In Texas things are different

Thankfully, better

National media reports about real estate have been gloom-and-doom for many months now, painting a bleak picture for prospective homesellers and buyers alike.

Texas REALTOR® Michael Scudder thinks those reports should end in three words … “except in Texas.” Scudder, 2008 president of the New Braunfels/Canyon Lake Board of REALTORS®, says the mortgage and housing crises affecting other parts of the country have left Texas nearly unscathed.

“The market (here) is a lot better than many believe.” With low housing prices, low interest rates, high employment levels, and a strong economy, Texas real estate has weathered the national storm fairly well, confirms Brooke Hunt, 2009 chairman of the Texas Association of REALTORS®.

“The national news media likes to talk about what’s happening in New York, Washington D.C., Florida, and L.A. – and they’re probably pretty accurate about what’s going on there,” Scudder says. “But they don’t ever talk about Texas unless we have a hurricane or something. We’re doing pretty well.”

Source: New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung

Grapevine is the Christmas Capital of Texas

Activities Around Town

Winter Escape at Great Wolf Lodge
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

Breakfast with Santa
The Annual Firehouse Pancake Breakfast with Santa in his helicopter! Saturday, December 6, 20087:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.Fire Station 1601 Boyd DriveSanta arrives in his helicopter at 8:00 a.m.Donations will benefit the Grapevine Honor Guard and Buckets' Safety Brigade (Clowns). Bring the kids for a fun morning!!


Hyatt Regency DFW North Pole Express Exhibit
A culinary display made entirely out of gingerbread, chocolate and other holiday candies. Santa Claus is riding on the front of the candy-adorned North Pole Express as it exits a gingerbread-bricked tunnel. The North Pole Express display is constructed of 530 pounds of chocolate and gingerbread, 200 pounds of rock candy, rice krispies treats and nearly 50 pounds of Royal icing. Exhibit starts December 2 in the lobby.

Seasonal Duck Rides aboard the Duck Boat
Spend some quality time with friends, family or treat your employees to a seasonal Christmas light duck ride. Enjoy all the sights and sounds of the season with a duck boat tour in the "Christmas Capital of Texas". This is a great way to see the spectacular light displays and get right into the Christmas spirit.Your duck trip will make a short trip to the Gaylord Texan to enjoy the holiday lights and festivities at the fourth annual Lone Star Christmas event. While aboard the duck boat you will get Free hot chocolate, and candy canes for the children and plenty of Christmas carols for all the jolly folks aboard. Light tours operate by reservation only and book up quickly. So don't miss out on this uniquely festive experience with a wonderful new Christmas memory for all aboard the decked out duck boat. More info and reservations call Tammy on the Duck Line or visit www.DuckRiders.com/carols.html and make your online reservations. Also, seats are still available for the Dec 4, Christmas parade on Main Street and the Dec 6 parade of lights on Lake Grapevine.

3rd Annual Grapevine Township Holiday Decoration Contest
Tis the season to get into the holiday spirit -- Deck your house with Christmas decor! The Grapevine Township Revitalization Program and the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau will recognize decorated homes within the Township.Applications for the 3rd Annual Grapevine Township Holiday Decoration Contest are being accepted until Dec. 5. Judging will take place on Dec. 8, 9 & 10. All decorated homes within the Grapevine Towhship will be reviewed on design, number of lights, coordination/theme, color, and variety.The top three winners will receive a stocking stuffer of $1,000, $500, or $250!To register, please call 817-410-3585 or visit http://www.grapevineheritagefoundation.org/

Delaney's "Holiday in the Vineyard"
The public is invited to enjoy a picturesque Holiday in the Vineyard at Delaney Vineyards, Saturday, December 6, 11am-4pm. Guests will help light the 40-foot Christmas Tree during the 2pm Tree Lighting Ceremony and sip on toasty mulled wine and warm apple cider. Local choirs will be on-hand singing festive carols of the season, sure to warm everyone’s spirits and usher in the holiday season. Bring the cameras! Delaney Vineyards is the perfect setting to capture those family holiday photos. Special holiday- and wine- themed areas will be set up for families to take photos in, free of charge. Also, the public is encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toys that will be donated to families of the U.S. troops. In addition, guests can enjoy a fun-filled day of wine tasting (extra cost, must be 21) and complimentary tours of the vineyard.If your group is interested in performing during Holiday in the Vineyard, please call 817.481.5668.

