Warner Robins Fire Department celebrates 50 years give them a hand!

A little bit of trivia for you today. Started in 1959 the Warner Robins Fire Department began with just 10 men now for our growing city we are protected by 110 firefighter both men and women. This month celebrates their 50th anniversary and I think we should thank and applaude all the firefighters that give of themselves to protect our families and homes.

I have known Chief Singletary since my son Jonathan and his son Ethan played together in 1st grade now those boys are sophomores in college. My how time flies.

I know the firefighters are not highlhy paid like many of our public officials and they do what they do out of a love for the job. Many firefighters do side jobs on thier days off anything from building, or handyman jobs to cutting firewood.

If you see a member of the fire department thank them for all they do. Daily they put their life on the line for our safety.

Thunderbirds are coming to Robins AFB this weekend!

This weekend Robins AFB is hosting an Airshow that is open to the public, Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd.

Two of the nation's premier aerial demonstration teams will highlight the 2009 Robins Air Force Base Air Show.


The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will perform precision aerobatics in their F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, traveling at more than 400 mph with their wingtips only inches apart. They will be joined by the U.S. Army Parachute Demonstration Team, the Golden Knights, whose precision skydiving abilities are renowned worldwide.

Come out and visit our local squadrons static displays, let your kids sit in the cockpits, climb on the planes and eat some great food courtesy of our hard working squadrons.

Admission is free and everyone is invited!

Growth is happening everywhere in Warner Robins

I listen to the news and I read the news (online) and I hear about the economy and I know it has slowed down in much of the country but here in Warner Robins we are seeing signs of growth.

Passing Houston Lake Road and Hwy 96 today I was amazed at the progress of the new Kroger Superstore coming to that corner. ( I hope it has gas pumps) I love my 10 cent discount with my Kroger card.



Then drive right around the corner onto Houston Lake Road in front of Shenanigans and you will see a new Chinese restaurant almost completed. I am way excited about this one also. It is being opened by a local couple who already own another restaurant in town. It has the appearance of being upscale and a great date location.
Then if you continue on to the 247 connector you will see the lot cleared for a new Publix grocery store that they have not started building yet but it is coming.

We have some great things happening in our little neck of the woods and I just wanted to share it with you. Have a wonderful day!

Guess Whats coming to Warner Robins

Have you driven down Houston Lake Blvd lately?

Have you noticed a nice new BIG building going

up in front of Shenanigan's? Well I have it from an inside source that it is........

Drum rollllllll please.

A new Chinese restaurant by the same owners as Top Wok

Rumor has it that it will be called BENSONS and it will be specialized

Chinese food.

I for one am so excited to have what has the makings of a great date night restaurant, with atmosphere, good food and not a chain follower.

So when it opens be sure to stop by and try out one of Warner Robins newest dining experiences and lets keep the small business owners of Houston County in business.

The greatest gift you can give me is the referral of your family and friends, If you or anyone you know is thinking of buying or selling please call, text or email me and let me make it easy for you.

Spring time in Macon Georgia

One of my favorite things about living in the south is that starting in March the town of Macon is draped in cotton candy pink Cherry Blossoms everywhere. We have just finished a very rainy festival celebrating the over 300,00 Yoshino cherry trees in all their amazing beauty.

Did you know that Congressional records list Macon Georgia as the Cherry Blossom Capital of the world? It is said that if all the Cherry trees in Macon were planted 10 feet apart side by side they would stretch for 500 miles.

My favorite part of the history of the Cherry Blossom festival is that it was started by a local Realtor, named William A. Fickling, Sr . In 1949 he found a tree growing in his backyard and was awed by the unique beauty of the tree and set out to find out what the tree was called, but it was not until 1952 on a trip to Washington DC that he discovered the name of the tree. He then learned how to propagate the Yoshinos and began freely sharing them with the community.

As the years passed and the number of Cherry Trees grew they spread all over Macon and with that the start of the Cherry Blossom festival started. Despite its humble beginnings, the festival has become one of the Top 20 Events in the South, Top 50 Events in the U.S. and Top 100 Events in North America. It has grown from a three-day festival with 30 events, to a 10-day celebration featuring hundreds of events planned to entertain all ages and backgrounds.



Originally a sleepy Southern town, Macon has now become a bustling center of beauty and international friendship. It roots began with a man who possessed a deep appreciation for beauty and a passion for horticulture, and of course a love of Real estate.

So as the Cherry blossoms are replaced with the dogwood blossoms I wanted to share some pictures of Macon with you. My assistant Cheryl sent the pictures to me. I wish I could give credit to the photographer but I have no clue who it was.

So for those of you in the North look what we in the South are enjoying.

The greatest gift you can give me is the referral of your family and friends.
Remember if you are buying or selling real estate in or around Warner Robins call or text me now.

Housing Stimulus Package

The housing stimulus package

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

by The Applegate Team

Well by the time you read this the President would have signed the economic stimulus package. What is ths going to mean to you? Well since there are so many numbers I am sharing with you what one of my acive rain friends Dan Hartman from Providence RI.posted in his blog. He had a great post on activerain and I just did not think I could say it any better so below is a portion of his blog. If you would like to read the entire blog follow the link below.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/938562/Economic-Stimulus-Act-Signed-Into-Law-What-does-it-mean-for-homebuyers

So what does the package contain for the average homebuyer?

