Jump on the band wagon

Just a few months are left to take advantage of the 8K government rebate. This is NOT just for 1st time home buyers, this is for anyone who hasn't owned a home in the last 3 years. You don't even have to wait until you file your taxes to receive the money... call us and ask us how. There are also a lot of community grants out there. Houses can still be purchased for -0- down payment. Buy now while prices are low, interest in low and inventory is high. You may be able to make your payment less than your rent! You have to have your transaction closed by December 1st 2009! This Grantsville Beauty is on 10 acres. Beautiful Cherrywood kitchen and private well! Can you believe it is only $329,000? Hurry and take advantage of this exciting program! The home of your dreams is waiting for you! Call today Barb 435 884 9449

Last Frontier

Living in Tooele County has really made me appreciate our opportunity of seeing the beautiful wilderness. As urban sprawl effects so many areas in our state, our beautiful county seems to be less touched by it . A few days ago my husband and I got in our side by side 4 wheeler and drove down the road.... yes, you heard right, we didn't have to trailer our 4 wheeler! We simply drove to the mountains. We ran across a little settlement in the Stansbury mountain range. Oh how I wished the homes could talk and tell us their stories. Bryan thought at first it was a mining camp, but after wandering around we could tell it wasn't. What miner would plant a lilac bush and persistent tulips? These small little homes definitely had a woman's touch. There was a sign on one of the little homes that said 1913. Was it really built in 1913? I have no way of finding out.
We ran across an old truck while we were exploring? How in the world did they get it up there? It was pretty rough terrain. I'm sure it would have some stories to tell also. Did I mention the amazing wild flowers? They were so beautiful. I truly felt blessed to see such beauty.

We never seem to run out of places to explore here in 'Tooele County, Utah. What a great place to live! Serenity and convenience!

New appraisal guidelines could affect market

New appraisal guidelines that could further affect the Real Esatate Market. Some banks & mortgage companies have already implemented some of these restraints. The new rules are formally announced. Check out the final version of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct with implementation required by May 1. Clearly, this will have a major impact on all facets of the mortgage industry... Specifically, the code prohibits:

• Direct contact between a loan originator and an appraiser.
• Passing an expected or desired value.
• Requesting estimated values or sales comparables prior to completion of an appraisal report.
• Direct payment for appraisals to appraiser by origination-related personnel

"The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has formally announced the final version of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) to be implemented by May 1, 2009. As expected, the code specifically addresses appraiser independence, pre-valuation requests and the passing of any expected value by a loan originator."

In the past appraisers not familiar with an area could look at comparables suggested to him by a realtor, is this going to still be allowed? Anyone's guess. We'll have to see how this is going to affect a market that is just showing signs of rejuvenation!

Deal of the Day!

My deal for the day is to remind you to go outside and really see the amazing nature that is surrounding you. The weeds are even green! What a deal! Spectacular beauty and it is free! It will uplift your mood, enhance your spirit and make you grateful.
This is my pet dove, he even adds to my joy to my life with his cooing... telling me to come out and feed him. He was hawked about 2 weeks ago

and we had to doctor him back to health.

Mountain Property with year round access

Today's deal of the day is 3.5 acres of gorgeous mountain property right next to forest service property. Wooded, year round access! Only $58,000. Purchase by next month and get some free property thrown in! Property is located in South Willow Canyon in The Stansbury Mountain range in Grantsville, Utah. Last lot on the south side before forest service gate!

What is a deal?

As I have been perusing property lists looking for a the deal for the day, I wanted you to know that a deal for a homeowner isn't necessarily a deal for an investor.

If you are an investor you want make sure your property has at least 10K profit. It is not worth it for any less. The risk out weighs the return. This must be after all of your costs including the cost for YOUR labor.

On the other hand if you are looking for a home, a deal could be the worst home at the best price in a neighborhood that you would love. One that has potential for future equity.

At the Solutions Team we try to take the guesswork out of that for you by doing before and after market analysis' & market research to let you know who is your potential future buyer and what WOW's they will be looking for. What is a Wow? It is something that when you see a property you unexpectedly say " Wow"!

Every home should have a WOW! Now I want to tell you about the deal of the day & it's Wow!

It is on 10 acres of prime property in a neighborhood of larger homes. It is a small custom 1 bedroom home with lots of extras. The Wow for this home is not only the gorgeous land with it's future development possibilities, but the Fabulous Gourmet kitchen with cherrywood cabinets and granite countertops. The property comes with a free flowing artesian well. Priced at only $329,900 and is located at 450 N Cooley St. in Grantsville UT.

