permits in July to fall to a 605,000-unit pace.

Permits were dragged down by a 10.2 percent drop in the multi-family segment. Permits to build single-family homes rose 0.5 percent.

New home completions increased 11.8 percent to 636,000 units in July, the highest since June 2010.

Oshkosh Neighbor Works Alert

Those of you in the first two targeted areas of the east side — Washington Avenue from Broad to Bowen streets and Mount Vernon Street from Parkway to Oxford avenues — mark Saturday, June 11, on your calendars. It's a "dump day" to get rid of some of the junk in the area and start getting neighbors working together. We hope it goes well and people get behind the effort! Jeff Bollier~Oshkosh Northwestern

Happy Easter

From my family to yours, I hope you have a blessed Easter.
Tifani

Pier Registration Deadline Is April 1, 2011

Waterfront property owners with larger piers must register their piers with the DNR by April 1, 2011 to ensure their piers will be "grandfathered" from new size limits adopted by the State of Wisconsin in 2004.

Generally, a pier will need to be registered if it (a) is wider than 6 ft, but less than 8 ft in width, (b) has a platform at the end of the pier that has a surface area of less than 300 ft (w/ a max. width of 10 feet) and/or (c) more than 2 boat slips for the first 50 feet of shoreline frontage and 1 boat slip for each additional 50 feet of shoreline frontage.
To register a pier, a waterfront property owner must complete and mail a registration form to the DNR. To obtain a copy of the registration form and to find out more information about which piers need to be registered, please visit the DNR's website at:
http://dnr.wi.gov/waterways/recreation/piers.html

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Oshkosh accepting applications for loans

Okay, I'm mad.  My mom is a slave driver!  I mean, seriously?!?!  The woman just starts back to work and expects me to get blogging again right away!!!!  I have enjoyed my break and kind of wanted to ease back into this between naps......but nnnnnnooooooo.

Well fortunately there is much to be discussed.  I thought I would pass along this great article I found in the Oshkosh Northwestern.  Please let my mom know if she can show you any homes.....she'd love to PLUS it would get her out of my hair!!!

    "Eligible homeowners are encouraged to apply for the city's owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program. 
     The program offers a zero percent deferred interest loan that is available to low and moderate-income single-family property owners with the Oshkosh city limits.  Loans may be used for roofing, plumbing, electrical, furnaces, painting and general repairs.
     Interested homeowners must complete an application and be approved before any work is done.  The annual gross household income may not exceed-per household size:  one, $38,300; two, $43,800; three, $49,250; four, $54,700; five, $59,100; and six, $63,500.  Larger households should call the planning office for income limits.

     The application deadline is March 15th.  Contact the Planning Division at (920) 236-5059."

Yep, it's true....it's FINALLY over!

It's FINALLY over.....my maternity leave that is!

I am back to work full time after the birth of my little girl, Evangeline Salome.
If I can be of any assistance helping you, or someone you know, buy or sell a home, please don't hesitate to contact me.

I hope your year has started out wonderfully!

Go Packers!!!!

Tifani

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I hope you have a blessed Christmas and wonderful start to the New Year.

God bless,

Tifani and family

Time to Give Thanks

November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving. We give thanks for the people in our lives, the things we have, our health, family, friends and so much more.

This month Tifani wants to help you ‘give thanks’ to the special people in your life.
Nominate another family, couple, close friend or relative to receive a $50 gift certificate to enjoy a nice dinner at a restaurant in the Fox Valley. Tell Tifani why you are thankful for them.

The story that is picked will be posted in Tifani’s next e-newsletter and on Maggie’s Dog Blog located on Tifani’s website www.TifaniAndCompany.com.

All stories must be submitted by November 24th to qualify. You can send all entries to Tifani@TifaniAndCompany.com.

Happy Thanksgiving all November from Tifani And Company

Guess What?!?!

My mom and dad gave me a baby sister! My sister was born on September 4th and her name is Evangeline Salome. I love her so much! My mom is taking some time off to spend with me and my baby sister but she will be back soon enough.

I love my sister!

Yeah, yeah...I know...back to work

Okay, I know I've been quiet since my birthday but I needed a break people! I was driven to the brink by my mother who was working non-stop. After the credits ended, things dramatically quieted down, which has been a blessing of sorts. I've gotten to rest up a bit, hit the lake with my mom and dad and visit with a lot of family. Fun times.

My mom said it's time to get back to work now. Seeing that real estate is still very quiet even though interest rates are at their lowest point in years, I've got to keep helping my mom market, market, market.

My mom and I are always trying to come up with new ways to advertise her homes. She already uses Facebook, Twitter, an enewsletter and several magazines but she's on the lookout for something new and creative. Any ideas?

If you have any creative tips or ideas on how my mom can further advertise her homes please let me know and I'll pass them along to her. You can email me at Tifani@TifaniAndCompany.com.

Have a great week everyone and I'll be back soon!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!!

Well guess what?!?!? Saturday was my 10th birthday! I got to go to Lucy's Closet in Neenah and get a birthday treat! I had the best day ever!

Now that it's all over.....

In a way, I'm really glad that these buyer/seller credits are over. Daddy and I rarely saw mommy. She worked a lot and sold a lot of homes. Her buyers and sellers are really happy. Now I'm really happy to have mommy home for longer than a few hours a day! Time to get some rest........

Buyers Rush to Meet Tax Credit Deadline

With only seven days left for buyers and sellers to utilize the tax credits my mom is running around like a mad woman trying to match her clients with homes. There's still time to find a house. Just give my mom a call! She'd be happy to help.

I miss her though....'sniff, sniff'.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Buyers Rush to Meet Tax Credit Deadline

It's National Open House weekend this weekend!

With only 21 days left to utilize the first time homebuyer credit, it will be a fantastic weekend to get out to as many open houses as you can. What a better weekend to do that this weekend...National Open House Weekend! My mom is doing open houses both Saturday and Sunday! Come visit her!

Check out the article below for more information!

'National Open House Weekend' pushes tax credits, home ownership

Posted using ShareThis

Happy Easter!

I want to wish you all a very blessed Easter! Just remember that there are only 32 days to utilize the tax credit...call my mom, she'd be happy to help you!

I wonder what the Easter Bunny is going to bring me this year????

Housing Experts Say Real Estate is Recovering

Well I'm not sure if you knew but I've been pretty sick lately (the picture is of poor me at the doctor's office). I've been to the doctor three times in a period of weeks and am not real thrilled with where they put the thermometer. I'm really hoping that I don't have to go back. I think I'm on the road to recovery though....just like the housing market from what I'm hearing! My mom is thrilled, my dad is getting very thin from not having anything to eat for dinner because mommy's always gone at night (I think she does this on purpose so she doesn't have to cook) and I'm resting...strict orders from that mean ole' doctor. This is what I'm hearing...

Some of the nation's top economists believe the housing market has turned and better days are on the way for the housing industry.

Increase in jobs, credit, and affordable homes will overcome impediments such as rising interest rates, and the expiration of the Federal stimulus program to push the housing market towards recovery, says Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist for Barclays Capital.

"I would be even odds that we're at a bottom and that we're going to see improvement in the coming months," says Karl Case, co-creator of the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index and a professor of economics at Wellesley College.

"The underlying trend is turning positive," says Bruce Kasman, a chief economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Source: Bloomberg, Kathleen M. Howley and Rich Miller (3/15/2010)