$8000.


Section 1006 (page 54 of the conference report) describes changes to Section 36 of the Internal Revenue Code modifying the previous homebuyer credit that had been enacted in October of 2008. Specifically, the following important changes have been made:

Credit has been increased: the original credit was limited to $7500 or 10% of the home's purchase price; this has been upped to $8000 or 10%.

Credit no longer requires repayment: a significant criticism of the original 2008 credit was its repayment requirement, as those taking the credit would be required to repay it over 15 years. That has been addressed in the new law so that repayment is now required only if the home is sold within the first 3 years.

Credit is now allowable for buyers using "revenue bond" funded mortgages: many state and local entities offer first-time homebuyer mortgage programs that sometimes offer terms more favorable than government or conventional mortgages. Previously those buyers had been prohibited from accepting the credit, however they may now claim it.
Time to purchase extended: the original credit was due to expire June 30th; the revision extends that to November 30th .

Meanwhile, many components follow the original wording instituted last fall, specifically:
Credit is refundable: this means that a homebuyer who would otherwise owe no tax may still claim this credit and receive it as part of a tax refund .

Credit is for first-time homebuyers only: sorry, move-up buyers, but you won't receive this credit; do expect many more first-time homebuyers to be looking at your house, which should help you sell more quickly, if you're priced correctly

Credit is income-limited: the legistlature didn't see fit to modify the terms of this program to allow all homebuyers to benefit, only those who haven't owned in the past 3 years
Finally, certain components are still somewhat unclear:

Credit may be retroactively claimed: the prior credit offered the option to claim as if the purchase took place 12/31/2008 even if it closed in the early parts of 2009. The final bill's language appears to replace this paragraph (page 122, Stat 2981, section 36 subsection g) with something unrelated, which may mean buyers will need to wait until 2010 to claim the credit.
Overall, this program does a lot to change current programs by making them significantly more attractive to homebuyers. The removal of repayment requirement makes the credit much more attractive than the previous offer that had been made. The other changes are more semantic than meaningful, but the most significant thing accomplished by enactment of the bill is this:

Clarity

At least now, we can stop guessing, and start working towards improving the housing market.

So now that we have a new economic stimulus I hope this answers some of your questions and that the above numbers will help you in making a decison.

Have a great weekend and enjoy this great weather.

Jacque

Doom and Gloom

Doom and Gloom

Thursday, February 12, 2009

by The Applegate Team

More gloom and doom news from everywhere Today. I wonder if the media gets as sick and tired of reporting that type of news as we do hearing it. One of the so-called analysts reported that most Americans are sitting on the sidelines because they believe that home values will continue to fall in the first half of 09. Maybe they will and then again maybe they won't.

Let's take a positive spin on this info rather than a negative one. Customers who are sitting on the sidelines waiting to strike, could be missing out on the greatest real estate purchasing opportunity of the last few decades, especially in Georgia. The average home price is $207,000.00, with the change over one year of -4.4%. However the change over a 5 year period is +16.6. That's a pretty good return if you plan on keeping your home for more than a year. When was the last time anyone has seen rates hovering at 5% and less. Also, what happens if all the stimulus packages coming down the pike, raise the rates and push home values higher. I guess my point is, who are the customers listening to, the Pundits on Wall Street or the Professionals in Real Estate.

I know that my stock broker always tells me that when the market is down is the best time to buy not when companies are going along at gang buster pace. So when I take that into the real estate field I can not think of a better time to buy then now when the market is down and there is an overage on the MLS. We are seeing increased calls and more of our listings are selling. So if you are sitting on the fence I would encourage you to jump off and jump in.

Jacque

Interest Rates

Friday, January 30, 2009

by The Applegate Team

Got a great email from a Lender friend in Buckhead and I wanted to share some of it with you. He is very in tune with what the banks are doing and his forcast for the market at the end of this week is as follows.


The flight to quality will remain in place for quite a while. Possibly six months maybe longer. What prompted the tightening was a semi-annual report published Tuesday. This report stated that delinquency rates spiked in the previous six months, for loans with borrowers having mid FICO scores of below 620. This in turn spooked investors who hold warehouse lines of credit for other investors. They will no longer tolerate any more of these loans on their books.

Rates have moved upward again. The 30 year fixed is now at 5.5% PAR for a 30 day lock. 10 and 15 year terms have moved to 5.25%, fully amortized.

3/1 and 5/1 ARM's still remain under the 5% threshold. 3/1 money is at 4.375% with the 5/1 ARM going to 4.75%.

He goes on to state that your debt to income ratios are going to become very important. That if you have credit card debt that you will not want to have more then 50% of the limit used.

Several banks here in town have just stopped doing mortgages. I know for a fact Atlantic Southern has and today I heard Security Bank announced they are putting a hold on all home mortgages.

It is a very unusual market that we are experiencing, and I really don't see a change coming for the next six months. So my advice would be to keep your credit stellar, don't be late on payments, and try and get your debt ratios down below that 50% mark. Typically the other industries like auto and credit follow suit on credit guidelines. So we may see changes in those markets as well.

