Real Estate in the 21st Century

The fifth annual Yadkin Valley Grape Festival is scheduled for Oct. 18th in downtown Yadkinville.  Area wineries are gathering to present their products for tasting.  Arts and crafts, food and music will highlight the day.  Thousands are expected to attend, get there early for easy parking. 

The event is for the promotion of the the Yadkin Valley Wine Association.  Area wineries bring to the community much needed revenue from their operations.  Come out and support your neighbors and enjoy the day.

Dale Terry

http://yadkincountyrealestate.com -Providing real estate services for the Yadkin Valley  including Yadkinville, Jonesville, Hamptonville, Elkin, Mocksville, and Boonville.  Also serving Yadkin County, Davie County, Forsyth County, Surry County and the town of Lewisville and the City of Winston Salem.

Check out our additional sites,  http://hrgproperties.com and http://yadkinvalleynow.com and for new construction, http://whiteoakcustomhomes.com .

I had the great fortune to be invited to view a private development near Morganton, North Carolina this weekend.  The development was named "Sanctuary" by its owner and developer, Randy Terry.  The location is adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest and comprises a few hundred acres, which pales beside the thousands right next door in the protected forest.   With wide gravel roads that are in keeping with the back to nature look of the area, one travels at a leisurely pace.   The area is also known for the natural wonders of its views, such as Table Rock.  A great hiking and camping area, the National Forest is also home to many of the more exotic animals that most people only get to see in the zoo.   Bears are common, coyotes will wake you in the night with their playful sounds, deer and wild turkeys are in abundance.   The Wildlife Commission recently introduced rattlesnakes to the area in an attempt to increase their numbers in a previously populated area.   But enough of the forest, Sanctuary is for the person looking to own a special place where time stands still.   The home sites are as remote and beautiful as they might have been hundreds of years ago for the first settlers.   Today, with modern machinery, the sites become beautiful places for families and friends to enjoy each other and what nature provides.  Each parcel is at least 10 acres and has its own winding driveway already in place for the new owner.   Streams, with water as clear as it can be, abound all around the development.  Nature walks, Four Wheel trips are the tunes of the day, with no other humans around.  End each day at a fireside with your neighbors for great food and relaxing conversation.  I spent only one day there and felt I had found a home.  I asked Randy how it all came about.  He said," I had been looking to buy some land close to the forest for some time.  As a boy, I spent a lot of time with relatives in these mountains and really love the area.  When the opportunity came about to fulfill a dream, I had to take it.  Now, the development is almost complete,  with just a few parcels left.  My new neighbors all have one thing in common, a love for the outdoors and a desire to keep the land as pristine as it was before man settled here."  He also added."  Of course, it doesn't hurt to have great neighbors, one makes his own wine that he shares with us, and usually brings freshly caught rainbow trout to eat!   Our fireside dinners are getting rather famous in these parts."

My time at Sanctuary came to a close with a firm handshake and an invitation to return.  For a short time, no worries had invaded my thoughts.  Now as I travel home, my calendar is already marked for a new adventure, one that includes Sanctuary at Table Rock.

For more information on how to purchase one of the few remaining parcels contact this blog and I will get you in touch with the developer for your own private showing.   

Forget the bailout, forget the reasons behind it.  The House of Representatives are going to vote today on the bailout bill that in essence is the same one that was voted down earlier in the week.  What is different is that there are more "pork" barrel projects in the bill to hopefully change some reluctant congressmen or women to change their minds.

This is what got us here in the first place.   The if it is good for me type games that our elected officals play.  There has got to be a stop to this!

I have already made up my mind.  I am going to go with someone that I believe has the best qualifications to lead the country going forward.  I have watched the Republican party do it best to emulate the Democrats on spending our tax dollars in the most frivolous manner.  I have watched the new Congress, which about two years old I might add, literally do nothing.  Neither party has excelled, but has produced some of the worst legislation in the past 10 years, that iwill permanently change the face of my country forever.  Sub-par, below average performance is what we have received for the billions of dollars spent. 

So, I am going with the McCain/Palin ticket.  Of the four individuals that make up both party tickets, Palin is the only one that is clearly not a Washington insider.  McCain and Biden have been and are part of the problem.  For decades, both have voted thousands of times against the will of the people.  Both have shown a lack of understanding about the problems in our communities.  Both would rather take care of foreign interests instead of our own.  Also, I can't vote for Obama because I fundamentally disagree with his beliefs about what government should provide for the citizens of America. 

