Well the real estate market in El Paso, TX is really starting to pick up (for us anyway). This past week I wrote an offer and got 2 offers on my listings and even rented one of the properties that I manage. Over all I would say it was a good week.

Alot of the other agents that I talk to are reporting the same upsurge in business!! Thank goodness.

I am a positive thinker and do not dwell on the negative from anyone so we have chosen not to participate in the recession and that positive thinking is starting to pay off.

I was just elected MLS President

After serving our our MLS board for a few years, I was elected President this past week. I am very proud to serve that position and I hope this year to bring many new technology products to our board members.

The first convention that I will attend will be the NAR Convention in Washington D.C. this Spring and that is always a great convention for the MLS as that is where we see all the new products to enhance our business.

I lived in McLean, VA in the 60's while my Dad was stationed at the Pentagon so it is always fun to go back and try to fit in a little sightseeing also.

This will be a special trip for me too as my Dad passed away last year and while I was able to attend his Memorial Service I could not go to the burial at Arlington National Cemetery so I will get to visit his site this Spring. I know it will be an emotional time for me but something that I really want to do.

The real estate market in El Paso, TX started off with a bang and hopefully it will continue that way.

I understand that some of the FHA rules are going to be changed and I hope we can put a stop to that as Realtors as that will really hurt the FHA market in El Paso, TX. If they go to 5% as a down payment that will put many El Paso buyers right out of the market.

If you are a Realtor and reading this please send an email to your Congressman or woman and ask them to vote to not change the 3.5% down payment that is already in place. We need to keep the housing market strong and see it that can help to get this economy back on track.

The Rental Market in El Paso, TX

The rental market in El Paso is pretty strong right now. Almost every day we get calls from people that are looking to rent instead of buy for various reasons. Some of them want to rent first and then buy when they get a better feel for the city and some want to rent because they can not buy with the new lending requirements.

El Paso's real estate market is going to be a good one for investors now becasue of the lending changes. Investor loans are not that bad right now and some lenders have investor loans in the high 6% rate with 20% down.

There are alot of homes on the market that would make great rentals in El Paso and the rent rates are fairly good for investors.

Be sure to call a top real estate agent in El Paso for information on investing in El Paso, TX

Let's Help the People in Haiti

Wow, to wake up one morning and have everything you own be gone! I can not imagine what that must feel like but I know that some of you reading this may have been through Katrina and some of the other awful hurricanes that have hit the United States recently and I know you understand what it must feel like for the people of Haiti.

I hope that all the help that is being sent will get there quickly and on the news it looked like some of the airplanes had landed this morning so I know there is much more to come and I hope we all learned from Katrina what was wrong and have fixed it by now.

There are all sorts of help lines and links and numbers to text to so I am not going to do that here but just ask that everyone that reads this send some sort of donation to the Red Cross or text on your phone and help out.

One never knows where tragedy will strike and only by God's fate are we not in the same place.

I finally went to the Restaurant 2900

What a great dinner I had the other night at 2900 in El Paso, Texas.

Super atmosphere, great wait staff ( really focused on the details) and the food was fantastic.

I was there with a group of El Paso Realtors and Bill Jones from the Texas Association of Realtors-he was teaching our leadership class the next day.

I had the Butternut Squash soup and the Sea Scallops and they were so tasty and cooked just right-tender and juicy.

The table split about 4 desserts but my favorite one was one that had Amaretto in it and it was to die for...

Don't pass up 2900, you will be sorry if you do!

Leadership Class in El Paso

Bill Jones from the Texas Association of Realtors held a Leadership Class to day at the Greater El Paso Association of Realtors for current and new people in leadership roles.

It was a great class, I have taken it a few time before but I always learn something new to bring to our MLS Board.

Real Estate in El Paso, Tx has really picked up since Christmas. All the agents that I talked to today have been alot busier and I personally have written and have had accepted 3 contracts in the 1st week of the new year.

I am showing a home tomorrow and a rental unit and doing a listing presentation on Monday and Tuesday. Who said a Realtor in El Paso is not busy?

I have been a busy little bee

Well I worked over the New Years holiday (thank goodness) and I guess it was for the good becasue I wrote 2 offers (one has been accepted and the other one should be today) and I got an offer in that has been accepted on one of my listings.

YEAH that is a great way to start the new year and I just hope that
real estate in El Paso, TX continues the same way all through the year!

All of my buyers are pre approved so I don't have to worry about any of my deals falling through becasue of loan problems. I am not sure why anyone would work with a buyer that is not pre approved in today's market.

My first buyers were from California and they are buying a home for thier Mom. What a delightful family they are and it is nice to see such devotion to thier Mom. We had alot of fun looking at homes and we even went to Chico's Tacos in El Paso one day for lunch. They had never been there and it is still one of my favorite places.

My second buyer is a single woman that has been looking for awhile and finally the right home came along and she made an offer and after some countering it was accepted.

I will keep you posted on what this El Paso Realtor is up to and how our market fares. I would love to hear about yours.