"I KNEW THE RECORD WOULD STAND UNTIL IT WAS BROKEN." ~ Yogi Berra A record was broken on the job front last Friday as the Labor Department reported a much worse than expected loss of 80,000 jobs in March - the greatest jobs loss reported in five years. In addition, revisions to both January and February's Jobs Report delivered an additional loss of 67,000 jobs - that's on top of the previously reported loss of 85,000 jobs for that two-month period. Go to http://www.tombrewerjr.com/for more information.And...the story might be even a bit gloomier than it already appears. The Labor Department uses a lot of averaging to help it come up with its numbers more quickly, but this practice can skew the current picture significantly. Think of it this way - and because it's now baseball season, he... 04/07/2008

A huge debate seems to exist here between Realtors and Mortgage Brokers on this topic. I have been a Realtor for 12 years and a Mortgage Broker for 12 years so I believe I can clear this up. The value of your home is solely based on appraised value by the lender. Be careful of the competitve market analysis as it does not take into account all of the appraisal factors in determining market value. The analysis is also affected by human entry and error by individuals that are qualified to sell your house but unfortunately with the changes in the mortgage markets might not be able to price it to sell and close!!In my honest opinion a great Realtor will always consult a great appraiser on value to be as accurate as possible for their clients. Unfortunately there is always somebody telling y... 04/01/2008

TAX REBATES MAILING SOON... WHEN WILL YOU GET YOURS?Last month, President Bush signed the Economic Stimulus Package into law - setting aside $168 billion in tax rebates and incentives to help boost the US economy. As we head into spring, those tax rebates are getting ready to hit the mail. So when should you expect yours? That depends on a few factors, including when you file your 2007 tax return, whether you choose direct deposit, and believe it or not...what your social security number is.Timing Is Everything! We all know the deadline for filing your 2007 taxes is quickly approaching. But you may want to be ahead of the curve if you want your tax rebate sooner, rather than later. That's because tax rebates will start going out on May 2... but only to taxpayers who have their returns "... 04/01/2008

The Bond market will gravitate towards news from the job market this week, with employment information due to arrive on Wednesday and Friday. Although Wednesday's ADP Employment Report has a history of being somewhat unreliable in predicting the "official" Jobs Report number, Bond traders will still try to use it to predict what the Department of Labor's report will show on Friday. And this week, the estimates are negative - meaning no job creations are expected, net job losses are what is anticipated - so any positive reads could be good news for Stocks, but bad news for Bonds and home loan rates. So...surprise, surprise...more volatility for Bonds and home loan rates is likely in store, between the ADP Report release on Wednesday, and the arrival of the Jobs Report on Friday morning. ... 04/01/2008

"NO GREAT DISCOVERY WAS EVER MADE WITHOUT A BOLD GUESS." Isaac Newton But even the great mind of Isaac Newton might not have guessed that Bonds and home loan rates would continue on such a volatile course. But let's get bold, and discover what caused the latest rock and roll action in the financial markets, and take a look at what the coming week might have in store.Forces that effect Mansfield , Arlington and Fort worth Real Estate were certainly at work to keep the financial markets from being at rest, starting bright and early on Monday morning. The headlines brought a quick shot in the arm for Stocks, as beleaguered Bear Stearns is now expected to see $10 per share in their buyout, rather than the previously expected $2 per share. Great news for the troubled financial sector at larg... 04/01/2008

The unannounced news outta the FHA this week is that lenders are requiring 580 credit scores to do loans at 100% with the AmeriDream 3% gift from the seller. What does this translate to in the Real Estate world you ask?? Flexibility from both the buyer and the seller if you want to get the deal done.More often than not when facing FHA financing and you will as Real Estate professionals , buyers or sellers will be dealing with this on a more common place occurrence. If the buyer wants closing costs as part of the seller concession then the seller could be looking at close to 7% off the list price to complete the transaction. What does this mean? Value of the property rules out potentially 50% of the market for the buyer. Be careful as the seller how to price the property because the real... 03/27/2008

So after all that...what lies in wait as the markets reopen following the holiday weekend? Yet another action packed economic calendar. We'll get a look at the housing market via the latest numbers on both New and Existing Homes Sales, but the report voted most likely to influence the markets will be Friday's Personal Income and Spending report with its imbedded data on Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE)...which just happens to be the Federal Reserve's favorite measure of consumer inflation. Please do not hesitate to go to my website for more information at http://www.tombrewerjr.com/.Particularly on the heels of the most recent rate cut, this report will take special significance. The Fed would like to see a core inflation rate below 2.0%, but with Bernanke and crew preferrin... 03/27/2008

