Homebuyer's Bill of Rights

Governor Napolitano, in her state of the state address, offered a 3 step plan to protect home buyers and help prevent any future credit crisis. Her plan includes a Homebuyer's Bill of Rights, Arizona Home Equity Theft Protection Act and lastly to license loan officers.
I think the 3rd item will be most helpful, license loan officers. Most of the loan officers that poorly advised their clients and sold mortgages to those loosing their home are out of business now. It was a temporary job for them. They came in made a big mess and moved on to another job. The barriers to entry were none. Therefore, anyone could sell a mortgage. With the HUGE commissions many were attracted. I don't believe they were evil or intentionally took advantage of their friends and family. I believe they were misguided by sales managers looking for big profits and did not know better. However, a home is usually the largest investment of ones life. Many choose those they know over a professional. Unfortunately, now they are loosing their homes. Most don't even know there was another, safer way. License those mortgage professionals TODAY! Better yet, make new Realtors go through an internship program. This is another step to help homeowners, because the Realtors have their share of responsibility for this mess too!
Homebuyers' Bill of Rights:
http://www.azre.gov/PUBLIC_INFO/Bill_Of_Rights/BILL_OF_RIGHTS.html
Governor's State of the State address:
http://www.azgovernor.gov/dms/upload/GS_2008%20SOS%20Address.pdf

The Cameron Team January Email contest

Happy New Year!
Happy Two Thousand and Great!

I am so looking forward to an Awesome New Year. We have the Phoenix Open, oops FBR Open, we have The Super Bowl, with a beautiful spring to follow (I plan on spending a lot of time outside with the kids in the cul-de-sac watching them play) and then a great summer. This will be an Awesome Year.

Thanks for responding to our monthly email contest! These actions really help our site with positioning with Google. So I thank you and my sellers thank you. The amount of leads for our listings from the Internet has grown dramatically over the past 2 years.

The Question:
What is the second home listed on The Cameron Team Website in McDowell Mountain Ranch? go to this link to find out http://www.thecameronteam.com/Phoenix_Scottsdale_Arizona_MMR_Dc_Ranch_listings/index.shtml

Be sure to email me the address, just 123 Elm street is fine, to be entered into the drawing for this month's prize.

The prize this month is 2 adult and 2 children passes to the NFL Experience at University of Phoenix Stadium. We have gone to a few NFL Experience events and had a lot of fun. Below is information about the event and a link for more information:

The NFL Experience built by The Home Depot

The National Football League will produce the 17th annual NFL EXPERIENCE BUILT BY THE HOME DEPOT adjacent to UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM. The NFL Experience is the most exciting continuous event surrounding Super Bowl XLII -- pro football's interactive theme park offering participatory games, displays, entertainment attractions, kids' clinics, free autograph sessions and the largest football card show ever. http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/nflexperience

FOR 2007, THE CAMERON TEAM WAS #2 FOR LISTINGS SOLD IN MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN RANCH

Yes, we have been working hard breaking into the McDowell Mountain Ranch area. We have lived there the past 7 years, but I never farmed my own neighborhood until the past couple of years. Last year we had the 2nd most listings sold and have our eyes on #1. Helene holds that spot, we are closing the gap. We have 2 listing currently and another in process. I find it much easier to sell homes in McDowell Mountain Ranch because I love living there!
If you know anyone thinking of buying or selling a home, please send them our way!

THE CAMERON TEAM IS #1 FOR LISTINGS SOLD IN THE FOOTHILLS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE 12 YEAR IN A ROW

Yes we are. For the 12th year in a row we are the #1 Listing agents in our "farm" at Tatum and Bell Road, called the Foothills neighborhood. These homes were built form 1990 to 1995 by Hancock Homes, Courtland Homes and Maracay Homes. We have consistently sold more than any other agent. Last year, 2007, we sold or rented every home listed. We had a 100% Success rate! It was a tough year but a successful year.

The Cameron Team had an 80% Success Rate in 2007

I am very proud to report that we had an 80% success rate for homes listed for sale and lease in 2007. This only counts the homes leaving the market. Also, for clarification, some of homes that leased they were using a leasing agent. We use to refer all rentals out, but last year we worked the rental market too. Some of our sellers still use my aunt, Pam Desmond, as their property manager and so she would handle their rental needs. Also, I say exited the market because, for example, a home we listed in December that has not left the market yet cannot be counted against us. For comparison, of the homes listed in the MLS for sale only 32% left the market because they sold.

RESALE HOME COMPARISON 2002 TO 2007

I went back and tracked the homes sales over the past 6 years. You see our supply issue is dependent on our demand issue. So many people have said, " you can't expect the same sales of the crazy years" and I agree with them I expect our demand to be similar to the average of 2002 and 2003. That would be about 75,000 sales per year. Well below the "heyday" of about 105,000 sales, but above the 54,409 of last year. You see if 20,000 more homes were purchased than our inventory would not be so high. So what we really need is to increase demand. That will occur as prices drop, due to affordability and perceived value; interest rates drop, again affordability and getting the good rate while available; lenders quit changing guidelines, they are making loans more difficult NOW that should have been done at the top of the market not the bottom; confidence returns to the market, many people are renting while waiting for a bottom; and finally, as the liquidity scare diminishes, this will be the outcome of demand returning to the market.

So, for a buyer today. Look for the right home priced right for today's value and re-enter the market. You will become part of the solution and not part of the problem. Try not to time the market. Once it hits bottom, past history shows we can expect a 10% jump the next year. You don't want to settle for the "it will due" home because you are jumping back in the market, when dream homes are available now.

Weak Retail Sales for December

I expect the consumer will start to cut back on spending as the economy continues to slow.

Retailers Had Weak Sales in December
By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO,
Associated Press
Posted: 2008-01-10 11:20:07
NEW YORK (AP) - The economic outlook became more uncertain Thursday after many of the nation's big retailers reported weaker than expected holiday sales, the result of consumers cutting their spending due to higher energy prices and the ongoing housing slump. Many merchants failed to meet their already lowered sales projections during December, and their performance during this critical sales period led some stores to reduce earnings outlooks for the fourth quarter.
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/retailers-had-weak-sales-in-december/n20080110112009990022