As for the good new this Friday, home sales have risen and in the Warner Robins area we actually saw an increase of a little over 2%. So maybe all the doom and gloom is not going to be around for a whole lot longer.

Have a great weekend

Jacque Applegate

Thanks to Greg for the loan information.
Greg Brown

BuckHead Home Loans
1455 Old Alabama Road Suite 195-A
Roswell, Ga. 30076
Office: 404-303-7411
Cell: 678-943-0423
gbrown@buckheadhomeloans.com

Another Year gone by!

Another year gone as we greet a new one.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

by The Applegate Team

Last night we said good bye to another year yet once more. As we greet the new one have you followed your family traditions? I know today that I made my mother and father proud as we shared the Georgia game with good friends and we ate all the traditional foods meant to bring us good luck and wealth.

We had black eyed peas and rice in the south we call it Hoppin Jon. For a little trivia question do you know what Hoppin Jon is called when you have it as left overs the next day?

My daughter Jaime informed me it is referred to as Skipping Jane. That was my small fact to learn today. One I did not even have a clue of.

Along with Black eyed peas I had to make a concession on the cabbage that I grew up eating and hating I might add because I have learned in the south it is not cabbage but Collard Greens as the symbol of choice. I guess the greens symbolize money so after this year being so crappy I forced the greens down.

The rice is a food that has long been know as a lucky food so of course we had that also and we vectored away from the hog jowls, some things I just can't do so we had pulled pork another concession I have made from my Northern roots.

Food, family friends and football what more could you ask for on the first day of a New Year.
If you would like to read more about the traditions of New Years check out this link, has some fun facts to know and learn. http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm

I wish you blessing and joy in 2009! And remember as always Real Estate is still a strong investment and always a great place to invest your money. The highest complement you can ever pay my team is the referral of family and friends.

Warner Robins Voted New South East Little League Headquarters

Warner Robins Voted new South East Little League Headquarters


Wednesday, December 10, 2008


by The Applegate Team


Once more our little town of Warner Robins Georgia has made the front page news. Yesterday evening it was decided unanimously that Warner Robins would be the new South East regional headquarters for Little League!


This is impressive news following upon Business Week naming Warner Robins as one of the best places to raise your kids.


Below is an excerpt from the press announcement from the Warner Robins Little League website.


With back-to-back world champions and a strong passion for Little League, I cannot imagine a better place than Georgia for the Southeast Region Headquarters," Gov. Perdue said. "Little League is a great program that I was proud to be a part of during my youth, and we will be honored to host the regional playoffs each year as the Southeast representative to the Little League World Series is determined. Little League is a world-class organization and I am proud to welcome them to Georgia."


the entire article can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/5g5xwl


This is definitely something for us to be proud of since our boys showed such great sportsmanship to the young men from Japan in the final playoffs of 2007. I must say that at the end of that game I had tears in my eyes. I have known many of these young man and have watched them grow during our time here in Georgia and it was a very humbling moment when our boys went and hugged the young boys from Japan. It's what we as parents hope to install in our children and that game showed that many parents and coaches had met the mark.


So once more our small town is brought into the headlines and with this honor we will be forced to improve what many of us feel is already a great sports program. An interesting fact that the above article stated is


Little League Baseball and Softball is the world's largest organized youth sports program, with more than 2.6 million players and 1 million volunteers in every U.S. state and 75 other countries.
I must say that I had no clue that the sport was that huge. That even makes it bigger news when you recognize those facts.










So if you are ever in our area please don't hesitate to pull off I-75 and check out our little news worthy town. You know you will always be welcomed!



Have a great day!

Front Page Twice in One Week! Way to Go WR

Front Page twice in one week! Go Warner Robins!
Friday, November 21, 2008
by The Applegate Team
Wow what a week for Warner Robins. Twice in the same week we made front page headlines! First it was for being voted on as the best town in Georgia to raise your child then following that an article about our Warner Robins Little League and how wonderful our boys were to the Japanese team.

Over the next few weeks, the powers that be will choose between us and Morganton, N.C., to replace the St. Pete, Fla., suburb that has been the home of the regional offices and qualifying tournament for the Little League World Series.

This would be a great money maker for our city and community. So keep your fingers crossed for Warner Robins and maybe the next thing we will get will be a Soccer Tournament, since we all know I am partial to soccer having invested a ton of money in the sport over the years. (And no none of my kids are still playing)

Have a great weekend!

Jacque

Warner Robins Best Place to Raise Your Kids!

Warner Robins named best place in Georgia to raise your children!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

by The Applegate Team

Showed up to the office this morning to a buzz in the hallway. Apparently on the front page of the Macon Telegraph was an article stating that Warner Robins was selected as Georgia’s “Best Place to Raise Your Kids” by Busines Week magazine. http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/11/1110_best_places_for_kids/11.htm

