FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

PAYNE FAMILY HOMES NAMES NEW COMMUNITY SALES MANAGER

Lauren Johnson is new-home sales stand-out

 

                Lauren Johnson, one of the area’s leaders in new home sales, has been named community sales manager at Payne Family Homes’ Bordeaux Condominiums.    The community, located near the intersection of MidRivers Mall Drive and Ohmes Road in St. Peters, is noted for its stylish condominiums priced from $109,900.

                Johnson comes to Payne Family Homes from McBride & Son, where she was a top salesperson and where she also earned the company’s ”Strategic Communications & Marketing Excellence Awardâ€� .  Prior to that, Johnson was a real estate agent at Keller Williams Realty.

                A resident of O’Fallon, MO, Johnson has also been honored by the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri with the Sales & Marketing Council’s New Home Top Sales Performance Awards of the Month for both units and dollars sold. 

                Johnson is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a B.A. degree in communications and history, and currently is working toward her M.A. in communications at Webster University.  An active member of the Delta Gamma Alumni Association, she is vice president Foundation and oversees the Delta Gamma Center for Visually Impaired Children.  She also is a member of the Gateway Interactive Marketing Association.

 According to Edward Lott, Payne Family Homes Vice President of Sales and Marketing, “We are proud to have a new-home sales standout like Lauren Johnson join our team. She brings a wealth of creativity, professionalism, quality orientation and proven success in helping prospects become happy homeowners. Payne Family Homes just approved the release of Building Number 5 at Bordeaux Condominiums and we’re confident that Lauren will delight our homebuyers with her energy, caring attitude and willingness to go the extra mile to give them an incredible owning experience!�

 

                Payne Family Homes is a St. Charles-based homebuilder with six well-located communities in St. Charles, St. Peters and Cottleville.  Other communities include Tuscany, The Pointe at Heritage Landing, The Enclave at Heritage, The Meadows at Ohmes Farm and The Townes at Belleau Creek.   All Payne Family Homes neighborhoods are served by an AAA-rated school district and are located in one of Money Magazine’s “100 Best Places to Live in America.�  For information, call 314-323-6109, or visit www.paynefamilyhomes.com.

Oct. 29 (Bloomberg) — The Obama administration endorsed a plan to extend an $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers, saying it is helping stabilize the housing market.

The tax break, enacted early this year as part of the economic stimulus, has “brought new families into the housing market and contributed to three consecutive months of rising home prices nationwide,� Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said today in a statement.

Senate Democrats plan to extend and expand the credit, which expires at the end of next month, to include some people who already own residences. An agreement reached yesterday would let homeowners who buy a new home qualify for a $6,500 credit if they have lived in their prior residence for five years, according to Regan Lachapelle, an aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

“The compromise we have now would expand the credit beyond first-time homebuyers,� Lachapelle said. Lawmakers expect to consider the measure as part of a bill to extend unemployment benefits, she said. That measure has been held up by a disagreement with Republicans over other proposed amendments.

Lawmakers have said they want to keep home sales from slipping as the economy struggles to recover from the worst drop in home prices since the Great Depression. The plan would extend the homebuyers’ credit to home purchases under contract by April 30, 2010, with borrowers allowed another 60 days to close the sale, according to a person familiar with the details of the agreement.

Up to $250,000

The credit would be available to individuals earning as much as $125,000, or $250,000 for couples, up from $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples under the current law, Lachapelle said.

The amendment on the homebuyers’ credit is being packaged with a separate proposal to extend and expand a tax break for companies with net operating losses.

Any legislation would have to be reconciled with a House unemployment measure approved last month that omits the homebuyer tax provisions and extends jobless benefits only in states with the highest unemployment rates.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, is waiting to see the final Senate agreement before deciding whether to support it, said spokesman Nadeam Elshami.

More than 1.2 million borrowers through Oct. 9 have claimed almost $8.5 billion of the $13.6 billion set aside for “first- time� homebuyer tax credits this year, according to U.S. Treasury data.

Stabilizing Sales

Realtors and mortgage bankers said the credits, which are available for taxpayers who haven’t owned a home in the past three years, have helped stabilize housing sales this year.

“Already we’ve seen the impact of this credit in jump- starting the housing sector,� Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, said on the Senate floor. He said it would be a “great mistake� to allow the break to lapse. Dodd estimated that more than 70 percent of current homebuyers would be eligible for the break.

While the tax credit speeds demand for homes from next year to this year, it won’t necessarily increase overall sales, said Scott Buchta, head of investment strategy at Guggenheim Securities LLC in Chicago.

“They do need to expand the credit to get more people involved, but at the end of the day you are paying people tax dollars to do what they probably would have done anyway,� Buchta said. “If it is passed, home sales of lower-priced homes should continue to hold their ground. However, if it is not passed we will probably see home sales slow down as we wait for natural demand to build up again.�

Significant Support

Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said on the Senate floor yesterday that there is significant support among both parties for the homebuyers’ tax credit. He said the other amendments sought by Republicans are unrelated to the unemployment bill and are designed to embarrass his colleagues.