Deal of the Day

Todays "Deal of the Day" is an approved short sale in Tooele County. This home has the most amazing mountain and lake views with a park like back yard. It is on a little over 1/2 acre. It was first listed it was $281,000. The sellers were going to walk away with a couple of thousand dollars at that price! Nearly 2 years later the bank has approved the short sale at $200K. This is less than the seller bought the home for 5 years ago. It is located in a beautiful area of larger homes. It has an amazing deck and a large covered patio. Perfect for entertaining. The home needs a little cosmetic updating. The potential is great! It is located at 491 Gordon Circle in Tooele, Utah. This home is a classic example of how overpricing can shoot you in the foot. If it had been priced right in the 2 years ago, my opinion is it would have sold for around $260K.

Real Estate Deal of the Day

As we go about our regular work day we see all kinds of people. Like the couple who were getting so excited to see the fabulous view from the living room. As the curtains were opened, the husband very disappointedly says, "Oh, what is a shame, that huge mountain is blocking the view"! Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder!

For this purpose we are going to show you some of the Fabulous deals that are out there from OUR eyes! Check back daily to see if any of these Deals of the Day are what you are looking for.
Todays DEAL is located in Herriman, Utah. It is on 5.92 acres of seclusion. It is only $370,000. The original loan on it was $700,000! 6,037 finished sq ft. It is located at 84 W High Country Road. Hurry and check it out, this fabulous deal won't last long!

$6000 First time Utah Homebuyers grant!

The pot just keeps getting sweeter! Low interest- lots of homes to pick from- $8000 rebate if you haven't owned a home in 3 years, and now for the residents of Utah a $6000 grant from the state! It doesn't get much better! Take this beautiful rambler on a huge .45 acre lot with the basement completely finished! Already a super bargain at only $229K. Real wood floors throughout! 5 bedroom + a big office, 2 family rooms, 3 baths, auto sprinklers, fenced and even a large shed! This home is located on a private cul-de-sac in Grantsville Utah. Located at 357 Plaza Circle.

You will love the town of Grantsville! It is where we have lived for the last 10 years. It is a small town with all of the city convenience. SLC is only a 30 min drive. Tooele is 15 min away and has all of the big town shopping available. This lovely town of about 8500 has beautiful mountains 7 min. from my front door! A reservoir for fishing and secondary irrigation. We also have the most fantastic 4 wheeling nearby also. My husband Bryan & I love to take the grandkids up a canyon that we can drive right out of the driveway to. We take a few shortcuts going on some back roads and we are right in this beautiful canyon. At the top of the trail is an old abandoned mine. We always stop there for a snack and beautiful vistas. The grandkids love swinging over a little stream on a rope. It makes them feel very adventurous and the pictures give their moms a heart attack. It looks much scarier than it is.

We feel very blessed to live in this oasis of peace and tranquility with wonderful neighbors and friends around us. The only thing that we are missing is all of our kids. I am trying to talk them into the move!

There are some income limits on the grant, but they are quite high and on a sliding scale according to family size. The grant needs to be used for a new home that has never been lived in. We have lots of those out here!

Call the Sherrif, someones about to steal!

It is a buyers market right now as you all KNOW! Foreclosures are everywhere. A great example of this is the pictured gorgeous brick rambler that is a foreclosure steal! It is on the market with a $30K discount for a fast sale! This gorgeous all brick home is in Grantsville, Utah at 167 Harris, MLS # 861782 This beautiful home is just waiting for a new family to enjoy all of the fabulous amenities like organizational closet in the family room! Pellet stove in the Spacious family room. Built in entertainment center! It is within walking distance of all 3 schools!

Two years ago it was hard to find a good buy! Now they are everywhere you look! Put 4.75% interest on top of that and how can a buyer loose? Not to mention the FREE no strings attached government money you will get as a rebate if you are a First time home buyer! You can get up to $8,000. Here is a chart that will help you understand the government rebate program!

Out with the old!

Would you love to have a new home? The first step to having one is getting your current home ready to sell!

It takes longer to sell a home than to buy one. We can get you in a new home in less than 3 weeks! That is not the problem!

The problem is getting your home sold. How do you get it noticed among the 1000's of homes out there! STAGING!

