EMERGENCY KIT AT HAND

Create An Emergency Supply Kit

When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first
about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.

The United States Department of Homeland
Security recommends the following items
as part of a basic emergency supply kit.
• One gallon of water per person, per day for at
least three days or up to ten days, for drinking and sanitation
• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable
food and up to ten days if possible.
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a
NOAAWeather Radio with tone alert and
extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries as well as candles.
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air, and
plastic sheeting and duct tape to create an air tight shelter if needed.
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties
for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food
• Prescription medications and glasses
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Important family documents such as copies of
insurance policies, identification and bank
account records in a waterproof, portable
container
• Cash or traveler's checks and change
• Emergency reference material such as a first
aid book or information from www.ready.gov
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person.
Consider additional bedding if you live in a
cold-weather climate.
• Complete change of clothing including a long
sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes.
Consider additional clothing if you live in a
cold-weather climate.
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine
dropper - When diluted nine parts water to
one part bleach, bleach can be used as a
disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use
it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular
household liquid bleach per gallon of water.
Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with
added cleaners.
• Fire Extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic
utensils, paper towels

No one can predict when an emergency situation will arise. A dire situation can result from more than just terrorism…but also weather related storms, natural disasters such as earthquakes. It is always best to be one step ahead and be ready to take care of yourself for a minimum of three days and up to ten days.

Memphis still ripe for the Investor Market

According to the Memphis Business Journal, the Memphis mid-south area is still ripe for real estate investment. The magazine reports that Memphis currently ranks No. 6 on the list of the best cities for real estate investments. Business 2.0 worked with Moody's Economy.com to identify 10 cities that have "just about hit rock bottom -- and offer opportunities for savvy investors to get in while the getting's good," the magazine wrote.
The projected median sales price for a single-family home in Memphis for the first quarter of 2008 is $143,550, and $150,730 in the fourth quarter of 2009. "Memphis' housing market should hit bottom within the next few months, and the average home bought in 2003 still managed to sell for 12 percent more last year," according to Business 2.0. "Even better, prices have held steady this year, although the average number of days that homes sit on the market has grown larger." The current inventory of homes is larger than it has ever been and offers many choices for the homebuyer and the investor.
The PMI Risk Index ranks Memphis as one of the nation's least vulnerable markets and a survey by Global Insight and National City Corp. has listed Memphis as one of the most undervalued markets in the country, according to Business 2.0.

Time is Right for Buyers

Despite mid-year figures showing home sales to be only slightly behind last years numbers, the doom and gloom of a slowing marketplace has finally caught up with the Memphis real estate market. Existing home sales have slowed dramatically and builders inventory is climbing as they continue to build at a slower pace, but sales of new homes have fallen off as well. Foreclosed homes are at an all time high for this area.
What does this all mean? It is now a buyer’s market in full bloom and with rates holding and perhaps dropping soon, now is the time to be looking to make a purchase. Choices have never been better and sellers are definitely negotiating to make a successful transaction. So buyers….now is your time to make a great deal on a home. Once you have completed the pre-qualification process with a direct mortgage lender, You can then be on the top of negotiations for a new home. Visit www.BluffCityRealEstate.com for details on how we can help you make your dream home come to reality.

Mid Year Home Sales Still Strong

Most people read and are influenced by national headlines and news stories raising flags about home sales being down for the year by almost double digits and singing the blues regarding the gray future of home sales. This may be true in some high profile markets.

The Memphis home market has remained fairly strong, and although mid-year figures are slightly down over 2006, they are still above mid-year 2005 levels. Last year was a record year for sales in our area and for that matter; the record it broke was from home sales in 2005. So although our sales are not quite as strong as the record breaking 2006, they remain above 2005 levels and are on target to exceed 2005 sales.

There are many more homes on the market. Foreclosures have played a large part in homes inventory being elevated to where it is currently. Sales, though, remain strong and stable even with the larger inventory. Basically, buyers have more choices and home prices may be down slightly as well. The results here in Memphis and the Memphis area do not resemble the national headlines at all.

Other than our economy and business and military transfers to our area, there are other reasons why our market has remained as strong as it is today.

1) AARP has named Memphis as one of the top five cities for retirees based on cost of living, weather, recreational opportunities, transportation, and access to quality health care.

2) Primacy Relocation and Worldwide ERC, the association for workforce mobility, recently reports that Memphis is one of the top cities for relocating families among metro areas with populations greater than 1.25 million.

3) PMI Mortgage Insurance Company consistently ranks Memphis as one of the most affordable housing markets in the United States and one least at risk for real estate value declines.

So, while in your decision process of where to retire or where to apply for your new career, you may not want to leave Memphis Tennessee off of your list for review.If you should need any help in factors involving real estate, don’t hesitate to visit http://www.bluffcityrealestate.com/ for answers or contact us direct using the contact information you will find on our web site.

Secrets to Selling for Top Dollar

Secrets to Selling for Top Dollar

Selling your home in the shortest amount of time and receiving top dollar is of course a seller’s desire. Maybe you have heard some agents claiming they can accomplish this feat for you if you list your home with them. Perhaps those agents also suggested that they have a list of buyers just waiting to buy a home just like yours and in your neighborhood. Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for this agent to follow through with their claim and you can count your money soon.

