Pat Tasker
December 29, 2010 at 11:01 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
As of February lst, it will be a state requirement that all homes have a carbon monoxide detectors. Some municipalities with code compliance requirements related to sales of properties may already have this rule in effect, but as of February lst, the entire state will be under this new law.
This is actually an expansion of the current law that covers one and two family dwellings. The expansion now requires these saftey devices in the basement and all levels of the dwelling, except attic and storage areas of new and existing homes.
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS will protect your family from potentially fatal poisoning from this odorless, tasteless and invisible gas. It seems like every now and then, there is a story on the news about a family that was sickened or worse yet, killed from leaking carbon monoxide gas from a gas furnace, water heater or appliance. Because it is odorless and tasteless, it is known as the silent killer. If there is some leaking of carbon monoxide, a person may feel sick, and when they leave the premises, and get fresh air, they start to feel better. According to experts, it is the leading cause of poisoning yearly.
Just like the laws covering smoke detectors, there is no fine for non-compliance, but they will definitely be on the list for home inspections. And of course, regardless of a law, if it protects your family or tenants it is worth the small cost to install!
To find out other ways to increase your families saftey at home, feel free to contact me at Shorewest Realtors. I serve the City and Suburbs of Greater Milwaukee.
Posted by: 
Pat Tasker
Comments
·
">
December 28, 2010 at 06:00 PM · Posted under Pat Tasker
Anyone familiar with college sports knows that Badger Nation has a fierce following across the country. From current students to alumni, Badger fans are in a group that fully embraces a chance to travel and cheer on their team, especially when it comes to great locations, such as Hawaii, Las Vegas and the grand daddy game of them all-The Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Travel agents went to work on the Sunday morning following the last win of the season that clinched the Rose Bowl appearance, and quickly sold out every plane heading to Pasadena for this weekend. Promoters and Bowl Game officials LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it when the Badgers make it to a bowl game, as that means a sea of red will be heading to that town and make cash registers ring!
The power of RED is also alive in Southeastern Wisconsin, when it comes to real estate! Since 1946, when Wauwatosa Realty started selling homes, our company has been #1 in the state, and had a fierce allegiance from agents and the public. The power of the market leader gets more buyers and sellers to the closing table than any other. Renamed SHOREWEST REALTORS in 1997, the #1 company can employ more marketing and always be the first to use the latest in technology to get you to closing!
The numbers in MLS prove these to be facts, not just bragging. This past year, I have had several sellers call me months after making the wrong choice in company or agent. Valuable selling time was lost with the company that would “charge them less”, only to remain unsold and unhappy with the lost time in a declining market. If you would like to see what the “BIG RED” of local real estate can do for you and your family in 2011, call me to discover all of our leading edge technologies! Talk with the rest, but choose the BEST!
Posted by: Pat Tasker
Comments
·
">
December 27, 2010 at 10:48 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
One of the buzz words in real estate these days is “Shadow Inventory”. To a seasoned professional, it is a common and understood term. To a homeowner or the general public, it may be a mystery.
Shadow Inventory, is all of the properties that are expected to come on the market in the near future. It includes all the homes that owners are going to put on the market in the next few month. Some of those sellers are brand new to the market, and some are the ones that tried to sell last year, and took their home off the market for the holidays. Here is a list 10 reasons that is mistake in my opinion.
Shadow Inventory also includes the properties that are currently held by the bank after a sheriff sale, and those the bank knows will be coming back to them through the foreclosure process. Each state and local market has differing numbers on the amount of Shadow Inventory.
There is no question that Shadow Inventory does exist, the question is how much, and how will it the buyers and sellers in each of our markets.
