Well a Very Happy NEW Year to all my readers, supporters, clients and friends. It’s been a crazy year with travels to the home of the worlds largest oilsands deposits- Ft McMurray, Alberta. My father was inducted into the local Hockey Hall of Fame with the Ft McMurray Oil Barons as founder of the team. A proud son  I am. I can’t leave out the summer excursion with my wife and two terrific kids up to Torch Lake in Northern Michigan. If you haven’t been there add it to your bucket list. Simply a sensational lake and also ranked as one of the top lakes in the world.

Last but not least was the family event of the year to Disney World. Totally worth it. My kids had the time of their life. My son keeps wanting to back to the “Tower of Terror” he just turned 5.

As for us here at Jeff Dicks Real Estate have a fabulous 2012. We look for to helping you Buy or Sell a home here in the Triangle area of North Carolina. Check out the daily headlines for December 30th/2012

TOP NEWS • Spain to fire opening salvos in austerity drive Spain’s centre-right government will announce billions of euros in savings measures, using its first decrees since sweeping to power at November elections to give the nation a foretaste of tougher austerity to come.

• China’s factories falter, pro-growth policies eyed China’s factory activity shrank again December as demand at home and abroad slackened, a purchasing managers’ survey showed, reinforcing the case for pro-growth policies to underpin the world’s second-largest economy. • Colombia sells state-run power firm for $415 million Canadian-owned BCIF Holding Colombia S.A.S. has won a bid to acquire a Colombian state-owned power company for around $415 million, the country’s finance ministry said on Thursday. • HSH Nordbank sues Ally, JPM over mortgage losses German lender HSH Nordbank has sued several banks, including Ally Financial and JPMorgan Chase, over losses on $130.2 million in mortgage bond investments, according to court documents.

Wake County Realtors need to pay attention to the new choice-based student assignment plan and how it may affect a homebuyers decision. The new plan goes into effect in 2012 and does away with automatic assignments to a specific school based on home address. Application’s begin Jan 17th/12 and the second round March 19th/12 for new arrivals, those who forget to apply and whom are not happy with their first assignment.  After April 9th/12 walk-in registration will be taken. Those relocating to the Wake County area of North Carolina should go to the Wake County Public School website for further details about the new plan.

If your relocating to Wake County and searching for Raleigh Real estate, or
Wake Forest Homes. Please contact us at Jeff Dicks Real Estate– Keller Williams

Two weeks until Christmas!  The end of the year is here and of course there is a
lot of talk of what the new year brings.  Here is a quick update of some of the
changes that could come about:

1) Once again the talk about increasing fees for FHA back loans.  If you
remember FHA is require to hold a certain amount in reserves and for the last
few years they have been well short of that amount.  Even though the recent
increase in fees has helped replenish the reserve fund, the forecast for more
defaults and costs has FHA saying they might have to raise the fees again.  The
rumors are that people with lower credit scores will be getting hit with most of
the increase. Borrowers know this could be on the way!! So make a move
now before costs increase even more.

2) After numerous attempts to lower the VA upfront fee, it now has been
restored to their original amounts until 2016.  So no decreases for VA
borrowers.  This program still remains one of the best programs available.

3) Is Fannie and Freddie on their way out?  The Mortgage Finance Act of
2011 if passed would create a new FDIC-like guarantee facility and once it
establishes value will be privatized.  This is one of the better plans that has
been introduced because this will allow a QRM (Qualified Residential Mortgage)
to only have 5% down payment.  The current QRM part of the Dodd/Frank Bill calls
for a 20% down payment for a QRM which will obviously hurt a already fragile
housing market if Freddie and Fannie are eliminated.  There is a lot involved in
order to eliminate Freddie and Fannies so we will see how all this plays
out.

4) Finally the major market mover…how will EU leaders handle their
financial mess and what affect will it have on the rest of the world.

Have a great week!

Chris Blount

Courtesy of Jeff Dicks Real Estate Keller Williams Realty

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The Wake Forest Board of Commissioners has approved a smoking ban in all Town parks and greenways, except in specifically designated areas.

The board adopted the ordinance last month during it sregular monthly meeting, joining a growing number of communities that have forbidden smoking in public parks. The smoking ban is designed to help reduce curb exposure to secondhand smoke and reduce litter.

The ban takes place immediately and includes a possible $50 fine. Signage will be posted throughout the Town’s parks and greenways informing visitors of the new ordinance.

Enforcement will take the form of requesting voluntary compliance. However, if a smoker does not extinguish a smoking product, park staff will remind them of the new policy and could request exiting the property if they choose to continue smoking. For more information about the smoking ban, contact Parks and Recreation Director Ruben Wall at 919-435-9561.

Courtesy of Jeff Dicks Real Estate

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