” Last year, I told you that “a housing recovery will probably begin within a year or so.” I was dead
wrong. We have five businesses whose results are significantly influenced by housing activity. The
connection is direct at Clayton Homes, which is the largest producer of homes in the country,
accounting for about 7% of those constructed during 2011.

Additionally, Acme Brick, Shaw (carpet), Johns Manville (insulation) and MiTek (building products,
primarily connector plates used in roofing) are all materially affected by construction activity. In
aggregate, our five housing-related companies had pre-tax profits of $513 million in 2011. That’s
similar to 2010 but down from $1.8 billion in 2006.

Housing will come back – you can be sure of that. Over time, the number of housing units necessarily
matches the number of households (after allowing for a normal level of vacancies). For a period of
years prior to 2008, however, America added more housing units than households. Inevitably, we
ended up with far too many units and the bubble popped with a violence that shook the entire economy.
That created still another problem for housing: Early in a recession, household formations slow, and in
2009 the decrease was dramatic.

That devastating supply/demand equation is now reversed: Every day we are creating more households
than housing units. People may postpone hitching up during uncertain times, but eventually hormones
take over. And while “doubling-up” may be the initial reaction of some during a recession, living with
in-laws can quickly lose its allure.

At our current annual pace of 600,000 housing starts – considerably less than the number of new
households being formed – buyers and renters are sopping up what’s left of the old oversupply. (This
process will run its course at different rates around the country; the supply-demand situation varies
widely by locale.) While this healing takes place, however, our housing-related companies sputter,
employing only 43,315 people compared to 58,769 in 2006. This hugely important sector of the
economy, which includes not only construction but everything that feeds off of it, remains in a
depression of its own.

I believe this is the major reason a recovery in employment has so severely
lagged the steady and substantial comeback we have seen in almost all other sectors of our economy.
Wise monetary and fiscal policies play an important role in tempering recessions, but these tools don’t
create households nor eliminate excess housing units. Fortunately, demographics and our market
system will restore the needed balance – probably before long. When that day comes, we will again
build one million or more residential units annually. I believe pundits will be surprised at how far
unemployment drops once that happens. They will then re awake to what has been true since 1776:
America’s best days lie ahead.”

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Jeff Dicks's…

Your Heritage Neighbor! ® Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living

Inside This Issue… The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick… Four Things Locksmiths Don't Want You To Know… Fun Facts and Laughs: Most Stolen Items At Home, First Aid Hot and Cold Rules, And More… Trivia Challenge: Win [[Free Movie Tickets For Two]] Real Estate Q&A: What Can I Ask The Seller To Pay For When Buying A Home?

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Jeff Dicks Keller Williams Realty Phone: (919) 793-4730 Email: jeff@jeffdicks.com www.JeffDicks.com

.. Are you sick of getting the cold and flu? In today's Your Heritage Neighbor!® Free consumer newsletter you'll get tips to prevent sickness and be healthier this year. You'll also learn four insider secrets of locksmiths, where to stash your cash so it's safe in your home, plus funny jokes, a trivia challenge, and lots more. Jeff Dicks Jeff Dicks, REALTOR® Keller Williams Realty PS.  When you notice people talking about real estate in the next few weeks, can you tell them about the free consumer information I provide? They may be people needing to move in the next 6 months, and you can tell them about my Free Consumer Report: "Home Seller's Guide To Moneymaking Fix-Ups". You'll look really smart because this informative guide explains how to avoid costly repair rip-offs and what improvements bring the biggest return. To request a copy for a friend, simply email me at jeff@jeffdicks.com, or call me at: (919) 793-4730.