Grapevine Mills
On Black Friday Grapevine Mills will be giving away $1,000.00 Simon Visa Gift Cards every hour on the hour starting at 1am - noon. Registration starts at Midnight. There will be registration tables throughout the mall including the food court where KSCS will be hosting the event and giving away a package of Six Flags Holiday in the Park tickets . Santas arrives Saturday, November 15. His hours are Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. He feeds his reindeer from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. - 6 p.m.On Sunday he'll be there from 12 p.m - 6:00 p.m. reindeer feeding is from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. He will be located in Entry 1 near Sun & Ski Sports. He will depart December 24 to go deliver toys.

A COLD HEARTED CHRISTMAS
The Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center and Lagniappe Productions are pleased to announce the return of our yuletide Lone Star Murder Mystery "A Cold Hearted Christmas" on Friday, November 14, 2008. This will be the fourth and final year this much-loved holiday production will be presented. Lone Star Murder Mysteries' performances are every Friday & Saturday evening in the Riverwalk Cafe of the Gaylord Texan located at 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, Texas 76051. Tickets are $55 and include dinner at the all-you-can-eat market style eatery, show, tax, gratuity, and self parking. Early show seating begins at 4:30 p.m. with the show starting at 5 p.m. Late show seating begins at 7:45 p.m. and the show begins at &1,5 p.m. Due to frequent sell-outs during the holiday season, reservations are strongly recommended. Call (817) 778-2215 for reservations. Additional information is available online at www.lonestarmurdermysteries.com.

Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau * One Liberty Park Plaza * Grapevine, Texas 76051 * 800-457-6338 * GrapevineTexasUSA.com

One Of My Favorite Receipts For Thanksgiving Dinner

Spiced Waldorf Salad

A spiced version of a popular Waldorf salad, made with apples and walnuts.

Ingredients:
2 cups coarsely chopped apples, about 2 medium apples
1 1/4 cups chopped celery
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/3 cup mayonnaise(or yogart)
2 teaspoons sugar
dash allspice
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Preparation:
To make Waldorf salad, place chopped apple, celery and walnuts in a bowl.
Combine mayonnaise, sugar, allspice and lemon juice.
Toss mayonnaise mixture with apple mixture.

Serve waldorf salad over salad greens if desired.
Waldorf salad serves 4 to 6

Don't Miss This Years ICE Exhibit

Begining November 14

The truly spectacular 14,000-square-foot "ICE!" exhibit, presented by Coca-Cola and sponsored by Nissan, Reliant Energy, and Sylvania, will feature a variety of magical holiday scenes and sculptures hand-carved by 40 visiting artisans from Harbin, China.

Visitors will feel as though they have been transported to the North Pole as they bundle up in warm parkas and enter this winter wonderland created with TWO MILLION pounds of ice and kept at a wintry 9 degrees.

This year, "ICE!" will showcase several new additions including Old Man Winter blowing snow, dazzling colored ornaments, a winter forest with an ice skating pond, a life-size Santa's lap to sit on, a candy land full of tempting treats, and an entertaining animal band.

Returning favorites will include the thrilling ice slides, 25-foot angel, icicle canopy, and breathtaking Nativity.

The exhibit is open 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Sunday - Thursday and 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. While there, visitors can also shop in the "ICE!" retail shop offering holiday gifts for children and adults.

On Monday - Thursday, ticket prices are $20 for adults, $10 for children 4 - 12, $18 for seniors 55 and up, and free for children 3 and under. On Friday - Sunday, tickets prices are $23 for adults, $12 for children 4 - 12, $20 for seniors 55 and up, and complimentary for children 3 and under. Complimentary self-parking is included in the ticket price.

Order your tickets today...

Halloween on Main Street

Don't miss the 20th annual Halloween on Main Street!

Children will enjoy trick-or-treating Grapevine merchants on Grapevine's Historic Main Street, There will be costume contests, games, prizes and more.