The way Steve Harney (an expert on real estate trends) explained it goes like this, and I hope I can explain it as well as he did. Shadow Inventory is like a river, that flows though a town, with a dam in the middle, and a river valley below that dam. (If you are from Wisconsin, picture the dam in the downtown area of Wisconsin Dells..) The banks have many properties that are going through the foreclosure process (the river). The real estate market is based on supply and demand. Therefore, the banks can’t release all the inventory as it will come back to them. The Shadow Inventory is held up by the dam. When the market can tolerate it, the bank will release more of the foreclosed properties. As the Robo signing issues came to light, there was a stoppage of sheriff sales, and even more inventory built up behind that dam. Add the new foreclosures to that. If they allowed the flood gates open, and released all the homes above the dam, the river will flood the valley and take out all the homes that run along the banks of the river. Again, if you are from Wisconsin, remember when the levy broke and took out those homes) That would destroy everything, everything being the market and the prices of all homes in the market, not just the foreclosures. So the banks, have the masses above the dam, and as the markets absorb some sales, more of the foreclosures are let through the dam. This is managing the volume and protecting the neighborhoods down river.
If you would like more insight as to the amount of “Shadow Inventory” and how it affects your homes value please contact me. I would be glad to share.
Posted by: Pat Tasker
Comments
·
">
December 27, 2010 at 03:55 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
Happy Holidays from my office to you and your family!
Posted by: Pat Tasker
Comments
·
">
December 22, 2010 at 04:31 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
It has been a great few days for our office! In between appointments and open houses, we have been celebrating the holidays. It started with a dinner party at Fox and Hounds (link to http://www.foxandhoundsrestaurant.com/ ) on Saturday. It was so beautifully decorated, with garlands and twinkling lights, just a perfect setting for a holiday party! Some agents got together for a cookie exchange at my home on Monday evening, and today, we had our traditional holiday breakfast! There was a great spread of food, and a nice chance for us to get out of the office and socialize and enjoy a meal together.
In 2009, the Menomonee Falls Shorewest office was the NUMBER ONE OFFICE out of all of the Shorewest offices! Like the market, we have had our ups and downs, but are finishing the year strong! We hope to retain our #1 ranking for 2010. We have another week and a half to work, and we will work until the end! Personally, I have been quite busy this month, getting 3 buyers under contract, and my new Germantown listing sold (in just 3 weeks time!).
So from our office to your home, we wish you a Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year! And if a new home is on your 2010 wish list, give me a call, I will be glad to help, and give you tips on getting a great buy!
Posted by: Pat Tasker
Comments
·
">
December 21, 2010 at 07:59 AM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
One of Germany’s holiday traditions is the Christkindle Market found in the town square of large cities and many small ones too! You can get a small feel for the festive feel of the Christkindlemarkt by visiting Sinter Klausen on Germantowns historic old Main Street. Sinter Klausen translates to St Nicholas in Dutch.
Over 20 years ago, Irene Blau visited the famous Nurenburg Christkindlemarkt and came home inspired. She started this quaint Christmas business, and I met her daughter last week while stopping in to shop. The store, Sinter Klausen is filled with many traditional German holiday traditions. Ornaments take up the majority of space, arranged delightfully in racks reminscent of the stalls found in the German markets this time of year. Irene found a local craftsman who made the wooden displays and had the traditional red and white awnings custom made. Many of the ornament displays are found in Gingerbread House styled shelving units.
Imports include Inge glass, a tradition that is hundreds of years old. Steinbach nutcrackers that represent many different professions from soldiers to bakers. Advent calendars, smoking men and candles fill the shop.
If you are looking for a last minute gift, or just a fun afternoon, take a ride out to Germantown, a suburb of Greater Milwaukee and visit Sinter Klausen.
Posted by: Pat Tasker
Comments
·
">
December 01, 2010 at 09:02 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
One of the very few tax deductions left that benefits more American tax payers than any other is the MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION (MID). Americans take note! That tax benefit is on the chopping block! You will hear a lot of buzz about this topic on the news and in the papers this week.
The Mortgage Interest Deduction allows homeowners to deduct interest paid in the past year on their persoal income taxes. According to Bonnie Koven, a local tax preparer “that is one of the LARGEST deductions for most Americans”. It is important that your legistlators know that this deduction is critical to YOU, and they must defeat the measure to eliminate this deduction. Call your representatives today.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR), one of the largest trade organizations in the country, not only fights for the interests of their members, but also the interests of homeownership. “Home Ownership Matters” and NAR is ready to make their statement via NAR President Ron Phipps. In it, he says in part:
Be sure to make your voice heard, and call today. You can locate your representatives here.
Posted by: Pat Tasker
Comments
·
">
