New Blog in the works

You can take a look at me new blog by clicking this link:

http://www.arizonabankdeals.com/blog/

Let me know your thoughts!

Jeff Cameron

Jeff Is Getting Ready For Another Trip To ALASKA!!

Jeff is getting ready for another fishing trip to Alaska! Last time he went he caught a 110 pound Halibut that was about 5 feet tall! Hopefully he will get a bigger one this year!

RETURN OF AMERIDREAM

I just got the following email about AmeriDream and there persuit of Down Payment Assistance. This program was eliminated through political powers due to a desire to shift blame from those perpetrating fraud, to those who where defrauded. It is shocking to see how the the press and political groups can sway the public from the truth. Let's stop pointing fingers and fix the problem.
AmeriDream is good for America!

Just my opinion...Jeff Cameron

Here is the email:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 CONTACT: Henry Fawell
(410) 545-5830

AmeriDream: U.S. housing market needs downpayment assistance

GAITHERSBURG , MD – With home prices falling nearly 20% in the 1st quarter of 2009, Ann Ashburn, President of AmeriDream, today outlined four reasons why the U.S. economy and the next generation of homeowners would benefit from downpayment assistance funded in part by sellers (DPA). Congress is currently considering H.R. 600, bipartisan legislation that would make DPA an allowable gift source for creditworthy borrowers of Federal Housing Administration loans.

“AmeriDream continues to provide full support to H.R. 600, which will stabilize home values, protect taxpayers, encourage responsible homeownership, and create jobs,” said Ashburn. “These are four compelling reasons to make DPA an important part of our national economic recovery strategy. AmeriDream will continue with the critical outreach and education efforts necessary to make a responsible DPA program available to qualified homebuyers.”

Stabilize home values: DPA can help stop the downward spiral in home values across the country by encouraging qualified homebuyers with FHA loans to enter the housing market. An estimated 300,000 homebuyers are eliminated from the housing market every year without DPA programs in place.

Protect taxpayers: H.R. 600 allows private partnerships between sellers and non-profits to provide downpayment gifts to qualified homebuyers at no cost to the taxpayer. That makes H.R. 600 a fiscally responsible alternative to government-subsidized downpayment assistance programs being considered by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Encourage responsible homeownership: H.R. 600 will enable 300,000 additional families and individuals – all qualified and approved for FHA loans – to become homeowners each year. The bill also requires that DPA recipients be offered homebuyer education courses to help them understand the financial responsibilities of homeownership. Lastly, H.R. 600 implements tougher credit requirements for DPA recipients, strict FHA underwriting guidelines, and stiff penalties for improper home appraisals.

Create jobs: DPA will create 235,000 jobs, generate over $4 billion annually in local and state revenues, and provide $2 billion annually in private capital for sustainable homeownership. DPA’s absence prompts fewer home sales, lower home values, more foreclosures, job losses, and lower revenues for cash-strapped local governments. H.R. 600 is a vital mechanism to stabilizing the U.S. housing market.

H.R. 600 is sponsored by Reps. Al Green, Maxine Waters, and Gary Miller. The program would use no tax dollars. A broad coalition of organizations H.R. 600, including the National Association of Homebuilders, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. Learn more about H.R. 600 at www.ameridream.org.

BACKGROUND: AmeriDream, a 501(c)(3) charity, was established in 1999 to provide housing-related programs to low and moderate income individuals and families. AmeriDream provides a wide range of programs, including homebuyer education, loss mitigation counseling, community development, and privately-funded down payment assistance. These programs are provided at no cost to the taxpayer. AmeriDream not only seeks to help families purchase homes, but also provide them with the education and other resources needed to be responsible homeowners.

Three More Homes Just Listed By The Cameron Team!

The Cameron Team has put 3 more homes on the market!!
Campina



Dew Drop


AND... 71st Drive!
These homes are a Steal of a Deal!!

Jeff Cameron's Real Estate Update!!!!!