For more information, please call 817-410-3450.

Proposed Economic Stabilization Act

A Summary: What's At Stake?
The House has defeated the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) on a vote of 205 – 228. NAR supported the package. Media reports about it did not present the case for the many ways it would have supported the real estate industry. The summary below presents all the bill’s provisions, condensed into some general subject headings. Many of these provisions are likely to survive in whatever legislation comes next.

Help Homeowners and Borrowers
The legislation responded to the criticisms that lenders have been slow and/or unwilling to work with homeowners and borrowers. It encouraged negotiation in short sales and consumer efforts to refinance or reconfigure existing mortgages. When the Treasury (or other federal agency that holds mortgages) acquires troubled existing mortgages from financial institutions, agencies are required to work with lenders and mortgage servicers to find ways to avoid foreclosures. All federal agencies are required to work with servicers to facilitate loan modifications that will consider the net present value of the mortgage.
Similar refinancing and foreclosure prevention requirements apply to mortgages involving owners of multi-family properties. Policy goal is to assure that tenants don’t lose their residence when an owner has problems with the mortgage. Changes to existing mortgages can include (but are not limited to) revisions in principal, interest rate and period for repayment.

Get Money into the Financial System Quickly
The credit markets are nearly frozen. Lenders can’t lend because they are receiving no payments on existing loans. The legislation allowed the government to buy troubled loans and mortgage securities. The funds that the institutions received when the government purchased the existing portfolios were to be available to issue new mortgages with more carefully specified and monitored lending standards.

Provisions include
Create a Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to purchase and guarantee the troubled assets from the financial institutions that hold mortgages and/or mortgage-backed securities.
A new Office of Financial Stability within the Treasury to operate TARP, with input from the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC – the agency that works with failed and failing financial institutions to insure and protect consumers), the Comptroller of the Currency (bank regulator), Office of Thrift Supervision (regulator of former savings and loan companies) and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Timing for TARP purchases designed to assure that all the authorized $700 Billion is not released at one time. First release of funds to purchase troubled assets will be $250 Billion. Second release of up to $100 Billion must be authorized by the President. Final $350 Billion can be issued only on Congressional approval. Congress given 15 days to act.

Follow, Protect and Watch Over the Money
Congress will keep a tight rein on TARP. Congress will have the assistance of numerous agencies charged with specific tasks and reporting responsibilities. TARP Oversight Board at Treasury -- monthly activity reports to Congress. Secretary of Treasury -- detailed reports to Congress for each $50 Billion in transactions as the transactions are completed. Government Accountability Office (Congress’s auditor) -- financial reports about TARP activities every 60 days. Judicial Review Federal courts may issue injunctions when there is a finding that the Secretary of the Treasury has acted in a manner that is arbitrary, capricious or outside the law. Create a new Inspector General (IG) for TARP. An IG might be viewed as the “cop on duty” who has authority to investigate TARP’s activities. IG will make quarterly reports to Congress. Appoint a Congressional Oversight Panel – receive and process all these reports to keep Congress apprised of the state of financial markets, activities of the regulatory system and the use of TARP’s asset acquisition and disposition authority. Federal Reserve--provide reports to Congress on utilization of the lending authority created earlier this year. That authority was intended to assist ailing financial institutions.

Put Brakes on the Bad Guys
Congress wanted to curtail perceived “bad acts” of executives who made big bets and lost.
Assure that skilled asset managers who buy and sell TARP assets have no conflicts of interest with prior employers or firms. No golden parachute or severance payments to executives of companies that sell assets to TARP. If a company that sells assets to TARP does make any post-employment payments (other than retirement compensation), the executive (not the company) must pay a 20% excise tax. If a company sells assets to TARP, then no tax deductions for salary or other compensation will be allowed if a worker’s compensation package is more than $500,000. All financial regulatory agencies are required to cooperate with the FBI in its investigations of fraud, misrepresentation or malfeasance in the selling or advertising of financial products.