This is a free service that The Solutions Team offers to their clients. We have helped get a home staged and ready to go, and all of a sudden the sellers realized what a jewel their home was, and decided Not to move.

Above is a picture I took of a home that was perfectly staged. The old closet doors were put over an unattractive old corner window to give the room a fresh new look. A few plants, a table cloth over an old table, and a couple of placemats and the room looked inviting!

Most of us have too much stuff! Load it up, haul it out! This one step alone can make your home look more inviting and much more spacious.

Decluttering is one of the best things you can do to get your home sold. It is also one of the best things you can do to make your home more attractive for you.

When you go into a room look at it as though you were seeing it for the first time. What is adding to the feel of clutter? What things do you love? Asking yourself these and other questions can make your home look like a showplace. Call for your free staging! We'll do it for buyers when they move in also, so take advantage of a service that will make you feel at home. Out with the old, in with the new... or the not so new, just different!

I'm asking the face in the mirror.....

As I watch our economy slowly go into a tail spin I ask myself, what am I doing to contribute to this economy.

I think the biggest factor in the decline in the real estate market is all of the press. People are afraid to buy! Prices are fabulous, lowest in 3 years. Interest is even better! Can people get loans! Absolutely. Perhaps they will have to do a bit of credit clean-up, but you are talking weeks, not months. This is a great time. The thing that is creating this whole mess is our thinking.

I just read a fantastic article in the Readers digest about these trying times. Perhaps we ( Me included) are focusing on the 1/2 empty glass rather than the 1/2 full one.

Some of the points that I loved in the article are:

• Free Time- we have so much more than people in other ages and in other countries. The typical American spends only 20% of our waking time earning a living. If you feel too busy it is because you are putting a lot of extra activities into your life. Your choice!


• Unemployment- Yes we are short on jobs, but it isn't near what the depression had. They had 44% unemployment, we aren't even close. We also have creative ways to make money that wasn't available to the people then.


• Roomier homes- We have more space than ever. Consider the home you grew up in. We had 5 kids and 1 bathroom. Most shared bedrooms. In 1950 Nearly 1/2 of Americans didn't own their own home. Today more than 2/3 's do.


• More wilderness. Once you travel beyond the spraw, you will find open space and peaceful forests. In recent decades, America has gained 70 million acres of wilderness, which is more than all of the land currently occupied by cities, suburbs. More people can get to this wilderness to enjoy it because of technology. We love 4 wheeling. We see country we never would on foot or in a car.


• Our cars, they last longer, are less expensive to drive and the fatality rate for accidents is down drastically. It's a reare site to come upon a broken down car. One we used to see all of the time.


• Memories. The gift of longer life has usually been accompanied by loss of memories. We have so many fabulous ways to enjoy those memories, digital photos, scrapbooking, journaling has never been easier. In the past only nobles and scribes could hire someone to write their life story. Now everyone has option at their fingertip.


• The Reading revolution- in 1970 barely 1/2 the people of the world were literate, and only a few could afford a book. Middle class people needed payment plans to afford an encyclopedia. Now we have free books at our fingertips, ie libraries and the web. Today more than 80% of the world can READ!!


• Horn of Plenty, Never before have a people been able to eat like kings for as little money. You can buy a kiwi from New Zealand, gelato from Italy, fresh fish in the desert. These wonderful treats aren't only for royalty.

It's a wonderful life, and I am tired of spreading the gloom and doom. I am going to ask that face in the mirror what I am doing to be thankful and count my blessings instead of looking at that 1/2 empty glass. I do have all the food I want to eat! I do have a roof over my head! I do have so much! It is a wonderful life.

Time to Move?

Are you trying to decide if now is a good time for you to move or stay put? This question is puzzling many people right now. Some great questions to ask yourself before making this crucial decision are:

• What are the reasons I am wanting to sell?

If you are wanting to move into a larger, nicer home now is the perfect time to sell. Why? Because if your home is in a lower price range, the values are not down that much. You will more than pick up any discount you will need to make on your purchase. Homes in the upper and middle price brackets are discounting heavily to find a qualified buyer.

Are you just wanting a nicer home. Is the sq. footage fine, just not the layout you would love? Then perhaps a refinance to pull out some equity and update your home would be your best bet. There are a lot of contractors out of work right now and you can find quality work at great discounts. Moving a wall, expanding out or up might be your perfect solution.