The Mortgage Market View... Buying versus Leasing: Two Sides of the Same CoinDespite claims to the contrary, there really is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether to buy or lease a car. In either scenario, a portion of every payment is lost to depreciation, even with the best interest rate attached. With this in mind, consider your own lifestyle needs and priorities at the time of each transaction. Please go to our website for more information on this or other Real Estate topics at http://www.tombrewerjr.com/.Benefits of Leasing:Lease payments are generally between 30%-60% lower than car loan payments. It's as if you have a guaranteed buyer of your vehicle at a specified price when the lease is up. If the vehicle is worth more, you can sell it on the market and pocket t... 03/27/2008

Wine and Cheese Social...Join us! Open House-6720 RIDGE ESTATES COURT, ARLINGTON TX $305,000 - GORGEOUS CUSTOM 3/3/3 HOME WITH POOL!!!  THIS HOME WILL BE OPEN SUNDAY APRIL 6TH, 2008 FROM 2-5pm Listed by Jennifer Dahl and Sold in 2008. 6720 Ridge Estates Ct. Front view of home. One street Cul-de-dac neighborhood. Side view of House and finsihed out 3 car garage. Single entry has AC unit. Spectacular oversized double doors lead you into the entry of this luxury home. This beautiful formal dining room sets the tone for this home from the moment you enter the front doors. Kitchen with breakfast bar and a full size dining table for those casual meals. There is a beautiful view of the pool and back yard. Gourmet kitchen with island and breakfast bar. Deep stainless sink and walk-in pantry ove... 03/26/2008

Arlington Absorption Rate Active Listing Inventory                                                Sales (February 2008)                    Months  of Inventory1691                                                                                    261                                          6.48 months 03/23/2008

The Texas Rangers held tryouts for Ball GIRLS this weekend.  Yes, I said Ball Girls, not Ball Boys or Bat Boys.  This will be the second year they have decided to have Ball Girls represent them.There were about 20 girls fighting for 6 positions.  What's interesting is that these girls aren't there just to run after foul balls and throw them to the crowd. On the contrary.  They are there to also help warm-up the players.  They will field balls hit and thrown.  They will also have to be able to throw that ball back, long and accurately.In addition to their on the field duties, they are expanding last year's duties to also be spokewomen for the team and appear at promotional gatherings.  It sounds like a lot of fun, and I wish I still had a good arm... though I'm probably too old for what ... 03/10/2008

*Wine & Cheese Social* - Come View this Custom Home in Arlington at 6720 Ridge Estates Ct., Thursday, March 13, 2008 from 4PM - 6PM *** BRING YOUR CARDS FOR DRAWING FOR A $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO TEXAS ROADHOUSE/ WINE PROVIDED BY MIA VINO IN MANSFIELD.......MIA VINO WINE TASTING GIFT CERTIFICATES GIVEN TO FIRST 25 PEOPLE $305,000 MLS# 10950119 3 Bedroom /3 Bath/ 3 Car Garage Gourmet Kitchen w/ Granite Countertops, Maple Cabinetry & Built in Refrigerator Study with Built in Shelves Formal Dining / Butler's Pantry Beautifully Landscaped Yards / 8 Ft. Stained Fences 9 Ft. Diving Pool with Hot Tub Directions : 1-20 to 287 South. Take Eden Russell-Curry exit. Turn left on Eden. Turn left at Russell Curry. Turn left on Ridge Estates Ct. 03/07/2008

We live in a fish bowl here in Texas and we better be happy about it. The wonderful news about home values as that compared to the national averages we are not only much better off but we have an ace in the hole - economic growth. The country has a shifting population and in today's real world stats people are moving to warmer, job friendly, business friendly states. Texas is one of the leaders if not the leader nationwide in this regard. Hang in there folks life will get better in Real Estate!! Please visit my website for more details at www.tombrewerjr.com. 02/29/2008

