Real Estate Information Archive

Good Monday morning to you!

We saw rates tick up a little bit this week, but the market definitely had a great boost of activity. With the current PCS to Sheppard Air Force Base and the news of over 300 new jobs coming to our in the next 3 years, things are looking great. Also, this weekend brought 4 new pending contracts and even more offers still in negotiations. Contrary to what you may hear, we are busy here @ the Bishop Realtor Group.

I also found some great HUD Repo's this morning @ www.SouthwestAlliance.com . Please visit the site, and if you would like to view any of these properties, just let me know. You will see that most of them have bid deadlines, so be sure to be mindful of that.

We are just inches away, again, from saving another home owner from foreclosure this week too. If you know of someone that is behind on their payments, please send them to www.WichitaFallsShortSale.com to view some options. There are many popular opinions right now that claim foreclosure is a suitable option for those behind on their payments - this simply is not true. This site will discuss some other options as well to avoiding foreclosure.

And remember, www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com - this site continues to grow in popularity with 1000's of hits each week. Finding a home and creating a favorites list has never been easier. I invite you to return or create an account to see why over 1500 buyers have registered here.

Make it a great week, and please let me know if I can serve you or anyone you may know.

"Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was." Richard L. Evans

Good Monday morning to you!

Hopefully some Spring sunshine is in our very near future - I hear more snow is one the way tomorrow...what a Winter its been!

As we approach this Spring and Summer, our best sales seasons, you may be thinking of moving or know someone that is too.
We have created www.TexomaHomeValue.com for those of you that are looking to sell and wondering what the market around you has done in the last few months. Simply enter your home's information and your contact information, and we'll have a market analysis to you within 24 hours.

January 2010 for us was up over 2009 and we already have 16 new pending for February. Its looking like this will be another GREAT year for the Bishop/Gustafson Team.

This week's Myth Buster:

Myth: "If I price my house high in the beginning, that will give me more negotiating room and the buyer will feel like they're getting a deal."
Fact: This simply is not true - you cannot fool buyers in this market.
The only home that sold over $300,000 in Wichita Falls for the month of January was originally on the market at $875,000 - and it sold for $425,000 908 days later. Pricing high caused this home to be on the market almost 3 years! Had they priced aggressively in the beginning, they probably would have netted more money, and saved almost 3 years in taxes, utility bills, and lawn care.

Please call me this week if I can serve you or anyone you may know.

Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it. David Jordan

Ashton

Owner - Bishop Realtor Group                                                             

Good Monday morning to you!

Did you know that the Federal Tax Credit for 1st Time Home Buyers and Existing Home Owners is set to expire at the end of April? If you or someone you know has buying a home on their "to-do" list for 2010, now is the time. Interest rates are at historic lows and our local lenders have money to lend. See www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com for information or to make an appointment to view any home for sale in our area.

Great Buy of the Week - 5127 Rock Point - $79,500

This 3 bed 1.5 bath home in Meadowlake is the perfect home for the 1st Time Home Buyer, Newlywed, or small family. Recent paint and crown molding can be found on the inside. The backyard is also complete with a newly installed covered patio and a great shop with power. Call us today @ 940.691.7355 for an appointment to preview.

Word on the Street - Short Sales

Through my experience handling distressed properties at Bishop Realtor Group, I've found that homeowners today have more questions than answers about their circumstances. I have created the site, www.WichitaFallsShortSale.com to help everyone understand the possible solutions to foreclosure, as well as provide a detailed explanation of short sales, which may be the best course of action for some homeowners.

You will also notice that I'm offering a FREE Report to explain options to help one decide on a course of action. The idea of losing a home can be overwhelming, and I feel it is vital for everyone to have all the facts necessary to make an informed decision.

As an agent with the CDPE® Designation, I have a strong and unique appreciation of the factors affecting the market, and know that there are options available to you.

If you would like to know more about your options, please call me at (940) 224-0881. I am here to help … in any way I can.

Quote of the Week

To sensible men, every day is a day of reckoning.  ~John W. Gardner

Let's live great stories this week,

Ashton

Good Monday morning to you!!!!

Remember that if you or someone you know is looking to buy and get the first time Home Buyer's Tax Credit, they need to be in contract by the end of April and close by the end of June.

