Feder Nation News!

Dave Feder - Twisted Beginnings for the curious......

 The ad in the local Buffalo Evening News Read: "Folk Singer Wanted"  I was 17 and still in high school but I may have looked older. When I walked in the door the manager of the club looked skeptical. I proceeded to play a few tunes I knew like Peaceful easy Feeling, Horse with no Name, Don't think twice, etc.

  The manager asked me if I was eighteen. I said yes? He said you're hired, and handed me a cassette of songs to learn for the show. It was then I realized I was in a strip club. The songs on the tape were mostly John Valbe and other off color bar songs. I was so innocent and the songs were very graphic, and funny.

 On my first night, I arrived with my guitar, microphone, and an old Fender Dual Showman amp. Not the best setup but it was all I had. They set me up in a corner by stage left just far enough downstage that I could watch the show for my cues.

  My Job was to distract the "audience" while the girls were dressing for the next undressing dance. The old ladies from the bowling alley next door were very particular about how their favorite songs were performed. They would often yell out things like it's not #$%&#@ it's &^%$*# you $%#&@#!!! They were the only customers that I remember being there for any length of time. They were awesome.

 The performers were mostly well road worn women with scars to prove it. One even danced until she was eight months pregnant. This is when I knew for sure that the music biz was for me! Mind you, this was well before the days of rampant cosmetic surgury. remember the Seinfeld episode Good Naked and Bad Naked......

  There was also a very tall pretty woman working the door named Patty. Her enlarged Adam’s apple and five o’clock shadow didn't clue me in until I met her in the Bell's market one day shopping. In the daytime, in the market, she was a dude named Tommy. (Still very pretty but much more dudish) Did I tell you I was naive? 

      I guess in some ways I am still pretty clueless socially. But it probably keeps me out of some trouble. Probably gets me into some too I guess.

   Nyan music update: Ny has been working on his Jazz chops on tenor sax! He has cool versions of Charlie Parkers Anthropology, and Duke Ellington's Solitude under his fingers and the feel is happining!

     We really had fun on Friday at Pierre's with Ryan Raines, and with Micah and Ryan at Morada Bay on Saturday night. What a fun spot.

 Remember the big happining spot in town is the Late Night Thursday Night Jam sessions at The Green Turtle. These parties are the coolest thing that has happened to late night since Ice Cream and Pizza!

 Thursday Late Night Jam at The Turtle 10-1

 Friday Pierre's 6-9

  A big thanks to all who came out to support Jeff Shamon at Coconut Cove!

  We love you Jeff!

  Look how many views we have!!

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_3jwM8lO60

  Good Night all..I love you each and every one.......Not in a creepy way.........more of a Hippie Flower Child kind of way..with benefits........;-)  

Florida ranked first in 2011 home sales to Canada

SARASOTA, Fla. – March 15, 2012 – The strength of the Canadian dollar, sustained low pricing in the U.S. housing market, and perceptions regarding the general economic outlook continue to encourage Canadians to purchase a home in the Sunbelt states.
According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) 2011 Profile of International Buying Activity, Florida and Arizona are top choices because of their favorable winter climate. In fact, 58 percent of all international sales in 2011 came from just four states: Florida at 31 percent, followed by California at a distant 12 percent, Texas accounted for nine percent and Arizona at six percent.
Even for international buyers it’s location, location, location. Forty-three percent of those surveyed report a favorable location as their clients’ most important factor when choosing where to purchase. That was followed by 27 percent who stated their clients’ top reason to buy in the U.S. was that they view U.S. real estate as a profitable investment.
Canadians specifically purchase due to a perceived positive return on their investment. They also showed a strong desire for a lakefront recreational location. In fact, eight percent of Florida re-sales were to Canadians in 2010. Similar culture, closeness to their native homeland and lack of a communication barrier are also factors steering Canadians to the lower 48 U.S. states.
The NAR profile also showed that in the 12-month-period ending March of 2011, Canadians accounted for 23 percent of all foreign buyers – the largest of any country. In a 2010 article, Canada’s largest daily newspaper The Globe and Mail reported that a vast majority of Canadians were paying cash for their purchase.
“There are few lenders who have a mortgage process tailored for Canadians looking to purchase a home in the U.S.,” said Sheila Blom, Florida mortgage market manager for M&I, a part of BMO Financial Group. “Our parent company is based in Toronto, so naturally we have relationship products specifically designed to meet the needs of Canadian customers for purchasing or refinancing their primary residence, second home or investment property in the U.S.”

