There are some important events coming up at Lake Eufaula.  On March 7th Team Up to Clean Up coalition will be having a litter pick up day kicking off the Great Amercian Clean Up sponsored by Keep Oklahoma Beautiful.  Bring your gloves, vest and bag and help us pick up litter at the dam.  We will have a weiner roast following.  Litter pick up is from 9 a.m. - 12 Noon.  The weiner roast and picnic will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the dam site south park area.  Come and join us!d

I want to let everyone know that I earned the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation recently. This designation is designed to elevate the skills and knowledge for real estate professionals working directly with buyer-clients.  I will receive ongoing specialized information, programs and updates that will help me stay on top of the issues and trends to successfully represent home buyers.  When buyers choose an Accredited Buyer’s Representative they receive the same level of representation in real estate transactions that was previously only awarded to sellers.  So, before you contact just any real estate person - think about an Accredited Buyer’s Representative.  I am one of the few in the Lake Eufaula area with the ABR® designation.  To learn more go to www.REBAC.net.

The tax credit for home buyers keeps being changed in the negotiations of the Stimulus Package.  We have gone from the $7500 tax credit for first home buyers which must be paid back to $15,000, to $8000 and now it looks like it might be 10% of the purchase price and a tax credit that will not have to be paid back. 

I personally think this tax credit should be opened up for all home buyers and not just first time buyers.  What do you think?  Our market here at Lake Eufaula is dominated by baby boomers and people buying second homes.  I believe there should be an incentive for these buyers to continue purchasing homes.

We may know today the final outcome of the Stimulus Package.  Read the current news on our website at www.EufaulaLakeshoreRealty.com under “Real Estate News.”

First time home buyers - don’t forget that Eufaula Lakeshore Realty will be presenting a “First Time Home Buyers Seminar this Wednesday, February 11th at 5:30 p.m. at our office located 4 miles east of Eufaula, OK on Highway 9.  You just have to look for the pretty sunset logo on the north side of the road.  Here’s the press release about it:

(Eufaula) – Gayla Major will present a “First Time Home Buyers Seminar” at the next Eufaula Lakeshore Realty House Talk Seminar.  This is a free educational program open to the public that will meet on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. at the Eufaula Lakeshore Realty office located 4 miles east of Eufaula on Highway 9.   “Taking the time to learn what you need to know about being prepared to buy a home can make the whole process easy as well as affordable,” said Karen Weldin, Owner/Broker of Eufaula Lakeshore Realty.  “A lot of people do not know the benefits of purchasing a home, what it takes to buy a home, how much home they can afford to buy, why it is important to be pre-qualified, what kind of mortgage to apply for or how a REALTOR® can help make the process easier.”  Gayla Major will cover all of these subjects at the “First Time Home Buyers Seminar.”   Ms. Major has over 30 years of banking experience and has worked in all areas of the bank.  She has worked with Arvest Bank since 2005 and her greatest satisfaction is in mortgage lending.  Mortgage lending allows her the most contact with the people she serves and the community she loves.  Ms. Major is committed to making a difference in the lives of families that she helps and strives to provide excellent service they expect.The Lake Eufaula area has been Gayla’s home all her life.  She and her husband, Keith, have two sons, a daughter-in-law and three beautiful grandchildren.If you have a dream of owning your own home and want to learn more about the process – make plans to attend this FREE seminar. – you will be glad you did.  Ms. Major will also be talking about special financing programs and the current low interest rate.  This one hour seminar is part of the monthly “House Talk” program sponsored by Eufaula Lakeshore Realty.  Each month an educational program is offered FREE of charge related to buying and/or selling real estate.  For a schedule of programs visit www.EufaulaLakeshoreRealty.com or call 918-452-3184.