Today's Brain Teaser . . . How many F's are in the following sentence?… Finished files are the result of years of scientific study and also years of experience.   (see answer below)

The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick . . . How do some people never get sick while the rest of us seem to get a cold or the flu at least once a year? Health journalist, Gene Stone, captured the secrets of 25 people who claim to never get sick in his recent book The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick. If you want to be healthier this year, here are four practical, food-related secrets he discovered to prevent sickness: 1) Garlic.  Researchers at the University of Western Australia found people who started eating garlic regularly reduced their sick days by more than 50%. Garlic has antibacterial and antiviral properties that can help ward off colds or the flu. An easy way to eat more garlic is to include it in a rice or pasta dish a few times a week. 2) Probiotics.  This good bacteria can relieve gastrointestinal conditions and boost your body's immune system. Probiotics that live in your digestive system make it harder for disease-creating germs to move in. Eat one or more of these probiotic-rich foods each day: yogurt with live cultures, sauerkraut, cottage cheese, or probiotic-fortified soy milk. You can also take a probiotic supplement found in most natural food stores. 3) Brewer's Yeast.  Most of the brewer's yeast that you can buy from vitamin or health food stores is an extract from yeast used to ferment beer and wine. Brewer's yeast contains B vitamins that the body uses to maintain blood cells and the immune system. Take one tablespoon each day in powdered form, dissolved in water, to get your recommended daily allowance of B vitamins. This simple supplement can also lower your risk of some cancers. 4) Vegetables.  There's a reason your mother always told you to eat your veggies. If you eat a lot of meats and sugars, your diet is probably acidic with not enough alkaline-based foods to balance out your pH levels. Your pH level is a measure of the acidity to alkaline in your body. And recent studies have linked disease to high levels of acidity. Eating vegetables, legumes, and olive oil keeps your body more at a pH "neutral" level and can help you stay healthy. Stone says, "Since I started researching this book, I haven't been sick once." I hope you'll say the same after trying some of these tips. To preview the contents of "Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick" or order the book, go to: www.amazon.com.

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Save Thousands When Buying Or Financing! Did you know there's a free consumer report revealing ways to save time and money when buying a home? It's called "8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Finding, Buying and Financing Your Next Home," and it's great even if you're not planning to buy soon. To get your free copy email me by clicking here, or call me at: (919) 793-4730.

Four Things Locksmiths Don't Want You To Know If you get locked out of your home or simply need new locks, here are some insider secrets to protect yourself and your pocketbook: 1. Check all your doors before you call.  They often arrive at the house and try another door, find it unlocked and charge you for the service. 2. Be careful of scam artists posing as professionals.  Some quote a great rate on the phone and claim they have a special lock at a higher price when they arrive. Find reputable pros at: www.findalocksmith.com. 3. Replace thumb-turn deadbolts near windows.  Whatever the locksmith says, you need to use a double cylinder lock that uses a key near windows. Why? Because it is too easy for a criminal to break a window, reach in, and unlock the door. 4. Cheap locks are easily defeated.  Purchase a "Grade 2" lockset. It's more secure and durable than Grade 1, but you don't need Grade 3 which are for commercial buildings and can be expensive. You may want to ask your locksmith to install high-security locks with keys that can't be replicated at the hardware store.

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Do You Have A Real Estate Or Home- Ownership Question You Want Answered? Maybe you want to know how much your home is worth. Or maybe you just need a recommendation for a handyman, carpet cleaner or plumber… Either way, I love hearing from all of my good friends and clients. And I'm always looking to answer pressing questions you might have about anything relating to real estate or home-ownership. If you have a question, tip or idea, please feel free to email me by clicking here, or call me at: (919) 793-4730. I'm here to help!

Fun Facts and Laughs . . . Most Stolen Items At Home . . . These are the items reported by the website www.homesalarm.com. Some of them made the list because they are simply easy to find in the average home. In order, the most stolen are: Cash (see where to stash below) Tools and building supplies Home electronics Bicycles and parts Jewelry, Furs, and Silver Best Places to Stash Cash . . . You may think you have your stash in a safe place, but burglars know where to look. www.frugaldad.com suggests the following places to hide your cash: In the freezer between used meat trays and wrapped in aluminum foil. Behind the cardboard backing of a picture frame that is hard to reach. Under something heavy like an entertainment center or piano. Inside a used soup can on a shelf. First Aid Hot and Cold Rules . . . Knowing when to use hot or cold for injuries can be very confusing. Here are the general rules. Heat increases circulation. Use it for chronic pain like tight muscles in your lower back. Cold reduces inflammation. Acute injuries such as a newly sprained ankle can benefit from applying cold. Alternating Hot and Cold is helpful when you have soft-tissue damage or overstretched ligaments. Try 20 minutes of cold each hour in the first 24 hours. Applying 20 minutes of warmth each hour for a few more days should reduce affects of injury. If you still have inflammation after 72 hours, you should call a doctor. Have A Laugh — "What Do You Say?" . . . I was visiting an office when a woman walked in with her 3-week old baby and her seven-year-old son. Turns out she was on maternity leave, and just visiting coworkers. Of course everyone gathered around the new toddler, while the young boy asked, "Mommy, can I have some money to buy a soda?" "What do you say?" she asked. Respectfully, the boy replied, "You're thin and beautiful." With a smile, the woman immediately pulls out her purse and hands him money for a soda.