Republicans want to vote on amendments on immigration and to bar funding for the community activist group Acorn.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, agreed that most lawmakers support the unemployment and homebuyer measures. “We’re not that far away from an agreement,� he said yesterday.

The $2.4 billion unemployment measure would extend jobless benefits by 14 weeks in all states and provide an additional six weeks of benefits in states with the highest unemployment rates.

About 1.9 million Americans will exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of this year unless Congress acts, the Labor Department said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Dawn Kopecki in Washington at dkopecki@bloomberg.com; Brian Faler in Washington at bfaler@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 29, 2009 12:14 EDT

Brooke Bailey of Payne Family Homes has been honored for outstanding new-home sales achievements by the Sales & Marketing Council of the Homebuilders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri.  Bailey received both New Home Top Sales Performance Awards of the Month for units and dollars sold. 

                Bailey is sales manager for Tuscany, an intimate, stylish community in the City of St. Charles known for its distinctive exteriors and village-like ambience.  A resident of O’Fallon, MO, Bailey has a distinguished nine-year career in the new-home sales industry.  After majoring in communications at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Bailey also spent 12 years in the estimating department of a leading homebuilder.

                According to Ed Lott, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, “Brooke Bailey is truly one of the stars of the local homebuilding industry.  It is a great honor to receive one of the HBA’s sales awards, and it’s a rare occasion when the same person achieves both.  We are very proud to have someone of Brooke’s outstanding caliber on the Payne Family Homes sales team.� 

                Payne Family Homes is a St. Charles-based homebuilder with six well-located communities in St. Charles, St. Peters and Cottleville.  Other communities include The Pointe at Heritage Landing, The Enclave at Heritage,  The Meadows at Ohmes Farm, The Townes at Belleau Creek, and Bordeaux Condominiums.   All Payne Family Homes neighborhoods are served by an AAA-rated school district and are located in one of Money Magazine’s “100 Best Places to Live in America.�  For information, call 314-220-2861, or visit www.paynefamilyhomes.com.

THE QUESTION – TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY

Recently, a first-time home buyer asked “Is now the time to buy my first home?“  Well, there is no simple answer to this complex question.  Real estate professionals aren’t necessarily the best equipped to predict future economic conditions.  However, real estate professionals do monitor current trends as well as historical trends in local, regional, and national real estate markets. 

NATIONAL TRENDS INDICATE THAT THE TIME TO BUY IS NOW

Presently, there are three key national trends which provide support for the position that now is the time to buy:

• Housing Affordability Index:  The National Association of Home Builders recently released its Housing Opportunity Index which showed that 72.3% of all new and existing homes homes sold in the second quarter of 2009 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,000 using standard underwriting criteria.  Compared to 2008, this represents a strong positive change from 55% in the second quarter of 2008 to 72.3% in the second quarter of 2008.   

• Interest Rates:  The average interest rate for a fixed 30 year loandipped below 5% in 2009 and is now at historic lows.  Since 2000, interest rates have declined from over 8% to below 5%.  In practical terms, this means that purchasers can afford more home for the same monthly payment.  For example, a purchaser today who borrows $200,000 at a fixed 30 year interest rate of 5% would pay a monthly payment of $1073.  In contrast, a purchaser who borrowed $200,0000 in 2000 at a fixed 30 year interest rate of 8% would have paid a monthly payment of $1467.  Or stated differently, today’s purchaser can obtain a $200,000 loan at the same monthly cost as what a purchaser in 2000 would have paid for $165,000 loan.

• National Median Prices: Since 2006, the national median priceshave declined.  In 2009, national median prices appear to have stabilized with a slight increase in the second quarter of 2009.  Now, there is no guarantee that prices will rise in 2010 and beyond. However, it does appear that prices have stabilized and may show a modest increase in 2010.

 

 THE $8,000 FEDERAL FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT

The $8,000 federal tax credit for the purchase of new homes by first-time home buyer represents a unique opportunity.  It is especially attractive for young professionals and recent graduates.  Depending on the loan amount, the tax credit could be used to pay between 7 to 20 monthly loan payments for the typical first-time home buyer.  Here are some examples:

• $75,000 Loan- Monthly Payment $403 – 20 Mortgage Payments
• $100,000 Loan – Monthly Payment $536 – 15 Mortgage Payments
• $150,000 Loan – Monthly Payment $806 – 10 Mortgage Payments
• $200,000 Loan – Monthly Payment $1073 – 7.5 Mortgage Payments

With favorable pricing, historically low interest rates, and the federal tax credit, I can only conclude that NOW is the time to buy for the average first-time home buyer.

PAYNE FAMILY HOMES NAMES EVA FRYAR

PURCHASING AND ESTIMATING MANAGER

 

                Eva Fryar has joined Payne Family Homes as Purchasing and Estimating Manager. She comes to Payne from the Indianaplois Division of the nation’s largest homebuilding company.