It would be nice if it was that easy….but just because an agent has allot of listings, doesn’t necessarily mean that they actually get homes sold, let alone sold at a top price. What it does mean is that they were good at convincing homeowners to list with them. If that agent gets enough homes listed, they know that eventually the homes priced at market value will sell; the ones in poor condition or the ones that are overpriced will eventually be reduced in price enough and then they too will sell. They just hope to still have the listing when that happens. Then they take a chunk of their commission and spend it on more image advertising to get more listings.

You may be wasting your good time believing allot of the hype from this image advertising. There is not an agent who has that special “secret”. The best thing is to find someone YOU can trust to give you good sound advice that will look out for your interests.

Find the agent that will help you face the facts and help you to take the necessary steps to get your home ready to be sold at top dollar. Marketing and negotiation are just half the equation. The two most important things that will get your home sold the fastest is price and condition…both of which are in the homeowner’s control.

Connie and I offer a pre-listing package with a 68 step system that has proven successful time and time again with the homes we have listed. Before we even meet with you, we can provide a checklist to you of items to help you get the process started. When we do meet, we can discuss what steps to take to make your home more attractive to potential buyers and also a strategy to help sell in the shortest time and for the highest price. We will explore your home and make suggestions that will put your home in a position where it will compete with other similarly priced homes on the market in the same area of town. You must know your competition to compete with it…because once your home goes on the market…that is exactly what is happening…you are competing with other homes in your area for the buyers who are ready to purchase. If you cannot get their attention with the price and condition of your home, then you will wait many months for an offer. We will make suggestions when needed to help your home sell. Many times, homeowners have the tendency to just “get used to” the loose hinges on the kitchen cabinets or overlook some small defect in workmanship because “it was that way when we bought the house”. But today’s buyers, and inspectors, don’t overlook very much at all. When your home is going on the market, it is time to face reality and may be time to make up for years of deferred maintenance. Should you decide to just skip this step, it will definitely impede the sale of your home.

One of the best things to help you get ready to sell, is to tour your competition. Allow us to make appointments and take you to four or five homes that would be in the price range of your home…so you can see first hand what you will be competing against. Remember, that buyers looking in your price range will see those homes as well, and no one can talk anyone into “buying” a home. It is a decision that buyers will make for the betterment of their families. If you make your home “sing” to buyers when they tour your home, it makes it easier for them to decide on your property over the others and may also make them feel that if they don’t act quickly that someone else will beat them out of a great home.

So, if you are ready to get started…simply call or email to
Connie Chambers or Don DeBaer. We are here to help you and ready to start when you are.
Visit http://www.Bluffcityrealestate.com for all of our contact information.

Memphis...Home to the Pyramids

Memphis .. Home of the Pyramids

The 32 story Pyramid arena in Memphis Tennessee is one of the most uniquely designed structures on Earth. It is taller than the Statue of Liberty or the Taj Mahal and is also the tallest Pyramid in the world.

Since the FedX Forum was completed, both the NBA Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers left the Pyramid and it has stood mostly empty for several years. It was nicknamed the “tomb of doom” by the Tigers and rightly so due to their record of home game wins, but now it almost seems to be doomed unless someone brings it back to life. The last activity there was not a sporting event though, as a Hollywood group made use of it as stage space in movie productions rented it.

Now, several companies have looked but no one has made any firm decisions to purchase or rent and make use of this one of a kind structure. Bass Pro Shops is one of those companies, who would open an attraction and store that would attract thousands of visitors each year. Most currently, an investors group is also looking at opening an entertainment venue and offer shops, shows, and entertainment for the general public.

Whichever group wins this location for their future endeavors, they are guaranteed to have a drawing card in the premises along, and along with whatever they provide for the people of Memphis and tourist traffic with their own brand of recreation and entertainment.



Here are a few quick facts about The Pyramid Arena:
On the bank of the Mighty Mississippi River, the arena is housed inside a 32-story stainless steel pyramid, paying homage to the Memphis' namesake - Memphis on the Nile River.
This giant pyramid has more than a half million square feet of usable space inside.
With a footprint larger than six football fields, The Pyramid's base covers 360,000 square feet.
Seating capacity is approximately 21,000 for concerts and just over 20,000 for basketball.Twenty-six lower level luxury suites are located on the plaza concourse.

University of Memphis Tiger fever

Another successful basketball year for the University of Memphis is in the making. Yesterday, they squeaked by Gonzaga in overtime and increased their winning streak to 15 games in a row. This is the nations top college basketball winning streak and has moved Memphis up to number 8 in the nation. They have not lost one game in their conference and Coach John Calipari has molded this team into a very disciplined group. This team should make the final four this year and hopefully go all the way. If you have not attended any of their home games, you should definitely make it a point to check their schedule and see them at the Memphis Fed X Forum when you can....you won't be disappointed.

Memphis Area Home Sales Sets Another Record

Real Estate Market Sets Another Record in Memphis TN
And Surrounding Suburbs


The final numbers are in showing home sales in the Memphis TN and surrounding areas are up once again. Although a few areas are either flat or slightly down, the overall home sales figures were up over 4.5% and the dollar volume was up over 7% for the year 2006 compared to 2005. Crye Leike Realtors, now the 6th largest full service realty firm in the U.S. can account for 72% of that volume. Home sellers and buyers put their trust and confidence in Crye Leike and CryeLeike sales associates and it shows in the numbers.
If you are moving to our area and anticipate selling your current home here, don’t hesitate to call Connie W Chambers and Don DeBaer to fulfill your real estate needs.