Am I considering a job relocation? A lot of companies will pick up your loss and your closing costs to relocate. What is the housing market where you are re-locating? What is the cost of living like? The internet makes answering those questions easier than ever before.

After you decide the reason you are exploring a move ask about financing. Is your credit what it should be to get the best financing? Credit scores of over 650 will give you a lot of options. In the 700's you are in good shape. Below those, get busy and start your credit clean up process. With diligence and a little guidance you can get those scores up to par in just a short time. Need help? Call The Solutions Team for your free credit clean up program. 435 884 9449.

Is now a good time to sell? Depends on your circumstances... Is it a good time to buy? Absolutely! Prices are lower than they have been for 2 years. Interest rates are great! Sellers are negotiating. It is the perfect time to buy!

Smoke and Mirrors

Getting our last newsletter ready to send out, I was contemplating the economic problem. It reminded me that more important than any crisis we are in, is our reaction to the crisis. Why are we in the mess? Is it an actual crisis or is it our perception? Perception is how you discern or see something. Lets look at the facts.

1. Interest Rates are under 7% (relatively low)


2. Prices are 30% less than they were 2 years ago


3. There is an abundance of homes to choose from


4. Mortgage companies are still loaning money


5. A home is a great investment


6. You can still buy a home with no or little money down

Rather than react to the current crisis, why not ask yourself some empowering questions?

Do I have enough food to eat today?

Do I have a roof over my head?

What can I do today to prepare for unforseen circumstances?

On those days when nothing in your life seems to be going right, it can be really tough to see the silver lining among all those clouds. However, it's during these times when the ability to see the good in even the worst situations is so important. An optimistic attitude benefits not only your mental health, but your physical well-being as well
Optimism – reacting to setbacks from a presumption of personal power:
· Bad events are temporary setbacks
· Isolated to particular circumstances
· Can be overcome by my effort and abilities
Pessimism - reacting to setbacks from a presumption of personal helplessness:
· Bad events will last a long time
· Will undermine everything I do
· they are my fault

What you say to yourself when you experience stress and adversity, your questions-- influences your performance, your mood, and even your health. Do you know the difference between a want and a need? We have very few things that are really needs: medicine, food, the roof over your head, gas for the car that you drive back and forth to work.

If your family could benefit from a new home the empowering question would be " Can I afford the payment?" What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? If you want and need a new home, now could be the perfect time. If you need to sell, now is the perfect time, because you can pick up any loss on the other end. If you don't need to sell, now is the perfect time to stay where you are and make your home feel like your retreat.

In a nutshell, I think we must think of our the things in our life we are blessed with, focus on that and not on the clouds. After all there is always sunshine above every cloud.

Homeowners Tips

Well I am tired of writing just about real estate! Perhaps that is why I don't do it as often as I had planned. I wonder if you get as tired of reading about the volitile market, great buys etc.

I decided that I was going to do tips for homeowners... things that make owning a home a little easier.

My husband Bryan & I are both brokers and both work full time so dividing up the inside and outside chores becomes a chore in itself. We have gotten pretty good at both doing the things we don't HATE! This makes the chores get done a little easier. One thing I have gotten the short straw on that I really dread is cleaning the refrigerator. My secretary Julie said the secret is to go through the fridge at least every 3 days and throw out the things that we were sure we were going to eat and didn't! While that did solve the problem of opening the fridge and having things call out to me, or worse having the leftovers vying to participate in some medical school experiments. It did not solve the problem of having a clean, shiny organized refrigerator.

While cleaning it, I decided that it really isn't that hard, so why do I dread it so? Why don't I clean out 1 drawer, shelf or bin each day while cleaning the kitchen. Like wiping down an extra counter top! I do believe I have hit the jack pot. I will let you know if it works.

Mountain Property in Utah

Looking for a low cost family retreat? Look no further!

In the beautiful So. Willow Canyon in the Stansbury Mountain Range, located just 40 minutes from SLC is this beautiful 16 acre parcel for only $65,000. It includes over 400 ft of frontage on canyon road, with much of the property being rugged mountain and plateau for a great escape and no worry about neighbors. The perfect retreat for 4 wheeling, with private 4 wheel trail that can be used only by home owners. Year round access, and next to Forest service property. Heavily wooded. No utilities, so you can bring a trailer or make yourself self sufficient. Call 435 884 9449 for more information. or email us at solutionsteam@solutionsteam.biz

Shared Ownership in Real Estate

It's not new, it's not a time share.... It is a fabulous way to have a vacation home hassle free. It's called Shared Ownership.

