By Kendra Zadnik

When the West Fertilizer plant caught fire and exploded April 17, amidst the fire and ashes were the remnants of people’s lives. Some even lost their lives, while others lost all of their material possessions. These were the things we all take for granted—a comfortable bed to sleep on, a favorite pillow, a pair of comfortable house shoes. Lost forever were the things that can’t be replaced—grandmother’s china, childhood photos, treasured keepsakes.

As one woman who lost everything said, “Yes, they were just things, but they were my things.”

Many are suffering from physical injuries and emotional stress. Parents look at their children and are grateful for one more day.

Most everyone in the entire area is mourning the loss of a friend or loved one and longing to ease the pain of those who have suffered the most.

That was my prayer Friday morning when, just hours after the tragedy, I believed Jesus would show me a way to help.

As I was driving out of my driveway, my phone rang with a call from the Veterans Administration asking me to help them locate a house for a displaced veteran and his family whose home was destroyed in the fire. I work with the VA regularly as I am under contract with them to connect the properties they own in McLennan County with veterans. But this call stopped me in my tracks.

My heart quickened as I knew God had answered my prayer that quickly. He was allowing me to be part of the healing for this family.

From that call, until the moment that we presented a fully stocked and furnished three-bedroom home with furniture, a television, clocks, lamps, bedding, small appliances, a refrigerator, toiletry items and a pantry full of food, I knew this was bigger than me.

The past few days have been very powerful as God placed people and their donations into this situation. Friends were calling to pick up items in their truck and deliver them. This dirty house with weeds was cleaned and decorated and turned into a beautiful home with new grass and fresh linens and towels, clothes hanging in the closets and all the special touches this family deserves.

Every single item in this home is a gift from God. The rent is paid, and the yard is ready for their dogs.

It has been an incredible four days of seeing God orchestrate for Scott and Geri Burgess and their sons and daughter.

Geri said this whole event is “like losing a tooth. Your tongue keeps going to that spot, but you realize that it’s no longer there.”

Yet, they are still worried about their neighbor who is missing.

The 19-year-old son, Tom, pulled out his parents who were burned all over by the falling debris and insulation. The roof fell in on them. Both Geri and her son wore glasses that were blown off.

They were even preparing to leave and Geri had her purse in hand when the blast happened. They had feared a fire at the plant in the past, but this time it was for real. They are forever changed.

I’m so proud of each of you who jumped in and found friends to make this house a home. I have the best friends in the world! I love how each of you are servants of Jesus and were all about love and hope for this family in their time of need.

I can’t explain that every time something was needed my phone rang and someone took on the next item. A stranger called saying they had a truck when we needed a sofa and loveseat picked up in Bosqueville and taken to the house.

Through all the connections, another friend turned up who actually knows this family and came over and hung the flag.

Every piece and item had a place and a purpose.

We all know that when our friends and family hurt, we hurt. We live in a community where people embrace each other in times of tragedy and we’ve experienced that in a very real way. This is just one story of many, I’m sure, where people are being used to comfort the town of West. We are honored and humbled to be part of God’s healing work.

I would especially like to recognize and offer my heartfelt gratitude to the amazing people at Fellowship Bible Church. You amaze me with your spirit of love and unselfishness. Thank you to Kyle Wollard, who donated his beautiful couch. Mirth co-workers raised money to purchase a washer and dryer and Home Depot delivered them. Many, many others have been a part of this project including Jason Findley, who provided rent for the next six months; Comet Cleaners in Bellmead; Barrera’s Landscaping in Hewitt, Greater Hewitt Chamber of Commerce, Target Restoration, Cyndi Mitchell, Amie Kelly, Valerie Horn, Robin Jamison, Stephen Jamison, Donna Sharp, James Gilmore, Bobby Jones, Julie Latino, Shawna Lucas, Lesly Rascoe, Holly Davis, Jeanna Kish, Loren Lee, Rene Kekic, Kevin Rhodes, Kevin Kelly, Charlie Melton, Mindi Selman, Rachel Hisle, Lori Dean, Stana and Kenny Butts, Zoe Zadnik, Brinna Jones, Daniel Hoover, Patrick Kekic, Robby Mullens and Joanne Maloney.

