For many years now, banks have been lobbying the federal gov't to allow them to join the real estate industry, by setting up their own real estate arms. Their reasoning is that since they supply most of the mortgages, it would be a natural outgrowth to also sell the real estate that they fund.
Every time the matter arises, the real estate industry successfully lobbies against it, stating an unfair advantage over the industry as a whole. For instance if someone wants a mortgage, the bank could potentially turn them down unless they use a bank realtor.
Now that the banks are fully into the real estate industry, albeit by the back door of foreclosure, it's not hard to see that real estate is not, and would not, in the future, be well served by having banks involved as realtors.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Top Heavy Administrations should be combined
I live in a city where there are many different city gov'ts and many different school districts, each with their own buildings, staffs, managements and rules.
Could we not combine at least the smallest of these to cut out all the administration costs of each different one? Surely a school district that only oversees 2800 students could combine with one close by that only oversees 7500 pupils, eliminating one entire administration.
Surely one library bouard could oversee all the libraries in all the cities instead of each city having its own board.
I know some jobs would be lost by combining, but if it results in lower taxes, would that not be better in the long rung? I know from experience that many administrations are top heavy with people whose only role in life is to convince someone who distributes money, that their existence is worth the money to support it.
Just as you cannot spend your way out of poverty, you cannot administrate your way out of the need for money necessary for the front line where the customers or pupils are. Remember, too many cooks spoil the broth.
Could we not combine at least the smallest of these to cut out all the administration costs of each different one? Surely a school district that only oversees 2800 students could combine with one close by that only oversees 7500 pupils, eliminating one entire administration.
Surely one library bouard could oversee all the libraries in all the cities instead of each city having its own board.
I know some jobs would be lost by combining, but if it results in lower taxes, would that not be better in the long rung? I know from experience that many administrations are top heavy with people whose only role in life is to convince someone who distributes money, that their existence is worth the money to support it.
Just as you cannot spend your way out of poverty, you cannot administrate your way out of the need for money necessary for the front line where the customers or pupils are. Remember, too many cooks spoil the broth.
Once upon a time, when the first settlers arrived, one of the most important things they did, after setting up shelter for themselves & their livestock, was to build a school. The school doubled as a church on the weekends, a community center for meetings, dances, weddings, and other celebrations. It was a good example of multi-use building, & could & should be utilized today for energy savings. Now, we have separate churches for every denomination, & schools every few blocks so no one will have to travel very far.
It seems to me that a church used only on Sundays, & for the occasional church wedding on Saturday, could well be used for a school auditorium during the week. Or why couldn't a school gym be used as a church on weekends, when no one is around? All these buildings have a power plant, and cleaning staff, & surely they could use one power plant for several schools if they were built close enough together to be connected to the power surce. Surely several churches could use the same space at different times of the week.
Am I the only person who feels that we could save a lot of money on buildings & operation, & thus energy, by combining several uses in one building?
It seems to me that a church used only on Sundays, & for the occasional church wedding on Saturday, could well be used for a school auditorium during the week. Or why couldn't a school gym be used as a church on weekends, when no one is around? All these buildings have a power plant, and cleaning staff, & surely they could use one power plant for several schools if they were built close enough together to be connected to the power surce. Surely several churches could use the same space at different times of the week.
Am I the only person who feels that we could save a lot of money on buildings & operation, & thus energy, by combining several uses in one building?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Green energy costs lower
What's new in GREEN energy?
-Net cost of owning a green home is comparable to-- or even cheaper than owning a standard home.
-Month to month, people who live in green homes save money by consuming less energy and less water than standard homes
-Local, state and federal gov'ts increasingly offer tax breaks and other incentives for building certified green homes or adding green features to an existing home
-Green homes use 40% less energy than comparable standard homes
-Fewer natural resources are used in the construction of a green home. Many green building materials have signifcant recycled content.
-Toxin-free building materials help combat indoor air pollution, which can be worse than outdoor pollution and can pose serious health risks.
Source: US Green Building Council
-Net cost of owning a green home is comparable to-- or even cheaper than owning a standard home.
