A RAINY SATURDAY IN FREDERICKSBURG

 By Jack Arnold, Broker Associate

May 16th

On Saturday, May 16, 2009 we awoke to a dark and cloudy morning.  The television reported rain in Llano and headed our way.  Shortly, we heard the beautiful sound of raindrops on our tin roof.  A few at first, then a torrent.  The patio soon glistened with pools and rivulets.

 

 

                                                                        

Rain

  Rain is a welcome happening in Fredericksburg and is best enjoyed by being out in it. 
So Sunya and I got into my Jeep to see  how  everyone else was celebrating.

 

Town Creek

 We first checked to see if Town Creek was flowing over the water crossing on Schubert Street.                                                  
This is called the Duck Crossing.   Sure enough, the water was flowing over the street, but just  barely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main Street

Then we checked out Main Street.  Wow! Wall to Wall cars.  on a Saturday Morning and in the rain.  What were all these people doing?

 

 

Umbrella Parade

They were looking for a parking place so they could join the Umbrella parade.  and where was the parade going?

 

 

 

Street gutters

Wherever it was going it did not let the water flowing in the street gutters stop it.

 

 

 

Mor fun shopping in the rain

The people were going shopping.  the rain just made it more fun and besides, how often do you   get to display your red or green

umbrella         

 

                                                                                                    

 

Rain headed east

Shortly after noon our rain storm moved off to the East.  Headed for Johnson City and Austin.  But it did leave us with .83 inches in our rain gauge and with happy grass, trees and visitors.

 

 

Perfect Sunset

And as if we had not been blessed enough by the beautiful rain, the sun, and lingering clouds provided the perfect sunset for those lucky enough to be here.

 

 

                                          

      Sunya did have one complaint.  she did not get to run in the rain.  Maybe next time.

Time to buy is RIGHT NOW

 

Mimi Bartel, Broker Associate

U.S. home prices have declined across the nation in the past year—albeit at varying levels. Latest national price declines range from as little as 4.5 percent (Dallas, Texas) on a year-over-year basis in February to as great as 35.2 percent (Phoenix, AZ) according to S&P’s Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.

It is the anticipation by many prospective buyers for further home price erosion that keeps them on the sidelines and from participating in homeownership despite the lowest interest rates since Freddie Mac commenced the statistical series in 1971.

While further price declines may be realized, the likelihood of rising interest rates makes purchasing now a better option than waiting for further potential value declines. Simply stated, there is a greater possibility of interest rate increases than potential value declines. Even with the price decline, the interest rate increase may result in the buyer no longer being able to qualify for a loan on a home they wish to purchase for which they qualify today. Despite facing a potential in declining home values, now may be a better time to buy.

To make the comparison simple, let’s assume a loan amount today of $100,000 with a 30-year fixed-rate residential loan at 5 percent. Nationwide at the time of this writing, the average 30-year rate was 4.85 percent per Freddie Mac.

A buyer today at 5 percent interest borrowing $100,000 has a monthly principle and interest payment of $536.82. If prices decline 5 percent (and the loan amount does also) and interest rates rise just ½ of 1 percent, then the monthly payment remains the same ($539.40).

So if rates go up just 1 percent to 6 percent per year, then prices must drop at least 10 percent for that same buyer to qualify for the same monthly payment. A 1.5 percent increase in rates to 6.5 percent requires a 15 percent price decline, and a 2 percent increase necessitates a 20 percent price decline to qualify.

(Note: This 1 percent interest rate change to a 10 percent price change is only true when interest rates are 5 percent as they are today.)

Why will rates increase in the future more than prices decline? Looking at the S&P’s Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the aggregate 20-city prices have already declined 29.1 percent since peaking in July 2006. For many cities, much of the price decline has already taken place. And Austin has seen very little decline in the median home price! And why will rates increase? Massive deficit spending has a high potential to drive up inflation and hence interest rates. Additionally, since these are the lowest rates since 1971, it’s not hard to project the likelihood of rate increases.  

So NOW may be the best time ever to buy a home and take advantage of truly historic low interest rates!

 
Information provided by Ted C. Jones, PhD, Senior Vice President—Chief Economist, Stewart Title Guaranty Company.    

Happy Mother’s Day!

by Lynne Renaud

Enjoy making the Mom in your life this YUMMY recipe!