"I have a tip that can take five strokes off your golf game. It is called an eraser."- Arnold Palmer "The other day I broke 70. That's a lot of clubs. "- Henny Youngman  "The first time I played the Masters, I was so nervous I drank a bottle of rum before I teed off. I shot the happiest 83 of my life."Chi Chi Rodriguez "It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course."-Hank Aaron "Golf is a fascinating game. It has taken me nearly forty years to discover that I can't play it. "-Ted Ray  "For me, the worst part of playing golf, by far, has always been hitting the ball."-Dave Barry "One of the reasons Arnie Palmer is playing so well is that, before each final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them. Oh my God, wha... 02/29/2008

Arlington Texas New Home Builders Cleburne, Watauga, Cleburne, Alvarado, Fort Worth Neighborhood Builder City Start Price Contact Park Highlands Coventry Homes Arlington, TX $290s+ Contact Us InTown Collection Coventry Homes Fort Worth, TX $490s+ Contact Us Everman Park Pulte Homes Fort Worth, TX $119s + Contact Us Meadowcreek Pulte Homes Fort Worth, TX $129s+ Contact Us La Frontera South Pulte Homes Arlington, TX $155s+ Contact Us Park View Estates Pulte Homes Watauga, TX $136s+ Contact Us Park View Townhomes Pulte Homes Watauga, TX $136s+ Contact Us Chisholm Ridge Pulte Homes Fort Worth, TX $143s+ Contact Us Vista Meadows Pulte Homes Fort Worth, TX $152s+ Contact Us Beechwood Creeks Pulte Homes Fort Worth, TX $154s+ Contact Us Foxwood Glen David Weekley Homes Arlington, TX $190s+ Cont... 02/20/2008

ENJOY! "Human beings are the only creatures on earth that allow their children to come back home."Bill Cosby "As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two..." Sir Norman Wisdom "Income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf." Will Roger "I can resist everything except temptation."Oscar Wilde "To cease smoking is the easiest thing. I ought to know. I've done it a thousand times."Mark Twain"Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle." Bob Hope "The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on." - Robert Bloch "Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance." - Phyllis Diller "Always borrow money from a pessimist, he doesn't expect to be paid back." - Source Unk... 01/22/2008

PAST BEER BATTLESIn 1930's Arlington prohibited wine sales within 300 feet of a church, school, hospital or day care and continued to do so for decades.  In February 2005, voters approved  sales of wine for off-premises consumption; it wasn't until that June, however, that the City Council did away with the ordinance that blocked sales.In 2005, there was a huge debate in Mansfield over whether Big League Dreams sports complex should sell beer.  In May 2005, voters directed the Mansfield City Council to oppose the complex's beer permit application. An agreement between the city and Big League Dreams stipulates that alcohol will not be served near or during youth events. The Mansfield city secretary has signed an application from Big League Dreams for a permit to sell beer at the park, th... 01/06/2008

You Must Have  Reserves to Be Good Investor Fix-n-Flip and/or Rental Homes in Texas!!! Just not the way he describes it!!! Reserves are the key to life.DFW - Successful Realtor, Tom Brewer with REMAX Associates & Mortgage Specialists ‘proves' that you can not buy good investment property in the metro area with just minimal money down! That is, if you want to make a nice $10,000 to $40,000 profit on every house you buy! "Oh sure," says Tom, "you can go out and find some junk houses that nobody else wants - and in ‘bad' neighborhoods for $0 down and zero fix up costs...but the good houses that I find for my clients are going to require an additional $4,000 to $25,000 to fix them up/remodel them into nice marketable homes - for a nice $10,000 to $40,000 profit." The fact is - and before yo... 01/02/2008

A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it. - Bob HopeThe man who can smile when things go wrong has thought of someone else he can blame it on. -Robert BlochDon't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. -Mark TwainSome people dream of success... while others wake up and work hard at it. -Author UnknownThere is only one thing more painful than learning from experience, and that is not learning from experience. ~Laurence J. PeterDon't waste time learning the tricks of the trade. Instead, learn the trade. -both James Charlton and H.Jackson Brown, Jr.You're not very smart if you're not a little kinder and wiser than yesterday.  -A.LincolnAmong the things you can give and still keep are your word, a... 12/21/2007

We had 51 homes sell in Arlington, Mansfield, and Kennedale in the last 24 hours! That is about double the pace we have been at through most of this month. Looks like people are starting to realize it is good to "buy" in a "buyer's market... 12/04/2007