The article that was published on Monday put Warner Robins first and Marietta and Athens as Runner-ups.
They selected cities on such factors as school performance, number of schools, crime rate, job growth and family income.
Below is a portion of the article from the Telegraph.
Acting Mayor Clifford Holmes said the survey looked at many factors that he considers important.
As a retired educator, he said the school system is second to none and has worked hard at attracting the best teachers. Holmes credits the schools, along with Robins Air Force Base, for creating a city where many can make a decent living.
.
Ed Rodriguez, executive director of the Warner Robins Area Chamber of Commerce, echoed that sentiment. Business Week is a widely respected publication around the world, he said.
“A lot of people are going to hear about it and pay attention to it,” he said. “Hopefully, it will attract people to the area.”
Rodriguez said such movement could provide a much-needed boon to the real estate industry.
Holmes suggested that while the city is a great place to live and raise a family, more needs to be done. While serving as the city’s chief executive, he has seen room for improvement in the areas of parks and theaters, he said, but overall, he is pleased with the city’s ranking.
“It really is a credit to the citizens of Warner Robins,” Holmes said.
I would just like to state that when John and I moved here 13 years ago, I really had to wonder where he was moving me. But as the years have passed and our children have grown, I have come to believe that there is no better place to raise a child.
So many things make Georgia a wonderful state to live in, things like the HOPE scholarship, Schools of Excellence (yes I know on the national ranking, but please check out Houston County against the total state) http://www.schooldigger.com/go/GA/district/02880/search.aspx. Large Military presence with bases like Moody, and Robins, Fort Stewart and Fort Gordon.
We love Warner Robins and we are so happy that the rest of America can know how wonderful we are.
On any given Friday night in the fall you will find one of the 4 local High Schools playing Football at McConnell Talbert Field and the stadium will be packed, the locals show up for baseball too. Last year our American Little League won the World Championship against Japan and the compassion they showed was awe inspiring. We have generational support for our school sports and I think that makes so much difference.
Neighbors know neighbors and that always keeps kids on edge. You never know who your parents will run into at the bank, or the grocery store and those neighbors may just mention that they saw your child driving down Russell parkway at 1:00 on a Friday afternoon. (Ask my son Jonathan about that one. He was busted skipping school by a friend who was a nurse on her lunch break when he turned in front of her.) In Warner Robins they take the saying "It takes a village to raise a child" seriously.
So to end this post yes now America can know that Warner Robins really is a pretty great place to raise a family. For once I agree with the media!
Have a wonderful day.

News Flash From the Chamber

News Flash from the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce

Sunday, November 02, 2008

by The Applegate Team

Got an email from the Chairman of the Warner Robins Chamber and the lead article was about the City of Centerville proposing a 27% tax increase. Well of course that caught my attention so in reading on it said the meeting was scheduled for tomorrow. Nothing like a lot of notice on an issue that effects so many people.

I have not read anything about this in the Houston Home journal or the Telegraph. So I am posting the Chamber newsletter. Some good info. Sorry the click feature is disabled I could not find an embedded link to use.

November 2008Welcome to a new report on regional business issues affecting members of the Warner Robins Area Chamber.This newsletter will also frequently contain survey links and additional background information on Chamber initiatives.Your regular weekly Chamber newsletter, now named Click & Connect, will continue to be published each Friday. Centerville Proposes 27% Tax Increase! Recently, the City of Centerville unveiled a proposal that would increase property taxes. Although it has happened quickly, the proposal has been the issue of much discussion within the business community. In case you missed it, here is some recent news coverage on this issue:Centerville Tax Proposal Draws Heat From Business Community (From Houston Home Journal)Centerville Council to Raise Property Taxes from The TelegraphWhile the Chamber has not as of this time taken any position in favor or in opposition to the proposed tax increase in Centerville, it is important, as the region's largest business association, that we seek the input of our members.Register Your Opinion Now!Click here to respond to our Centerville Tax Increase Survey. Even if you feel that you are undecided on this issue because perhaps you have not had an opportunity to learn more about it, we would appreciate you letting us know this when you take the survey.Attend The Public HearingsPublic hearings on the proposed tax increase will take place on Monday, November 3 at 10:00 a.m. and Monday, November 3 again at 4:00 p.m. at the City of Centerville at 300 East Church Street. A third hearing is scheduled for November 10 at 6:0 p.m.

STRATEGIC PLAN GUIDES CHAMBER'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Throughout 2008, while many of the Chamber's hard-working committees have been busy planning and staging high-profile events, another committee, chaired by Past Chairman Paul Hibbitts, has been working equally hard developing our Strategic Plan for the next five years. While it may have appeared more low-key than some of our other projects, it involved 10 months of work and countless hours of analysis and input from various stakeholders in the community, including chamber leaders, staff, ex-officio leaders in the fields of government, education, health care, regional development, and more. After several rounds of fine-tuning, the plan was approved at the September Board meeting.Why is the Strategic Plan Important It will guide our goal-setting and planning efforts each year for the next five years. Each year the Chamber prepares its annual Program of Work highlighting goals and objectives. Think of the Program of Work as our “road map”. Then think of the Strategic Plan as our “beacon” casting light and "compass” providing direction for our “road map”.Read the Strategic PlanIt's now on our website at http://www.warner-robins.com/strategic-plan

CHAMBER COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FINALIZED At last year's Goals Conference, a consensus arose that the Chambers' Number One Goal for 2008 should be he the development of a comprehensive Communications Plan to improve the Chamber's communication with its members, elected and appointed officials, non-members, the local media, and others. Chamber Board Member Dick McCoy convened a committee of our chamber's finest communications minds and over a 10 month period they developed a strategy for meeting this goal. Many of the changes you have seen in the past few months were inspired by the work of this committee, including our popular Speed Networking events, webcasts, surveys, and expanded newsletters. There is more to come in 2009.