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Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thanks to all of my clients and friends who support my practice and graciously referred me to your friends and neighbors! Rather than pester people with unwanted calls and visits, I build my business based on the positive comments and referrals from people just like you. I couldn't do it without you! Mike & Mary Rochon & Glenn & Allison Miller

Trivia Challenge for the Month… "Who Else Wants To Win A $25 Gift Card?" Guess who won last month's Trivia Question? I'm pleased to announce the lucky winner of last month's quiz. And the winner is…drum roll please: Ken Corcoran of Wake Forest was the first > person to correctly answer my quiz question. Who won the World Series in 1903? a) Yankees    b) Red Sox    c) Americans    d) Giants The answer is c) Americans. You may have answered the Boston Red Sox, but at the time, the name of the team was the Boston Americans. So, let's move on to this month's trivia question. What is the most populated time zone in North America? a) Pacific b) Eastern c) Central d) Mountain   EMAIL ME AT: jeff@jeffdicks.com OR Call Me At (919) 793-4730 And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!

Brain Teaser Answer: If your answer was three, you counted like most people. Actually, the correct answer is six. Our brain has difficulty processing the word "of" as containing the letter F because it sounds like the letter V when pronounced.

Thanks For Thinking of Me! Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals…and spreading the word about my services.

Real Estate Q & A . . . Q.  What can I ask the seller to pay for when buying a home? A.  Remember, everything you ask from a seller is a concession in their mind. Whether you're asking them to lower the price, make a decorating allowance or contribute to your closing costs, they are primarily interested in the bottom line dollar proceeds at closing. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Negotiations can be tough if you try to get the seller to both lower the price and also make other concessions or contributions to your closing costs too. It can actually compromise your ability to come to an agreement. Appraisers are now asked to consider the dollar value of any seller concessions when they determine the value of the home you are purchasing. Lenders will limit the contributions made by the seller without lowering your loan amount. It is important for you to ask your lender what they will allow the seller to pay. If you'd like to learn more about the home-buying process and how to get the home of your dreams at a price you can afford please call me at: (919) 793-4730 or email me at jeff@jeffdicks.com. Or, if you have any other real estate questions, I'm here to help.

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THANK YOU… for reading my Your Heritage Neighbor!® personal newsletter.  I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you.  Help your friends get more out of life by forwarding this email to them…

You received this email because you requested it, are on the mailing list as {EMAIL_ADDRESS}, or a friend forwarded it to you. Disclaimer:  The information contained in this email is intended for informational purposes.  It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical and other professional services advice.  Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This email is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.

Copyright (c) 2012 by Jeff Dicks Real Estate, Inc.

“Following last week’s euphoria over the European Summit plan, investors are
in a more skeptical mood this week,” said BMO Capital Markets. “In our view,
while the plan will help contain the risk of a European banking crisis and
financial contagion to other countries, it falls well short of resolving the
crisis.”

So Treasuries are starting off the day stronger as more investors are seeking
safety over riskier stocks.  This will allow us to see a little bit of
improvement in rates today.

Rate
update.  Remember these are start rates…credit score, LTV, and other factors
go into final rate.

30yr
Fixed rate 4.125%  APR 4.229%

15 yr
Fixed rate 3.5%  APR 3.765%

5/1 Arm
3.125%   APR 3.207%

30 yr
FHA Fixed 3.75%  APR 4.113%

Have a
fun and safe Halloween!