-Month to month, people who live in green homes save money by consuming less energy and less water than standard homes
-Local, state and federal gov'ts increasingly offer tax breaks and other incentives for building certified green homes or adding green features to an existing home
-Green homes use 40% less energy than comparable standard homes
-Fewer natural resources are used in the construction of a green home. Many green building materials have signifcant recycled content.
-Toxin-free building materials help combat indoor air pollution, which can be worse than outdoor pollution and can pose serious health risks.
Source: US Green Building Council
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Time to buy your first house?
Seven reasons to buy your first home today:
1. Softened prices have increased home affordability
2. Low interest rates. Get pre-qualified today.
3. Large inventory to choose from.
4. The $8000. Tax Credit Bonus-- who doesn't like free money?
5. Mortgage rates may increase in the future, because of previous bank problems.
6. If you are pre-approved to buy, act now, don't let the pre-approval or locked in rate lapse.
7. Home ownership creates long-term financial stability.
Mary Maxie can help you make your home ownership dreams come true.
Maxiemize your lifestyle today.
1. Softened prices have increased home affordability
2. Low interest rates. Get pre-qualified today.
3. Large inventory to choose from.
4. The $8000. Tax Credit Bonus-- who doesn't like free money?
5. Mortgage rates may increase in the future, because of previous bank problems.
6. If you are pre-approved to buy, act now, don't let the pre-approval or locked in rate lapse.
7. Home ownership creates long-term financial stability.
Mary Maxie can help you make your home ownership dreams come true.
Maxiemize your lifestyle today.
St. Mary's Food Bank needs your help
The St. Mary's Food Bank is in Phoenix, but food banks all over the world need your help. I'm sure the facts and figures from here are echoed in other areas.
In AZ, over 900,000 Arizonans live at or below the poverty guideline. which for 2009 is $22,050 for a family of 4. One in f AZ children (338,000) live in poverty and the average age of the homeless in AZ is 9. That's right, 9!
Of those receiving emergency food in AZ, 41% are children and seniors.
Be kind to others as you have opportunity.
In AZ, over 900,000 Arizonans live at or below the poverty guideline. which for 2009 is $22,050 for a family of 4. One in f AZ children (338,000) live in poverty and the average age of the homeless in AZ is 9. That's right, 9!
Of those receiving emergency food in AZ, 41% are children and seniors.
Be kind to others as you have opportunity.
Monday, May 25, 2009
How NOT to sell a house
Mary's Funny Real Estate Stories: I went to do a listing presentation to a lady who raises exotic birds. There were cages from floor to ceiling on all the walls of every room in the house, obviously making all the rooms much smaller than they actually were.
The noise from the birds was deafening, sort of like being in the rain forest. There were feathers flying everywhere, and her fans were just causing them to fly and land on every surface. There was also a good amount of bird poop and bird seed everywhere. Some of the birds were out of their cages and flying around, landing on me, my paperwork, my briefcase, etc. It was complete chaos.
I gently tried to tell her that buyers wouldn't be able to even see the house, because there were so many birds and feathers etc. around. She was hurt to think I might suggest that she move the birds to another location while the house was on the market. She was offended when I said that perhaps there were lots of people (like me) who wouldn't be thrilled to have birds squawking and flying around while they were viewing the house. I turned down the listing. Can you even imagine how difficult it would be to hold an open house there?
Don't hurt your chances of selling by being too rigid in your views of your pets or other stuff after your realtor gently asks you to change something. She is not trying to offend you, but tell you what buyers want to see when they look for a new home.
The noise from the birds was deafening, sort of like being in the rain forest. There were feathers flying everywhere, and her fans were just causing them to fly and land on every surface. There was also a good amount of bird poop and bird seed everywhere. Some of the birds were out of their cages and flying around, landing on me, my paperwork, my briefcase, etc. It was complete chaos.
I gently tried to tell her that buyers wouldn't be able to even see the house, because there were so many birds and feathers etc. around. She was hurt to think I might suggest that she move the birds to another location while the house was on the market. She was offended when I said that perhaps there were lots of people (like me) who wouldn't be thrilled to have birds squawking and flying around while they were viewing the house. I turned down the listing. Can you even imagine how difficult it would be to hold an open house there?
Don't hurt your chances of selling by being too rigid in your views of your pets or other stuff after your realtor gently asks you to change something. She is not trying to offend you, but tell you what buyers want to see when they look for a new home.
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