BRANDING PROCESS TO PLAY A REGIONAL ROLE Your Chamber is a large organization encompassing businesses in several counties of the Robins Region. We are no longer a “North Houston” organization nor are we an exclusively “Houston County” one. With over 200 of our members located in Peach and Bibb Counties, and more joining each month, our role as a regional leader has been on the rise for many years. There are many organizations that we partner with to help promote this great region. Our Branding Committee, Chaired by Brad Fink, spent 2008 preparing for a major push that will begin in January of 2009. In cooperation with the MBA program at the J. Whitney Bunting School of Business at Georgia College & State University, the Warner Robins Area Chamber is about to embark on a major branding initiative that will help us identify, target, and promote our chamber and our community. The goal is for our brand to be a useful tool not only for the Warner Robins Area Chamber, but for the many other organizations that promote the Robins Region as a destination for business, industry, tourism, education, and health care. To become involved in this exciting effort, please call Chamber President Ed Rodriguez at 478.922.8585.

SCHOOL ACCREDITATION GOOD NEWS FOR BUSINESS The Houston County School System has completed a district accreditation visit by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). A 10-member SACS Review Committee performed a Quality Assurance Review (QAR) Oct. 27 through Oct. 29. This review sought substantiation that the school system meets standards, engages in continuous improvement and implements methods that provide for quality assurance. The visit culminated with an exit report and a recommendation for district accreditation. Of course, none of this comes as a surprise to the Warner Robins Area Chamber. Our Education Committee has been touting the virtues of our local schools for years. We certainly didn't need an accreditation to tell us we have one of the finest school systems in the nation. However, school accreditation IS important because it provides additional opportunities and opens up more doors to success for students. We're proud of the many Chamber leaders who participated in one or more aspects of this accomplishment, including Past Chairman Steve Williams, Vice Chair Shaw Blackmon, Past Board Member Linda Dykes, Ex-Officio Board Member Megan Smith, and others.

AEROSPACE SYMPOSIUM ON TRACK FOR SIXTH SUCCESSFUL YEAR - ENORMOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR ROBINS REGION Imagine 700 to 900 aerospace, governmental, and military leaders coming together for several days to learn more about doing business with the Air Force, its requirements, new developments, and more. Now imagine those 700 to 900 people coming right here to the Robins Region for such an event. You don't have to imagine because this reality is now in its sixth year! In November, the Aerospace Industry Committee of the Warner Robins Area Chamber, in conjunction with the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, will play host to leaders from throughout the United States and Canada for this annual event, to take place at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry. AIC Symposium Chair Gary Cox and his hard-working team have been working hard to put the finishing touches on this event. Not only does this Symposium play an enormous role in the development of the Robins Region's largest industry, it generates a huge economic impact on the lodging, services, restaurant, and other businesses in Perry, Warner Robins, and the rest of our region. For more information on the Aerospace Requirements Symposium, click here.

DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT Earlier this year, the Warner Robins Area Chamber encouraged its members to participate in the planning process for the redevelopment of downtown Warner Robins. Some great planning sessions took place and our members joined hundreds of others in the community providing ideas and input. That process continues this month and we hope you will turn out for the next stage of planning on Thursday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. The City of Warner Robins and its design consulting team will seek and record your input on their design recommendations. Please make plans to attend. Click here to view a flyer with more information.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE SEEKING SPONSORSHIP ASSISTANCE “Champions of Education” is one of the platform planks in the Chamber's newly-adopted Strategic Plan. Whether it is the STAR Student Program, Teacher of the Year, or any of the other great programs of our Education Committee, the students of our community benefit greatly. Chamber Vice Chairman Shaw Blackmon heads up this year's Educational Affairs Division. The programs of this division cost money and the committee must raise every penny in order to continue its work.How You Can Help:During the next few weeks, a member of our Education committee may be contacting you to participate in sponsoring the work of this group. We hope you will say yes. The benefits to local business are enormous. To view a recent report on some of the work of this committee, click here.

PARADE We can't have a business report at this time of year without mentioning the 51st Annual Warner Robins Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, coordinated by our Community Affairs Committee (Vice Chair, Randy Randall) in conjunction with our friends at the City of Warner Robins and hundreds of other local community organizations and citizens.Why It's Important:The regional impact of this event is sizeable. The parade attracts thousands from throughout Middle Georgia on a busy holiday weekend, where they spend their holiday dollars in the Robins Region.This year's Grand Marshall: Major General Polly Peyer!A gentle reminder: time is running out for reserving your space in this event. Contact April Mouton today at 478.922.8585.We are also seeking some sponsors, who will enjoy recognition not only during the vent, but also during the broadcast and webcasts on WMAZ. A parade sponsorship is a great way to increase your company's exposure during the competitive 2008 shopping season. Contact Katie Dobbins at 478.922.8585 for sponsorship information.

Warner Robins AreaChamber of Commerce1228 Watson BoulevardWarner Robins, GA 31093478.922.8585www.warner-robins.com

Once in a Century Tsunami?