Chris Blount
Branch Manager
Integrity Mortgage/AES Lending

Courtesy Jeff Dicks Real Estate

Raleigh Homes Market Update

Like it or not, there are a couple of guidelines bankers, and mortgage lenders use to determine how much loan you can afford.

One guideline is the Payment to Income Ratio. This guideline compares your income- or your total household income-to the amount of mortgage your considering.

To calculate the “payment” part of the formula, the lender will take the mortgage payment (principal & interest) and add it to Propeety Taxes and Insurance. Hence the term “PITI” (principal, interest, taxes and insurance).

Usually lenders will loan up to 28% of your total household income.

But before your home free, there’s something else you need to know..

It’s called the Debt to Income Ratio. Debt refers to ALL, the major monthly payments other than your mortgage (PITI). To arrive at this amount, the lender will consider…

Your car payment
Your credit card debt & payments.
Any IRS liens or payments due.
Any other payments and debts you have (boat, second home, etc)

Then they’ll compare your total debt to your ability to make current payments with your new home loan added into the equation.

Now here’s the “catch”. Each mortgage company sets diffferent limits on your Debt to Income Ratio, which it is critically important to find the right lender!

Don’t follow the “canned” financial advice like you see on TV. Most of the advice is “rule of thumb”, and designed for the lowest credit rating and the highest rates.

Think about this….

If you spend two or three days to find a loan that saves you $40,000 to $150,000 or more overs it’s term, your time is WELL WORTH SPENT! Doing a little homework on your own will literally save you thousands over the term of your loan.

If your in the market for a new or re-sale home in the Triangle area of North Carolina call us today at Jeff Dicks Real Estate – 919-793-4730

We look forward to putting our award-winning team to work for you

Search Raleigh, Wake Forest, Cary Homes

MCLEAN, Va., May 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS^®), which shows mortgage rates drifting lower with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage matching the yearly low of 4.71 percent, and the 15-year fixed hitting a new yearly low of 3.89 percent.

News Facts

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.71 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending May 5, 2011, down from last week when it averaged 4.78 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.00 percent.

• 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.89 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.97 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.36 percent.

• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.47 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.51 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.97 percent.

• 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.14 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.15 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.07 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions.

Quotes

Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

• “Weaker economic data reports reduced Treasury bond yields and allowed mortgage rates to drift lower for the third consecutive week. For instance, real economic growth in the first quarter fell short of the market consensus forecast and represented the slowest pace since the second quarter of 2010. In addition, both the manufacturing and service sectors exhibited growth at a slower rate in April.

• “Data reports on the housing market, on the other hand, were a little more uplifting. The National Association of Realtors^® reported pending home sales rose in March for the second month in a row to the highest index reading since November 2010. Also, the Federal Reserve reported credit standards among commercial banks for prime mortgages were unchanged on net in the second quarter of the year, following two quarters of tightening.”

Get the latest information from Freddie Mac’s Office of the Chief Economist onTwitter: @FreddieMac

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation’s residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than five million renters.

SOURCE Freddie Mac

Related articles

• HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS – HARP extended thru 2012(theraleighmortgageguy.com)
• Home Sales Drop %15.1 in Raleigh North Carolina(theraleighmortgageguy.com)

This Mountain Style Retreat home sits in the heart of the Raleigh. Nestled among 1.2 acres this home is move in ready. A stone fireplace, private yard, screened porch and cozy sunroom.
Call Jeff Dicks
919-793-4730 for further information

1. People who look for a home during the holidays tend to be more serious buyers !
2.  Serious buyers have fewer homes to choose from during the holiday season and less competition means more money for you!
3. Since the supply of homes on the market will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you!
4. Homes show better when decorated for the holidays!
5. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays, so they are more likely to pay your asking price!
6. Buyers have more flexibility and time to look for a home during the work week of the holiday season!
7. Some people buy before the end of the year for tax reasons!
8. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees cannot wait until the spring to buy, your home must be on the market NOW to capture those buyers!
9. Your home can still be on the market, but you always have the option to restrict showings on or before the holidays!
10. You can sell NOW for more money and we can provide a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early January!
11. By selling your home now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the spring, when many more homes are on the market for less money! This will allow you more of an opportunity to sell high and buy low!
    

    Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston

6509 Arnold Road

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