Many additional friends picked up items and others went out a bought every item needed from bedding, towels, curtains, rugs, trash cans, mops and  small to large appliance such as a refrigerator and  washer and dryer.

Thank you also to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Eric Shinseki and Undersecretary Allison Hickey for calling to say thank you for helping one of their veterans.

We can’t explain the events that happened in West, but I know I will never forget the generosity and compassion that I have personally witnessed this week.

 Home Before…

Home Filled with Love…

With all the choices in today’s market, how do you go about finding the right home? It seems the more research you do, the more alternatives you discover.

It’s important to visualize your needs and plan ahead. “Know what you want in a home, what’s important to you, and what you can live without,” Kendra Zadnik of Premier Realtors says. “Many of us start out with a champagne taste and a beer pocketbook, so it’s important to be realistic,”  she adds.

Where and what you buy will affect you for as long as you live in the house. “Get your priorities in order before you start looking or even talk to a real estate broker or sales associate,” Zadnik says.

For first-time home buyers this is a new experience, so it’s especially important to do your homework. If you currently own a home, you know exactly what’s lacking. You may need another bedroom or bathroom, or a good school nearby.

First, decide where you want to live. A big part of the answer hinges on where and how you earn a living. If your job requires a lot of reading or is quite stressful, public transportation may offer valuable time to sit quietly. “Regardless, you should practice the commute in rush hour before you make a commitment. A seemingly quiet road can transform into gridlock during peak hours,” Zadnik cautions.

People with children have other major considerations: school and safety. If you plan to send your children to private schools, you can live where you want assuming you can easily arrange transportation. On the other hand, a lavish public school system may indicate high local real estate taxes. Check them out.

Obviously, lifestyle is an important consideration. People who frequently dine out, go dancing and attend the theater probably belong in the city or a close-in suburb. “In other words, make sure you’re in close proximity to the things that matter most,” Zadnik says.

It used to be that homes came in a limited variety, but today, you have many choices. In addition to the traditional single-family home, you can buy a townhouse, condominium or a zero-lot line home.

In a zero-lot line developments, you can find almost any combination. These communities, make sure the rules and regulations, as well as the by-laws, match your lifestyle. This type of housing is great for people who want to own their own space without being responsible for mowing the lawn or repairing the roof; a management company handles the maintenance.

On the other hand, you’ll pay fees for these services. “In addition to checking the documents and financial soundness of the homeowner’s association, you must determine if the monthly fees are worth the services and additional amenities such as a swimming pool or exercise room,” Zadnik explains.

Affordability can be a factor not only in the type of housing, but whether it’s new or an existing home. Old houses often have fine woodwork or interesting nooks and crannies not normally found in new homes. They generally sit on landscaped lots with mature trees and grown bushes.

New homes may cost more, but you can make many more decisions on amenities, colors, carpeting and fixtures. “Make sure you’re dealing with a reputable builder, and have an attorney or realtor review all documents, Zadnik says.

So what do home buyers really want? The first answer is energy efficiency. Four of the top most wanted features involve saving energy: 94 percent of home buyers want energy-star rated appliances, 91 percent want an energy-star rating for the whole home, 89 percent want energy-star rated windows, and 88 percent want ceiling fans.

The second message buyers are sending is they want help keeping their home organized. The laundry room is wanted by 93 percent of buyers; in fact, 57 percent consider it essential and would be unlikely to buy a home without it. This shows that most buyers want to keep the dirty laundry contained in a room and away from plain view. Moreover, nine out of ten buyers want a linen closet in the bathroom to help keep towels and toiletries organized. Space in the garage to store bikes, sports equipment, or gardening tools also ranks high on the buyers’ wish list: 86 percent want it. And a walk-in pantry in the kitchen is something most buyers care a lot about as well (85 percent).

What features should builders be careful about including in a typical new home? First and foremost, an elevator. Seventy percent of buyers reject it, meaning they would be unlikely to buy a home that included it. Interestingly, four of the next five most unwanted features are not about the home itself, but about the community. For example, 66 percent of buyers do not want to live in a golf course community, 56 percent reject the idea of living in a high density community, 48 percent do not want a gated community, and 44 percent would not buy a home in a mixed use community.

