The spring season is upon us and everything feels fresh and renewed!

We are now into the second quarter of 2012 and things have been SELLING! We have closed 156 units compared to 122 last year. Our "sold volume" is up as well as "average sold price" which is up from $195,203 to $198,389. Sales price to list price is up to 98.34%. The average days on market have increased to 133. Part of that is due to the lack of new construction inventory, so some existing homes that have been on the market for some time are now selling and bringing up the average.

We are selling at the pace we were back in 2008-2009 and across the nation they are feeling the markets starting to pick up the pace and even experience multiple offer situations.

The "hot" market continues to be under $250,000, although we are lacking in inventory in the $275,000-$325,000 price point. If you have a home that you think would be in that price range now would be a good time to sell.

For Buyers that are "on the fence" about buying, now is a great time to buy! Interest rates continue to stay low (under 4%) and if you want to take advantage of USDA Loan (Rural Development Loan) you need to close by October 1st. This would be especially important if you are considering new construction.

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Welcome Camarae Gaulke!

I have listed a series of events for the next few months in this newsletter. We have a lot of fun things happening, hopefully you can join in on some of the fun. I hope everyone has had a chance to hear about or participate in the clean-up activities happening this Spring in our community. These are great opportunities to clean out unwanted items, pick up the trash that has blown into fences and make our community a nicer place to see.

As always, please call with any questions, interest in properties or to discuss market strategies for your real estate goals. In the meantime, enjoy this great weather!

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Spring Cleaning - 10 Things You Can Get Rid of Today

Overtaken by stuff? These tested strategies will have you cleaning house in no time.

By Diana Reese

Just Say No to Too Much Stuff

Stuff. For many of us it's worse than any four-letter word. That's because "stuff" can weigh you down and hold you back, says Gail Blanke, author of Throw Out Fifty Things. And, in the end, much of what we accumulate in life isn't all that important. As Marilyn Bohn, author of Go Organize!, points out, "No one ever says, 'I wish I'd kept more stuff.'"

Still, getting rid of our discards can be a challenge. Carla Eskelsen, a mom in Farmington, Utah, admits she had trouble letting go of stuff until she figured out how to manage her "pioneer DNA." Once she figured out that donating and recycling"honored" her pioneer ancestors, she found it much easier. "It's about sharing and blessing others instead of keeping it all for yourself," she says. Here's how you can share and bless others with all of your stuff—and end up with a cleaner, more peaceful home while you're at it.

1. Kitchen Utensils

Here's a smart way to figure out what you're really using, Toss everything—all the spatulas, rubber scrapers, pie servers, and so on—into a box. As you use a utensil from the box, put it back in the drawer. After a month, check what's left in the box. Keep those once-a-year items that remain in the box, like a turkey baster or candy thermometer. Donate the rest.

2. Coffee Mugs

Another item hogging valuable cupboard space: coffee mugs. choose four mugs to keep and donated the rest to a rummage sale.

3. Plastic Containers

Hold a "lid party" to match up errant tops and bottoms. Recycle the rest of the mismatched items.

4. Little-Used Kitchen Stuff

When was the last time you used that Bundt pan? If it was years ago, maybe you should give it to a friend. Take everything out of the cabinets and only put back what is used regularly. Also coniser trading items with a friend.

5. Vases

Got vases from the last three Valentine's Day bouquets? Take them back to the florist

6. Food

Cupboards full of food you're not sure you're going to use? Some solutions:

• Check the expiration dates on everything in your pantry, fridge, or freezer. If it's about to expire, put it on the menu for that week
• If you know you're never going to use an item—and it's still good—give it to your local food pantry.
  Have an "Eat Out of the Pantry or Freezer" week. You'll be surprised at how creative you can get with your menu planning when you're only using the ingredients on hand. She also suggests this as a way to inspire creativity and frugality: "When you throw away food, imagine you're throwing dollar bills in the trash can!"

7. Spices

Give your spices the smell and taste test and if they've gone bland and boring, dump them. To find out how old your McCormick or Schilling brand spices are, go to http://mccormick.com/Spices101/HowOldSpices.aspx. And when you buy new spices, mark down the date on the package with a Sharpie.

8. Receipts

Check with your accountant about how long to keep important papers like tax returns but, in general, materials that support tax returns (receipts and so on) can be tossed after seven years.

9. Magazines

Do you have a stack of magazines by your bed that you haven't read? If two months have passed and they're still sitting there, consider donating them to a retirement home, hospital, doctor's office, or school. Many take magazines for art projects (if not for reading material).

10. Mail

Bring in the mail. Leave your coat on. Find a place by the wastebasket, recycling bin, or shredder, and stand and handle each piece of mail. Put bills in a basket or pretty gift bag, take magazines to where you read them, scan any newsletters and bulletins for important information, and discard the rest.