While reading the news online I read an article by the Associated Press about Alan Greenspan being questioned about the current state of the economy, and he is quoted as saying that our current crisis is a "Once in a Century Tsunami" Really?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,443737,00.html Greenspan said that he felt that the banks would have had more concern for the shareholders and investors then they did. Is it not surprising that even the banks were swept by this Tsunami? I actually think verses the word Tsunami we should replace it with greed. Because wasn't it actually greed that caused this?
My main issue I have with this whole topic is that here they are questioning Alan Greenspan the Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve why are we not questioning the Leaders of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae? Why is it they are not being held accountable for what has happened? When we talk greed, they walked with millions but no one is screaming for justice from them. Yet when Enron happened we sent those men to jail. Is it because Freddie and Fannie were government back enterprises?

Greenspan stated that "there was a flaw in the model.... that defines how the world works." A flaw? I think not I think it is greed. We had banks lowering standard to make shareholders and investors happy because the mortgages were a good money makers. So to make more money they lowered minimum credit scores, they became creative in their lending. We were putting home buyers in homes they could ill afford. We were doing that by interest only loans or No money down loans? Is it any wonder that when they got a rate adjustment on those ARMS and interest only loan home owners got a shock?

Living in a military community I have had the unfortunate opportunity on more then one occasion to go to a listing appt and have to tell the home owner "Even in the beat case scenario you will have to bring money to the table." It is never a good or comfortable listing appointment and this was all caused because someone put these homeowner into a mortgage that they did not either understand or it was not explained to them in true detail.

As REALTORS we have a responsibility to educated our customers and clients to the best of our ability on all the features of different loan programs. The market says consumer beware but when you have knowledge that will benefit another is it not right to share the knowledge to the betterment of the buyer? Even we as REALTORS got greedy in the market, We stopped doing what we knew was right and we did not always have the best interest of our clients in the forefront of our daily actions. I am not saying all of us but I know of many in our town who only did interest only loans, that was the only program they sold. But I deter from my original point sorry.

So my main question here is?

Where were the heads of Freddie and Fannie when s*#@ hit the fan? Where are the men who took so much money from the industry? Why are we not questioning them? Why are we not hearing anything from them? Is there no contrition?

A critical pillar to market competition and free markets did break down," Greenspan said. "I still do not fully understand why it happened." Well let me education you Mr Greenspan. A critical pillar did break down but I am not sure the free market broke down. I think greed was the pillar but I believe free market was the doorway through which the pillar tumbled. By living in a society where we have free enterprise we allow the green eyed monster of greed to take over when we allow it to go unchecked.

So I ask you will there be justice? Or are we afraid to ask the question of those who were key figures in the downfall of this free society? Where are they and why are we asking Alan Greenspan the tough questions but not the heads of Freddie and Fannie??? Inquiring minds wanna know.

Buying a Home and the Internet

Buying and the Internet

Friday, October 17, 2008

by The Applegate Team

I had a co-worker ask me this morning how the Internet helped my marketing. I never had to hesitate before answering because in so many ways the Internet has enriched my business.
With my personality I like the ability to check out things and compare different site before I commit to purchase something. (Must be why I am such and ebay fan). This seems to also be true of a lot of my on-line clients they like the anonymity of the Internet. The ability to check out other company websites and look at houses through sites such as Realtor.com or MLS.com and find what they desire before contacting an agent.

I know that when I make contact with someone as a result of our site that they are serious lookers and interested in either selling or buying. Maybe not right this minute but they are gathering information and preparing themselves with knowledge so when they do choose their agent they will have some ideal of their background and market area.

Does this bother us as agents? Not a bit it actually makes our job a whole lot easier. We have had customers comment on our photos of the dogs or other such things and it makes a connection for us. It is an ice breaker many times upon first meeting.

By using the Internet as a marketing tool we have the ability to update and change listing instantly. If we take pictures when a homeowner is moving out we can then go back and update when they are totally moved out. It does not have to go through a third party just us. We are able to stay on top of our inventory and serve our clients better.

Does it bother me that customers check out several other sites? Heck no! When they choose us we know they have looked over the competition and we placed. Thats a good thing, and we expect it.

So to go back to the start of this post do we embrace the Internet as a buying tool for homes in todays market? Of course we do, We have actually sold several homes site unseen over the Internet. ( A little scary but true). We just take tons of pics and upload them on a site for the buyer to check out and then we go back and take more where needed. We now have the ability to do a veri sign and our contracts are all done on the Internet, They just have to show up for closing. There are a lot of investors who buy and never see the property they are buying based upon our recommendation and pictures and the mls info. The Internet makes this easy and accessible when in the past it was snail mail.

So don't be afraid to check us out or or competition! We love what the Internet can do for you as a buyer or a seller. It is a great tool and one that almost all home owners go to first.
Well enough of my rambling just thought I would post. Have a great weekend

Jacque



If you are interested in buying or selling in Warner Robins , Centerville, Byron, Bonaire, Houston, Peach or Crawford County. Call or text me now.

1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit!

First Time Homebuyer Credit

Friday, August 08, 2008

by The Applegate Team

Here is an article that I came across highlighting how the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit works. Your home is your biggest investment and I think this article brings light to one of the many advantages of doing so. And of course, we all need a break when it comes to paying "Uncle Sam"!!