This also goes for the $6500 Tax Credit for current home owners. Some have asked about details on this issue. They are as follows:

Its been a great year thus far for the Bishop Team. If we can serve you or anyone you may know this week, please let us know.

www.TheFallsHomeFinder.com - For Buyers

www.TexomaHomeValue.com - Thinking of Selling?

www.TexasBankOwned.com - Investing?

www.WichitaFallsShortSale.com - Mortgage problems?

"Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living." Anais Nin

Click here to listen to Ashton Gustafson and Denny Bishop on the Rise and Shine Show with Joe Tom White.

www.riseandshine.texomacountry.com/2010/01/22/friday-january-22-2010.aspx    

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY                                                                                                                               For more information, please contact:

Ashton Gustafson

940.691.7355

ashton@bishoprealtors.com

Ashton Gustafson Earns Real Estate, Short Sale Designation to Help Homeowners in Danger of Foreclosure

Scottsdale, AZ – Jan 12, 2009 – Ashton Gustafson of Bishop Realtor Group in Wichita Falls has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert^® (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance, with a particular emphasis on short sales. At a time when millions of homeowners are struggling with the possibility of foreclosure, the skills and education amassed by Gustafson will help benefit Wichita Falls-area residents and communities.

Short sales allow the distressed homeowner to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even if it is lower than what is owed on the property. With plummeting property values, this can save many people from foreclosure and even bankruptcy. More and more lenders are willing to consider short sales because they are much less costly than foreclosures.

Today, more than 13 percent of homeowners are delinquent on their mortgage or in the foreclosure process. This is occurring across all price ranges, and the fastest-growing category of homes in foreclosure is the luxury home market.

“The CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with homeowners and lenders on complicated short sales,” said Gustafson. “It is so rewarding to be able to help families save their homes from foreclosure.”

Alex Charfen, co-founder and CEO of the Distressed Property Institute in Austin, Texas, said that agents such as Gustafson with the CDPE Designation have valuable perspective on the market, and training in short sales that can offer homeowners real alternatives to foreclosure, which can be devastating to credit ratings.

“These experts better understand market conditions than the average agent, and can help sellers through the complications of foreclosure avoidance,” he said.

The Distressed Property Institute provides live and online courses to train real estate professionals how to help homeowners in distress, with a strong focus on handling short sales.

“Our goal is to help as many homeowners as possible, by educating as many real estate professionals as possible,” Charfen said. “Gustafson has demonstrated a commitment to struggling homeowners, a commitment that can provide much-needed stabilization to the community.”

Good Monday morning to you!

What an eventful few days we've had here in The Falls...10 inches of snow and it stuck!!! This has definitely been a week I will never forget, and may never see again.

But here we are. In a few short days, 2009 will be over...and what a year it has been. We've seen the stock market rally back to near all time highs, numerous decisions being made in D.C. that will affect all industries, unemployment near all time highs - every day a new surprise on the front page of all our papers. It has surely been a up and down, "yen and yang" year.
 
I saw most of this coming in October '08. I made the decision January 1 to work harder than ever, get to work an hour early and stay an hour late, and do whatever it took to insure successful Real Estate endeavors for my clients in 2009. And that we did - up over 20% from the year prior.

So how do you measure a year? Click here to see how I have.

How do you measure a year? from Ashton Gustafson on Vimeo.

Happy New Year and thank you, thank you, thank you.

God Bless,

Ashton

Ashton keeps selling homes in Wichita Fals even in 10 inches of snow - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

ashton's real estate on the NO GO from Ashton Gustafson on Vimeo.

Even in 8 inches of snow, Ashton is still selling property.
Merry Christmas to all.
www.AshtonGustafson.com

Good morning to you on this Christmas Eve!

Its a white Christmas here in The Falls...very rare, but a beautiful thing to see.

Below you will see this year's videos of all the comments that are clients gave us in regards to their experience working with Ashton. If we can serve you in your Real Estate needs in 2010, please let us know @ ashton@bishoprealtor.com .

 Enjoy and Merry Christmas.

That's What They Said. from Ashton Gustafson on Vimeo.

Ashton's clients speak out on their Real Estate experience.

Ashton's clients comment on his service.