TokBox - Free Video Chat and Video Messaging

The Word is OUT: Phoenix's housing bust goes boom

Yes, the word is out. Our market is showing signs of bottoming in its over sold state. Buyers are getting out bid on homes all over the valley. This is the time to get back in the market.
Are you interested in seeing homes before most agents even know they are available?? You can, just go to http://www.arizonabankdeals.com/

Please enjoy this story on how the Phoenix housing market is going from BUST to BOOM! And don't miss out this time around!
Phoenix's housing bust goes boom
By Nicholas Riccardi
May 18, 2009
Reporting from Phoenix -- After four years of renting because they were priced out of the real estate market, Jamia Jenkins and Scott Renshaw concluded the time had arrived for them to buy.
They saw that home prices had dropped so fast here -- faster than in any other big city in the nation -- that mortgage payments would be less than the $900 they paid in rent. The city is littered with foreclosed houses, so the couple figured they could easily snatch up something in the low $100,000s.
Three months later, they're still looking.

They have submitted 13 offers and been overbid each time.

"It's just pathetic," said Jenkins, 53. "Investors are going out there and outbidding everyone."

Phoenix's housing bust has turned into a quasi-boom, a sign that its market may have hit bottom and a sneak preview of what a national housing recovery could look like.
More homes are selling than at any time since 2006. Prices are slowly stabilizing. Buyers are once again finding themselves in frantic bidding wars -- only this time over foreclosed houses selling at deep discounts rather than ranch homes listing for vast sums.

Read the rest of the story: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-phoenix18-2009may18,0,7979477.story

SO MUCH FOR THE TAX CREDIT AS A DOWN PAYMENT

Looks like they flip flopped on this deal. This would have really brought in more buyers at the lower price ranges. We have 3 buyers right now in the saving mode, that would have bought today if they could have used the tax credit for their downpayment. This would have increased demand and helped sell those foreclosures and bank owned properties.

Tax credit ineligible for down payment
Feds reverse rule to assist first-time home buyers
by J. Craig Anderson - May. 19, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Federal officials on Monday reversed an earlier decision to allow first-time home buyers to use an $8,000 tax credit to borrow the down payment on a home.
A week earlier, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan had told the National Association of Home Builders that HUD would let banks and local governments offer short-term "bridge loans" to cover the down payment for first-time buyers eligible for the tax credit. The loans would have been available to applicants for federally insured mortgages such as Federal Housing Administration loans.
Lenders, home builders and real- estate agents had reacted favorably to the bridge-loan proposal, saying it would open up the housing market to more first-time buyers.

WITH HOUSING TURN AROUND WILL COME RETAIL SALES AND JOBS

This is just the beginning. With all these homes selling that are in need of repair, Home Depot and lowe's are going to be increasing sales and profits. We are moving in the right direction.

Just my opinion...Jeff Cameron

Depot Profit Rises on Cost Cuts

Topics:Recession Housing Retail Sales Stock Market Earnings

Sectors:Retail

Companies:Home Depot Inc

By: Reuters 19 May 2009 07:50 AM ET

Text Size

Home Depot's quarterly profit beat Wall Street estimates on Tuesday as the world's largest home improvement chain reined in expenses.

Neubie Home Depot Store

The results came the day after rival Lowe's reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings as it saw some strength in outdoor projects during the spring, even though consumers still kept away big-ticket home renovations.

Read the rest of the story: http://www.cnbc.com/id/30819686

MORE GOOD NEWS FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, USE TAX CREDIT AS DOWNPAYMENT

Yes, that is NAR working to find answers to the mortgage meltdown. HUD is working on a program with preferred lenders to use the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of $8,000 as a down payment.
This would add to demand. This whole issue right now is about supply and demand. Oh and don't listen to those naysayers that blamed this whole mess on 100% financing. This problem was not caused by 100% financing or stated income. It was caused because lenders fraudulently putting people in loans not designed for them. What I mean is the stated income loans were designed for people that were paid through 1099. Those people are unjustly qualified by lenders and thus many times need stated income. A 1099 self employed individual may have $2,000 a month is payments as part of their expenses. Lenders require them to count that expense twice, once in their P & L and again when qualifying for the loan. Thus, stated income was needed. However, in the heyday, when a buyer did not qualify through conventional means the lender just switched them to stated income. Even though the buyer was a W-2 employee. Most buyers had no idea this was happening, nor that it was fraudulent.
OMG, I went off on a tangent again. Read the article below from NAR about HUD allowing buyers to use their tax credit towards their downpayment.
Just my opinion...Jeff Cameron

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2009

Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said that the
Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow homeowners to use the $8,000 tax credit as a downpayment.