Christy

Daily Real Estate News August 4, 2008

Under the new housing bill, home buyers who have not owned a home in the last three years will be eligible for a tax credit equal to 10 percent of the property up to a maximum of $7,500.Here’s how it works:
The credit is $3,750 for married couples filing separately. Unmarried people who jointly purchase a home will be able to divide the $7,500 credit.
This program is actually a loan, which home buyers must repay over 15 years at zero percent interest beginning in the second year after they purchase the home. A home buyer who qualified for the whole credit would pay $500 for 15 years or about $41.67 per month.
The credit applies only to homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008, and before July 1, 2009.
High-income home buyers don’t qualify: Eligibility begins phasing out for single filers with adjusted income of more than $75,000 and $150,000 for joint filers. It completely phases out at $95,000 for singles and $170,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Source: The Washington Post, Michelle Singletary (07/03/08)

5 Big Credit Mistakes

5 BIG Credit Mistakes

Thursday, July 24, 2008

by The Applegate Team

This article is for all of you who ask Brandy and I about your credit scores. This is advice I have heard over the years from many lender on the mistakes customer make with their credit. Make sure you understand your credit score and how important it is to your home buying experience. As the rules for mortgages change daily, you have more negotiating power with a higer credit score then a lower one. Lenders base the rates they quote you on your credit score. So with the economy we are experiencing now, it helps to have a good credit score and some money in the bank. Gone are the days of 100% financing. So arm yourself with knowledge when you start shopping rates.
Jacque

Respect the Flag

Respect the Flag
Monday, June 23, 2008
by The Applegate Team

This was sent to me by a friend and I thought it was worthy of posting since July 4th is right around the corner.

Respect the Flag

When you see the Stars and Stripes displayed, son, stand up and take off your hat. Somebody may titter. It is in the blood of some to deride all expression of noble sentiment. You may blaspheme in the street and stagger drunken in public places, and the bystanders will not pay much attention to you; but if you should get down on your knees and pray to Almighty God, or if you should stand bareheaded while a company of old soldiers marches by with flags to the breeze, some people will think you are showing off.

But don't you mind! When Old Glory comes along, salute, and let them think what they please! When you hear the band play "The Star-Spangled Banner" while you are in a restaurant or hotel dining room, get up even if you rise alone; stand there and don't be ashamed of it, either!

For of all the signs and symbols since the world began there is none other so full of meaning as the flag of this country. That piece of red, white and blue bunting means five thousand years of struggle upward. It is the full-grown flower of ages of fighting for liberty. It is the century plant of human hope in bloom.

Your flag stands for humanity, for an equal opportunity to all the sons of men. Of course we haven't arrived yet at that goal; there are many injustices yet among us, many senseless and cruel customs of the past still clinging to us, but the only hope of righting the wrongs of men lies in the feeling produced in our bosoms by the sight of that flag.

Other flags mean a glorious past, this flag a glorious future. It is not so much the flag of our fathers as it is the flag of our children, and of all children's children yet unborn. It is the flag of tomorrow. It is the signal of the "Good Time Coming." It is not the flag of your king?it is the flag of yourself and of all your neighbors.

Don't be ashamed when your throat chokes and the tears come, as you see it flying from the masts of our ships on all the seas or floating from every Flagstaff of the Republic. You will never have a worthier emotion. Reverence it as you would reverence the signature of the Deity.
Listen, son! The band is playing the national anthem?"The Star-Spangled Banner!" They have let loose Old Glory yonder. Stand up?and others will stand with you.

This tribute to the flag is offered to the country in appeal to all men and women of all races, colors and tongues, that they may come to understand that our flag is the symbol of liberty and learn to love it.

ALVIN M. OWSLEY,
Past National Commander, The American Legion

Memorial Day

Memorial Day
Friday, May 23, 2008
by The Applegate Team

Memorial DayFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Memorial Day is a United States Federal Holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (observed in 2008 on May 26). It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. It is also traditionally viewed as the beginning of summer by many, since many schools are dismissed around Memorial Day.

To follow with that little bit of information I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day and don't forget to honor those who serve in the military. Remember they voluntarily choose to join to protect your freedom. So when you see a solider or a vet let them know you appreciate what they did or do.

The House that Jacque Built

Building a House
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
by Jacque Applegate
John my wonderful husband of 25 years and I are building a new house. What an endeavor it has been as well as a wonderful learning experience. I really thought I knew a lot about the construction phases of building and I guess I really do but I have been humbled and I have learned so much more.
Do you know that in the process of building a house you have close to 100 inspections? Yeah well neither did I.
One of Joel's young friends whose family built a house a couple of years ago went out to the construction site and we were just finishing the framing and he said "Yeah now it is gonna sit like this for a month." I thought he's crazy I have a good builder he knows what he doing and I will see progress. Well need I say Will was right we did not see the kind of progress my kids and husband thought we would see, instead we saw the HVAC unit installed the plumbing was plumbed, the electrical was wired but still no walls. I watched and learned.
I wish I had done this when I first started selling Real Estate because it has opened my eyes to so many things. Like patience which I do not normally have a wealth of but as I get way older I am learning (not that John would agree). We are now in painting stage and still have a ways to go. I have not enjoyed having to make all the selection choices that has been a little stressful. Thank God for good friends and business associates who's taste and judgment I trust. They have made me laugh and actually secretly enjoy things that would have frustrated me in the past.
But out of all of this I think the most important thing I have learned is that you need to trust your builder. To have a relationship built on trust is so important I have deferred to my builders judgment more times in this process then I can tell you. My standard line is "What do you think I should do?" All I know is I am getting the kitchen I have always dreamed of what more do I care about?
Well to all of you who have built or to those of you who hope one day to build, embrace the experience but make sure you have a great builder and a lot of time and a great spouse all the rest will fall into place.