© 2012 Florida Realtors®

Home Sales on the Rise: Ready for Spring Buying Season?

Daily Real Estate News | Thursday, February 23, 2012

Existing-home sales rose 4.3 percent in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.57 million, marking the third gain for home sales in the last four months, the National Association of REALTORS® reports.  

“The uptrend in home sales is in line with all of the underlying fundamentals – pent-up household formation, record-low mortgage interest rates, bargain home prices, sustained job creation and rising rents,” NAR’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yun says.

While sales ticked up, inventories of for-sale homes also continued to show improvement, NAR reported. At the end of January, total housing inventory fell 0.4 percent to 2.31 million existing homes for sale, which represents a 6.1-month supply at the current sales pace. 

“The broad inventory condition can be described as moving into a rough balance, not favoring buyers or sellers,” Yun says. “Foreclosure sales are moving swiftly with ready home buyers and investors competing in nearly all markets. A government proposal to turn bank-owned properties into rentals on a large scale does not appear to be needed at this time.”

Unsold listed inventory has steadily dropped since reaching a peak of 4.04 million in July 2007. It now is 20.6 percent below where it was a year ago, NAR reports. 

Housing Affordability Improves

As home prices have fallen and mortgage rates at all-time record lows, housing affordability is at some of its highest levels on record. 

“Word has been spreading about the record high housing affordability conditions and our members are reporting an increase in foot traffic compared with a year ago,” says NAR President Moe Veissi. “With other favorable market factors, these are hopeful indicators leading into the spring home-buying season. We’re cautiously optimistic that an uptrend will continue this year.”

The national median existing-home price for all housing types in January was $154,700, which is down 2 percent year-over-year. 

Distressed sales, which tend to sell at steep discounts, continue to hamper home prices nationwide. Foreclosures and short sales accounted for 35 percent of all January home sales, which is up slightly from 32 percent in December. 

Still, “home buyers over the past three years have had some of the lowest default rates in history,” Yun said.  “Entering the market at a low point and buying at discounted prices have greatly helped in that success.”

Breakdown by Housing Type

Here’s a closer look at how home sales fared by housing type in January: 

Single-family home sales: increased 3.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.05 million in January from 3.90 million in December. They are 2.3 percent above the 3.96 million-unit pace a year ago. Median price: $154,400 in January, down 2.6 percent from January 2011.

Existing condominium and co-op sales: rose 8.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 520,000 in January from 480,000 in December. They are 10.3 percent lower than the 580,000-unit level in January 2011. Median price: $156,600 in January, up 2 percent from a year ago.

Home Sales by Region

The following is a breakdown of existing-home sales in January by region: 

• Northeast: increased3.4 percent to an annual pace of 600,000 in January and are 7.1 percent above a year ago. Median price: $225,700, which is 4.2 percent below January 2011.
• Midwest: increased 1 percent in December to a level of 980,000 and are 3.2 percent higher than January 2011. Median price: $122,000, down 3.9 percent from a year ago.
• South: rose 3.5 percent to an annual level of 1.76 million in January but are unchanged from a year ago. Median price: $134,800, which is 0.3 percent below January 2011.
• West: increased 8.8 percent to an annual pace of 1.23 million in January but are 3.1 percent below a spike in January 2011. Median price: $187,100, down 1.8 percent from a year ago.