Fryar graduated from Purdue University with a bachelors degree in building construction management. She resides in Oakville in South St. Louis County.

According to Edward Lott, vice president of sales and marketing, “Eva Fryar will hold one of Payne Family Homes’ most important positions, taking our homebuyers’ requests and determining what it will take to get it done. At Payne Family Homes we value input from all functions and Eva is sharp as a tack. She is a graduate of one of the finest construction management programs in the country, and she will be a valuable part of our team.�     

            Payne Family Homes is a St. Charles-based homebuilder with six well-located communities in St. Charles, St. Peters and Cottleville. Communities include The Townes at Belleau Creek, Bordeaux Condominiums, The Pointe at Heritage Crossing, The Meadows at Ohmes Farm, The Enclave at Heritage and Tuscany.  All Payne Family Homes neighborhoods are served by an AAA-rated school district and are located in one of Money Magazine’s “100 Best Places to Live in America.�  For information, call 636-916-1164, or visit www.paynefamilyhomes.com.

Saturday, October 17, 2009
11 am – 5 pm
Frontier Park, St. Charles Historic District
St. Charles is the place to be as The Life is good Company takes over Frontier Park with a free, day-long festival featuring an amazing music lineup, great food and good-time games and activities for all ages spread all across the park. National recording artist Brett Dennen, rising star Erin McCarley and family favorite SteveSongs are scheduled to perform. Funds raised through a fun-filled 4K walk in the morning, public donations, and all profits from the sale of Life is good merchandise at the event benefit Project Joy, a grassroots nonprofit helping to heal and strengthen Greater St. Louis’ poorest, most vulnerable preschoolers.
Free
For more information visit www.lifeisgood.com/ stcharles

October 8, 2009

Real Estate expert Barbara Corchoran reports on The Today Show that St. Louis, MO is a Top 10 US Market to buy a home in RIGHT NOW! We at Payne Family Homes are seeing evidence of what Barb talks about: our market is a screaming value relative to other markets when it comes to median home values and cost of living stats. Look at the segment then come out to see why our sales have been brisk in all of our communities.

Call our Online Sales Consultant Kelli Gould and she’ll fill you in on how we can help you!  314-402-0737

Expect More, Get More with a Payne Family Home! 

Check out the segment in the attached link (after the advertising clip):

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/#33191501

Fireside Chili

Ingredients

• 1  Recipe Chili Seasoning, (recipe below)
• 1-1/2  lb. ground beef chuck
• 1  large onion, chopped
• 2  stalks celery, sliced
• 2  Tbsp. smoked paprika
• 2  tsp. ground coriander
• 1  tsp. crushed red pepper
• 1/4  to 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 1  28-oz. can whole tomatoes, cut up
• 1-1/2  cups water
• 1  14-oz. can beef broth
• 1  6-oz. can tomato paste
• 1  to 2-oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped (optional)
• 1-1/2  cups dried plums or raisins, chopped
•   Cumin Polenta (optional), (recipe below)

Directions

1. Prepare Chili Seasoning Puree. In 6-quart Dutch oven cook beef, onion, and celery until meat is browned, stirring as needed. Drain fat.

2. Stir in Chili Puree, paprika, coriander, crushed red pepper, and cloves. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Stir in undrained tomatoes, water, beef broth, and tomato paste. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Add chocolate and plums. Simmer, covered, 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve with Cumin Polenta. Makes 8 servings.

Chili Seasoning Puree: Place 2 dried chile peppers in a bowl. Add boiling water to cover. Let stand 30 minutes. Drain; remove stems and seeds. In food processor or blender combine drained chile pepper, 1 fresh jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped; 3/4 cup beef broth, and 5 pitted dried plums. Cover and process or blend until smooth.

Cumin Polenta: In large heavy saucepan combine 2, 14-oz. cans reduced-sodium chicken broth and 2 teaspoons ground cumin; bring to boiling. Reduce heat; gradually whisk in 1 cup yellow cornmeal. Cook and stir until thick, about 6 to 8 minutes. Whisk in 1/2 cup whole milk and 1 tablespoon butter. Season with salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts

• Total Fat (g) 14,
• Saturated Fat (g) 5,
• Monounsaturated Fat (g) 6,
• Polyunsaturated Fat (g) 1,
• Cholesterol (mg) 58,
• Sodium (mg) 702,
• Carbohydrate (g) 38,
• Total Sugar (g) 21,
• Fiber (g) 7,
• Protein (g) 20,
• Vitamin C (DV%) 26,
• Calcium (DV%) 7,
• Iron (DV%) 22,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

HANDBOOK FOR HAPPINESS

 Health:

 1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games.

7. Read more books than you did in 2008.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

 Personality:

 11. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don’t overdo. Keep your limits.

14. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake.

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

 Society:

 25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

 Life:

 32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come.

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.