Lessons from the Sub prime fallout

Lesson from the sub prime fallout
Monday, September 24, 2007
by Jacque Applegate
In cruising the INTERNET I found this article on the sub-prime fallout and it really hit home with my team. A couple of years ago we had a Colonel come to us to sell a house in a fairly new subdivision, he was a victim of a sub-prime loan. The Realtor who sold him the house did an interest only loan even though this gentleman could afford the payment had money to put down and had a great credit history. His agent at the time sold him this home with an interest only loan. After living in the house for 3 years he owed more on the house then it was worth. He had to bring 10,000. to the table to cover his cost. It was sad. We did all we could to help but we still had to tell him the unfortunate information that he would need to bring a large chunk of change to the closing table. If we had sold this Colonel the house we would never have put him in an ARM with a balloon payment, nor would we have done an interest only loan. There was no reason for this customer to be in this situation. It was a case of a Lender who only knew a few loan programs and a REALTOR who is only interested in the commission. The deal worked out OK but it was not a best case scenario for our customer. We are seeing more and more of this fallout in today's market. We are seeing customers who are in ARMs trying to sell before their loans balloon. It is a sad state and most of these clients could have been put in a regular loan program.That is why I feel it is extremely important to work with a Lender with a good history of loans one backed by a company who offers loan programs to fit all needs, be it a fireman or school teacher you should be working with a lender who has knowledge of all the loans that are out there.

Below is a great article by Craig King where he talks about the relationship between Lenders and customers, he also tells you how important he feels your relationship with a good Realtor is. Spend a few min and read the article.

I’m going to advance a notion that some people may find controversial, but I believe it to the bottom of my soul: Business is about relationships. Let’s say you’re a local banker getting ready to lend money to Frank. You know you’re going to see him at church, at the Kiwanis Club and at the Chamber of Commerce meeting. If you sell him something that doesn't’t work for him, those encounters will become very uncomfortable.When the job of selling mortgages got separated from the jobs of underwriting and servicing those loans, it was just a matter of time until we faced a crisis. The originator – often somebody in a one- or two-person office – shuffled the paper and collected a fee. The underwriter sold the debt to an agency like Freddie Mac, which bundled it with thousands of others into securities that could be traded like bonds. The job of sending bills and collecting the money got jobbed out to a mortgage servicing company that in many cases had no roots – or even offices – in the home buyer’s community.Now, we’re “shocked – shocked!” to learn that there are people who got stuck in unsuitable mortgages, buying homes they couldn't’t afford.OK, maybe the mortgage originator still has to look the customer in the eye. But increasingly, even that role is being pre-empted by faceless giants taking applications over the web. I’m not suggesting for a moment that there’s any dishonesty in any of this. But even assuming everybody is playing by the rules, the incentive to give the customer your best advice and guide him or her to suitable products is severely compromised.Let’s go back to Frank. You’d like for him to keep coming back for checking, car loans and business loans. You’d like to be able to speak to him at the grocery store without ducking behind the bottled water display when you see him coming. So when you originate his mortgage, you’re probably going to make sure it’s one he can live with. You probably won’t steer him to a “liar loan” or an ARM with a teaser rate, knowing he could lose the home when the inevitable rate adjustment comes. You’ll know that Frank’s best interest – and yours – coincide in the long run.This is why I think local real estate brokers and agents are more important than ever. With the local banker disappearing, the agent is about the only “real person” the customer sees. That means local professionals need to exercise more care, integrity and judgment than ever – guiding buyers to homes they can afford and giving them sound advice on everything from inspections to resale value. After all, we’d all like to earn a commission when that buyer sells in a few years.

Warner Robins Little League

Warner Robins Little League World Champs
Monday, August 27, 2007
by Jacque Applegate
Congratulations to the Warner Robins Little League Baseball team who beat Japan 3-2 on Sunday evening. What a great testament they are for our wonderful city. What struck us in the office was the sportsmanship these young men displayed. At the end of the game when they went out and hugged the Japanese players who were distraught and crying verses just shaking their hands, it actually made me so proud.
I know Micky Lay personally and I know he is a wonderful coach and a great man and he has the interest of those young men as a top priority. I also feel personally that weather they won or lost they would have been so proud to have just had the opportunity to play in an arena like the one they did.
Christy a member of our Real Estate team drove a 16 pack van up on Friday loaded with siblings of the the players who had to go to school. They left work on Friday and drove 12 + hours to PA to take the family members who could not go. What a great community to be a part of when people who don't even have children on the team go out of their way to help other members of our community ease the burden that the tournament brought on the families.
You can read the winning story from the Macon Telegraph by clicking on the link. http://www.macon.com/523/story/122081.html