So I am left with hoping McCain wins, has an apethine and hands the reins over to Palin.  What could she do worse than the current adminstration and the sitting Congress?  So what she has little experience.  Do you  really need experience to balance a checkbook?  To say NO to the children in Congress, big business and the idiots that run the other countries in the world?!  She comes with little baggage to a job that needs little experience.  Most Americans believe that they themselves could right our countries ship, why not her?  Haven't you wished for the appearance of a new face, someone that isn't "connected" at the hip with special interests?

here is an email that I received from my association.  It is so hard to support an organization that is constantly missing the mark.

Dear Dale,

By now you have heard that Congress failed to pass the Emergency Economic Stability Act (EESA) on Monday and is currently in the process of reconsidering this very important legislation with a few minor changes. This is an extremely critical time for our nation and REALTORS® everywhere need to call on Congress to enact a recovery plan that will end the economic crisis we are facing.

REALTORS® know better than anyone else how important housing is to our local and national economies. Like it or not, the housing market can not rebound until we resolve the problems in the financial markets. Now is the time to act before they move beyond repair.

Today, please take time to contact your members of Congress and urge them to support the Emergency Economic Stability Act by clicking the following link: http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/campaign/eesa/w6n36uwr1787wm68?

NAR and the North Carolina Association of REALTORS® will continue to do our part to stay ahead of developments in Washington, DC and keep you informed of changes to the initial bill.

With your help, we can get beyond the debate over who is responsible for the current situation, and move toward a solution that will benefit REALTORS® and all of the consumers we serve.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

The Senate voted to overturn a 3 decade ban on the sale of nuclear technology to India.  The Senate passed the measure 86-13 which allows American businesses to sell fuel, technology and reactors to India.  Opponents argued that safeguards were not in place to protect future use of the technology for weapons development.  the US House has also passed a similar measure.

The new measure will allow US companies to profit in the multibillion dollar nuclear industry that will now go forward in India.  Some senators said the pact protects US security interests while others felt that the increase in India's nuclear market will start a new arms race in the region, supported by the fact that some Indian companies have already been selling nuclear technology to Iran. 

India has built nuclear bombs and refused to sign the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty.  Other countries like Korea and Iran will undoubtedly use the agreement to continue to pursue nuclear weapons since the measure rewards India for not complying with UN resolutions. The Senate rejected amendments that called for Senate oversight on the use of the technology, preferring to believe India will use the technology only for peaceful use.

Why can't these idiots see that selling our country's secrets just so big business can profit isn't in our national interest?  Because they are bought and paid for by those very same special interests that want total control over your life.

You like big government.  

Trust politicans

Believe the bailout will benefit you.

Okay, now that only sensible people are going to read and possibly comment, lets have some frank talk on what is really going on in Washington.

First, the bailout is for banks so that they can shore up their balance sheets in the case of a stock price drop engineered by hedge funds, sovereign funds, and large investors that are shorting the stock. It is not about helping the people.  Period, get over it, end of story.  It is about protecting the investors in the stocks themselves. 

Second, the government does not want to take over banks, but by law it has to if the deposits are in danger. With mark to market pricing, as the stock price goes down, the value of the deposits must go up to keep enough liquidity to meet banking requirements.  By artificially driving down the stock prices, the inestors make money by shorting the stock and then other banks win by picking up the assets at firesale prices.  This causes a monolopy to be created for the remaining banks. 

The banks want the money and will not lend it.  It is for their use.  They already get free money from the fed window.  It is not about capital. It is about using the politicans and our free markets, with manipulation by a very few.  With 700 billion to spend, the remaining banks, many which are foreign banks will buy up our smaller banks and take control of a large portion of the WORLDS total capital. 

Foreign investors, many of which are enemies of this nation can cause major moves on Wall St. because of the lack of oversight by our government.  The government cares more about the Chinese buying our bonds than to the plights of Americans on Main St.  The bailout will give even more to our enemies and so called friends.  Congress bankrupts us so that the government can keep selling bonds instead of reining in spending.

FDIC Insurance going to 250k just means less money to smaller banks.  Less competition to those remaining. 

