The 1st quarter of 2009 is at an end and I want you to know that things look better today than they did at the beginning of the quarter. The phones are ringing again and we have buyers.

Sometimes there is so much economic bad news that you forget to notice some good things. Now, this is not to brush aside or minimize rising unemployment. The fact remains, someone won't consider buying if they are afraid of losing their job. And of course shaky banks and big losses on Wall Street are all part of the same worrisome picture. There are, however, some genuinely positive developments out there and I am choosing to focus on the positive. So, let me point out some great news!

1. Super low mortgage rates. Rates below 5% are historic and equate into buyers getting more house for the money.

2. Record-setting affordability. According to the National Association of Realtors, more households with median incomes can now afford to buy the median-priced house than at any time since 1970. What will really get the ball rolling will be the ability of ordinary consumers, in large numbers, to afford to buy a home with their current incomes at current mortgage rates.

3. New tax credits. Employees are getting to keep more in their checks due to new federal tax breaks. Then, add in Congress’s new $8,000. nonrepayable tax credit for buyers who haven’t owned a home during the past 3 years and you have the potential for hundreds of thousands of people to jump off the fence and into the market during this year.

I’m looking forward to a great year! Give me a call and we’ll get the ball rolling for you!