January Market Update 2014

Existing-Home Sales Drop in January While Prices Continue to Grow By Walter Molony WASHINGTON (February 21, 2014) – Existing-home sales fell in January to the lowest level in a year-and-a-half, but ongoing inventory shortages continue to lift prices in much of the U.S., according to the National Association of Realtors®. Read more, click HERE. How to buy a house, even with no savings and bad credit   Sure, you'll buy a house. Just as soon as the money truck dumps a big load of cash at your front door. And the credit fairy sprinkles a whole bunch of that magic dust on some numbers that aren't even close to "qualifying" levels. To learn more, click HERE.

What the New Mortgage Rules Mean for You By Les Christie   New mortgage lending rules are going into effect Friday that aim to put an end to the worst mortgage lending abuses of the past.  Read more, click HERE Why Failure is Good for Success The sweetest victory is the one that’s most difficult. The one that requires you to reach down deep inside, to fight with everything you’ve got, to be willing to leave everything out there on the battlefield—without knowing, until that do-or-die moment, if your heroic effort will be enough. Read more, click HERE. Buckeye Community is Wooing Boomers    Baby Boomers considering buying in metro Phoenix’s newest community for people 55 and older will have four home builders from which to choose: Lennar, Maracay Homes, Standard Pacific and T.W. Lewis. To learn more, click HERE. Ides of March: What Is It? Why Do We Still Observe It?   Thanks to Shakespeare's indelible dramatization, March 15—also called the Ides of March—is forever linked with the 44 B.C. assassination of Julius Caesar, and with prophecies of doom. Read more, click HERE. Phoenix Events March If you can't find something to do in the Phoenix area, you probably aren't looking very hard. March is one of our busiest months of the year, with baseball, art festivals, garden events -- this is the place to be in the springtime. Learn more, click HERE. Emerald Isle Cocktail Recipe You will find that the Emerald Isle is a minty gin cocktail that is a great green drink for St. Patrick's Day parties and is similar to the Caruso. For the recipes, click HERE.

How March Madness Works   March Madness is a phenomenon that grips the national sports psyche from the second week of March through the first week of April. Learn more, click HERE. Bacon Wrapped Smokies    "Time consuming but it is well worth it! The brown sugar and bacon grease combine beautifully and give such a great taste." For the recipe, click HERE. Keeping Your Home Safe While You’re Away   Total home security means that you won't have to worry while you're away. A few simple actions and some high-tech additions will give you peace of mind whether you're at your office or on a Caribbean cruise. Learn more, click HERE.