Donovan’s remarks came in an address to several thousand Realtors^® gathered this morning at The Real Estate Summit: Advancing the U.S. Economy, a special daylong session at the Realtors^® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo here.

Secretary Donovan said that important changes, which the National Association of Realtors^® has been calling for, will help consumers purchase a home. “We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a downpayment,” Donovan said. According to Donovan, the FHA’s approved lenders will be permitted to “monetize” the tax credit through short-term bridge loans. This will allow eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table.

Donovan said the Obama administration plans to further stabilize the housing market. “I do think we have some early signs hat the market overall is stabilizing,” said Donovan. “Since January we’ve seen both home sales moving up and down around a relatively stable number and we are seeing the first signs that the rapid decline in home prices is starting to abate.”

http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2009/05/re_summit?lid=ronav0019

THE CAMERON TEAM MAKES ABC 15 NEWS

In a real estate report on ABC 15 news, The Cameron Team listing on Palm Ridge in Sienna Canyon at McDowell Mountain Ranch was shown. This article was about the housing market hitting bottom. They state the 85255 area sales prices are up 11% YTD. I don't know that I agree with that, but we love the recognition! Thanks ABC 15 news.
Jeff Cameron
See our listing and sign at the link below.
http://www.abc15.com/mediacenter/local.aspx
Click on the story, "Do you know what your home is worth in Arizona?"

INVENTORY OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES DOWN 33% YEAR TO DATE

How about that for a head liner. It is the truth. On January 1, 2009, there were 43,000 Single Family Homes on the market in the MLS here in the Metro Phoenix area through ARMLS. Today that number is 28,851. That is a 33% drop in inventory over the past 4.5 months! The real estate market here is the valley is turning positive.
I listed a home just north of Grayhawk in Scottsdale on Tuesday. We have 4 offers and will be selling the home for over list price. It was listed based on the last comps. Yes, it is a bank owned Foreclosure home, but what difference does it make? It is selling for more than the last sale, that is called appreciation.
To get bank owned homes emailed to you before most Realtors even know they exist, go to www.ArizonaBankDeals.com

REPUBLIC: VALLEY'S RESALE NUMBERS BRING HOMES OF RECOVERY

Hey hey hey, two days in a row with positive news about the real estate market here in Metro Phoenix, are the news people dipping into the coolaid???
Today the republic reported last month 6,640 existing homes changed hands, well below what the MLS shows, but any how that was up from their 5,940 number for March. Most important, they are finally reporting that "home sales have doubled from April 2008." Then they boldly reported, "Valley foreclosures fell in both March and April, more indicators that the housing market is beginning to show signs of improvement."
Two big thumbs up for the Arizona Republic, thanks for reporting the good news. Let's keep it up. With a market this low, 5 years from now looking back we will see that every buyer was a winner!
Just my opinion...Jeff Cameron
PS
Want to see foreclosure homes before most brokers even know they exist?
www.ArizonaBankDeals.com

FINALLY, SOME REPORTS ON HIGHER SALES OF HOME

It is so nice to finally see some real reports on how much the home sales have jumped recently. This report shows home sales in Arizona are up 50.2%. Prices are down, but sales are up. We need demand to take over before we see price increases. They are coming soon, well coming now in some areas. Below is taken from the article quoted after this quick quote, there is a link to the whole article at the end.
Just my opinion...Jeff Cameron
The largest sales gains were seen in some of the hardest hit areas. Nevada was up 116.8 percent from a year ago. California was up 80.6 percent. Arizona was up 50.2 percent and Florida was up 25 percent.

First time homebuyers taking advantage of foreclosures and short sales

Lita Epstein
May 12th 2009 at 10:00AM

About half of all home purchases in the first quarter of 2009 were first-time home buyers taking advantage of the deeply discounted foreclosures and short sales, as well as their $8,000 tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). NAR released its Metropolitan Median Prices survey for the first quarter today.
read the rest of the story: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/05/12/first-time-homebuyers-taking-advantage-of-foreclosures-and-short/

TRADE DEFICIT $300 BILLION BELOW LAST YEAR, COULD THAT BE DUE TO OIL PRICES?