Give the Taxpayers a Stake in the Profits
Historically, when the government has intervened to shore up a company’s or government’s financial dealings (such as the loan guarantees made to Chrysler and the aid given to New York City during a fiscal crisis), the long-term effect has been that the government has made money back on the deal. The legislation provided an “upside” benefit for taxpayers
Any profits generated when the government subsequently sells TARP assets would be used to pay down the national debt. The government will receive warrants in the companies that participate in TARP. The warrants are similar to stock, but do not grant any voting authority to the government. If the participating company pays dividends at some future time, the warrants would allow the government to receive the dividend. Similarly, if the government sells its stake in the company, the warrants would entitle the government to any appreciation.

Recoup What’s Still Owed
If, after five years from the date of enactment (the date the President signs a bill), the program has lost money, the sitting President will be required to present a plan to Congress for ways to recover the funds from the financial institutions that benefited from the TARP relief.

Oh Look, A New Punk Venue Opening In Grapevine

The kids in "Kick Your Donkey" will kick off the Ohlook Theater's grand opening.

Finally, some good news regarding punk-rock venues after a couple of distressing stories.

Ohlook Theater in downtown Grapevine will have its grand opening Saturday, with performances by Kick Your Donkey, Straight Pepper Diet, Johnny Knuckles and How's My Driving.

The theater is owned by Matt Lord, one of the Three Redneck Tenors, and is used for a children's theater rehearsals. His friend Jon Curlee decided the place--which already has sound and lighting systems--would make a great venue on nights when it otherwise would sit empty.

Curlee, who plays in Straight Pepper Diet, wants to give local kids from nearby Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake high schools a venue of their own. For that reason, the space will not allow alcohol.

A friend of Curlee's will use a three-camera, live-editing setup to record performances and sell high-definition DVDs to the bands immediately afterwards.
"Basically, I love punk rock and I want to hear original rock 'n' roll," Curlee says. "I live in Grapevine, and if you want to hear that, you have to drive all the way to Lewisville or Dallas." Jesse Hughey
Tags: Punk Rock, Venue News

Uncork the fun at GrapeFest !!

The 22nd Annual GrapeFest - September 11-14, 2008

Join wine novices and connoisseurs at the largest wine festival in the Southwest.

Sample award winning Texas wines at this annual event offering four full days of fun!

Visit Grapevine's winery/tasting rooms via complimentary shuttle vans. The international wine area will feature wines from many countries. Listen to live music on stages located throughout historic Main Street. Get "into" the action at the competitive GrapeStomp you and your partner could win the coveted Purple Foot award!

Volunteers are needed and welcomed at GrapeFest. Applications for vendors are posted in March. ! More information about GrapeFest can be found here.

Purchase tickets directly here.

Woman says fake cop stopped her in Grapevine

A man posing as a cop pulled over a motorist Sunday morning on Texas 114, but the woman drove away when she became suspicious, police said Tuesday.

The woman who police did not identify was not injured. The incident happened about 5:30 a.m. Sunday on Texas 114 near Texan Trail. The woman told police that she was driving on the highway when she saw a car behind her turn on its red lights.

“She pulled off the highway,” Grapevine police Sgt. Kim Smith said Tuesday. “He walked up to her, but she doesn’t remember him with any badge. He asked her to exit the vehicle.” The woman became suspicious and drove off instead of getting out of her car, police said. “She drove to a nearby parking lot and she saw him drive by,” Smith said. Smith said Tuesday that no off-duty officers were known to be in the area and police had no reports of any other similar incidents in recent weeks.

The man was driving a white car with red lights on the front of the vehicle, police said. The woman described him as a white man with blonde crewcut hair and about 6-feet-2-inches tall.

Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-685-3822

http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/792059

Monty Python Madness!!!

On Friday July 18th-Sunday July 20th we're having our Annual Monty Python Madness Charity Festival here in Grapevine.

This year, proceeds benefit The Joey Wilkins Foundation -- a local charity that helps the victims of catastrophic spinal cord injuries. Yes, historic Grapevine will become officially looney (for one weekend only).

Download the Individual Silly Walk sign up form here.Dowload the Corporate Sponsorship form here.