Chicken & Cashews

Chicken and Cashews

Top tender chicken with an inspired Asian sauce loaded with cashews, ginger, honey, and sesame oil. Pair this entrée with a simple rice pilaf.

3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, divided
2 tablespoons dry sherry
4 teaspoons cornstarch, divided
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons sesame oil, divided
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chopped green onions (about 3 green onions)
1/4 cup chopped unsalted dry-roasted cashews

1. Combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sherry, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, and chicken in a large bowl; toss well to coat. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch, broth, oyster sauce, and honey in a small bowl.

2. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken mixture to pan; sauté 3 minutes. Remove from pan. Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil in pan. Add onion, celery, and bell pepper to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add ginger and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Return chicken mixture to pan; sauté 1 minute. Stir in broth mixture. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with green onions and cashews.

Rice pilaf: Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup chopped onion and 2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup water, 1/2 cup long-grain rice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 12 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; stir in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro.

Yield:  4 servings (serving size: about 3/4 cup)Cooking Light, MAY 2009

CALORIES 257 ; FAT 9g (sat 1.9g,mono 4.2g,poly 2.3g); CHOLESTEROL 63mg; CALCIUM 45mg; CARBOHYDRATE 17g; SODIUM 584mg; PROTEIN 26g; FIBER 1.9g; IRON 2mg

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

By Jack Arnold

For those of you who have read my previous blog entries on fly fishing in Crabapple Creek, this picture may be of interest.  Because of warming waters, lease members are now permitted to keep the Rainbows they catch.  My smiling friend, Jim Fox, put this 26 inches on his stringer last week.

Nancy Doyle’s Background

Being a native of Houston has given me the ability to truly appreciate the Hill Country of Texas. The character in land and the verity of the soils add such dimension to the topography here in Gillespie County that I am truly amazed on a daily basis by its beauty and serenity. It’s no exaggeration when I say the sun always shines in Fredericksburg. I am in complete amazement when I see how such little rain does so much for the country side. When the bluebonnets come, the people come and our small and sleepy town comes truly alive.

 

Starting my fifteenth year in Fredericksburg and with CENTURY 21 Sunset, Realtors allows me to see the changes not only in the real estate arena but our town. The hospital, housing, and restaurants have doubled. There now is a four screen theater to watch a movie. New wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms where you can visit and enjoy are part of our lives now. Wildseed Farms also attracts many people with its magnificent flowers. This is only to name a few of the changes, and for the most part, all to the good of Gillespie County.

 

My formal education in Art and Design, together with my real estate knowledge has blessed me with the privilege to design and restore three Historic properties here in Fredericksburg, one of which is my home. There is no doubt that I have a deep passion for real estate and homes, and home is truly where the heart is. I am the path home.

Lauri’s Links for Fredericksburg

by Lauri Tomlinson

Fredericksburg is not your typical quiet small town. There is a lot that goes on in this community from great stores to shop in on Main Street to fabulous restaurants and great evening entertainment. Here are some of my suggestions:

 Great places to shop:
Abella homes
Rustic Star
Peach Tree Gift Shop
Zertz
Spunky Monkey for Kids

Great Places To Eat:
Peach Tree Tea Room
Navajo Grill
August E’s
Friedhelms Bavarian Inn
West End Pizza

Evening Entertainment:
Auslanders Biergarten
Silver Creek
Lincoln Street
Luckenbach

We Have Seen The Enemy…

Click my picture to search for Gillespie Country properties.

Robert Menking, CENTURY 21 Sunset, Realtors Sales Associate

 We have seen the enemy, and it’s us.  If we sit back and wait for someone else to pull us out of this economic mess, I promise you, it will last a long time.  Do you remember the days when we would catch the evening news at 6:00 PM and get all the news we needed, both local and national in about 20 minutes?  If we missed anything, we could catch it again at 10:00 PM before we went to bed.  Now we have an endless number of 24 hour news channels that are hashing the same stories over and over and building fear because that’s what we like to hear.  Stop it!!!  Tell everyone you know to STOP IT!!!!  The recovery starts with us, with our attitude, our faith in each other, in our families, and in our friends.  This country has been through tougher times than these…. Let’s get over it.