So, I read the report on the trade deficit and shockingly no where is oil mentioned. We import about 20 million barrels of oil a day. At today's approximated $60 per barrel that is $1.2 billion dollars a day in trade deficit. Multiply times 30 days in the month and $36 billion per month is our trade deficit with the world in oil. If my numbers are correct, then we would have a trade surplus if it weren't for oil imports!!! Please someone correct me if I am wrong!
Let's look at last year when oil was, say an average of $120 per barrel. Those are easy numbers, all other variables the same then our trade deficit would be $72 billion per month. Wow, read the article, last year we averaged $56.75 billion per month in trade deficit. I guess all other variables were not the same.
The REALITY IS the trade deficit is breaking this country, our wealth being shipped to other countries. Folks, this is a redistribution of wealth, in other words a TAX. This is easily curred, stop importing oil. That would break the backs of countries like: Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and affect others in the middle east, but those in the middle east don't need any more money.
I know we can't stop importing oil over night, but we can pass regulations that equalize the playing field for clean energies. REMEMBER, big oil has had the help of favorable regulations for years and today is still subsidized by the US Government or Tax payer for 10's of billions of dollars per year.
OK, just some food for thought.
Just my opinion...Jeff Cameron

Trade Deficit Widens to $27.6B

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP

WASHINGTON (May 12) - The U.S. trade deficit rose in March for the first time since last July as the global recession cut sharply into sales of American exports. The politically sensitive deficit with China increased.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday the deficit widened to $27.6 billion in March, slightly lower than the $29 billion gap that economists had forecast.

The March deficit was 5.5 percent higher than February's revised $26.1 billion trade gap, which had been the smallest since November 1999.

Through the first three months of this year, the deficit is running at an annual rate of $359.7 billion, far below last year's $681.1 billion. Economists expect the deficit will remain at low levels this year as a recession in the U.S. crimps demand for foreign goods.

Read the rest of the story: http://money.aol.com/article/trade-deficit-widens-to-276b/471938

PENDING HOME SALES RISE ACROSS NATION, SOAR IN ARIZONA

I just returned from a convention in LA with famed real estate motivated and trainer, Tom Ferry. Top agents from across the country were present to learn and share what's happening in their markets. The tone was up beat, all agents were reporting tremendous activity in their markets. Some are seeing bidding wars where 20 offers bid a home 20% over asking price the first few days on the market.
Nationally, the news rocking Wall Street yesterday was that Pending Home Sales Index had risen 3.2%, greater than expected and is 1.1% higher than this time last year. I am not sure what the rest of the country is experiencing, but the reports from agents were good. Here in the Phoenix metro area, I have been tracking the market in a spread sheet since 2005. I track only single family homes, don't like the tricky maneuvers of condo conversions and the like to mess with my numbers. Last year at this time. we had 7,292 single family home pending in our market place. This year, we have 15,563. That increase is well over 100%, actually around 113%. FOLKS THE MARKET IS RECOVERING. I can't believe how slow the press and Wall Street are to actual numbers.
The article below is from WWW.CNBC.COM
Pending sales of existing U.S. homes rose in March for a second straight month, a private survey showed on Monday, supporting views the housing market was close to hitting a bottom.
Meanwhile, US construction spending rose a slim 0.3 percent in March in the first increase since September, according to government data that beat analysts' forecasts of a 1.5 percent drop.
AP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The National Association of Realtors Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in March, rose 3.2 percent to 84.6. February's pending home sales index was slightly revised down to 82.0 from 82.1.
Compared to the same period a year ago, pending home sales rose 1.1 percent.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast pending home sales to be flat in March.
Read the rest of the storey: http://www.cnbc.com/id/30559126

