Spring 08 Newsletter

Wow!  Nature sure is providing a beautiful spring.  Ever see the grass so green and full?  In case you haven’t noticed, the local Real Estate market is coming back to normal, too.  Prices are still down and there is a nice, big inventory, but activity is way up.  Most agree that it has come back to a normal market for us.  Busy, for sure!  Without pouring over the numbers, just look around – there’s building and expanding activity everywhere.  It is great to see the confidence that this reflects in our community.  Makes this a nice area to live in.

Rising consumer prices and the cost of living are affecting us all, for sure.  I notice the car manufacturers are still proudly offering a full range of choices – from 400 horsepower, new-age muscle cars to new fuel-efficient models.  It will be interesting to see if we consumers change our buying patterns in the face of today’s gas prices.  I know that I’m less in love with my SUV every week at the pump!

Speaking of choices, one of the many new subdivisions springing up in our area has an interesting appeal to environmental and energy concerns.  Just south of Edwardsville is Rock Hill Trails, a sustainable planned community.  Check out the link to their web site at the bottom of this newsletter for some interesting reading. Is this our future in terms of new subdivisions?  Many (many) years ago, I became a self-educated “expert” on energy efficient building.  Seems like I was driven by the energy crunch at the time.  True, all the techniques raised the price of a new home, but the payback looked solid.  As a nation, we drifted away from this future – lulled by continued low energy prices.  I think we may be back to the future.  Look soon for 5-star energy efficient ratings for new home construction, similar to appliance ratings.  Certainly, the utility costs of your next home are a factor you and your Realtor should be considering and comparing. Sellers, are you listening?  Energy improvement projects should be considered right along with cosmetic fix-ups prior to marketing your home for sale.

The coming presidential election has certainly been interesting and consuming. Let me be a little silly for a moment – please, this is satire and humor – don’t be offended! Tongue firmly in cheek, I thought I we might ask our three contenders what they thought of the nation’s housing slump.  Click on each candidate below for some great(?) insight!  Smile!

Read about Rock Hill Trails (click) 

Please feel free to pass this newsletter along to others. Perhaps they will linger on my Real Estate page. I enjoy answering questions about homes, whether buying or selling, and I invite new people to consider me as their own Personal Realtor.       

Bob