More than half of all buyers also discard the option of having only a shower stall in the master bathroom with no tub (51 percent), and many are saying ‘no’ to two-story spaces as well. About 43 percent of buyers do not want a two-story family room and 38 percent feel the same way about a two-story entry foyer. Many buyers now consider these large, open spaces as energy-inefficient – the last thing they want for their homes. A complete outdoor kitchen is not an important priority to many buyers either, as 31 percent flat out discard the possibility of washing dishes, cooking, and keeping food refrigerated outdoors. For most buyers (62 percent), an outdoor grill will suffice.

On January 1, 2013, as part of the so-called fiscal cliff negotiations, Congress passed an extension of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act. This extension of this act, which has saved homeowners more than $1 billion dollars in taxes, is great news for struggling homeowners nationwide, and for the agents that represent them.

The extension is now only awaiting President Obama’s signature.

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act was originally passed in 2007 to aid the millions of homeowners who suddenly found themselves in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure following the housing market crash.

Under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, debt forgiven in a short sale, foreclosure, or loan modification, is exempt from federal taxes on primary residences. For homeowners facing foreclosure, this exemption saves them from paying thousands, or even tens of thousands, in taxes on top of losing their homes.

Now for another year, homeowners can take advantage of this exemption and avoid foreclosure without the fear of an impossible tax liability.

And with banks recognizing the significance of short sales as an effective loss mitigation tool, they’re ramping up for business. Short sales will be the key loss mitigation tool used by mortgage servicers in 2013.

The remaining Top 10 states in terms of total foreclosure activity included Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, and Maryland.
Foreclosures are up 19 percent from last October, but a deeper look at the RealtyTrac report revealed two positive developments for the housing market.
1.    Foreclosure activity is down 3 percent from last month 2.    Foreclosures per Household decreased in 9 of the 10 most heavily concentrated states
According to an industry trade group, distressed homes account for nearly one-third of home activity.
That said, buying foreclosures isn’t for everyone.

For one, properties are often sold as-is and may be defective.  The cost of repairs may negate “the deal” or “the steal” — depending on the cost of the home.

Secondly, closing on a foreclosed home can be a 3-month long process. This is because banks rarely process home sale paperwork as fast as a “person” would. A 3-month time frame may not fit your schedule.
In the end, fundamentally, buying a foreclosed home is the same as buying a “regular” home — there’s a contract and a closing.  Most of the steps in the middle, however, are different.
Read the how to buy a foreclosure,   If you like what you see, give us a call about what to do next.
There’s still good deals in the foreclosure market yet based on October’s data, they may not last through the winter.

According to the most recent S&P Case-Shiller price index, residential real estate values have returned to 2003 first quarter prices!!!!

AND when you factor in the incredible mortgage rates, the case for buying a home today becomes more advantageous.

Date        Loan Amount          Interest Rate      Monthly P&I

2003            $250,000                     5.88                   $1,478.84

Today           $250,000                     3.0                     $

Difference in mortgage payments

A buyer can save $           a month,              a year and $         over the life of a 30 year mortgage.

Buy a home for the same PRICE but the COST is over $100,000 less!

Financial advisors are saying that this is the greatest times in history to purchase a home – even Warren Buffett.  Warren stated in a recent interview “If I had a way of buying a couple hundred thousand single-family homes I would load up on them.

So my friends…..if Warren Buffett is saying now is the time to buy, what are we waiting for?

Call me with all your wants and needs for your next home, and lets go shopping!

Four years after the biggest foreclosure crisis this country has seen, there are still a lot of distressed properties on the market. Despite four years of experience and insights, there are still a lot of misconceptions about short sales.
The reality about today’s housing market is that people have many questions, but not a lot of answers.

As an agent, I know that a short sale can save sellers from a devastating foreclosure. It’s simply a better solution for a homeowner in distress (upside down on mortgage) than a bank repossessing the home.
But now, banks have also realized that short sales are a better option for their own bottom line. They are shifting away from sales of bank-owned homes, often preferring pre-foreclosure short sales. Lenders are even starting to approve more aggressively priced short sales and provide substantial homeowner relocation incentives up to $35,000; it still makes the lender more money than an REO sale.

I have helped a couple receive $2,500 in relocation assistance and payoff an IRS lien on their homestead. We are able to help. Don’t delay, call for personal advise on your situation.