Usually when people buy a vacation home they think they will get away every weekend to enjoy it. Reality and life steps in and they find that they visit their fabulous vacation home only a few times each year. Those times are shadowed by having to clean it and do the repairs . Shared ownership is fabulous alternative to this scenerio.

You own a fabulous home or condo with 4 to 6 other owners that you don't have to find!. You have a beautiful vacation home that you can actually vacation at. It comes with complete beautiful furnishings, linens, fully equipped kitchen & secure storage lockers so that you can keep your sports equipment and personal home touches on site.

You share the maintenance and housekeeping with the other owners so you have minimal expense and you now have the time and money to really enjoy your vacation home.

We have just listed a shared ownership home near beautiful American Fork Canyon in Utah, County. It will include 12 weeks of use. These will be booked for 3 rotating weeks in each season. You will have the opportunity of trading with the other 3 owners to get your

own customized vacations. It is a steal at only $110,000. Fully furnished and ready for your family. It includes 4 bedrooms, laundry facilities, beautiful master suite, gourmet kitchen.

Gorgeous Views in every direction. It is within walking distance to a gorgeous golf course, near hiking, boating, camping & skiing. It is located at 10333 Tamarack Way in Cedar Hills, Utah. See a photo tour of this gorgeous shared ownership home at http://www.10333tamarack.com/ Call or email us for further information 435 884 9449 or solutionsteam@solutionsteam.biz

Real Estate Investing in Utah

With the declining Utah real estate market, investors are seeing great opportunities for investment.
It is my opinion, after 26 years in the real estate industry, that the only way you can get hurt with a real estate investment is IF you have to sell in buyers market. Most investors must have a couple of options if the market gets tough. A Plan A, and then a Plan B for tighter times. Right now with the lending guidelines tightened up, there is an abundance of renters. Now is the time to start making a portfolio, with other people making your payments. If you can rent a property for 1% of the sales price that is a good guideline to go by so that you don't end up having to subsidize your own retirement. All properties will sell, it just depends on the price, condition and location. Sooner or later, if you stick to the sales price, it will be saleable!
Contact us if you would some great Plan B's!

We also have sources for buying investment property for only 10% down! Isn't it time you started doing a sure fire investment program?

Credit not good enough to buy a home, contact us for our FREE credit repair service. We can get you where you want to go. We specialized in Tooele County, but can help you regardless of where you are. You will need to sign a agency agreement, that means when we do get your credit up to par, you will let us, or one of our assigns represent you~ Call for a free consultation.

Owners will carry!

We have just listed this fabulous property located in the North Part of Grantsville,Utah. The address is 45 N Cooley St.
Grantsville is located about 30 min west of SLC, UT. It is a serene town that is growing rapidly. Great values are still to be found. This 10 acre parcel has been reduced to only $29,000 per acre. This amazing home site will be a great buy for someone who wants the convenience of the city a short commute away but longs for the peace and serenity that this secluded property will give. It includes the use of artesian well. Call for more details.

Amazing year around beauty.

View to the East

Yikes! Is my house value dropping?

As the housing market continues to create havoc in our economy I wanted to tell you that it isn't all as bleak as it seems. Your house value a few months ago seemed to be extremely high. You wished you would have jumped on the band wagon and sold while the getting was good, but it all seems to come out in the wash. Had you sold in a hot market, then relocated you would have had to pay more to relocate so where is your savings? Having seen a lot of market turns in our 25 years in the industry we know that these ups and downs are completely normal. You have a stable market with low interest and everyone wants a new home. That creates demand and then you see the prices go up as demand goes up. More building happens which then makes an over supply, demand goes down. There will always be people who have to sell. Rather for financial reasons, divorce, death, job transfer etc. Because they have to sell, they then have to lower their price to get activity. The neighbor puts his price a little lower and the market starts going down. It is when we need to sell NOW that we loose money. That's when you need creative thinking. How can we make it through the crunch? The Solutions Team has been helping people through the crunches for a lot of years. There are always solutions, you just have to be open to options.
Do we think the market will continue to fall? I don't see how it won't. There are too many homes on interest only and adjustable rate mortgages. They are going to oversupply the market, and they are going to be desparate to sell. It will level out. Now is the time that you want to put yourself in a position to benefit from this market swing. You will want to be on the lookout for good deals. They are coming.