Just my opinion...Jeff Cameron

METRO PHOENIX HOME INVENTORIES CONTINUE THEIR FALL

Yes, the good news keeps coming. Inventory of single family homes here in Metro Phoenix continue to decline and a surprising rate. When we crossed from March to April I expected a good decline in inventory, but was wondering to the extent. You see Realtors typically set their listings to expire at the end of the month with retail sellers(retail in non-bank owned or short sale). They do this to squeeze a few extra days in their listing agreement. An agent lists April 10th on a 6 month contract, and they typically will have it expire October 31st, thus getting 6.5 month agreement. Banks, on the other hand, they give 3 to 4 months from list date exactly. So, that made me wonder how great the fall off in inventory would actually be crossing from March to April. My tracking is cut off at the end of the day on Mondays, March ended on the 30th. Inventory fell by 1,156. I thought, well we caught the expiring properties this week. The next week inventory fell by 1,714. I thought, WOW, the majority came in on the 31st. But then the next week, last week, inventory fell by 1,156 as of now 7 am on Monday. My tracking cuts off at the end of today, so that is not the full extent. This is fantastic for our market. Demand is out stripping Supply by great lengths!!!!
Inventory Jan 1, 2009 43,000
Inventory Feb 1, 2009 42,056
Inventory March 1, 2009 39,900
Inventory April 1, 2009 37,250
Inventory Today, April 13, 2009 34,883
Based on closings over the past 4 weeks, we now have 5.2 months supply of single family homes for sale in Metro Phoenix. This is the point were we transition to a seller's market. Let's see what happens!

IS THE END OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS NEAR??

Wells Fargo is rocking Wall Street today, see article below. Are these the first signs of the recovery? No, the first signs were the recovery in the housing market. We began to bottom out when sales hit their low levels of only 700 per week in mid 2007. That was followed by price declines throughout 2008. In the beginning of 2009, sales regained their normal rate at about 1,500 per week. But as the market started to shift positively sales have soared! For the last 8 weeks, enough to make more than a trend, home sales have jumped to averages of over 2,000 sales per week. Over the past 2 weeks we have experienced 2,400 per week. At the same time, inventory levels have crashed, well relatively speaking. Inventories of single family homes are down 10% over the past 3 weeks and are down 17.6% YTD. These are the signs of a recovery in housing.
So, how did Wells Fargo turn around and make a profit???? I believe one of the biggest reasons is that they are paying, I don't even know, 1.5% on savings for a blended cost. Then lending that money at 5%. That is a huge spread! It seemed logical that if the Fed kept rates artificially low, it was only a matter of time where banks would start to profit from that. Also, since they have written down most of the "toxic" assets to zero, now when they sell them there is a profit there too.
Let's keep it rolling, this shift we experienced over the past 4 years was very difficult on me and I am ready to be a happy survivor!

Every major U.S. bank is rallying like mad on the heels of Wells Fmade a profit in the first quarter. WFC shares have spiked up 23 percent to $18.50 in early trading.

The financial firm said it expects to report record net income of approximately $3 billion for first quarter 2009, or approximately 55 cents per common share after preferred dividends, including $372 million in dividends paid to U.S. taxpayers on the U.S. Treasury's Capital Purchase argo (WFC) reporting that it Program investment.

The word "record" must floor investors based on the perception that American banks still face substantial write-offs from toxic assets, consumer loans, and commercial real estate.

Wells Fargo predicted that it would post total revenue of $20 billion, up an estimated 16 percent, driven by the core businesses it owned before buying Wachovia. Results at Wachovia were better than expected.

If one or two other large money center banks post strong results, there will be a temptation to think that the worst of the financial crisis is over.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.

Don't forget, see foreclosure homes before most agents even know they are there: www.ArizonaBankDeals.com

Another GREAT BANK-OWNED Home Listed By The Cameron Team

This 3 bed 2 bath home is clean and well maintained. Home has Living and Family Room. Kitchen is bright and open with gas stove, island, pantry, and breakfast area. Carpet in all the right places, wood blind, ceiling fans with lights. Private Backyard with covered patio, and cabinets in garage. Your buyer will LOVE this home.

PLEASE ALL JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING JEFF!

CONGRATULATIONS JEFF!!!

Jeff was named #12 in the Top 20 of SW Region for Keller Williams Realty International! Please help me to congratulate him on his hard work, patience, and persistence!

GREAT New Listing In Mesa Brought To You By The CameronTeam!!!

WOW!!! This amazing custom estate is truly one-of-a-kind, and is located on an acre estate in gated community with magnificent mountain views. Features include; upgraded custom cabinets, granite countertops, top of the line appliances & gas range, travertine flooring throughout with detailed faux painting and stone work throughout the home. Every bedroom has its on private balcony and bathroom! HUGE private patio. A great private location close to the 202 and 60. This one is definitely a must see!All offers are subject to IndyMac Banks Senior management approval and any offers or counter offers by Indymac bank are not binding unless the entire agreement is ratified by all parties. Any cash offers, must include proof of funds & buyer agrees to pay $75 doc fee at closing. No SPDS or CLUE.