Schedule of Events:
(all events at the British Emporium unless otherwise noted – with donation for participation )

FRIDAY, JULY 18 All day Monty Python’s Flying Circus Screening – Vote For Your Favorite Sketch! 8:00 PM Monty Python Madness Live Tribute Show (Palace Theatre) Bill Fountain directs a sidesplitting revue recreating the best sketches from the beloved TV series. Produced by Sheela Kadam & Alexandra Evans. Tickets available from The Palace Arts Center. All day Complimentary Tea (and biscuits!) served in-store

SATURDAY, JULY 19 9:00 AM One-half-mile Ministry Of Silly Walks Sponsored Walk up Main Street. Led by the Minster of Silly Walks, registered participants will compete for prizes. Begins at the Cotton Belt Depot (705 S. Main, Grapevine) with Spam Sandwiches for breakfast, and ends at the British Emporium. All day Have your photo taken with a Viking or a Lumberjack ($5) 11:30 AM Live performance of “The Cheese Shop” Sketch Noon-2 PM Argument Clinic ($5 per argument) 2:00 PM Monty Python Madness Live Tribute Matinee at Palace Theatre 2:30 PM Live performance of “Dead Parrot “Sketch 4:30 PM Python Costume Contest Judging and Sing-a-long Sendoff 8:00 PM Monty Python Madness Live Tribute Show (Palace Theatre) Midnight “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” special Midnight screening with added live entertainment (Palace Theatre)

SUNDAY, JULY 20 All day Very Silly Sale! 10% discount on all items for all Lumberjacks (or ordinary citizens dressed as Monty Python characters) 12:30 PM Mr. Gumby’s Flower Arranging Demonstration All Day Fish Slapping Dance Party 3:00 PM Spam Recipe Contest Judging

Summer nights at the Gazebo on Main Street

In Historic Downtown Grapevine July 5, 11, 18, 25 & August 1 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Free Entertainment • Family Fun & Refreshments • Shop Late • Sidewalk Sales • Gift Basket Drawings Schedule of Events Saturday, July 5 - Picnic in the Park - This food-themed event will be organized by local Main Street restaurants with a variety of free tasty options from your favorite Grapevine restaurant.

Friday, July 11 - Aloha from Main Street - Grapevine goes tropical by bringing the beach to you! Beach balls, leis, hula-hoop contest and much more. Also, participate in the Elvis impersonation contest.

Friday, July 18 - The Round-Up - Dust off the boots and cowboy hat and have a good ole' time during our western themed night presented by Bank of the West. Hayrides, horse carriage rides, street dances and more.

Friday, July 25 - Family Fun Night at the Gazebo - Bring the entire family to an exciting night featuring face painting, balloon figures, children's games, ice cream, and much more! Friday, August 1 - Grapevine's 2nd Annual Talent Search - Find Grapevine's next big star through an entertaining Karaoke contest, complete with judges, prizes and more! Enjoy free carriage rides.

Sponsored By: Historic Downtown Grapevine Association, Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau, Back Porch Grill & Tavern, Bank of the West, Bermuda Gold, Big Fish Seafood Grill, Cookies in Bloom, Edible Arrangements, Gaylord Texan Resort, GRACE, Great Wolf Lodge, Holy Grounds, James Humphrey Art Studio, Pandamonium Home Decor, Reflections Stained Glass and Tap-In Bar & Grill

Flag Day Celebration

Flag Day June 14, 2008 Officials in Grapevine will hold the City's annual Flag Day Celebration on Saturday, June 14 at 11 a.m. The event will take place at Grapevine's Gazebo, located in the 300 block of Main Street in Historic Downtown Grapevine.

The event is open to the media and the general public, with cookies and lemonade to be served upon conclusion of the program.

History

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. B.J. Cigrand, a school teacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'.

In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrarid continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday, or 'Flag Day. ' On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York, On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.

Following the suggestion of Colonel J. Granville Leach (at the time, historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893, adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all others in authority and all private citizens to display the Flag on June 14th. Leach went on to recommend that thereafter the day be known as 'Flag Day, and on that day, school children be assembled for appropriate exercises, with each child being given a small Flag.