Contract Delays, Cancellations Remain High

Twenty-one percent of NAR members in January reported delays in contracts, and 33 percent said contracts fell through, according to NAR. The number of contract cancellations remains mostly unchanged from December. 

The increase in the past year of contract cancellations or delays has been blamed on more lenders declining mortgage applications from stricter underwriting standards and low appraisals coming in under the agreed upon contract price. 

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

First-time Buyers Prepare for Best Market in Recent History

CAMPBELL, Calif. – March 22, 2011 – Inexperienced first-time buyers may not know if the time is right to make a move into real estate.
“It’s not about timing the market. It’s about time in the market,” says Steve Berkowitz, chief executive officer at Move Inc., the online company that oversees operation of Realtor.com. “Once you know how long you expect to own a home, look at the historical value performance of properties in the neighborhood. Be confident about your own job security, downpayment resources and tolerance for upkeep, as well as the lifestyle you want today and in the near term. Today’s housing market, especially for first-time buyers, makes it almost impossible not to think about the possibilities.”
To help first-time buyers decide if they’re ready, Move created a “reality checklist.”
Get your financial house in order
Before you decide to buy a home, make sure your credit is in good shape and repair any damage previously done. Know your credit score: Thirty-five percent of successful buyers recently reported they didn’t know their credit score when they went house shopping, according to a national survey fielded for MortgageMatch.com. Having enough money set aside for a downpayment is a key component. Also, don’t put all your money in the downpayment as other fees or unexpected expenses often arise after closing.
Don’t fall in love with a house you can’t buy
Find out how much you can afford, including how much money will be required for a downpayment and closing costs. Look for special loans available from FHA and government-sponsored loans for first-time homebuyers that reduce the amount of money required to get into a home.
Learn the lingo
Since first-time buyers are new to the market and will finance a significant portion of their purchase, it’s important to get familiar with the processes and terminology associated with home buying. Here are a few key terms from MortgageMatch.com:
• Bait Rate: Misleading mortgages with low rate promises and no contingencies generally for those with extraordinary credit. Rates are based on: credit, debt-to-income and loan-to-value ratios, the size and type of loan, property location and the day you lock your rate, etc. The loan isn’t locked until the application is accepted. By then, it may be too late to find a better rate from another lender.
• Basis Point: A term used in the mortgage industry, which simply means 1/100th of 1 percent.
• Closing Costs: The fees required to process and close your loan. They’re a cash obligation running from three to five percent of the purchase price. Motivated sellers might pay a portion of these costs.
• FHA: Federal Housing Administration, the federal government agency that oversees the U.S. housing market. FHA loans are loans insured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• FRM and ARM: A fixed-rate mortgage loan (FRM) is a loan where your interest rate stays the same for the life of the loan. ARMs are adjustable rate mortgages with variable interest rates that fluctuate based on an agreed-upon index.
• GFE: The Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is a document explaining all costs involved in getting a loan.
• TIL: The Federal Truth-in-Lending Form is a document that spells out the costs and fees of the loan.
• Lis Pendens: An official notice that there is a pending lawsuit over real estate.
• Per Diem Interest: Interest you pay per day, from the day you close to the last day of the month.
• Underwriting and Underwriting Fees: Underwriting is a process the lender performs to qualify a borrower for a loan, and the fee is what you pay the lender at closing to cover evaluating the risk involved with loaning you money.
• Warranty Deed: A legal document guaranteeing the seller has a right to sell a property, which is very important if you are considering a distressed or discounted property.
If now isn’t the right time, prepare for your future purchase
If now isn’t the right time to buy a home, make a plan with a target date for when you expect to be ready. Improving your credit, paying down debt, stabilizing your work history and calculating exactly how much you can afford, are the best ways to prepare for your future home purchase. It’s also important to refrain from making any new large purchases or applying for new credit.

© 2011 Florida Realtors®

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!