This week ended up with Mortgage Rate staying the same as they have been for the last 3 weeks. You can buy a conventional loan for under $5.0% now. Stability is good.

Did you know Townhomes are not considered the same as Condo’s by FHA? That means if you are trying to buy a home with FHA financing you may want to expand you search to include Townhomes.

Don’t forget Sunday is Valentine Day. If by chance you do forget…well you are dead meat. Good luck.

“Big Government, Low Taxes”

Our nations capital has forgotten to they work for “We the People”. Our founding fathers diligently worked to create a government, which prevented our new government from “European-style privilege and bureaucracy that they had escaped.” They knew they could expect corruption in government and they felt serving the public interest was more of a politician’s role.

George Washington, John Adam, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin believed being a politician was a civic obligation and NOT a full time occupation. Today’s politicians don’t feel or act that way. They are influenced by special interests, and lobbyists, which may or may not have the nations best interests at heart. Including their, personal ethics and public morality. This has caused America to lose good leadership. We “face a serious leadership deficit-one that was not there at the birth of our republic.”

“We have lost our way in developing the ideas at the root of American political thinking in the early days—limited government. Instead today we have created a big government. One who runs up a huge deficit budgets, year after year, to the point where “We the People” will not be able to pay off this enormous commitment we are incurring within our own lifetime. Our children and grandchildren will have to take on our burden along with their own. Their standard of living will be decreased and this will be the first time in American history one generation passed on undo hardships.

In the 1990’s in America statutory budget controls were enacted to side skirt this trend. It was called the PAYGO RULES: which put caps on discretionary spending increases, and paid offs any new spending or tax cuts within 10 years. PAYGO RULES expired in 2002. The most important provisions of these rules, IMHO, were that they gave the basis for our Congress the opportunity to say NO to demands by special interest groups and their big contributor constituencies. Maybe PAYGO RULES need a rebirth?

Your comments are encourage. More to follow.

Today I held an open house at 585 Anchor Circle in Redwood Shores.

The home was listed just under one million dollars.

The activity was amazing. There were over 25 groups through during a three hour time frame.

What that tells me is the market in San Mateo County is strong and robust! These guests of this open house were not nosey neighbors wanting to see the inside of their neighbors house. All of these guests were bonafide buyers ready to purchase the home of their dreams!

I am also seeing licensed real estate agents showing their clients homes. This week alone there were 7 showings of the home in Redwood Shores.

When I see this sort of activity in the market place it tells me sales are on the upswing. With increased sales there is a decrease in inventories.

If you are looking to purchase a home this year now is the time to do it. If you don’t some other buyer(s) is going to buy your home. Now is the time to make a decision.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday.
It can go without saying 2009 was a year filled with many trials and tribulations.
Today, however, is the time to be thankful and grateful for the good things that have happened to us over the past year.
You know what I mean, those times we smiled, we laughed and we roared with delight and happiness.
All I can say is that these times will pass, as they always do.
There is nothing to worry about because good times are ahead for everyone including you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to all.
All my best! Your friend,
Cliff