Regardless of the bill passing or not, politicans will continue to receive millions from banks to sway their votes-you and I can't give more than a couple of hundred dollars, even if we wanted to give more.

Now you know what you already thought.  Stop thinking that giving money to others without reason makes sense.  It doesn't make sense in your world nor does it make sense in Washington 

See my next blog on What happen if the bill DIDN'T Pass.

I have read numerous posts and comments on the bail out package for Wall St.  I personally want to see it fail.  The fear mongering that the proponents use has not been backed by clear reasons to support the plan.  Realtors and Loan Officers are part of "Main St" not Wall St.  Here is yet another reason to question the direction of the very organizations that we belong to.

Direct news releases from the NAR and MBA

The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Richard F. Gaylord:

"The National Association of Realtors® is extremely disappointed in the actions of the U.S. House of Representatives today in failing to pass the Emergency Economic Stability Act of 2008. This legislation is critical to stopping the economic turmoil that millions of Americans are facing. Completing a recovery plan that will end the current economic crisis crippling the housing and financial markets must be accomplished quickly and in a bipartisan manner.

"NAR's focus is on protecting homeowners and the American taxpayers. Protecting Main Street by keeping people in their homes will not only benefit individual families, but also will help stabilize the housing market, which greatly impacts the overall U.S. economy. Across the country, Realtors® see and feel the loss of confidence experienced by both buyers and sellers in the real estate market and they know firsthand that buyers are finding it harder to get mortgages.

"A sharp rise in unemployment and severe hardship for many ordinary Americans would result from the deteriorating liquidity crisis. In addition, interest rates for those who are able to get a mortgage or credit will be more costly. This legislation, if implemented, would quickly restore liquidity to the mortgage market, which would stabilize the housing market and protect homeowners.

"There will not be an economic recovery without a housing recovery, and we hope the Congress will move as expediently as possible to resolve their differences. We commend the House members that today voted for this unprecedented legislation. NAR will continue to advocate this legislation, which will benefit Main Street by restoring market liquidity to the financial markets."

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 29, 2008) -  John A. Courson, Chief Operating Officer of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today issued the following statement following the House of Representatives' failure to approve HR 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

"We hope Congressional and Administration negotiators will immediately regroup and find common ground upon which they can build a new agreement.  Restoring liquidity to the credit markets is crucial to both stabilizing Wall Street and keeping the U.S. economy moving forward. 

"The credit crunch is not only preventing financial institutions from being able to access capital but is also preventing large and small businesses from being able to borrow money, money they use to operate their businesses, upgrading facilities and equipment and hiring and paying workers.  If businesses don't have access to that capital, they will stop growing and the economy will stagnate."

I have posted several articles about how the government is taking over banks and then selling the banks to other banks at pennies on the dollar.  The government took over Washington Mutual which had $300 billion in assets and sold it for $1.9 billion.  Does that make sense? 

The point of this post is our own associations are out to lunch- literally on our dime.  Where is the outrage against the associations like I have read against the banks and Wall St.?  Is everybody being politically correct?

t

Here is a great reason why we need to get up early and start our days.   I am hoping to start building a clients home at this beautiful place in the next month.  These photos were taken about 8:00 am.  We are above the cloud cover and in the distance you can see Beech Mountain, one of th area's ski resorts. 

Puts things in perspective doesn't ?

This is a reprint of an email sent to me by my good friend Doug Lambe of High Bluff Realty. 

The next time you hear a politician use the
word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about
whether you want the 'politicians' spending
YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
but one advertising agency did a good job of
putting that figure into some perspective in
one of it's releases.

A

A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B

A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C

A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.

D

A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E.

A billion dollars ago was only

8 hours and 20 minutes,

at the rate our government

is spending it.



While this thought is still fresh in our brain...

let's take a look at New Orleans ...

It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.



Louisiana Senator,

Mary Landrieu (D)

is presently asking Congress for

250  BILLION DOLLARS

to rebuild New Orleans .  Interesting number...

what does it mean?

A

Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of  New Orleans

(every man, woman, and child)

you each get $516,528.

B.

Or... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in
New Orleans , your home gets  $1,329,787.

C

Or... if you are a family of four...

your family gets  $2,066,012.

Washington, D. C



< HELLO! >

Are all your calculators broken??

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago...
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt...

We had the largest middle class in the world...

and Mom stayed home to raise the kids

What happened?

Can you spell 'politicians!'