In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With 83. Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

Occupancy Down At the Gaylord Texan

Gaylord Texan occupancy drops 4.4 percent in first quarter
Fewer guests stayed at the Gaylord Texan in the first quarter as occupancy rates for the Grapevine resort dropped 4.4 percent, the company said on Thursday

24TH Annual Main Street Days

May 16th-18th An Outdoor Adventure!

Friday–10:00 am to 5:00 pm - FREE
Saturday and Sunday $7.00 Adults $5.00 Children

http://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/FestivalsAndEvents/MainStreetDaysFestival/tabid/226/Default.aspx

Join Us In Celebrating Grapevine !!!

Wooohooo ! Summertime is just around the corner!

Stay in the loop of all Events in Grapevine by clicking the link below

Festivals And Events

Is Barnett Shale in your future?

As you know many of us in the Tarrant and Denton County Areas are being approached by the oil companies wishing to lease our Mineral Rights. Before signing ANYTHING please see link below and educate yourselfs!

http://startelegram.typepad.com/barnett_shale/east_trinity_mineral_lease_comm_euless/index.html

News On Down Payment Assistance Programs

This effects clients using FHA & VA financing needing downpayment assistance

Click link below
http://www.getdownpayment.com/newsletter/finalHUDrule.html

Does Daylight Savings Time Really Do What It Is Meant Too??

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/83073

The Gaylord Texan Is Moving Forward

For the latest news about plans to expand the Gaylord Texan Convention Center and Hotel

Click link below

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2007/09/03/daily15.html?ana=from_rss

For the latest in Grapevine News

Click link below
http://www.topix.com/city/grapevine-tx

Good News on FHA Loans

The National Association of Realtors have been lobbying congress to raise the dollar limit of FHA loans.
click link below for the latest !
http://us.f828.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter?MsgId=8686_137254991_219972_2173_2863_0_357947_9062_1360704532&Idx=1&YY=45018&y5beta=yes&y5beta=yes&inc=25&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b&box=Inbox

The Fed Says HELP IS ON THE WAY!!!

A new plan to help struggling home owners !

Click link below
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080212/mortgage_mess_rescue.html

Tour Grapevine Wineries

For a complete guide to all the wineries in Grapevine

Click the link below
http://tourtexas.com/grapevine/gpvnwines.html

Fed Cuts Rates Again!!!
click link below
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080130/fed_interest_rates.html

Never Been A Better Time to Buy A Home!

Fed Surprises with Deepest Cut since 1984The Federal Reserve surprised everyone Tuesday with an emergency intersession rate cut of .75%, the deepest cut in the Fed Funds Rate since 1984. The Fed Governors are acting in direct response to recent reports that the country is on the brink of recession.

If you have credit cards, auto loans, HELOCs, or an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, the Fed's decision to cut this key interest rate is great news. For long-term mortgage rates however, this could signal the beginning of the end for the lowest 30-year home loan rate borrowers have experienced since 2005.

Let's look at the impact of a few recent Fed Funds Rate cuts and the corresponding impact to home loan rates to see what this could mean for you:Period Fed Funds Rate Cut Impact to Home Loan Rates January to June 2001 Down 2.25% Rose 0.10% October to December 2001 Down 0.75% Rose 0.45% May to August 2003 Down 0.25% Rose 0.78%Rates are predicted to be cut again when the Federal Reserve meets at the end of this month.

Many believe Tuesday's action was taken because of a dramatic downturn in the stock market, where the Dow dropped 464 points, the worst single day drop since September 11, 2001. Since the Fed's announcement, the Dow has recovered much of those losses but volatility is likely to remain a consistent theme throughout the week. If you are waiting for long-term mortgage rates to fall further from here, don't count on it.

Your best chance to lock in the lowest mortgage rates since 2005 is now.

For additional articals visit
http://finance.yahoo.com/loans/article/104266/Fed-Rate-Cut-Winners-and-Losers

Snibet about Grapevine

Grapevine is in the center of the Dallas / Fort Worth region and serves as the hub of any vacation to the area. Nestled between Dallas and Fort Worth, and home of the DFW International Airport, Grapevine's sophisticated charm provides visitors with a chance to get away and experience great shopping, dining, ten winery tasting rooms and much more.

To know more about Grapevine, Texas visit: www.grapevinehomefinder.com